Creative Hobbies To Take Up

With the new year well under way, some of you may be looking for a new hobby to take up. Well, this post is for those of you looking for a more creative option. We all know that I fall in love with just about anything with even the slightest creative element, and I have many different hobbies that I like to do when I'm feeling a bit stressed. 

Colouring // I love that adult colouring books are having their time in the spotlight. I used to love colouring books as a child, but there obviously became a time where colouring in Disney princesses or Bob The Builder became a bit too easy. But the world of adult colouring books is ever expanding, with more challenging and complex designs being released every day. And for those of you who like to be more up to date, there are hundreds of apps on the market so you don't even have to carry around a book and pencils any more!

Calligraphy // Recently I have been enjoying experimenting with calligraphy. I'm pretty rubbish at the moment, but practice is practice! Last summer I picked up the Nib and Ink workbook and the Windsor and Newton calligraphy set, and now I have another hobby for when I don't quite feel like colouring!

Reading // Although reading may not seem as creative as some of the other hobbies mentioned here, losing yourself in a good book can hit refresh on your creativity button. Switch of the TV and pick up any book and see how far you get. You may be surprised at how relaxed you feel after even 20 minutes. 

Photography // You don't have to own fancy cameras and equipment to enjoy photography. Even a little point and shoot digital camera, or even a cheap disposable camera can fuel a love for photography. Go for a walk round your neighbourhood and photograph your route. You may have some beautiful images by the end of it, and you've even squeezed in a bit of exercise at the same time!

Knitting // Okay okay I know you're all thinking 'granny alert', but there is something fun about knitting. My grandma showed me the basics as a child, and I enjoyed it for a while, but I am in desperate need of a refresher course as I have pretty much forgotten everything she taught me. My youngest sister really enjoys knitting, and has made many scarves over the last few years. I remember once she was having so much fun, and she ended up knitting a 5m long scarf because she didn't want to stop! Ha!

Baking // I loooooove baking. Always have, always will. It's probably one of the only hobbies that I have always loved. I love nothing more than whipping something up in the kitchen on a weekend. Scones. Cake. Biscuits. Bread. Plus there is something so rewarding about eating something you've made yourself!

Scrapbooking // Over the summer I spent a ridiculous amount of time sorting and printing all my photos and arranging them into photo albums. It was one of those jobs that I had been putting off doing for months, but I finally sat myself down and got it all done and out of the way. I found it incredible relaxing and therapeutic. Plus getting to look through thousands of old photos was hilarious! Why not try printing some photos out and starting a little scrapbook? It doesn't have to be as major as my project, but it will help fill up some of your time!

What do you like to do in your free time?

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An Updated Reading List

It's been a while since I last wrote about the books I've been planning to read, I know. I must admit that I've picked up these books in September, but haven't even opened them yet as I meant to put this post up a while ago. But with returning to university, life got a bit in the way. I've also just realised that I usually feature more books than this at once, but a girl can't spend all her time sat reading now can she? ~ Even though one might wish she could ~

Little Women - Louisa May Alcott // I thought I'd read this when I was younger, but I'm not sure I did since picking up a copy. My mum always used to tell me about how she read it as a child, and so it finally made it's way into my shopping basket. I really look forward to reading this over the coming weeks, but I do hope it's going to be an easy read! Even if it turns out that I have read it before, I don't have a copy of it lying around anywhere!

The Man Who Couldn't Stop: The Truth About OCD - David Adam //  You know when it's 2am and you're browsing Amazon for something and end up getting totally lost in your recommended items list? (Just me?) Well, every once in awhile, alongside the garden tools and the disposable razors, you find a hidden jem. In this particular instance the hidden jem was this amazing book from David Adam. I clicked on it, out of curiosity more than anything else, and it seemed right up my street. I saw that Matt Haig (author of Reasons To Stay Alive) had given it a good review, and it went into my basket immediately. And I mean immediately. I'm super excited to get into this because I've just finished my mental health module at uni, and I'm already missing the 'proper' psychology. As soon as I've finished my current book ('The Little Book of Hygge' by Meik Wiking FYI), I'll be popping this into my bag to read on the train!

Eat Pray Love - Elizabeth Gilbert // I feel as though every young woman should read this book. It's like a rite of passage into adulthood. I've seen the film more times than I'd care to admit, but there is something about the storyline that appeals to me and so I picked up a copy in the hopes that it may take me on some sort of journey (lol) with the start of the new year. 

The Graduate - Charles Webb // To be completely honest I have no idea why I wanted to read this, and I admit that I may have been persuaded by the aesthetically pleasing front cover. I think most people have seen the film adaptation starring Dustin Hoffman, or at least heard of the book from the various pop culture references floating around. I must say that I'm probably the least excited to read this book out of the ones I have bought, but I will let you know how I get on with it!

What are you currently reading?

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Inviting A Stranger Over For Christmas Dinner?

