As soon as I knew that my friend, Jennie, was moving to Lincoln I just knew that, at some point, I would visit her. Lincoln isn't a city I had visited before and, after seeing lots of beautiful pictures of it online, I knew that it was the kind of city for me. Which, in hindsight, it definitely is. I visited with Jamie (my boyfriend, for any of you that don't know already) and his brother; I think it's safe to say that, despite how tired we were on the last day, we all left with brilliant memories and a great desire to return one day.
We visited for 3 days and 2 nights, and this is what we got up to:
DAY ONE
The drive for us was just under 3 hours. We stopped off at Whetherby for a bite to eat, then took a de-tour to cross the famous Humber Bridge. Shortly after we arrived, we met up with Jennie and took a look at her student accommodation, played games, and got some adorable Instax Polariods. It was great having that bit of time where we didn't have to worry about where we were, and use it as an oppurtunity to chat and catch up with one another.
After that, we headed over to Brayford Warf (which is where we were staying and described by me as a 'mini London Southbank') along the river and, obviously, as students do, went for a cheeky drink in the local Wetherspoons. At this time, we were waiting for Jamie's brother to arrive on the train so we avoided doing too much exploring so that he wasn't to miss out. One thing that we definitely didn't hesitate to get our hands into was an amazing Wagamamas. I'm not even gunna lie here, I got Katsu Curry. I'm a basic gal with a not-so-basic adoration for Katsu. The Wagamamas in Lincoln is a 'floating' restaurant so, at night time, there's some excellent views across the harbour.
After that, when our last party member had arrived, we walked the short walk along to the Hilton Hotel and up to their very popular roof-top bar: The Electric. Now, despite it being freezing outside, we couldn't help ourselves from being touristy and wanting to sit outside on the balcony for a few cocktails (2 for £9, might I add). It was after that that we headed back to the hotel room for a bit more catching up and snacking on sweet treats that we'd previously bought from the local shop. As 12:00AM ticked along, the boys walked Jennie home and, upon their arrival back to the hotel, I was already fast asleep.
DAY TWO
We were all up bright and early on Saturday morning because there was so much to explore - I really wanted to get up and see as much as I could. After breakfast in the hotel, we began shopping on the high street which has some pretty excellent shops and all of us were successful in some way. I particularly enjoyed visiting Flying Tiger and Jack Wills (two shops that aren't particularly local to me at home) as well as basking in the amazing architecture of some of the buildings - this place obviously has a medieval history.
After that, it was up Steep Hill but the guys were edging on hungry, so we avoided shopping on the way up and instead headed for the cafe that I'd found online: Basecamp Coffee. This artisan/hipster coffee house served cakes, exotic coffees, and rather posh food. Both Jennie and I opted for the cream-cheese bagel which was packed with rocket and seeds of all sorts. The bagel itself was delicious! I'd go back again, but it was a bit on the pricey side.
As I said, we left the shopping on Steep Hill until after we had re-energised a bit more so, after Basecamp, we headed up to the Cathedral and had a nosey around the Farmers Market. We visited fudge shops, Chocolatiers, saw an adorable Timepiece Repairs workshop, and explored a wonderful antiques shop on our way down the hill. But, now with a shared craving for sweet treats, we continued back down in the search of something to catch our eye. We quickly came to the attention of The Ticklebelly Lane Bakery (how awesome is that name!). In there, we all sat down, dropped our bags, and practically faceplanted a pot of tea. A lot of adventuring was well rewarded by a scone with jam and cream.
Later that evening, Jamie and I finally decided to celebrate late Valentine's. We had previously found a voucher for a 3 course meal at one of my all-time favourite restaurants: Pizza Express, so, as just the two of us, we got dressed up and indulged in a lot of pizza. This is surprisingly one the highlights of my trip, the meal (and undoubtedly the company) was just heavenly. We both shared a bottle of wine, shared pizzas, and just spoke about bits and bobs - everything was enjoyable and calm. I hate to be soppy but, it's times like that we're I can't appreciate enough how lucky I am.
