I had an absolutely wonderful, memorable and amazing time in Australia and I can’t wait to share my travels with you right here on lifestylelisa. Adding to the list of content I need to write up, I’ve definitely added a lot of work onto the pile (will get it done asap – have to tell myself this at least 3 times a day or it will sit in drafts for the next year!)

I did have very good intentions to get the Australia travel blog posts written up over the weekend, but jet lag has really hit hard and this entire weekend has pretty much been a write off. Headache, hot & cold, ear ache, tiredness and low energy have made me want to do very very little this weekend. Luckily I have a truly amazing husband who has been looking after me, whilst jet lag does its thing. And yes even though Luke & I both had jet lag I went straight back to work the day after landing where as Luke hasn’t yet gone back (he goes today) so I feel like his body clock was able to adjust more naturally than mine.

So whilst I did have the best intentions to get things done this weekend I instead sat snuggled under a blanket with mugs of tea and movies. And I’m okay with that, after doing to much travelling to get home (over 41 hours) my body needed to reset, I needed to reset and I needed time to relax and recharge after a very full on (but wouldn’t have it any other way) holiday

Hopefully I’ll start to feel more like me over the next coming days, and I’ll find the time to sit down and start my Australia travel journal to share with you all.

Have a great week, and I’ll be back with a new post next Monday

The post The Jet Lag is real appeared first on Lifestyle Lisa.

Hello, well as if the fab weekend wasn’t over so quickly! And also is it seriously STILL January?- this month is going on forever! Although I’m sure that when we get into February I’ll be moaning that month is going way too fast, forever the indisicive girl.

So another week has been and gone, and that week was long! But in between the storms, the power cuts and the nearly falling asleep at my desk during the working week, I somehow survived all of it! Winning at life right now.

So as we have established the week was long, and just so draining. And main reason behind that was Hunter. I have always prided lifestylelisa as being as honest as possible when it comes to what I write and share in my posts. So taking the rough and tough with the smooth the reason why last week was so difficult and draining is because Hunter my lively 4 year old Hungarian Vizsla is going through an awkward phase, and trying to get to the root of the issue is proving a problem. Hunter is lively and friendly and so so affectionate and I absolutely love him for it. But his behaviour over the last year and especially over the last few months has made me question whether Luke and I are really the right owners for him, and maybe that somehow we had failed him. It’s been an emotional roller coaster feeling torn between absolutely loving Hunter and wanting what’s best for him. Of course I always knew that re-homing him was never ever really on cards even if I did wonder if it might be best for him. I mean honestly no one on earth loves my dog as much as Luke and I, Hunter is our entire world. But behaviour wise we have been having issues that are getting harder and harder to ignore. So on Sunday we took the plunge and had a lovely dog behavioural expert come round and asses Hunter and more importantly us to see where it’s gone/going wrong and what we can do to rectify the situation before it gets too out of control. So the meeting took place on (Sunday) at our house and it was informative and thorough, and although we have a long way to go, Luke & I have a number of things to work on and I am feeling very positive that by the summer we could potentially have really turned things around (here’s hoping)

The behavioural expert confirmed something that I really had wondered lately and that was just how much Hunter loves us. And deep down of course I knew that, but hearing it from someone with so much knowledge, hearing her say that he loves us so much, and in return we have over loved him (which is why he’s a little messed up) did actually mean the world to me. She also confirmed that he is the sweetest boy, and is so willing and ready to learn, and honestly I couldn’t be more thankful that we contacted her, and I couldn’t love my fury ginger little bear anymore than I do.

So whilst last week may have been a bit up an down I am hoping that this week will be so much better.

This will now be my last blog post until the middle of February as I am off on a brand new journey with my husband and will be making more amazing memories. Of course I am already getting tearful about missing Hunter but once again mum and dad to the rescue as they will be looking after him and the house whilst we are gone. And I know Hunter will be well loved and looked after, and although I will be enjoying my holiday I will also be looking forward to that big hug and wet kick from Hunter when I return.

The post Let’s Talk About Last Week appeared first on Lifestyle Lisa.