Some of you may be very confused and shocked by the title of this post, and if you'd have suggested this to me a couple of years ago I would have probably run away in terror (stranger danger). But last christmas my family and I invited a stranger into out home to share Christmas dinner - and it was quite honestly one of the best Christmases we have ever had. There were last arguments from my grandparents, we were forced to get dressed (and not stay in our pyjamas all day) and made much more effort to chat! 

There is a big emphasis on spending time with family over the festive period, but what does this mean for those who have no family? Well last year Bisto launched a campaign where you give up a spare chair for the elderly and share your Sunday lunch with someone who would otherwise be eating alone. Sunday dinner is the one meal we all look forward to, where we sit down with firiends and family for good food and conversation. Yet for 1 in 7 older people, it is one of the loneliest times of the week, with over one million elderly people going days without communicating with anyone. So you can imagine how loneliness is a massive problem, especially around the festive period. 

I live in the countryside, in a very small and rural village that is probably made up of around 180 people - 90% of which are elderly. We get on with pretty much everyone at our end of the village, but very rarely venture down where the majority of the older residents live. My grandma (who also lives in the village), likes to go to the local coffee morning and regularly chats to a lady who's husband had died several years ago. My grandma being my grandma, instantly invited here over for Christmas dinner as soon as she found out that she usually spends the day alone. She didn't stop to think about the logistics, or the fact that she wasn't even hosting the dinner (my mum always has everyone over to my house and we cook for everyone), she just invited her along!

At first we were all a bit skeptical, we hardly knew this woman, yet she was going to be sharing our special day with us. Eating our food and joining in with our little family traditions. I remember being terrified just before she arrived, I thought she might ruin the day. I thought everyone would feel too awkward to talk, and what if she didn't like the food! What would we do then? But as soon as she arrived the day just seemed to flow. We got her a drink, we gave her a present, we sat down for dinner. Conversation flowed and she loved the food - she even asked for a few of our recipes. She stayed, watched a film with us, we gave her a little doggy bag and she went home! We enjoyed having her over, and she enjoyed being with us! I'm pretty sure she's coming back again this year!

So all I'm saying, is just spare a thought for those who aren't as fortunate as you this Christmas. I'm not saying that you have to scour the streets looking for someone to have over for Christmas dinner, but if someone you know (or even someone you don't) happens to mention that they are spending the day alone, just consider sharing your day with them. 

Would you ever invite a stranger over for Christmas dinner?

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What's Going On: An Update

In all honesty, I haven't written a post since August. Not out of laziness or lack of effort, or anything like that. I've just been too busy. I'd scheduled quite a few posts to go up as I knew that I wouldn't have much time to rave about my latest purchases, or tell you what lipstick I probably haven't worn all that much - but those are fast running out and I am now in my final year of university finding it very difficult to get things done. Finding the time to go do simple things like going to the post office, catching up with friends, or even loading the dishwasher is becoming increasingly difficult. The last three months or so have gone by incredibly fast, and I can tell how long it's been since I last sat and wrote to you as the Blogger platform has had a bit of a makeover whilst I've been absent. So I thought I'd write you a little somethin' to let you know that I'm still alive (barely). 

Since we last spoke properly, I've had an MRI scan. I've been diagnosed with this, that, and the other.  I've cried. I've made some big lifestyle changes. I've had meltdowns. I've paused and resumed physiotherapy. I've started ankle classes to strengthen the muscles around my ankles. I've had interviews. I've applied for teacher training. I've got rejected from teacher training. I've lost a stone. I've driven to remote locations and just sat screaming where no-one could hear me. I've bought more clothes than I should have done. But most importantly, I've found some happiness in the chaos that is my life. 

My chaotic life is being somewhat dominated by assignments at the moment. I'm just starting my equivalent of a dissertation, and almost 99% of my time is spent reading journal articles and textbooks. Listening to podcasts, and watching TED Talks from people that lecturers tell me are important. At the moment one of my main priorities is finding participants to take part in my research study. Which I thought would be a lot easier than it is. So if you're a student willing to fill out a couple of questionnaires for my research study that will take no longer than 15-20 minutes please get in touch by leaving me a comment/email/tweet! Or if you know anyone that would be willing to help me out - send them my way! I BEG YOU. 

What's happened in your life recently?

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My Handbag Essentials

I haven't done a 'what's in my bag' style post in forever, in fact I'd say it's been two years! So instead of showing you all the crap that I carry round on a daily basis, I thought I would tell you what I can't go without. Depending on where I'm going, I can either carry a massive bag or a cute little across body that I struggle to fit anything in - but usually it's on the smaller side. I tend to opt for black leather cross body bags (#obsessed) as I find they go with just about everything. For university I use a big leather shopper bag (also black like my soul) because those books aren't going to carry themselves. 

A purse // Obviously you need a purse, unless you plan on paying for everything with smiles. For my birthday I treated myself to this GORGEOUS Michael Kors Bedford Navy Large Zip Around Purse (see similar here). I wanted it the moment I saw it, and when it went into the House of Fraser sale it was mine. I got it for £59 reduced from £130 so I was pretty pleased with myself! #savvy I don't think I've ever loved a purse so much in my entire life. 

