Love Potions, Hot Tubs and Sunrises: Love is in the Air!

Welcome to this week’s blog, where we’re embracing the spirit of Valentine’s Day with an adventurous twist! This week’s blog was written in partnership with Bird and Blend

We have created an “I Love Me” to-do list.

How about starting your day with a beautiful sunrise or pitching your tent in the heart of a forest?

Why not spend a night in a lighthouse or a hidden treehouse?

Why not plan to do more of the things you love?

Thank you, Debbie Lawrence, for this week’s Blog Cover

“I Love Me” Valentines Ideas:

1. A Breath of Fresh Air: Give your immune system some love: it loves being outside in the fresh air. Research suggests that breathing in the airborne chemicals that are released by plants called phytoncides helps us fight off infections and diseases.

2. Walk 20 Minutes: In a wood and be a better you: Who knew that getting outside could make you a better YOU! Psychologists suggest that exposure to nature helps us deal with the pressure of day-to-day life and tap into a calmer space within ourselves, allowing us to engage with the simpler things in life. Mother Nature has her ways of providing natural stress relief, lifting spirits, and helping to tackle depression. Nature is a place to switch off, download, heal, and unwind, which helps reduce stress and, in turn, can have a positive effect on our mental and physical health

3. Find your own very wild camping spot with Camp Wild: A directory of the best wild, basic, and unique campsites. The directory lists wild spaces on private land. Here is your chance to find your very first wild camping spot under the stars, in Celtic rainforests, by a waterfall, hidden in ancient woodlands, tucked away in wildflower meadows, or in the ruins of a castle. They have over 200 wild camping experiences to choose from.

4. Book at Hot Tub Hideaway in the UK. You can choose from hundreds of UK locations, including an army truck in Wales, a barn in Gloucestershire, a bird box in Devon and a railway carriage in Gloucestershire.

5. Extra Fancy  –  A balloon ride over your favourite part of the countryside. There are 100’s of UK locations to choose from, and prices start for two from £300 – you need to be date organised, be prepared for date changes due to the weather, and be up for an early start!

6. Read 100 Pages: Reread your favourite book in your favourite spot with a coffee in your favourite cup. It’s a chance to wind down and keep it simple. Give yourself some space to breathe.  Check out Penguins’ list of must-read classics – How many have you read?

7. London Bus Tour with a Valentine’s twist Indulge in a unique and romantic Valentine’s Day experience sitting on a loved-themed vintage bus travelling around London enjoying Afternoon Tea.

8. Follow a real-life Treasure Trail This is a clever website and app with treasure trails all over the UK; add in the postcode of your required area. You can use the app or download a printed version. You can text to get clues if you are stuck, and they have different lengths you can also pick the right difficulty. These start from £12.00

9. Plan a Spontaneous Road Trip with a National Trust Stay Plan a trip to a beautiful National Trust property and book one of their unique accommodations. You can stay in:

 

• • A stone bothy in the heart of Snowdonia National Park.

• • A majestic castle on the western coast of Scotland

• • A quirky, romantic retreat on the North York Moors.

• • A lighthouse keeper’s cottage at Lizard Point

• • A 13th-century castle keep on Lundy Island

• • A mini fortress in Monmouthshire

10. Buy yourself Flowers: Buy some flowers and enjoy the scent: this is your aromatherapy hit mother nature style. We all love the smell after it rains, the first smell of a new day, freshly cut grass, an open fire, Christmas trees, or a field of flowers. The smells help us feel content, happy, and relaxed. Smells are an underestimated power that can remind us to step back and slow down.

Why not visit a flower market and make a day of it

11. Find 5 Reasons To Be Grateful: Counting our blessings is a way to reflect and practice a positive mindset. It can remind us to embrace the important things; family, friends, kindness, and connecting with a broader community.

12. Watch a Beautiful Sunrise: Find somewhere to feast your eyes as a new day dawns. Beauty can spark creativity and soothe our busy minds. Here are a few inspiring locations: Stonehenge, Ben Nevis, Tower Bridge, Arthurs Seat, Penarth and Talacre Lighthouse. I have always wanted to see the sunrise in the Outer Hebrides and on the top of Snowdon!

Did you know New Zealand is the first country in the world to see the sunrise daily? The city of Gisborne, located on the east coast of the North Island, specifically the North of Gisborne, has the honour of witnessing the world’s first sunrise daily; maybe add this to your bucket list.

13. Every Adventure Needs a Picnic:

Love Potion Tea Black Tea: Love in a mug. A magical blend of chocolate, rose & strawberry. This black tea combines chocolate, strawberries, rose petals and love heart candies – it tastes so good you will fall in love, we promise (with the tea that is!).

Love Potion Brownie Recipe: Make brownies using Love Potion Tea; you can never beat homemade brownies made with love and covered in edible glitter.

14. Random Acts of Kindness: Spreading the Love! I will leave you with my favourite thing on my to-do list! Go out today and practice random acts of kindness (RAOK). The planning, execution, and afterglow of a ROAK is worth its weight in gold and can even be a little addictive!

Here are 3 to get you going: bake 10 cupcakes and deliver them with a secret note to your friends and neighbours, leave a book on a park bench with a positive message inside or buy a coffee, and pay it forward!

So, whether you are celebrating with a partner or flying solo, embrace the spirit of simple adventures this Valentine’s Day. Get ready to explore new sunrises and create memories that you will LOVE.

Happy Adventures……

Please note that The Love Potion is an affiliate link.

Here’s me toasting a pink sunrise with pink fizz and a pink hat!! Thank you to my bestie, Wendy for this very early rise at Devils Dyke!