Well hello to you my reader chums! I visited Malta last summer and it was one of those dreamy looking locations I'd return to again and again. The crystal clear waters, fossil-studded cliffs, hidden coves and glistening bays are just some of the location's highlights. Whether you're interesting in a weekend to sun it up, or week long trip delving into history and scuba diving, then Malta is a great holiday choice. On my trip, I saw a few of Malta's hidden gems and really fell in love with the place. Although I didn't visit everything on my travels, I'm going to share my favourite spots and a couple of gems that are next on the list to see when I return in the future.

Here's a look at Malta's hidden gems...

What to see

Blue Grotto

If you're a diving fanatic and love nothing more than swimming in the sea, the Blue Grotto needs to be top of your Malta agenda. Located on the southern coast of Malta, the Blue Grotto is made up of several sea caves, famous for their extraordinary sea reflections. To find the Blue Grotto, I took a hop on hop off bus tour, as it was located a 25 minute drive from the St Julian's area (where I stayed). The Blue Grotto area as a whole is something of Instagram dreams - if you picture clear waters and an ongoing mass of blue scenery - that's exactly what it entails.

Considering the several caves and cliffs, the Blue Grotto is the perfect location for water sports. You can simply go for a swim, snorkel, dive and if you're brave enough go cliff jumping. There's also plenty of spots to kick back and soak up the Malta sunshine, after going for a dip. The Blue Grotto is best visited during the morning up to around 1pm, as that's when the sea is the bluest in colour, and shines under the sun. Once activities are completed, having a stroll around the area is certainly worth while, as there are so many picturesque views to soak up.

Comino Island & the Blue Lagoon

Comino Island was one of my favourite experiences of the entire Malta trip as it has something for everyone. To reach the island, you can go by boat, or even the option of a speedboat. The speedboat in itself is a fantastic experience; it felt like a mini dance party on board before arriving at the main island.
The island is absolutely massive, and has many of beautiful hidden spots to explore. The Blue Lagoon is the favourite point for many visitors and runs between the main island of Comino and smaller island, Kemmunett. The prime area of the island is packed with food stalls, great sunbathing spots and plenty of activities, however to experience the hidden gem of this location, I'd suggest swimming or getting a small boat over the Blue Lagoon to Kemmunett. On the smaller island, you're able to soak up the stunning views, and also experience the calmness to the Blue Lagoon, away from the main tourist hub. There are still plenty of snorkelling opportunities and relaxation spots - the only think to consider is ensuring you pack enough water/food. Kemmunett is pretty much made out of all rock, like many of Malta's 'beachy' locations, and has various flat spots to set base for a day on the island.

You can also go cave diving in Comino; the island is home to a selection of underwater caves that shimmer with dark blue luminescence - not the type of thing you'll see everyday.

If a holiday to you is drinking cocktails out of a pineapple, snorkelling and boat trips, Comino is the hidden gem for you.

St Julian's Bay

When you're holidaying it up in the sunshine, sometimes a lovely walk with pretty sights is all you need, and St Julian's Bay is that spot in Malta. Whether it's day or night, with your partner or family, there's plenty to see. The bay is surrounded by some of the very best restaurants, which look over the waters, shops and is also a water sports hub.
At night, the bay glistens up and the whole area looks beautiful, that it makes for the perfect moment to toast a drink, have a picnic or enjoy dinner with your loved ones.

Popeye Village

Popeye Village as the title suggests is the home of where the 1980's classic Popeye was filmed and has now become a tourist spot for everyone young at heart.

The colourful village greets you with Popeye and his friends, and a whole host of fun activities. Whether you'd like to explore all the old film sets or be a movie star for the day, the fun doesn't stop here. There's also water trampolines, boat rides, indoor jumping areas and many wine spots for adults - so really a bit of something for everyone.

