LIFE: Spending Money Wisely

Since Christmas I've been really trying to focus on when to spend money and where to save it. For me, this hasn't always been easy. I love shopping, in particular I loved online shopping but I found that I was buying things and then never wearing them. When Anna from ViviannaDoesMakeup started her capsule wardrobe I really started to question more about my own shopping habits. Though I'm never going to be as strict with myself as some people I feel like I've come along way from where I was and I actually have some savings now.

(these were definitely not purchased in one go)

Anybody who knows me knows I love to shop. In fact when I was leaving school and you get everyone to sign your shirts, one teacher wrote on mine 'SHOPPING TIME' because he used to see me walking into town most days after school. Lately, I've been trying to only buy things when I really need something. I've also been trying to buy more investment pieces. So instead of buying a cheaper pair of black trousers for work, recently, I went to River Island and got a pair that I knew fit me well and that looked stylish because I knew I would wear them a lot more than any old pair of trousers. I feel like this is the key. With some items I feel like it's okay to spend a little more if you know you're going to get a lot of wear out of them, such as black skinny jeans, black trousers and a leather jacket to name a few. I feel like for your staple items in your wardrobe it's better to invest and spend that little more if it's going to last you longer.

Also in recent months I've been shopping in places that I know fit me well, sometimes I'd buy things because I really liked the pattern or style but when I actually put them on I either didn't feel comfortable in it or it didn't fit me very well. I've still got too many items in my wardrobe but I feel like they are things that I tend to wear over and over.

As well as my shopping habits, I've been trying to spend money on less takeaways (why I was eating so many, I'm not quite sure) and using that money for myself and Scott to do things. I much prefer us actually going somewhere for the day or just going out to a restaurant rather than eating fast food all the time. I feel like it's important to do things as a couple whether that's go to the cinema, or out for a meal or if you want to go to the zoo. There's an endless amount of activities you can do as a couple and I feel like you get to a stage where you become really comfortable with each other that you forget to actually have fun. Me and Scott got to that point where we were just coming home from work cooking dinner and watching a film and it got boring so lately we're we've both been saving money we've decided to actually go out to different places. Try different pubs around us or go a little bit further away from home (my tapping in postcodes into the satnav could be better) but it's definitely been a lot more fun.

Again, this has been one of those rambly posts from me today, but isn't that what my Tuesday posts all about? Just to get my thoughts out there. Let me know you're own thoughts on spending your money more wisely.

♥

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GYM: Getting Back in the Gym

So for two weeks I didn't go to the gym a single day. I realise how bad that is, especially when I finally got back in the gym I was knackered after about ten minutes. With Scott being away in Birmingham for a few days I didn't go and then when he was back I was so busy trying to have content to upload when I was away that I simply forgot to go and then I had my birthday. There was that much going off around my birthday, that again, I ended up missing another week.

Last week, we decided we needed to get back in the gym. We were both feeling a little on the stuffed side from probably eating too much whilst we were away and to be honest I did kind of miss it (I know, I must be crazy for missing the gym). Anyway, coming back to the gym hasn't been easy. Whilst I had hoped I'd be able to pick off right where I had left that wasn't the case. Any signs of my abs felt like they had disappeared so trying to do sit ups, crunches and leg raises left me feeling completely drained. Cardio left me feeling sick and I felt a little depressed when I couldn't lift weights on the same setting as what I had previously.

Despite this little downfall of getting out of going to the gym and feeling my confidence knocked a little bit by having to take it a little easier, I also feel incredibly motivated. I know that I can have abs and lift heavier weights so I feel motivated to get back and exceed what I was at. Whilst my cardio  and general fitness has never been perfect I also feel motivated to make sure that I do become fitter, especially as I've been given the all clear from my doctor that my heart is working properly (long story) and I am safe to do more exercise - though I will still take it easy anyway.

What do you do to get/keep you motivated for the gym?

♥

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LIFE: Prints, Books and lots of TV

So, it's Saturday again and it's that time of the week where I roll off the things I've been loving in the last seven days.

Peaky Blinders, myself and Scott have been watching Peaky Blinders from season 1 over the last couple of weeks. My mum has watched it since it first aired and always mentioned how good it was but I'm not really into my period dramas if I'm honest. But Scott wanted to watch it and we both became a little obsessed. We've just finished season 2 and are waiting for the latest season to be released so we can buy it and stay in our room watching it all weekend. Basically, the program is set in Birmingham after the war and follows the Peaky Blinders, a criminal gang, lead by Tom Shelby (Cillian Murphy). There's a lot of violence a little bit of local politics and romance in the program, it's definitely not for the faint hearted though, if you're not good with blood, you may want to give this one a miss.

