Santorini Vlogs - Part 3

In my Vlog number 3 we had rented a car for a couple of days. This is something I would highly recommend doing in Santorini so you have complete freedom to visit anywhere you want. We took complete advantage of the days we had the car and crammed as much fun things as we could into our days.

On day 1 we headed through to Oia in the morning (recommended to avoid the cruise ship crowds in the afternoon) we then drove to the other end of the island to visit a couple of the beaches. We stopped at the red beach and then stopped at Perivolos beach which is a black beach.

We didn't go down to the Red Beach as it was quite a steep walk, but Perivolos was our favourite as the water was quite calm and tranquil. We parked our behinds on a sun lounger right next to the sea and chilled for a few hours before our tummies were crying out for food. The sound of the water was so relaxing, we will definitely visit this beach again. There is an array of bars and restaurants on the waterfront to choose from. We picked a place called Terra Nerra that served greek food with a beachy twist. Nicki had a huge burger and I had a salad. We then shared a plate of waffles with praline sauce and ice cream, they were totally amazing!!

Here is Vlog number 3. Link to my YouTube channel here.

Angela x

List Making - the solution to your busy brain!

I am one of those people whose mind works at 100,000,000 miles a minute. I can't keep up with it, Nicki can't keep up with me...it's scary sometimes. My mind is constantly churning, popping out ideas, inspirations, things to do, the future, the past, sometimes it's difficult to focus on the present when my brain won't let me. And more often that not those thoughts like to pop in to my head at 11pm when I'm trying to sleep, yup, I'm sure you know the feeling, and your like "Brain, really? you want to think about this now?" Whoa! I feel exhausted just writing this.

I am constantly being inspired by everything around me and my brain just loves it!! I am blessed to have a creative mind, it's forms a big part of my well-being. My thoughts just need to be organised and put somewhere other than floating around in my head.

And soooo, welcome to my magical world of list-making...

Yes, a very simple solution to that complex brain of yours. List-making compiles all of my thoughts in to structured categories, once they are put to paper, my brain can relax because they are not going anywhere. It really helps me and ensures I don't 'forget' anything, because heaven forbid that happens and I'm just the biggest failure in the world... yup you weirdo's will know what I'm talking about.

I use this notebook I got as a free gift from Redken (weird, I know) It's a lovely notebook that has blank thick paper pages which I like and an elastic page divider which is really handy. You can get notebooks in all different shapes and sizes, I bought Nicki a pocket sized one which he uses at work to jot down his to do lists for the day. I have a magnetic shopping list notepad on my fridge which is so handy for scribbling things we need to buy as they run out.

I write lists of anything - to-do lists, draft ideas, YouTube ideas, things I plan on doing in the house, Xmas gift lists, event planning, shopping lists... The list goes on.

I find it really helps me keep on top of things. I don't feel as worried or anxious because I know I have everything organised and I can just refer back to my list to check on things and It's the best feeling when I get to tick things off :)

I don't put pressure on how long it takes me to get through my lists, I just feel content knowing that the thought or idea isn't going anywhere as it's written down. I have things still noted down from last year, projects I want to do in the house and they will get ticked off someday. In the meantime it's there as a little reminder and it won't get lost in my wandering little brain.

One of my biggest tips would be to keep a notepad next to your bed and when that niggling thought or idea pops in to your head, distracting you from sleep, just note it down on your pad. I find this really helps my brain switch off and I can refer to that thought or idea tomorrow at a convenient time for me. Ha! brain, that's right! I am the master of my thoughts :)

Do you take lists?  Do you find them helpful? Any note taking tips? I'm all ears :)

Angela x

The Santorini Vlogs - Part 2

So as I mentioned in my last post, I did a bit of Vlogging while I was on holiday. This is Vlog number 2 and it's one of my favourite days.

For our holiday Nicki and I decided we would each take a day to plan as a surprise for the other. This was Nicki's day and he took us to visit the prehistoric town of Akrotiri (which was amazing if you are a culture geek like me!) he then booked a table at a gorgeous sunset view restaurant in Fira called Ellis. They did the best Tzatziki there I had tried on my whole trip!

