It's no secret that houseplants are the new ornaments this year and you bet I jumped on that bandwagon. You all know that I am a nature lover through-and-through so the thought of introducing houseplants into my home, along with their health benefits and beauty, was something I couldn't resist. In fact, for someone definitely not even on the spectrum of having children yet, as well as not even ready for a pet, plants are my children now. Let me introduce you to my plant family.
Senecio Rowleyanus - String Of Pearls
Let's kick off with one of my favourite members of the gang - the String of Pearls. We actually found a cutting of this plant in a garden centre after it was dragged around a little too much. Fortunately for us, when we brought it home and popped it in some soil, it started to grow. As it's known as a slow grower, the size of this plant right now is fantastic - we have so many new pearls and I can't wait to see it grow more. You can see what it looks like in the image above; I planted it in an old cat mug that will hopefully end up looking funky when the cat gets locks of pearly hair.
Where from? Wyvedale Garden Centre
How much? n/a
Peperomia Polybotrya - Peperomia Raindrop
This is just simply a plant that I saw at the end of an IKEA trip and couldn't resist. I love the heart shaped leaves and that perfect waxy feel that they have. Because of that wax texture and the thick stems, it doesn't require too much watering. I do however find that, as more leaves grow, the older leaves at the bottom start to lose their rich green colour. If they do begin to yellow, I just cut them off with care and let the plant give all its energy to the newer leaves. Unfortunately, one of the leaves did get a pretty bad tear when we were moving but, other than that, it's doing pretty well.
Where from? IKEA
How much? £4.50
Pilea Peperomioides - Chinese Money Plant
This unique looking gem has been through some rough patches. When we first bought her she was a happy little money plant - then we gave her fertilizer. Jamie and I both agree that we just gave this plant the fertilizer that we had in and nothing specific enough to her needs. As you can see on the image above, our Pilea was damaged with some fairly nasty chemical burns. Leaves began to sprout as misshaped and even black - I really thought that it was the end for this plant. Nevertheless, we didn't give up hope. We stopped watering as regularly and give her a nice peaceful spot with no fuss and she seems to have rejuvenated. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll see that we've actually been able to start propagating our Pilea; the mother plant has so far sprouted 3 healthy looking babies as well as lots of nice, new, green leaves at the top.
Where from? Wyvedale Garden Centre
How much? approx £7.50
Sansevieria Cylindrica - Cylindrical Snake Plant
I bought this lil baby on a whim because, really, who can resist the weird and wonderful fingers of this plant. I love the really small size of it and how it just sits proudly anywhere you place it. Since buying it around 5 months ago, it currently still has all of its original stems in perfect condition as well as a new, bright green, 4cm sprout. Also, looking at the soil of the plant, I can see at least two new sprouts heading their way up. So it seems to be growing with vigour - I think it's enjoying its new sunny spot in the window. See it below.
Where from? IKEA
How much? £3
Ficus elastica - Rubber Plant
Yup, we have two of these beauties. They're both relatively small, although one is about half the size of the other. Our largest rubber plant is around 50cm tall with huge, shiny leaves; the smaller tree has leaves that are around a 3rd smaller and has been growing in a very small pot for over 3 years. I've found with these rubber plants that they grow according to their home - they seem the kind of houseplant that would grow as big as your house if it was allowed, Essentially, the bigger the pot, the bigger the plant. I do think that we'll re-pot our rubber plants in the future to get more size out of them because they truly are beautiful houseplants to have around.
Where from? Wilko, I think.
How much? n/a
Asplenium Nidus - Birds Nest Fern Crispy Wave
This one has to be a strong contender in the group of my houseplants that I think look the most unique and impressive. It is the most peculiar type of fern I've ever seen but I love it. The leaves are pleated and waved to the max - they have a plastic-like feel to them, making the plant almost look artificial. Oh, and it's an ASMR's dream. With my understanding of ferns, they typically enjoy humid and wet conditions, however, after keeping this one in the bathroom for a month, she ended up looking a little bit brown (often a sign of overwatering). To prevent any damage, I've brought her out and popped her in a wonderful spot on my desk so I can stare at those curly locks all day long.
