50 Things To Be Happy About || Winter

1. Cosiness - scarves, hats, woolly jumpers, blankets

2. Steaming mugs of hot chocolate topped with cream and marshmallows

3. Long walks in the brisk air

4. The prospect of snow

5. Days on the sofa watching movies

6. Seeing your breath on a cold morning

7. Sparkling frost 

8. Mug after mug of hot tea - breakfast, green, herbal, any kind

9. Cuddling up with the people you love, a bit like penguins

10. The whole world feeling like it's stopped to take a breath

11. Icy blue skies and fluffy white clouds

12. Welly boots and muddy puddles

13. Eating all the carbs and all the chocolate and not caring because no one has to see you in a bikini

14. Spring beginning to sprung and all the flowers poking their heads out of the ground

15. Cosy blankets (again, I know. But it's a good 'un)

16. A Sunday (or any day) roast, finished with a hearty pudding (syrup sponge is a personal fave)

17. Cake, in general

18. Cosying up in bed and listening to the rain outside

19. All of the layers

20. Having an excuse to stay inside and read a book

21. Spending many hours on the internet mindlessly browsing

22. Not feeling bad about watching all the crap TV

23. Dark lips

24. Picking up a morning latte and warming your hands on it

25. The evenings drawing in, and pulling back out again

26. Planning the 'best summer ever'!

27. Boots and fluffy socks

28. Crumpets and jam

29. Being able to slow down and do nothing because of the weather

30. Neutrals

31. Laughing with your friends so hard you snort

32. Not sweating all over the place because it's not hot

33. Long, hot soaks in the bath with delicious bath products

34. Having a full on pyjama day

35. Magical sunsets

36. Blustery beach walks

37. Berry toned nails

38. A big bowl of hearty soup and a crusty bread roll

39. Crackling open fires

40. Early nights and late mornings

41. Sunday lie ins with nothing to get up for

42. Frosty forests

43. Catching up on everything you felt bad about doing during the warm summer months

44. Being able to plan a summer holiday and be grateful you'll be able to get into the warm sun in just a few months

45. Remembering how much you hate the heat and being grateful that it's actually cold

46. Days where it doesn't rain and it's just clear and brisk and the cold air in your lungs makes you feel alive

47. Dew drops caught in spiders webs

48. No bugs, spiders, bees, or wasps

49. Cosy jogging bottoms being an acceptable fashion choice

50. The fact that it's winter and you're here and you're alive and it will  be okay, it will get better, the sun will rise on another day

Love, Beth 

xx

The Long Overdue Post

And when I say long overdue, I mean I haven't posted since March. March. That's not days overdue, that's not even weeks overdue. I mean that's literally months overdue! Life man. It gets in the way when you least expect it, and buggers up all the lovely plans you'd laid out for yourself.

I think I've been telling myself on a near daily basis since my last post that I need to get back on here, because it's something that I really, really enjoy doing, but there's always been something else that needed my attention. It's been a busy few months since I was wasting my life reading all the blogs. I finished my A Level exams (thank the lord, I thought it was never going to end), went vegetarian, changed my hair from blonde to ombre to burgundy to purple to blonde/turquoise/violet, joined Slimming World, lost a stone, planned a month's travelling around Europe, turned 19, spent a lot of money, navigated London for the first time by myself...phew, I feel exhausted even reading that list. Of course, there has been a lot of lazing around and Netflix binging too. I mean, some things never change. And season 3 of Orange Is The New Black was literally incredible.

                                  Pretty proud of my new found cooking abilities (although lets be honest, I've

                                                       gone back to beans on jacket potatoes and the occasional egg as my staples!

But anyway, I am now firmly back in the driver's seat of the blogging train, and here I plan to stay for a nice long time. Lots more changes happening very soon, and I'm sure I'll be posting about them/freaking out because I have no idea how to adult and I've gotten completely lost in Hungary or something. Who knows. Life's exciting like that! Tomorrow regular blog posts commence, and I have plenty of the old ideas floating around in the grey matter, and I can't wait to share my latest beauty finds and have a right old moan about how difficult booking travelling stuffs is!

Disasters happen..

