Good things come to those who work

Since moving home from university I've been on such a 'get healthy' mission. For as long as I can remember I seem to have been on a diet, I've lasted four days, expected to be the size I want and because I'm not, quit. I think a lot of girls out there can relate to that situation. My friend Debs and I joke that we've literally been on every diet available, but I honestly think we've made a good attempt at ticking them all off, to no avail. My other main problem is that I've had an unhealthy relationship with food for many years and so I either eat through feelings of anxiety/boredom, or do the complete opposite and not eat enough. This time I made a conscious decision that I needed to change my mindset first and foremost because I knew that, in turn, would alter my eating habits. So when Debs and I moved home from university we decided to give Weightwatchers a go; I'd never believed in it as it's what I look upon as a 'mummy's' diet' and quite a fad. So I must admit Debs was 100% my motivator in this and now I'm so happy she was because we have both *touches wood* been really successful.

My mindset has changed totally since starting this a few months ago. I've focused on weight training and building tone alongside cardio with the aim to be the perfect (word used very lightly), healthy size. I've followed some amazing fitspo's on Instagram, a few of which I've linked below, and find that the social media tide is definitely changing towards inspiring the healthy female shape instead of the all too common emaciated bodies we see in the media. One of my favourite bloggers Hannah has been updating her progress with fitness and healthy living advice and I have enjoyed every minute of reading her posts which lets be honest are an enormous positive influence on girls a like.

Miss Fit - follows two best friends on their fitness journey

I'll update on recipes/fitness plans but the one thing I won't update on is my weight. To be honest I'm not even sure why; on one hand I don't want my journey this time around to be based solely on the number that flashes up on the digital scales. On the other hand, I put a lot of my weight on during the final few months of university, months where I wasn't at the best stage of my life, and so I think by focusing on my weight I would bring myself back to dwelling on that period of negativity. After all, weight is a huge emotional subject and I feel that I have turned a big corner but am not quite ready to go back and revisit it just yet.

Fitspiration Fanpage - this is great for motivational quotes and fitspo follow pages/users

I now use weightwatchers online as they have an amazing offer where you save £32.90 and this week I reached my two stone (loss) milestone. I haven't restricted myself by cutting out food groups, or food in general which I used to do; all I've done is eaten everything in moderation, kept a food dairy and endeavored to work out even slightly, once a day. This may leave me really red in the face, but hey ho, it has to be done. I don't believe changing your overall shape can happen without exercise. This is something I've only properly realised this time around as well.

I'll try to post an online food dairy so you can see just how easy the Weightwatchers programme is. To me this is a lifestyle blog, I've tried not to segregate it to one specific area, so I think when I'm changing my lifestyle so dramatically it has to be shared! Still a long way to go but I've realised that this is a healthy journey, and a healthy journey takes time.

This is my most hated photo of me (left), but I love seeing the positive changes that are happening with my shape and the fact that I'm starting to look healthier 

In short, my main Weightwatchers tips are:

• Make the change from whole/semi-skimmed milk to skimmed milk
• Always measure your milk, especially if your an avid tea/coffee drinker like me. It can be so easy to over consume milk and therefore your points
• Buy the 'Food Doctor' branded food; its cheap and full of cereals, whole grains and seeds, so worth the extra point or two for the health benefits (I'm addicted to their cereal pittas)
• Eat all your points, don't starve yourself! This is the biggest mistake I've made in the past but the benefit of Weightwatchers is that you should eat all your points (healthily)
• Exercise. Simple. Don't think you can sit on the sofa all day and lose weight, it just won't happen
• Don't use up all your weekend and exercise points, they're there for special occasions, not to allow unhealthy/fast food every weekend!
• Fill up on no-point foods i.e. fruit and veg. Make a batch of soup (carrot and coriander is my personal fav) and have a bowl of that when you're feeling hungry
• Walk to the shop/walk your dog/park in the furthest parking space from the train station in the morning - this will incorporate even minimal exercise into your daily routine

It really is as simple as that, exercise and healthy eating i.e. everything in moderation will make big changes to your health and shape as long as you put time and effort into it! The one quote which struck a cord with me was "I treat my dog with food, why would I treat myself with it?" 

