Category: Lifestyle (Page 1 of 2)

We always listen everywhere, be happy, don’t worry, everything is going to be better. But nobody says how. And it can be quite hard sometimes to find out the way to our happiness. However, I think I found mine. I recently started a new concept. I am practicing mindfulness.

Mindfulness, what is it?

Mindfulness is a new concept used in order to develop your mind wellness. Often compared to meditation, it looks like this new approach takes something more. In fact, the keyword in this new practice is “acceptation”. We will develop the concept later. The idea here is to learn how to control your emotions through a learning process. The practisers distinguish two kinds of mindfulness. The one based on ancestral techniques and the other one a bit more modern. Both of them are taught and learned in order to enhance your capacity to live in perfect harmony with your present.

How did it help me?

Obviously, mindfulness is aiming to help you. Once you are able to control your emotions and accept any situation you will pass by, your life will seem much easier. Today, I am able to control my anxiety and stress level, without avoiding a bad situation. Just because I learned how to focus on it. But it had given to me other advantages. For example, my ability to concentrate and focus effectively on a task increased amazingly. The fact that I only think about the pertinent information makes me more efficient when I have to act quickly. In few words, I feel much more comfortable with any task in any situation. But there is another point where mindfulness helped me. My sleeping! I can say that I am sleeping much better, and much more relaxed. What else could I ask ?!

So basically, I feel like I am in a virtuous circle, where what I am doing or feeling will have a positive impact on what is coming next. This is a sensation I didn’t felt for a long time.

How can you learn it?

If you got here, it’s because I think that you are starting to feel interested in the practice of mindfulness. To start practicing, you will have to follow seminaries given by professionals specialized in this field. Step by step, they will teach you how to analyze each feeling you can experiment with during your daily life. This step is important because you can’t control something that you don’t know. Once this first part is done, a word will sound constantly in your mind, “acceptation”. This is the second step, the hardest. You will have to accept the feeling, the emotion. Even bad or good.  Be OK with the moment. And to finish, when you finally have accepted the emotion, you can get to the last step. You can control this emotion and learn how to live with it.

No worries, it can seem difficult reading it, but the instructor I learned with made my experience smooth and enjoyable. The sessions I had lasted around 1.30 hours each, which is perfect to experiment with every sensation. During those lessons, you will learn new concepts as internal communication, mental imagery, and relaxation skills. New baggage you will be pleased to use in your daily life!

If you liked this post, don’t hesitate to have a look at Learn to be happy in your life!

The beginning of the year doesn’t look much different from last year. And it makes it so hard to follow our routine.  This is why I decided to reschedule my time. So I started something I never tried before, and I wanted to share it with you. Sport at home.

Sport at home, my own organization

Regarding the current situation, it was quite hard to keep going on with my sport routine. Now gyms are closed, it became harder. This is why I took the decision to start training on my own. That allows me to organize myself. I have to admit, it hadn’t been that easy, mostly at the beginning. Because sometimes, it can be really easy to find excuses and skip the training. So if I can give you a tip, make your fitness session a priority! No worries, after the first week, everything will seem much smoother.

Set my own program

Once I organized my time, I had to program my training sessions. It wasn’t possible for me to start without knowing what I had to do. First, I scheduled a program that fit my needs and my level.  Things like the list of exercises, the time it will last but also the material required will make your session more structured.  I recommend starting with a 40 minutes session, warm-up included. The second step will be to establish the space you will need during the session. I always take 6m² just to be sure I have enough space to move around. The last step is the most important. Prepare your training program. This will be the key to good training. No worries, you can easily find all kinds of training on the web. Be sure that your program is responding to your goals and needs.

What should be my sport at home session made of?

When I first started, I wasn’t sure that I was doing the correct. So I asked a professional for some clues in order to structure properly my sessions. This is what he said: the first step has to be the warm-up. It has to be progressive in intensity. It usually lasts 8-12 minutes. The following step comes with the execution of the exercises. You have to respect the effort time but also the rest time. I use to work out with a succession of 2 exercises and take a 1.30min break. It works quite well for me. Remember that it’s important to work on the full body to make sure you are not forgetting any important part. Once you have finished, you will have to cool down. I use some stretching to do so.

