So we all want to be successful, it's a given. Some would argue that if you want to work in particular industries, you're best off living where it's all happening. For example, if you want to be an astronomical scientist, I don't suspect you'll get very far living in a semi-detached in a village in the Midlands; some would also argue that, if you want to make it big in the Fashion Industry, you probably won't do it in Kent, or Hull or any other city aside from the big'uns.
But how about one of the worlds most widespread industries out there; the industry that solely relies on the internet, being something spread far and wide, from country to country. How can such a busy, dense, and international community have one place, one hub, where it thrives the most. Maybe it's all about location desire.
When I was growing up and writing my blog, I'd always look at other bloggers and wondering what I was doing wrong that meant I wasn't as successful as them. Of course, without focussing on the fact that I'm just generally not as cool as those people, it always came down to the things they had access to.
I grew up in a village, so flower walls, rooftop bars, big brand events,
and breakfast menus were certainly not of abundance.
In fact, the nearest city to me was a (if you're lucky) 40-minute drive away. My blog solely consisted of what was happening here, in my bedroom, in my parent's semi-detached house, in a village where the nearest train station was in the next town. And, let's be honest, that was definitely not the most thrilling of things.
You might think, 'Well there are definitely successful bloggers out there that have grown up in small, rural areas' and you'd be right, but it might be worth thinking about where they live now. When we look at the top 25 British Influencers, they all seem to live in and around London. The likes of Lily Pebbles, Samantha Maria, In The Frow all live their influencer lives in the centre of London, while the obvious Zoella, Saffron Barker, and Mrs Hinch live even more glamorously in their 'safe distance from London but still never too far away from a Tube' homes, sitting pretty in Brighton and Hertfordshire.
So is it only living in London that can provide influencer success?
Not every brand wants to come to Newcastle though. Admittedly, there may just not be enough influencers based in my city as there are in London, meaning the guest list to a London-based Jo Malone event can be packed full of people. On the other hand, you may argue 'Well the big brands want the big names, so that's why they put the events in London'. But that would clearly be suggesting that big names are only from the London/Southern region and that brands have no hope for big, impactful influencers making a big enough effect.
And, just like that, we've gone around in one big circle.
If you don't live in London/South, you won't get invited to events/opportunities but, if you are a successful enough blogger, you will get invited to events. BUT, it just so happens that the most successful UK influencers are from London/South area.
Of course, being successful is something that each individual will define differently. Whether this means freelance writing from your office in Cumbria, or jet setting the world at no cost to you. Perhaps having contacts in big cities will aid your journey to success, yet there are definitely still people out there who have made their way to the top by sitting at their desk.
Each definition of success is valid and, although some will disagree, I have to say that, in my opinion, living in a city does impact your effectiveness as an influencer. I would also go as far as to say that, most big British UK cities have the potential to cough out some pretty amazing influencers. The likes of Kate la Vie in Glasgow, Sophia Rosemary in Machester, and even Me & Orla living in rural Yorkshire all do brilliantly and, despite the fact that some of the biggest opportunities have seen them travel the long distances to London, they are still utterly thriving.
I'd probably conclude that, while the industry is completely biased, it's also full of incredibly skilled people. The most skilled perhaps being the people who can make the most out of a little. From Kate la Vie bringing the quirky London cafe vibes to Glasgow with Market Coffee House to the stunningly chic photography that Samio takes from just her living room. They are just two examples that this is an industry full of determination, no matter what (or moreso, where) we are.
Do you think that success is determined by where you live?
Living in a city means that, for me, it's important to take time out once in while in nature, fresh air, and calm. In and around Newcastle, there are parks everywhere to fulfil this need for tranquillity and these are my 3 current favourites.
1. Jesmond Dene
This had to be in here; it wouldn't be a post about Newcastle if I didn't mention the wonderful Jesmond Dene. The area is further surrounded by Paddy Freeman's Park, Heaton Park, and Armstrong Park - this region of Newcastle is a green space hotspot with plenty of space.
With multiple different routes for seeing different corners of the space, as well as being situated right next to Jesmond Highstreet (if you will), and, of course, the Pet's Corner. The miniature zoo at the south end of the park if great for seeing all animals from rabbits to peacocks, goats to parrots.
This little green space on Newcastle's North East Side brings all sorts of nature together and, if you get chance to visit on a quiet morning, it's the perfect opportunity to soak up some of the calmest moments you'll ever experience.
