An Honest Chat…

HI guys.

Honestly, I feel like I have so many blog post ideas in my drafts at the moment, but I don’t feel like writing any of them. I just want to have a really relaxed, sit down chat with you guys about life and where i’m at. I feel as though although beauty and lifestyle blogs are nice, its also nice to just have a chat and see who the person behind the blog really is. So, get yourself a cup of tea and some snacks, and lets get started.

Phew. Where do I even begin? This past 6 weeks have been intense. Lock down has finally been eased, so that means i’ve gone back to work and am adjusting to normal life again. However, in all honesty, i’m really struggling with getting back into it.

I don’t know whether its just the fact I barely socialised in 2 months, or whether there’s something underlying, but I am struggling to settle back into work and cope with the social aspect of things. Reserved. That’s what i’ve been called. I guess it’s deemed as a bad thing, that’s how its comes out anyway. However I can’t physically help being so quiet. It feels safe and comforting, the less people know the less they have to judge you on. At the same time though i’m already loosing friends because of this, but it’s become so deeply ingrained in me over the years that I don’t know how to turn it around. That’s okay though, i’m sure it’ll come with time. Gotta keep that positive thinking up, right?

Next, I am also going through some changes. Last month, I came off the pill. Oh my goodness I cannot even begin to explain the benefit that this has had on me. I’ve felt quite down and anxious, and very sad ( I won’t use the word depressed though, I don’t think I was quite that bad) and had been for months. I couldn’t put my finger on it until I thought enough was enough, and quit the pill at the beginning of june, and its like the storm clouds in my brain have dissipated. I feel so much more positive, like I can actually cope with things now. My motivation to do well is back. and most days are good days. Yes I may still be a bit reserved at work… but at least i’m not reserved and super sad which is a big improvement for me. Ladies, listen to your gut. If it doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t.

Another recent change, is i’ve decided to go on a dating app detox. I may write a blog post about this in more detail if people are interested but honestly, dating is exhausting. The whole concept of chatting online for a bit, to maybe have a first date, then a few more dates if you’re lucky to then be back at square one and have nothing to show for it.. it’s a lot. So I’ve decided to put myself first and take a break from them ( I may return to them in a year or so, who knows.) as i’m tired of feeling so down because of them.Although quitting has been hard, I do feel better in myself now I’ve quit. There’s so much more space and energy in me to focus on next things. I’m also processing things more and learning how healthier, organic relationships may look, so hopefully I can make better choices in the future.

Speaking of focusing on things, I’ve started up my driving lessons again! My driving theory test is coming very soon, and i’m pushing to be ready for my practical test not long after that. If covid has taught me anything, it’s taught me how essential having car can be and that i’ll be so much more free when I have one. I just want to be able to explore and be independent, without having to rely on public transport as its not my favourite. Therefore, my goals are to drive by the end of 2020/beginning of 2021.

I feel like this next 6 months – year needs to be a year about me, and my personal growth. No distractions, just lots of goals, manifestations and self care. I’m only just now realising that

That’s all guys. I hope it doesn’t sound silly, but I do feel better for writing all of this down. I’m so grateful to have a blog where I can have these open, honest discussions. It means a lot.

Take care,

~ Emma x

My fitness journey #2 – food and diet

Hi guys! So as you may (or may not) know, fitness and healthy living is something ive been trying to get into for the past 8 months now. Excersizing is going well, i’ve learnt what works for me and what I like and dislike.(more on that coming soon…) I’m also becoming more consistent over time.

However, food is a whole other challenge in itself. I. Love. Food. Stodgy carbs, chocolates, cakes, allll the takeaways, they are my weakness. Because of this, healthy eating has been the difficult part of my fitness journey – but I have learnt some things along the way, that i’d like to share with you guys.

I’m going to let you into a little secret. My eating habits used to be TERRIBLE. Im talking a high sugar breakfast (thats if i even had it in the first place), cheesy chips and chocolate for lunch, and all the stodgy carbs for tea. I just ate what I wanted but didnt care, as I didnt put on too much weight. However, although i remained a comfortable size 12, I was not in good shape. I’d become out of breathe walking 10 mins up a small(ish) hill, was always tired, and had awful stomache pain where i was in agony, holding my stomache on the floor, unable to sleep and sweating from pain for 2 days. The doctors prescribed me a course of tablets to settle it, as nothing else helped. That was my turning point, where I decided I had to be healthier.

