Yearly Archives: 2019

What next?

15th August 2019

The photos in this post were taken so long ago, I don’t even remember when; probably sometime between my birthday and when we went on holiday, but I can’t be sure.
So much has changed since then, it’s crazy. I feel like I’ve reached yet another turning point, and whilst it isn’t all plain sailing, I’m loving it.

Life:
Life has been so chaotic since we got back from America. First there was the jet-lag (which was far worse than I could ever have predicted). Then we had busy weekends with family and friends, celebrating our engagement and attending a truly fabulous wedding.
We’ve had a couple of more relaxed weekends recently, and I had a week off work which I used to re-charge, and I’m starting to learn it’s ok to rest as much as it is ok to be frantically busy all of the time. It’s ok to feel like you have no time to do anything, to fall behind on the housework and then be so exhausted all you can do is vegetate. I’ve learnt to accept that things can’t be perfect all of the time, and most importantly I am learning to deal with the anxiety that provokes.

Home life is fantastic, our little rented house feels like a proper home at last, and Pablo, Bob and I make a great little unit.
Pablo continues to keep us on our toes, his most recent escapade being falling out of our bedroom window. Thankfully he suffered little more than a busted too which required a minor op, but he is the poster child for why pet insurance is crucial!

Wedding:
Somehow we’ve been engaged for 10 weeks! I’m still in a slight state of disbelief- I never thought I’d find the person I truly can’t imagine my life without, but here I am, ring on my finger and totally clueless as to where to start!
We’ve been asked loads when the wedding will be- a couple of years yet! We’re looking at Autumn 2021 to give us time to save and plan. I might sound stupid here, but I had no idea just how expensive weddings were! I knew they were costly but it seems everything is mega money and we really don’t want to get in to debt for our big day.
We have a couple of venue ideas in mind, but that’s about it as far as plans go. Of course I’ve looked online at dresses and shoes and all of the super girly bits- egged on by one very excited mother of the bride! Bob and I have put together a rough guest list and over the coming weeks hopefully we’ll get a bit more of a solid plan in to place so we know just how much of our hard earned cash we need to stash away.

I’ll gladly welcome any and all wedding planning tips, I truly find the whole thing baffling!

Mental Health & Recovery:
It wouldn’t be a sit down and ramble about life post without touching on my mental health and recovery.
In short, things are great. I can’t remember a time in my adult life when I have every been happier, things have steadily been getting better since meeting Bob two and a half years ago, but recently things seem to have fallen in to place a little bit more.

Anorexia wise I am probably the most “normal” I have ever been since first becoming unwell at the age of 15. It’s been a 17 year uphill battle but finally I have hope that I can beat this for good.
Recently I’ve been enjoying the things that many people will take for granted- eating lunch and snacks with colleagues rather than going to sit out in the rain, or going without because I couldn’t stand others seeing me eat. I have enjoyed fancy meals at lovely restaurants, and surprised Bob by suggesting meals or snacks that have previously been off the cards. When we first met there were about three dinners we rotated between…now we do have our regular favourites, but we have variety and normality in the cooking process; using oil, letting someone cook for me and serve up for me. Flexibility and freedom.
There is still a way to go, kinks to iron out, challenges to embrace and that ever present last little bit of weight restoration (for long-term health and potential baby carrying). I still get stressed by food at times, cry over things that may seem trivial, but I am well and truly winning, helped along the way by some fantastic books around intuitive eating (please say if you’d like more on this as I could write a post).

In terms of general mental health things are looking good too. I had a bad week last week where my mood took a random dip and anxiety ruled, but I’ve bounced back and recovered. I’m working on reducing medications, find I can do more and more that previously would have been impossible- two lots of drinks with colleagues/friends in a week? No problem! Speaking my mind in a difficult situation? Why not!

I don’t know what prompted this post, but it’s been therapeutic to write it. I’ve been in a bit of a blogging slump lately but I’m starting to break free of it and hopefully can make this a place I am proud to call my own again.

High fives and a chocolate finger to anyone who made it this far! Until next time…



Posted in life, life stuff, lifestyle, outfits, personal style, recovery

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Currently Coveting

10th August 2019

My life seems to be one big wish list at the moment, shopping is at an all time low as any spare money was either spent on our holiday, or is now being saved for Bob’s 30th Birthday and of course, our wedding.
I’m totally ok with this though, I’m lucky enough that I get treated to things every now and again (thanks Mum and Bob!) and I certainly don’t have an empty wardrobe, so I’m quite content with a lot of browsing and sharing my favourite finds on this little piece of the internet.

I’m not sure I can pull of yellow, but this AngelEye midi dress is stunning. I’m obsessed with browsing this site, so much gorgeousness at pretty reasonable prices, this dress is £48 and would be perfect for the new season.
Palava is a brand I found purely through social media and they have some of the most gorgeous dresses around. I instantly fell for the Beatrice walking zoo dress– I mean, how could you not?

