The Health Files: Tips and tricks for eating well and maintaining a healthy lifestyle

      Making new year's resolutions is a great way to wipe the slate clean and begin to introduce some positive new habits into your life, but traditionally, come February 1st, the resolve you strode into January so full of has dwindled to almost nothing.

Often, our resolutions can prove harder to maintain than we might have imagined, and it only takes one bad day to have you taking a detour to the nearest shop as you head home from work,  in search of that emergency bar of chocolate. A huge part of the problem, in my eyes, is the approach that many of us take to achieving our goals - leaping in head-first with a complete lack of forethought. It might be tempting to think that you can change your entire life overnight, but realistically, it's unsustainable.

One thing I have learned the hard way is that you need to create your own support network if you really want to succeed. I'm not talking friends, but rather, looking at what needs to be done in order to give yourself the best possible chance of success, and putting measures in place before you begin to provide support as you go.

It's never an easy feat, but there's no such thing as can't. I've fallen off the wagon all too many time myself in the past, but I have slowly learned that the best way to achieve your goals is to be your own biggest cheerleader, and let go of the self-sabotage. We are all guilty of it, and it does us no favours at all.

Today, I wanted to share with you some of the handy tip and tricks I have picked up along the way - tips that I have found work for me, and ones that I hope will have us all waving out 2015 with a smile of satisfaction on our faces.

Here goes.

1. Plan and prep your meals for the week

Knowing what you're going to be eating for the days ahead helps you to stay focussed and prevents situations where you might find yourself reaching for a less than healthy option simiply because nothing else is available. Ensure that your fridge is always stocked with a selection of fresh fruit and vegetables, and fill your cupboards with staple foods such as quinoa and brown rice. Spend a couple of hours cooking up some one-pot meals on a Sunday, these can be stored in the fridge and dipped into as needed throughout the week. I tend to do this for lunches, so that all I have to do each evening is pop a portion into a plastic container along with some fresh salad, and grab it on my way out the next morning.

2. Be prepared

To give yourself the best possible chance of maintaining your healthy lifestyle, ensure that you are prepared for every eventuality. Pop your gym gear in the washing machine after each session, and make sure that it is dried and packed into your gym bag before you go to sleep. If you exercise after a day at work, then make sure you keep the necessaries in the car so that you can head straight to the gym, as often, coming home and sitting down will mean that you are far less likely to get back up again!

In term of eating, number 1 will have already tarted you off on the right foot, but it's a good idea to make sure that you always have some healthy snacks close at hand so that you're never tempted to reach for that chocolate bar. Empty your desk drawer of anything that might pose a risk to your eating plan, and instead, fill it with nutritious and low sugar alternatives. I keep bags of mixed nuts, sachets of miso oup, gluten-free oatcakes and Nak'd bars in mine.

3. Include complex carbs in your lunch

A sure-fire way to fall off the wagon is to deprive yourself completely of energy-providing carbohydrates. Cut out the white, refined baddies such as white bread, rice and pasta, as these are of little nutritional value and will cause a sudden spike in your blood sugar. All very well if you're after a quick energy hit, but it is soon followed by a crash and will leave you feeling lethargic and sleepy for the afternoon. Instead, replace them with high-protein grains which provide complex carbs and a slower stream of energy. Quinoa and bulgar wheat are both good options, as well as daily staple of mine. Alternatively, try sweet potato - I roast a few in tin foil in the oven each Sunday, and keep them in the fridge until needed.

4. Have a green smoothie every morning

The majority of us lead busy lives, and it can be difficult to find the time to ensure that you're getting your five a day. One of the best solutions, I have found, is to drink a green smoothie for breakfast each day. Every evening, I throw a handful of kale or spinach in the blender, along with a selection of berries, a spoonful of wheatgrass powder, some ginger, and some flaxseed or chia, and whizz them up, ready for the following day. The Blend Active has to be one of my best purchases, as you simply attach the blade to the flask provided, replacing it with a lid once done. It's a quick and easy way to make and store a smoothie until you need it, and saves on the washing up, too.

