WHY YOU SHOULD GO ON A SAILING TRIP

I had always thought that sailing holidays were for older people, or extortionately priced, so it wasn't until I came across Med Sailors did I realise it could be a reality!

Med Sailors is aimed at 20-35 year-old's and specialises in 6 day sailing holidays across Greece, Turkey and Croatia. Having spent some of my year abroad travelling, I knew I would enjoy a week exploring some of the Mediterranean islands, and how better to do it than on your own sailing boat. 

Here's a few tips and information if you are considering a sailing holiday next year:

1. Research your destination

With Med Sailors it was pretty tricky to decide, as I had already visited Turkey, so I knew it would be between Greece and Croatia. For me, I'd always liked the idea of Croatia, and seeing it become a host of so many of the international festivals really drew me to the country. I also felt as though some of the islands would be less touristy and the activities such as cycling and paddle boarding were something I really wanted to try abroad. 

I chose the Croatia Voyager trip from Dubrovnik to Split, I think the opportunity to see two historic Croatian citites is what really sold it for me. The other route in Croatia - Discovery includes mainly Split, Central and Dalmatia.

2. Book accommodation either side of your trip

As we were due to sail at 3pm on the Saturday of our week away,  we booked an airbnb the night before. If you haven't used this website, you must, it's excellent. It is run on the concept of user reviews, so you know exactly what you are going to get before you stay. Staying in the town was a great way to explore Dubrovnik before we sailed and get a good night sleep the night before. I would seriously recommend this as not only for comfort, it adds extra destinations to your bucket list! Book in advance for the best accommodation and always choose the historic old town (Stari Grad) to stay in, in both Split and Dubrovnik this was a great choice for convenience to sights, restaurants and bars. 

3. Budget plenty for excursions and activities (and extras)

Ensure you budget for any activities you want to do, the Med Sailors website gives you a breakdown of all these costs prior to your sailing date. Another thing is to ensure you have allowed for any port tax, sailing in the Med is expensive, but you get to use decent showers and toilets at a few of the ports. 

Also allow for the conversion rate, recently the pound has been low so prices may be changeable. 

4. Pack light

It's a sailing boat so there isn't loads of space, but you don't need to take much. You are mainly in swimwear all day so that's your main priority. Also try and pack a soft bag which allows for more space when you are on board. Remember to take some inflatables and your goggles as there isn't loads of snorkelling equipment on board. 

5. Create a playlist

You will be listening to music pretty much all day and night so make sure you load up your favourite playlists on your phone. The best choice we had was a reggae playlist, it was super relaxing and made a great atmosphere as we were sailing into the sunset. 

Most importantly, try something new, make new friends and lose your inhibitions. That's what travelling is all about, even if it's for one week. I made some great friends and excellent memories. 

KORCULA: TRAVEL & OUTIFT DIARY

Photo credit: Sam Holden

Rumoured and debated to be Marco Polo's birthplace, this beautiful island in Southern Dalmatia is enchanting. I visited when sailing around Croatia with Med Sailors. Korcula is a dichotomy of tradition and modernity, with beautifully soft marble streets underfoot, lapped by an incredible emerald coastline. Shaped like a fishbone, the town itself is another of Croatia's iconic walled settlements. Wandering the streets you will find unique fashion boutiques, luxurious hotels and two Marco Polo museums. Along the sea-front you'll find exquisite dining ranging from Eastern food to stone fired pizza and plenty of pastel coloured Sladoled - Croatia's gorgeous take on gelato, ice cream selling is indeed a serious occupation in this town.  

What I wore:

Top - Oasis

Shorts - Missguided

Sandals - Amazon

Sunglasses - Topshop

Watch - Olivia Burton

Nail polish - Essie

 

The alleyways and streets ooze calmness and serenity, as you shelter from the heat and take a stroll up the steps towards the clock tower, you can smell the Lavender that's grown on the island. Or you can take a dip in the beautiful but cool(!) waters by the promenade. 

