Lifestyle // Tuesday Treasures #2

Here's the second edition in my Tuesday Treasures series and I'm sharing my latest Internet favorites with you all! I'm always super excited to make new discoveries,so here are the newest bits and bobs that I've been watching,reading,wanting and laughing at.

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After binge watching season 2 of Orange Is The New Black, I'd been looking for a gritty comedy-drama to watch to fill the Netflix void.Like most things I've enjoyed watching,I have heard so many great things about this show,and I haven't been dissapointed so far! It's really well written and the actors are so believable.Bryan Cranston plays a troubled middle aged man who gets into a bit of a pickle (I won't spoil it for you!) very well,I've only ever seen him in Malcolm in the Middle,but he is a very versatile actor.I'm a bit slow on the uptake as there are five seasons,but if you're into crime dramas full of suspense and dark comedy then I'd check it out!

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I've just discovered some beautiful illustrations by a Mexican artist called Ilse Valfre and I'm really glad I came across her work! I love quirky illustrations,and these adorable and wonderfully drawn characters are really striking.I'm looking to buy some art so it's great that she has an online store where you can buy clothes,accessories and prints all covered in her offbeat style.

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When I scroll through Instagram,I definitely notice a bit of a pattern going on! I've seen a Starbucks cup have tons of like before,throw in a cute cat and artsy food shots,and you're a fully fledged IG addict! Satiregram is an account full of witty sentences about our favourite and most cliched Instagram snaps.

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This beautiful bunting necklace is just too adorable for words! I love subtle jewellery that you can wear with everything,and this is a great budget piece at only £12.You can buy it from Ji Ji Kiki which is an awesome independent online store selling wonderful vintage bits and bobs.I had the pleasure of hearing Emma,the lovely owner of this shop give a talk at the South West Blog Social,she's so genuine and hard working!

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I don't really know how I'd describe my interior design style,but I love anything cute,vintage and completely unnecessary! I've seen little deer figurines all over the internet and on blogs recently,and I think they would add a lovely touch of kitsch to any home.I reckon I'd be able to find some in a charity shop,that's going to be my next mission.

There's more!

If you need any proof that elephants are awesome,here are 22 photos of them making the world a better place.

I keep wanting to play the indie horror game Slender, but I keep chickening out! Has anyone had a go? I'm a big fan of first person survival games.

This hilarious video by Brett Domino will show you how to make a pop hit song

SimplyNoise is a great site that plays white,pink or brown noise which is great to relax your mind or help you concentrate.

Taking myself back to my tween and teen years with 31 things that always got '00s girls in trouble.I think I was surgically attached to my GHD's.

What are you loving this week? I'd love some more things to check out!

Lifestyle // Bloggers you should be following Part 2

 I've decided to extend my Bloggers you should be following series because there are so many fantastic bloggers out there that I feel need mentioning,and I had so much fun writing Part 1 which you can read here.I think interaction and great content are key in creating amazing blogs that keep readers hooked,and these ladies have this in spades! If you're after some new reads for your Bloglovin' feed then look no further.Of course,all of the beautifully designed headers belong to the respective bloggers and designers.

Do you often lament your teenage years when all you had to worry about was perfecting your Myspace angle and how much Harry Potter you could read in one night? Me too.Becky's awesome blog really gives me all the nostalgia feels,I mean look at this amazing post where she revists her emo phase! My 14 year old self is very jealous of those socks.Her style is still just as awesome these days and if you love fun prints,pastels and a little bit of geekery then you will definitely get lots of fashion inspiration here.My favourite look has to be her recent Gingham OOTD.I love everything about it;the jelly shoes,the cute frilly socks.So perfect.Now before I stop waffling on like a crazy fangirl,I would also like to mention that Becky hosts the Monday #fbloggers Twitter chat where I've had some great conversation with her,she comes across as very upbeat and friendly which is just what everyone needs on a Monday! Follow her on Bloglovin' guys.

If you love beautiful photographs of the Countryside and adorable dogs then you will love Life Outside London written by the wonderful Michelle.I love her style of writing,it's like you're round her house having a cup of tea! I'm sure she'd serve you these amazing recipes too.These Cheese and Red Pepper Thingumies (scientific word) look so fresh and easy to make, and don't even get me started on these PB squares.As a fellow Devonian blogger,I really enjoy reading about all the adventures she gets up to in the area,and I'm sure it'll be a great help to holidaymakers who come down here for the Summer.