I've also been loving Zoella's 'Girl Online' & 'Girl On Tour' books. I'd been meaning to read them ages ago but never seemed to get around to it but finally started reading Girl Online about two weeks ago and couldn't put the books down. I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen to Penny Porter (the protagonist). The book is about Penny Porter trying to deal with her anxiety and challenge it. She also has an anonymous blog which she is constantly updating, I really liked this element as you were able to read her blog posts and got to know more about how she was feeling. Both books tell the story of Penny's and Noah's relationship. It also shows how in your later teen years how you start growing up and growing apart from old friends. I would definitely give this a read. It's quite light-hearted but wonderful and I can't wait for the next part.

I made Scott buy me this print whilst we were away in Blackpool from Primark. I absolutely love it. I love the 'Wild and Free' quote and I love the skeleton of it. The colours really go with my room but also helps to brighten up the wall of prints that I've got it on too. Most of them are just black and white so this really helps to make it look brighter. It was also such a bargain at £3. Primark is really good for little homeware pieces, in my opinion, I just wish my local Primark stocked more of the homeware.

Finally, myself and Scott finally got around to watching 'Dirty Grandpa' the other night and I loved it. I can be a bit funny with Zac Efron films, whilst I like him and his acting I haven't always liked all his films. The film also has Robert de Niro in and together they are brilliant. It's hilarious and heart warming and Robert Mulroney plays Zac Efron's dad in it (weirdly I have a massive crush on him). The film is about Zac Efron's character taking Robert de Niro home, and along the way they get themselves into a bit of trouble. Definitely worth watching.

What have you been loving this week?

♥

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GYM: My Pre-Workout Snacks

I've noticed that I always feel better at the gym if I've had a little pre-workout snack. I'm not one to have pre-workout shakes or protein shakes, but after you've been at work all day I need a little pick me up before heading off to the gym. I normally try and have something about half an hour before going to the gym just so I don't feel sick when I am there. So today I thought I'd share with you my three go to snacks before I workout.

First, I tend to reach for the Walkers Sunbites Wholegrain Popcorn. I gravitate towards the sweet & salty flavour the most. These contain a lot carbs which just helps give me a little boost, its not too sweet either that I'll feel incredibly sick whilst working out. They're also not too filling that I feel bloated they just have a nice balance to make me feel a bit more motivated.

My naughty snack - which is definitely not the best for you - is a Mars Bar. I know you probably shouldn't have that much sugar before you workout but sometimes I need a kick of sugar to get me going and these are perfect with the glucose that they contain in them. I feel sometimes at the gym I can't start to feel a bit faint and I feel like a need a bit of sugar so having a Mars Bar helps to avoid that situation.

Finally, I tend to take a Lucazade Sport with me to the gym. I just find this helps to waken me up if I feel really tired before the gym but also helps to give me a little bit of a boost at the gym also. I tend to have lucazade when I'm doing weights rather than doing cardio however.

What do you tend to reach for before going to the gym?

♥

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LIFE: Happy Birthday!

Monday's are normally my time to share music on here,but today is a special day for me as it's the day I turn 21. In all honesty I haven't been looking forward to turning 21 but at the same time its a milestone I feel like sharing.

On Friday I went out with the girls from work to Frankie and Benny's and had some food, it's always a good laugh when we get together outside of work. I'm not one to have the attention poured onto me so as it's one of the other girls 18th soon we've  joined our birthdays together for a meal. Sunday, I spent some quality time with my family eating lots of Chinese food and watching movies. Scott came around and again it was just a lovely evening. Towards the end of the week I'm meeting up with a bunch of school friends for some food too (I'm going to be non-stop eating this week).

Tomorrow, myself and Scott are going away to Blackpool for a couple of days and I'm so excited. Blackpool is where I spent most of my summers growing up and I still love it now. There's plenty of things to do like the zoo and the sea life centre as well as the arcades which I will no doubt update you on here as and when of what we've gotten up to. I'm also looking forward to spending some time away with Scott. It'll be our first holiday together so it'll be lovely to have some quality time.

21 probably means that I'm officially an adult and if that's so I'm worried. I might seem really put together on the outside but I think I'm a mess most of the time. I've learnt a lot about life already and I can't wait to see what else life has to throw me in the years to come. If you're celebrating your birthday today too, I hope its epic.

What are your plans for your birthdays? Or any holidays coming up?

♥

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GYM: Women's Health Big Book of Exercises

Sometimes it's hard to get motivated to go to the gym, trust me I know. Sometimes you're hungry after work and so that comes before going to the gym, there is nothing worse than being hungry and working out, I always feel so faint and sick. It's also hard to find motivation to hit the gym if you're constantly doing the same things. For me, I've been looking through the Women's Health Big Book of Exercises to find new and things to do in my workouts. I tend to use it more when I'm at home doing a home work out if I'm honest.