After that, Jennie and the guys went out to a club. I, on the other hand, was sat in the hotel room playing games on my phone and feeling pretty damn proud of myself for not forcing myself to go out to a club and put myself in an uncomfortable position. Understandably, sitting in a hotel room by yourself isn't the most enjoyable thing known to man but, by gosh, in my books, it beats standing in a night club any day. Little steps.
DAY THREE
On Day Three, we were tired. Having all gone to sleep no earlier than 2:30AM, despite having a very long and tiring day before that, it had caught up with us all by Sunday. Despite this, were were up for breakfast (at the not so earlier time of 10:30) then ventured across to a retail park. Why? Because there was a Homesense. We kind of looked around the retail park, saving Homesense until last but I reckon it got to the point where we were sort of dragging ourselves around the shops. I mean, no one even wanted to take responsibility of dragging the shopping trolley around.
Eventually, we came to The Tower Bar, which is the University's 'Student Bar' for some lunch before we began travelling home. Jamie and I decided it would be a great idea to share a sharing-platter called 'Platfrom 1' which was so big that, when I did arrive home later to my mum having cooked one of my favourite dishes only for me to turn my nose up in a bloated state, it wasn't such a good idea for so long. Despite that, the food on there was indulgent - to say the least. Fried, carby goodness - what an amazing way to end a brilliant weekend.
And, thus, we travelled home.
As many of you know, I'm currently on a gap year and will soon be heading to University for 3 years so, for the foreseeable future, I'm skint. This means that all of my pennies will be put forth to living, breathing, surviving, and staying mentally stable. While I have realised that my luxury in my student digs can be keeping it clean (which doesn't cost much) and having my pride, there are a few things always floating on my mind that make me think 'If I came into good luck, or when I reach the other side of this student-life, I would love to treat myself to....'. I do believe that, while self-care truly does cost nothing, it is okay to treat yourself sometimes (as long as you're grateful) and, even that can lift your spirits. Here's the list of items that I would love to own in my lifetime:
1. Having recently discovered what I would consider as one of the most luxury brands on the market, I am now seriously lusting over Clive Christian, especially their Luxury Perfume Gift Set. I mean, just check out how adorable those little bottles are. This gift set consists of 5 x 10ml bottles of their feminine fragrances which spans pretty much the whole spectrum of fragrance, from Woody, Floral, Green, and Fruity. I would love to own these adorable little bottles and discover which fragrance I love the most and, most importantly, be able to wear whichever scent I'm 'feeling' that day. I think these kinds of gift sets are an experience that can last for a long time.
2. Since I received a sample of this and fell completely head over heels for this skincare product, I have been yearning to own the Clinique Moisture Surge. There aren't very many skincare products on the market that are fit for moisturising my very dry skin, in fact, I could probably count them on one hand. It may come to no surprise that, the products that do work, aren't super duper cheap. The Moisture surge worked wonders for me and, when the 'financially stable dream' comes along, I would love to treat not only myself but my skin, to the 24hr protection that it provides.
3. The Anthropologie throw comes with a small disclaimer: I love pretty much everything in Anthropologie, so this is one of many luxury Anthrop' products that I dream of owning. As my interior inspiration juices are currently flowing thick and fast, I am constantly discovering items that I desire to have in my home but, as a student, will continue to be lusting over for a long time. Products like this Icelandic Throw just look incredibly comfy and are the kind of pieces that I really believe make a house a home. At £88, I certainly would look after this throw.
4. It's a little running joke in my family that, whenever the topic of marriage comes up, I always reference my 'wedding present' because, a while ago, it was mentioned that the Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer would be my perfect wedding gift and, naturally, I never let that go. I also remember seeing the Zoella vlog where she bought a bunch of her friends a Kitchen Aid Mixer each - like woah. You probably already know that I love baking and, to me, having one of those mixers in your kitchen is like the cherry on top. Again, a gift of a lifetime.