If you didn't know, I mentioned in a video that we got engaged while we were away, and this was the day Nicki had originally planned to pop the question. We look back and laugh now as there were a few things that went 'wrong' on the day for him...

He wanted to take me to the Fira museum after our visit to Akrotiri but it was closed, we had to endure the waft of donkey dung as we ate our dinner and there was a slight breeze in the air, we then got lost walking home and Nicki stubbed his toe! I think I toppled him over the edge when I kept stuffing things in to his man bag A.K.A the exact pocket the ring was in...

Yup, overall it was a very fun day and a fond highlight to our holiday that we laugh about now. I finally get why he was being slightly 'off' that day. We must give it to them, it must be stressful knowing you are about to make a grand gesture like that, all the pressure, but in the end the moment he picked was perfect :)

Here is Vlog number 2, my personal favoutite. If you watch until the end of the video you get to see my petrified face as a cat trys to break in to our apartment. It is worth it...

Link to my YouTube channel.

Angela x

Katharos Lounge in Oia, Santorini

We visited a few lovely places to eat whilst we were staying in Santorini, but Katharos Lounge definitely stood out for us. I had heard about this restaurant through Trip Advisor and another blog and had it noted down on my Santorini to do list.

Katharos Lounge is in Oia, on the north part of the island. Tucked away from the main town, it sits right on the edge of the water of the Aegean sea offering the most stunning view of the sunset as it vanishes below the horizon. We headed through to Oia by bus from Imerovigli (where we were staying - a blissful place) the bus journey is about 15 minutes, complete with windy roads and panoramic views of the island and it's surrounding blue ocean. We did not know where we were headed once we arrived in Oia on the main town, so we asked around (the locals are so friendly) and found out it was about a 5km walk by foot down to the sea and so we hopped in to a taxi. My advice would be to either visit this place when you have rented a car or buggy, or to wear appropriate footwear for the walk there and back - which we attempted and quickly failed after my complaining of blistery feet from fancy but unpractical sandals ;) 

On the way back you can reward yourself with a Lolita's Gelato... just saying!

The restaurant had a very cool but quaint and laid back vibe (how is that for a description)...

There are comfy cushions to lie back on, a disco ball and candles which lit up the place after the sun had set.

The menu was mouth watering meze ~ tapas style dishes with a Greek twist. I love tapas because you get to try so many different flavours - it's like a posh picnic!

 We chose a selection of fish and vegetarian plates (the selection of veggie foods over there was phenomenal) the shrimp was out of this world and the stuffed tomatoes were so moreish...

The view of the sunset was like a dream, the change of colours from bright yellow to deep orange and reds, it was just gorgeous. Boats dotted the top of the sea, lining the Caldera getting ready for the show, they looked tiny in the vast ocean.  

The sunset was one of my favourite parts of the day, every evening there was something different about it, it always felt a little exciting...

The price was a bargain for the quality of the food and the view we had! After dinner we got a taxi back up the hill to the main street and enjoyed a 

Lolita's Gelato (FYI - the dark chocolate sorbet and coconut are a winning combination!!) we chatted to a Canadian couple we met there who also sat beside us in the restaurant, then we strolled around the pretty winding streets of Oia before heading back and falling in to bed with full bellies and sleepy heads. It was the perfect night!

 I would highly recommend a visit if you are in Santorini - it is definitely a unique place there to eat. We will definitely book a table when we go back in the (hopefully) not so distant future...

Have you ever been to Santorini? Have you ever eaten out in Katharos Lounge?

Angela x

The Santorini Vlogs...

So while I was in Santorini I dabbled in a bit of the old Vlogging...

It was great fun and after the first couple of days I didn't care that people were looking at me while I shoved a camera in my face talking to myself, as you do! Nicki started to get used to it too and even made an appearance in some...he didn't really have a choice did he?! :) 

So it has taken me a few weeks to trawl through the countless video clips and put them together in to a few video's. I was just getting in to the swing of it in the first one here so excuse the cheesy music in parts, ah hem.

