tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86590737443830096822024-03-14T00:12:17.220-07:00Laura LovesAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-85101301510447186622015-08-24T17:30:00.001-07:002015-08-24T21:25:36.855-07:00How to keep fit whilst travelling and on a budget<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7019607843137254); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I know the feeling. You've been travelling for a few weeks and although it seems like you've walked for miles, it just doesn't cut it. You need a gym, you need weights, you need to get back into shape...</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">I have been in Sydney for five months now and honestly, I haven't felt so big in my entire life! I thought coming to Australia would make me lose weight. How wrong I was! I guess I have to accept the fact that my body doesn't agree to zero exercise. I can eat (oh my I can eat) and so the only way to shed those calories is if I work out. This isn't to say that I have a unhealthy diet, not at all. I eat small but often to keep up with my busy lifestyle. However, in order to maintain my toned physique, my body requires at least three intense workouts a week.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">Luckily for me, I find it as easy to shed those extra inches as I do to put them on. For the last month I have been training hard at a local gym, but this isn't sustainable if you're not going to be in one place for longer than a couple of weeks (which you're most likely not when you're on the road). </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: #a00031; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">So I decided to come up with some tips for those of you, who like me are travelling and want to remain in shape, </span><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: #a00031; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">but wish to do it on the cheap (cus every traveller loves a good bargain).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>DO </b>- look out for local deals. If you know you're going to be in one place for longer than a couple of weeks then get yourself on to Groupon or do a quick search on the Internet. You'll be amazed at what you can find (even in the more expensive cities like Sydney)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>DO</b> - make use of local parks, ovals and so forth. You'll be surprised at what you can do with a set of stairs, a bench and some grass... Time to put those gym exercises into practice in the glorious sunshine ladies!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>DO </b>- try and walk, jog or run as much as possible. I love walking but sometimes I will run to and fro places to increase the intensity from day to day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>DO</b> - watch what you're eating. It's easy to grab a takeaway whilst you're travelling for the sheer convenience. However, this is not good for your waistline. Cook your own food instead - it's much cheaper and will save you piling on those extra pounds. Some great snacks which I often eat on the go here in Australia include cornthins (similar to rice cakes but made with corn) topped with avocado and tuna, nuts (I prefer almonds, walnuts or Brazilian nuts but any nuts will suffice as long as they're unsalted/unflavoured), boiled eggs, dried fruits, muesli bars and just plain old chopped up fruit or veg. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>DO </b>- get some other fitness fanatics involved. Motivation is a big factor in keeping fit. I prefer working out on my own but it's easier said than done when you're staying in a hostel and most of your roommates are passed out from the night before. That temptation to stay in bed increases just slightly...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>DO </b>- take photos of your progress. It's easy to forget how you used to look. 'Gap fat' is a thing I'm afraid!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>DONT</b> - give up after a week. Change doesn't happen over night. You have to make exercise part of your lifestyle, regardless of how different it is to the one back at home. Yes you're travelling and want to enjoy yourself but what harm is half an hour out of your hectic schedule going to do? You'll thank me once you return home and step on to those scales trust me...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>DONT</b> - set unrealistic goals. This is about keeping fit, not shedding pounds which would be impossible on the road I would imagine. You don't want to be worrying about what is going in your mouth every second of the day. Travelling is about embracing the experience. Just remember, it's okay to grab a quick Mcdonald's whilst on the go, just as it's okay to indulge in a few alcoholic beverages (if t</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">hat's the type of experience you're going for). Just be aware when this becomes a regular thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am now in my fifth week of training and I feel heaps better already. Just remember it's easy to lose what you already have after a few weeks off, but it's also very easy to gain back. That first workout is never going to be easy so why delay? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will soon be on the road and will somehow have to try and maintain what I already have. This will be my biggest challenge to date as I won't know where I will be in say, two months time. Maybe I won't have access to a park or certain healthy foods which I like to eat,</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> but I'll give it my best shot! Keep your eyes peeled as I willl be updating you with my day to day fitness and healthy eating regime here on my blog and across my other social media platforms.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Are you a finess fanatic with a passion for travel? How do you manage your busy schedule whilst on the go?</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-27045619193674813082015-08-20T17:37:00.001-07:002015-08-20T17:37:32.614-07:00A little taste of paradise<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 17px; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;">So my holiday within a holiday so to speak began on 5th July in Nadi, Fiji. A holiday I couldn't really justify, but nevertheless seemed only fitting seeing as I was on this side of the world. When else would I get the chance to visit some of the worlds most beautiful islands? I am a travel and lifestyle blogger after all...</span></div>
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<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7019607843137254); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0Wh1utADUZqY4RHQk9of_-OYz3gJUYSwbZgyjD9BY4o7emE-XtoqVtdSvPgME2dRjPGuwrQqrkGMduhDF6eZ43E74Dh_oU0tXLwzMHry1JzmKzlgxXLyNs0RuUUN5ca2KdOBG5iclCo/s640/blogger-image--1779725419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy0Wh1utADUZqY4RHQk9of_-OYz3gJUYSwbZgyjD9BY4o7emE-XtoqVtdSvPgME2dRjPGuwrQqrkGMduhDF6eZ43E74Dh_oU0tXLwzMHry1JzmKzlgxXLyNs0RuUUN5ca2KdOBG5iclCo/s640/blogger-image--1779725419.jpg" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7019607843137254); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody;"><span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(130, 98, 83, 0.0980392); text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><span style="color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.701961); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I walked off the plane, I was struck immediately by the heat and humidity, not forgetting the sound of the locals singing. What a welcome - it surely topped any other welcome I've had on previous holidays. 'Bula Bula' they sang. 'Bula' we chanted back at them. Because 'Bula' means everything in Fiji - literally everything. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As I was travelling alone I was hoping to meet some other likeminded travellers and my luck was in - at the airport, I met my first buddy. Her name was Laura so evidently we were going to be best friends! After some quick introductions, we were greeted by our airport transfer, a rather pleasant Fijian fellow who took us to our first stop on the trip, smugglers cove, a pretty little thing situated right on the beach. Talk about being thrown into the deep end. Along with a quick supermarket sweep (because apparently the water was going to cost ten dollars a bottle on the island), we also discussed the possibly of grabbing some weed on route too (don't worry - we didnt go along with it). Only in Fiji...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After a rather unpleasant night seep in my thirty bed dorm and one stung foot later, I realised <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">why people don't really rate Nadi. The beaches weren't very clean, and for some reason I didn't feel safe enough to go venturing out on my own. </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Luckily this was only a stop over before our tour really began. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next day we were dropped at the Marina for boarding (Denarau) where we got to see the real Fiji - the hundred or so islands on offer. We boarded our ferry and made our way to South Sea Island, the smallest of the Fijian islands, and small it was! You could literally walk from one side to the next in less than five minutes. Yet, funnily<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> enough this island had everything you could possibly need - a pool, lots of sun loungers and a very friendly set of staff. </span>Again, we were greeted by the singing of the locals and lots of Bula chants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Unfortunately for me, the first few days of my holiday didn't get off to the best start. <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">After a fair few restless nights sleep prior to this trip, it appeared my body had reached breaking point. I think a </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">mixture of sun stroke, sea sickness and exhaustion had set in. Plus new foods never go down too well with me. Rest was in need and rest I got. I ended up in bed both nights before <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://1" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">9pm</a>! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Despite this, I got to enjoy two days of dreamy weather along with a very cool trip to where the Castaway movie was filmed, before heading to my next destination - Barefoot Kuata, which wasn't the easiest to pronounce I must say! I also got the chance to visit a traditional Fijian ceremony and try some of what the locals drink. I'm never one to say no to an alcoholic beverage but this was an acquired taste to say the least! It tasted and looked a lot like dirty dishwasher water but it would have been rude to have said no. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After an extremely rocky boat ride, a wet rucksack and some rather sea sick passengers, we arrived behind schedule of course (Fiji time). Despite the unruly weather we were greeted again by the islanders and got ready for lunch. I didn't think anything could top the previous island but it seemed anything is possible here in Fiji.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Located in the Yasawas, a two hour journey north from our previous island, Barefoot Kauta was much larger than the previous island. Again, our dorm was situated right on the beach, along with everything else you could possibly look for in paradise; a small bar area with three pools, lots of walkways off the beach, clear blue sea and beautiful golden sands, not forgetting the unbelievable staff. You truly are spoilt when you come to Fiji. <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Unfortunately the weather wasn't the best during our stay on Kuata, but we made the most of the little sun there was. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">During my time on this island I took part in my first ever summit walk which saw me walk to the highest point on the island (it was much more fun than it sounds). I nearly didn't make it after a few scrapes and slips, but I powered on through despite the humidity. I also got the chance to take part in the traditional welcome dance which was heaps of fun I must say. It was here that I met my next set of friends, two groups of English girls who unfortunately I had to leave for the next stop on my tour - Barefoot Manta. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course, me being me I got chatting to another couple of girls on my boat who happened to be staying in the dorm next to me. Funnily enough they were from Australia which meant we had heaps to talk about. Out of all the islands, Manta has to be my fave. The beach was beautiful, the food delicious, and the staff - amazing! The guys from the dive shop were particularly great, so if you ever find yourself staying on this island, make sure you say hello! Even though we were hoping for manta rays, it seemed we had come at the wrong time of year. However, we did get the chance to snorkel on a pretty awesome reef site on the morning before heading on to my final destination - Nabua Lodge, the last stop in the Yasawas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After some quick goodbyes, I boarded my final transfer all alone which made me doubt my final destination, and right I was. The staff weren't as welcoming and there wasn't an awful lot to do there. However, I made the most of my time by catching up with some fellow travellers who I had met previously on the trip, not forgetting two more final activities before jetting back to Sydney, these activities being my favourite ones of the trip so far. My first activity was a visit to the Sawa - I - Lau caves which involved another half an hour boat ride of course. Evidently I was bricking it, as I'm not a huge fan of water or confined spaces, but I was all for facing my fears on this trip I must say! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, somehow during the trip I had managed to misplace my final two activity vouchers which nearly cost me my place on these </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">two trips. Rest assured, I argued my case with the rather rude receptionist and managed to jump on the next departing vessel that morning. I wasn't paying again that's for sure! The next day it was another early morning wake up call via the island drums, before a trip to the famous Blue Lagoon where I got to swim with hundreds of fish during feeding time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After one last lunch, it was time to board the yellow boat just one last time before heading back to Smugglers Cove in Nadi. Of course the boat was running behind schedule which meant a late return to the mainland. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Overall my lasting impression of Fiji remains a truly positive one. The people are exceptionally friendly and the atmosphere is so chilled. It truly is paradise! If you like the feeling of being miles away from home, then this is the place for you. For me, possibly not the best resort as a solo traveller. However, least I know what all the fuss is about now. I would definitely consider coming back, maybe in a couple of years or so when I can finally face the thought of stepping on to another boat, and maybe with a close </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">friend or a partner. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What makes Fiji really special are the variety of islands available for you to enjoy, all of which are extremely unique. I for one certainly didn't realise how many islands they were, and how far apart they all were. There is certainly more to Fiji than meets the eye.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you ever been to Fiji? What was your favourite island?