Where from? B&Q
How much? £4
Monstera Deliciosa - Swiss Cheese Plant
The big beauty herself - the mother of all the house plants - who sits proudly in our living room is the Monstera. Now, even if you haven't got a single clue about house plants, you MUST have seen these plants rocking there way around Instagram. By what every single relative has told me, they were popular in the late 20th Cent. but their popularity died out a little. Nevertheless, they're back in fashion. Our Monstera is approximately 1 year old and we have already had so much growth from it. They aren't as easy as some plants are when it comes to caring - they do require a nice sunny spot (but not too much direct light), a regular but spaced out watering routine, and a suitable fertilizer in the summer months. They really do grow to be vast and wonderful plants that bring a lot of excitement with every new sprout.
Where from? IKEA
How much? £15
My houseplant collection does span a little wider than that however they are the main plants within the family. Others include the seemingly endless list of cacti (untouchable because of their spikes), baby plants that are currently under the intense watch of 'propagation station' and, of course not forgetting, the plants that have passed away over out time. #RIP #NeverForget.
Which of my houseplants do you reckon you'd manage to keep alive?
And which should I buy next?
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If you saw this post from way back in March, you'll know that I enjoy setting myself little 'goals' consisting of habits that I want to add into my daily, weekly, or monthly routine. At the moment, I'm totally out of routine and, to be honest, I was back then. With Uni starting very shortly, I will definitely get a bit more of a routine which I'm so excited for. The habits that I want to make sure are added to my new routine include:
Read more articles.
Speaking of reading, I think it's all well and good for me to start reading more as Uni comes around, but I have recently found a way of reading up-to-date and topical content that's related to my studies. I have been using the App Pocket on my phone so that every time I see an article that covers something I'm interested in (e.g. English Language, Linguistics, Reading, etc.) I can save it in Pocket to read later; perhaps while I eat breakfast or just before I go to sleep. I've already found that reading these articles have helped me feel a lot more 'with it'. A lot of educational books that I've been reading were published years and years ago but, by reading these articles, I can get the 2018 viewpoint. It's brilliant the way you can have them all in one place and sort them into groups too - I 100% need to get using this for my own advantage.
Wear my glasses.
Surely I'm not the only person who needs glasses, never wants to wear them, then ends up complaining about their eyesight, am I? Yeah, well that's me. As I say, with Uni starting which means a lot more reading and writing, I really need to get back into the habit of popping my geggs on my head in order to prevent any headaches or, even worse, eyesight worsening. They may not be the most convenient things, but they certainly make words a whole lot clearer.
Start Jogging.
Once you've finished laughing, you can carry on reading. I know, can you believe that I just said the 'J' word? Well, let me explain: It's more the 'E' word (exercise) that I want to add into my routine this time as, before my holiday, I used to really enjoy the thrill of feeling active. This time, once my routine is firmly into place, I'd love to start making use of the local park by taking the time twice or three times a week to go for a jog or brisk walk. It's free and gets me out into my favourite place - the great outdoors.
Be more organised.
I'm not saying that I'm not an organised person, I just really want to keep it up and make sure that I can take all the necessary steps for a stress-free life. This includes making sure I make use of the Calendar App on my phone, adding in dates, appointments and events, as well as setting reminders for things like 'Time to Send [friend] a Birthday Card' or '[xxx] food goes out of date tomorrow'. Taking the time out on an evening to do these things, instead of glueing my eyes to the TV, will hopefully be something that can make my days so much easier and flow that little bit better.
What habits do you have in your day-to-day routine?
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After a few weeks of doing ~£35 weekly food shops, I realised I was doing something right. Visiting the supermarket once a week, spending never more than £40, for two people, is pretty good (if I do say so myself). And, as much as I love my mum, it's certainly not something I get from her. I somehow seem to have clicked into a perfect routine of efficiently spending money on food but for maximum value. Here's how I do it:
Double Up.
