5 Reasons you need to go on a Fitness Retreat!

Hello!
Currently writing this blog feeling completely refreshed & relaxed, not to mention totally accomplished & motivated, after spending a weekend away on my first - but certainly not my last - fitness retreat!
This weekend took me back home to the beautiful setting that is The Cairngorm National Park in the Highlands of Scotland. I took just 2 days holiday from work either side of the weekend and returned to the office feeling rejuvenated and ready for any challenge we face in our busy lives.
Totally worth it just for that feeling I'm sure you'll agree. In a world where we never stop; Our phones constantly a focus, work emails reaching us far beyond the office hours, we worry about daily chores which probably don't even matter that much, - it's never been more important to take a few days out and totally shut off. You owe it to your wellbeing - and with the health and wellness industry booming, more of us are realising how important it is to look after our bodies, enter Fitness 58.

'An unforgettable fitness experience in an unforgettable location' is the promise and I'm here to give you the guarantee. I genuinely loved every minute of the weekend and have spent the whole journey back down South thinking about how much fun I had and how needed it was.
It's easy to think you can book a holiday to lie on the beach for a week and that will be the answer to all your stresses, for some that will do it, for me, I love a challenge. A sense of achievement is a very powerful thing in terms of the mind and your personal happiness, pushing yourself to limits to see what your body can do brings a remarkable feeling of pride in yourself that you can't get any other way.

So here's 5 reasons you should do exactly what I did, and book your first fitness retreat;

1. Shut out normality - I cannot express enough how refreshing it was to forget the usual routine, no worrying what to make for dinner or feeling guilty for chilling out and simply doing nothing! Although the retreat offers several workouts & physical challenges over the weekend, there's plenty of 'free time' to lose yourself in a book in the lounge, chill out in your room or even have a nap in the middle of the day - why not! 
   
2. Meet new friends - I met the loveliest bunch of girls on this weekend, having gone on the trip on my own it was so nice to be assured of the team spirit that the retreat brings. The group gelled instantly and we easily found common ground with each other despite all being from different parts of the country - one girl even came from Norway! Everyone pushes each other to work hard in the physical challenges and we got to know each other in the days chatting away while we walked through the picturesque mountains and in the evenings reflecting on the day in the cosy lounge after dinner.
   
3. Push yourself - As I mentioned above, there is no greater feeling than achieving something you've worked hard for. Throughout the weekend there are a number of challenges to overcome, everyone's different and someone's everest might be another's mole hill! This is where the team morale comes in, Sam, the fitness instructor who heads up the retreat is the King of motivation! His enthusiasm is truly infectious and he instills a level of confidence in to the team that means no-one is left with any regrets come the end of the weekend. Challenges include hill sprints, a mountain hike & zip lining through the forest (I definitely overcame a fear of heights to do this and loved every minute!)
   
4. Kick start a healthier you - We spent most of the weekend outside and it was gloriously refreshing to get outdoors! Something we often don't realise is how much we sit indoors, for some, it may be driving to work, sitting at their desk all day, driving home only to spend the evening sitting on the couch because you feel 'tired.' If you're thinking oh no that's me! Don't worry - we've all been there. However, if you take a step back and think of it like this, no-one is doubting you feel drained from a busy day, but your body has energy left to burn that your mind is blocking out with the powerful emotional messages and until you do exercise you won't know what you can do! It's hard to explain as you can probably tell from that terrible summary, in short, get up and go out even for a walk and I can guarantee your body and mind will thank you for it! 
   
5. Explore a new part of the world - I know I mentioned I'm from the Cairngorms so this point may seem hypocritical but I genuinely rediscovered my love for Scotland this weekend. I've been to all of these view points many times as a child, some I have stronger memories of than others, but I think until you visit and feel like a stranger, whether that be because you've left and returned or never been there before, you can't begin to take in the real beauty of the views where the retreats are held. We were so lucky with the weather but even if it had rained, the solace and peacefulness in these parts of the world is hauntingly beautiful and somewhere I believe everyone should see in their lifetime. 

So that's my 5 reasons you need to go on a fitness retreat this year! I hope you feel inspired, and I would love to know if you've done something similar or are now going to book on after reading this post! Sam offers retreats in the Cairngorms throughout the year with the next dates coming up being the 8th -11th of June! However it doesn't stop there, Fitness 58 travels to Maderia in August and Norway and Iceland next year, all of which you can book on to now, all fitness levels welcome so what are you waiting for!? To find out more information about all of the retreats visit the website here!