My favorite session

As a conclusion to this article, I wanted to share with you one of my favorite training. Here we go!

– Warm up

1st block, 3 series : 10 push-ups + 12 squats + 30 seconds plank

2nd block, 3 series : 12 lunges (each leg) + 15 burpees + 20 abs crunches

3rd block, 3 series : 10 skippers + 20 jumping jacks + 10 lumbers extension

– Cooldown

However, do not forget that you must adapt the session to your needs. Do not hesitate to combine your new sport routine with a detox plan !

Here in the UK, there is a great contrast between the impressive capital & the life you can have in the country. While country living provides you with more indoor and outdoor space, living in the city presents far more opportunities to socialise. Maybe, like me, you are at a point in your life where you are uprooting. You need to make a decision on where to next call home. Although I am yet to make a final decision, here are some of the things that I have taken into consideration so far.

Balancing the cost with the gain

As you will know, I love to visit places relatively undiscovered by tourists, like my recent trip to Georgia. So, you would assume that I want to live away from crowded places. However, in the UK, we have a spectrum of country living. To begin with, we have the capital of London. Although breathtakingly beautiful, London is a tourist destination for many. For others, it is a place of business. While almost 9 million people call this place ‘home’. Albeit, at a cost. With an average rental price of £1,600 per month, living in London comes at an expensive price.

In comparison, a one-bedroom apartment in the city center of Liverpool costs £655. Here lies the predicament. As if the daily living cost in London wasn’t expensive enough, I would be paying more than double the amount in rent to live in one of the greatest cities in the world. Having so many facilities, restaurants, & events to go to has its drawback – you will spend a lot of money! On the other hand, country living surely consists of not spending much? I personally don’t imagine myself passing my days sitting at home reading a book by the fire every night. Having said that, things such as transport, groceries, amongst other necessities, will inevitably cost less. All in all, saving you more money.

Country living allows you to appreciate nature again

In general, there are not many places that you can live in which allow you to feel at one with nature. Except, country living, that is. Whilst city living provides you with views over a concrete jungle, although very pretty when lit up at night, country living supplies much more. Fresh air, blue skies, gardens, forests, streams, and a night sky filled with thousands of stars. You cannot put a price on that. I personally love taking a peaceful walk through the countryside and listening to the birds chirping, as opposed to hearing the loud pandemonium of city life.

Small-town life can be quite lonely

Albeit, a country walk can be lovely. However, enjoying it alone is not quite the same as when in the company of others. Getting a social life can be quite difficult in country living. Naturally, there are fewer people to socialize with. It’s more of small-town life. A kind of place where everybody knows each other, and each other’s private business. A town where people like to gossip, most likely. On the contrary, there is a certain community spirit in the city. In addition to an abundance of social events to meet people in.

In general, I would advise any of you who are thinking about changing to country living, to think about what you personally will benefit from and how this will have a positive impact on your life. All of us are different & no person is the same. Country vs country living: which is right for you? provides some other factors to take into consideration. Take a piece of paper, and write down the advantages and disadvantages to both. After, weigh up the pros and cons and make your decision. I wish you the best of luck & I’m sure that you will make the best choice for yourself!

Here in the UK, the number of people working from home is rising. As a result of further restrictions, a return to working at the office seems unattainable. Hence, the only solution is to relocate your workspace and finally do what people tell us not to do, mix business and pleasure. What is important to realise is that there are changes that you can make to improve your experience. Here are some that I recommend.

Eat healthily

Dare I say that there can be a benefit to working from home? That is that you have your whole kitchen at your fingertips. As well as having all of your appliances available, you can fill your fridge with fruits to snack on. Take the opportunity to improve your diet. You are no longer confined to the delicacies offered in the staff vending machine (no sarcasm intended!). Try to introduce one of my detox plans into your daily diet, and you will soon reap the benefits. Think of it as creating healthy habits, not restrictions. No more excuses.

