Two Years Since Moving to London | LIFESTYLE

I am sure you have all heard the saying, ‘Time flies when you’re having fun’?! Well in this case that statement is absolutely TRUE! I can’t quite believe it has been 2 years already since leaving the land of the long white cloud and moving to the land of... well... more cloud and rain!

On November the 14^th 2015 our adventure began when we touched down in LA for a month of sun, snow, burgers and Buffalo wings. From living the high life in LA and New York to watching the sunset over the Grand Canyon I couldn’t think of a better way to start a new chapter in our lives.

After travelling around London a few years previous, I had my hopes set on living in one of the beautiful white terraced buildings overlooking Hyde Park. Reality quickly set in when I saw the monthly rent was about the same as my YEARLY salary. Even though we did not live in a mansion in Kensington (one day when I win the lottery!), we did live in a lovely house in Chiswick with amazing flatmates. Who you live with makes a huge difference!

I didn’t know what to expect when moving to the other side of the world, away from the life that I was very comfortable with BUT it has turned out to be the best decision we have ever made.

I was extremely lucky in finding a job early on where I have made some of the most incredible friends. It is important to surround yourself, in any stage of your life, with good people around you. This is especially true when you far away from your family and friends.

Some of my favourite days were spend biking around on Boris bikes, exploring new parts of the city, having picnics in some of the many parks, drinking in pubs along the river with my friends and walking and exploring the little side streets that you wouldn't think to look down.

My life before London was (and I'll admit) quite boring and predicable. One thing that I have learnt from my 2 years abroad is to say YES to any opportunity. If I hadn't stepped out of my comfort zone I wouldn't have gone to all the beauty and fashion events where I met inspirational influencers from all types of social media platforms, I wouldn't have gone to a movie premiere in Leicester Square, I wouldn't have rowed boats in Hyde Park, I wouldn't have ended up in the audience of a television show, I wouldn't have seen my first concert, I wouldn't have got up at 4am to do yoga and watch the sun rise from the Sky Garden but most importantly, I wouldn't have the incredible friends I have now without saying YES to opportunities.

As 2017 drawers closer to the end, I can reflect on 2016 and 2017, 2 years full of new experiences, great friends, laughter and some of the best memories that I will never forget.

To those who have the opportunity to travel or even move overseas I would 100% recommend it! 2016 and 2017 were both challenging but exciting years and I cannot wait to see what 2018 has in-store.

Thanks for reading!

God Bless,
Amber x

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

Greek Island Getaway | TRAVEL

I can’t remember the last time I had a relaxing vacation, all I knew was that it was well overdue! My parents had arrived from New Zealand a few days earlier and after days of being pushed and shoved by the thousands of people in Central London I think we were all ready to fly out to our next stop… Greece!

I had never been to Greece before but it has been at the top of my bucket list for a while now. I could not contain my excitement when we arrived late Wednesday night. We were welcomed into our hotel with free drinks and kind smiling faces to accompany. It was 11pm at night and I already knew this was the beginning of a great holiday.

We stayed in the beautiful town Hersonissos which is a 40 minute drive from Heraklion, the biggest city on the island of Crete. Every morning we awoke to bright blue skies, the sweltering heat hitting 30 degrees and the ocean calling our names. Before anything else I would put on my bikini and head to a sun lounger by the pool. I could not get enough of this place! Five days was just not enough.

Our first day consisted of mostly relaxing by the pool, swimming and eventually we slowly make our way down to the town centre to browse the shops. We walked down the little side streets that lead down to the sandy beaches and jumped into the ocean for a quick swim when the sun became too hot. Taking it easy was the major activity of this holiday.

The plan for the next day was to relax and read by the pool… that was until we saw day trips to Santorini advertised! Without another thought we were booked to sail over to Santorini first thing the next morning.

A bus picked us up when we arrived onto the island of Thera (known as Santorini) to take us to our first stop of the day, Oia. Oia is the most famous town in Santorini and is well known for its beautiful white and blue buildings, the breath-taking sunsets and cobbled streets. The town, like most of Santorini, is situated on a cliff which makes Oia the perfect location for the most picturesque views. We walked along the quaint paths and stopping at every opportunity for a photo. I mean… How could you not with that view?!

We moved on to the nearby city, Fira (the capital) which was just as beautiful and vibrant as Oia. We weaved in and out of the side streets seeing the brightly coloured flowers contrasted perfectly against the white, stopping at shops that caught our eye and before heading back to the bus, we stopped for a rest and a much needed drink.

Santorini quickly became one of my favourite places I had ever been. Our 6 hours there went way too fast.

Our next day was spent relaxing after our quick Santorini adventure. Although we thought it was about time for us to add a little bit of adventure to the trip! We hired quad bikes to get us around the island! I couldn’t believe we could ride them along the highway! We did a bit exploring and discovered more beaches and the nearby town Malia.

Our last few days were spend relaxing, swimming, reading and sunbathing. I could not have asked for a better holiday!

Greece… I will definitely be seeing you again!!

Don't forget to check out my YouTube channel where I posted a video of our Moroccan Adventure! Make sure to SUBSCRIBE for more adventures!

P.S. This trip was booked through Last Minute. They are a company that specialise in short holidays in which most of the packages include flights and accommodation. Make sure you go and check them out for more great deals!

Outfit:
Pink Floral Dress: Lipsy

Black Shorts: Topshop

Spray Tan: James Harknett (The best spray tan I have ever had!)

Thank you for reading!

God Bless,

Amber xx