Spring Clean your Mind

 Spring is upon us, which means it's time for a big spring clean not only of your house and your living space, but of your mind. I am a huge fan of cleanliness, white is my favourite colour and I refuse to work in an environment which is not completely tidy and organised. However, we can spend hours of our lives making sure that the space our body occupies is somewhere we feel comfortable in, yet completely neglect to do the same for the space our mind occupies. Remember you can never escape from your mind, so it's time to stop battling it, and instead work on making it a space that you are happy to occupy.

Here's three things to remove from your mind to start you on the process:

1. Self Hate - I don't think anyone could ever criticise me more severely than the way I have criticised myself. So many of us live with our worst enemy between our ears. Why are we so determined to put ourselves down and focus on all the things we wish we could change about ourselves, instead of focusing on all the positive attributes that other people appreciate. Recently I've learnt that life has enough obstacles of it's own and these obstacles only become harder to cross when you put your own in the way. You are in control of your mind, your mind is not in control of you so tell that little mothers meeting to shut up and go home because your mind is too powerful to be commanded by negative thoughts. Learn to appreciate yourself, reward yourself and be proud of yourself. 

2. Criticising People - Putting someone else down to make yourself feel better is never OK. Sorry for the cliche reference, but to para-quote Mean Girls, calling someone else fat, ugly or stupid will not make you any skinnier, prettier or cleverer. Picking on a part of someone else that you are jealous of will not make you any better or make them any worse, all it is doing is tearing down someone else's self esteem and temporarily making you feel better about your own insecurities. If there is something in your life you are unhappy with, go out and change it. Criticising someone else will not change yourself. Only you have the power to change, use it.

3. Fear of Failure - If you don't fail, you will never truly succeed. Going through life succeeding at everything you try does not mean you are the best or most successful version of yourself that you can be, it means that you have never attempted anything outside of the comfort zone in which you know you can thrive. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone so make your desire for success bigger than your fear of failure. Remember, to feel or achieve something you never have you have to try something you've never done.

Feeling like the Luckiest Girl in the World

When I was about 10 years old, me and my grandad sat together and drew a picture of a horse. I kept that drawing and it has been hidden inside my diary in my bedside table ever since. When my grandad passed away, it quickly became my most prized possession. However, absolutely no one knew that it existed apart from me. It was my special gift from my grandad, my one remaining artefact that proved that he was really here. I treasured the fact that he had touched the paper and made the marks upon it. A work of art it was not, but still it meant more to me that anything else I have ever owned. About two years ago I showed this drawing to my boyfriend, and cried with the fear that the pen was beginning to fade, terrified of the prospect that one day I may no longer be able to make out the drawing. Unbeknownst to me, months ago Jonny snook into my room, took a photograph of the drawing and got it framed for me, meaning I never again have to worry about the picture fading. And that is just one reason why my 21st birthday was the most incredible day of my life.


I woke up on my birthday in Barcelona, and cried whilst opening my cards and presents at the realisation that I have the most considerate family and friends in the whole world. Never in a million years did I ever dream that I would receive such a huge array of the most thoughtful and sentimental gifts and gestures from the people that mean the world to me. 

I know I have posted a few lifestyle posts on this theme recently, but there was no way I could allow so many people to make me feel so special after years and years of hating my birthday without letting them know how much it meant to me. From the bottom of my heart I have never ever felt so loved in my whole life. For years, I struggled to feel loved at all because I was in a place where my self confidence was so low that I struggled to accept the idea that anyone could possibly feel any differently about me than the way I felt about myself. This year has already been a huge year of change for me, and the support of my friends and family made my 21st birthday the best birthday of my life so far... and here's why:

1. My best friends are taking me to a cottage in the Lakes in June for a few nights of cuddles, wine, chats and so many happy memories. Getting to spend quality time with a group of people who I treasure so dearly is the best gift I could have ever asked for.