Honestly, this has not been an overnight thing and is definitely still far from perfect. However, I have been making slow, steady progress – which has been enough to feel a difference. I started out with small simple changes, such as cutting out crisps ( i’m not too bothered by savoury snacks anyway, so it wasn’t too big of a deal), choosing dark chocolate, nutty bars over regular milk chocolate bars, and swapping regular, high sugar coffee for a lower calorie plant based option.

I also paired this with cutting down tea, and replacing it with water. Previously, I was drinking 5-6 cups a day, so consuming lots of liquid calories. After having a chat with a personal trainer at my gym, he explained that it may be one of the factors as to why my cholesterol was a tad higher than it should be. However, although its still tough to do sometimes, it really has made a difference. By drinking 1.5-2 litres a day, My skin is has got clearer, my digestion is better, I snack less, and it has aided my weight loss.

Finally, the biggest thing I have learnt about is intuitive eating. This is something that can be learnt, however it didn’t come to me overnight. The main concept of this is to listen to your body and what it needs, rather than relying on lots of unsustainable diets. For example, I know now that if I have a busy day and lunch time is a long way away, i’ll feel an urge to just eat porridge that’s topped with fruit, or some days I just want and crave the extra fruits and veggies in my meals – because I know it makes me feel good However its also not the end of the world if I eat a KFC sometimes because KFC is good for my soul.

I used to myself eating junk just because its there, and for no real reason, often just boredom. Therefore, by only eating what my body actually needs and try and reduce naughty treats, its allowed me to have so much more energy and feel less sluggish during the days. I also feel like I perform better during excersize when I eat well.

Although my diet is still not perfect all of the time, this is what has helped me the most during my fitness journey. What good eating habits have helped you guys the most lately? Let me know in the comments below.

Take care,

~ Emma x

Counting my blessings, and why you should too

Hi guys. I feel like I say this a lot but honestly i’m not sure what else to describe this year as, other than it being really weird and not feeling quite right. I have found this year super challenging so far and so much has changed, however there is one thing I’m working on changing for the better. That is focusing on my blessings.

I know I know, it sounds super cheesy – but its true. This year has been a roller-coaster so far.. I’ve lost people, and been through heaps of change that is still ongoing. However, counting by blessings in the form of a gratitude journal has been useful for me lately, and is really helping me have a more positive mindset. I will not show the actual pages of my gratitude journal as some points are very personal, but some lighter examples of things I have written include;

• I am grateful for my bed. It is cosy and warm, it is my safe space.
• I am grateful for my health, because I realise i’m getting fitter and stronger everyday.
• I am grateful for my morning cup of tea, because it’s a good way to start the day and be really comforting.
• I am grateful for hearing the birds sing in the morning, as i’m usually to busy to pay attention to them, or even notice them.

This is the general layout of my gratitude journal. I simply write the date and four things i’m grateful for and why, every 3 days.

Although i’m aware that this may not be everybody’s cup of tea – It has been really beneficial to me. This is because it helps me stay focused on what I actually have, rather than the things I don’t have. For example, I don’t have a car so that subsequently has made life a tad more challenging, as the virus has impacted public transport. Next, I am single, so this is teaching me to pay more attention to all the other amazing things around me, and that I don’t necessarily need a partner to feel happy.

However, another good reason to write a gratitude journal is it can help you to either start or end your days in a positive way. For example, if you’re gone to bed and have had a bit of a tough day, you can take the time to pick out a few of the good things that happened. This could then help you not only feel happier, but also sleep better as a result.

Honestly, I wish i’d have started doing this sooner. I’ve felt really quite sad through the first half of lockdown, and feel like this would have really helped me. Never the less, its still a wonderful help now and maybe this post would’ve helped you want to try it too!

That’s all guys, have you ever tried gratitude journalling? Or are you going to try now? let me know in the comments below.

Take care,

~ Emma x

The Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award

Hi guys! I’m so proud to say that i’ve been nominated for another award! Honestly this makes me so happy, it feels so good to know some people actually enjoy reading my little blog, and that all my hard work was worth it!

