Showing posts with label advice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label advice. Show all posts
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| Now - Just washed - no product |
Why is it that at every point in a natural hair journey, we think our hair is at it's absolute best? Looking back at old pictures when I thought my hair was at it's ultimate health, I'm now convinced that I was blind. Maybe I'll look back at these pictures in a few months and think the same thing, but to appreciate the journey, it's great to look back at old pictures!
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| 2016 - Freshly washed, damaged |
You know what? I was trying (LOL) and it shows that to get somewhere, no matter what it is, you just have to start. At this point I realised how important it was to feed your hair with water, and I'm so glad I took these pictures so I have something to compare to. However, I was washing my hair with shampoo waaaayy too often, which made it dry and brittle.
NOW. My hair now is so thick, to the point where I'm starting to struggle with it a little, but I can't complain because it's so versatile and quite healthy. It's also getting quite long, which means that styles hang a little better and I can pile it all on top of my head, which is my go-to.
So here are my five top tips for growing your hair not just longer, but thicker too, because who wants long, thin hair?
- Patience - this is probably the key to LIFE never mind hair but let's not get too deep, right now I'm applying it to hair. I say patience because it's taken nearly two years to get the thick curly hair I wanted. You also need the patience to try out new hair products, which I still do constantly, and go through a lot of trial and error when it comes to styling. Patience is really important when it comes to styling, as I've only recently realised how important it is to let your hair dry thoroughly for a great look.
- Invest - invest in good hair products, because unfortunately the better ones do cost more for a reason. Instead of spending loads of money on weaves and wigs, why not invest in your own hair that you'll have to live with for the rest of your life? It's cheaper too.
- Stress less - The less you mess with your hair, the more it'll love you, protective styles are good for this, but just wearing your hair up for a week or wearing a hat outside in the cold will relieve your hair.
- Trim it - cutting it in order for it to grow might seem counter productive, trimming dead ends and avoiding split ends helps to maintain and encourages hair growth
- Love your bad hair days - and don't let those days put you off taking care of your hair, because everyone has them
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| September 2016 - Thin Hair straightened |
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| December 2017 - Thicker, longer hair |
|
| Now - Just washed - no product |
Why is it that at every point in a natural hair journey, we think our hair is at it's absolute best? Looking back at old pictures when I thought my hair was at it's ultimate health, I'm now convinced that I was blind. Maybe I'll look back at these pictures in a few months and think the same thing, but to appreciate the journey, it's great to look back at old pictures!
|
| 2016 - Freshly washed, damaged |
You know what? I was trying (LOL) and it shows that to get somewhere, no matter what it is, you just have to start. At this point I realised how important it was to feed your hair with water, and I'm so glad I took these pictures so I have something to compare to. However, I was washing my hair with shampoo waaaayy too often, which made it dry and brittle.
NOW. My hair now is so thick, to the point where I'm starting to struggle with it a little, but I can't complain because it's so versatile and quite healthy. It's also getting quite long, which means that styles hang a little better and I can pile it all on top of my head, which is my go-to.
So here are my five top tips for growing your hair not just longer, but thicker too, because who wants long, thin hair?
- Patience - this is probably the key to LIFE never mind hair but let's not get too deep, right now I'm applying it to hair. I say patience because it's taken nearly two years to get the thick curly hair I wanted. You also need the patience to try out new hair products, which I still do constantly, and go through a lot of trial and error when it comes to styling. Patience is really important when it comes to styling, as I've only recently realised how important it is to let your hair dry thoroughly for a great look.
- Invest - invest in good hair products, because unfortunately the better ones do cost more for a reason. Instead of spending loads of money on weaves and wigs, why not invest in your own hair that you'll have to live with for the rest of your life? It's cheaper too.
- Stress less - The less you mess with your hair, the more it'll love you, protective styles are good for this, but just wearing your hair up for a week or wearing a hat outside in the cold will relieve your hair.
- Trim it - cutting it in order for it to grow might seem counter productive, trimming dead ends and avoiding split ends helps to maintain and encourages hair growth
- Love your bad hair days - and don't let those days put you off taking care of your hair, because everyone has them
|
| September 2016 - Thin Hair straightened |
|
| December 2017 - Thicker, longer hair |
I think everyone is in agreement that January was a trial month, February was the shortest month ever (thank goodness, I really couldn't take another 300 day month) and March is already flying by. I've had a great start to the year with my first promotion, making new friends and just fun times all round, but I want it to continue this way.
I no longer think it's necessary to make New Year resolutions in January, it's been much more useful settling in to the year a bit, but now we are a few months in, here are four things I want to do more in 2017.
SAY YES
When you move away from your home town and work full time, it's hard to meet new people and even harder to find people similar to yourself. I've learnt that just saying YES to going for a meal, or a drink will open new doors up to new people. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet, what's the worst that could happen?
SAY NO
I've got quite a few things I want to do this year and guess what - none of them are free! But that's life. Sometimes you just have to say no to that night out, or that trip because you want to put yourself first, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's important to make time for friends and family, but it's never too soon to invest in your own happiness!