Finally, why Fitness 58 in particular? From the seamless airport transfer to the base on Friday, to the stunning home cooked healthy meals all weekend I felt truly spoilt; Ensuite bathrooms in the lodge, warm homebaked cookies (yes cookies you read correctly!) provided after challenges and the constant personal customer service provided by Sam both through hospitality and motivation throughout the weekend is truly excellent, I left the retreat feeling motivated, relaxed and refreshed just as you would want to feel after a break. Cannot recommend this retreat enough! 

I'll leave you with some pictures & videos of the best weekend of 2018 so far! Thanks girls & Sam for a brilliant experience.
L x

Spring Fashion Edit - Superdry Spring Picks & 30% OFF!

Hi guys,
Writing this on yet another wet March day, dreaming of sunnier skies and warmer temperatures! The weather may not be ready for Spring, but the high street sure is. The past few weeks I have been loving watching new season haul videos on YouTube, spotting spring colours creeping in to 'outfit of the days' on my favourite Instagram accounts, and endless #TBT's of everyone's fave summer outfits from last year! The general consensus is, we are all craving a new season of colour, fabric and trends; the perfect wardrobe updates that won't break the bank & pieces we can wear now - despite the weatherman's tragic version of 'Spring!'
With this in mind, I'm playing the Easter Bunny this Good Friday & giving my blog community the opportunity to get 30% off in Superdry this Easter weekend! Just show the below voucher in store to make use of this exciting discount. It's valid until Tuesday so plenty time to get to the shops over the bank holiday! Find your nearest store here!

Here's my top picks from the new Spring range & what I'll be buying this season;

I'm obsessed with macs in Spring time, and these lovely Belle Trenches are perfect - 6 colours available, my personal favourites are of course the bright red & classic stone, also available in Navy, Khaki, Baby pink and Pale blue! Take 30% off this weekend and they are yours for just £70, Usual RRP £99.99. Click here to see all the colours online. A wardrobe staple when the weather is still questionable outside, I'll be styling mine with jeans, boots and a plain white tee for a fresh Spring look.

Ah, dungarees, is there a comfier way to wear denim!? I think not. I absolutely live in Superdry black dungarees from last Autumn Winter, so it's time for a new pair! I'm loving the Jodie Boyfriend dungarees (bottom row), the black are definitely going in the basket but I do love the distressing on the blue also! On the top row are 2 of my favourite short dungarees, arguably not warm enough for them yet, but if you are looking to take advantage of the voucher this weekend, then no harm in stocking up for summer! I'm torn between the plain & the badged, absolute sucker for a branded elastic! - Very on trend this season. The Jodie full lengths are £45.50 with the voucher, usual RRP £64.99! The shorties are both £38.50 after discount, usual RRP £54.99. See the full range of dungaree's here.

Another Spring pick that has me pining after the sunshine is the gorgeous Alexia off shoulder dress. It comes in 4 colours and I'm not lying when I say I want every colour! Such an easy wearing, flattering shape for everyone and gives you effortless style! Just £28 with the voucher applied, usual RRP £39.99. My favourite's (if I had to choose!!) are the red and black! Click here to pick your favourite!

Next up on my Spring hit list is a pretty white top for every occasion. These 2 gorgeous numbers fit the bill perfectly! The top one is the Charlie embroidered top & comes in 6 colours! Click here to see the other colours! I think the lace hem is particularly pretty and is perfectly subtle and fresh for Spring. I also love the broderie styling on light spring colours so this shirt is perfect for Spring! If you are also after a white top then there certainly isn't a shortage of variety at Superdry! Click here to find the perfect one for you!

Of course, Easter wouldn't be Easter without a Sunday Roast & an abundance of chocolate eggs! If , like me, you are looking for a bit of motivation in the gym, then why not treat yourself to a new ombre set to give you some serious fitness inspiration to get back to it on Tuesday! I've spent weeks umm'ing and arr'ing over which colour to go for, I think I've finally decided on the Coral! Which one is your fave? If you can't decide here's a bit of price point motivation; usually the set would cost you £63, this weekend you can get the bra and matching legging for under £45 with my friends and family voucher! Honestly the comfiest seamless gymwear ever - even if you aren't going to the gym in it! ;-) Try and decide on a colour here!

And finally, if you really are looking for a good deal & investment in to your gym wardrobe then these are the products for you! Superdry Sport's new compression performance range! I have the white noise leggings (far right, see them here!) & have been wearing them to the gym loads recently, only to receive non stop compliments. - Nothing like feeling good & looking good when you want to get the most out of your workout! The compression technology reduces muscle oscillation when working out and in turn will reduce delayed onset muscle soreness - The dreaded DOMS! My next purchase is going to be the bionic legging and half zip set, I have an 100KM cycle ride in the summer & this set will be perfect for my training rides! At the higher price point, what better time to get involved in some quality tech gym wear with this weekends discount!

