My Top 5 Tips on Relaxation*

The lovely people over at Victoria Plumb* sent me a gorgeous pamper basket full of little treats to pamper myself and to help me relax. This is vitally important at the moment as I am currently revising for exams which start next week. This includes Chemistry, Biology and Maths, all which I have studied over a 22 week period, so as you can imagine, there is an awful lot of information to remember.

Victoria Plumb* have some amazing sales and discounts available - I cannot wait to upgrade our bathroom with one of their walk-in-showers!

1. Pamper Time

My first tip is to have a bit of a pamper. Put on a facemask, paint your nails and jump into the shower or run a bath.

A few of my favourite products are from Origins, Una Brennan and Soap and Glory. Pampering to me does not mean you have to spend a fortune either. You can pick up lots of goodies from discounted stores or even from eBay and Beauty Blogger Facebook groups.

2. Reading

It doesn't have to be books, it can be magazines, blogs or newspapers. Reading helps me to retreat to another world. It enables me to forget about my stresses and worries.

The three books above are some of my all time favourites which I love.



 3. Light a candle

I absolutely adore candles and my collection is slowly growing. Unfortunately, I have finished my first ever Jo Malone candle and struggling to bring myself to burn the other two! The scent candles give off is divine, definitely enough to relax me. One I recently had from Sanctuary which was beautiful too, definitely worth the £12.50 price tag.

4. Countryside - Walking and Gardening

Getting out and about in the fresh air and countryside really does help to relax me; it is also great exercise and helps to keep me fit and healthy. When I start my Agricultural and Livestock Science degree in September, I'll probably be spending a lot more time outside.

This spring, I have also been spending more time out in the garden. We are growing garlic, green beans, tomatoes, courgette, sweetcorn, lettuce and spinach. I have also planted some kale, butternut squash and purple sprouting broccoli which will be ready to eat in autumn/winter. Growing my own veg really is satisfying, knowing that you grew what you're putting in your mouth from a seed. I am very luck in that we have a large garden and my own vegetable patch.

5. Cooking

This is definitely not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I adore celebrating with friends by cooking and hosting dinner parties. Shopping for wine to pair with the food is always amazing (although I try and stick to wine on Friday and Saturday nights because of the calorie content and mixed reviews on your health). I love nothing more than spending long afternoon's in the kitchen, cooking up batches of food for the following week with the radio on and the cat at my side, the sun shining through the window. Again, a bit like gardening, knowing that I am eating something I cooked from scratch and made myself is really satisfying. Whilst cooking, it helps to take my mind away from the worries of the day and helps me to relax - it gives me something else to think about and enjoy.

What are your top tips for relaxing? Do you have anything in particular that helps you to wind down after a long week at work/university/school?

Laura xx

     

#2014BloggerChallenge - Post One - New Years Inspiration

I signed up to the #2014BloggerChallenge quite a while ago and really enjoying meeting the other 407 bloggers who are taking part. I want to take this time to personally thank all of my new followers for their commitment to my blog; I have never seen such a sharp intake in readers over such a short period of time.

So here is post one.

Gabby writes:
"The topic for the first post of the #2014BloggerChallenge is going to be "New Years Inspiration" - the idea is that instead of writing new years resolutions on your blog, you share a quote or a picture that inspires you and you think will inspire others in the New Year."

I can't just decide on ONE picture, because I have so many things that are inspiring me for the new year. A lot of my inspiration probably won't inspire everyone, and to me, this post is more personal to me.

I can't really say Kelly Brook herself is an inspiration, but I certainly think her figure is lovely and very similar to me. I am a 'real' woman. I have boobs, a small waist and hips. I am never again going to fit in size 8 clothes because my curvy figure will never be that thin again, even when I weighed 9 stone I was a size 10 because of my curves. Recently, I've put on another half a stone, so my inspiration in the new year is to tone up and eat healthy, filling my body with nourishing foods that will help me to loose the extra half a stone (plus anymore that goes on over Christmas!). To me, it's not about me being a certain weight, but recently, my jeans are tight, I constantly feel tired, I'm eating lots of refined sugars and saturated fats and I feel very sluggish. (Photo, photo, photo, photo)

Having dropped out of college when I was 16, in 2012, at 26 years old, I decided to return to complete a level three BTEC. For the last 18 months, and for the next five, studying has been and still will be, my life. I absolutely love it and can't think of anything more enjoyable. Working in different jobs has made me appreciate even more so, the joys of studying. Sixteen hour weeks, lazy afternoons drinking coffee, learning so many new things, meeting new people - why would anyone want to do anything than study?! If you'd have asked me the same question at 16, obviously my answer would have been different, but now, I have learnt to appreciate studying which makes me even more inclined to succeed. I've applied to study a foundation degree at three universities in September 2014 and waiting to hear back on my UCAS application. I am so nervous, but so excited about what the future holds. (Photo)

In 2014, two of my lovely friends are getting married; one of my best friends, Samantha and my friend, Tom who lives in Australia with his Japanese fiance who are returning to the UK to get married. I am crazily excited about seeing them both get married - I have goose bumps now just thinking about their big days. I think weddings are very special occasions, and I feel honored to be invited to both of them. They both have amazing, but very different relationships, who inspire me. One day, I hope to follow in their footsteps and marry the man of my dreams, but for now, I am more than happy to be a guest at other's weddings. (Photo)

Please let me know if these quotes are your's and I will link them back to your site.

