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Top 10 Tips on How To Save Money For Travel

The most frequent question I get asked is 'How do you afford to do so much travelling'...

'I'm just good at saving' is my answer.

If you want something enough - you make it happen. 


I promise you, I don't earn anything spectacular, my parents don't fund my travelling, and my saving doesn't make me a complete hermit. 

So good news... YOU CAN SAVE TOO!

But HOW?

Here are my TOP 10 tips on saving money for travel...

1. Research, have a target and create a goal

If you don't know what your aiming for and have no break down of what you need to save and when by, then... you've fallen at the first hurdle.
Create a rough estimate of how much your trip will cost you, how far away it is and create weekly / monthly saving goals to keep you on track. 

2. Cut down on the entertainment


Be it the boozing, the holidays, the music gigs - you need to lay off the luxuries whilst you're saving. 
Even a £20 night out is worth saving. You could feed yourself like a king for 4 days in Bali with that money.  

3. Put money away and then don't touch it


If you work over-time this month, get a bonus or find yourself with a bit of money spare, create a separate bank account or money jar, put the money in and whatever you do, DON'T TAKE IT OUT. 

4. Stop buying the 'latest things'

Stop looking & stop tempting yourself. 
I find I have everything I need until I walk into Topshop for 'just a little look' or browse online and find the latest handbag that i'm suddenly justifying as essential. 

Don't torture yourself, live basic and avoid the shops. 
Forget the latest trends, cars, jewellery and bags. 
It won't hurt & you'll watch your travel fund grow like there's no tomorrow!

5. Sell stuff

Get around to clearing out your room and selling all those clothes, DVD's and unwanted bits on eBay / depop OR do a carboot! 
Put any money you make STRAIGHT in that savings account.

6. Change your eating habits

When your bank statement comes through, how much of it is filled with restaurant bills, Starbucks and post night out Mcdonald's?
£3 a pop may not seem like much but it soon adds up. 

Switch the meals out for a trip to the supermarket. Prepare your meals / lunches and take snacks with you. Cut down on the fast food and meals out and save money along with calories!

7. Become and freebie and bargain hunter

When you're looking for bargains, bargains will begin to find you. I literally live for discounts. 
Be it a 3 for 2 in the supermarket, meeting your friends an hour later if it means a super off peak train ticket, or asking a friend to use their student discount. 
IT ALL ADDS UP.  

OH AND ALSO, take advantage of reward cards. I save a fair bit of money collecting e.g. Holland and Barrett points / Boots / Tesco Clubcard points.

8. Get rid of subscriptions and memberships

If you don't use your gym membership or your Netflix subscription - get rid of it. If you don't need those magazines delivered to your door - cancel them. Renegotiate your mobile phone bill - or if you're due an upgrade, hunt down a cheaper rate.

9. Stay at home a little longer
(Sorry mum!)

It's true. Renting or buying somewhere to live, means your disposable income gets smaller and saving gets harder. Staying at home is probably the cheapest rent you'll find, so embrace it and make the most of the opportunity to save. 
If you've already moved out, perhaps cut down on the bills, look for a cheaper place to rent or move back home for a period of time.

10. Sign up to Pinterest - get yourself excited with photos and focus on the end reward... THE ADVENTURE

Travelling is worth every single penny that you save for it. Sometimes missing a big night out or selling your old clothes can seem too much effort. But focus on WHY you're doing it.

JOIN ME ON PINTEREST HERE: https://www.pinterest.com/molliebylett/

If you've never been travelling, it can be harder to motivate yourself. But now that i've got the travel bug, the saving gets easier because I know EXACTLY what I'm saving for, and DAMN you can't beat it.


Get yourselves overseas for that adventure you've been dreaming about. 
The time to save has never been more perfect!

Need destination inspiration?
Check out my 'Top 10 adventures when you're 20 something' 



USE THE SOCIAL BUTTONS BELOW TO TWEET THIS POST OR SHARE IT ON FACEBOOK :)

GET YOUR FRIENDS SAVING TOO - OTHERWISE YOU'LL BE GOING ON YOUR OWN! 


Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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Make memories, scrapbook 'em and cherish 'em! | Ft. Cheers! & Hobbycraft & AN AWESOME GIVEAWAY

As you well and truly know by now, I love adventures.
I love backpacking.
I love discovering new places.
I love meeting random people and hearing about their life.
& I love capturing it on my camera.

But it continues past that...

I also love to cherish those memories. Life isn't always big smiles and positive vibes, so if there's a time I need a pick me up, my scrapbook does a damn good job at showing me everything I have to be thankful for.


Scrapbooks, yes, can be time consuming, but I just make sure I put some time aside 2/3 times a year to update it in bite size sessions. 

Honestly, it's the nicest thing to look back on and there's no better time to start yours than right now...

I'll show you around a bit of my scrapbook and if you like the look of it I'll link everything i used for it later on in the post.

P.s. I'm giving away 5 sets of these Cheers! polaroid prints so scroll down for that too!


Letters & Stick ons - Hobbycraft
Floral papers - Hobbycraft


(Use 'MOLLAO' at the checkout for 10% off your order)

FUELLED BY CANDY KITTENS!
(AKA THE MOST IRRESISTABLE SWEETS EVER!!!!!!)



POLAROID STYLE PHOTO'S GIVEAWAY

I've teamed up with Cheerz to give 5 of you guys a set of these B-E-A-UTIFUL polaroid prints. 

