GIVING YOUR BEDROOM A SPRING UPDATE.

Saturday 29 February 2020

[this is a collaborative post but all words and opinions are my own]


I've always been one of those people who feel the need to move furniture around in my bedroom every couple of months, because it seems to bring me a new sense of motivation for work and life - anyone else? with spring being just a month away, most people will start get into 'spring cleaning' and revamping their personal space. Here are some ways you can give your room a fresh look without breaking the bank.

Image Source


1. Get some wall art. 


Back in the day my room was covered with Justin Bieber and One Direction posters that I'd pull out of magazines, at 25 that isn't really acceptable anymore is it? One of my favourite websites for finding high quality prints for your house is desenio, and they'll cost you a quarter of the price of finding a wall art in a store.

2. Get a new carpet. 


Depending what kind of flooring you have in your house, this can be easier said than done. If you've got carpet floors these can sometimes need updating more often as they can start to fade. Cream carpets are always nice but if you drink a lot of red wine it's always a risky choice isn't it?


3. Make a working space. 


Right now I'm writing this blog post sat in bed, because I've got too much stuff on my table at the moment to sit my laptop down. If you're also a blogger, or study or generally do any work from home then create a space in your room where you can sit down and do this. Get some nice stationery, some motivating quotes on the wall and a desk planner and you'll actually be looking forward to sitting down and working.

4. Get new bedding. 


One of my favourite parts of moving into a new place is buying new bedding (especially at university). For the time being, I'm staying put so it just means buying new bedding for the season. Primark always has a variety of options at very affordable prices. 

5. Add some life into it. 


I always find having a house plant or flowers just makes a room look more homely and well, fresh. You don't need to overdo it especially if you don't think looking after plants or flowers is for you, as having a room full of dead flowers will have the opposite effect. If that's the case just get a fake plant, no one will know the difference but you!


What are some ways you give your room an update?

G




BEING THE BEST VERSION OF YOURSELF IN 2020.

Thursday 27 February 2020

[this post is written in collaboration with NiaWigs but all words and opinions are my own.]


So in 2019 I read my fair share of self-help books - how to be a badass, how to attract the things you want in life and just generally how to do you. I've just spent the last two months travelling through New Zealand and South East Asia and it's involved a lot of time on planes, trains and buses to (over)think about life. I wouldn't say travelling has made me 'find myself' but it has made me wonder what I can do this year to be the best version of myself. 

tea with gi


1. Compete against yourself. 


There's no point trying to match the success of your friends or people in the same industry as you. It's easy to become complacent in life so it's always good to push yourself that little bit further whether it's with your fitness goals, career or personal growth. 

2. Just start. 


Sometimes it takes me so much energy to start writing a blog post. I make myself a coffee, walk around the house a bit, get distracted and start texting people on Whatsapp and then end up saying 'it's too late I'll do it tomorrow' when to be honest if I just open a new blog post and start writing it's easy to get into the flow of things. 

The same goes for starting anything, a marathon, joining the gym, writing a book or learning to play an instrument. We spend so much energy thinking about doing these things and everything that can go wrong when the best thing to do really is just start

3. Have something that is yours. 


I think as we get older we start questioning what our 'purpose' is in life right? Most of us end up working for someone else and it can be hard to feel fulfilled in life. That's why I like having my little space on the internet, it's something that is mine and that I can work on and that has also given me a lot of wonderful opportunities. I think having a side hustle however big or small is a great way to have a sense of purpose and to put your energy into. For other people, having something that is yours can be more literal - like having babies

4. Learn to accept yourself. 


No matter what age you are, we're always going to have insecurities, regrets, things that we would like to change about ourselves and things we wish we could do. Instead of spending time dwelling on the negatives, it's important to look at the things you have achieved, and your own qualities. I've accepted I'm never going to look like all the fitness bloggers I see on my feed, and I'm ok with that. 

5. But it's never too late to reinvent yourself. 


I never thought I'd see the day I got rid of my red hair but last year I took the plunge and stripped my hair and went lighter. If you don't want to commit to a drastic haircut or change of colour then take a page out of Kylie Jenner's book and use a wig. NiaWigs provide a range of high quality wigs for all types of hair, including lace front wigs

6. Have a vision. 


This is where I'm going to bring a little thing called the law of attraction into this, and well a bit of planning. I basically wrote down everything I wanted to achieve in life and how I was going to get there. As well as what qualities I think the best version of myself would have (probably to be a bit less messy). I know people who go one step further and make a 'vision board' by drawing things too but it's all up to you. Then vision yourself having these things. That's basically how the law of attraction works and there's a ton of articles and youtube videos on manifesting the life you want. 



HOW TO SPEND 48 HOURS IN MIJAS, SPAIN.

Friday 7 February 2020

[this blog post is written in collaboration with Clickstay but all words and opinions are my own.]

Growing up in Gibraltar meant that taking a summer holiday to Spain was the norm several times a year as we are literally a stones throw away from the Spanish border. The great thing about travelling up the coast is that each town or city has it's own unique character and even though I was never that far from home it still allowed for that feeling of escapism and fun (and hotel buffets). One place I spent a lot of weekends in was Mijas. Mijas is located on the Costa Del Sol, around 1hr 20 minutes drive from Gibraltar or 35 minutes from Malaga Airport. It's quite a quaint little town filled with white houses, beaches and great tapas. If you're planning a vacation to Andalusia, here's my guide on spending a weekend in Mijas, Spain.

mijas


Where to stay 


Mijas is one of the Costa Del Sol's more relaxing towns, so why not take full advantage of that and stay in a villa. Clickstay offers a large variety of Villas in Mijas and there's a good selection whether you're travelling with your friends, family or partner. I prefer this kind of accommodation if you're travelling in a group, as it means you can take advantage of the outdoor space and have BBQs, wine nights or even a game of Monopoly.

