Unplugging

I hate to sound like I'm repeating myself but...I'm going to be repeating myself. I don't know why but I'm really struggling when it comes to blogging and being online lately, and I think I need a semi-permanent break. 

One Week Offline

On Sunday 5th November at 6:30am after 30 minutes of sleep all night; I decided I'd had enough. I was fed up with life, fed up with being on my phone all the time and fed up with being fed up. So I took a break. I uninstalled all social media apps from my phone - apart from Pinterest as I can never remember my log in - and took up daily journaling instead. 

Taking a Break

In my last post I spoke about how I'm feeling lately and to be honest; I'm not really doing any better. I'm so run down I'm actually ill again and I'm generally just feeling rubbish. So I've decided to take a little break. 

I'm Not OK

I'm really struggling lately. I've not been great for a while but the last couple of weeks my mood has completely dropped, and this week especially...I don't know what's happened to me. 

October Recap & November Goals

November already? Damn this year is just flying by, I hate it. October was all fun and games though, not. 

The Scariest Halloween

Halloween has never really scared me. I never really slept very well on the night because of the whole 'gateway for spirits' etc. being open (yes, I totally believed that) but I never actually had a scary Halloween. Until 2014 and I went clubbing for the first time on All Hallows Eve. The night itself was actually kinda boring, it was on my way home that the problems started. I walked home from the club with a friends boyfriend but his house was before mine, and he couldn't really be bothered to walk up to mine and then back again, so I said I was happy to walk the ten minutes alone. Big mistake. 

How I've Changed Since Becoming A Mum

I feel like the changes that motherhood brings usually have negative connotations. Yes, your life suddenly becomes less about you and before you know it you're drowning in nappies and can no longer go out drinking until 3am every weekend - although that's probably for the best to be honest.

22 Lessons by 22

Today is my 22nd birthday! To mark the occasion, I thought I would share with you the 22 lessons I have learned throughout my life so far. 

Charlies 3 Month Update

Charlie is officially 3 months old tomorrow and I am not okay. Where is my tiny baby going?! 

Friday Favourites | #2

This week I haven't actually been loving too much. I've actually had a pretty busy week and haven't had much time to be online etc. so for my second #FF it's a pretty short 'n' sweet post this time! 

A Busy Day

What's this? A blogtober post that's actually been written and published ON THE DAY?! I've usually been at least one day ahead of myself but I've had a busy few days so I'm a bit behind, oops. I don't really have anything in particular to blog about so I thought I'd just open up blogger and see what rubbish I spouted. Yep, so far it's total rubbish.

Peanut Butter Brownies

After Twitters meltdown over the Great British Bake Off episode 8 results, I decided to finally start watching it. I agree, the judges were wrong wrong wrong and I'm just as upset as the rest of you. But I digress. I used to love baking when I was younger, and watching GBBO has fired up my passion for it again, so Mum bought me some ingredients and I got baking. 

Improving My Lifestyle

Lately I'm all about self improvement, and after reading this post by Sophie, I became inspired to actually write a physical list of how I need to improve myself/my life. 

Bringing The Magic Back Into My Life

A few years ago I started learning about Wicca. I began blogging as a Wiccan and planned to blog about my practise but eventually, Wicca fizzled out of my life and I even took off my pentacle. I was looking at my witchy book collection recently and it got me thinking. I would really like to start practising again.

Questioning Myself

Over the last six years all I have wanted to do career-wise is photography. I quit my retail job to finally get set up and over a year later...I'm still not really set up. 

Friday Favourites

Last Friday I posted about 5 Blogs To Binge Read and spoke about sharing sharing my weekly faves. Yep, that's right, I've finally jumped on the bandwagon and am starting a Friday Favourites series. 

My Piercing & Tattoo Wishlist

I'm a huge fan of piercings and tattoos, it's amazing how much confidence they can bring you. Also, who doesn't enjoy being repeatedly stabbed with a needle? I already have a few piercings and tattoos but I absolutely am not done decorating myself. I currently have four piercings; lobes and upper lobes on both ears, and a helix piercing on my left ear, and my septum. I also had a vertical labret a few years ago but it didn't last very long. 

As for tattoos I have three; one of which I hate and deeply regret. My first tattoo was a scorpion on my neck which I still absolutely adore. Then last September, to celebrate leaving my job, I got two thumb tattoos; a crescent moon and a pentacle. Both of which were done really poorly and ended up being the worst £30 I've ever spent. Although the moon is better than the pentacle.

So what am I planning to get next? 

Piercings

I don't know why but I only want piercings in my left ear rather than both or just my right. I really want either a triple forward helix, or just a central forward helix, and use a 'cluster' stud. I have pretty small ears so the cluster stud is more likely. I also kinda want to make my helix into a triple helix and change the studs for rings.