Joy has featured on the blog many, many times before and I still absolutely love this shop, they have some of the best dresses around and most of my favourites come from there. Red is another colour I’m not sure I could pull off, but this Louche midi dress jumped out at me regardless.
I think I can probably justify the purchase of this Happy Planet Planter* from New Look as it’s only £6.99. Fake plants are essential in our house due to Pablo’s tendency to eat everything he shouldn’t and this is just adorable!
Another New Look find is this Pink Playsuit* . It might feel like Summer is almost over, but I think a pair of nude tights could see this last through September and I love this girly take on the utility trend.
I really wanted this Oasis midi dress to wear to a wedding we went to a few weeks ago. I couldn’t justify buying anything new, but I’m still obsessing over these pink polkadots!

So there we have this week’s lust-list, I always say I want to make this a regular feature again and maybe now I’m feeling a bit less jaded about my blog I actually will stick to my word. Most of my browsing this last few days has been wedding related- would anyone be interested in some wedding themed wish lists? And what’s caught your eye lately?

Posted in brands I love, fashion, home, shopping, wish list

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Loft Conversions: Here’s How To Undergo The Smoothest Possible Transformation *

09th August 2019
Photo by Sebastian Herrmann on Unsplash

We all like the place we call home – well, most of us do! We also agree that our homes could be improved upon quite significantly, right? Even if we think we have something of a palace, there are always things that can be done to improve it. Perfection doesn’t exist, and the times are always moving along, so work is never really finished.

A huge way people like to improve their home is by taking that dusty, old, redundant attic, and making good, productive use of it. Whenever we walk past a home that has had the loft converted, we tend to look at it and think ‘it would be nice to have one of those, huh?’ Not only are they a super convenient thing to have, but they also give you the opportunity to show off to the rest of the street!  

Adding that third layer to the house is something I think we’d all like to be able to do. If you already have a loft conversion, or you live in a large house already, then you know just how awesome it is – those stuck with a traditional suburban home deserve to join the club, right?

Let’s say you’ve been thinking about it for a while. The loft has been out of use for ages – it just kinda sits there collecting cobwebs and creepy crawlies. You have things to do, and you could do with an area to get them done in. It makes sense to go through with something like this. What should you do, though? How do you even begin to go about something as significant as this? 

Well, it’s not too difficult. Sure, it’s a big change to your home and, thus, to your life, but it shouldn’t cause you to stress and suffer too much. If you’d like a basic outline as to how you should be planning out this kind of transformation, then read on, and we’ll go through a bunch of stuff. 

Consider Whether You’re Ready

Is this an impulsive move because you’ve seen others do it and want to join the crowd? If so, then perhaps it’s not the right time. It’s a great thing to have, of course, but you need to be a grown-up. Do you have the time, money, and even the permission for something like this? If the answer is a big yes, then fair enough. Anything other than complete certainty should mean a rethink.

Think What’s It’s Going To Be Used For

This is less stressful and more of a fun thing to do, really. The idea of having a converted loft is so that you can have an extra bedroom, an office, an art studio, or whatever you want. Figure out the point of it all. Again, like the last point, if you’re not ready, then back away for a little while.

Plan Out The Design Yourself First

You might not be an architect or a building surveyor, but you can still grab and pen and draw away to your heart’s content. The simple idea here is just to follow on from the last point. Once you figure out what you want from this conversion, then you can begin to draw up ideas. This may act as a catalyst for further changes around the house.

Calculate The Cost

Your bank account is going to take one heck of a hit with this move. It’s smart to figure out how much the entire operation is going to cost before you commit to anything. Obviously, planning things is the best way to get absolutely anything right, and your money shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Get The Funds

Once you’ve figured out how much it’s going to cost, it’s time to raise the money for it all. Now, if you’re smart, then you’ve probably saved up anyway. If you haven’t, then stop spending money! If you’re pretty much good to go, but still need a little more in a short space of time, then you can hit up places like Fast Loan UK and secure a short loan. Obviously, things like this should only be an option if you know you can get back to them.

Be Prepare For A Lot Of Work Afterwards!

When all is said and done, and those guys and girls have completed the job for you, they will probably be on their way to the next job they have lined up. It then up to you to pick up the pieces that they’ve left behind. It’s not their responsibility to clear up and then get on with the customizing! All they’ve done is lay the foundations for you; now it’s time for you to really turn this new room into something.


Posted in home, interiors

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3 Big Reasons To Opt For Eco Friendly Razors*

08th August 2019

We are all, as we should be, making more effort to minimise our impact on the environment. The crackdown on plastic straws, cups, and bags, is great – but we still have a long way to go. 

