Last weekend I took the train to Herefordshire to spend the weekend with friends in the beautiful National Trust Oast House to celebrate Sarah's birthday. It's an eighteenth century house on the Brockhampton estate. It had plenty of character and a dresser full of cake and crisps so I was in heaven. Life has been pretty non stop recently due to buying a house and I couldn't wait to escape the city and kick back and 'just be' with some of my best friends. 

Whether you're single, in a relationship or even if 'it's complicated', loving yourself is the most important thing you can do this Valentine's Day (and all year round).

Quote - Carrie Bradshaw

I sometimes forget to love myself so I'll be using this Sunday to take some time to just be me. Even if you have a romantic date planned you can make just as much time for yourself as you are making for your date. I'm going away with some of my friends this weekend and I'm taking a bath bomb and a good book and making sure I unwind.

I can be guilty of giving all of my love to my partner and family and deny myself time to develop my own happiness and focus on what I want to achieve in my life. I think some women, especially ones with a family to look after can feel like taking a little time to focus on themselves is selfish but it really is important to not lose a sense of yourself and who you are.

In the past my low self esteem has meant that I felt unwanted and I long for attention and affection from my partner to plug the gap where my self acceptance and love should be. I'm pledging to take time to put myself first. I need to allocate more time to reading, listening to my records, practicing mindfulness and seeing my friends who I've become a bit of a stranger to since meeting my partner.

If I love myself I can be happier and have a stronger relationship. Loving yourself in a genuine way makes it easy for others to love you.

You deserve love.

Do you take time out to treat yourself? Can you recommend any books to help with the tricky topic of loving yourself and becoming a happier individual? 

*This post was written in collaboration with White Stuff as part of their Love Yourself with White Stuff campaign. As always, all words and thought are my own.

You don't need to spend a fortune to get something lovely and thoughtful for your partner or create a special night in. Two dine in for £10, get cosy under a blanket in your PJs ready to watch your favourite movie and voilà, you're sorted. Well that's what I did anyway...

My PJs and pretty lantern were both from Matalan who have created a Valentines Gift Guide with plenty of budget ideas. The sponge recipe is super simple and can be found here, I just added some jam and coconut because it is much easier then trying to ice a cake. I didn't want to be getting worked up about piping icing when I was supposed to be having a relaxing evening in.