You could use them for your scrapbook, to decorate your bedroom walls with, or to give to a friend / boyfriend / family member as a perfect present!

HOW TO ENTER:

1. Join me on instagram 'molliebylett'

2. Upload your favourite memory / photo, tag @molliebylett and use the hashtag #mollielovesmemories.

I will look on the hashtag and choose my favourite 5 photos to be the winners!

End date: 29th June 2015


Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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16 Healthy Meal Inspirations ♡ Come dine with Mollie | Part 1

Up until probably a year ago, I didn't have any control over my diet and I was forever crash dieting.  
I.e. cutting all the bad stuff out completely then giving up a few days or weeks later and binging.

As we all know, crash dieting is NOT GOOD FOR YOU.

It's only through small and realistic changes that I have got my diet to the way it is now. My taste buds have slowly adapted and I way prefer what I'm eating now and the way I'm feeling after.


HEALTHY EATING ISN'T BORING. Don't worry - I used to say exactly the same.
I would honestly never force myself to eat something that i didn't like just because its healthy. So trust me on this one.

The reason I found it hard to eat healthy?
I had no idea what to cook. I had vegetables in my fridge but no idea what to do with them.

Now, I'm not claiming to have a perfect diet AT ALL, I'm not even trained in fitness or nutrition but I do know that using fresh ingredients and staying away from processed foods and sugars is the way forward to a better body, mind and attitude.

I'm very lucky that two of my best friends are health angels and I'm friends with many more, so they inspire my choices quite a lot.


Some #fitspo's to follow on instagram for food ideas:
- Han and Em @twicethehealth
- Tally @cleanfitlifestyle
- Zanna @zannavandijk
- Alice @clean_eating_alice

16 IDEAS TO GET YOU STARTED:


1. Sweet potato, lentil and carrot shepherd's pie (View my recipe here)
2. Pan fried salmon and tuna with green beans, peas mashed with mint and spring onion, sweet potato and carrot mash, and asparagus.
3. Courgetti (you can buy my spiralizer here - £15.99) topped with pesto, pine nuts and parmesan.
4. Feta, butternut squash, plum tomato and courgette omelette topped with chopped avocado on top.


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5. Oven poached chicken with herbs on a bed of ratatouille (mushrooms, peppers and chopped tomatoes) and courgetti (you can buy my spiralizer here - £15.99).
6. Feta Omlette with pan cooked courgette + tomatoes, avocado and broccoli.
Comment below if you'd like me to post this recipe! 
8. Vegetable omelette with chopped tomatoes on top (fry off any vegetables you have in a pan, whisk 2 eggs and pour over top to cook.


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10. Lean Turkey mince pie with sweet potato, feta and carrot mash.
Leave me a comment below if you'd like me to post the recipe!
11. Tomato omelette with chopped avocado.
12. COURGETTI! I know this isn't a meal in itself, but it's just worth its own spot. Steam it for 5 minutes until soft or eat raw. Use as a pasta substitute! (you can buy my spiralizer here - £15.99).

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13. Cacao porridge topped with cacao nibs, chia seeds, goji berries and mixed nuts. (When sometimes you want something filling but sweet).
14. Homemade Meatballs
Comment below if you'd like me to post the recipe!
15. The meatballs with courgetti.
16. Butternut squash, spinach, pea and kale frittata with chopped tomatoes on the side.
Comment below if you'd like me to post the recipe!

Oh and one more that i'm eating right now...

Peppered rocket salad with puy lentils, avocado, roasted sweet potato, peppers, beetroot and feta :) YUM.


SOME GOODIES YOU MUST TRY:
- Meridian 100% Crunchy Peanut butter - Buy here
- Porridge Oats - buy in supermarket OBV.
- Chia Seeds - Buy here 
- Cocoa Nibs - Buy here
- PB2 (powdered peanut butter - 85% less fat) - Buy here
- Whole Earth Peanut butter with sunflower, flax and pumpkin seeds - Cheapest to buy in Tesco / local supermarket



Let me know if you liked this post?!
Never done a health one before :)
Leave me a comment below and let me know!

Also if you have any other ideas / requests? I'm thinking of doing a 'snack ideas''breakfast ideas''sweet treat ideas'?

Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xoxo

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June Pay Day Wish List ♡

Literally where did June go?
Jeeeez, I'll be doing Christmas gift guides before we know it!
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Anyway, let's make the most of the summer and the beautiful prints and patterns whilst it's here.

(P.s. as you read this post I'm currently exploring Greece and i'd LOVE for you to come join the adventure on Instagram - molliebylett)

My May Picks:

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Which piece is your favourite?

I'D LOVE YOU TO USE THE SOCIAL BUTTONS BELOW TO TWEET THIS POST OR SHARE IT ON FACEBOOK :) 


Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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Picnicking in Hyde Park, London

I know, having just returned from Greece, you'll be awaiting my Grecian posts, but I'm going to keep you hanging out for them a wee bit longer...

I feel the need, today, to declare my love for and appreciate this GORGEOUS British heatwave we are currently being whisked away by.

It's actually warmer here than it was in Greece and well, I couldn't have been more excited to get back to London to enjoy it.

Never knowing how long the sun is going to last here in England, us brits have to act quickly and so I grabbed my picnic bag, my date & headed to Hyde Park sharpish.

