January Goals

It's officially the end of December and January is just around the corner. December both flew by and dragged somehow?? It didn't help that I kept thinking it was Christmas Eve the day before it actually was.

Christmas 2021

Christmas was so lovely this year! Christmas Eve, Josh, Charlie and I went to visit my Mum and stepdad where we had a lovely festive lunch including my absolute favourites - chicken in white sauce vol-au-vents. My sister, brother in law and nephew also came up which was great because I missed out on seeing them earlier in the month. I'm gutted I still haven't seen my eldest sister and nieces this Christmas - it's not the same without them!

A Christmas Wish | Blogmas 2021

Merry Christmas! It is officially Christmas day and for some, the end of blogmas. I decided to carry on until New Years Eve though so you've still got a few more days of posts to come from me!

Secret Santa Haul

It's Christmas eve already! Who is ready to start the celebrations? Today I'm off to see my family, take Charlie to his dad's house (sob) and start drinking.

2022 Bullet Journal Tour

If you haven't already started prepping your bullet journal for the new year - why the heck not?! I always try to make mine up a few weeks in advance, although it's always a bit risky in case I want to add things in. I rarely do though. 

2022 Goals

2022 is just around the corner! I have already started thinking about my goals with my This Time Next Year post, but I'm just adding in a few more.

Preparing for Christmas

The run up to Christmas has surprisingly been nowhere near as stressful as usual! The only real stress I have had was people buying Josh the same gifts as me, and being unemployed for a few weeks, I couldn't buy him as much as I wanted to. That being said, I want to be extra prepared for Christmas 2022!

A Secret Engagement: One Year On | Blogmas 2021

As of today, Josh and I have now been engaged for one year and one month. That has really flown by! We have been through many ups and downs over the last year - I didn't even think we were going to make it to a whole year of being engaged recently - but we're still very much in love and working our way through any obstacles that come our way. We are both completely rubbish at communicating effectively and it's definitely something we're focusing on getting better at together. Even though we're coming up to being partners for three years, we need to remember our relationship is still very young yet and we've still got a lot to learn about each other!

30 by 30 Bucket List

But wait, aren't you only 26? I hear you saying. Yes, yes I am only 26 and I know people generally write their 30th birthday bucket lists around their 29th birthday but...I need the extra couple of years, okay? Most of my items cost money, unfortunately.

An Interview with Charlie | Blogmas 2021

 Now Charlie's speech is improving and he can tell me more things, I thought it would be fun to do a mini interview with him! Let's get to know Charlie...

Diary Entry #28: The Adventure Begins | Blogmas 2021

First week of working at my new job? Completed it mate. Well, actually my fifth and final day this week is tomorrow, because I was given this day off to pick Charlie up from school as he finishes earlier and nobody else is available to collect him. I'm already loving how accommodating they are.

A Self Care Day | Blogmas 2021

I was feeling really down last Friday, I wasn't in a good place at all. I had a lot on my mind and I had already been feeling pretty emotional all week so I decided to have myself a self care day.

Diary Entry #27: Life Lately | Blogmas 2021

My last week of freedom before I start my new job! I spent most of it blogging and watching film. I somehow ended up watching all the Twilight films. I'd never watched the Breaking Dawn ones before so that was...an experience. I've been really emotional this week as well so I have definitely cried over the various films I've watched recently.

5 Quotes to Live by

There's nothing like a good quote to get you through the day. I love scouring through Pinterest for motivation and inspiration, so here's a short list of some of my recent favourites.

2021 Goals Recap | Blogmas 2021

Well it's nearly the end of the year and it's time to recap on my goals for 2021. How do you think I did? 

Top 6 Things to do in Kent

As much as I am the kind of person who loves doing nothing, I also really love going out and doing things. As long as it's my idea...

I am Kentish born and bred and I love that I don't have to go far from home to find something fun to do. I am also the kind of person who doesn't mind going to the same places over and over - although I love new things too - and these are my personal favourite Top Six Things to do in Kent.

My Travel Wishlist | Blogmas 2021

I haven't had a proper holiday in years. Well, okay so I went to Center Parcs in 2020 but a resort like that isn't the kind of holiday I mean! I keep hearing about people going on holiday and I am suffering from some serious envy and wanderlust. So, in no particular order, here are some of the places I am absolutely desperate to go to ASAP.

Yule & Ways to Celebrate

Yule a.k.a winter solstice is the celebration of the shortest day and longest night of the year. Ironically, it's all about the abundance of light. Even though the darkness has taken over, from this day forward the days will become lighter, the Sun King is returning and will begin to thrive. Yule is a time for renewal and brighter days are near. The shortest day and longest night is Tuesday 21st December this year!