5. I've always been the kind of girl that will happily settle with a Babyliss Hair Dryer and, as long as it's powerful and does the job, I don't really care for what brand it is. The Dyson Hair Dryer kind of changed the game for me a few years ago after it's release. For years now, I've walked passed the hairdryer in shops such as Currys and what not, and released a little sign. There's no doubt that this product looks eternally majestic and, given the reputation of Dyson as a brand and engineers, I kind of feel like it would just work - you know? Obviously, with its hefty price tag, it is the kind of item that I would love to own in the future and treat myself to one day.
What luxury products do you aspire to own?
I've spent my whole life as a loyal breakfast lover. In fact, most mornings, my 'getting ready' is worked around having a bowl of cereal and, as guilty as I am, I always go way past the 30g serving reccommendation. I can't help it - I consider it part of my make-up, my genes, imbedded in my brains. But, of course, as life gets on, and my body starts 'becoming an adult' (*rolls eyes*), I do feel that it is required to pay a little bit more attention to what I'm eating. For example, in 2018 I plan to cut out my favourite cereal, Crunchy Nut Cornflakes, from my routine diet and start replacing it with foods that are a bit more benefical to my body and can help me through the day.
Let'd kick this off:
OVERNIGHT OATS
This one is great to do the night before and pick out of the fridge on your way to work if you're the kind of person that doesn't really 'do' breakfast because of the inconvenience. The great thing about this dish is that it can be packed full of all of your favourite things and, with the addition of rolled oats and fruit (which are both extremely beneficial for a functioning body), you can also add one or two cheeky faves.
My recipe for Overnight Oats starts with grabbing a handfull of your desired fruit and mashing them down to release the juices. The fruit you add can be anything you like; I enjoy adding fruits such as strawberries and blackberries. If you want to add fruits with a skin (such as blueberries and cherries) it's best to leave these until last, too use a topping, because they don't tend to mash as easily as the others. Next, I add 6 Tbsp of Quaker's Rolled Oats, 6 Tbsp of Low Fat Natural Yogurt, 1 Tbsp of Chia seeds which are particularly good for adding fibre and protein into your diet, 1Tbsp of mapel syrup and 1 Tsp of Vanilla Extract to add sweetness and counteract the bitterness. After I've mixed that all together I honestly just guess the amount of milk that I put in, it just depends how I want the consistency to be at that particular time - it's all just preference.
FRUIT SMOOTHIES
I didn't actually realise that a lot of people out there just don't seem to understand that a smoothie can double up as a meal. If you pack a smoothie full of nutrient goodness, you can not only have a super easy on-the-go, easy to consume meal, but you can have around 3 of your five-a-day.
Fruit smoothies are the most popular ones out there and, in order to keep your smoothie cool without it being watered down by ice cubes, it's so great to freeze your fruit. One of my tips is to check out the 'Reduced' section in your supermarket fruit and veg area - a lot of the products there aren't yet bad and are just being sold off for the sake of shelf space and replenishments. I recently grabbed a packet of blackberries that were completely fine, then popped them in the freezer when I got home to add to a smoothie another day.
Don't be scarred to add veggies too; anything from spinach, carrot and cherry tomatoes. A lot of the time, they add a hella lot more nutrients that they do flavour which means that you don't lose your favourite fruity tastes.
YOGURT BOWLS
This dish can either be a tasty breakfast treat, or even an alternative to a chocolate bar after lunch. Using Low Fat Natural Yogurt (or any yogurt of your choice) as the base, you can add ANYTHING you desire. Here are some of the items that I like to add and why:
Puffed Wheat: If you get plain puffed wheat with no additives, it's a great source of fibre and adds a perfect crunch to the dish. I like adding these in because, without being too intrusive or negatively changing the nutritional values of the other items, it gives more texture and a wonderful flavour.
Chia Seeds: As I said earlier, they are an excellent source of protein and fibre and, I'm not even going to lie, you totally forget that they're there. Try adding a tablespoon of these to your diet once a day for an extra boost.
Blueberries: I may be biased as a fan of blueberries (cus they are my favourite fruit), but these little blue gems are SO amazing. They're packed with antioxidents and, in some cases, have qualites to help with brain help and supposedly prevent cancerous illnesses. With their delicious flavour, it's a no-brainer for me.
