I'm back!

The summer vacation has been long over. Somehow my daily rhythm is messed up after some time away and I tend to take long to manage to get back in the day-to-day routine. Obviously I was already back to work and the normal day cycle but I have been avoiding doing certain things. For one I have been avoiding going out jogging. I did manage to go once since back but that's definitely less than planned. I've also been eating like a pig and if left alone in the evening I start scavenging the cupboards for anything that can satisfy my need to pig out.

Now I think I want to take control back and that means also updating here.

The trip to Malta was jam packed with activities. With a wedding of a close friend who lives in Holland, a lot of beach days, good food and family. I won't go into much details since photos can explain better.

Lately we're flying with Ryanair since Air Malta flights are ridiculously expensive. This means that our luggage is limited. My skills of packing have improved dramatically and we managed to take only one luggage of just 15kg between us and a couple of carry on bags. I'm proud of myself!

The view from my sun bed in Ghadira bay. Not first row to the sea but that's because we prefer to have more space. We spent so many days at this beach since it seemed to be the cleanest this summer.

My boyfriend celebrated his birthday while in Malta. I think it's great to celebrate your birthday while on holiday. Mine usually is just another normal day at work in freezing weather.

We spent lots of time with my parents. Here's the boys.

And here's the girls.

Malta by night is just spectacular. This is the view of Valletta from Tigne' Point.

 Here's the most important men in my life. My boyfriend looks like he towers everyone in Malta!

I'm looking forward to be back in less than 2 months!

Returning Back

Three weeks is a long time but time goes by pretty quickly when you're having fun. Our holiday is over and after a few days once the jet lag ran it's course, life is back to normal. Waking up early morning for work, trying to focus during the day and coming back home to cook and relax. The daily routine is creepes in quickly and to say the truth I love the routine of everyday life.

You'll get to hear a lot about the trip, I'm not yet ready to keep it in my past!

And if in a few weeks time I will get the post-vacation blues I might as well check my tips from 2 years ago.

[Image Source:Stefanie de la Forbes @ Pinterest]

When the city gets grey

So you live in a city and sometimes the hustle and bustle of it all just gets to you. You love the city but every once in a while you need a break from it. You cannot always jet yourself away to some exotic island. Here's a few ways to try to re-energise yourself when the city feels too much without going on vacation.

Stay at home

You would think that this is boring and won't actually solve your problem? Sometimes what we need is just some time alone in our own home. Stay all day with your pijamas or comfy clothes and just snuggle on the sofa while watching your favourite series and movies. Drink hot cocoa, snack and just relax. Come Monday you won't be more energised and they city will look less grey than it did the week before.

Visit a different part of town

Even though you might have lived in the city for years there are surely many areas which you never really visited. Take your time to discover these areasand you'll be amazed at how many beautiful things you actually had missed before.

Plan a small retreat

You don't have much money or time to plan a proper vacation but you still want to get away. Pick a small village an hour or two drive's away from your home and book a room for the weekend in a bed and breakfast. A change of scenery will help to remove the stress and this will still feel like going on a vacation.

Plan a weekend visit with a relative or friend

Why not call a relative or friend and suggest to spend a weekend with them. Visiting family can sometimes is stressful by itself so only do this if you know you can enjoy the time rather than fuss about it. Family can also mean you can just be yourself and enjoy your time, eating homely food and just catching up with everyone's doings.

What do you do when the city gets too much?

[Image Credits: Jeanne Szewczyck @ Pinterest]

Vacationing in the Mediterranean

I have watched all my colleagues going to their vacations as soon as the school holidays started. I watched them go and come back all tanned. Now it's our turn to a taste of sun and the Mediterranean sea, since this year we definitely didn't get any in the Netherlands.

We'll be headed to the Greek islands of Patmos and Kos, both islands which I have not visited in the past. Looking forward to taste red juicy tomatoes, eat just caught fish and drink a couple of cocktails while laying down on a sun bed.

 If you wish to visit some Greek islands but you are not sure what Greek islands to go to just check it out in the linked post.

Wishing you all a great week! 

[Image Source: Pinterest Akriti That's Life]

A change

This week is going to be my last week in the office before I leave for a vacation to Greece and also changing job! In the past 6 years in the Netherlands I have changed my role a couple of times however I was always working in the same building. A change will surely be for the best.

I'm currently feeling all of the below:
excited    scared       worried    looking forward to meet new people      open to learn new things    planning to buy new clothes for the new office

[Image Source: Pinterest Megalina Cupcake]

Back to business

My vacation to Malta has been over for a couple of weeks already but my blog stayed on vacation for a little while longer. It was decided to spend my free time away from my laptop.

This is what I have been up to a month ago on my trip to Malta.

Quality time with family.

Mostly with my niece who was the spotlight of this trip

The weather wasn't always what we expected but we did manage some days at the beach.

On the days when the weather was not perfect we spent our time finding places which offered good Mediterranean food.

Beating up the post-vacation blues

The vacation's over and we've been a week back. The trip seems already so far away. My tan is wasting itself, hidden under trousers instead of dresses and skirts.  The suit cases have been stored in the basement and daily routine started again.  Vacations are periods in which we are really happy but the problem is that they come to an end; the stress less days at the beach are substituted  with a mountain of dirty washing and a ton of emails to read (and answer) at work.

The build-up and anticipation for the holidays is intense, stressful, and exciting. For this reason, it's no wonder many of us go through post-holiday blues after such times.

Here's my tips to beat the post-vacation blues?

• Unpack immediately;
• Go through your digital photos from the vacation and create a real photo album/book. Check out  Snap Fish  to create photo books;
• Eat home cooked meal. On vacation we tend to eat mostly in restaurants. Our body needs a break from all the excessive eating;
• Plan another vacation for the near future, or not so near future. Having the next vacation planned will always give you something to look forward to;
• Try to find time for yourself, to just do your thing without having to think of other people's needs;
• Organise a night out, dinner with friends;
• Find something to laugh about in your life.  What made my day yesterday was the look on my boyfriend's face once he noticed that his travel card is in a hidden pocket in his wallet after he had just canceled his lost travel card and subscribing for a new one!