As you all know from my blog,I'm really into raising awareness and busting misconceptions surrounding mental health,so I'm so happy to share Catherine' awesome blog YouWishYou.I spoke to her over the phone as she's currently working on a feature discussing body image,and she made me feel so comfortable and came across as a very articulate and passionate person,we could all do with some more of that attitude in our lives! Not only that but she also has an amazing fashion sense,and I love her take on the Little Black Dress.Her blog is a great place to go for beauty reviews regardless of your budget,and I really think she will go far in Broadcast Journalism.You can follow Catherine over here 

Now admittedly I only have one tattoo (a hastily chosen but much loved lower back number,yes it is a Butterfly) but the beautiful designs and artists that are shared and discussed over at Illustrated Teacup really make me want to own more artwork.Having a tattoo can be a big decision and I love that Rachel takes the time to explain the negatives and positives of the tattoo world,so that people can make the right decision for themselves.This How to look after your new tattoo post is full of useful advice and tips to help heal your new ink and leave it looking as perfect as it did from day 1.There are a couple of mood board posts where give  great inspiration for any budding aritists or for people looking for their next tattoo,I mean look at these amazing tea inspired tattoos (that rabbit is adorable).I love how personal and in depth she is about  her experiences and own artwork with us,and I think she knows what she's talking about after all the hours she's spent getting tattooed! I love how much her colorful full sleeve contrasts against her white wedding dress.Beautiful.It's great to see a blogger sharing her passion and talking about something a little different.You can follow Rachel here.

I always feel really happy writing these posts,I love how positive this community is and I enjoy contributing to it in any way I can.I hope you've enjoyed reading and hopefully you've have lots of late night reading to get through!

Who do you think I should be following? Any recommendations?

Recovery // How to stop weighing yourself.

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For years,every morning before I did anything else I would step on the scales like I was consulting a crystal ball."What will my weight be?" and "Will I have a good day today?" ran through my head and those numbers would too for the whole day.My food choices would be affected too,if I went up a pound that must of been because of that nice meal I had last week so I would cut down my intake "just in case".I know not everybody develops Eating Disorders but it's so easy to let that number rule your mind and the relationship you have with your body.Although in some medical circumstances having a Doctor weigh you may be necessary,I think it's best to avoid it as much as possible.Weighing yourself can't really tell you much about your health,it can't tell you about who you are as a person and it certainly isn't a marker for how good or bad you're day is going to be.I think using a scale can sometimes disconnect yourself for your body and base it all around numbers when you are so much more than that. Admittedly I still do slip up sometimes,but I've put together some tips that I've found helpful.


1.I try to keep the scales hidden because then I'm much less likely to get on them.It's a simple case of "out of sight out of mind" but more often than not I find that by the time I think about getting on them, I'm already doing something.If this is too hard to for you to do right now,I'd suggest getting someone you trust to remove them for a while.

2.Wear clothes that you feel comfortable and nice in.If you grab those jeans from the back of the wardrobe (that you know don't fit) it can be all too tempting to step on the scales in order to confirm what you feel about yourself.

3. Realise that your weight isn't necessarily an indicator of your health or well being.People of all sizes can be healthy,chronically ill or anything in between,and they're all worthy of feeling good and happy in themselves.Focus on what your body can do,no matter how small that seems.

4.The scales can't tell you anything but a number.The people in your life are going to know a great deal more about you than a machine.If you're struggling with how you feel then I've found that talking to someone you can trust really helps.I've just said "I'm feeling really conscious about my weight and it sucks" and it's surprising how nice it feels to offload and share your problems with others.

5.Learn to accept that your body is in a constant state of change.In just one day your body is already regenerating and changing in small ways.Natural changes that occur in the body during ageing,pregnancy or illness are likely to affect your weight in someway,so find healthy coping mechanisms to deal with this like practising self care and building positive relationships.


I'm still working on this but telling myself these things regularly is really helping me to change my mindset and keep myself focused on what I want to achieve,which is a healthy view of myself and my body.It might take a while but I've got no doubt it's worth it.I know lots of other people have the same problem too,so I hope you've found this helpful.

What tips do you have to help stay off the scales?

Fashion // Stripes & Jeans OOTD

This is a very exciting post for me to write because it involves getting out of my comfort zone and facing some body issues! I haven't worn jeans for around 9 years,and each pair I've owned in the past have been filled with memories of me starving and unrealistic expectations.I must have walked in and out of Primark two or three times before deciding to pick these jeans up,but I decided that I have to challenge myself so that I can continue to tackle any negative thoughts!

Stripey Boyfriend Top £3

Black "push up & pull in" skinny jeans £13

Black leather bag £12

Brogues £10

All Primark

Now I know that this stripes and black combo isn't going to win any creative fashion prizes,but I'm really enjoy the monochrome look at the moment,and I'm trying to channel my inner French woman.I'm not used to wearing jeans,so I feel like my legs  look like sausages busting out of their casing,but they are actually quite comfortable.They feel really well made and I'm sure they'll be a feature of many future outfits.I love the slouchy cut of this top and it'd be perfect for dressing up or down.

I'm finding it quite hard to accept my shape in jeans because I often wear dresses or other loose clothing,but I have to realise that I am normal.Some people are a size 6 and some are a size 36,but everyone deserves to be included in fashion and feel good.This outfit has definitely inspired me to be more bold with my clothing choices and break out of my comfort zone every now and again!

What clothes do you wear when you're trying to shake things up?

