Why Keeping A Journal Is No Longer A Chore

I'm almost positive that most people at some point in their life have tried to keep a diary or journal and failed. We get to the New Year and we vow to keep a diary and write in it every single day for the next 365 days knowing full well that we'll forget all about it by March. Yup, I've been there. But late last year I stumbled across a journal that caught my eye and so I asked for it as a Christmas present and it wasn't long before I became obsessed with it. I genuinely look forward to using it and that's because it's not your typical "dear diary" kind of journal which if I'm completely honest I find can be way too much effort to write in most days, especially when nothing much happens. So, I wanted to show you the journal which has completely transformed the way that I feel about them and why I'm now that person who secretly loves keeping one. 

I don't think you can purchase this anymore but I discovered it on the Next website because they actually have some pretty decent things on there around the festive period. Firstly, it's so aesthetically pleasing and I'm in love with the pastel theme. On the first few pages there is room for you to create a bucket list and I've actually chosen to write my New Year's Resolutions there so that I don't forget what I'd like to achieve this year. Throughout the journal there are some beautiful and motivating quotes which adds a lovely touch to it and they can really make a difference depending on what kind of a day you're having. 

But what caught my attention and the main reason why I really wanted to give this journal a chance is the layout of it. Instead of staring at blank pages which is what really puts me off keeping a diary, you answer questions (the same questions) every single day. So instead of boring yourself to death with the events from that day, I just find it SO much easier to answer the questions in order to keep track. The questions as you can see from the photo below include things like writing how you felt and what the weather was like using emojis which is always fun, and writing 3 things that went well, things that didn't go so well and things you want to improve on tomorrow. And honestly, I find this so enjoyable and therapeutic to use. Even if there are days where nothing exciting happens, I always try to write as much as I can because when I look back I can remember the days that most of us forget. I also use this journal to keep track of my mental health which I've found really useful even if it is difficult to write about my bad days at the time, I know I'll thank myself when I eventually look back and reflect on the year as I'll have a better understanding of what might be making my mental health better or worse etc. 

Journals are definitely not for everyone, but if you're anything like me then you love reflecting on what went well, what didn't go so great and then focusing on how you can make tomorrow a better day. We're only in February and yes there is every chance that I could get bored of this in a few months but I'm actually thoroughly enjoying it and I can't wait to look back on everything that happened, both the good and the bad, at the end of the year. I know in 5 years time I'll appreciate things like this so much, even if it can seem meaningless at the time. You only have to follow my social media accounts to know that I love documenting anything remotely interesting that happens in my life and I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. But I have fallen in love with keeping a journal and I never thought I'd say that so this really is something worth writing a blog post about.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this one and I'll be back again on Saturday with another post.

Lots of Love,
Meg X

Monthly Roundup | January Edition

Just a little heads up but my blogging schedule in February will be Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays just as a trial run to see how it goes!

Hello my beautiful readers! I've decided this year to write a blog post at the end of each month in order to keep track of my 2018 as opposed to getting to the end of the year and forgetting half of the things that actually happened. I was quite hesitant to do this because there are definitely months that are a lot busier and more exciting to write about than others but I thought it would be fun to talk about some of the things I have enjoyed throughout the last month and well, let's just see how it goes.

It's very true what they say, January has felt like the longest month of my life and I can't figure out why. I love the New Year and the feeling that I can start afresh, a blank canvas if you will. I always feel as though nothing ever happens in January which has been the case this year. But I am definitely learning to love and appreciate the little things that make my day that little bit brighter. And on that note and despite the fact that January has consisted of endless studying, mock exams and feeling under the weather, it hasn't been the worst start to the year and so I want to summarise the things that I have loved.

As you can see, this months favourites are completely random but hey ho I'll try not to ramble on too much here because I don't want anyone falling asleep on me!

