2017 Goals and 2016 Reflection

Happy New Year and Hello 2017! What better way to start 2017 than the clichéd New Years Resolutions! Whilst some people will roll their eyes, I personally love setting goals for myself. It can be so motivating having something in mind to achieve and of course it’s incredibly rewarding to have a successful end result! So I thought I would share some of my personal goals for the year ahead as well as looking back at my goals from 2016 to see how I got on!

2016 Reflection 

It seems like quite the trend to simply hate on 2016. Whilst a lot of tragedy took place over the year across the world, personally 2016 was a decent and mostly successful year for myself.  I made four goals for myself in 2016 which you can recap on here. The first one related to improving my blog. Now if you look at last years post and compare the photo from last year to now, I think you can tell that there has been some large improvements! My photography has improved massively, as well as changing up what I blog about which has definitely improved the quality of my posts. Connecting with others on social media has been rather slow however and this is still something to work on! I am going to do a separate post on blogging goals for 2017 so keep your eye out!

I also spoke about adopting a healthier lifestyle. I have been really happy with my success on this goal. Snacking has always been a big issue of mine and I’ve really curbed my sugar appetite! I’ve learnt a lot about healthy eating and even trying out new recipes and cookbooks this year. On the fitness side of things, I still continue doing yoga and I also took up a bit of running over the Summer. I could definitely have improved my fitness from the year but I am still happy with my progress and I am also over a stone lighter than I was in Summer 2016!

Also, one of my goals was to invest properly in my wardrobe and have a good clear out essentially starting fresh! I really wish I took a picture of my wardrobe then and now as it has changed so much! This time last year it was full of unworn and unwanted clothes and now I have so much space as well as a wardrobe filled with some really great pieces. Whilst there is still a bit more cutting down that can be done, I am really happy about how it is looking now. Speaking of wardrobe revamping, Farfetch have created a swishy Capsule Wardrobe Generator which can help give you a little inspiration for giving your wardrobe a revamp for 2017. There is already so many beautiful pieces I am dreaming about…, check it out here!

Finally, my last goal for 2016 was to save regularly. When I look at my spending from the last month, I am starting to wince now at the thought of this goal! Nevertheless, I started the year off pretty well taking a note of everything I wanted to buy from the month and how much it would cost. I also saved a good bit too and put money towards things I had always wanted. I could’ve been stricter but I am still feeling positive about this goal!

2017 Goals 

Now onto what I want to achieve this year…

1. Invest in body-care – A couple of years ago I really wanted to get into a regular skincare routine and since then I can’t go a day without. Now I really want to spend more time and efforts into maintaining good body-care. It is easy to focus on cleansing your face etc. but when it comes to body care and looking after the rest of us, it can easily be neglected. I want to keep up with regular moisturising ensuring my limbs are as cared for as my face!
2. Continue a healthier lifestyle – I already spoke about my progress from 2016 and I want to continue finding new recipes, eating better and also even trying to do a little exercise now and again!
3. Spend more wisely – I love buying clothes and makeup as I am sure you all know! Although I want to be more stricter about dropping money on more things every now and again. I already have so much makeup that I would love to use up rather than continuously buying more! I have a few ‘treat-yo-self’ or spendy purchases I would like to get this year so I am hoping I can cut out on regularly unnecessary spending and save regularly!
4. Have fun – I’m still young and whilst I have many things going on, I still have time to do whatever. Instead of wasting that time away, I want to properly cherish it and use it properly. See my friends, go out and do something new or even just watch a movie that I’ve been desperate to see for a long time! Why sit sulking when you can do something enjoyable!

 

What are your 2017 goals?

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September Goals

Pumpkin Spiced Lattes are officially in Starbucks so surely it is pretty much Autumn! September is one of my favourite months, the weather is still mild (in some cases better than the main Summer months!), the Autumn inspired clothing and items weaves its way into stores and it always just feels like a bit of a fresh start like a new year has begun with the start of the next uni semester. Speaking of a fresh start, I am definitely all up for getting organised and in a routine this month in terms of work and uni but also for my own well-being and my goals this month definitely reflect that! So here’s to September being a productive one!

• Stick to a low sugar intake diet
• Find good sugar free recipes and snacking alternatives
• Make my first designer purchase (maybe!)
• Buy a bike
• Get outdoors regularly
• Get organised for my third year at university

What are your goals for the month ahead?

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Sources of Healthy Lifestyle Inspiration

Healthy eating and simply adopting a healthier lifestyle has never been a strong point of mine. I’ve always been determined to try and be that bit healthier but it all ends up a disaster in the end. After trying and giving up after so long, I thought it was about time that I seriously did this whole healthy lifestyle thing. Rather than going for the extreme, I have been taking small steps in trying to reduce my sugar intake and trying out healthier recipes. Although in order to make myself that more determined to succeed, I need a little inspiration. So I thought I would share my favourite people, blogs, books etc. that give me a little inspo!