Okay, firstly I am loving this cold weather we have been having. The frosty mornings, the bright but extremely cold days, this is absolutely everything that I am here for. For this autumn/winter loving girl, it’s like pure bliss for me. This morning I have woken up to storms, and just for the record that is not my vibe!

The cold weather in general really brings out the hibernation side of me. And to be perfectly honest I love nothing more than getting home in the evenings, shutting the world out and getting cosy under a blanket with a book and a steaming mug of hot chocolate – literally perfection.

Of course with it being so dark and cold outside I love my house to have that cosy hibernation vibe, so I can sit back, relax and chill. My home has to match the seasons in terms of how it smells. So for the crisp winter weather I love my house to have that cinnamon, Clove, pine, cedarwood and sandalwood scent in the air that just screams cold frosty winter days. So naturally my candles, reed diffusers and plug-ins are all selected very carefully. You really can’t have a candle burning that’s called “summer nights” when you are secretly praying for a dusting of snow this year. I much prefer the rich deep aromas that circulate the house making it feel super cosy.

With hibernation in full swing – especially on the weekends, movie nights in are a must! I like movies nights whatever the season to be honest, but during the winter months they are a necessity. My two favourites from January so far are Saltburn (honestly great storyline, and a few OMG moments – if you know you know, but well worth a watch) I also finally sat down and watched the film Thanksgiving (slasher horror of course) and it’s also well worth a watch.

Wrapping my weekend up, there was a couple of lay ins (because that’s what weekend’s are for) A couple of delicious home cooked meals (prepared by me) and of course the weekend just wouldn’t be complete without dedicating some time to Hunter, my needy, handsome and incredibly cute dog. I love dedicating a day where we do something other than our usual daily dog walks to him. So I like to walk somewhere different with him. Although to be honest he doesn’t like the cold and I do think he would much prefer to be at home snuggled in his cave bed sleeping!

And on a real quick side note, I thought I’d share my perfume of the month with you. Which for January is – Nomade by Chloé this is just perfect for winter with its woody fragrance and fresh, floral notes. It’s Intense but also has a sweetness of the Mirabelle plum and a flowery scent of freesia.

The post Cosy Nights appeared first on Lifestyle Lisa.

Oh weekends, don’t you honestly just love them? Once Thursday comes around I know that I am one step closer to the magic of the weekend, and that right there is happiness.

After the really (really, really) long week I was more than ready for the weekend and to hit that reset button. Friday simply couldn’t come quick enough for this weekend loving girl!

For me it was a really up and down week, trying to maintain this positive, nothing can get me down attitude is really tough when you feel like different things come along and just slap you in the face! And honestly there were like 3 different things that slapped me right in the face last week and left me with lots of questions. I am slowly trying navigating the art of stepping back taking a moment and just breathing, before reassessing the situation, instead of bulldozing right on in there (like 2023 Lisa would have) Although there are some things and situations that are harder to digest than others.

Anyways back to the weekend (that went by way too fast) It was nice to wake up on Saturday after a little lay in and have a relaxed morning getting ready, and equally it was so nice to actually do my hair and do my makeup. I really do lack effort during the working week as everyday involves 3 dog walks rain or shine, so it’s far easier embrace the messy bun look for the majority of the week.

Saturday was a wonderful day well spent in a very chilly London. Luke and I had tickets for Cirque Du Soleil’s Alegria at the Royal Albert Hall, and when I say I was beyond excited, I truly mean it. Alegria was the first Cirque show that I ever saw as a little girl, and that is where my love for cirque started. I have now seen many of Cirque du Soleil’s wonderful shows, though Alegria has been and still remains my favourite which I have now seen 7 times to date. So the fact that not only was this show back touring, and was finally in London but I would be front row watching it again for the first time in 11 years. It was kind of a really special moment for me. And the show – was everything, 11 years after I last saw it, it still has my whole heart.

Sunday was a day with no initial plans, but not wanting to chill about all day I decided that we needed to get dressed and get outside with Hunter.

I love dedicating days to Hunter where we head on out into the fresh air and let him burn off as much energy as possible. It was a chilly day but a lovely dry day, which are the best. Hunter was living his best life, sniffing every single blade of grass, and happily saying hello to other dogs. Luke and I got our steps in, and burnt some calories, it was nice to blow away some cobwebs and clear the mind.

