Halloween Makeup Faves

If you're looking for last-minute Halloween makeup inspiration, these incredible ladies have got you covered...

This stunning creation from makeup queen @kimberleymargarita_

Beautiful Hair Ideas That Your Bridesmaids Will Love

I've been trawling the internet over the past few weeks, gathering inspiration for my bridesmaids (see my post on bridesmaid dresses here), and I've found some absolutely stunning hairstyles which are making me rethink my choice for my own wedding-day hair! Everyone knows how easily I get bored with my hair, and how I like to go for quirky colours or styles now and again, but so far all my inspiration for the wedding has been surprisingly traditional. 

Unless they decide to go for the chop in the next 10 months, all three of my gorgeous girls will have long hair, so plenty to play with. They all look beautiful no matter how they style their hair, so luckily I know that whatever I decide to go for will look fabulous. I personally love cascading waves, half up-half down simplicity, and subtle braids added for detail. Luckily, the wonder that is Pinterest had some photos that matched those thoughts exactly...

13 Things Nobody Tells You About Having Anxiety

That little voice in your head, that heavy weight on your chest, and that cold feeling that spreads through your entire body? Just a small hint of what having anxiety is really like. Everyone experiences anxiety differently, but these are a few of my experiences...

1. It's not easy to talk about. Despite the social media campaigns and the general rise in awareness,  anxiety is still seen as 'not a real problem', even though stats show around 4.7 in every 100 adults suffer from some form of anxiety disorder in the UK.
2. Sometimes huddling under a pile of pillows and blankets with your favourite TV show on for background noise is the only thing you want to do, because it makes you feel secure. 
3. Nail biting, skin picking, and hair pulling/twirling are all very common in people who have anxiety. We know we do it, we just can't help it. Please don't point it out.
4. The smallest thing will set it off. Anything from a small mistake at work to the cashier looking at you funny in the supermarket can send you into a heart-racing panic. 
5. Pets just get it. They always seem to want a cuddle just when you need it the most. 
6. It can be paralysing. Sitting staring into space and not moving for a period of time is not uncommon. 
7. Temperature control is an issue. Hot flashes, chills, cold hands and feet but racing heart? Sounds very familiar.
8. The simple act of waking up is hard work sometimes. Waking up to a racing heart, halfway through a sentence and immediately thinking you're an hour late for work is a common occurrence.  
9. We don't mean to be clingy. Or distant. And we don't mean to fret so much about being clingy or distant. We just worry we aren't good friends, and it sometimes comes out a bit funny.  
10. We also don't mean to doubt or ignore you when you compliment us or tell us things are OK. Our brains are wired to question and fear everyday things - I really mean it when I say it's not you, it's me. Needing constant reassurance is common for anxiety sufferers.
11. Making small talk at parties can be akin to climbing Everest. It doesn't mean we're antisocial, or hate people, it just means that the voice in our heads makes small talk incredible stressful. 
12. Guilt is a familiar emotion. Guilt for cancelling a date, rearranging lunch with friends, calling in sick to work, and then guilt for feeling like you're burdening people by talking about it. 
13. It's exhausting. Intense anxiety saps your energy, and it feels like you're fighting a constant battle against yourself. It affects everything from energy levels to appetite. 

How to Manage Your Busy Life

"I'm just so busy these days!"

We've all heard it, and we've all said it. The pace of life for most of us has increased drastically, and keeping up with work, family, friends, hobbies, fitness, culture, and me-time feels like juggling chainsaws. Everyone reaches a point in life where they need to stop, take a breath, and take a step back to look at what's going on in their life. 

Bridesmaids Dress Dilemmas

Ten months to go, and the hashtag-weddingplanning is going without any hitches. (Oh God, did I just jinx myself?!) The venue, caterer, dress, band, and some decorations have all been booked, leaving me with very little to worry about. Right, brides? Right? It only gets easier from here on? I'll keep believing that...

If someone had asked me six months ago whether I thought it would be harder to choose the bridemaids dresses or my own, I know what I would have said. 'Mine, because I'm SO picky and there are so many to choose from!'