What I like about the book is that it's in clear sections for you to find exercises to train different parts of your body. I look at the abs section the most. I find it boring doing sit ups and crunches all the time so this helps me find new ideas for different circuits for me to do and helps me keep things a bit more interesting. It's also good if you're bored at the gym and creating routines before you actually go.

I've also got a couple of kettlebells at home that weighed a tonne carrying them home from my supermarket but I haven't really used them since I bought them, so I've been wanting to get into more at home workouts including these in my routine so it wasn't a waste of money. I know that Scott has looked through the book for ideas too, so it's definitely not just for women despite its name. I just need to invest in a good mat so that I'm not hurting my back on my wood floors.

Where do you find workout inspirations from? Also any recommendations for good gym mats for at home?

♥

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GYM: The at Home Ab Workout

Before I got into going to the gym, I started working on my abs by following YouTube videos. There's loads out there and it's just trying to find one that suits you and that you enjoy doing. So I thought I'd share with you my favourite ab workout that I tend to do at home (though you can also do at the gym too).

So I started following a routine called the 10 Minute Ab Workout: How to Get a Six Pack off of the XHit Daily. I liked this routine because it's easy to follow as she goes through all the steps with you plus it reminds you of what's next in the routine throughout the video with a notification. I find the video is really encouraging and it's more about doing what your capable of in that time limit than doing a certain amount of leg raises etc. I also noticed a difference after a couple of weeks following this routine with my abs. They were definitely more defined. The channel also has a five minute ab workout along with workouts for beginners so be sure to check their channel out.

Check out 10 Minute Ab Workout: How to Get a Six Pack below:

♥

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FASHION: A Weekend In Birmingham

At the weekend, myself and Scott went to a ball for his work and it's quite possibly the biggest thing I've been too. I found the entire process leading up to the event really stressful and it definitely tested my anxiety. Firstly, it's a ball and I was told that it wasn't the kind of occasion where you wear a long dress so opted for something in between where it was longer on one leg than the other. Whilst many did wear long dresses other wore shorter ones too. I initially felt a little out of place but in reality I felt really comfortable and confident in what I was wearing that I didn't actually care in the end.

Dress - River Island (similar) / Shoes - New Look (similar) / Bag - Whistles 

Before we left to go to Birmingham (about an hours drive for us) I was so anxious and there was a moment when I wasn't sure on whether or not to go. But I decided that I didn't want to miss out on this opportunity and ruin the day for myself and the event for Scott. So I swallowed the nerves down and got in the car and got myself ready.

The event was really lovely. The people were nice, and the entertainment was brilliant. I also felt myself relax a lot throughout the evening and the nerves and anxiety quickly went and I was soon back to my normal self.

We stayed at The Hyatt in Birmingham and it's the nicest hotel I've ever stayed at. I asked Scott several times if we were in the right place. It was also lovely because it was connected to the ICC where the event was so we only had to cross a closed bridge when everyone else got wet through walking over from different hotels. The breakfast was amazing and there was a wide selection to choose from and the staff were really friendly. I was gutted when we had to leave Sunday morning. However, we did go shopping and I may have treated myself to a 21st birthday present, you'll see it on Friday.

Anyway, whilst you can see what I wore, I also wanted to write this post just to remind you that anxiety is a daily battle and it's not something that you can ever be cured with. But you just need to keep pushing yourself. Whilst this was a big deal for me in terms of anxiety (because I had to travel, stayed in a hotel without my parents, met lots of people I didn't know, stayed in a place I didn't know) I managed to get through the day without it ruining my plans. Even the little victories are still victories.

♥

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LIFE: Brozer, Summer Shoes, and The Intern

So it's that time of the week again to round up a few of my favourite things from the last week. It comes around so quickly. I've been on my own a little bit this week with Scott working away so most of my spare time has been spent catching up on TV shows, watching movies and indulging into my beauty stash again.

First off, I've felt really productive this week. I've had some good days at work which left me feeling really good about myself and I've been tapping away at my keyboard a lot lately getting posts written which always makes me feel good, though I still need to get my pictures sorted at the moment something I always put off to the last minute and I'm not sure why because it's probably my favourite part of blogging.

I've been delving into the world of bronzing up this last week. So two products I've been loving is the Benefit Hoola bronzer which I picked up with my boots points at the beginning of the week. I've wanted this product for a while now but always put off purchasing it so when I had enough points I thought why not. Its the perfect shade as it's not too dark and it's matte so works well as a contour too. I can see why it gets raved about so much on the internet. There's a lot of pigment in it but blends really  nicely to create a natural bronze. I've also been tanning my legs ready for this event I've got coming up like I said yesterday. I'm not one to just fake tan as I know it'll end up in a disaster for me so I've been using the Palmers Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze whilst it does initially make you think what the hell have I done once it's dried and everything, once I had a bath it left me with a really lovely glow to my legs and a natural colour. The smell isn't brilliant but I think you find that with a lot of products, but I've found this to be the easiest self tanner that I've used. It doesn't leave you looking patchy either which is always a bonus.