STAY POSITIVE
It's easy to get caught up in everyone else's drama and the negative things that might be happening around you. Take a step back and think, do I need to comment on this? Does this affect me? You might just realise that no, it doesn't. Have a pamper evening to yourself and think about all the good things you've got going for you. Sounds a bit self indulgent, but guess what? IT IS.
STAY TRUE TO YOU
This sounds a little more complicated than it is. By this I mean I want to go back to church and reconnect with people, I want to take more time out for my hobbies such as blogging and reading. I want to make the most out of my skills and turn those into much more. But not everyone needs to know your ambitions, I'm just getting on with it!
What do you want to do more in 2017?
I think everyone is in agreement that January was a trial month, February was the shortest month ever (thank goodness, I really couldn't take another 300 day month) and March is already flying by. I've had a great start to the year with my first promotion, making new friends and just fun times all round, but I want it to continue this way.
I no longer think it's necessary to make New Year resolutions in January, it's been much more useful settling in to the year a bit, but now we are a few months in, here are four things I want to do more in 2017.
SAY YES
When you move away from your home town and work full time, it's hard to meet new people and even harder to find people similar to yourself. I've learnt that just saying YES to going for a meal, or a drink will open new doors up to new people. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet, what's the worst that could happen?
SAY NO
I've got quite a few things I want to do this year and guess what - none of them are free! But that's life. Sometimes you just have to say no to that night out, or that trip because you want to put yourself first, and there's nothing wrong with that. It's important to make time for friends and family, but it's never too soon to invest in your own happiness!
STAY POSITIVE
It's easy to get caught up in everyone else's drama and the negative things that might be happening around you. Take a step back and think, do I need to comment on this? Does this affect me? You might just realise that no, it doesn't. Have a pamper evening to yourself and think about all the good things you've got going for you. Sounds a bit self indulgent, but guess what? IT IS.
STAY TRUE TO YOU
This sounds a little more complicated than it is. By this I mean I want to go back to church and reconnect with people, I want to take more time out for my hobbies such as blogging and reading. I want to make the most out of my skills and turn those into much more. But not everyone needs to know your ambitions, I'm just getting on with it!
What do you want to do more in 2017?
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons of Golden Syrup
Mini Marshmallows
125g of Unsalted Butter
300g of Milk Chocolate/White Chocolate
4 Digestive Biscuits
I am no baker, I love eating cakes but quite frankly I can never get it quite right myself. For a quick sweet treat that is easy and fun to make without even needing to turn the oven on , I would definitely recommend whipping up a homemade Rocky Road!
All of these ingredients I got from Tesco and altogether I spent around £9 (face palm). Next time I make this I will probably get cooking chocolate and you could even get a cheap non branded chocolate, however this rocky road tasted really creamy and went down a treat! Most people add nuts or raisins to their Rocky Road but I left those out.
First of all I preheated the pan on a low heat as I was scared to burn it! You will be surprised how easily it melts. I put all of the butter in and melted that down, then added all of the chocolate. When all of that was melted I took out half of the chocolate and put it in a mug and put that aside.
I then added 3 Tablespoons of Golden Syrup. Next up, I put the biscuits into a bag, a clean plastic bag will do just fine if you don't have any freezer bags, then I just bashed that around until there was a mixture of crumbs and bigger chunks of biscuits.
I then added the biscuits to the mix. Next I added a large handful of mini marshmallows. If you can't find mini ones, Im pretty sure you could cut up some bigger ones and sprinkle them in, as they all get melted anyway!
I then mixed it all, but don't let it go to mushy as you still want some biscuit pieces. I then turned off the heat and put it all into a medium size pyrex dish.
I then poured the rest of the chocolate that was in the mug on top.
To finish, I put it in the fridge for 2 hours.
The best thing about this recipe is that you can choose whichever chocolate you like and add as many or as few marshmallows and biscuits as you like.
PS. Be careful when cutting it up as it is very tough after setting.
If you have any suggestions of desserts that don't require baking please do let me know!
Enjoy :)
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons of Golden Syrup
Mini Marshmallows
125g of Unsalted Butter
300g of Milk Chocolate/White Chocolate
4 Digestive Biscuits
I am no baker, I love eating cakes but quite frankly I can never get it quite right myself. For a quick sweet treat that is easy and fun to make without even needing to turn the oven on , I would definitely recommend whipping up a homemade Rocky Road!
All of these ingredients I got from Tesco and altogether I spent around £9 (face palm). Next time I make this I will probably get cooking chocolate and you could even get a cheap non branded chocolate, however this rocky road tasted really creamy and went down a treat! Most people add nuts or raisins to their Rocky Road but I left those out.
First of all I preheated the pan on a low heat as I was scared to burn it! You will be surprised how easily it melts. I put all of the butter in and melted that down, then added all of the chocolate. When all of that was melted I took out half of the chocolate and put it in a mug and put that aside.