'Splash and fun' waterpark
No summer holiday is complete without a waterpark visit, and although Malta's version isn't the biggest out there, it still makes for a fun family day. The waterpark has a variety of different slides, large pool with a wave machine, plug slides and plenty of other attractions to experience with the whole family, and is located in the village of Bahar ic-Caghaq. Where to eat

Aside from eating all the ice cream in sight on a sunny holiday, it's always lovely coming across some hidden culinary spots. Despite having all inclusive in the hotel, I wanted to see what Malta had in store for their food selection.

Lore & Fitch steakhouse
I'm a big foodie and love trying out new places, that I don't often return to the same restaurants on holiday, however this steakhouse was an exception. It's the place all of my friends would recommend to everyone if possible - the food really is that good. Any steak fans would love this place - I even tried some steak and enjoyed it (usually I don't like it). The restaurant is quite upmarket, and would make an ideal location for date night or anniversary - and the menu matches its fancy interior. There's the wide selection of steaks and pasta dishes to choose from, plus enough wines to sink a boat. If you're staying in the St Julian's area, I'd highly recommend it. Sardinella
Another restaurant that tickled my fancy was Sardinella, a charming Italian eatery. Dan and I went here on date night and enjoyed beautifully cooked Italian dishes, accompanied by cocktails in the Malta sunshine. Sardinella is also in the St Julian's area and located opposite the steakhouse.

If you would like to book your dream trip to Malta, click here for a selection of low-cost holidays.

I hope you enjoyed this post of Malta's hidden gems. Have you visited?

Thank you for reading <3

This is a sponsored post with Holiday Gems.

Well hello to you my reader chums! Whether you're a consistent reader of my posts (especially the travel ones) or have hoped onto my blog for the first time today, I wanted to talk about my love of travel and hopefully inspire a few readers to take the plunge, and travel. Travelling is my favourite ever hobby, and every time I come back from a trip I can't wait to go on my next one.

A few years ago I never would have pictured my life the way it is today. I'm constantly thinking about my next place to visit, and have an overwhelming feeling of wanderlust at pretty much every waking moment. Back at the age of 18, this was never the case; I was constantly afraid of the world. The thought of travel was scary, completely out my comfort zone and, expensive. Oh how I was wrong. Although any new place can be scary, once you've got your bearings, exploring is the most exciting thing, and everyone should experience a little wanderlust.

Here are all the reasons to travel...

It's not as expensive as you may think 

Often a misconception of travel is the 'expense', and although travelling to the other side of the world isn't going to be cheap, it's not as pricey as you may think. It's all about knowing where to look for the best deals and that comes with experience. Skyscanner or Kayak are great websites for comparing flights and finding the cheapest times to fly. Booking.com and Airbnb are my go to for finding affordable accommodation, and I usually flick between the two depending on where I'm visiting. Travelling cheap is all about the research you do, and finding where to look.

Consider swapping lavish hotel rooms for cheaper bed and breakfasts, staying in an apartment or a hostel. As budget travel is such a trend, there are plenty of affordable and safe options to make that trip of a lifetime, a dream come true.

The world is such a big place

I can't stress this point enough. Life isn't to be lived in only one place when there is a whole world to see. From city to city, country to country, continent to continent, there's something unique to see. Every location in the world has their own thing, whether it's gondola rides in Venice or riding the bicycle life in Copenhagen. There is something new and exciting to discover - and if you don't book yourself a flight, you'll never experience it for yourself.

I've seen nowhere near as much of the world that I want to and I'm starting to create plans to make it a reality. I want to soak up the Asian culture, lounge on the beaches in Bali and see what the hype of South America is like. I've done quite a few countries in Europe, however I've had some of the best memories there and would love to explore more. I don't think my love of travel will ever stop, and there are many destinations I can't wait to see one day.

All the food

Isn't food one of the best things in life? And as much as we have a variety of cuisines in the UK, it's not the same as eating it in its home country. I'm talking about having pizza in Naples, curry in India and a Thai dish in Thailand. The world is full of delicious flavours, and not venturing out means you're missing what could be a favourite meal of yours.