Continuing on with the theme of tan, I've been loving wearing my New Look cut out shoes from about two years ago now (similar). I originally bought them in black suede and wore them to death but the tan leather look ones have lasted me so well. Though the weather has been a little awful this last week I've still loved putting these on. I have heel shields in the back of them to prevent blisters but other than that they are super comfy and go with pretty much any outfit.

Finally, I recently watched The Intern which has Anne Hathaway and Robert De Niro in and absolutely loved it. It's a chick flick but even Scott enjoyed it. The two actors work so well together, it  had me laughing and welling up which to me makes the perfect movie. Definitely check it out.

♥

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GYM: Adidas Gym Leggings

I've found it difficult to find a pair of gym leggings I really like. Some are see through which means you always have to wear a longer top - which I don't mind but some days I want to wear something a little tighter that isn't swishing around me. Some just go rubbish when you wash them. The struggle has been real for me. That's until I spotted these Adidas Response Tights.

I saw a girl wearing them at my gym and I thought they looked really cool. I've been after some plain black gym leggings for a while and I liked the Adidas stripes going horizontally across the knee and thought it looked different. I was then on the hunt for these leggings, I wanted to try them on see how they fit and ultimately see if they were see through. I found them about 2-3 weeks after my search at my gym on promotion for £29.99 instead of £40. After trying them on I knew I had to have them.

I bought a size small, and they fit perfectly. They have a drawstring tie inside to make them tighter around the waist if need be too. They're super stretchy so great for squatting and stretching in. They're also really lightweight in feel too, so you don't get too hot in them. My bum also looks amazing in them which is always a bonus. Though they're slightly more pricey that I would've intially thought about paying for some gym leggings I love them to bits and already have had my money's worth out of them. Definitely check them out if you're in the market for some new gym leggings.

♥

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LIFE: Stand Up, Even if its not Easy

Another Tuesday, another rambling post of what I've been thinking about lately. This week it's sticking up for yourself. Nobody is your worse enemy than yourself. It easy to look in the mirror and pick out the things that you don't like whether its physical things or things about your personality. I know full well how easy it is to be like this, especially with my personality. But it's worse when you see people taking advantage of these little things you wish you could change.

Anyone who has known me for years would probably describe me as 'quiet' and I really was. One lad used to call me, 'the girl who never speaks' and I was the kind of girl who wouldn't dare speak what was on my mind in case it hurt someone. It wasn't that I was ever thinking horrible things about people but if I didn't want to do something I'd still say  yes to make sure that person was happy. If someone had passed a rude comment about me I would simply let it slide. I found it easy not to say things in fear of letting people down or being judged.

Over the years I've slowly gotten fed up of letting things slide. Its easy to just pretend that things aren't bothering  you, but honestly its no good for you. Lately, I've been sticking up for myself or just saying the things that are on my mind, whether that's big or small. Some people are always going to expect a lot of people and if you say yes all the time then they're going to keep putting that pressure on you. I've learnt to say no or put my foot down in certain situations. It's okay to fight your corner. If it's your boyfriend that you don't think is treating you fairly call him out. If it's your best friend who keeps going back on her word or if your manager is expecting too much then just mention it. You don't have to have an argument just a discussion so that both parties know where they stand. I've also found you get a lot more respect by saying the things that are bothering. Obviously I'm not telling you to be rude to people. But people need to speak more about what's bothering them. There's no point in letting things build up and boil over, making everything messy.

At the end of the day, it's your life. You've got to do what makes you happy because that's what everyone else is doing too.

♥

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LIFE: The Topshop Crop/Sports Bra

Since starting the gym back in January I've been trying to build up my sports gear collection. As vain as it may sound I still want to look fashionable as well as being comfortable at the gym. I've been using the same sports bras I got about a year ago from Missguided since I started, however, as I've got more into going I didn't find these the comfiest thing to wear. Plus mine were very plain and not very flattering/well fitting and had quickly gone dingy.

My main issue however was the material. It felt more like a thermal/scuba material and when I was doing cardio, so on the bike or the cross-trainer. I simply got too hot. My chest would feel incredibly sticky with sweat and I didn't feel comfortable so I was in the market to find something else. I've had my eye on the Calvin Klein classic Bralet for a while but I think they're so expensive especially if you end up not liking them so when I went into Topshop and found they had some similar in style I had to pick one up and give it a try.