Skincare & MakeUp

• Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish - The first thing I want to mention (which isn't featured in the photo but don't fear because I can sense a post dedicated to this stuff coming soon because it's just that great) is the Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish which has been my saviour on those cold and frosty mornings. My skin has been so problematic this past month despite sticking to my skincare routine but this cleanser is so lovely to use and I was lucky enough to get the festive edition so it smells of gorgeous mint and clementines. 
• Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation - I am so thankful to have had this in my make up bag throughout January, especially as it has such amazing coverage which I've definitely needed to cover up the redness and terrible breakouts. I know covering your skin during a breakout isn't the answer but I've felt so much more confident wearing this foundation when my skin has been problematic and it just looks so flawless on the skin. 
• No.7 skin illuminator - I haven't applied this too often but I have enjoyed mixing it with my foundation and it makes my skin look and feel so much healthier. I'd highly recommend for this time of year when your skin may be a little on the dry side.

Music, Film, TV & Books

• The Greatest Showman - Oh my goodness. I have already seen it twice in the cinema and I'm already planning on going a third time this week. The soundtrack, choreography, acting, cinematography, editing, ahhh. I'm in love. 
• Troye and Camila - I adore both of these artists so much and they've both released new music this month which has made me fall in love with them even more because it is sosososo stunning. I really haven't listened to a wide range of music this month purely because I'm playing these on repeat and I have no regrets.
• Jane the Virgin - I'm kinda hating myself for not joining in on the hype sooner but I just bloody love it. It's just such a brilliant feel good show. Don't get me wrong, it can be unbelievably frustrating at times but oh so worth it.
• Grace and Frankie - I have endless amounts of love for this show and I can't recommend it highly enough. The latest season was released this month and as always I finished it within two days. If I'm being completely honest, it wasn't my favourite season but having said that I laughed, cried and fell in love with it all over again. The ultimate cosy, feel good show.
• Harry Potter books (specifically The Order of the Phoenix) -  As some of you may know I've been re reading the books recently and they just make my downtime so much more enjoyable. I feel so overwhelmed with love and nostalgia whenever I read them and they have been a great comfort to me this month when I've experienced anxiety and stress for sure. 

Other Bits and Bobs

I have way too many random bits and bobs to find a category for everything I've loved this month and this post is already longer than I would have liked so I'll be quick with these I promise!

• Water Bottle with Infuser - I don't know what else to call this but I'm obsessed with it and it's really helping me stick to my 'new year I should really start drinking more water' resolution. I love that it has the times of the day on the bottle as a reminder to keep hydrated throughout the day because despite being an adult I still struggle to remember to do this, ooops.
• Day & Night Nurse Tablets for cold and flu - Before y'll judge me, I have spent half of the last month feeling so under the weather. From tight chests to sore throats to losing my voice completely to having a temperature to everything else that could have made me feel even worse, I've had it all over the last few weeks but these have been a complete life saver. Read the instructions and be so careful using them of course but I wish I had known about these before because three days after taking them I felt so much better. Oh adulthood, what fun you are. 
• Daily Journal - I have never in my life kept a journal but I genuinely get excited to use this one. I won't talk about this one too much because I've got a post coming later this week where I'll be telling you all about why I'm now that person who keeps a journal and secretly lovessss it.
• Anna Saccone Necklace Duo - I was sososo lucky enough to receive two of Anna's necklaces for Christmas and I am in love. I absolutely adore wearing them, whether I wear them separately or pair them together, they are so stunning and rose gold will always be a winner in my eyes.
• Mon Guerlain Eau de Perfum - Oh my goodness. I completely and utterly adore this scent and it's one of those perfumes that when I smell 10 years from now I know I'll be instantly reminded of this Christmas. I won't try and describe it because I'm awful at describing anything but it's just heavenly, even if it is a little on the pricey side.

And there we have it. Hallelujah. Give yourself a pat on the back if you've made it this far. I love reading these monthly favourites or monthly roundup blog posts and I was keen to give it a go, despite the fact that January has been a pretty dull month. Touch wood I'm starting to feel slightly better and February will consist of pancakes, adventures and new discoveries. 

Thank you so much for reading. I'll be back again soon with another post for you all.

Lots of Love, 
Meg X

Let The Eyes Do The Talking

I am definitely, absolutely, 100% NOT an expert when it comes to doing make up but over the years I've grown to love it. I no longer find doing my make up in the morning to be a chore. I just adore experimenting with different brands and colours, especially as the seasons change throughout the year.

