Getting my energy back with Virtue Drinks

Hey guys, so recently I’ve been knocked down with a chest infection and it’s only recently I’ve started to recover. I’m trying to be healthier both in wha I eat and drink but also with the amount of exercise that I do. Being in good fitnesss can have such a positive impact not only on your health but also your mental wellbeing, it’s definitely something I’m keen to work on!

I recently worked with Virtue Drinks which is a brand of energy water, aiming to bring positive energy to people everywhere! All the drinks contain zero calories, zero sugars and zero sweetners whilst coming in a variety of flavours, I was very keen to give it a try! 

My favourite out of the ones I tried was the Berry flavour, however with all the ones I tried I noticed that the flavours were very strong which is something I liked, it would definitely be more ideal for those that like sparkling water too.

Overall I loved the unique feel of the brand, I thought the packaging was very modern and I liked Virtue’s aims and what the company was trying to achieve, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to any friends that drink sparkling water however it may not be so ideal if that’s not your kind of thing! 

J x

Thoughts of travel

I think about travelling probably an unhealthy amount. I’d like to think that it was part of a passion to see every inch of the world and to immerse myself in different cultures and I think to a large extent it is. However, I also think it’s the desire to get away. At 21 I’m already scared of getting old, of not being able to do and see everything I want to, I know how short life is and it scares me, it’s a fear that few understand. 

Nobody’s stopped me from going and travelling the world, booking that plane ticket, although that doesn’t mean that they have doubted my ability to achieve it, knocking me into a sense of self-doubt. Sometimes I picture myself with a backpack and my phone loading google maps and thinking “I’m doing it, I’m actually doing it” but I’m starting to feel myself slipping into this routine that we’re conditioned to of getting a job, getting a house etc.. and the more I catch myself looking at rent prices, the further I feel myself slipping away from the life I truly want, the life I’d planned to make happen years ago. 

I don’t think I’ve mentioned it on this blog before but my favourite place is always by the sea. The world is so chaotic and although the nearest beach here is probably about an hour from the city, it seems like a world apart. It provides a sense of calm and I find myself looking for that more. It’s about £8 on a bus here to get to the beach, I think about doing it so many times but I never do. I’m scared of going alone but I’m also scared of relying on someone else. My partner isn’t into travel as much as me so I wouldn’t expect him to just think of going to the beach as a date and I can’t blame him for that. I saw a quote once from a girl who had travelled the world “if I waited for others to come with me I’d never go anywhere”. This year I’m determined to find the courage to do the things I want even if it means doing them alone, not because I necessarily want to do them alone but because it’s the only way I’ll be able to. 

Anxiety often makes this difficult but I don’t want to let it stop me. Earlier this month I went to an all day festival with a friend from work, it felt odd at first not having my boyfriend there with me who would know what to do if I had a panic attack, who always sensed when I was getting anxious, I got through it though and I was proud of myself for doing so, I’m hoping it’ll give me the push I needed.

This year I’m hoping to visit some friends at university, I might even go abroad by myself (it seems a little far off at the moment though). I know that I can’t wait for others to come with me, I’ve lost count of the amount of years that I’ve told myself I’d do it anyway, I’m starting to trust myself that soon I will, I think there’s a point in everyone’s life where they realise that it’s only them that can make their dreams happen. I’m starting to feel like soon it will be my time. 

J x

Relaxing in beautiful Budapest

Hey Guys!

So earlier this year in November I took a break with my boyfriend to Budapest to celebrate our 1 year anniversary together! 

We stayed in a stunning Airbnb which was within walking distance to all the main attractions, it made a nice change to a hotel as I feel we had a more authentic experience and it was nice to have the added independence. Although we rented the entire apartment to ourselves our hosts family picked us up from the airport for the same price as a taxi. It gave us an added peace of mind as we were arriving late and was a kind gesture. As well as the apartment being close to the centre it was well equipped with everything we would need to cook our own meals, however we found Budapest to be really cheap so ended up eating out most nights! 

I would definitely recommend trying Hungarian food whilst in Budapest! It’s such a great opportunity to dive into the culture and a lot of the local restaurants sell this at great prices so there’s plenty of chances to try this! Kisharang Etkezede is somewhere I can’t recommend enough for traditional Hungarian food! 

If you love ice cream be sure to visit Gelarto Rosa, right near St Stephen’s Basilica. Despite being close to one of the main tourist hotspots an ice cream there will only set you back a few pounds and whilst being a work of art in themselves, they are also delicious. 