I've only visited this park once so far but have to say I will definitely be visiting again soon. As someone who loves a long walk with lots of different, interesting sights, this certainly had it all, even though it was such a wide open space at times.
On our visit, we did the medium level walk but would be able to easily achieve the longer walk. There were so many different animals about too; from the ever elegant swans to a sighting of a heron, and a pond full of hundreds of pond snails. I can imagine this is a great place to bring children for teaching about wildlife.
As I mentioned above, some of the areas were open spaces, through fields or on top of small hills allowing some pretty awesome views. Other parts of the walk, and perhaps some of my favourite parts, were along the waterside or through forest spaces that hid trickling spring water streams. We were lucky enough to go on a beautifully sunny day and, in hindsight, should've definitely taken a picnic or even just a flask so we could sit and enjoy the views a little longer.
3. The Rising Sun Country Park
Everyman and certainly his dog will know about The Rising Sun Park if they're from Newcastle. It's a massive 162 acres of land in North Tyneside, coming up alongside the Town Moor and Gibside as some of the largest wildlife spots in the region. What makes this a great space of tranquillity for me is that, because of its sheer size, it's often pretty quiet and is not crowded.
On one of my visits to the park, I spotted a deer amongst the trees which were pretty special then, on another occasion, seemed to end up with some sort of connection with a horse after it ran over to me from the field and repeatedly followed me from one side of the gate to another. If you're reading this, horse, I hope you're doing well.
Like Watergate Park, this land is a mixture of open fields and forest settings with different pond areas dotted around. There's also a small hill where, once at the top, you get a great view of the surrounding Tyne region. Aside from cattle, I haven't seen as much wildlife in this area but is definitely a great place for some much needed fresh air and serenity.
There are so many more places waiting for me to explore in and around Newcastle and I can't wait to get my walking boots on and find more areas that can bring me more peace and tranquillity this summer.
Where's your favourite place to go for a little bit of calm?
*This blog post contains gifted items but opinions are 100% my own and honest.
Rewind to March when these products dropped through my letterbox and I finally got the chance to try out skincare made for my skin. Oy! - otherwise known as 'Organic Young' - is a skincare range produced by Green People and is specifically tailored for young skin like my own. As the name mentions, the brand is certified organic as well as being vegan, fair trade and cruelty-free. The range itself was developed by the founder, Charlotte, in order to aid some of her daughter's skin problems so, presumably, this is a range that has been created with great care and consideration.
I received 3 products from Oy! but have been more religiously using the Clear Skin Cleansing Moisturiser and the Clear Skin Purifying Serum. Here's what I think of them after 3 months of use:
Oy! Clear Skin Cleansing Moisturiser
This is the product that I use the most out of everything I received and managed to quickly integrate into my daily evening skincare routine. While I use SPF moisturiser every morning, this is the moisturiser that I like to apply to my skin after an evening shower in the hopes that it's cleansing qualities will help expel any day-to-day skin residue after washing.
Consistency:
With a surprisingly thin and sticky consistency in comparison to what I'm used to, the feeling of this once applied to my skin was something that originally put me off this product. While the moisturiser soaks in, it can feel quite unbearably sticky on the skin. Nevertheless, after a few minutes, the product soaks in and that feeling disappears. I must say, though, a little goes a long way. In fact, applying too much leaves me feeling coated in it, not to mention how excessively sticky that leaves my face.
Smell:
I would describe this scent as very similar to the 'Karma' range in Lush. Understandably, this strong orange fragrance comes from the Mandarin ingredient which I have a feeling doesn't place much purpose other than a sweet smell, but certainly does that job well. While I believe the smell in this product is strong, I'm lead to believe by the brand's website that their products are suitable for those with eczema and psoriasis with not a single mention of 'parfum' in the ingredients list.
Does it work?
Honestly, to my actual surprise after 3 months of use, I actually love this product. It really does work! My spots have really settled down since using it, whether that is down to the Green Tea, Willow Bark, or Prebiotics, I don't know. In a way, I'm happy to get over that icky consistency as it really does seem to have a positive effect on my skin.
Oy! Clear Skin Purifying Serum
The serum includes Willow Bark like the moisturiser; it also contains Aloe Vera, Tea Tree and Rosehip, all designed to soothe and help keep skin healthy.
Consistency:
The serum comes out of the tube in a rather lumpy, thin, clear gel consistency. When you begin to massage it into the skin, the gel disperses into a more water-like feeling and spreads very smoothly over the face. I have found no particular sticky feeling from this, certainly not one as striking as the moisturiser.