Photo Credit

What to do 

1. Walk around the Old Town (Pueblo).

If you're looking for a few photo ops then this is the place to go. The old town is full of white houses, flower pots, cobblestones and the Plaza de Torros. Which is also a great place to grab a cerveza (beer) and some tapas. 

2. Visit the Aquamijas water park. 

When I was younger this would always be one of the highlights of my summer. Whether you're travelling with kids or just fancy some water fun yourself (you're never really too old for this are you?) it's a great day out option and after spending a couple of days in the Spanish heat, throwing yourself in pools is exactly what you'll want. The park is open from June until late September and they have discounted tickets for children.  

3. Visit the 'museum of miniatures'. 

As the name suggests, the Museo de Miniaturas is full of hundreds of miniature items picked up by the hypnotist and magician Juan Elegido Millan. One of the most interesting pieces is a painting of the Seven Wonders of the World, on a toothpick, yes a toothpick

4. Take a day trip to Gibraltar. 


Since you're already that close to it, why not tick another country off your bucket list? Gibraltar is a British overseas territory situated on the most southern tip of Europe. It is separated from Spain by a border so make sure you remember your passport! You'll find people here speak English and Spanish, and you'll be able to find a mix of cuisines and influences here. Here's a complete list of things to do in Gibraltar

5. Visit the Castillo de Colomares

Another great photo spot, the Castillo (castle) was built in the 80s and is a ode to Christopher Columbus. 

6. Take an evening walk through the 'Paseo Maritimo' 

One of my favourite things about Spain is that the atmosphere usually doesn't die down anywhere until midnight, even on weekdays. Most Spanish families will have dinner at 9pm, and you will still see children out and playing at this time too around the restaurants. The paseo maritimo (promenade walk) is usually filled with little shops that stay open late, ice cream stalls, restaurants and chiringuitos (beach bar).  

What to eat

I couldn't write a post without sharing some of my favourite Spanish meals (or tapas) with you guys. So here they are

Patatas Bravas - fried potatoes that are covered in a slightly spicy tomato based sauce.

Berejenas en Miel - aubergine/eggplant that are cut into chips, fried and then drizzled in honey. 

Croquetas - croquettes are small round breadcrumbed rolls that come with different fillings. My favourite being ham or spinach. 

Tortilla de Patata - basically a very thick omelette, with potatoes mixed in too. 

Ensaladilla Rusa - a cold potato based salad that is mixed with mayo, tuna, olives and peas. 


Have you ever been to Spain before? What parts have you visited?







GUEST POST | 5 HEALTHY LIFESTYLE TIPS TO HELP REDUCE ANXIETY.

Saturday 1 February 2020

Person holding smiley face balloon

Anxiety affects people in many different ways, and anyone who suffers, or has suffered, with anxiety in the past will know what a troubling time it can be. Fortunately, with awareness increasing and the wellness industry booming, many people can find ways to help reduce the impact of anxiety on their daily lives.

We all want to be happy and healthy, which ties in wonderfully with much of the advice that surrounds tips on how to reduce those anxious feelings and worries. Here are some healthy lifestyle choices you can make to help.

Mindfulness


Mindfulness is one of those things that many of us do without even realising it. If you’ve ever taken a minute to enjoy the moment, be that in nature or with friends and family, that’s you being mindful. To use mindfulness as a tool to reduce anxiety, you need to use it regularly to connect with your body, thoughts and emotions. By taking the time to get to know yourself, you can begin to understand what may be causing your worries and anxieties.

It is also becoming more and more popular to apply mindfulness to exercise; this is a brilliant double-up as exercise can help to reduce the body’s levels of cortisol, which is the hormone responsible for feeling stressed. Win-win.

Pink tree blossom in spring

Self-Care


Practising self-care can be beneficial to anybody, but those suffering from mental health issues may find it particularly helpful in providing a much-needed mood boost. Self-care is defined uniquely by each individual as it is simply a broad term used to cover any activity that makes you feel happy and calm. This can be treating yourself to something new, having a relaxing soak or just chilling out doing nothing.

The trick to self-care is ensuring that you make time as it is often something that gets left at the wayside when our schedules get hectic. It is important reflection time, and a little self-indulgence is perfectly okay.

Reduce Social Media Time


While on the one hand, social media is a fantastic way to stay connected with friends and family, on the other, too much of it can be damaging to our productivity and self-esteem. Furthermore, studies have shown that too much time spent on our favourite platforms can promote feelings of loneliness, depression and anxiety.

If you feel as though you’ve been scrolling too much, put down your tablet or phone and tell yourself you are not going to use it again for an allotted time, an hour for example. Use this time instead to take a walk, watch some TV or a film you love or do something creative. Remember that the way that people portray their lives on social media is not reality.

Person holding smartphone and scrolling

Hemp Oil


Hemp oil is having a bit of a moment, and the general consensus is that it is for a good reason. There are several reasons that hemp is used for anxiety. Firstly, multiple studies have shown that hemp can help to alleviate the symptoms of depression and anxiety in sufferers, as it is thought that hemp may help to boost serotonin production.

Secondly, hemp is also known to regulate sleep cycles and improve the quality of sleep. Sleep is so important when it comes to both mental and physical health, and sleep troubles are often a prevalent symptom displayed when people are suffering from mental health problems. Using hemp oil regularly before bed can help you to drift off into a peaceful sleep.

Avoid Stimulants


Anxious feelings may tempt us to reach for a comfort snack or a cigarette, but it’s actually better to avoid stimulants during this time. Caffeine is also best avoided as research shows that stimulants can worsen the symptoms of anxiety and even trigger them.

What are your best anxiety-busting tips? Share the love in the comments!
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