Lifestyle

A few weeks back I did something I’ve never done before. I went to a spa. Now, for your average person, this probably doesn’t seem like a big deal, it might sound like a lovely idea in fact. But for someone like me, who has ragged finger nails, a minimal beauty regime and a fear of all things too girly, this was a VERY big deal.

I dare say I flippin’ well enjoyed it.

We arrived at Y SPA in Wyboston Lakes early morning and were greeted with a rather nice cocktail brunch. For my veggie option, I had some green fussilli pasta, sweet peppers and mozzarella as well as crusty bread and hummus.

I could easily have eaten more food but didn’t want to embarrass my self by falling asleep in the pool from a carb induced coma.

Speaking of the hydrotherapy pool… I’m not usually one for swimming or lounging around in minimal attire but as it was a group of relaxed girls (and very few people around) I went in. Being a chilly January day I literally had to run in but once I  settled I didn’t want to leave. It was so warm and relaxing. I think it had something to do with the bubbles which felt almost like a full body massage.

Me and Lisa chilled for a bit then headed to the sauna. After a hard few hours of doing literally nothing we spent some time in the cafe with a calming peppermint tea.

Whilst this entirely new experience was a great one, the best part of the day for me was the facial massage and treatment. I had a 10 minute Pom Power facial which smelled amazing and left my skin feeling and looking smooth and youthful. The lady who did my facial also recommended some products for my skin type and was knowledgeable about everything skincare wise so if you do go make sure you ask for some expert tips!

The package is £65 per person and for the day you’ll get:

• Pom Power Facial
• FREE Murad gift worth £35*
• Use of Thermal Spa from 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
• 2 course hot and cold buffet lunch
• Use of robe and slippers

 

*I was given a day’s package in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It’s springtime which means the buds are starting to bloom and the sun is no longer a distant memory! It’s the perfect time of year to venture outdoors and enjoy everything that nature has to offer. If you’re lucky enough to have a garden, you don’t have to venture too far! No doubt after the cold autumnal and winter months your outdoor spaces are looking a little neglected. Here’s how to spruce them up on a budget…

Cleaning Up

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Start by giving your outside areas a good spring clean. In the front garden, make sure you have raked all the leaves off the path, trimmed any grass you may have, and pulled up all the weeds. In the back garden, weeds will also be an issue as will grass cutting. You may also need to use a strimmer on the sides of fences too. It helps to have a blank canvas to start with so make sure you tidy everything up first. This takes some time and effort but no money and your outdoor spaces will already be looking neater.

Doors

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Front doors, back doors, doors to sheds, they all can be a bit overlooked. They are, however, often the first and last thing that visitors see. You don’t have to replace doors if they’re in good condition, just give them a little TLC. For painted doors buy some new paint and give them a fresh coat. If you’ve previously had white doors try going for a bolder colour. Royal blues, mustard yellows, and burnt oranges all work well. If you have wooden doors consider coating them with some wood oil, like the one found right here. Wood oil is a great way to enhance the character of wood, whilst also protecting it from the elements.

Flowers

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Flowers are a great way to instantly brighten up a dull garden. Consider buying plants and flowers to grow yourself if you want to get more involved with gardening. Alternatively, you can buy hanging baskets. These look particularly warm and inviting hung near the front door. Potted plants also look great on steps leading up to a home. Get creative and put your plants into pots of all different shapes and sizes. Wellington boots and barrels have been turned into pots for plants, so let your imagination run wild!

Accessories

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Moorish style lanterns make a lovely atmospheric addition to a back garden. They’re perfect for a spring of summer evening when guests are over. Similarly, don’t neglect the little touches in the front garden. Replace an old tatty doormat with a new one. It doesn’t cost much but will elevate the appearance of your garden.

 

*this is a sponsored post

As the winter chill seems to be behind us, we took the opportunity to plant some seeds on the newly cleared growing patch in the garden. Naturally, Mick had to get involved…

But look, so smooth!

I can’t take the credit for the clearing – Ian did most of the donkey work as he’s a gardening machine. But I helped.

We moved the patch up the garden this year so that what we’re growing would get more sunlight as the previous patch further down the garden was shaded by a ridiculously large shed. We had noticed that some of the crop wasn’t thriving as well as it should and seemed to shrivel quite quickly.

Unfortunately, we had to clear out some plants that we weren’t really in love with anymore, plus they don’t yield stuff we can eat, so they had to go. Sounds harsh but at least what we do grow in their place will be used and should hopefully save a few air miles and car journeys to the store.

But one plant was saved – the bamboo –  which Ian managed to sell on eBay! (I know – this man was born a wheeler dealer) so the bamboo has gone to a new owner. This makes me smile.

Anyway, the new patch has room for three rows of five different vegetable plants; vegetables that we eat a great deal of. We sprinkled the seeds in the mini valleys of the soil and let the rain water them the next day.

I must confess, I’m not an avid gardener. But I wanted to get more involved with the actual planting of the seeds this year as opposed to just the maintenance and picking of the goodies. This part was a lot more rewarding.

We’ve stuck to some familiar veg and a new one:

• Carrots
• Salad potatoes
• Radish (new)
• Purple spring onions, and’
• Beetroot

The planting of the seeds is what takes the least amount of time; preparing the patch took half of a Saturday a few weekends ago. But luckily the soil is pretty fertile as plants have flourished there ever since Ian moved in.

So here’s the patch after we planted the seeds and covered everything over.

We used some bamboo canes to mark out each individual row of seeds. No fancy tools or apparatus to see here.

Now we just play the waiting game. I’ll keep you updated over on my Instagram and on the blog.

Have you got any plans for your garden this year? I’d love to see what you’re growing.