It’s also worth visiting St Stephen’s Basilica whilst in Budapest. It’s a stunning building both inside and out and again is very cheap to go right up to the top to get some gorgeous views over the city. 

Budapest is known for it’s thermal baths and after visiting I can see why. We visited Gellert Baths which was also very popular with locals. It’s a slightly pricier attraction but it’s very easy to spend the whole day there like we did. There’s a variety of baths to choose from with temperatures up to 40 degrees, as well as a steam room and sauna included in the price. 

We also made a trip to the central market hall whilst in Budapest where I ate the biggest burger I’ve ever seen! It was delicious but I couldn’t get through it all! The market is a great place to experience the culture in Budapest whilst also picking up some souvenirs! 

When I was researching Budapest I was constantly coming across the same thing, “you have to see parliament building at night!” Luckily this was only a short walk from our apartment and it was beautiful to see it all lit up. We went there before heading to one of the famous ruin bars in Budapest, Szimpla Kert which is again a must do when travelling to the city! 

Towards the end of the week we was becoming a little tired from constantly being on the go but we didn’t let that stop us! We took the funicular up to the castle where we were then able to stroll around a lot of the area free of charge. It’s a nice way to spend the best part of a day and again gave us some incredible views of the city. 

We also explored the fisherman’s bastion whilst there which was a great experience. It’s definitely worth a visit to see the stunning architecture Budapest has to offer!

We did spend another day relaxing and taking in some of the sights. We visited the Christmas market in Vorosmarty Square and went on a walk around the city in some of it’s parks. On our last day we had our suitcases with us so we didn’t want to do too much, we took a river cruise down the Danube where we learnt more about the history of Budapest whilst seeing the city from a different angle. 

Overall we had a fantastic stay in Budapest which is now one of my favourite places in the world and I can’t wait to visit again!

J x

A cosy night in with Popcorn Shed!

Hey Guys!

So the nights have started to draw in now we’re heading into winter which means there’s no better time to snuggle up on the sofa with a blanket a good film and of course no movie night would be complete without popcorn!

I recently came across Popcorn Shed, an award winning brand of gourmet popcorn and had the privilege of being able to work with them on this post. I tried several different flavours or their popcorn and my favourite was definitely the salted caramel (you have to get it!) closely followed by the Pop N Choc! As you can tell, I’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth! 

One thing that stood out to me was the branding. The packaging is so different to that of the simple packets of popcorn that I’ve picked up in the past and is definitely one of the things that makes them such an iconic brand. The ‘shed’ theme of the packaging and the unique design of each individual flavour is so creative and gives a personalised feel. 

Originally set up by two cousins, Laura and Sam, Popcorn Shed has grown to be any award winning company (and did actually start in their garden shed!) 

You’ll be pleased to know that all their popcorn is made from natural ingredients with a strong focus on innovation, flavour balance and texture combinations. The passion that Laura and Sam have for Popcorn is evident from the moment you visit their website and I can of course say first hand how delicious every bite of Popcorn was! 

But don’t just take my word for it! You can see the exciting range of flavours Popcorn Shed have to offer by visiting their site today and following them on social media!

@popcornshed on Instagram and Twitter!

J x

21st birthday in Prague

Hey guys,

So I was recently lucky enough to spend my 21st birthday in Prague! It’s such an amazing city with so much to do and absolutely beautiful architecture! We stayed at the Ibis Hotel in Wenceslas Square which was also in walking distance to all the main attractions!

We spent the first part of our holiday familiarising ourselves with the area and seeing famous landmarks like the Old Town, Charles Bridge and Astronomical Clock. We even went up the clock tower which gave us beautiful views of the city and is definitely worth doing! We could even see the inside workings of the clock tower which was a special experience. There is also a lift so don’t worry about having to do a lot of stairs either!

Prague is a city known for its food and whilst I can’t say I’m a big foodie (sorry!) even I couldn’t resist trying to Trdelnik. I got one with Mango ice cream in and whilst I couldn’t manage it all, it was simply delicious! 

As you’ll see from our photos we was welcomed with wonderful weather in Prague which we really weren’t expecting so it was a lovely treat for it to feel like summer in October! Something that we both really wanted to do was see the castle grounds and although the walk up the hill was tiring the views were simply amazing. We didn’t even have to go into the castle itself admire the surroundings. We went into part of the cathedral which whilst it was busy, was still a special addition to the trip. 