Sharing a Secret: #Blogtober Day 4

This is a tricky one since any deep, dark personal secrets (which I don't think I have any of??) aren't likely to be things I'll post about on my blog for the world wide web to read, but anything smaller (like, I hate ketchup) is super boring. 

So here's a not-very-well-kept secret that I don't really talk about because reasons. 

I had ME/CFS as a teenager, and it affected me up into my early 20s and I still suffer some of the after-effects now. It affected my energy levels, my concentration, caused depression/IBS/muscle aches/hot and cold flashes and the two I still struggle with most: migraines and anxiety. I don't like to talk about it much, and am probably still in a bit of denial, because I feel like it wasn't as hard for me as it was for others, so I shouldn't complain. And I have a high level of guilt over it as well, because it caused my parents to worry a lot.

Ridiculous, no? I spend so much of my time telling other people their feelings are valid, but don't listen to my own advice. Do as I say, not as I do...

So that's it. Short post, and I'm likely to write more about this as time goes by, but right now at least it's up on the blog and you know! 

I'm Sorry, How Much?! #Blogtober Day 3

I suppose I should preface this by saying I will NEVER win the lottery, because I don't play. I'm the girl who has some moral issues with the lottery (but that's another story), so I don't buy tickets, but still enjoy answering the age-old question of what I would do if I suddenly came into squillions. 

Here's a list:

• Move house. I love the village I live in, and the nearby villages, so I'd move to a bigger place with a bigger garden but nothing too extravagant. A library would be nice though...
• Travel, and see the world. See all the places on my bucket list: Cambodia, Peru, South Africa, Alaska, Japan, Nepal, Iceland...the list is endless. I'd love to stay in cool, off-the-grid places and experience as much as possible.
• Take my family on holiday. My parents love going to different places in Europe, and enjoy staying in pretty nice hotels, so some sort of luxury trip round Europe would be an ideal way for us to spend some quality time together and relax. 
• Visit some of the nicest restaurants around. I love good food and drink, as I mentioned in my Day 1 post, so eating at some of the best restaurants in the UK would be amazing. 
• Set up a foundation, and donate a lot to various charities. I support quite a few charities already, ranging from mental health to conservation to war victim support, so to do more for these amazing causes would be something I would give a LOT of money to. 
• Buy a farm/barn conversion and set up my own animal rescue. 

I say I'd still keep my job, but if I had the opportunity to run my own animal sanctuary and do more for charity I would absolutely do that. 

Like the t-shirt says, I just want to drink coffee, take naps, and save the world, and if winning the lottery will help then I'll start buying those tickets!

Way Back When: #Blogtober Day 2

OK so I normally don't have many photos as me as a kidlet to hand, since they aren't scanned or uploaded onto my home PCs, but since I've been planning my 30th party with one of my oldest friends, I happen to have this little gem to hand:

Me on the left, white t-shirt and cute smile. Awww, I was adorable. What happened?! Jen is next to me, in the blue, and we're having a party on Saturday to celebrate us both leaving our 20s and entering our 30s in the next month. ARGH. Where has the last decade gone?!

October Book Recommendations

I don't think a day went by last month when I didn't pick up a book or two, or didn't have Audible playing in the background. Audible has to be one of my favourite things ever, and I don't think I could live without it. (Exaggeration? Maybe, maybe not.) If you don't already know what it is, basically it's an app you download to your phone/tablet that enables you to listen to audiobooks whenever and wherever. Life-changing, for those of us who have long commutes, spend hours cooking in the kitchen, or want a distraction other than music while out running.

I went on a MAJOR Blake Crouch spree this month, after seeing Dark Matter featured on the Instagram accounts of a few book bloggers, and bought it on a whim. I love the way his books flow, every chapter is incredibly gripping and I honestly feel like a huge Wayward Pines hole has opened up in my life now that I've finished that trilogy.

