The Very Inspiring Blogger Award

At the end of a very difficult week, I needed something to put a smile back on my face and lo and behold the wonderful Relly Rambles (a fabulous blogger whose beauty posts I love) had nominated me for The Very Inspiring Blogger Award! Such a lovely thing to be awarded from a fellow blogger especially after all the extra posting I’ve been doing lately and after branching out to cover new topics such as my film reviews. I’ve had such a lovely reaction to all this that I’m definitely carrying on in the same vein for the foreseeable future and hope you all will continue to read, enjoy and comment on my posts.

The Rules:

• Share the rules with your nominees so they know how it works.
• Give your nominator a big shout out and link to their blog.
• Share seven facts about yourself with your followers.
• Nominate fifteen bloggers of your choice.

Seven Facts about Me:

1. I love quiche. There’s no denying it! But it HAS to be home-made and full of flavour. My mum makes the BEST quiches, especially when she makes individuals using up all the Christmas cheeses – although smoked salmon and broccoli is always a winner.
2. Apparently no-one seems to think I’m 23-going-on-24, anyone who speaks to me over the phone thinks I must be older while those who meet me seem to think I’m 19. I get ID’d everywhere I go and yet a woman in Tesco took one look at me the other day and said “You’re definitely over 25 aren’t you” in a very sarcastic tone.. Cheers love.
3. I live for Converse. They are the best shoes I have ever bought and they go with every outfit, plus they are so damn comfy for dancing all night in.
4. I swear by olive oil and tea tree oil – between them you can perfectly balance your skin, plus they can be used on hair, nails, lips etc.
5. Despite not considering myself a “girl’s girl”, I actually have more girlfriends now than I have ever had in my life and I couldn’t be happier about it. I’ve managed to find the most amazing friends who also are not “girly girls” so we can all be lads together!
6. Music is a huge part of my life and that’s one of the main reasons why I love festivals so much – I love the fact that you can see so many different types of music in one place. My favourite song of the moment is Mr Probz – Waves (Robin Schulz Remix) – talk about getting me in the summer mood.
7. Linked with the above – I love to dance. I’m definitely not very good at it and I am not one of those girls who looks hot on a night out, I’m usually the one silly dancing with her mates and in hysterics at what we look like, capturing it all on video. I love those nights out where you just dance all night with amazing friends.

My Nominations:

1. Any Girl Friday
2. The Little Blog Of Life
3. To Marry Completely
4. Miss Erin O’Hara
5. Darling Lovely Life
6. Day To Daydreamer
7. Jenny In Neverland
8. Letters to Antoinette
9. Gingerbread Buttons
10. Lara’s Story
11. Darcy Mae
12. Molly’s Gap Year Blog
13. Confessions of a Nomad
14. Eat Like A Girl
15. Life Ever Changing

These are in no particular order and all very talented, beautiful and such intelligent bloggers – I adore all of your posts and all of you brighten my day in one way or another. I’m so happy to count you all among my blogging friends and to have you all to look up to when I make my own blogging goals.

 

Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award

After a week of shopping and eating my way around The Big Apple, I was excited to get back to blogging, ready to share all my pictures and experiences with you all particularly after seeing all the lovely comments that were waiting for me. Including one very special comment from Shaz at For The Love Of Sass that said she had chosen to pass on the wonderful Sisterhood of the World Bloggers Award to me! What a lovely thing to come home to and it has certainly given me plenty of reason to get writing a load of brilliant new posts for you to enjoy. This one is a big thank you to Shaz for thinking of me when she was given the award, it really is such an honour to be given awards from my fellow bloggers, and for all her lovely posts, which really brighten my day.

Here are the rules:

• Link to the blogger who nominated you and say thanks.
• Nominate blogs that you find a joy to read.
• Link to the nominees and tell them about the nomination.
• Include the award logo in your blog post.
• Answer the ten questions listed below.

My answers:

1. What is your favourite colour?

Purple or gold, it’s a tie!