2. On arrival back in the UK, feeling tired and a bit sad that my amazing weekend break was over, I walked into my house to find that my mum had decorated it with snow white balloons (i.e. my favourite Disney film ever) and 21st banners, she had chilled two bottles of champagne and laid out presents and flowers. I nearly cried (again)

3. My boyfriend for making Barcelona amazing, for buying me a genuine 80s refurbished Polaroid camera, for being my best friend and most importantly for not complaining whilst I dragged him round Tiffany, Miumiu and Micheal Kors on the hunt for birthday treats.

4. My parents for being the most generous people in the world. I am so proud of how they have raised me and am so appreciative of everything they have ever done for me. The gifts and messages to me on my birthday were more amazing than I could have ever imagined and it is inconceivable how grateful I am.

I spent my 21st birthday with one of the people I love the most in the world, in one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Above that, I received gifts beyond my wildest expectations, and I feel like the luckiest, happiest and the most loved girl in the world.


21 Things for 21 Years

On Friday I turn 21. For some reason 21 is perceived as the beginning of 'true adulthood'. I've decided to spend a little time reflecting on how amazing my 21 years so far really have been, and picked out 21 things that I have to be grateful for in my 21 years of existance:

1. Friends who have helped me through dark times, laughed with me through amazing times, always been there and never failed to put a smile on my face.
2. Family who have unconditionally supported every decision and loved me regardless of the mistakes I've made.
3. The letters Jonny leaves on my pillow when I fall asleep before he goes home.
4. The amazing opportunities that my blog has given me, and the incredible friends I have made through it.
5. I'm grateful for the outlet that writing has provided for me. Writing letters, diary entries and prose to myself, for myself.  
6. Disposable camera photos, for reminding me to stop worrying about perfection and start concentrating on the smaller more beautiful moments in life.
7. The amazing travelling opportunities I have had; Japan, America, Dubai, Iceland, Africa just to name a few.
8. Early mornings for the peace and serenity they bring.
9. My creativity for giving me an outlet when I didn't have the confidence to express myself with words.
10. My dad and the incredibly introverted mind I inherited from him, teaching me the importance of hard work and perseverance.
11. The texts my mum sends me every night before bed telling me she loves me, and the cuddles she gives me every day.
12. I'm grateful for my health, for my ability to get out of bed every morning and experience life to its fullest potential.
13. The amazing 13 years that I got to spend with the bravest man I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. My Grandad taught me that no dream is too small.
14. The chance to live in a country where as a woman I was treated to an amazing education and equal opportunities.
15. I'm grateful for my brother who taught me that other people's opinions aren't important and it's ok to accept yourself as you are.
16. Sunsets for the reminder that when life seems dark, the light will always come back again.
17. The Northern Lights. The most spectacular phenomenon I've ever experienced, reiterating that true beauty is natural.
18. Books for being my best friend as a child.
19. Second chances. And third chances. And most importantly the people that have given me these chances to try again.
20. Having food, clothes and a warm home to come back to every night.
21. My mind, for finally learning to love myself and be my own cheerleader.


Wake up an Hour Early to Live an Hour More

I have always been an early bird. No matter what time my head hits the pillow the night before, I will wake up between the hours of 5A.M. and 6A.M. without fail. Although sometimes this is far from ideal (e.g. after crawling into bed at 3A.M. from a night out), most of the time I actually really enjoy the extra hours that my early rises give me. I love the stillness of mornings, when it feels like everyone in the world is still fast asleep but me. It helps me to forget about everything that plays on my mind once the rest of the world has awoken and lets me just exist in my own private hour where absolutely nothing matters but me and my own world. It is in these hours that I can look after myself, reflect on my goals and have time to appreciate the beauty of calm without the hustle and bustle of busy life in the way.


 I appreciate that not everyone is a morning person, but the benefits of getting out of bed even as little as half an hour earlier than usual really can have a huge effect on the productivity of your day.