Exercise in between working

As you will undoubtedly be spending more time at home, I don’t recommend working out inside. Instead, exercise should be done outside as much as possible. Spending time outdoors is good for you. The natural sunlight (although we don’t see too much of that here in the UK!) will provide you with essential vitamin D. In addition, staring at a screen for too long can result in a feeling of fatigue. Taking a walk outside will allow your body to reset and will boost your attention span.

You wouldn’t wear your pajamas to the office

Understandably, there is a temptation to wear your loungewear or PJs whilst working from home. The mantra of ‘Dress for the job that you want, not the job you have’ should apply at home as well. Subconsciously, you associate pajamas with relaxing and sleeping. To illustrate my point, you would not wear your pajamas to the office as you are not there to relax. Wearing this to work from home will result in you working slower and being less productive. Instead, get into the right mindset for work, and make the effort to dress as you normally would for the office. Imagine that any day, your manager could call you via video call. How do you want them to see you? Dressed professionally or in your favourite onesie? Impressions count.

Keep in contact – there is more to life than working

In addition to feeling like you are stuck in the house all day, you will most likely miss your coworkers. Social interaction is as important as social distancing. Often, when you work from home, you may feel like a ‘hamster on a wheel’. As humans, we are not designed to live in this way. We need contact with others. Maybe it’s the office gossip that you miss, or simply the feeling of being around other people. But the thing is, your colleagues are only a quick message or Zoom call away. After so much time spent feeling isolated, now is the time to reconnect.

A detox plan is a great way to start your new year. We may have over-indulged a little too much during the festive period. We may even have a New Year’s resolution to join the gym. One of the healthiest ways that I have found to kickstart a healthier lifestyle or fitness journey is to detox. After all of the junk food that we have binged on over Christmas, we should focus on ridding ourselves of these unhealthy habits. With this purpose in mind, I want to recommend some of my personal favourite detox secrets with the aim to flush out the stored toxins in your body.

An effective detox plan demands superfoods

To begin with, remove all of the sugar fuelled treats that you have leftover from Christmas. These cannot be incorporated into your new healthy diet. We must start afresh! For those of you who are not great meat lovers, try a vegan diet for a better digestive condition. On the other hand, if you cannot compromise with your carnivorous ways, there is no need to distress. Fill the new space in your cupboards with more green leafy vegetables, salmon, eggs, berries, nuts, seeds and any other foods which fall into the ‘superfood’ category. The more colourful the food the better. In short, I want your cupboard to represent a rainbow. Replace beiges and browns with vibrant colours and you will soon enough reap the benefits.

Dry January detox

I am sorry to do this to you, but you know that if you want to have more energy in the morning, then you need to give up the alcohol you drank the night before. Equally important as what you eat, is what you drink. Having said that, your liver is one of the key organs that will help you to detox your body. So take care of it! Intend to avoid alcohol in any event and replace with two to four cups of herbal tea, for the first few weeks. In the end, I promise that you will feel the difference. Your liver will also thank you for it too!

Undeniably, green tea should be part of this daily detox diet. Loaded with antioxidants, this will help to break down the food you eat. All in all, resulting in better digestion and boost to weight loss. Similarly, ginger tea is also high in antioxidants and will help to ease digestive discomfort. This tea is so easy to make…simply, infuse dried or fresh pieces of ginger into hot water for a few minutes and enjoy its warming taste. Using the same method, place 1 to 2 tablespoons of ground or powdered turmeric in hot water, but this time leave it to infuse longer, for around 10 minutes. Strain the tea into a mug, and add a little honey for a sweeter taste. Turmeric tea contains antibacterial properties that boost your immune system, whilst reducing inflammation.

Replace coffee with fresh juices

On the condition that you drink coffee in moderation, it’s perfectly ok to have the occasional caffeine-fuelled drink. Coffee can help to improve your energy levels. In addition, it can also help you to burn fat by boosting your metabolic rate. On the contrary, it can lead to feeling anxious, restlessness, and dehydration. None of these effects will assist you with your fitness journey. For this reason, I recommend setting yourself an aim to cut back gradually your caffeine intake. Start by opting for a carrot juice instead of your usual cup of coffee with your breakfast. Progressively reducing your coffee consumption from four a day to just one, then to an occasional intake once or twice a week, etc.

