Ready for Christmas! :)

At the start of November I gave myself one month to get ready for Christmas by December. It was based on SFT's challenge to get all of her Christmas shopping done before the 1st of December, but I added that I wanted to finish making an Advent calendar for The Boyfriend and I, as well as a few decorations for the tree.

Well good news! I finished! I have precisely one person left on my Christmas list, but The Boyfriend is sorting their present out (his side of the family), so I'm done and dusted! :) I've wrapped the ones I have in Bristol, but most of the things I ordered online were sent to my parent's house in Cornwall so that I didn't have so much to bring home in the car!

The Advent calendar is up and filled with chocolatey goodies and challenges.

I've also made some decorations for the tree, which I will show you soon. :) We have a few cheapo baubles from Tesco, with a couple of nice ones from the amazing Trelawney garden centre in Cornwall and paperchains that I made because we don't have any tinsel!

I will be spending December enjoying frugal festivities like carol concerts, mulled wine and Christmas films! :) Can't wait!

How did you get on?

The Best Eight Places to Visit in Cornwall

I love Cornwall! It is my home and I am sad to be leaving it this September. There is so much to love about this part of the world, and whether you live here or just visit every now and again, there will always be something that you haven't done yet. One thing I mean to do before leaving is to visit St. Michael's Mount. I can't believe I've never been there!

Here are some of my favourite things to do in Cornwall. If you haven't been to these places, add them to your bucket list!

1. Land's End – Avoid the tacky tourist trap of the Land's End amusement park and instead follow the coastal path. The area is outstandingly beautiful and you will quickly leave the crowds behind. There are some fantastic old buildings to explore at Lands End and nearby Sennen too.

2. The Camel Trail – The River Camel flows from Bodmin Moor to the sea at Padstow. Much of its length is neighboured by the Camel Trail, a cycle path/footpath on the old railway line. You can hire a bike and cycle along the the beautiful estuary between Padstow and Wadebridge, and even further beyond if you fancy a more challenging ride.

3. The Eden Project – The Eden Project is fairly expensive to enter (~£20 if you book in advance online), however if you Gift Aid your fee then you get free entry for a year. People with a Cornwall or Devon postcode can get a Local's annual pass for £5 during the winter months. Winter is the best time to visit Eden in my opinion; the plants are stunning inside the biomes and there is a lot more going on, from storytelling to mulled wine! The festival of lights in the run up to Christmas is stunning, and between October and Easter there is an ice skating rink for a small additional cost.

4. Beaches – Avoid Newquay like the plague. It is far too crowded and you're likely to step on broken glass left by the numerous drunken stag and hen parties. If you want a family friendly beach, head a few miles down the coast to Perranporth, a small tourist town with a large beach and several places to eat. For a more secluded spot, we prefer Treyarnon Bay, which is a pain in the bum to get to but worth it in the end!

 

 

5. Pencarrow House and Gardens – Pencarrow is a stately home with fantastic grounds. I've never actually been in the house, but every year during May the gardens are alive with rhododendrons and bluebells. It's a magical place to visit.

6. Bodmin Moor – The moor is the antidote to the busy crowds during the Cornish summer. I like to escape to the moors for a circular walk around some of the most beautiful (but sometimes bleak) scenery in Cornwall.

7. Boscastle – I fell in love with this little village when Mum and I hiked some of the Cornish coast last month. Don't just visit the village - take a walk up the coast on either side for stunning views!

8. The South West Coast Path – Find the sea, join the coast path and just keep walking! Mum and I plan on taking two cars next time we go, so that we can park one at the destination instead of having to turn round halfway through the day to return to the start!

What do you love most about where you live? Anywhere I should add to my bucket list?? :)

Back Soon!

Hello!

I am off walking the Cornish coast tomorrow with my Mum. We're walking approximately one third of the total coastline, ending up in Newquay on Tuesday!

Hope everyone has a great week, and I'll catch up with you all when I get back.

Bryallen

Exercise is good, FREE exercise is better! Post 2 of 2!

Yesterday I posted about hiking, cycling and dancing as free ways to exercise. Here are another three I enjoy!

Swimming

I would only recommend this to a confident swimmer, but have you ever considered skipping the pool and heading for the nearest beach/lake/river? Never disregard safety signs and only swim at a lifeguarded beach. For rivers, check that it is safe to swim before you jump in. (NEVER SWIM IN THE THAMES – Bleurgh!)

Swimming burns around 400-600 calories an hour.

Three important things to consider:

1. Is the water safe? Water is a lot cleaner than it used to be in the UK, but make sure you check out your local river quality using the Environment Agency's map. Grade A is perfect, grades B and C pose a low risk to health if swum in, grades D, E and F should not be swum in. If the water looks scummy or full of algae, do not swim. Some rivers have strong currents, so follow any signs preventing swimming. For beaches, check the information provided to see whether it is safe to swim.
2. Don't swim on a beach when the tide is going out, or if you do not understand how to escape a rip current.
3. The water will be COLD at this time of year. Wait until summer for nicer conditions!