1. You are at your efficient best first thing in the morning and will get things done quicker and to a higher standard. Our brains make better informed decisions after waking up, meaning you are more likely to achieve the goals you set for yourself each morning.

2. Waking up early leads to a better mental outlook. By waking up earlier, it reduces your stress levels and you can avoid the usual morning rush, meaning you are ready to start your day in a much calmer state of mind. 

3. The first hour of our day is meant to set the tone for how positive and relaxed we will feel for the rest of the day, so waking up an hour earlier will leave you time to do something you enjoy before the rush of the day begins. Treat yourself to breakfast in bed with a book, or catch up on some TV instead of doing it late the night before and you will feel more ready and positive about the day ahead.

4. Waking up earlier will help you eat healthier. A survey actually concluded that people who lie in averagely consume 248 more calories a day and tend to lean towards more unhealthy food choices than those who consistently wake up earlier.

5. Those extra minutes will give you time to plan your day and prep your meals. This is something that has been so vitally important for me recently. When you have a busy day, having a yummy and healthy lunch already prepared and ready will mean that you don't end up grabbing something quick, carb heavy and sugary to get you through the rest of your day.

6. Silence. My absolute favourite benefit of the morning. Meditation and complete 'me time' will completely transform your day. You will feel relaxed, you will feel positive and you will feel ready to accomplish everything you hope to. Life seems a lot less scary and a lot less stressful when you and your mind are on the same team.

Remember you can never make time, only utilise it. You are handed 24 hours every day and once they're gone you can't have them back. Time is precious, use it wisely.

Mother's Day Big Beauty Event with Selfridges*

 If you're looking for something a little bit different to treat your mum this mothers day, then Selfridges at the Trafford Centre may just have your answer. They are running a big beauty event on Saturday 14th March especially for mother's day. I was lucky enough to be able to treat my mum to a makeover at Nars courtesy of Selfridges, and it was such a lovely way to spend an afternoon together whilst being pampered.

If you fancy taking your mum for a treatment, whether it is a make over at your favourite make up counter, a skin consultation or a manicure then all you need to do is purchase a ticket from Selfridges for £10, all of which is redeemable against any product purchased on the day! This is such a lovely gift idea, and is the perfect excuse for you to combine it with a lovely day of shopping together too!

The make over itself was such a fun experience, and both make up artists took into consideration the looks that both me and my mum wanted to create. Having never used Nars makeup before, it was a complete new experience for me, and although I have always maintained that I will forever stay loyal to my favourite M.A.C. and Benefit products, I am now a fully fledged Nars convert and I may or may not have spend an extortionate amount on beauty products afterwards*... (*I did). So let me know in the comments below if you would like to see some individual reviews of products!

I really hope some of your consider treating your mum at the big beauty event this mothers day!

Hello March

I literally can't believe I am sat writing this on the first day of March. January and February have absolutely flown by, but it's safe to say 2015 is shaping up to be one of the best years of my life. I have never really been a big believer of the whole "new year, new me" mantra, but bizarrely that is exactly how I would describe the transformation that my mind has undergone over the past two months and the path my outlook has journeyed on in such a short space of time is greater than I ever imagined.

I've decided to compile a little list of the changes that I have noticed in myself and hope to maintain over the next ten months.

1. Positivity -  I always wanted to recover, to be happy, healthy, positive, but after having spent so long living such a unhealthy lifestyle fuelled by relationships and friendships with detrimental influences it became hard to imagine living a life any other way. But positivity cannot come from any external force, it has to come from within yourself. To change your mind you have to want to change your mind, and work bloody hard at it every single day until finally you are back in control of yourself. We view the world the way we choose to, and I choose positivity.

2. Failure - A word I have been irrationally frightened of for longer than I care to admit. However, I have learnt that failure is not defined by an inability to complete something, failure is an inability to try something, to push yourself harder and further than you ever imagined. Staying in your comfort zone means you will never succeed in something new unless you open yourself up to the prospect of failing at it first. What defines us isn't our falls, it's how well we rise afterwards.