I’d like to thank Thomas for nominating me. I’m not surprised that he was nominated as his posts are quite clever and amusing, but also leave me with a lot to think about too. Also if you don’t know him, he’s a super lovely guy too – so all of this definitely makes him one of my favourite bloggers. Here is his blog, if you’d like to see his work for yourself; https://doubtingthomasblogs.wordpress.com/

The rules are….

Thank the person who nominated you and provide a link back to his/her blog.

• Answer your nominator’s questions
• Nominate up to 9 other bloggers and ask them new questions
• Notify your nominees by visiting and commenting on their blog
• List the rules and display the “Ideal Inspiration Blogger Award” logo

Before we get started on the questions, I would like to nominate a few of my current favourites! They are;

1. BeyoutifulInsideOut
2. jazminheavenblog
3. Johnny, Johnny’s Traventures
4. Hannah Amethyst
5. fashionanitastar, Ana Cardigos
6. Shannon’s Corner

Now, let’s get onto the questions..

1 – You can pick 3 celebrities (dead or alive) to join you for dinner….who and why?

Firstly, i’d choose Melanie Murphy. She has impacted my life in so many wonderful, positive ways regarding mental health, living a healthy lifestyle and accepting my sexuality; with her wholesome and honest content. Therefore I think it would be amazing to discuss my feelings with her. Next, I would choose Micheal Jackson. I don’t know if anyone has seen it, but on twitter some people have brought up his song ” They don’t really care about us.” in correlation to police brutality. Seeing as Micheal used to be black, i’d love to know his thoughts on racism, the blm movement, and how things went for him and his mindset during his life, as he was both black and white. That discussion would just feel really fitting and enlightening in this current moment in time. Finally I would choose Antoni Porowski from Queer Eye. His cooking looks amazing, he inspires me to try new things and also seems lovely. Plus lets face it, who wouldn’t want him to help us in the kitchen?

2. What is your idea of a perfect first date?

Honestly I like dates to be quite casual and relaxed. I’ve had a few different first dates, however my favourites tend to be either Costa dates, or a couple of drinks at the local bar. They just seem super chilled and theyre also easier to leave if they turn out bad.

3. What would you do if successful in winning £1,000,000 on the National Lottery?

Firstly, i’d finish paying my parents mortgage so they didn’t have that worry anymore, i’d buy myself a nice car and house, i’d give some to my friend to help start up a photography business, go on a few hollidays, and give some to charity.

4. What was your favourite subject at school?

English, I loved reading and found it quite easy. That was easily my best subject, ( I got a B grade overall) I loved analysing all the different poetry and stories, as well as creating my own work for creative writing tasks.

5.  Is there one song that is GUARANTEED to get you on the dance floor at a party?

Ooooh I love a good dance at a party, so it’s hard to choose. I think its safe to say anything by ABBA, or Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars.

Now, here are my questions for you!

1. What’s your biggest pet peeve?
2. What piece of advice would you give your younger self?
3. What would you like to have achieved within the next 5 years?
4. What’s your favourite snack?
5. How do you like to cheer yourself up after a bad day?

That’s all guys, I hope you enjoyed this post! Also, thank you again for all your love and support, I can’t ever thank you enough.

Take care,

~ Emma x

Bisexuality and Coming Out.

Hi guys. So this month is Pride Month. I myself am Bi, so I though i’d try something different and interview the lovely Emma ( @InvincibleWomanOnWheels) and Shannon ( @Shannons_corner) to talk about their different stories in regards to coming out and life as a bisexual. I really enjoyed working with them both, and I hope you can both enjoy and gain something from this post. Lets get started.

1. What age did you first come out, and how?

Emma says: I was probably around 18 or 19 when I first came out to that first person and said I was bisexual; I know it was early in my university life. The actual situation came about when I was talking to a couple of university friends and we were discussing relationships and sexuality. They discussed where they saw themselves on the sexuality spectrum and  then  asked me how I identified and I just said I was bi.  I’m aware I’m lucky that my initial coming out story was so relaxed like that. I’d always had some kind of idea that I was attracted to men and women, but it hadn’t been something anyone had asked about that point or that seemed relevant at all (since I hadn’t dated anyone) so I’d never identified as bisexual before then.

