How to reduce your carbon footprint while travelling

*This post contains affiliate links  We’re all excited by the prospect of leaving the local area we’ve been more or less bound to for the past 12 months and heading away to explore the world again.But one important lesson that’s been confirmed to us since the pandemic struck is that when people don’t travel, the world is a cleaner place. So how can we continue to see and love our planet without creating a huge carbon footprint? Here are some tips... Use green transport Obviously, there are times when avoiding taking to the air is impossible, such as travelling from the UK to New Zealand. But for shorter journeys to other European destinations consider taking the bus or train. After all, why the rush? You’re on holiday! The easiest way to minimise the carbon footprint from the transport you use is to holiday within the UK and take public transport to your destination . It can be a much more relaxing way to travel than by car, and you tend to see more of the landscape through which y......

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Useful gadgets and tech for your next adventure abroad

*Collaborative Post  While we cannot travel much at the moment, hopefully, things will slowly change for the better soon and we can start getting excited about planning for our next adventures. Wherever you are in the world, chances are you’ll see someone using at least one form of technology as they go about their day. The most obvious one is a smartphone, with our phones capable of performing a whole host of functions they have become quickly embedded in our lives, not only for communication but for photography and sharing our travels with others. There is also a range of travel tech many modern-day holidaymakers can’t seem to get enough of it. Some of the products on offer are a tad gimmicky, promising to provide a range of functionalities when in actual fact, they hardly deliver. So I thought I would share a few tech products that are beneficial to any traveller and enable even the most tiresome of journeys to go a bit more smoothly. Just like a comfortable travel pillow or a c......

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Why adult tricycles are so accessible and the benefits of riding one

*Written in collaboration with Jorvik Tricycles are increasing in popularity all over the world, with cyclists of all ages are realising they are much more safer and accessible option for everyone. They are great for the environmen t and they provide fun for all the family, what more is there to love? This post takes you through all the benefits a tricycle has to offer, so if you are thinking of swapping from a bike to a trike, this post will be sure to convert you. Check out the list of benefits below: Accessibility One of the biggest benefits to adult tricycles are that they are accessible to a wide range of people. As they have three wheels and are known to be much sturdier than bikes, tricycles are great for those that are young or old, those that don’t feel comfortable riding two-wheelers, or for those who have disabilities. They provide a user with much more balance and support, and therefore, for those with autism or dyspraxia, a tricycle is the perfect companion for transport o......

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8 reasons to embrace gardening

*This post contains affiliate links  Outdoor spaces, whether in our own home or community based, feel more essential than ever as they can offer us a space to relax and decompress and step away from everything that is going on in the world right now. I have always enjoyed spending time in my small garden, it's brought me a lot of focus over the past 12 months so I thought  I would share 8 ways that gardening can positively impact your life, as well as the people and world around you.  1.It Improves Wellbeing It’s well-known that gardening – plus spending time in the fresh air and being close to nature – is beneficial to mental health . Gardening can help people suffering from anxiety, depression and bereavement, and living near green spaces can reduce mental distress. Some GPs are even starting to prescribe gardening for rehabilitation. This includes community gardens which encourage people to make new social connections and improve their wellbeing. 2. It Let's You Be Cr......

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4 simple ways to be a more assertive business woman

It is without a doubt harder to navigate the business world as a woman in comparison to our male counterparts but while leaps are being made in terms of equality in the workplace we are not there just yet so working on being assertive in the workplace is key. We often unfairly have to walk a fine line which men don't by being confident without appearing to cocky or being labelled bossy, which is complete double standards! Well, you won’t find them here! So if you’re looking for help on how to be a strong woman in the workplace, you’re in the right place. Use your Commute (if you're returning to a place of work after the restrictions)  The first part of your working day is your commute. It’s easy to use this time to aimlessly scroll your phone, get your caffeine fix, and maybe send an email or two. However, you could use your commute to get into the right mindset for the day. Set intentions of what you’d like to achieve and create a clear plan. Your journey should be stress-free......

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Simple ways to De-stress in 2021

*This post contains afflialte links  The past year has affected everyone in one way or another and it's certainly not been the easiest year to put it mildly. With social distancing, working from home of which many parents are also balancing that with homeschooling and even simple things becoming rather stressful, like doing the weekly food shop, now is the time to make sure we are taking time for ourselves and keeping on top of things like stress. There have of course been many positives to the last year with many people switching to working from home and preferring it, also increased family time, local walks and getting outdoors, reducing the commute and for some learning new skills. While we are still nowhere near "normal" its more important than ever to look after our mental wellbeing, so here are 5 simple ways to help reduce stress in your life.  1. Get outside We all know the benefits of making time to get some fresh air and we really cannot underestimate what an imp......