If I fancy something a bit more filling, I'll add some avocado to my smoothie, or sometimes I'll pop in some banana and a spoonful of almond butter.

5. Swap coffee for green tea

There's no excuse not to like green tea these days, as with the multitude of flavours now available on the market, there is something to suit even the fussiest of tastes. Personally, I gave up coffee some while ago after realising it exacerbated the anxiety I was suffering from at the time, and it continues to serve as a trigger. I don't miss it at all, and I enjoy the gentle uplift I get from a nice, hot cup of green tea. I do love my English breakfast tea though, and I will always have a cup or two to get me going each morning. After that, it's green tea all the way, and with the added benefit of health-boosting antioxidants and - so they say - a slightly accelerated metabolism, there's very little not to like about it. I often go for Matcha green tea, but if that' not to your taste then try my favourite flavoured versions - I like Twinings orange and Lotus flower or mango and lychee.

6. Bake some healthy treats to have on hand for weak moments

Like it or not, there are going to be time when you feel your willpower beginning to falter, and the best way to deal with it is to have something on hand that will satisfy a sweet craving without the high sugar content. Recently, I have started making brownies with sweet potato and avocado, which might sound odd but taste delicious. You wouldn't have a clue there were veggies in them, and the best bit is that they tate wonderfully chocolatey without the calories or sugar. I use raw cacao for the flavour, and add fat free natural yoghurt and honey, swapping plain flour for spelt flour or almond meal. There are lots of recipes out there for sugar free, clean-eating desserts, and the recipe I use i very much an improvisation based on several. If you'd like the recipe, then let me know in the comments.

7. Plan your exercise schedule ahead of time

I wish I could be one of those people who bound out of bed every day for a pre-work gym session, but alas, cold, dark, winter mornings are not for me. To ensure that I still get my exercise in following a tiring day at work, I take steps to plan exactly what I'm going to be doing, so I carry a screenshot of my gym's class timetable on my phone for reference. It's all too easy to arrive without a plan and to end up wasting valuable time as you um and ahh about which machine you want to go on or which body part you are going to target. I tend to choose which classes I'm going to be doing the weekend before, and choose suitable workouts for the days in between - so, for example, if the classes I'm doing don't involve much work on my legs, then I'll do some squats and lunges and try to focus on that area on a day where I'm doing my own thing.

If you don't have a gym membership, then hop onto Youtube via your TV - there are some brilliant channel which offer a range of fitne videos and programmes that you can do in your living room. A personal favourite of mine is Fitness Blender, but Blogilates and Tone It Up are also popular.

8. If you do slip up, then get straight back on the wagon.

So you caved in and ate that bar of chocolate. One little mistake doesn't have to mean throwing in the towel completely, and if you're serious about your goals then you shouldn't let it deter you. That said, nor should you simply use it as an excuse to continue the run of bad eating for a few more days. Tomorrow is another day, so get straight back into your healthy routine in order to minimise the impact. Having a cheat meal once a week is fine, a long a it doesn't signal the beginning of the end -  and a wave goodbye to your resolve.

What are you doing differently this year to help you to keep your resolutions?

xx

Making a House a Home

Living in a two-bedroom flat where one of the rooms is full to bursting with miscellania, I try not to acquire too much in the way of non-essential homeware. We haven't got a lot of space for ornamental or decorative bits and pieces, and when we moved in here, I had a bit of a struggle with trying to find homes for the pieces I do have. I'm quite selective with the items I want to have on display in my home, as I like things that add a bit of character and identity without creating too much clutter. This Christmas, I ventured into the Debenhams home section in search of a present for my mum, and ended up making a few finds of my own. Despite my better judgement, they eventually found their way into my Christmas stocking, and I can't deny than I'm thrilled to bits with them all.

