Hello. How is the New Year treating you? For me, the festive season is feeling like a distant memory and most days are filled with cold and dark winter mornings desperately trying to avoid those dreaded January blues that everyone talks about.

Today, I took a walk around my hometown and explored. I must have walked for miles, soaking up the fresh, crisp air and allowing the glorious sunshine to warm my face. It reminded me that you don't have to go too far to enjoy life's little pleasures and to experience what nature has to offer. I found the experience theraputically cleansing as I've been feeling overwhelmed of late. I blame the hussle and bussle of Christmas!

I urge you to do the same if you want to cleanse your mind and invigorate your soul. It doesn't have to be a walk but an activity you enjoy where you can just be yourself and let your mind wander.

As ever, I never go anywhere without my Nikon D3400 camera. So, here are some of the pictures I took from my day out. I hope you find the splashes of colour inspire and fill you with joy as they have for me whilst I wait for Spring.

Much Love x

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Do you find listening to your favorite songs can give you a boost of energy or motivation to power through to the end of a workout? For me, it is a excellent strategy for improving concentration and increased performance, which is why I am excited to share with you songs that keeps me motivated from beginning to end.

Here are my top ten songs, perfect to transform an intense, fat-burning workout into a fun sweat session that doesn't even feel like exercise!

Enjoy x

1. Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa | One Kiss

2. Sigala, Paloma Faith | Lullaby

3. M-22 | First Time (ft. Medina)

4. Jax Jones | Breathe (Official Video) ft. Ina Wroldsen

5. TRU Concept & Nu Aspect | Said To You

6. EDX | Touch Her, Feel Her (Original Mix)

7. Calippo | Good for You (Original Club Mix)

8. Sigma & Rita Ora | Coming Home

9. Gorgon City (ft. Katy Menditta) | Imagination

10. Route 94 (ft Jess Glyne) | My Love

Who doesn't love travel quotes? For me, they evoke inspiration to live life to the fullest and feed my inner wanderlust to explore and see the world for what it is really is, which is absolutely beautiful.

Here are my top 10 favourite travel quotes collected over time. Whether you're an avid traveler, or just seeking a sense of momentary escape from the daily grind of routine, these are perfect to fuel that wanderlust and inspire you to pack up everything and head out into the unknown.

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Last Updated: 18/01/2019

I've always been fascinated with the idea of having a bucket list but I've never actually got round to writing a physical list until now.

I did have a go at compiling a few ideas for my Pinterest board last year, which was fun, as it encouraged me to try new things and have different experiences, but this year, I wanted to continue adding to the list but also capture the experiences visually and in physical form.

So, I purchased a bucket list journal from my favourite independent small businesses high street website; Not On The High Street. Priced at just £23.00, which may seem a little expensive to some, it is definitely worth the extra pennies and a extremely good buy.

Not only is the journal beautifully bound in stylish black cloth, its packed with lots of inspiration! The journal includes a bucket list of 101 items and questions, motivational interviews with successful men and women, a space to insert pictures, inspirational quotes, beautiful photography from around the world, and a world map perfect to inspire anyone to start thinking about living their life to the absolute fullest and to follow all those hidden dreams.

So, without further ado, here's my list so far.....

TRAVEL

Travel to Venice, Italy | Go on Gondola Ride
Travel to Paris (again)
Travel solo

BLOGGING

Join a blog community
Post once per day for a whole month
Learn about Ghost and its functionality

LIFE

Get a tattoo
Open a shop on Etsy
Pleased to announce I opened "MadebyAnnieSanderson" in October 2017: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/madebyanniesanderson

SKILLS

Take a photography class
Learn how to play the guitar
Record a song
Learn how to ride a bicycle
Learn how to play chess

ADVENTURES/OUTDOORS

Visit Go Ape
Ride the London Eye

FITNESS/HEALTH

Attend the gym regularly
Attend a yoga class
Run/walk 10k
Run/walk Half Marathon
Reach my goal weight

I'll be updating this post as I cross items off of my list (and adding to it) and I hope to include a photograph or two on here to give you a little inspiration for your bucket list.

Do you have a bucket list?
Have you thought about creating one? What are some of the things on it?

I would love to hear from you via the comments section below.

It's been 8 months (I know, I am little behind on my blog posts!), since our short break to the beautiful cosmopolitan city of Rome, Italy. This is our 4th visit to date and no doubt, not the last. With so much to see and do, you are guaranteed each visit will always be different. I adore Rome. I love the vibrancy, the cultured but tremendously overcrowded streets filled with life, beauty and romance. I love the hospitality of the locals and their desire to make every moment you spend in their enchanted city even more special than the first.

Rome, for me, is like a journey into the past, with thousands of years of art, architecture and culture on display for all to see. Exploring on foot the endless tangled lanes of cobbled streets and passing modern buildings are ruins such as Pantheon and Colosseum dating back thousands of years evoking the power of the former Roman Empire, in all its glory and stature.

Italy's eternal city is built on vast history and inspiration and although, this is not my first visit to Rome, I still feel a buzz of excitement when I see the magnificent Colosseum or St Peters Basilica illuminating the Italian skyline.

If you don't believe me, take some inspiration from some of the photographs I took to capture my holiday experience in Rome.

1 |Castel Sant'Angelo

Castel Sant'Angelo is an hidden gem located in the Vatican City, with its towering cylindrical building and national museum. This fascinating fortress was built as a mausoleum for the Emperor Hadrian (AD130-139) but also a prison and used by former Popes who fled there for protection during times of danger.

