Hello Sunshine!

This last week in Cornwall has shown a real turnaround in the cold March weather. We've had long, sunny days and beach visits and it has been lovely. Now I'm here to encourage you to get some of that Vitamin D - it does you a world of good.

Gyllyngvase Beach, Falmouth

Last week, I went to the beach at least three times to have lunch in the sun. It was gorgeous. I most certainly take living so close to the beach for granted, and have vowed to myself to make the most of it during my last year at uni. Now that the weather has perked up, that actually seems possible.

I walked home from uni the other day, which took about forty minutes. My bag was heavy, but I was loving life in my vest and hippie trousers, headphones in blasting guilty pleasures to match the weather. Someone I walked past smiled at me, and it made me smile a lot (though mostly because they had no idea what sort of rubbish I was singing a long to). People seem so much happier in the sun, and I say, quite rightly so!

I have definitely noticed a change in my mood since the sun's been out. My room is a whole lot lighter, which makes getting out of bed much easier in the morning. I can wear more summery clothes, play sunny music, and spend most of time outdoors.

I think it is important to embrace when the spring weather changes from cold and grey to warm and blue. Make the most of being outside and your body will thank you for it.

Everyone knows that the sun triggers serotonin in your body, the happiness hormone, so if you're in the need of a mood boost, go and spend an hour in the sun (remembering your factor 50, of course). Vitamin D which we gain from sunlight also regulates your calcium levels, keeping your body nice and healthy.

Besides the scientific benefits of sunshine, I have to say that in myself I have noticed a change. I smiled all the way home the other day like a nutter because my mood was beyond happy. I noticed details about my journey that I wouldn't have noticed had I got that same stuffy bus home that I usually take.

Happy Hippie Trousers

I've also been complementing these sunny mornings in my bright kitchen by making banana smoothies for breakfast: one banana, a sprinkle of oats, 200ml almond milk and a tablespoon of peanut butter - YUM.

The sunshine makes for a happy and healthy lifestyle. I cannot recommend the outdoors enough.

Whilst uni ending in a few weeks is freaking me right out, I am holding on to the fact that I will have a whole month down in sunny Falifornia to spend at the beach; no responsibilities, just drinking it all in. Until then I have to keep myself under house arrest, staring out the window at the sun while I study for the next couple of weeks, but it's nice to know that the beach isn't far away if I need to catch a break.

Me enjoying the sun, but remembering those deadlines..

Ironically, of course, the Cornish weather has decided to throw a fit while I'm posting this and hail rather intensely.

But hey, the sky is still

I hope that wherever you are, there is at least a little bit of blue sky for you to smile about.

Happy Sunshine! E. x