This Time Next Year Tag | Blogmas 2021

I love a good blogger tag, don't you? This is the This Time Next Year Tag and it's all about what you want to have achieved by the following year. I love making goals and getting motivated so, naturally, this is right up my street!

Geek Magnifique, Finding the Logic in my OCD | Blogmas 2021

 AD/ I received this book for free to review. All thoughts are my own.

At her lowest point, Melissa Boyle was starving herself out of fear of vomiting, avoiding leaving the house so that she wouldn't become contaminated. Wracked with the debilitating symptoms of emetophobia and OCD, she saw nothing to live for and believed she was beyond repair.

My Minimalism Journal | Blogmas 2021

I have officially been using a minimalism journal for a whole year! I had a couple of reasons to start one. One reason being my 2021 pledge to "use everything up." I received a notebook as part of a mystery box I believe, and did intend on giving it to Charlie but at the time he really wasn't interested in notebooks or drawing or writing. So I kept it for myself and decided to start a minimalism journal.

An Autumn Walk in Cromers Wood | Blogmas 2021

A couple weekends ago I was feeling particularly bored. I'd been up since 7 or 7:30 that morning, had done loads of things and come lunchtime, I was crying of boredom. Josh had been playing Call of Duty all morning, so I decided to convince him to come for a walk with me and Charlie once he'd next died or whatever happens in C.O.D. Thankfully he agreed, and we set off to Cromers Wood.

30 Days Minimalism Challenge Update | Blogmas 2021

Last month, I set myself a thirty (30) day minimalism challenge to get me ready for the festive season. I absolutely love decluttering, and it always makes me feel so good when I clear out multiple bags of crap from my space. So, how did I do?

My Winter Skincare Routine | Blogmas 2021

My skincare routine changes all the time. I have noticed that my skincare products do tend to last at least one season, and because I like to see what suits my skin best, I do buy new products regularly! My current skincare routine may honestly be my favourite one to date. Spoiler alert: everything is from The Body Shop.

My 2021 Festive Film Watchlist | Blogmas 2021

 I am officially watching Christmas films. Technically I kicked it off last week by watching Just Friends. Believe it or not but I don't even watch it for Ryan Reynolds! Samantha James is my favourite Anna Faris character and I actually sing "Forgiveness" on the regular. Also Mikey and Chris' relationship cracks me up.

My Winter TBR | Blogmas 2021

I am well and truly back into reading. I have given myself a goal of reading three new books before the end of the year but I have made my TBR list long enough to last the whole of winter. Admittedly, I'm expecting to get less reading done once I start working but it's always nice to have a goal. So, here are the five (5) books I want to read before Spring.

Blogmas 2021 | Winging It

 Hellooo, everybody and welcome to December! It's Chriiiistmaaasss!

December Goals

December is just two days away and then I can finally rejoice in the Christmas spirit, let's get the tree up, Christmas songs on and wear Christmas jumpers all month long, let's go!!

House-Sitting | Pros & Cons

If you read my 25th diary entry, you'll know that I've just spent the last week house/pet-sitting for my sister in law. Honestly, I really enjoyed it and it was a lovely way to break up my normal routine! But, as with anything, there are some pros and cons to it...

Diary Entry #26 | Deck the Halls

 I am actually feeling really festive this year?! Over the last five years, since my Dad passed away. I've really struggled to feel excited for Christmas. However, something has flipped the Christmas lights on inside me and I'm genuinely excited for the festive season.

Diary Entry #25 | A Tough Week

Well. I have had a terrible week. Tuesday, I was fired from the nursery, with just a month of my contract left to go. I was absolutely devastated and embarrassed. I've never been fired before and had no idea it was coming so it hit me really hard. I went home, cried for hours and started looking for a new job.

30 Day Minimalism Challenge

I have been decluttering every month or so since I was about three months pregnant four years ago but my spending habits mean I still have accumulated a whole load of stuff over the years. I am completely fed up with there always being things everywhere to tidy up and put away, so I am putting myself on a 30 day Minimalism challenge this month.

Birthday Haul & November Goals

Happy November! Whew this year really is flying by isn't it?! I started my Christmas shopping in September and I'm feeling quite confident that I will finish it this month! I only really have my nieces and nephews to buy for now.

Breathe & Make Time for Yourself

A few months ago, I was after some magazines to read and while I was in ASDA I spotted Breathe magazine. I love anything to do with wellness and mindfulness, and the imagery on the magazines were so lovely that I needed to take them home with me.