But weekends end far too soon and Mondays come around far too quickly. Which means the countdown to the next weekend starts right now.

Have a great week

The post My Weekend Plans appeared first on Lifestyle Lisa.

I have to say it was fabulous to hit the weekend after just 4 days of work, honestly by Wednesday (yes just 2 days into my working week) my eyelids felt heavier than a tonne of sand, and I may have quite possibly fallen asleep at at my desk at some point – who knows?

The dark nights and mornings are not helping, and even though I am an autumn/winter girl (have I mentioned that before?) Even I am kind of over the wet cold weather now, but as always if you want to throw a little sun and some Jack Frost my way, I am all over it.

To be honest the working wasn’t actually too bad, but the 5am get up’s did take its toll though, which was why I couldn’t wait for the beautiful weekend to arrive.

So one week into January already, I’m thinking this month is going to go super fast, like always. But so far one week in and I’m enjoying it. I’m feeling optimistic, and am so far sticking to my New Years promise’s which if you haven’t read my previous blog post I spoke all about (don’t worry click the link and you can catch up in no time) I mean okay yes we are only one week in so technically next week I might have a different view on things!

Starting off the month being as productive as possible I have jumped back on the healthy eating wagon (although to be honest I have lost count on the amount of times I’ve fallen off that wagon) I also attended a new course and learnt (well am learning) another new skill (another string to my bow)

I am also seriously trying to be more proactive at the weekends (well aware we are one weekend into the month) but I’m trying to start the year as I mean to go on… So Saturday afternoon I headed off to the shopping outlet for a skating session. It’s a temporary rink, that was for the November, December and start of January period. It’s sadly now gone, but I got to enjoy a few sessions just skating around minding my own business. Sunday I dedicated to my little ginger roo Hunter by hiring out a dog walking field for an hour so he could run around and burn off some energy, which meant that Sunday afternoon he was one snoozy cuddly dog – just perfect.

Throw in the usual clean the house, make sure all the Christmas decorations were down (which makes my house look huge, but is oh so sad to not have my pretty tree sparkling in my bay window) There was also a basket full of laundry to be done and then a few meal preps, a few skinny hot chocolates, some okay movies, and a lovely Sunday lay in. And that is how I rolled this weekend, and I loved every single second of it.

Now for a whole week of work – kind of difficult when I struggled with a 4 day week, but anyways, I’m sort of ready to take on the week and basically count down to that sweet sweet weekend, where I get to spend the day with Luke in London and I can’t wait.

Have a great week

The post And Chill! appeared first on Lifestyle Lisa.

Okay, let’s get the sad bit out of the way first, can we just take a moment to discuss how quickly Christmas arrived and went? It took me a while to find my festive spirit, and I think I finally found when Luke took me on a festive date day to London in mid December. But no sooner had I found said spirit Christmas arrived and then it left. For me the build up and Christmas Eve are always far better and if you will magical than Christmas itself. Which isn’t to say that I don’t enjoy or even love Christmas Day because I absolutely do, and Christmas presents are just a great big bonus. It’s just that magical excited feeling happens for me in the build up.

The season however was pretty busy as I made my way through 30 Christmas movies and lost count of how many hallmark channel movies I watched, actually some of them were really good, others not so much. But Hallmark Christmas seems to be my new thing! I also spent an entire December listening to Christmas tunes – because who doesn’t right?

As well as watching a million movies and listening to Christmas tunes I also had an amazing Christmas date day in London, went to Holkham Christmas market in Norfolk and managed to fit in a few ice skating sessions.

But now here we are, Monday the 1st of January 2024 (which now means there is less than 365 days until Christmas, but who’s counting right?)