If you do swim at a beach, remember that the water is salt water and that you should wash your swimming gear as soon as you get home to prevent it rotting.

Gardening

Think gardening is relaxing? Think again! An hour's worth of digging over your vegetable patch can burn 350+ calories an hour, and even raking or mowing the lawn can burn over 300 calories in an hour. Spend a warm spring day sprucing up your garden!

Bodyboarding

Another favourite of mine in the summer is bodyboarding. I LOVE IT! I'd go every day if I got the chance. You can do it without a wetsuit, but a cheap one will keep you warm – mine was £20 from Tesco and you could get one a lot cheaper than that! The board itself will cost £5-10, but you can use it forever! :) Very cheap boards are made of fabric-covered polystyrene. These might work for little kids but they are pants for adults. Get yourself a foam board!

Swim out to where the waves are breaking, then jump onto the board on your belly just in front of a wave about to break and paddle like mad! If you catch the wave, you'll shoot forward riding the white water. It's fantastic, and you can do it for hours without getting bored.

Safety tips: Only bodyboard when the tide is coming in, and bodyboard at a lifeguarded beach between the yellow-and-red flags. (Black-and-white flags are for proper surfers with boards that could easily knock you out if you get hit in the head - not a good idea in the sea!) 

You'll think you're not really exercising, but you can burn 200-300 calories an hour without even trying!

Got any tips? 

What's your favourite free or nearly free exercise? :) I hate jogging, but I'm open to anything else!

Exercise is good, FREE exercise is better! Post 1 of 2!

The original post was a bit long, so I've split it in two. See tomorrow for post 2!

I made a New Year's resolution to lose weight and get healthier (I know, horribly cliché and yawn-city!). In true New Year's Resolution style, by mid-January I had somewhat fallen off the wagon, but lately I've been turning it back around!

Exercise is a major factor in the fight to de-chub and build muscles. No matter how much lettuce you eat, if you don't do any exercise you won't be fit, just skinny. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to lose weight for less! :)

Hiking

I LOVE hiking! I love to explore nature, see some of the most beautiful places in Cornwall, and get fit at the same time. Hiking burns around 250-400 calories an hour, depending on how heavy you are. If the terrain is difficult or you are carrying a heavy load, it may be even more.

If you have never hiked before, you may believe you'll need some expensive kit. Hiking boots can be expensive, maps, rucksacks and a lifetime's supple of trail mix can add up, right? If you're a beginner, just do some easy walks in trainers. That way you'll see if hiking is something you'd enjoy.

If you decide you want to get some proper boots you have two cheap options; 1) Possibly not for everyone, but often people give away new or nearly new hiking boots on Freecycle. The Boyfriend got me some free boots from his workplace, which someone had worn once and forgotten about when they left! 2) Lidl often sell good-quality hiking boots for around £15 in the spring. Keep your eyes open in the next month or two, because my Mum absolutely loves her pair!

Many websites give free walks to do in your local area. See Walking Routes for links to your local area, or Walking Britain for walks in your nearest National Park.

Cycling

Many people have a bicycle sitting in their garage/shed. If you're not one of them, chances are you could procure one very cheaply by looking in your local paper, or even for free on Freecycle. Once you have a bike, you have a free mode of transport that can get you places at 10-15 miles an hour, or over 20mph if you are willing to arrive very sweaty!

A slow cycle will burn around 400 calories for a 150lb person. It will be significantly higher if you are heavier or cycle faster! Another plus is that you could cycle to and from somewhere you need to go, saving fuel!

Dancing

I really enjoy Zumba, a cross between salsa dancing and aerobics. I used to pay £3 a class at University, but in Cornwall the cheapest I've found is £5 for an hour. Not bad, but free is better! If you have a bit of free space at home, just look on Youtube for some videos showing you the basic steps. Once you have the basic moves, you can make up your own routine to your favourite songs. It doesn't have to look amazing, no-one's going to see you. Just get wiggling!

Do you have any favourite free ways to exercise? 
 
Come back tomorrow for three more free ways to get fit! :)

Beating the Voice in my Head

I sometimes find myself slipping back into the mindset of “well, what difference will £10 make?”. If someone suggests going for a meal, a little voice clears its metaphysical throat in the back of my mind and whispers “it's not like you do it every day”.

This week's persuasive extravaganza is the annual local fair, with it's £2-a-go rides. When my sister and I were young we'd have to beg our parents to take us (two kids multiplied by several rides really adds up!). Whilst it's always been a part of my childhood, I no longer want to waste a day's wages being flung about by some nausea-inducing behemoth.

The thing I like best is the atmosphere and smells of the fair, so I've decided to take £1 with me (for some fresh doughnuts for myself and The Boyfriend)! When I get there I always want to join friends on rides and persuade myself that it's a rare treat. My friend asked us to meet him there but I don't want him to wonder what was the point if we refuse to go on the rides. I guess I just need to talk to him about it because I must do this to prove to myself that I can enjoy events without blowing my budget!

The main tip about impulsivity in general is to stop using your debit card. If your budget is £30 for the week, only withdraw £30. Leave your debit card at home and don't even think about using a credit card instead!