I then added 3 Tablespoons of Golden Syrup. Next up, I put the biscuits into a bag, a clean plastic bag will do just fine if you don't have any freezer bags, then I just bashed that around until there was a mixture of crumbs and bigger chunks of biscuits.
I then added the biscuits to the mix. Next I added a large handful of mini marshmallows. If you can't find mini ones, Im pretty sure you could cut up some bigger ones and sprinkle them in, as they all get melted anyway!
I then mixed it all, but don't let it go to mushy as you still want some biscuit pieces. I then turned off the heat and put it all into a medium size pyrex dish.
I then poured the rest of the chocolate that was in the mug on top.
To finish, I put it in the fridge for 2 hours.
The best thing about this recipe is that you can choose whichever chocolate you like and add as many or as few marshmallows and biscuits as you like.
PS. Be careful when cutting it up as it is very tough after setting.
If you have any suggestions of desserts that don't require baking please do let me know!
Enjoy :)
I straightened my hair properly for the first in months last week, and I was a little bit worried about it not reverting, especially as I have been working so hard to get a good routine going! Luckily it bounced back (literally) bigger and better than ever so I thought I would blog about what I used to make the transition as smooth as possible.
STEP ONE
So first of all, before i washed my hair I made sure it was fully combed out, free from any grips, because they tend to get lost in there, and I sprayed it with some water to get the process going.
STEP TWO
I then washed it with my ALL TIME FAVOURITE shampoo, the Aphogee Shampoo for Damaged Hair. I think this shampoo is around £5.99 but it lasts quite a long time and is great at clarifying my hair, defining curls and reducing frizz.
You can see my wash routine here. However I am probably going to update it again soon!
STEP THREE
I then made sure that was rinsed out and then, if I am honest I then shampoo'd it AGAIN with Keracare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo. I find that this one adds a lot more moisture and adds a bit of 'juiciness'.
STEP FOUR
Then whilst it was damp, I separated it into four sections using clips and used the Shea Moisture Strength & Restore Treatment Masque throughout the sections from root to end. I then wrapped my hair in a plastic bag and then used the hairdryer on a warm setting over the top for about 20 minutes. This is to restore my hair after all the heat I used last week, I was a little sceptical about buying it as that little tub was £12.99 but all the reviews convinced me! I definitely think it is a good product, my hair is much curlier and springy and the shrinkage was more than usual!
STEP FIVE
I then washed this out and blotted the water out with a t-shirt. Then I applied a mixture of argon oil and coconut oil to the damp hair all over. I would usually added castor oil but I didn't have it with me this time. I then split my hair into four sections and made sure it was moisturised. I used the Keracare Hair Milk, Daily Hair Sustainer after that to lock the moisture in.
STEP SIX
I then got my Creme of Nature Argon Oil Twirling Custard and did a medium sized twist out. I slept on this in a pineapple style wrapped in a silk scarf.
THE NEXT DAY....
The next day may hair looked a bit flat, I still haven't mastered the twist out, so whilst I was in the shower I flashed some water on my hair to add some life back in and that worked a treat. I then got out the shower and shook it thoroughly and used the blowdryer on a cool setting to make sure it was fully dry.
THE DAY AFTER THAT....
I applied more oil each day and slept with it in a pineapple wrapped in a scarf. I took this picture 2 days after washing and as soon as I woke up so nothing is on my hair at this stage.
Disclaimer - I am not a professional and I am still learning, everyone's hair is different so things that work for me might not work for you and vice/versa. :)
I straightened my hair properly for the first in months last week, and I was a little bit worried about it not reverting, especially as I have been working so hard to get a good routine going! Luckily it bounced back (literally) bigger and better than ever so I thought I would blog about what I used to make the transition as smooth as possible.
STEP ONE
So first of all, before i washed my hair I made sure it was fully combed out, free from any grips, because they tend to get lost in there, and I sprayed it with some water to get the process going.
STEP TWO
I then washed it with my ALL TIME FAVOURITE shampoo, the Aphogee Shampoo for Damaged Hair. I think this shampoo is around £5.99 but it lasts quite a long time and is great at clarifying my hair, defining curls and reducing frizz.
You can see my wash routine here. However I am probably going to update it again soon!
STEP THREE
I then made sure that was rinsed out and then, if I am honest I then shampoo'd it AGAIN with Keracare Hydrating Detangling Shampoo. I find that this one adds a lot more moisture and adds a bit of 'juiciness'.
STEP FOUR
Then whilst it was damp, I separated it into four sections using clips and used the Shea Moisture Strength & Restore Treatment Masque throughout the sections from root to end. I then wrapped my hair in a plastic bag and then used the hairdryer on a warm setting over the top for about 20 minutes. This is to restore my hair after all the heat I used last week, I was a little sceptical about buying it as that little tub was £12.99 but all the reviews convinced me! I definitely think it is a good product, my hair is much curlier and springy and the shrinkage was more than usual!