A phone // I like many, never go anywhere without my phone so obviously it made it onto my essentials list. With my phone, I like to make sure that I have a pair of headphones for when fellow commuters get too much to handle, along with a portable charger. I use the Anker Powercore+ Mini which is nice and small to fit inside any handbag. 

Keys // Who wants to spend hours locked outside their own house? NOT ME. If I plan on leaving the house to go anywhere, obviously I need my keys. Mine look kinda boring, with a few keyrings to jazz up my Morrisons Match & More card. 

Beauty // I never go anywhere without beauty products. I always carry around a lipstick (or 20), and when I remember a powder compact with a built in mirror - hey I even throw in a powder brush if I'm feelin' fancy. Even though I'll always forget to apply it, I like to keep a lip balm in my bag incase my lips get a little dry. I often have some form of brush or comb, and I try and keep a nail file around for those nail emergencies. 

Emergency // I'm that person that carries something for all occasions. Cut yourself? I have plasters. Allergies? I have antihistamines. Headache? I have painkillers. You name it I've got it! And how anyone can go anywhere without an emergency granola bar in their bag is beyond me. I'm currently obsessed with the Nature Valley Honey and Oats Bar - delicious is an understatement!

The other crap // Obviously it wouldn't be a handbag related post if there wasn't a load of random crap in there too. My handbag wouldn't be my handbag if there wasn't 8249474 used train tickets, tissues with lipstick blottings on them, and 7 empty granola bar packets in there somewhere.

What do you always take with you wherever you go?

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Meet My Plants

If I am completely honest, I thought I'd be slightly lazy with today's post and stick to pictures as the theme of the post is quite self explanatory (and because I'm one busy lady this week). It's probably quite well known that I LOVE plants. I have quite a few, and I thought I would be completely different and 'alternative' and do a little post introducing my favourites to you! I have others that aren't in proper pots which I may introduce at a later date, but these are my named plants. I even have each of their names written on the bottom of their pots!

First up are my miniature cacti and succulents from Ikea. This are quite a cult favourite as they are pretty cheap and come ready to go in cute little pots. After painstaking hours of research, I have come up with names for most of them, but I am not 100% as I have just been going off photos from cacti identification websites - so if you know the actual species plz help a girl out. 

To the left there is Cornelius, which I believe to be a 'Cereus Jamacaru Monstrosus'. Then in the middle there is Clive, which I can't even guess a species because I have never seen anything like him since, and the CactiGuide.com turned up no results. And finally there is Oswald, who could either be a 'Discocactus zehntneri' or a 'Eriosyce engleri' - but I have no idea because Oswald looks like pretty much every single cacti species ever. #typical 

On the left is Eugene, which I believe is an 'Austrocylindropuntia vestita' (bit of a mouthful lol). Then there is Sigmund (named after Freud bc of his shape obv) which I think is a 'Stenocereus stellatus'. And finally there's Lorelai, a potential 'Micropuntia tuberculosis rhopalic' which is my favourite of the lot!

Onto plants that I actually know the names of, I have a gorgeous spider plant that I named Sid. Specifically Sid is a 'Chlorophytum comosum' which is a good variety, as the colour of the leaves fade when it needs watering. My mum has one of the same variety in the kitchen, but she used to have another one that looked really weedy and pale, so she got rid of it and bought one like Sid. 

Finally we have Esther, a 'succulent crassula' which was originally three times the size of what she is now, but she developed some kind of fungus, and I was only able to rescue and treat this much of her so the pot looks a little empty now. Then there's the geniously named Spike which is a 'succulent haworthia'. My mum actually named Spike, but I liked it so it stuck! And thats it for now!

Do you have any plants?

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Making The Most Of Your Time

With the start of the academic year looming, and the horror of being in my third (and final) year of university well on it's way, I thought I better take a look at my schedule to see if I am making the most of my time. Although I am quite good at procrastinating, I try to make sure that I make the best use of my time - creating schedules that allow for plenty of time to binge watch Gilmore Girls on Netflix. 

To do lists // To do lists are one of my favourite ways to make sure I'm being productive enough. I tend to make them most days, but if I have a strict deadline I step them up a notch by adding time limits for each task on the list. By doing this, it helps stop you running behind schedule, so you can move on and come back to less important tasks when you have a bit more time. Adding time guidelines enables you to make full use of your day, so when you have a spare moment you can see whether or not you have the time to complete something of your list. 

Diary // Although not everyone likes to use a physical diary, I couldn't live without mine! I've tried using iCal and Google calendar, but I always end up reverting to my trusty planner. I use the Busy B academic diary (which I have spoken about here), and I wouldn't be without it! 

