Ride to Paradise! - Exploring the Whitsundays.

This time last week I was all checked in at the Redcat Adventures office in Airlie Beach, ready to head to the Coral Sea Marina and set sail on our super rapid, Wildcat catamaran vessel! Having escaped the farm for 3 days I was more than excited to be spending the next 2 nights & 2 days in pure luxury at the stunning Paradise Cove Resort, not to mention the adventures that lay ahead exploring the Whitsunday Islands aboard the boat. I've never been 100% sure on the idea of solo travel, it can be pretty daunting but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet, be you & put yourself out there. In this case I was so delighted I did. - I met the loveliest group of people on my tour, the guys running the trip literally made it; Jayden & Shano (Jayden the first Aussie lad I've met with top banter & Shano the 'Aussiest' looking Irish lad in Queensland!), alongside a big group of Irish girls, solo travellers, like myself, from America, Canada, Ireland, Switzerland, Italy etc, girls from England starting out on their working holiday visas & a few lovely couples, including an older couple from Bournemouth on their holidays. Everyone got involved with everything on the trip and it was a great vibe from start to finish.
Once we'd had a quick intro on land from Jayden, picked up our 'stinger suits' (essentially a very sexy & fashionable garment worn to protect you in certain Aussie waters & make you look like scuba steve or cat woman, depending on how you want to see it!) We were then on board the boat at the Marina all set to head to the resort.
Arriving in to the bay where our beautiful secluded resort was located was an actual 'Ride to Paradise.' Palm trees scattered across the freshly mowed lawn & hammocks swaying in the breeze. We dismounted the boat, feeling the sea beautifully warm on our feet, and headed up the beach towards the promise of afternoon tea upon arrival at the main house, we were not disappointed!

Gorgeous platters of fresh fruit, crisps, dips, cheeses & of course a selection of beautiful cakes.

The rooms at the resort are all pretty luxurious! I booked a bed in one of the shared single dorms, which, as a backpacker is of course the cheapest option, having said that, regardless of your room you have access to the whole resort including the unbelievable outdoor bath tubs! I've also spent the last 3 months sleeping on a farm hostel mattress, which frankly made my bed nothing short of luxury! If you do however have some spare cash or want to treat yourself, the deluxe suites are insanely beautiful. All of the couples on our tour got upgraded to these rooms, so if you are a couple and your tour is fully booked you may just get upgraded too! All of the rooms are also en suite with a toilet & sink and the showers are just outside the lodges. Is there anything more amazing than looking up in the shower and seeing nothing but sunshine, blue skies & palm branches!? I told you it was paradise

Above are some pictures taken from the Redcat Adventures website  of our beautiful lodge pictured  from the outside with the stunning veranda amongst the trees, and inside of our shared 6 bed dorm. Added details not pictured included gorgeous fluffy throw blankets which were piled high ready for us to use as we wished which was lovely in the evening & really added to the luxurious feel of the stay. You will find a full range of prices & pictures of all the rooms on their site, so you can pick the perfect one for you! 

Once we were all settled in to our rooms we were free to explore the resort for the afternoon. One amazing thing about Paradise Cove is the variety of activities depending on how active you want to be. Along the front the equipment is all there for kayaking & paddle boarding, completely self serve & free of charge so you can head out whenever suits you. Follow along the secret path through the trees and you'll find a full sized tennis court with equipment, a basketball net & football goals. - Not to mention the pool, jacuzzi hot tub, table tennis & hammocks to kick back in & read a book if you fancy a little less of a 'full on' afternoon! We had just put our stuff down in the rooms when one of my new friends from the tour appeared on the veranda in her (oh so stylish) stinger suit ready for kayaking! I couldn't help but appreciate how easy it was to find like minded people on this trip, of course I was up for a spot of kayaking!

Now, what better way to wind down after an afternoon on the water than with a 5pm beverage & an outdoor bath with your pals!? The Oxford dictionary states 'Paradise' is a place that is extremely beautiful and that seems perfect, like heaven. Now you can see why this resort is called Paradise Cove! All the showers & bath areas are also fully equipped with luxury shampoo, conditioner, body wash & bubble bath so don't worry about packing those for your trip! I think it was while I was lying here in this bath staring out in to the golden palm trees & hearing the sea crashing on the shore that I had to remind myself I'm supposed to be a 'backpacker on a budget!' ;-) Can I stay in Paradise forever!?

