I Moved Out of my Family Home

This whole year has been some sort of whirlwind. I’ve blinked and it’s somehow September - how did that happen ?

A lot has happened and one of the main things is that I’ve moved out of my family home where I lived my whole life up until this point. 

I was definitely ready to move out, yet I’m glad I waited and got prepared with a lot of homeware essentials.

Here’s a peek at my home so far 

Recent Bakes

I used to spend weekends baking with my Mum in the kitchen and loved it so much. I picked up on so many little techniques that she used. When you're truly interested and invested in something is when you actually pay attention!

When choosing my GCSE's i chose Food Technology as one of them. And as much as i enjoyed the practicals, i found the theory easy as i felt like i actually understood everything. It was one of the best results i got in my GCSE's as i was never very academic and instead loved cooking and sports!

Nowadays i bake whenever i can. I dont take it too seriously and honestly, I'm not artistic! Im not sure i would be capable of doing this as a career, but i still can't help but feel slight jealously of seeing friends-of-friends small baking business's grow so much.

Here are a few cakes I've baked recently. They have the same basic recipe just with either cocoa powder, coffee or vanilla. 

Chocolate Cake (for my friends 30th)

Victoria Sponge

Coffee Cake

Time Out - Fritton Arms

My self and my mum went on a spontaneous night away last Friday. 

We stayed at the Fritton Arms which is a luxe hotel in the middle of the countryside. It was very last minute and due to certain circumstances it wasn't planned, but it wasn't too far from home so we went for it. We took our dogs with us, and they were able to stay in our apartment as it was pet friendly. We didn't get much sleep because the dogs did really understand what was happening so they didn't keep still all night!

The apartment we stayed in had a single room, a double room, a bathroom and another room with a sofa in.

Its important to take time out of an everyday hectic lifestyle. Whether thats doing something you don't usually do, going on a spa day, enjoying an afternoon tea, making time for a coffee with a friend, or treating yourself to something like a night away.

Looking after your wellbeing and health is one of the most important things. No one else can look after that apart from yourself as you are the only one know truly knows how you are feeling on the inside. Even if you don't feel like you particularly need or deserve a treat or to do something you normally wouldn't, you could be surprised at how rejuvenated you feel after, and you could realise that maybe thats actually exactly what you needed. 

My 21st Birthday

My 21st birthday was on the 9th April. 

It was really chilled, and spent at home with a meal out with my family. I didn't want to do anything too extravagant and was happy to be at home as for my 19th birthday i was in Newquay in Cornwall, and last year for my 20th birthday i was travelling all day on my way back from Sydney, Australia. 

I received some lovely gifts and was truly spoilt. 

Here are some snapshots from the day.

2017 Roundup / Reflection

2017 didn't bring much in terms of change, I have the same job, the same friends and the same personal & family life but that doesn't mean it's a negative thing, change isn't always good and it's nice to have a content sense of belonging. 

I'm blessed to have such supportive and loving people around me. It's so comforting to be surrounded by like-minded people. 

The start of the year was spent working hard and planning my first trip to Sydney. March soon came around and the trip was complete in a flash. I saw some amazing land marks and spent quality time with one of my best friends Melissa. 

My boyfriends 21st birthday was in April. I wanted to do something really special for him. I researched SO many different places and finally decided to take him to Boa Vista in Cape Verde. This was booked for September. 

I had a long and hard summer season at work with no leave booked due to my trip to Sydney in Spring and my boyfriends surprise booked for September. It felt like it was never ended and honestly drained me. Work consumed me which I find happens a lot due to the hours and days I work if I have nothing breaking it up. 

Late summer my boyfriend lost his job, and I knew it was possible to get sabbatical leave at work. We planned a 3 month travelling trip to Australia. Although we had his birthday holiday to look forward to, we both needed a change and now felt like a good time to grab it by the balls! 

September eventually came around and our trip to Cape Verde was truly amazing. It felt so special and my boyfriend was so grateful and over the moon. 

Just a couple of weeks back at work and our trip to Australia was here. I said goodbye to my work colleagues which was a little emotional! (Even though I haven't left for good). 