Oh my god, they are so comfy. They are quite thin so don't give you much support however I only have small boobs anyway so its not something that bothers me too much. Plus I tend to wear my sports bra with lower cut tops to try and hide some cleavage. They don't make me too hot like the previous ones were plus they're super soft and looks a lot more stylish. If you do want some support I've found wearing a strapless bra underneath is perfect, so you've got that support but you're covered from any boob mishaps at the gym. I have found they aren't very big and I haven't got the biggest boobs in the world, so maybe size up, I find that Topshop can be small in fittings anyway.

I've now got them in the grey and navy with the matching underwear because I loved the first one so much and tempted to buy them in the white and red too, I think they also do it in an animal print too. I would seriously recommend them, not only for the gym but at home too. I love putting mine on if I don't want to wear my normal bra, so if I'm just hanging out at  home all day as it's so much comfier than a normal everyday bra. At £10 I also think they're such a bargain.

♥

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LIFE: Social Anxiety Struggles

Something that is hard for anyone to talk about is when they have a problem. Whether that's something as simple as not being able to put up a shelf or if they have an illness, it's never easy to tell someone that something is wrong or you're incapable of doing something. One of the biggest taboo subjects in recent years has been mental health - which comes in all shapes and forms - and I wanted discuss my own issues with mental health today even if it helps a single person out there.

I've struggled with panic attacks since I was a kid, I can remember my first panic attack when I was sat in assembly when I was about seven years old and feeling overwhelmed that something bad was going to happen. I felt sick and my stomach was full of cramps and I was completely unaware of what was happening to me. Over the years my panic attacks became worse. As a result of my panic attacks I slowly struggled with social anxiety.

Social anxiety has stopped me doing an awful lot in my life. I struggled so much with anxiety when I was 18 that I deferred from university because the thought of having to go to a new place and make new friends terrified me, whilst I don't regret not going to university now, at the time I did a little bit. I got to the point where I would always reject offers to go out places in the fear of having a panic attack and when I did go out, even though I never did have a panic attack, I could never settle and was always on edge. However, when I didn't go out I was still worrying that I'd let my friends or family down and they were judging me for it.

Though I've learnt more about social anxiety and panic disorder it's still something that I struggle with. It's not something that you're going to get over in a day. I can go weeks without struggling with either but then I can go weeks really suffering from both, That's what provoked this post. Lately, I've been going through a tough time with anxiety/ Completely unprovoked, my anxiety hit me in the face one morning even though I had nothing really to worry about - and that's what annoys me the most, because I never know when it's going to appear again. If there's only one piece of advise I can give you it'd be to talk to someone. I always bottle up my problems and then I end up exploding, it's no good for me or the person I end up breaking down to.

Anxiety and mental health issues isn't a trend and it annoys me when people treat them like this. It's a serious issue for the person suffering from them and it's not something that you should be ashamed of or not discuss with anyone. The first person I told other than my parents about my anxiety was Scott several years before we got into a relationship. I was terrified about what he would think of me, but even now he's incredibly supportive of me. If I can't go somewhere because I'm too anxious he respects that. Find someone you trust and discuss these issues with them even if it's your family or a friend. If you're suffering I'd also recommend learning more about your problem. For me, learning more about panic attacks and social anxiety was just a relief and helped so much in itself. It calmed my nerves an awful lot. I know this has been a rambling mess but Tuesday and I like to ramble on about things that's been on my mind. But my main advise, DON'T LET IT CONTROL YOUR LIFE. It's so easy for it to control your life, but at the end of the day and as harsh as it may sound, most of the time it is just in your mind and once you realise that it's so much easier to deal with.

♥

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LIFE: TV Shows, Leather Jackets and Camera Hunting

Now that I'm attempting to blog daily, Saturday's are going to be my little round up day. So anything that I've been loving lately, or anything that I'm lusting after I want to share here. A little bit like Vivianna Does Makeup, it's one of my favourite posts of hers each week. I like that little sneak peek into what she's been up to or interested in so here's my first post like this.

I've become obsessed with Geordie Shore. I only started watching it a few weeks back when me and Scott were looking for something to watch late one night and decided to watch this for an hour. I'm hooked, I'm following the stars of the show on instagram wanting to know more about them and what they're up to and I've even started watching it from Season 1 again. Plus Marnie was back this week. It's definitely my guilty pleasure at the moment.

I've recently fell back in love with my Miss Selfridge Faux Leather Jacket. I love a leather biker jacket and I've been eyeing up the leather jackets in All Saints for a couple of years now, but never managed to save up for one yet. Since the weather has been getting that little bit nice and I no longer feel the need to live in my parka I've been loving wearing my leather jacket again. It makes any outfit look a little edgier, plus it's super comfy.

After going to PC World last weekend the Olympus Pen E-PL7 has constantly been in my head. I love it in white and I've had my eye on it for a while but it's the first time I've seen it in person and once again become hooked on it. Definitely something that I need to save up for. If you could fall in love with a product, I may have to with this camera. It's sleek and stylish and so much easier to carry around than my big SLR camera at the moment.