*If you enjoy connecting with me and reading my posts,I would really appreciate any nominations for "Best Newcomer" in the Cosmo Blog Awards with Next *

Recovery // A letter to my body

It's safe to say that like a lot of people, I have felt very disconnected from my body for most of time.To me,my body has just been a jumble of mismatched parts that I've often said belong to different people.I've spent too much of time criticising and over thinking my appearance when in reality, I think most people are more concerned with their own lives and not my weight/hair/makeup.I had some therapy last year which I found really helpful in getting me to see things from a different perspective,and some exercises included writing to yourself and/or you body in order to address issues and learn to become more comfortable in your own skin.I'd thought I'd share with you a few of my "hang ups" and how I'm trying to turn my thoughts around.

Dear eyes,

I'm sorry that you've cried so many times,I think I made you wake up too many mornings all bloodshot and grey,when you should of been glowing and full of life.I can't believe I used to go online and research coloured contacts so that I could be the perfect blue eyed blonde that I'd always wanted to be.It was with you that I got to experience my wedding and my newly improved life with all of the vibrancy that I had wished for ,and I'm forever grateful for that.I'm very lucky that you're in good health and I'm going to make sure that I look after you more.If I knew what eyeshadow to wear,I'd dress you up all the time! (I'm getting quite good at eyeliner flicks.)

Dear Thighs,

I spent so many hours as a teenager Googling "thigh exercises" and using horrible 80's style exercise equipment like  thigh toners until exhaustion,in order to achieve the "perfect" thin legs.It was never enough though,I have a horrible memory of walking into my GCSE exams and people making comments about my "thunder thighs" and I wanted the ground to swallow me up.I'm so sorry that I tried to mould you to fit what other people told me you should be.It's only recently I've been able to wear shorts (albeit pyjama shorts at home!) but I'm getting comfortable with the idea that my thighs are great friends! 

Dear freckles,

I still remember how much it stung to cover you in lemon juice and hope that that I would wake up and you would be gone.Also why are you considered an "imperfection", along with stretchmarks,scars and blemishes?  (all of which I have or have had),it's easy to see why I've felt like I've been made entirely of flaws.I would painstakingly apply layers of foundation to you and pray that it stayed on day,only to be embarrassed if someone mentioned you.I think it didn't help that I didn't see other people with freckles growing up,but I was so inspired when the lovely Jade Thompson won BINTM! Now I try not to wear so much foundation and make sure to wear SPF so I don't burn (which would be constantly.)

I know some of these things might appear really insignificant,but I think we really look at ourselves under a scrutinising microscope sometimes and it's easy to not to see the bigger picture.I am not my eyes,thighs or freckles but I am a person who has dreams and ambitions and I'm not going to let how I feel about myself sometimes stop me from doing what I want all the time.

This has been very therapeutic! I'd love to hear anyone else's letters to their bodies.

*If you enjoy connecting with me and reading my posts,I would really appreciate any nominations for "Best Newcomer" in the Cosmo Blog Awards with Next *

                                  

Fashion // Charity shop budget OOTD

As payday is nearing but the funds are still low,I thought I would pop into my local charity shop to see what I could find.I've been having a look at people's OOTD/N posts more recently,and I've been really inspired by all of the different body types and fashion styles out there.This Summer I'm really trying to challenge the thoughts about my body and wear things outside my comfort zone,so I was very excited to come across this lovely dress.It was a complete steal at only £6.75 and was originally from Peacocks.It looks like it's barely been worn!

I usually tend to stick to neutral colours and cover up my arms so this is definitely a big fashion step for me! I love the print and the vibrant mustard yellow colour,it has a bit of a 60's feel to it I think,but correct me if I'm wrong.It kind of reminds of the Missoni print that was popular then.This dress also gets a gold star for being amazingly comfortable,it's got just enough stretch in the waist to accommodate food babies and period bloat.

This bag is from Primark and it goes with absolutely everything and it has enough room to store all of my essentials and some not so essentials.It feels really luxurious and well made,despite only being £12.If you're looking for a high quality bag on a budget,I'd definitely head to Primark right now!

I've just styled this dress with some black tights and brogues but I'm really looking for some new ways to wear it.What would you pair it with? 

Primark £1 fashion nails review

It's no secret that I love Primark. It's a great place to buy good value clothes without spending too much.I normally walk past most of the accessories,but their range of fashion nails really caught my eye.There so many different designs to choose from I couldn't make my mind up,but I decided on these lovely Daisy print nails,perfect for spring! The price tag is great too,other brands can charge anything up to £10.

I didn't realise that there were 24 in a pack,which means I can wear these more than once,let's hope they stay on! There are a wide range of sizes to fit most nails types,and I found the glue to be quite effective and sturdy,which surprised me for such a low cost.I just dabbed it onto my nail bed and applied the nails,pushing down firmly.I thought it would be quite fiddly,but it was definitely a quick and easy process,it took me about 15 minutes! They seem to be holding up pretty well,so far they have stayed on whilst I've made my bed,cleaned the kitchen and washed my hands.This has definitely been a positive experience,unlike some other nails I have purchased that have pinged across the room at the first chance.

I love how they look on,and I have already received a lot of compliments.I've only had them on for a few hours! I think they'd be great for a night out,or when I just fancy I change.I'm not very good at nail art,so these are an easier alternative.Next time I'm in Primark,I think I'll pick up a few more.You can't go wrong really!

Have you ever tried false nails? What brands do you like?