Meeting new people

Wherever you go you'll meet new people, whether it's work or hoping on your local bus. However, meeting people when on your travels makes it even more special. You can find out their travelling story, or if they're a local take in the knowledge of the surrounding area. If travelling alone especially, it'll give you the opportunity to have company on your trip and even make a life long pal.

Think of the stories

Every time my friends and I book a trip, we always say 'just think of the stories', because essentially when you're old and grey you won't remember that expensive bag you bought but all the experiences you've had. You'll remember the time when you went up the Eiffel Tower, met the elephants in Thailand or jumped out a plane, and you can tell these stories to your kids, grandkids and friends. 

You'll be creating the best ever memories and gain a lot of worldwide experience along the way. The world is your oyster, go and explore it.

Different cultures

It goes without saying that very country has a different culture and unique to the next. One of my favourite things about travelling is learning and experiencing that new culture, and seeing how different cultures live. For example their working day, mannerisms and how they interact with tourists. Every country will have something new, and whether you're used to it or not, it's a great learning curve. I always think go into a new country with an open mind as you'll never know what you may discover.

I hope you enjoyed this post and it gave you a little inspiration to travel. Where is your next trip?

Thank you  for reading <3

Well hello to you my reader chums! There's nothing better than thinking 'what an uplifting and moving read' when you finish a book, and these were my exact thoughts on 'The Secret Life of Bees'. I picked this novel up on my recent trip to Brighton, when my boyfriend kindly chose it in Waterstones. Over the past week or so, it has been the book to keep me fully focused on my daily short commute and I've loved every word of it.

Here are my thoughts on the book, 'The Secret Life of Bees'...

Plot line

The blurb follows the story of Lily. Lily has grown up believing she killed her mother at the age of four and now at 14, constantly yearns for her mother's love and forgiveness. Lily lives on a peach farm in South Carolina with her harsh father and only friend Rosaleen, the black servant. On one summer afternoon racial tension explodes and Rosaleen is beaten and arrested. Lily is then compelled to act and fight for justice - and the story leads on with the pair following a trail from the woman who died 10 years before. Lily finds sanctuary in a home of three beekeeping sisters, and that's where her new journey begins.

It's one of those addictive storylines, that use beautifully written descriptions of each moment to hook you in. Although there are devastating moments, the whole novel vibe is very much uplifting and powerful in so many different ways.

Characters 

With books, one of my favourite things to talk about is the characters, as I always gravitate towards certain characters throughout. The entire story is told in the first person by protagonist Lily, which is one of my favourite ways of narration. Through Lily's story, you're able to connect with every single emotion she goes through, the bad and the good. I really connected with Lily as a character because although she lives with plenty of guilt surrounding her mother, she experiences pretty normal teenage girls thoughts, like I did at her age. 

I also really liked the character of Rosaleen and how she was portrayed. Rosaleen was hired to be essentially a servant to Lily when her mum died and ordered to help her out with anything she needs, but I see her as fitting in with the mother role. She's the only female role model figure Lily had in the past decade, and their up and down relationship, is similar to what a mother daughter one could be like. On the flip side, the father is a cruel character and described in a negative light. Lily never calls him Dad and you can see why considering the way he treats her.

 The other major players are the sisters in the bee house August, May and June. When Lily meets and stays with them, the flourishing relationship is beautiful to read, especially between her and August. Although her past was dark, by being in the bee house and surrounded by these lovely ladies opens a positive new chapter in Lily's life, and I loved reading the journey.

Structure 

The structure is pretty simple in this book, and I think this is why it's such a smooth read. It goes from chapter to chapter, and is broken up into the next chapter when most appropriate. By having those breaks, it gives you a smooth transition into the next tale of the story, and it follows on pretty well. As I mentioned, it's written in the first person by Lily and really gives insight into Lily's feelings and her story. Although this is told beautifully by Lily, I would have loved to of heard Rosaleen's side of the tale.