If you're looking for something good to get you through the dark, chilly Octoer evenings here are my recommendations:

• Dark Matter by Blake Crouch
• Pines by Blake Crouch
• Wayward by Blake Crouch
• The Last Town by Blake Crouch
• The Martian by Andy Weir
• The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

I also re-read a couple of chick-lit (I loathe that phrase) books for some light relief:

• Shopaholic to the Stars by Sophie Kinsella and Shopaholic to the Rescue by Sophie Kinsella. The two latest instalments in the life of Becky Bloomwood, one of my favourite characters. Fun, easy reading.
• Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend by Jenny Colgan. Not great, but not terrible. Riches-to-rags story, worth a flick through but I wouldn't rush out and buy it. 

Currently reading:

• Run by Blake Crouch
• Three Wishes by Liane Moriarty
• The House at Riverton by Kate Morton

Whatever will I do when I run out Blake Crouch? Be asking you all for recommendations I imagine!

Me, Myself and I: #Blogtober Day 1

Officially kicking off #blogtober16 by being late with my first two posts, as I was far too busy gallivanting around in rainy North Wales with no wifi to log on and update. Sorry bloggers.

Day 1: Who Are You?

If you're a regular to my blog you know me pretty well already, so I could be really lazy and link a few older posts, but that would be too easy for me, too boring for you, and not really in the #blogtober16 spirit.

So, who am I? Jeez, getting up close and personal already, are we? That's a complex question. Here are the basics:

I'm Louise, I live in North Yorkshire in the UK (the BEST county, no arguing), and I'll be 30 in 6 weeks. Mum to Cocker Spaniel Logan, who keeps me laughing most days, and witchy black cat Mickey, who just wants to be cuddled from dawn til dusk. I have a BA in Business with Marketing, and have had a few different jobs over the years, including fashion retail, recruitment and tour guide at a science museum, before finding my calling in the veterinary world. I currently work as a practice manager for four rural practices in the Yorkshire Dales, and every day is different. I've been with James for just over six years, and we're planning a wedding for next September (my to-do list keeps getting longer), which both of us are unimaginably excited for. We love to spend our time and money on trips away and good food and drink. 

I'm a passionate yogi and spend a lot of time and energy on my physical and mental health. Healthy body, healthy mind and all that. I'm also a keen runner, having only really started running this summer, and have a 10k coming up in a month, a sprint triathlon in April, and a half-marathon in spring. Aiming for the London marathon in 2018, and I'd love to do one of those wild ultra-marathons, but who knows? I'm a tad injury-prone, having recovered from two broken wrists in two years (cycling accident then snowboarding accident 18 months later), but it hasn't really stopped me from wanting to push my limits.

I have strong social, political and economic opinions, am a passionate feminist and socialist, and giant bookworm. Coffee-drinker, animal-lover, and bloody good cook.

I love summer more than anything, but as the nights draw in and Halloween approaches, I start to get excited for my favourite time of the whole year: CHRISTMAS! Nothing can beat mulled wine, wrapping presents next to a twinkling tree, going out for drinks wrapped in scarves and mittens, and spending time with family and friends. And, obviously, the constant supply of food and wine.

That's enough out of me. Happy Monday!

September Book Recommendations

September already? My, my, where is the year going?!

I get asked this question a lot: what are you reading right now? Can you recommend any good books? And the answers are always: 'I'm reading about four different things' and 'Of course I can!' So if you're looking for something to get stuck into this September, here are my recommendations:

When I discover a new author that I really like, I tend to go on a bit of a spree with their books, so you may see a theme here...

• I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh. 'In a split second, Jenna Gray's world descends into a nightmare. Her only hope of moving on is to walk away from everything she knows to start afresh.' Beautifully descriptive work, with a huge twist which grabs your attention and doesn't let go.
• I See You by Clare Mackintosh. 'You do the same thing every day. You know exactly where you're going. You're not alone.' My favourite of the two Mackintosh books, but only just. This one I found particularly haunting, days after finishing it. 
• Before I Go To Sleep by SJ Watson. 'As I sleep, my mind will erase everything I did today. I will wake up tomorrow as I did this morning.' I read this in two days while on the beach in Sardinia, so that shows how gripping this novel truly is.  
• Truly, Madly, Guilty by Liane Moriarty. 'Six responsible adults. Three cute kids. One small dog. It’s just a normal weekend. What could possibly go wrong?' This has to be my favourite book in a while. Addictive, perfectly-paced, and well-built characters you can't help but grow to love. 
• What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. 'Alice Love is twenty-nine, crazy about her husband, and pregnant with her first child. Or so she thinks...' Funny, sad, heart-warming and the type of book that wrings wry smiles from anyone reading it. 
• The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins. You'll have heard of this one, I'm sure. I found this a particularly chilling, gripping read and struggled to put it down. 

