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

3 High-End Primers That Really Work

If you're into make-up and skincare, no doubt you've heard of and purchased multiple primers in your time. No doubt you've purchased some good ones and some terrible ones, that leave me looking like I applied my make-up with my eyes shut. I certainly have. And while I think some high-street cosmetic brands have great steals, I'm yet to find a primer that I love for under £20.

A good primer should help your foundation go on evenly, and last all day without caking, streaking or wearing off in patches.

Here's a round-up of my favourites from the last six months.

This Works In Transit Camera Close-Up (£30.00) 
This definitely has my number one spot. It isn't strictly a primer: it's a mask, moisturiser and primer all in one, and does every job perfectly. I love This Works; they have so many beautiful things (you must try their deep sleep range, if you haven't already) and this is one product that I buy regularly and have been doing for a long time.

With argan oil and other plant extracts, it's a beautiful natural product which ticks all the boxes. As the name suggests: this works.



Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Oil (£28.00)
I don't think any list of good primers is complete without a Smashbox mention. Possibly not good if you have naturally oily skin, but with combination skin this works a treat.

I think you get a lot for your money, and it lasted me ages. It made my skin exceptionally soft, and my foundation stayed put all day long. Definitely worth the splurge.

MAC Prep + Prime Skin (£21.00)
Surprisingly, since MAC are known for their price tags, this is the cheapest of the lot.

I wasn't blown away by this at first use, unlike the two above, but after about a week the difference in my skin was very noticeable. I goes on really smoothly, and lasted a long time since you only need a tiny amount. I found this one gave the best results for my skin overall, and the amount of dryness was visibly reduced after a couple of weeks. I use MAC's Fix+ spray to set my make-up, and the two work ideally together.

February Most Wanted: Topshop

While putting my entire wish list on my credit card and parading around in a new wardrobe seems like a wonderful idea, I'm not sure my bank manager would thank me for it. 

Until then, here's my Topshop Most Wanted for February. How gorgeous are those shoes?!

5 Lovely Things

I know most people hate Mondays, but I have to say I really love them, and I love Monday evenings. Perfect for curling up with a cuppa, reflecting on the previous week and weekend activities, and planning for the next 7 days. My normal Monday night consists of a quick hot yoga or Crossfit session, then home to cook dinner and meal plan for the coming days. And of course, this evening is going to be twice as great because The Walking Dead starts again (Daryl Dixon, anyone?) and I've been waiting what feels like forever for it.

01. This weekend saw the first wedding fair of my life, at a hotel in Harrogate, prefaced by breakfast at Betty's Tea Rooms with my mum. Family time is really important to me, so it was lovely to spend the day together and look at all the pretty things to choose from. I'm now a little confused, a little overwhelmed, and a lot excited!

20 Beautifully Rustic Cakes You'll Definitely Want at Your Wedding

For a self-confessed foodie, wedding cake shopping is pretty torturous. I just want to dive headfirst into every single one, and not give a hoot about that honeymoon body. Do we want buttercream, fondant, royal icing, all three or none of the above?! Chocolate cake, Victoria sponge, or fruitcake? (Probably not the latter.) Three tiers or more? So many choices, so many cakes, and so much time to get carried away!

I've been seriously drooling over rustic cakes garnished with beautiful flowers, berries, and intricate cake-toppers. These are some gorgeous rustic-themed cakes that will give you serious cakespiration.