The excitement of going on holiday is one of those feelings that you just can’t beat. However, for many people, there is one thing in the way of that holiday you’ve been dreaming about for years: travel anxiety. Whether it is the planning stage of your holiday or maybe the long queues at airports, there is always something that pitches in towards your stress levels.
According to the Calm Clinic, travel anxiety is very common, and it causes people to feel anxious when preparing for a trip and the subsequent weeks leading up to it. Some people feel anxious during their trip and some even worry about the post-travel experience.
Let’s start with introductions. At Aviation Spares & Repairs, we supply aviation equipment to airports and airfields around the world, which allows us to travel for work quite often. We have been doing this for over 30 years and within that time, we’ve gained a great amount of knowledge of how to have stress-free trips.
Schedule it
It’s easy to get carried away by the cheap flights around Europe and book trips left, right and centre, but it’s also important to consider your schedule when doing so. As an article on the Washington Post mentions, if “you tend to get busy with work at the end of the month or the end of the quarter” it would be best to “schedule around those days so you can minimize stress and worry.”
Research it
Think about what you want to do in advance at your destination and, if you are travelling with others, make sure to share these decisions with your travel companions. Everyone should have a say! Unless everyone has the same likes and dislikes, it’s important to make some compromises and ensure that everyone will have a good time.
Plan it
As an article on Forbes advises, make a checklist of everything you need for your trip: from travel documents to power socket adapters. It is important to note that if you do end up forgetting something at home, like your toothbrush or deodorant, don’t worry - there will be shops at your destination where you can purchase these day-to-day items.
Ace it
Once you’ve researched and planned everything, you’re ready to start your journey.
Give yourself plenty of extra time before and after your flight. Who knows how the traffic will be or how busy the airport will be? It’s always best to be early.
Get ready for security. Going through security doesn’t have to be difficult or stressful – have your liquids ready, take off your belt and remember to smile.
Enjoy your downtime. At the airport, remember to take a deep breath and savour your downtime by reading a book or watching your favourite show.
Now that you’ve gone through the airport like an expert, it’s time to board your flight.
Most importantly, enjoy it.
Remember to be flexible when travelling, having plenty of free time it’s important. So, don’t plan every last detail of your trip and give yourself time to enjoy each second of the trip. You might want to stay longer at the museum or scratch the restaurant idea and instead go for a picnic at the park. If your plans don’t pan out the way you’d like them to, don’t worry – focus on the positives, make the most of out the things you did do and bon voyage!
Today's post is another christmas gift guide and this time round I'll be focusing on a few gifts for both men and women but obviously gifts don't have to be for specific genders. Thanks so much to all of the brands in today's post! If you are looking for Christmas gifts for friends and family, I hope this gift guide helps. You can check out my previous gift guides for more ideas including my previous mens gift guide, womens gift guide and my stocking fillers gift guide.
Let's start with a delicious gift idea! I love green, black and herbal tea but most flavours are quite similar and generic but the flavours by Offblak tea are a little different! I was very kindly sent the mint and chocolate flavoured tea which came very colourfully packaged and I think it would make a great winter warming stocking filler for anyone who loves tea or it could be part of a Christmas food hamper for in-laws, friends or family. You can buy individual packs such as the one I have or you can subscribe to their tea subscription service. I love this flavour combination and it did feel like a dessert in tea form but if it doesn't sound like a flavour your gift recipient would love, they do have lots of other favours to choose from including: strawberry and pink pepper, orange and jasmine and blueberry and mint.
*Society Socks (three month subscription from £44)
I think that socks are a quintessential gift for christmas, usually for dads and grandads, so they can be viewed as safe and potentially boring gifts but I think that the socks on offer from Society Socks are perfect non-boring socks that would be great for dads, brothers, friends and grandads. As with the Offblak tea I've mentioned, you can buy the socks individually, as a pack or you can purchase a subscription in which your gift recipient will receive two pairs of socks every month. I love giving practical gifts that look amazing so this option ticks all of the boxes for me.
They have a range of mens and womens socks, all of which have unique, fun and cute designs to choose from. They ship worldwide and you can even make custom socks too. Also for each subscription purchased, two pairs of socks will be donated to charity on your behalf! I think a sock subscription from Society Socks would make a great stocking filler gift, they can be added to a larger present or they can be included within a hygge christmas hamper.
