Yorkshire Love: Tadcaster

Helloo!

So today I'm going to show off some pictures of beautiful Yorkshire. Every weekend, I take the dogs out for a super long walk (preferably somewhere we haven’t been before!) and toddle off all over Yorkshire with my family. However, this weekend I was forced to go it alone and I just couldn’t think where to go. I eventually decided to go back to the town where I grew up in Tadcaster.

Tadcaster is a brewery town and brews John Smiths, Sam Smiths and Coors to name a few. It sits pretty much slap bang in the middle of York and Leeds and is separated by the River Wharfe. (Apparently the people on one side of the river don’t like the other side, however I've never experienced this!)I've heard someone describe it as like 'walking through an old photograph'. It's true that nothing ever really changes there but, I have to admit, I wouldn't want it to change. I want it to preserve my childhood memories forever, just keep it like an old photograph please. :) 

Growing up there, I’ve taken it for granted but I have to admit, this day gave me a whole new perspective. The sun was shining, the air smelt homely and I had my two favourite dog friends to keep me company. I’ve done this walk hundreds of times before with my best friends and my mum (who is also one of my best friends!) but today, going it alone, I felt I could take in what was around me properly. 

The dogs had a whale of a time jumping in the mini lakes formed by the heavy rainfall we had in the past couple of weeks! 

The walk is just right along the river and is surrounded by hills, greenery and loveliness. 

Do you ever stop time to admire the beauty on your doorstep? 

A Beginner’s Guide to Running

Picture taken from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/juanedc/

When I first started running, I had just driven from Edinburgh to Leeds and needed to stretch my legs. I pulled on some old trainers and set off down the canal. That day, after a lot of breaks, sweat and huffing and puffing, I’d somehow managed to run just over 8 miles. I believe that this was due to a lot of hours in the gym on the cross trainer previously and possibly, beginner’s luck. However, I found that after that, sometimes I could run five miles without too much effort and feel amazing, and sometimes I could barely get past two. Running really is a magical thing because all you need to do it, is you, the ground and some decent footwear; the rest is up to you. Here are a few tips to get you motivated and pounding the streets. 

Recovering after the Great North Run 

Love your Surroundings

Sure, you can run pretty much anywhere, that’s the beauty of it. However, I found that my performance improved dramatically if I ran in surroundings I felt comfortable in. I personally don’t like to run through town centres or in overly populated areas so I tend to avoid these. If you’re limited in the areas you can run, then pick your times wisely. If you don’t like crowds then run early in the morning, or run through town centres when the shops have shut. Try out a few different terrains and situations and see which you thrive in, it could be that you enjoy a variety and can run anywhere, or you might just find you work best in particular surroundings. Although, make sure to try something new; running in intense winds, rain or snow can actually be very invigorating. 

Shoes, Shoes, Shoes

This one is so important, make sure the footwear you run in is appropriate and comfortable. I spent the first few months in converse when I started running, which were completely inappropriate for my feet and stride. I then bought a bargain pair of running trainers in the Christmas sales without too much thought. Whilst these were better, they were not perfect by any means and the amount of blisters, sore toes and rubbing which occurred was not pretty. I then decided that I needed a decent pair to complete the Great North Run and to be honest, I had blisters on top of blisters by this point. No-one wants to be uncomfortable when they run, and if you think about the amount of money you spend going to the gym, classes, on sports equipment and so on, to spend around £100 on a decent pair of running shoes isn’t all that bad. It’s such a worthy investment. I went to the ASICS store in Leeds (http://www.asics.co.uk/) to get my stride and gait measured (it’s called ASICS Foot ID) to find the perfect shoe for me. They get you on a treadmill and take a 3D scan of your foot, and the best thing is – it’s free! I ended up buying the Gel-Kayano 21 trainers. 

http://www.asics.co.uk/cat/gel-kayano-running-shoes/-/gender/Women 

Not only were these a funky colour but they were so much comfier on my feet, increased my speed and distance and made me a happier runner.

Take your Time

When you start running, take your time and enjoy it! You might need to stop and have a little walk and that’s ok. You don’t want to spend every minute hating your first few runs, go somewhere pretty and have little jogs, little walks, occasionally little sprint and build up your stamina.

Stay Positive 

Not every run will be the same, as I mentioned at the beginning of this post, sometimes I could go for miles and feel fantastic and some days I could barely get going. Relish the great runs and power-through the not so great. 