Honey: Don't be afraid of sugar. I know, I know, people deem it as 'the silent killer' and perhaps the last thing that you need to long lasting energy but, I think there's nothing wrong with adding a little bit of sweetener. Honey is actually a little better for you and does carry a few benefits.
You also may like: The Perfect Blueberry Muffins
FRUIT PANCAKES
This one has to be one of my favourites but is probably the kind of breakfast to choose if you've got a bit more time - yet equally as easy to make. There are so many different ways to make pancakes while adding some fruit in there too and you'd probably be surprised at some of the fruits you can add. From oranges to pears and lemons - I love referring to this Cosmo article for my fruity pancake inspo.
What are your favourite breakfast recipes with a healthy twist?
Over the past 6 months, I have been working harder to have tweets scheduled as much as I can and there is absolutely no doubt that it has pretty much doubled my pageviews - perhaps even more than doubled. It's a crucial part of my Blog Routine but, to make it the most effective part, there are some tips and tricks that can really help.
If you're struggling to get to grips with how to schedule your tweets for maximum exposure, here are just a few things that could get you started.
1. EXPERIMENT WITH HASHTAGS
There are SO many different hashtag accounts out and about on Twitter - more and more are made every day. It's no secret that some of the accounts are more active than others to tend to lean more towards a particular type of content than another, there's nothing wrong with this, but it's up to you to find out which RT accounts are going to be the most active and responsive to your content. For example, don't go using hashtags for Beauty Bloggers if you're a Book Blogger - the chances are, the Beauty Blogger RT account isn't going to prioritize sharing your content over the tweets about Beauty.
Make sure you try as many different hashtags as you can and figure out which of them are the best and will be more favourable to your content. You can also have a little hunt through their feed to see how often they ReTweet and even the kind of time that they generally ReTweet - this can be beneficial for deciding on a time for your post to go up.
#lbloggers (which generally attracts a few different accounts) and so many more. Indeed, alongside the RT accounts there are endless amounts of hashtags out there that, while these have less chance of spreading your promotion to more audiences, they have a lot more chance of hitting the right audience. For example, if you put a post up about your favourite cookie recipe, it's useful to use #BakingIdeas, or other food-related hashtags because that way it will reach out to people looking for, believe it or not, baking ideas! In some of my own tweets I change some of the keywords into hashtags; check out this tweet about my Places To Escape In Teesside blog post, I wrote: "10 Places to escape in #Teesside and #NorthYorkshire" to attract those who are searching for those particular things. This may not be spreading my content, but it's targeting my audience and this is equally as important.
2. DON'T OVERKILL IT
As someone who is associated with a community that reshares other bloggers content, I know first hand that it can be very irritating when you see the same blogger prop up in your notifications with the SAME promotion. To keep things fair, we can't ReTweet you a million times, so it's important to consider this when you're sending your own tweets out.
For the sake of your audience's views and to avoid spamming RT accounts, try and vary the hashtags and handles that you use. If possible, make sure you use that one hashtag maybe once a day but at different times, etc.
Another thing that I've learnt from over the years of blogging is that it's just plain unnecessary to tag 15 different RT accounts in one tweet. Schedule your tweets with, I would say, a maximum of 4 tags each time - no more. For starters, it just looks messy. If you're putting a tweet out about your latest blog post, don't let your link get drowned in the links of ALL those #'s. And, let's be honest, the chances are, not every single one of them will reshare the tweet, so keep it simple.
Lastly, the obvious one is, for the love of Blogger-God's, please don't feel like you need to tweet about your blog post every 2 minutes. Space the tweets out. Some people find it useful to look at their own particular stats to see when people are most active and schedule tweets for that time, which is fabulous. Personally, I like to schedule my tweets for 3 parts of the day: the Morning, between 7AM and 9:30AM when I know that most people will be getting up and out for school or work and flicking through their social media. Lunch Time between 11:30AM and 2PM. Then in the Evening after 5PM up until 11PM. This works for me and gives me chance to put my own personal tweets up and thus avoid my feed looking like one cluster of promotional tweets.