Madeleine Shaw

If I can get the glow like Madeleine then I will be very happy indeed! Madeleine is a great source of inspiration as she has so many platforms sharing great advice, recipes and also yoga poses. Her blog and her books are the best sources as they offer so much great inspiration for cooking. Her website is super sleek and easy to navigate with great posts of advice and is always updated with some great recipes that I am always desperate to give a go (particularly the sweet treats!). For even more online access, she has a great YouTube channel all about healthy living as well as her Instagram and Snapchat accounts which always provide a good chunk of inspo! Lastly, I have to mention her books. She has two cookbooks out at the minute, I currently own the second Ready, Steady Glow which is really good and packed with some delicious looking recipes. I have only tried out a couple from the book but I am desperate to give more ago especially her Oat Vegan pancakes, yum!

Deliciously Ella

I am sure many of you will be aware of Ella from Deliciously Ella as her books are ever so popular and she is a blogger favourite! Again she has a couple of books out and I have her Ella, Every Day book which I have been loving. The quinoa and turmeric curry (pictured above) is incredible and I am so excited to work through the book, with one of her risotto recipes next on the list! Again like Madeleine, she is available on so many platforms. Her website is great and filled with some amazing recipes, I particularly love her energy ball recipes. It is definitely worth checking out before picking up the books! She also has a skincare collab right now with Neals Yard which looks awesome as well as having her own energy balls available in Whole Foods. Definitely one to be inspired by!

The Green Life

After scouring the web/instagram for healthy recipes, I came across this blog which is packed with a wonderful selection of mostly vegan recipes. The photography is so beautiful and there is a great selection of really simple yet different recipes. Basically everything she features looks incredible particularly her ice lollies! I have made quite a few of her recipes and they have been ones I have stuck to for ages, particularly her drink recipes like this strawberry shake which is delicious!

Also other instagram accounts to check out for swoon-worthy food inspo: @izyhossack, @vegfoodvideos, @simplyquinoa and @rachlmansfield

Where do you find lifestyle inspiration? 

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July Goals

Summer has officially began, it is crazy to think we are now in July! Christmas is only a blink away people, sorry! Since my holidaying in the sun is over and I have so much time left before going back to uni, I am hoping that the next couple of months will be very productive! So here is my goals for the month ahead were I hope to be kicked back into gear (and shape!)…

• Maintain a regular fitness routine
• Keep spending to a minimum (unless I get rich)
• Try out new healthy main meal recipes
• Write more lifestyle-y blog posts
• Interact more!

What do you wish to achieve this month? 

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When You’re Feeling Under The Weather…

Whilst Autumn is the time to be excited about pumpkin spiced lattes and changing up your wardrobe, it is also the time when your health and wellbeing takes a slump. I know from own experience particularly at this time that it’s easy to catch the many bugs flying around as the chilly days settle in. This week has been a little off, I have been feeling a bit under the weather and basically can’t leave the house without my trusty pack of tissues and a hot drink. I am sure I am not the only one falling down this trap and I thought I would share some tips on how to help yourself when you are feeling a little under the weather…

As I mentioned briefly I have been relying a lot on hot drinks. If you are suffering from the cold then drinking fluids particularly hot can help clear out your system. Peppermint is really good for helping with sore throats and therefore I have been working my way through a box of peppermint tea to help decongest the body. I am not a big tea/coffee person but it does help you relax a little more and there is nothing better than a warm drink when feeling poorly. Speaking of warmness, soup is also great when you aren’t feeling on top form. I know from experience that when I am unwell I don’t have much appetite so soup is such an easy thing to digest so is perfect and warming for the body.

I think one thing we all do when we don’t feel too good is to run a bath or have a warm shower. I for one prefer baths as I find them relaxing and with the addition of bath oils or bubble bars etc it really helps you unwind. The steam from a bath/shower is also really good for clearing your nasal passages.

Looking after your skin is also very important. The skin can get quite dry especially in the colder season so its important to ensure your skin is nourished and has the hydration it needs. I am obsessed with the Body Shop Aqua Boost Sorbet, a lightweight but incredibly refreshing and cooling moisturiser. Great for cooling down the skin but also giving it the moisture it craves. Your lips are also likely to get dry so it’s also important to have a good lip balm that offers nourishment. I have been loving the Nuxe Reve de Miel lip balm which is great at repairing cracked and sore lips. Also if you are needing to run errands or go to work/school/uni you want to leave the house looking the best you can but also feeling good. I tend to strip down my makeup routine and go for something lightweight and minimal. Something quite like my minimal makeup look.

How do you cope when you are feeling under the weather?

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