This rug was love at first sight! The bold design was always going to be a winner for me and it makes me go “wow” every time I walk in the room. My dream for this space was that it felt relaxed, calm and sophisticated and the rug really helps to achieve that.

Claire Dunn, Dorchester, Dorset

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I love rainbows and try to include as many of them in my life as possible. This rug brightens up an otherwise forgotten area of the house and the dogs like it too!

Cerys Nelmes, Bristol

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This room is a great social space and really is the heart of our home.

We’ve tried to use vintage, antique and reclaimed furniture throughout the house and the rugs were no different. We had to dig through a huge pile of old rugs to find these, but it was worth it.

Sal Harper, Lincoln, Lincolnshire

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I wanted a room that was full of pattern, so this spotted rug really fitted the bill. It’s our children’s playroom, so I needed a fun rug that was both hard-wearing but also easy to clean - and this one is. It feels really joyful to sit in here and is so cosy in the winter.

Stacey Dyer, Suffolk

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This actually started out as a rug for my garden. I only brought it inside to see if the measurements worked so I could buy a new one - a great, happy accident!

Aly Boghici, Waddensdon, Buckinghamshire

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This rug was hand knotted by the Persian Lurs, around 60 years ago.

There’s no need to buy mass produced, synthetic machine-made rugs when there are plenty of sensational rugs already in this world, just waiting to find their next home. This rug works particularly well in this space because of the vibrant blue and orange-red tones, and it’s quirky uniqueness is very us!

Sarah Davenport, Stamford, Lincolnshire

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#week2 #travel #solotravel ✈️

New York City is a pretty good place to travel alone. If you've never been, then there's a ton of touristy stuff you can do, so you'll be too busy to get lonely. If you've already been, or you're staying a while, then there's still a ton of stuff that isn't super touristy (aka Times Square, Empire State Building, Statue of Liberty, etc). I was there for a little over a month and everyone I met that was actually from NYC was really nice. Not like, "let's stop and chat in the middle of the street” nice, but "we're both drinking at this bar, we can chat" kind of nice.

anonymously

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It's f*cking amazing. No one bugs you or needs your attention or is tired and grouchy around you. No one is too slow or too fast. No one chatters at you. You can just be, and being in a new place is great. You don't have to like, put on a show for anyone. No judgement if you want to sit in your hotel room and watch CNN, or if you want to stay out until 4 AM roaming the streets. You just do what you want.

by thewholebottle

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I 100% would recommend traveling alone, but it entirely depends on why you’re traveling. If you are looking to go explore the unknown and pique your curiosities it’s better alone. If you’re going to do something entertainment based (e.g. a cruise or participate in the running of the bulls) then it might be more fun with a companion.

I spent a month traveling across Italy by myself, with no real destinations, just checking out whatever cities or museums or other places that looked interesting to me. I hiked a lot and stayed in some random (and sometimes shady) places but nobody was there to second-guess my choices and I loved absolutely every second of my trip. You can tell your friends about your experiences (or there’s social media) and probably make friends along the way so don’t worry about being lonely!

by celerybration

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I love solo traveling. I’m not a breakfast eater, and don’t have to eat breakfast. If I see an amazing view, I can plonk down and just enjoy it for as long as I like. If I’m having an off-day, I can laze around in the hotel room/pool.

So basically, travelling alone lets me be selfish and do all the things that I want to do, without worrying about what others need/want. It’s bliss 😊

by ownjob240

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Try solo travel! It's when you travel alone that you make the best connections with people in the places you visit. If you feel apprehensive about going solo, Google 'travelling alone' and you'll get reams of good advice about how to go about it, and how to get over any fears you have. Good luck!

by corcyra

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Solo traveling in Switzerland is a very different experience from solo traveling in Cambodia. Overall I would say that you need to be able to adjust to different situations, be independent, vigilant and able to quickly find solutions and new plans. Also if you travel to a new country always do some research about their culture and try to learn some basic sentences in the native language.

anonymously

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I did Spain solo for a month in September. As a female, safest country I've ever been. Flew into Barcelona, left from Madrid. Grenada and Seville are a must. Also day trip to Tangier Morocco!

by EarsRsmiling

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#mindfulness #mindful 😌

To me, mindfulness is the awareness of our thoughts and emotions in real-time, which enables us to steer those thoughts and emotions to where we want them to be, as opposed to just letting our minds wander aimlessly to do what they are going to do without any control whatsoever.

The more I practice this, I find, the more it becomes second nature to achieving the thought patterns and emotions I want to have on a more regular basis.

by sobukev

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I like the way the Headspace app described it. They compared mindfulness to a busy highway, and instead of running into traffic, you just watch it all pass without judgment or getting tangled up in it. It can be as simple as pausing to breathe deeply for a few moments, make yourself aware of your surroundings, do something tactile like touch a flat surface, and consider your body from the feet upward.

It’s a good practice but most people preach about it like some magic cure-all which is useless and insulting.

by streettiger0192

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Like everything, when it comes to your health, the key is moderation. Adding too much in one go can often overwhelm and ultimately cause a person to give up; it’s too much too soon. It’s far better to add mindfulness elements one or two at a time, wait for these to become a part of your routine and then introduce one or two more a few weeks down the road. Start with mindfulness practices that you are most eager to try, be it yoga or breathing exercises, and once you are used to them, add ones that can easily be completed around the same time each day.

by Natalie Denton

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If you’ve ever tried meditation or mindfulness, then you’ll probably have been asked to clear all of your thought by concentrating on each one of your senses in turn. The idea is to focus on what you can feel, hear, taste, smell and see in that particular moment. By acknowledgement of what our five senses are experiencing, we’re said to let go of unwanted thoughts and bring ourselves back to the here and now. But achieving this kind of clarity in day-to-day life is easier said than done, especially when there are piles of washing to be done and meals to be cooked.

by Laura Crombie

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The benefits of mindfulness and mental health are intertwined. You can’t have one without the other. The same could be said for the body. Everything is connected.

By simply focusing on the present moment, without judgement, we can positively impact mental health in a few ways. Research shows it can reduce stress while increasing wellbeing and happiness overall. Mindfulness can improve physical health by lowering blood pressure and improving sleep. Most surprisingly, it can help with eating disorders, anxiety and even substance abuse.

by Sarah Gane

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If you ever had the pleasure of being totally immersed in an artistic activity, you will know just how enjoyable the process is. The state of absorption you enter while being creative - that amazing feeling of completely being ‘in the zone’ - gives your brain a break from its inner dialogue. Instead of rehashing the same old ruminations, you’ll cultivate feelings of joy, calmness and contentment.

Undertaking an art project also leads to a sense of achievement, which does wonders for your self-esteem and confidence. Plus, it provides an outlet for expressing feelings and emotions that might be too difficult to express verbally.

by Sarah Gane

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