Shannon says: I think I’ve been coming out since I was about 18/19. I never just came out to a lot of people at once, I just put it into conversations when talking about dating or thinking people were attractive. I found it easier with people my age such as friends and my sister because we’d naturally talk about potential partners and similar topics so it would come up quite naturally but not with older people such as my grandparents, that was harder.

2. How have people in your real life (or online) reacted to your coming out?

Emma says: In terms of reaction, which has mostly been from in person interactions like friends and family, there’s not really BEEN much reaction. I think this is again because they don’t really see my sexuality as relevant for their life. It only seems relevant when it comes to my relationships and dating, and since I’ve been single for the majority of the time I’ve been out as bisexual, it’s not really been something that’s relevant. What I have noticed is a slight shock or confusion sometimes when I mention that an actress or some girl I’ve seen is attractive and I think that’s because they just forget that I am actually bisexual. The other comment I get is a response that I’ve  “not decided” when it comes to my sexuality and, regardless of the fact that sexuality isn’t a decision, bisexuality IS my sexuality and not just some stepping stone to being a lesbian or some exploration from being heterosexual. So, if there was a ‘decision’ to be  made, I’ve already made it. I’m bisexual and that’s that.

Shannon says: I think I’ve been really lucky in this regard because it has been mostly positive. I don’t have any personal online presence but in person most people have been fine about it. I think because it just came out in conversation it was easier to just carry on the conversation rather than expect someone to react specifically to me coming out to them. It was nice for me because it made it more normal but I think on the flip side it allows people to just pretend you never said it which I think is something some people did, especially older family members. 

3. Sometimes people unfortunately struggle to see past misconceptions of bisexuals. In some cases, were called greedy, or if we date someone were asked “oh, so you’re straight/gay now??” . How would you respond to this?

Emma says: On the misconception of greediness, I’d say that’s fundamentally misunderstanding bisexuality. Identifying as bisexual means I am attracted to men and women and would be in a relationship with men or women. It does not mean I suddenly want to date the entirety of humanity all at once and steal them from everyone else! In terms of the gender of the person I’m dating meaning I’m now either straight or a lesbian, I’d say no, that’s not how it works. I’m still bisexual, it’s the same as what I said about the above comment of bisexual meaning I have “not decided” about my sexuality. Bisexual is my sexuality, it’s not some fence I sit on and then jump off based on the gender of my current partner.

Shannon says: Oh, I hate this. It’s just pure ignorance and I cannot stand it. I just tend to be very straight forward and say it like it is. ‘No, I’m still bi, I just happen to be dating a male/female at the minute.’ For the others I tend to be a bit blunter and just say ‘no, I’m not’ which probably isn’t the greatest argument but I’d rather not engage in a conversation with them. I’m happy with my sexuality so I don’t feel the need to correct others if they are being ignorant

4. Is there any advice you would give to people who have come out, but are in a bad/dangerous situation because of this?

Emma Says: This sound like a bit of a cliché phrase, but I’d say find your safe space. Whether that’s places you can stay or people you can stay with (if the situation is to the point where the safest thing for you to do is leave where you’re currently living). Or at least find people you can trust and confide in about the situation so that you don’t have to carry the weight of living in such a situation alone.  This might be talking to members of the LGBT society if you’re at university, and a university that has an LGBT society, or it could mean talking to anyone at all as long as you feel comfortable confiding in them about the situation. 

Shannon says: Keep yourself safe. Of course, it’s important to be who you are but if you can’t get away from a dangerous situation then just keep yourself safe. Obviously, try to remove yourself from the situation but I know that is easier said than done so until you can get away from the situation and make plans to do that safely then just do what you need to do. 

5. Some people may still be in the closet, too scared to come out. What advice would you give, in regard to this?

Emma says: I would say remember that coming out doesn’t have to mean telling the entire world. Start by just telling one person that you know, trust and feel comfortable confiding in, and be sure if you can that you know their views on LGBT people so you know that you’ll get a supportive response. It might be a good idea to come out to a fellow member of the LGBT community first as they’ll understand the emotional struggle behind coming out better than most, but of course who you come out to is up to you.

