Wednesday, 25 March 2020

Things To Do During Self Isolation

March 25, 2020 0 Comments
It's no secret that there's a global pandemic happening currently with Coronavirus and for many it's a scary time. People don't know what to expect or even how long this will last for.

As the UK has finally announced lockdown I thought I would write a blog post on some ideas you could do during your time in isolation.


Sort out your room/ house - Declutter your room that you've been putting off or even redecorate and change around the layout. Now is also the perfect time for a spring clean

Get outside - The Government have said we're allowed out for one form of exercise a day which could be a walk, run or cycle. Make the most of this and enjoy finding out what's around you - make sure you're complying with social distancing though and keep 2 meters away from any people you might encounter. If you are worried about coming into contact with other people, maybe do your exercise first thing in the morning or in the evening when less people are around.  If you have a garden even better make the most of this glorious weather the UK is having currently.

Video call loved ones/friends  - One of the hardest things about self isolation is not being able to see the ones we love so video call them or even just call them up on the phone. Let people know they're not alone and you're thinking of them. There are loads of great websites that can help with this such as Zoom which is a video conferencing site letting loads of people call at once

Talk to those around you - If you're self isolating with family talk to them. Times like this can really affect people's mental health, so talk to those around you (doesn't have to be family can be friends on a video call or even strangers on social media) You'll be surprised at how many people are feeling the same way as you and opening up can really help. You never know you might even find out something new about those closest to you.

Read a book - Now is the perfect time to read that book you've always wanted to read but never had the time to. I for one will be reading some books that have been sat on my bookshelf for a while.

Watch TV/Movies - I'm sure most people will be doing this during Lockdown thanks to Netflix and most recently Disney+ (I haven't got this myself so don't know how good it is) but a little escape from reality is what we all need during these times.

Baking - For me personally I find baking helps me take my mind off stuff whether it be cakes, biscuits or even a cheesecake. If you don't have the ingredients needed to make your favourite Google is full of recipes for cakes that don't include certain such things as flour. You also get to eat something tasty at the end so it's a win win.

Learn a new hobby - Now is the best time to learn something new whether it be sewing, learning a new language, cooking or writing. The possibilities are endless. Not only does it help keep your mind busy but after all this you'll be equipped with a new skill for life.

Start a blog or diary - For some people writing things down helps them control their thoughts so keeping a blog or diary is a good way to document them.

Stay positive - I know this sounds really silly to say in such a difficult time but focus on the good things. I'm not saying be positive all the time because that's impossible, but remember what you are have and are thankful for such as friends, family, a roof over your head etc. Think of all the memories you're going to make once this is all over, and how when life goes back to normal you'll be able to go out for dinner, shopping and the cinema once more.


The most important thing though is for everybody to stay safe and listen to the Government - we can get through this and will come out the other side.

Stay Safe Stay Home

Sunday, 2 February 2020

January Favourites 2020

February 02, 2020 0 Comments

Well we've survived the first month of 2020 and have beaten those Winter blues. Everything is back to normal and most people have probably already failed at their New Year's Resolutions.

Here are some things I have been loving throughout January ....


Aero Peppermint Mini Eggs


Even though Easter is still a couple of months away the shelves are jam packed full of Easter chocolate so I couldn't help buying some. These are new out this year and OMG they taste incredible. They're basically mint aero bars but in mini egg form and are so moreish. I found these in Tesco for £1 and can see myself consuming many bags of these before Easter. I hope they make these into a year round product but I know it's highly unlikely.


Aveeno Moistursting Lotion


I suffer from Psorasis which means my face can get really dry and appear red sometimes so this product is a holy grail for me. It keeps my face moisturised for the whole day, and doesn't feel greasy unlike other moisturisers I have used in the past. They claim that it "helps improve the condition of dry skin in just 2 weeks to leave skin feeling soft, smooth and looking healthy." I can honestly say this is the case as I've never seen my skin looking better. 

Babylips


My lips get so badly chapped in Winter, so this month Babylips has been a life saver for me. I've tried many different lip balms in the past but this one seems to keep my lips hydrated for longer (Maybelline say they last for 8+ hours). I tend to keep one in my coat pocket so it's with me wherever I go. I have recently bought another one though to keep on my dressing table which I use every morning when doing my make up.


Boss Babe Perfume


Boss Babe by Missguided is my signature scent and something that I wear on a daily basis. I've been wearing this perfume for over 2 years now and always get complimented on it. I love the fact that it lasts all day and I can still smell it even after working a 10 hour shift.  It contains Bergamot, Pear and Pistachio as top notes, Rose, Almond Milk, Orange Blossom and Magolia as middle notes and Patchouli, Amber, Tonka, Vanilla and Sandalwood as it's base notes. I've recently found out that Missguided have discontinued this perfume which I am gutted about. Athough luckily I have a few more stashed away so won't have to stop using it just yet.

