Explore...Bath Christmas Market

Ello' Explorers...

Another December adventure took me to a place I had heard many delightful things about.

Bath is a place I have wanted to visit for a long time and what better time than at Christmas.

I am lucky enough to have family that live in Bristol, which is another place that I really love to visit and explore. Being a short and picturesque train journey to Bath made the travelling and parking easy and stress free.

The feeling of excitement to see somewhere new always makes feel like a child on Christmas day. That feeling even made me feel slightly better for the best part of the day, being blocked up with the flu, I wasn't in the best of shapes. 

As soon as you get off the train, the beautiful Bath architecture greets you along side a pristine tall tree covered in shiny baubles. 

Cornwall isn't a dirty place, but I couldn't help but notice how clean everything was, not just the floor but the buildings look fresh and clean, although they are really old having survived the war.

A short walk through the small boutique shopping centre lead us through the city centre and towards the Christmas Market, which is actually a couple of village squares packed with stalls and side streets boasting locals goods. 

The most impressive factor of this  market for me was the huge variety of produce and items on offer. 

Often, at events like this, it feels like you are featuring in a Scooby Doo movie. Seeing the same produce being repeated over and over. Mulled wine, knitted hats, crepes, mulled wine, knitted hats and cookies...You get the gist. 

Where as, in Bath, I'm sure I didn't see two of the same kind of stall. Offering all sorts from home ground spices and dips to sausages and fudge, then Christmas decorations and presents to food and drink from all around the world. There was always something different to see. 

Outside the shopping you could see the beautiful bath as it is the rest of the year. Featuring a canal and stunning Abbey.

As darkness fell the market took on a whole new feel and atmosphere. The bustling busy streets of people on a mission the get their shopping finished, turned in to a much slower paced, mellow one. Locals enjoying the warming drinks on offer and singing Christmas Carols, enjoying mingling with strangers brought a few smiles to my face.

The streets emptied and Merry Go Round, once packed with giggling children, started to slow and light up the street. It was the last night of the yearly event and time for me to say goodbye to Bath for now. 

I am already looking forward to returning again to experience this beautiful city without the decorations and festive feel.

Explore...Christmas in London

'Ello Explorers.

I had the perfect excuse to pay a visit to London last weekend, work. But I had a blast.

Christmas has well and truly landed in the Capitol of England and I couldn't but feel all festive, warm and fuzzy inside. Take a look...

It was really very busy, at the entrance, then begins to thin out as you go further in. But everyone is happy and the weather made the day even more beautiful. Huts lined the walkways as you strolled through different 'countries' seeing what they had to offer.

WINTER WONDERLAND CHRISTMAS TREE.

Live music played in every country too, whilst people watched, drank their mulled drinks and even danced.

Of course Santa came to visit.

A huge theme park sized fair ground occupied a massive space of Hyde Park. Everything from roller coaster to tea cup rides and fun houses.

Bars welcomed cold punters on to their higher balcony's to view the hoards of visitors all enjoying the festive atmosphere. There truly wasn't a grumpy face in sight.

All of Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is FREE, and what a brilliant idea it is to bring people from all over. There is only a warm feel (despite the air being cold) and is really enjoyable.

It will be around until the 4th of Jan, so go and visit.

COVENT GARDEN.
This is my favourite place in London. I love the vibe. There is always something going on and I could quite happily spend a whole day there. This time didn't disappoint, with the decorations and warming drink sellers on the cobbled streets. It's well worth a visit. 

COVENT GARDEN Reindeer


.

If you can get to London this Festive time, GO!

Advent and Feeling Christmassy

'Ello Explores,

It's December and I have got a hectic month ahead and havn't even thought about Christmas presents yet.

There is so much to do, see and plan. It's just too exciting. WAAAHHHH!

One thing I have thought about though and made is an advent calendar, not for me. I'm not sad enough to make myself a calendar. Although, being the 5th of December and still no Advent Calendar for myself insight I may end up making my own yet.

The Calendar I made was super easy and and really cheap to make.

I needed:

24 toilet rolls, 24 pieces of wrapping paper 4x7 inches, 24 printed numbers (I used a font downloaded for free), glue, treats for inside (I used nuts, dried fruit and chocolate pieces).