STEP FIVE
I then washed this out and blotted the water out with a t-shirt. Then I applied a mixture of argon oil and coconut oil to the damp hair all over. I would usually added castor oil but I didn't have it with me this time. I then split my hair into four sections and made sure it was moisturised. I used the Keracare Hair Milk, Daily Hair Sustainer after that to lock the moisture in.
STEP SIX
I then got my Creme of Nature Argon Oil Twirling Custard and did a medium sized twist out. I slept on this in a pineapple style wrapped in a silk scarf.
THE NEXT DAY....
The next day may hair looked a bit flat, I still haven't mastered the twist out, so whilst I was in the shower I flashed some water on my hair to add some life back in and that worked a treat. I then got out the shower and shook it thoroughly and used the blowdryer on a cool setting to make sure it was fully dry.
THE DAY AFTER THAT....
I applied more oil each day and slept with it in a pineapple wrapped in a scarf. I took this picture 2 days after washing and as soon as I woke up so nothing is on my hair at this stage.
Disclaimer - I am not a professional and I am still learning, everyone's hair is different so things that work for me might not work for you and vice/versa. :)
I love layering on the mascara, I think it makes your face look softer and more feminine. Especially during the colder weather when you can end up looking a bit washed out, its a great way to make your features stand out.
In the past I usually used the Loreal Lash Sensational mascara to separate and lengthen my eyelashes before using a thicker mascara, but I find that these mascaras apply well and still make your lashes look lengthy. I still swear by Loreal Lash Sensational but these are two new additions to my makeup bag that can add that extra oomph during a dull January.
This mascara is called Thick and Fast by Soap and Glory. If you want big thick black eyelashes this is one for you my friend. With just one coat my eyelashes really stand out, and with two I look ready for a night out. The formula is thick, but doesn't feel heavy on the lashes, and Im sure it will last me a very long time! You can buy it here but I suggest getting the Whole She Bang Kit in Boots which is now just £18 and includes this and a load of other products too!
This mascara is the Clinique High Impact Mascara. The product pictured is just 3.5g, great for carrying in your handbag or for travelling. I got this in the Clinique Bonus Time Gift Set, but you can get the full one here. With this product you can build a really volumised lash, but if you want a more natural look you can achieve this with less application. I find that it isn't too hard to remove either, unlike the Thick and Fast mascara.
What are your favourite mascaras for full looking lashes?
I love layering on the mascara, I think it makes your face look softer and more feminine. Especially during the colder weather when you can end up looking a bit washed out, its a great way to make your features stand out.
In the past I usually used the Loreal Lash Sensational mascara to separate and lengthen my eyelashes before using a thicker mascara, but I find that these mascaras apply well and still make your lashes look lengthy. I still swear by Loreal Lash Sensational but these are two new additions to my makeup bag that can add that extra oomph during a dull January.
This mascara is called Thick and Fast by Soap and Glory. If you want big thick black eyelashes this is one for you my friend. With just one coat my eyelashes really stand out, and with two I look ready for a night out. The formula is thick, but doesn't feel heavy on the lashes, and Im sure it will last me a very long time! You can buy it here but I suggest getting the Whole She Bang Kit in Boots which is now just £18 and includes this and a load of other products too!
This mascara is the Clinique High Impact Mascara. The product pictured is just 3.5g, great for carrying in your handbag or for travelling. I got this in the Clinique Bonus Time Gift Set, but you can get the full one here. With this product you can build a really volumised lash, but if you want a more natural look you can achieve this with less application. I find that it isn't too hard to remove either, unlike the Thick and Fast mascara.
What are your favourite mascaras for full looking lashes?
My new favourite hygiene products come from this set, and after a month of using them day in, day out, I thought it was about right that I did a little review.
Clean On Me- I have been using this EVERYDAY. My favourite thing about this product is that it smells amazing. This shower gel smells so opulent and flowery, it is like having a pamper every morning, even if you are in a rush. The only downside is that it doesn't lather up very quickly but if you really squeeze it into a sponge or a shower puff (I don't know the technical name for it) it makes lots of cloudy bubbles. You leave the shower feeling soft and ready for the day. Sometimes I think that really scented shower gels don't make you feel as fresh and clean, and it might interfere with my perfume but with this I think it just accentuates any scent you may be wearing. I follow this up with the Soap & Glory Body Butter which makes my skin feel super plump and moisturised. I will be doing a post on my current favourite moisturisers to follow this up, so I won't go into that too much now!
Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk - The first things that come to mind when I use this is 'it's nice'. That's all really. The formula is just like any other cleansing milk and I don't feel any tingling sensation when it is on my skin, which may be a good thing, but I do like to feel that the product is really doing something. I haven't noticed any fluctuation in spots or dry skin, which is a plus.
The Scrub of Your Life - IT ACTUALLY IS! This scrub is amazing, and it's so pretty! It works so well to leave your skin feeling silky, even if you haven't shaved your legs (it's cold out here). It smells just like the shower gel so that if you use both you don't leave the bathroom smelling like a sickly concoction of perfumes.
