5 THINGS I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN AT THE START OF MY FITNESS JOURNEY.
Tuesday, 10 May 2022
1. Progress isn't linear
2. You can eat chocolate everyday and still reach your goals
3. Weights can be just as good as cardio for fat loss
4. Progressively overloading is key
5. No one else cares what you're doing at the gym
GUEST POST / WHAT ARE THE BEST CITIES IN WASHINGTON STATE
Monday, 9 May 2022
If you are planning to relocate to Washington state, you will want to do a little research on the options for cities you are considering. You will need to think about things like cost-of-living, weather, location in the state, and so much more.
When you begin to plan your move, think of the job opportunities in your new city, as well as the housing options. Consider other things like your hobbies and whether you prefer a larger city or a smaller one. Take in account all the variables of your life when considering which city you want to call home, and consider the following best cities in Washington state.
Seattle
The most obvious city, and the city you probably think of first when you think of Washington state, is Seattle. If you are hoping to move to a big city, Seattle is your pick for Washington state. While it is not the capital of the state, it is the largest city in the state and actually all of the Pacific Northwest.
If you are looking for a job, you are in luck in Seattle. There are many companies with headquarters in the city, including Amazon, Starbucks, and Microsoft. For sports fans, Seattle is home to the NFL’s Seahawks, MLB’s Mariners, and the NHL’s the Kraken.
Seattle also has amazing art, culture, and music scenes, and is even considered the birthplace of grunge. Seattle has a lot of things going for it, and if you are looking for a great big city in Washington, Seattle is the obvious choice.
Spokane
If you are looking for a city in the eastern part of the state, consider Spokane. The eastern part of the state is significantly different from the west, where most of the major cities you associate with Washington are located. Notably, western Washington is very rainy, while eastern Washington has a warmer and drier climate. Spokane specifically is protected on either side by mountain ranges, making the weather unique for the region.
If you love to be outside and relish outdoor recreation, Spokane is a great Washington city for you. You can ski in the winter, and hike and raft in the summer. There are several local ski resorts to enjoy. Spokane is a departure from the rainy western part of the state if you are looking for something different.
Bellevue
If you want to be near Seattle in a city with a similar feel, think about a move to Bellevue. Bellevue is situated right across Lake Washington from Seattle and can be considered a suburb or satellite city of Seattle.
The city is known as a technology hub and has a bustling downtown for big city-lovers. If this sounds appealing to you, there are plenty of Bellevue houses for sale. If you like the idea of living in a busy city without actually being right in Seattle, give Bellevue a try.
There are many exciting cities to consider if you are planning a move to Washington state. From Seattle and Bellevue in the west to Spokane in the east, there are options that can meet everyone’s needs.
A GUIDE TO SPENDING 3 DAYS IN DUBROVNIK, CROATIA.
Monday, 21 March 2022
Dubrovnik has been on my bucket list for years, the interest was probably sparked when I heard Game of Thrones had been filmed there. The city has definitely milked this as you'll find GOT merch, tours and experiences everywhere. Nevertheless it is a beautiful city and it is the perfect place for a weekend escape or as part of a trip around Croatia! I'd love to explore Split, Zagreb and Hvar another time. Here is my itinerary for things to do and where to eat on a 3 day trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Day 1
Breakfast: Cele
AM - Walk around the city walls
Lunch: Barba
PM: Kayaking Tour
Dinner: Taj Mahal (Bosnian Food)
Day 2
What I liked about this place is that it had a number of healthier options on their menu such as chia pudding and protein pancakes, and it would cost you between £5-£10 depending on what you were eating. They also had an extensive cocktail list, so it’s a great place to come back to in the afternoon.
AM: Game of Thrones Walking Tour
PM: Visit Lokrum Island
The small island of Lokrum is only a 30 minute boat ride away from Dubrovnik, and there isn't much to do there except for seeing the peacocks, an Iron Throne replica and a lake that you can sunbathe by and swim in. During your stay you will probably hear how the island is haunted because of a curse that was placed by the Benedictine monks. I'll leave that story for you to find our for yourselves!
DINNER: Gradska Kavana Arsenal
Day 3
Day trip to Bosnia and Herzegovina
For me the highlight of this tour was our driver, our pick up was at 7:30am so safe to say we were half asleep but he made the tour so entertaining and interesting. We drove for around an hour and a half before reaching a waterfall where we had an hour of free time, and then we continued on to the city of Mostar.
I didn’t have any prior knowledge of Mostar or the Bosnian war in the 90s, so it was interesting to get the perspective from our Croat tour guide, and our Bosnian guide in Mostar. You definitely get the sense that people still feel very strongly and divided about what happened.
Lunch: Restaurant Sadrvan
This place was recommended to us by our guide, and a plate of meat, pita bread and chips cost us less than a fiver. They had a terrace so we got a great view of the bridge and river.
Mostar Day Trip from Dubrovnik (£41)
Dinner: Mex Cantina
The tour will have you back in Dubrovnik for dinner time, and if you fancy a change of cuisine then I recommend Mex Cantina. Half the menu was mexican and half was pizza, so we got a bit of everything and thoroughly enjoyed it.
- If you need a pick me up on the go, try the coffee and a pastry (spinach and cheese burek) from Barcaffe in the main street.
- Head to Buza Bar, a cliffside bar that's a popular spot to enjoy a wine or beer and see the sunset. Note that this place only takes cash.
- If you fancy doing something alternative, try the 'Haunted Dubrovnik' Ghost Tour in the evening.
6 SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL DESTINATIONS FOR YOUR NEXT INCENTIVE TRIP
Thursday, 10 March 2022
Copenhagen, Denmark