Wrap each piece of paper around each toilet roll until all are covered. Secure with glue. Then stick on the numbers, also using the glue.

Then the fun bit.

Fold in the top of a toilet roll so that the opposite sides meet.

Fill with you treats. I mixed and matched the bags of treats I had and put them in sealable plastic sandwich bags.

When a roll has the treat inside, fold over the open end so there are no gaps.

You could place them in a bucket or a bag or a wellington boot. Where ever is suitable for you.

Perfect, personal advent calendar for that special person.

Breakfast BanCake

'Ello Explorers...

The temperature has suddenly dropped here in Sunny Cornwall meaning warm food and drink are now officially on  the menu. I don't know about you but there are only so any times I can bare to have oatmeal everyday of the week.

Let me introduce to you the BanCake...

Ok, I'm a scruffy cook. Sorry...about...that.

 It looks like a Pancake, tastes like a pancake and is treated like a pancake but it doesn't contain the heavy pancake ingredients. In fact it's rather healthy.

For one you will need:

Put the banana and the cracked egg in to a blender until it forms a smooth paste. You will notice a few air bubbles, so bang the bottom of the blender on the work top until they disappear.This is so the batter stays together in the pan.

Pour the mixture into the pan and cook on a medium heat for a few minutes until it is golden on the underneath, then flip it over.

It will only need one minute on the new side before you can place it on your plate.

Then the fun bit...toppings. You could put pretty much whatever you wanted, from healthy to not so nutritious. Just make it up. 

Here are some suggestions:

Put vanilla in the BanCake Mix

Peaches and Walnuts

Add Blueberries to the pan with the fresh mix.

Use seeds, warm apple and cinnamon for the toppings.

The Cheeky one:
 Peppermint in the mix - sprinkle cocoa powder on top.

The Carby one:
Vanilla in the mix - Honey, oats and yoghurt.

The Protein one:
Vanilla protein in the mix - nuts and Greek yoghurt on top.

Relaxing weekend with Arbonne and Lush.

'Ello Explorers...

With all this explorin', eatin' and enjoyin' there comes a time you need a rest too. And one weekend in November I was faced with a weekend in my diary with absolutely nothing booked in it, so I made it my mission to not book in anything to committing and enjoy a rest, perhaps even a lazy one.

Some people may consider a lazy day one where they would stay in bed all day, some may get a little movement and get up but stay in their pyjamas, fact is everyone has their own lazy level. 

This is something that I am not very good at. To me staying in bed until 12.00 or 1.00 pm means you've missed out on two very valuable meals and a girls gotta eat. 

I tired to remember the last time I stayed in bed all day, or spent the whole day inside. I'm pretty sure it was all the way back in April, six months ago, when I was in hospital with a broken femur and waiting surgery. I was only there for three days and when resting at home I would spend time in the garden or beg someone to take me out on a trip, although it was very painful to be moving around, the fresh air did me good. There is no end of the freshest sea air in clean Cornwall.

So back to my 'rest full weekend':

I began Saturday with a 9.00am wake up to go and meet my friend at the gym for a full body, heart pumping workout. Ok, not starting off very rest full at all. But it gave me energy and helped me to feel good for the remainder of the day.

I showered, got on some nice clothes and went for a mooch around The Range, to get more accessories for my room. This set me up for the rest of the day to finish painting my room, complete making accessories and clean it to be placed back to normal.

I will write a post soon on what my room has turned out like. 

Sunday

I didn't get up until 11.30am, that's a lie. I got up at 9.00am, got a mug of green tea, then went back to bed and watched 'Life Story' until 11.30am There is something about Sir David Attenborough, he's just a legend. Imagine if he was your relative, he would tell the best stories. 

I also:

• Cooked up some snacks and prepared food for the week ahead.
• Researched upcoming event and adventures.
• Walked down to the village square to watch the Remembrance day parade. 

After a truly delicious roast dinner that evening I ran my bath and prepared for my pampering night in. 

I ran my bath using one of my favourite Lush products 'Candy Mountain'. This Bubbley Bath Bomb smells like bubble gums and leaves glitter EVERYWHERE I love it! This is where the girl comes out in me. It's part of the Christmas range and is really the only time of year I shop there. The other similar products called 'Snow Fairy' come in shower gels, soaps, moisturisers. I just love them all. 

