Top 5 European City Break Destinations

Hi there!

Now that I've paid off my debts I've been starting to look at the future.

I really want to buy my own house but there are also so many places I want to visit around the world that maybe it's time to start ticking a few of them off.

It's highly likely that I will be going to the places by myself so I thought I'd start small and go for a weekend break somewhere in Europe, short flights and easily done in a few days. If I hate it and feel weird travelling by myself then at least I won't have wasted too much money.

I will be travelling alone with my job as it is and hopefully will get to visit some European cities as part of it and I've been to uni in America on my own for 2 months, why not travel elsewhere as well??

1) Amsterdam - Somewhere that hasn't always been on my list to visit but recently seeing images of the buildings along the water like the one below has really made me want to go. It's possible that I might be going here later on in the year with my family, which will be a funny experience with the copious amount of prostitutes and cannabis.

Image from Top Dreamer.com

It will be really nice to wander around the city and if there are beautiful fields like this it will give me much more opportunity to use my camera and take pictures that are different to make up products lined up on my desk!

Image from Ticketbar Amsterdam

It will also be interesting to see the cannabis cafes, working in a toxicology lab for a while has made me so aware of drugs and their effects, to see it being legally sold will be really weird!

2) Istanbul - I don't know much about Istanbul and I've never been to Turkey either, but seeing pictures of the Blue Mosque has made me really want to visit. I love cathedrals, churches and all manner of religious buildings regardless of the religion itself - they are always so beautiful and the designs are always so unique.

Image from National Turk

I also hear that the food and the vintage shopping is really good there too, it would be a shame not to experience that as well! Just being somewhere with some good weather will also be nice.

3) Berlin - It's hard to know where to start with Berlin, my brother went and couldn't stop raving about it. The Berlin Wall and the Holocaust Memorial are places that you cannot miss, as well as strolling around the city to see the Brandenburg Gate.

Image from Travel Noire

Big European cities always seem to have a great museum and zoo too, and Berlin is no exception with Museum Island, and I also hear that the biggest department store in Europe is housed in Berlin too...............eek!

4) Budapest - The Danube, one of the most famous rivers in the entire world right in the middle of this beautiful city. You can cruise along it, visit the Budapest Opera House for an evening, or take a long dip at the baths.

Image from Eurostar Hotels

There's also the Chain Bridge which first connected Buda and Pest together, and also the Hungarian parliament and Crown Jewels. There's so much to see I think you'd need a whole week!

5) Dublin - I would love to visit a genuine Irish pub and drink real Guinness, as well as walk among scenery just like in the picture below.

Image from Lonely Planet

These are the Cliffs of Moher not far from Dublin and I'd love to walk along them.

I also really want to see St Patrick's Cathedral, and I hear they have a really good zoo which I love visiting!

Where are your top city break destinations? Have you got any planned for this year?

I can't wait to start planning going somewhere this year!

L xxx

Fitness Friday: Running Events

Good morning!

I don't know about you, but sometimes motivation is a little hard to come by. Especially at this time of year, I find that I'm passed the initial 'New Year, New Me' kind of mentality but unfortunately better weather still hasn't arrived so I still don't feel ready for outdoor running or hiking or generally anything else that's different.

Last year me and M both completed Tough Mudder, it's a 10-12 mile obstacle course designed by UK Special Forces to test your strength, stamina and mental grit - we did complete it but not without digging deep and working hard in the months leading up to it.

Image from Tough Mudder Twitter page

We took part in the August event in the South West area, but there are many Tough Mudder events throughout the year around the UK. But as it's one of the original events it can be expensive and it's also the hardest - there are so many other events you can try out for fun!

Today's Fitness Friday is all about the variety of running events you can sign up for that doesn't include a single fun run or marathon, hope you're inspired!

Spartan Race - This one is also another very popular obstacle race with three separate distances, Sprint (5km), Super (10km) and the Beast (20km). The idea with Spartan races is to complete all three within a year and you get an extra medal, plus you can fit all of your medals collected throughout the year together. It also gives you the opportunity and aim of building up your distance over a specified length of time. Here's their website

Tough Guy - Allegedly the hardest, this 8 mile course claims to be the original obstacle course (website here). The catch with this course is that its run on the last Sunday of January and contains a whopping 250 obstacles. Dear Lord.

X-Runner - another obstacle course with a variety of runs including a Wild Run, Water Wipeout and Wild Warrior. You can find out more on their site here, but there should be something for everyone on this site courtesy of the variety of types and 5km and 10km options for distances.

Zombie Evacuation - Totally different kettle of fish, a 5km fun run from one place to another trying to 'survive' the zombie apocalypse. There is a massive increase in runs like these and you can see why! Definitely one to get your adrenaline going with a zombie chasing after you trying to steal your 'life' (also known as a scarf that you wear during the run!). Website here.