Shannon says:I think similar to the last question, if you’re scared because you know it’ll put you in danger, try to get yourself into a safer space before you do. If you’re scared because you’re just not sure how people will react just try to listen to what they say about other things. Are they generally a tolerable person? Are they normally reasonable even if they don’t agree with what is being said? That kind of thing can give you a good idea of what their reaction will be. Or you can do what I did which was just come out in conversation, because then if you’re scared about attention or their reaction it’s easier just to carry on the conversation instead of sitting in an awkward silence after an announcement. 

6.  Although this is a challenging time for some, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Name 1 positive thing that has come from coming out. 

Emma says: I feel like I understand myself and my place in the LGBT community better. I’d always felt a little awkward attending LGBT pride events where I was known as an ally and not an LGBT individual myself. I always wondered if they were my events to attend as a straight ally. But it turns out I was just bisexual the entire time, so I guess that answers that question.

Shannon says: I feel less anxious, like I’m not carrying around this big weight. I used to get so anxious when people would talk about people they fancied or potential partners and now that people know I feel so much more relaxed and myself around them. It’s been very freeing.

That’s all guys, I hope you enjoyed this post! Please be sure to check out Shannon and Emma’s blogs! Their links are: https://shannonscorners.wordpress.com/ https://invinciblewomanonwheels.wordpress.com/

Now i’d like to know, what are you guys thinking about this pride?

Take care,

Emma x

Black Lives Matter.

On the 25th of May 2020, George Floyd was killed by a police officer. He was accused of using a fake $20 bill. George did not resist, he was not a danger. He even offered to give back what he had brought with the $20. Yet he was still forced into the ground and the police officer knelt on his neck for 8 minutes and 36 seconds. George cried for his mumma, asked for water, and repeatedly said “I can’t breathe.” The officer involved was arrested, but had 18 other previous complaints about him. He was most likely only arrested as it was filmed, and people were protesting for justice.

Breonna Taylor, died on the 13th of March 2020. She was on the front lines helping to fight COVID 19. She’d finished work and gone to bed, when police officers stormed into her home and shot Breonna 8 times. They were looking for the wrong person. In fact, the person police were supposed to find was already in police custody. Breonna did nothing wrong, and justice has yet to be served.

This leads me onto today. Protests are happening all over the world, in responce to George Floyd’s death. 99% of them are peaceful, the media only chooses to show the violent riots instead. This also leads to my issue, and why i’m writing this post.

My issue, is with how some people are responding to the protests, peaceful or not. I have seen posts saying “All lives matter” (days after posting a black square to show support.. that was soon forgotten.) My issue is with people kicking off, saying we shouldnt be protesting, were selfish, it’s all our faults if the second wave comes. My issue is with people in my own family, saying “these protests should be banned”. This is coming from a man who is uncle to a 5 year old poc.

Firstly, let’s address the “all lives matters” part. If youre white, do you live in fear of being hurt because of your skin colour? Do you get picked on because of your hair being “too big”? Do you have to suffer in silence as a child, because someones called you a monkey and youre too young to even know how to stand up for yourself against that? No. No you don’t. Youre not the ones being treated badly every day because of your race. I saw something on facebook the other day, it was saying what if a house was on fire? Of course all houses matter, but the firemen are only going to help the burning house – because thats the house that NEEDS the help. At the end of the day, no lives matter until black lives matter – we are not the burning house. Lets focus our attention in a positive way.

Next, the whole ” Youre selfish, the second peak is coming and its all your fault.” Firstly, has anyone actually watched the news lately? Has no one seen people flocking to the beaches, and the VE Day Celebrations where people danced in the street? Has no one watched how peoples attitudes changed, after Dominic Cummings broke lockdown rules? I hate to break it to you, but its already been coming long before the riots even started.

Also, in like 10 -20 years covid will be gone, failing that then a lot more manageable than it is now. Racism will never go away. Its been here for 400 years, and nobody listens. Nobody listens, black peoples rights are violated daily. Protests are the only way to be heard sometimes. Sometimes we DEMAND to be heard because people wont listen otherwise. Racism is a far bigger disease, and we cant wait until tommorow, or next week. We cant wait for more black people to die before we speak up. We need to do it now. Absolutely educate those going on a jolly to beaches, but do not start on those who are fighting for basic human rights – which should have been done years ago.