Hair disasters, that is. So far, in my eighteen short years on this fine planet, I've managed to escape major hair disasters. I've had the occasional bad haircut, but nothing that has had people running for the hills and laughing in the street. So I guess you could say I was long overdue a hair disaster.

And today my time was up! In an attempt to redye the ends of my hair copper, I have somehow dyed them bright orange! More orangutanchic than high fashion, let me tell you. And of course I dyed it just before I had to leave to meet some friends in town. Definitely not my day today! But you know what? Worse disasters have happened, I am sure. And so I am going to hold my head up high and rock the orange hair (namely, try and pretend it doesn't exist. If I can't see it, it's not there, right?) 

Word of warning to the wise: don't do this. Leave this kind of thing to the professionals, even if it leaves your bank account crying.

Share your hair disasters down below, and we can all have a good natter about how hair dye is something definitely best left to the professionals.

A Small Book Haul

I've been slowly adding to my already overly large book collection over the past few weeks, and it's been so much fun. I used to spend the majority of my money on books until I discovered beauty, skincare, clothes, food, and coffee, and books have definitely taken a backseat. But there's something about choosing new books to buy that makes me happier than choosing a new mascara. No less stressful, but infinitely nicer. I'm not all that picky when it comes to what I liked to read, and my book collection is my pride and joy. What I do need though, is a bigger bookcase. Anyone else feel that pain?

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky - paperback £7.99, kindle £3.99

The one thing I love to read more than anything else is a good historical fiction novel. I am obsessed. I hadn't heard of this book before, indeed I didn't even know it was a book, but I've seen the trailer for the film that comes out this month I believe, and I fell in love. I spotted this in Sainsbury's of all places the other day, and had to buy it. The author, Nemirovsky, began writing this book in 1940, but died in Auschwitz before she could finish or publish it, however luckily her daughter found it 65 years later and publish the unfinished manuscript, which is just utterly incredible in my mind. The book itself is split into two parts, the first follows a group of Parisians fleeing the Nazis, the second tells of a rural community under occupation. I am so excited to read this book and watch the film, it's had some incredible reviews.

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton - paperback £3.85 (usually £7.99), kindle £1.80

Another historical fiction novel (I did warn you!), this one set in 1686. It's more the time period I tend to read around if I'm going to read historical fiction, though books set in the two great wars are a weakness of mine. I've not started The Miniaturist yet, but it follows the tale of Nella Oortman, who comes to Amsterdam as it has been arranged she will marry a merchant, Johannes Brandt. He gives her, as a wedding gift, a cabinet sized replica of their home which is to be furnished by a miniaturist. Nella discovers secrets of the Brandt households and uncovers dangers awaiting them, and has to work out how to save herself and her new family. There have been so many glowing reviews about this book, and I can't wait to get stuck into it!

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy - paperback £1.99, kindle £0.49

This definitely isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. Literary classics aren't the kind of books that are a light read, but I have to admit I am a big fan. I've been wanting to read some Tolstoy for a while, and decided that Anna Karenina is going to be my way in. I think this will definitely be a summer read, when I have more time on my hands. 

Moranthology by Caitlin Moran - paperback £6.29 (usually £8.99), kindle £6.24

A slightly different book in that Moranthology is a creative non-fiction book, composing of many of Moran's quirky and hilarious columns from various publications. My creative writing teacher introduced me to Moran and I am actually in love. This woman is just brilliant, and shares her views on everything from drugs and celebrity weightloss, to how hot Sherlock is. Definitely worth a read, may change your perspective on life. Big, big fan, and if I could write like Moran everything in life would be rosy. I highly recommend buying this book and dipping in and out, her articles are incredible and I'm very excited to order and buy the rest of her books!

A goodbye and a change for the better

Credit: pinterest

More on the subject of change today! It seems to be the topic of choice for me at the moment, which I guess is fitting with the time of year and my aims for myself, which do including becoming a better version of the person I am now. As you may have guessed from the quote above, the change I have made today is to leave my job. I worked my last ever shift at my first ever job today, and it was a bittersweet goodbye. I've worked there for over a year now, and it's a small shop so the people I worked with are basically like family to me. There's something about a busy, stressful environment which just bonds people for life. Unfortunately, it's the busy, stressful environment which has contributed towards me needing to leave.

