Last weekend I was lucky enough to have one of my most exciting collaborations with a brand yet! Combining my love of festivals with my love of fashion, I was invited to join the crowds at Wireless Festival in London, wearing all Debenhams attire as I mingled among the VIPs. I was so excited to be among the girl gang invited along for the day, a mixture of travel, fashion and beauty bloggers, each excited to be a part of such a fab event. Not only did it give me a good reason to fly home for the weekend and to catch up with friends and family, but it also gave the a perfect excuse to hit my first UK festival in years! It was a hectic weekend, filled with train, plane and bus delays and sadly I didn't even get to see my sister on her birthday thanks to the transport issues, but I'm just glad I didn't miss the festival and that I got the opportunity to see some of my favourite people.
I arrived at the festival on the Sunday, excited to see what the line-up would hold, all the favourites were on there, Rick Ross, Wretch 32, Giggs and more, but everyone was waiting with bated breath to see who would be replacing DJ Khaled as the headliner for the day. He had pulled out due to "transport issues" and we were all praying Drake would be the one replacing him – I for one had been dying to see him play live since university so we all said our prayers and hoped he'd be the one to hit the stage. READ: You can check out my last Wireless Festival experience here.
Debenhams had kindly allowed me to pick out an outfit and some fab trainers to wear, I naturally picked out my old favourites, Off White Canvas All Star Converse (£50.00), which are without doubt some of my favourite trainers of all time. The comfiest and the best, even for backpacking round the world. I've worn them dancing in clubs, on beaches, pacing across cities, hiking in forests and they always last me no matter what. These teamed with a gorgeous sparkly dress (Girls On Film Aion low cut back dress in metallic sequin £40.00) – because if you ask me, festivals mean glitter everythingggg! And if you can't dress up as a giant disco ball for a festival, when the heck can you? I was gutted though because sadly the pair didn't arrive in time for the festival, so I had to sub in a vintage playsuit and my old reliable Adidas trainers instead.
But what lovely items did arrive? Well, everyone on my social media has been talking about the most amazing jacket I wore, blue denim with amazing fringing tassels hanging from the arms – talk about a statement piece! This Tassel Sleeve Denim Jacket (£25.00) was from Miss Selfridge via Debenhams and I absolutely love it, it's definitely holding pride of place in my wardrobe right now and will be cracked out at every available opportunity. I was just a bit sad that although I rocked it for the pics, it was then checked into the VIP cloakroom until the end of the day because the heat was too much, 31 degrees is definitely not usual UK festival weather but it did mean no jacket needed.
Of course, I'm all about the fab accessories for a festival and what better to choose than a cute little backpack to store your camera and festival make-up? I chose the Parfois Black Tulum Backpack (£24.99) (similar available here) which was the perfect size for festivals – especially with the smaller than A4 size rule for some UK festivals – and held all my stuff safely out of my way for the day. Very budget-friendly and style friendly, I know I'll be using this one a LOT. This was teamed with more colour from the gorgeous Red Herring Multi Colour Feather Drop Earrings (£3.60) which were a fave item from the day, I loved how vibrant but wearable these are even for a non-festival event if teamed with a more neutral or black outfit, plus very purse-friendly to jazz up your outfit for more festival vibes.
Finally, Quay Australia were seriously repped on the day, with several of us bloggers picking out a gorgeous pair of their sunglasses to wear – and with the insanely hot sun that day, they were necessary! I picked the Black Mod Star Round Sunglasses (£45.00) which are such a fab shape and are my new faves, such simple and elegant shape with lovely dark lenses, they work perfectly with every outfit and will definitely be getting worn a LOT this summer. I loved some of the great reflection pics I managed to get on the day, really showing off these gorgeous glasses and the ones chosen by the other bloggers.
