LIFESTYLE || CELEBRATING VALENTINE'S DAY AT HOME

My usual plans for the *day of love* are either having a takeaway and watching a new movie or going to the cinema and out for a nice lunch or dinner (ah, those were the days). 

This year won't be much different as we're not big celebrators of this holiday, but I still like to make some effort. 

THE BEST HALLOWEEN MOVIES TO WATCH AS A FAMILY - 12A AND BELOW

If like me, you are a huge fan of watching family favourite movies during the spooky season then you have most definitely come to the right place! I am absolutely obsessed with Halloween and often find myself watching all of my festive favourites at random times throughout the year instead of saving them for the actual day. So, I thought that the best thing to do is to write up a post including my favourite movies to watch for myself to look back on, as well as for you to enjoy if you're stuck for ideas. 

REVIEW || BLOOD ORANGE BY HARRIET TYCE - BETH'S BOOK CLUB READ FOR APRIL

It has honestly been too long since I picked up a book and really enjoyed it. I used to be an avid reader for many years until going to university where I feel like my passion slowly started to diminish. It wasn't until September 2019 that I started to read again, maybe not like I used to but I found myself picking up a new book every 4-6 weeks or so. Since UK lockdown I found myself reading a lot more, but definitely not as much as I'd like to (I've got Netflix and Amazon Prime to thank for that!).

2020 || FUN THINGS TO DO IN LOCKDOWN

*The jumper in this image was gifted by Femme Luxe Finery and comes in a Frill Waist Loungewear Set.

I don't want to talk about the quarantine or lockdown as I find it a very stressful and difficult topic, but I want to say that my heart goes out to those who have lost their lives due to the virus and the biggest thank you to all the key workers for doing amazing jobs.

During the first week of official lockdown, I was supposed to be jetting off to Amsterdam after 5 years of planning my trip. It is okay to be upset about a cancelled trip. So, I have been keeping myself busy doing a few fun things during this difficult time and I thought I'd share them with you.

1. Play The Sims.
I have been playing The Sims since I was 6 years old. I really loved the original game and I feel like none of the new ones will ever compare to it because of the sentiment behind it. The Sims 4 was free on Origin at some point last year so of course, I had to download it. I have recently purchased the Cats and Dogs Expansion Pack because let's face it, the game isn't as fun without the expansion packs!

2. Learn a new recipe.
I really enjoy cooking and baking but I hate the mess I make during the process. Washing up is such a huge chore that I often stick to simple recipes that don't require plenty of pots and pans. Since buying both of the Pinch of Nom recipe books many months ago I haven't used either of them, not even once. Now that I have plenty of time to cook and clean up the mess after, I wanted to give some of the recipes a go. So far, I have tried the Firecracker Noodles (I used chicken instead of prawns) and have planned out a few more recipes to test out for the following week.

3. Join a book club.
I've been a member of Beth's Book Club for a year now, but never really stuck to the plan and only read the books I came across when passing WHSmith. Now I have finished reading one book from the club, and even though it was a book to read throughout February I still really enjoyed it and I can't wait to start May's book (I'm currently reading April's book - Blood Orange by Harriet Tyce).

4. Declutter your wardrobe, makeup and skincare.
This is not my strongest point as I do think that I am a bit (definitely not a bit) of a hoarder. I find it hard to chuck out a foundation sample that's three shades too dark for me, so think about the things I actually use! This year I have decided to go on a makeup and skincare spending ban, which has allowed me to use up quite a lot of beauty products already - I love me a good old empty! So far, I have not bought any beauty products and have only purchased a few items of clothing that I wanted for a while from Zara and NastyGal; overall I spent less than £250 on myself this year.
As I work in the beauty industry, I am lucky enough to receive a little bit of monthly credit to use towards a product purchase which I always disclose in my hauls/posts. So if I ever need anything that I'm running low on e.g. the Origins Mega Mushroom Treatment Lotion (I use this a lot) then I will use my credit to buy it, so technically it doesn't cost me anything. I also receive PR samples from PIXI and others from time to time, which I am very lucky and grateful to try. I know that not everyone is going to be in the same fortunate position as me, but you can try great skincare on a budget while you try to avoid overspending. Decluttering will also help to clear your mind and make you feel super organised!

5. Work out.
This is something that I do not enjoy doing at all but it makes me feel amazing after I did a kick-ass workout! I have recently tried going for a 5-10 minute jog and I absolutely hated it! So now I've been really enjoying doing a 30-minute Zumba workout in my kitchen (with the blinds shut of course haha) and I have loved every minute of it! It's so much fun, and I absolutely love Nicole!

So those are the few fun things I've been enjoying during the lockdown. Let me know what you guys are doing to keep yourselves busy!

I hope you're all staying safe ❤️

*This post contains affiliate links.

Lots of love,

Maya xo

TRAVEL || WHAT TO DO IN ROME + TIPS ON WHERE TO EAT, HOW TO SAVE ON TRANSPORT, AND WHERE TO GO

Those of you who follow me on social media will already know that I have been on holiday to Rome back in July (2017). I did plenty of research before my trip and have also learnt a lot of helpful tips while on holiday. Obviously, this post will include the Colosseum etc. but I will also mention how I saved a lot of money and made the most out of my trip. This post includes my own photographs only - I have many, many more in my archives but I thought I'll stick with these ones as you should really see the city in person for all its beautiful glory!