2. What is your favourite animal?

It has to be the elephant – they are just so intelligent and wise, you can tell that they have a lot of understanding of the world around them, they don’t just survive, they live and love.

3. What is your favourite non-alcoholic drink?

I’d have to be really boring and say water – I drink the stuff all day long and never get bored of it and I’m just not really one for fizzy drinks or sugary substitutes. If I fancy something fruity, I would go for a pineapple juice or something with raspberry in it.

4. Do you prefer Facebook or Twitter?

Definitely Twitter, Facebook is great for sharing photos and talking to close friends or those travelling, but through Twitter I have made so many friends who are all over the world and it just seems so much more useful. Those on Facebook usually seem to use it as a format for complaint or stalking people and their lives – bit unhealthy. Twitter is great for sharing interesting reads, communicating with other bloggers and learning/finding out news.

5. What is your favourite pattern?

What a random question, I guess it would have to be the cutie-pie patterns of Cath Kidston – I love all the floral, ditsy patterns, they are just so cute and we have loads in our beach hut.

6. Do you prefer getting or giving presents?

Always giving, I love finding something really special for a friend or for family, something I know they will love and seeing their faces as they unwrap it. I got some tickets to take my Grandad to see the West End show Dreamboats and Petticoats and it really made his Christmas – it was so hard to keep them a secret for months though! I’ve had some bad experiences with receiving presents in recent years, mainly experiences or tickets to things that have turned out to be awful and ended up being ruined by something or other, so I think that has affected how I feel about getting gifts.

7. What is your favourite number?

I really don’t have one and although a little bit suspicious, I have never had a lucky number either. To be honest, after how much I hated maths at school, numbers are not one of my favourite things full stop!

8. What is your favourite day of the week?

It has to be Friday – I just love that Friday feeling and having the promise of a weekend to come, packed with fun and time spent with good friends and family.

9. What is your favourite flower?

I love daisies and daffodils – they are just so cute and pure, when you look at roses and lilies there is just so much hidden intention or meaning, but these are just so free of all that. I love that that they just grow wild in the fields near my home and by the roadsides because they are just so pretty and always remind me of making daisy chains when growing up, or when at festivals.

10. What is your passion?

Writing. It doesn’t matter whether it is at work for the newspaper, for my blog or for the festival website – I just enjoy watching the words flow and forming a story that I can share with the world.

My nominees:

Thanks for being you, and always sharing yourself with us.

Jenny In Neverland

Molly’s Gap Year Blog

Life Ever Changing

Suzie 81 Speaks

Jody’s Scribbles

Worrellwind Adventures

Enjoy checking out some of these great blogs!

A pretty sweet feeling when you get Liebstered!

It’s a good feeling when you work hard at something and after months of pouring your heart and soul into it, you finally see it all start to pay off. Us bloggers give up hours of our free time to create our own personalised part of the internet for our readers to enjoy. We try to entertain with our own ridiculous experiences of day-to-day life, to advise on the best lipstick or which theatre show to see, and we try to put our own stamp on everything we post. It’s hard work, but for many, luckily I am among these, it doesn’t feel like work because we genuinely love every second. It is a passion to write and publish so we give up our spare time and we give up our freedom of thought, because from the moment you start up you are in ‘blog mode’ – constantly on the hunt for new post inspiration. So when your fellow bloggers, some of whom have been at it for far longer and with far more readers than yourself, start to notice your posts, to get involved by commenting and stirring up discussion, and even by nominating your for awards – it is a pretty incredible feeling.

This post is a thank you to the wonderful JordanLeighFash, whose blog teases us with her travel adventures and makes us long to catch a flight – I particularly enjoyed her recent posts on Italy. I was amazed and honoured to be first on her list to be nominated for The Liebster Award – my third nomination in two weeks! The Liebster Award gives bloggers with smaller readerships the opportunity to nominate others with small followings as recognition for their writing.

