Stress Free Weekend | LIFESTYLE

What is the first thing that you think about when you hear ‘Stress Free Weekend’? I don’t know about you but my brain goes straight to relaxing on a beautiful island somewhere far away from my work and personal life. Although most of the time that isn’t quite realistic! Over the last few weeks I have found myself in need for a few stress free weekends. 
Here are my ways that I like to unwind and relax after a busy week.

Don’t Make Plans

I will be honest here – weekends without plans are my favourite! Going out every weekend can become draining on your body, your mind and your health. If you are a busy bee on the weekends it can sometimes be hard to not make plans, so why not choose a weekend where it is raining? Sit inside in some comfy PJs and enjoy your ME TIME.

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Bath

For those who are lucky enough to have access to a bath, this is an incredible way to wind down and create a stress free environment. Dim the lights, light some candles, put in a bath bomb and relax. The warm water and aroma have a way of relaxing your muscles and easing a tired mind.

Candles

Nothing says a peaceful night like the dim light of a candle! Fill your room with delicious aromatic scents to relax your mind and enhance your mood. Drift off into utter bliss as you listen to music or read a book.

Pamper

Give your body a treat! Have a day where you look after you! Get your nails done, have a facial, have a massage (if I could have one every day I would!) or enjoy a spa day. End the weekend feeling refreshed and revitalised and you will be ready to start the week ahead stress free and relaxed.

Me Time

As cliché as this sounds, it totally works! Take some time away from your friends and do something that makes YOU happy. Whether that is going for a walk, cooking, reading or watching YouTube or a movie. Find a way which works best for you and RELAX and do something that you enjoy.

Staycation

I had heard this term A LOT but I have only recently discovered what it actually means. A staycation is a holiday spent in your home country rather than travelling overseas. It could be spent at home doing day trips to local attractions, or staying at a hotel for the weekend. It is the perfect way to take a break without breaking the bank! Hire a cottage in the country and enjoy some time to yourself away from the city or plan a day trip with a friend. The opportunities are endless!

Life can become stressful at times but we must learn to look after ourselves. 

Make yourself a priority once in a while. It’s not selfish. It’s necessary.

Thank you for reading.

God Bless,

Amber x

A Long Weekend in London | TRAVEL

It was a warm spring day in London. The first day I had not been wearing a coat since last year. I couldn’t believe how warm it was! Today was definitely a day not to be wasted sitting inside. We began the day with a long tube ride to the historic East End of London, getting off at Liverpool Street and walking towards our first stop, lunch. We arrived in Shoreditch and I instantly fell in love with the street art, old buildings, vintage shopping, food stalls and the independent little shops selling adorable random gifts. I couldn’t get enough of this area! 

I had been speaking to friends earlier in the week who had recommended a place called Cereal Killer Cafe on Brick Lane which I thought sounded AMAZING. 

It was a small cafe with the walls lined with all different types of cereal to choose from. The choice of milks ranged from soy to bubblegum flavoured and the toppings ranged from marshmallows to Oreo. 

This is a cereal lover’s dream! We sat downstairs to eat our incredible creations. The seating area was set up as a 90s kids bedroom with old cartoons playing on video and posters from old magazines that covered the room. The seats were beds with Simpsons duvet covers. The Cereal Killer Cafe was definitely a winner and super funky!! If you are ever in this area make sure to check it out!

We continued walking down Brick Lane taking in the atmosphere, food and vintage shopping. Shoreditch is a place for the creative mind to wander. It is known for its art and hipster culture and my favourite part about this area is the graffiti and street art. The street is lines with colour and vibrancy and there seems to be a story being told on every wall we passed.

Right in the middle of Shoreditch is the iconic Spitafields Market. There the locals sell a mixture of handmade jewellery, clothing, skincare and food from all over the world. Shoreditch has a blend of the old and the new making it an incredible place to visit and experience.

We then jumped back on the tube and headed to Covent Garden. One thing you should know about me is that I love architecture and I continue to fall in love with the beautiful old historic buildings that surround me in London. So when I had heard of a place called Neal’s Yard which is tucked away in a corner of the Seven Dials in Covent Garden, I couldn’t resist checking it out. It is a brightly coloured little courtyard with shops and cafes. It is perfect for photos and a must see in Covent Garden.

I had one last stop planned so once again we hopped back on the tube and this time we got off in North West London at Regents Park. 

One thing that I miss about living in a smaller town is the open space and green grass so what a better way to end a warm spring day than for a walk through one of London’s Royal Parks. Regents Park is beautifully designed and full of perfectly placed flowers, fountains and trees. It is also home to many species of wildlife and the London Zoo. It is a lovely place for a walk or run on a sunny afternoon.

Before we knew it we were at the end of the park and found ourselves at the bottom of Primrose Hill. 

We walked to the top along with many others hoping to make the most of the sun. Even with many people around us we were blown away with the view from the top. We could see every part of the city from here including The Shard, St Pauls Cathedral, The Gherkin, The BT Tower, the London Eye, the Thames, and the Fenchurch Building. 

We decided to sit down and take in the sights some more. There were couples cuddling, people sunbathing, and dogs playing all around us. It was a perfect end to an amazing day.

THE NEXT DAY:

We loved Shoreditch so much that we came back the next evening to the most exciting place I have ever been... A CAT CAFE! Yes, they exist outside of Japan and there is one in London! I heard about Lady Dinah’s Cat Emporium a few months ago and knew this was something I had to do. I was not surprised when I had to book 2 months in advance and pay £6 per person just to get a reservation. After the long wait the day was finally here! We made our way back to the exciting culture of Brick Lane and this time continued down Bethnal Green Road until we spotted the cafe. 

We went in and I couldn’t wait to be seated. We walked past a few sleeping cats on the way to our table which was downstairs. 

The walls were filled with cat pictures and play areas for them to climb on and sleep. There was even a book shelf full of magazines and books about cats. 

We stayed for a few hours playing with the cats and chatting to the lovely waitresses about their job (which I am slightly envious of). Just before we left they brought out an adorable kitten named Victor which they had rescued from Brick Lane.  I love that they are helping out animals in need which is something I value and think is extremely important. I will absolutely be back and would highly recommend this experience to other animal lovers like myself.

The best weekends are the ones where you don’t need to spend a lot of money, but you still enjoy yourself anyway.

I am very blessed to have had an amazing Easter Weekend.

Let me know what you did this Easter or if you have been anywhere exciting that you think I should check out!

Once again, thank you for reading.

Amber x