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Paisley Dress £19.99 - Miss Pap
(Use 'MOLLIE10' for 10% off at checkout)

Hyde Park is one of London's 8 royal parks and covers 350 acres filled with greenery, peace and activity.

You can grab a mojito here, hop on a rowing boat or pedalo, open water swim, horse ride, cycle, stroll, play tennis, OR sit back and watch the world go by.

Hyde Park is a very popular hotspot, loved by both tourists and Londoners, so if the suns out it's usually packed. 
No need to worry or avoid it though, there's more than enough to go around.


There are a few tube stations you can access Hyde Park by including: Hyde Park Corner, Knightsbridge & Marble Arch.

We headed to Green Park Tube Station as there is an M&S opposite to collect our picnic goodies, before walking 10 minutes to the park.

Here's our picnic in piccys...


The perfect picnic bag - Beck Songergaard


Shoes - Solillas 


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A British picnic doesn't exist without strawberries, right?
Plus it's Wimbledon, would be rude not to toast to Murray's first victory!

There are so many parks over London for you to explore and enjoy. 
If the sun treats us well, I think i'm going to park hop this summer and try 'em all!

Do you have a favourite spot to picnic in London?
I'd love to know... so that i can go! :)

Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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Cheat clean peanut butter cookies | Avoiding plane food

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So prior to my trip to Greece last week, I made a large order (mainly quest bars) from Clean Snax (www.cleansnax.com)& whipped up a batch of these Peanut butter cookies (a recipe from Madeline Shaw).

Since adjusting my diet over the past year, I've come to the stage now where plane food and ready meals just don't appeal to me. All i have to do is think about how I will feel after eating it and it's enough to put me, personally, off.

Holiday does mean treating yourself though, so these cookies were the perfect solution so to me not missing out.

The coconut oil and sugar completely satisfies my sugar cravings (quite rich so you don't need as much either) and I think they'd also be YUM sprinkled over muesli / greek yog.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

250g Ground Almonds
1 tsp Baking Powder
100g peanut butter (I used Whole Earth)
100g coconut oil (or butter)
125g coconut sugar (or honey/maple syrup)

+ A sprinkle of sesame seeds to go on top.

HOW TO MAKE THE COOKIES:

1. Preheat the oven to 170deg.
2. In a blender, blend the coconut oil, peanut butter and coconut sugar.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the baking powder and almonds.


4. Fold the wet mixture into the dry and create a mouldable consistency.
I found mine was a little wet so added some extra ground almonds.

5. Line a baking tray with greaseproof paper and space out even sized cookie rounds.
(This wasn't actually enough space, the cookies expanded LOADS and kinda merged together... haha. So a little more spacious for yours.)


 6. Bake in the oven for 12 minutes.
(I got distracted and left them for an extra couple of minutes which was clearly crucial to their perfection as i slightly burnt them...) 
12 MINUTES ONLY!



Still tasted AMAZING none the less! :)

Super simple, crowd pleasing & you don't have to feel guilty.

I know this is the first of many batches i'll be whipping up!


You can get all of the ingredients from (most) supermarkets barre coconut sugar which you can buy online here.


Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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*Recipe from madelineshaw.com

Island of Lefkada | Sailing Greece

When your best friend invites you along sailing with her family, it is most certainly an offer you can't refuse.

Particularly when it involves exploring Greece. 

Blue skies, clear waters, aimless exploring of coves and endless Greek salads.

If you've been with me from the beginning of my blog then you'll know I went on a similar trip 2 years ago. We sailed around the Northern Sporades of Greece with a company called Sunsail as part of a flotilla (sailing and meeting with the same 8 boats each night). 

This year we were to freesail around a selection of the Ionian islands in Greece: Lefkada, Kefalonia, Ithaca and Meganissi.

Heathrow to Preveza, Preveza to Nidri and Nidri to our boat, we arrived safetly and to the clearest of skies.


Before we could set sail, we had to work out where on earth we were heading. A freesail means that you make up your own route and are FREE to SAIL wherever takes your fancy. Or... whatever floats your boat ;).

Accompanying us for the team meeting were a selection of iced coffees. Freddo cappuccinos to be exact...

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LOVING the heart detail... i reckon they saw me coming?

After deciding our first port of call we headed to the boat and got our selves settled in.

Introducing you to... Bunny Girl. Yes, thats what our boat was called.

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Our sailing boat slept 6, a spacious double bed at the front of the boat and two small double at the back which you can see below...


More than enough room for an adventure.

The first night we headed across the bay to a stunning Taverna on the water. I failed you guys as a blogger and completely forgot to take a photo, WAH. 
But those of you that are with me on snapchat (molliebylett) will have seen how beautiful it was.

DAY 2

We set sail for our next destination, remaining on the Island of Lefkada but heading south...


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With a lunch stop at Mikros Gialos on the way...


Sivota, Lefkada

08:00 Dinner in the port



05.45 Run up the mountain to watch the sunrise.
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07.00

09:00 Breakfast in Sivota

11:00 Refilling with water ready to set sail.


STAY TUNED FOR THE NEXT DESTINATION... IT'S MY FAVOURITE SPOT!

Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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10 ADVENTURES TO GO ON WHEN YOU'RE 20 SOMETHING

Fiscardo, Kefalonia | Sailing Greece

After exploring a couple of coves on the island of Lefkada (catch up here if you missed the blog post) we sailed south to the next island.

