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Simple Ways You Can Improve a Bad Day

So you've had a bad day.

Well, the thing about bad days is that they're always the result of the way we handle negative situations.

That being said, its no easy feat to not be affected by your car breaking down, spilling coffee down your white blouse or misplacing your debit card.

Yet, when these occur they tend to activate a domino effect on the rest of your day, then suddenly you're thinking about how you cannot wait for THIS day to end. It's a natural reaction. You can listen to as much of Daniel Powter's hit song as you like but writing the entire day off as "bad" isn't ideal. Getting back in control of your day is important to stop this domino effect in its tracks.

That's why we've put together a list of small things you can incorporate into your day to improve it, even marginally...

Switch Off Technology For a While

Whenever we're feeling our worst the last thing you want to see is a photo of that friend-of-a-friend you met on a night out having the time of their life in sunny climes.

Punctuating our lives with these small glimpses into the perfected, social media friendly version of people's lives has a negative affect that often goes unnoticed. It's a smart move to move away from our smartphones and technology every now and then.

Switch it off and banish it to a drawer. Even if it's just for an hour or two it will help clear your head and gain some perspective instead of boiling up resentment and self-deprecation about the fact you're not sunning yourself on a beach in Thailand. 

Read a Book

Yes, I'm talking about that teetering pile of untouched fiction on your shelf that you've been complaining about having no time to read.

If we redirected those idle moments spent glazed eyed, endlessly scrolling through Facebook or Instagram towards picking up one of those books that have been allowed to gather dust, we'd have a completely adequate amount of time to read them. It's the perfect way to escape from the bad vibes of the day and concentrate on something interesting and different.

 Write it Down

Having a physical manifestation of your annoyances in ink can be a therapeutic way of improving your day. Think of it as prising your problems from your brain and sealing them away somewhere else so you can get on with your day.

Take a Walk

When clambering into bed and screaming into a pillow for the evening might seem like the only viable option to finish your bad day, often this won't help you stop dwelling on your problems.

It's better to keep busy and if nothing else feels appealing why not just get out of the house and take a walk? Rain or shine, getting out for a bit can be a great idea.

Don't let the weather deter you from getting out in those colder, rainier months. Finally throw that half broken umbrella in the bin and invest in a protective winter coat or a handy, waterproof Mac in a Sac for when the sky looks a bit foreboding and you want a reliable source of rain protection.

Let's Talk Fitness & Nutrition

It's a few weeks into the new year and for me, this is the best time to start thinking health and fitness. Let's face it, a week after Christmas is too soon for diets and exercise....the house is full of boxes of sweets and tins of biscuits for one thing! So I always pace myself - enjoy the last of the Baileys and avoid the overcrowded gym classes...until it gets to the end of January.

I'm not a fitness or nutrition expert so read my words with that in mind. I do however have a huge interest in nutrition and exercise and the impact both have on our health and wellbeing so with that in mind, here are my top tips for staying fit and healthy in 2016

1. Walk more places

I am not a fan of walking or running in a circle. I think about where I need to go and look on google maps to see how far away it is. Just the other day, I realised my choir rehearsal venue is only 3 mile from my home. That's about a 35 minute walk at a brisk pace. So I now leave home 15 minutes earlier and walk over (when it's dry). I'm under time pressure to get there for 7.30 so I really stride out. A friend brings me home afterwards so we get to have a great chat in the car. I call that a win/win.

2. Incorporate strength into your exercise routine.

Walking or running alone will not get you in the best shape. Alternate it with some sort of weight bearing exercise to keep you strong. Body Pump is an amazing class that you can take at your own pace and even just doing it once a week, I've got guns to be proud of....and building muscle helps you burn fat. Another win/win!

3. Stop eating after 7pm.

Studies have shown that your body metabolises food in a different way and at a slower rate in the evening so you are more likely to be healthier and slimmer if you eat earlier in the day and have a long (ideally 12 hours) break between your last meal of the day and breakfast the next day.

4. Cook from scratch when you can.

When I think about what makes a healthy diet, I'd say it starts with this. Nothing complicated mind you. Favourites in this house are fish baked in foil with sweet potato chips or chicken curry (made with paste). Delia's ragu is well worth making in bulk at the weekends. I'll not end up on master chef but it definitely improves your diet if you're in control of what goes into your meals on at least 5 days in the week.