The Masked Singer 


This show is a bit like marmite - you either love it or hate it. I absolutely love this show, it's so bad it's actually good and I find myself tuning in every Saturday night. The concept of the show is pretty simple, different celebrities perform for the judges wearing a costume and they have to try and guess who is behind the mask based on the clues given. At the end of the show one singer is unmasked Some of the costumes include a duck, a unicorn and a tree which I have to say I find terrifying (if you've watched this show you'll understand what I mean) This is the perfect show to watch if you're staying in on a Saturday night.

Sunday, 5 January 2020

Guess Who's Back/ 2020 Goals

January 05, 2020 0 Comments

















GUESS WHO'S BACK ..... BACK AGAIN

It's been just over 2 years since my last post and since it's the start of a new year/decade thought I'd resurrect my blog. I've been re reading my old posts the last couple of months and I'm not going to lie I do miss writing and feel like now is the perfect time to bring my blog back.

One of my goals for this year is to focus on me and what makes me happy. As selfish as that sounds for as long as I can remember I've always put other people first and not worried about my own happiness, so this is the first step in achieving that goal. A lot has changed since I wrote my last blog post, I've experienced things that have helped shape me as a person and I'd like to say I've gotten more mature.

I thought the perfect first post back could be about the goals I've set for myself in 2020 - I do this every year and like to reflect on them at the end of the year to see how far I've come.

Self Love/Happiness

As I briefly mentioned one of my goals this year is to focus on my happiness and learn to love myself. This is going to be really difficult to achieve mainly because I literally have 0 self confidence in anything I do. I dislike my body and all I see when I look in the mirror is my flaws, so this year I really want to work on finding the positives about me and embracing them. I also want to focus on doing things that make me happy and spending time with people who bring out the best in me. 

Lose 2st

This one kind of links in to my first goal as I've never really loved my body.  I was never the skinniest girl growing up and don't expect to be a size 0 any time soon. This year I'm really determined to lose weight and change my lifestyle to a more healthier one. I've done this before a few years ago and successfully lost 2 and 1/2 stone but life got in the way, and I've slowly gained it all back over time. I aim to make small but little changes first of all, rather than cutting stuff out of my diet completely. This will take a lot of willpower and hard work but I've never been more determined and I love a challenge. 

Pass My Driving Test 

If you read my 2017 goals you'll notice this was on there - fast forward 3 years and it's still not happened (huge face palm) The main reason I've put it down to is the bad experience I had last time. My driving instructor made me cry and feel like I couldn't do anything right so I've always had that in the back of mind. This year I am determined to pass. Anyone that knows me knows how much I hate waiting for buses and how I complain about them being late on a daily basis. I would also love the freedom it would give me. I've already got a head start on this one because I re took my theory as it ran out and passed so I'm half way there.

Travel More

Last year I went on my first ever holiday abroad to Santorini in Greece and fell in love. This year I really want to travel more and visit new places. Whether it's a holiday or just a mini weekend break, I want to see more of what the world has to offer. I'm also planning at least one weekend break away every month in 2020 - mostly in the UK but might try and sneak a cheeky trip to Paris or Madrid in there too.

I can't wait to see what 2020 has in store and to make loads more amazing memories.
 Here's to the start of an awesome year!!

 What are your goals for 2020??

Sunday, 26 November 2017

My 5 Favourite Songs - November 2017

November 26, 2017 0 Comments
I can't believe another month has been and gone but that means it's almost December which means Christmas!! (even though I've been raving about it for the past month)

Most of my song choices this month have really been based on the lyrics. I find I'm able to connect to a song more, if I have experienced something similar to what the artist is singing about.

Here are 5 songs I've been loving throughout November ...


Mi Gente - J Balvin, Willy William ft Beyonce


J Balvin and Willy William originally released this song over the summer but have released another version featuring Beyonce. Any song with Beyonce on it is perfection in my book. The song is hella catchy, even though I can't understand a word they're singing apart from "FREEZE." It's such a tune to dance to and is perfect to play on any night out/ at parties.


Perfect - Ed Sheeran

 


Perfect by Ed Sheeran has been out for months now but it's one of my favourite songs off his album ÷. He dropped the much anticipated music video this month and omg it's the cutest thing ever. I love this song so much and it's the perfect song for a relationship (crying at being single rn) Although this song was ruined for me recently by someone close to me, I still love it and have it on repeat.

Gorgeous - Taylor Swift




Taylor swift is back with new music and it's so different to her old sound. I love all the new songs she has released so far and was torn between whether to include Gorgeous or Ready For It? in this list. I chose Gorgeous just because I really like the beat of it plus it's something I'm sure most people can relate to - liking someone you know you don't stand a chance with.

Learn To Let Go - Kesha



I am absolutely loving Kesha's new music. She's such a strong and remarkable person which definitely shines through in both Praying and Learn To Let Go. This song is all about letting go of the demons in your past and not letting it affect your future.  Everyone should take note of the lyrics in this song especially "live and learn and never forget it" as I'm sure we're all guilty, of dwelling on something that's happened in the past.