Of course, we're never complete without talking all about the festival hair and make-up. I arrived with my hair out on the day but quickly realised it was way too hot for hair out, so myself and a few other bloggers headed to the Schwarzkopf tent where they were offering free hair makeovers whether you preferred festival braids or any fab new style – I went for braids into space buns and they quite seriously saved me in the hot sun, I felt like a new woman after having my hair done! For make-up, I was wearing my fave Lancôme Teint Miracle foundation (06), Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, a Soap and Glory palette of eyeshadow, Pick n Glitz in Pink from Barry M and bronzer from Benefit Dallas. My perfume was also Kat Von D Saint, which has a gorgeous floral but crisp scent and comes in a fab travel-size which is perfect for slipping into your handbag!
All in all, a really fab day spent surrounded by amazing and inspiring women who really reminded me why I love the blogging community so very much. I had the best time at the festival, dancing and drinking with new and old friends, and eventually getting to see Drake perform live! Even if he was only on for 20 minutes, it was still a perfect end to a really great day. I could waffle on for ages about it, but to be honest I think the pics really speak for themselves and I'm really proud of the amazing pics I managed to get to capture the day, they really do give you the best behind-the-scenes view of what we all got up to! Also, if you're lusting after any of the items I ordered, check out the website as most, if not all of these were seriously reduced in the sales and were great bargains!
I also want to say a huge shout-out to my fellow festival blogger babes who all made the day so much fun! Check out their blogs by following these links and tell them I sent you - Noelle, Luisa, Martha, Jessi, Richeal and Giulia.
Did you go to Wireless Festival? Tell me about your summer festival plans? What big events have you got coming up?
Flatform fashion is a strong look for the summer, and even better, it's entirely practical for us traveler girls. Teaming up with XYLondon gave me the perfect opportunity to showcase fabulous shoes and clothes which are perfect for summer – no matter where you are spending it. I'm loving the opportunity to share more fashion-related posts lately and think it works well with travel as I require my clothes and shoes to be a lot longer-lasting and more hard wearing as well as stylish, so that they can survive all of my adventures.
I've always loved fashion, it's such a great way to be creative, and as someone who has struggled all her life to find good shoes that fit, gorgeous footwear has always been something I ended up sacrificing. Now these new flatform fashion styles combine pretty shoes with practicality and make them perfect for traveling the world and exploring new cities.
After those first months of travel spent living in flip-flops and tie-dye on the beach, I'll be honest and say I'm really enjoying being able to dress up a bit more now I've left backpacking behind and make more effort for life in Europe. With all this gorgeous weather, I was over the moon when the team at XYLondon sent me these gorgeous shoes to try out and style up. They picked well to match my style and the shoes go great with everything from summer casual wear to a party dress for nights out, that I've barely taken them off since they arrived in the mail.
Most importantly of all, for someone who struggles to find shoes that are the right shape and size for her awkward feet, when these flatform fashion styles arrived in the post, they both fit like a dream the very first time I put them on. Well-fitting shoes are so important, I can't deal with the sight of feet crammed into too-tight heels or straps that make your skin bulge uncomfortably. Our feet carry us every day of our lives ladies, they deserve comfort as well as style.
As someone who walks a hell of a lot in every new place I visit, it's important for shoes to not only be comfortable but hard-wearing, so when these gorgeous Polly Black Strappy Slingback Flatform Shoes arrived I made sure to put them through their paces. Wearing them on a day out in Cambridge, we marched the streets all day long and not once did the shoes rub or feel even slightly uncomfortable. They felt like I'd been wearing them years with the soft, synthetic leather and the comfortable flatform fashion style – which, if, like me, you can't be bothered with big heels, is a great way to dress up an outfit for the evening while staying comfortable.
These gorgeous shoes were such a hit that I raved about them to my bestie, who promptly went online and bought a pair for herself. These are also available in white and rose gold which are both fab for a night out or daytime wanderings. For £22.99, they're a total steal and even after I've worn them to death, they still look brand new and are as comfy as the day they arrived. You guys know I pride honesty in every review, and I can honestly say these have become my favourite and the most versatile shoes in my wardrobe. Available online here.