As for what I'm reading right now...

• The Natural Way of Things, by Charlotte Wood - recommended to me by my lovely friend Giselle, this book is haunting and so well-written I can't put it down. 
• The Husband's Secret, by Lianne Moriarty - continuing my Moriarty love-affair. I've got this on Audible to listen to on my morning/evening commutes. 
• Come Away With Me, by Karma Brown - a wonderful debut novel about finding yourself after a tragic loss. Goodreads.com calls it 'a luminous celebration of the strength of the human spirit' and so far, I have to agree.

Life Renovation

Most people don't wake up one morning and decide to place their physical and mental health at the top of their to-do list. Normally some form of catalyst occurs that kicks people into a new health regime which becomes a way of life. 

Sometimes it's trauma: recovering from an injury or illness, or focusing energy into something new after an emotional break-up, loss, or other life incident. Sometimes it's a positive motivation: a holiday coming up, a milestone birthday, a wedding, maybe all three. Or for some people, it's looking down at the scales or into the mirror and seeing someone they don't recognise. 

As much as I dislike the #sweatingforthewedding hashtag, I have to be honest and say that our September wedding next year is a big motivator for me to get up off my butt, stop watching Sherlock reruns, and do something productive. I was going to yoga twice a week, going for the odd jog, and that was about it.

Little Things You May Not Know About Me

Hello, hello! Happy Friday! It's almost the weekend and if we're lucky, it will be a sunny one. Another personal post from me today. One of my favourite things about discovering a new blog is finding out all about the blogger. Feeling like you know the person behind the screen makes reading so much more personal, so here are a handful of little things about me that you may or may not know. Enjoy...!

1. I am absolutely, completely, totally obsessed with The Walking Dead. Self-confessed walker-stalker.
2. I own more gym leggings than any other item of clothing. 
3. I can't stand regular tea. Herbal tea, at a push, is acceptable. 
4. Going for dinner and to the cinema to see a new film is my idea of a great Friday date night. 
5. I live in skinny jeans and oversized jumpers/t-shirts.
6. Christmas Day is my favourite day of the whole year, and I always wake up super early like, well, like a kid at Christmas. 
7. Gin and tonic with elderflower is my current drink of choice. 
8. I quote Friends characters on a daily basis, and I've watched every episode more than 10 times.
9. My hair is naturally mousey blonde, but I've dyed it every colour under the sun.
10. I'm not a very good passenger. If we're have to drive somewhere, I will always be the driver. 
11. I spend a lot of time at work missing my cocker spaniel, Logan.
12. I'm not blessed in the chest department; shopping for bras is my personal hell. 
13. I'm a very passionate feminist, and will talk to you about it until the cows come home if you let me. 
14. I type fast. Like, really freakishly fast.  
15. I love cooking and meal planning. Cooking dinner is my favourite part of any average day. 
16. I get really, really stressy when plans change. My brain just cannot compute.  
17. I'm a total geek for anything Star Trek related, always have been. 
18. However, I have never seen Star Wars. 
19. I love gardening and planting flowers, although I seem to have a knack for killing them. 
20. I prefer being barefoot or wearing sandals/flip flops over everything else.
21. My music taste hasn't quite advanced past 2009. I'm currently listening to the new Panic! album on repeat. 
22. I really dislike most cooked fruit and desserts with alcohol in them - particularly trifle! 
23. I have a lot of love for stationary, and am always buying new notebooks and pretty highlighters.
24. I spend most of my evenings daydreaming about the next holiday I'm going to plan.
25. I love supermarkets. I'm the weirdo who enjoys doing the weekly shop.
26. I'm the friend who sends you five emojis with most messages. Sorry not sorry :)

Let's Get Personal: Bad Days

Hello, hello. Time to talk about something that plagues us all, but we don't often discuss it: bad days. We've all had them - days that start out badly, and just continue on from there. Sometimes they can be a hangover from the day before, if worry or anxiety or PMS or anything is playing on your mind. For me, 99% of the time a bad day is caused by anxiety, and that in itself is something I tend to keep on the QT...but that's a post for another day.

