#WithShandraAroundTurkey Part 1 ✈️

Okay so I turned 24 back in Feb and as a surprise birthday gift, my bestie took me to Turkey where we stayed in Antalya. We stayed there for a couple of days and I figured why not bring you guys with me? So here are some snapshots through my time there.

When you're in Antalya, make sure to check out the old city. They have lots of local shops and breath taking view from the habor.

If you're going to do a bit of shopping at the locals, it's allowed to negotiate about the prices. And you can pretty much anything in the old city - everything from little bracelets to Hakka and face branded bags haha. 

 At the harbor, there are lots of people trying to sell boat ride. Most of them last for around 45 mins and are a bit pricy but you can always negotiate. We were lucky enough to get the boat ride for free because one of the boys accidentally spilled hot tea on my friend haha. Woopsii.

Turkey is sorrouned by mountains and I couldn't get over the scenery of Antalya. The mountains are so beautiful and every morning you could see how the sun would rise from the mountains. So beautiful! Though if you do go to Turkey, make sure to go in March, April, May or September or October since these are low seasons but still nice and warm. 

After our boat ride we went to a local restaurant at the harbor. It's a bit pricy again but what can you expect when it's right next to the water and has a beautiful view. Best thing about it was the food! Super delish! On a side not, try to taste their local ice cream. The consistency is very different compared to what we are used to but it's really good. 

The last stop was at a local hair dresser where we got our nails and hair done. Very over priced and to be honest, I wouldn't go back to that place. 60 lira for getting your hair curled, that's almost 40 dollars?!

 Anyways I hope you all enjoyed this little post of mine and until next time - Ingat! 

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

#WithShandraInParis Part 6: Paris After Dark ✈️

The Eiffel Tower, Charmp de Mars, Moulin Rouge, Monmatre

Our last stops in Paris before we had to head back to the hotel and prepare to fly back was at the Moulin Rouge and at the Monmatre. I really wanted Noob and I to see a show at the Moulin Rouge but sadly we did not have enough time, so that is still on my bucket list and hopefully in the future, I will be able to take Noob to the Moulin Rouge and catch a show. The very last stop was at the Monmatre. It was really close to our hotel so it was perfect that it would be the end of our Paris trip tour. The Monmatre is on the top of a hill so you have to be prepared to walk on a lot of stairs but when you finally reach the top, the view is worth it. Since we arrived there at night time (around 10 pm), it was super romantic seeing the lights of Paris light up and I couldn't be more thankful and happy that I got to experience what Paris had to offer with my Noob.

So that was the end of my #WithShandraInParis posts, hopefully you've enjoyed the journey and learned something new about the beautiful city that oh so many people love. Until next time - Ingat!


X❤️X❤️
Shandra.

Fruity Facts: Berries

Hi again, lovely!
If you haven't read my first Fruity Facts post (then I suggest you go and check it out hihi) then let me tell you that I am doing a series called Fruity Facts, where I will share with you all of Mother Natures beauty secrets. In my previous FF post, I talked about the benefits of Vitamin A and what type of food that contains it. Today I will be talking about some fruits that are pretty small but yet have a big impact on our bodies.. You guessed it, berries!
Now I am talking about all the types of berries you can think of (strawberries, cherries, blueberries, cranberries, elderberies and even the more tropical berries like goji berries, inca and acai), they all contain a thing we call anti-age antioxidants. A fancy term that pretty much means it contains something that helps with anti-ageing as in it will help you looking young.

Blueberries: Blueberries are rich in antioxidants. They are believed to lower cholesterol, prevent urinary tract infections  and improve memory, eyesight, balance and coordination. It also helps to slowing down the signs of aging and reduces the risks of heart disease and diabetes. 

Strawberries: Strawberries contains a thing called Carbolic acid, a fancy term for anti-inflammatory properties. They can protect your heart and fight cancer. According to research cited on WHFoods.org, “Those eating the most strawberries were three times less likely to develop cancer compared to those eating few or no strawberries.”

Raspberries: Raspberries contain Ellagitannins, which is a group of cancer-fighting compounds that are almost exclusive to this fruit. The berry's antimicrobial properties are also known to help prevent the multiplication of certain bacteria and fungi in the body.  

Blackberries: These berries are believed to protect the body against esophageal cancer. They are also believed to protect the body against heart disease, diabetes and memory loss, and will help prevent several types of cancer, endotoxin shock and blood clotting. 

Cranberries: Cranberries are famouse antidotes to urinary tract infections. It is also known to aid gastrointestinal and oral health. They can prevent kidney stones, lower your low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol, and can even help with recovery from a stroke. A perfect fruit for the elderly. 

Berry ice cream - the healthy way:
Pick the berries you want to blend, add a bit of vanilla powder, a bit of fresh mint leaves and some yogurt. Blend 2 dl of berries and add 1 tsb. of vanilla powder, then put 10 mint leaves in the mix and add 1,5 dl yogurt. You can add dried prudence to make it sweeter and blend away. When the mix is done, you simply put it in the freezer and a few hours later you got a healthy alternative to icecream that contains lots of Vitamin C that will protect your body. If you're smart you could also add some mango or carrots to the mix to add some Vitamin A to make sure you keep your skin looking fresh ;)

Whiter teeth:
One of Mother Nature's beauty secrets for keeping your teeth white is by scrubbing your teeth with a toothbrush and one mashed strawberry. The strawberry contains acids that helps your teeth while the stones in the berry helps as an exfoliater to remove the dirt from your teeth. Catherine Zeta Jones are one of the women who uses this method to keep her teeth white instead of always going to the dentist.  

Anyways these were only some few facts about the amazing berries but hopefully you learned something new from Mother Nature and might have inspired you to eat more fruits (especially berries)? So until next time - Ingat!  


X❤️X❤️
Shandra.

#WithShandraInParis Part 5: The Royal City ✈️

There is no way that you can go to Paris and not visit the Versailles Palace (if you're a history geek). And since I am a history lover, Noob and I of course went to the famous Versailles. I am sure many of you have heard about the Versailles (Marie Antoinette used to live there). It is in Section 5 of Paris and is kind of a city by itself. I didn't really know what to expect but I knew it would be beautiful since it was all royalty who used to live there. But I had not imagined how beautiful the Versailles palace really is in real life, my jaw literally dropped when I saw the golden gates. I really felt like I was going back in time and I simply couldn't believe that I was inside, standing on the same spot where so many royal people through out history had been standing. The Versailles Palace is a must see and I suggest you spend an entire day there since it is so big and the garden is just.. I can't even put it in words, just extravagant and grand - A truly fit for a king.

If I could be a princess and choose any castles or fortress in the world, I would pick the Versailles Palace. When the Versailles was build, it was a country village. The court of Versailles was the center of political power in France from 1682, when Louis XIV moved from Paris. The Versailles is not only famous for the building and it's beautiful architecture but also as a symbol of the monarchy. Fashion around Europe was copied after what the royal court of the Versailles used to wear and that it's probable one of the reasons why Paris is seen as the Mother of fashion. 

Anyways I think I should stop now before I get way to deep with the history, so until next time - Ingat! 

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.