If you are searching for some juice ideas then I recommend having some fun and playing around with different fruits and vegetables. With that in mind, it is rare that you will come across a fruit that does not have some benefits for your new healthy lifestyle. Oranges will boost your immune system as they are high in Vitamin C, ginger aids digestion, whilst an apple a day keeps the doctor away! Invest in a quality juicer and experiment with your own juice creations. Wholefully provides us with some great ideas to kickstart our detox.

As I am sure you are well aware by now, most European countries are living under some form of restrictions placed by their Government due to Covid 19. Here in the UK, Boris Johnson has recently announced that restrictions will be eased from the 2nd December in certain parts of the country. This seems a little too late considering that at the moment, we are only permitted to purchase essential items. So amongst this pandemic, how can we really benefit from the offers which Black Friday brings?

Black Friday – but only for your fruit & veg

Some of you may have seen the hilarious video of the man in Whales who recently walked into a supermarket wearing only his boxers. The reason behind this stunt was because the current rules state that clothes are not considered as ‘essential’. In recent times, the press has issued articles about supermarkets removing ‘non-essential’ items from their shelves. The whole intention behind it is to discourage people from entering the store, unless it is to buy the necessary items such as food, etc.

In spite of the rationale behind this rule, I can’t help but wonder how businesses are going to suffer even further. In years gone by, Black Friday has always been a notoriously huge event. Crowds of people battled with security and other bargain hunters to get their hands on TVs, consoles, and all other kinds of gadgets. Last year, fights even erupted! Everyone wants to get hold of these incredible offers. Especially considering that Christmas is just around the corner. Why wait longer if you know that you can buy the product for half the price on Black Friday?

Friday 27 November – Save the date

The date is looming! Black Friday is approaching…except, houston we have a problem! In the UK, the high street is officially closed. For the first time ever, Black Friday will be held completely online.

It’s not all bad news though. To entice customers, businesses have launched deals earlier to entice customers. I have already started to search for the best deals now. For the reason that if I wait, all of the top deals will be gone by the time Cyber Monday arrives. Get the upper hand and make your purchases early! Already, I have seen astounding deals including £200 off the iPhone 11. These deals are unlikely to be reduced further on Black Friday. In 2020, this event no longer consists of just one day.  It’s a whole week of offers, reductions, and opportunities to spend your hard-earned cash.

Speaking of great deals, if you want an absolute steal, remember the exciting Gift Box  I told you about before where you can claim a free gift box of 5 cosmetic products. Honest Kiss has now introduced an amazing Black Friday Gift Box including free Nars, Lancôme, Givenchy & L’Occitane products. If you haven’t already taken advantage of their trial offer since my last post, head over to their website and take a look!

The best Black Friday offers available

As you all well know by now, I am passionate about staying fit and healthy. For those of you like myself, who like to knock spots off your latest step count, Argos has reduced the price of the FitBit Charge 4 from £129.99 to £99.99. A great saving to go into the new year fighting fit.

Whilst we are still in lockdown, why not try some baking? I love to create new recipes with my stand mixer. This piece pays for itself. As on the Great British Bake Off, you can be just like Mary Berry. Rustling up some delicious cakes this Christmas. BBC GoodFood highlights some of the best mixers available on the market. Stand mixers are infamously expensive. This article highlights which brand to invest your money in, depending on factors such as capacity, versatility, and most importantly, value for money. Check out which ones they recommend, and track down those offering a Black Friday discount.

During my latest trip to Georgia, it became apparent that I needed to invest in some new suitcases. However, being the penny pincher that I am, until the wheels literally fall off the thing, I will not buy another. Having said that, Samsonite’s exclusive Black Friday sale has introduced up to 70% discount off their FLUX collection. With a trusted brand like Samsonite, I can be sure that this will not simply be a purchase but more of an investment. Accompanying me on the many adventures to come. Keep checking my blog to see which destination I head to next!