Track your Progress 

It’s always a boost to know how well you’re doing and how much you’re improving. I found the Nike Running App through a friend, this was brilliant in letting me know how far I've run, my time-per-mile and the calories burnt. (Important to some, not so important to others.) Again, this is all my experience, you might just want to run and not think about anything but I found it so encouraging to see I’d just done my fastest 5k or I’d blasted a mile in my best time. You also can get a verbal notification telling you when you’ve hit each mile and a running total of how many miles you’ve done in total for all your runs. I think it’s a great little app and best of all, it’s free. 

http://www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/running/nikeplus/gps-app

So those are a few tips when you’re starting to run, make sure to stay positive, hydrated and eat well and hopefully this will harness the runner in you!

8 Ways to: Boost your Mood

So it’s just over halfway through January, a month which has been (perhaps unfairly) labelled as being the most depressing month of the year. We’re all attempting to stick to our hastily made New Year’s Resolutions, but let’s face it, it’s a little unrealistic to not eat chocolate for the rest of the year. We’re mostly a little bit skint and some of us are totally reassessing our whole lives. Well, before you resign yourself to being found at home, half-eaten by Alsatians, try some of these tips to get you in a good mood. And remember, smillleeee! :)

Number One: Make a Good Morning Playlist

Photo taken from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/skohlmann/ (resized and corners rounded)

A morning playlist is the perfect way to get you out of bed in the morning and in the mood for a great day. Whether you use iTunes, Spotify, YouTube or otherwise, make sure that the music on your playlist is uplifting, happy and makes you smile – what goes on it will be unique to you. The advantage of this is, you won’t get any of your music reserved for when you need a good cry filtering through.

Some of my favourite morning songs guaranteed to lift my mood are:

(Don’t judge, I know some of these probably do fit in better with a reunion disco!)

Electric Light Orchestra – Mr Blue Sky

Hey, Soul Sister – Train

I’m Yours – Jason Mraz

Hall and Oates - You Make my Dreams

Wham - Wake Me Up Before you Go Go

Number Two: Get Active

With this I don’t mean you immediately need to embark on a strict gym regime or train for a marathon, when it comes to you and your body you need to do what is best for you and no-one else. Obviously there are guidelines based on age, lifestyle and other various factors, and if you want to know more about these I would recommend having a little browse online or speaking with your GP. They’re happy to help and actually come up with some really great ideas to add little positive changes to your lifestyle. If you are a gym bunny but haven’t been for a while then find a schedule which works for you – there’s always time, even if it’s just half an hour it can make all the difference.

Other things you can try are:

Walk at Lunchtime 

Or just whenever you can fit it in! If you have a spare ten minutes, instead of browsing Facebook, get yourself out and about. Walk to the shops instead of taking the car, take the stairs instead of the lift… you get the idea.

Go for a Morning Jog 

So this is one that I very seldom manage myself in winter but come summer it gets a whole lot easier and is so good for your health and your mood. You feel fantastic for the rest of the day, you have more energy and you generally make the right choices food-wise because you started the day so well. If you do find it hard, (like me), then make it as easy as possible for yourself. Set alarms with encouraging messages on them (and maybe use a song from your Morning Playlist as your alarm tone), lay out your running gear next to your bed so you don’t need to go rummaging for it in the morning and try to find a running buddy who can spur you on.  

Adopt a Dog

I have a puppy called Pongo and currently live with a gorgeous black lab who both have a lot of energy! Walking a dog once or twice a day can do wonders for your fitness and means you get to spend time with probably the happiest animals on the planet; it’s impossible not to buy into a dog’s infectious happiness, especially when they’re on walkies. If you don’t own a dog, or know anyone who would let you walk theirs, you can try this site:

https://www.borrowmydoggy.com/

Here you can find dog owners who might not have time to walk their dogs on certain days who are looking for trusty people to walk their dogs. Simply sign up and start browsing for a pup and owner suited to you.

Exercise with Friends 

Exercise is so much more fun with friends and you can motivate each other when all the other wants to do is stay in bed eating Ben & Jerry’s. Take classes together, have fun at Zumba, sweat it out in Spin Class or release some anger in Boxercise; whatever you do – it’s better with two.

Number Three: Eat ‘Happy’ Foods

Photo taken from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/azwebear/

Oh the wonders of avocados, I could quite happily eat them for every meal. They’re so fulfilling and tasty and whilst they are slightly high in calories, the nutritional value of them completely outweighs this. The key to all food is moderation, just don’t go overboard on any one food. By eating a healthy and varied diet, you will generally feel better about yourself and your body will thank you for it. I’m going to go by experience here and tell you the foods that make me happy.

