Recovery // How to handle diet talk

Did you know that research suggests that women can spend 18.9 years of their lives on diets? (source) So it's only inevitable that eventually someone is going to tell you about their latest weight loss plan in great detail.I think it's become so ingrained in our society now that it's considered normal and healthy to diet.Talking about weight loss has become a way for people to bond,and nothing unites people faster than a shared struggle.However as a person in recovery,I could do without hearing about how "bad" you were when you ate that cupcake.Of course I don't blame people for talking about their diets,they offer the exciting prospect that when you finish them you'll be thin and gorgeous,it doesn't work like that but I have no room to talk! I'm trying to learn that my life should be about exploring opportunities and ideas and not getting caught up in what other's are doing.I completely support people's right to do what they want with their own bodies and lives,but I'm talking about how to avoid and handle the often non stop chatter surrounding it.

1. Remove yourself from the situation

I know this isn't always possible,but if you're able to it's a good idea to try and move away from certain conversations.Protecting your mental health and/or recovery is more important,and if you feel like certain people or discussions are affecting that then some time by yourself might be helpful.I try to find a hobby to pass some time until I feel more comfortable,blogging is such a great way to vent! Other ideas might be listening to music,tidying up or watching cat videos on Youtube (would recommend.)

2. Change the subject

If you're not able to go somewhere else,subtly changing the conversation to another subject can really help shift things towards a more positive direction.For example if someone says "urgh I shouldn't have eaten that burger at McDonald's,I'm so fat" you could say "I thought it looked quite nice,did you see (insert name) there? I find that if you mention another aspect of their evening/outfit/food or whatever they're talking about the diet talk often ends there.

3. Be understanding

These days talking about dieting and weight loss is as common as discussing the weather,and you can see why in today's society.The constant sexualisation and objectification of women in adverts can really distort what both sexes think is the right way for a body to look.Of course,all sorts of mental health problems and/or unhealthy behaviour can come from not being able to match up to these standards.Diet propaganda is displayed on our TV's and magazines 24/7 and there's never a break from it,so you can understand why some people may be swept away with the idea that they too can be the "perfect ideal".Whether or not you agree with their diet,you probably know what it's like to feel insecure so a quick "I'm always here if you need to talk" might go a long way.

4. Talk to them

Sometimes people can be oblivious to what they're saying and how it can affect other people,it's quite easy for people to get wrapped up in their little bubble! If it's really getting to you,having a quick word with them could make all the difference.Something like "I'm trying to change my mindset and learn to accept my body without dieting,I'd really appreciate it if you didn't mention your diet all the time." Making sure that you're honest and open with them is definitely the right way to go,seeing as that's what all good friendships should be based on!

I've found these ways of dealing with diet talk really effective,obviously you can't censor people and their going to say what they want to,but that doesn't mean you can't say how you feel or have to be in a negative atmosphere.



Do you have any tips to deal with diet talk?

South West Blog Social // What I learnt

I had such an amazing time at the South West Blog Social last Saturday,so good in fact that I actually forgot to take many photographs (I'm such a bad blogger haha) I'm so happy that this part of the world is holding such great events,and it was really inspiring to hear wonderful advice on everything from getting published to learning how to accept advertising.It was held at Oddfellows which is a very funky looking "gastropub"just off the beaten track.

It was great to be able to actually meet bloggers in person, it felt quite surreal actually! I managed to find a band of lifestyle bloggers to eat Pizza with and chat about all things blog related.It felt so nice to be able to talk about Twitter chats and post ideas without people looking at me like I have a third eye!

If you're ever in Exeter looking for somewhere to eat or go for a quick drink,I'd definitely recommend Oddfellows. They even cater to the non drinkers amongst us,this mocktail was absolutely gorgeous! It came in a jar too,so it's perfect for Instagram addicts.I'll let the four cheese and chutney pizza speak for itself, I think it was bigger than my head! Not only did I leave with a full stomach, but my head was buzzing with ideas and the wonderful feeling that I'm doing the right thing by following my passion.I think this was a great opportunity to learn more about the world of blogging,and I left with lots of new information.Here's what I took from the day;

1. There's always something to learn

Blogging is a hobby that you can take down many different avenues and there's always something new to learn. I've seen people's amazing photographs from the event, and I'm going to try and improve my photography skills. I've only got a Nikon Coolpix, but I've read some great tutorials online on how to get your pictures up to scratch.

2.Bloggers are as unique and different as their blogs

It was wonderful to see such a variety of people of all ages and from all walks of life.It makes me so happy to think that I'm part of a community that is so accessible and friendly.I was really inspired by all of the interesting and open stories and ideas that were bouncing around the room.

3.It pays to challenge yourself

Honestly,I was really nervous on the train ride over,but I figured I should try to get myself out there and promote what I love and enjoy.Initially I felt quite uncomfortable,but I'm glad I stayed because I met so many wonderful people!

4. Every day is a great opportunity

Saturday made me realise that I should really push myself to seize every opportunity that comes my way. Everyday is an opportunity to ask questions and find inspiration, it might not always come straight away but sometimes a fresh outlook can make all the difference.

