Check in With Yourself this Winter

Hey Owlets,

As I write this we’re nearly at the shortest day of the year and at 3pm I’ve had to turn the light on in my office. I’m thoroughly fed up of winter despite the fact that I know it’s months until Spring and I bet you’re reading this thinking “same”. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a real thing, but even if you don’t feel the onset of depression as the leaves fall to the ground you can still be affected by the changing seasons. You might feel like you’re in a rut, more tired than usual or just a little bit off. Winter affects everyone differently so it’s important to check in with yourself.

3 Ways to Practice Self Care this Winter

Hey Owlets,

The days are getting shorter, you need to put on at least 5 layers in order to leave the house and it’s ALWAYS raining - winter is officially here. It’s exciting on one hand because that means that Christmas is getting closer, but winter can be really tough on your mental health. If you’re a summer baby like me then you probably find yourself in a bit of a slump as soon as you have to start turning the light on before 6pm. It’s always important to take time out for some self care, but particularly if you struggle in the winter months. With that in mind, now seemed like the perfect time for us to chat about ways to practice self care over the next few months.

Gifts for the whole family (ad)

Whether you like it or loathe it Christmas is here and with Christmas comes great responsibility. Every year you are charged with buying the perfect present. Buying something you know the recipient will love and not ‘just because’. Something that shows you have thought about the gift and who you are giving that very gift to. Unfortunately, it rarely gets any easier as inspiration begins to deplete year on year. Fear not, this gift guide has inspiration for almost any family member sitting around the dinner table this Christmas, you are bound to seek some inspiration from here.  

The expectant parents 

Buying for expectant parents is a gift in itself, you have so many options to choose from. You could take it traditional and buy them a gift that they will need with the arrival of the new baby, nursery products, nappies, baby clothes and so on. Alternatively, you could buy them a gift for their new role as expectant parents, a voucher for a cinema date or meal out to be traded in at a later date, with babysitting duties, a TV subscription service to get them through the first few months of night feeds or a care package full of goodies to be enjoyed once the baby arrives. 

The travel junkie 

Travel may not have been at its usual pace this year but those who love to travel will find a way to do it anyway. If you know someone who loves to travel buying them a gift is pretty easy when you put your mind to it. Travel organisers, portable chargers, neck pillows, sleep masks, packing cubes, international travel plug adapters, the possibilities are endless and you can be sure you are gifting something both practical and that they will love in equal measure. 

The fitness fanatic 

The fitness fanatic is another recipient who is easier to buy for than you might think. If someone is into their fitness then chances are they are into all of the paraphernalia that comes with it. The best part about fitness gifts is that they range from low prices to the higher end of the gifting scale. Presents for fitness fans can include anything from fitness trackers, headphones, clothing, workout supplements, protein powders or any and all equipment that they might use for their particular sport or hobby. It could be hiking sticks for the keen hiker, football boots for the Sunday league superstar or a set of weights for the newly converted home gym. 

The tech lover 

If you know someone who is into their tech then buying them a technology-themed gift has never been easier and you don’t have to fork out hundreds of pounds on a new drone. Even tech can offer up modest gift ideas from tech storage pouches to charging stations. That said you can of course push the boat out if you’re buying a special present with a virtual reality gaming set, smart mug or wireless and portable mini printer. There are so many cool gadgets available you are bound to find something even the most avid tech fan doesn’t yet have. 

In Search of the "Cruise Ship Sparkle" Post-Pandemic

Hey Owlets,

If you read my post a few weeks ago you’ll know that I’ve been really struggling to find the motivation with my blog in the last few months. While I started my blog in 2016, it was in 2017 after just one chance encounter and an unplanned cruise got me hooked on travel that The Owlet was really born. For three glorious years I got to travel, see more of what was on my doorstep and what was further afield and I could finally say that I was doing something I loved. So in 2020 when my wings were unexpectedly clipped and I found myself tethered to a two mile radius in a seaside town that no one has ever heard of, I lost my “why”. It’s understandable - when your whole personality revolves around a love of exploring and adventure, a 2 mile radius is never going to be enough to fulfil you - anyway, how do you write about travel if no one is allowed to do it anymore?

One of the things I found hardest was not being able to cruise, so when the opportunity finally came up to be able to get back to doing what I love most I was more than a little surprised to find myself apprehensive. I’ve long spoken about the magic of cruising where everything feels like it’s straight out of a fairytale and you’re the princess. I love being able to make friends with guests and crew and see new places knowing that at the end of the day I get to re-board my floating home and quite literally sail into the sunset for the next destination.

How I Fought the Comparison Cliche

Hey Owlets,

They say that comparison is the thief of joy. I have no idea who “they” are exactly but they’re right.

It’s such a cliche phrase that even as I’m writing this I’m desperately trying to come up with a title that doesn’t have people rolling their eyes and scrolling past - the internet is all about clicks after all. The thing is, that’s the problem.

For five years now I’ve called The Owlet my home on the internet. I’ve been lucky to meet incredible people from across the globe, create a life that gives me freedom and makes me truly happy. I open my phone to an inbox flooded with kind messages and happy anecdotes that people just wanted to share with me. I’ve created content that I’m truly proud of and worked with brands that I could only dream of knowing I exist. I am so lucky and I have worked so hard to have these things in my life and yet this week I lost sight of it all. 

My Thoughts on Travelling this Year

Hey Owlets,

A while ago I wrote a post about my tentative travel plans for 2021, mentioning that I was considering starting again around March - yes, we can all have a laugh about it now. That has gotten me thinking though, is travel actually going to be possible this year? There’s a lot of conflicting information flying around on the internet at the moment and I don’t think weighing in with my best guess would actually help, but I wanted to talk about my personal feelings and whether I’m starting to plan. I’m hoping that it might help you if you’re also conflicted, and if not maybe you can give me a little extra confidence in my decisions.

So to start with, let me be totally transparent. At the start of this year I actually had several domestic and international press trips in the works - I cancelled all of these until the end of summer and have yet to formally confirm anything for later in the year. I think it’s important to tell you this because I know as a travel blogger a lot of people assume I would take risks to get back to work sooner, but that’s entirely not the case. With that out the way let’s take a look at my main areas of interest for travel.

I was Bored so I Did a Home Makeover with Desenio

*Paid Partnership with Desenio*

Hey Owlets,

I don’t know about you, but after spending so much time indoors in the past year I’m a little bored of my surroundings. I’ve been staring at the same four walls every day and trying to get work done but feeling totally uninspired. I’m someone that thrives off of novelty - I love to be in a new environment, I love having lots of plans and things to do - so when the pandemic took that away I completely stalled and really struggled to find motivation.

How I Prep My Skin for Travel

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Hey Owlets,

I’ve you’ve followed me on Instagram for a while, you will probably have heard me mention that my body confidence is very much linked to how clear my skin is. I know that it shouldn’t matter but it does, and if my skin isn’t clear then I feel self conscious all day. I find that my skin breaks out after I’ve been travelling anyway but I try to keep my skin clear as much as I possibly can in the run up to travel so I can feel great while I’m exploring a new city. With this in mind, I thought it might be helpful to discuss some of the things I use to get my skin ready for my next adventure. To keep things simple I’ll split them into categories so you can skip straight to what you need.