Set aside time to plan your week // I like to spend my Sunday mornings laying out and planning the upcoming week. It helps me remember appointments and deadlines so I don't end up missing things. As this post goes up, I will most likely be sat in bed with my week planner, my calendar, and my diary seeing what I have to do up to next Sunday! 

Prioritise // There are only 1440 minutes in each day, so make sure you prioritise the most time sensitive tasks to make sure you get them done. Take blogging for example, don't write a blog post due next months, when you haven't finished tomorrow's - it's just common sense isn't it really!  

Stay focused // The second you get distracted it the second your day's work will probably grind to a hault. So make an effort to move any unnecessary items out of the way so you aren't tempted to give them your undivided attention. My personal distraction are my phone and the internet. Although some tasks require the use of the internet, I try and make sure that I don't end up scrolling through ASOS for 3 hours at a time by adding internet filters - blocking me from mindlessly checking Facebook and the likes until I turn them off. 

Slow down // Although this may seem counter-intuitive, it is extremely important when doing a major task like an assignment, or an application etc. By slowing down and not rushing, you minimise the chances of making silly little mistakes - which in the grand scheme of things makes tasks quicker as you don't have to spend time correcting a tonne of mistakes!

How do you make the most of your time?

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Workouts For Complete Beginners

I haven't always been that into exercise, and even after a year of pretty regular exercise I'd still consider myself a beginner (maybe intermediate if I was wearing the rose-tinted glasses). I'm sure there are many of you out there who would like to create some sort of routine, but have no idea where to start, or what kind of exercise to do. So I thought I'd share some of my favourite beginner level workouts with you, so you can reap the multitude of benefits that regular exercise brings!

Yoga // I've always been interested in Yoga, but it's something I've never really done until recently. After messing up my ankle, I've been trying to incorporate more low impact workouts into my routine and Yoga was one of the first things that sprung to mind. After a long search for online Yoga classes that are for complete beginners, I found Yoga With Adriene on YouTube - and she has a lot of videos that are suitable for all levels. Plus she uploads a new routine every Wednesday, so there are plenty of different routines!

Swimming // Swimming is one of my preferred methods for getting some exercise as I don't really see swimming as a workout as such - but it definitely is! Swimming works almost every single muscle group in your body, so is perfect for toning up any problem areas. You don't have to mega fit to reap the benefits of a couple of laps in your local pool, plus it does wonders for those with stress and anxiety issues as the water provides a really calming environment. 

DVDs // If you don't fancy being watched by other humans, it is perfectly acceptable to workout in the comfort of your own home. DVDs are an excellent way to squeeze in a workout wherever you can, as you don't have to take time out of your day to travel to the local gym. On a morning before university, I like to get up 20 minutes earlier than I need to and fit in a quick cardio workout before going on to get ready for the day. I highly recommend Davina Mccall's DVDs as they are tailored to work different areas of the body, and she has the exact same reactions to her personal trainers as you do watching from home. My current favourite is '5 Week Fit', which comes with a 5 week training schedule packed with different workouts for different days!

Running // Probably not one of the most exciting workouts, but one that requires no equipment or an expensive membership fee. There are dozens of different 'couch to 5k' apps that help you gradually build up your stamina until you are able to run 5 kilometers. You can make running more exciting by picking different routes - you could run through fields, or next to a river, or even through the centre of town. Whatever floats your boat!

Cycling // When I say cycling, I don't necessarily mean a hardcore spin class - unless you want to partake in that sort of thing (good luck to you). A little cycle around your neighbourhood, or the local park can be enough to work up a sweat! 

Online fitness classes // If you're a beginner because the thought of a gym makes you want to curl up in a ball and cry, why not try a fun fitness class? In today's world you don't even have to leave the comfort of your home to get a good workout! I've tried a few online boxercise and Zumba classes and loved them! I quite like the Popsugar fitness videos - and if you don't fancy boxercise of Zumba, they have plenty of other fitness videos on their channel. 

What do you like to do to keep fit?

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Getting Ready For University with Dunelm

The autumn weather is starting to make an appearance, and with it brings my favourite season. A season for fresh starts, colourful leaves, crisp winter air, and of course - getting ready for university. When it comes to shopping for things to fill your new accommodation, it can be quite easy to go overboard and waste money on items that will be left unused by the end of the year. With every box that gets packed up, it's easy to get carried away when deciding what you really need to take with you. It's important to make your flat look homely, but you do need to be logical and think about what you can actually fit in your car. So when Dunelm got in touch offering to help me get ready for my final year at university, I jumped at the chance! I've teamed up with Dunelm and three other bloggers, and we have each picked our student essentials from one section of their killer checklist, so freshers know exactly what they need to take with them!