When I witness a person place two tea bags in two mugs to make two cups of tea... I wince. In my opinion, one tea bag should be able to serve a minimum of two cups of tea. And, don't be a fool - if you think 'no way would one of my tea bags make two cups of tea', then you're buying the wrong tea bags. Oh, and FYI, I drink builders cups too; none of this dainty tea-party malarky. Here's how the pricing works: PG Tips Tea Bags typically only serve 1 cup of Tea making 200 tea bags = 200 cups of tea. This works out at 2.8p per tea bag*. On the other hand, Ringtons Traditional Tea typically serves 2 (or sometimes 3) cups per bag making it 100 bags = 200 cups. This then equates to 1.6p per tea bag. Get it? Understandably, Ringtons have the inconvenient delivery charges but I'm pretty sure they're popping up in some supermarkets now and then (but don't take my word for it).
Own Brand.
Admittedly, not everything is best by own brand but a lot of things certainly are. Crisps, for example. Lidl's Snacktastic range has basically 0 difference to Walkers or other crisps. Similarly, the brilliant cupboard staple: Tinned Chopped Tomatoes. Take Morrisons, for example, their basic Chopped Toms are 4 for £1.36* or the branded ones are 4 or £2*. The difference? Nothing. Even better, pop to Lidl where it's 4 for £1.16†. On the other hand, tea bags are one of the products that I believe can improve by brand as ou saw me mention above. So much money can be saved by giving the switch ago - you definitely don't know until you try.
Batch Cook.
If I do say so myself, this one is the one I've perfected. To be honest, it's so easy. It's often cheaper to buy things in bulk, especially vegetables and spices, etc. so it makes so much sense to batch cook. Some dishes that I have been cooking lately includes a Katsu Curry sauce which I just double the measurements for then once cooked and cooled, I pop it in a freezer bag, flatten it out and freeze it for another day. I also do this with the likes of Chilli Con Carne and, when I have leftover vegetables like tomatoes and pepper, I'll whip up a basic tomato pasta sauce, blitz it, and freeze that flat too. Not only is batch cooking cost effective, it's perfect for when you come home with no idea or energy to cook and you just want to grab something out of the freezer. The tomato sauce, for example, will just need to sit in some hot water for a short while then added to some cooked pasta. Preparing this way makes your life so much easier and I can guarantee it will be a LOT better for you than just having a frozen pizza.
Freeze Like a Pro.
As I just previously mentioned, I do a lot of freezing with my food. My freezer currently contains all sorts from Banana Pancake mix, Katsu Curry Sauce, Chilli con Carne, and a Shepards Pie. One thing that I particularly like freezing is meat. It's something that I was never taught to freeze as a child. My mum is and always has been a bit particular when it comes to meat - in her books it has to be fresh and certainly not reduced. I, on the other hand, fled home with the understanding that this wasn't the best outlook to have, especially if I wanted to budget. Meat can be kept fresh for so much longer with the use of a freezer. For example, we bought some wonderful looking breaded chicken fillets that were 'reduced' in Lidl due to their expiry date approaching in a few days. If you freeze the meat before its expiry date, that is safe. As long as you don't put something in the freezer that has exceeded the 'Use By' date, you will be fine. As well as that, though, we tend to buy the likes of fresh mince in bulk then separate it into portions before it goes in the freezer - again, as I mentioned, it's cheaper to buy in bulk and also really easy to bring out exactly what you're going to eat.
Meal Plan.
This is something that I was taught to do from the get-go. In fact, I don't think it was a case of being taught, it was just all that I knew. I remember when I first started my relationship with Jamie and I found really strange that he wouldn't know what was for tea that night - I would've been able to tell him what I was eating for the following week. Now, living away from home, it is something that I've brought with me and definitely something that is helping with my budgeting.
I was very kindly gifted this meal planning fridge pad from a friend that you can see on the picture above but you can just use a pen and paper. The reason why it's so beneficial for keeping costs down is that it makes you use everything you buy. It's so, so rare that I will throw food out. Our little household has so little waste when it comes to food. It's also just nice knowing what you're eating that evening and, if you really don't fancy what you've planned, at least you have backups in the freezer, right?
Lidl it.
