Lake District – Beautiful Places Near Me

Living near the Lake District has been a curious experience for me, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, I’ve somehow never ventured to see it. From what I have heard from others, it holds so much breathtaking natural beauty. The pictures I have seen have shown majestic lakes, hills rolling as far as the eye can see and villages straight out of a storybook. The Lake District also seems to have an almost mystical hold on the hearts of poets, artists, and wanderers.

Yet, here I am, a stone’s throw away, contemplating the mysteries of a place that’s become an everyday backdrop for those who are lucky enough to live there.

The Lake District is synonymous with panoramic views that redefine the meaning of picturesque. From the heights of its rugged fells to the tranquil shores of its lakes, the landscapes invite you to lose yourself in it’s beauty.

Not only is the Lake District a beautiful place, there are a number of reasons I would love to visit.

The region is home to a diverse array of wildlife. Whether it’s spotting red squirrels in the woods or the elusive ospreys circling above the lakes, the Lake District is a haven for nature enthusiasts.

The changing seasons bring an ability to transform the lakes, Spring brings a burst of life as flowers bloom, while summer unveils a symphony of greenery. Autumn casts a warm, golden glow over the landscape, and winter blankets the fells in a pristine layer of snow. The ever-changing seasons ensure that no two visits to the Lake District are ever the same.

From my research of the area, there are also many activities to try in the Lake District:

Hiking, Walking Trails and Mountain Biking:
There is an extensive choice of hiking and mountain biking trails. The hiking trails range from easy strolls around the lakeshores to challenging climbs.

Boating and Sailing:
Boats can be rented or there are guided sailing tours available of lake Windermere, Ullswater and Derwentwater.

Castles and Historic Sites:
There are many historic landmarks to explore such as Wray Castle, Muncaster Castle, and the medieval fortress of Kendal Castle.

I can only think the experience of visting the Lake District would be an incredible one, I hope to maybe visit in the Autumn time when the leaves are changing to a beautiful shade of amber and the wildlife is preparing for the winter months.

Have you ever visited the Lake District? What were your thoughts of it?

5 Cute Amigurumi Crochet Etsy Patterns

When it comes to Amigurumi crochet patterns the choices are endless, there’s so many cute ones to choose from. I have recently been having a looking through Etsy for new ones to try and below are 5 super cute patterns that I have come across.

Winter The Deer Girl Pattern

This Winter Deer girl pattern is a lovely project for someone who would like to try making a doll, as she is the perfect size and everything about her is simply beautiful. I love her pretty dress and her super sweet antlers.

This lovely pattern can be found here.

Crochet Sloth Pattern

How adorable is this crochet sloth? I just love how chilled out he looks, exactly what you would expect from a sloth. He’s wearing some lovely yellow dungarees too which makes him look even more comfortable.

This wonderful pattern can be found here.

Jeremy Bunny Pattern

This Jeremy bunny pattern is so cute, his whole outfit is adorable too. I love the autumnal colours and his adorable ears.

This sweet pattern can be found here.

Kicky The Cute Mouse Pattern

I can’t get over how sweet this pattern is, everything about this cute little mouse is adorable, from her big ears to her pink dungarees.

This wonderful pattern can be found here.

Summertime Hippos Pattern

This pattern for a set of adorable hippos is something you didn’t know you needed in your life. They are both super sweet and ready for a summers day out. The patterns for these two are sold together but you can also buy them separately if you prefer to try one first before buying both.

This lovely pattern can be found here.

I hope you enjoy these patterns, all of them are linked if you would like to take a further look.

Jess x

Crochet Tea Pot Cozy

I recently took up crochet and although I am still a beginner I am really enjoying learning new patterns and spending time making new things.

When I first started to learn how to crochet I was watching simple YouTube tutorials and thought that it was really only a way to make blankets and larger items. I made a few small blankets but found them to be quite repetitive and time consuming.

Since then I have realised that there are so many other wonderful things that can be made and I have also learnt how to read patterns which is so much easier than having to watch videos for hours.