I was given the cleaning section of the checklist, and I think it includes some really simple items that people often forget. I'd suggest leaving bin liners until you've moved in as you could buy them as a flat, same goes for an iron/ironing board - you won't need 6 irons! My university provided these, and I only ever saw them get used about a dozen times. Coathangers are a must unless you want to store all your clothes on the floor, as universities don't usually provide them. A clothes airer is an essential, because it saves money when doing your laundry - you don't have to pay to use the tumble dryer! From the cleaning section, my three essentials are:

Towels // Everybody needs plenty of towels to take with them to university, and you will be surprised at how versatile they can be. Besides the obvious, you can use towels to make a makeshift ironing board, as a draft excluder, as an extra blanket in the winter months (trust me, student accommodation gets cold), or even as a tablecloth for a christmas dinner with your flatmates! I took two bath sheets, 2 hand towels, and 7 flannels with me when I first moved away. Looking back, I wish I'd have taken more bath towels with me as it would have saved me a few trips to the laundrette, but these things come with experience. And when you pay per load, it makes sense to fill the machine as much as possible! When picking out some towels to feature, I couldn't decide which to get! Dunelm has so many different colours and patterns! In the end I mainly opted for the Egyption Cotton Towels in 'Lagoon' as they match my bathroom perfectly! But 'Cornflour', 'Duck Egg', and 'Grape',' also made it into my basket in flannel form! In terms of quality these towels are so soft and luxurious - I will definitely be buying my towels from Dunelm in the future! 

Bath Mat // I can't speak for other halls of residence, but the showers in my first year halls were notorious for flooding. Every time you'd take a shower, the whole bathroom floor, and some of your bedroom carpet would be soaked! So a bath mat is a must! I'd recommend taking two, to give time them to dry out between showers. Plus a funky bath mat allows you to add your own personal touch to a plain white bathroom. I picked the Bobble Bath Mat in 'Lagoon' to match the towels I'd picked out, but again there were so many to choose from! The simple bobble design makes it extra absorbent for those little flooding emergencies too! Plus, the bobbles are so squishy, it feels like you're walking on air!

Laundry Basket // When I first moved to university, I didn't think about buying a laundry basket, and it was only when I arrived that I realised that I didn't have one. I'd wanted to pick up this cotton rope laundry bag, because of its simple design and practicality - the collapsable design allowing you to fold it away for moving day, or when you have friends over to stay. But when I got into the store, it was out of stock, but whilst walking round the Curver Knit Basket caught my eye. They had a couple of different sizes and colours, but I picked up the 30 litre size in 'Blue'. The two sturdy handles make it perfect for lugging to the laundrette across campus, plus, you can use it to transport things in when the time comes to move out!

In the end, I also picked up a few bits from the Geo Skandi tableware range. Although my kitchen is full to bursting, the matching mugs, plates, and bowls were too hard to leave behind! I couldn't choose a colour, so I picked up one of each to mix and match! Plus, they were all reasonably priced, so if any of your roommates happen to drop something on the floor they are all easily replaced without burning a hole in your purse.

What are your student essentials for back to school season?

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This post contains products sent to me for the purpose of a review. All thoughts are my own and you can read my full disclaimer policy here. 

Learning To Be More Independent

“I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will” - Charlotte Brontë

Independence. Something we crave more and more as we grow older, but something little of us know how to actually achieve. I don't consider myself totally independent, but I do believe that I have the ability provide and look after myself. I wouldn't say that I felt independent until I started university in 2014. Up until that point I completely relied on my mum. Living in a rural village with no transport links, I relied on her to take me everywhere. And I mean everywhere. Moving to a university just outside of the bustling city centre, I suddenly had the ability to go anywhere I wanted - at any time. So here I am offering my advice on how to become a little more independent. 

Learn to drive // This ones a bit of a biggie, although I realise it isn't for everyone. Learning to drive has played a massive role in my quest to become more independent. I passed my driving test (first time woo) when I was 17, and it took me ages to save up and be in the position to afford my own car. I was able to purchase my little car around a week before my 19th birthday and I honestly don't know how I survived without one. I now have the ability to go anywhere I want when I want, and it has made my life so much easier - even if I'm always the designated driver. 

Master transportation // If driving isn't for you, I would advise mastering some form of public transportation - either buses or trains. I hate buses with a passion and I am terrible when it comes to getting on them. Knowing which bus to get on, how to buy a ticket, and where to get off - I just struggle with it completely. But trains. I am the master of trains. I know Leeds train station like the back of my hand and I know what trains come in at what time, what time they leave. I know which trains are the busiest, the length of each journey, and pretty much everything there is to know about commuting via train. 

Get a job // I don't have a job at the moment (plz someone hire me), but I do my fair amount of volunteer work. I have volunteered in a high school for a year, and it is amazing how much independence it brings you. A job gives you valuable work experience, and a steady income allowing you to save up for the bigger things in life. Driving lessons? A car? A flat? All of which give you independence! 

Manage your money // This one links in with the point above, as it means you will be able to develop a sense of financial independence. Can you really afford that ASOS haul?, is that perfume going to push you into your overdraft? Set a budget and stick to it! Put any spare money into a savings account and save towards something special! My savings account is currently dedicated towards saving up for a house/flat deposit - I know I have nowhere near enough at the moment, but every penny helps!