Next up onto a great gift for foodies and for those who love to cook and experiment with spices! Life of Spices have a great range of spice collections which can be bought as individual tubs or as a collection such as the two that I was very kindly sent. I have the 'Italian Collection' and the 'American Rub Collection', both of which contain individual tubs of various spice blends. herbs and salt that can be used for a range of recipes and meals. All of the spice sets are suitable for vegetarians and vegans!
The Italian Collection (£10.95) contains three tubs including a range of dried herbs and salt, all of which have great names such as 'the Italian job'. The American collection contains four tubs (£15.95) including a variety of rubs and spices that can be used for traditional American and BBQ recipes. I think this set is a great gift idea as your gift recipient can make whatever recipes they want with the spices and herbs as well as encouraging them to try new spices and new recipes. If you want to purchase one or more of the collections, you can get a free tin with each 3, 5 or 6 tin collections. Use the code: LOS-NDBLG for your free tin at the checkout - it is valid until the 20th December.
Sticking with the food theme is a practical gift for those who love chillis and spicy food! I haven't seen a kit like this before where you make your own chilli sauce and I think it is a fantastic idea as most gifts for adults are a little boring but this one allows you to make something that you can also use and share. The kit comes with everything you will need to make a smokey chipotle sauce and a mango mortia sauce. The ingredients allow you to make six bottles (150ml each) of the sauces so you have more to share and enjoy over the festive and new year period.
I know that my dad will absolutely love this gift set, especially as he loves to cook and make new recipes. I also think it is perfect at this time of the year as Christmas is the time to share so you can share the chilli sauce with friends and family. I love giving practical gifts that look unique so this one ticks all of the boxes as it is also a gift that keeps on giving. All Things Brighton Beautiful, the site where you can buy this kit, has a great Black Friday sale on which is still live if you're looking for unique christmas gifts for all ages.
Now moving onto a few 'womens' gifts that I think would make great stocking fillers and christmas gifts this year. First up is a brand I've heard great things about, especially their coffee body scrubs, but I haven't tried anything from them! I love the look of this cute little lip duo and it is ideal for the winter months as I think most people suffer with dry lips over the colder months. The kit comes with a cherry lip tint balm and a lip scrub, both of which sound lovely! There are quite a few variations of this kit to choose from as well as lots of other lovely beauty, bath and body gift sets on LookFantastic.
*Joico Weekend Hair Dry Shampoo
A newly launched product that would be a great stocking filler is the new dry shampoo from Joico. Joico is a brand I've loved for years, from their shampoo and conditioners to their amazing colour butters so I'm always happy to try more of their products. I use dry shampoo often as I try to only wash my hair once or twice a week so dry shampoo is a must! I've been using this new mini dry shampoo for the past week or so and I love it! I'm not sure if it will replace my beloved Colab dry shampoo just yet but it's a very close second! It's well worth trying if you're gift recipient uses dry shampoo often as I find that they can be a little hit or miss but this one is fantastic.
I personally love to receive kits like this one for Christmas as I love to try new haircare products/brands and a kit is great way of trying a few new product from a brand. The Color Wow kit contains the colour security shampoo and conditioner as well as the dream coat supernatural spray. I've used the shampoo and conditioner from the kit a couple of times now and I love them as both products leave my hair super smooth, soft and detangled which is impressive considering how Hagrid-like my hair always wants to be! This kit, along with many other great gift ideas, are on sale as part of the LookFantastic Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Use the code: CYBER to save an extra 25%!
As some of you might know if you've been following my blog for the past few months, I had laser eye surgery in the summer and since then my eye have been a little more sensitive to light which has become a minor problem when I'm trying to sleep so I bought the Slip Silk Eye Mask a couple of months ago and I've been using and loving it since then. Naturally I was very happy when another arrived as a very sweet and generous surprise parcel! I know that it is a little pricy but I have genuinely been loving mine and it helps me fall asleep so much quicker - I cannot recommend it enough.
My next practical stocking filler gift idea is great for those who are interesting in sugar waxing or alternative forms of hair removal. It's a bit of an unusual gift idea but as I said, I do like to give practical gifts and I think that if you do know someone who likes products like this, then it would be a great gift either as a little stocking filler or as part of a christmas beauty hamper. I've been interesting in sugar wax for a while and I did try sugar wax strips years ago (and they were quite impressive) so I can't wait to try this product. Check out their Black Friday sale for great deals on sugar wax kits.