I thought I'd write out a wee list of things that have proven really helpful for me in the past, when I'm dealing with a really foul mood, a bout of anxiety, or just a general 'WTF is today' mood. This list won't help everyone, since we all deal with things in our own particular ways, but this is what helps me if I'm feeling particularly low and need to be picked up.

1. Netflix and binge. I can't be the only one who reaches for Netflix every time they feel crappy? Right now I'm marathoning Orange Is The New Black and Grey's Anatomy (tissues, anyone?). Candles lit, curtains shut, chocolate bar in hand, the evening is set. The only word of advice I have is limit whatever you're watching to a certain timeframe or amount of episodes, or you're likely to waste the day completely or stay up hideously late and in return feel worse than you did before.  

2. Get up and get out. The polar opposite to disappearing into your sofa with a bowl or popcorn and the remote? Getting up and going outdoors. Having a dog is a great way to force you outside, as the damn things seem to need walking all the time (love you Loganface!), and having a companion is always preferable to walking solo. I love a good jog, or a hot and sweaty yoga session, both will never fail to clear my head.

3. Escapism. Reading is it for me, but some people prefer music, art or movies. Anything that takes your mind away from where you are, and transports you somewhere far away is incredibly therapeutic. I've always been an advocate for art classes for those with depression/mental health issues, as I've seen some people come away feeling relaxed and rebooted, so anything you can do in your own home/surroundings to achieve that is something to work on.

4. Reach out. You know how they say that talking helps? It's true. On many occasions, I've dug myself into a pit of depression over something, sometimes lasting days, and waited too long to talk to anyone about it. Whether your worries are based on legitimate concerns or not, talking to a friend can help alleviate the feeling that you're struggling on alone. Sometimes a ten-minute phone call does the trick, sometimes a trip to the shops, or an hour-long Facetime session. When your friends are scattered everywhere from down the road to the opposite side of the globe, it can be hard to coordinate schedules, but good friends are always there no matter what. 

5. Little things, big help. Shower, coffee, tidying the kitchen, playing with the cats - there will be unlimited things that you do daily which give you a small lift, so go do them. Even if you just had a cuppa ten minutes ago - have another. Have a bath with rose petals and a glass of wine. Snuggle with your pets under a blanket. Whatever works, no matter how small.

6. Set a goal, and make a start. A lot of the time, feelings of sadness and failure stem from not feeling adequate. I can tell you right now: those feelings are not real, and you are ALWAYS enough. But I know how easy it is to succumb to a negative mindset. So setting a goal and hitting it, however small, is a great way to boost your self-esteem. Anything from a trip to the shop, paying that bill you've been putting off, or hitting a PB, whatever works for you.

7. Plan a trip. With friends, family, or significant other; it doesn't matter. Get the diary open and a date pencilled in. Broke? Go to the park or a museum, anything free will do just fine, as long as you get to spend time with those closest to you.

Let me know what you do on a bad day, and if anything on my list helps you as well as it helps me!

PS: How cute is the sign in the photo? Taken at our stunning wedding venue - only a year and a bit to go!!

Running for Ages (feat. Age UK)

Let's get this out of the way quickly: I hate running. OK, hate is a strong work. I seriously, really, emphatically dislike running. I'd rather be at a pilates class, in the gym, cycling, or pretty much any other fitness activity. But it's good for me, I have a good little four-legged buddy - who only trips me up sometimes - and, whether I like it or not, it's good for clearing your head after a long day. Friends, I know some of you feel me on this one - running sucks, but we do it because it's good for us.

However...

30 Things Before 30...

It's looming, the big 3-0. Seriously, where the f*ck has 30 years gone?! If I start contemplating it too much then I get incredibly emotional so let's breeze past that part and get straight to The List. 