Learn to cook // Do you really think successful business people eat takeaways and ready meals every day? No. Learning to cook puts you in control of what goes into your body. Buy a recipe book and try whipping up a few meals. You might enjoy yourself, and you will almost certainly enjoy the food you make!

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Spotify Playlists For Every Mood

Music. The one thing that has the power to change even the foulest of moods. I love music, I mean who doesn't? I've always been driven by music, and it has affected my life in many different ways over the years. Learning to play different instruments, touring Europe with a full band and choir, playing the triangle in primary school christmas concerts (very well I might add), blasting the radio in the car, etc - it's always been a part of me, and it always will. Now I've always been told that I have a great taste in music (except for when my family complains when I blast The Smiths at 8am on a Sunday morning). In college, we were always allowed to listen to music during art, and almost every single day my iPod was hooked up to the classroom speakers. Anyways (I was starting to go off on a bit of a tangent soz), over the last year or two I've really been getting into Spotify. I've always used it, but I was never addicted to it. But now I've been contemplating upgrading to Spotify Premium (do I do it? Do I? Help!) because I have been listening to it virtually non-stop for months. So I thought I'd share some of my favourite playlists with you!

Radio 1 Playlist (BBC) // Honest to God this is my most played playlist ever. I nearly always listen to BBC Radio 1 when I am driving around, but for times when I'm not chauffeuring my friends and family around I like to pop my headphones and listen to this playlist on shuffle. I love that it's updated on a weekly basis, because it gives the opportunity to discover new artists whilst being able to nosey at what's currently in the charts. 

Songs to Sing in The Shower // I flippin' love this playlist, and not just for when I'm in the shower. It is jam packed full of hits and one of those playlists where you know every single word to every single song. With the likes of the Spice Girls, NSYNC, and ABBA how could you not want to murder these songs in the shower. 

Dance Workout // This is probably the only playlist I listen to when working out. I used to make my own playlists (which I occasionally still listen to), but the effort of regularly updating the list made me want to cry. I love this because it's full of upbeat songs that get you excited to workout (yes I actually just said that - AND I MEANT IT).

Hits From The Movies // If you know me at all, you'll know that I'm a massive fan of musicals. So obviously I had to include a movie based playlist in my little roundup. There is something about a big musical number that can automatically put you in a good mood. So this is my playlist for when I'm in a bad mood. 

Sweet Soul Sunday // This is my go to Sunday morning playlist - the one that I listen to whilst rustling up some breakfast in a big cosy dressing gown. It is just the perfect feel good, easy listening playlist. It really does set me up for a great Sunday!

All Out 90's // Can you even say that you're 90s baby if you don't include a 90s playlist in your roundup? HELL NO. Music from my youth is my guilty pleasure, it takes me back to living it large at school discos, sipping on Panda Pops, and trying to dress like the Olsen twins. Plus a playlist with TLC on it is my kinda playlist #justsaying

What is your favourite playlist?

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Finding The Right Diary

As all of my fellow organisational freaks will know, it's extrememly hard to find a diary that completely works for you. After years of hunting down the perfect planner, I finally found it last year. The design wasn't pretty, but the inside was perfect and was the best practical choice for what I wanted to use it for. This year, I got there earlier and managed to get my hands on the same diary, with a much prettier design. For those wanting to get your hands on this particular diary (I mean come on, it's gorgeous) it's the Busy B Academic Diary. They have a couple of different designs, and even have family diaries and planners (amongst much more) if you're in the market for any of those.  

           

For many, diaries are a life saving tool when it comes to making sure we have everything done, or getting ourselves to the right place at the right time. Whether it's handing in assignments, remembering doctors appointments, or even just for seeing when someone's birthday is coming up - a diary can play a fundamental part in the running of day to day life. I love this particular diary as it cleverly has each week printed twice over adjacent pages, allowing you to combine two different schedules, and manage your life more effectively. Personally, I use one for side for university and the other side for life in general (appointments, birthdays, etc). Being able to balance two lives at once is an absolute lifesaver, and means I know exactly what needs to be done and when. I especially love how there is a memo section down the side of each page, so you can write a mini to-do list of all the things you want to achieve over the space of the week. The Busy B diary runs from August-August (13 months) so is perfect for students and those looking for a more academic diary. 

Between rushing to lectures, making sure assignments are submitted on time, and managing everyday tasks, it can be easy to forget something (usually to eat, breath, sleep etc.). But I find a mid-year diary incredibly useful for keeping on top of the academic year. Many of them are slim and lightweight making them perfect for traipsing all over in your bag. In this particular diary, there is a handy little storage pocket after every quarter, for you to put receipts, reminders are whatever you want in. There are even blank timetables, contact pages, and a calendar where you can view the whole year. And what's more it has a beautiful floral patterned cover (there's also a blue spotty one if flowers aren't your thing!) and an elastic closure to keep everything secure! 

What do you look for in a diary?