Finally, the worst in my opinion, the statement “these protests should be banned.” That is silencing an already suffering minority. That is wrong. Sometimes I think about it from my nephew’s perspective. Although hes not fully black, he’s still a POC. He will grow up in 10-15 years time and say “hey, what did you do to help when all of this happened?.” The answer I will give, and the others I want him to hear are ” I protested, I donated, I signed petitions, I spoke up.” To know certain individuals will turn around and say “not a lot, they shouldnt have protested because….” that disgusts me.

I am not doing this because I like to be difficult, or like confrontation. I’m the polar opposite infact. I just want my nephew, my best friend, and all other black people to feel safe, accepted and valued. If something bad happens, I want them to feel like they can go to the police – without fearing for their lives in the process. I want them to be able to walk the streets, without having vile, racist words thrown at them. I want them to live in a world where they recieve the same chances as everybody else. I want them to be happy.

It’s up to us, their white allies, to help make this change. They cannot fight this fight alone. Together, we can make the world a better place. Speak up for whats right, stay driven, and never forget.

Black is beautiful, Black is strong, Black is love. Black lives matter.

The Vincent Ehindero Blogger Award

Hi guys.

Today I have a bit of a different, special blog post for you guys. I am proud to say that the blogger Eromonsele Emmanuel nominated me for this award. Thank you!

He Blogs at ( Blog site) and posts about his experiences and opinions about travelling to a range of different places. My favourite post of his is https://ericotrips.wordpress.com/2020/03/15/barracuda-beach-birthday/

You can read the rest of his post’s here. https://ericotrips.wordpress.com/

The rules are:

1. Thank the person who nominated you with a link to their blog.
2. Make a post of the award (with a photo of the logo).
3. Post the rules
4. Ask 5-10 questions of your choice.
5. Nominate 10-30 other bloggers (or more) and notify them.

I absolutely loved answering these question’s, so lets get started;

1. What’s on your mind?

At this moment in time, food. I’m currently waiting for my cauliflower broccoli bacon cheese to cook.

2. What activities inspire you to feel like you are living your life to the fullest?

Concerts, as those are the one of the only times where I every truly feel free – where all the drama and worries of my life disappear for that moment in time and nothing else matters. Also, when i’m excersizing. I see so many people in my life who are ill, so for that reason I strive to make sure I give myself every chance to live my best, healthiest life.

3. Three things that make you happy?

My Cats ( Bonnie and Blackie), my friends, and chocolate.

4. How do you think your future self will remember your current self?

I think future me would remember current me as a strong, independant, hard working young woman who marches to the beat of her own drum. Someone that has faced many challenges in early twenties/late teens, such as finding happiness in being alone, but also balancing it out by cherishing her relationships with others which had previously been unintentionally neglected a little.

5. If today were the last day of your life, what would you be proudest of?

The fact I’ve strived to never settle for less. I have been around people who didn’t treat me with the respect I deserved so instead of being sad and settling, I promptly cut ties and surrounded myself with the most positive, inspiring, genuine people who I love very much. Basically, I’ve pulled myself out of the muck and become a much happier person because of this.

6. If you could teach the entire world just one concept, what would it be?

The law of attraction! There’s a lot to it ( Deffo worth a google search if you have the time) but the just of it is, positive beliefs are always followed by positive actions. It’s simply a case of manifesting yourself in positive beliefs and thoughts, paired with lots of hard work.

7. How many countries have you visited?

1, I’ve been to Tennerife 2 times when I was younger.

8. What’s the farthest you’ve been away from home?

To Tennerife on holliday.

9. What country is still on your bucket list?

I’d love to visit Amsterdam, because I want to see that famous river ( Where they filmed part of The Fault In Our Stars) and as morbid as it sounds, i’d like to visit Ann Frank’s house. I love history and learning, so it’s always interested me.

10. If they were to ever make a movie about one or all of your adventures, what would the title and plot summary be?

” Winging it”. The plot summary would be about a girl who’s stumbling through life… learning everything the hard way aha.