I've definitely noticed that since traveling, I'm much more of a trainers and flats kind of gal than heels – I used to love going out in heels but that was back when I had the stamina and the inability to feel pain. These days, I much prefer to dance all night or walk all day and still be smiling at the end, so flatforms fashion is a great choice because you get the benefit of the extra height (a bonus if you're a shortie like me) and feeling a bit more dressed up at night, but they can also be worn during the day with more casual outfits. Anything that works for both day and night is a winner for me, especially if you're traveling a lot and don't have much space in your bag for lots of shoes.
These Paige Navy Faux Suede Strappy Flatform Sandals are a great example of a really well-made and stylish shoe that easily works for both day and night. They can be nice and casual for a visit to the pub or a day out somewhere, or you could even dress them up and wear them to a wedding if you styled them well. I love the slight espadrille style of the bottom of the shoes, it make them feel really summery and perfect for holidays while the darker colour means they'll go with your whole wardrobe. The thick straps are really supportive and make the shoes really comfortable to wear, plus the wrap-around strap style is very slimming on the ankles.
Again, I tested these ones out with a good and long walk through the countryside over here in Germany and despite running around the fields taking all these pics, they were still just as comfortable as the day they arrived. The rich colour is perfect for teaming up with blue denim or even the super cute striped trousers that are everywhere at the moment. They are also available in nude or black and cost just £22.99. Available online here.
Check out the full XYLondon range online here.
What do you prefer – heels or flats? Where do you stand on flatform fashion? What shoes are your favourite this summer? Have you got a pair you bring out every season?
Finding the budget hair care routine to keep your mane tamed when you're constantly traveling can be difficult. We all lust over long luscious locks or those super cute elfin bobs, but staying stylish when you're living out of your suitcase and don't have the time, or money, to spare on keeping your locks under control, is tricky. After three years of traveling, I've gone from a super-short bob to a crazy, out-of-control 'fro and now to a sleek long 'do with a fringe. I've tried it all and I've even gone from brown to black, to bright red and hints of purple along the way. Over the three years, I've dealt with the humidity of the jungles of Thailand and Sri Lanka, I've coped with the unpredictable nature of Melbourne and Tasmanian winters and I've even put my hair through being fully styled and heat-treated every day for a job. Plus there's the constantly changing countries and climates from the hot to cold and even the water can have an effect, as I noticed going between the softer water of Australia to the hard water of the UK. Traveling hasn't just been exhausting for my body, it's taken it's toll on my hair too and I've had to find ways of looking after it while sticking to budget hair care solutions.
The hardest one of all – trying to make sure you have regular trims. If you're backpacking or traveling for work this is a nightmare and often gets forgotten but it can really make a huge difference. By keeping your hair in good condition, you can save a lot of money trying to restore it once it is damaged – preparation is key for budget hair care. Before my last haircut, I went six months before having a trim and my god my hair needed it. You see, my hair does this thing where it grows out as well as long – it just gets bigger and bigger with a heck of a lot more attitude. Combine that with the heat and split ends, and it becomes a mess of knots and tangles that I struggle to get a brush through. Getting regular trims can help protect the healthy hair by stopping split ends, keeping it under control and making it less prone to knots.
But where am I going to find a regular hairdresser when I'm backpacking? Have you thought about looking in your hostel? Hairdressers go backpacking too and often if you look on the noticeboard of Facebook groups for the area, you'll see posts advertising cheap haircuts by traveling hairdressers. Don't worry, I've done this many times and it can be great. One of my best traveling friends is actually a trained hairdresser and she picked up work wherever she went offering haircuts for men and women in the hostel. Not backpacking and want something a bit more upmarket? It's worth seeing if your hotel can recommend a hairdresser's nearby, or looking online/social media, or even take a walk through the local mall to find a chain you feel comfortable going to. If you go home between trips, always go back to the same hairdresser – I've been going to the same one since I was 12 and she's amazing, she always knows exactly what will suit me and what the best style is to help my hair get back to normal.