These quotes, along with many more and positive thinking will also be something that I look towards and that will inspire me in 2014. I try to be a very positive and upbeat person; I believe negative thinking brings negative things into your life and I believe that no matter how angry, annoyed and upset you get, life will always get better, things are just here to test you and to make you appreciate good things when they happen. You should walk away from anything or anyone that brings negativity into your life, especially strangers, because they're just not worth it. Surround yourself in life with positivity, with happiness, with joyful people on the same wavelength as you, and always approach things with a can do attitude. After all, if you believe you're able to do something, then why can't you? What's holding you back? Never say never - where there's a will there's a way. Believe in yourself.

Happy 2014 - I hope that it is an amazing year for all.

Laura xx

     

My Plans, Achievements, Hopes and Goals for 2014

January

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On the 2nd of January, I will be heading to Bournemouth to spend a long weekend with my friend, Heather, her lovely fella and her two gorgeous dogs who I will take plenty of photos of! We're going to a spa day, will eat plenty of food, drink plenty of wine and do a spot of shopping.

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My major plan for January is to loose the 8lbs I've put on recently and to tone up. I want to eat a lot healthier again, as I've really noticed a difference in December to my health and skin since I've been eating a diet high in saturated fat. As a sufferer of endometriosis and now IC (interstitial cystitis), I need to get back on track as my symptoms have worsened in December leaving me in pain, feeling sluggish and bloated.

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It also marks a trip back to the hospital to talk about my IC with my consultant. I'm really worried about what he'll say and how we'll move forward. But need to remain positive.

February

February will bring round my 27th birthday. Hopefully, some birthday celebrations will take place, alongside lots of alcohol and naughty food!

March

My own photo

As March approaches, spring will slowly be here. Spring marks the birth of lambs, and I hope to help once again with lambing at my University. This is something I really enjoyed last year, it's such an amazing experience helping to deliver a lamb.

April
April brings Easter, the proper start of spring. Having two weeks off from studying in April, I hope to be able to visit Bournemouth once again.

May

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My friend's hen do will be the main attraction of May, heading away to a cottage in the Peak District, she has lots of amazing, vintage themed plans for her three day hen do. Very excited about this and seeing all her plans finally coming together.

June

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June marks the graduation of my level 3 BTEC. I will be so sad to finish as I have enjoyed studying so much, but it doesn't mark the end, it marks the beginning of more studying and exciting times to come.

During June, I hope to secure a full time job which will take me through the summer. I'm not sure yet what job I hope to apply for, I'd be happy with anything really.

My friend and I are also planning another trip to Manchester, this time, we'll be shopping for holiday clothes because she's jetting off on holiday in August.

July

Hopefully, in July, I will be heading back to Copenhagen for a long weekend, visiting my friend, Iben. Last year, I went in September and loved every minute of it.

August

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On August 9th, I will be celebrating one of my best friend's weddings. I cannot wait to celebrate her wedding with her and I am so excited that she's finally found 'the one'.

August also marks Mae's 5th birthday and Joe's 2nd, two of my best friend's children.

September

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September marks another wedding, my friend Tom and his fiance are getting married here in the UK. They both live over in Australia and I haven't seen them both for over three years. It will be fantastic to see them get married, I was over the moon when I received my save the date card!

My friends and I are planning a long weekend away for September, although we're not sure where just yet. I would love to visit somewhere in Europe that I haven't been to before. I've never been to Italy, but my friend and her fella are visiting there over the summer, so I'm not sure she'll want to go twice.

September will also mark the month I start University, providing I get accepted! I have applied for a Science foundation degree. It may also mark me moving on from my parent's house, depending on where I get accepted and which University I choose to attend.

September also marks the first birthday of my friend's gorgeous daughter, Ezmae.

October
October will be my first full month studying at University. I hope to meet lots of new friends, join a few societies and really settle into University life.

November
November doesn't really mark anything yet as I don't have any major plans, but I hope that I'll have many more exciting things to add, later into the year.

December

My own photo

This month, I hope to wind down from University and relax ready for Christmas! I hope to eat plenty of mince pies and Christmas puddings and drink plenty of wine.

Laura xx