Korcula is also famous for it's wine, so make sure you sample some local red which is by far the best, look out for the Posip label. At sunset make sure you head up to the rooftop cocktail bar Massimo, not for the tacky cocktails, but for the excellent views of sunset. The bar gets a little rowdy but the suspense from amateur photographers when the sun is setting is electric. We chose to eat at a local vegetarian and sea-food restaurant called Aterina, rated number 2 in Korcula town, they served amazing platters of cheese, olives and fish, and also home-made pasta dishes, in a quaint courtyard setting. 

Korcula was definitely my favourite of the Croatian islands, which is yours?

Sophie x

THE MOD MARKET

Altrincham market is a hidden gem, it's beautifully set in an old market hall, which was restored after a fire, with both outdoor and indoor stalls. Each time I've visited it's slowly been expanding. You notice a lot of care has been put into the organisation of the market, so much to see, smell and sample, it's got a festival-like vibe with live music too! It's definitely the best and most diverse market I've been to in Manchester, other than the Christmas markets of course!

There's something very cathartic about looking at things people have created, spent time on, bringing a handmade touch to our ever-commercialised lives. We are more likely to spend more on something we know has had care and attention put into it, rather than succumb to our favourite big brand names. These sorts of markets also force us to actually interact with sellers, discuss their skills or just a little chat...something that we are ever moving away from in today's society.

Altrincham holds markets every day other than Mondays and Wednesdays, and they pride themselves on being 'passionately regional, fiercely independent and not available online.' This punchy motto is evident as you wander through the stalls, listen to the busking band and sample the culinary tastes. If you are a small business, you can even apply for a stall here.

To eat

 You can have anything from local pies and steak in the market house, to french rotisserie, wood fired pizza and fresh fish! I always find myself spoilt for choice, envying everything I see on people's plates.

To drink

You can grab freshly ground coffee, cocktails or freshly squeezed orange juice. You really do feel good inside and out.

Obviously the above can change based on which day you visit, but you will definitely discover something delicious.

Greater Manchester and Cheshire are great for holding and promoting markets, from Lulu's Vintage to Castlefield, to the infamous German Christmas Markets, there are so many different themes available. This one at Altrincham was the 'Mod market', but they also hold Farmer's, Vintage and Flea Markets, depending on which day of the week you visit. You can check out the schedule here. 

The market is also buzzing with people cooing over your dog, (if you choose to take it). I took my sausage, he went down a treat. 

Other than inside the market there are also a few outdoor stalls, like this one selling flowers. The prices are really reasonable, £5 for large bouquets. Definitely something to impress the girlfriend!

You will find something you wont get anywhere else and that's the beauty of visiting any market. So get researching your local ones and get out and mingle. 

Sophie x 

A GUIDE TO CHALK PAINT

Chalk paint is an essential item to look into if you are decorating your home, creating a feature wall, painting floorboards, doors, or just upcycling a piece of furniture. There are loads of different paints available on the market, but it can pay to shop around and do your research. So if you are looking for a shabby chic finish, then look no further. Here's a few simple tips for painting with chalk paint!

1. Go for a trusted classic

Annie Sloan are the creators of the original chalk paint, as a brand they have an excellent selection of classic colours all in their iconic heavy matt consistency. The reason for the introduction of chalk paint was the want for a very matt, chalky finish in paint which wasn't available at the time (1990). Since then it's popularity has grown massively and can now provide a quality, trusted finish which can add value to furniture and walls. Annie Sloan paint is recommended to be used diluted as it's consistency is so thick. Annie Sloan paint doesn't actually contain chalk, rather it is known for being long established and it's matt finish than reference to it's ingredients. Another great thing about Annie Sloan is that it requires no prep, the paint can be applied to wood that hasn't been prepped with sanding for example. The paint can chip, so be wary if you are using it on a heavy usage object or wall. Annie Sloan also stock a range of brushes and finishes to use alongside their products. 
Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is £18.95 a litre.

2. For the eco-decorator

Less well heard of, but nonetheless incredibly beautiful! Auntentico was recommended to me when I visited a local boutique called Vintage Belle. The great thing about Autentico is that it is completely safe to use on children's furniture and non-toxic. It is low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and is compliant with EN71-3, which means it's entirely safe for use for children. There are three types of Auntentico paint: Vintage for distressing furniture, Velvet for a more professional finish and Venice which is made from pure lime, for that classic french look. These paints work great on outdoor furniture and do not degrade or peel off, you can even paint on iron and it will not rust or chip! Auntentico have a range of 140 shades, which means there is more to choose from than Annie Sloan, however finding a UK stockist is fairly tricky as the company is currently building their supplier base. You can get it online here.
Auntentico is priced at £14.99 per litre.