After our rather leisurely bath, dinner was served at 7.30pm, a delicious meal and desert accompanied by any drink you've brought with you - you can bring as much booze as you wish but no glass or red wine. Having said that, I think I had 3 ciders the whole time we were there, the vibe was very chilled and definitely not a party trip. - I would say I'm still drying out from the farm hostel life so that suited me perfectly! After dinner we headed down towards the beach to the fire pit underneath the stars. I've never seen a more beautiful clear sky, we even saw a shooting star. It was a brilliant setting to sit and chat with new friends and fellow travellers while toasting marshmallows, mesmerised by the dancing flames. What an evening!

Next morning we were up and out fairly early so to make the most of the day ahead! After a lovely continental breakfast of cereals, toast & fresh fruit (side note; get involved with the watermelon in Aus people, it's insanely good!) We were back on our boat ready to whip through the waves to the beautiful Whitehaven beach. We arrived at the north end and the iconic Hill Inlet lookout point. The plan was to visit the beach here too, however as the tide at the drop off point wouldn't allow for a lengthy stay, our quick thinking skipper decided to scoot us round to the south end of the beach. Turns out this was much more secluded away from the traffic of the other tour groups, we ended up eating lunch on the beach too which was glorious!

The view from the Hill Inlet lookout point

We spent the time swimming in the crystal clear waters, sunbathing & of course tucking in to our lovely picnic lunch of pasta, bread rolls, cold meats, cheeses & salad served up by our fab crew Jayden & Shano of course! We got a good 2 and half hours at the beach which was just bliss, obviously enough time to get that instagram snap, if you've followed me for a while you'll know I haven't been anywhere iconic unless there's a bridge pose photo! ;-)

Next up was our first snorkelling stop off. I've never really done any proper snorkelling, when I worked as a nanny in Greece, we occasionally took the kids snorkelling but we'd be lucky to see a handful of fish. This, on the other hand, was a real snorkelling experience! The team at Redcat have a license to feed the fish, so when we drop in to the water at the snorkelling point it's like climbing in to an aquarium! What an unbelievable sight - we saw all kinds of fish, big and small. Alongside the fish, we saw the reef restoration work that the Whitsundays council implemented following a cyclone that damaged a large part of the reef 2 years ago. It was great to see a man made structure built in to the sea bed to encourage the reef to grow back and keep our wee fishy friends happy!

Just when you thought the stinger suit couldn't get any more glamorous! - Simply accessorise with a mask & snorkel for that day to night look ;-)

That evening we had another delicious home cooked meal, a few wild games of 'Articulate' at the dinner table in-between courses & of course back down to the fire pit for more chilling under the stars. We had one more snorkelling trip in the morning so it was a fairly early night for us all ahead of the 8.30 departure next morning.
I had such an amazing experience on this trip and would recommend it to anyone, whether you're on your own, with friends, young or old, a truly great tour with something for everyone. I'll leave you with this wee video of my GoPro footage from the 3 days, it's my first time using it so they will only get better! ;-)

Finally, I know a lot of my instagram followers were dying to go to the resort after seeing some the instagram posts I uploaded, so of course I'll give you my top 3 insta shots to get on the trip;

You can follow me on instagram Here! If you would like to watch my stories over the next few weeks now that I'm free of farmer life and adventuring down the East Coast of Australia! 

Thanks for reading & let me know if you book the tour! You may be able to get a discount booking through a travel agent or get $50 off if you book through Sailing Whitsundays which is the company I used.

Happy Travels!

L x

Making the jump & moving to Australia!

One month in to living in Sydney and it's starting to feel like home! From the moment I decided to leave my job in the UK, pack up my life and fly solo across the world to embark on this little adventure, I had no idea what to expect! Recently, I've been thinking what better way to get back in to writing my blog, than sharing my experiences over in Australia with you all. Who knows; it may make you want to up and go yourself!

