It’s been a while! Those of you who also follow me on Instagram, know that the last few weeks have been incredibly hectic and busy. I’ve been all over the place! As I am slowly getting all things sorted before my family arrives for Christmas I have decided to share these preparations with you.
I titled this blogpost “My first Christmas in the new apartment” not because I have just moved in (as I have been here over a year now) but due to travelling last year I did not spent Christmas here, in London. It is extremely special this year not only it’s my first Christmas in my homie, but also because my family is coming over in the next few days and we will spent Christmas together, yay! I am so excited and I have spent the last few weeks shopping and getting everything ready. I wanted to make sure my homie is cute and cosy.
I’d love to show you a little sneak peek of my Christmas homie. Hope you’ll enjoy it as I have never done a home blogpost before (even if I was planning it for ages!)
My absolutely favourite chair from Dunelm. It’s actually a set of two chairs and a side table but I keep them in a separate rooms. This is my favourite spot in my house now!
Here’s the side table from Dunelm that comes together with 2 bamboo egg chairs. And my new flatmate Henry, haha! PS. Found Henry at Home Sense!
I also got these super cute Christmas accessories from Home Sense and a beautiful set of Christmas crackers from Dunelm.
I have been looking for a rustic oak round mirror for ages. I have seen so many gorgeous ones on Pinterest but couldn’t find any I real life, haha! I finally discovered this incredible one at Dunelm! It honestly added an extra space to the hallway! I also found a match oak console table at Wayfair and love how it looks all together!
Christmas chestnuts!
I still need to get few bits and pieces for other rooms but I hope you’ve enjoyed this little sneak peek of my living area where I am spending most of the time when I am home.
Those of you who follow me on Instagram already know that 2 weeks ago I was so lucky to be invited on a luxury press trip to Cambodia and Laos by Avani Hotels. As I have never been to these countries before I said YES straight away! I’ve also heard a lot of good things about Avani Hotels so thought that would be a perfect opportunity to experience the brand myself. Our trip was quite short – 3 days in each destination, but I am amazed by how much we’ve managed to see so I’ll put my favourite places and things to do in Cambodia and Laos in this blogpost too.
CAMBODIA
First place we got to visit is Cambodia. I was lucky to stay at the newly renovated FCC Angkor Avani Hotel located only 20 mins drive from the airport. What I love about this property the most is the central location – only 10 mins drive from the UNESCO world heritage site of Angkor Wat and right across from the Royal Independence Gardens and Royal Residence. The hotel centres around the former ‘Mansion’ of the French colonial governor, which became the renowned Foreign Correspondence Club and a popular meeting place for local and international journalists, celebrities, and travellers from around the world.
I have fallen in love with the property from the moment I walked in – some places just GET me and FCC Angkor Avani Hotel clearly did! Look at this beautiful entrance! I felt like stepping into an acient fairytale.
The hotel offers 5 different room types ( 80 rooms in total) – deluxe room, deluxe courtyard room ( where I’ve had a chance to stay), premier room, junior suite and governor suite. I absolutely loved the colonial structures with designs inspired by Cambodia’s nature. This hotel had my favourite boho vibes with all the natural tones, wooden floors, rattan furnitures and wooden slippers that I ended up wearing everyday and also brought them with me to London, haha! Our room had a beautiful view over the stylish pool area. Have a peek!
My beautiful room. Will never forget how comfortable this bed was! A little retro touch- how adorable is this type writer on the desk? I’ve only seen it in the movies!
I also need to mention the incredible restaurant and bar that FCC Angkor Avani Hotel has to offer. The main restaurant in the hotel is Mansion Restaurant– a beautiful colonial ( and to me bohemian) style restaurant with outdoor seatings, where you can experience the authentic Cambodian cuisine. I especially enjoyed the breakfasts! I have ordered Khmer noodles the morning we’ve arrived and ended up having it every single day together with a bowl of fresh fruits! Oh how much I miss it!
The hotel also has the beautiful outdoor bar called Scribe, where you can enjoy the most delicious cocktails and admire the nature. It was also my favourite working spot.