Can't afford a professional cut or simply don't have the time to spend getting it dyed? Well, why not look at doing it yourself? If you have a low-maintenance hairdo, perhaps it's long or you just have a fringe that needs trimming every now and again. Don't attempt this unless you feel confident with a pair of scissors, but I used to cut my own fringe when I was away at university and couldn't get to a hairdressers. I even started cutting in my own layers for a while. Dying your hair can cost a fortune, but let's be honest, we love the feel of freshly dyed hair. I'm always playing around with my colour and definitely couldn't afford to do it if I went to the salon, but by dying it myself at home, or getting a friend/my mum to do it for me, I can have the best of both worlds. Choosing your dye wisely can actually be great for your hair – my locks always feel 10x healthier and glossier after I've used L'Oreal Casting Creme Gloss Semi Permanent hair dye and the conditioner is amazing. It has no ammonia in it so it's not as harsh as other dyes and it instantly makes my hair feel so much better.
Coconut oil is incredible – it doesn't matter whether you use it on your hair, your skin, in your food or anywhere else you can think of – it has such a great impact on your body. It's a great budget hair care tip because it's so multi-purpose and I never leave on my travels without it. When traveling to tropical countries, I always rub coconut oil all over my skin and in the damp ends of my hair after every shower. It really helps to keep my hair in good condition and to keep your skin soft and moisturised. Even when I'm in colder places, I rub coconut oil into my hair once a week and even rub it into my nails – it really does help to strengthen them. When I'm in the UK, I always buy it from Aldi - it's the cheapest I've found and you get a HUGE pot that will last you ages.
For day-to-day budget hair care, it's important to find a shampoo and conditioner that will actually care for and protect your hair. I'm making sure I choose paraben and sulphate-free brands which help your hair to remain undamaged, but I also try to look for brands that protect against sun-damage. Traveling in places like Australia and Asia, it's important to realise the impact of being exposed to strong sunshine and UVA/UVB rays on a daily basis, and just as we buy moisturiser with sunscreen in it, to find protection for our hair. Most important, don't spend the earth – you don't need to buy the most expensive just because it's a big brand. I love the Aussie range and L'Oreal.
Sometimes a basic shampoo and conditioner isn't enough to revive your hair after a lot of time spent in the sunshine. I swear by deep conditioning treatments, especially when I can't get it cut. During the six months where I didn't get a chance to have it cut, I swore by deep conditioners – it was the only way I could get a comb through my hair! I try to use them at least once a week but often I'll use them more – this depends on your hair type. Again, it doesn't have to be expensive, my favourites are the L'Oreal Extraordinary Oil and Aussie Three Minute Miracle and both are great budget hair care options.
One of the best things you can do for your hair when traveling a lot is to cut back on washing it. Use the time to train your hair to require washing less, embrace the dry shampoo and start getting more creative with styles. Growing it out when traveling can be a great way to do this, after traveling with both short hair and long hair, I would choose long hair every single time. Short hair is a pain and needs styling every day, but long hair barely needs to be brushed! Plus, it doesn't get dirty as quickly and, if you train it up, you can easily get down to washing it just once a week with a touch of dry shampoo and some clever styling. The less you wash it, the less product you use and the less often you have to buy replacements – perfect for budget hair care!
I love braids. They are so easy and effortlessly stylish, so comfortable for traveling and so good at hiding what state your hair is really in. Plus, even better for budget hair care – it's free! Traveling in Asia with long hair made me a lot more creative at styling my hair and saving myself from both the humidity and having to wash my hair. It kept my hair off my face and they were fantastic for long journeys – I could easily not wash my hair for days and still arrive not looking like I'd been dragged through a hedge backwards. The more you practice, the easier it gets and soon you'll be able to braid your entire head of hair in less than 30 seconds, and if you leave them in overnight with damp hair, or fresh from the ocean, you'll be left with those soft, gorgeous waves.