Here we arrived at the North of Kefalonia in a beautiful sailing village called Fiscardo. I am lucky enough to have been to Kefalonia on a few occasions before as one of my best friends moved out here 4 years ago with her family.

Kefalonia is such a stunning island, one on which you can expect gorgeous weather between April - October, dreamy beaches, waters you can see to the bottom of and swim in and well... more amazing greek food.

Whilst Lassi and Sami may be more popular tourist destinations on the island, and Argostoli being the capital, Fiscardo is the most popular mooring point for sailors and homes some of the most stunning apartments on the island. 


Despite having been here before, I have never arrived by boat and it gave the island a completely new perspective. 


After sailing 4 hours to get here we were all ready for a dip and so dived straight into the ridiculously beautiful waters before whipping up some lunch.


After filling up our tummies, we were eager to explore and headed straight over to the village for a nosey around.



We may have also slipped into the Waffle shop by accident...



... Heart shaped waffle with frozen yoghurt ice cream, melted kinder bueno, melted freer roche, strawberries, caramelised almonds and white choc flakes.

OOPS.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU COMING HERE IF YOU VISIT.
It's called Frozen Yoghurt and they do everything from frozen yoghurt (obviously) to sundaes, ice cream, waffles & pancakes.


Are you ready for me to show you around, possibly, the most beautiful village i've ever seen?

Decorated in the most gorgeous combinations of pastels, shuttered windows and flowers, I found my dream home 10 times over...


I mean... tell me you agree?!

Which is your favourite?

I love the last photo of the white house, blue shutter and pinks flowers, but HOW gorgeous are the yellow flowers clinging to the spiral staircase (first picture).

DREAMY.

After wasting away in the sunshine and pottering in and out of boutiques and art shops, we hopped on the tender back to our boat and scrubbed up ready for some dinner...


All along the harbour in Fiscardo there are restaurants on the water serving fresh fish and local delicacies for you to to feast on. 

On the first night we ate at one of these, which didn't blow my mind and was the most expensive meal on our trip so far. 

I guess thats due to the fact Fiscardo regularly hosts yachts on it's harbour alongside famous visitors, so you are paying for the location.

Anyhow, on the second night we walked a little further around the harbour to a restaurant called Panormos which boasted absolutely BEAUTIFUL views across the Ionian ocean.


You can come here for a couple of drinks, or for dinner as we did.

At Panormos you can expect freshly caught local fish, Greek delicacies and a wide choice of International dishes - something for everyone.


I went for the Sea Bass which was the special for the day and it was absolutely on point. Served with a tangy slaw/salad, they really did make sure the flavours complimented each other and fully enhanced the dish...

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After a fully satisfying meal on the terrace, we begun our walk back through the village to our boat.

Being continually mesmerised by the sunset that was evolving before us, I was drawn away from the conversation and got a bit snap happy with my camera.

If you've read my Gili Island adventures in Bali you will already know that pink sunsets are my absolute favourite...


Another memory for the keeping. 

When the sun rose, another day was upon us and so was another meal.
I enjoyed some overnight oats, topped with greek yoghurt, honey and freshly chopped peaches on the top of the boat as i watched the early sailors pull into the harbour.


Before setting sail to the next island, I popped my trainers on and hopped off to explore a nature trail that leads just off from Fiskardo around the peninsula.

Here you come across 2 lighthouse, one of which you can ascend to the top off and also a few ruins...


It takes a mere 15 minutes to walk around, is completely sign posted and is perfect for grabbing some fresh ocean air if you're staying in Fiskardo.

Fiskardo, it was short and sweet but you were more beautiful than ever & maybe one day I will return, live in my little white and blue house and we will meet once again...



STAY TUNED FOR PART 3 :)

Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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10 ADVENTURES TO GO ON WHEN YOU'RE 20 SOMETHING


Pera Pighadi, Ithaka & Vathi, Meganissi | Sailing Greece

After having explored Lefkada and fallen in love with Fiscardo, we had pretty high expectations of anything that was to come.

We decided (captain decided) to sail to and explore another Island nearby, Ithaka, in search of our next overnight spot. 

One of the things i love most about sailing holidays of this kind, is the freedom you have to explore and simply stop wherever... floats your boat.

Sailing is possibly one of the most relaxing activities i've come across, particularly when it's just you and the big blue. 

My mind finally finds peace (no technology on deck) and I slowly drift into a state of bliss (sleep).

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Quest bars from Clean Snax

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As we begun approaching Ithaka we all sat up and helped pick the winning spot, dipping in and out of coves for inspection along the way...


The turquoise waters had all of us weak at the knees and we soon agreed on a quiet little cove with no signs of life (apart from another boat or two).

We were to stay here and fend for ourselves, cooking washing and entertaining ourselves from the boat and the water that surrounded us.

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After another dreamy feta filled lunch, we jumped off the boat and swam to explore a little beach we could see lurking behind us..

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As if one adventure wasn't enough, George, my best friends brother, challenged us all to climb the mountain before us in hope of a gorgeous view over the bay and the little islands that slept close by.

After our beautiful climb in Lefkada to watch the sunrise, we all agreed, took the tender over to the rocks and begun the ascent.


The lesson we learnt here was that some mountains are A LOT steeper than they look. We were definitely not following a track so we were hesitating and fearing for our balance with every step we took.