Have you any advice on exercise routines/recipes/what's worked for you? Have you successfully reached where you want to be (healthily of course), and how?


Laura xx

Autograph 'Powder Pink' lipstick

For one reason or another I've never bought Marks and Spencers makeup, don't ask me why, it's just never happened. I used to work with Procter and Gamble so I got the Max Factor ranges for ridiculously cheap (staff perks) and have very rarely spent money on a brand which I don't know a lot about.  So, when Mum got me a few of their Autograph pieces at Christmas I didn't quite know what to expect but was, as per usual, more than willing to try them out!

As you can see from the product photo, this collection comes in sleek black packaging with encrusted crystals; I'm not a diamond-loving girl and normally not swayed by 'blingy' products but I have to say the appearance of this product makes it look a lot more expensive than its' high street price tag. The product is the definition of pink. When I first seen this I was a bit gutted with my Mum for not buying me my signature red lipstick (especially as my Dior one was lost for good on a drunken night out).

However when I tried it on I could see why the product name is 'powder pink'; it's the right level of pink but not too in your face to the point of 'Barbie-fying' you. I've always had negative perceptions of pink lipsticks as I think they can look a little cheap and tacky compared to classic red lips but I have to say I have been won over by the subtlety of this product. What I've also learnt is that I have horrible hands (in the below swatches) and have ruled out the possibility of ever making my millions as a hand model.

I still have an Autograph eye palette and face shimmer to sample; I'm now expecting big things from the brand after the unexpected success (in my eyes) of this product!

Have you got any Marks and Spencers products (or any other high street brand) which have surprised you?

Laura xx

50 random facts about me

You've probably seen a million of these posts on the blogging network, but I've loved reading them (I'm shamelessly nosy) and so have created my own. I remembered so much about myself that you've now got a rather long-winded 50 facts, but if you get to the end you are guaranteed to know me about as much as I know myself!

1. My middle names are Valerie and Elizabeth after my two nannies

2. I graduated with a first degree in Marketing Management from Northumbria Uni

3. My favourite...shape is a triangle

4. ...colour is royal blue

5. ...word is 'hope' 

6. ...author is Mitch Albom

7. ...place is Italy

8. My books are my greatest possession

9. I hate olives

10. I'm addicted to Amazon

11. The way to my heart is through bunting, anything Victorian, candles or pretty stationary

12. I started blogging purely as an online dairy for me to vent/chat things out as I was finding it hard to do that in my normal life

13. I love baking and making home wares, especially cushions and bunting

14. I'm ridiculously unlucky in love

15. ...and am the worst singleton ever

16. At uni I had two pet turtles and a rabbit

17. I also went through the roughest personal time of my life and am forever thankful to my friends for getting me through it 

18. I believe nothing beats a good prank. My two flatmates once covered my entire floor in full cups of water the night before a dissertation meeting. Nothing can describe the pain of emptying 800 cups of water to make it to bed!

19. I hoard every little memory and therefore have far too many memory boxes

20. I live in a small village and have settled back into the country way of life very easily after four years in Newcastle

21. I want to own my own bookshop/cafe hybrid when I'm older

22. Before that I want to see as many places in the world as I can 

23. I believe the world is there for a reason and that is to be seen

24. I'm a rubbish girl. It takes me 10 minutes to get ready and I would really need a full tutorial on all things beauty

25. I don't have a skincare routine; I've only ever used soap/water/face wipes and can count the amount of spots I've had on one hand

26. I believe in fairy tales

27. I love Made in Chelsea, Revenge, Homeland, One Tree Hill and The Good Wife

28. I've never been to London

29. I love old time sweet shops

30. I've seen a ridiculously small amount of movies and only about three Disney ones

31. I'm terrified of horror movies and the scary music they use makes me cry

32. I can't have the volume (radio, TV) on an odd number, it freaks me out

33. When I was younger I wanted to be a marine biologist, now I'm petrified of the sea/scuba-diving. How things change

34. I enjoy in-store home ware shopping way more than clothes shopping and can't wait to have my own place to decorate

35. My favourite Starbucks is a skinny sugar-free hazelnut latte

36. I have seriously bad co-ordination and for this reason will never try Zumba

37. I use to struggle with really low self-esteem; if I thought about it too much now I still do so I try to think positively 