I tend to gravitate towards anything mint, and there's a distinctively mint and cream colour scheme going on in my home. When renting, there isn't a lot you can do to the property itself in order to whip it into shape and display a bit of personality, so I tend to add what I can to it in other ways, with things like mirrors, photo frames, candles and prints. Some of my favourite pieces are a beautiful cream bird cage which currently sits on my mantlepiece, and an ornate mint photo frame, but at the moment neither of them are displayed to their best advantage. In our old place, there was a deep shelf that was perfect, but currently I have little more than a mantlepiece in my living room on which to arrange things. The frame is still empty, too, so a minor new year's resolution of mine is to find the right photo - having pictures of family and friends around the place always makes things feel that little bit more like home.

The new additions to my collection are a pretty, patterned bird ornament which doubles as a moneybox, a carved wooden jewellery box - in a shade of mint, of course - and this beautiful cream and mint ceramic jar, which has a rabbit sitting atop it. Currently, the bird is sitting on the mantlepiece along with my other pieces, while the jewellery box and jar have made it into the bedroom, as I could do with a little more storage in there.

I also picked up a gorgeous cream and mint print with the words 'All you need is love' written on it, and I'm really annoyed that I didn't take a photo as it ties in with all the other items beautifully. It's bound to be popping up on the blog at some point, so I'll be sure to point it out to you when it does. Sadly, it's no longer available on the Debenhams site - a huge shame, as I know that some of you would have loved it.

Currently, I can't get enough of the interiors posts on Gh0stparties. Kate's blog has long been a favourite of mine, initially winning me over with skincare, but since moving into her new flat she has given me a huge amount of inspiration when it comes to decorating my own place. With a palette of cream, mint, light pink and gold, her living room has gone from a blank canvas to a thing of absolute beauty, and I adore her minimalist walls and wooden floors, hanging plants, spray-painted DIY pieces and ashi-tape wall collages. If you need some inspiration of your own, then I'd definitely recommend following her on Facebook and Instagram, as she is always rearranging things and posts regular updates on what she's changed.

What are your favourite pieces from around your home? Do you have any favourite places to collect new and unique pieces which will add a bit of character to your nest?

xx

Origins 'Calm to Your Senses' stress-relieving mask

Origins Calm to Your Senses stress-relieving mask

When I get wind of a new Origins product launch, I certainly don't need telling twice, the arrival of their Calm to Your Senses stress-relieving face mask had me racing straight for my nearest counter in a desperate bid to get my hands on a tube. I feel like I've referred to this a lot lately, but I'm a worrier by nature, and I often get myself far too worked up over things that I probably won't even remember a month down the line. I also have trouble with sleeping - I usually drop off all too easily, but I regularly wake up in the night and am unable to drift off again for a good couple of hours, which leaves me feeling tired and drained the following day in spite of having gone to bed nice and early. As a result, I'm forever on the lookout for products which serve to aid relaxation, and there is nothing I love more than a good pamper session and a long wind-down before I climb under the bed covers. Of course, it's rarely possible to go the whole hog during the week, as the evenings pass quickly and most of us will go to bed earlier, so the ideal is to have something on hand that will do the work for you.

Enter, Origins Calm to Your Senses.

A rich, creamy face mask containing buckbean and St. Paul's Wort extract to target tense, stressed-looking skin, it is not dissimilar to the Origins Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask, in that you massage in a generous amount prior to bedtime and leave it to do its work overnight. Barrier-building plant butters help to replenish the skin's moisture reserves while you sleep, leaving it plump, soft and hydrated upon awakening, while a relaxing blend of lavender and chamomile soothe and calm the senses helping you to drift off more easily.