I'm really tempted by my tragus too, I've wanted that for almost as long as I've had my helix. 

I'm somewhat tempted to stretch my left lobe but it's a bit of a bad idea, as it won't be long before C will get grabby! Also lots of retail places are still really against stretched ears, so it might make future jobs even harder for me to get. I also really want a nostril piercing but I can't decide which side of my nose to have it! Probably my left but I honestly don't know. 
I'm hoping that I'll get gift vouchers (or money) for my piercing studio for my birthday or Christmas, and then I'll have to decide which I want first!

Tattoos 

In January I'm planning to get a hedgehog in a floral wreath on my left arm. This will be to remember my Dad by, as Mum had given him the nickname 'Hedgehog' and he loved gardening. It's either that or the Spurs logo and there's no way in hell I'm getting that! I also like the idea of having a dotwork forest scene on my upper right arm, but I'm torn between having it black and grey or colour. 

I really want to get my thumbs redone. Although I'm torn between getting the pentacle covered or improved somehow. But that's a conversation I need to have with a tattooist. I definitely want to get something to represent Charlie but I don't have a clue what yet. I did consider an elephant but he might not even like elephants when he's older. Although I have seen some 'Mum with Baby' tattoos that I like the idea of! 

I'm also considering covering my legs and possibly having a sternum tattoo one day but those won't be for years yet so I haven't really got ideas for those. 

What tattoos or piercings have you always wanted?

Minimising My Wardrobe

Ahh clothes, my main downfall. I have always had a ton of clothes and yet nothing to wear. I literally have clothes spilling out of my wardrobe and drawers; even stuffed into two suitcases full time! Now I'm bump-free, I thought it was about time I went through my clothes and had a sort out. 

I'm Happier Single

I have only had two really serious relationships (both lasting two-three years) and as nice as it is to have someone to cuddle every night, I always prefer being single. Even though the initial break ups have always hurt like hell, I've always got through it a happier, more confident person. Although I would say that all my relationships - including the ones that lasted a matter of weeks - have all been toxic one way or another. I have been pressured into sex, I've been with a pathological liar, and two emotional abusers.

The Importance of Social Media Detoxes

Considering how 'busy' Mum-life is meant to be, I still manage to find a lot of time to be on my phone/social media. I honestly thought I'd never be able to look at my phone again once Charlie arrived but that just isn't the case at all. It kinda sucks.  

10 Quotes To Live By

One thing I love, is a good quote. They inspire, motivate, and just generally make you feel good. Pinterest is my favourite place to find some fab quotes and naturally I have a board dedicated to them (who doesn't?) that I refer back to again and again when I'm feeling a bit low. I've decided to share ten of my favourites.

Pros & Cons of Blogging

I have been blogging for about four years now. I started in college, when creating and updating a photography blog was a part of my module and I just fell in love with it. Although my tutor never did read any of our blogs so really, why was it a part of our module?! I'm glad it was though. I've learnt a lot in the past four years, and I don't know what I would do without my little space on the Internet now. Probably tweet excessively. Oh wait, I already do that! But I digress. 

The Halloween Tag

Last year I was tagged in The Halloween Tag by my niece. However, she didn't post it until mid-November so I've been waiting all this time to do it myself! That's how prepared I've been this year.

Why I Became A Minimalist

My whole life I have been surrounded by stuff. It was never tidy stuff either, every inch of space in my bedroom was covered. I remember one day in particular when I was about seven or eight, and my auntie came round. She had a peep in my bedroom and was horrified to find that my bedroom floor was literally covered in toys. I started tidying up pretty quickly. 

Journaling and Counselling

Recently I read a post by Jemma where she'd started daily journaling. I used to enjoy writing a daily diary at school and thanks to her; decided to pick it up again. Although I didn't actually start until after my counselling session. 

15 Zombie-free Halloween Costume Ideas

I love Halloween and it's the only time I actually enjoy having to wear fancy dress.What I don't like, however, is zombies. So I've come up with 15 zombie-free costume ideas for Halloween this year. They don't neccessasarily have to be "sexy" either, despite what every fancy dress shop ever tries to tell us. Although you can be sexy for Halloween if you want, you do you! 

Graphic from hootowlgardens.com

50 Questions You've Never Been Asked Tag

I can't remember where I discovered this tag now (oops) but it seems like fun! Feel free to answer the questions on your blog if you fancy it!

My Bullet Journal Layout | July-October

In my last bullet journal post, I said that I didn't have many pages of my bujo left, and wasn't sure if I was going to make another one. Well, I did! I totally surprised myself by continuing to bullet journal throughout July - although I didn't really have much else to do to be honest!

The Seven Deadly Sins & I

Earlier in the year I had to help my niece with her R.E homework and we wrote about the Seven Deadly Sins. I have kind of been a little bit fascinated with them since and thought it would be fun to see how they relate to me and how much they play a role in my life.