WHAT TO DO IN THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS IF YOU'RE STAYING IN THE UK

I must say that the past few days this month and a few days last month have been absolutely amazing and the heat has made me very excited for my holiday this year!
For those who are staying local for the Summer but not sure on what to do to make the most out of it - here's a few tips:

1. Have a picnic with friends and/or family

I love having picnics, it's one of my most favourite things to do during hot summer days (other than BBQ's). I always message my friends or just turn around to Kieran and say 'let's have a picnic' and off we go to a lovely park for a few hours and enjoy our own company with no social media (minus taking lots and lots of photos haha).

2. Have a BBQ

I feel like this one is so obvious to those who live in houses and have their own gardens, but what should you do when you want a BBQ but live in a flat? Well, what I like to do is buy one of those BBQ Oven inserts and make my and Kieran's favourite on those! We usually have burgers, sausages, chicken skewers/fillets, and lots of veggies! Then, all that you need now are cold drinks and a big fan for an illusion of the wind!

3. Rent a Camper Van

I used to have an obsession with camper vans when I was younger, so when I heard that you can hire a camper van I was over the moon! Now I'm just waiting to get my driver's license so I can cruise around in my very own Fillmore (excuse the Cars reference, it's one of my first memories of falling in love with camper vans). The best camper vans and closest to my area are the Cozy Camper Hire in Manchester. I think they're great and are something I would definitely be interested in as I hate camping out in a tent! If you're a lover of festivals and can drive then maybe this would be a great option if you don't like sleeping on the floor!

4. Go down to the seaside

I love the sea. I find it so relaxing being at the beach and reading or listening to music. Unfortunately, the closest beach to me is around 2 hours away so I only go when it's planned out well and knowing that I haven't got a lot of work to come back to.

5. Have brunch/lunch outside

One of the things I love to do the most all year around is eating hahaha. I love going out for afternoon tea, and yummy lunch, but the best thing about this weather is that you can eat out on the terrace in restaurants or even go to a rooftop bar for midday drinks - yummy!

*This post is a collaboration with Cozy Camper and does not include affiliate links nor is it sponsored. All opinions are always my own.

What are your plans for this Summer? Are you going away or staying local?

Lots of love,

Maya xo

TRAVEL || WHAT TO DO IN RHODES, GREECE?

Hey Everyone!

I've been battling with post holiday blues for two weeks now and I couldn't be more upset about not being out and about in the sunshine with my second half. However, I do have a few things to look forward to now that I'm back home, such as more time for blogging, working overtime to save up for the next holiday, and also planning a garden party!

In this post, I will share with you the places I visited while in Rhodes and what to do when you get there.

This picture looks so spontaneous but I actually knew Kieran was snapping a pic as he told me not to move! Oops! This was taken at the beautiful Oasis beach in Calithea. There are three beaches there that you just HAVE to visit - do it, you won't regret it.

We also went to the Butterfly Valley (Peta Loudhes) which was a m a z i n g. Even though I was very timid the whole time I was there, it was a wonderful experience as I had never seen so many butterflies in one place. You probably won't believe this, but as I walked down the hill in my big floppy hat, I must have touched the wall where the little creatures were resting AND THEY ALL FLEW INTO ME! I am not joking - there must have been hundreds of Red Admiral butterflies around me and I screamed and ran off. Yup, I ran off because I'm a scaredy cat and don't like no bugs near me!! I'll add pictures of the little ones in an upcoming post, so stay tuned!

We visited the famous 'Seven Springs' which is a beautiful forest on a mountain with 7 streams with drinkable water. This is perfect for those without children as you have to climb up quite high in order to see all streams and the animals that live up the mountains. We saw goats, ducks, swans and peacocks. I think the peacocks made me the most excited about the whole trip! The bus there and back only cost us 5 euros each, which is an amazing bargain.

Another beautiful place to visit is Calithea Springs - an old spa with cute little fountains everywhere. It's around 3 euros each way to get there and another 3 to get in, so it is best if you go there for a whole day as the city of Calithea has 3 beautiful beaches that Kieran and I had also visited.

You cannot go to Rhodes and not go on a boat trip to Lindos - it'll be just like committing a crime! We paid 25 euros each for the trip there and back, unfortunately[ snacks and drinks weren't included in the price so I suggest you bring your own with you as the products sold on the boat were quite pricey! Thankfully we brought our cooler bag with us and packed it with sandwiches, snacks, and drinks! 

Another important point I have to make about Lindos is that it looks exactly like Santorini!! I couldn't believe my eyes when we finally got there, it was so beautiful and I cannot wait to go back there again.

The gorgeous boats by the Lindos bay looked so cute I had to take a picture. What is a holiday without going on one of these and just keep swimming! 

 

Make sure you go for a long walk down the strips and visit all the shops so you can find the best deal on souvenirs. I walked around every single shop at least twice before making my mind up on what to get for everyone! You can call me crazy, but I had to save money somehow!

Are you planning on going abroad this year? If so, where are you off to? Let me know in the comments down below!

Lots of love,

Maya xo