Traveling can be the perfect opportunity to really take a break from using heat on your hair – hairdryers and straighteners can really damage your locks over time and it's a good idea to take a break. If you're moving around a lot, going natural can help save your hair from further damage and it can also save room in your suitcase. I'm quite lucky and my hair really suits the heat and humidity, it brings out my natural curls, so I always leave my hairdryer and straighteners/curlers at home when I travel and just go natural. Even when I travel in cooler countries, I try to just give a quick blast with the hairdryer and always use heat protection spray.
You know how we're supposed to make sure we get our five-a-day? Well just as it's important to eat loads of vitamin C so you don't get sick, your hair needs certain vitamins to avoid getting brittle and weak. Incorporating certain foods into your diet can naturally help boost your hair's health, avoiding the need to take supplements. Think things like eggs and avocados, lots of leafy greens such as spinach, and plenty of nuts and seeds. Its easy to build these into your diet and luckily they're pretty tasty foods. I love to make sure I have vitamin-rich breakfast or brunch – poached eggs with spinach and avocado – or I sprinkle nuts and seeds into my granola or on salads. Little things like this can have a huge impact on how thick and healthy your hair looks.
What are your best budget haircare tips for regular travelers? How do you deal with the changing climates? What are your favourite haircare products?
I've always been a health conscious kinda gal and liked to keep track of what I was putting into my body - from the food I was eating, to how much water I was drinking, to the beauty products I chose. As someone who has annoyingly sensitive skin prone to allergic reactions, eczema and flare-ups, it's important for me to use the most natural products available and to avoid overly-processed foods. Travelling gave me the opportunity to take full control of this and to really reap the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Don't get me wrong, I always ate very healthily at home and exercised plenty before travelling, but going solo meant every decision was up to me and that I was able to try out different lifestyle choices that perhaps I didn't have as much opportunity to pursue before I went away. Starting out in Asia, my diet changed dramatically as I gorged on the delicious fruits available and cut out meat almost completely, replacing it with tofu or other vegetarian options. It was something that happened very naturally and I found that I didn't even miss meat. Throughout travelling I never gave up meat entirely but I very rarely ate it, and I almost never cooked it - watching more and more documentaries about the farming industry made me stand by my decision.
Likewise, away from European beauty standards and living in a much more relaxed backpacker culture, I found myself living months on end without wearing make-up. I never wore that much to begin with, but never quite felt comfortable leaving the house without at least a bit of mascara or concealer. Asia changed all that, the humidity and the heat made make-up pointless unless you wanted it sliding down your face, and we all know that everyone looks better with a tan anyway. I was confident and happier since travelling, I was comfortable with the way I looked, and more importantly I just didn't give a damn. I liked rolling out of bed and straight to the beach, I liked applying sunscreen and a dash of coconut oil to my skin, and more importantly, my skin liked it. I didn't have spots or patches or any sign of irritation, the one thing I did have was a big smile on my face. I can tell you that my happiest moments in the last few years have all happened when I've been barefaced except for a smile, with messy hair that smells of the ocean. It just shows you, once you take all the clever advertising and society pressure away, when you really get back to basics, whats really important - health and happiness.
Being more aware than ever of the importance of knowing exactly what we are putting in our bodies, when Time Of The Month contacted me to ask whether I wanted to review their organic range - I jumped at the opportunity. Starting out back in 2012, the company was founded as a way of empowering women to make their own choices about their gynaecological health while offering them products that were made of the purest and cleanest materials. Founder St. John Burke said: " I was motivated to develop a brand I'd be happy for my daughter to use." Your vagina is the most absorbent part of your body, and sanitary products full of harsh chemicals can be absorbed into your blood stream and cause problems with your immune system and hormones, with links to reproductive issues and cancer. We refuse to use sun beds for fears of skin cancer and regularly check for lumps in our breasts and yet we still use products in our most intimate area that could cause severe health problems on a daily basis. But it's not something we think about because it's never talked about!