5 People can be so generous

This event was kindly organised by Jodie Dewberry over at http://alajode.com/ and supported by many sponsors who provided wonderful goodie bags for us (future post coming!) It must have taken so much hard work and dedication to get this to run without a hitch! Also,I really admire the speakers who offered such wonderful advice and happily answered any questions we had!

I'm definitely going to try to attend as many events as I can,hopefully there will be lots more going on in Devon in the future.It's definitely been an eye opening and fun day,I really hope that the South West Blog Social runs for many more years to come!



Have you been to any blogger events before? Did you enjoy it?

Lifestyle // Blogger's perfect lives

via Coverbooth.com

In this post I'm going to be talking about the inspirational blogging mindset and how this can make people feel inadequate or like they need to go on millions of spending sprees in order to meet certain "standards".I am in no way talking about a particular blog or person so this isn't aimed at anyone!

I love reading blogs from writers all over the world and from all walks of life.There is so much to learn and explore that I could spend hours reading people's musings and looking at their pictures.Scroll for too long through,and sometimes I can start to feel a bit down.There are pictures of perfectly placed cups of tea framing high end beauty products,or a person who has a seemingly perfect home peppered with artsy creations and a wardrobe of beautiful vintage clothing.I think that some blogs definitely seem to sell a "lifestyle" which I don't have a problem with as it's no different to a magazine,but it can leave you feeling like there's something missing in your life or blog.

I do think it's important that we realise that bloggers are only people.They might watch Jeremy Kyle in the mornings,or perhaps they hate doing the laundry.Whatever it is, perfection doesn't exist.Of course,it can look very convincing,but human's by nature aren't perfect and that includes bloggers too.

Everyone has different budgets and that is apparent in everyday life,but in the blogging world it seems magnified and thoughts can sometimes pop in my head."Why can't I have that?" "It would take me months to save up".I probably could buy it,but it's not in my nature too so I focus on budget beauty.If you're into high end products then that's great! If bloggers review and talk about both then readers have a wider amount to read about.

The Internet is a huge place with room for everyone.If you like to talk about high end fashion then do it! Are you interested in the Paranormal? Share your passion.Someone is bound to read it and be grateful for the information,it might even inspire them to start writing.

Theodore Roosevelt said "comparison is the thief of joy" and I couldn't agree more.Let's hold each other up and enjoy our community,but remember that things aren't always as they seem! (When I'm taking pictures I often have my slobby "house" clothes on.)

Summer skin // Scholl Instant Hard Skin Remover review

Every year as Summer approaches I start looking for gadgets and gizmos to help remove the dry and cracked skin from my feet.I think I've bought every kind of cream promising soft smooth skin and I didn't have much success with the Ped Egg either! It felt like I was rubbing a cheese grater over my feet,and it was just as helpful too.I was browsing Bloglovin' as I often do,and I noticed that Leah over at Just me,Leah was reviewing this and her results gave me some hope! I really want to wear more sandals this year,so I popped over to Amazon and picked one up.

Scholl Instant Hard Skin Remover £8.50 from here

Apparently 98% of people agree that they saw visible improvements and I like those odds! I decided to soak my feet first so that my skin was softened and it would (hopefully) be easier to use.

The first thing that I found that it was really easy to hold which meant that I could get loads of dead skin off.It felt really therapeutic! All you do is rub the circles which contain specially angled blades backwards and forwards over the area,and the skin will be removed.After using this,I noticed a massive difference in how my feet felt and the areas were much less painful and red.To get the most out of the experience rubbed in some heel cream and put on some thick socks so that it could soak in.

      CCS Swedish Foot Heel Balm £5.56 from here

This stuff is amazing! It nourishes my skin and definitely reduces the time I need to spend on my feet.This would be lovely for anyone who is on their feet a lot.It's more than I'd normally pay for a foot cream,but seeing as Summer is coming up,my skin needs the attention.

I'd definitely recommend getting the Scholl Instant Hard Skin remover if you suffer from painful dry skin and calluses! It only took about 10 minutes to use so it's easy to use if you're rushing around.Unfortunately,if you're Diabetic you won't be able to use this product.

Do you have any tips of soft feet?

How to take care of your inner child

I think the date of this picture is a bit inaccurate,I would have been the world's smallest 7 year old! I think I was about 2 years old,I'm not sure if people can remember back that far (including me),but most people have such fond memories of their childhood.As we grow up,I think we tend to forget the little things that bring us joy.We face difficulties and situations that we are so often oblivious to as children.Adults can over think things,letting the worries of the world rest on their shoulders.I've come up with some tips to help bring us back to those simpler times!

Colour outside the lines

I don't mean just with colouring in either! Children aren't afraid to get things wrong.Try a create something,maybe a sculpture or a lovely cake,if it isn't perfect,does it matter? Remember when you were a child and you make something for someone,and you would be so proud! Bring back that feeling with some creativity.