Later on we made a small detour to go and see the Lennon Wall. It wasn’t until the next day that I read the history behind this and I found it really inspiring. It’s great to see something that has been admired so much and that fans across the world have contributed to in some way. It was also in this area that we found a nice restaurant where we sat outside to have our evening meal. 

For my birthday we had breakfast in the hotel before heading to a market that I had been looking forward to. The market on the (A)Void only happens once a month but it was a great experience. We mixed with locals whilst we browsed food, clothes and antiques and my boyfriend treated me to a brown leather jacket which I have now fallen in love with. It’s definitely a market worth doing if you get the chance. We also headed a bit further out to Prague Market later in the day which I have to admit was a downside to our trip for me. This wasn’t helped by the bad experience we had with Uber at the time also but if you want to see the outskirts of Prague it might be for you. 

During the day we also went on the pedal boats. I know it seems like quite a cliche tourist thing to do but i personally really enjoyed it, they were very reasonably priced and we got to relax away from the crowds whilst still being in the centre and getting a unique view of the Charles Bridge and enjoyed lunch whilst listening to music by the river. 

We had a quick browse around the Jewish Quarter later in the day too, it was definitely all very much out of our budget but worth doing to see a different side to Prague and how people live. 

To finish off the day we then went for Pizza and a few drinks at a nearby pub but we was all so exhausted from the busy few days before that we had a relatively early night. 

On our last day we collected up all our belongings and suitcases but didn’t want to venture far as we knew we had a flight to catch. We relaxed in a nearby park for a large duration of the day, taking everything in and soaking up the wonderful few days. 

In a couple weeks I’m excited to say that we will both be heading to BUDAPEST to celebrate a year together. Whilst I may try solo travel one day, for now I love nothing more than making memories together that will last a lifetime. 

Another blog post coming soon! 

J x

Dealing with Scoliosis pain with Pernaton

Hey Guys,

So a bit more of a serious post today. Some of you will already know that I have suffered with Scoliosis from the age of  12. Unfortunately this comes with a fair amount of various aches and pains. I have tried so much pain relief over the years and really want to try and avoid taking tablets for it, it only stops the pain for a short amount of time and it’s also not healthy as a long term plan. 

I recently came across a brand called Pernaton and was keen to try this out, I contacted them and  together we worked on what the best solution would be. 

I reviewed two of their products a cooling gel and a heat sensation gel. I definitely loved the heat gel and I know that my boyfriend who also tried it did too. I’ve found it to be one of the most effective products that I’ve used for my scoliosis - think of sitting by a radiator! 

It can be a weird sensation if you’re not used to it so I’d definitely recommend only using a little bit of either of the gels, one of the best things about these gels is that you really don’t need much at all to notice the effect. 

The great thing about these gels is that they last such a long time! I’ve found other gels can also leave a sticky or greasy feeling on your back but these ones both absorbed into my skin so well. I’m so happy that I found this brand and whilst I can only speak as a scoliosis sufferer I feel confident that they would also help others too.

To see the full range of products available take a look at the website www.pernaton.co.uk 

J x

Snack Box Swap!

Hey Guys!

So as I’m off work sick today this has given me a good opportunity right relax, sleep and when I feel up to it, write a blog post! 

I’m in a lot of travel groups across social media and had the idea to try a snack box swap with a girl I met in one of these groups who was from Denmark. It worked so well and when I shared the idea in the travel groups I was in, it took off! It led me to creating a group specifically designed for this purpose which you can find below.  

https://m.facebook.com/groups/2169608506657291

I am so pleased with how to group has grown but the idea wouldn’t be complete without sharing this on my blog! 

I sent snacks from England and received a box full of yummy Danish snacks which ranged from cinnamon rolls to chocolate caramel turtles! I haven’t been able to try them all yet but I’m looking forward to when I do! 

A couple of tips if you’re looking at doing a similar idea: 

- Join the group, there’s a whole community of people wanting to swap!

- Set a budget so it’s equal and fair 

- Try to send the same day or week as the person you swap with 

- Check customs regulations, there may be certain foods that you cannot include, if this is the case it may even be worth swapping other items instead. 

- Check for allergies! 

I hope this helps, it really was a unique and really fun experience and I look forward to doing more swaps in the future! 

J x