3. Determination - I am too determined to be defeated. Although determination is always a trait I have possessed, it is something that has been heightened to a whole new level over the past two months. It's so easy to confuse determination with obsession and obsession is drilled into us as a negative trait to chase. What I have learnt is that obsession is the word that lazy, negative and jealous people use to describe dedication. I am not obsessed with my health or my body or working out, I am dedicated to living a pure and healthy life.

4. Friendships - My friends mean the world to me. It's hard leaving school, leaving normality, uprooting yourself and beginning your life again in a whole new city. It was even harder for me because I did it three times. I left school, moved to London, moved to Manchester School of Art and then moved again to the University of Manchester. For a long time I felt very lost, feeling so unsettled made me wary to open up or become close to anyone for the fear that I would invest so much in them and then have them no longer be a part of my life any more. One friend in particular has been there for me through thick and thin, I love her like a sister and although we have both had our fair share of ups and downs I wouldn't change any of it for the world because being on this journey together has only made our friendship stronger.

Here's to an amazing year of 21st celebrations, health, lifelong friendships and happy memories,

Branded Lab SS15 Showcase*


On Wednesday night, Branded Lab invited me and a group of bloggers down to Rosylee tea rooms in the Northern Quarter to peruse their Spring/Summer 2015 showcase over cocktails and canapés.
.
It was such a lovely night and a great opportunity to catch up with some of my favourite fellow Manchester bloggers. Highlights included amazing retro style sports luxe and some gorgeous co-ord sets from brands such as NaaNaa, Madam Rage and Ko Ko Couture. My favourite product of the night has to be the gorgeous Harriet Saunders rucksack and it took an unbelievable amount of willpower to stick to my 'no sugar' rule whilst stood next to this super cool pick and mix sweet cart the whole night.

Thank you so much to Branded Lab for a lovely night!

Juggling Life

When you have a to do list longer than your arm, sometimes the easiest thing to do is nothing at all. Staring at a long list of daunting tasks and not knowing where to begin is a scary prospect, and I know that sometimes it's much more simple to place that list in the back of your mind and watch yet another episode of that TV show on Netflix. But ultimately that list is only going to be more daunting when you try to readdress it. It's not going to get smaller on its own, and although it may seem like there aren't enough hours in the day to complete everything you need to do, avoiding it all together is never going to help you achieve your goals.


When I was 16 I started to suffer badly with stress. I struggled to get the balance right between revising for all my different subjects whilst still maintaing far more extra curricular activities than I could possibly manage to squeeze in to my already hectic life. I'd like to say that as I got older I got better with managing my commitments, but if anything I am more over committed now than I have ever been, my ability to take on far more than I can handle is one of my greatest downfalls. What I have got better at however, is how I organise my mind and my life in order to deal with all these different deadlines at once. 

My mum once taught me something called 'elephant burgers' (bear with me, I know it sounds like the weirdest concept, but it is something I absolutely credit for my ability to juggle so many commitments at once.) She told me that if someone told you you had to eat an elephant you'd never be able to manage it, the task would seem huge and you would have no idea where to start. If you just delved straight in and tried to eat it all with no plan you would just end up overwhelmed and unsuccessful. However, if you began to break your elephant down into small and manageable elephant burgers, it is much easier to comprehend as you are no longer staring at one giant task, but twenty more feasible smaller tasks. The point of the story is that if you just stare at the list of things you have to get done you will never find a way to approach it which doesn't fill you with dread. However, by breaking everything down and creating smaller timescales and deadlines for yourself it will be much easier to complete everything in time. 

Remember, stress is not what happens to us, it is a response to what happens to us and response is something we can control. It's not your workload that's breaking you down, it's the way you've chosen to carry it. Learning to adjust that load is what makes all the difference. Worrying about workload or deadlines or exams will not make them go away, but it will stop you from appreciating the good things. Time is yours to do what you wish, and remember there is always time to chase your dreams.

A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well.