5 Things To Do In Iceland #SendMeAway

I'm forever dreaming about my next holiday and for once, I don't have anything booked to look forward to! When icelolly.com asked bloggers to share their dream destination, I couldn't resist imagining my next travel destination. The winner will win £1000 towards their perfect holiday and a coveted Olympus PEN camera, so I wanted to share 5 things I want to do in Iceland, the country which is number one on my bucket list:

1. The Northern Lights
The Northern Lights had to be number one on my 'must-see' in Iceland. I have seen some seriously stunning images but nothing would compare to seeing the real thing with my own eyes. Apparently February, March, October and November are the best months to get lucky with the lights and a solar flare means that you have the best chance of seeing the lights now until 2018, so I need to get organised!

2. Husky Sledding
I'm obsessed with the idea of husky sledding and what better location than Iceland? Huskies are amazing dogs and I've always wanted to go sledding; a thrilling mix of fluffy dogs and extreme sport. In fact, it was one of my failed New Year's Resolutions in 2015 so I really need to tick it off in 2016!

3. The Blue Lagoon
I can't think of Iceland without thinking of sitting in the Blue Lagoon, surrounded by snow and steam. The experience of two extremes, the heat of the water and the cold of the air, fascinates me and again, I really want to try it for myself. I would definitely try a silica mud mask and drink a glass of wine in the water - it's the perfect memory!

4. Icelandic Cuisine
For me, the quality of the food can make or break a holiday. Unsurprisingly, Iceland is well-known for its fresh seafood, thanks to its location. After reading Ally from Digital Diva's post about her trip to Iceland, I would love to try The Fishmarket. It sounds like a great place to try some fantastic local cuisine so it's top of my 'to eat' list.

5. Caving
Finally, it's another unusual activity, although I could have chosen geysers, whale watching, the Golden Circle or even pony-trekking on Icelandic horses - there is so much to do in Iceland! My final 'must do' is caving. The volcanic environment of Iceland has created its unique nature and caving is an exciting way to see more of the Icelandic landscape. I would love the explore the beautiful and fascinating magma caves - and everything else which Iceland has to offer!

I nominate Digital Diva, Queen Beady and Adventures in Tea and Cake to share their choices - with the requirement that if you enter and win, you have to take me! Deal? Where is your number one bucket list destination?

Jess

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FitBit Charge HR Review

FitBits are the latest 'must-have' fitness gadget and I've heard so many rave reviews about these activity trackers. I've been lusting after my own for what seems like forever, so I was unbelievably excited when I was sent the FitBit Charge HR by Debenhams to review:

Despite how much everyone seems to rave about FitBits, I must admit I was a little sceptical - how much can basically a pedometer change your fitness? As somebody who already goes to the gym, I wasn't expecting to see a huge difference in my motivation or the amount I worked out. However, I was completely wrong as my FitBit has seen a huge change in my daily exercise routine. My two part-time jobs can be fairly sedentary; I work as both a receptionist, sitting at a desk all day, or a lifeguard, where I move more but still fairly infrequently. My FitBit has made me aware of quite how little I can move and therefore made some small but significant changes to my routine - I hop on the treadmill for half an hour whilst watching YouTube, I walk the dog after work or I walk laps of the swimming pool at work rather than sitting down. 

The FitBit Charge HR* is perfect for me, thanks to all of its features. As well as tracking steps, the Charge HR also records heart rate, calories, distance stairs climbed and sleep. It is also really clever at tracking workouts - when my heart rate goes up in a workout, the FitBit accurately tracks that I am working out and records this as 'active minutes.' If you want something more accurate, you can also hold down the button on the FitBit to start a timer; I do this during workouts to track my heart rate and calories burnt and it is a great way to compare workouts, I'm also obsessed with the sleep tracker, which records how long I am asleep and how many times I wake or am restless during the night. I can set an alarm which causes the wristband to vibrate, which is far more effective than my alarm! I'm prone to waking up and falling back asleep, despite the fact I could easily get out of bed, so tracking my sleep means that I've started getting up earlier as I know I've had enough sleep. 

My FitBit has fitted seamlessly into my routine and I now wear it almost constantly, only taking it off about every five days in order to charge it. I love everything from the purple colour to the comfortable strap, which allows me to adjust the size to fit my wrist perfectly as opposed to the cheaper Flex. I have recommended my FitBit to everyone since I received it and although they are pricey, I truly think they are worth the money thanks to the sheer amount of use I get from it. I'm a Fitbit convert! 

Are you a FitBit fan? What do you think of activity trackers?

Jess

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OOTD: My Redoute Style

Last year (it still feels so strange to say that, doesn't it?), I went to a fantastic blog event organised by La Redoute. For me, La Redoute is the first 'catalogue brand' I really noticed and I remember pouring over the images in the catalogue as a child, but I hadn't bought anything from them for years. Therefore, I was excited to see how the brand had changed and headed to Leeds for an evening with some fellow bloggers. We were treated to plenty of alcohol, lots of food and the highlight of the evening was the opportunity to choose an item of clothing to take home with us. I had so much fun browsing the rails and trying on clothes in the toilets with my blogger buddies and when Tea Party Beauty insisted I try a certain burgundy lace dress, I fell in love:

Dress: La Redoute* Heels: House of Fraser* Bag: New Look. Rings: Adorned. Necklaces: Primark. Earrings: Adorned. 

You know those times when your friends know your style better than you do? Hayley seriously nailed it when she made me try on this dress - the bodycon style is slightly out of my comfort zone so I hadn't picked it up for myself. However, the fit is actually really flattering and I felt really confident as soon as I put it on. The length of the dress and sleeves means that the dress feels grown-up and suitable for a huge variety of occasions, from a job interview to a party. The colour and lace material is stunning, along with a cute cut-away back detail. 

I was so impressed with the range of gorgeous evening dresses from La Redoute as well as the prices - some are reduced even further thanks to their current sale. I feel like the quality is fantastic and La Redoute really get women and what they want from fashion. At the blog event, we were provided with a huge range of sizes and styles, something which is sadly very rare at blogger events who often act like women are only a size 8, and every single girl I spoke to left feeling happy and confident about the evening. 

I decided to style the dress with some simple black and gold accessories - star print heels from House of Fraser, a glittery bag, chunky rings and some delicate necklaces. I love these statement rings from Adorned, which are perfect for mixing and matching with a variety of outfits. I kept the outfit fairly simple but by adding a little sparkle, I think the look is pretty lovely - what do you think?

Jess

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