On Stress and Relaxation

via Pinterest

Hi all. This week has been pretty stressful, lots of things going on and also my Sis was having some intense head pains. We were in and out of A&E, scans and she was also admitted to hospital for a night. It seems to be a flare up from stress, thankfully she's a lot better now. 

What helps you to manage stress?  For me, getting lots of sunlight being out and active during the day, running on my treadmill and also just taking time to relax. I love reading a book in my room with some aromatherapy oils burning and a warm cocoa. I found this link a while back - 55 ways to take care of yourself, for the busy girl. I hope it gives you some good ideas too when you're feeling stressed. For now it's Saturday and I'm ready for the weekend and a good night out! :)

Little Travel Luxuries

La Perla Belle De Jour/Yogi Tea/Eastern Mystic Little Ganesha charm bracelet/Scoop NYC scarf/Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment/Joik Soy Candle in Creme Brûlée/Vaseline Lip Therapy Spf15/L'Eau de Chloé/Ghd Scarlett Collection Classic Styler

Besides the travel essentials - passport, tickets, camera, the bf ;) I love bringing along a few items to make the getaway just that bit cozier. These are ten things (as pictured above) that I usually add to the basics...

1. A night dress or lingerie - Anything I'm sleeping in has got to be super comfortable and preferably light.

2. Magazines - Lots of reading material for long journeys and waiting around.

3. Tea or coffee - I usually pick this up along the way in whichever city I'm in. It's so comforting to make a good tea when I'm back in the hotel/apartment, especially if I've been out in bad weather.

4. Accessories - Mostly rings and bracelets. Sunnies come in handy too!

5. A scarf - This is really necessary for me as it can be used to keep warm when it's a bit chilly especially on the plane, as a headrest to sleep on and also as a cover-up in case I visit a place of worship.

6. Hair treatment - This is where it starts to get a little crazy. On my last trip I actually got my Mum to assist me in decanting my Moroccan hair oil in to a little plastic container. And my Fekkai Protein RX Treatment Mask. I must say it was really worth it though, plus I love the nutty smell of argan oil!

7. A scented candle - A small scented candle to fill a room with fragrance is just so lovely and it also makes a nice little gift.

8. Lip balm - I use Vaseline and probably have most of the different tins from Spf 15 to Cocoa butter, but I still like the original best.

9. Perfume - I always carry a mini bottle of my favourite scent :)

10. Ghds - Finally the one hair styling tool I bring are my ghds! Loving the new set I bought recently, the Scarlett collection which also comes in a gorgeous red clutch.

Five easy ways to freshen up your home

We've decided to give our decor a bit of a change. I really want a fresh new look but without any large projects or big expenses. Here are some quick and easy things we plan to do for an "instant lift". Maybe you can try them in your house as well: 

1. Change your wall colour

Painting a wall is one of the most simple and inexpensive ways to create a dramatic change to a space. It could be a shade you've never tried before or just a favourite colour you love to surround yourself with. My living room was painted a green tea shade a few years ago but we would like to change it back to white, to give a more light and airy feeling. The white we've chosen has an underlying pink tone which provides warmth. For a cooler shade, choose a white with blue undertones.

2. Decorate with plants or fresh flowers

A new house plant or placing flowers around the house is such an easy thing to do and can really add colour and life to your home. Try picking out an accent colour that is already in the room, for example a vase of lovely pink tulips if you have pink throw cushions. For the living room we're repainting to white, I think a light green arrangement with touches of white blossom will look really pretty.

3. Put down a cozy rug

If you have hard flooring like mine, a cozy rug is so nice for adding warmth and a homely feeling. Once the painting is done we'll put out some very old but beautiful handwoven rugs we have. It takes a lot of cleaning but it's definitely worth it. If you have allergies I suggest ruling out any shag type carpets and stick instead to those with tightly woven strands where dust, pollen and other allergens have less room to hide.

4. Switch up your art

Change the placement of any wall paintings or frames on tabletops. Just like changing around your furniture, it can give a whole new look to your room. You could even add something new and personal, like a photo you took recently with a loved one or a quote you want to remember.

5. Group accessories

I like to group decorative pieces, like candles or ornaments, in groups of 3s, 5s or 7s. This always seems to feel more complete as an arrangement. Recently I was given a gorgeous scented candle made with soy wax and a natural wood wick, I love how it crackles when it burns and fills the room with a rich comforting scent. For fragrance, I also like to use essential oils - lavender, bergamot and lemongrass are perfect for creating a relaxing atmosphere :)