This is a tea pot cozy that I finished a few days ago and I am so pleased with how it turned out. I must admit it looks a little different than the pattern that I was initially following, mostly because I only used two colours and also because my tea pot is a completely different size and shape but I am still so happy with it 🙂

Jess x

A Trip To Blenheim Palace

Last month my boyfriend and I stayed in Woodstock for a few days and while we were there we took a trip to the beautiful Blenheim Palace. 

It was overcast the day we visited and it was still absolutely stunning.

We received this lovely map when we purchased the tickets and we couldn’t believe how big the grounds actually are! We initially thought it would take maybe half an hour to look around but we ended up staying for at least two hours as there was just so much to see.

Unfortunately the day that we visited there were a lot of things that weren’t open such as the train, the butterfly house and some other parts but it was still so pretty to look around. There was also a massive maze that we spent a good 20 minutes lost in.

Being big Harry Potter fans, we were really excited to see the womping willow. It was so cool to see something that had played a big part in the films!

The wild life at Blenheim was wonderful too, there were so many lovely animals, ranging from geese to ducks and even squirrels darting across the grass and up into the the trees.

Below are some more pictures that we took, I can only imagine how stunning it must be on a sunnier day.

Have you ever visited Blenheim Palace?

Jess x

Aliexpress Phone Case Review

I recently discovered a website called Aliexpress which is a market place for so many different items and they are a real bargain too!

I bought these two  lovely phone cases for myself and my mum. I was suprised at how quickly these arrived as they came all the way from china! I thought they would take around a month but they arrived within 2 weeks of purchasing.

I picked this pretty Candy Marble phone case for myself as I absolutely loved the pattern as soon as I saw it, I’ve never seen any like this one before. I have an iPhone 6 Plus and I found that this case fits really well and it’s quite strong without damaging my phone.

The second phone case I bought was for my mum, I was immediately drawn to this British Short Hair Cat case because my mum has got a British Short haired cat and I knew she would love it. The cat on the case is so sweet and looks exactly like my mums! This was a great purchase and again it fits really well and seems to be quite durable.

I was a little unsure about what these would be like as they were super cheap but I am so happy with both of them!

Have you bought anything from Aliexpress?

Jess x

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Christmas Shopping Early

There are two types of people in this world, the type of people that are prepared and do their Christmas shopping early and the type of people that are much less prepared and wait until last minute. There are of course some in between who shop at just the right time but that never seems to be me.

This year I have decided that I will be one of those super organized people who have everything ready and wrapped weeks before the big day.

These are a few things that I am going to do to help achieve my goal of having all Christmas presents ready by the end of October.

Listen to what loved ones are talking about.

To start my Christmas shopping challenge, I need to make sure I know what I’m thinking about purchasing. This is always my down fall when it comes to gifts, I never know what to buy which always results in leaving everything to last minute and buying things that maybe that person doesn’t really want. Lately I have been really listening to what loved ones have been talking about to see if I can get anything that they have mentioned.

Begin shopping now.

This is something I have already started which I’m really pleased about. It sounds mad to think I have already got some presents in August! This is a good idea as I am planning on  buying quite a few bits online and I like to leave sometime for them to arrive, especially if they are coming from other countries.

Write down everything I buy.

By the time Christmas comes around I will have forgotten half the gifts I have purchased so I am keeping a list of things I have bought.

Make the most of any Summer / Autumn sales.

This is a great time for sales so I plan to make the most of them and stock on some bargains!

If you would like to join along with my little Christmas shopping early challenge, please feel free, I would love to know how you get on 🙂

Jess x

Zara Winter Coat Review

The summer is almost over which only means one thing, the cold weather will soon be on its way!  I received this lovely Zara winter coat as a gift last Christmas and I can’t wait to be able to wear it again.

This pretty black jacket is the perfect coat for winter time. Not only is it nice and simple but it is really warm and cosy too. I must admit it is a little bit heavy but that is to be expected with a coat that is made for warmth.  I love the fact that it has two big pockets which zip up and keep my phone safe and sound.

The inside of this coat is very warm and it has a big hood to keep you dry on rainy days. It fits really well and the middle part can be adjusted to make it a little smaller if need be. Mine is a size S and there is still room to wear a big jumper underneath.