- Take a bicycle tour of the city
- Dry slope skiing on the Copenhill, the world’s cleanest waste-to-energy power plant
- Visit Tivoli Gardens, one of the oldest amusement parks in the world
- Experience urban farming at an oyster opening workshop in a sea farm
Amsterdam, Netherlands

- Cruise through the canals collecting plastic waste with Plastic Whale
- Cycle tour through the city
- Visit Anne Frank’s house
- Dine at Restaurant de Kas, a green house restaurant serving organic ingredients grown onsite
Iceland

- Relax and unwind in one of Iceland’s geo-thermal spas
- Enjoy a wildlife tour in a kayak, getting up close and personal with Iceland’s most iconic wildlife
- Hike up an icelandic volcano
- Plant trees to offset the carbon emissions of your trip
- Enjoy fresh hot bread at a geo-thermal bakery
Costa Rica

- Hike a coffee plantation of Costa Rica
- Turtle conservation project
- Tour the Canopies
- Snorkel around the Island
- Soak in the Perdido Springs at The Springs Resort
- Go bungee jumping at the old Colorado River Bridge
Oslo, Norway

- Visit the Nobel Peace Prize Center
- See an interesting collection of sculptures at Frogner Park
- Join a walking tour around the city to learn about the history and fun facts about the country
- Take a fjord cruise
- Kayak through the fjords with evening BBQ and overnight stay
Ljubljana, Slovenia

- Visit/Hike Lake Bled
- Try one of their innovative tours such as the ‘Moustache Tour’ , Taste Ljubljana food tour, or the Beer Experience
- Visit the abandoned Hotel Bellevue
- Contribute to a wildlife conservation project
3 DAY GUIDE TO PARIS FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS.
Wednesday, 2 March 2022
Where To Stay
Where To Eat
What to Do
- Don't pay with card in any corner shop, I actually got my card cloned and they tried to take out 300 euros but Revolut declined it. Lesson learnt!
- Uber is cheaper than getting a taxi or pre-booked shuttle from the city centre to the airport (we flew to Orly).
- Make your dinner reservations in advance, as most of the time they will be fully booked if you just walk in.
- If the majority of your trip isn't Disney based, stay in the centre as a train from the city to the park is only 7 euros and takes 45 minutes.
- Do not stop for a coffee near any of the attractions, they'll charge you 7 euros for a cafe con leche. The little coffee shops you find when wandering around the districts are all regularly priced.
10 THINGS TO EXPERIENCE IN NEW YORK CITY.
Monday, 14 February 2022
I always thought I'd find New York overrated, but when I went it actually exceeded my expectations. It makes sense why so many movies and TV shows are filmed here! The big apple can be a big and overwhelming place, but once you get a hang of the subway system you'll be surprised how easy it is to explore the districts and pack a lot into your trip. If you're flying from London, you can reach New York in 8 hours, and sometimes you can get flights for as little as £300. If it's your first time visiting NYC, here are 10 things you should experience on your trip.
1. See the Statue of Liberty
We'll start the list with one of New York's most famous landmarks, the Statue of Liberty. To reach her you'll have to take a boat tour, the journeys are 1 hour and take you through some other landmarks and Ellis island. I recommend getting your ticket online so you don't have to queue up in person, and if you can find a sunny day in your itinerary for it then even better!
Get your ticket: NYC Cruise around Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island (£22)
2. Visit Coney Island
If you're a Lana Del Rey fan you would have heard her quote this place in a number of her songs. I definitely felt like I had been transported back to the 50s here and loved the whole aesthetic. There's also a small amusement park here but if you're not feeling very adventurous, it's also a great place to just stroll along the promenade with an ice-cream.
3. Snap photos at famous filming locations
4. Walk along the High Line
Found in Manhattan, the High Line is an old unused railroad converted into a public space and features art and clothing stalls. It was definitely one of my favourite things we stumbled upon! You can enter through Gansevoort to 34th Street and it takes you through to Chelsea.
5. Visit the MOMA and MET museums
Even if you're not a massive fan of art, these two are must sees when you're in New York. The Met is the largest art museum in the western hemisphere and houses over 2 million works of art. The MOMA focuses on modern art and is where you can find the famous Starry Night painting by Van Gogh.
6. Choose from one of the many cheesecakes at Junior's
We walked 30 minutes just to eat here, and it did not disappoint. Junior's is NYC most famous cheesecake establishment, and offers over 20 cheesecake options. I went for the apple crumble cheesecake but the red velvet one was a close contender.
7. Visit the 9/11 memorial museum
The former site of the World Trade Center is now dedicated to the victims of the attack and the efforts that went into saving lives that day. There are some heartbreaking exhibits including phone transcripts from the people that were on the hijacked plane and stories about the individuals that lost their lives. There were also interesting manuscripts and documentation of the terrorists, such as their applications to get into flight schools in the US to prepare for their roles in the attack.
Get your ticket: 9/11 Museum Entry Ticket (£22)
8. Walk across Brooklyn bridge
9. Watch a movie in Bryant Park
On Monday nights throughout the summer, free classic movies are shown in Bryant Park. You get the perfect backdrop of the skyline and it's something free to do if you're reaching the end of your budget!