Chocolate

It’s generally recommended you eat the highest percentage of dark chocolate you can to get the best benefits. It’s full of antioxidants and can aid heart health, brain health and is just generally all round wonderful. Take your time over its tastiness and pop it in the fridge to make it last a bit longer (in theory!).

Avocados

Full of healthy fats and ridiculously yummy, I usually add them to ‘Spring Green Wraps’ which I’ll probably make a post about at some point. If you’re a veggie, these are also full of omega 3 so if you’re not eating fish then these are a great source of it.

Fish

Take your pick here as the majority of fishes have a ton of health benefits. Full of healthy fats, omega 3, vitamins and have been known to ease depression. I personally like cod, salmon, tuna and king prawns.

Ice water

The simple act of adding ice to water can make it so much more of a treat and it could actually help speed up your metabolism!

Hot water, honey and lemon

Hot water and lemon is renowned as a form of detox and is actually really tasty and refreshing, just put a splash of cold water in there before you add the lemon as if it’s boiling it can actually kill some of the vitamins. It aids digestion, clears your skin and boosts your immune system, so basically, start getting the lemons in now. Add a little honey to make it super soothing, especially if you have a cold or want to unwind just before bed. 

Liquorice and Peppermint Teapigs

Just had to include this in here. Whilst teapigs can be a wee bit pricey, they usually make up for this with the taste and richness of the teas. I can’t resist the liquorice and peppermint flavour, you can’t really taste any liquorice, it’s basically just a really yummy peppermint tea. It’s good for detox and sore throats and along with tea in general, it’s the ultimate calming drink. You can generally buy these in most high street supermarkets or online, you might want to check out their other flavours as well because they’re definitely worth a try!

Number Four: Buy yourself Flowers

Photo taken from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/1234abcd/

It’s usually nice to have someone buy you flowers, but how often does this realistically happen? Maybe a few times a year at the most. So why not take the plunge and buy yourself your favourite flowers on a more regular basis and keep them in your bedroom. And if you don’t want to buy a bouquet, stock up on pot plants. They make your room look prettier, they smell good and they’re delightful to come home to. It’s also said that having greenery in your house can actually just generally put you in a better mood.

Number Five: Do Something Nice for a Stranger

Photo taken from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/sweetonveg/

Buy the person behind you a drink in Starbucks, help someone struggling with their pram off the train, tell someone you like their coat/dress/hat and not just because they’ve bought it at your store, hand in lost items (no matter of their apparent value, that scruffy teddy might be nothing to you, but to a little girl it’s her entire world), leave funny notes in library books, let people in when you’re driving, be gracious, smile and just generally try to be that little ray of light in someone else’s day. It’s not hard and the smallest actions to you are staggering to others. And being nice makes you feel nice inside.

Number Six: Hug the Ones You Love

Cuddle your mum, dad, best friend, boyfriend, dog, cat, your favourite postman…whoever.

Hugging has the power to relive feelings of loneliness, anxiety, depression and stress. It increases our serotonin levels which in turn increases our moods. Hugging is a soothing, cosy and happy reminder of the closeness we have with our loved ones, so get hugging today!

Nb: It’s also my boyfriend’s tried and tested technique to resolving arguments, he knows as soon as he gets me in a hug, I'm going to stop being moody pretty much instantly.

Number Seven: Book a Holiday

So you’re stuck in work, the weather outside is grey and you are so far from the Bahamas you’re beginning to think places with bright sunshine don’t exist anymore. Well no fear, go with friends or go alone. Just book a holiday to somewhere you can look forward to. I’ve found a really great site which let you book a hotel without paying anything upfront and you can even cancel it not long before the start of the holiday without any cost! The site is here:

http://www.booking.com/ and definitely worth a browse if you’re currently a bit strapped for money at the moment!

Number Eight: Make Positive Lists

Photo taken from: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paloetic/

Make lists about what is great in your life, for example:

• The qualities you like about yourself/the qualities you think others would see in you

• The people you like and their best quality

• Your favourite things

• Your top ten puppies (hah!)

We all love to make lists right? So channel your energy in making a little positive list to brighten your day.

So do something that makes you feel great today. In the words of Sheryl Crow: 'If it makes you happy, it can't be that bad'.