Ending

The ending of this book is a proper full circle moment, and finishes in an uplifting way. I'm not going to give anything away, and although it's not climatic in any light, it is positive, happy and everything you wish the ending to be when you read this book.

Well hello to you my reader chums! Even though I say it every single month, I'm surprised how quickly June went by and that we're already over half way through 2018. June is my favourite month of the year, mainly because it's my birthday but also as I always somehow fill the diary up with exciting plans. I'm pretty sure I didn't have many days in June to chill as I was lucky enough to always have something on, whether that was a day out or hanging with friends. 

Despite how busy the month was, I've gathered a few favourites I've been absolutely loving and can't wait to share.

Here are my June favourites… 

Well hello to you my reader chums! From the beginning, this blog has always been a place to document my favourite life moments and today I wanted to share two the best concerts I've ever been to this past month: Demi Lovato and Ed Sheeran. Demi Lovato's tour was originally on the 10th June, however was postponed to the 25th and Ed Sheeran's took place on the 17th June. In the space of over a week I managed to see two of my favourite artists live, and experienced two of the best nights of my life.

Ed Sheeran's Divide tour

When it came to purchasing Ed tickets, I'm still surprised I managed to get four standing ones at Wembley Stadium. As you can imagine we we're all so excited before the build up for the event - and as we had standing tickets, we were determined to get as close to the front as possible. 

Fast forward to the actual day and we were lucky enough to get around 9 rows back from the stage - and out of all the concerts I've been to, I have never been that close. For Wembley Stadium especially, we felt even more lucky to get such a brilliant spot. 

The two opening acts were Jamie Lawson and Anne-Marie. I'm a massive Anne-Marie fan; her new album has such a cool vibe about it and seeing it live was something else. She's one of those performers whose personality shines through on stage - and honestly has the best natural sense of humour. I loved seeing her live, and would definitely go to a whole show of hers.

Ed's show was on another level of performance. Given it was only him and a guitar on stage, and he had to fill the whole of Wembley Stadium - he did a pretty epic job. As he is such a famous artist, I had a small worry about whether he wouldn't come across down to earth, however I was wrong. Ed was one of the most down to earth artists on stage, and sounded so appreciative for all his success. His performance was out of this world; he held the crowd, had the most sensational voice and really rocked the stadium. My highlights were Photograph, Perfect, Galway Girl, The A Team and Lego House. 

For my first time at Wembley, I had one of the most memorable nights! Standing up for 7+ hours was completely worth it as you really can't beat the electric concert atmosphere. I'm so thankful I got to see Ed Sheeran live!

Demi Lovato's Tell Me You Love Me tour 

Demi Lovato has been my idol for years and years, and I've wanted to see her live for the longest time. I've waited for her to announce a UK tour (as she's only really tours in the US) for a long time that when it finally happened, I had to get tickets. When they were released, I was actually on the train to Paris but didn't let the bad signal stop me and managed to get a pair.

Demi Lovato has spoke about her mental health struggles for years, through her songs, in interviews and on social media. In the hardest times of my own mental health, I really related to Demi's music and it helped me to an extend feel stronger, and feel like I can get through it. Having that sentiment behind her songs made seeing her live an even more special, and emotional experience. Her songs will always hold a special place in my heart, and I'll forever admire her strength of how she overcame the struggles and insecurities.

Her opening acts were Joy and Jax Jones, who both warmed up the stage in different ways for Demi's presence. When Demi walked on the stage, a whole new level of excitement came about along with my inner fan girl, and I couldn't believe the moment had arrived. She looked stunning, her voice blew the roof off the 02, and every single song was beautiful for different reasons. Demi sauced it up for her dance numbers, held herself for the more emotional songs, and really got the crowd going. It was a concert like no other and I couldn't help scream my heart out to every song! She did a mixture of the Tell Me You Love Me album and a few of her old classics, which was a fantastic surprise.