I, like many other college and university students, went to work part time and my education is full time. Unfortunately for me, I happened to be pretty good at my job in an understaffed shop, and this led to working practically full time hours before the summer during exams, and even more so during the summer. Understandably, this led to me becoming very stressed towards the end of the year. And although things were settling down again now, we lost our management and the whole place feels a bit like the titanic on the verge of sinking, and I have never gotten my old love for my job back.

I stuck at it because I needed money, and my parents told me I needed something to keep me occupied, but I was getting desperately unhappy, and concocting the bizarre-st of plans in my head in the hope of not having to go to work, and this got me thinking. Why was I still there?

I didn't want to be, nor do I really need to be. I'm lucky enough that I have parents who will give me a small allowance now I am jobless, although I appreciate many people do not have this back up option. I loved working in this place before, but now it was impacting on my college work and my mental health, and those are two things I decided had to come before money and my love of buying unnecessary items. And so, after weeks of decision making, I handed my notice in, and immediately I felt better, like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders.

And now my last shift is done and free weekends stretch out ahead of me like some blissful holiday, and I already feel tonnes better. It's incredible how such a difficult decision can have such a big impact on the way I feel. I'm sad I've left everyone, but I'm so excited to start this next chapter in my life.

So I guess this post is just to say that if you really aren't happy with something in your life, it is possible to change it. There is always a way to change what you don't like, even if it's not leaving your job, it's something different like cutting ties with a friend, or not driving because it terrifies you even if you feel like you have to.

My question to you is then: is there anything in your life you would like to change? If there is, consider changing it. I promise, 99%* of the time you will not regret it.

*not a real statistic

x

The Liebster Award!

I have been nominated for the Liebster Award by the wonderful Emily! I love things like this (we all love talking about ourselves at heart, right?), and I think it's a great idea to help fellow bloggers starting out, and I'm very happy to have been nominated so soon in my blogging time.

The rules are:

1. Link to the person who nominated you

2. Answer the questions given to you by the nominator.

3. Nominate 11 other bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

4. Create 11 questions for your nominees to answer.

5. Notify all nominees via their social-media/blogs

My questions and answers are:

1) What would your perfect day consist of? I'm massive homebird at heart, so nothing that would involve straying too far afield. My perfect day is probably more likely to consist of a lovely long lie in, breakfast in bed with a Netflix binge (hooked on Merlin at the moment), probably a romp across the moors with the family and the puppy, and back home for crumpets, tea, and a movie marathon afternoon. And of course, because it's a perfect day my makeup would work perfectly first time, and my outfit would be on point (two things which never, ever happen to me!)

2) If you could only take 3 beauty things to a desert island, what would they be? Concealer for the terrible black under eye bags, mascara so I don't look dead, and deodorant so I don't stink and scare away and potential rescuers (deodorant is a beauty thing, right?)

3) What do you hope to get out of your blog? I just want my blog to be a place where I can splurge my thoughts and share ideas and things that I usually keep internal and they build up and build up. I'm not after a massive following or anything, I just want a little slice of internet that people can enjoy if they wish.

4) Do you have any tips for new bloggers? Being a new blogger myself, I guess my only tip is just to go for it! I've been umming and ahhing over starting this blog for ages, and I'm so glad I bit the bullet and did it. So yeah, basically just get on and do it if you've been considering it! And post about what you love, even if it's the worlds biggest jumble of things. Passion sells.

5) Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Hopefully still blogging! But I also hope to have achieved my degree at University, have completed whatever it is I need to do to become a speech and language therapist (much more research needed), and be in a steady job that I love!

6) What's your best style advice? Don't try to be like everyone else. Often I see groups of girls dressed almost identically, and half the time the majority of them look uncomfortable. Don't wear something if you don't feel comfortable! You'll look ten times better and more wonderful if you feel happy and comfortable, even if happy and comfortable is a massive hoodie and pair of comfy joggers/jammy bottoms.