I have spent many firsts of many new years with a list of “resolutions” of things that I’m going to do, that I’m not going to do, things that I’m going to change, things that go I want to achieve and accomplish. This year however I’ve decided to not do that list, because truly I never ever stick to it anyways. Instead I am going into the new year with a promise to myself, a promise that I will –

Try my hardest at whatever I do

Try to not be so hard on myself

Try to embrace every new day and not take anything or anyone for granted

Try to find that buried self confidence that I always seem to lack

Try to always look on the bright side

Enjoy life

Travel

Live

Love

Be me, be myself, I’m not perfect but who is? And just throw myself into this brand new year

I really don’t want to hear anyone’s issues & I won’t be sharing mine. I only have room for genuine love & I’m forever choosing who chooses me.

Happy new year – let’s make it a good one

The post This is a New Year appeared first on Lifestyle Lisa.

I seem to have headed into December with a pretty full on diary – a weekend away just gone, and a date day in London with Luke this Saturday. And let’s not forget to add in wrapping a lot of presents, Hunters 4th birthday and making treats for the holiday season. Oh and let’s throw in some full time work for good measure and around 31 Christmas movies that I just HAVE to watch before December 25th! Still loving the busy life. –

The first week of December has flown by, and regardless of the lack of festive spirit (in the first few days) I have been extremely busy with online shopping and buying SO many presents for all my family. Christmas really is a big deal for me, and I love celebrating it and spoiling everyone, it just makes my heart so happy. And of course as previously mentioned in my last blog post I actually get to spend the entire Christmas holidays with my husband – for the first time in the 10 years that we have been together! So it’s like an even bigger deal for me this year!

Just 2 weeks left at work, then all the Christmas traditions that I’ve been doing since I was a little girl can start.

On an even more personal note – I really don’t share anything on my blog about the personal life of family, however I will do today. In May of this year my husband Luke’s sister Mel was given the devastating news that she had stage 4 bowel cancer. Honestly I can’t even comprehend how she must have felt getting that news, she’s only in her 30’s, she has a 7 year daughter, she’s a teacher, and really has her whole life ahead of her.

If I’m being honest, I don’t think I have fully got it into my head, because surely something like that couldn’t possibly happen to a family member of mine. Mel was one of my bridesmaids, who stood next to me as I prepared to marry her brother just last January, it’s unreal how things can change and how you truly never really know what’s around the corner.

I think there’s a huge element that has scared me on a personal level the biggest being the fact that she had no symptoms prior to her diagnosis.

Mel is an incredibly strong willed lady and she has responded very well to treatment, however in the UK chemotherapy is the only option available to her and that means she will be on it for the rest of her life, or until her body builds up a resistance to it. Not taking this news lightly, after a lot of research Mel has found treatment available in Germany, but as you can imagine that comes at a price. So the family are rallying around organising fund raising events, and auctions. I wanted to share her story here, and if anyone wants to donate then please do. Or if you want to follow her journey then please also do on either Facebook or instagram. https://gofund.me/b3c1c73b

The post A Very Merry Month appeared first on Lifestyle Lisa.

It’s been a while since I’ve had time to sit down and write up any kind of content. I don’t even know where the last two months have gone! It’s honestly been so crazy recently and it’s showing no sign of slowing down any time soon. Which of course I love, because being busy and having a packed diary makes my heart full and very happy and seeing as we are now into the holly jolly season, well there’s plenty to smile about. Although I have to admit I am finding it a little more difficult to find my Christmas spirit this year, which is so weird, as usually I am flying high with Christmas joy. Hopefully I’ll find it within the next week, or Christmas will be over and I would have missed the festive cheer build up.

Since my last post back in October, I have been lucky enough to fit in a trip to Iceland, and I honestly cannot wait to share my travels with you all. But for now that sits in line patiently behind my must write up Bora Bora travel diary and also Florida, so it’s safe to say, I’m pretty busy right now. November was also busy with celebrating a birthday and spending time in Norfolk with friends.

The festivities are well under way in the Kendal house, the tree is up the decor is out and yes I can safely say – it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas (even if I’m not fully feeling it at the minute) This year is actually going to be a super special Christmas for me as for the first time in 10 years Luke & I will be spending the whole of Christmas Day together. I know that sounds crazy but we’ve never done it before. Luke goes to his parents on Christmas Eve and I go off to mine, we then see each other later on in the day. But this year (and honestly I am so excited about it) Luke and I will be together for the entire day as he spends Christmas with me and my family, at my family home. We will then dedicate Boxing Day to spending it with his family at his family home. So it’s going to be a busy but so worth it and absolutely amazing Christmas time.