So here are my 11 random facts:

1. I have a serious craving for big, fluffy American pancakes with blueberries and maple syrup at the moment – luckily I’m off to New York soon so can fill my boots.
2. I used to love going to Brownies and every time we sang the song “Brown Girl in the Ring” I used to go stand in the middle of the circle – haha bit racist now but I loved it at the time. I also filled my entire sash with badges and led the Sprites.
3. One of my favourite programmes on TV right now is BBC1’s Death in Paradise – I love Kris Marshall (and before him Ben Miller) and it is such a funny, light and interesting show with such a beautiful backdrop.
4. I used to work as a Shakette in a milkshake shop and absolutely hated my job, I used to take great pleasure in sneaking protein and bran powder into the gross, cake-laden milky drinks of unsuspecting customers.
5. I adore products, face masks, pampering and spa days – not really a random fact, but made more so by the fact that I also love muddy assault courses, sweaty workouts and camping at festivals. I find they work together well.
6. My favourite cocktail is a Pornstar Martini – I just love passion fruit with a side of fizz!
7. When I met my boyfriend eight years ago, I was pretty much a teetotal vegetarian, now I can’t imagine life without a big glass of wine and a huge steak.
8. I am always taking photos – I used to be that annoying person on nights out who always had a camera and caught every moment on film – the more embarrassing the better! Now I manage to hold back a bit, but I am always trying to capture the memories – that’s what this blog is all about really.
9. When I’m getting ready for work in the morning, Charmed is always on and I always wish that I had the power to orb or blow things up – a bit of witch would be great.
10. My dream job would be working for myself as a travel blogger/writer or for a major or boutique festival somewhere in the world – organising all those crazy things that blow your mind at the events.
11. I absolutely adore smoky smells – candles, BBQs and bonfires smell delicious – fags on the other hand, yeeuck.

Questions

• Describe yourself in three hash tags.

#Organised #Impatient #Adventurous

• What is your Plan B?

I don’t have a Plan B – just lots of Plan A’s. I refuse to settle for any less than my dreams, luckily I have quite a few of them and would be happy with any of them, so I won’t feel like I’m missing out if one doesn’t pan out. I’m the sort of person that puts all of my energies into something when I love it and want it, so there isn’t really space for a back-up plan. I would say at the moment my two main Plan A’s (as mentioned in the Random Facts) are to get into travel blogging/writing and festival work.

• If you could be one age forever, what age would you be and why?

Hmm.. if you had asked me a couple of years ago I might have said 18, or 21 – the times when I had so much right in front of me. But to be honest, 23 has been pretty amazing. There have been hard bits as well, but it has brought me to an incredible place in my life and I have so much left ahead of me. Obviously it would be lovely to go back to a time of innocence, like when I was five, but I’m pretty happy with how things have panned out up to now. However, I’m not sure I would like to stay one age forever – I love that I am constantly changing, evolving and progressing through life and hate staying in the same place for too long.

• Who would you like to invite to your dinner party and almost as important, what would you be eating?

I would absolutely have to invite George Orwell, Margaret Atwood and Justin Cronin for a good literature discussion. Paloma Faith for a good chat and some after-dinner entertainment, plus she could lend me a fabulous outfit, and I would love to meet Rosa Parks and Emily Dickinson to see what they make of today’s society. And last, but by no means least, the incredible David Attenborough. We would have either an Italian or Indian feast with all the sides, extras and wine.

• Favourite childhood memory?

I will always remember being woken up in the early hours by my mum and dad saying we were going on a trip and we had to guess where – they had mixed up the letters to Disneyland Paris in a card to me and my sister and we had to work it out. When we realised where we were going, our first worry was “What about Brownies?!” An amazing holiday and such an exciting surprise.

• What can you not leave the house without?

My phone – it has all my contacts, my diary, my blog access, my social media, my banking – absolutely everything I need.

• When do you feel your bravest?

I’m lucky to feel brave every day – when you are surrounded by friends and family who love you and support you, and you constantly put yourself out there by having your writing published, you become used to sticking your neck out and it seems like less of a big deal. But I think the time when I feel bravest is when I make a big decision that I have been struggling with for a while, even if it is not the decision I thought I would make and it might be harder, it is a brave moment.