If you take a good look around your bathroom, you will probably be shocked at the amount of plastic you see. Bottles, tubs, tubes, and more – many beauty products are still unfortunately designed without considering the effect on the environment. 

When it comes to shaving and razors in particular, the situation is particularly worrying. Head into any drugstore on the high street and it is immediately obvious how much plastic goes into the making and selling of disposable razors. 

This simply doesn’t need to be the case. There are many alternative options out there for women and men to shave, without contributing to the amount of plastic going into our landfills. 

For now, let’s focus on eco friendly razors, otherwise known as safety razors. These nifty tools are made entirely from metal and can last a lifetime, rather than having to be thrown away after a couple of uses. 

Here are my top three reasons to use eco friendly razors: 

Cost-effective. 

First off, investing in a high-quality safety razor can save you a ton of money in the long run. Think about how much money you’ve spent over the years on endless packs of disposable razors, only to throw them away after a few uses. 

Now, think about how many times you’ve been reeled in my savvy marketing to try a ‘new and improved’ model of disposable razor, when really these pink handles, gel strips, and extra blades make no difference to the quality of your shave. Don’t let yourself fall into these traps. 

A safety razor may cost you a little more initially, but if looked after, it can last your whole life. All that needs to be replaced is the blade itself once it starts to go blunt. You can buy a pack of 100 replacement blades for as little as £5. So, instead of buying a new pack of plastic-filled disposable razors once a month, you can buy a pack of blades to last you years! 

If saving the planet wasn’t enough reason for you to get yourself, your mum, your friends, and any woman in sight, a safety razor, the money you can save should be. 

The English Shaving Company offers a wide range of the very best quality safety razors to improve both women and mens shaving. If you are considering going green with your shaving routine, they have multiple options and products available to help you make the change. 

 2. Better for your skin.

Contrary to what you might think or be told by the big brands out there, more blades on a razor does not equal a closer shave. Actually, more blades makes it harder for you to shave at the right angle and increases the chance of cutting or nicking your skin. 

Safety razors have one single blade, making it far easier to control and keep flat against the skin’s surface. The less blades pulling on your skin, the less irritated it will be by the process. Yes, eco friendly razors do take some getting used to and should be used with caution initially due to the sharp blades. Once you’ve had some practise though, your shaving routine will be quicker and more effective than ever before. 

3. Plastic-free, zero-waste. 

Last but not least, you should opt for eco friendly razors simply to reduce your impact on the environment. Global warming isn’t going anywhere, so it’s our job to do what we can. 

Disposable razors are one of the most common and problematic items in our landfills. Each razor is produced using multiple layers of plastic, and worse, these are then sold in plastic packaging too.  

Eco friendly razors like safety razors mean there is no excuse to be buying/using anything else. These razors are most commonly made using stainless steel, so they won’t rust and can be used over entire lifetimes. Plus, with there being so many forward-thinking companies like The English Shaving Company around now, it’s never been easier to access eco friendly products!

Posted in beauty

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How to find the best Broadband Deal*

05th August 2019
Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash

When we first moved in together Bob and I invested some time in to finding the best broadband deals for us, and ended up with a pretty sweet introductory one year offer. In the next couple of months this special rate is due to end, and with a wedding to save up for and a deep-seated desire to never pay more than I have to for anything, I’ve started the search once more.

It might sound like a lot of hassle, but it is worth shopping around as there are big savings to be had on high speed internet with places such as infinitydish.com

Price comparison websites should be your first port of call, you can enter your requirements and your area and you’ll instantly see the best offers that are tailored to your needs. This is how we ended up with such a great package the first time round and it’s the main step I’ll be taking this time should we decide to switch. Things change all the time in the world of broadband providers so  I think an annual check of what’s on offer is also a good way to check you’re still getting the best speeds, download allowances and any other offers (i.e. discounts on entertainment packages or a combined internet/phone TV package).

Cashback sites are also worth checking out too, as many of the main broadband providers will be linked with the market leaders here and you could end up netting £50, or more cashback when you sign up as a new customer with a provider as well as getting a good deal on your package- who doesn’t love free money? I’m a big fan of cashback sites and use anything I make to top up the wedding fund!

If you’re happy with your current provider and don’t actually want to switch you could try haggling with them. It’s a competitive market and companies will do their best to keep you on their books. If you’re facing a price hike, or have found a better deal elsewhere but don’t really want to leave then give customer services a call and see what new deals they can offer. The best time to do this is just around when your current contract is due to expire as the threat of you leaving is real (trying to leave mid-contract will end up costing you). Be polite but persistent with this one and you’ll be surprised at what savings there are to be had.

I can’t believe we’re only two months away from being in our little house for a year, the time has flown by at an alarming speed!

Do you have any top tips for getting the best broadband deal? I’d love to see hear them…

Posted in home, lifestyle, money

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