</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-68991831555733503682015-06-09T19:54:00.000-07:002015-06-09T20:36:04.883-07:00Settling in - Sydney style<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can't believe it's been a week already since I arrived in sunny (the majority of the time) Australia! And what week it has been. Amongst checking out the famous opera house, some of Australia's most popular beaches, I've even managed to fit in some personal shopping. But when is there not time for shopping?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So life as a 'Pom', isn't so bad after all. For starters, people here are so much friendlier<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> than they are in the UK. This may be helped by the fact that I am female and a solo</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">traveller.</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> Nevertheless, I feel so much safer here than I did back home, and have </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">met some great </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">people already. I love big cities, hence why I have always been drawn to London as a potential place to live. However, Sydney has so much more to offer than the skyscraper buildings and tacky tourist attractions you often hear about. The real beauty lies within the suburbs, like the one I am staying in. Newtown is such a fantastic place, and I have only just touched the surface. I </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">am so keen to check out the rest of the city, but for the next few days, it looks like I may be stuck in my room, which may I add is luxury compared to my Harry Potter room back home. If you haven't guessed already, it's raining here. Nothing like the UK weather, but it hasn't stopped for the last few days which makes me think I should have packed some more layers...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">For the next six months, I will be working as an au pair for a lovely host family. They have three children who I'll be responsible for, and a very cool house, not far from the hustle and bustle of the city</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">. I think being an au pair is one of the best ways to explore Australia (or any other country for that matter) as you get the most expensive things covered, including your food and accommodation, and also get a feel of what it's like to actually live amongst the locals. It certainly beats staying in a overcrowded and overpriced hostel that's for sure! I've even managed to expand my cooking skills this week, which I've always been keen to do. It looks like I'm in for a great few months, as long as the weather changes that is! For the time being I am going to make the most out of my time here by getting involved in as much as possible, and hopefully meet heaps of new and exciting people. </span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-27647615997124593582015-06-09T19:53:00.000-07:002015-06-09T19:57:13.938-07:00Travelling - What to pack (the essentials)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As you may be aware, (thanks to my countless tweets/photos, and not forgetting my previous post), just under a month ago, I embarked on my year (or more) trip to Australia; first stop Sydney. The trip itself is something I had been planning </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">for many months beforehand, along with the packing that is...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">However, for those of you who've been travelling yourselves may know, it's hard to know exactly what to pack, especially when you don't know how long you are going to be away for. Like many other travellers,</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I searched high and low for the ultimate packing list to assist me with this. Lets just say, it wasn't easy.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Taking inspiration from various different sites, I decided to come up with my own exclusive guide on what to pack, which will hopefully</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> be useful for all sorts of travellers out there; </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">whether this is a </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4 week trip around Europe, or a gap year globe trotting across various continents. Obviously feel free to comment and make your own suggestions as I am quite the novice still! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Just to give you an idea of what I am letting myself in for over the next year, I am currently working as an au pair in </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">central Sydney for six months. Come September</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> time, I will be embarking on my next journey driving along the East Coast for several months with two of my very best friends from the UK. After this, I will fly across to South East Asia for a couple of months exploring the likes of Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos to name a few. I'm </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">even making plans to stop off at Fiji and New Zealand, but I will see how I get on with managing my finances first! I am likely to be faced with a multitude of weather conditions along the way, so bear this in mind whilst you take a read through some of my travelling essentials...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Bags</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1 </b></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>strong large rucksack</b>. I </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">bought a new one especially for my travels from a camping/hiking shop called Trepsass. This cost me just £40 which is a bargain considering how pricey some of these can be. Mine holds 65l so it's a little on the larger size. However,it all depends on how much you are willing to carry. Personally, I think anything between 50l and 80l would be feasible. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1 smaller rucksack/ small case. </b>This is particularly useful for day trips/weekends away, or simply<b> </b>as hand luggage. Remember to check the sizing if you do decide to use this as hand luggage, as different airlines will have their own personal requirements on this.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1 small/medium bag - </b>for everyday use. Lugging a rucksack round all day can be tiring, even those smaller daypacks. Therefore, I would certainly recommend purchasing a smaller hand held bag to get you from A to B. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1 bum bag - </b>again for everyday use. This will be particularly useful when I start moving around more, when keeping my personal items secure.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1 clutch bag - </b>for those evenings on the town<b>. </b>Remember to pack as lightly as possible (flatpack bags are much easier to pack) and to never bring your best pieces with you, even if you want to remain fashionable. You can always buy more if you need to when you arrive.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Clothing</b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>1 waterproof jacket. </b>For some reason I didn't trust my mums 'rainmac' after getting soaked through at Glastonbury, so</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> I purchased a new one, again from Trespass. This cost just £25 and has been my most valuable item to date. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>2 pairs of trousers/jeans/leggings</b>- for those colder days/evenings. Again, I have found these items particularly useful as believe it or not, it does rain here! Leggings particularly are very versatile and lightweight, so stock up ladies!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>1 jumper/ hoody - </b>again<b> </b>for those chilly nights. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>3 pairs of shorts</b> - it will be hot enough to wear these eventually so I've been told...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>5 Tops</b>. T-shirts, vests, bralets; whatever tickles your fancy. I've brought quite the collection again as these are extremely light to pack. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>5 dresses. I </b>love dresses and most of mine are lightweight too so I managed to squeeze more than I probably needed in. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>5 bikinis/swimsuits</b>. I like having a selection when it comes to swimwear, but again, less would suffice.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>2 yoga pants</b> - for working out. I've also bought two pairs of shorts for working out whilst I've been over here. Even though it can get chilly, it's ridicously humid too. I may not need these when I start backpacking, as I presume I won't be working out too much then, but they can be used as extra layers if needed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Underwear (socks, bras, pants). </b>Remember you can always wash these whilst you're travelling so only bring enough for up to two weeks. Saying that, I think I counted over 30 pairs of undies the other day... Okay, so I don't travel lightly. This isn't to say that you should follow my example...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Pjs</b>. I didn't think I would be needing any long pjs but it turns out I was wrong once again! It is so chilly here at night at the moment so definitely not okay to let it all hang out!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Shoes</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Trainers - </b>for walking/working out. I am not usually a trainer sort of girl, but these have been a god send so far in the stormy weather!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>2 pairs of sandals</b> - for everyday wear.<b> </b>I bought an identical brown and white pair from primark which I wear most days/ on an evening if the weather is nice. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Wedges/ boots. </b>It's not overly warm at the minute and we are entering Australia's winter so I ended up buying some black ankle boots over here to wear during the evenings. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>2 pairs of flip flops or thongs (</b>as you<b> </b>Aussies like to say). No need to break the bank with these shoes. Cheap and cheerful, you'll be surprised at how handy these are. Think shared showers and an alternative to slippers...</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Accessories</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>2 pairs of cheap sunglasses</b>. I think I have around 5 pairs with me, but I am a bit obsessed with sunglasses at the moment, and they were all off the high street so I'm not too fussed if they go missing or get broken.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>1 hat</b> - cause nobody wants sunstroke. My black Chelsea hat is a classic and looks great in the day of on an evening. The perfect finishing touch to jazz up any outfit.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>1 lightweight scarf</b>. Luckily my brother's girlfriend bought me a lightweight scarf as an early birthday present to bring with me, as this item has been virtually glued to my neck since I've been here. Perfect for those chilly evenings or even as a sarong on the beach, this item is light to pack and very versatile.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Jewellery</b> (including a watch). I can't live without my jewellery including my classic skull ring so again, another essential on my packing list. Saying that, I've tried to keep this to a minimal as its so easy to lose, and not something you wouldn't be able to live without. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Toiletries</b></span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Shampoo and conditioner</b> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Shower gel</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Moisturiser</b> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Deodorant</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Sun cream</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Wet wipes including makeup remover</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Antibacterial hand gel</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Sunscreen</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Sanitary products </b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Toothbrush/paste</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Razors and cream</b></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Medicines</b></span></div>
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<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I<b>mmodium and </b></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Rehydration salts </b>- cause everyone gets a dodgy some point whilst travelling.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-weight: bold;">Paracetamol/</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Ibuprofen -</b> for those aches and pains.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>First aid kit including plasters. </b>Hopefully I won't be needing this but you can never be too cautious.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Mosquito spray (and lots of it). </b>It appears that the<b> </b>Mosquitos here are a huge fan of the English blood so I'm getting through this by the bottle.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Prescription tablets.</b> Remember to label these clearly as you don't want these to be confiscated. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Savlon/tcp for any cuts/wounds. </b>We travellers like to take risks, and the majority of the time, these risks come with consequences. Obviously you can buy these sorts of things when you need them but in some places they may not be that easy to get hold of. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Vitamins</b>. I'm always getting ill so this is an essential one for me. However, I think it's a good idea to carry a supply with you as you are more susceptible to getting ill whilst you're travelling. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Cold and flu tablets</b>. Even though the weather is still on the warmer side, there are still some nasty bugs floating around, something I am well attuned to in the UK, I always seem to pick up the latest virus or cold so I was prepared for the worst when I arrived here (especially as I was arriving in the colder months).</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Miscellaneous </b></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>1 antibacterial travel towel</b> which I've heard a life saver when travelling. They are not only absorbent</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">, they are also hygienic and very easy to fit in your bag.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Goggles</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Shower cap</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Travel pillow</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Ear plugs</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Eye mask</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Travel tissues </b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Books</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>iPad/ phone/ camera and chargers</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Plug adapters. </b>Make sure you get a universal plug if you are meeting multiple counties. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Selfie stick</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Makeup</b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>A Notebook and pen.</b> This is so handy, especially when you're a blogger. You never know when you might need to write something down!</span></li>