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8 Practical Tips to Stay Productive Even in Lockdown

*This post contains affiliate links  The past year has been a pretty crazy ride and our new normal, well just isn't normal, yet. The Coronavirus pandemic has forced us into isolation and seclusion in our homes. It is quite jarring that we can’t go out for social functions, work or meet with friends and family without having to social distance or not at all when under lockdown. The quarantine period has forced many of us into boredom and loneliness. On the brighter side, the quarantine has provided enough time to bond with family, study, or work from home. Confinement without a routine is quite daunting and has affected how most people operate. Life in the pandemic has been a call for adaptation, we have had to learn how to make changes in our life while observing the health regulations but also keeping our mental wellbeing in mind.  Many of us have switched to working or studying from home which on the flip side does provide the opportunity for one to hone personal skills......

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How we can help Keep Wales Safe as kids return to school

*This is a paid partnership with the Welsh Government   Many parents across Wales are feeling both excited and anxious as children across the country slowly start to head back to school or formal activity settings and hopefully some small sense of normality during this unsettled time.  We all know what a boost it is for children's mental health to see their friends again, interact and engage with their peers and teachers in an in-classroom or group setting alongside the benefits this will have on their education. Saying that we are still very much in the early days of the vaccination roll out and it's still essential we do our part to keep the infection rate as low as possible and help to not only keep our kids safe but also friends, family and teachers.  While I don't have a return date for my children they will, when safe, start to socialise with others, friends or in a group setting eventually and these guidelines apply to everyone.  I am working alongside the Wel......

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Making Mothers Day special with Moonpig

*Written in collaboration with Moonpig.com After the year we have had, for many of us, our priorities have changed. For me personally, less is always more and finding gifts for friends and family that are meaningful, practical and reusable is key. So I thought I would share a few fun and unique last-minute gift ideas. No matter the gift you choose, always accompany it with a fresh bouquet of flowers. This adds extra panache to the gifts. Go ahead  view website to find the best blooms. I understand that Mother's Day can be hard for some but if you do celebrate, no matter your family dynamic, if want to treat yourself or a motherly figure in your life then Moonpig is a great place to not only design and create a funny or meaningful personalised card but you can also send an array of other things such as a bottle of bubbly, beauty products, board games or foodie treats. Normally my mothers Day is managing to get a little bit of a lie-in if I'm lucky and some scrambled egg on toas......

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10 activities to inspire creativity in 2021

  The past 12 months have not been easy for anyone with the pandemic affecting everyone's lives in one way or another. The majority of us have spent more time at home, reduced our travel and contact with others and at times it's felt like we have been stuck in groundhog day with multiple lockdowns in the UK. As we move towards a more positive future and hopefully a bit more normality we need to remember even this transition will take time and is likely to be a fairly slow process. So staying creative and trying new things (safely) can be a real boost for our mental and physical wellbeing in 2021 as we still fund ways to adjust to what is happening in our lives at the moment.  I thought I would share 10 creative activities to help as we move out of lockdown slowly  1. Visit an Art Gallery from the comfort of your own home There is nothing more inspiring than a visit to an art gallery or museum although many of these have been closed to the public for the majority of the pa......

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Lockdown Hair Care - 5 Causes of Dry Hair & What to do

This post contains affiliate links  Many of us are desperate to get to the hairdresser after months of lockdowns and restrictions but there are plenty of ways to keep on top of our locks in the meantime. Dry hair can be a nuisance. It looks dull and is more brittle which increases the chances of you breaking it, causing split ends and making it hard to achieve a workable style that you want. In fact, dry hair can even damage your self-confidence. Fortunately, it’s not something that you have to live with. Once you know the five most common causes of dry hair you’ll be able to take steps to avoid or prevent these things from happening. Over Use of Heat Styling Tools Moisture is trapped in your hair by a protective coating of oil. This prevents the moisture from escaping and drying out your hair. However, heat evaporates the oil and the moisture from your hair which can be a risk when using heat styling tools such as your hairdryer and straightening tongs. These can strip the moistu......

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