Always thinking about the future, about the best we could have, we often forget to be happy. If we always try to improve things, we deprive ourselves of taking advantage of what we already have. Therefore I decided to change some habits in my life. To learn to appreciate what I already have at its true value and to put aside all the little things that don’t make me happier.

Learn to be happy, how?

To begin with, you have to start by understanding, that sometimes, it is simply necessary to change your rhythm of life to better appreciate what you have.

Changing your point of view

Live in the present and put aside the past, the future. However, it is, of course, important to learn lessons from what you have experienced, so as not to repeat the same mistakes, but what better way than to live the present moment intensely? Be happy with what you have.

Turn things around and focus on what you have rather than what you don’t. Be in contact with nature to help you be positive. Appreciate the simple things and be grateful for the things that belong to you. Every little detail counts. Each day, think of 5 things that made you happy during the day. A smell, an event, a dress, the time … take the time to think. Keep a diary, for example, if necessary, daily or weekly. Take long walks to clear your mind. 

Don’t try to compare yourself to others. Each person is different. Consequently, you cannot change things in other people, or understand every moment why they behave in such a way.

There is always someone happier than you, stronger, richer, more beautiful … There are always reasons to be jealous of others but don’t forget that others are also jealous of you, for different reasons. So stop dwelling on this and making comparisons.

If you are not in great shape, do like if everything was fine. Don’t go moping around all your friends to tell them how bad you feel. Talk about it with someone who understands and listens to you. Try to stay positive and make an effort to show others that you are happy. It will help you get back up the slope faster, happiness is contagious!

Another well-known point: money does not buy happiness. A little more money is always fun, but remember that money doesn’t make a big difference to happiness. The important thing is to have enough to support yourself. A raise will not change your happiness. Being happy is often a choice. Happy people have fewer problems.

Change your behavior

There’s no point in getting upset. Take it on the safe side. There is always a solution to everything. Anger doesn’t do anything positive and doesn’t help. Hence, think it over, let the time do it, move on. Simplify your life and be minimalist in what you need on a daily basis. 

Do what you are passionate about. Happy people do what they love. Generally, the best is to turn your passion into a profession. Be content with what you have and stop always looking for more, better. Take the time to talk with others and see your friends.

With your partner, take the time to have a real conversation and remember to please him from time to time with pretty attention. Make time for yourself as well. Without spending any money, just taking some of your time for yourself.

Make changes if you feel it is necessary. When you are no longer feeling happy, try to find out where the problem is coming from and find a solution by asking yourself the right questions.

Always try to adopt a healthier lifestyle to simplify your life and enjoy things properly.

Just be happy!

Help others. A tiny little gesture can go a long way. Help a neighbor, a member of your family, or join an association. You will be less focused on yourself. Be kind to yourself. Some don’t know it, but it is important to get to know yourself so that you can be happy on your own and then happy with others.

Understand your flaws to feel better about yourself. For instance, try new things to broaden your mind and react differently. People are often unhappy because they are tired of saying the same thing over and over again.

Freshen up your ideas. Take advantage of your failures to learn from them. Hang out with happy people! Avoid gossip. When you are happy, you don’t need to talk badly about your comrades. If it’s not to say something good, it’s best to shut up.

Exercise to be more optimistic and to feel better about yourself.  Likewise, take care of your problems, try to find a solution quickly without letting things drag on. This will relieve you, so then you can move on.

Set a goal in life.

Give meaning to your life.

Finally, remember, be happy, not perfect!

Undoubtedly, I love fitness. I’ve always been a dynamic girl and have always practiced sports: horse riding, gymnastic, pádel, football… When I started traveling, I created my own at-home workout routine. Like my fashion style, there’s no reason I would give up on it! My routine is easy and takes 20minutes tops. Every part of the bodywork: arms, abs, back, legs and of course the bum! You can give it a go, it is for every level.