Overall, these products are perfect if you want to feel like a pampered princess everyday and now it is on sale I would highly recommend snapping it up, as it is certainly cheaper to buy this way than individually. You also get an amazing mascara and a selection of moisturisers.
Let me know if you have the set and please put any links below to your reviews!
My new favourite hygiene products come from this set, and after a month of using them day in, day out, I thought it was about right that I did a little review.
Clean On Me- I have been using this EVERYDAY. My favourite thing about this product is that it smells amazing. This shower gel smells so opulent and flowery, it is like having a pamper every morning, even if you are in a rush. The only downside is that it doesn't lather up very quickly but if you really squeeze it into a sponge or a shower puff (I don't know the technical name for it) it makes lots of cloudy bubbles. You leave the shower feeling soft and ready for the day. Sometimes I think that really scented shower gels don't make you feel as fresh and clean, and it might interfere with my perfume but with this I think it just accentuates any scent you may be wearing. I follow this up with the Soap & Glory Body Butter which makes my skin feel super plump and moisturised. I will be doing a post on my current favourite moisturisers to follow this up, so I won't go into that too much now!
Peaches and Clean Deep Cleansing Milk - The first things that come to mind when I use this is 'it's nice'. That's all really. The formula is just like any other cleansing milk and I don't feel any tingling sensation when it is on my skin, which may be a good thing, but I do like to feel that the product is really doing something. I haven't noticed any fluctuation in spots or dry skin, which is a plus.
The Scrub of Your Life - IT ACTUALLY IS! This scrub is amazing, and it's so pretty! It works so well to leave your skin feeling silky, even if you haven't shaved your legs (it's cold out here). It smells just like the shower gel so that if you use both you don't leave the bathroom smelling like a sickly concoction of perfumes.
Overall, these products are perfect if you want to feel like a pampered princess everyday and now it is on sale I would highly recommend snapping it up, as it is certainly cheaper to buy this way than individually. You also get an amazing mascara and a selection of moisturisers.
Let me know if you have the set and please put any links below to your reviews!
Happy New Year!
I turned 21 in September 2014, and it was a funny age, you're definitely not a teenager anymore, but you still feel like you can ask for help with everyday life decisions.. such as 'Mum will I die if I drink milk a day after the best before date?'
Most of the changes stem from my placement year which came to an end on the 31st July, in which I had a lot of major ups and downs. But overall, I do think it was an experience that toughened me up and truly taught me the meaning of independence.
I lived alone for the first time,
Flew alone for the first time,
Took on work important work tasks alone for the first time..
Pretty big stuff!
It was also the first year where I thought that decisions I start to make now will most likely effect my life, particularly long term decisions such as relationships, new friendships, career decisions and I also entered my final (EVER) year in education.
So although some of those things may not be important for some, it was a bit of an awakening for me.
Goals for 2016...
I am a little apprehensive when it comes to setting New Year Resolutions as I hate failure, so I have the tendency to avoid certain things altogether if I can't see a quick, or good result.
However, this year I would like to:
Work on my health and fitness
Make more time and effort for certain friends & family
Achieve a 2:1 Grade or higher in my degree
Get a graduate job
Blog more
Learn how to drive
Use less heat on my hair
Wish me luck!
Happy New Year!
I turned 21 in September 2014, and it was a funny age, you're definitely not a teenager anymore, but you still feel like you can ask for help with everyday life decisions.. such as 'Mum will I die if I drink milk a day after the best before date?'
Most of the changes stem from my placement year which came to an end on the 31st July, in which I had a lot of major ups and downs. But overall, I do think it was an experience that toughened me up and truly taught me the meaning of independence.
I lived alone for the first time,
Flew alone for the first time,
Took on work important work tasks alone for the first time..
Pretty big stuff!
It was also the first year where I thought that decisions I start to make now will most likely effect my life, particularly long term decisions such as relationships, new friendships, career decisions and I also entered my final (EVER) year in education.
So although some of those things may not be important for some, it was a bit of an awakening for me.
Goals for 2016...
I am a little apprehensive when it comes to setting New Year Resolutions as I hate failure, so I have the tendency to avoid certain things altogether if I can't see a quick, or good result.
However, this year I would like to:
Work on my health and fitness
Make more time and effort for certain friends & family
Achieve a 2:1 Grade or higher in my degree
Get a graduate job
Blog more
Learn how to drive
Use less heat on my hair
Wish me luck!
Friday
The preparation for a good start on a Monday starts on Friday. Try and complete all of your tasks at work an hour before you leave the office so that you can organise yourself for Monday morning!
Make sure you have replied to any emails by Friday afternoon, so that you don't have to worry about remembering what that person wanted on Monday and so that you don't forget to reply once your inbox is flooded again on Monday morning. You can also expect a reply on Monday morning, which will hopefully help you get on with the job.
Tidy your desk before you leave so that you have a clear mind. A tidy desk is a tidy mind and its awful when you start your day feeling all over the place!