Ok, just quickly because I'm aware that everywhere I go I somehow end up preaching Lidl. I promise, I'm not sponsored by them, I just bloody love them. You can get so many bargains in there. Just give it a go.
How do you food budget?
* According to shop websites on 10/09/18
† According to one of my own receipts.
CBT, or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, is something that a lot of people who have tackled mental health issues in their lives will have probably come across before. It's basically a type of therapy that studies and explores that way your mind works and aims to control or suppress any unwanted behaviour. On the forefront, it seems like a great, logical idea and it can have great benefits for anyone struggling with anxiety. In a way, it can be seen as the gentlest kind of mind manipulation: learning the triggers and misbehaviours of the mind and what works to stop them. I received CBT in college, so between the ages of 16 and 17. It was with a lovely lady from the Alliance Healthcare Young Persons Therapy team and I saw her every two weeks for the majority of a year.
And, just like that, you can probably see my first problem. The therapy that I received was within college hours and wasn't allowed to be within lesson time. Due to the fact that the lady only visited on a Thursday between 10:30 and 2:30 (or something along those lines - I can't quite remember the exact times anymore), I was always pretty much forced to wolf down my lunch, lie to my friends about where I was going out of fear of judgement, then head off for my 30 minute session with her. If I was lucky enough, I'd get to my lesson on time and be able to avoid wondering in, unexplained, with a dozen watchful eyes on me. Private theraphy wasn't an option for me
This happened every two weeks and they were usually 30-minute sessions each - that equates to 1 hour of therapy a month. In my opinion, anxiety is a lot more powerful than the damage that an hour a month can do. In fact, I think she only knew who was walking through that door because my name was written in her diary - otherwise, we barely knew each other. And, when she said to me 'So how have you been?', I was meant to judge the past 2 weeks in the short space of a conversational second. Don't get me wrong, this isn't her fault and, honestly, it's difficult to pass on the blame. 2 weeks is far too long to leave an anxious mind. God knows what could've happened in those 2 weeks. And, it's all mainly because of the huge waiting list and lack of funding. Why wouldn't my college employ 2 people to help? Probably because the Maths department needed more coloured paper, or because the Media department needed another studio.
So there I would be, turning up on a Thursday two weeks after my last appointment having tackled a bunch of panic attacks, anxiety, frustration, and meltdowns, but in the same way your rash will disappear on the day of your doctor's appointment, I'd walk into the room with a smile on my face. I'd always be having a relatively good day and, if I'm honest, I wasn't going to start telling a stranger my life story anyway. The bad days that had been over the past two weeks weren't particularly something I wanted to relive and, along with the lessons and conversations from the hours before filling up my mind, a lot had clouded over with time. No matter how much we covered in those sessions, it still didn't make me feel better in those moments.
Anyone with anxiety knows that, when bad thoughts strike, there's a huge brick wall that not many people can knock down. They don't understand, they can't say anything to make it better, and it just won't stop. But, of course, it will. But how will 30 minutes every two weeks help me there and then in that moment of frett, loneliness and frustration?
There's a tonne of different branches within CBT and one of the ones that I tried out was 'Exposure'. This involved pinpointing a few day-to-day activities that I struggled with and then working out a plan/timetable for me to follow in a way that would expose me to it in instalments. In my case, I wanted to tackle my fear of public transport, including the bus to college that I had to get every day. Tackling this meant doing things like taking the bus every other day, then to once a day, then to twice daily etc. But that really didn't work for me. The experience was the same every single time. I find it similar to my fear of the local shopping park. As I've got older, that place has got scarier - that might not make sense, but anxiety doesn't.
I could never keep up with my exposure exercises either. Life was unpredictable and sticking to a timetable isn't always easy. It's not that I didn't care or pay close enough attention to my CBT, more that I just wasn't strong enough. I could easily do it the day after, but after a week I'd be tired and have given up hope with it.