My at-home workout routine

I like setting up the timer on 45 seconds on, 15 seconds off to rest. I always start with 5 minutes of complete warm-up. It is very important, do not miss it, as well as the stretching afterward. Then about the workout: pick and mix your favorite exercises! Squats, lunges, planks, bicycle, butterfly, push-ups…

For example, squats have tons of variations: jumping squats, sumo squats, frog squat, squat and walk… There is no limit to your imagination!

It is so important that you always keep a good position: train in front of a mirror at first. If you have any doubt, ask a professional.

Healthy lifestyle

Of course, an at-home workout routine alone is not enough to keep fit. It is essential to have a balanced and varied diet. The protein intake is indeed important but not only.  Make sure to eat a lot of vegetables and fruits, as well as drinking at least 2 liters of water every day. Check out my advice for a good diet! Sleep enough: 8 hours a night!

Luckily, I always sleep very well, no matter where I am! On a boat, a plane, in a hostel or in a hammock in the jungle… It’s a real privilege. And try to keep the stress away: it is not good for anything. Yoga, meditation or relaxation often help.

If you follow these tips, you’ll see a big change. They are the key to good hygiene of life, hence a better body!

My at-home workout outfits

You know I love to be stylish: even when I’m working out! I like finding cute matching gym wear outfits. Short or long sleeves, gym bra, leggings… At home, I have every color! My cherished outfit is a flowery one I bought ages ago, I always travel with it. It is surprisingly still in perfect condition. Of course, make sure to wear good training shoes to protect your joints and body. A lot of online shops offer them. You only have to choose your favorites!

At-home workout routines can quickly become boring, so I recommend you vary the exercises. Watch tutorials,  and find the best music to accompany you. You can also do it with your partner, in the garden, or during a video call with friends! Choose the time that suits you best. You can combine it with cardio sessions like running, swimming or cycling. I recommend having two full days or rest every week. Indeed, your muscles need to rest as well!

What about you? Do you workout? What is your routine?

I am an unconditional fan of Harry Potter. When I was a child, I would spend nights and nights reading books. More than just books or films, it is a whole universe and lifestyle. Let me share here with you why, and if I can, convince you to check it out if you haven’t yet!

About Harry Potter

Written by the British author J.K Rowling, Harry Potter‘s first book was originally published in 1997. It is the best-selling book series in history with millions of fans all around the world. There are also 8 movies (the director split the last book into two parts).

The plot

Harry Potter is a young wizard and studies at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with his two best friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The 7 books tell his story and how he fights Voldemort, the dark criminal wizard who killed his parents. It is a fascinating whole new universe and the imagination of the author is simply out of this world! She started writing books in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The movies are available on Netflix, so one more reason why I love this platform!

Harry Potter: the universe

Harry Potter is a whole lifestyle. Kids, as grown-ups, like dressing up as a Hogwarts student. There are 4 different “houses” in the school, and everyone likes to identify themselves to the one they prefer. Harry Potter fashion is an expanding business and you can find clothes or accessories pretty much in every big shop. I have my own HP pajama and slippers, I love them! It is also possible to buy a wand, a flying broomstick, a cauldron…

Quidditch is a national magical sport. Although it is played on a flying broomstick, muggles (the term to talk about a non-magical person) have invented a similar game and several championships are held all over the world.

How it connects people

The incredible phenomenon about Harry Potter is as well the way it connects people from all around the world. No matter your nationality, age, or your sex. Conventions are held in many countries in order to meet other fans. You can also meet actors and even JK Rowling if you’re lucky enough!

Besides, there is a huge online community. Forums, websites, fanfictions… You can find pretty much everything. And it is so easy to chat with other fans.

I had the chance to spend my childhood in England. London is the famous Warner Bros Studio. Obviously, I went there 3 times. You have to go! It is awesome. You will see all the costumes, the making of, and of course the sets! An unmissable rendezvous for every fan. For example, there are all the magic wands the artist handmade one by one. You can also drink the famous butterbeer (if you want my opinion: not that great! It tastes like a very sweet vanilla milkshake)

This saga is a masterpiece and I know I will still read the books and watch the films, even when I’ll be older! I also want everyone to know the magic and the dreams it provides us with.

What about you? Do you like Harry Potter? Which ones is your favorite?