Beat the Sunday night blues...

You've had a great weekend, eaten good food, got some good workouts in, seen friends and family, spent it with your loved one... then there is this feeling, it sets in around 4pm, the Sunday blues, the oh man the weekend is over and I have to go back to work blues. 

This is normally reserved for people in jobs who don't like them that much, know they have a hard week ahead, or if your like my dad who works away from home, leaving your loved one at home whilst you stay away for the week! 

I personally don't get the sunday blues that much any more, I don't mind my job so much, I get it more on an early shift because who likes a 4am wake up call but in general I don't mind it. 

But here are some ways to beat the sunday blues and make sure you make the most of your weekend without worrying about the week ahead! 

• Get the boring stuff done first - But I have so much to do I hear you cry - especially if you have kids, it takes a lot more time to get things done! So prioritize the chores that need to be done when they are occupied or napping, or if they are old enough get them to join in! Get the boring stuff out the way first then spend the rest of the weekend enjoying your time. Once they have gone to bed that is you "me" time, spend it with your partner, watch some tv and enjoy the peace and quiet! If you are without children its still applies it just means you have less distractions! 
• Take a bath - a hot bath with candles is a perfect way to end a weekend. Turn off the lights, light some candles, shut the door and breath. It's amazing how much better you can feel when you just shut everything out and just relax. 
• Clean bedsheets - argue with me that there is nothing better than climbing into a clean bed and I will argue with you right back! I LOVE clean sheets, the feel, the smell - yes I never want to leave the bed again but it makes me feel so good, especially after my relaxing bath I feel ready to settle down.
• Read - don't watch tv an hour before bed, especially in your bed! Put the laptop down, the phone away and any other technology and open that book. The read doesn't have to be relaxing, I love crime thrillers - not exactly bedtime reading but it works for me! 
• Make your bedroom your sanctuary - I make sure my bedroom is for sleeping or bed activities.... nothing else, no eating, no working, no stress. My boyfriend does everything from bed... We have a small house and when I am downstairs he claims upstairs... I don't agree with this, by him working in bed, eating in bed and basically doing everything in that room I think he associates it more with stress without realising, he won't listen to me of course but I know that since I have stopped doing all those things in bed I have slept a lot better
• Think positive - if you are feeling stressed write it down. By the time you are finished you normally feel ten times better, you have vented to the person who understands - you - and you have let your feelings go. When I was really stressed about things in my life I used to write a list of everything that bugged me and then I would burn it as a way to let go. It helps it really does, it may sound strange or stupid but I would give it a try! We have all seen the valentines ritual on friends right? Where they burn the picture of ex boyfriends to break the curse? Well this is the same thing just be careful with fire we don't want the fire brigade out! 

Try these any night of the week your feeling stressed, but try to introduce them on a Sunday for a nice end to the weekend, and don't get to bogged down in the little details of the week ahead - a positive mind set is key to a healthy positive lifestyle! 

Mindful eat whilst abroad

In the summer I wrote about the build up to a holiday and remaining on track whilst your away - that was for a beach holiday, so what happens when your going on a city break that doesn't really involve the beach, wearing a bikini but does include layers of clothes, walking and covering up?

Well I would still keep on track is the simple answer. Weekend breaks or short holidays can sometimes be worse than longer holidays because you think ah its only a weekend it's ok, oh its only 5 days, but what happens after that, your off track, crap food has happened and your back to square one!

Ok maybe not square one but still it is a step back and even though rest days and cheat days are perfectly acceptable, if you want to achieve your goal mindful eating is key!

So how do we make this happen? You are going to be eating out most if not all nights if your staying in a hotel so just be careful what you chose when you eat, instead of having a 3 course meal just have a main, skip the bread starters, change the chips to potatoes or salad. All simple things that really add up!

Don't make the mistake of skipping meals and then eating a large dinner, keep your 3 meals a day with some snacks, especially if your out all day site seeing take healthy snacks with you to keep your energy levels high and the temptation for cake and chocolate at bay!

I always try to opt for a hotel with a gym or some kind of fitness suite so I can get at least an hour of activity in a day! Get up a bit earlier and get yourself moving you will thank yourself later in the day!


It is all about be sensible with your diet and not going to extremes! Treat yourself but make sure your don't go crazy!

The search for the perfect skin care

I have dry, sensitive skin that loves to break out at really awkward moments - night out, first day of a new job, meeting new people for example.

It is also is a long, expensive, tiresome search that takes a toll on your skin and your bank account! 
I have tried brands that specialise in dry skin, sensitive skin, normal skin and these always seems to be an issue - allergic reaction, dry, tight skin or breakouts galore! 

So when I was approached by a friend from my crossfit box to try a brand called Tropic I thought why not! She handed me some free samples and off I went to try out the new products. 

I tested the moisturiser on my skin first just in case - may sound paranoid but who wants to be walking round with red patches on their face? 

After the all clear I started using the cleanser daily in the morning and evening - at first I had a breakout but after 2 days its cleared up and my skin felt so smooth and soft I couldn't stop stroking my face! 
I also used the pore cleanser after taking my makeup off - this is like a spray mist which you spray directly onto your face, it is really nice and refreshing perfect after a long day! 

After about a week and a half of using the products I found my skin had completely cleared, felt so much smoother and even better no reaction! 
I used it within my normal skin routine - I did not use the moisturiser in the end as I preferred the one I already used, however mixing it in with my other products made no difference to my skin as in there was no reaction or imbalance on my skin! 

So a little bit about the Tropic product - their tag line is Pure, Honest, Effective. 

They don't test on animals - huge bonus, and all their ingredients 100% naturally derived or nature identical.
They develop their products in the UK and even include a best before date on the bottles! How great is that? We are concious of the food we put into our body so why not on our skin as well. 

When your so concious about the food your eating and the exercise you are doing it makes sense to be including the largest organ of your body in that factor! 

If this product sounds like something you would be interested in then speak to the experts! 
Here is a link to the lovely Emma's page she is an ambassador for the company, so helpful and be happy to help anyone interested in purchasing the product! 

I wish I had taken a before and after shot, but seriously if you want a skin product that is going to make your skin feel amazing this is the one for you! 

Click here to view the website