Finally, I've been trying to get back on this healthy bandwagon. Since I've stopped eating beef at the moment ever since Scott told me that I've eaten a baby cow, I've not been going to McDonalds and I've been hitting the gym more. I've felt a lot better within myself because of it too. Though I'm not trying to lose weight, I can feel a difference in myself. I simply feel healthier and fitter.

♥

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LIFE: Being a Gym Newbie

I've been considering joining the gym for around six months now and simply kept putting it down out of fear. I'm not particularly a sporty person and definitely not in good shape fitness wise, and it has been something I've wanted to change for a while. I've always started ab routines from YouTube and after a couple of weeks given up but this time I'm determined to use the gym and stick to it - if only because of the price of the gym membership. I'm not going to lie to you and say I'm going everyday because I haven't. But these last few weeks I've been getting into the gym more and trying different equipment I've also been changing what exercises I do depending on how I feel that day.

First off, nobody is staring at you at the gym. This was my biggest worry, I always get scared that people are watching me mess up or if I'm self conscious I automatically think that people are watching what I'm doing but in reality they aren't. My first time at the gym I did look around to see what everyone else was doing but I think that helps in learning how to do certain things correctly and also to gain some inspiration. You don't want to feel in a rut with your routines because it'll become boring. But I can reassure you, nobody is staring or watching you, they're more interested in themselves. 

Be comfortable in what you're wearing. There's nothing worse than not feeling good in what you're wearing and that does have an affect on you. I always tend to wear some leggings and a longer vest. I'm conscious of my leggings possibly being see through so I like to wear a longer top so that this isn't an issue. Also get some good trainers that are going to be suitable for the gym. I bought some Nike New Balance trainers from ASOS in the sale and they are really comfy and give me good support at the gym. 

I go to the gym with Scott, this is for two reasons. The selfish reason my gym is about an half an hour walk and I couldn't walk that far do a gym session and then walk home (that sounds really bad) so Scott is my set of wheels. Also, I don't have a clue what I'm doing there and I know I would lose motivation if I went on my own. I would suggest going with someone you're comfortable with or who knows what they're doing. If not gyms have personal trainers and the ones at my gym all seem really nice and willing to help you. Especially for your first couple of weeks I would suggest this whilst you get yourself into a routine and know how to use equipment properly/ get the form of positions right so you don't strain your muscles/  

Don't forget to take a bottle of water. I did this in my first gym session and I felt it immediately. It's nice to have that refresh after each set and in a weird way it helps to calm me down a little as well as cooling me down too. If you have asthma I would also recommend taking your ventolin with you. I suffered when I was younger and when I had this chest infection at the beginning of the year I was struggling with my breathing so this has been vital equipment for me. 

You will have to get used to seeing naked bodies at the gym. I'm a prude, I hate seeing people naked and I hate people seeing me naked so my first experience of this was a little strange, However, just stick your head in your locker and get out of their as quickly as possible if you're like me. 

Lastly. I would say don't get down on yourself. If you've not had as good a gym session, if you've had to move your weight setting down a little don't beat yourself up over it. Odds are you've had a busy day or your body is just telling you to chill out a little bit. You can always throw in an extra session or go harder the next time. 

That is my little bit of advice from the last few weeks of going to the gym. I'm hoping to get into it properly this month and try and work a little harder. Maybe I'll update yo with my progress throughout the year. If you're considering joining the gym I'd say go for it, most offer a free trial period and you can see what you like and what sort of things you want to do at the gym.

♥

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LIFE: Comparison is the Thief of Joy

It's easy to look at someone else's life and think 'wow, they've got it all'. Whether that be the job you want, the lifestyle, fashion, friends and family, the list is endless. But really, they're looking at someone else thinking the exact same thing and so on. Everyone at some point in their life has compared themselves to someone else, in fact it happens daily for most people, however this is no good for anyone.

The other night I had a massive meltdown to Scott because somebody else appeared to be doing what I want to do better. I simply assumed that their life was so much easier than mine without really knowing anything that's happening in their life. It's easy to get caught up in social media and think that everyone is living perfectly, that's only because we show people the highlights of our day/week. If I'm sad nine times out of ten I'm not going to share that with the internet. If I've had an argument with my boyfriend, my family or friends I'm not going to post that on the internet. However, I will post pictures of a night out with my closest friends, or me and Scott acting goofy or having some family time. That's what people do. We all feel like we have to compete with people sometimes, and sometimes that's the case for example trying to get a job. However, the rest of the time, we don't need to compare ourselves to the person next to us. 