I had so many highlights, but the most special moment was when she sung Warrior. It's one of those songs which holds a big place in my heart and I couldn't help crying as soon as the first word played. As we were queuing up, all the fellow fans were handing out green paper to hold on the phone's light when the song was played - as the stadium filled the room with green lights (which represents strength), it was a touching and mesmerising few minutes. Sober, her newest song was another truly heart wrenching moment as you could really feel her emotional pain when she sung every word. Other highlights included Heart Attack, Sorry not Sorry, Tell Me You Love Me, Instruction, Give your Heart a Break and Confident.

I'm in awe I've seen my idol live on stage. It'll be a night I never forget and I hope to see her live once more. Demi, thank you for always teaching your fans to be strong, and to love themselves for who they are.

I hope you enjoyed this concert post. What was your favourite concert?

Thank you for reading <3

Well hello to you my reader chums! If you follow my Instagram, then you would have seen I spent my birthday in Brighton. Brighton is one of my favourite cities; it has that city vibe with a beach appeal, and calm atmosphere. I grew up by the coast, and love any destination with a beach really - so it made perfect sense to spend my birthday exploring Brighton. 

Originally I planned to just spend the day there, however on the morning of my birthday my boyfriend Dan surprised me and said he had booked a hotel - literally right on the seafront! As you can imagine I was very shocked and excited, and couldn't wait to see what the next few days brought.

Day 1 

We set off on my birthday around 11am and got to Brighton at lunch time, where the sun was at its highest. Every time I've visited Brighton previously I was never lucky with the weather, however this time, it was legitimate summer weather - perfect to celebrate my birthday.

Once we arrived in Brighton and parked the car, we set off exploring before checking into the hotel. Naturally, out first stop was the famous pier as that's one of my favourite spots in Brighton and makes for a romantic stroll. We stopped for a Pimms and a classic fish and chips, whilst soaking up the sunshine before heading into the Lanes.

The Lanes are one of the cutest things about Brighton. Picture tucked away individual stores, cafes and everyone's favourite chains lined with colourful bunting. Our first stop was to try the famous Boho Gelato. I've heard so much about this ice cream but never tried it on my previous visits. I can see why it's raved about, I'd put it up there with the best ice cream I've ever tried! I chose the carrot cake and blueberry muffin flavours and they were absolutely delicious. It literally tasted just like cake!

After a browse around the shops, we went to check into our hotel, The Lanes Hotel and it's safe to say, we were blown away! Our spacious room has a four poster bed and perfect views of the sea - it felt like pure luxury. We chilled there for a while and soaked up the view before heading to the North Laine area. Brighton always makes for a lovely walk, and from the hotel we detoured through Pavilion Gardens and saw the Royal Pavilion to North Laine. This area is a wide selection of unique shops, chain stores and eating establishments. As there wasn't any individual restaurants that took our eye, I chose Bella Italia for by birthday dinner, as it's one of the more luxurious chains. We enjoyed a beautiful feast of delicious pasta, desserts and cocktails.

The day ended with a taxi ride back to the hotel and watching the day turn to night on one of the longest days of the year. Hello a 9pm sunset! 

Day 2 

The second day began waking up to the bright blue skies shining above Brighton's sea, and a delicious hotel breakfast. I love hotel breakfasts; fruit, classic English egg and soldiers and pastries, you really can't beat it.

We then ventured back to the pier to go on the rides (the Magic Mouse is my favourite) and have a play in the arcades. Then, we took a stroll down one of the walkways by the pier as there are plenty of beach themed shops. Dan and I took a look round those, and then sat down on the beach. We didn't get a chance to sit on the beach the day before, so spent a while soaking up the sunshine and chatting about everything and anything. The beach is my favourite place, as wherever you are in the world, you can always find a beach to escape to, and relax.

As we began to get a little peckish for lunch, we left the beach and headed back to the Lanes to find a café. We came across the Lost in the Lanes café, and I could recommend it enough! The rustic interior is every blogger and Instagrammers dream with a menu to match. It's one of those restaurants that when you walk in, you want to take a picture of it all. There are baked goods on the counter, a freshly produced menu and selection of local drinks. I chose the strawberry lemonade (very fresh to say the least), an acai bowl, and Dan and I shared a salted caramel and chocolate cake. This cake had moussey-icing and caramel sauce oozing from every bite. 