I'm not the biggest fan of lavender, but I do find it very calming when I'm ready to go to bed. I often reach for the This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray, which is very helpful, and definitely speeds up the time it takes me to get to sleep when I get into bed with my mind still racing. That said, the Calm to Your Senses mask doesn't have a strong lavender scent at all, and in fact, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it smelled like oranges (much like the brand's High Potency Night-A-Mins). It's a pleasure to apply, and sinks easily into the skin - I find that while it is rich, it is lighter than the Drink Up Intensive mask, so if that one was too heavy for you then don't be put off.

In the morning, there is no residue left on my skin, but thanks to its plumping, hydrating effects, I often find myself reaching for it regardless of whether I'm worried about sleeping or not. As to whether or not it helps me to drift off, the jury is still out - as I mentioned, it's rare that I have trouble in that department anyway, but it definitely does make me feel relaxed when I get into bed with it on. I love that it takes just a few short seconds to apply and doesn't have to be washed off, as this makes it a real time-saver that be can used anytime, anywhere.

I'll be doing a round-up of some of my favourite products for relaxation soon, as I seem to have built up quite the collection. Do you have any favourites?

xx

Nourish: Mind, Body and Soul

It sometimes seems as though nature is against us honouring our new year's resolutions. You promise to get out and about and take some exercise in the fresh air, only for the weather to turn colder, and the skies to turn greyer. You pledge to save your pennies hard, but with the arrival of January and the necessity of playing catch-up following the expenses of an extravagant Christmas, it begins to seem impossible. Or, as in this case, I'm eager to get my teeth back into blogging - but despite having a new camera to play with and a fully-functioning computer keyboard, the darkness of the weekend seems determined to stand in my way! I'm quite certain I'm not the only one to be encountering this problem, and goodness knows, it has got to be one of the biggest pet peeves among bloggers. But, it has to be said, today really outdid itself in the darkness stakes.

But while I may have to wait until tomorrow for a second attempt at well-lit photos, that doesn't mean that post-writing itself can't get underway, and today I wanted to share with you the secret weapon I am brandishing as we stride into the new year.

I knew that I wanted 2015 to be the year I focussed on my health, and after many false starts across the past twelve months, this time, I wanted things to be different. While my intention to eat well and exercise has long been on the agenda, lack of time and organisation have been two major hindrances on my path to perfection. I use the term very loosely, by the way, as I personally believe perfection to be almost perpetually unattainable. But that doesn't mean that we can't strive to be our very best in every way that we can, and for me, amongst other things, that means getting to a the point of eating well for 95% of the time, and stick to a regular exercise schedule. No more two-week-long bursts of motivation - this time, it all has to stick.

As I mentioned in my previous post, I tend to be a bit on the stressy side. I'm a worrier by nature, and have suffered from anxiety in the past, so for me, making changes is not just about getting fit, but also looking after my general wellbeing. I have been meaning to incorporate yoga, pilates and meditation into my lifestyle for as long as I can remember, 

With these goals in mind, I wandered the aisles of Waterstones on New Year's Eve in search of inspiration, when eventually,  I stumbled upon a book called Nourish: Mind, body and Soul, written by Amber Rose, Sadie Frost and Holly Davidson. It's one of those rare books that contains everything you are looking for, all in one place, and with each of the authors taking charge of a section of the book, they've got all aspects of my lifestyle plan covered.

Amber writes the first section, beginning by talking about super-foods and offering up a number of inspired recipes for health-boosting smoothies and juices (an easy way to suck me in, as I personally drink a greens-based smoothie every day, and am always on the lookout for ways to add that extra bit of oomph). There are also sections on breakfasts, soups and salads, mains and desserts, and if you are a fan of foodie blogs such as Deliciously Ella and Oh She Glows, as I am, then this will be right up your street. There is an emphasis on clean eating, with nutritious ingredients such as eggs, kale, quinoa, avocado and sweet potato (all foods that I include in my own diet very regularly)  popping up repeatedly in a variety of contexts.

The second part of the book, written by Sadie Frost, is entitled 'Superwoman', and initially focuses on breathing and meditation, before moving on to yoga and the relationship of all of these with - and their influence on -  our emotions. Later on, she discusses how best to organise your day in order to maximise your positive output, and how to establish an energising routine to add structure to your life.