3. ALWAYS USE AN IMAGE
I have to say, I do see many bloggers doing this which is brilliant, however, when I see someone that hasn't attached an image or a link preview, it hurts a little inside. The reason why I think it is so important to attach an image to your tweet is that a lot of the time, it's what is first to catch the audiences eye. For example, a short while ago I popped along to twitter in order to find some new bloggers on Bloglovin. To do this I searched #Bloglovin and the Top Tweets in this section ALL had at least one image attached.
It's a quick, free and beneficial way to say to your reader 'look, this is what the blog post is all about'. Give them a snippet; a taste for what is behind that link.
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Those are perhaps some of the more detailed aspects of scheduling tweets that can help boost their effectiveness that little bit more. If you'd like me to do a blog post about the basic activity of scheduling tweets and how exactly I go about it, let me know!
For me, I guess it kind of goes without saying that, now that I know I'm moving out into my OWN place, I am starting to get a little bit (a lot) obsessed with Pinterest and my 'Interior' board is bulking the hell out. Over the past few years I have found my passion for English and, as a lot of you know already, I'm soon heading off to continue learning English at University - however, I'll never let go of my creative side and I've always said that, if all else fails, Interior Design. I love making a place look beautiful and satisfying and, when it comes to design, I can be pretty decisive; if I don't like that plant there, the plant ain't going there, etc. After Jamie and I redecorated his bedroom, you could walk in now and pick out multiple finishing touches that were my own contribution. For example, there's the Monstera plant raised up to a height to make it look more like a houseplant than a weed growing from the floor. Things like this put a sparkle in my eye so the idea of a place where I can release all of this energy is super exciting.
ANYWAY, this is where my wishlist comes into play. While there are one or two random things on my current wishlist, it is mostly interior related things. This will kind of give you an insight into the kind of interior aesthetics that I go for as well as the colour schemes that have already been decided on. So, away we go...
BEAUTY
There's only one product in this bit and that's the Michael Badescu Drying Lotion. This product would be perfect help for my little New Year's resolution of not popping spots. Every now and then I get one of those huge aching spots, generally on my forehead and, to be honest, that's kind of all I get. I am generally blessed with half-decent skin (I get fewer spots mainly because I'm more on the 'dry skin' spectrum everywhere else on my face) but, for those devils that appear every couple of weeks, when the going gets tough, I could really do with the supposedly magical Drying Lotion. I've heard very good things about this stuff I'm just waiting until I can justify the cost... one day.
LIFESTYLE
Okay so, the next item was part of my wishlist when I started planning this post but, between now and then, I've actually managed to locate and buy one. This is a Washi Tape Dispenser. Ugh, I know I sound crazy and like a craft nerd but, truth be told, I am. If you don't love washi tape even one little bit then you're lying. And, of course, having a dispenser hold your tapes and make them easier to extract is just a dream come true. I can't wait to get using this more and more for customing my Planner - I've also got some new washi tapes on their way in the post.
INTERIOR
It starts with the dining room: I have lately been mooching throughout the libraries of Pinterest and got onto 'cutlery'. I'm kind of torn between simple silver or regal gold, both with no flash design. I'm certainly not the kind of person to go for patterned cutlery but, when it comes to the colour I've been wondering whether to go for silver or gold, matte or shine. I've also got this undecided interest for those black cutlery sets... hmmm, this is going to be a tough decision.
Alongside the cutlery is the crockery and, again, while I love the trusty IKEA plain white plates and dishes, I do have a fancy for colourfully painted crockery; like these from Nicola Spring that is actually sold in Tesco. Obviously, as everyone's dreams are, it's very Anthropolgie-esk. While Anthropologie does sell some of the most beautiful crockeries, I can imagine it's outside not only my own budget, so I'm currently looking for some similar pieces - feel free to recommend some!