Make a to-do-list before you leave work, I have been doing this religiously and it saves you trying to remember what that urgent thing was off the top of your head. It also leaves you a bit of time to grab a cup of tea in the morning and not feel so stressed.
Sunday
Make a nice lunch to take to work. This will give you something to look forward to on Monday and also saves time and money which means you spend less of your time on Monday lunch time queueing up for food! It can also contribute towards a healthier diet, because we all know its easy to pick up that sandwich and crisps... and chocolate.
Have a pamper session and pick out your outfit the night before. This will give you some extra time in the morning and ensure a smooth start to a new week. You may also want to pack your handbag and put a few rollers in so that your hair is full of life, without the hassle in the morning. My fellow naturalistas will agree with me that wearing a silk bonnet at night is a godsend, silky smooth hair that is easy to manage is guaranteed. Check out my sunday night pamper tips here.
Have an early night. Right now I am contradicting myself as its nearly midnight and I am up writing this post! Read a few pages of that book you can't put down and try and get 8 hours of sleep so that getting up isn't soooo bad.
Monday
Leave out a few minutes earlier. Getting to work just 10 minutes before you have to be there gives you a bit of extra time to grab a drink and not feel rushed to do things as soon as you have sat down. You may even want to put on a bit of makeup or something to make a monday morning not feel so drab!
Have breakfast. I am not to great on the breakfast front, but lately I have been having a banana for breakfast everyday and I can feel the difference. It doesn't seem much but with a yoghurt I stay full until around 12! I have recently been enjoying the Muller vitality yoghurt drinks.
Read the news. Sometimes it may feel like life revolves around work and that can be quite de-motivating. Reading the Metro on the bus/train or reading the news online when you get to work can remind you that there is a lot going on in the world! It will also help you to avoid any awkward 'faux pas' if there has been a particularly controversial crisis.
How do you prepare for a new week? Thanks for reading!
Friday
The preparation for a good start on a Monday starts on Friday. Try and complete all of your tasks at work an hour before you leave the office so that you can organise yourself for Monday morning!
Make sure you have replied to any emails by Friday afternoon, so that you don't have to worry about remembering what that person wanted on Monday and so that you don't forget to reply once your inbox is flooded again on Monday morning. You can also expect a reply on Monday morning, which will hopefully help you get on with the job.
Tidy your desk before you leave so that you have a clear mind. A tidy desk is a tidy mind and its awful when you start your day feeling all over the place!
Make a to-do-list before you leave work, I have been doing this religiously and it saves you trying to remember what that urgent thing was off the top of your head. It also leaves you a bit of time to grab a cup of tea in the morning and not feel so stressed.
Sunday
Make a nice lunch to take to work. This will give you something to look forward to on Monday and also saves time and money which means you spend less of your time on Monday lunch time queueing up for food! It can also contribute towards a healthier diet, because we all know its easy to pick up that sandwich and crisps... and chocolate.
Have a pamper session and pick out your outfit the night before. This will give you some extra time in the morning and ensure a smooth start to a new week. You may also want to pack your handbag and put a few rollers in so that your hair is full of life, without the hassle in the morning. My fellow naturalistas will agree with me that wearing a silk bonnet at night is a godsend, silky smooth hair that is easy to manage is guaranteed. Check out my sunday night pamper tips here.
Have an early night. Right now I am contradicting myself as its nearly midnight and I am up writing this post! Read a few pages of that book you can't put down and try and get 8 hours of sleep so that getting up isn't soooo bad.
Monday
Leave out a few minutes earlier. Getting to work just 10 minutes before you have to be there gives you a bit of extra time to grab a drink and not feel rushed to do things as soon as you have sat down. You may even want to put on a bit of makeup or something to make a monday morning not feel so drab!
Have breakfast. I am not to great on the breakfast front, but lately I have been having a banana for breakfast everyday and I can feel the difference. It doesn't seem much but with a yoghurt I stay full until around 12! I have recently been enjoying the Muller vitality yoghurt drinks.
Read the news. Sometimes it may feel like life revolves around work and that can be quite de-motivating. Reading the Metro on the bus/train or reading the news online when you get to work can remind you that there is a lot going on in the world! It will also help you to avoid any awkward 'faux pas' if there has been a particularly controversial crisis.
How do you prepare for a new week? Thanks for reading!
They say 'A Sunday well spent, brings a week of content' and I completely agree. After a night out for my friends birthday and a day of slobbing around with the girls eating dominoes and watching films it was the perfect Sunday, but I had chipped black nail varnish and they also say 'chipped nails means dirty underwear' so I had to sort it out ASAP!
I started off by removing the mess on my nails with this Elegant Touch nail varnish remover that I bought in New Look, I then filed them into this square shape, I am so happy that my nails are growing strong after years of wearing acrylics but I like to keep a similar shape.