Did you know that tampons and towels have been around since the 1930's and that most are still made from the same man-made materials used back then? So for almost 100 years we've been using the same products to deal with our periods - think how many versions of the iPhone have been released in the last six years alone. So if we can update our phones that often, why haven't we found a healthier way to deal with our periods? For some women, moon cups have provided a better option, but for many girls that method just doesn't appeal. The average women is using up to 17,000 tampons in a lifetime, so for those who prefer traditional methods, perhaps it's about time we started looking at healthier, more organic options. If not for our health, then think about the damage your time of the month is doing to the planet - every tampon you're currently using takes six months to biodegrade, while the plastic applicators take a further 25 years to break down, and don't get me started on pads which take a whopping 500-800 years! TOTM offer a fantastic range of 100% biodegradable tampons which dissolve naturally in landfills and unlike many other brands, they only use natural, organic cotton that has not been genetically modified or treated with chemical fertilisers or pesticides.
I don't know about you, but doing my bit for the environment is pretty important and if it helps keep me as healthy as possible at the same time - we're onto a winner! I trialled out a selection of TOTM's products to see whether they would marry up to the standards I'm used to, and the truth is they far surpassed them. When you open the tampons and sanitary towels you're not overwhelmed by that chemical smell you get from high street products, yet the absorption rate is just the same, if not better than the products I would normally use. I was also really impressed to find that TOTM run a tailor-made service to suit your period, they'll deliver your chosen products directly to your door each month to fit with your cycle, or you can choose a one-off delivery. TOTM really puts women's health at the heart of things, and makes times of the month as hassle-free as possible - isn't that what we all want? I loved the way they were delivered to my home and having a regular delivery would stop you from getting caught out each month. After all that drama about the tampon tax, it's clear that female health is less of a priority to our government but that's why we need to make it more of a priority personally. TOTM exists to empower women to make real decisions about what is being put into your body - its a luxury that generations before us didn't have. Let's take advantage of it and take control.
How has travel affected your health? Have you become more health-conscious since travelling? How do you feel about the sanitary products available and knowing what you are putting in your body?
I may have been living on a budget since arriving in Australia, but travelling through Asia, there was something I never scrimped on. Even when we've given up all our worldly possessions in favour of a super-saver life on the road, we all have to admit that there are times when all us backpackers dream of a little luxury. One thing in particular I miss since being down under is massages - back in the UK my mum and I always made sure we had a little spa break booked in to treat ourselves. Both working pretty stressful jobs with constant deadlines, it was so nice to have a full day dedicated to relaxation and pampering every now and again. Even when I couldn't afford a day at the spa, I'd often have an evening dedicated to facials, manicures and pampering at home. It's important to look after yourself and to allow yourself the time to really unwind. So when I arrived in Thailand, I was over the moon to realise quite how cheap and incredible the massages were - I'm not gonna lie, at one point I was getting one every day for a week until I realised I was getting addicted. You really notice the difference as a traveller, especially when you're sleeping on rubbish bunk beds with springs in your back, or when you're spending all day walking the streets of Bangkok or up all night dancing at a party in the jungle. Trust me, that leaves your with sore feet and a few too many knots in your shoulders, plus, if you've just left a stressful job and life behind, it's nice to treat yourself and not break the bank.
Travelling across Asia, you really start to notice the similarities and some of the differences between the massages you experience - you really become an expert in knowing when you're getting a good massage or when you're getting one from someone who has no idea what they're doing. I actually walked out on two massages because the masseuses clearly had no idea what they were doing and were starting to hurt my feet - but that doesn't even make a dent in how many incredible massages I had over the five months I spent travelling Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. The further afield you go, the more you get to experience slightly more unusual types of treatment which are often quite an experience in themselves. In this post, I'm going to focus on five main types of massage I experienced while in Asia - I'm sure there are many more but these were the most incredible and the ones I would seriously recommend you try for yourself when you pass through Asia.
