I have been an avid reader my whole life; reading is an outlet for me, an escape which allows my introverted mind to run off into another world. My dad has always called me 'Bubbles', saying that my head is full of them and my mind exists in a space which no one else truly understands. Recently I have reconnected with my love of reading, the power of words is incredible. They say a picture speaks a thousand words, but I would rather read those words ten times over and paint my own picture instead. Recently I have spent many sleepless nights reading some books that have truly inspired my outlook on life.
1. It - Alexa Chung
Okay so I know I'm slightly late on the bandwagon for this one, but I finally bit the bullet a few weeks back and bought 'it' (of course I splurged on the hardback version because it is pretty much the most beautiful coffee table book ever designed). The book is a mixture of memoirs, fashion, lifestyle and photographs, but it resonated with me in a way I never imagined it would. I have been a huge fan of Alexa ever since her ELLE cover shoot and interview back in 2010; she has the most beautiful and whimsical approach to life and this is a book I could read over and over again.
"I don't expect everyone to like me. It's just not realistic or how the world works. If someone I've never met is mean about me, it doesn't matter. But I cannot express how frustrating it is not to be believed"
2. Everything is Going to be OK
My friend Ellie gave me this book for my 19th birthday. That time of my life was a hard one, and I think I would say this is one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received. It's a small book and I have had it to hand every day for the two years ever since. It is just full to the brim of the most beautiful, positive and inspiring quotations all beautifully illustrated.
"Dare to wear your heart on your sleeve. Dare to shake off negativity and cynicism. Dare to hope, to dream."
"Dare to wear your heart on your sleeve. Dare to shake off negativity and cynicism. Dare to hope, to dream."
3. Be Body Beautiful - Lucy Mecklenburgh
As mentioned in a number of different blog posts, my main priority for 2015 is health. A surprising number of people don't understand my dedication to this at all. People find it hard to grasp that someone who weighs what I do could be classified as unhealthy, unfit and have a less than ideal percentage of body fat (something which has significantly decreased over the past month *woo*). Lucy was in the exact same position as me before overhauling her lifestyle and founding 'Results with Lucy', she described herself as 'skinny-fat', something I can largely relate to. Her book is unbelievably inspiring, it tells her own story, promotes a healthy and positive outlook on body image and is packed full of nutritious, filling and healthy recipes.
"Learn to love yourself. If you don't accept yourself, no one else will"
4. Eat Yourself Happy
This little beauty of a book was a surprise gift from my boyfriend (left on my bed along with a big bar of Fruit and Nut, slightly contradictory but the thought was there). He knows that I struggle with food. A combination of my allergies, not having an oven in my flat and sheer laziness have lead to me developing a routine of eating a combination of chocolate, cereal and cheese on toast for dinner. He also knows that I struggle with stress. Badly. This book actually manages to address both those things in one go, listing a whole manor of foods and recipes to help combat stress, lack of sleep and anxiety.
"By taking control of what you eat and drink, you can help your body get back to a place of calm, so that both physically and emotionally you are much better equipped to deal with whatever life throws at you"
Happy reading