Moving on up into the bathroom, I've been interested in what some may deem as the boring bits. The thing that I think is exciting me the most is the shower curtain. If we do choose a flat with a customisable shower curtain I'll be happy because I do feel like a good quality curtain can really change the effect of the room and, while some flats have rather sorry-for-themselves bathrooms, this can really help. I love shower curtains such as this one and this one but, because we do intend to go for navy and gold as our accent colour in the bathroom (as well as wanting to keep it simple and chic) I'm leaning a bit more towards this navy H&M shower curtain. What do you think?
It's definitely important to think about finishing touches when it comes to small space interior. I've been lusting over hexagonal mirrors. They sell one in Tesco and, ever time I pass it, I contemplate buying it - eventually, I will just give into my heart and do it.
As well as this, I'm going full-on blogger-mode with an eye for eucalyptus decor. I've seen images floating around Pinterest of how people are shaping eucalyptus around mirrors and embroidery hoops (like this) if you know me and my keen eye for craft, you'll understand that this is the kind of thing that I would love to get hands-on with and have a go myself. The colour of eucalyptus, and in fact all houseplants, is just gorgeous. Jamie loves having plants in the home, so we do intend to incorporate that into our design. In respect to this, I thought a forest green would be a suitable accent colour for the bedroom. If you find anything online that you think would suit this colour choice, do let me know.
What interior, beauty, or lifestyle pieces are
you lusting over lately?
you lusting over lately?
Even though it feels like January has lasted forever, it's been a pretty good month. I feel like I coped well. Even though I've spent a lot of the month on my own, I seem to have been well entertained and have plenty to be proud about.
It's not always that I look back on a month and think: I want to document that. Because, as life goes, some months can just pass by in a flash and may seem somewhat unnoticeable. January 2018, hasn't been one of those and, with all the different things that happened, I thought it would be perfect to sit down, reflect, and write.
This post is going to be sectioned up into different parts but, if you wish to read a little bit more in-depth about some of the things that happened in January you can check out THIS post (5 Walks in 5 Days: Week 15th-19th) and THIS post (Catch up #5: Week 8th-14th).
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NEW FOODSeeing as though I'm now the only person you'll meet that's obsessed with blueberries as I am, I thought I'd give everyone else a chance to catch up and try a new never-tasted berry lasrt month. Blackberry. You're most likely thinking: 'How on earth have you got to 18 years without trying one of those" and, truth is, it's just never been something that I've come across. As well as that, I've never been a huge berry gal - apples, pears and bananas were my sort of thing as a child. Now, as a new flourished berry-tastic woman, I'm going to be adding blackberries to my collection.
My mum and I decided to try the very popular over-night oats. I plan to have a blog post going up this month with my overnight oats recipe but, for now, I just wanna give them some screen time and say that they're pretty cool - go give them a go! Right now, I kind of feel like I've just won an award and I'm trying to fit everyone into my speech in order to not offend anyone. So, there we go, overnight oats can't complain now.
While you may be thinking: 'Wow, Alice! You're new foods last month were pretty healthy', it's simply because, while I've given up on the full-throttle diet thing, I have decided to make a few more healthy choices. I'm trying to keep processed food out of my diet if I can, and make sure that my portions are controlled. I'm not saying no to carbs and I'm not saying no to a bit of honey on my bowl of yogurt and fruit - I'm simply saying yes to a more varied and balanced diet.
Included in this varied diet is Good Grain puffed wheat. I've seen them floating around Instagram over the past few months and, by gosh, they looked amazing. So, in my local Tesco, I paid the well-worth-it price of £1.35 for a box of JUST puffed wheat. It's nothing else. Basically sugar-puffs minus the sugar. I don't eat them on their own as cereal, I like adding them to yoghurt and fruit for a subtle crunch. They're fab!
NEW STUFF
Despite experiencing a crazy amount of hassle with my network provider, last month I upgraded my phone to the iPhone 8 Plus. I am so super excited and grateful to have this phone because the performance is fantastic and the camera is stunning. I now have the bloggers-best-friend: Portrait Mode and, honestly, while it can be a little tricky to get to grips with at first, it can produce some stunning photos.