Take a nap

Obviously only do this one if you can! I don't think the boss would appreciate it.When you have some spare time,get your comfiest blankets and cushions out and have a rest.Not only is this a great way for your body to recharge,studies have shown that they actually increase alertness and make you feel good!

Find joy in the smallest things

Remember watching the raindrops on the window,and seeing which one won the race to the bottom? How about when you would put on your wellies and splash in the puddles? To children,everything is a chance to learn and experience.Do something you love.Go and play with your animals or just doodle in a notebook.It may seem frivolous,but doing these little things can really help you let off steam and see the bigger picture.

Go outside

As a child,the outside was amazing! It could be whatever you wanted it to be,and you could run around for hours,never tiring of energy.Getting outside and reconnecting with the world around you,whether going for a run or just sitting in a park,is a great way to blow out the cobwebs and feel refreshed.

Of course,we all have to return back to adulthood.However,it's a good idea to take the memories and experiences you had as a child, to help you to become a more carefree and happier person!

What do you like to do to take care of your inner child?

Graze Box // March 2014

 When this lovely brown box landed at my front door,I was so excited to take a peek inside.Graze is a snack delivery company that offer a wide range of sweet and savoury treats.They can become fairly expensive, as they are £3.89 each,but different delivery options give you the choice to order fortnightly or push back boxes to another date if you're on holiday.I've ordered from Graze occasionally,but I thought I'd take advantage of their first box free deal,let's see what I've got.

I like that they're in portable little boxes,and I find the portion sizes to be just right.I'm pretty happy with my selection,you can influence what you receive from Graze by going to their website and clicking "love" or "bin" on their snacks.

Smoky Gazpacho dip (with wholemeal crispbread slices)

I've yet to try this,but it sounds really good.I've got more of a sweet tooth,but I think this would be an interesting alternative to crisps.I like the crispbread to dip ratio too,I don't want to end up with the same issue that I had as a kid when I ate Dairylea Dunkers and not have enough dip to go around.

Summer berry flapjacks

I love anything that has oats in it from porridge to Hob Nobs,so this looks perfect for me.It says they contain " berry infused" cranberries which sounds very fancy,I hope that it's a fresh and realistic tasting berry flavour,unlike some flapjacks which can have an artificial taste.

Billionaire's Shortbread

I had this yesterday and it was lovely! It's an interesting mix of milk chocolate,almonds,cranberries and fudge.It kind of reminds me of that "trail mix" that is so popular in America.I also found this pretty filling due to all of the healthy fats in the nuts.

Inspired by Jaffa Cake

I really enjoyed these too,just the right amount of orange flavour made them taste very similar to Jaffa Cakes.The chocolate tastes nice and rich,and I think it's quite good quality.The roasted hazelnuts added good texture and crunch so it felt quite substantial.I wish you could buy big bags of these!

I like that Graze is an informative company.Inside their boxes there is all the information you could want to know about your snacks.Also,they often offer really good discounts and deals that you can pass on to your friends.

I have a friend code that means you can get a Graze box for free! It's KIMW9141E.

Have you tried Graze boxes before? What do you think?

  

Primark & New Look haul

In my previous post,I wrote about how I popped into Exeter yesterday,well this is what I bought!I was pretty impressed with Primark's offerings, there were lots of dresses,which is great for me because I haven't worn a pair of jeans since about 2008! I really admire those girls who wear cute denim shorts and skinny jeans,but they are just not for me.I did find some awesome pieces though!

I had been umming and aahing about this dress for ages,I love the colour and this was the last one in my size,so I thought i'd get it whilst I could.It's perfect for Spring/Summer,but I could also wear it in the Autumn with thick tights and black boots.I think I'm going to get lots of wear out of this.There were lots of other styles on offer and they were all £5,bargain!

This dress really caught me eye! I think it has a touch of Taylor Swift about it,I think I'll try and channel her style by pairing it with some Converse (well, Primark's own Converse.) It's really comfortable and it has sleeves,which is great as you never know what's going to happen with the weather in England.It was reduced to £5 from £8,as were a lot of things,so if you're after some new clothes to update your wardrobe,i'd go soon!

This wasn't from Primark or New Look,but I was so pleased with it that it was definitely worth mentioning! I walked past an "everything £5" clothes shop called Limelite.I debated whether or not to go in because some parts of the shop looked a bit unfinished (maybe they're a new shop?),but I managed to pick up this lovely printed jumper.It's very cosy and feels like it's well made,in Topshop you might pay four times as much for a similar jumper.I'm going to wear it with a little dress and tights for those chilly days.

I've been searching for a travel mug for ages,and this was just what I was looking for! I love everything about it;the polka dots,the cute quote and the gorgeous coral colour.This was £5.99 from New Look,which isn't too bad as it's quite sturdy and should keep my tea nice and warm.

P.S According to their website, if you bring your own mug into Starbucks,they will give you a 25p discount!

I hope you enjoyed my little haul.I was pretty impressed with Primark this time,and I think they're upping their fashion game even more.I do want to branch out a bit more and try shopping around a bit.

What shops would you recommend for cheap-ish and fashion conscious clothing?