Smell:
Still continuing in the moisturisers footsteps, the serum has a strong smell again. Actually, it follows even further in that the most prominent smell is one of the least effective ingredients, this time being chamomile. While Chamomile is mentioned on the website as one of the ingredients, it isn't mentioned any more than in that one, small space. Nevertheless, it smells lovely, with a calming, sweet blend of lemon and tea tree.
Does it work?
I can't give a real answer for this one as, with the ingredients overlapping with that of the moisturiser, and the fact that I use them in unison, it's hard to tell if the application of this just 3 times a week is working miracles. I'm more easily awarding my clear skin to the moisturiser because I use it so much more frequently and can see much more of a difference even when I skip out the serum step. However, I've found the serum is a nice added touch to the skincare routine for improving the softness of my face and generally feeling like I'm adding some helpful, natural ingredients to my young skin.
-- -- --
What feels like a wholesome brand is producing brilliant, tailored, and effective products and I'll definitely keep using these two items in my skincare routine.
Have you ever tried Oy! skincare?
What skincare are you loving right now?
For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to be thinner. Even when I was underweight, I wanted to lose weight. I was repeatedly joining gyms and quitting when life got too busy or the novelty wore off, every summer I started 'being good' to lose pounds before my holiday, and sometimes I would stare at myself in the mirror, countlessly picking out parts of me that I didn't like.
Although this might sound like something that lots of people experience, I would find myself wearing particular clothes, changing outfits at last minute because 'it made me look fat', and generally breaking down in sobs at the hatred for myself. It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I began to realise I was showing symptoms of Body Dysmorphic Disorder. It was this that made me realise that things had to change.
Over the past year or two, I've put on weight. I look back at pictures in shock at how skinny I looked. Given this, though, I'm still smack-bang in the middle of the weight boundaries for a girl of my height and age. Yet, I still feel dreadfully lumpy. I see models on Instagram with tiny butts, big boobs, small waists, and flat stomachs and damn myself for looking the way I do, despite this fact that I'm a perfectly normal and healthy weight.
So now I am determined to change my mindset after all these years, no matter what it takes, and embark on a journey of self-acceptance. Whether this involves embracing the mole below my lip (which, from now on, we will call a beauty mark), educating myself on which exactly it means to be healthy, exercising in my own way, and eating what I want without guilt.
These are the steps I will be taking on my journey of self-acceptance:
Embracing my looks
Kicking it off with the thing that I'll probably find the hardest, accepting the way I look. From beauty marks on my face, hip dips, tummy rolls, or even my thin lips; I'm learning to train my mind to accept these features as things that make me unique. If I had the same body as all the 'influencers' out there, would there be room for another one? No. If my face was identical to someone else's, would I look different? No, obviously. If I kept my differences hidden, would I be able to share this story of self-love and make others feel less alone? Certainly not.
My wide hips are there for my future child to have a secure environment for development; my smaller boobs don't break my back; my freckled skin means I don't need any of those fake make-up dots across my nose; and, most importantly, my body is nobodies business.
Anyone experiencing insecurities with their own body knows the torture that your mind can serve up and there is no doubting that it is going to take a lot of patience in order to rid of the self-hate but, after all, it's the taking part that counts.
Educating myself on nutrition
I mean, having a boyfriend that actually studies nutrition at Uni is pretty handy but, while he's getting his head around whatever is on his curriculum, I'm going to educate myself on the real truths about nutrition that I need to know about. This is about understanding that carbs aren't the enemy (and in fact should make up around 50% of your daily calorie intake) and that full-fat milk is actually packed full of nutrients. And, would you believe it, topping pasta with cheese isn't going to be the end of the world.
Quitting the gym
You heard it right, well actually you heard it here first, but I'm quitting the gym. As I said before, it is something that I've established is not good for my mental health in that the guilt that comes along with not being able to attend makes me feel far worse than what it's worth. I'm not going to start telling everyone to quit the gym because, actually, it's a brilliant place but I will encourage everyone to listen to their mind.
Once my membership is up, I'll be delighted to get back to walking and jogging in the open air and doing exercise that I actually want to do and if there are days in which I have no energy to do exercise, I won't beat myself up about it. Listening to your body in the most honest way is the best way to keep a healthy mind.
