FIVE DAYS IN PALMA WAS PARADISE

Over the last few years I haven't done a lot to celebrate my birthday, I didn't feel the need to plan or organise anything because it's just another day. This year was very different, not only did I spend a weekend in Brighton I decided to go to Palma for five days. Originally I was going solo but two friends jumped on my band wagon and decided to go with me, I was thrilled to have two beautiful girlies to help me celebrate my birthday in style.

The purpose of this holiday was to relax, unwind and enjoy exploring a new place. I'm happy the girls decided not to get drunk every night as I don't think I would have enjoyed the holiday as much if I was holding their hair back while they threw up. I'm greatful they decided to take it easy considering I don't drink alcohol.

On the 25th July we celebrated me turning 25 years old. Yikes, its strange to write that down. I can't believe I'm a quarter of a century old! We ate at a gorgeous restaurant on the seafront, listening to the waves crash against the rocks was magical. It's so soothing. Jayde bless her paid for it which was a very generous birthday surprise.

HOTEL

We stayed at the TRYP Bellver Hotel in Palma, it's the nicest place I've stayed and made our trip perfect. The entire hotel was beautifully decorated, our room was completely white with wooden elements. The best part of the room was definitely the beds, the last time I slept in a bed that comfortable is when I stayed at the Virgin Hotel in Chicago. The pillows are unbelievable, I didn't want to get out of bed.

The staff were polite and very helpful, the language barrier was sometimes difficult but we got by. I'm going to make it my mission to learn the basic language skills for my next trip as it would be beneficial.

I would recommend this hotel if you're heading to Palma. It's reasonably priced, we paid £244 for 4 nights each. Normally I would stay in cheaper accommodation when travelling but this was a special occasion and we all needed a bit of luxury in our lives. When I travel solo I would opt for a hostel as it's cheap and cheerful, although we wanted to enjoy our stay and spend time at the hotel. I was having the time of my life relaxing and eating amazing food that I didn't take loads of photos of the hotel. Sorry guys, you'll just have to experience it for yourself.

PIER

The best thing about staying in a 4 star hotel is having a balcony. Ours overlooked the pier and what a spectacular view it was. What I wouldn't give to be having breakfast on the balcony watching the world go by right about now.

There is nothing I enjoy more than taking a stroll with beautiful scenery, it was great to wander along the pier. Naturally when there is a stunning backdrop I can't help but take photos, the sunset was particularly amazing to photograph. During the day it was still very picturesque, we were physically jumping for joy! The expression on my face is hilarious! 

I also got the chance to practice some yoga, love a good headstand. Emma and Jayde were like worried parents telling their child not to do something, but I did it anyways. Don't worry guys, I got this! 

BEACHES BITCHES

After sleeping in the amazing beds we woke up fresh faced and fabulous, we thought the beach would be the best place to get our tan on! Being in Spain there are plenty of beaches to choose from, although since we were only there for 5 days we didn't get a chance to visit many of them. In fact we only went to one because we spent the majority of our time tanning by the pool. Palma City Beach was a short 15 minute walk from our hotel, the staff mentioned it wasn't the best beach compared to others that are slightly further away but it was perfect for what we needed.

I expected to be able to hire a sunbed as most beaches love to make some extra cash from tourist. Unfortunately this wasn't the case and we had to tan ourselves on the sand. I think we had been spoilt with staying at a nice hotel that we forgot how to be like normal folk. 

We were so fortunate with the weather, clear blue skies and the sun felt lush, the perfect tanning day. After a little while Em started to feel too hot, she was a little red and needed suncream and shade. Luckily she didn't get sunstroke! A little lesson to always apply suncream everywhere and stay hydrated! I felt like a parent on this trip always telling the girls to apply suncream hehe.

We headed over to the beach cafe to shade ourselves, it was a little classy for a beach cafe, more like a membership club. You needed to purchase a drink or some nibbles to sit down but this wasn't a problem. There were sunbeds available and we did consider renting one until the staff told us it was €35! That's right, €35 for the sunbed and you didn't get anything additional included. What a rip off! After we finished drinks we headed back to the hotel to use the free sunbeds.

CITY CENTRE

One day the weather wasn't the best, a little cloudy so we decided to head into town and take a look around. There are loads of back streets and its very easy to get lost, but sometimes its great to wander, not think about the time of day or where you are.

There were standard tourist shops, chains and restaurants. If you go deeper into the city you find little cafes and restaurants that sell real Spanish food. We had Tapas, the girls had sangria and said it was strong but delicious, I took their word for it. The food itself was incredible, so many yummy flavours. We ordered Patas Bravas and the waitress said "you do know this is a very hot dish?", like english people can't handle spicy food haha!