For me, I often compare myself to others if I feel down about myself. So if I'm feeling bloated and I go to the gym and see a slim girl killing it on the treadmill, then I automatically tell myself that I'm not as good as her. I don't know if she's feeling the exact same way about herself. I also compare myself when it comes to careers. I'm at that age where a lot of my old friends are ready for leaving University and some of them will get really good jobs and others will get your 'normal' or 'standard' jobs until something more suitable appears. Even though I might not necessarily want that career that such and such person has chosen, I get jealous because to society their job appears better than mine, when really it doesn't matter. What I'm doing with my life doesn't affect anyone other than myself. If I chose to work in retail then that's okay, I've made wonderful friends that I know I'll have for years to come and I know that sitting up studying trying to become a nurse isn't suitable for me when I can't stand vomit or blood, so why do I compare myself to that person? 

The truth is I honestly don't know. As soon as I begin comparing myself to someone else my mood drops. One minute I could be incredibly happy and the next it's like a switch has been flicked and I'm really down about myself. So I'm trying not to let things bother me as much. Nobody knows what's really going on in someone's life apart from that person. Nobody else knows what someone else is struggling with. It's easy to say, but we should all try and be a little kinder and supportive of each other. There's no need to compare yourself to someone else because they're goals aren't the same as yours. As long as you're moving in the direction that you want to be in then it doesn't concern anyone else. As long as you're doing something that you love, does it matter what other people think or say? 

These are just a few things I've been thinking about lately. I know I can't be the only one. Even if only one person relates to this then I'll be okay with that.

♥

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LIFE: Dealing with Stressful Days

We all have 'those' kind of days. It's not always easy to break out of those bad moods that we can get ourselves into, sometimes without reason. I'm not immune to these down days either. Especially lately, I've felt like I've had more than my fair share of them. It started for me when I got ill at Christmas, I'm so miserable when I have a cold and I could tell that I was bringing everyone else down with me. For one reason or the other I found that so far in 2016 I've felt really stressed which then makes me feel low. However, I thought I'd share with you how I get through these times.

I usually have a pamper evening or just some time to myself. I normally have a bath and wash my hair and have a little time just focusing on myself. Then, I usually get into bed with a film or a tv series and just try and relax a little bit by distracting myself. There's no point in focusing on all the negatives its much better to try and do the things that will cheer you up a little.

Spend time with loved ones always cheers me up too. Kind of the opposite to what I've just said but talking to people I really trust and getting things off my chest really helps. Some people say that I always seem to be moaning but this is kind of my release to not let everything get me down. Also I like watching movies with my family or going out shopping with them or walks with Scott. Whether its family, your friends/boyfriend or a colleague at work don't think that you're boring them with what's on your mind, most of the time they care about your happiness too.

Water really relaxes me. Going out and getting some fresh air makes me feel a lot better, especially if it's somewhere you don't get signal. You just feel completely relaxed and away from all your problems. I like going to lakes and rivers, though I can't swim and I panic if I have to, water really relaxes me. I like watching the ducks and I just feel like all my worries are washed away kind of.

As silly as it sounds, try not to worry quite so much, usually things will sort themselves out or its things that you don't really need to be worrying about. Most of my problems I've spoken to a family member or a friend and they've helped me to see the bright side of things. I know it's not always easy, trust me I'm such a pessimist, but having that support network is always good. Just remember you're not the only person who's going through something bad, everyone goes through stressful times whether they're putting on a brave face or not.

♥

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FASHION: Winter Walks

Like I said in my previous post, I've been really into going on walks lately. Myself and Scott had a day off together and so we decided to take a wander around Vicar Water which isn't far from where we live. We've gone for a few walks lately and I just love them. I really relax and though we don't always talk loads when we go on them, I love watching Scott taking pictures of the ducks and trying to capture the perfect shot. Plus going off the 'tracks' and discovering other places and capturing cool pictures even though I feel incredibly scared at the time.

Forever taking pictures of Scott when he's not looking 

Hat - Vans / Coat - Primark / Jumper - New Look / Jeans - Topshop / Boots - Primark / Bag - Asos

I would definitely recommend having a wander around Vicar Waters if you're in the area, though it was a dry day when we went it was incredibly muddy so I wouldn't recommend heeled boots like I wore. We even saw a rabbit which I got a little too excited about. 

♥

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LIFE: Valentine's Day with the Girls

Valentine's Day isn't really a day that I look forward to (unlike pancake day) from a past experience of a first date on Valentine's Day it's been a day I've dreaded for a long time. Not only that but I also don't really like the concept of the day itself, a day to tell someone you love them, well shouldn't we be doing that anyway? The cynic in me simply doesn't agree with the day. But that being said, we all love to be treated and an excuse to celebrate. Valentine's Day can be fun without having to spend a lot of money - though if you want to budget for the big day, check out these financial tools from Personal Capital.  But Valentine's Day isn't far off now, so I best get cracking to it. This is definitely a post for the single ladies out their this year.