The post The December Feel’s appeared first on Lifestyle Lisa.

Of course November is still a great month as we head deeper into that beautiful autumnal season, darker nights, colder mornings and maybe even a little frost? But still I will miss October.

Although I will be sad to wave goodbye to October, it has I have to say been a good one, full of cute autumnal date days and memories. And of course not forgetting my unbelievable impromptu trip to Walt Disney World in Florida (don’t worry blog posts are incoming soon) But after 4 long years to head back to one of my favourite places on earth and this time as a wife, was just amazing, and spending time with my husband, well nothing quite beats it really, he’s kind of just the best.

It wasn’t all October Disney fun though, we managed to fit in some pumpkin picking fun, and Luke got busy in the kitchen making pumpkin muffins and cookies (so delicious, but oh so bad for the waistline) And I have managed to drink at least 2/3 Starbucks pumpkin spice frappes a week (I’ll be sad to see those go)

The fun continues into November when Luke and I will be heading off on another impromptu trip to a brand new destination and I can’t wait to make brand new memories with someone so incredible. We do love to to travel and adventure, so this next trip I am sure will be so much fun.

Stay tuned, lots of new content coming pretty soon, and I can’t wait to share it with you all.

Thanks for the love and support always, enjoy the last remaining day of October.

The post October so far appeared first on Lifestyle Lisa.

Okay, so seeing as it’s now October I really feel like we need to talk about horror movies. Or more specifically Halloween/spooky movies in general and the fact that during the month of October aka the spooky month I watch precisely 1 Halloween movie a night.

Okay, yes I know there isn’t 31 actual days of Halloween as it suggests in my blog post title, I realise that technically it’s just one night of celebration, sweets and a horror movie. But in my world (if you’re new here then hi & welcome) Halloween is not just celebrated on the 31st of October. I like to enjoy the spooky season for a long whole month, I mean why not right? It does only come around once a year, so I like to make the most of it.

Halloween has forever been one of my favourite seasons, and in my family has always been a marked occasion with decorations and fancy dress. As a little girl I would usually be dressed as a mini witch or vampire but as I got older the costumes got better (obviously) I mean let’s not forget the year I pulled out all the stops and attended a Halloween party as a doll, robbed of the winning crown I still thought it was a pretty good effort! – Photo inserted Halloween 2013

It’s been a few years since I went to a Halloween party, but that still doesn’t stop me from embracing the spooky season with nightly horror movies.

Anyone who really knows me will know that just like autumn, horror movies are also “my thing” I have genuinely seen so many horror movies over the years, and honestly, none of them really scare me. I’m still looking for that really creepy, plays on your mind long after the film has ended, shocking, didn’t see that coming horror movie (so if you know of any feel free to leave a comment)

I watch horror movies all year round, I mean they are basically my go too genre. But watching horror movies during the spooky season seems to elevate on a different level.

So 31 days in October means there’s 31 horror movies to be watched – and in true Lisa fashion I’ve made a list of my favourite Halloween & horror movies. Because even though it’s spooky season I do like to throw in a few classic Halloween ones – hocus pocus being one of my favourites!

1 Casper

2 The Addams family

3 The Addams family Values

4 Coraline

5 Corpse Bride

6 The Nightmare before Christmas

7 Beetlejuice

8 Scream

9 Scream 2

10 Scream (2022)

11 Scream VI

12 Hocus Pocus

13 Insidious

14 The Conjuring

15 The Conjuring 2 Enfield haunting

16 The Conjuring 3 The Devil made me do it

17 Interview with the Vampire

18 A Nightmare on elm street (the original)

19 You’re next

20 Ready or not

21 Stigmata

22 Childs Play (the original)

23 Friday the 13th (the original)

24 IT

25 IT Chapter two

26 Sleepy Hollow

27 Stigma

28 Halloween (2018)

29 Halloween Kills

30 Halloween ends

31 Halloween (the original)

Spooky season, don’t you just love it!

The post 31 Day’s of Halloween appeared first on Lifestyle Lisa.