7) Would you rather travel to the future or the past? When and why? The past, definitely. Probably the Tudor period? Or the Victorian or Elizabethan era. Basically any era where I can be the daughter of a noble lady, be happily married off and be able to wear all those fabulous dresses. And maybe flirt with a king. The next Mary or Anne Boleyn perhaps? Minus the head chopping off.

8) If you got a lifetime's worth of tickets, travel, accommodation and spending for one festival (music/film/fashion/anything!) anywhere in the world, which would you choose? Tricky one but probably the New York fashion week I mean, NEW YORK and unlimited spending, and pretty fashion like...what more could you need?

9) Would you not wear makeup for the rest of the year for £5000? At first I thought yes and then I was like...actually, that wouldn't even pay for one year of uni, and I look dead without makeup so...probably no.

10) Who is your role model? I don't know if I have one role model as such, I have several. I guess the first person who sprang to mind was Darcy Bussell, mainly because when I was younger (and now) I just wanted to be her.

11) What are the last three books you read? Did you enjoy them and why? I can't quite remember the exact last three I read.. I know I read The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella, which is my go to book for a lighthearted read, and I love it mainly because I too am a shopaholic, and it is a very good warning for when I want to splurge! I think I also read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte recently, which is my fave fave faveest book in the entire world and sometimes I just want to be Jane. And right now I am reading The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory. Historical fiction is a big weakness of mine, and Philippa Gregory is my most favourite historical fiction author, and I love this one in particular. Good read, good read.

Being as I have only just forayed into the world of blogging and following amazing blogs and wasting half my life on bloglovin, I don't think I follow eleven blogs that have under 200 followers, so I shall just nominate the following lovelies:

http://vvln.blogspot.com.au

http://myseptemberdays.blogspot.com

http://catcheratetherye.blogspot.co.uk

http://fashionroad.co.uk

My eleven questions are:

1) Why did you choose to start blogging?

2) If you knew you were going to die tomorrow, what would your last meal be?

3) Top three go to beauty/skin care products?

4) Three of the best books you have ever read?

5) What advice would you give to your 10 year old self?

6) Favourite inspirational quote?

7) If you had unlimited money to go travelling, which countries would you visit and why?

8) Top three favourite blogs?

9) Most beloved item of clothing and why?

10) Favourite way to procrastinate?

11) If you were trapped in a burning building, what celebrity would you choose to save you and why?

Enjoy!

x

First star to the right

Peter Pan has long been one of my favourite stories. I own it in many, or three to be precise, forms: the book, the 2003 film, and the Disney version (of course). Out of all three, the 2003 live action version is slowly becoming my most loved, although the book will always hold a special place in my heart. 

I recently got my hands on another copy of the film, having lost the one I owned before, and decided to watch it again today whilst I tidied the mess that I was calling my room. Like usual, I became absorbed in the story, but found myself wondering why I love it so much. 

As exciting as growing up is, I think not wanting to grow up is a feeling many people have. It's a scary business, passing over the bridge between childhood and adulthood, one fraught with rollercoaster emotions and stress. So much stress, from parents, from jobs, from education, stress is basically everywhere. A friend gave me some advice the other day, reminding me that it will probably never get worse than this, which was both comforting and somewhat scary. Peter never has to deal with those worries, and I think that's something that I long for on a daily basis.

This year in particular is a scary one for me, and anyone in their last year of college will probably sympathise with this. This is the year I have to decide what I want to do with the rest of my life. 18 years old, and the decisions I make now will still be affecting me when I'm 50, which is terrifying and definitely something I don't want to think about. I think I've made my decisions now. I want to go to Canterbury Christ Church University to study early childhood studies with special educational needs and inclusion studies (I still cannot say that without getting at least one word wrong). This decision has been a pretty tough one to make. Suffice to say, it isn't the path I thought I'd take when I first started college, just under three years ago now. But I still lie in bed, wondering whether the choice I've made is the right one. Honestly, I don't know. I won't know until I get to university, which is just a little terrifying.

But if there's one thing I've learnt over the past two and a bit years, is that it's totally okay not to know what you're doing with your life, because no one knows what they want to do with their lives when they're 18 years old, have an inability to keep on top of work and sleep far more than they should. But it's okay. It is.

x