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Documents</span></b><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Visa</b> - you will need one of these to enter most countries I believe. If you are thinking of working in Australia, this will need to be purchased and approved before your departure. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Travel insurance including medical insurance - </b>make sure you are fully covered for all the countries you are visiting including all activities too.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Money</b>. Possibly the most important items on this list. Make sure you have some local currency with you, including a card of some sort to book flights etc on the go. Most of my money is loaded on to a travel card called mytravelcash who I would thoroughly recommend. Not only does this card convert straight into the local currency, it is also free for me to withdraw money using this card. I also have a credit card from the UK with me which I haven't actually used but is great for any slight hiccups.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Passport</b> - make sure this has a good couple of years on it as you never know where you might end up in two months time!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Driving license/other form of ID.</b> I wouldn't recommend carrying your passport around with you unless absolutely necessary, especially on a night out. Leave this in a secure place at all times.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Scans of important documents</b>. These will come in more handy than you think. Documents are likely to go missing at some point so having a back up is crucial. You don't want to be stranded in the middle of nowhere without any form of ID or way of communicating!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Air tickets and hostel confirmation. </b>Make sure you have all relevant tickets on hand and have printed out any hostel/ hotel confirmation so you are able to check in as smoothly as possible. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I hope this has given you a little bit of inspiration for your next big trip, wherever this may be! Stay tuned for more travel posts over the upcoming weeks, including a <b>REBRAND</b> of my blog to tie in with the big move to Oz!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Until then, goodbye. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-11631111863776196722015-04-20T19:25:00.001-07:002015-06-16T16:46:24.009-07:0010 important things to remember whilst you are travelling1.<b> Don't trust anybody</b>. He may be 6 feet tall and strappingly handsome, but he is probably not the man of your dreams! Tourists are easy to prey on so be careful, especially if you're travelling alone. <div><br></div><div>2. Do <b>everything</b> you possibly can. Yes is always a good answer. Don't be afraid to test your boundaries. You may never get this opportunity again. </div><div><br></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">3. Clothes can be re-bought. If you haven't worn it or its heavy, throw it out! There will be plenty of cheap shops and markets for you to check out along the way. You can even get clothes handmade in some counties for next to nothing! And these are bound to be more sentimental than any item off the high street. </span></div><div><br></div><div>4. Your family and friends will be waiting for you when you get back home. It's okay to be homesick, everyone experiences this whilst travelling. Just remember why you decided to go travelling in the first place; to experience new things and to meet new people. </div><div><br></div><div>5. Friends come and go. You are going to meet heaps of travellers. Don't let anybody hold you back -you will only regret it in the long run.</div><div><br></div><div>6. Make sure you bring lots of <b>layers</b>. The weather can change from one part of the county to the next. One thing you don't want to become is sick, something I've experienced already. </div><div><br></div><div>7. Listen to your body. Don't overdo it like I've been doing. Rest is just as important as seeing everything. <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There's only so much you can do its a day but time </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">is certainly in your favour when you're travelling. Just don't feel like you need to do something life changing every single day. There's always tomorrow...or the next day.</span></div><div><br></div><div>8. Drink lots of water and eat well. Keeping hydrated and energy levels flowing will only make your trip more enjoyable. Obviously don't splash all your money on an expensive meal every night, but if it comes to it, you may have to opt for the burger over the beer. Sorry guys!</div><div><br></div><div>9. Learn how the locals live. You don't want to be rude or caught in a situation which can be avoided. Every city has free guides and you will find a lot of things you need to know online too. No need for that pricey lonely planet book after all...</div><div><br></div><div>10. <b>Stay open minded</b>. You are going to experience some things or people you may not like or agree with along the way, but travelling is much more fun when the unexpected happens. No need to panic!</div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OZUI-Ia7foazOrQTVpltvbeYAfBC2Iow44x5gnPbgvxPZkvX_oPpeerPnc-r1jvp6V8ZUjVQA59UzYVl8OIDZdYTUb3Tm2M1POjeAIn-ML0l_UevS87IhCwMv3AzLZkpYg7PyG3rhZ8/s640/blogger-image--1284713761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OZUI-Ia7foazOrQTVpltvbeYAfBC2Iow44x5gnPbgvxPZkvX_oPpeerPnc-r1jvp6V8ZUjVQA59UzYVl8OIDZdYTUb3Tm2M1POjeAIn-ML0l_UevS87IhCwMv3AzLZkpYg7PyG3rhZ8/s640/blogger-image--1284713761.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv2jEWB_QG_6tO4uXmtT3lFp4n6_I3qLcAGSsA7-u2jWdy_N1kEbyqQfxbhzerNws2zHyXvMEpgpN_G0pTb9h7wDqiYDZ9bIuzp4AAM2jmFSTlrgzSzUh8oi1sf5z8HwQuL6Wrq7pPQg/s1600/you-wont-bring-me-down.regular.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv2jEWB_QG_6tO4uXmtT3lFp4n6_I3qLcAGSsA7-u2jWdy_N1kEbyqQfxbhzerNws2zHyXvMEpgpN_G0pTb9h7wDqiYDZ9bIuzp4AAM2jmFSTlrgzSzUh8oi1sf5z8HwQuL6Wrq7pPQg/s1600/you-wont-bring-me-down.regular.png" style="border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/laura.atkins.108" style="text-decoration: none;">Facebook </a>- <a href="https://twitter.com/lmatkinsx" style="text-decoration: none;">Twitter</a> - <a href="http://instagram.com/laura_lovesx" style="text-decoration: none;">Instagram</a> - <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/lauralovesx" style="text-decoration: none;">Bloglovin</a></span></div><div><br></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-28519792682092690022015-04-20T19:22:00.001-07:002015-06-25T19:37:26.760-07:00How to give up your job and travel the worldSo nine weeks ago near enough, I began the start of my year (or more) long adventure to the other side of the world; Australia. A journey I had been planning in my head for many years, but the reality was<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">, nothing could</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> have prepared me for what waited for me on the other side...</span><div><div><br></div><div>A word of advice for anyone thinking of doing anything similar - do not hesitate. There is no point waiting around to see if your best mate Sarah will come (she won't come). Take the plunge and go solo. Solo travelling isn't for everyone, and I have to admit it took a lot for me to say goodbye to my wonderful family and friends back in the UK.<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> However, now, eight weeks in, I am wondering what all the fuss was about. Yes, I had a job waiting for me once I had arrived, but</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> the fact of the matter is, you're never short of people to meet whilst you're travelling, especially in the tourist hyped backpacker areas. You will find work and you will make friends, even it means forcing yourself on to someone (don't do this!).</span></div><div><br></div><div>Sometimes it is about going out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself. I organised this whole trip by myself, which shocked a lot of people back home when I told them. How could I trust the family I was going to work for? How did I know I would even enjoy it? Well these are all questions waiting to be answered, right when you step off that plane and have to fend for yourself. Yes it's insanely scary and exciting too, but just remember, if worst comes to worst, you can always jump straight back on that plane back home. Of course, this wasn't an option for me when I began to compare Sydney to the likes off West Bromwich, my home town. I think I'll stay here for a little while longer thanks!</div><div><br></div><div>Just remember, research is key. Whether you have been pondering your trip for a while, or if it's a spontaneous last minute one, make sure you have some sort of plan so you're not left stranded in the middle of nowhere! Australia is very westernised as you may know. So I knew even if I didn't have a job or anywhere to stay, I would be safe. However, the same can't be said about Asia (another place I'm visiting on my travels). No matter how many times you've been travelling, you can never be too certain about your own safety. </div></div><div><br></div><div>I know a lot of people envy what I am doing right now. Some would say I am living the dream. I have no responsibilities, lots of time on my hands and most importantly, a free mind. Even though it's important to have some idea of where you'll be going, being open minded is key when travelling (as noted in my previous post). With an open mind, you will be amazed at how easy things seem...</div><div><br></div><div>For me, it all started when I finished university and started working full time. My life was lacking something to say the least. Spinning in my office chair for days on end became tedious. I was irritable, yearning for something more. My concentration levels often sunk after a few hours at work, with lunch being the <span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">highlight of my working day. Okay I get it, you're not meant to 'love' work, but for me it seemed so wasteful to wish my life away like this. I didn't hate my job but I wasn't hugely passionate about it either, which above all else, made me extremely sad. I want to find something that is worth getting up for, whatever that may be. And here I am - travelling the world - a one way to ticket to a sea of opportunities. On this journey, </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">besides building on life experiences and fun aspect, I also want to find exactly that.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><br></span></div><div><font face="Helvetica Neue Light, HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif">With this blog, I am able to build on my writing experience, an essential tool for anyone seeking a career in the the PR/ comma industry, as well as keep up to date with</font><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"> the real world. </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">But for now it's time to enjoy myself and remember why I quit my job in the first place and decided to travel the world...</span></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv2jEWB_QG_6tO4uXmtT3lFp4n6_I3qLcAGSsA7-u2jWdy_N1kEbyqQfxbhzerNws2zHyXvMEpgpN_G0pTb9h7wDqiYDZ9bIuzp4AAM2jmFSTlrgzSzUh8oi1sf5z8HwQuL6Wrq7pPQg/s1600/you-wont-bring-me-down.regular.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMv2jEWB_QG_6tO4uXmtT3lFp4n6_I3qLcAGSsA7-u2jWdy_N1kEbyqQfxbhzerNws2zHyXvMEpgpN_G0pTb9h7wDqiYDZ9bIuzp4AAM2jmFSTlrgzSzUh8oi1sf5z8HwQuL6Wrq7pPQg/s1600/you-wont-bring-me-down.regular.png" style="border: 0px solid rgb(204, 204, 204);"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/laura.atkins.108" style="text-decoration: none;">Facebook </a>- <a href="https://twitter.com/lmatkinsx" style="text-decoration: none;">Twitter</a> - <a href="http://instagram.com/laura_lovesx" style="text-decoration: none;">Instagram</a> - <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/lauralovesx" style="text-decoration: none;">Bloglovin</a></span></div><div><br></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-84291198710494389422015-04-09T05:47:00.002-07:002015-04-09T05:47:25.337-07:00Afternoon tea at the lounge <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Last Saturday, my mother and I headed over to The Cube in the Mailbox, Birmingham for some special mother and daughter time before I depart for the land of Oz on Sunday. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I originally purchased afternoon tea for two on Groupon</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> as a special Mother's Day treat, but decided this was</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> the perfect excuse to fit in some last minute shopping, and also enjoy some quality time together on a rainy afternoon (not something we get to do very often). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Apart from being quite difficult to find (I am not overly familiar with The Cube), </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I must say, I was rather impressed. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The Lounge itself, (which forms part of the Club and Spa</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> at The Cube) was v</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">ery cosy indeed, overlooking some of Birmingham's finest canals. But what about the afternoon tea itself? Did it live up to its expectations? Of course it did. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I wouldn't have expected anything</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> less from the Mailbox. After struggling to locate its whereabouts, we finally arrived in good time, and</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">were greeted by our waitress who offered us a choice of tea or coffee to start, (of course we went for tea). She then checked to see if we</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> had </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">any dietary requirements,</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> before showing us to our seats overlooking the canal. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Throughout the afternoon the service was on point - we were presented with our tea and an array of delicious finger sandwiches and cakes in little under ten minutes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Included on our three tier cake stand was </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">a gooey chocolate brownie, a crunchy seeded caramel flapjack, a succulent carrot cake and two classic British scones with fresh jam and cream, not forgetting a choice of finger sandwiches on both white and brown bloomer bread. We were truly spoilt for choice. Saying that, </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: start;">I think we could have done with a few more sandwiches (this was our lunch after all), as the ratio of sandwiches to cakes was enough to make anyone have a slight heart attack...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course, we managed to get through the food in no time (including all the cakes) </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">even though I was adamant I wasn't going to eat them all, and would be taking some home with me. The temptation was clearly too much - these cakes were truly delicious! This was the perfect afternoon, and for just £16, I couldn't complain. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">I was </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">slightly annoyed that I didn't purchase the deal with the glass of prosecco each to finish for an extra five pound. However, this didn't stop me treating us both to a glass of white to toast my</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> big move in a few days time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So would I come back? Definitely, but maybe in the summer months when it's a bit warmer and </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">you're not left watching the rain. Saying that, this didn't stop people from celebrating the long Easter weekend out on the canal.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> I am not sure if the offer is still running on Groupon, but either way, this is the perfect little hideout after a long days shopping, or if you just fancy a bite to eat. They have a range of light snacks and drinks for you to choose from on the menu in addition to the afternoon tea. I for one loved the fresh modern decor, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">including the funky leather sofas, colourful armchairs and oden wall panels. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Very chic indeed! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It looked like many other mother's and daughter's had a similar idea too - the place was overflowing with women of all ages. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you visited The Lounge before? What do you think of afternoon tea?</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-66805954537910357232015-03-17T13:44:00.001-07:002015-03-17T13:44:14.198-07:00What it means to be happy<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am a firm believer in the old saying 'anybody can do anything if they put their mind to it'. Happiness is my number one goal in life, n</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ot money or possessions (even though I would like these too), but true f**king happiness, and this I believe, can only</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> be achieved when all possibilities are explored. I am a wonderer, an adventure seeker, and I will not settle until I feel I have achieved all that I am destined to. The world is such a fascinating place and my mind is truly <u>open</u>. In little under three weeks time, I will be embarking on my next journey, starting off in Sydney Australia and from there, who knows... The world is certainly my oyster at the moment and that one way flight to Australia is my calling.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have always been destined to travel. I hate the thought of settling in one place. This scares me above all else. Life is too short to settle, to stick with one job and one set of friends. There are over seven billion people in the world right now. How sad is it that we only know a fraction of these, a mere flicker of dust on the earth's surface. My favourite thing ever - meeting new people. I love </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">exploring new cultures and seeing </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">how others live -</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> this excites me above all else.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Time. I never seem to have enough time at the moment. It's like the world is against me. That's another reason I am going in a way - I am getting older by the second! I fear this, and am trying to put off doing the stereotypical things every adult is expected to do at some point</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">- move out, find a partner, get married and have children. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have never been as sure as I am right now that I need to get out of here, move on, and 'find myself'. Okay this is the cliché travelling thing to say, but I truly do feel like this is my time. I set up this blog in the hope to share my writing, to make new friends, but most importantly, to keep a sort of diary of things I have been up to. Travel writing has to be one of my favourites now. I love the way one can describe a place, how you get lost in the words almost. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I know I don't belong here, and until I find somewhere where I can 'settle' so to speak, then I am going to keep on travelling and never ever look back...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Have you ever been travelling? What does it mean for you to be happy?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sorry for the lack of posts at the moment but expect many more travel related ones over the upcoming weeks. I would love to hear your thoughts on my next adventure too, so feel free to share these. </span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-3121938477786106872015-03-09T15:45:00.003-07:002015-03-09T15:45:21.209-07:00International Women's day<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Yesterday was International Women's Day as you may already </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">know </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">thanks to the the floods of 'inspiring' quotes on both Facebook and Twitter. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Described as a 'celebration of women's economic, political and social achievements', this h</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">istorical event is one that continues to capture our imaginations. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't want to be one to follow th</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">e crowd so to speak, but if there was ever a 'right' time to write a post, it is now,</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> on this</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> hugely uplifting and</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> widely recognised day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Women and power. They go together hand in hand. Or so they should. The struggle for women is still evident today, and this is a struggle we feel on a global scale. From those suffering in third world counties at the hands of domineering and destructive men, to the women in parliament who it appears are </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">unfit to be pregnant</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> and withhold a job. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Even now, women are earning less than their male counterparts in various parts of the world statistics show. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Gender equality. The gap is closing, but it is clearly still an issue. Yes, things have improved drastically from when our grandparents were alive, but it's not over yet...</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So why is International Women's Day important (the clue is in the title)? It celebrates women in all shapes and forms. </span><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">We can do anything.</u><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Housewives, mothers, career women - you name it. What we don't do so well is celebrate our achievements, and yet, there has been so many. Yesterday was a chance to do exactly that.</span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Although different, all the paths mentioned just now are as worthwhile as</span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> one another</span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">. </span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I for one wont be getting pregnant any time soon, but this isn't to say there is anything wrong with this. </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If a woman chooses to have a child at the age of twenty, so be it.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We and we only are responsible for creating our own happiness. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">There is an incredible amount of pressure on women today to achieve, to go above and beyond what previous generations have done. The great thing is, we now have the resources to do so, university being at the forefront of my mind. </span></div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So why not grab these opportunities with both hands? I know I am. But not all women think as I do, and this is where the conflict lies I believe. Nowadays we appear to be competing, rather than enlightening one another, </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">and until this comes to an end, the struggle will be ongoing. </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No woman is identical so why should we fit into just o</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">ne category? </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Yes, there has been a shift from the stereotypical</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> housewife days, but now there appears to be a huge gap between these sorts of women and women in power so to speak. What happens to those in between?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Women and discrimination is still an issue. I have experienced this first hand. The other night being a prime example. One rather drunken male decided to make a </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">rather derogatory comment about the colour of my hair.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> I laughed this off, but is this something we should be laughing about? It is comments like these that bring these issues to light, and yet, we are surrounded by this sort of behaviour on a daily basis. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">In the workplace, on public transport and even in the home. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Take the new Delhi bus incident which has been dominating the news again just recently. It takes a strong woman to fight back, and that this victim certainly was. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So here's to strong women, to those suffering, and all those in between...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>How did you celebrate on this truly inspiring day? </b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-37747448233429967572015-02-27T09:55:00.002-08:002015-02-27T09:55:29.181-08:00Eating Disorders Awareness Week<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another mental health awareness topic you ask? This week it's <i>Eating Disorders Awareness Week,</i> and what better excuse to spread the word about healthy </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">eating </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">and most importantly, <u>healthy living</u>. I nearly forgot about this hugely important week believe it or not. I have been off work the past few days and living like a hermit so to speak. Along with this, there's also the fact that this national awareness week isn't hugely publicised in the media either. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But why? Does this mean it is less important than raising money for cancer or comic relief? More on that later...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I recently had the pleasure of interviewing the clinical lead for the </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">eating disorders service at work, and I was astounded at what she had to say. Obviously, I knew a lot of the facts already (yes, I did my research), but to hear that women as old as eighty are being hospitalised for various eating disorders </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">was truly heartbreaking. When we think of eating disorders, we often think of young innocent teenagers going through puberty. WRONG. Eating disorders affect everyone, from the old to the young, male and female, black or white. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u>So who is to blame?</u> Nobody. Clinical research has found that nobody is to blame for these truly awful mental illnesses, not you or your child, your partner, or the media. Obviously it can be genetic in the sense that if one was to see their parents not eating correctly, this may influence their outlook on food</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. The media also has a huge part to play in influencing how our children of tomorrow look. The 'skinny ideal' isn't actually that ideal at all. Yet, there is no significant link between this and eating disorders. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Eating disorders are likely to occur between the ages of twelve and twenty five, but as noted earlier, can also occur in older women/men. There are various signs to look out for, including; loss of appetite, over exercising, making yourself sick or being afraid to eat, many of which I experienced. My unhealthy relationship with food began around the age of eighteen. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I remember noticing a change in my body shape - I began to develop wider hips, boobs, and </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">all those other parts men seem to love, but (most of) us women hate. I believe this is where my obsession with food began. I started to work out three or four times a week, and would also calorie count to the point where I was afraid to eat anything remotely unhealthy. I wanted to be slimmer and punished my body as a result. By controlling what I ate, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I felt empowered, when all I was really doing was putting my body at serious risk...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Even though I somehow managed to control my unhealthy obsession with food</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, even to this very day, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I have my moments of weakness where </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I feel I must </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">punish myself unless I have put my body through a vigorous workout. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From an outsiders perspective, eating disorders are often overlooked (they are</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> still considered a </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">taboo subject for many)</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What onlookers fail to understand is that these are </span><u style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">serious mental illnesses</u><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> and therefore shouldn't be treated any differently to any other illness. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They are often thought of as being a 'phase', but I know too well, when you are in that frame of mind, it is hard to control your thoughts.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; text-align: start;">My thoughts often overwhelmed me. I wanted that Mcdonalds more than anything but the guilt that came with eating it, was too much.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Remember, there is a <span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; text-align: start;">fine line between watching what you are eating/working out, and becoming obsessed. </span></span><span style="text-align: start;">The scary thing is the lack of beds and support out there for sufferers. Again this comes down to the fact that eating disorder aren't widely recognised as being mental illnesses. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am showing my support by tweeting something positive about myself after sharing this blog post. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I urge you to do the same. Alternatively, if you want to </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">find out more about E<i>ating Disorders Awareness Week </i><a href="http://nedawareness.org/">click here</a>.</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Remember you have to love yourself before anyone else can love you back...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What are your thoughts on eating disorders? Have you ever experienced any of the symptoms listed above?</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-13664575979144538042015-02-23T13:42:00.001-08:002015-02-23T13:42:57.829-08:00Why every good woman needs a little muscle<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Call me bias, call me what you wish, but I stand by my word when I say this - the female physique is much more attractive than any males will <b><u>ever</u></b> be. A woman's curves - those hips and a tiny waist just does it for me. No I am not a lesbian, but I appreciate a good body when I see one, which gets me on to today's post - <i>'Why every good woman needs a little muscle'</i>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have always been concious of my body from a young age, ever since I starting developing curves of my own in fact. I was afraid, like many young girls of the extra bit of meat forming around the lower half of my body. <u>But why?</u> Was it because of the fact that I was turning into a woman finally, or was it because I began to compare myself to every other woman on this planet. Unfortunately it was the latter. I began to reject what was in front of me. It's only recently that I have started to view myself differently and it's all thanks to the gym, and the new ideal woman that has emerged in the media - the muscular but undeniably healthier female form.</span><br />
