I am not one for New Year's resolutions. I always feel like they are a challenge that I set myself and it is almost like I am willing myself to fail. Instead, I like to set goals. Yes, I know. They are pretty much the same thing, goals and resolutions. But I feel like the word ‘goals’ has a different ring to it. To me, it means that I am aiming to achieve something. It doesn’t matter if I don’t but if I do, I am allowed to be proud of myself.
My goals for 2019 are:
Since taking some time off blogging and uni work (just for Christmas) I have noticed that I move very fast. And although this is excellent for things such as my work ethic, it also means that I get burnt out very quickly. If I was a candle, I would be almost completely burnt down to the bottom. And that means that certain things suffer. Although my university work and blog is up to tip-top condition. My mental health may suffer one week or my social life might take a dip because I haven’t slept in properly in a week. Basically, I forget to have a little fun.
I love writing cards and I feel like it’s the oldest form of affection. What is better than seeing a hand-written note in your post? It shows that someone cares enough to sit down and write out something rather than quickly typing out a text message or snap chatting you. Although I still do write letters, I want to write more.
My degree contains a lot of writing - 13,000 words to be exact. So, I usually forget to write just for fun. I love writing, I always have. But somewhere between taking my degree and moving to university, I have forgotten that writing is something I really adore. It doesn't always have to be for a grade and no-one has to see every piece of work, sometimes, I can just write for myself.
Ok, so as I said, I don't have many goals for this new year because I really don't want to set myself up for failure. However, there are definitely some things I am looking forward to this year.
Firstly - I am really looking forward to going to see The Book of Mormon with my boyfriend in January.
Secondly - I am really excited to finally finish university and get my own place with my best friend. In the new year, after all my work is handed in, I will start my journey to moving to Brighton. I guess you can count this is as two things I am looking I am looking forward to in 2019, I am excited to finish university and to move to Brighton.
Thirdly - I want to see where my blog goes. Blogging has been a great outlet for me and with my little blog turning a year old in January, I am excited to see where it goes!
Thank you for reading this post and now that I am back from my little break, I will return to regular posting. I hope you all had a great Christmas and let's begin 2019, with a smile!
Good evening & Welcome. As I am writing this post, I am led in bed with the heating on and a cup of tea in hand. I am tired - to say the least. I have been working so hard recently and my brain is so desperate for a rest. It is getting to the scary point in the university year, where our dissertations and other projects are due in soon and Christmas isn't going to be much of an unwind.
However, I have still had a good December and even though there is a crushing weight on my brain right now, called university, I am feeling super Christmas-sy. This month, I have tried quite a few new things...
First up is these Puppy Playing Cards - from Typo.
Playing cards are something I always need but never have. Having a drink at the pub? Playing cards. Bored on a Sunday evening? Playing cards. Having a family get together? Playing cards.
Honestly, I don't know if it's because I am a student that I feel the need to always have playing cards handy, but I do. And if anyone knows me, they will know that I love dogs. I am definitely more of a dog person and even more than that - I am definitely a Corgi person. Look at those cute little pupper faces. How could you resist? Anyway, I went to Typo to grab some pens and I got these cards for £2.00 with my purchase, which I thought was a pretty good deal for such an essential item (honestly, this isn't sponsored by Typo, I just really love dogs).
Secondly, my first Christmas present - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
I know, I know. You should leave all your Christmas presents for Christmas day but my friends and I exchanged presents early as we won't be seeing each other over the holidays. And from my friend Katie (check out her blog here), she got me the book Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. Now, a little while ago, I did a blog post reviewing this book and I absolutely loved it - I would even go as far as to say, that it is probably one of my favourite books ever. Which means that I already have a copy. So, do you know why this one is so different? It's a brand new cover and IT'S SIGNED. I know! It definitely had to make it onto my December Favourites list.
Thirdly - Friendly Soaps
I love trying new soaps - especially if they are different and unusual scents. And luckily, I was able to get my hands on some soaps from Friendly Soaps. So let's talk about this little company. They are a vegan company, which don't test on animals and don't use any harsh chemicals in their products. So for all my little sensitive beans (like me), these soaps won't hurt your skin. As an added bonus, all the packaging is recyclable and plastic free - you can literally buy all of these soaps guilt-free.
I have already tried the Lavander one and I am really looking forward to trying the Shampoo bar. One of the places we use the most plastic is actually the bathroom. Think about it - plastic razors, plastic toothbrushes, shampoo bottles...What if we could minimalize this? What if all our needed washing products could come in handy, recyclable cardboard and not have any need for the plastic bottle?