Firstly my favourite nail varnish at the moment is this one, surprisingly from H&M. The shade is Rainforest Lake and I think it looks great on darker/tanned skin because it is super bright. My wardrobe is pretty much a mixture of grey, black and khaki and now it's getting towards spring, I thought I would add a flash of colour.
Anyway, back to the nails, I change my nail varnish all the time and I have a pretty big varnish collection but I get really impatient when it comes to drying them. As soon as I saw this Elegant Touch nail drying spray I was so excited and it really does dry your nails in 60 seconds! It also leaves a really nice shine to your nails and skin.
A woman is only helpless when her nail varnish is drying.... Well no more thanks to this £3 wonder!
They say 'A Sunday well spent, brings a week of content' and I completely agree. After a night out for my friends birthday and a day of slobbing around with the girls eating dominoes and watching films it was the perfect Sunday, but I had chipped black nail varnish and they also say 'chipped nails means dirty underwear' so I had to sort it out ASAP!
I started off by removing the mess on my nails with this Elegant Touch nail varnish remover that I bought in New Look, I then filed them into this square shape, I am so happy that my nails are growing strong after years of wearing acrylics but I like to keep a similar shape.
Firstly my favourite nail varnish at the moment is this one, surprisingly from H&M. The shade is Rainforest Lake and I think it looks great on darker/tanned skin because it is super bright. My wardrobe is pretty much a mixture of grey, black and khaki and now it's getting towards spring, I thought I would add a flash of colour.
Anyway, back to the nails, I change my nail varnish all the time and I have a pretty big varnish collection but I get really impatient when it comes to drying them. As soon as I saw this Elegant Touch nail drying spray I was so excited and it really does dry your nails in 60 seconds! It also leaves a really nice shine to your nails and skin.
A woman is only helpless when her nail varnish is drying.... Well no more thanks to this £3 wonder!
Recently the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) released a 'reminder' (more like a disguised telling off) to Bloggers reminding them of the rules surrounding sponsored content, advertised youtube posts and paid for blog posts. This has caused a massive fuss in the blogger community and it seems that all of the 'big' bloggers are on their tip toes, reminding their followers that most of their posts aren't actually sponsored and that they basically, need to do some sponsored content to keep the blog alive.
Why Now?
With the rise of bloggers seemingly taking over the world, such as Zoella who has over 6 million followers, Tanya Burr who has released a constantly sold out beauty range and Pixiwoo who created the (amazing) Real Technique Brushes , the youtube and blogging world is in the national media at least once a week. Check out this recent article in Stylist for a recent example and more info. So understandably its more important than ever for them to have their legal stuff in line!
The ASA have said that its because they have been inundated with emails from bloggers asking them to clear up what the standards are for blog posts and Youtube posts. They now have to put on the post whether it is a paid for advertorial or if they have been gifted the products. Here is an example of an advertorial.
From A Bloggers Perspective...
Sponsored content is crucial to full time bloggers to keep their blog alive, advertisers place relevant links to be placed in the sidebars of the blogs and in turn, bloggers receive money per click and also a small fee for any items sold through the link on their page.
It also helps bloggers to come up with new and interesting content that their readers will enjoy and it gets pretty expensive buying products to write about each week, so of course if your favourite store offers you a sample for free it makes sense to accept it and write a post you were going to do anyway!
This also doesn't mean that bloggers are forced to write a positive review so it can be a win/win situation for bloggers that want to make money from blogging and for brands that want to reach out to that particular bloggers readers, and get coverage on their product.
From a Brand/Advertiser's/PRs Perspective...
As a PR myself, the whole point is to get coverage for your brand without paying people to talk about. This makes the brand more credible, gets honest feedback and people are more likely to want go for a product that people haven't been paid to write about. a PR will send a sample to a blogger they admire and this gets coverage for the product and this is instead of forking out thousands for advertising.
Why do the bigger bloggers get all the free stuff? you might ask... Well as a PR it is all about return on investment, so the more followers you have, the more coverage your product/brand will get and this in turn proves to the owner of the product that they have invested well in a PR rather than an advertiser!
How to get PRs to notice you? - To avoid this being a super long post I'll do this separately, grab a piece of paper and pen!
image source: http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/how-to-start-a-vlog-yourself-youtube-tips-advice-zoella-anna-saccone-joly-tanya-burr-louise-sprinkleofglitter
http://emuprssa.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/pduuwib7nddmrjn6fv1r1.jpg
http://entouraaj.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Piggy-bank-isolated-on-white-background-e1345028023798.jpg
Recently the ASA (Advertising Standards Authority) released a 'reminder' (more like a disguised telling off) to Bloggers reminding them of the rules surrounding sponsored content, advertised youtube posts and paid for blog posts. This has caused a massive fuss in the blogger community and it seems that all of the 'big' bloggers are on their tip toes, reminding their followers that most of their posts aren't actually sponsored and that they basically, need to do some sponsored content to keep the blog alive.
Why Now?