• If you could walk in their shoes for one day and see the places and people they would encounter, who would you pick and why?

It would be a toss up between two types of people and I just can’t decide. Either someone like Beyonce (whose life is amazing I’m sure) or Obama where I would be meeting incredible people I have only ever seen on the news or in magazines. However, while this would be amazing, I think it would be more enlightening and more of a profound experience to see the world through a homeless person’s eyes for the day. To sit on a raggedy blanket on the street watching office workers go by avoiding your gaze. I think this would be incredibly humbling and would have a big effect on the way you live your own life when you return to it.

• Finish this sentence: If no one was watching I would…

Go to the supermarket and play Supermarket Sweep with other customers – stealing their trolleys and filling them with top items – haha.

• Most importantly, why did you start writing/creating your blog?

It was something I had been thinking about for a really long time while having a Tumblr account and I was invited as a writer to attend a bloggers event – it was then that I decided to set up a proper blog and to really work on creating something special all for myself – just amazing now that people are recognising it as well.

Once again a HUGE thank you to Jordan for this lovely nomination – this time I won’t be nominating anyone, but simply because I have already nominated so many blogs as a result of being nominated so many times over the last couple of weeks. If you would like to check it out some of the blogs I have previously nominated – click here.

Another award for AbsolutelyLucy and I’m absolutely thrilled!

The Liebster Award

Thanks to the beautiful Meli and Becca for this nomination – check out Chick Chat here. My third award, and the last was just a few weeks ago so I am over the moon! Check out my answers and nominations for the award below.

The Liebster Award is given to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, what is a Liebster?  The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. Isn’t that sweet? Blogging is about building a community and it’s a great way to connect with other bloggers and help spread the word about newer bloggers/blogs.

If you haven’t heard of this before, here are the rules:
– You must link back to the person who nominated you.
– You must answer the 11 questions given by the person who nominated you.
– You pick 5-11 nominees with under 200 followers to answer your questions.
– You cannot nominate the person who nominated you.
– You must tell the nominees that they have been nominated by you.

Questions:

1. Why did you start blogging?

I first started blogging as Absolutely Lucy just a few months ago – I already work as a journalist for a newspaper and an editor of a festival news website, but I wanted to create a space that was all mine creatively. I wanted to write on topics I felt passionately about and to have a little piece of the world that was all of my own. I felt that blogging would give me complete freedom to write what I really wanted to instead of conforming to journalistic styles and writing someone else’ words all the time.

2. Any advice for other bloggers?

My advice to other bloggers, as a relative newbie, would be to keep doing what you love. Remember at all times, no matter how many views or how much notoriety your writing gets, to keep your feet on the ground and your head out of the clouds. Never forget what and why you started writing, once you lose that, you lose your readers. Also, never be afraid of writer’s block – it happens to us all and when it does, put down the laptop, get out and live, get some inspiration, don’t just give in to it!

3. All time favourite movie?

I’m going to be really boring and say I don’t have just one favourite movie – I love so many different types of film that I simply couldn’t choose just one. I love the classics like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Pretty Woman and Notting Hill – anything with Marilyn Monroe is a winner. But I also love comedies – anything with Will Ferrell (especially Blades of Glory and Stepbrothers) has me hooked. I love anything with Natalie Portman, Naomi Watts or Rachel McAdams, or equally, Ryan Gosling, Robert Downey Jnr or Christian Bale – all gorgeous and incredibly talented. The most recent film I have seen that I loved was The Great Gatsby and I really need to see Wolf of Wall Street before it disappears – Leo is such a great actor. I could talk all day about films that I love (and this may be another blog post in itself) but my one steadfast is loving any Disney movies – especially the ones with princesses, and my recent love of unknown indie movies – I can’t resist a coming of age tale!

