Sand Sculpture San Antonio Bay

So guys this is a very special post to me about an amazing Island I have visited multiple times. I have just got back from my holiday there and I wanted to share with you how amazing this island is. Some of the photos were from a few years ago as I wanted to combine all of my visits into one post so please do excuse the quality of some photos; this was a time before my lovely Nikon. Everyone knows I’m not one for travelling to the same spot twice, but Ibiza is different and here’s why.

The first time I ever came to Ibiza was when I was only 16 on a family holiday. We stayed on the side of the island called Playa D’en Bossa which is home to the famous Bora Bora Beach and Water Park.

Planes flying over Bora Bora Beach in Play Den Bossa

All day and all night beach parties have been happening here since before I was born and obviously they have changed over the years from when they were more hippy-ish but they still have the same fun filled atmosphere. It is a bit more expensive to stay on this side of the island as it is home to the famous night club Space and the new outdoor venue Ushuaia.

Ushiaia Dance Venue and Hotel Playa Den Bossa

My older sister took me to Amnesia for the first time when I was sixteen and it was such an experience. I was slightly scared being so young as I got blasted with cold ice smoke from the walls and nearly choked on my first Malibu shot. Regardless, I remember the music and bass system being amazing and definitely a memorable first raving experience for me; it is now my favourite club in Ibiza.

Amnesia Nightclub Ibiza

A few years later I went on my first girls holiday at 22 but I stayed at the other side of the island in San Antonio right by the famous ‘Strip’ and the Egg statue. The strip has lots of cheap bars and small clubs and there is a beautiful port where you can get a boat to numerous beaches of Ibiza and San Antonio has two clubs itself; Es Paradis and Eden.

The Sunset by Cafe Mambo

I have been to Ibiza another five times since then and I always stay in San Antonio as not only is it cheaper, but it has the thing I love most of all about Ibiza; the sunset strip.

Sunset Strip outside Cafe mambo – San Antonio

Fire Jugglers Sunset Strip by Cafe Mambo

Just look at it, it makes me emotional every time I watch it go down and it’s something I will never get bored of. As you can see everyone gathers together on the rocks and watches together, listening to the chill-out sounds from the famous Cafe Mambo. Once the sun has set everyone claps and cheers, the music livens up and there are even acts on the beach such as fire-breathers.

One of the best things about Cafe Mambo too is that the Dj’s who are out there playing in the big clubs often do a warm up set here for FREE. I have seen Swedish House Mafia, Judge Jules and MK here

Pre-Party Dj Sets at Cafe Mambo

Cafe Mambo Sunset Strip

There are a number of things you can do whilst watching the sunset including parasailing, drinking by the bar or eating in one of the many restaurants. I must say that parasailing with my best friends whilst watching the sunset was definitely a memorable experience.

Parasailing from the Port of San Antonio

My personal favourite restaurant along the sunset strip is called Kanya; a five minute walk around the rocks from Mambo. It is slightly quieter, gives you a perfect view of the sunset and you eat around the edge of a pool which is very relaxing. The food is great tasting and reasonably priced and the music they play is great.

Having visited the island seven times I have obviously stayed in my fair share of hotels. In Playa D’en Bossa the hotels are a bit more up market with a guaranteed pool but are a tad more expensive, whereas San Antonio’s nicer hotels are by the bay. If you are looking for somewhere cheap just to rest your head after a long night then San Antonio has a huge number of nice hostels, some with pools and some without. You do get a lot for your money and some of them will even cater for 6 of you in one apartment. My recent stay was in Hostal Mari which had free WiFi and air-con. The staff were friendly and they even let us have a shower after we had checked out. Don’t be put off by the word hostel they are nothing like the hostels you normally find back packing they are just like smaller hotels. My personal favourite is Central Park apartments which is right by the Egg.

The Egg of Columbus San Antonio Port

The Egg is a monument to represent the discovery of America by Columbus in the shape of an egg in San Antonio. The pool is on the roof and you can request a sea view. It is also right in the hustle and bustle but quiet enough to get some sleep. If you want somewhere livelier stay in Ibiza Rocks Hotel; you get free entry to the concerts going on in the evening and there are pool parties during the day.

A lot of people think Ibiza is just for partying but there are so many parts of the Island to visit. Ibiza town is a lovely area to visit which also has it’s own beach and is easy to reach by bus from the San Antonio bus station. This bus station also takes you to all of the big clubs in Ibiza for just a few euros which is another reason why we stay in San Antonio. One of my favourite beaches is Cala Gracio Beach which is nice and tranquil with a lovely little cafe; even if a seagull does steal your omelette.

Cala Gracio Beach

Hawaii beach is another one of my favourite beaches and it is just a short bus journey from the San Antonio Port.

Taking the boat From San Antonio Port to other beaches on the Island

Hawaii Beach San Antonio Bay

Hawaii beach is just outside the Hawaii hotel in San Antonio Bay, has a cute little cafe and shops and you can easily walk back round to San Antonio central from here.

Walking along San Antonio Beach

The Beach in San Antonio is just next to the port but the sand is not very nice at all as it is quite hard. The beach itself is very lively as it is just outside the Ibiza Rocks Bar but the sea is not very clear and is a little dirty.

Ocean mania – ocean Beach Club Inflatable Course

As you walk back round you will see the Ocean Beach Club which is owned by Tony Truman and hosts all day pool parties such as Kisstory and Ministry of Sound. It can be a bit expensive especially if you hire a bed for the day, but it’s an excuse to dress up in your nicest swimsuit and it also has it’s own inflatables outside on the sea. These are so much fun and are very cheap to go on; a great way to cool off and break up your day of sunbathing.