I would highly recommend a Zara jacket this winter as their products in general are well made and tend to last a long time. I enjoy simple clothing pieces but I’m sure they have more detailed styles of coats for people who are a little more daring than myself.

Thank you for reading, I hope this helped if you are thinking about purchasing a new coat.

Jess x

Ideas For A No Spend Weekend

For some people a no spend weekend sounds like an absolute nightmare but when you are on a budget it’s a good idea to have some no spend days throughout the month. Below I have shared my no spend ideas that can help keep you busy over a weekend.

Read a favourite blog or book.

Make some cakes.

Learn a new skill through YouTube.

Window shop in your favourite shops.

Clean the house.

Organize your wardrobe.

Watch the birds in the garden.

Listen to your favourite artist and have a dance.

Take the family on a trip to the park.

Binge watch your favourite movies / TV shows on Netflix.

Watch the sunset with friends.

Explore the woods.

Go for a walk.

Invite a friend round for a coffee and a chat.

Take the dog out for a run.

Go blackberry picking.

Do some gardening.

Sell things you no longer want or need online.

Brush up on your cooking skills and try a new recipe for dinner.

Enjoy the sunshine in the garden.

I hope these ideas for a no spend weekend helped if you aren’t spending this weekend.

Jess x

 

 

 

Ways To Save When Shopping For Clothing

I am always looking for ways to save money, especially when shopping for clothing. You may think that when you are on a budget it’s harder to find nice things but you would be so surprised how affordable some things can be. Below I’ve written down my top tips on bagging a clothing bargain.

Shop around to find the best price.

If you have something specific in mind it’s a great idea to shop around a little before purchasing what you’re searching for. Recently I was in need of a pair of black skinny jeans, I found that in places like Zara they were around the £25 mark but when looking around a little I found a pair for £10 which was much more affordable.

Shop online.

Things online tend to be a little cheaper and it saves you from having to search in different shops, instead you can browse the web from your sofa!

Check out your local charity shop.

People are constantly dropping clothing off at charity shops and thrift shops, not only could you find an item of clothing that you really love, you could get it super cheap too.

Supermarket brands have lovely things.

Supermarket brands like George are so affordable and have some great lines. The pyjama section is always my favourite to have a look in.

Some times you will need to be willing to compromise.

The exact same piece of clothing may not be available in a cheaper shop but there are so many other similar items that are just as good that won’t break the bank.

Make the most of sales.

When the sales come around it’s a great idea to think in advance, you may not need a new  jumper at that moment in time but when winter comes around you will be so happy you purchased it. It’s a brilliant idea to shop in the sales when they are almost over as the shops are practically giving things away.

I hope these easy ways to save money when shopping for clothing helped if you are looking for a new wardrobe.

Jess x

Ways To Keep Pets Cool

The temperatures are rising this month and this means we need to find new ways to keep pets cool and comfortable when the temperatures soar. It’s always important to remember that your pets are feeling the heat as much as you are, if not more as most pets are covered in fur.

Keep the room nice and cool.

Whether you have air conditioning or a fan, you need to make sure you have something to keep the room cool for you pets.

Do not walk your dog at the hottest time of the day.

Walking your dog in the highest heat of the day is one of the worst things you can do, you may not be able to feel how hot the pavement is but they really can. Wait until cooler times of the day to take them on their walks.

Change water regularly.

During the day water bowls will need to be changed and filled up regularly. Pets need lots of water in hot weather, adding ice cubes will really help cool the water down for them.

Invest in a cool mat.

These are brilliant and come in all different sizes making them perfect for any pet. I have one for my cat and she likes to sleep on it every night. They cool your pets body temperature which makes them so much more comfortable.

Fill up a paddling pool or wet some small towels.

If you can see your pet is really overheating, paddling pools can be a great way to keep your dog cool. Wetting a small towel may be an easier way to keep a cat or a rabbit cool in the heat.

Let them sleep if they need to.

Usually your dog or cat might be full of so much energy but when it’s hot they won’t have as active and will need to get much more sleep. Let them sleep as much as they want and they will be much more energetic when it cools down.

I hope these ways to keep your pets cool help this summer.

Jess x