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

A Moroccan Vacation | TRAVEL

Our mini vacation began when the alarm screamed at 2:15am Tuesday morning making sure we were wide awake and ready to leave for our African Escape. Even though all I wanted to do was go back to sleep (typical me), I could not wait to see what Morocco had in store for us later that day. We had spent the night in a motel not far from Stansted Airport so the journey to the airport was short and sweet. Once we had arrived we headed straight for customs, which in my opinion is the most stressful part about flying (am I the only one who stands in line at customs and can’t help but think “don’t look suspicious” even though I have nothing to hide?!). At that time of the morning the last thing I wanted was to be yelled at by customs officers for taking too many liquids with me. After fitting all my makeup and shower products in a tiny little bag we finally made it through. An hour or so later it was time to board the plane!

I didn’t know what to expect when we arrived into Marrakech but we were welcomed with bright blue skies and sweltering 28 degrees. Our airport transfer was waiting for us as we walked out. I was surprised at how beautiful the drive to our hotel was. Marrakech is known for its gorgeous gardens and beautiful flower arrangements throughout the city so the 10 minute drive was stunning as brightly coloured roses covered the sidewalks and the traffic islands in the centre of the road. 

We arrived at our hotel, checked in and fought the urge to have a quick nap before setting out to explore the city. 

We hadn’t done too much research about what to do in and around Marrakech and the language barrier made it a little harder to communicate with the concierge at our hotel. Marrakech is separated into the old town and the new town so we decided to explore the old town first. One of the hotel staff found us a cab to take us there. Arriving into the Old Town was like going back in time. There were cars, goats, bikes, motorbikes, horses and carts, donkeys carrying bags of who knows what and people all over the road. It was like we had arrived into another world. 

We walked towards Jamaa el Fna which is a square and market place in Marrakech's medina quarter (old city). We began by having lunch overlooking the square, listening to the music and taking in the atmosphere from above. From a distance I saw tourists mesmerized by the sights and locals making deals to get the best pricing. 

We spent the day making our way through the souks and on every turn finding more to see and experience, and only occasionally finding our way back into the scorching daylight. Jamaa el Fna during the day is mainly occupied by stalls selling Moroccan spice, leather bags and brass cups (genie lanterns as I like to call them!), men with monkeys and snake charmers.

As the day went on, the evening drew closer and the sun became hotter, we decided to head back to the hotel. The rest our evening was spent swimming, eating and relaxing by the pool whilst making the most of the warm weather.

The next day we had heard from our cab drivers and other tourists that a must see in Marrakech is Jardin Majorelle. We jumped in another taxi and made our way to one of the most visited sites in Morocco. 

Walking through the doors to the garden I was blown away with the beauty of this place. A gorgeous water fountain welcomed us and bamboo trees sheltered the path which was covered with rich multi-coloured pots. 

We continued along the brightly painted paths in awe of the dreamy exotic trees and plants that covered every area we turned. Pools, streams and fountains on every corner created a sense of tranquility within the garden. I stood in awe as we came across an incredibly vibrant blue and yellow painted building that overlooked the cactus garden. 

As we continued through in admiration until we came across another lovely feature, the café. Situated around blossom trees, this peaceful area is great for those who need a break from the crowds and blistering Moroccan sun. 

Enchanting beauty still surrounded us as we our way to the exit.

We didn’t know what to do next so we hopped in a cab to head back to our hotel. The taxis in Morocco almost act as tour guides so as we drove back our driver suggested we go and visit the Palmeraie which is an oasis of several hundred thousand Palm trees covering 54 square miles just outside of Marrakech. We thought that sounded great although we didn’t realise how far away it actually was. Overall, it was an expensive cab ride but the beautiful scenery and the knowledge of the city that our driver had made it worth it.

Our last afternoon and evening in northern Africa was spent walking around the new city, stopping at gardens and shops, appreciating the Moroccan cuisine and relaxing by the pool as the sun set on our short vacation.

Before we knew it, it was Thursday morning and we were packed up and ready to fly back to icy London. I am extremely grateful for our Moroccan experience as it opened my eyes up to a whole other part of the world.

Tips:

• Before you get in a cab, make sure you agree on a price first. The drivers can be very persistent and are used to bargaining with tourists.
• Morocco is a Muslim country which follows strict laws and customs. Make sure to respect these at all times. Be aware of your actions and make sure they do not offend.
• Women should dress modestly at all times especially outside of the main cities.

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 WOWCHER. 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!

Thank you for reading!

Amber x