London Cardiff 24 - If you're not one for too much mud or being chased, this one might be more your thing. Running from Twickenham Stadium in London to the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff with a team over 24 hours. It's certainly a challenge but it won't leave you bored like a normal half marathon might, the darkness and map reading will keep you on your toes! Website here for further info.

Survival of the Fittest - Another obstacle run but this time it's an urban theme. Men's Health devised this event in major cities around the UK including Cardiff and Edinburgh, expect less mud and more water and tyres, with views of the city around you. Website link here.

Last but not least....

Tough Mudder - The beast that me and M are so proud to have conquered! We endured 25 obstacles over an extremely hilly 11.5 miles including swimming through ice water, electric shocks and jumping off a 4m high platform into freezing cold water. You can browse the site here, and view the terrifying ordeal of the World's Toughest Mudder event. I just can't even...!

Have you taken part in any other types of runs? There's also Revolution Runs which is a new event in the South Wales area, there's Dirty Dozen, Total Warrior....the list is endless!

We've signed up to do another Tough Mudder this year but the training for it is looking a little bit behind courtesy of our new jobs.

What are you training for this year?

L xxx

Lush Full of Grace Solid Serum

Good  morning!

Ever since we went to the Lush Spring and Mother's Day event at the beginning of the month (link here) I've been slathering this serum on my face.

Full of Grace is a solid serum, which at first confused and intrigued me, and then I tried it and it was love at first feel.

The serum contains murumuru butter, calamine powder, rose petal infusion, almond oil, rose oil and portobello mushrooms meaning its safe enough for even the most sensitive skins. This serum protects and calms the skin and controls greasiness so the serum can be used in the morning and evening without fear of getting a shiny face halfway through the day.

The solid serum is similar in shape and size to a massage bar but without the lumpy bits. I've been warming this in my hands after cleansing and then massaging it into my face and neck.

First things, it smells amazing. I'm not a lover of strong smells particularly sweet ones - they can actually give me a headache and make me feel sick. But even though this smells strongly of rose I really like it, it doesn't linger too long so that it is overpowering.

Secondly, my skin drinks this up so fast and feels super hydrated afterwards. Sometimes when I get in from work and take my make up off I apply a second layer of this as my skin just seems to love it. I often then don't apply a moisturiser too it depends how my skin feels as I don't want to overload it but it hasn't reacted in any negative ways.

I've been using this every day twice a day since I bought it at the beginning of the month and I absolutely love it, there isn't enough praise I can give it.
My skin can be so dehydrated sometimes that I found it was hard to do anything about but this solid serum is AMAZING! 

This serum comes in 20g bars which cost £8.25. I think this would last about 6 weeks with use twice a day, maybe longer. I'm going on the fact that I've used under half of it in 2 weeks. I'd say this was great value for money considering most serums cost so much more than £8 and this is composed of 100% natural ingredients. 

I'm now really annoyed with myself for not buying this sooner and I will DEFINITELY be going back for more. I'll need to use up some of my stash first but I know for sure this is perfect for my skin and my bank balance.

What else do you like from Lush? What else would you recommend?

My favourites so far apart from this is the Mask of Magnaminty and Ocean Salt Scrub.

L xxx

Rodology - Lady Charlotte

Hey All

Hope you had great weekends. Mine was a busy one after a day/night out on Saturday and heading home to Somerset yesterday to spend Mother's Day with my Mum.

When I was home last weekend I was extremely hungover and ended up leaving stuff behind including the necklace my other half got me last year

year. I'm very sentimental about jewellery and always where that necklace and two rings from my parents. As he's currently away with work (3 and a half weeks till I get him back!) I was gutted I wouldn't have my necklace for a week. After a skype last Monday I casually mentioned I'd left it behind but at least I'd get it back in a week. 

So on Wednesday I got home from work to find a parcel I wasn’t expecting and opened it up to find this beauty. I'd sent him the photo of it a month ago in passing as I'm desperate for a skeleton face watch and the necklace reminded me of it. I was so surprised he'd ordered it for me.

It's even more beautiful im real life. It's also quite unusual which I love. If I had to describe my jewellery taste it would probably be unique. The pieces I like to wear everyday I like to be different. 

I have it in silver but the pendant can come im gold and rose gold. Lady Charlotte is also the largest. When people have seen it in real life they've always commented on it smaller than they thought. At about the size of a 10p I think it's perfect.  I wouldn't want it any bigger. You can also get different chain materials and lengths but as mine was a gift I don't know what my other half picked.

I love the detail on it. It also ticks if you shake it. How amazing is that. If you go on Rodology's Instagram page you can see a video of mine ticking. I love the little hints of red in the watch's mechanism too.

They also have cool cufflinks on the site.

Have you heard of Rodology. You should check them out if not at www.rodology.co.uk.

Love M

Xxx