With the rise of bloggers seemingly taking over the world, such as Zoella who has over 6 million followers, Tanya Burr who has released a constantly sold out beauty range and Pixiwoo who created the (amazing) Real Technique Brushes , the youtube and blogging world is in the national media at least once a week. Check out this recent article in Stylist for a recent example and more info. So understandably its more important than ever for them to have their legal stuff in line!
The ASA have said that its because they have been inundated with emails from bloggers asking them to clear up what the standards are for blog posts and Youtube posts. They now have to put on the post whether it is a paid for advertorial or if they have been gifted the products. Here is an example of an advertorial.
From A Bloggers Perspective...
Sponsored content is crucial to full time bloggers to keep their blog alive, advertisers place relevant links to be placed in the sidebars of the blogs and in turn, bloggers receive money per click and also a small fee for any items sold through the link on their page.
It also helps bloggers to come up with new and interesting content that their readers will enjoy and it gets pretty expensive buying products to write about each week, so of course if your favourite store offers you a sample for free it makes sense to accept it and write a post you were going to do anyway!
This also doesn't mean that bloggers are forced to write a positive review so it can be a win/win situation for bloggers that want to make money from blogging and for brands that want to reach out to that particular bloggers readers, and get coverage on their product.
From a Brand/Advertiser's/PRs Perspective...
As a PR myself, the whole point is to get coverage for your brand without paying people to talk about. This makes the brand more credible, gets honest feedback and people are more likely to want go for a product that people haven't been paid to write about. a PR will send a sample to a blogger they admire and this gets coverage for the product and this is instead of forking out thousands for advertising.
Why do the bigger bloggers get all the free stuff? you might ask... Well as a PR it is all about return on investment, so the more followers you have, the more coverage your product/brand will get and this in turn proves to the owner of the product that they have invested well in a PR rather than an advertiser!
How to get PRs to notice you? - To avoid this being a super long post I'll do this separately, grab a piece of paper and pen!
image source: http://www.stylist.co.uk/life/how-to-start-a-vlog-yourself-youtube-tips-advice-zoella-anna-saccone-joly-tanya-burr-louise-sprinkleofglitter
http://emuprssa.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/pduuwib7nddmrjn6fv1r1.jpg
http://entouraaj.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Piggy-bank-isolated-on-white-background-e1345028023798.jpg
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Everyone complains at this time of year about the cheesy reflective posts on Facebook and twitter, the photo collages and this year the flipagrams on instagram! But I really don't see what all the negativity is about. A new year only happens, of course, once a year. It's not about changing from the 31st of December and being a totally different person on the 1st January, but it is a good time to look back at the year before and it offers people a chance to start fresh…. Even if it is just another day.
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow,” – Albert Einstein
So here are my New Years Resolutions
- BUDGET! and spend wisely
- Pass my driving test some time this year
- To not wait on other people to do the things I want to do, (I'll just drag them along this year)
- To go on one big holiday abroad and one small trip ( even if it's in the UK)
- To not miss any more films at the cinema
- Eat healthy and eat fabulous food and expand my pallette
- To get 100 followers on my blog and blog everyday!
- Go and see a show at the theatre
- Go to a theme park
- Make more memories with friends and family
Here's a few pics of my year so far…..
The only resolution that is going well is the food!!
Last minute NYE outfit
 |
Fulfilling resolution 10!
 |
Fat cats with friends,
Rosemary and Mint Lamb Shank with Champ Potatoes and Buttered Greens
 |
 |
To capture your moments in unique ways, why not sign up to Photobox today and automatically get 40 free prints straight to your door!
You can also print your photos onto mugs, decor, tshirts and anything else you can think of to keep 2014 alive…
Click here!
What are your resolutions, Comment below!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Everyone complains at this time of year about the cheesy reflective posts on Facebook and twitter, the photo collages and this year the flipagrams on instagram! But I really don't see what all the negativity is about. A new year only happens, of course, once a year. It's not about changing from the 31st of December and being a totally different person on the 1st January, but it is a good time to look back at the year before and it offers people a chance to start fresh…. Even if it is just another day.
“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow,” – Albert Einstein
So here are my New Years Resolutions
- BUDGET! and spend wisely
- Pass my driving test some time this year
- To not wait on other people to do the things I want to do, (I'll just drag them along this year)
- To go on one big holiday abroad and one small trip ( even if it's in the UK)
- To not miss any more films at the cinema
- Eat healthy and eat fabulous food and expand my pallette
- To get 100 followers on my blog and blog everyday!
- Go and see a show at the theatre
- Go to a theme park
- Make more memories with friends and family
Here's a few pics of my year so far…..
The only resolution that is going well is the food!!
Last minute NYE outfit
|
Fulfilling resolution 10!
|
Fat cats with friends,
Rosemary and Mint Lamb Shank with Champ Potatoes and Buttered Greens
| |
|
To capture your moments in unique ways, why not sign up to Photobox today and automatically get 40 free prints straight to your door!
You can also print your photos onto mugs, decor, tshirts and anything else you can think of to keep 2014 alive…
Click here!
What are your resolutions, Comment below!
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