I have done a few reviews on different, cruelty-free products and when I worked with The Cruelty-Free Beauty Box back in October, I tried their Shampoo bar. At first, I was a little scared to try something so different and against the norm. What if it didn't wash my hair, as well as bottled shampoo, did? What if it made my hair feel dry? What if it made my hair feel greasy? I really wish that bars of shampoo become more of a normal thing that you see in stores. Shampoo bars really are the way forward. They are literally the same as normal, bottled shampoo and you should wash away all those thoughts whilst you wash your hair.
As I was generously gifted so many of these soaps, please expect to find them in some of your stockings this year for Christmas - after all, why not spread some soap that's good for the environment!
Thank you Friendly Soaps!
Finally - Recipes inspired by Jane Austen.
Would be one of my *Insert Month here* favourite's list without having at least two books on it? From one bookworm to another - this recipe book is totally worth it. I actually received this for my birthday back in October but I have only cracked it out this month when I have had time to look through it. As a creative writer - Jane Austen is obviously a name I hear a lot and to have a little recipe book inspired by her is great. One of my favourite recipes in it is the Gingerbread one! It's very festive.
Thank you for reading this little list. I am sorry I have been a little absent this month, I have been so busy and finding time to actually take photos and write is proving very difficult. But stick with me - I will be back for good soon!
Also, thank you Friendly Soap - if you would like to pick up one for yourself or for a loved one this Christmas, click here for their website.
*This post is sponsored but all opinions are my own.
After a much needed week off, I am back to writing and posting on my little blog. I have been super stressed recently, due to deadlines and everything and it has taken over my life. I haven't had two seconds to do anything other than all of my university work. Being in your third and final year of studying is difficult! But anyway, this week, I decided to put together a list of 20 things NOT TO DO. I know this sounds strange, as a to-do list is normally what you would see. But I wanted to mix it up a little!
Here we go:
- Don't use shaving cream - use conditioner instead. It is kinder on your skin and it even moistures it! Honestly, it feels so good.
- Don't use plastic straws. You don't need them, they take years to biodegrade and if you generally need one for whatever reason, there are so many alternatives.
- Don't use social media as a diary. I use social media a lot but I don't ever put something online which is super personal. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Snapchat is not the place for arguing or ranting.
- Don't drink more than three cups of coffee a day- I learnt this the hard way. You will get addicted and also it just isn't good for you little belly, it will get upset.
- Don't buy food out every day. When you buy packaged sandwiches every day for lunch, they have lots of calories and salt in them, they really aren't good for you. Pack your own lunch, it's cheaper and you know what goes into it.
- Don't lend out your books - Unless you truly, trust the person, you will not, repeat, you will not, get them back.
- Don't study or work in your bed/bedroom. Separate your work brain and your relax brain. Otherwise, you will never be able to achieve a sense of calm.
- Don't eat after 11pm. It's super bad for your digestion and it will make you feel super bloated.
- Don't throw away takeaway containers - Use them again and again.
- Don't ignore your dishcloths. This one sounds weird but listen... You know those cleaning cloth you use to wash all your dishes and cutlery? Yeah, don't ignore them. Wash them, regularly. They harbour the most germs and get gross fast.
- Don't forget to say 'please' and 'thank you'. One that my mum used to drill into me as a child, but one I still carry to this day. It comes across as super rude when you don't say please or thank-you. Even if it's for little things like someone holding the door open, just say thank-you.
- Don't put anything online you wouldn't want a future employer to see - this is a super scary thing to think about but the idea that an employer might look at your social media account's is becoming more and more real. Don't post anything on there that you wouldn't want them to see.
- Don't flush tampons or pads down the toilet. I don't know who does this, but if you do - stop. It's not good for the plumbing or the environment.
- Don't forget to back up your files - This is coming from a stressed, overworked university student. Please, please, please put your files on a memory stick, put them on the cloud, a hard-drive, google drive, anything.
- Don't watch horror films before bed. This is probably just because I am a baby and I hate horror but don't watch anything super scary before bed. I think I appreciate sleep more than the average person and the scary films will find a way to filter themselves into my sleep. So no thank you!
- Don't get angry when driving - Easier said than done by someone who actually doesn't drive, but it seems like a waste of your day to mad about something that isn't worth it.
- Don't sleep with your makeup on. It is the worst thing for your poor skin and although you may be tired and you just want to collapse in bed. Take a second and wipe the makeup off your face.
- Don't spend too much money on herbal teas - Most coffee shops or cafes will give you hot water for free so if you carry your own teabags, you won't have to spend any money on tea.
- Don't buy first-hand books - this rule comes with many exceptions. If you really love a book and you want a nice copy, that's understandable. But if you can buy the book anyway that means it isn't brand new.
- And finally, don't forget to take time out - You need rest, don't burn the candle at both ends (as my mum would say)
Thank you for reading this brief post! I will get better at juggling my blog and my university work. Soon, I will be finished anyway. That's right, only three more months then hopefully I will graduate! Till then, I will continue to work hard! Thank you again - and until next week.
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