Half way into the climb we realised why this wasn't an already trodden track, dangerous to say the least...


Spiders, cut legs, and throughly scratched calves later we had muscled on through and my god was the view worth it... 


The calmness and beautiful shades of ocean that stood before us reminded me immediately of The Whitsundays. We all stood breathless (from the view and the climb) and relieved, silently taking in every ounce of beauty we had just discovered.

Another moment that the world took my breath away.

We begun our descent before the sun went down and before we got stuck in the bushes, to find dinner was ready and waiting for us.

A pasta bake, a calm cradling from the ocean and another peaceful nights sleep...

The last island we visited on this Sailing adventure was Meganissi. We arrived late afternoon which may explain the lack of photos i took as we too, left early the next morning.

In the time we spent there we had our daily swim, nosey around the shops and of course another beautiful greek dinner on the waterfront.

Whilst you will have seen in my last post how beautiful the houses in Fiscardo were, Meganissi gave it a run for its money with an abundance of white buildings and a spectrum of coloured flowers making capturing beautiful snaps very easy...




Another AMAZING ADVENTURE... How lucky I am to be able to explore this beautiful world we live in. I am thankful every day for the opportunities and adventures I get to go on.

Where your favourite place in Greece?!

Later this year I may be heading back out to Greece so I'm super excited to see even more of it! Recommendations?!

Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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10 ADVENTURES TO GO ON WHEN YOU'RE 20 SOMETHING

My Trip to Austria with GoPro... Introducing the Brand New Hero 4 Session!

So this time last week I got home from one of the most amazing experiences I have had through blogging.

It came about after I received an email from the Social media manager at GoPro. They had come across my GoPro pictures on Instagram (molliebylett) and travel videos on Youtube (youtube.com/molliebylett) and well... I think...they were a fan :)

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It was one of those emails that I had to read a few times before believing it.

A mere couple of weeks later, my bag was packed and I was heading out on another adventure, this time to Austria (lucky lucky me).

It was all kept a surprise until last minute, all I knew was that I was to land at Innsbruck and there would be someone to pick me up...


I arrived alongside a couple of other travel bloggers, one from France and one from Barcelona, and we all shared the 40minutes ride from the airport to the hotel.

Once we arrived, we were given our badges, itinerary and room keys with the freedom of the afternoon to do whatever we wanted before reconvene in the hotel reception at 7pm for dinner.


When I say my room was stunning, I am completely serious.
We were staying at the Naturhotel Waldklause, a 5* spa resort in Langenfeld snuggled between the most beautiful of mountains.


Of course, with my free time, it goes without saying that i went to check out the spa...




After a dip in the water and a cheeky sunbathe looking out onto the mountains, I fell asleep for a brief afternoon nap before slipping my robe back on, sipping on a fresh mint tea and heading back to my room to freshen up...
DREAMY.



At 7pm ish, we all headed downstairs for an introduction from the GoPro team, a glass of prosecco and an introduction to each other.

We had all travelled from different corners of the world, came from compeletely different backgrounds and creative careers, and well... that made for some very engaging conversation over a gorgeous dinner at the hotel and plenty of drinks as the night continued.

Well and truly mingled out, we headed up to bed around 1am (oops) to get some shut eye before the big day of adventures...


7am came way too quickly but as soon as I remembered where I was i was straight out of bed and downstairs to devour the most amazing spread of breakfast options and Austrian delicacies.

So far the hotel excelled in e v e r y aspect. If you impress me with the food, well you've done well.

8am arrived and we all hopped in the GoPro cars and headed to Area 47 where our adventures were to commence...

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As you can see above, Area 47 is an outdoor adventure park with NUMEROUS adrenalin pumping activites to engage in - including blobbing...
(For more information see their full website here

We arrived to a classroom type set up in Area 47 where we were presented with one hell of a gift.

THE BRAND NEW GOPRO HERO SESSIONAND the GoPro LCD AND all the accessories we could dream of.

Completely overwhelmed by GoPro's generosity, we all grinned like kids on Christmas morning whilst being briefed on why we were actually here.

GoPro were about to launch their BRAND NEW GoPro (12th July) & we were here to test it out and have some fun with it.


THE FACTS
 The smallest of the GoPro family
 50% smaller and 40% lighter than the Hero 4 black and silver
• It can shoot at speeds up to 1044p 30fps & 1080p 60fps
• It shoots 8MP photos with a burst rate of 10fps
• Waterproof up to 10 meters (WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL CASING)
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth radios
• Time Lapse Photo Intervals from 0.5 to 60 seconds
• Protune


THE TESTING FUN PART...


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After an incredible day white water rafting (for the first time!), buggy-cross'ing, and having access to all the slides, dives, blobbing and BBQ food we could wish for, 4pm came and it was time to head back to our beautiful hotel.

We had a brief half 45 minutes to shower and freshen up before the GoPro cars picked us back up and begun our steep ascent to Solden for our dinner destination - Gampe Thaya.

Just take a look at that view...


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We enjoyed (a few) fresh cranberry infused glasses of prosecco alongside some canopes as we indulged in the view. If you've been here (reading my blog) for a while you will know i am a sucker for a good view.

Over a city, beach, mountains or sunset, views mesmerise me and make me all sentimental.