What to do in Cambodia?
1. Sunrise at Ankor Wat– absolutely magical, can’t find words to describe it! It’s just something else!
2. Get lost Ta Prohm temple– famous from movie Lara Croft. This place is honestly surreal! This place hold many secrets! You need to see with your eyes!
3. Jewellery workshop with Ammo Jewellery– a social enterprise with a mission to provide specialised design skills to help young and disadvantaged Cambodias unlock their creative potential. I absolutely loved this workshop and had so much fun designing!
LAOS
After an amazing stay in Cambodia we’ve headed to Laos. To be absolutely honest with you, I haven’t heard much about Laos before I was invited for this press trip, but that made me want to go even more. In Laos we’ve stayed at Avani+ Luang Prabang Laos. Another incredible property located in the heart of beautiful Luang Prabang, right opposite the night market and surrounded by dozens of heritage temples and magical Mekong River.
We arrived to Avani + Luang Prabang Hotel at night and even thought I couldn’t really see much, I could already feel how charming, peaceful and elegant this property is. Their 25- metre pool accompanied by sun loungers in a little light impressed me straight away. We’ve headed straight for dinner to their famous restaurant.
The Bistro Restaurant at Avani +Luang Prabang reflects our times, as well as our multi-cultural and multi-ethnic backgrounds. The inspiration comes from classic favourites, and the adaptation comes with local flavours and ingredients. What I loved about this restaurant is that they strive to use sustainably grown products from local farmers using traditional & organic farming & fishing techniques, as well as local artisanal produced sausage, cured meats, cheese & breads (We’ve had a chance to visit one of the farms- the Buffalo Dairy Farm and it was a very interesting experience). The first dinner was a sharing style feast where we’ve got to try many delicious dishes! After the dinner we’ve headed straight to sleep.
The rooms were gorgeous! Will never forget the smell of wood when I stepped in. The decor was minimalistic, natural and light. Avani + Luang Prabang offers 53 rooms in total, with three different room categories – deluxe room, deluxe pool view room and suites. Each room designed to be open-plan, simple and comfortable. Each room is en-suite with a shower and twin vanities- such a great idea when you’re sharing a room with somebody! I’ve stayed at Deluxe Pool View Room and absolutely loved the balcony overlooking the pool. I would normally start my day with a little read, cup of tea, admiring the lush green courtyard.
There’s also a beautiful spa at the hotel with therapies and treatments inspired by Laotian and traditional Asian techniques. I was lucky to have a chance to experience it. I have chosen a full body massage. It was so needed after few intense days! It was lovely!
After the massage we’ve had a couple of hours off so I’ve headed straight to their beautiful pool and enjoyed a little swim followed by a watermelon juice served at the pool bar. They had a great variety of fresh juices and smoothies. Look how beautiful this place was!
Wearing Mavele Swimwear. I absolutely love the print and the colour combination! This model is called Tribal Toucan. You can purchase it here.
What to do in Laos?
1. Visit Kuang Si Waterfall- is a three levelled waterfall. Honestly one of the most beautiful waterfalls my eyes ever seen!
During this trip I was wearing another Mavele bikini! Perfect for a little swim! This model is called Sunshine Fox. You already know how much I love this London based brand. If you’re looking for a new bikini you can have a look at their designs here.
2. Sunset cruise with Mekong Kingdoms – explore the beauty of the Mekong’s powerful waters, admire the incredible views of tropical jungles, mountain peaks, impressive rock formations and authentic villages. Try Laos testing tapas, sip cocktails and watch the sun going down!
3. Dine at Manda de Laos features Laotian Family Cuisine specialties from all regions of Laos. This restaurant is a perfect option for either romantic candle light dinner under the stars, relaxing lunch or magical spot for the cocktail and a sunset watch. It was my favourite dinner during this trip!
4. Experience Alms giving ceremony at sunrise- Luang Prabang’s alms giving Ceremony is a longstanding tradition in Laos Buddhist culture since the 14th century. It takes place daily as the sun rises, beginning on the main street of Luang Prabang. Such an incredible experience!