3. High-end

Farrow and Ball are one of the leaders of high-end paints. They offer a good range of shades in a few different finishes. From eggshell, emulsion, high gloss and floor paint. Their eggshell gives the closest finish to a chalk paint, without being a chalk paint. Stain and scuff resistant, Farrow and Ball is more hardwearing than Annie Sloan, so will not get that 'lived in' look as easily as Annie Sloan without distressing by hand. Farrow and Ball are priced at a slightly higher price point, but one great tip is to use the colour chart to get a copy. I only recommend this with a good quality paint mixer, so be prepared to still pay a little bit, but not as much as full price. I go for Valspar at B&Q. 
Farrow and Ball Estate emulsion is £22 per 750ml.

4. Make your own

You can make your own chalk paint by mixing 1/3 cup of plaster of paris, 1/3 of cup water and 1 cup latex paint. Or perhaps slightly easier is to use 1 part calcium carbonate and 2 parts paint. Full recipe from Salvaged inspirations You have to use the powder form of calcium carbonate otherwise this won't work, and the mixture must be mixed thoroughly before use as it can separate and become grainy. It gives a stunning and professional chalk paint finish and is completely affordable. 

What are your thoughts on chalk paint? Have/will you consider using it for your DIY projects?

Sophie x

CROATIA PACKING ESSENTIALS FROM AMAZON

I am off to Croatia with Med Sailors in a week's time and I seriously cannot wait. Med Sailors are an English sailing company for 18-35 year olds. They organise sailing trips around Croatia, Greece and Turkey. You can choose between a premier or premier plus yacht, depending on your budget and Med Sailors provide breakfast and lunch and your own  personal skipper to take you about. You also have free use of your own paddle-board (which I cannot wait to try) and discounted trips. The Croatia trips/extras range from bike and motorbike hire, to wine tasting to snorkelling in a beautiful national park. 

We've chosen Croatia as it seemed to have some great stops on the trip. I've heard so many good things about Hvar, and cannot wait to sample the wine in Korcula, and visit historic Dubrovnik and Split old towns. Safe to say this is going to be a really memorable holiday. You can read more about the routes Med Sailors have available in Croatia here. We've chosen to begin in Dubrovnik and finish in Split on the Voyager route. 

So in order to prepare for a week on a boat in a beautiful and stylish country, I've been gradually picking up essential and on-trend items. 

1. Lonely Planet guide

You can never go wrong with one of these. They make for a great read as well as informative and easy to use travel guide. It includes a round up of the best parts of cities and also how much you wish to budget for, including all the usuals such as basic words and phrases. 

I think it's the way lonely planet are written that I love so much. The first I bought was in Bali and it really made my trip extra-special. The guide gives you the low-down on where to go that's trendy or unique and often less well trodden. It's written in a chatty, friendly way that is sure to get you hyped up for your holiday. This book was about £10 and is available on amazon.

2. Swimwear

I have longed for a Triangl bikini for so long! Honestly, but the shipping costs and sizing has really put me off. I know I wouldn't bother sending it all the way back to America if it didn't fit. So I had a quick look on Amazon, and there are loads of similar Triangl dupes available. This one is from TDOLAH. I think mine was about £14, so an absolute bargain. I bought it in a size Medium and it fits perfectly. Also it had adjustable straps which help with fit. The bikini is made from neoprene which was fine for me, as I know that's how the original Triangl bikinis are made. If you don't know what this is, it feels like thick, scuba material. The only negative I found after buying this product was that you can't really wash the material, and when they arrive the fabric is quite creased from shipping. 

3. Pom-pom sandals

Having found that all signs of pom-pom sandals have sold out on ASOS, I then returned to trusty amazon (!) and found these. They are actually from a company called coco perla, who are based in Trafford, just down the road from me. I have worn these around the centre of Manchester and have only lost one small pom-pom on the edges. I think they were around £20 again, an absolute bargain. I don't expect they will last longer than this season but they are so vibrant, they completely transform a minimal outfit. 