And the Nominees are;

New Lune

The Doubting Thomas

lizofwords

THE DIARY OF ELLIE

Ana, ONE OFF THE RACK

Not-so-modern girl

Mind and Body Intertwined

jodi – a brash attitude, a brash attitude

L, The Life of a Twenty-Something Year Old

Goldfish and Gin

My questions are;

1. What brings you the most happiness?

2. What things do you really want to do once this pandemic is over?

3. whats your favourite dessert, and why?

4. What’s your pet peeves?

5. Do you believe in the law of attraction? Explain your reasoning.

6. Are you a morning person or night person?

7. What do you want to do before you die?

8. Do you believe in love at first sight?

9. Name one thing you can’t live without?

10. Who inspires you the most, and why?

I hope you guys liked this post, I had so much fun writing it and look forward to seeing all of your answers!

Take care,

~ Emma x

Self Care Tips, and why its important

Hi guys. Lately, quarantine seems to have been taking its toll on everyone. Life is weird and so many changes are happening, and some people don’t take too well to change. I know I don’t, and so I’ve tried to take extra good care of myself in these challenging times – and have found these things work the best. They may differ from person to person, but I hope you can benefit from something from this post, if not all of it. So, without anymore rambling, lets get into it.

Firstly, have a bath. Make it nice and hot, and stick lots of bubbles, bath salts, or bath bombs in. My choice was an Avon Lavender Bubble bath, along side this robot Lush Bath bomb that has lots of really calming properties. Its also full of natural ingredients that are good for the skin. I find baths to be so essential in my self care routine, because its one of the best ways to calm down, the heat and bubbles seem to give me an instant relief.. It’s really quite difficult to explain, but once I had a really stressful 5 weeks, and when things were finally getting resolved I decided to have a bath. Got in with all the weight of the world on my shoulders, and came out a much calmer, new woman. If you know, you know.

Next, I also value the importance of a good skin care routine. Mine is nothing too crazy, and it hasn’t changed too much in the past few years. I just use the Simple Refreshing Face wash, or a Loreal Face Scrub ( the kiwi one and brown sugar one are my fave at the moment) depending on what my skin needs. I then use the Hydrating Simple Moisturiser, and Simple Soothing Eye Balm to finish. Although my routine is rather basic, I make sure I do it once every day, because i’m a strong believer that if you don’t take care of yourself on the outside, then you’re plgoing to feel even worse on the inside.

Another thing I think is important, is to eat comfort food whenever you’re taking time to practice self care. Of course this is subjective to the individual and their circumstances, so it may or may not be for you. I find that chocolate is not the way to go with this. Although small amounts are good, if I eat too much junk I feel gross – which can lead to me feeling even worse about myself. Instead, when I say comfort food, I mean filling, wholesome meals that are balanced but can still bring comfort. A good example of this can be home made pasta bake, or vegetable soup. Very easy to make, and minimal effort which is what you might need when you’re sad – but is also full of goodness so won’t leave you feeling gross afterwards.

Aside from pampering yourself and eating, it’s also very important to make sure youre moving your body. Of course, this can depend on the individual and circumstances again – but I find yoga to be the best thing for when i’m in a bit of a funk. When I’m sad, the last thing I need is to jump around doing hiit, but a few simple stretches while focusing on breathing, can be so relaxing. It can also stop you feeling stiff, and if done enough can promote flexbility and strength too.

Next, if all else fails have a cry. Honestly its never good to hold it all in, it can only have a worse impact in the long run. So just let it out! Watch a sad film if you have to, it’ll be worth it in the end.

Finally, forgive yourself. We all make mistakes. Sometime times we say or do the wrong thing but that’s okay – so long as you haven’t seriously hurt anyone. Take a deep breathe, and try and take logical steps to solve thr problem. If it cant be fixed, just be kind to yourself both physically and mentally. ( However, I am no professional so if its something deeper, always seek help if you need too.) A quote that sticks with me is “Practice Reckless Optimism.” So remember, no matter how hard the situation is, it will get better if you believe so.

That’s all guys. I hope this was helpful. Leave me your thoughts in the comments down below.

Take care,

– Emma x

My bare minumum makeup routine

Hi guys! So today I thought i’d try and make a bit of a different post today. As you know, I love doing makeup posts, but have never done a full face tutorial before. It was really fun to make, I hope you like it! Let’s get started.