PALMA CATHEDRAL

In-between tanning and relaxation we managed to do some sight seeing, one thing on my to do list while in Palma was to see the Cathedral. It's breath taking, the architecture is incredible and its the most beautiful building I have ever seen, along side the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona. We didn't go inside but I'm sure it's just as stunning.

Birthday celebrations are going to be tough to top next year, what am I going to do? Perhaps I should look into a trip to America or Japan, they've always been on my travel wishlist. One thing I can say about this year is it wouldn't have been the same without my amazing friends and family helping me celebrate in style. I truly am surrounded by the best people anyone could ask for.

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

5 THINGS YOU SHOULD START DOING TODAY

A lot of us, myself included have a way of procrastinating when it comes to certain things. Sometimes they don't seem that important and get put to the back of my mind. I think there are a few things we all need to do more of at times. 

Take care of your health

Your health above all else is the most important thing you should take care of. There are 3 types of people when it comes to health, the ones who book and appointment at the doctors for a headache they've had for 30 minutes, those who wait until a symptom is incredibly irritated and emergency appointments are needed. Finally there are people who know when appointments are needed. Ensure you take care of yourself and book in routine appointments such as the dentist every 6 months or your contraceptive appointments. Get them scheduled ahead of time and be well organised.

De-clutter something in your life

I find that I have a tendency to hold onto my belongings for longer than need be. If you find your wardrobe or cupboards to be overflowing and packed, maybe it's time to declutter and get rid of things you haven't worn/used for the past 6 months. At first, I found this to be one of the hardest tasks because I get attached to my pretty clothes and other belongings, although when I started to declutter it was great to get rid of unwanted/unneeded items.

One thing few people remember to declutter is their laptop. Over time you can accumulate so many files and photos that you no longer need or simply need to be organised. I spend about 4 hours deleting and filing photos, now everything has a place and I can find things easily. Let's see how long it last before I have to declutter again! 

Exercise

You've most likely heard this one to many times but you need to exercise. Fitness is proven to release endorphins and improve your mood, it also gives you a sense of achievement. The thought of exercising can be daunting at times but when you get yourself into a routine you'll enjoy fitness much more. If you can't stand the sight of a gym, take up another form of fitness such as Pole Dancing, you get fit while learning a new skill.

Eat healthy food

I can't stress enough how important it is to eat healthily, I'm not saying I always make the right choices and it can be difficult if you're busy or work unusual shift patterns but you need to plan ahead. Try preparing your snacks and meals for the next day the night before so you don't reach for the easy option of junk food. Ensure you keep changing it up, if you stick to the same old food each day you can become bored.

Spend time with family and friends

We get so caught up in day-to-day life that we sometimes forget to put time aside for family and friends. Work isn't everything in life so leave those pesky tasks for another day and spend some time catching up with your loved ones. 

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

TRAVEL || WEEKEND IN LONDON

London can be an amazing place to visit. There is so much to do you'll struggle to fit it all in, especially into a weekend. Although I did give it a good go! It's great to explore and discover new and amazing things in a city although it's also an advantage to know someone who lives in the area. Its interesting what hidden treasures a true Londoner will know.

I spent a total of 2 1/2 days in London last weekend. I travelled down on Friday and arrived at about 2.20pm at St Pancras Station, I stepped outside and thought to myself ''What an amazing city''. Then I started walking and realised I still have no sense of direction and instantly got lost, so I decided to stay put in a Starbucks until my friend arrived to pick me up for dinner! I know, I'm 23 years old and still can't find my way around, let's be honest I have a satnav built into my car and still can't find my way around Nottingham where I've lived my whole life so how can I seriously make it around London? Even with navigation I tend to get completely lost, but that's half the fun right?

Hache Burger 

The first night we went to a Burger place called Hache Burgers, now all I can say is it was amazing. The food was delicious, I had a beef burger, well done with caramelised onion and smoked bavarian cheese. Now I've never tried bavarian cheese before but I know I'll be having it again ... We also saved room for dessert by sharing a portion of sweet potato fries. This is an important factor as sometimes my eyes are too big for my belly and I end up with left overs for the next 3 days! Oh, when you have dessert consider the milkshakes, Oreo and Nutella what more could you ask for?!?

Rent a Brois Santandar Bike

Simple concept to grasp really, pay £2 to rent a bike for 24 hours and every 30 minutes afterwards cost £2. Little tip if you want to save money, dock it every 30 minutes and you'll only pay £2 all day instead of £2 for every additional 30 minutes. Discover London the scenic way instead of sitting on a hot, crammed tube to get to each destination. Its also a great way to get some exercise in, because as we all know when you're away for the weekend you tend to over indulge on sweet treats and great food.  

Spitalfields Markets

Markets are one of my favourite places to visit, you never know what kind of things you will find.  Hundreds of trinkets and gift ideas and general bits and bobs. Becky knew one stall would be there, I don't know you might of heard of it. ABookOnOnePage, I didn't think it was possible but apparently someone has managed it. There is alot of choice, whether you love Romeo and Juliet or my personal favourite Alice in Wonderland. They would look great on any wall!  

