6 plans for the year

This is a year of action and I’ve actually put that to good use in January! There are several things I want to do this year and I thought I'd share some of my plans/goals.

Keep organised 
I’ve feeling super motivated at the moment and it’s a good feeling. I’ve decluttered and sorted out loads of things in the house and submitted my tax return well before the deadline this year, well 5 days before haha! I'm back to writing a daily dairy to keep track of everything I do and I make a quick to-do-list every morning. I was sent the beautiful ADEXE Meek Petite Rosegold watch at the start of the year and absolutely love it! Since losing my other watch last summer I’ve relied on my phone for the time but having a watch makes such a difference to keeping organised. I’ve always worn leather straps but love the hand-made stainless mesh band. It is honestly the prettiest watch I have owned! I’m delighted to be giving any watch from the ADEXE collection away on my twitter page on Friday so make sure to check my tweets that day for a chance to win one! 

Move house
At some point we will be moving house and I’m excited. I’ve never really fallen in love with my house so I’m looking forward to finding somewhere I really like. I have a good idea of what I want and am looking forward to decorating a new home and a change of scenery!

Meditate
I’ve mentioned meditation on the blog before and it’s a great way to relax, focus and calm your thoughts. It has so many health benefits and when I do practise regularly I really notice the difference. My aim is to meditate at least once a day. If you haven't tried it here are 20 scientific reasons to start mediating! 

Book a European holiday 
We travelled to India last year and I also went on a work trip to Ethiopia so I had lots of exotic adventures. I'd love to visit Europe again this year. We’ve been on city breaks to Venice and Amsterdam and I’d love to take Pip slightly further afield to Turkey or Greece. It’s been years since I’ve visited either country and I’ve love to visit somewhere I haven’t been to such as the picturesque Santorini! I’ve heard so many good things about the island including crystal clear blue water. Did you know you can hire your very own luxury Catamaran Santorini and sail around with friends and family as you choose! You can even hire your own captain and gourmet chef! How about that for a perfect holiday!

Swim
My two main sports are swimming and badminton and I go through phases of focusing on one over the other. In 2018, I played a lot more badminton which is fun because it’s a social sport and I play in a club and always in doubles. But I do miss swimming regularly so I’m going to aim to go regularly from now on. Pip is also a great little swimmer for his age (5 years) and plan to take him to the pool more too.

Learn a new language
I’ve learned quite a few foreign words over the years including French, Bengali & Arabic and although I can have basic conversations in these languages I am not fluent in any of them. It would be great to learn a new skill and be able to speak another language like a native. Using the Duolingo or FluentU app can be a great way to learn at home, or try private one-to-one sessions from someone like languagetrainers.co.uk. I would love to learn Bengali properly as all of my Indian side of the family speak it. What languages can you speak fluently?

*This is a collaborative post. All words are my own.

Many thanks to ADEXE for gifting me the beautiful watch!

What are your plans/goals for the year? I'd love to hear your thoughts ☺

Packing Tips for a Winter Trip

Isn't it so cold at the moment? At this time of the year, getting away for a few days does you the world of good. Even if you do not go somewhere warm, a change of scene is always nice. It lifts your spirits, re-energises you and allows you to re-connect with those you travel with. This was definitely the case when we visited Portsmouth last weekend (blog post to follow soon). To get the most out of a winter break, you need to take a slightly different approach to packing. If you do not pack the right clothing you can end up feeling too cold to be able to do everything you would like to. So, without further ado, here are my cold weather packing tips.

Pack so that you can dress in layers
A week or so before you are due to go, pop over to somewhere like Jacamo and buy yourself a couple of new long-sleeved shirts. They are very versatile items of clothing, which makes them perfect for a trip. On warmer days, you can just wear your shirt as normal, with jeans or trousers. But, when it is cold, provided you have chosen one that is big enough, you will be able to wear several layers of clothing. Wearing a t-shirt, followed by a shirt and a jumper provides you with three layers, between which warm air will be trapped. If you are not sure of the best way to layer up for warmth, you might want to read this article. It explains why dressing in layers really does keep you warm and gives you the advice you need to choose the right materials for this way of dressing to be most effective.

A good coat and footwear
The right footwear and a good-quality coat are essentials. You need to be sure that both items are designed to keep you both dry and warm. Your coat needs to be at least showerproof and the weave of the fabric needs to be tight enough to keep the wind out. Ideally, you want a coat that can be zipped or buttoned up to just under your chin. Consider buying one that has a hood. Generally speaking, detachable hoods are the most practical option. You need a pair of comfortable closed in trainers, shoes or boots. They have to be big enough to enable you to put on an extra pair of socks, when necessary. It is also worth choosing footwear that has reasonably thick soles. Doing this makes a huge difference to how cold your feet will feel, when you have to stand around in a queue. It is also worth making sure that the soles are grippy enough.

The little things matter
It really is worth taking the time to pack little items like a hat, gloves and a scarf. Plus, at least 3 pairs of thick socks and 3 pairs of thin ones. That way, provided you are prepared to wash as you go, you can wear two layers on your feet every day. You need one set to wear, one drying and a spare set is what you need at the very least. If you are travelling to a very cold place, consider extra items like hand warmers and ear muffs.

Packing for a sunny winter break
If you do want to get some sun during your winter vacation, don’t worry, I’ve got you covered too. You can read my warm weather packing tips here.

*This is a collaborative post.

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Have you been on any winter trips recently? Do you have any other tips you can add? ☺

My word for 2019

I like the idea of setting realistic intentions and having a themed word for the year. My word for 2016 was CHANGE and for 2017 it was GROWTH and it's funny looking back at these words and the years that followed. Both words definitely fit with each year and 2016 was life changing in many ways. Similarly, 2017 was a year of growth and we had some great moments. I didn't set a word for 2018 but instead wrote 18 goals for 2018 and I think I actually fulfilled most of these. Except knitting a jumper!

For a combination of reasons including Pip getting older (and getting older myself), I've had some kind of epiphany lately and I know what I want from life. I've always believed in having a good life/work balance and aiming high. However, due to certain factors, there have been times when I've felt really stuck (as in more stuck than I have ever felt in my life) and it's a horrible feeling. One thing I've come to realise lately, perhaps more than ever, is that if you really want to do something you just have to just go for it, look forward and have the belief that everything will be OK. It's great if you get support along the way but ultimately it's down to you and only you. With this in mind my word for 2019 is ACTION. Wish me luck!

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Do you have a word for 2019? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

WIN 2 x tickets to the Universal Orlando Resort™

Happy New Year! Wow, it's 2019 and I can feel it's going to be an exciting one! To celebrate the new year, I have teamed up with Ocean Holidays to run a competition offering an amazing giveaway - 2 x tickets to the Universal Orlando Resort™ in USA worth £524!

I went to Universal Orlando on a family holiday when I was just 10 and would love to return and take Pip one day! I also travelled to Orlando again in my early twenties visiting the amazing Disney World which was so much fun! Orlando is known for the theme parks but there is also a wonderful range of activities in the area and something for everyone including shopping malls, exquisite restaurants, art galleries and museums and beautiful beaches within driving distance.