I know how crap it can feel to be single on Valentine's Day especially if you're a teenager, believe me I spent years thinking this, but honestly it really doesn't matter. Don't beat yourself up over it because it's just another day. You can still have fun on Valentine's Day without a fella. 

Grab a few of your best girl friends and invite them over for a night of pizza, gossiping and movies. You don't have to spend a lot, first off pizza, go to your local supermarket and pick a few frozen pizza's they're usually on offer. Or Domino's pizza usually has meal deals on which actually aren't too bad in price, especially if you're splitting the cost. Try collection too if you are ordering from domino's as their meal deals on pizza tend to be a lot cheaper (can you tell I have an addiction to domino's?). For me, you cannot have a girls night in without a face mask. You can get individual sachets or pick up a full size tube to use afterwards, my favourite is the Sanctuary Spa 5 Minute Thermal Detox from boots. You could also try making you're own, here's a link to some recipes to try out. 

You've had your pizza, and your face mask now all that's left to do is watch some movies, gossip about boys and have lots of chocolate and nibbles. For me, I always have to watch Valentine's Day on the day itself, or you could have a TV series marathon of Pretty Little Liars, Netflix is very handy, or Scream Queens. None of this costs a lot but you're guaranteed to have a fun night and forget completely about what day it is. 

I'll be spending Valentine's Day with Scott, probably doing these exact things and forcing him to have a face mask with me and maybe some more pancakes. How will you be spending Valentine's Day this year? 

♥

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LIFE: Back to Blogging and Life Updates

I realise that I've been a little MIA from this blog this last month and the simple reason for that is finding the time. I know it's an awful excuse but over Christmas I wanted a little break so that I could spend time with my family and my boyfriend and then working has made it a little difficult to get back into the swing of things. I didn't want to just start 2016 off with a review especially after being missing for a little while.

2016, I'm not really sure what it has to offer for me. I haven't got any plans to do anything yet this year but I know what I want to do within the year and I thought I'd share with you some of the things I'd like to achieve or do this next year like I did in the last.

1) Venture outside more.
In the last six months myself and Scott have been exploring pretty areas around where we live. So it started with Rufford Abbey and Matlock and we've gradually gone around a few other areas that are kind of in the country side, and not around near us. I've found that this is where I'm happiest. I really relax when we just get away for the day where you don't really get much signal and we can spend the day taking pictures and enjoying each others company. It might be a little cheesy but I really like doing these sort of things, plus I always feel much better in myself health wise.

2) Get fit (so typical).
I've never been into exercising or sports or anything like that, but I've noticed that as I've got older I feel the need to get fitter and stronger. Sometimes at my job it can be quite physical, so lifting heavy things or dragging fixtures and currently I'm not that strong so always feel like I'm not much help to the people I'm supposed to be helping. Also I've just not felt great in myself. So I've joined the gym and with the help of Scott I'm going to attempt to get stronger and put weight on in places I actually want to.

3) Shop less.
This will be a tough one for me. I'm a shopaholic and it seems that I'm addicted to any kind of shopping, clothes, shoes, makeup homeware, candles anything I love it. So I've had a clear out about a week ago and got rid of all the clothes that I no longer wanted (more on that in a blog post soon). I want to try and save up this year. I've noticed that I much like doing things than buying things. So I'd rather save up and go out places with friends and family and create memories.

4) Move out (potentially).
I'm hoping this is the year I'll move out. I'll be 21 this spring and myself and Scott have spoken a lot about it. I know we might not be able to do it this year, saving up and finding a place we like won't be easy. Also, I know it'll be a tough one for me when the time comes leaving my family home but it's also really exciting.

5) Take more pictures.
I love photography and good pictures and I want to get into photography a bit more. When we go out Scott always takes the photos on my 'big camera' mostly because he's better at using it than me and I always feel like a tourist but I want to delve into photography a bit more myself this year. I really want a polaroid camera and have more pictures around my room and space in general, so hopefully I'll be picking one up this month.

6) Care a little less.
if you ask anyone around me, they'll tell you that I care a little too much and I really want to start to care and worry a little less. I've made good progress in the last couple of years and some people bring out this carefree personality out of me more than others. But I just get into a rut where I feel so down about what people say about me or things that I do. So this  year I want to try and be a lot more happier and optimistic in life.

7) Become more organised.
I'm not a very organised person if I'm honest. I don't forget important dates or anything like that but I struggle to stick to a routine especially where this blog is concerned so I want to try and be a bit more organised and create more content and hopefully better content. I've even bought a diary this year to keep on top of things.

So these are just a few things that I want to do this next year. Who knows if I will, I guess we'll just have to see what happens in the next year. What are you hoping to do this  year?

♥

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