Last but not least for today's gift guide is another new product and it's from a very nostalgic haircare brand for me, Lee Stafford. I used to use so many of the Lee Stafford products as a teenager so whenever I see the brand or their products, it's instantly nostalgic! They have recently launched a range of new hair brushes, including this blow dry brush which is vegan friendly. There are so many brushes to choose from in the range such as the handbag brush, shampoo massage brush (which intrigues me) and the in-shower comb, among others. I think they'd make great stocking fillers or again as part of a larger beauty or pampering hamper.
Make sure you watch the video on 1080p!
Have you tried any of these products? What do you think of my gift ideas?
Carrying on from my previous Christmas gift guides is the second part of my Mens Christmas gift guide, you can read the first gift guide for more gift ideas! Don't forget to enter my giveaway on twitter foe your chance to win a Baileys chocolate hamper (worth £50) but you'll have to be quick as the competition ends on the 2nd December with the winner being announced (on twitter and via email) on the 3rd December.
*Baileys Chocolate Mini Delights - Salted Caramel (from £2)
Let's start with one of the products that will be part of the competition hamper with Baileys and it's their mini delight in the salted caramel flavour. They are milk chocolate truffles filled with salted caramel and baileys. They are available in re-sealable packs but let's be honest, that is pointless, especially during the christmas period when chocolate consumption should be daily. Make sure you enter my giveaway on twitter to win a Baileys chocolate hamper (@ofbeautyand).
*Lir Discovery Collection (£10)
Staying with the chocolate theme as there is no such thing as too much chocolate over the festive season. I love gifting food and chocolate and this set looks like a perfect gift as it contains a range of gorgeous (and more unique) chelates than you might find in a generic chocolate gift set. The discovery collection contains a variety of sixteen chocolates including exotic flavours such as Persian lime and Spanish pistachio. I think chocolate gift sets are ideal for christmas and they're great for friends, teachers or anyone who needs a little treat over christmas. I think the price is fantastic for such a lovely selection and you can find it in selected Morrisons, Tesco and Co-Op stores.
Next up is a product and gift idea that I've already mentioned on my blog previous so I'll keep it short and sweet. I was very kindly sent this gorgeous pair of sunglasses from the danish brand Messy Weekend and I think a pair of their sunglasses would make a great christmas gift. I adore the Hobbes sunglasses I have in black and I cannot recommend them enough. If you use the code: IGWEEK30 you can get 30% off your order, including the Hobbes sunglasses.
Along with chocolates and other food gifts, I think that grooming or beauty gifts are easy and safe gifts to give and we all know how much I love gifting practical gifts! The Personal Barber has a great range of gift ideas as well as a subscription service. I was kindly sent the 'premium shaving kit' which contains their premium shaving razor, synthetic shaving brush, oatcakes soaps mahogany shaving soap and a set of five razor blades, all of which is packaged in a lovely gift set.
I think the set is a great easy gift for dads, uncles, husbands and grandads as not only does it look like an expensive and luxe set (which is always a good idea at Christmas) but it is a practical gift too and I love to give practical (but beautifully presented) gifts for Christmas. I've been using the safety razor for a week or so now and it's so much more effective to use than the razors marketed towards women so I'll definitely be carrying on using it, even though it is a little terrifying to use! They currently have a Black Friday sale on which features a selection of shaving items but it ends on the 2nd December so go, go, go!
Another product I mentioned previously is this delicious liquor from Cranes! I reviewed this liquor and one of their cider gift sets last year but I wanted to mention them again. The cranberry and blood orange liquor is delicious and it looks great too and if I'm honest, beautifully presented and designed christmas gifts are a selling point for me! As well as the liquor, they also have a lovely cider gift set available to buy so check out their website for more information and to potentially purchase.
Last but not least is probably one of the most exciting and unusual gifts I've featured on my blog and it is also a premium gift that would make a food lover very happy this christmas! The Anova Sous Vide Nano is a sous vide cooker which is something that has previously been a method of cooking and equipment that was only available in professional kitchens but now there are various options that can be bought for the home, including the Anova Nano.