 Let's see how sinful I am shall we?

5 Blogs To Binge Read

It's not very often that I get a chance to read others blog posts, but when I do there's always the same few that I automatically go to and have a binge read. 

The 101 Items Declutter Week

Pinterest is my favourite place to find inspiration and motivation to declutter. This time it was this article about a 101 item decluttering week. I instantly felt the need to declutter again and worked out I needed to get rid of a minimum of 14 items per day over the course of 7 days (yes, I know that only makes 98, shush). It was a bit daunting but I got stuck in. 

My Birthday Wishlist

It's my birthday this month! *fully expects to be spoilt* Although to be honest, minimalism is making it really difficult for me to justify wanting basically anything, so I actually have very little I want! 

2017 Blog Goals | Update

Back in July I set myself a few goals to achieve by the end of the year. With just two months left to go (holy hell there's only two months of 2017 left?!) I thought I'd update you all on how I'm getting on.

Hello October

Wow, October already huh? That has gone crazy fast; my baby boy is almost 3 months old already! Plus, I'm turning 22 at the end of the month. Feels like only yesterday I was celebrating my 21st. I haven't kicked off the month with some goals for an extremely long time (partly because I suck, partly because I didn't think I'd have time with Charlie) but I decided to go for it this month. October is my month after all! 

Managing the Mum-Tum

Throughout the years I've been underweight, overweight and everything in between. A size 6 right up to a size 16. I'm generally at my happiest between size 8-12 and after pregnancy I'm currently sitting at a size 10-12. Which would be fine if most of my clothes were that size. They are not and I can't really afford to buy new clothes to accommodate. Although thankfully now it's getting colder, most of my tops are oversized anyway so that's not really going to be too much of an issue for the rest of the year. It is however, time to lose the baby weight.

My Minimalistic Bedroom Goals

I think we've all gathered by now that I own way too much stuff. But I want to make it clear just how much I own, and what I plan to do about it.

nspa Your Special Time - First Impressions

During pregnancy it's recommended that you get yourself some "specially formulated" products to keep you looking and feeling fab - any excuse for a pamper, right? There's tons of choices out there and after a lot of umming and ahhing I finally decided on the nspa Mum-to-be gift pack. Mostly because it seemed to be the most cost-effective option.

My Blogging Essentials

I have been blogging for about four years now and finally decided it was time to talk about my essentials. Especially as they have changed over the years and I do things a little differently now. 

Self Employment: 1 Year On

If you don't know then you may be surprised to hear that I quit my job last September to work for myself. I worked in retail for one year and four months, and hated every minute of it. It probably didn't help that it was my first ever job, I suffer with anxiety, and I felt pressured - rather than ready - to get a job. Plus, it was a very large store and a very well known company. 

Pregnancy Brain Is Real

A lot of people doubt pregnancy brain. I think a small part of me doubted it as well. Until I got pregnant of course. 

Lets Talk About Breasts - Real Talk with ThirdLove*

You know what we don't talk about enough? Boobs. Specifically, the changes breasts go through during pregnancy, breastfeeding and post-nursing. It turns out that August is National Breastfeeding Month and I just had to write a post in honour of it. 

Charlies One Month Update

How the hell is my son a month old already?! It only feels like yesterday that we left the hospital! 

Ironically he's about 2 weeks here

The Liebster Award

Blimey it's been a long time since I've seen this going around! The Liebster Award is dedicated to supporting new, growing bloggers. Or, you know, ones that have been around for a few years but had to create a new blog *cough*  me *cough*. I was nominated by the lovely Jess a.k.a Queen Sapphire. Thanks Jess!

A Little Life Update

Holy crap you guys I'm a Mum?! I've not had a chance to sit and think about it really but wow, that's actually happened, this is my life now? And I love it. 

What Was in my Hospital Bag?

I finally decided to start packing my hospital bag at 31 weeks pregnant, but had spent weeks beforehand reading as many blog posts as possible for ideas, and spent hours scrolling through Pinterest lists. Honestly, I felt a bit overwhelmed at the sheer amount of stuff you actually need to take! 

The 10 Day De-Clutter-a-Thon

I was scrolling through Pinterest when I discovered a blog post about a 15-30 minute de-cluttering process someone was working on. I had already started doing a '10 minute tidy-up' every day by the time I found this so I thought this would be a great way to re-motivate me to get rid of some more things too! As I said in my last update, I wasn't sure what method I would use next, as I was struggling with the full 30 days of the minimalism game, so just 10 days seemed ideal! 

A Life Changing Night & The Importance of Donating Blood

If you follow me on Twitter you've probably seen some cryptic tweets hinting at something I've been struggling with. Well, I've finally been able to put it into words. 

My Pregnancy Essentials

Pregnancy was really tough for me and I'm not sure how I would have coped without my essentials!