Everyone has one, stored away somewhere, of things they want to do before X. Mine is a list of 30 things before 30, and with less than 5 months until my birthday I thought it was a good opportunity to review that list and see if I can tick off anything else. Some are quite generic, and others are more personal. I should say that this is my list, and not a list I think others should use as their own because everyone is different (although if you feel particularly inspired, feel free!).

1. Get a tattoo - 3 so far, and 2 more planned (sorry mum and dad).
2. Buy a house - Last year we bought our second house in a sweet little village in Yorkshire and I'm so in love with it. 
3. Ride a hot air balloon - Egypt at sunrise...it was pretty spectacular. 
4. Set foot on all continents - nope, not yet. Made good headway though.  
5. Volunteer - I loved working at Cats Protection, and even took home a furry friend from there after I lost my own cat. 

Summer Reading List

I'm counting down the days until our holiday to Sardinia (only 26 sleeps left!), and no plane journey and holiday by the beach is complete without a good selection of holiday reading. I'm doing a 2016 book challenge - 50 books in a year - and I'm doing pretty well, so 7 days in the sun will certainly help towards that.

I already have most of these either on my Kindle or hard copies, so don't really have to worry about spending a lot on books the way I normally do in the last few days before catching a plane/in the airport shops.

Foodie Finds: Gluten-Free Flapjack Recipe

I love baking, but rarely seem to get the chance these days between work, working on the house, working out and, erm, Pokemon GO...

Anyway, this flapjack was so quick and easy to whip up that any excuses I may have had went straight out the window. I wanted a recipe which was gluten free, no dairy, but bonded together nicely and had the perfect texture for flapjack. If you fancy giving it a go yourself, here's what you'll need:

200g gluten-free oats

75g dried cranberries

75g sultana/raisin mix

50g crushed almonds

Handful of mixed nuts/pumpkin seeds

Coconut oil

Raw honey

I always find it quite difficult to measure out how much coconut oil/honey I'll need, so it's a bit of a trial-and-error experience until you find the perfect amount. 

Mix well in a metal mixing bowl, and spoon into a baking tray lined with parchment, and into the oven at 150 for about 45 minutes. 

Et voila!

Instagram Round-Up

If you follow me on Instagram, this will be a dull post for you because you've already seen these photos. If not, here's what I've been up to this month!

Yoga progress! Nailing the headstand. I've been happy with my tripod headstand for a while now, but finally mastered the bound headstand, and forearm headstand, so I was pretty chuffed with myself, not going to lie. Also lifting a leg in wheel pose has been on my list for a while, and I finally felt grounded enough in the pose to give it a go - with success! I generally feel a lot stronger and in control of my body throughout the whole class or practice, and it's a wonderful feeling.

Who doesn't love a wedding? I've been lucky enough to go to two beautiful weddings in the last few weeks, and it was wonderful seeing my friends so happy.

Party and wedding planning! Wedding wise, the band and the registrar got booked in the last week, so it's all feeling SO real now. And a close friend and I booked a venue for our joint 30th birthday party. 30 already? Really?!

Food and friendship. Because who doesn't love toasted marshmallows and a good old catch-up?

What Yoga Means to Me

Two years ago, I couldn't hold a wheel pose for five seconds without falling out of it. I could touch my toes and stand on one leg, but awkwardly and with no finesse. I was OK at yoga, but lacked any basic concept of what it meant to be a yogi. And when I started a regular yoga class at Go Yoga in Harrogate, I was convinced being a yogi meant you were able to do the most complicated pose with ease, and standing on your head came as easily as drawing breath. It didn't take me long to figure out how wrong I was.

Cut forward six months, and I'm the girl at the back of the class with every muscle wound tight as a watch spring, angrily reciting to myself 'inner peace, inner peace...' whilst wondering to myself why on earth I didn't feel peaceful. Where was this 'zen' that other yogis talked about? Why was it avoiding me, what was I doing wrong? I still felt tense and wound-up, and after a class I sometimes came away more frustrated with myself than before. I could now do a pretty bloody good chakrasana (wheel pose), my warrior was always on point, and navasana (boat pose) felt like a breeze. Surely that was enough?