After lunch, we bid our goodbyes to Brighton and headed home. Brighton is the city of beach life, shops, quirky cafes and a super cool vibe, and I'd recommend it to anyone who hasn't visited. 

Things to know before going to Brighton

• Parking can be very pricey - Parking in any city is always tricky and it's good to plan in advance. If you're staying overnight, check if your hotel has parking, otherwise the only car parks I'm aware that are open at all hours are the multi-story ones. These workout around £25 for 12-24 hours. You can also use the Just Park app (my latest discovery) which shows you all the available parking spots in the area for the period of time you'll be there.
•  Get the ride pass - If you'd like to spend an afternoon at the pier, using the rides, it's worth while buying the day pass. Otherwise, individually the rides can work out £5 each, per person, which can add up. 
•  Everything is accessible by foot - The best thing about exploring in Brighton is how accessible all the highlights are. The pier, beach and the Lanes are super close to each other, and the station is also conveniently located. 
• Deck chairs - If you're looking to chill on deck chairs, it's worth noting they're free on the pier, but you to have to hire them on the beach. 
• Enjoy the cool vibes - Brighton is a unique city and a lovely day out whether it's your first or 100th time. There's just something about the vibe that's ever so different and I love it, so ultimately enjoy your time there. 

Thank you for reading <3

Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm a big face mask fan and love trying out new ones, that when Galloway & White sent me theirs to test, I couldn't wait to give it a go. I've tested it a few times and even tried it out on my boyfriend to get his views, and both of us had many positive things to say.

Here is my review of the Galloway & White face mask...

A face mask is always a little more of an indulgent skin care product, compared to a cleanser or moisturiser that I love to do one at least once a week for a good old fashioned pamper. This mask especially has that luxurious appeal, and I'm not entirely sure why. I think it's a combination of the packaging and the all-natural element.

Packaging

With beauty products, you can always acquire an opinion just by looking at the packaging. My first impression of this mask was high end and sleek. I love that firstly, the mask's packaging is all black and white because it gives it a more luxurious appeal, and secondly how the tub feels almost glass-like. With a secure pot, I knew that the product would be of better quality.

Scent

When it comes to skincare products, I'm not a huge fan of over perfumed products as sometimes it can mean a lot of unnecessary ingredients are added to the formula which I'd prefer not to put onto my skin. However, with this face mask the scent isn't overwhelming at all and smells completely natural. It reminds me of when you walk into a spa - fresh but not overpowering.

Consistency and colour

The mud mask's consistency was unusual compared to other face masks I've tried, however it's not to say I didn't like it. I'd describe the consistency as slightly stiff if that makes sense, as when you put it on the skin, the thickness of it meant its harder to massage onto the face. I do love how thick the mask is, as you only need one layer to cover the face, instead of adding extra layers to build up the coverage.

Its colour is between a grey, blue and slightly green shade, and looks like your typical mud mask. 

How it feels on the skin

The texture of this product is incredibly thick, however once applied on the skin and settled it doesn't feel heavy at all. It's as if you only have a thin layer on, which is ultra gentle and soft.

How it feels once it's washed off

The best bit of every face mask is seeing the results of wearing it for 10-20 minutes. The Galloway & White mud mask leaves you feeling ultra calm, and the skin, soft and generally refreshed. It's one of those facemasks where you do feel completely clean afterwards and want to use it again, and again. 

Overall, I absolutely loved this mud mask. The thick consistency blended beautifully on the skin, it felt gentle and completely natural, had a lovely scent and left my face feeling completely refreshed. I'm definitely going to start implementing into my skincare routine - and I would highly recommend it to those who want to try a new face mask.

I hope you enjoyed this review. Have you tried this face mask?

Thank you for reading <3