The last few months of 2017 were spent in a Campervan with my love, travelling, siteseeing, exploring, eating copious amounts of frozen yogurt, playing candy crush as we had no wifi for the most part, drinking beer, swimming in the sea, sunbathing and seeing where the wind would take us next. 

-Reflection-

2017 has been a balance between hard work and exploring. I definitely have a taste for travelling now, so watch this space for 2018. 

My love for blogging is ever growing. I completely love writing and I created a happy place for myself here when I wrote my first ever post many years ago. I find it so therapeutic and relaxing. I wish I had more time to put 110% effort into my blog as it's something I would truely love to do. I have lots of creative ideas, it's just finding the time to sit down and make it all happen which isn't possible a lot of the time due to my work life. However I will always have a commitment with my blog and and commitment to myself to put effort and love into my blog as it's not just a hobby but something I thoroughly enjoy. 

Good luck and well wishes to everyone for 2018. Lets make it the best year yet. 

How To Stay Positive

Its so easy to get yourself in a rut about things in life. With me, its usually something so small irrelevant that I let get to me. Then something else so small will get to me as well. (Talk about kick myself once I'm down!) And before i know it I'm in a viscous cycle of bad moods, hating life and being so negative; and no one else is to blame than myself!

Whether its your job, body image, money or even the weather. You have to realise that if you're not to blame for the way you feel then its out of your control and you have to accept it. If you could be to blame its time to make some changes to get yourself away from the negative vibes!

1) Surround yourself by positive people.

Being around people who genuinely bring you happiness is so important. Whats the point in spending time with negative people who also bring you down?

2) Be grateful.

Instead of thinking about what you don't have, why not be grateful for the things you do have? 

3) Treat yourself.

A little retail therapy never hurt anyone. Treating myself to something, even a nail polish can really cheer me up sometimes, its the small things. I have a long week coming up at work, so I've booked myself in for a massage and facial at the end of the week so i have something to look forward to. This is a bit extravagant and i won't be making a habit of this, but for a one off, why not?

4) Make time for YOU.

Lives can get so hectic, before we know it every minute of our time is taken up. Clear your schedule if you can. Even a free hour in the evening to have a bath, exfoliate, shave your legs and use a face mask! Its surprising what a bit of 'you time' can do!

5) Eat well.

I know this is a typical one, and something most of us struggle with. But a bit of healthy eating didn't hurt anyone. I truly feel better and positive once knowing what I've put into my body is benefitting my body. Don't restrict yourself, but eat in proportion.

6) Look out for someone else.

Its amazing how a small gesture towards someone else can really make you feel good about yourself. It works both ways, knowing you've made someone else's day should really make you feel great too. Even buying a work colleague a coffee.

7) Recognising other's emotions.

Is someone else feeling down around you and that having an impact on you? Try and find out why they aren't okay and if theres something you can do to help. 

Personalised things that cheer me up and keep me positive and happy....

1) Clean bed sheets

2) Baking

3) Coffee

4) Walking my dogs

5) A new bag/top/jeans/shoes

6) A boiling bubble-bath.

7) Hair wash day

8) Homemade smoothies

9) Having plans in place to look forward to

10) Making an effort with people I want to spend time with

11) Holidays/trips away/weekend breaks

12) Steak!

13) A full tank of diesel

14) Blasting old time favourite songs

15) Taking the time to chose a good outfit

16) Prepping my meals

17) Organisation in general

18) Keeping my journals up to date

19) Cheesecake

20) Meals out in restaurants

Favourite positive quotes......

'Start each day with a grateful heart'

'Worry about loving yourself instead of loving the idea of people loving you'

'The grass is greener where you water it'

'All things are difficult before they are easy'

'Don't give up great things take time'

'Grow through what you go through'

Reunited with old friends

When i was 5/6 my mums best friend moved to lived in Canada with her family. We sadly don't see them much, but when we do the visits are always short and sweet. They recently came back to England and we spend the day with them. We went to a country park and had a walk around, went to a cafe and went canoeing on the lake. Here are some pictures from our afternoon canoeing!