Matilda the Musical 

If you have an interest in musicals I would suggest you see Matilda! Becky and I saw it at the Cambridge Theatre in London and sat at the front of the dress circle which costs around £67 so don't feel like you need to buy the seats right infront of the stage which are about £90. The performance was amazing and I was blown away by the musical talent of the entire cast. There are so many fantastic musicals on my list and I'm so happy I ticked this one off! Unfortunately no photos allowed during the performance but it's a memorable experience!

Changing of the Guards

I'm English and I've never been to the changing of the guard ceremony, but now I have :) Unless you get there early enough to get the best spot where you can see absolutely everything, there will be alot of tiptoeing and extending your arm to get a good photo. Although we were really lucky, when we were leaving they came down the main road so I got some close-up shots too!

Of course you have to do as the tourist do and have a photo with the guard! It's tradition.

St James Park

St James Park is beautiful with all sorts of wildlife (mainly birds) like pelicans, geese and swans with the occasional squirrel thrown into the mix. Autumn is a great time to visit because all the leaves are shades of burnt orange and there is a slight cool crisp in the air. It's a lovely view and worth the time to visit it while in the area!

Platform 9 3/4 at London Kings Cross Train Station

If you're a Harry Potter lover this should be on your todo list when visiting London. I didn't manage to get a photo because there were so many people! Imagine a Hogwards cart to carry your wand and owl, (yano the usual things you would have on hand) half way through the wall to look as if you're going through Platform 9 3/4. Its definitely a great photo moment. Don't make the rookie mistake I did and only leave about 50 minutes until my train, try going in the morning to beat some of the rush and maybe go when you don't have a train to catch.

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

IN LOVE WITH THE PHILIPPINES

Having trouble planning your next holiday?

Well theres no question about it, Philippines it is!

I had never thought about the Philippines as a holiday destination, but I guess because it was never one of the usual routes from the UK. Fortunately one of my friends in Australia was originally from the Philippines so we decided to check it out. It was the best decision we had made, I can honestly say that it is truly beautiful.

Let's talk a little about the weather shall we? So in June it's rainy season, when looking at our weather apps on the iPhone it seemed like it was going to be a disappointing trip. It said thunder for the 2 weeks. This was not the case thank god! We had some cloudy days but these were filled with shopping and lunches indoors and generally looking around the area. So don't be alarmed if your weather app says rubbish weather! 

I spent a week by myself in the Palawan Islands before I met up with my friends in Boracay. Quick tip Boracay is more expensive than other islands as its a tourist destination.

Puerto Princesa

Underground River

Apparently the Underground river is one of the "New" 7 wonders of the world. In my opinion it wasn't amazing, it was nice to look at but I wouldn't suggest it if you've already seen caves before like I have. Plus there is a lot of waiting around, its a full day because of all the waiting. For example your picked up at 6am then you go to get your environmental visa which took about 2 hours. Afterwards you've got a 2 hour drive to the underground river with more waiting around. So it's a lot of standing around for a 30 minute boat ride in the cave.

El Nido

Island hopping

If you go to El Nido, island hopping is the perfect way to spend a day! I did tour C which is all beautiful beaches. Take a look for yourself :)

Scuba diving

I was debating whether to leave scuba diving until I met up with my friends in Boracay, but when asking the locals they said between Boracay and El Nido, El Nido is the better place to dive. The sea in Boaracy is rougher and there is not as much to see. I have to say I was not disappointed with diving in El Nido. Absolutely beautiful!

I saw a turtle :)

Want to know the secret of getting pastel green hair?

Well I'm going to tell you how! First bleach your hair, put a semi-perminant purple dye then go in the sea while travelling the Philippines. Simple enough aye? (Well I know its the bleach that turned green, haha). I got a beautiful pastel green hair colour from this accident and I love it!

Time to meet the girls, so excited to see them after 3 months away. Boracay here I come! :)

Boracay

Beautiful sunsets

So we decided to stay in a beach hut. It was the BEST decision ever!!! Between the 4 of us it was £14 each per night in a beautiful 5* place. 

Boat trip around the island

What better way to see the island than on a little sailing trip with abit of snorkelling.

Parasailing

Always wanted to do parasailing but on most holidays it seems so expensive, but in the Philippines it was only $30 what a bargain! I was a tad annoyed when looking at the pictures because I didn't realise my GoPro had a smudge on the screen :(

I loved the speed boat back to the island :)

So end of story, the Philippines is an absolutely amazing place and I would recommend it as your next holiday destination or travel the entire Philippines! 

Explore, love life and enjoy every moment as I do, as I've been told I do indeed have a beautiful life.

Sincerely Kimberly 

xxx