I was privileged enough to visit the Sant Angelo castle and National Museum of Castel Sant'Angelo which is like stepping into history, a home to various exhibits ranging from Renaissance paintings, sculptures antique military weapons as my photographs show.

2 |Colosseum

The Colosseum or as known in Italian, "Collesso", also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, is an oval amphitheatre situated in the heart of Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and sand, it is the largest amphitheatre ever built in the history. The Colosseum is located east of the Roman Forum. It boasts 80 arched entrances allowing easy access to 55,000 spectators, who were seated according to rank.

Be prepared for lots of walking when visiting the Colosseum. It is a magnificent monument of enormous size, an ellipse 188m long and 156 wide. Comfortable shoes is a must!

3 | Trevi Fountain

The Fontana di Trevi - or Trevi Fountain inspired by Roman arches, is the largest and most famous fountain in Rome, Italy. An impressive standing of 25.9 meters high and 19.8 meters wide.

Trevi Fountain is situated in the busy Trevi square (Piazza di Trevi), within walking distance from the Spanish Steps and Piazza Navona.
Tradition has it a coin thrown into the water guarantees a visitor's return to Rome and I can certainly vouch for that! This is my fourth visit!

4 |St Peter's Square, Vatican City

The striking square and its imposing colonnade lead to the greatest basilica of the Christian world: St Peter's Basilica (Basilica San Pietro). It also represents the core of the Vatican City, the smallest state in the world. In the origins, the square used to be the place where Nerone Circus and Gardens where located, and where many Christians, including Saint Peter, suffered from martyrdom.

5 | Fine Cuisine | Hotel Artemide

Romans love to eat. And they love to eat good food. Despite their easy-going "whatever happens, happens" attitude, they can become really picky when it comes to food.

We had the pleasure of dining in the most exquisite restaurant situated right in our hotel. I urge you to experience the finest Italian cuisine at Ambrosia Restaurant of Hotel Artemide in Rome. The food served at Ambrosia Restaurant is locally sourced and freshly prepared on a daily basis for its guests. You'll never forget your experience at Ambrosia and it'll leave you wanting more!

Caprese Salad

Tonnarelli (thick noodle pasta) with Shrimp

Thank-you for taking the time to read my blog post on Rome - I hope it'll inspire you to visit this beautiful city and come to adore it as much as I do.

Please feel free to comment on any of the content you see on this post using the details below.

Much Love
x

I am feeling inspired on this warm September Sunday morning to make something wonderful with my new purchases from Hobbycraft. My mood is Christmassy, and yes, I realise to some, Christmas might seem like a long way off but if you've got a lot of friends and family to make for, now is the perfect time to start!

These beautiful Christmas Snowflake gift tags are of my own design and perfect as a simple project for first-time crafters to get to grips with.

Suitable for: Beginners

Time allowed: 10 - 15 minutes

You will need

1| Selection of Assorted Festive Washi Tape (I have used Hobbycraft Assorted Christmas Washi Tape 3 Pack £3.00)

2| Twine (I have used Hobbycraft Green Twine £2.00)

3| Tags (I have used Kraft Luggage Tags 30 Pack £1.50 5 cm in length)

4| Self Adhesive Gems (I have used 3 mm green gems)

5| Scissors

6| Craft Tweezers

7| Punch (I have used Hobbycraft Snowflake Small Punch £2.00)

8| Green bow to decorate

How to make

1| Place tag through the groove of the punch (use the snowflake as a guide) and position where you want the snowflake to be on your tag. Once you are happy with the position, clasp together to make a snowflake punch.

2| Measure 11.5 mm of washi tape, cut and put aside. Place the strip of the washi tape about roughly 1 mm above the snowflake (as shown below) but not so, that it is touching the punch out of the snowflake.
Wrap the washi tape around both sides of the tag and cut to measure.

3| Carefully decorate the points of the snowflake with self adhesive gems using craft tweezers.

4| Cut roughly 12 mm of the twine and thread the twine through the hole of the tag to make a loop. Affix a small green bow to the washi tape to decorate.
Now you are ready to use your Christmas tags. I will be stamping mine with names of family and friends but they will look equally wonderful with handwritten names.

Happy Crafting!

Any bride knows that walking down the aisle is not only about the ceremony, but also a fashion show; all eyes will be focused on you. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to feel and look like a million dollars which makes finding the perfect wedding dress for this special occasion all the more important part of the process.

Take some inspiration from this gorgeous and stunning collection (courtesy of Pinterest) of 10 vintage inspired wedding dresses to give you a little head start for planning your big day.

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If you are looking for a sophisticated but glamorous, classy and elegant hairstyle to compliment your vintage themed wedding then look no further for inspiration.

Here is a stunning collection of vintage inspired wedding hairstyles for any bride looking for a unique style on their wedding day, courtesy of Pinterest.

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Planning a wedding? Looking for a sophisticated but glamorous vintage inspired wedding theme with a modern twist? Look no further for inspiration and creativity.

Be blown away by the stunning vintage inspired styling contained in this collection of photos, courtesy of Pinterest.

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Words can be incredibly soothing when in need of comfort or support. Words bring innovation, inspire creativity, increase motivation but more importantly remind ourselves how truly beautiful life can be.

Here is a collection of my favourite 14 Inspirational and Motivational Quotes. I hope they will inspire you to do something wonderful today and give you the much needed kick-start for 2016!

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