5. Eat breakfast!

Your mum told you this all your life and it's so true. If you eat well to start the day, you're less likely to eat rubbish later in the day. A chocolate bar at 11am is often justified by having missed breakfast. Your body needs fuel in the morning to get going and porridge is the ultimate breakfast fodder but if you can't stand it, how about a couple of poached eggs with toast? Be very careful and read the labels of breakfast cereals. They're better than eating nothing but many are high in sugar and salt and won't sustain you for as long as porridge or eggs will.

6. My last one is all about the kids.

We sometimes forget that we are responsible for our kids' diets and inherent in that, we're dictating the attitude they will have to food when they are adults. Say no more often! They should only eat about 6 teaspoons of sugar every day so explain to them what that looks like and how much is in some of the foods they eat...they'll be fascinated by this, especially if you get the sugar bowl out and get them to measure it. I never talk about weight or shape to my kids but I do always tell them to look to see how much salt is in their Bran Flakes or how much sugar is in Cheerios. My kids would love the latter every day for breakfast but now they know how unhealthy they are, they're ok with just having them on Saturday mornings. I'm not trying to be the smug mum here - it's no different to teaching them to be safe on the road or to work hard at school. It might not work with them all but you've got a duty to try. Oh, and in case it helps, my kids voted this the best sugar video to watch on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yda8RtOcVFU?rel=0

I'll leave you with a few sites that I love looking at when I'm struggling for food inspiration.

- My latest crush is on Joe Wicks, The Body Coach. His 15 second Facebook videos are hilarious....the kids love them as much as I do. Think Russell Brand and Nigella Lawson's love child and you'll get the gist

- Davina has just released her Smart Carbs book but before you buy, you can get lots of inspiration and daily meal plans from her website

- As I'm trying to have a meat-free day each week, I enjoy browsing the videos on Honesty Healthy Food. They have some great kids recipes too - something lots of blogs and chefs forget about.

Here's to a healthy 2016 and to starting New Year resolutions in February.....with the bonus that it's the shortest month :)

Ax

10 Things To Do When It’s Raining

Pop on your coat & visit a museum or art exhibition

Rainy days don’t always mean that you have to stay cooped up inside. Grab a waterproof coat and a good pair of boots or wellies and check out your nearest art exhibition. You will feel better for getting a bit of fresh air and enjoying some cultural inspiration. Even a trip to a museum will ensure that your day isn’t wasted and you never know, you might pick up an interesting fact or two.

Read a book on the porch & listen to the rain 

If you’re lucky enough to have a balcony or a porch, provided the rain isn’t coming down in every direction, then why not sit outside and enjoy the sound of the rain against the roof. Pour yourself a cup of tea or hot chocolate, grab a good book and relax and de-stress.

Pick up a new hobby

Whether it’s arts and crafts, playing the guitar or taking up baking, there’s always something new to be learnt. When the weather’s against you and you just can’t face heading outside, occupy your time with a passion that you’ve always wanted to pursue. Make sure it’s achievable and something that will maintain your interest. 

Go out in the rain and play like a kid

There’s nothing quite like the freedom of grabbing your waterproof coat and welly boots and heading outside to play in the rain and splash in the puddles. Dance in the rain like no-one’s watching.

Make a scrapbook of your favourite memories

Scrapbooking; the quintessential 80s & 90s teenage activity definitely isn’t as popular now as it was back then. Social media provides a quick and easy way of documenting your memories, but there’s still nothing quite like digging out family albums or scrapbooks of old photos, cinema tickets, leaflets and pressed flowers. Get an old sketchpad, pritt stick and a few treasured possessions and create a book of memories.

Catch up on the latest blogs and youtubers

Draw inspiration from your favourite blogs and Youtube accounts, whether it be style, beauty, interiors or lifestyle. Relax, unwind and enjoy a bit of frivolous reading and viewing.

Refresh your room

Updating your home doesn’t always demand a lot of time and money. A quick refresh can make a room look new to you and to your guests. Move around ornaments or lamps to create new focal points or purchase a wall vinyl to add a quirky element.

Have an indoor film festival

Put some popcorn in the microwave, pop on a DVD and enjoy a golden oldie or a new rom-com.