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Making The Most Of Your Phone Camera

I take, and have always taken all of my blog photos on a DSLR camera. But unlike me, there are many bloggers and even non-bloggers out there who don't have the privilege of owning a camera. Few people will probably agree with me here, but it isn't necessary to have a fancy camera or a DSLR to take good quality photographs. Nowadays the majority of people own some sort of smartphone, and most of them come equipped with a decent built in camera. Some of you may argue that photos taken on a phone aren't exactly high quality, but at second glance you can achieve some cracking images! So with this post I hope to show you how to get best use out of the different functions, to create some incredible photos. 

Tap to focus // This one is possible the best and most useful thing to remember when using your phone's camera. It may seem a bit obvious to most of you, but there are some people that don't even know how to use the basic camera settings - heck some people don't even know how to open the camera app! No matter how still you think you can hold your phone, you are always shakier than you think - otherwise we would all be experts at applying winged liner. Simply tap the screen once and everything will come into focus, or tap and hold on a specific area/subject to bring that into focus. 

HDR // HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. This setting takes three different photos at three different exposures, and then merges them together to create a more vibrant image. It is a function that doesn't necessarily work for closeups and portraits, but is great for things like landscapes. 

Timer // Apple have fairly recently brought in a timer function on the iPhone camera. The timer can be extremely helpful when taking images of yourself, or of a subject that requires less camera shake. It is really simple to use, and you can see in the above picture that the third icon in from the left depicts a little clock - this is how you use the timer function. 

Remote // There are many ways of taking images 'hand free' if you will. With the recent selfie stick craze fizzling out, I thought it a good idea to mention an alternative method using the same principles. If you plug in a pair of earphones into an iPhone (it may work with other phones too but I'm not sure) and then open up the camera app, you can use the volume controls to release the camera shutter. 

Exposure // By tapping the screen on an iPhone, it brings up a yellow box with a little sun at the side. By sliding your finger up and down the screen you can adjust the exposure. By sliding your finger up the photo becomes brighter and in some cases, overexposed. By sliding your finger downwards, it darkens the image and underexposes it. 

Editing // Even if your photo isn't exactly how you want it to look, there are various apps on the app store that will enable you to enhance your images. I prefer to use VSCO, even though the recent update has caused uproar amongst the blogging community, I like it because it has the effects that I like the most. 

Have you got any tips?

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Life Lately: August

Good morning lovelies! I know it's not really been a month since my last installment, but so much has changed since I last put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard so to speak). In my last post I mentioned that I'd had a bit of an accident (which you can read about here), and was left unable to walk (YAY). Well it's been almost 7 weeks since it started hurting, but I'm finally starting to make a bit of progress! 

Physiotherapy // I've been attending weekly physiotherapy sessions with a lovely lady called Sophie, and we've been laughing a joking about my current situation. I've had quite a few sessions with her, and she has been so impressed with my progress. In the space of a couple of weeks I've gone from being unable to touch my ankle without screaming, to being able to stand on one leg for a couple of seconds. As for crutches, I'm now mainly using one as opposed to two - so I can officially carry my own dinner through instead of having to bribe my sisters to do it for me. 

Appointments // On Wednesday I have my MRI scan (help me), and although I was really excited to have it at first, I now just wish I could not turn up. I'm terrified that they are going to find a tonne of things wrong with me, and I'm almost certain that they'll find that the bone has crumbled into the joint space so I'd have to have surgery. I've not had an MRI scan before but I'm pretty sure they'll just scan my ankle, so hopefully they won't discover I have an extra lung or a life-threatening tumour the size of Mars on my pancreas or something. 

Getting out of the house // Since we last spoke, I've left the house (other than hospital appointments etc) a couple of times. It's actually unbelievable at how not being able to leave the house drives you crazy. My dad took my sisters and I out to lunch the other week, and I went over to my grandparents for lunch last week and we had a lovely day. We picked tomatoes in the garden, had homemade scones with homemade blackcurrant and apple jam. #perfectweekend

Little things // I've noticed myself being able to do more and more as the days go by. The other day I was able to get out the bath properly without having to sit on the side and swing my legs over. The day before I was able to walk up the stairs faster because I can now do the whole 'one foot per stair' thing as long as I'm not carrying anything - otherwise I fall flat on my face. On Thursday I went out for dinner with a couple of friends and I went crutch free - it took me a good 5 minutes to walk to the table but I did so without falling!

Resuming activities // Not being able to stand up kinda put a bit of a pause on nearly all of my normal activities and the house has descended into chaos. I think my family have started to realise how many chores I actually do since I haven't been able to do them. But over the last week or so, I've started adding a couple of jobs in here and there - cooking dinner, loading the washing machine, etc. Just little silly things you take for granted!

And on a little side note, can we just appreciate the gorgeous sunflowers my friend Rosie sent me! They were flippin' beautiful! And that's all for this month! I'll give you an update when I have my scan results, but it will be weeks before I get to hear anything. Hope you are all well!