Here is the first vlog of our trip.

Link to my YouTube channel.

Angela x

KORRES Santorini Vine Shower Gel

Whilst I was visiting the heavenly island of Santorini I picked up this shower gel by KORRES. I didn't want to pack a shower gel (as that would take up precious shoe weight) so I popped in to our local pharmacy, which FYI was an amazing little store in Imerovigli kitted out with Caudalie, Korres, Avene and some luxurious looking Greek brands - I was quite surprised to find such high end brands on a teeny tiny island. Well worth a visit if you are staying there :)

There was a whole range of scents to choose from but of course I went for the 'Santorini Vine' scent, and it was a new release and so I got Buy One Get One Free - I always love a bargain!

This shower gel is lovely and highly scented. It feels moisturising on the skin and not stripping. It lathers well and a little goes a long way. The scent was fruity, fresh and blossoming, but not overly sweet which I am not really a fan of. 

The packaging states it has 86.7% natural content, and it does not contain a lot of harsh ingredients which you can easily check for by the list on the side of the bottle.

I have never tried anything from KORRES before but I really enjoyed using this shower gel. Of course every morning I use it the scent brings back memories of our holiday and puts a big smile on my face! Isn't it amazing how scents can be so powerful and jog the brains memory?! I am fascinated by that...

I also think this would be a lovely gift for someone who like me, loves the island or has visited before, or who is going! (which I am jealous if you are, take me back please...)

I purchased this bottle for 7 Euro in Greece and got one free as it was on offer.

I have found this for £8 on feelunique.com here.

A Santorini Fairytale...

In the middle of September Nicki and I whisked ourselves away to a romantic Greek island in the middle of the Aegean sea called Santorini. This has been a place to visit on my bucket list for the past year or so and after going 6 years without a holiday abroad we decided we deserved to go all out and booked our two week trip to this little paradise.

 I have never seen such a beautiful place, I had divulged myself in photos of this gorgeous island on pinterest and instagram before we went but seeing Santorini in real life is just like a fairytale. 

The island is simply stunning - there are beautiful crisp white hotels and churches that trickle down the sheer cliff edge, glistening in the sun. The Santorini sunset is like a dream as you watch her set behind the sea, casting light over the island and drowning everything in her golden glow. At night it is like a dream as you gaze over the caldera, the Aegean sea dotted with twinkling cruise ships and sail boats. The hotels all lit up and glowing, you just can not get tired of the view. We would sit for hours after our day on our balcony just gazing out onto our magical view. Your worries and woes drift away like the boats passing by, I have never felt more relaxed in my life. It was definitely a well needed holiday and I feel so refreshed and lucky that we got to see such a breathtaking place.

It was bliss that Nicki and I got to spend an uninterrupted two weeks with each other. I feel we have become more close as a couple again (I know it sounds mushy!) like we have rekindled our love, as it's all too easy to get caught up in the daily stresses and busy-ness of life and forget to actually sit down and look and talk to one another! Time is precious and I feel you cannot take it for granted, this is one thing I have taken away from our holiday!

Wow - it all sounds really deep and mushy... I am just the happiest I think I have ever been. Our trip also marked the beginning of our new lives together as Nicki popped THAT question and lucky for him I said Yes :)

So it has been a busy week filled with family, visits and wedding talk, I can't quite believe it still. It all just seems like a dream. Back to reality now but there are lots of exciting things to look forward to and I feel like the luckiest girl in the world! 

Here are some (from the 1500!) photos that were taken on our trip. I had to share them as I am just a great big ball of love at the moment and I want everyone to feel as happy as I do :) (I promise that's the cheesy-ness over with now!) Have you ever been on a trip of a lifetime? Tell me about it, I'd love to hear your story or fairy tale...

Sorry for the photo heavy post - there was too many to pick from so hey I just uploaded them all! :)

Thank for reading, have you visited Santorini? I'd love to hear about your experience there.

Angela x