Foot/Neck Street Massage
It wouldn't be a trip to Thailand without at some point experiencing a massage on the street as you watch the world go by and let the craziness of Bangkok wash over you. I love to people watch and this was a great place to do it after a long day of walking around the city. It was heaven to slip into one of these comfy chairs while a Thai man or woman massaged your feet, or shoulders. At only around 150 baht (around £3) you can't really go wrong can you?! My favourite place to stop was right next to a little bar that always had live music playing and it was usually the perfect accompaniment to the massage.
Thai Massage
Now this one is an acquired taste - some don't enjoy this vigorous massage and prefer something more relaxing but Thai massage has a great effect on the body. I always left a Thai massage feeling invigorated and revived, and it is great if your muscles feel tight from lots of activities - a bit like a deep tissue massage. I personally wouldn't have this one very often because I found that sometimes my muscles ached afterwards because it was quite rough compared to other types of massage, but if you get the right masseuse it can be amazing! This one cost around 400 baht (£4) when I was there.
Full Body Oil Massage
My absolute favourite is the one with coconut oil - this was my special treat every few weeks. I loved the way the oil felt on your skin as you were massaged and it stopped the massage from being as rough as in Thai massage. Plus the smell of the oil was just divine, your skin felt incredible afterwards because it was so soft. My favourite coconut oil massage was the very first one I had where I lay on a platform facing the ocean just after sunset on a tiny Thai island, it was beautiful watching the clouds go all shades of pink and blue as the sun slipped further below the horizon and the waves lapped against the shore. This one cost 5-600 baht (£10-12) depending on where you were.
Four Hands Bliss Massage
This one was a pretty unique experience and one I couldn't pass up. When I was in Cambodia, I stayed at a yoga retreat where they offered this type of massage and I was urged to give it a try. Two specially trained massage therapists would mirror each other's movements and rhythm on your body to overload your sensory capacity and send you into deep states of bliss and relaxation. It was a once in a lifetime experience and I'm so glad I tried it, at just $20 USD it was a bargain! Many came out of this massage in a real daze they were so overwhelmed by the sensations, I personally found it very invigorating and was bouncing off the walls!
Blind Shiatsu Massage
Another experience I will never forget was my hour spent with Leab at the Cambodian retreat, he is actually the person who massages Angelina Jolie at a five star hotel not far away when she visits the country, but I got to experience the deep tissue massage for just $15 USD. This was just one week after a bad bus crash left me limping and in serious pain throughout my legs and especially in one knee. I didn't even tell Leab about this but in seconds he could tell where the pain was and set to work, we barely spoke as his English wasn't very good, but his hands were an absolute miracle. They made an incredible difference to the pain and stiffness in my legs, I walked out of there not limping for the first time in over a week. The whole experience, just being in his peaceful presence was so healing and I was gutted when it was over! If you ever get a chance to experience type of massage - do it!
Even just writing this I'm desperate for a massage - the last eight months of working and partying flag out, plus three months in the bush, haven't done much for my knotted shoulders and aching back. My mum and I are already planning a mother-daughter spa day for when I return, and I can't wait for it after working what was probably one of the worst jobs of my life. If you don't already have a spa day planned or can't spare the time and money to try these Asian delights - why not put aside some money each week and treat yourself a little closer to home? You could check out Urban Retreat's Moroccan Hammam experience at Harrods which offers a centuries old full body experience to purify and revitalise the body and soul, including exfoliation. Anyone who's tempted to book a massage after reading this post should have a look around and definitely consider treating themselves!
Tell me about your favourite spa experiences - were they in the UK or abroad? Have you tried these massages - what did you think?