As I gazed out into the mountains and the depths below us, I had another moment to realise how very lucky I am to explore as much of the world as I do. Nothing beats it - really.

And just to top off that incredible feeling, we continued on into the CUTEST of Austrian restaurants where we enjoyed traditional Austrian cuisine and a few more glasses of bubbly.


The following day had us a mini lie in, another amazing breakfast at the hotel and a sad departure back to our home countries.

Even though the trip was short it was unbelievably sweet and i just feel honoured to be involved with such an inspiring company.

Thank you GoPro for an incredible trip, the addition of so many amazing memories and for the introduction to an amazing team & group of creatives. I met some beautiful people on this trip & I cannot wait until we all cross paths once again... 

Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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Mollie X AJ Odudu X Adidas | #workit Summer Series

Helloooo!
So today i'm going all fitness on you, taking off my backpack and throwing on some trainers... 

I've teamed up with Adidas and one of my favourite girlfriends Aj Oduduto inspire you guys to try something different and change up your fitness routine!

Every Tuesday and Thursday a brand new workout move, designed by the guru herself, AJ, will appear on the Adidas Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/adidasWomenUK). 
What you need to do?
Try it & #workit

Through this #workit campaign, adidas aims to inspire us women to push the boundaries, try something new and be more confident in our self and our bodies!

This week I will be trying the moves out myself and sharing them with you on Facebook (Facebook.com/molliebylett) and Twitter (@molliebylett)...

YOU KNOW IT! 
Summer is well and truly upon us now, so challenge yourself, head over to the adidas Facebook page and get dat body movin'!
SHOP MY GORGEOUS NEW TRAINERS...

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How do you prepare for summer?
Favourite workouts / classes?!

I love sweating it out in an intense HIIT class :)

Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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Dinner and cocktails at Pont St, Belgravia

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There are many people in life that we take for granted at times, at least i do, particularly when life gets busy and you're rushing around at a million miles an hour.

So on Tuesday I took the day off (kind of) and treated my mum to a day out in London. We started with an awesome Pilates inspired class at Ten Health and Fitness and then continued onto a meditation class in Covent Garden at Inner Space. 

Both of these classes I got through my So Much More membership which is an AWESOME pass that allows you access to unique classes all over London. 
If you fancy giving it a go you can get two weeks FREE with the code 'MOREMOLLIE'. 

All you need to do is click here: https://somuchmore.co.uk/?invitation=besomuchmore&city=L and sign up!

------

After working up an appetite and calming our minds, Mum and I headed down to Pont St restaurant to refuel.

Who?

What?
Modern, classy, fine dining restaurant
(& Hotel)

Where?
Heart of Belgravia, nearest tube - Knightsbridge 

When?
Mon - Sat 7am til 11pm, Sun 8am til 10pm

Why?
Incredible and unique choice of food& Cocktails + award winning chef Sophie Michell

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Everything about the hotel is exquisite and sings elegance from the moment you walk through the big glass doors. Definitely somewhere you could dress up to the nines to make a special night of it.

The interior is edgy in it's paintings, subtle with it's lighting yet makes a statement with its choices and furniture combinations. Unique to say the least.


We continued on through the hotel reception (yes you can stay if you find you've eaten too much and need bed asap), to the restaurant where our table was perfectly prepared and the waiter was immediately on hand to quench our thirst...


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... with Porn star martinis of course. 

Oh, and an extra glass of Red for my mum because it's her treat day :)

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We begun with a selection of starters from the menu


Steak Tartare with quail eggs and marmite butter on sourdough croutes... I mean what an unexpected combination. 
I've literally never tasted anything like it. In a flippin' good way.



Admittedly I was a bit hesitant on the raw meat and egg combo but it's always the combinations you don't think will work - that do.


Burrata - Heirloom tomatoes, Basil, Capers, Silican cold pressed EVO oil...


ALWAYS a favourite of mine... when it's done properly. And I can assure you Sophie has perfected this dish. I love starting a meal with something light and easy on the stomach & this dish does exactly that whilst still setting alight your taste buds with flavour.


And my absolute favourite... 
Crispy Squid - Chilli, garlic, kaffir lime leaf & lemongrass dip

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I cannot explain to you how good this was. My mouth is watering right now, just at the thought of it.

I think it was the dip. I have a bit of a sweet tooth and it was like a sticky, garlicy sweet dip which complimented the squid just PERFECTLY and left you wanting more and more and more after each bite.



MAINS

Free Range Chicken Paillard
Honey and lemon dressing with roasted squash and tender stem brocolli

Dorset crab Raviolis 
Peas, pea shoots, chive butter


THE yummiest Truffle mash...


some Spinach with extra virgin coconut oil, chilli and garlic & Truffle and parmesan hand cut chips.

DESSERT

Vanilla pannacotta
with rhubarb jelly and poached rhubarb


Doughnut balls
filled with passionfruit goodness & a mini vanilla milkshake


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Even though the starter and main had COMPLETELY filled our tummies, life is too short to not have the pudding and my sweet tooth caved in to the temptation...

Were these doughnuts good I hear you ask?

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UN-REAL.

I swear this spread of food has to be some of the yummiest and most beautifully created pieces of art i've ever let my taste buds experience.

On average, a Starter Main and dessert here will cost you around £45 a head (without drinks), slightly more expensive than your average meal our but you're in London and it's for very good reason. 