Here with Bonnie and Chloe waiting for the ceremony to start!
5. Visit Phra Bang temple- there was quite a few temples around but I found this one especially charming.
Thank you Avani Hotels for having me on this wonderful press trip and giving me a chance to experience the culture and the beauty of Cambodia and Laos!
Recently I had a pleasure to stay somewhere absolutely beautiful. Ok, let me be honest- I have been planning to stay at Una Vida Tulum already last year, however due to another project, I didn’t make it to Tulum. I have been patiently waiting and yet the most incredible thing happened this month- I got to celebrate my birthday in this dreamy hotel! I still can’t believe it!
Why Una Vida Tulum? Well, you already know me- I fall in love with people and places at first sight and this is exactly what happened this time as well. ! I have found this place on Social Media last year and thought “wow”. I am a huge fan of bohemian decor and this small, boutique hotel had it all. I could feel its vibe already by just looking at the photos. It was absolutely stunning and away from Tulum’s crowds and noise. For some people this could be a little problem as the hotel is located a little bit away from the main Tulum area that you see all over Instagram. Well, personally I didn’t mind that at all. I loved that the hotel was located in the middle of jungle, away from the city’s life. It was a real, secret boho oasis. A paradise for unique design and art lovers.
Let me show you around. Let’s start with a beautiful reception area- they looked after absolutely every little detail. The decor got me absolutely crazy! Everything was so me! Loved the boho, hippie and coastal vibes. This area already gave me all the feels. I felt so inspired and close to the nature. I also really liked the space to rent the bikes- bikes are free of charge which is great as it makes it super easy to get to the main attractions that Tulum has to offer. If you are planning to rent a car there’s also a parking space just in front of the hotel. Centre of Tulum is only few minutes drive.
Reception area
After the check-in we were escorted to our one bedroom boutique villa. We’ve passed a beautiful pool area that felt so just so peaceful. I honestly can’t find a better word for this place than “tropical oasis”.
Accomodation
Let’s talk about villa! First think I spotted was a huge, comfortable bed and beautiful dream catchers on the wall- you know how much I love them! The decor was really rustic and simple but this is exactly what I love. We’ve had a large private bathroom, terrace overlooking the jungle and a beautiful living room with a kitchenette. Personally I think this one bedroom villa would be a perfect option for families travelling with kids.
We absolutely loved our stay here! We also had the chance to have a look at their Villa Jacinta- 3 Bedroom House that can fit up to 8 people. This villa was absolutely magical too! The decor was pretty much the same but the space was huge and also had its own private pool and outdoor bathroom- what a dream!
Dining
During our stay at Una Vida Tulum we had a pleasure to try some delicious Mexican dishes prepared by a private chef. I was impressed not only with flavours but also with a presentation of the dishes. You could see the chef put his heart into it! I highly recommend trying Huevos a la Mexicana- Mexican eggs, Huevos Verdes- Green eggs and their delicious fruit bowls. That was our favourite brunch! PS. If you’re wondering inside of that fun pumpkin-shape dish- this is how they serve warm, homemade tortilla- so good!
Una Vida by night
One more thing I’d like to mention is how magical was this hotel by night. I remember coming back from the dinner to the most magical view. I tried to capture it but it wasn’t easy, haha. Honestly, this place gave me all the feels. I felt at peace while staying there. It was a perfect place to do yoga, meditate and eat delicious and healthy food. It somehow reminded me of the yoga retreat I done back in January in Koh Samui, Thailand. Look how gorgeous was this place with a candle light!
To sum up, I would 100% recommend choosing Una Vida Tulum as your Tulum’s home. I am calling it home as this is how it felt to me from the moment I stepped in. The room rates in low season start from as low as 60$ per night which makes it not only affordable but also a boutique and chic accomodation option. What I would recommend is packing a mosquito spray- yes there are some insects in the evening, but it’s natural as the hotel is located in the middle of the jungle. I personally loved being so close to the nature and to myself. Thank you so much for a wonderful and memorable stay. I have a feeling, we’ll see you again soon!