I will be completely honest, the last month has been challenging. I don't think I realised just how settled I had become living in Cheltenham over the last 4 years. Not only that, but I'd completely forgotten what it was like to move and know no-one, even though I've done it a fair few times before! Starting something new in life can be tough, even if it's moving jobs down the road and all else remains the same; same house, same friends, same hours. The mind loves routine and familiarity, so it's only natural to feel that any small change can be a little unsettling. That said, if you stay in your safe bubble for your whole life, you are restricting yourself more than you know. I'll be the first to tell anyone that this is HARD at first, but ask yourself - what's the alternative to change? I was so ready for a shake up in my day to day routine, it's easy to look back on your old life with rose tinted glasses when you're feeling low but actually, change is the best thing you can do when you aren't 100% content with how things are. - Be it your job, your relationship, your hobbies or opportunities. Everyone deserves to be happy and it doesn't get handed to you without you getting out there and finding it! Moving out here is not at all a small change, but my god I can tell it's going to be such an amazing adventure! All the uncertainty gets more and more worth it with everyday that I wake up in this beautiful city. It really has given me such a great opportunity to get out my comfort zone and grow as a person (Oh yaaa gap yah, finding myself jokes aside!) ;-)

So a few weeks in to Sydney; I've found (and quit) my first job, lived in an 8 man room in a hostel, been to Bondi beach more times than I can count, rinsed about 40 'free trial' gyms across the Eastern Suburbs, been on several nights out & walked what feels like the whole of Sydney!
Here's a quick run down of the details ;-)

Wake Up! Sydney Central & the cafe next door where I spent most mornings eating breakfast in the sunshine!

Week 1 in the hostel; I stayed at Wake Up Sydney! which is the most ideal location from the airport. A quick train to Central station gets you right across the road from your temporary home, which believe me, after 27 hours of travelling was much appreciated! The hostel was clean and pretty straight forward. The reason I booked to be in an 8 bed mixed room was purely on recommendation on your chances of meeting people you get on with are much higher in a big room. I was so lucky that my roommates were all great people who were up for getting up and out the hostel to explore the city. On my second day we went to Bondi and walked the coastal walk along through the neighbouring beaches. This photo, taken at Tamarama Beach, still makes me smile. - The hilarity of self timer is just as funny with 4 complete strangers as it is with your best friends! We still never got us all jumping but at least we had fun trying!

A Scottish, Dutch, German, Slovakian & an American attempt a synchronised jump. . . 

Team Hostel Morning HIIT Session 

Thursday Night 'Backpacker' night at IVY 

The main thing I made sure I did in the hostel was get stuck in and say YES to all the social plans, you are there solo, so even if you're not sure, you really aren't in a position to pass up some company. Worst thing that can happen is you don't have the best time and you can bail! Guaranteed you will get more out of the experience by getting involved. The hostel are amazing at putting on daily social events to get involved in. Some other highlights of my week in the hostel are in the pictures surrounding; We hit the gym, had a fair few nights out & ended the week on the Sunday sunset Seadeck Boat Party  with my new Canadian pal that I'd met on the Monday night at the hostel & kept in touch with throughout the week before 2 of her party left for NZ and she was needing company too. We thought why not do something fun for her last day in Sydney! This is what happens when you put yourself out there, circumstances go in your favour! :-)

Seadeck Sydney boat party - Every weekend in Sydney! 

The weeks since, I've been staying at a friends house while he's home so his room was going spare. This has been ideal, It's given me the chance to really get to know the area in Bondi Junction before committing to an apartment, the beach is just a 30 min walk away and I have the Westfield shopping centre and my gym right around the corner too! I would definitely recommend asking around friends if anyone has a room going if you're moving out, as that extra time I had to get to know areas around Sydney was great. I am now in an Air b'n'b while my friend is out visiting on hols, but will then move in to my new apartment next week which I'm so excited about, to get properly settled in & unpacked!

Finally, when I started telling people I was moving to Aus, I got a lot of reactions of 'OMG on your own!? Do you know anyone out there?' I brushed these off saying yeah on my own, I know a couple of people but I'll be fine, I'll befriend anyone me! Of course it's hard when you feel like an outsider, but my friends who I know 'loosely'-  instagram or only met a couple times, haven't seen them for years etc have been amazing!! Everyone is like one big family out here in terms of Brits sticking together, so even if you know someone who you think you haven't kept in touch with and not sure whether to message them, I was the same and I can tell you just do it! It opens up so many other opportunities to meet people and it can feel a little awkward sending that first message but It's got to be done! So aside from a sense of adventure, and a bit of grit to pull the trigger and go, what else do you need to do when moving out to Australia!? I'm going to write my next post on this so you have all the details for you or a friend who fancies the move! :-)

For now, I'm off to enjoy the Easter week in Sydney with my friend & my new friends! Thanks to everyone who supported my move or gave me advice, I'm truly living my best life! 

Linds x

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