Boost Your Energy With A Spring Cleanse: Guest Post By Mia Taylor

While spring is a colourful, vivid season where everything is awake and in bloom, we don’t always feel excited to experience it. With spring allergies and fatigue, seasonal changes can sometimes affect our bodies in bad ways. If you’re constantly sleepy, unfocused and feel sore for no real reason, you might need a good detox to get your vitality back and help you feel cheerful about spring flowers and nice weather. Read on for some tips to help boost your energy and make you feel good.

Change your diet

Heavy, winter food is delicious and necessary when the weather is cold, but spring is the time to eat lighter meals and help our bodies fill up on natural goodies. Artichokes, asparagus, zucchini, spinach and broccoli are all in season, and there are many delicious recipes for you to incorporate these healthy, powerful foods into your diet. It’s time to go easy on the meat and dairy and give your stomach a chance to rest. Eat things like soups and salads and avoid processed foods and canned goods. Eat rice instead of bread, and use healthy spices such as turmeric, nutmeg, fennel, ginger and coriander. It’s okay to eat meat, but stick to fish and chicken for a while and avoid anything sugary, or fried. You want nutrient rich food that will help your body recover and feel vibrant.

Remember to drink enough water as well. Green tea and black tea will help with the detox and you can drink up to three or four cups a day. Avoid coffee and soda completely, as they will only make you feel thirstier and besides the unwanted weight gain, you’ll deal with their negative effects on your body.

Get moving

No better way to get rid of the toxins than to sweat them out. We need about three hours of exercise each week, and with the summer coming, now’s the perfect time to shape up. You don’t have to go to the gym to work out, you can do it at home, on your own terms. Take up dancing, kickboxing, yoga, or any other alternative to the gym. Go out for a run, or take long walks, go hiking, or put on your roller blades and drive them around the neighbourhood. The best way to get fit is to find something you enjoy doing and then become passionate about it. It will help you stick to training and you’ll have the added bonus of having fun. Working out is also a good way to gain more energy and balance your sleep cycle.

Use the right herbs and supplements

Sometimes our digestive tract needs some help to stimulate the cleansing and detoxification process. Simple herbs like dandelion and burdock root can help with this, or you could try the Renew Life detox products which have a lot of all-natural cleansing ingredients that are a really good way to help your body flush out the toxins on its own. Combine these with dandelion, milk thistle and ginger tea mix and your body will be full of energy in no time. The recipe for the tea is: bring water with peeled ginger root to a boil, then pour over the dried herbs (dandelion, milk thistle and cinnamon). Add a little honey and lemon juice.  Let it cool and you have a delicious drink that you can sip through the day.

Get enough rest

Sadly, no matter what you do, you can’t skip sleep if you want your body to be well-rested. You must get at least seven hours of sleep every night and do your best to go to bed and wake up at approximately the same time every day. Your body enjoys a routine and a hectic sleeping schedule will wear it out pretty quickly. The effects of sleep deprivation are pretty serious, so keep your health in mind and take time to get enough rest every night.

Spring is a wonderful time to turn our attention back to our health and develop good habits if we haven’t already. Follow these tips and you’ll soon feel fresh, happy, and full of energy.

Mia Taylor is a fashion and beauty enthusiast from Sydney and

writer for www.highstylife.com. She loves writing about her life experiences. Travelling and enjoying other cultures and their food with her husband is a big part of her life. She is always on a lookout for new trends in fashion and beauty, and considers herself an expert when it comes to lifestyle tips. Twitter | Facebook

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Bring Spring To Your Bedroom*

I don't know about you guys but I personally cannot wait for the sunnier weather to arrive. There's something about the Spring season that literally puts a bounce in my step. Obviously the sunshine does help, but it's not just that. I love that this season brings with it new challenges and the opportunity for fresh starts. It's not just the perfect excuse to spring clean my bedroom, but also to give it that much needed makeover.

My bedroom is my safe haven, my 'go to' place when I need to escape from life. When I'm not at work or out and about, you'll usually find me curled up on my bed either reading a good novel or writing blog posts. As I spend so much time in this one room, it's hugely important that I create the perfect environment for myself.

I can't afford to go splashing out on new wardrobes or furniture right now and I know many people reading this are in the same boat, but that doesn't mean you can't change things up a bit.
Who says it has to be expensive? Just by altering the colour scheme or the duvet and curtains, a room can appear much brighter. Aside from the other life essentials (inspirational wall quotes and a glass of wine) a cosy bedspread or duvet is an absolute must for maximum comfort.

When I saw the beautiful range of bedspreads at The Yorkshire Linen Store I just knew I had to have one. I've always been a real 'girly girl' and a fan of anything neutral coloured so I fell in love with this Opulent Jacquard Champagne Bedspread as soon as I saw it. There's also matching duvets, pillow cases and cushion covers. All I'll need to do is put down a nice new carpet, add a lick of paint and 'Bob's your uncle' as they say!