The next bit is one I think most of you will probably love - a chapter on health and beauty. If you love mixing up DIY face masks and the like from the contents of your fridge and your kitchen cupboards, then look no further! The section also touches on vitamins and minerals, body brushing and reflexology before finally drawing to a close. Very thorough, I'm sure you'll agree, but that's what I like in a book.

Holly is responsible for the final section of the book, which is aptly entitled 'Fit-woman' - Holly is a personal trainer, so there are no prizes for guessing what she is bringing into the mix. But she doesn't just bombard you with impossible-looking exercise routines and insist that you spring into action - she prepares you for the task beforehand by discussing how to alter your mindset for the better and replace negative habits with positive ones. She encourages positive self-image, offering up pointers on how to get around the obstacles (and excuses) that stand in your way. She finishes off with a four-week exercise plan, complete with healthy snack recommendations to nibble alongside it, and if you're not feeling inspired and motivated by this point in the book then frankly, there's no hope!

For me, this was just the book I needed to set me off back onto the right track in time for the beginning of 2015, and despite still only being three days into the year, I'm doing pretty well so far! I'm a natural lover of healthy eating, but that doesn't mean I'm not partial to cake and chocolate, and I tend to reach for it if I'm feeling a little bit under the weather. With this in mind,  I have spent this evening baking up a batch of sweet potato and avocado chocolate brownies with all-natural, healthy ingredients (let me know if you want the recipe - they taste much nicer than they sound!) so I will have those on standby should the mood suddenly strike! 

Fitness-wise, I was never the sporty type at school, but I have grown to enjoy a variety of types of exercise over the past few years - and this year, I aim to establish a more sustainable routine, rather than leaping in head first and doing too much, only to reach burn-out a couple of short weeks later.

If you're looking for a bit of health inspiration yourself then this one is a must-read. Do let me know in the comments if you've found a similar alternative, or if you're planning on taking a new approach to health and fitness this year - I'd love to hear what tactics you're employing!

xx

Hello, 2015.

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Happy New Year, everyone, and a big hello to 2015!

I hope you all had a fantastic festive period and were able to ring in the new year in style! Personally, I ended up having a night in for one, as many of my friends have recently had babies and the other half was working, but to be honest, it wasn't nearly as bad as you might imagine! For a start, I spent my first New Year's Day in a lonnnng time without so much of a sniff of a hangover, but I'll talk more about that later. I also had the chance to indulge in a bit of pampering and spend some time reflecting on the year gone by, as well as what I hope to achieve in this brand new year,

Last year was a great one for me for many reasons, but the main one has got to be that it was the first year in the last six that I spent here in the UK with my family and friends. You may or may not remember, depending on how often you drop by, but I spent a long period living abroad, before finally moving home in the second half of 2013.  Other highlights of the last twelve months have included travelling to Paris and Ibiza, landing a new job and watching my best friend get married, as well as celebrating my sister's graduation, accepting an FHM Award and going on a few shorter trips to the likes of Brighton, Manchester and London. 

But with 2015 now upon us, it's out with the old and in with the new, as they say, and time to make a few resolutions for the year ahead. Although they are the sort of things that tend to be broken before January draws to a close, I fully intend to follow through on my promises to myself this year, as I have been trying to get some of them done for months now, to no avail. So now it's time for a fresh start, and what better time to get motivated than on the first day of a new year? Without further ado, my new year's resolutions for 2015 are:

1. Resume blogging! 

Well, looks like we're off to a promising start on at least one of these, but this is something I have been desperate to do for some while It's not that I ever 'stopped', per se - at least, not intentionally. But with a broken computer (jammed keyboard and viruses a-plenty), there was little I could do, and without the use of a functioning camera to boot, things became difficult to say the least. I actually spent part of my evening last night installing a brand, spanking new keyboard (who needs a man to do their DIY? Smug.), and also picked myself up a new camera in the sales. So, I'm fully equipped and ready to go, and I couldn't be more thrilled! 