The sous vide method of cooking involved placing your ingredients (meat, fish or vegetables) within sealed bag and placing it in a pot of water along with the Anova Sous Vide Nano and the Nano will heat up and circulate the water to slowly and gently cook the ingredients to the desired temperature and time. This method is mainly used with meat and fish but it can be used to make a variety of meals from butternut squash soup and a range of sauces that are vegan. It's a cooking method I hadn't previously tried but so far I'm very impressed with the Anova Nano, from the design, ease of use and how quiet it is to the app and overall results, although I do need to try it out a little more. I will be posting a full review of the Anova Nano as well as a recipe or two on my blog in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned.
I'm taking a short break from all of my gift ideas posts and Christmas content for today's post but there will be another christmas gift guide coming later this week and another giveaway coming soon too on my blog so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out my giveaway on twitter to be in with a chance of winning a hamper full of Baileys chocolates!
Today's post is all abut basic business essentials, some of which are essentials I use as a freelancer and others would be essentials for a small business or start up. If you have any business or social media tips, either for small business owners or freelancers for example, then leave them in the comments below.
Social Media, Newsletter & Blog
After gaining your licenses, deciding on a business name and drawing up a business plan, setting up social media account for your business is essential. I personally didn't have any social media accounts for my blog when I started and since adding them, it's easier for companies, PRs and readers to find my blog quickly. Making your social media accounts with the same username, the same style and linking to your website is essential. Also, setting up a newsletter or a blog for your business to share new offers or to show a behind the scenes look at your business could be an option.
Transport & Distribution
Depending on your business and the size, transport and distribution of your products is something you'll need to look into, along with potential storage services. John K Philips is one of the longest running transportation companies in the North West; they're based in St Helens and have over forty years of experience in transportation and distribution. They offer a range of services including bonded storage facilities across the North West, pallet delivery and European as well as international deliveries, depending on your business needs.
Office Space
Another essential to consider depending on the size of your business is office space. I personally have a home office as a freelance writer but a larger office space might be necessary based on product size or your business needs. I would love to have my own office space but it isn't an opinion at the moment; however it is something I would love to consider in the near future, if possible.
Labelling, Logo & Business Stationery
Lastly, linked to my first point, a recognisable logo that can be added to your social media accounts, website, invoices, orders and business stationery, such as business cards or brochures, is another starting point for a new business. Deciding on a website design, newsletter layout or logo can be a little stressful or potentially expensive but it can be changed in the future to suit your growing business. I have changed my blog and logo design many times and now I'm very happy with it! Shop around for the best deals on business stationery, there might even be a few Black Friday deals to take advantage of - I'm trying to not give into the deals this year but it isn't easy!
Cornwall is one of the UK’s favourite holiday destinations, and that is for a very good reason; there are numerous beaches, attractions and events to visit. While there are plenty of well-known things to do in Cornwall, there’s something special about visiting the lesser-known spots and discovering some hidden gems in the area.
St Nectan’s Glen
Located in Trethevy, near Tintagel, St Nectan’s Glen is a breath-taking location. You will walk through ancient woodlands that are tranquil and beautiful. The main feature of St Nectan’s Glen is the magnificent waterfall, St Nectan’s Kieve, that stands 60-foot tall and flows through a rock arch, making the spot feel almost magical. There are a further two waterfalls to explore that are smaller in size but just as fascinating. It is considered one of the most spiritual locations in the UK with some visitors leaving crystals, stone piles, ribbons and prayers near the waterfall as a gift.
It is free to explore the beautiful woodlands, but there is a charge of £5.95 for adults and £4.70 for children to visit the waterfalls. Dogs are also welcome in the woods and to visit the waterfalls, so be sure to bring your four-legged friend along to enjoy the glorious outdoors. During the summer (April the 1st to October the 31st), the site opens at 9:30am and closes at 5:00pm, with last entry at 4:30pm. In the winter season (November the 1st to March the 31st), times change slightly, with the site opening at 10:00am and closing at 4:00pm, with last entry at 3:30pm.
The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic
For those who love witchcraft and magic, this is a perfect attraction. Situated in the beautiful town of Boscastle, the museum is the place to be to learn everything dark and spooky. Throughout the museum, you will come across over 3,000 objects relating to witchcraft and magic! It has been around since 1961 and has been a favourite attraction amongst visitors since, it is as weird as it is wonderful and a must-visit during your time here.