Wayfair also have many pretty designs to choose from and at reasonable prices too. I seem to have relatively luxurious taste so typically was drawn to the Luxury Duchess Bedspread in gold. Both of the bedspreads mentioned are machine-washable and tumble-dryer friendly, although if we get some warmer weather I'll definitely be hanging mine outside to dry!

Photo: Opulent Jacquard Champagne Bedspread

Why not bring Spring to your bedroom with a gorgeous bedspread? If neutral colour isn't for you then you'll find plenty of alternatives on offer. What's more, The Yorkshire Linen Store currently have a sale on! What are you waiting for?


Here's wishing you all a lovely Spring.


Until next time...


Justine xxx


P.S. If you like the look of the Yorkshire Linen range featured above then you may also like these which, FYI, are all half price! Bargain...

Anna Black Bedspread

 

   Ethnic Floral Patchwork Berry Bedspread/Throw

Shelbourne Duck Egg Bedspread

*Collaborated post
All photos taken from Yorkshire Linen website

Getting Over Heartbreak In Six Steps*

Those of you who read GirlGoneDreamer on a regular basis will know that I'm currently writing a novel, during which Emily (my female lead) will learn how to deal with having her heart broken. It's a horrible feeling (the worst) and yet it's something that most of us will go through in life at some point or another. Although we usually come out on the other side that little bit stronger and wiser, it doesn't make going though the experience any less painful. Here are six tips on how to cope with heartbreak and eventually move on:

1. Let It All Out 

This is a hugely important step that shouldn't be skipped. Don't be trying any of this 'brave face' malarkey. You're hurting so you need to let it all out. Trying to bury the pain you're feeling will only come back to bite you when it decides to out at the most inappropriate of times. Trust me when I say I've been there and it's a tad embarrassing.

2. Wallow

Grab a duvet and curl up with a tub of your favourite ice cream and a TV show/movie. My 'go to' preferences when I need to feel good are Grey's Anatomy or Gilmore Girls. My brother prefers Sex And The City, but the point is just to choose whatever makes you feel better.

3. Delete Contact And Keep Busy

When you've stopped crying - which you will - you'll most likely reach the dangerous phase of missing your ex. This is where you have to be strong. Delete all numbers and forms of contact. If you go back now you'll have to go through stages one and two again. Inevitably you'll want to keep checking your phone to see if they've text or rung you. Maybe you'll even want to stalk their Facebook profile. If you want to drive yourself crazy then by all means go ahead, but I suggest that instead you distract yourself and keep busy. Hide your phone. Do things that make you feel good. You don't have to go out if you don't want to but bring your friends to you. Do anything but don't be alone. You might not feel like talking but having company will do you the world of good, plus they'll be there to stop you doing anything daft like leaving drunken voicemail messages.

4. Feel Angry But Don't React

At this stage you'll decide you hate them. You might even want revenge. After all, how dare they fall out of love with you! You gave them a chunk of your life and it's been a complete waste of time! Don't even go there. Don't give them the satisfaction of knowing you're bothered. Trust me when I say that they will only be laughing about it with their mates (when they're not calling you a psycho ex, that is).

5. The 'Blah' Phase

'Blah' to me is feeling nothing towards the person, feeling nothing towards life. Everything all of a sudden seems dull and unexciting. You don't feel love or hate and it's a weird feeling. You're bored, lonely and feel the need to do something because your life now seems emptier and less fulfilled than it was before. Out of confusion you might think you need your ex back, but don't mistake feeling lonely for needing them in your life. You can do this! The aim here is to get you back on track and standing on your own two feet. Congratulations because believe it or not you're now moving on.

6. Socialise With Friends 

Gather your friends round. It's time to celebrate your single status! By now you should be feeling a tad better and maybe even ready to date again? If not then at least join a dating website just so you can chat to prospective takers, it'll give you a much needed confidence boost if nothing else. Meanwhile, if the weather is nice then why not throw a garden party? What better excuse do you need than the brighter weather? I love this time of year and the Rattan Dining Sets from Fishpools* are ideal for Spring/Summer get-togethers. The Margarita* set suitable for eight is my personal favourite and as it's designed to live outdoors in all weather you won't need to faff putting it away. All you'll need to add is the music, friends and wine. Oh and don't forget the pizza! You'll be remembered as the 'hostess with the mostess' all summer long.

Until next time...


Justine xxx


I hope you enjoyed this post. I should point out that I'm not a relationship guru by any means, the above is just some friendly pointers to help you on your way.

*This is a sponsored post in collaboration with Fishpools
All images taken from Fishpools website