You can read the incredible background and talents of the chef in question Sophie Michell here and see just why.

My recommended dishes?
Crispy Squid
Dorset crab raviolis
Truffle Mash
Doughnut balls


Mum and I had an absolutely perfect early evening dinner here before we headed of to the theatre and i would highly recommend it.

(Rumour has it they do an amazing roast dinner here. I'm thinking i will have to return because I can only imagine how good that will be based on this experience!)

Pont St is perrrrrfect for a special occasion dinner to celebrate those exam results, or just an excuse or dress up and eat some incredible food!

For reservations click here or call 020 3189 4850



Thank you so much for having us Pont St!


Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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My Guide to buying a GoPro

July Pay Day Wish List

My Weekend Guide To Brighton

I am forever being told by people how much they love Brighton & well, I hadn't been in YEARS.

The last time I went was over 10 years ago to watch a Scissor Sisters concert! Remember them?! That's a throwback for you hey?

For those of you that don't know, Brighton is a seaside resort situated on the South Coast of England.  

My boyfriend was, too, keen to head to Brighton as he went to Uni there, so last weekend we packed an overnight bag and headed to the English coast.


As usual I packed in a load of exploring and i have combined my favourite finds, alongside my top tips, incase you are heading or planning a weekend to Brighton!



Once you're in Brighton itself, everything is within easy walking distance so you won't need a car to get around. 

However if you're using a car to get to Brighton then you'll need to consider parking before your trip.

If you're in a hotel, air bnb or staying at a friends, be sure to check the parking situation and whether you have a space allocated. 

Otherwise it's a little like London, tricky or expensive. 
Parking can cost up to £20 a day (car parks in Brighton) which can be a bulky expense on top of your trip.

The train station is right in the centre and walking distance from the centre and the beach front. A great option to avoid car hassles.



If the price is right then grab a hotel in the centre or even on the beach front.

Hotels can get pretty pricey and booked up in the summer months of June - September. Try and book ahead to secure a good deal & ensure you actually get a bed!

Seafront hotels:
Queens Hotel - queenshotelbrighton.com 
Thistle Brighton Hotel - thistle.com 
The Grand - grandbrighton.co.uk 
Hilton - placeshilton.com 
The Kings Hotel - kingshotelbrighton.co.uk 


If prices are looking too much then try Air Bnb, it's becoming my go-to site. Such great prices, locations & knowledge from the locals. 

We stayed at The Kings Hotel on the Seafront. The location was perfect and it was clean with great service.

For a weekend at the end of July the room cost £200 for a standard double with no sea view. Slightly overpriced for what it was but you are paying for the location, the season and the fact it is a Saturday night.

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- Walk along the seafront, mooch around in the seafront shops & have a drink or some lunch looking out to sea.

- Walk along the pier and release your inner child in the arcades / fair ground.

- Grab some fish and chips or fresh doughnuts and walk down the pier.

- Browse in gorgeous homeware stores e.g. England at Home (my fav!).

- Explore & shop in 'The Lanes'.

- Release the inner hippie in you and buy some moroccan and hippie clothing (lots of alternative boutiques and art shops dotted in The Lanes).

- See whats on at The Brighton centre or The Brighton Dome.

- Eat Fish and Chips from Harry Ramsden's.

- Visit the Royal Pavillion.

- Take a trip to Brighton Museum.

- Find a coffee shop on The Lanes (not difficult) and enjoy an afternoon of coffee and cake.

- Watch Fudge being made in Roly's Fudge Pantry & choose your favourite from the numerous flavours. Just make sure you take some home for souvenirs!

- Book onto a cake making class at www.angelfoodkitchen.co.uk 

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Alongside a whole load of fish and chip takeaways, Brighton surprised me with it's extensive offering of vegan, vegetarian and health conscious eateries.

So whatever it is that takes your fancy, Brighton does a flippin' impressive job to accommodate!

- Fish and chips on the pier
(There is no shortage of fish and chip shops if you fancy them!)

- The Hilton for afternoon tea with a sea view or a gorgeous Sunday Sunday Roast

Brighton of course has all your usual chain restaurants:
e.g. Pizza express / Zizzis / cafe rouge

We ate on the sea front at:
- The Tempest
where we enjoyed cold ciders, an insane pulled pork burger and a beetroot and goats cheese tart, which was too, amazing!



- There are MANY other pubs / eateries on the seafront (gorgeous views!)

If you're shopping in The Lanes, wandering about or walking along the beach - you won't walk 1 minute without stumbling across an eatery. 

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We tried a GORGEOUS vegetarian restaurant called 
- Food for friends 
which I would highly recommend. My boyfriend LOVES a burger but he also LOVED this restaurant, so don't be put off by the 'vegetarian' thing.

We also bought some gorgeous raw juices from a shop in The Lanes called: 
- Juice 42



ON THE BEACH:
- The Tempest Bar (as seen in picture above)
- Fortune of War
- Riki Tik Beach Bar (website here) Brighton's version of DubJam - A slice of Jamaica, amazing rum punches and right on the beach front!

- Mash Tun Pub (laid back atmosphere)
- Pitcher & Piano for cocktails (expresso martinis are amazing! Also picks up with music and atmosphere in the evenings)

- Oldest pub in Brighton - The Cricketers



Have you been to Brighton?

Any recommendations that I missed?