5 Tips for Working Out When You Just Don't Feel Like It

The weather at the moment just sucks, right Britain? We have a day or two of brilliant sunshine, and we're all in our shorts and sundresses buying food for the BBQ. Then the temperature plummets along with our moods, and the rainclouds appear. It does nothing for our motivation, and if you're feeling the drag of the gloomy days, you're not the only one. 

Working out on dreary, cold days is so much harder than when the sun is warming our skin. It's harder to pick up your trainers, harder to find the excitement for a long bike ride, and generally harder to get out of the house. This is a short list of things that have helped me get off my butt and work out, even on the most dismal of days.

1. Get it out of the way. Someone who is into their fitness isn't supposed to say this, right? I should be sickeningly positive at all times. However, sometimes I just can't be bothered, the same as you, and the thought of coming home after work and going for a run or hopping on my bike just isn't an enjoyable one. So the mornings are where it's at. Sure it's hard to get out of bed, but the plus sides are that you've already ticked off your day's exercise, and the streets/gym are likely to be quiet if you go early enough. 

The Honeymoon Shortlist

One of the hardest parts of planning a wedding is obviously deciding where to have your honeymoon. When you have wanderlust as badly as we both do, the list is endless and we are finding it impossible to narrow it down to just one destination.

Here are the 4 that made the cut for the (current) shortlist*. Feel free to suggest some more that should be added!

The Maldives

Nowhere in the world says 'paradise' quite like the Maldives. White sands, unspoiled beaches, unrivaled scenery; I can't think of anywhere I'd rather sip a cocktail and kick back and enjoy being a newlywed than on these beautiful shores.

South Africa

Glamping under the stars, taking in the scenery on safari (and hopefully counting off some of the Big Five), testing out the world's longest zipwire, and sampling the local wine. Take me there, immediately!

Chile

Another country famous for its wine, perhaps there's a theme going on here? Watching the sun set from the exquisite Valley of the Moon is pretty high on my bucket list, along with taking in the incredible landscapes and indulging in some outdoor pursuits. Skiing, anyone?

Tour of Italy

While I've seen a good share of Italy, there are still plenty of unexplored places to visit. And on a road trip, you can hit as many as you like and then some. 

And a little piece of home...

Hex Cottage, in Suffolk, is a gorgeous little hidden gem, unique in that it has no electricity at all. This makes for the perfect getaway for you and your new spouse. No TV, radio, phones or internet to distract you, so it's pure you-time.

*subject to A LOT of change, as I add new destinations every week!

15 of the Greatest Love Quotes You'll Want in Your Wedding

Looking for some beautiful words to spice up your invitations, thank you notes, to personalise your vows, or for a loved one to read at the ceremony? It can sometimes be a long and tiring search to find something that isn’t overused or overly cheesy. So look no further: I’ve compiled a list of dreamy love quotes that are perfect for any aspect of your big day.

1. “I love you, not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you. I love you, not only for what you have made of yourself but for what you are making of me.” - Roy Croft
2. “Who, being loved, is poor?” – Oscar Wilde
3. “When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.” —When Harry Met Sally
4. “I’m feeling alive and with every breath that I take, I feel like I’ve won. You’re my key to survival.” —Secondhand Serenade
5. “Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.” —Emily Brönte
6. “Now join your hands, and with your hands your hearts.” – William Shakespeare
7. "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." – Lao-Tzu
8. “The minute I heard my first love story I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don’t finally meet somewhere. They’re in each other all along.” – Rumi
9. "So it's not gonna be easy. It's going to be really hard. We're gonna have to work at this everyday, but I want to do that because I want you. I want all of you, forever, everyday." - Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook)
10. “I would rather share one lifetime with you, than face all the ages of this world alone.” – J.R.R Tolkien (The Fellowship of the Ring)
11. "If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you." – AA Milne
12. "You have bewitched me, body and soul, and I love… I love… I love you. I never wish to be parted from you from this day on." – Jane Austen (Pride and Prejudice)
13. “You make me happier than I ever thought I could be, and if you let me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to make you feel the same way.” —Friends
14. "You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams." - Dr Seuss
15. “A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you.” —Unknown Author