I hope this post has given you some inspiration and you treat yourself to something gorgeous! Comment below what's on your list & if you do get in to store to use this fantastic Easter offer! ;-)

Until next time, Happy Shopping,
L x

PS - If you don't make it in to store you can still get 20% off online with code SUPER20 at the checkout! Take advantage of it here!

The perfect prep for Race Week

Hello!
Happy New Year! It may be Feb already but as my last post was in 2017, I feel I should say it!
This year, for me, has started with a busy Jan but I have finally got everything under control 'life admin wise' and I am back to the blogging!
So last week, I was invited down to the Cheltenham branch of Molton Brown for an evening of pampering in collaboration with The Stuart Holmes Salon, (if you didn't catch my blog on my salon experience there click here!), the lovely girls from Beards Jewellers and the very talented Lisa Von Hallwyl; who designs the most beautiful fascinators & hats - popular amongst the Royals & celebs!

Now, one thing that everyone thinks of when they think of Cheltenham - it's the races. I remember when I first thought about moving here for a job opportunity and all I knew was that Cheltenham was where the races were! 3 years later, I feel very much invested in the run up to race week and race week itself. The Cheltenham Festival brings a buzz to this town and rightly so. Ladies day is the one us girls look forward to the most; the outfits, the hair, - it's a real showcase of fashion and trend - albeit freezing round a muddy racecourse is not quite as glam as it looks at times, but that's all part of it! Most people would agree with me when I say the getting ready part is half the fun of it. So as we are only just over a month away from ladies day - here's my tips and tricks on how to prep and feel like a queen all day - even if you don't make any money on the horses!

1. Prep your body! - Just as you would for a holiday or a wedding, looking your best in your outfit is key. With 5 weeks to go there is plenty time to do few home workouts in the evening or even better get out to the gym and work hard to look your best! Aside from getting toned up to fit in your fave dress, give your body the TLC it needs by pampering your skin. If you start now you will have a most beautiful glowy skin come race week! Exfoliate weekly, moisturise daily or every second day and if you are really committing, then a body brush works wonders for increasing blood flow and circulation. See below some of my favourites from the Molton Brown range. My favourite scent is the coco and sandalwood, it gives me serious holiday vibes! The body polishes come in 4 fragrances, they are great for a luxurious scrub but I wouldn't recommend mixing the scents, so if I'm using the Gingerlily polish (my 2nd fave scent!) then I'll moisturise with the Gingerlily body lotion afterwards too! On the left is a body brush which you can pick up from a number of stores fairly cheap! This one is the body shop, it's handle is ideal for brushing in circular motions as you should on your arms and legs. I was going to go in to detail on fake tanning here also but I think it warrants it's own post so look out for that soon!

2.  The hair. Now we all know that you're not fully dressed until your hair is done, and the races is no different! Whether you go for a lovely bouncy blow dry, loose curls or a full on up do, I think we can all agree it always looks amazing when you walk out the salon! Stuart Holmes offer a great range of services for the day but book in soon to make sure you get a space. Here's a few pictures of my favourite race day hair inspo, all of which would look fab with a fascinator;

3. Finally the best bit, the outfit! Pastels are back in big way again this Spring which is ideal if you are attending a summer wedding where you can recycle an outfit time and time again and don't need to feel any guilt buying a new dress for the festival in March! Here's a few of my favourite dresses that have just launched on the high street this Spring, I have a thing for Navy so I've picked my favourites alongside the pastel colours;

4. Accessorise the outfit! Once you've picked the perfect dress, it's time to choose the bling, the shoes and the fascinator! I absolutely love coloured stones in necklaces, rings and bracelets so this is something I always look out for when choosing jewellery to wear to an event. In terms of the hair piece, I love feathers, flowers and quite natural looking pieces but love adding a pop of colour to my blonde hair. and finally the shoes, my one piece of advise is pick the comfiest pair! An outfit only looks fabulous if you can last the day in it! I usually go for a wedge or a platform heel, or even a mule - anything but a stiletto!

I think that's my top 4 tips! I had the loveliest evening chatting to the experts from the salon, the girls from the jewellers, and in awe of Lisa's beautiful head piece designs! We enjoyed lovely hand and arm massages from the Molton Brown team and felt truly relaxed! Here's some pictures from the event;

Thank you for reading part 1 of my race week prep, I look forward to sharing part 2 including my full (fail safe) tanning routine!
Until then,
L x