Pop them in the comments below and share them with everyone else :)

Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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10 gorgeous towns in Europe you MUST add to your bucket list!

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JUST incase my bucket list wasn't already long enough, I have 10 additions (although I have recently been to number 5 it's already on my revisit list!!!).

For those of you guys that live in Europe, these hotspots are right on our doorstep and are even weekend getaway possibilities.

Get your pen and paper out and add 'em to your list!

1.Cinque terre, Italy
Cinque terre is made up of 5 villages in Italy along the coastline connected by hiking trails. Romaggiore, Veranda, Corniglia, Monterosso & Manarola.



2. Burano, Italy
My friend recently visited Burano and bought it to my attention. A fairytale destination that looks every bit as colourful and gorgeous in real life! No photoshop!



3. Petite Venise, Colmar, France
Located in the Alsace region in North Eastern France, this picturesque village filled with half timbered houses dotted along the waterway will is instantly charming



4. Portfino, Italy
An Italian fishing village famous for its harbour and artistic visitors. Located in the province of Genoa on the Italian Riviera.



5. Fiscardo, Greece
A dreamy sailing harbour located at the very north of Kefalonia, one of the Ionian islands in Greece. Walk through an abundance of pastel houses filled with overgrowing flowers and dine on the waterfront as the sunsets over the calm ocean.



6. Bath, England
The sun may not always shine here in England but we have many spots that are stunning whatever the weather. Bath is one of them. Indulge in a spa package, dip in the roman baths or take one of the scenic walks around the town. I love Pulteney Bridge...



7. Hallstatt, Austria
A village in Upper Austria, in the Salzkammergut region. Just look at those mountains. Imagine waking up to them in the morning. DREAMY.




8. Sintra, Portugal
Located just to the west of Lisbon, and known from there as a popular day trip, this town has the most fascinating monuments and historical buildings to explore. Not to mention the view.



9. Misurina Lake, Italy
The picture speaks for itself. A very small town with limited accommodation & captivating views.




10. Goreme, Turkey
Located among the 'fairy chimney' rock formations this is a town in Cappadocia. That famous place where the hot air balloons rise with the sun.


Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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VIDEO - My Guide to New Zealand | Tips, tricks and planning your adventure

10 Festivals that MUST be added to your Bucket List...

There's just something about festivals.

The music, the outfits, the dancing, the masses of people and the energy that comes with them. The 'singing your favourite song' as loud as you possibly can, and just generally leaving the world behind and escaping life for a few days.

Researching for this post has just meant another million additions to my bucket list. But i've rounded it down.


Here are my '10 festivals that must be added to your bucket list'... LIKE NOW.

1. Burning man
Where? Black rock desert, Gerlach, Nevada, US.
When? End of August/ beg of September

2. Tomorrowland 
Where? Boom, Belgium
When? End of July

3. Glastonbury 
Where? Somerset, UK
When? End of June

4. Sziget 
Where? Budapest, Hungary
When? Mid August


5. Holi Festival 
Where? Phalgun Purnima
When? End of Feb / beg of March


6. Yi Peng Lantern Festival 
Where? Chiang Mai, Thailand
When? November



7. Rio Carnival 
Where? Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
When? Mid Feb just before lent.

8. Oktoberfest
Where? Munich, Germany
When? Mid Sept - Beg of October


9. Coachella 
Where? California, US
When? April

10. Songkran
Where? Thailand
When? April


Turkey Mince Shepherds Pie with Sweet potato, Carrot and Feta mash | RECIPES

Sharing my favourite recipe with you today...
The turkey shepherds pie with sweet potato, carrot and feta mash!


This is a great dish if you're having people over or just for a hearty meal for... yourself. I usually make a big dish of it and then put 4/5 portions in the freezer for when i can't be bothered to cook!

This recipe serves 4 people as a main dish or 5/6 people if you accompany it with vegetables.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

2 garlic cloves
1 red onion
2tbsp olive oil / coconut oil

2/3 handfuls of chopped mixed veg (peppers, mushrooms, courgette, carrots - anything you want)
650g Turkey mince
1 can lentils (i used green)
2 cans chopped tomatoes
1 big squeeze of tomato puree
Sprinkle of Basil

4 medium sized sweet potatoes
5 carrots
Feta cheese

HOW TO COOK:

1. Peel and chop both the carrots and sweet potatoes in similar sized chunks. Bring to boil for 20 minutes until fork can be inserted with ease through the veg.

2. Whilst the carrots and sweet potatoes are cooking, heat 2tbsp oil in a wok / large frying pan.

3. Cook the garlic, red onion and choice of chopped vegetables (i did peppers and mushrooms) for 5/10 min until soft and with a golden edge. 

4. Add the turkey mince and stir until cooked.

5. Add the 2 cans of chopped tomatoes, can of lentils, big squeeze of tomato puree and basil to the pan and simmer for 20 minutes.

6. Pre heat the oven to 180deg.

7. Drain the sweet potatoes and carrots before placing them back in the pan and mashing them / pureeing them with a hand blender. Season with pepper.

8. In a large baking dish, empty the pan contents and top with the sweet potato and carrot mash.

9. Place baking dish in center of the oven for 30 minutes. (At 15 minutes, remove and crumble feta over the top of the mash).

10. SERVE AND ENJOY!

If you'd like to see the recipe in pictures...

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Thank you for reading, lots of love...
Mollie xxxx

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