4. If you could only have one bit of make up what would it be?

I’m so picky about make-up because I find it so hard to find colours that match my skin tone when it comes to foundation etc but the one thing I really could not live without has go to be my Benefit They’re Real mascara – I’ve just never found another mascara that compares.

5. What is your favourite item of clothing that you own?

I think the best item of clothing I have ever bought has got to be my Asos leather jacket – it was expensive but worth every penny because I have never worn anything as much as this. It goes with everything and I can wear it in all weathers – I just love it. Even though I have had it a while, as soon as I put it one it just makes me feel fabulous and always completes an outfit.

6. Where do you see yourself in ten years time?

I have absolutely no idea – and that is really bloody exciting! I have recently decided I’m upping sticks next year and going travelling with hopes of working abroad for some time. This has totally changed my life plan and means leaving behind my boyfriend of eight years. Up to this point, if you asked me this I might have said in 10 years we will be settling down, have our own place in a city, perhaps a child or wedding on the way and that I would be working for a marketing/pr company or writing freelance – or even blogging full time (that’s the dream!). But now my change of plans means I don’t know what will happen between us, I may end up staying abroad and working there, I may return and move to London, I may change my career entirely. I may go away and meet someone else and settle down with them. Who knows? But I really like how up in the air things are at the moment – utter freedom!

7. If you could recommend one place that everyone should visit, where would it be?

Oh god there are so many places I don’t know how to choose! I would definitely recommend Mauritius as my father’s home country – it is truly beautiful and a tropical paradise. Words simply cannot do it justice. But for those who cannot afford it, I would also recommend London – there is so much more to London one you get off the tourist trail and it really is a beautiful city. I’m just not so keen on all the rubbish attractions, I’d rather walk around and discover crazy little neighbourhoods instead.

8. Top 3 qualities you look for in a person?

Always – honesty, sense of humour and thoughtfulness – I love genuine people who really make an effort to be friends rather than just expecting things from you all the time, and they have to have plenty of intelligent banter.

9. What is your ideal night in?

My perfect night in is sometimes spent blogging and writing in front of the TV, watching Downton Abbey and eating chocolate with scented candles. Other times it is eating a massive Chinese, drinking wine and gossiping over episodes of Mistresses and Sex & The City with my best friends. Other nights it is cooking an amazing meal with my boyfriend and watching coming of age movies while snuggled up in bed. It chops and changes every day, but each is an amazing way to spend an evening.

10. Your favourite free thing to do?

Hmm well as a reviewer and writer I often get lots of free tickets to shows and gigs which is great – I love to share these with my family and friends and I would say my favourite free thing would be just spending this quality time with my loved ones and friends. I love just those days where you don’t really do anything but just have lots of fun with your parents, your boyfriend or your mates. Days spent sunbathing with friends, hanging out with my tortoise or just going for a run are the ones that stick in my mind.

11. Who do you find the most inspiring/successful person in the public eye and why?

I’ll be honest, I don’t tend to keep up with celebrities and I don’t tend to look at those in the public eye as someone to aspire to be – mainly because I prefer to look at those around me as inspirational – real people, not just people who have been thrust into the limelight because of their looks or reality TV. I don’t know if I can include them, but the people I write about in the newspaper I work for (I suppose they are then in the public eye) are the ones who inspire me. Real people who suffer real hardships and make real differences as a result – the ones who have lost their daughters, mothers, brother and grandfathers but who have set up charities and done amazing works despite this. I interviewed one guy earlier who despite breaking his hip and suffering extreme back injuries continues to cycle and walk for charity and has raised more than £85,000 for Macmillan in less than 15 years in memory of his parents. That’s real inspiration right there.

Nominees:

Sarah Hardman Travels

Emma Victoria Stokes

The London Scrapbook

Tales of a Travelling Photographer

Yes I Have A Blog

And my questions for you guys:

1. What has been your favourite blog post to write and why?
2. If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go?
3. What’s your day job and how does it link with or fit around blogging?
4. Which blog really inspired you to take up blogging?
5. What was your happiest memory from the past year and who were you with?
6. Are you planning any trips? Where are you heading to next?
7. What is the worst and best thing about where you live?
8. Favourite book and why?
9. How would your dream man/woman sweep you off your feet?
10. What was the best thing about the nineties?
11. What was your most embarrassing moment?

