Weekend Reads #13

Happy Friday everyone! It’s nearly the weekend!

I’m not normally quite so excited about the weekend. Working from home means the line between weekdays and weekends is a little blurry, but this weekend I’m going to Sweden so I’m like an excited kid gathering up my winter wooly’s and packing my bags.

My trip to Gothenburg

Sam and I are flying out to Gothenburg this afternoon and we can’t wait for a festive weekend.

Here’s what we’ll be up to:

• Staying at the Elite Park Avenue Hotel
• Saturday will be spent at the Christmas markets
• We’re taking a canal boat to Liseberg market, Scandinavia’s largest market – it looks epic and has so many pretty Christmas lights
• We’re then taking a design and shopping tour around Gothenburg
• On Saturday night we’ll have dinner at Heaven 23 at Gothia Towers – I cannot wait for the view!
• Sunday will consist of more shopping and markets and exploring the city
• We’re having brunch at Clarion Hotel Post which is where the pastry chef of the year works – I’m drooling over that thought already

Here’s what I’ve been reading and writing this week…

Why my New Year’s resolution is to take more selfies

A quick video scuba diving in Egypt

My review from last week’s Nuffnang blogger’s workshop

It’s time for a December catch-up

Save or Splurge? What do you splash out on and what do you scrimp on when you travel?

I’ve also updated my Christmas wish list with some more goodies I’m currently loving

 

10 ways travel can add to your happiness {Hand Luggage Only}

I’ve often struggled to explain why travel makes me so happy but this post sums it up perfectly. In the short term, travelling is fun and exciting, but in the long term it has such a massive effect on your life and your outlook on the world. I especially like no.7 on the list – You discover new ‘likes’. You find new hobbies and interests you never would have tried at home and they can become a massive part of your life.

 

Magic in the trees {Team Wiking}

I’ve included this post, even though it is essentially just a few photos from a forest as a family pick out their Christmas tree, because it’s so beautiful. It’s grey, miserable, cloudy and wet but the photographer here has managed to pick out some really gorgeous moments and make it look magical. It’s made me want to go to a Christmas tree farm and pick out my own tree.

 

How to take better self portraits {freepeople}

If you read my post about wanting to take more selfies next year you’ll have seen that I hate having my photo taken but also hate the thought that I don’t have any photos of myself as I travel. Selfies and ‘proper self portraits’ are the only way I look and feel comfortable on camera so I’ll be taking onboard some of these great tips.

 

What do minimalists do with all their stuff? {freshome}

This might seem like a random one but if you’re subscribed to my weekly newsletter you will have read that I’ve temporarily moved in with my parents. All of our belongings have gone into storage, well everything but my laptop and the handful of clothes I can fit over my bump. At first I was worried about living without all my stuff but I’m actually loving it. I feel weirdly free, it’s like backpacking again! I’ve made a promise to myself that I won’t start accumulating lots of crap again in the new house so I really enjoyed the article about what minimalists do with all their crap. Operation de-clutter is underway.

 

How to do the non-mom bob {Creators of Desire}

Trend alert: Bobs are hot! I’ve been toying with the idea of going for the chop for months now and this post has finally persuaded me it’s time for the chop. I hated the thought of having a baby and then getting all boring and going for a middle-aged mom bob but, the truth is, having long hair is hard work! A sexy little bob is perfect for travelling and if it’s good enough for Lauren Conrad, it’s good enough for me.

 

The truth about blogging {Queen of Jet Lags}

There are 8 super important truths here about blogging. Anyone who has a blog will agree and anyone who thinks blogging is all about perfectly arranged flowers, macaroons, idyllic holidays and glamorous fashions hoots, think again!

 

 

Instagram of the week

Weekend walks in Wales…

A photo posted by Monica Stott (@thetravelhack) on Dec 12, 2014 at 1:26pm PST

 

Competition of the week

#KodakMoments – Win a £2,000 holiday voucher!

Kodak Alaris have a very exciting competition to win a £2,000 holiday voucher. And if you don’t win the big voucher, they’re giving away an iPad Air every month to the person with the most popular photo! Find out how to enter here and upload your #KodakMoment. Good luck!

Here’s my #KodakMoment taken while having a Tarzan moment swinging through the trees in Dominica.