Other than the exposure exercises, I only really remember a bunch of paperwork. Filling in forms of how I was feeling. When I attended a therapy session with CAMH's, one forms required me to answer 'Do you ever get sad or annoyed with your toys?'. Just to clarify, I was around 16/17 at the time of filling out these forms and, I can assure you, I didn't still play with toys. As CAMH's typically deals with children with developing mental health issues such as Anger Issues, Schizophrenia, or more intense disabilities, I had to fill out the same kind of form that they did. There's no tailoring done here - nothing to give to the extremely large and growing numbers of teenagers that are suffering mental health problems. A 17-year-old girl that was struggling with anxiety issues was put in the same bag as a 7-year-old child with ADHD.
There are only a few more times that I could've sat there every two weeks to 'learn' about 'fight or flight' or be told to meditate. Don't get me wrong, meditating is great, but I had the revision, a social life and sleep to catch up with too. For me, the answer was to have a helping hand there with me all the time; something that could stop frustration and anxiousness before it hit, something to ground me a little bit more, and something that allowed me to have a moment to breathe.
For me, the answer was medication. It was a really tough and lengthy decision for me to make as I'm aware that not everyone agrees with it. I've been taking antidepressants since January 2017. At the start, it was pretty rough, but I certainly wouldn't be where I am now without the help from the tablets. CBT does help people, and this is just my own experience with it which, unfortunately, wasn't great. If you take anything from this, let it be that you have to give yourself time and be able to experiment with different methods of Mental Healthcare - whether it ends up being CBT, medication, regular self-care, or meditation, each method is equally as valid. And if you have tried CBT and it isn't for you, don't give up. You don't have to suffer.
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I guess it's a given really, as an English student, that I love reading. To be honest, for the past few years, I've barely read a thing mainly because of full-time studies and the whole 'getting a boyfriend' thing. But now Jamie and I have found comfort in sitting in bed together reading away on an evening. Forgive us for sounding like we're 60-year-olds, but at least I have the excuse of being an English Student, right? Anyhow, I have started to discover over the past few months exactly what it is that draws me into a book. When I was younger all it took were a few words leading to a romance for me to click 'To Read' on Goodreads. Nowadays, I would much rather share my time out a little more wisely - I don't want to waste my time on a book that I won't enjoy so, by finding out what I like in a novel, I can make better decisions on what to read next.
Short chapters.
I don't know why but I feel a little ashamed to say this. As an English Student, I feel as though there's an expectation for me to love sitting down with books thicker than my skull but, honestly, give me a decent novella and I'd be all over it. I can be a bit of (a lot) an impatient person so starting a book with 600 pages ahead of me fills me with absolute dread. Although, this is often made a lot easier for me if the chapters are short. And Good Lord, those books that have one-page chapters... well they really were sent down from the heavens. I'm the kind of person that I would call a 'Perfectionist Reader': I don't fold the pages, I take it nowhere near water, I never break the spine and I always have to close at the end of a chapter. I have no idea how people can close the book halfway through a chapter without a burning desire to know what happens - especially before bed - how do you sleep?!
No triggers.
As someone who suffers from anxiety and is quite the sensitive flower, I can sometimes be intimidated by books that I think will trigger upset. I've put off books in the past - such as Thirteen Reasons Why and It's Kind of a Funny Story - because I'm aware of their potential to make me think about things that I shouldn't really be thinking about. However, there have been books that, despite potential triggers, I have read and enjoyed. Books such as The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Manifesto on How to Be Interesting and This Is Going to Hurt all tackle subjects that I am rather sensitive to yet I rated all three of them 4-5 stars. I can get along with books that show sensitive material and, in a way, I hope that exposing myself to these things can only be strengthening but, right now, I will still be scouring through reviews to avoid what I can.
Funny.
I'm sure every other man and his dog would agree that a few ounces of humour are what makes a book brilliant. From my recent reads, Adam Kay and David and Ben Crystal entertained me with their wit and ability to make two rather niche subjects extremely exciting and interesting. I tend to read these books a little quicker too and they seem easier. Of course, I'm only human for wanting a little laugh before bed at night. Adam Kay's writing, in particular, opened my eyes to how brilliant and uplifting it is to read books by comedians. Adam Kay, once a Doctor, is now a TV comedian and his funny bones (ha... get it?) certainly show in This Is Going To Hurt. So much so, I found myself re-reading certain diary entries aloud to Jamie before we'd burst into a giggle together.