I was here to relax, yes, but also to give my self a bit of a facial. I have always had problem with my skin. Clogged pores, random spots and spouts of dry skin, quickly followed my oily skin. Nothing has really sorted the problem, working on pool side and a life guard and sweating whilst teaching fitness classes only made my skin worse. Until I found Arbonne. This botanically based and Swiss formulated product range has worked magic and my now clear skin has given me confidence and allows me to enjoy skin care. 

I began with cleansing using the Arbonne RE9 cleanser. This anti aging product prepares the skin for your regime. The citrus smell helps to make you skin feel refreshed and clean, while its silky texture whisks away the impurities of the day and make up, without stripping skin of essential moisture. Did you know, Skin decreases in thickness by 6% every ten years and looses its ability to hold moisture? This little beauty helps to slow down that process and even reverse it.

With damp skin I followed cleaning with an ex foliating scrub. The Arbonne FC5 Exfoliating New Cell Scrub has Jojoba beads that gently massage the skin to leave it smooth and polished with a radiant glow. I wish I knew about this years ago, you can use the FC5 range from the age of twelve, I could of had lovely skin for years. Naturally derived cells from kiwis, strawberries, carrots, mangos and pumpkins stay whole until the moment it hits your skin and WOW, the smell when that happens is like landing on a dessert island for a few minutes.

I'll now relax for a few minutes allowing my face to dry naturally before applying the next stage. A mask. 

The FC5 Hydrating Mask isn't usually advised to be used after or before the New Cell Scrub if you have sensitive skin, but I find it works for me really well. It replenishes moisture to maintain a youthful look, meaning it is for dry skin, it leaves it feeling so soft and smooth. Leaving it on for five minutes leaves you back on that dessert island for a little holiday, before a blast back to reality. I use a tip my grandmother always told me, to rinse with cold, fresh water. She says it tightens your skins and prevents wrinkles, so I'm rolling with that.

As I was about to get in bed I finished off with applying a night cream which I use every night. Just to keep my skin hydrated and feeling flexible. 

All of the products are dermatologist tested, botanically based, vegan certified and knowing that helps me feel at ease that I can only be doing my skin and body good by using it. After all, your skin is the biggest organ and so what ever you place on it, will go straight to your digestive system. I don't put chemicals in my mouth, so why put them on your skin?

My weekend was coming to an end and I planned to finish it in a relaxing way. I got in my onsie, made myself a hot chocolate and put the Lego Movie on. Settling down in my fresh, clean room, with my fresh clean body and chilled out, I felt relaxed.

So, I did quite a lot of things with my weekend, but didn't have to stick to time slots, I rested my body and gave my self a little pamper. This was a perfect little 'Lazy weekend' to suit me and I think it is important for everyone to fit one of these into their life every now and again.

If you would like to know more about Arbonne and how to purchase products email me: beckyu.arbonne@gmail.com. I can help you find products to suit you.

Explore...Planning 2015

'Ello Explorers...

I mentioned in my previous blog that I had read the book 'Eat That Frog' recently and it had got me planning.

One of the list I have started to construct is to help me start planning 2015.

You may feel like it is a long way off, but really it is less than two months away and I want next year to be even more epic than this one.

Its pretty vague because my life could go in many directions, as it can for others too, but some goals stay the same. And I can't tell you everything because it's business top secret, sorry.

So, in three sections:

Work:

• Gain a new qualification.
• Start an early morning boot camp.
• Buy a field.
• Start 2015 as a District Manager.
• Finish 2015 as a Regional Manager.

Explore:

• Go to Vegas, for a conference.
• Go to Sardinia, for a wedding.
• Go to Australia.
• Visit somewhere new in the UK.

Eat:

• Something I have never tried in each new place I visit.

Enjoy

• Get into surfing.
• Go penny boarding.
• Go rock climbing.
• Try snowboarding.
• Enter and complete a charitable running race more than 5K.
• Enter and complete a charitable muddy obstacle race.

Ok so I've told you all now, there is no hiding from it, just gotta get on and do it.

I would love to know what targets and goals you all set for yourself, please tell me or tell your friends.

When you tell other people it gives you that little extra push you need to complete it. Trust me you will feel amazing once you complete something you really want to do which is out of your comfort zone. 