2. Lose a few lbs

This is one that has been attempted several times since last April, but alas, I have failed. It's not that I've got a lot to lose, but a good 10lbs had slowly crept on since moving back to the UK, and while I would normally have been able to lose it without too much trouble thanks to being a fan of healthy eating by nature, this time, it simply hasn't shifted. Within the next few days, I aim to see the nurse in order to change my pill, and also get a blood test to ensure that my thyroid is functioning properly, because it certainly seems that something is different. Either way, something needs to be done, and I'll be sure to keep you posted on my progress.

3. Add weights and yoga into to my exercise regime

That is, after upping my exercise sessions in general. I'm a member of a local gym, but I'd like to make the effort to go more consistently, as I tend to go through peaks and troughs. When I'm trying to lose weight, I go religiously, but because I wasn't getting anywhere in that department, I'd often lose my motivation and end up going less than usual for a while. I've been meaning to add in yoga for a while, as I'm quite a stressy type and am sure it would benefit me, but so far, I haven't found the time. This year, I will, and I'll also be adding more weights into my regime in order to build muscle, as this will help me to achieve my goals.

So, those are my three ongoing goals for the year, but I also plan to start (and finish!) a new course, save more money, learn some new skills, travel to Venice and Cuba and read at least two books a month.

I'll leave it there for now, but I'd love to hear about your new year's resolutions in the comments below. In the meantime, wishing you all a very Happy New Year!

xx

The Space NK Goodie Bag: Favourite Discoveries

                      StriVectin Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles // Deep Sleep Pillow Spray //  Caudalie C15 Polyphenol Anti-Wrinkle Serum   //    ReVive Moisturizing Renewal Cream

A few of months ago, I made some purchases from Space NK, and was lucky enough to receive one of their summer goodie bags along with my order. Every time I see these promotions on, I'm desperate to get my hands on them, but usually I can't justify spending an unexpected lump sum on beauty items I potentially don't need in order to get them. This time, however, it fell close to my birthday, so I took it as a sign and went ahead.

This particular goodie bag was jam-packed with around twenty iconic products, most of them in luxury sample size, and a few of them have slowly but surely made their way into my daily routine.

The best of the bunch is undoubtedly the ReVive Moisturising Renewal Cream - a rich, hydrating moisturiser, this hasfast become a bedtime staple, ensuring that I wake up with smooth and radiant skin in the morning.  This contains Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), a revolutionary, Nobel Prize-winning ingredient exclusive to ReVive, which gently resurfaces and retexturises the skin as you sleep. I must admit, the effects of this little gem, as with many products, do seem to have diminished somewhat with time - the 'wow' factor  is never quite the same after those initial few uses - but that hasn't stopped me reaching for it on a regular basis. It has a pleasant, almost buttery fragrance, and is rich in consistency to the point that it feels like a real treat for the skin on application.Sadly, at £105.00 a pop for the full-size, this is not one that's going to be making a lasting appearance in my routine, but I've enjoyed experimenting with it, nonetheless.

If you're anything like me, you'll find that your eyes are the first part of the face to give away your age, so I was pleased to try out the Strivectin Eye Concentrate for Wrinkles. This little tube of goodness claims to fade fine lines and wrinkles in just eight weeks, so I am very much looking forward to finding out whether or not it can truly live up to its claims. In the meantime, it's pleasant to  use, sinks in easily and moisturises the under-eye area well. Again, this is a pricey one - £55.00 for the full 30ml. I'd be very reluctant to repurchase at this price, but if it really does the trick then I could more than likely be persuaded.