Surrounding myself with more positivity
From books to bloggers, I am going to unfollow all of those Instagram accounts that outright make me feel shit about myself and instead get back to the real feeds that are showing life instead of the new World's Tiniest Bikini. I'm doing this is a multitude of ways and they are definitely things that I would encourage others to jump on too!- Reading books - Currently reading Eat it Anyway and thoroughly enjoying it. I have a wishlist of similar books lined up (to be read in no pressured time frame, of course) including The Truth about Fat; The F*ck It Diet, You are a Badass; and Notes on a Nervous Planet.
- New Blogs - The likes of Ruby Tandoh in Vice, The Angry Chef, Gabi Maudiere, Callie Thorpe, and the amazing girls at Not Plant Based all write beautifully composed, honest, and topical pieces on the realities of disordered eating, nutritional truths, and self-confidence.
- Better Instagram - As I mentioned, I'm switching it around with who/what I follow on Instagram starting by following the hashtags #midsize, #healthateverysize, and the wonderful Abi's hashtag #midsizegals. Alongside this, accounts such as @balanced_nat, @harri_rose_, @em_clarkson, @laudennison, and so many more, provide great levels of body positivity and spread the right message on busting the social myths around food and bodies.
So, this is where it begins. By the looks of it, with a lot of links, but indeed with no pressure, a lot of patience, and the consistent reassurance to listen to my body and mind and distance myself from the angry thoughts that society is pushing. After all, we were not put on the planet to live our lives for anyone else and we certainly weren't born to diet.
For more information or help on disordered eating go here.
For help with your mental health or to ask any questions,
you can contact Mind or 24/7 Samaritans.
It's a been a while since I popped a goals post up on the blog, perhaps because for the past few Uni-filled months I've either been plodding along getting whatever needs doing whenever it needs doing or because I haven't had a pretty minute to even think about what I wanted to achieve. Now, though, Uni has finished for summer so hopefully, I can pay a lot more love and attention to my blog, including posting more and more and getting back to what I love. Here are my goals for the next month.
QUIT THE GYM
Kicking it off with something that some of you may be a little bit confused by, yes, you read it right, I really want to quit the gym. It's something you don't really hear people saying with such pride but, the reason why I'm so confidently boasting my decision is that I'm proud to be listening to my body and mind. I've been attending the gym a few times a week for the past 4 months and, with 2 months left of my fixed term, I've decided that I'm better off saving myself that awful guilt when I'm too busy to go, or the niggling anxiety that comes with self-comparison to others. My favourite form of exercise is resistance training (being something I'm happy to do at home) and walking out in the fresh air and nature. For me, this means there is no real need for me to deal with the anxieties that the gym brought, let alone the money.
EAT WHAT I WANT
In smooth relation to the previous point, I'm going to be changing my diet this month, specifically my mindset towards 'dieting'. This is something I'm going to elaborate further on in a future post but after finally establishing my issues with Body Dysmorphic Disorder, I've decided that the best thing I can do is live a balanced life. This means training my mind to not feel guilty about an extra bit of cheese on my pasta, and not being receptible to the unproven food fads that the media dishes out (if you can pardon the pun). I've been unhappy in myself and my body for around a year now, what with repeatedly trying different dieting methods and feeling self-hatred when I fail to see results (usually in addition to my ingrained lack of patience) so I'm now determined to eat what I want, yearn for real nutrition, educate myself on the actual truth about foods, and be happier.
READ WITH NO PRESSURE
The running theme of this post is clearly self-acceptance and definitely follows suit in this next point. In June, I'd love to get back into reading but allow myself to take as long as I want when reading a book. I used to always put pressure on myself to read one chapter a night or as many books as I could in a month (I'm looking at you, patronizing Good Reads 'Reading challenge'). Admittedly, I'd love to be able to say 'Oh, yes, I read 50 books this year' but that would probably require me to sit in bed for 90% of my life, earning no money, no education, and no social skills at all. This month, I'm accepting the fact that I'm a slow reader, I only read one chapter a day, if not half, and sometimes I even skip days. What can I say, I'm leading a reckless life.
UP MY INSTA GAME
This doesn't mean post more and more and get as many followers as possible, this means capturing more of what I enjoy capturing. After recently adoring the content of those who post portrait shots, wearing effortless outfits and in interesting locations, I'd love to reach further and achieve this kind of thing with my own style. Whether this will include nabbing more outfit shots while I'm out and about, becoming more comfortable posing in public, or dedicating days out with a camera, hunting down great locations. I'm going to make sure that the content I want to start producing gets done, no matter what it takes.
What do you want to achieve this month?
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