Holiday destination: Lesbos

I've just returned from my annual family holiday and this year, we tried somewhere a bit different. I'd heard of Lesvos and absolutely love exploring Greece and the Greek islands, but still didn't know exactly what to expect.

It was one of the most relaxing holidays I have ever been on. The intense heat left me wanting to just sit by the pool, sip cocktails and enjoy walks along the calm beach, which was directly in front of the hotel. As holiday destinations go, this is also one of the quietest I have ever been to. The tiny village of Skala Kalloni was just a two minute walk from our hotel and had around 15 tavernas, a couple of shops and a small boating harbour. Perfect to get away from it all.

At night was when you could see the popularity of the small holiday spot. The tavernas bustling, a brilliant atmosphere crept upon the village square. A lot of Greek destinations find themselves swamped in British, German and French tourists but I didn't find that here. Greek families filled the restaurants, beach and bars, creating a friendly, traditional set-up.

My favourite restaurants were definitely Caprice and Ambrosia, where we were spoilt with food, drink and a LOT of watermelon! Ambrosia's was more traditional; serving the best moussaka and kleftiko I have ever had. Caprice was a more modern restaurant, with pasta and fish dishes to die for - along with their passion fruit martini's!

A fantastic place for a totally relaxed, traditional holiday.

DIY: Holiday nails

I love preparing for going on holiday. Gradual tan, eyebrow and eyelash tints, waxing, nails, shopping!! It builds up your excitement and definitely makes the lead up to your holiday a lot less boring!

This year, I wanted to try something a bit different.

At Christmas, I opted for a sparkly nail to get into the festive spirit. For just £2.49, I received just as many compliments as I would have with £30 acrylic nails. A couple of months ago, I spotted these flamingo print nails in Primark for just £1 and thought that they might work just as well.

Buying nail glue costs around £2 from any shop and lasts around 1-2 weeks before the nail comes off. My initial thoughts would be that maybe the nails would be too cheap and maybe too good to be true, but, so far, as I've applied them with a better nail glue, they have stayed on very well.

The overall look of the nail is summery and fun, without being too bold. I paired the pink-printed look with a baby pink nail varnish for my toes and the two match very well. The colour does go with everything and is subtle enough to wear with printed clothes but can add more detail to a plain outfit.

For a bargain price, I will definitely be purchasing these again!!

Best of bikinis

Girls, it's that time of year again! Hours of looking for swimwear, changing room tantrums, realising that takeaway food is your enemy... all to find that perfect beach look.

With summer sales slowly taking over our wardrobes (and lives), searching for that statement bikini really is the last of your worries. They are simple everywhere! From printed to plain, one-piece's to teeny tiny bandeau's, whether you think it or not, there is really something for everyone.

I originally wanted to get a Triangl bikini. The bright colours and simple design seem effortless and they are bang on trend. However, having a look around, I found more that I have fallen in love with! I could easily spend hundreds of pounds but thankfully, for the sales, you can get what you're after for a cut of the price.

These are just some of my favourites:

Blue twisted bikini⎜Boux Avenue
Back detail one-piece⎜Victoria's Secret
Pink print bikini⎜Motel Rocks
Pink floral bikini⎜Accessorize
Wrap effect one-piece⎜French Connection

Tanning tips

As June comes to an end, we are set to see the best temperatures of the summer yet. Finally! This 2 week long heatwave is set to begin today and as we can already tell, it hasn't disappointed. But, before thinking about that gorgeous summer glow, here's a few tips on how to tan safely:

1. Always wear lotion

You may think that the British weather sun isn't as strong, but that's not true at all. When temperature's soar as much as they have, you must still remember to put on suntan lotion before heading out. Not being used to the weather makes you a lot more likely to burn, which is never good. A good factor and brand helps; apply 20 minutes before you head out and top up every hour or so to ensure that while you're tanning, your skin is still being looked after.

2. ...and sunglasses!

Always remember your sunglasses! They aren't just there to finish off your outfit, they are really important when being out in the sun. To prevent you from squinting and UV damage to your eyes, make sure you invest in a good pair that have the right protection against UV. You'll know if they're any good; a sticker or label will indicate the sunglasses provide full protection.

3. Gradual tan

If you're desperate for a tan but your skin burns easily or you don't like sitting out in the sun, a lot of brands now offer gradual tan moisturiser. I have been using these for the past couple of weeks and have definitely noticed a difference; it's much better than looking pale in your summer clothes. Simply apply after a shower everyday and you will soon notice a summer glow appear. My favourite's are No7's Naturally Sun Kissed or Garnier's Summer Body.

4. Face off!

When applying lotion, don't forget to pop a little bit on your face, especially your nose and cheek bones. These are the most sensitive areas and will burn very easily. SPF lip balm will also prevent your lip from drying and peeling. I apply SPF lip balm all year round, it works really well and really helps your lips from drying out. My favourite is Carmex ultra moisturising lip balm and for a pop of colour, Clinique have a great range of SPF lipsticks.

5. After sun

After a day of sunbathing, you will feel like cooling off. After sun is a great way to do this. A lot of people think that you only need to use after sun if you have burnt, which is true and helps to protect the skin from further sun damage, but looking after your skin even after sunbathing will help tanning as well. Using an after sun with aloe vera are even better at rehydrating your skin, as well as assisting skin repair, so make sure you have a bottle with you. My choice would have to be Banana Boat aloe vera after sun gel.

So, as this heatwave is set to last, make sure you use my tips and by the end of summer, you'll have truly looked after your skin and definitely be ready to show off that great tan.