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Netflix Picks 2.0

It's no secret that I love Netflix, and after recently chipping one of the bones in ankle YAY (read more about that here) I've spent the last 6 weeks curled up in a ball on the sofa dosed up on prescription painkillers and binge-watching all that Netflix has to offer. Since it's been a while since I last shared what I've been watching, I thought (under the circumstances) I would give you a little update. 

The Good Wife // I started watching The Good Wife at the start of May, and quickly became obsessed. I tried to watch at some point last year, and I didn't really like it. This happened when I first watched Suits, and as I mentioned in my last post I ended up loving that too. It's about a lawyer (Alicia Florrick) who returns to the world of Law after taking time off to raise her children. Being a bit rusty (and the wife of a corrupt politician), nobody is willing to hire her until she runs into an old friend from university. The show follows Alicia as she gets back into the swing of things, making a new life for herself and her two children. Full of scandals, corruption, and drama, it is perfect for those looking for something a little more exciting.

Community // I am somewhat ashamed to say that I got through all 6 seasons in 7 days. That is absolutely atrocious. And that included having to hunt down the 6th season that isn't currently available to watch on Netflix. The show begins with lawyer Jeff (Joel McHale) being found out for never having graduated with a law degree. Forced to go back to college, Jeff ends up at Greendale Community College - a failing school run by the hilariously eccentric Dean Pelton (Jim Rash). Jeff makes friends with fellow classmates and they set up a little study group, which work towards fixing the Dean's bad financial decisions. 

Arrested Development // I LOOOOOOOVVEEEDDDDD this! I don't know why but I related to the storyline so much. Maybe it was the whole sane person in a dysfunctional family thing, IDK. The program is focused on the affluent Bluth family, who descend into chaos after the family business goes bust. Accustomed to a lavish lifestyle, the family struggle with their materialistic and selfish nature. Levelheaded Michael Blush steps in to take care of the family's finances, and the show follows him as he battles to restore the family business. 

Degrassi: Next Class // Not something I'd usually watch, but I was running out of options due to not being able to do anything. I'm not sure if I am completely in love with the programme, but I did get through the series quite quickly and was happy when I saw that I second season was on it's way. The show follows students in a high school and each episode touches on a different teen issue such as teen pregnancy, drugs, alcohol, and racism. For anyone that doesn't know the show is one of several spin off shows from the original Degrassi franchise, and centres around life on De Grassi street in Toronto. 

Flaked // I knew I would love this when I saw that it was coming to Netflix. Will Arnett is absolutely hilarious and I don't think I've ever disliked anything he has been in. He played GOB in Arrested Development and I've been obsessed with him ever since! Plus he was married to Amy Poehler at one bit, so yanno #goals. Flaked is a semi-autobiographical show that follows the life of Chip, a middle-aged alcoholic, who offers up self-help advice but is need of some himself. Although it received mixed reviews from critics, I know many people who have enjoyed it, and last week the show was renewed for a second series to premiere on Netflix in 2017 - so it must be doing something right! 

Lady Dynamite // I'm not completely sure why I opted to watch this, and if I'm honest I have no idea what was going on half the time. I found it hilarious at times, but I'm not sure I followed the plot. Was there even a plot? I have no idea! The show follows actress Maria Bamford (played by herself) who moves back to Los Angeles after spending time in recovery for bipolar disorder, and attempts to start her life back up. There are a lot of flashbacks which is probably the reason why I didn't always follow the storyline, but I'd watch it again purely for the humour! 

Jane The Virgin // I wanted to watch this when it first aired on TV, but for some reason or another I missed it. When it came on to Netflix I was straight on it, and I absolutely loved it! Luckily, I watched it in time for the start of the second series on E4. The program follows a woman called Jane (obvs) who is accidentally artificially inseminated after a doctor mixes up two patients. Becoming pregnant completely throws off Jane's life plan, and the show follows her throughout her pregnancy and in the months after the birth of her son Mateo. And just to make things a little bit more interesting, there are also criminal masterminds, murders and kidnappings!

Gilmore Girls // Over the last couple of days I've started watching Gilmore Girls again and OMG I am hooked. I used to watch it a little bit in my youth (makes me sound 87 when in fact I am 20), and I never really appreciated it enough. Netflix has only recently added it, and I am already halfway through season 2! As you are reading this I am most likely watching an episode, and to be completely honest you should be too. 

Parks and Recreation // Although technically not on Netflix (c'mon UK sort it out already), I've recently started watching Parks and Rec (via Amazon Video fyi). I've been a big fan of Amy Poehler's for YEARS and I don't know why it's taken me so long to get round to watching it! If you've never watched it, the show follows the staff of the Parks and Recreation department of the Pawnee government - a fictional town in Indiana. Leslie Knope is the brains behind the department, and I love her so much. I've almost finished season 5, and my favourite character is Ron Swanson bc I relate to him so much! I have no idea why though!

What are you watching at the moment?

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