First, I applied a clear, pore covering primer to ensure my makeup lasts all day.

I then went straight in with my collection lasting perfection concealer in the shade Fair, and put a small amount on my T-Zone, under my eyelids, on my chin, and any other blemishes I may have. I blended this in with a buffing brush.

I decided to skip foundation completely, as i’ve gone off it at the moment. After not wearing any for a few months, I now notice it feels like its too much despite only putting a little on to start with. I may return back to it one day, but right now i’m enjoying skipping this step.

Next, I set it with the Rimmel Stay Matte setting powder in the shade Translucent, with a big fluffy brush.

Taking an angled, fluffy brush, I applied some of the MUA bronzer to my forehead, cheeks, jawline and neck to bring back some colour. I then used a blush brush, and blended a small amount of a peachy blush (bottom row, 2nd shade) into the apples of my cheeks. This brought some colour back into my face, stopping me from looking ill.

I then took a small angled brush, and took the shade Brazen from the I ♡ Revolution Chocolate Nudes palette. I gently dipped it in and lightly ran it through my brows, just covering any small gaps and thinner patches.

Using the same Palette, I took the shade Skimpy on a fluffy brush and ran it all over the eyelid, as a base colour. Next, I used the shade After Dark and ran it all over my lid and crease, with the same brush, making sure to blend out the edges.

Finally, I added the Soap and Glory Thick and Fast mascara to my top and bottom lashes. I finished the look by applying the Revolution Soph lipstick on the shade Cake – and applied some setting spray to keep my makeup in place.

Here’s the finished look.

That’s all guys, I hope you enjoyed this look! What products have you been enjoying this spring?

– Emma x

What I’ve Been Enjoying On Netflix During Quarantine

Hi guys. So lately, in between blog posts, I’ve been watching a lot of Netflix. This just passes the time away, and makes me feel a little bit calmer during these strange times. Also, although its important to watch the news and be aware of whats going on in the world, Netflix is a nice change from when you can’t watch anymore news reports.

As we all need a bit of positive distraction right now, I thought i’d share what i’ve enjoyed watching so far. Lets get started.

1. Queer Eye. In all honesty, this ones taken me a little while to appreciate. I didn’t really pay too much attention the first time I watched it so it didn’t really grab me. However, one day I decided to sit down and actually pay attention to it, really take it all in with no distractions. It was amazing, I loved it! The fab 5 really are all so wonderful, and this show has really brought me some comfort during this quarantine.

2. You. This show has been out for a while now, and this isn’t my first time watching it. It’s so creepy, intense, and full of twists, keeping me on my toes. However, the second season is a tad more gory than the 1st. (If you’ve seen season 2 episode 2, you know. ), which is worth knowing if you havent got a strong stomache. If you can make it past that part, its definitely worth it!

3. Next In Fashion. I started this after finishing Queer Eye, as I needed more Tan France content in my life. This is such a nice, light hearted show and is super positive. Each designer is incredible in their own way and everything is judged well. In my opinion the right person won, but now thats up to you to decide.

4. Nadiya In the Kitchen. Lately, I’ve been doing lots of baking and cooking, so have been more drawn to cooking shows. With being a fussy eater, i’m not usually too excited by cooking shows but this one was amazing! Not only is it a really comforting, light hearted show, but I felt so inspired watching this. I want to try 95% of the recipes on the series which says a lot, it all looked so yummy! Definitely worth a watch if you’re in need of inspiration.

5. 60 days in – This show is about 7 people who go undercover as an “Inmate” in an American prison. Only 2 staff members are aware of this. As a result of this, it allows the Sherrif to become aware of changes that need making inside the prison. I found this show so interesting, it was a good insight on how life really is inside and how people deal with it. However, it does contain a few sensitive subjects so you may want to bare this in mind before watching.

6. Unorthadox. This is about an Hispanic Jew, and the journey she goes through as she runs away to start a new, happier life. I really enjoyed this show, it was actually eye opening to see how things are done in this religion and the struggles they really went through. It’s only four episodes long so is easy to get through, but is very intense and emotional at times. It’s so good though, i’d love to see a season two!

That’s all guys. I hope you enjoyed this, what shows have you enjoyed lately?

– Emma x