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I write a lot about women and health, as you may have noticed by now. It's something I feel both passionate about, and most importantly, enjoy writing about. The problem is, I see tonnes of women about these days who clearly have no idea about nutrition or what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle. Now I am not just talking about those overweight ones, but also they malnourished ones. By no means am I saying I am an expert, but what I do know is that it feels fantastic to be in control of what I eat and actually enjoy working out. An avid gym goer for many years, it's only recently that I decided to alter my routine slightly. Instead of using the standard machines that many women flock to in the gym (the treadmill, cross trainer etc.) alongside some light weights, I now work on building muscle primarily by participating in a variety of weight classes including the classic circuit and legs, bums and tums (LBT) classes. I tend to do these classes up to four times a week and have noticed a significant difference over the last few months. Not only do I look more toned, I am stronger too, something I could only once dream of! </span></div>
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Women with muscle was once considered taboo so to speak. It's only recently that women are starting to 'jump on the bandwagon', and that's all down to its popularity in the media. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Clearly there are some women who overdo it (think Jodie Marsh), but there are a whole lot of women who do it well. Some of my favourites can be found on Instagram. I don't believe in aspiring to be like celebrities as they often have unachievable and unrealistic lifestyles, so to give you an idea of my #fitinspo I have listed five of my favourite people to follow on Instagram right now:</span><br />
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@cleaneats_kenzie</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>@michelle_lewin_</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>@lydiaemillen</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>@femalemotivation</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>@amandafinniee</b></span><br />
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These women sure know what they are doing in the gym and treat their bodies with respect, something all women should aspire to do. Remember when building muscle, it's still important to find that balance between eating right and working out. Don't get me wrong - it is not easy. It requires a lot of persistence but once you start to see the results, you will start to wonder what on earth you were doing before you discovered lifting! A word of advice - don't be afraid. Muscle isn't something that forms overnight and you aren't going to end up looking like popeye (yes I was worried about this too at first). Up your protein, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">cut down on the carbs and work that ass off - you won't regret it.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do you use weights at the gym? What do you think of women with muscle?</span></b></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-40308721218739669692015-02-21T06:50:00.002-08:002015-02-21T06:50:28.305-08:00Laser hair removal - Is it worth it?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alongside getting my eyes lasered, I have also been undergoing laser hair removal over the last couple of months (I haven't won the lottery I promise). After suffering from ingrowing hairs for many years, I decided enough was enough; it was time to eliminate those hairs forever. Not only do I have fairly dark skin, I also have coarse dark hairs (I take after my dad), and had previously tried everything; from waxing to epilating, to hair removal cream, before taking the plunge and opting for permanent hair removal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am now on my last session (out of a total six), and I can honestly say - I wish I had done it sooner. I think the main reason why it took me so long to decide to go ahead with the procedure was because of the hefty price tag often attached to so many of the big names in the laser hair removal industry. However, after speaking with a former colleague of mine, I was reunited with the marvels of Groupon. I love a good bargain, and couldn't believe how cheap some of the offers were on here. In the end, I booked a six course treatment for little under <u>£100 </u>at Miss Couture in the Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham (which is amazing if you compare this to the likes of the Harley Medical Group or Sk:n). I didn't expect luxury and must admit, I was quite apprehensive on my first visit, but I can assure you; the end result is just as good as any other. The clinic itself was just like any other beauty parlour, and offered a whole host of treatments including botox, waxing, facials and so forth. The staff are extremely friendly and instantly put any doubts to the back of my mind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The treatment itself takes five to sixty minutes (depending on what area you are treating) and overall is fairly painless. Obliviously there are various discloser forms to sign beforehand and precautions you have to take, but apart from that, it is similar to going for a wax. Since attending Miss Couture laser clinic, I have noticed a significant difference as the weeks have progressed. The hair is almost non existent and ingrowing hairs are now longer a concern for me. If you are reading this and want to find out more, then why not have a look for yourself. The website has just been revamped and offers courses from as little as £300. <a href="http://miss-couture.co.uk/">Click here</a> to find out more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Have you ever had laser hair removal? What are your thoughts on the procedure?</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-77806535493979036242015-02-19T14:28:00.001-08:002015-02-20T15:01:40.942-08:00Kebub restaurant review<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This was my second visit to the 'famous' Kebub in West Bromwich, and again it succeeded in satisfying my needs. After visiting with friends a couple of weeks back, my parents decided they too wanted to try out the popular Turkish restaurant in town as tweeted about by Mr Lord Alan Sugar himself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am a big fan of trying out different cuisines, and there is no doubt about it - this restaurant certainly puts Turkish grub on the map.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Putting a healthy spin on kebabs one could say, Kebub offers a range of meat dishes alongside various tasty sides. These include home-made chips, rice, natural yoghurt and mixed veg. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The menu itself isn't exactly extensive but there's enough to suit everyone's</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> tastes. I went for the mixed grill again as I like trying a little bit of everything. Included in this dish was a variety of meats including delicious pieces of chicken, succulent shish kebab and spicy chicken wings, alongside two beds of rice and finely grated salad. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For a cheeky side, we went for the home-made chips which are to die for! I can't say I am a huge fan of chips but these were definitely worth the extra calories! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To accompany our meals we were presented with a range of tasty dips including garlic and herb and hot chilli. I also treated myself to a glass of red which went down a treat!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Overall, this is a lovely little find in the </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">heart of West Bromwich, and one I will definitely be returning to in the foreseeable future. If you are a lover of meats and want to get your mid week kebab fix, then I would certainly recommend you checking this out. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I can't say I am a lover of kebabs usually, but this restaurant offers freshly cooked food and for a great price too.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">One thing I was particularly</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> impressed with was the extremely friendly staff who offered a great service all night long (they even opened the door on our exit!) A </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">word of advice - the restaurant itself does get fairly busy so I recommend you book in advance if you do fancy stopping by. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Have you visited Kebub? What do you think of Turkish cuisine? </b></span><br>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-83188243606850708502015-02-16T09:41:00.003-08:002015-02-16T09:41:39.054-08:00Time to Talk Day - Living with a mental illness <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's a weird feeling being depressed. That feeling of emptiness, loneliness. I can't say I have ever been exposed to such intense emotions before, but after a terrible break up last year I reached rock bottom. July 2014 - the month my relationship ended for good. The heartbreak, the anguish, the sadness. I often cried myself to sleep - not just because of the break up, but because of the torment, the sheer torture my partner had put me through for so long.</span><br />
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Yes, I was in a very unstable relationship and many of you reading this may feel no empathy, but if you haven't been in a similar situation, then it is difficult to understand. There was a time when I would once mock girls who would run back to their partners after they had cheated on them, or even abused them for that matter. I saw this as a sign of weakness rather than strength but let me tell you - it takes a lot of strength to keep going back there - there is only so much pain one can expose themselves to. After finding myself in a similar situation, I now understand the mental strains a relationship of that sort can have on a individual. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Talking about mental illnesses can be difficult. I never understood what it meant to have a mental illness before I met my ex partner who suffered with a personality disorder, but here I am two years later working in mental health (the sheer irony). Since then I have been passionate in my bid to get people talking about mental illness. In fact, I never thought I would pluck up the courage to write something like this, and so openly too. But if I can make a difference to just one person's life by sharing this post, that would make me a very happy woman indeed. </span><br />
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If there is one thing working in mental health has taught me; it's the vast about of mental health issues out there, and the sheer amount of us suffering and not reaching out to anyone. Many people don't realise how closely intertwined both our physical health and mental health are. It makes perfect sense though -if you are ill in hospital, obviously this is going to have a drastic effect on the way you are feeling mentally. We all know too well that the government aren't investing enough money into mental health services. This often takes a back seat in comparison to acute Trusts. However, this is an issue that is being addressed and will </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">hopefully</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> improve over time.</span><br />
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Last week on <b>5th February </b>it was Time to Talk day, a national event which encouraged the nation to start talking about mental health, whilst challenging those stigmas often attached to mental health issues. Being able to promote such an important event was incredible. I got to talk to so many different people, some of whom had suffered previously with mental illness, and others who were intrigued to find out more. </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Sometimes it is the little things like starting a conversation with a stranger which really help. I know I used to struggle when speaking about my depression as this is something my family never understood. Again, this comes down to not being able to relate to the situation. My father is very old fashioned in his beliefs and would often laugh off the idea of me being depressed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Generally, I have always been a happy girl, very outgoing and sociable, but</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> the chemical imbalance in my brain for that year or so during my relationship was very concerning. </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It was so easy for me to slip back into that depressive mode where staying in the house seemed a better option than venturing out. I grabbed onto the highs and tried to eliminate the lows but it's easier said than done. Sometimes your thoughts are your worst enemy. The only way forward was to keep occupied, to think</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> positively. P</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><u>ositive thinking breeds positive actions.</u> I know how easy it is to sit and feel sorry for yourself - I have done that many of times. It's about getting up and starting to make those positive changes which is the hardest part. Remember, you are never alone. Whether it's your family, friends or even a professional, there is always someone to help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you want to find out more about Time to Talk day, then <a href="http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/timetotalkday">click here</a> and join in the conversation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Have you ever dealt with a mental illness? What do you understand about mental health?</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-52619004078835106532015-02-12T09:38:00.002-08:002015-02-12T09:58:51.806-08:00Laser Eye Surgery - Is it worth it?