Get some exercise

Get your waterproof jacket and overtrousers on and head outdoors for a bike ride. A light rain shower never hurt anyone and as long as you’re covered up, you can still get a bit of exercise and a breath of fresh air.

Pick up the phone or grab a coffee with a friend

When it’s dark and miserable outside, you can always brighten up your mood with a quick phone call to a friend or a loved one. Even better, why not meet at your local coffee shop and catch up on life, love and other pursuits.

The Best Foods To Take Camping

Put any guy in front of a flaming barbecue and all of a sudden he thinks he is God’s gift to the cooking world. In reality, most people struggle to not burn marshmallows when cooking in the wild, let alone making anything tasty and nutritious, and so any good pointers on what to eat and how to cook it are usually welcomed with open arms! 

The trick to cooking outdoors is, quite simply: Keep It Simple! See what I did there…? Cooking an amazing meal in the comfort of your kitchen is sometimes hard enough, so when out camping you need all of the little hacks that you can get. Check out below our top tips on the best food to take camping and how to cook it while you're out there.

Equipment

Equipment will always play a big part in what you are cooking. If you plan on having loads of nibble little bits then you may not even need any cooking equipment at all. A cool-bag stuffed with treats and you're away! For the more adventurous of you, the aim is to do as much cooking as possible on as little amount of kit as possible - keep the list short and think of taking:

• A few lightweight aluminium pots
• A camping cooker or, if you're allowed to cook on an open fire where you're going, think of taking some long tongs to move pots around on the embers.
• A lighter (to get the fire started)
• Some cotton balls covered in vaseline as fire starters. These burn steadily for a long time, giving you ample time to build your fire around them.
• Cutlery
• A lightweight frying pan if you have one. Most decent aluminium pot sets will have a lid that doubles up as a small frying pan as well! 
• A Washing up scourer
• A small bottle of biodegradable washing up liquid

Breakfast

One word springs to mind here: Carbs. Depending on what you have planned for the day, whether it is a leisurely stroll through the countryside, a day’s rock pooling on the beach with the little ones or climbing one of the beautiful mountain ranges that we have here, you are going to need some real fuel to get you going for the day. Carbohydrates are what you should be aiming to fill yourself up on early on. The best types you can get are small packs of ready made oats which you just have to add boiling water to. This way, you're not burning porridge onto the bottom of your cooking pots at the start of the day and you have a good belly full of porridge to keep you going for the day! 

If you're feeling really adventurous and have got enough pots with you, then it is super easy to fry up some sausages and boil some potatoes (yup!) to really fire you up as well. Potatoes are a great alternative to bread as they are much easier to transport without squishing in your bag, they don't go mouldy and they're a prime source of those carbs you desperately need for the day! Just remember that anything too complicated means a lot of cleaning up afterwards and so you don't want to be bogged down with that at the start of your amazing day! 

Lunch

When we are out on a hike or down at the beach rock pooling, the last thing that we want to be doing is cracking out all of the cooking gear and getting bogged down for hours making something complicated. Just as we always think on our feet, we always eat on our feet as well! Taking foods that you can eat on the go are a must, some of our personal favourites are: 

• Homemade granola bars
• Carrot Sticks with hummus
• Grapes
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Apples
• Hard boiled eggs
• Scotch Eggs 
• Sausage Rolls (Always a favourite with kids!)
• Crisps
• Dried fruit and nuts
• Dried/cured meats

When you're out and on the go with the family in those hills, it is important to remember that you're going to need a lot of energy to keep doing all of that fun stuff and to stop you lagging during the day. You shouldn't worry about how much ‘fatty stuff’ you're eating or feeding the kids, they'll burn it off today, just don't make a habit of it! Well, unless you're out here every day… 

Dinner

Now is the time to really shine! You've had a hard day’s walking and adventuring and now all you want to do is have a good hearty meal and relax. There are some interesting facts to talk about before we get onto what food to cook. Your body regulates warmth better when you have had a good sized meal. So, if its cold out, don't skip dinner! You will be warmer at night in your sleeping bag if you get some food in you. We have all been there - After arriving back at camp after a long slog, all you want to do is climb into your sleeping bag and sleep; well fight that urge! 

