Probably time for an update

Clue: We’re back

Back in the Caribbean that is.

Yup. We have moved back with the dogs and all. I’m pleased to announce we are thriving. Thankfully having relocated internationally before we’re becoming PRO’s at this now. Honestly found it a lot less stressful this time around. Don’t get me wrong the last three months have been *busy* but not terrifying.

The hardest and most stressful part was definitely sending the dogs. Popping your precious babies on a 9 hours flight without you is very scary. Tears were shed. They managed absolutely fine and have settled in brilliantly. The company we used really exceeded expectations which was absolutely lovely.

We managed to sort a house out fairly easily on our last visit here and now just setting up a new business to run along side our current one. Fun fun fun.

My gorgeous dogs back living the island life

How to stay Motivated day to day

I work from home. I have a puppy. I have riding lessons a few times a week. I run a home, meaning I cook, I clean – a lot and everything else that needs doing. I have a fitness regime. I am busy.

So I have to be productive and motivated in order to get the most out of my days and my life.

Lists

I put this first because honestly it’s the only way I get anything done. My moto? How can you expect your day to plan out well without a plan. I have a daily list and a weekly list. I make my daily list each morning or the evening before and ensure some of my weekly tasks are on there so this gets ticked off too.

Bribe yourself

Sorry not sorry.

It can be as simple as once I do this peice of work I will make myself an iced coffee. Or more luxurious such as once I learn how to do this I will book on to do this event or buy myself those new gym clothes etc. Rewards and bribery – super motivational!

Diary – Goal setting

My diary is my life. It’s how I remember everything, how I plan and set my goals. It has a super awesome page for reviewing the end of each month. This I use along with my lists for day to

Just get up and go!

Wake up early (if it suits your lifestyle) and get those everyday jobs out of the way and done! Empty the dishwasher, make your bed and get dressed asap. Trust me, it frees up your day and sets you on a fantastic path for just getting things done.

Believe in the process

Whether it’s getting lifting that next weight at the gym, a promotion at work, jumping higher jumps in riding or just being able to master a chocolate souffle. Believe that practise makes perfect, you have to master what level you are currently at in order to progress. Do not be put out if that takes time, it will just make it all the better when you do reach your next goal.

To me, the key is being happy and enjoying the process, enjoy and respect where you are at now. If something is going to take a year to learn then if you start today it will be complete in a year, if you never start then it will never be complete.

If it’s really not working look to why, is it that you need some outside help or advice? Are you not enjoying what your doing? Is an outside influence causing you too much stress?

Mindset

This is a biggie. Happiness and motivation are not destinations, you have to be happy and enjoying your life everyday, we only have so many days on Earth. While some days will suck and everyone has parts of their life they don’t enjoy, set yourself up for success and happiness. Believe you are worth it and it will happen.

I hope some of these hints and tips help you get the most out of your day! Follow my instagram or watch my youtube for more!

Instagram | @harrietkristina

Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBfirw6B6FK3CjbXyrYqBSQ

Fitness: May Diary

May was a wonderful month, my fitness was a little (a lot) disrupted due to being on holiday. My riding has improved which is fantastic and with it my core strength.

What went well

My scheduled riding lessons and a hack while away kept me in riding shape, which has helped strengthen my core. Lots of walking definitely was part of our city break!

What could have gone better

Time! Being abroad for most of the month simply meant I was far too busy to care about my fitness. Which is pretty great really, I had no stress or worries about this and just truly enjoyed my time away. Which in its own way is super healthy – your health and fitness should be a benefit to a healthy lifestyle not your whole life!

Stats:

Riding lessons: 6

Gym sessions: 3

Yoga sessions: 3

Swims: 3

June’s Plan

So my gym has unfortunately closed while it is going through the process of being bought, which is just a little annoying! So my gym sessions will be lacking. I’m going to make a little home work out circuit but most concentrate on improving my swimming and yoga as well as keeping up my regular riding lessons .

Do you have any fitness goals for June?

Thanks for reading! Please go follow my other social media:

Instagram | @harrietkristina

Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBfirw6B6FK3CjbXyrYqBSQ

Riding: OMG I Cantered (and didn’t die)

I turned up to the stables on a Monday morning to have my usual private lesson, it went really well, practised my rising trot and even a little sitting trot (I’m like five lessons in). When washing off my beautiful horse my riding instructor asked if I’d like to help collect the horses after a trail ride that had gone out that morning, I’m a yes girl, so I said yes.

We drove down and collected the family who had just had a wonderful stroll through the countryside to the beach on horseback. They were as happy as could be and couldn’t stop saying thank you. Then they were in awe as they watched two of the horses be let free and gallop back to the stables. They then got in there air conditioned taxi and headed back to their hotel.

At this point I was mounted and luckily in control of my horse so he didn’t follow those galloping into the distance. We set off walking back up hill with the odd trot, which I was super happy about (getting in that practise), then my riding instructor asked how I would feel cantering a little up the hills (darn me being a yes person). So off we went….

Bloody hell this is fast

My sunglasses are definitely going to fall

My bones might shake apart

I’m not falling off though

THIS IS AMAZING

It was scary but so amazing, I trusted my horse and as my instructor loves to say ‘went with the horse’. The hack back was insane, beautiful and incredible fun, we walked on long reins, trotted and cantered up hills. We made it back in about 45 min (it was a two hour walk down). It made my Monday!

The more time I spend around horses and in the saddle the more I want to be, its turning into quite an addiction. Anyone tried a trail ride while on holiday? What did you think?

As always please go follow @harrietkristina on Instagram for more 🙂

Riding: The start of a journey

Horses have always been a love of mine, I was fortunate enough to have lessons and attend Pony Camps as a child, as a teenager I rode sporadically, normally borrowing a friends horse for a hack, but nothing structured or regular. So now that I’ve got some spare time and needed a hobby to fill this up with (I’m just not a Netflix binger), I’ve naturally migrated back to ponies.

Don’t worry, I’ve ordered boots and more suitable clothing!

I am a beginner, past remembering how to hold the reins, I seem to remember very little about riding, and this is oh so very humbling, its also the best fun! My love and enjoyment while riding has definitely not changed. I wake up excited the mornings before my class, enlightening a memory of me waking and getting dressed at 5 am thinking this would mean I would get to go riding sooner at the age of six.

I’m four lessons in and making some good progress with my posture and trot as well as tracking up and post lesson baths for the horse. I may have already booked in my next ten lessons and a few treks :).

If you’re think about starting something new, or revisiting a childhood hobby, all I can say is do! You wont regret it. Life is about experiences and memories, about enjoying and trying.

Welcome to Blonde Traveller…

Recently at the stables I got roped into playing ‘3 things about you’ with the Easter Pony Camp. This in theory should be the easiest game ever because who knows more about you than you? Yet its strangely difficult to come up with a quick three things repeatedly that others maybe want to know about you.

So here goes –

I’m 25 and from Dorset, England, which is where I grew up. I am often am told I look to be 17-20. I was lucky enough to go to private school which I enjoyed immensely. I am the middle child, with a genius older brother and a beautiful little sister. My favourite things are animals, food, travel, fitness, a touch of fashion and mostly my wonderful boyfriend. I currently spend most of my time in Barbados, where I’m trying to get to grips with driving a huge truck but I have also lived in London and Edinburgh. I have the most gorgeous German Spitz (think big Pomeranian) called Bear at home.

This blog is mostly going to be reviews and a little window to my world. If you want to see more please follow my Instagram (@harrietkristina), and this blog! 🙂

Side note: Those under 13 years old preformed much better than I did at this game.