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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On Friday I decided to take the plunge and get my eyes corrected (hopefully forever). Laser eye surgery is something I had been considering for a while, but for various reasons, had never actually gone through with it. This included not being financially stable, but more significantly; the risks involved. It's only recently, since starting a new role and speaking with various individuals in my office who had had it done, that I decided to go ahead with it. I booked my consultation at Optical Express in no time, and after little persuasion put down my <u>£400</u><b> </b>deposit. But why now you may ask? Obviously the money plays a big part in it - I can afford to use my savings now I have a regular income, but the main reason behind my decision lies in the fact that I am going travelling in April for a year or so.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For those glasses and contact wearers out there, you will understand my ordeal. Taking a year or more supply of contacts backpacking isn't ideal. Not only do you have the cost implications, there is also the inconvenience. Along with the worry of misplacing these, you also are limited on what activities you can and can't do. Take swimming for example - this is <u>strictly out of bounds</u> unless you want to run the risk of going blind that is. I can't remember the last time I went swimming properly and that upsets me a little. Wearing glasses in the glaring hot sun isn't ideal either which again means you'll have to resort to contacts. However, contacts are known for drying out and can often become uncomfortable in the heat - a symptom known as dry eyes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now don't get me wrong - the risks involved with laser eye surgery are far higher than any of those associated with contacts. In fact, dry eyes is one of the most common side effects of laser eye surgery, along with glaring lights, both of which I have experienced already. The good thing about these side effects is that they are not permanent or untreatable. I am now using three different types of eye drops four times a day and have regular check ups before I go away, but so far, so good. I am sitting here<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: start;"> </span>writing this post five days post of surgery and I cannot believe how quickly I am recovering. Don't get me wrong, the procedure itself wasn't pleasant (more of that later), but right now if you asked me if it was worth it I would say 100%, and I still haven't achieved the full results yet (this could take weeks).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is common fact that everyone recovers differently. One of the ladies I work with claimed that she had to sit in darkness for two months post surgery, whereas I am back at work and doing just fine. In fact, I was able to use my tablet just hours after surgery. This isn't something I would recommend, but it just goes to show how fast technology is advancing. With Lasik surgery, you are able to return back to work within 48 hours which is just incredible! Most people who qualify for laser eye surgery are eligible for this type of surgery, which not only offers faster recovery, but also claims to be pain free. Lasek on the other hand (the other type of surgery) requires a much longer recovery period (2-3 weeks) and is said to be much more painful. Luckily I qualified for the most advanced surgery on the market: Lasik iDesign, with guaranteed 20/20 vision. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br />I must admit, my initial reaction after surgery was questioning what I had done. I can't say the procedure was painful as it wasn't, but it was very uncomfortable. I think the worst part was being awake throughout it all, even though the procedure itself takes little under ten minutes. Your initial reaction to anything entering your eyes is to blink, but this is something you are incapable of doing. This was a real concern of mine prior to surgery, along with something going wrong of course, but rest assured, nobody has ever gone blind from laser eye surgery. Afterwards, I couldn't wait to get home and close my eyes but after an hour or so in bed I felt okay to get up again. Since then I have been wearing goggles to bed each night, and have been extra careful not to get water near my eyes for a week (this includes when bathing or showering). Obviously it's not convenient not being able to wash your hair properly, but you get over it. I don't even mind the fact that I cant wear makeup for a while, I just wish I could work out! Hopefully I will be back at the gym in no time and feeling a little more human!</span><br />
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So overall - a terrifying but incredible experience and one I will definitely remember for a lifetime - it doesn't get much better than that. One word of advice if you are considering surgery - do not be afraid and put it off like many people do. I think I have been treated at a prime time in my life; I am young, have a stable prescription, but most importantly, this will have a huge impact on my future. To find out more or to book your <b>FREE</b> consultation, <a href="https://www.opticalexpress.co.uk/">visit the website</a> today.</span></div>
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<b>Have you considered laser eye surgery? What are you thoughts on the procedure?</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-10128204419438583332015-02-07T06:10:00.000-08:002015-02-12T09:59:22.168-08:00The REAL benefits of being single - Valentine's Special<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Come on - it's not all bad. I see numerous of these posts - us single girls trying to convince ourselves (and others) that we are fine on our own - we are independent women and don't need a man to make us. So I thought, with Valentine's day just around the corner, I would have a go at writing one of my own. I am calling this:</span><br />
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<b>The REAL benefits of being single</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Being single allows one to do whatever the hell they want, when they want, and with <u><b>who</b></u> they want. Nobody wants somebody waiting up for them at the end of the night lets face it. All we want to do after a night on the town is face plant the pillow anyway...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You are able to spend money on yourself and whoever else you choose. No 'let's split the bill' or xmas presents to buy for (get in).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can speak to other guys. This is strictly forbidden in <b><u>any </u></b>relationship, even though you've known the guy for going on ten years and used to share a bath in like year 1..</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You have so much <u><b>time</b> </u>to do what the hell you want. Did I mention TIME!!!!!?</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can spend more time with family and friends. One less person to worry about when planning your exciting weeks worth of events. YAY!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You don't have to think about marriage or babies or a mortgage. I am still 18 in my head...Don't talk to me about 'settling' down please!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You have time to go off and find yourself. Yes, travelling is a must for us single ladies out there. No point getting too comfortable now. You have another 40 years plus of work. That in itself is enough to bring on a mid life crisis.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You have more time to go to the gym and work on that sexy body of yours.. Yes, us women like to look good for ourselves believe it or not. <b><u>You can look but you can't touch! </u></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">No more tears or pining. You are a free woman with no emotional ties to any other male on this planet (who are we kidding)...</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Remember there's always tinder, or pof if all else fails... </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So there you go. If that's not going to cheer you up on a cold winters evening, then I don't know what will! Here's to being single (for a good few more years at least). Cheers!</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-4596114773842493152015-02-03T09:12:00.000-08:002015-02-12T09:59:50.197-08:00Bun and Bowl Valentine's Menu Review <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">On Sunday evening, I was fortunate enough to be invited along to a Valentine's tasting event at The Bun and Bowl in Birmingham. I have never been to The Cube before, let alone this restaurant, so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Let's say, it didn't fail to exceed my expectations. </span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">I have been meaning to get involved with some 'foodie' events for a while now, so this was the</span></span></span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;"> perfect </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">opportunity for me to make myself known, and of course, try lots of exciting new foods. Of course, the company didn't go a miss either. The Birmingham bloggers are a lovely bunch, and I was even introduced to some new faces including the lovely<a href="http://www.nutellatasha.com/"> Tasha</a> who organised the event.</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Once we had settled in and everyone had ordered their cocktails (which were delicious may I add), we got started on our four course menu. Throughout our meal we were taken through each dish by the wonderful owner who was extremely pleasant like the rest of his staff. We also got to enjoy the likes of Frank Sinatra in the background, thanks to the rather talented violinist.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">To start, we were all brought out a curious looking </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">appetiser - a </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">'cappuccino' of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">mushroom soup alongside a</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;"> canapé of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">toast with wrapped salmon, </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">avocado and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">caviare. I am not a huge fan of mushroom soup, but I must say, this was very pleasing on the taste buds. It had quite a creamy texture and was just the right temperature to drink whole.</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;"> I would never have thought of putting soup in a shot glass, but alongside the </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">canapé of </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">toast, this worked perfectly. The salty texture from the soup along with the delicate taste of the canapé made this a winning course. </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">But the fun didn't stop there, to accompany our appetisers, we were each brought out a </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">glass of </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">red champagne</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">, which may I add was also delightful. I have never been a huge champagne drinker but this Moet champagne with </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">Strawberry Coulis was to die for. I would definitely try this again!</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">Next it was on to the starter - oyster served over ice, topped with lemon juice and croutons. Like many of the other bloggers, I had never tried </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">oysters before (I am not a huge lover of seafood if I am honest), but I thought I would be brave and give it a go! I cant say I was filled with joy. I was warned about the texture beforehand, but what I wasn't prepared for was the overpowering taste of the sea! I somehow managed to eat it but I don't think I will be trying it again any time soon. The struggle to get it in my mouth was enough to put anyone off. Yes I did end up nearly eating the shell too, thanks Ellie! However, there was no doubting that these </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">oysters were fresh, and the perfect aphrodisiac for any Valentine's menu.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">For mains we were served a 'slider' burger with a side of fries. The burger itself was made with </span></span></span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">rib-eye steak - </span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">so as you can imagine, </span><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">delicious! It was cooked to perfection too - medium rare with just the right amount of succulence. I felt like I</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;"> was eating a mini steak in fact! The fresh brioche bun almost</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;"> crumbled as I went in for the kill - it was very tasty indeed. Topped with</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;"> sweet </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">caramelised onions, foie gras </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">and</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;"> of course the classic </span><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">lettuce </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">and </span><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">tomato; this was the perfect little burger. For dips we had two sauces; BBQ and a black truffle sauce which were both lovely. The black truffle was my favourite though, I could have definitely done with a bottle of this!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">To bring the event to a close, we were spoilt with one more dish - dessert - leaving the best till last some would say. This consisted of strawberries, meringue alongside a mixture of sorbet. <span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">I am not a huge fan of meringue, but this was so light and creamy and worked extremely well with the fruit and tangy sorbet. I loved the use of flavours in this dish and wasn't left craving anything else afterwards. The perfect amount of sweetness; the </span><span style="line-height: 22.4400005340576px;">perfect end to a wonderful evening. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you visited Bun and Bowl before? Their Valentine's menu is priced at <b>£30</b> per head and there are still a few places left if you are still looking for somewhere to book. This includes one starter, one main and one dessert which is pretty good value if you ask me. I can't say I am a Valentine's expert but I wouldn't mind being treated to this exquisite menu on 14th February. If it's tasty food, great service and a relaxed atmosphere you are after, then get yourself down to The Bun and Bowl. I can assure you, you wont be disappointed! To find out more, or to book a table <a href="http://www.bunandbowl.com/">click here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.6000003814697px;">*Please note: We were invited to this restaurant to try their Valentine's menu. This meal was complimentary and all opinions are my own.</i></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-32024081364615493752015-01-23T09:58:00.002-08:002015-01-23T09:58:35.425-08:00Afternoon Tea<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">On Saturday, it was one of my best friends birthday, and for a change, instead of getting stupidly drunk and rolling in and out of taxis, we decided to head over to Birmingham for some tea and scones (very sophisticated I know). I love my tea, and may have been even more excited than my friend at the prospect of eating my way through various cakes and sandwiches that afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After finding ourselves a bargain deal on Groupon - Tea for Two for just £7 each, we headed over to the Novotel in Birmingham. I must say I wasn't quite expecting the service we experienced that day. In this case, paying less was certainly a good thing. We were greeted by our waitress who showed us to our seats and took our beverage orders, before being presented with an array of delicious sandwiches to choose from. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As you can see, these aren't your standard poxy finger sandwiches which you would usually expect from such an affair; these were good sized sandwiches (and lots of them). I went for the tuna and mayonnaise sandwich to start, along with a cucumber and cream cheese sandwich - both of which were delicious. The only criticism I have to offer in regards to the sandwiches is, they were all arranged on white bread. What happened to the wholemeal?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">After we had finished our sandwiches, it was time for more tea and gossip (yes we got unlimited tea refills too). Our waitress came over to take our plates and presented us with this beauty. I love cakes, but my gosh - this selection was to die for! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We soon got stuck in to our brownies, scones and flapjacks.I couldn't manage my cheesecake so I had to leave this one (to my utter despair) - talk about sugar overload. I am very fond of my cakes and again - these didn't disappoint. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I am not sure if they were home-made but they were fresh and </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">extremely</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> tasty nevertheless!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> So all in all, a successful afternoon.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> No fancy cake stand or selection of teas which you may find at your more traditional afternoon tea experience, but for just £7 you cant complain. I would definitely recommend you check this place out if you'e after a fairly inexpensive afternoon tea experience, or even just a quick catch up with your loved ones.</span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-25032511160192221042015-01-20T11:31:00.001-08:002015-02-12T10:00:25.942-08:00Learning to meditate <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It is only recently that I've began to take an avid interest in the teachings of the Buddha, and as a result of this, started to learn how to meditate. Buddhism - a term I had heard used often enough but never really understood its true meaning. After a tough few months last year, I was determined to alter my negative frame of mind. Countless nights of over thinking and an evident lack of sleep was starting to take its toll on my body. It was one evening, whilst reading up on the marvellous South East Asia, and planning my travels for next year when a friend of mine asked if I would like to go along with him to a Buddhist centre in Birmingham. Evidently, I jumped at the chance. It sounded like just what I needed, and indeed it was. Two hours of listening to the teachings of the Buddha and learning how to meditate left me eager for more. </span><br />
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I can't say I am a huge fan of religion for various reasons (which I won't go into on here), but Buddhism offers many logical and profound ideas that I am able to both relate to and preach. Unfortunately, a lot of people today use the symbol of the Buddha as a fashion accessory, but after experiencing a Buddhist centre in action, I can certainly say that it's much more than that. To be honest, I never even knew these sorts of places existed, especially on my doorstep. It was a breath of fresh air to see so many diverse people all in one place; from the young to the old, the eccentric to your everyday worker; the centre welcomed people from far and wide. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some would argue that Buddhism is not a religion, some will argue for it. Personally I don't mind - either way - it is fascinating. The first time I went along to the Buddhist centre, I must admit, I wasn't completely open minded to all that was going on around me. One of the reasons I attended the Buddhist centre in the first place was to learn how to switch off, to let go of reality. This excited me above all else. What really stuck me about this particular centre in Birmingham was its welcoming atmosphere. Everyone is equal; whether you were coming along for fun, because of recent trauma or to learn more about Buddhism, you can find it here. As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect, and after two more sessions I started to feel like I had achieved something. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am now on my way to completing my six week 'Introduction to Buddhism' course. Thanks to these sessions, I am now able to appreciate the little things around me; like making a cup of tea and loved ones. I love the mindfulness behind this teaching; the Buddha recognises that everyone gets angry from time time.<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> It's about letting go of the past and living in the present, taking every day as it comes and not letting your negative emotions control you (as I often did). Not only have I learnt how to relax, I have even learnt how to take time out before I speak which is a first for me. Even my sleeping pattern has improved which is amazing. Who knows, I may even consider converting to Buddhism completely after delving into its roots on my travels next year...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><u style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; text-align: start;"><b style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Evolution - Rebecca Elson</b></u><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; text-align: start;">We are survivors of immeasurable events,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; text-align: start;">Flung upon some reach of land,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; text-align: start;">Small, wet miracles without instructions,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; text-align: start;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; text-align: start;">Only the imperative of change.</span></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-86224902857208092952014-12-28T07:42:00.002-08:002015-02-12T13:50:16.498-08:00Yoga for beginners <div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I am always one for trying new things - whether this be food, clothes, wine - I am your woman. A fitness fanatic (as I often like to call myself), it's only fitting that I came across the wonders of yoga at some point. Prior to attending my first yoga class, I had heard many great things from various friends of mine about this mindful practice. Often said to test your strength and stability, this is a workout like no other. Of course, this could only make me eager to find out more. I went along to my first yoga session not only for the workout element (which I have to say didn't quite live up to my expectations), but to open my mind, to feel liberated. The latter I certainly achieved. This was a very relaxing session where I got to stretch my body to new limits and clear my mind of any worries. For those of you who aren't sure what yoga is, or if you are reading this because you want to <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30475999">find out more</a>, and possibly try it for yourself then do read on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We began then with a quick warm up- stretching our bodies in all sort of ways, and of course finding out who were the most flexible ones amongst us. I have got to give it to our yoga instructor - she was not only very friendly but also very spiritual too. After a quick warm up, it was time to try out some of the more testing exercises (if that's what you call them). Luckily for me I have quite good balance - my weekly gym sessions certainly made me look like I had been doing this for a while. Some of the moves I was already familiar with thanks to my Wii fit back in the day. We finished off the session by turning off the lights and sleeping. Yes - sleeping. I didn't quite know what to make of the sleeping part and I can't say I was overly keen. I was expecting my money to be well spent and to feel like I had actually worked out afterwards. That's not to say it wasn't enjoyable, I just think a lot of the moves you could do in the comfort of your own home using the wonderful Youtube of course (god bless the internet). I ended up in fits of laughter and walked out with a rather red face. Maybe I am not cut out for this spiritual stuff after all...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As you may know, I have an avid interest in anything concerning mindfulness, which has acted as a constant theme on my blog posts recently. I often find myself over thinking things, especially at night due to recent trauma in my life, and yoga is a brilliant way of de stressing - there is no denying this. However, just like meditation (which I will be focusing on in one of my next blog posts), this is something you have to practice in order to get the most out of it. Even though this isn't a strenuous workout, you are testing your core stability and strength which makes this an art form in its own right. Remember, training your mental health is completely different yo your physical, and this is something we need to be more concious of.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-16348469821903770442014-12-26T10:13:00.002-08:002015-02-12T13:51:21.949-08:00Exploring Dublin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So last weekend I embarked on a spontaneous trip to Dublin with two of my best girl friends - a well deserved break if I say so myself! After grabbing ourselves a bargain return flight for just £36, we couldn't wait to explore this marvellous city. I have always wanted to visit Ireland - and even though this wasn't a true representation of all that Ireland had to offer - it still beats staying in the Midlands! Everything, from the strong Irish accent, to the sweet Guinness stew and numerous street performers dotted about the cobbled streets made this the perfect little getaway before Christmas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Now I would be lying if I said Dublin exceeded my expectations - it didn't. But what it did do was make me a whole lot more grateful for the prices of amenities back in the UK (just kidding). It was awfully pricey though, which a lot of people had warned me about beforehand. For some reason I had also envisaged the city to look a lot older that it did, and feel somewhat more Irish (if that's possible). However, it was clear from the moment that we stepped foot into this city that it was a thriving one; one that welcomed tourists and their wallets! Saying this, the night-life was brilliant (more on this later). There were lots of little Irish pubs and bars to check out around the Temple Bar area, which again were a haven for tourists like myself. $7 for half a cider - they must think we are all from London!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After arriving at our hostel, we dropped off our bags and headed straight out in search of the Guinness Factory. Prior to this trip, I had heard very mixed reviews about this place, and I can't say I was overly impressed as I walked around the first floor after handing over 18 euros. However, after reaching the fourth floor and getting the chance to not only pour - but enjoy my own pint overlooking Ireland on the eighth floor - I was happy I went along after all. Now a certified member of the Guinness academy - I can go to sleep knowing I have achieved something with my life...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After a quick pint of Guinness (or in my case - a swig) we headed back to the hostel for a quick nap. By this time we were starving and ready for some grub. However, we had not prepared ourselves for how cold it was that evening. First off, we decided to walk, which was brave in itself, but the sheer lack of clothing we had decided to go out proved to be an awful idea. By this time - it was too late to turn back. In a desperate bid to find the famous Temple Bar we got out our crumpled map and hoped for the best. Luckily we came across this little beauty - The Hard Rock Cafe where food was promised, and lots of it! Luckily we managed to grab a table fairly quickly and dig in to our delicious burgers. I have always loved Hard Rock café's and can now say I have dined at one too. After we had filled ourselves up to the brim, we decided to do what every Irish (and English person for that matter) loves to do - get merry. It is the season after all! Live music, cheesy music, Irish music - this place seemed to have it all. I had a brilliant night mingling with the locals and getting my groove on...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The next day, we decided to check out more of the city, including the many shops (of course). After a fairly early wake up call, we started by heading down to the renowned Christ Church which was stunning. As if the Church wasn't enough, it even had its own little Christmas Market in the crypt which I fell in love with, and live music from the church orchestra. I could have sat there all day listening to that. After this we headed down to Dublin Castle, which again I was very impressed by - it was beautiful inside. Luckily it wasn't too busy so we got time to stroll around at our own leisure. After a quick bite to eat - Guinness stew in my case, we then headed to the shops - where the real magic happens. I didn't realise how big this city actually was - it' s only until you start really exploring it and all its little backstreet's that you realise how wonderful it truly is. Of course the shops were rammed with those last minute Christmas shoppers but this didn't phase us. I think we could have easily spent half the day browsing around Penneys (the Irish version of Primark).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After we were all shopped out, it was time to head back to the hostel. I couldn't wait to rest my poor feet after walking around in heels all day - bad choice Atkins! By which time, it was time to get ready all over again for our last night in Dublin. Once more, we decided to take a leisurely stroll into the town (this time in warmer attire) grabbing a quick bite to eat and few drinks along the way. This was the perfect end to our little break. And there you have it - Dublin in a nutshell. Would I go back - yes! This is such a great city and so easy to get to from the UK.</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-8893829064694447502014-12-07T06:15:00.001-08:002014-12-07T06:15:26.350-08:00The Body Shop Haul<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As promised, here is my Body Shop haul including those goody bag goodies I picked up from the Birmingham Blogger event last week. First off in my goody bag was this clever little Starbucks reusable mug, which offers 25p off any future Starbucks drink. I don't really go to Starbucks that often but I am sure this will come in handy for when I do! Along with this we got this delicious bag of popcorn, a Christmas lollipop and some mini Christmas edition body butters. The final little gift from The Body Shop was this Body Shop card which I still need to claim in store (I could be in with the chance of winning £100 off any products of my choice).