Now onto the good food… Some of our real favourites revolve around an open fire. Always remember, when cooking with an open fire, that you should never cook with the flame. Always wait until the fire dies down to the point that you have hot embers, then you can rest your pots on top and get going. Some of our favourites are: 

• Chop up a load of carrots, leeks, potatoes, beans and any other veg that you love before you leave home and put it all in a sandwich bag. Fry up some diced chicken and put that in a separate  sandwich bag. When you get to your camp in the evening, empty it all into a pot and fill to the brim with water, throw in two oxo cubes and some pepper and boil away for an hour. You will have the heartiest and most rewarding chicken soup that you have ever made. 
• If you have been fishing that day, why not try freshly caught grilled fish and potatoes. Prepare the fish as you would at home and butterfly half it. Grip it between two green sticks and stick them in the ground, holding the fish above the embers. Whilst that cooks, boil up some potatoes and you'll love the result. A few freshly picked chives and some wild garlic and you are in heaven. 
• If you're really adventurous, bringing some chicken to slowly fry and picking a wild salad can be an extremely satisfying challenge. You need to be sure of what you are picking, but March through to September in the UK can yield some real wild salad treasures. Do your research and you'll be surprised on what you can find out there! 

What foods to avoid…

As with every activity out there, there are some big foods to avoid. When you're relying on your body to be fuelled and set for the day, you really should be concentrating on putting quality nutrition in in order to get the best results out. You should avoid: 

• Sugar based foods such as sweets, fizzy drinks and the like should be avoided at all costs save for a treat following dinner. The reason for this is that, whilst they may give you a sugar based high for a short while, they can cause a dangerous crash when you least want it. Not so bad if you're relaxing on the beach with the kiddies, but if you're halfway up Ben Nevis in poor weather this can mean the difference between a nice stroll back and some tricky times. 
• Avoid alcohol. Its great to enjoy a tipple when you're sitting around the campfire at night, but remember that unless you want to be getting up a lot in the night, its always best to be sensible when out and about.

Cleaning

Cleaning up sucks, doesn't it? Well, be smart! If you're the last one using the pots and pans at night, throw some water in the pot while you're eating and stick it back on the fire. The water will simmer most of the yuckyness off of the pots while you eat and the rest should come away easily afterwards. A clever trick that saves us hours of scrubbing (because I am notorious at burning food onto my pans!) is to drop a denture cleaning tablet into a dirty pot and fill it to the brim with water overnight. The tablet will do the trick of breaking down the food and by the morning your pots are nice and clean again! Minimal effort all round. 

Always be sure to take all of your rubbish away with you. We all enjoy our countryside as picturesque scenes and having rubbish blowing across it, harming the local wildlife, is definitely not what we all want to experience. All campsites will have space for you to leave your rubbish and if you're out and about in the hills, just keep a section of a bag handy to stick it all into until you find yourself back in civilisation. 

Last but by no means least… 

Water. Take lots and lots and LOTS of water. If you think you have enough water, take a bit more just in case. Your body uses water to break down food, to regulate temperature, to help you concentrate and of course to rehydrate you when you have been sweating in the glorious sun that we so frequently have here in the UK (ha!). 

Insight Into The Life Of A Travel Blogger Duo; The Explorer's Home

Being a travel blogger seems like the perfect part-time activity. Office jobs just don't offer the same thrill and adventure as an outdoors getaway, getting back to nature, exploring new countries and discovering beautiful scenic landscapes. 

We are delighted to have Vaughan & Katie from The Explorers Home guest blog for us. Expect monthly posts covering travel inspiration, packing tips and more, but to begin with let's get an insight into their lives and daily routine. 

Tell us a bit about yourself 

Adventure is a part of us all. We can all remember those times of wonder and discovery as a kid when everything we saw was a new discovery and life was full of wonder. Most of us grew up though, filling our days with school, college, work, family… and we lost the adventure somewhere in amongst all of the stuff that fills our time. We want to bring that back for people. 

Vaughan Williams (myself) and Katie Cockerill are just your average people, from average towns in the UK. I grew up on the outskirts of London and Katie in the small town of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire. What is so special about that, you ask? Well, nothing in fact. But what we had in our towns was the same small piece of magic that every kid has in their hometown - wonder and discovery. What we want to do is show people that work, university, even family time, doesn't have to fill every hour of your day. The world is a big place but most of us don't even adventure outside of our commute to work and local shops, we show people that you can rekindle that spark of adventure and rediscover the world around you.