As well as being incredibly lucky to get that phone, I was also lucky to receive more products from the lovely team at Botanics. This time I got the Facial Oil and the Hydrating Eye Cream, both from the Organic Range. The product that I'm most excited about is the facial oil, I've already been using it and loving it because it actually works pretty well at replacing my rich moisturiser - I just hope that it doesn't break me out in spots. Let me know if you want a full review of these two new products on the blog soon.
NEW ENTERTAINMENT
As someone who barely really watches films, there are at least 3 films that I've watched and enjoyed in January. The first one has to be the latest instalment of Pitch Perfect. Despite seeing some crappy critics reviews of it, for me, it didn't fail to make me laugh just as much as the first two films did. The characters in it are unforgettable and it really is a feel-good film.
I've gotten into this habit of buying a TV magazine on a weekend and looking through every day, picking out films that I might like, and setting them for 'record'. With this, I've collected around 20 different films and, while I've only actually watched a handful so far, I like having them there for back up on a rainy day. I rewatched 22 Jump Street and one of my all-time favourite childhood films: Stuart Little. Drop me a comment if you too are kind of really still obsessed with that little mouse.
One of the films that I recorded was The Love Punch. I'd never seen this film before but I do reckon that any film with Emma Thompson in it is destined to be a classic. It's your typical love story but with some funny pinches sprinkles through the plot - definitely perfect for a Sunday afternoon under a blanket.
The 3rd and final new film that I really enjoyed last month goes to a film that unexpectedly grabbed me by the heart and threw me upside down. This was the 2015 film: Amy. A documentary film based on the life of Amy Winehouse. It was really gripping to hear about her behaviour and how so many bad decisions and mistreatment lead to such an unjustifiable death. I think, for me, this film is important and so sad because we get to see how, at the time, everyone saw her as a vulgar drug addict but underneath she was extremely vulnerable and she had been all along. If you want something gripping and eye-opening - this is the film for you.
FEELING GOOD ABOUT
When I was sitting down to plan this blog post and reflecting on my month, I found there had been so many things happen in January that made me feel a bit like a boss; a mini punch-the-sky moment. There have been some incredible developments and changes happen in January - firstly, I feel like I'm getting there with my driving. With my test approaching very fast, I'm beginning to feel a bit more like I can do this. And, I know, the only way I'll pass is by believing in myself but, as always on this blog, I'm not going to sugar coat it - it's not easy to believe in yourself 24/7. That's why I feel so proud and delighted that this whole 'self-belief' is creeping in. (If you know me, you'll know that self-doubt is one of the main sections of my entire anxiety spectrum, so this is a great development).
There have been some other little 'you can do this' moments in January. For example, I'm finally on Year 3 of my One Line A Day which is INSANE. As of June, I'm officially halfway through the entire book - it really feels mindblowing to me that I've got this far with it. Similarly, I have managed to continue a whole month doing my planner. It's always been a dream of mine to keep a continuous planner and have it look pretty and last month I did it. You know what they say: if you do it for 30 days, you can do it for many more.
Last month, unfortunately, it took an illness to kick me up the backside and make me drink more water. Since then, I've been drinking water a lot more frequently. I may not yet be the recommended 2 Litres a day but, believe me, it's a massive improvement on what I used to drink.
One thing that has made me feel so delighted in January is the amount of incredible and positive feedback that I am receiving about my blog. I've had numerous tweets and direct messages from people telling me that my blog post has helped them or that they enjoyed reading what I've written. As blogging honestly is my passion and writing/photography is something that I adore doing, these messages feel so rewarding. I am so grateful for all of the support that I've been getting recently - here are some tweets and replies to the promotional posts that I wanted to give a bit of recognition to. Please take from this that by telling someone you enjoyed their post instead of keeping it in your mind really does make a difference. We should all do it more often.
So, for me, January has been one to remember. I may not have been flitting all over the country or doing anything majorly exciting, but I have achieved and there may be no better feeling than that.
How did your January go?
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