38. I am not a morning person, at all

39. I've been in Vatican City at 6am for the sunrise and it was one of the most special moments in my life

40. I suffered from really bad anaemia in 3rd year of uni and so I always try to monitor it now. I had never felt so poorly in my life

41. My favourite drink is OVG (orange, vodka, grenadine) followed swiftly by prosecco and white wine spritzers

42. I love charity work, I based my dissertation on it and wish I could be more involved in it now

43. I had an awful phobia of flying until I moved to Newcastle and had no choice in the matter

44. I worry and over-think things way too much

45. I hate all forms of bullying and discrimination and believe everyone is equal no matter what job we have/how we look/our sexuality/gender/disability

46. I am so squeamish, even typing the word makes me feel sick

47. I love taking photos and am a little too obsessed with Instagram

48. I love tartan 

49. I used to have rubbish general knowledge and have been trying to learn more 'general things' - I once thought a Scotch egg was a traditional Irish dish and Cardiff was the capital of England 

50. I have the two best friends in the world, I can tell them anything and my life would be so boring without them!

Have you written a similar post? Send me links if so, I love a good read at other peoples lives :)

Laura xx

Find a penny, pick it up...

Today I had some horrible news and have spent the majority of my day, post-disaster hour, trying to remain positive and grateful for how good my situation is in comparison to others.

In short, I was appointed supervisor of my job last week and found out that today it was being closed down due to the ripple effects from the Belfast riots. Probably the shortest ever lived supervisor position, ever, but I loved it while it lasted. Thinking of the positives, it really brought home the truthfulness of the saying "Do a job you love and you'll never work a day in your life." I used to hate when people said this to me, but now, thinking back over my two months of employment (sob), it does ring true; I never did feel that I was working because I truly enjoyed it. Hence today has dragged by at a snails' pace and I'm constantly reminding myself that everything is meant to happen for  reason; I only have a big fat 'meh' in response to that saying right now.

Not a believer in superstition, when shopping with Mum this afternoon she seen this penny and forced me to pick it up... I'm still waiting on the good luck it's going to bring me.

I'm determined it's coming, very determined, and am patiently waiting for it while sifting through the most inspirational place in the world, Pinterest. In case any of you need a little pick me up, here are some of my favourite quotes which always seem to put life that little bit more in perspective.

Keep smiling :)

Laura xx

Hidden Gems

I seem to have put this blog on the back burner for quite a while now; Christmas seemed to take over, my new job has the most hectic of hours and any free time I had has been (very happily) spent with my family. I've remained a daily reader of all my favorite blogs, and found some hidden gems in the process but have remained conscious that I wasn't making the time to write myself, so I'm back, not promising for daily posts but to write, as always, about things I want to share...

So, Mondays have become my favorite day of the week. They were once the start of the dreaded five-day office working week however they've now become my one guaranteed day off to catch up with family and my life outside of the restaurant I'm currently working (living) at.

This morning Mum, Dad and I got up bright and early and drove to the gorgeous 18th century Bloomvale House, home of Ballydougan Pottery, restaurant, pottery workshop and cottages.

This place is far and out one of my favorite chill out areas, it encompasses pretty much everything I love in one cute little cottage; thatched roof, exposed woodwork, open fire and lots of bunting, candles and cute nic-nacs. It is the definition of calm.

My parents and I caught up over Irish breakfast, scones and decadent hazelnut lattes, all served in Ballydougans' signature pottery.

After this we pottered (no pun intended, promise) around the gift shop viewing the whole Ballydougan collection from party essentials to coffee cups to lamps. I've fallen for the enormous latte mugs which I definitely have my eye on for when I have my own place. We also seen a few photos of the loft cottages they have available for rent and I fell even more in love with this company. They look like the perfect relaxation haven. Some day I will go. I've put a few teaser pictures up but why not go and check them out here; definitely one of my favorite places in the North of Ireland and quite a hidden gem.  

Laura xx  


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