A beautiful cover.
There, I said it! I, Alice of The Rose Glow, am inclined to read a book if the cover is beautiful. I also confess to having read books in the past that have pretty faces - such as How I Live Now by Meg Rosoff - only for them to turn out not so great. However, in more than a few cases, these desirable covers have delivered right through to the pages. A few of my favourite books such as Aristotle and Dante Discover The Secrets of the Universe and I'll Give You The Sun have covers to die for. Admittedly, it's not the be-all-end-all when I'm deciding what to read next. There has been a tonne of books that I've enjoyed yet hated the cover of, The Great Gatsby being one of them; there's just something so satisfying about reading a piece of art inside and out.
It benefits my studies.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm an English Language Student, and a pretty eager one too. As I am so interested in the subject of English Language, I decided that I really wanted to do some wider reading. There's already a mini collection of books on the subject in my home and, at the moment, I've decided to kind of alternate between the fiction and non-fiction. A few on my bookshelf include You Say Potato (being the only one that I've completed so far), 500 Words You Should Know, and Mother Tongue. Once I'm through those books, there are lots more that I intend to read - I actually have Goodreads shelf full of them - from Txting: The Gr8 Db8 to Euphemania to Spell It Out. Hopefully filling my brain with lots of interesting bits and bobs about the English Language will benefit my studies and give me more understanding.
What makes a good book for you?
SUNGLASSES - TOPSHOP
ORANGE KNIT JUMPER - ASOS
These wide-leg trousers are something that I would definitely never choose but I've actually warmed to them. They're a swaying, lightweight material that will be perfect to wear in the Autumn months. I paired it with this orange, statement jumper to add a real vibracy - on the whole, this outfit was totally comfortable to wear and definitely would be great to wear to Uni when looking for something casual, warm, and stylish.
The collection of loungewear tracksuits on the Femme Luxe website is amazing! There are so many different styles and colours to choose from but I definitely couldn't resist a pink one. I'm a sucker for loungewear and I love the idea of stepping into this tracksuit on days where I'm working at home or when all I need to do is pop to the shop. This particular one is a bit more of a crepe material rather than a jersey material which I think makes it more of an outfit that just pjs. And, of course, the rainbow detail is adorable! I think it adds such a cute touch to this outfit - I'm definitely never going to be out of those joggers especially.
SUNGLASSES - TOPSHOP
NUDE HEELS - ROBERTO VIANNI
Part of Uni life will involve formal situations which I think these black, cuffed trousers can definitely cater to. However, paired with a crop top, they would just as well double up as a party piece. They're very lightweight and thin making them comfortable and easy to move around in. They did originally come with a chain link to be added how you wish but I think I'd be more inclined to add that in a party context rather than this 'formal' style. The cuff around the ankle also fitted really nicely and wasn't too tight or restricitng.
Again, I love the super cute and unique rainbow detail on this two-piece. Unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend this one for tall people though - the legs ended up being short on me which meant I did have to save it by rolling them up a little - although, this did end up looking OK. The trousers of this set did feel a little low waisted too and, for someone with wide hips and a smaller waist, I can often feel really uncomfortable in anything that doesn't sit high on me. Nevertheless, I think the little rainbow crop top will be perfect for a night-out, even paired with any two of my Femme Luxe black trousers.
☀︎ ☀︎ ☀︎ ☀︎
Altogether, I'm so excited to wear these items in my new chapter through Uni. The pink tracksuit will definitely be something that I'm reaching for on days when I know I want to stay warm and cosy sat at my desk but still want to look and feel good. The wide leg trousers are something I never thought I'd like but, if I can be inspired a little more on what to pair with them, I think they'll definitely grow on me even more. They're just so ideal for a comfortable and stylish piece to attend Uni in. And of course, the cuffed black trousers are something I feel I can never go wrong with. They do require a little bit of adjustment around the waist to fit my particular size, but I think they're such a versatile piece that I can really experiment with.
How are you updating your wardrobe lately?
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