{and relax...}

I'm feeling inspired after my weekend at the Blythswood Square Hotel and Spa. I'm still thoroughly relaxed after all that pampering and want to try and recreate the amazing atmosphere of the hotel back at my home... (on a minimal budget too if that's possible!!).

There's something about the spa that instantly relaxed me... I think it was most certainly a combination of the lighting and the incense. (When I was on honeymoon in Thailand there was a different incense each day in our villa... a really nice touch).

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I'm still in the process of doing up my bathroom, and I'd like to eventually have a few candle holders, maybe a miniature Buddha ornament and an incense burner on a shelf. I've thoroughly enjoyed having a few baths this past month (they help my Crohn's symptoms) & look forward to relaxing even more when I get my hotel inspired bathroom finished!

I bought a gorgeous glass silver tea light holder from Sainsburys for £2 and I was given a beautiful silver heart cut-out tea light holder as a house warming from my friend Vicky. Both are perfect for creating some mood lighting in the bathroom!

I've also spotted a Buddha ornament on eBay that I like the look of, and I'd love to get some hanging lanterns for candles too that I can suspend from the ceiling on invisible wire. Something along the lines of these...

Meditating Thai Buddha on eBay

Marrakesh Lantern on eBay

Two Moroccan Metal Lanterns on eBay

Final touch will be some incense and then I'm sorted :)

Long soaks in the tub with some soothing music, here I come!

{R's Birthday Surprise at Blythswood Square Hotel}

It is R's birthday today (Happy Birthday!!) and I had planned a luxurious getaway for the Easter weekend at the Blythswood Square Hotel for us to celebrate. I managed to keep it a secret from him right up until we pulled up outside the hotel in our taxi!! I'm amazed I didn't spill the beans as I was super excited about it all!

I absolutely love the Blythswood Square Hotel. It's a 5 star hotel and spa right in the city centre of Glasgow, and it's location meant that we didn't need to waste any precious time travelling across the country for our weekend break. I've thoroughly enjoyed their Square Eyes Film Club events and I've also attended a Cupcake Masterclass at the hotel. Bex over at The Olive Dragonfly also had her mini hen party here, so I knew that we were going to be in for a great weekend of pampering!

Our room was ready when we checked in at lunchtime on Easter Sunday, so we were able to suss out our digs and drop off our bags before hitting the spa!

Our Bathroom to Bedroom hotel room - amazing!

I had booked the Blythswood Spa Escape & included in the price (£260 per room per night based on two adults) we had the following:

• Luxury accommodation (and that it was!)
• Full Scottish breakfast
• 55 minute spa treatment each on the day of arrival
• Complimentary use of The Thermal Experience

R had a ishga Hot Stone Massage and I had chosen an Elemis Skin Specific Facial. It was extremely relaxing and I loved every minute! Whilst the face mask was on I was given a head, neck & shoulder massage. It was perfect! I do love a good facial :)

After the treatments we met up in the relaxation suite where I had a cup of green tea and chilled out for a bit. There were lots of inviting loungers to chose from with cosy blankets to keep warm. 

From here we headed back to the spa reception where we were shown to the locker rooms and once in our swimming gear we then made our way to The Thermal Experience. We spent two blissful hours in the various steam rooms & saunas... The Laconium, The Sauna, The Saunarium, The Crystal Steam Room, The Tepidarium, the Hydro Pool and the Vitality Pool.

Feeling thoroughly spoiled and relaxed we then headed back to our room where we had a few hours before dinner. I may have enjoyed a hot bath with a glass of fizz (thanks Ali!) before slipping into my little black dress!

The food was amazing, with the dessert being my highlight. The macarons were to die for!

After a brilliant sleep, I started the day with another bath and then we headed back to the restaurant for breakfast. Full Scottish for R and Eggs Benedict for moi. I know I keep saying this, but it really was amazing! I wasn't quick enough off the mark to get any of the pastries, next time!

We checked out of our room at midday, but I had paid for us to return to The Thermal Experience again (£20 each) and so we spent another three hours journeying through the series of rooms again. And if it couldn't get any better, we were then booked for Afternoon Tea in The Salon. I had clocked an offer on Emerald Street for two-for-one tea so we had afternoon tea for two for £22.

Duchess of Bedford Afternoon Tea... the sandwiches were gorgeous & loads of them too, followed by two perfect scones with lashings of cream and jam, and rounded off with carrot cake, lemon meringue pie, lemon drizzle cake, caramel eclair and a raspberry meringue (according to the menu this was a macaron, but it was more like a meringue and very different to the macarons we had with dinner in the restaurant the day before which were delightful). All washed down with some earl grey tea.

Mmmmmm!!!

It was the perfect end to an absolutely amazing weekend!!! 

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{#ShareAdvent - make a date with yourself}

Today's prompt for #ShareAdvent, make a date with yourself, has come with perfect timing.

At this present moment in time, I'm on a mini-break with my amazing boyfriend and I've scheduled this post in advance knowing that my internet signal is going to be poor!

I've been swamped with so many things lately... juggling work, the new house (with a leaking pipe that's meant water has seeped from the bedroom into my room below, and a roof that's now in need of repair after the high winds), buying a sensible & economical car (which I'll hopefully get this week) and the ongoing divorce that I just needed some time away to relax.

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Cue R, who has treated me to two nights away in a fancy hotel. Perfect :-)

I'm coming back to Glasgow today and I'll hopefully be refreshed and raring to go. I've still got Christmas cards to write and post, presents to buy as well as all the stuff listed above... I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everything just falls into place. What are the chances?

Making Time for Yourself as a Busy Mum

Today's #JanuaryJoy post is to 'have a home spa'. 

I love a bit of rest and relaxation, especially when it involves pampering. Life can be so hectic at times, that it's nice to just put your feet up and have a moment to clear your head.

On the drive home from work I had lists running through my mind of all the things I have to do, trying to prioritise which ones were more urgent and determine what I can realistically achieve this evening. 

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I've decided to scrap the plans (I will do a few of the items, but not all of them) and instead I'm going to have a long relaxing bath and I'll finish the new book that I started - the five people you meet in Heaven as recommended by my good friend @ScumMum.

Perfect!! 

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Are you a mum in business, struggling to find time for yourself? 

Let me help you get more time! I'm a productivity coach and business mentor. I love that I can apply my 13 years of program management experience from my corporate life into my new creative businesses. It's time to project manage your life!

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Sarah x