The museum is open every day from the 1st of April until the 3rd of November. From Monday through to Saturday, you can visit between 10:30am and 5:00pm. On Sundays, the museum is open from 11:30am to 5:00pm. Also, for an extra spooky experience, every now and then you can visit the museum at night (between 7:00pm and 9:00pm). These events take place on specific dates, so check their website to see when you can visit. There is a charge for entry; adults are £5, and children are £4, plus there are ticket packages for families.
Nanjizal Beach
Situated in Penzance, Nanjizal beach is often quiet, and this is likely due to the nearest road or car park being around an hour walk away. While it is a bit of a trek, it is certainly worth visiting this breath-taking spot and discovering some of the beautiful natural stone sculptures, caves, archways and waterfalls. There are no facilities here, but this is what makes the place so unique. If you enjoy seeing a variety of wildlife, Nanjizal beach is home to an array of birds, such as whitethroat, blackcap and chiffchaff. There are also plenty of rock pools to explore to discover some little creatures.
Hawker’s Hut
Less than three metres square, Hawker’s Hut is the smallest National Trust property. Reverend Hawker, who was a vicar of Morwenstow, built the hut out of washed-up driftwood. He used the hut to sit and admire the stunning coast while writing poetry. One poem that he is most famous for is “The Song of the Western Man” which is now the national anthem of Cornwall. To visit the hut, go to Morwenstow church which is located by Rectory Farm and walk through the churchyard. Along the walk, you will find signs that direct you to the coastal path. Follow the walk along the coast, and you will see signs pointing towards the hut.
If you are planning to visit Cornwall, or you now want to after discovering these hidden gems, take a look at The Valley’s range of Truro holiday cottages. Truro is a great spot to stay as everything you will need is just a stone’s throw away, while also being in a fairly central location.
Do you have any recommendations of sights to visit in Cornwall?
Before I get into today's post, I want to mention my latest giveaway which is live over on twitter (@ofbeautyand) in which you can win a hamper of Baileys chocolates worth £50. The giveaway ends on the 2nd so you still have time to enter on twitter.
Today's post is focusing on not only a great gift idea but also my new favourite pair of sunglasses, from a brand I hadn't heard of before, Messy Weekend. They're a Copenhagen based company with a great range of sunglasses and snow goggles for both men and women.
I was very kindly sent a pair of their 'Hobbes' sunglasses in black, although there are other colour options available for all of their styles. I was torn between the 'Hobbes', the 'New Depp' and the 'Hobbes Revo' sunglasses, all of which I love. They have such a great range of styles to choose form as well as traditional and more colourful options.
The 'Hobbes' design is one of their best sellers and it's easy to see why as it seems to be such a universally flattering shape and style that I think will suit everyone. I have the black option which I love (especially with the more warmer toned lenses) but there's also a crystal option too - the army colour was my favourite of the four but it is currently sold out.
Until I started learning to drive a few years ago, I never really wore sunglasses as let's be honest, they aren't entirely necessary in Manchester where we very rarely see the sun but they are very handy when I'm driving. I have a few pairs that I alternate between as I always need a pair in my handbag and in my car so I'm very happy to have another.
I love the simple but flattering design, the black frame combined with the warmer lenses and how comfortable they are. I find that some sunglasses are a little heavy and can leave a mark on the bridge (of it can remove a little of my makeup) of my nose but thankfully I don't have that issue with these. I've been wearing these sunglasses the most recently as they are just so lightweight, comfortable to wear and I love the design.
Not only do the sunglasses feel comfortable and fit well but they also came nicely packaged and the brand itself has a more environmentally conscious ethos with their 'clean ocean' partnership. For every pair of sunglasses purchased, part of the revenue goes to finance a waste and plastic clean-up program in the Colombian Pacific called 'Origines' which is fantastic.
If that isn't enough, Messy Weekend will be starting their Black Friday sale in a couple of days so head over to their site and sign up to be notified about the sale! If you can't wait that long then you can use the code: IGWEEK30 to get 30% off your order!
What do you think of these sunglasses? Will you be checking out their Black Friday sale?
I'm a university graduate, coffee drinker and beauty, book, lifestyle and fashion blogger from little old England - posts marked with an (*) contain products sent for review or sponsored posts Read More >>