I Miss You - Clean Bandit ft Julia Michaels



The last song I have been obsessed with this month is I Miss You. Clean Bandit have teamed up with Julia Michaels to release this absolute banger. When I first heard this I wasn't sure what to make of it but it's quickly become one of my favourite songs. It's all about breaking up with an ex and missing them even though you know you shouldn't.


Sunday, 12 November 2017

Friendship Breakups

November 12, 2017 0 Comments
I'd thought I'd do something different today and share some tips on how to get over a friendship break up This happened to me recently and I don't know why we're not friends anymore but I've decided to try and get over it.

Friend break ups are the worst. In my view they're worst than relationship break ups because at the end of the day at least when a relationship ends, you have your friends there to stick by you. However when you lose a close friend it can feel really isolating.

Losing a friend you're super close to is tough especially when you feel like there's no valid reason for it happening. Sometimes you really do just drift apart whereas other times there is a valid reason for the two of you falling out. 


All this time I've been trying to pin point why me and my friend don't talk anymore but I just can't, and I'm not a physic so unless they tell me I'll never know. I also can't  help thinking about everything we did together throughout our years of friendship like did all those years of memories we made mean nothing to you? the gossips, the late night chats, the being there for each other, was it all meaningless?

A few years ago I would've overthought this situation so much but now as much as it pains me to say it I really couldn't care less. They want to ignore me fine so be it I'm not going to dish out second, third and fourth chances on someone who clearly doesn't think friendship is that important. I'd be lying if I said I don't miss them plus I've never understood how you can go from being super close to someone then acting like they don't exist.




Anyway here are my 5 tips for how to get over a friendship break up ....


Accept it

As hard as it may be the first thing you need to do is accept it. Accept the fact that you might never speak to this person again. Now you might be feeling pain but in a few months time you'll have forgotten all about them and be grateful for the lessons it taught you. 

Distract yourself

Rather than sitting and dwelling on the situation get out there and do stuff. Make some plans with your other friends, take up a new hobby or even just treat yourself to a pamper or shopping day. Keep yourself occupied and your mind busy so that you won't have time to think about them.

Don't stalk them on social media

If you're still following them on social media it can be really tempting to just look at their profiles to see what they're up to and when they last posted. My advice to you is don't, not only can this make you feel really shitty by remembering the times you had together, it is also a waste of your time and energy. If you don't want to unfriend them maybe mute them so you don't see their posts.

Reach out

If you're missing them that much and want them back in your life try reaching out to them. If you're unsure why the friendship ended send them a message asking what's going on (although don't always expect this to work believe me I've tried) It might not mean you guys become close again like you once were but at least it's a start and shows you're the bigger person. If your friendship ended on bad terms maybe don't do this straight away, give them time to cool off and reflect on the situation.


Learn from your mistakes

It's said that people come into our lives for a certain reason and to teach us things. I'd like to think that this is one of those times. They've come into your life, made memories with you then left. Think about what this has taught you and the type of person they are. Learn from it and move on with the knowledge and wisdom you now have to not make the same mistake again. 




Have any of you ever had a friendship break up?

How did you deal with it?

Sunday, 22 October 2017

My 5 Favourite Songs - October 2017

October 22, 2017 0 Comments
I love listening to music and spend a good 95% of my time listening to it, so I'd thought I'd start a new monthly feature on my blog. Each month I will write about 5 songs I have been loving.

Here are 5 songs I haven't stopped listening to throughout October .....

Too Much To Ask - Niall Horan



Even though I was never a massive fan of 1D Niall was always my favourite, so when he started releasing solo music I freaked out a little bit. I love the style of music Niall creates, it's so relaxed and chilled and is perfect to listen to on a lazy afternoon or when driving in the car. I've had Too Much To Ask pretty much on a constant loop since the first day I heard it, and I'm lucky enough to be seeing Niall live next March. I may just cry when he performs this song.


Havana - Camila Cabello ft Young Thug



Havana by Camila is one of the most catchiest songs out at the moment. I should dislike it because it's constantly played on the radio at work, but I just can't help singing along to it. I love how upbeat it is and it gives off serious Latin vibes.


Dusk Till Dawn - Zayn ft Sia



When I first heard Dusk Till Dawn by Zayn and Sia I wasn't a massive fan, however it kept getting played on music channels and it started to grow on me. I now find myself belting out the chorus whenever I hear it. I think this would make a cute relationship song as the lyrics mention always being there for the other person no matter what.


Too Good At Goodbyes - Sam Smith



You have no idea how happy I am that Sam Smith is back with new music. Sam Smith is one of the very few artists who manages to make you feel his emotions in every song he releases. He does this again with Too Good At Goodbyes which I can fully relate to, as I'm sure many others can as well. I particularly love the lyrics "Baby we don't stand a chance, it's sad but it's true."


Lonely Together - Avicii ft Rita Ora



When I found out that Avicii had teamed up with Rita Ora to make a song I got so excited. I love them both so much and Avicii slays every track he works on. I started listening to this track more after Rita performed it on Strictly Come Dancing and fell it love with it. It's the perfect song to get you ready for a night out and to even bust a move to in the club. Great job Avicii.


What songs have you been loving this month?