Holland and Barrett Haul

I'm not one for posting a regular shopping haul, and I won't bore anyone to death by beginning a weekly food shop post - however I did think that my recent Holland and Barrett purchases needed to be shared.

I love this store, and I have for ages - it's just a shame it's not larger! As I am moving this week I thought I would take the opportunity to pop in and get the store cupboard staples I've been so longing to have whilst staying with family. Just to make sure I have the healthy basics straight away - I'll be cooking all month, just you watch!

Retreating

I don't know if it's because I've read Eat, Pray, Love recently, or just because I've always loved travelling, but I've been looking at trips that I wouldn't have previously taken.

I seem to be hitting some kind of strange, quarter life crisis thing - and it's bugging me. A friend and I were discussing it this evening; she wonders sometimes if she's too young for a serious relationship, and I wonder two things. One is why I'm not progressing faster in my work; I want so badly to be successful at my job, and have that responsibility - I know people my age in better places (then again, there are some in less successful places and I know I really shouldn't compare). The second is I wonder if this is the right thing for me to be doing. It sounds so deep and a little bit insane - I'm not unhappy, but nor is it my dream. Part of me just wants to pull a Liz Gilbert and go and 'find myself' for a few months.

Even if that isn't going to happen any time soon (I'm far too responsible and boring to leave work and do something so spontaneous), it will begin this year with an independent trip to learn something, about somewhere and explore. I'll be going to the south of France to study (more on that later), but I can't help but already look into the potential next trip - somewhere that's more of a detox, a retreat from general life, ideally for 2 weeks or more...

Simple Escapism

The past few weeks have been hectic and stressful. Work is crazy, moving is never easy, and I just don't seem to be feeling myself. A friend and I were joking about having quarter life crises and I'm praying this is not the case!

However - there are ways of combatting this! I've come back from work this evening and immediately switched off. A little later I plan to watch a movie and do some research on a retreat I want to take later in the year. For now I have some wonderful relaxing music in the background, and am getting truly stuck into this gift from the lovely Triné!

I'd not heard of The Secret Garden before, but I am so pleased at the discovery! Who knew colouring could be so therapeutic and relaxing? The author is a wonderful illustrator with so much talent. Looking at her website I see that she also has a second book - Wonderlands, which might be in my possession once I'm all therapy-ed out with this masterpiece.

Coupled with a herbal tea, the music and my detox retreat to see me through this strangely tough period, I feel as though I am in good hands.

Take a look at a video from the book below.

The Liebster Award

The lovely Laura has just introduced me to the Liebster award, which aims for bloggers to get to know each other better and discover new blogs in the process! 

These are the rules:

• Link back to the person who nominated you. 
• Answer the questions your nominator has given. 
• Nominate 11 bloggers with under 200 followers (I'll try my best!) 
• Create your own set of 11 questions for your nominees to answer
• Notify your nominees!

I'm having a go at my 11 questions from Laura below, and posting my own questions and nominees shortly!

Botanics

I'm not one for Beauty posts, mainly because I'm usually stuck in my normal routine with very little new to share in that department. It's really useful for me to read other people's posts on beauty and skincare, but it's not often that I have anything to say back.

Today though, I wanted to share my latest discovery - a not so new, well known and trusted brand that I have recently discovered and started using. I never used to be fussy with my skin - Nivea and any old face wash did it for me. I started using Liz Earle which I did like, but then moved on to Estée Lauder and Clarins after multiple flights and Duty Free splurges. For the last 9 months or so my skin has been playing up and it's been bothering me. It's both dry and congested and I can't seem to find a good balance.

Last week I ran out of whatever moisturiser I had on the go, and in my tiny local Boots, properly noticed their Botanics range for the first time, and actually payed attention. In my opinion, the more natural the things you put on the body the better - common sense right? Botanics products are as natural and organic as possible - using plant extracts from the Royal Botanical Gardens. Also - no parabens! I appreciate that there may well be brands out there that are more organic, and even more plant based, but at the moment I can't get enough of Botanics.

The book list #1

I've always been an avid reader, and no matter how many hours I work, or other things I have to do, nothing seems to get in the way of that and I am so glad. It's one of the things that makes commuting so bearable, and turns a rainy Sunday afternoon into fun.

I thought it would be a shame not to share my latest literary finds with the world, so here begins my first round up of my latest bookshelf and why they were so brilliant (or maybe not?)