Typecast

Heading off on holiday is always exciting, especially when the skies are as dreary as they are this time of year. For many people planning their next big break, the only thing putting a dampener on the pre-holiday excitement is the thought of packing. Sticking to a simple list of the bare essentials isn’t everybody’s thing, but if you can master it you’ll save yourself a lot of time and stress when it comes to getting away. There are  tons of ways  to pack effectively, whether you’re planning a weekend city break or a week on the beach, all without impacting your style. Save yourself the queue for the airport carousel by fine-tuning the art of packing hand-luggage only. Not sure where to start? Here are a few useful tips and tricks. Choosing the right bag While on the outside you can be as expressive as you like, you definitely want to ensure that your bag has enough space within to store what you’ll be bringing. That means lots of inner pouches and pockets, but re...

I had the most gorgeous holiday in Corfu earlier this year (I may have mentioned it... multiple times) but there's always that time, towards the end of the summer or the beginning of Autumn that you feel like you need a little pick-me-up, isn't there?   I thought I'd offer some ways to give you a little boost as the nights start drawing in and your hand is itching to flick the switch on the heating.  Photo Credit : Jennifer Burk, Unsplash Have one pamper day a week Set aside some time to have a stretch out with some yoga and then dive into a luxury bubble bath complete with an aromatherapy candle (try a Yankee candle or one from St Eval ) and a face mask (I love TonyMoly sheet masks ), with a mug of herbal tea or glass of wine to hand. Go for a run Just lace up those trainers and go for a run , even if it's been ages since you headed out.  If you're a complete non-runner then look up the "couch to 5k" app and use the next 9 weeks ...

I've not blogged properly in a while and it's been a long old time since I did a proper Fitbitches update - May to be exact .  But we'll come to that in a minute.  First I want to tell you a little story about someone who has made me burst with pride recently and she's forever moaning about me not mentioning her on the blog so I'm dedicating most of this entry to her * ahem * . ¨¨°º©©º°¨¨ This is Lesley (sporting the purple wig - that's not her real hair).  She's my running 'wifey' and we have come a long way together.  We met when she joined my group to start the C25K plan back in March 2015. On week 3 she felt very under-confident about her running and wanted to join a 'slower' group as she thought she was holding the rest of the group back. That's simply not how I work when I help motivate people through the C25K plan. To coin a couple of clichés, we're all in this together and my group supports each other th...

Well, unless you’re travelling to a different country like Canada or the UK and are wondering how to watch Netflix abroad , you’d know how easy it has become to watch any movie or TV show through platforms like Netflix and the kinds! These movies, TV shows etc. are all ready to be fetched and played at any time of the day/night. But selecting the right title, fitting your mood can be the most difficult task! What more, whichever title you choose, must also go down well with your couch companion, significant other, friend or whoever you’re watching it with. Let’s make things easier for you and tell you about at least 3 good movies you can watch on Netflix today! The Prestige Starring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, David Bowie and Andy Serkis, this one was directed by Christopher Nolan. It’s an essential Christopher Nolan film that highlights his overall storytelling philosophy. It has the same theme that you see in all of the Christopher Nolan fi...

Do you find yourself thinking that your interior designs are growing stale and dreary? Do you avoid having guests round due to the state of the décor? Do not fret. This is a position many find themselves in. Designing an interior is difficult and even if you think you have crafted something to be proud of, it may feel old after a month or two. Here are several tips you may want to try, bringing new life to a space. Plants If you are tired of your current ornaments and trinkets, how about switching them out for plants. Foliage literally brings life to a room and the myriad of shapes, colours and sizes means you will be sure to find a plant that fits to the space. With a painting or a sculpture, they are constant and stay forever. Plants grow and change and ultimately fade. This means your room will constantly be changing through the life cycle of your plants, preventing the same stale feel from plaguing your space. Some plants I love to use for decoration are delicate orchids ...

I travel a fair distance to work each day and have to make sure that my car is in superb condition, especially during the winter when I'm driving to and from work in the dark. Here are my nine top tips to help keep your car in the best condition.  Get your car serviced Regular car maintenance, on top of your annual MOT can help prevent car problems.  I know how to check my oil, water and tyre pressure but you could also get your car checked by a professional such as kwikfit.com for a little peace of mind and then you can keep on top of it yourself. Check your car battery We use our heaters and lights more during the winter months so this will put extra strain on the battery.  If you haven't used your car in a while, you may need to recharge the battery.  If you need to replace your battery it can prove expensive so shop around to find one that's good value. Check your tyres In the UK we don't have to change tyres in the winter but, as mentioned ...

There's definitely been a boom in podcasting in 2017. I have a podcast app on my phone and, apart from the main social media channels, it's one of the most used apps I've ever downloaded. I currently have 41 podcast feeds stored in there and refresh the downloads about twice a week. Some are radio show round-ups (or segments from the show), some are comedy, some are crime related and some are hobby/interest related. I tend to listen to my podcasts in the car on the way to work as most are around the length of the 25-minute journey. Here are my favourite podcast picks - if you haven't already, you should give them a try. My Dad Wrote A Porno Right... I know I'm late to the party but I've just started listening to My Dad Wrote A Porno . It's been downloaded to the app for absolutely ages and I decided to give it a go this week after reading rave reviews (and realising that it's now on the third series).  Anyway, Jamie's dad wrote an erot...