Big Love

Enjoy...October

It's the end of October already, I can't believe how fast this year has gone. Time flies when your having fun! But I really feel like I have made the most out of each spare moment I have free, yes I am a little tired, but I don't like wasting time.

I read a book at the beginning of this month and I would seriously urge you all to go and read it if you want to make the most of your time and learn to use your time wisely in a way that will benefit you the most. Over the first few chapter of 'Eat That Frog' by Brian Tracey, I had to keep stopping to write a new list and ended up with about 6 new lists for different areas of my life. That night I only got about three hours sleep because I had so many ideas going around my head. So I advise not to read it in the evening, but please do take the time to educate yourself through this slim and easy to read little beauty. I can honestly say that the organised person that I was before just got a whole new level of organised and production is endless, procrastination is no more!

This month has gone pretty quickly starting off with a flying visit and short break to Barcelona which I have previously written about. You can read about it HERE. I fell in love with the beautiful seaside city and its historical culture.

I spent an evening cooking healthy snacks with my good friend Sam, a fitness instructor learning to eat clean. I love baking and eating and experimenting and I'm glad I got to show her a few tips on how to get over that sugar craving and quick to grab snacks. I also wrote about this so take a look and find some recipes HERE. I try to eat clean on a daily basis because I know it will give me energy, keep a strong immune system and help to make me feel good and I'm glad I can be a help and inspiration to my friends.

A few muddy bike rides have been slotted in to my time off at weekends. I always mean to take it easy and have a rest day from exercise, seeing as my job involves a lot of exercise, but end up doing around 15 miles. I realise that isn't much to a road bike user, or even a regular bike rider, but it feels a lot off road, in the mud. I managed to fill my lungs with fresh air and remind myself how beautiful Cornwall really is. Spending time out alone on my bike may sound a little lonely, but it's nice to have that space and time to not really think about anything in particular.

One of my best girl friends had a birthday, that she was dreading. So three of us travelled ninety minutes up to Exeter for a day of shopping. Now this was the day after initially starting 'Eat that Frog' and one of my lists was for things I would like to buy or how I can update and complete outfits that I had started. So where I would usually go a look around and not really be sure with what I wanted or buy things that are within my safety net. I actually went and bought new seasonal clothing that I wouldn't normally buy to spice up my wardrobe a bit and I felt like I had made a real accomplishment. One of the things I wanted to achieve for the summer was to be more girly and the items that I bout helped towards that. Not only that but a day off shopping with the girls was great fun and we all really enjoyed ourselves.

Another list I had made was to do with my home life. Unbelievably I still live at home, after being away for a while and coming back to my parents it's easier to just stay and save money. I'm sure I'm not the only one that says that. But the problem is, everything I own is in my room, including my office. So I planned and organised a room transformation, from what needed to be sorted and organised and thrown away. How I was going to make the environment more comfortable for work and sleep and make it work around my busy life in a way that isn't too stressful. I'm almost done and I think I've done well...so far.

Out of that I have painted my room and bought new accessories to go with it.

Before

After

One Sunday morning I got up early to sell some of my items at a local car boot sale. It's funny what things you may class as 'crap', others may see as treasure. I love the fact that you are not only recycling but raising money to put towards something you want instead of just panning it off to the charity shop. Don't get me wrong, raising money for charity is a great cause to, so all the items remaining go to the relevant cause.

October is the month for Halloween, so a community Zumba class that I teach got transformed into Zombie Zumba. The hour of tricks and treats included not one or two but six halloween themed dance routines, cobwebs hanging from the ceiling and rats peering from under the curtains. All of the attendees had a great time, I love putting effort in to events like this.

Lastly, as it was half term I had time off of work, so spent a morning with my bestest friend and her cheeky monkey two year old boy. The previous week had been her birthday and her due date for her cheeky monkey number two was a week later. So we had an indoor picnic. Cucumber, triangle shaped sandwiches, strawberries, cup cakes and hot chocolate with marshmallows. I said before I like to eat clean, ignore that for a moment. It was great fun and spending time with her little boy who loves to take one bite of everything in site before sharing it with 'Oo Oo' his toy monkey, was hilarious.

A month of catching up with friends, changing my clothing and room to fit the season, exploring, lots of activities and having fun.

Seems like a successful month to me. Next month is planned out already.

What have you got planned of November?