San Antonio and Playa D’en Bossa both have their weekly markets which are sometimes themed and in Bora Bora sometimes you will see a carnival gracing the streets with amazing costumes and dancers on stilts or drag artists. There really is an endless amount of things to do on the island of Ibiza and no matter who is travelling; families, couples, groups of friends or solo, there is something for everyone. Just message me if you are thinking of going and I am sure to have a recommendation for you. Enjoy

#ThreeEyesOnMe

Where I live I am lucky enough to be surrounded by art. People may think graffiti is vandalism but there are so many talented artists out there; why shouldn’t they express themselves on the walls of our towns? I think it is beautiful and it inspired my current purchase.

A hand drawn crop top from Asos, which also comes with matching leggings if you wish. I thought it was a bit too much to wear both at once so just opted for the top; it has a pretty powerful message and is really quirky.

You can tell the designs and pictures on the top are hand drawn which makes it more authentic. The trousers are from a small boutique shop in Italy so unfortunately you can’t have the exact same pair, but you can buy a similar pair here for a great price.

This style of flared/baggy cropped trousers is everywhere at the moment as they are super comfy. The great thing is they go with trainers or heels; whatever you are feeling that day.

If you want more information about the Graffiti artists Trans1 and Nizer follow my Instagram where they are tagged in this blog post.

Outfit: Hand Drawn Bralet/Crop Top – ASOS. Cropped Trousers – Boutique in Italy. Sunglasses – Topshop. Adidas Trainers – JD Sports. Pink T-Bar Heels – Next.

As you know I am going Gluten free so the guys over at Bounce.com were kind enough to send me a box of their goodies to taste. I was very excited when it came in the post as I have never tried Bounce Balls before but I’ve often seen them advertised and I hear they are great. The box is great in itself and fits nicely into your handbag as it’s very compact and sturdy.

The six flavours they sent me were; Coconut & Macadamia, Almond, Cacao Mint, Coconut Lemon (New), Peanut and Spirulina & Ginseng (some flavours are even vegan too). The first flavour I tried was the brand new Coconut and Lemon flavour and wow was I impressed. Normally gluten free goodies don’t excite me as they are often very bland but these are bursting with flavour and have a lovely chewy texture. They’re very nourishing  so you only need one at a time to satisfy your appetite. Great for guys and gals who like to go to the gym and work out as most flavours including the Coconut & Lemon contain over nine grams of protein. Unlike other protein bars which can have a very chalky texture, these balls are yummy and I will definitely be buying them again to give me a little boost of energy before or after my workout.

Head over to www.bouncefoods.com now to read about them yourself or pop into your local Holland and Barrett store to stay happy and healthy 🙂

I don’t know about you guys but I remember culottes the first time round so I was super happy that they have come back for SS16. They are so comfy; you can wear them as casual wear with a cute pair of white trainers/sneakers or dress them up with some strappy heels.

This particular pair are from the petite section on ASOS and they currently have a huge range of culottes to choose from. These culottes are great because they have pockets and are made of a very high quality material but not too heavy. They have a large pleat at the front so from certain angles it looks like your wearing a skirt which is apparently why culottes were created.

I opted for a thicker heel with these sandals as they are a lot more sturdy than stilettos. They are a perfect fit and not too high so they go with most outfits. These shoes also have elastic on the straps so they adapt to your feet when you walk and don’t cut into the skin.

Outfit: Top – Miss Selfridge. Culottes – ASOS Petite. Heeled Sandals – ASOS.

A selection of treats from Asda’s Free From Range

So I’ve never been intolerant to Gluten but I know it is so much better for you not to eat too much if it. SO this week I am trying out some gluten free goodies from Asda’s Free From range and from Amy’s Kitchen.

Gluten is the protein found in the tissue in the seed of cereal’s such as Wheat, Barley and Rye. Not all grains contain gluten there are some which don’t for example Quinoa, brown rice and Buckwheat. If you have Coeliac’s Disease you must avoid gluten altogether; luckily I don’t but I want to be healthy and a lot less bloated so I am giving it a go.

I was a little bit naughty and decided to try the sweet goodies before my dinner but I couldn’t resist. I chose these cookies because they looked and sounded gorgeous on the box. They contain dark and milk chocolate chips and I can honestly say the texture is so much nicer than normal packet cookies you can buy. They are beautifully soft and although they are wheat and gluten free they don’t taste any different to what they should. Nice and sweet, perfect texture and very creamy. They are a little bit more expensive than other cookies so I had to stop myself from eating the packet.

Next I tried the chocolate orange buttons which are dairy free, wheat free, gluten free and egg free so basically vegan friendly. Apart from tasting a tiny bot more like dark chocolate than plain chocolate these are delicious. I just wished they could e mixed with the cookies to make chocolate orange cookies; maybe this is something I should invent.

Now when it came to dinner time I was very excited to try this Lasagne as it is made from gluten free rice pasta…so no bloating for me from normal carby pasta. It only took five minutes in the microwave but I did it for a little longer to crisp up the edges. It tasted AMAZING with just the right amount of everything. The pasta wasn’t too thick and the tomato sauce used was nice and rich. It was the perfect amount for one person and it goes with so many different things such as salads and potatoes or even wedges.

Amy’s Kitchen Gluten Free Lasagne

Amy’s Kitchen Lasagne with Spinach, Avocado and Potatoes

So yes, all of my skepticism has gone out the window and I can see now that the food industry has evolved a great deal and proven to me we don’t need meat, wheat, gluten, egg, or dairy in all of our foods to enjoy eating.