* this post was a collaboration with Harrods
Packing is one of the hardest parts of preparing to go travelling. In your mind you dream of gallivanting on a beach with your slender, tanned frame draped in gorgeous, floaty fabrics looking like something out of an advert for Free People. The reality is, there's just not much space for outfits like that in a 65 litre backpack! Suddenly your dreams are shattered when you realise how little space you have to pack up your whole life and carry it around with you for the next year. There's a reason I never wrote a packing list until now, and it's because I really do think it is difficult to provide a general one for all as each person values different items at different amounts, plus if you're travelling to different places it makes it difficult to pack for all weathers. I had an easy job at first because I was packing for South East Asia where I knew I would be needing just very light clothing, swimwear and sandals. I packed extremely lightly and decided to buy stuff along the way if I needed more clothing, and most of the items I took with me were ones I already had instead of buying new when I knew it would be cheaper in Asia. But when it came to arriving in Australia I was totally unprepared - I had no clothes for city life just hippy tie-dye dresses and flip-flips. I had to buy jumpers and even a coat just so that I could stay warm in the Sydney winter. But I didn't mind this too much because it just meant that I hadn't needed to carry the items around Asia for five months with me.
I've definitely noticed over time that there are some items that I packed way back when I first set out in January that have stayed with me ever since and remain as useful as ever, while a lot of other things I brought with me have since found their way to the bin or charity shop. These are the things I want to talk about because some of these things are the ones you might not think of when packing your bag, but they might turn out to be the things you need most. Check out my list below:
When it comes down to it, these are definitely the items that have been used the most out of my backpack and interestingly only two of these items are actually clothes - the most practical. Bear that in mind if you're packing for a long trip, I know it feels like the most important thing is to look the part but you can buy clothes all over the world and not many people actually care what you look like when you're travelling - they're more interested in the smile on your face and the stories you have to tell. I know girls who rocked up to Australia with their hairdryer, straighteners, curlers, a shedload of makeup and a whole wardrobe of going out outfits - I'll be honest and say you don't need it. It's nice to have some of that stuff so you can actually make an effort sometimes, but you don't need a suitcase full of the stuff, why not save the space and make your bag lighter for travelling further? Plus when you're moving between places so often, nobody ever realises you've been wearing the same outfit on the last 10 nights out. When you're camping in the outback and haven't showered for a week, it really doesn't matter what label you're wearing. Get back to basics and enjoy it. My best advice, if you plan to travel to Asia, just pack as light as possible and buy everything there - you'll save a fortune and you'll only end up buying all the clothes anyway!
What are your most useful items? What do you wish you had packed on your last trip? What do you never leave home without?
Ben Sutherland
As someone who has suffered from eczema, bizarre allergic reactions and dry patches on my skin all my life, I thought it was about time that I shared the fantastic remedies I have come across over the years that not only have saved me hundreds of pounds but have actually healed these problems far quicker than prescribed treatments. My mum and I have made a bit of a mission out of finding natural alternatives that will help to solve such problems in a way that won't upset the natural balance of my body and that won't cause further problems as a result of the harshness of the treatment.
I have never been one of these girls to spend a fortune on a product unless I know that it will work or it is something I really want to try as a treat - often I will turn to my own kitchen cupboards to find unprocessed products that are less likely to irritate the skin in turn. I particularly enjoy simple products and treatments because it can become complicated to work out which ingredient you are allergic to or simply does not agree with your skin type.
Now, these are a mixture of health-related remedies and beauty remedies that will hopefully help to boost your skin and give you the confidence boost you need, because we all know how devastating it can be to get a spot or a red patch on your face before a big night out!
Chandrika Nair
So there you are, just some of the great natural remedies for dealing with acne, eczema, dry patches, red patches and anything else along the way in your quest for glowing skin. It's important to remember that everything you put in your body you wear on your skin so if you live on a diet of shit, you're going to look like shit! Main advice is eat healthy, exercise and be happy - if you feel rubbish then often it shows on your face and affects both your skin and hair. If you are run-down, no amount of make-up can hide that, so why not start from the basics and eat more fruit and veg, drink more water and move more? You'll be amazed at the results.
Have you got any home remedies that you use to keep looking healthy and glowing? Any that have been passed down through the family?