Enjoy!!

Got that top blogger feeling…

Just a cheeky little post to ask you to all check out my new page dedicated to thanking the lovely Anna Roberts for nominating me for the Versatile Blogger Award! I was thrilled to say the least after only blogging for a few months, and you can read all about this, plus check out my nominations by clicking on the link below.

https://absolutelylucy.wordpress.com/awards/

 

 

Review: Heading to the Aqua Sana Spa to feel revitalised after a busy weekend

After a busy weekend meeting up with my university friends, a crazy night out of dancing in high heels, drinking cocktails and a day of eating food that is very bad for me, it was time to detox. With Friday and Monday off either side of the weekend, I was excited to have a few days off work to really relax and let my body catch up on itself. A big part of this was booking a spa day at the Aqua Sana at my closest Centerparcs (Elvedon).

My friend and I booked the pair’s Spa Day with Decleor Aromatherapy Mind and Body Re-energiser treatment. This gave us all day to enjoy the spa and all of its gorgeous steam rooms, sauna, outdoor heated pool and waterbeds. My favourite steam rooms are the Turkish Hammam to start because the menthol scent is great for clearing the lungs with some deep breathing. This followed by the Indian Blossom room, which is my absolute favourite – the scene is divine! Then the Japanese Salt Steam which is also  gorgeous and great for building up a sweat before a cool shower and heading outside to the newly-refurbished pool.

We enjoy a spa day every few months as a treat, but it has been closer to a year since the last one – life just got in the way this time! But it was great to go back after a longer break because the pool had clearly been replaced with brand new pressure jets, seating areas and massage sections which were amazing. Plus the fact that this time it was rather cooler outside meant the heat of the pool was completely enveloping like a warm blanket. But I think one of my favourite parts has to have been the nap I had on one of the water-beds – I definitely need one of these in my life! They offer total relaxation and within seconds of laying my head upon the pillow, I am drifting away into a deep sleep.

We had breakfast and lunch at the Vitale restaurant in the spa, both provided as part of the deal we booked. We enjoy a delicious raspberry and vanilla pastry with hot chocolate and coffee. Later, at lunch, we enjoy fresh paninis in soft, white bread with fillings such as roasted vegetables with grilled halloumi and pesto, and roasted peppers with brie accompanied by fresh juices and water. We followed this with a treat of a chocolate, hazelnut praline truffle cake each – to die for.

After a few more hours relaxing around the spa and warm showers, we headed to the treatment rooms for our Decleor Aromatherapy Mind and Body Re-energiser. Described as “A heavenly massage of easing the tension from mind and muscles. Skin is treated to the wonderfully soothing sensation and exquisite aroma of a warm Decleor Aromaessence Balm. The expert touch of your therapist’s hands melts away stress and eases tense, tired muscles to unwind body and spirit leaving you with renewed energy.”

The treatment was divine, it started with a back massage that led to arms and legs being moisturised and massaged with oils, before finishing with a facial. For one hour I was truly in heaven and my muscles were oh so grateful after the stresses and exertions of the last few months. My shoulders appreciated the massage more than anything and it was lovely to have my face pampered and left softer than a baby’s you-know-what after the oils, masks, creams, lotions and potions had been applied.

I had a wonderful time at the spa and for the money we paid – £90 each – it was incredibly good value. We had a treatment worth over £70, two meals, access to the spa, steam rooms, sauna and pool all day and robes and towels provided. I have been to other spas in the area and have yet to find one that offers quite as good a deal, and such good quality  every time. Elvedon also offers far better a spa than the Sherwood Forest spa in Nottinghamshire, from my experience. I’m already counting down to when I can book the next one!

Pictures from The Good Spa Guide.