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As it was 50% off everything in store, I couldn't resist picking up a few treats of my own - it would have been rude not to! After receiving a mini makeover during the event, I just had to get my hands on this amazing bronzer/highlighting kit (see below) which was only £7. I hadn't tried any of The Body Shops make-up prior to the event but I have been promised many great things</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Along with this bronzer/highlighter, I also picked up one of their matt primers, which again at half price only cost me £8. I usually</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> use the Benefit primer but there is a huge difference in price as you can imagine. Finally, I decided to pick up some of the Hemp hand cream as part of one of my Christmas gifts, a lovely strawberry scented body set and some of their </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">delicious Christmas Glazed apple products. I think the damage was £34 in total which isn't too bad considering how much I could have spent and how much some of the other blogger girls did spend! I am definitely going to be visiting The Body Shop more often now, especially as I am more familiar with their product ranges and what suits my skin type. Again, I want to thank Abbigayle and the other girls for making this such a wonderful event. Tasty nibbles, bucks fizz and lots of pampering - what more could a girl ask for?</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My Body Shop goody bag courtesy of The Body Shop</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The amazing bronzer/highlighting kit</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Do you shop at The Body Shop? What are your favourite products?</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-73257438562550826552014-12-06T09:30:00.000-08:002015-02-12T13:49:45.618-08:00Birmingham Blogger Meet - The Body Shop<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I first heard about this event over on the Birmingham Blogger Facebook page - which if you're from the Birmingham area - I am sure you have heard of by now. This was the second Birmingham Blogger event organised by the amazing Abbigayle, and again, she did us all proud. I went along to this event not knowing what quite to expect. I managed to grab a ticket last minute after rearranging some of my former plans for that evening, and I am so glad I did! What I did know was that this event was being held at The Body Shop in Birmingham which meant lots of shopping and a hole in my bank balance! The Black Friday weekend brought along all sorts of madness. Trying to get through the determined shoppers as well as the German market visitors was a challenge to say the least. I found The Body Shop in good time, bearing in my mind I didn't really know where it was. I can't really say I'm a huge 'Body Shopper' to be honest. I love their products but unfortunately I don't have one on my doorstep so it's not somewhere I regularly visit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But back to the event - once everyone had arrived and settled in, we got started with a Birmingham Blogger event favourite - the cupcake challenge. We all had to come up with a cute innovative saying for our cupcakes and upload them to Instagram. After struggling to get wifi, I uploaded my terrible attempt at being witty (as you can see below). After this, we all chose a celebration of our choice as part of the ice breaker challenge. Depending on what celebration we had, we all had to answer a question each. I was asked where I would most like to visit if I had the choice, which for me was a treat in itself as it just so happens that I am going off on my travels next year. The answer being Australia. After this we got a formal introduction from The Body Shop manager and were split into three groups. In our groups we got the opportunity to go round the store and test out all the wonderful products. Along the way we also had to try and solve the answers to a little quiz Abbigayle had created which listed questions based on The Body Shop ethics. This was used afterwards in a prize drawer at the end of the night. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBazYiwuz4VQ2ISOE8bRECfoQQ9a4UrSYI7XXFuw5YIoav14d9Qvi45mm57NDZx34rETZp-t7_-Ocw88wGcoxgRYNSDqfUuHZxfXmTIiN-_XCf7d3RFfx86NK-kUDoVXbOCt-7skSoaM/s1600/IMG_8142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlBazYiwuz4VQ2ISOE8bRECfoQQ9a4UrSYI7XXFuw5YIoav14d9Qvi45mm57NDZx34rETZp-t7_-Ocw88wGcoxgRYNSDqfUuHZxfXmTIiN-_XCf7d3RFfx86NK-kUDoVXbOCt-7skSoaM/s1600/IMG_8142.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">My adorable cupcake</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftNd98lxGINPW8aYWFSjkaOW-IQpWEGmKO4SPb1qZarHMoMQxKZ4fLBIFkvDQWgcWDSS6oYhNc3Kq4f3cQeIiTnpiARGswowDvApY237NoqG3JoBMdM4ITs9n3FQjkWM-4tfcYfXu3Y0/s1600/IMG_8146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgftNd98lxGINPW8aYWFSjkaOW-IQpWEGmKO4SPb1qZarHMoMQxKZ4fLBIFkvDQWgcWDSS6oYhNc3Kq4f3cQeIiTnpiARGswowDvApY237NoqG3JoBMdM4ITs9n3FQjkWM-4tfcYfXu3Y0/s1600/IMG_8146.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The first station</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LDlyk2Uout46EwVN4dKJuWE7b-vJhBtSpZioKmTHDKxA4Oc_JdUqmrgvZVZ96eO9Y_1c3Vdua-znikcc6SUYGCW1EhS5-zrRxnJnU1y1hLaviEvFI8nz4iEsIvXOhOlJi4iFEanXzRg/s1600/IMG_8155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LDlyk2Uout46EwVN4dKJuWE7b-vJhBtSpZioKmTHDKxA4Oc_JdUqmrgvZVZ96eO9Y_1c3Vdua-znikcc6SUYGCW1EhS5-zrRxnJnU1y1hLaviEvFI8nz4iEsIvXOhOlJi4iFEanXzRg/s1600/IMG_8155.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Massage time!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I really enjoyed testing out all the products I must say, including our wonderful hand massages and mini makeover. The Christmas products in particular smelt amazing and I couldn't wait for the interval so we could finally shop. As expected, I got somewhat carried away and ended up buying a lot more than intended. However, I did manage to pick out a few Christmas goodies in my sweep which made me feel a little less guilty. I also got the chance to mingle with some of the other girls, a few of whom I had met at previous events including the amazing<a href="http://lennyloveslife.com/"> Lenny</a>, Kirsty and a couple of new faces including <a href="https://twitter.com/ToldByTashpantz?lang=en">Tashpantz</a> and <a href="http://www.imaginedreamwrite.com/">Sarah</a>. I was definitely impressed with the organisation of the event. Even though we didn't manage to fit everything in, we definitely had an action packed evening. It was a very chilled and went far too quickly for my liking. </span><br />
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So, after we were all shopped out, it was back to more games and nibbles including the classic charades which was the perfect team building excuse. May I also add how amazing the popcorn was that evening! We all got given a free bag of this in our goody bags which I will be sharing with you in my next post. After the games drew to an end, it was time for the raffle and competition prize givings before saying our goodbyes. I can't wait for the next event already!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Nibbles and more...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZPTtgt5odWFcu2fsrf_Wgha_CjiiO1Xb4yDApHc1yh9MxIP-7jbhIGvyOEf2EQlcRIttC-GWB81FvraNLF6o8ADtjkymZ7i3IZc5r8XXBuGPaNEAuxgc8P-drMjA188-y6KL2Mkywrk/s1600/IMG_8165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYZPTtgt5odWFcu2fsrf_Wgha_CjiiO1Xb4yDApHc1yh9MxIP-7jbhIGvyOEf2EQlcRIttC-GWB81FvraNLF6o8ADtjkymZ7i3IZc5r8XXBuGPaNEAuxgc8P-drMjA188-y6KL2Mkywrk/s1600/IMG_8165.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">And again...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6nLq2GFJvOTBPs4EBlA1QmrkCSIEBkiBzc1ZXqDkLWswuK2r55aBBIY5TgzzFtUMYxYuogPPRW4YX1j17kujx9PKkbka8hRMibDI0Ynh9v4eD8h6ZG0tHy6uDP1VhIoZcVhoaIBJHs0/s1600/IMG_8170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6nLq2GFJvOTBPs4EBlA1QmrkCSIEBkiBzc1ZXqDkLWswuK2r55aBBIY5TgzzFtUMYxYuogPPRW4YX1j17kujx9PKkbka8hRMibDI0Ynh9v4eD8h6ZG0tHy6uDP1VhIoZcVhoaIBJHs0/s1600/IMG_8170.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Body butter heaven</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XYkBBFQ7uSdliY8Ad_MVclViBwuEFfvbGaw87vgcBO3ZUmBVo6chhmmTCFrEqCOQMf4p75IRAr3LqTdt7UKYgYKJQLH5My9DMoNtYUcMgWjVrVYU0-EsvVihSs5lNNp_lH0b6Q0FzqE/s1600/IMG_8153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XYkBBFQ7uSdliY8Ad_MVclViBwuEFfvbGaw87vgcBO3ZUmBVo6chhmmTCFrEqCOQMf4p75IRAr3LqTdt7UKYgYKJQLH5My9DMoNtYUcMgWjVrVYU0-EsvVihSs5lNNp_lH0b6Q0FzqE/s1600/IMG_8153.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The strawberry products have to be some of my favourite</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQ_OZZLF_3jR-QVZDIVXEgy1TxPIF5bQhu4sExuFdPjRTuCrjxBQc8fwBscIBu7Ppc-qUXrzlB-tpYuACsffyOFb7RI4M8zvdaUb1XS4pAGRsbSMRqmQoeiHmm_bx3nyFWonItB7afYM/s1600/IMG_8166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQ_OZZLF_3jR-QVZDIVXEgy1TxPIF5bQhu4sExuFdPjRTuCrjxBQc8fwBscIBu7Ppc-qUXrzlB-tpYuACsffyOFb7RI4M8zvdaUb1XS4pAGRsbSMRqmQoeiHmm_bx3nyFWonItB7afYM/s1600/IMG_8166.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">One of the blogger games was to upload a photo of three to five of your favourite body shop products - here's mine!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xmPESSxvULLEdLJBcikTDF-rbjEmiuldvyaXqGrPry4-b5cFO0VKskI76w36W5djHHEbsS_SuMCozE2KX6KpvfkTFGtUT10WxSyF32f5TOfULuGLK12m4-kWtUk6SsLJd3H381lj8sQ/s1600/IMG_8172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xmPESSxvULLEdLJBcikTDF-rbjEmiuldvyaXqGrPry4-b5cFO0VKskI76w36W5djHHEbsS_SuMCozE2KX6KpvfkTFGtUT10WxSyF32f5TOfULuGLK12m4-kWtUk6SsLJd3H381lj8sQ/s1600/IMG_8172.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Time to shop!!!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGDs-HbWbVxH_pVG9B-pUw3QH2Xf0tRbWhoGnb8ntnC_pqAbSnsCLeGeXne0a3qKSmBLXDM_q_WT8yMYfqm3vFHY6GSvUmJsJ2qoEjLSO9AiRJKX-4zhJr-8P6Pa6RTs82FGbOEgHTvU/s1600/1237515_759037430833362_3965831978392985704_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGDs-HbWbVxH_pVG9B-pUw3QH2Xf0tRbWhoGnb8ntnC_pqAbSnsCLeGeXne0a3qKSmBLXDM_q_WT8yMYfqm3vFHY6GSvUmJsJ2qoEjLSO9AiRJKX-4zhJr-8P6Pa6RTs82FGbOEgHTvU/s1600/1237515_759037430833362_3965831978392985704_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">All of the #bhmbloggermeet beauties together </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Have you been to any blogger events recently? What do you think of this body shop special?</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-78422444876982094722014-11-27T10:16:00.002-08:002014-11-27T10:16:55.772-08:00Primark Haul<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So I have gone a bit crazy in Primark just recently. What was intended to be a hunt for some new work clothes turned into me spending nearly half my weeks wages (shocking). I have always managed to pick up some amazing things from Primark, and that still stands to this very day. I think it's more of a being in there at the right sort of time. I avoid Primark like the plague on a Saturday or even during the day. Evenings are always quieter after the initial after work rush, and this allows you to walk round at your own leisure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So let's begin by having a look at some of the things I have picked up over the last couple of weeks. Firstly is this pink duster coat which is amazing! It's so warm and fantastic quality for just £25. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I can't wait to wear it this winter when it starts to get even colder. I was tempted to put this on the other day in fact but think I will save it for when it snows. Primark have some of the best winter coats in store at the moment.I recommend you getting yours early though, as they are very cheap and once they're gone, they probably wont come back!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I also managed to pick up these amazing pairs of shoes. Firstly these leopard print ones are to die for. I still have an obsession with anything leopard print, so you can imagine how excited I was to bag these and for just £9.!They are bang on trend again at the moment and look so cute teamed with a pair of jeans and a loosely fitted shirt. The mink heels are not a colour I would usually go for but these are amazing to say they're from Primark. Not only do they look classy, they are again bang on trend this autumn/winter. A bit pricier at £14, but again amazing value for money. That's two pairs of heels for just £23!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Amongst all the pleasure fuelled shopping, I did manage to pick up a few things for work. Now even though Primark seems to be going up in price, I still think you can pick up some really good work attire. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I found these small heels which I often wear with a pencil skirt to work. Even though they're not the most stylish of heels, they are very comfortable, and again only cost £9.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Finally is this blazer which I love. Not only have I worn this to work, I have also worn it a couple of times when going for a meal with friends. I love the waterfall effect. The material is very strong and it doesn't look like something you would be able to pick up from Primark.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So there you have it - just a few things I have picked up recently but I am adding to this collection as we speak so expect another haul very soon!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00422050609129222468noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8659073744383009682.post-75170457764362747212014-11-23T13:00:00.001-08:002015-02-12T13:51:55.470-08:00Fedora<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love getting dressed up for an occasion, any occasion that is. It gives me an excuse to actually spend longer than the usual 20 minutes I do getting ready for work. So on Saturday I rose to that occasion after visiting the German Market with a good friend of mine. I love this time of year. Even though the weather is slowly deteriorating, everyone seems to be in high spirits as Christmas slowly approaches. It is a time for laughter, for loved ones, but most importantly, it's a time for giving. The good old Christmas spirit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Along with curling my hair (which isn't something I usually do), I decided to whack on my new tartan shirt and hat (sorry ladies - this is another Primark related post). I only purchased these two items the other day but oh my - I am in love. I love fedora hats and have been searching for another one to add to my collection for a while now. At just £7 I had to get my hands on this little beauty! It's the perfect fit - not too in your face like some you find on the hight street - so perfect to wear out and out about when it's feeling chilly. My shirt which cost me just £12 is one of my favourites now. I wasn't too sure about this when I first picked it up in store, but I must say after trying it on in the comfort of my own house with a face full of make-up and a new pair of skinnies, I am a very happy lady. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I love tartan and only own one other tartan shirt. The colours on this one are perfect for this season. The only downside is the material as it's quite thin, but teamed with a vest top underneath, it's the perfect winter steal. If you are feeling particularly cold you can always add a jumper over the top too as an additional layer. Finally I have to mention my new shoes from River Island. I purchased these just the other week after finding them in the sale. Another bargain at just £20, I can't complain really. These are perfect for work as the colder weather hits us and look great with skinny jeans too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So there you go, just one of my new winter outfits. I must admit, I do love winter clothes even if it means me looking like I have just walked out of Narnia. Yes, I love my oversized clothing, fur and not forgetting those all important layers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>What do you think of my outfit? What will you be wearing this winter?</b></span><br />
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