There’s no doubt sleep plays an essential role in our health and wellbeing. It is as important to our bodies as eating, drinking and breathing, and is vital for maintaining good mental and physical health.
As I am travelling and blogging full-time since almost a year now, I’ve noticed how hard it is for me to get a good sleep, as there’s no such a thing like routine in my life. I sleep at different hotels, countries and time zones almost every week right now. I go to sleep at different hour. I change places all the time and it really takes my body the time to adjust. I also struggle with jet-lag quite often. That’s why I started to extremely look after my sleep and giving myself a little sleeping routine when I am actually at home, in London. As let’s be honest- what’s better than sleeping in own bed?
Here’s 5 things that seriously helped me to improve my sleep :
1.Ventilate the bedroom before going to sleep
It’s such a little thing but made a huge difference in my sleeping routine. I now always get some fresh air into the bedroom before going to sleep. Sometimes I even leave my window opened. It helps the air circulate at night, leading to better quality sleep.
2. Spray your pillows with a sleep spray
About 6 months ago I was recommended the product that now I honestly can’t live without. The Sleep Spray with lavender, yarrow & chamomile essential oils from Bramley has honestly been life-changing. Using it became such a routine for me. I love feeling this smell. It’s so calming, soothing which allows both the body and mind to relax, creating the perfect atmosphere to drift off to sleep. My partner actually got addicted to it too! I spray it on our pillows and bed sheets right before going to sleep.
3. Switch off electronic devices
We all know the bright screens of phones, tablets, tvs, and any other electronics can mess up our sleep cycles. The blue light given off by electronic screens send a signal to your brain that it’s daytime, even when it’s not. This is affecting our sleep. Also, being on your phone right before going to sleep gives you an extra and unnecessary stress- there’ll always be another email or message to reply to, that let’s be honest- it’s not going to make our sleep any better. It’s really hard to stick not to use my mobile phone and laptop at all before going to bed, but I am trying stay completely off for at least half an hour before sleep, to give my mind some time to switch off, relax and get ready for sleep.
4. Have a Chamomile tea before sleep
Honestly, nothing relaxes me more then a mug of a warm chamomile tea before going to bed. Even the smell of it it’s just so calming. It’s my little relaxing ritual before going to sleep. According to the studies chamomile was found to reduce stress, decrease anxiety and initiate sleep.
5. Invest in a good mattress
Last one but the most important point- a good mattress. When I first moved to London, I’ve always had a cheap mattress and never really paid attention to that, until I started to get a little older, get neck and back pains. That’s why when we’ve moved to the new apartment back in September, we’ve upgraded our mattress to the Simba Hybrid Mattress. I must say it’s been life-changing, for both myself and my partner. We’ve never ever slept so well! My partner has struggled a lot with back pains and he doesn’t complain about it anymore. Also what we really like is- the Simba Hybrid’s flexible zoned base and unique patented springs respond individually to each sleeper, so your movement doesn’t affect your partner. This is really important to us, as many times we go to bed and wake up at different times so we avoid disturbing each other. Another incredible thing is – when you buy a Simba mattress you get a 100 night trial. If it’s not a perfect match, you can return your mattress for any reason. If you decide to keep it there’s a 10 years guarantee. Also the delivery is free and it’s super quick- our one came within couple of days. If you’d like to try it yourself, I have a £75 off discount for you with this link.
Hope these tips will help you to improve your sleep!
I am so sorry I was a bit less active on the blog recently but apart from being busy travelling I also had a big change- finally found a dream apartment and I moved in, yay! It hasn’t been easy to find a right one in London! I have been searching for almost 8 months! But I am finally here!
First weeks have not been easy for me, as first of all- the space is big and empty so it felt kind of weird as my previous flat was tiny but super cosy. Also this month I was constantly in and out, so it was more of a hotel than the actual home! I was literally coming here to unpack and pack again. Now, I am finally back and I have slowly started to arrange my dream place. I can’t wait to soon share it with you!