I've also been using the Caudalie C15 Polyphenol Anti-Wrinkle Serum, usually before my night cream before I go  to bed. You may notice a bit of a theme here - perhaps I'm feeling my  age. Dubbed the 'Anti-Oxidant Youth Shot', this product aims to block free radicals and visibly correct wrinkles. Now, thankfully I don't have many visible lines on my face just yet, so I imagine this might have more of an impact on more mature skin, but I enjoy knowing that there is an extra barrier beneath my moisturiser, protecting my skin from pollutants and other external aggressors.

Last up is my favourite bedtime companion. I'm a worrier by nature, and often find it hard to switch off for a long while after my head hits the pillow. Luckily, the This Works Deep Sleep Pillow Spray is now very much a part of my life, and you'd better believe that it does the trick. A couple of sprays of this delicate, lavender-fragranced miracle-worker and the stresses of   the day begin to melt away - I'm drifting off into a peaceful sleep in no time, and rarely wake again as I used to. It's a definite repurchase from me, even at £16.00 for the full-size.

The Space NK goodie bags are such a fantatsic way of discovering new products. Have you stumbled across anything spectacular from any of the previous selections?

xx

A Summer Holiday: Playa d'en Bossa, Ibiza

At the beginning of August, the other half and I jetted off to Playa d'en Bossa in Ibiza for a week of fun, sun and relaxation. Yes, it is indeed nearly October, but having been struck down with suspected glandular fever  straight after coming back, I've been out of action for some time. Better late than never, eh?

We had decided to go all-inclusive for a change, as we usually find  keeping tabs on our funds to be such a burden when trying to get away from it all and have some chill-out time, Money is, without a doubt, one of our biggest stressors in day to day life, so to be able to leave our wallets behind each day and eat and drink whatever we pleased without the worry of running out of funds half-way through, or coming home with a big bill to pay, was bliss.

The hotel we stayed in was beautiful. A newly refurbished four star, it turned out to be a great deal more impressive than it had appeared in the photos - a huge plus, as often it can be the other way round. There was a huge pool with chilled house music playing throughout the day, and we were more than happy to laze around soaking up the rays and making the occasional trip to the cocktail bar to grab ourselves a couple of Mojitos or Coco Locos. Lunch was served in the main restaurant, with plenty of delicious dishes such as traditional Spanish Paellas and salads on offer - not to mention the to-die-for desserts.

Afternoons were spent reading, then taking a dip in the sea, as we were fortunate enough to have direct access to the beach through a gate at the back of the hotel property. The water was crystal clear and the temperature literally couldn't have been more perfect, so it was the perfect time to cool off a bit before heading along the beach for a drink and a dance at the iconic beach club Bora Bora, or Jet Apartments, which was just next door.

Speaking of beach clubs, our hotel was located just a couple of minutes walk from Ushuaia.- if you've ever been to Ibiza before, or even thought about it, then you'll know all about this place, which puts on some of the biggest and best nights on the island - think David Guetta, Armin Van Burren and Avicii, We popped along ourselves to see Guetta and suffice to say he put on a pretty darn good performance. It was by far the best night out we had while we were away, but drinks prices were beyond ridiculous - worth considering if you're ever thinking of going!

Anyone who heads to Ibiza would be silly not to pay the beautiful Eivissa, or Ibiza Old Town, a visit. There is plenty to see and do, with pretty little streets lined with flower-adorned restaurants and shops and beautiful sea views - not to mention the lovely Spanish architecture.

Most people I know who have been to the island before seem to have stayed in San Antonio, but I'm so glad we chose Playa d'en Bossa. From what I hear, San Antonio is cheaper, but also a lot rougher, whereas where we were had just the right balance - we were close enough to a strip of bars along with famous nightclubs such as Space and Sankeys, but were also able to get some peace and quiet when we wanted it. In fact, writing this is making me ridiculously nostalgic, and I'm really tempted to go ahead and book us in again for next year! Let's skip these dull days and wintery mornings and head straight for next Summer, shall we!?

Have you been to Ibiza? Where did you go on your Summer holiday this year?

XX