It must be great being able to write on the road and experience the world?

It must be amazing huh! We wouldn't know either though… We work full time jobs, just like everyone else! The truth is, there is such a small, glamourised, number of people that travel blog and write about adventures but the fact of the matter is that near 99.9% of the world work, live and breathe in the town that they live in right now. We are no different! I work in commercial property compliance (yawn!) and Katie manages an adventure travel gear store (woo!). We wouldn't be able to write about showing people how to discover adventure in that huge chunk of the day that you're not at work if we didn't do just that, would we? 

What do you try to show people?

Lets think about this for a second… Most people work 8-9 hour days, 5 days a week. So on that basis: including days off, standard holidays, weekends, bank holidays etc, the average person has 112 days off each year. More than that, including time when you're not at work, the average person has 6736 hours when they're not at work. How long does it take to throw a sleeping bag in a bag, walk ten miles to a local wood and camp out the night? Not 6736 hours, thats for sure!

It's not all about camping and hiking, but we do promote it where we can. Sitting around a crackling fire, the stars above you and a cheeky beverage in your hand is well known to be possibly the best cure ever for a stressful day. Waking up to morning mist, a sunrise that can knock your socks off and a brief swim in a cold water river is sure to set you up for anything a day in the office can throw at you as well! And whats the worst thing that can happen? You don't sleep so great and you smell a bit when you get to the office, perhaps. But I dare say that absolutely nothing will wipe that smile off of your face from the new adventure you have just experienced…

You must have a pretty hectic daily life, how do you fit it all in?

I’m an early riser, up at 5.30am most days by default and I don't sleep until about 11.30pm. That is just me and I know not everyone is that energetic. Katie would live her entire life in bed if the mountains could come to her; up at 8am, asleep by 10pm most nights at the latest. But those hours when we aren't at work are when we cram it in. I highly advise getting to sleep earlier and up earlier. Most people like to stay up late as it gives them the sense that they have done something other than work that day - what is to say that can't be in the mornings as well? We went to the allotment to water the greenhouse and made strawberry jam before work yesterday morning, and when I told people what we had done that morning they just stared at me in bewilderment, like I had just grown another head! “How do you find the time?!” they murmured between sips of super strong coffee, “I just went to bed early and got up early…”.

We always advocate checking for cheap train deals (Megabus, Skyscanner etc.) and just booking something when you spot it. Worry about the accommodation later, grab that deal for now! Working in a shop, Katie’s time isn't very flexible, but even then we try to get away on a Friday night after work, on the train and back Sunday evening for an early night to feel super amazing for the Monday - 48 hours of adventure right there! 

When you need that peace and quiet, where do you aim for?

Adventure and discovery isn't always about escaping to the hills. The fact is some people flat out hate the outdoors, and that’s ok. Discovery and exploration can come in many forms. Personally, if I really need the peace, I will stick my headphones in, grab a coffee somewhere and just read a book for hours. Katie is a water baby, so goes swimming for hours on end if it's been a tough day. The options are endless though - throw in your headphones and wander around one of the thousands of museums dotting the country; you don't even have to read anything. Books, crafts, cooking, baking, knitting, even cleaning my outdoor gear are all forms of discovery for me that involve a bit of ‘brain downtime’ - they mean I can shut off for a bit but still learn something new.

What would you encourage others to do if they want the same experiences?

Step outside the front door, for starters. What is outside your house down the street to the right, at the end of the road on the left? Don't know? Find out! Get off of the bus or train on the way home from work a few stops early tonight and discover a bit more of your hometown. Have a sleeping bag? Well it's summer out there (apparently!) right now so grab yourself a £5 tarp from the hardware store and have yourself a sleepover in the woods, I promise you there are not nearly as many crazy people out there as the news will have you believe…

There are huge swathes of the country that are ready for you to discover if you take the time though. If you have a few days spare, throw some kit in a backpack and jump on a bus into the wilderness - there are no wolves or bears here, you're safe. Keep an eye on the weather because you don't want to get caught in a snowstorm, but otherwise you're pretty safe if you stay dry. The worst that can happen is that you get a bit wet, a bit groggy and you jump on the bus back home, shower it off and laugh at yourself! The best that can happen? Well, mountains, sunrises, wild deer sleeping outside your tent, campfires with friends, you get the picture.