4. Doughnut Beach Ring

I have seen these all over Instagram and knew I had to get one, and it looks good enough to eat! The only thing you have to make sure with inflatables is the amount of space it will take up in your luggage. As I'm going to be sailing, I knew there wouldn't be much space, so I went for a doughnut as opposed to a giant swan or flamingo!! They are great fun and so useful for snorkelling when you are getting a little tired of swimming. I can't wait to Instagram it! It comes with a hand pump for inflating. You can also get mini drinks holders that are inflatable here.

That's a round up of my initial holiday picks, I can't wait to review the Med Sailors experience. 
Sophie x

A SIMPLE SUMMER EVENING

I'm not usually a massive fan of the sales. In fact, I tend to purposely avoid any when shopping. I think it's something about products that people haven't bought which puts me off. However, if I find a nicely laid out display, which is organised and non-chaotic(!) I am prone to finding a few lovely things. You can find items that push you out of your comfort zone, being an unexpected find. This time, it was a pair of red suede/leather espadrilles. 

Photo credit: Sam Holden

I have longed for a pair of Chanel espadrilles, scrolling through eBay trying to locate a pair. A pair of good quality espadrilles are an essential summer item and Topshop have got an excellent range. I am looking forward to wearing these whilst on holiday exploring Croatian seaside towns. My camisole is also from Topshop, it's part of their loungewear/outerwear as underwear range which is stunning. 

Photo credit: Sam Holden

Taking photos with your very cheeky sausage dog is never easy!

My jacket is from Zara, it's a perfect transitional jacket which will take you through the rainier days of our British summer. And let's face it, we've been having quite a few! It's quilted and lined and very good quality for Zara. The floral print will also remain on trend throughout Autumn and into spring summer next year. The features on the jacket make it look and feel a lot more expensive than it is. It has snap fastenings on the collar and elastic lined seams which give it structure and a gorgeous figure-hugging silhouette. 

My full outfit is available here:

Top (Topshop)

Jacket (Zara) 

Jeans (Topshop)

Shoes (Topshop)

Toby's Harness (Puppia)

Toby's Lead (Red Dingo)

GET THE GLOW

If you've been looking for that natural glow and you've not tried a coffee body scrub yet, you must! This I have to say is a revolutionary product in beauty. The scrub overcomes the fineness of sand or microbead scrubs as coffee is naturally more coarse and consists of larger particles, which can really work away at dead skin cells. 

This body scrub from Frank Body has been a big hit across the beauty world this year. Made in Australia from natural ingredients so it's really gentle on your skin, other than the scrubbing, it doesn't irritate skin and can even improve conditions such as eczema. The original scrub contains lots of gorgeous natural ingredients, including coffee, almond oil, orange, sea salt and bamboo. You can read the full list of ingredients here. Derived from Robusta beans, any coffee connoisseurr will know that it's a very luxurious and rich blend of coffee. The products contain no parabens, sulphates or any of the nasties. A

Frank body scrubs come in Original, Peppermint, Coconut and Cacao bases. You can shop the range here. Each scrub is around £12-£14. The body balm is £20.

Frank body scrub is particularly effective to use before tanning, especially if combined with the Body Balm. When using it really feels as though it's work, as the caffeine is released from the coffee onto your skin, giving it a lift, removing any dullness and making it super soft. I even use it on my face once a week. The Body balm is smells of orange oil and has a silky and buttery consistency. It's not oily at all as it sink into the skin rapidly. It's perfect for moisturising naturally dry areas after exfoliating, before fake tanning, such as knees and elbows. It also works really well as a moisturiser, if you like a dewy and glowy look. 

The scrub particles are quite large but they really work, much better than any other exfoliator, so you can throw those awful gloves away! I have about a quarter of a packet left, and I have been using this for 4 months, so you only need a tiny bit each time. This scrub can get quite messy, so it's probably best to rub it into your skin in the shower and then rinse off afterwards. You can see the coffee dissolves slightly in the water, but the product does not stain. Overall, I think Frank is an excellent brand and the scrub is perfect for when you need that little lift. 

What are your thoughts, have you tried it yet?

Sophie x