Pumpkin Picking & Face Painting

It's officially spooky season! It's been two years or so since we last took Charlie pumpkin picking so I was determined to go this year. We also went with Joshs sister, her fiancé, Josh's brother, Mum and step dad. It was so lovely to go with most of the family this time! Although I haven't included their faces in the photos for their privacy.

Diary Entry #24 | Work, Anxiety & Netflix

I am officially at the end of my first five day week at the nursery and I am exhausted. It doesn't help that I've actually been working more hours than I was supposed to, and I also have a cold.

Bullet Journal Tour | Part 2

My original bullet journal for 2021 has officially run out of pages, just in time for October! I'm trying to reduce my notebook collection, so instead of buying a brand new notebook, I decided to use one my friend Ellie got me. I originally used the notebook for daily manifesting, but like most things, I lost interest after a week. Fingers crossed this notebook lasts me until the end of the year!

Hello October

Hello October! Goodness me, that's come around quick hasn't it? I swear it was only August yesterday! I am so excited for my favourite month though, roll on daily hot chocolates, cooler sweater weather, Samhain, Halloween and my birthday!

Mabon & How I Celebrated

I celebrated the Autumn Equinox for the first time this week! Autumn is a time of balance, Mabon is when the harvest is completed and we look forward to the impending winter as a time of death, rebirth and transformation. Mabon is a day of being grateful and giving thanks. The Autumn Equinox is when we allow ourselves to begin to transform into our fullest selves.

Diary Entry #23

It has been an absolute whirlwind the last couple of weeks!

26 By 26 | Birthday Bucket List

It's my birthday soon! In exactly 49 days I will be 26! Guess how I'm spending the day? At work, doing staff training even though its supposed to be my day off. My manager has promised me cake though so it's not all bad. It's been a while since I made myself a birthday bucket list and it's literally taken me a full week to create the list but here it is: my 26 by 26 bucket list for 2021.

Hello September!

This year is just flying by isn't it?! It's just a few days until Charlie starts school and I'm equal parts nervous and excited! I'm really hoping he loves it and gets on okay. I'm also looking forward to a few hours to myself a few days a week! I'm currently not working until next Thursday, so hopefully all the motivation I've been missing the last few weeks comes flooding back to me!

Rare Breeds Centre | Photo Diary

Last Sunday, we met up with my sister, brother-in-law and baby nephew at the Rare Breeds Centre in Ashford.  I know it sounds like a zoo, but it's actually a farm! With pigs, sheep and chickens for days. Even though we live further from the farm than my sister, we actually ended up getting there before them! Luckily there were some sheep right next to the car park, so we stood and petted/fed them while we were waiting.

Diary Entry #22 | Summer To Do List Update

We're now halfway through the Summer holidays! Although I use the word "summer" lightly...the weather has been giving the majority of us autumn vibes I'm sure. I'm currently curled up on the sofa in a comfy jumper! Just need a nice hot chocolate and fluffy socks now...

Meditate The Right Way | Guest Post

Photo by processingly on Unsplash 

What is Meditation About Anyway?

Glad you asked!

Meditation is about connecting with your inner self. Think about it, how often do you just sit down and simply breathe?

How often do you clear your mind of all intrusive thoughts and focus on your surroundings? 

If you’re like most people, your answer will be: rarely.

Summer Holiday To Do List

The summer holidays officially started last Friday for me and Charlie. Just six weeks to go before he starts primary school! He is currently on holiday with his Dad for his fourth birthday - which I am absolutely devastated about - so I have a whole week to myself. I feel sick just thinking about it. 

Diary Entry #21 | House-sitting & Volunteering

Last week Josh, Charlie and I moved into Josh's sisters house for a full seven days! Herself and her boyfriend were off on holiday for the week, but couldn't take their puppy with them, so asked us to dog/house sit for the week.

Budgeting to Zero | My First Attempt

Budgeting to zero is something I've been hearing about for a few months now, and I've never been completely convinced by it or fully understood how it works. However, when I was filling in my Budget Planner for June, I actually managed to budget to zero this time! I feel like it helped that I was listening to Tanya Michele's Cash Envelope system video at the time.

21 Books of 2021

I did it! I have already read 21 books this year and I'm so pleased with myself! I have actually read more Kindle books than physical books this year, and it's been a nice change. I have also been reading more genres! I tend to live on detective novels but it's been really nice to read other things.

Small Business Haul

Lately I have been trying really hard to support small businesses! It's always so tempting to go onto ASOS or Boohoo for their deals, but sometimes it's nice to shop small. I always send Josh links to some of my favourite small businesses when it's time to buy each other gifts.