I wanted to create a post to share my current top 3 favourite eye shadow palettes with you because truthfully I have been completely obsessed with them ever since I got them throughout last year. Like most people, lip and eye products are my absolute favourites to buy and experiment with and through the years, especially over the last twelve months, I've grown to love certain shades that I tend to use on a daily basis. Like I said, I'm definitely not an expert but I thought some people might be interested to see which three eye shadow palettes I am completely and utterly obsessed with at the moment.

1. Colourpop 'Yes Please' Palette - Click 'here' to see. 

I received this palette as a gift last year and oh my goodness. The colours say it all. I tend to prefer matte eye shadows so this is right up my street but what caught my attention with this one is how vibrant the colours are. They're just sososo stunning and there isn't a single colour I haven't used (yes, even the bright gorgeous yellow). The pigmentation is out of this world, you really don't need a lot on the brush (trust me, I've made that mistake before and ended up with it smeared all over my face). I haven't bought too many things from Colourpop but I've always heard amazing reviews. The only downside is that the brand isn't sold within the UK so I had to order this off House of Beauty instead. This palette is definitely a little out there but it's just heavenly to use and I always receive compliments when I do reach for it. 


2. Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palette - Click 'here' to see. 

This palette is such a cliche, I know. But I fell in love with it last summer when finally gave in and treated myself to it. Once again, the range of shades are right up my street and the pigmentation is incredible, definitely not as good as the Colourpop palette but beautiful all the same. I adore this one because the variety of matte and shimmery shades means that I can use it subtly throughout the day but it's also ideal for those times when you're getting a bit more dolled up. As you can probably see, my absolute favourites from this palette are 'Salted Caramel', 'Creme Brulee' and 'Hazelnut.' I also love to use 'White Chocolate' just under my brows and it looks super pretty. 

3. Morphe Fall Into Frost Palette - Click 'here' to see. 

You can probably start to see by now which colours I'm immediately drawn to when reaching for an eye shadow palette. This one is definitely more shimmery as opposed to matte but the range of colours is stunning and this one is particularly gorgeous for the Autumn / Winter. I'd heard such incredible reviews about the morphe palettes and I can completely understand why. It lasts all day and they're sosososo lovely and easy to apply. I'm utterly in love with the colours in this one and just like the other two the pigmentation is unbelievable. Trust me, this one is definitely worth considering if you're looking to treat yourself.

And there you have it - my current top 3 eye shadow palettes. I had a clear out last summer because I realised that I didn't use half of the stuff I owned but I have used these three items SO much since I bought them throughout last year. I'd highly recommend them to anyone on the hunt for something similar! Thank you so much for reading, I hope you're having a beautiful day wherever you are. 

Lots of Love,
Meg X

The Year That I Embrace Change

I've never come across a word that allows me to feel so much joy and pure terror at the same time. Change. It's something that everybody experiences and it could mean something pretty drastic or it could be the smallest of things. Everyone reacts differently to changes in their life and I'm one of those people who is one extreme or the other. By this I mean I either embrace the change and accept it or I'll have a complete and utter meltdown and it'll be the end of the world. I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that either but It's definitely a topic I'd love to talk about in the hope that I can reassure at least one person that you're not alone in this. 

Whether it's because I'm 18 years old or because I'm the most dramatic person you'll ever meet, everything that happens (regardless of how significant it may be) feels like such a huge deal. And it's normal to feel as though everything is getting on top of you and you'll somehow never be happy or successful in life (I told you I was dramatic). But we face change constantly. Change is all around us and it's something we very rarely have any control over which is quite frankly what terrifies me about it. I consider myself to be a spontaneous person but there are things that I like to plan and it's the uncertainty that is associated with change that makes me so fearful of it. 

This year I am starting University in Brighton which is a long way from home. I'm originally from North Wales which is where I'm currently living and despite my enthusiasm and excitement to move to Brighton, I am utterly terrified. And that's because of my endless list of 'what if's?' That's the scariest part about any form of change, no matter how big or small it may be. I'm so certain that I'm going to utterly adore living in Brighton as it's something I've wanted and looked forward to for a long time coming. But the question marks surrounding this huge change in my life are what makes this terrifying. 

I want 2018 to be the year that I fully embrace change and seize every single opportunity that comes my way, regardless of how scared I may be of the risks and consequences. Change is scary but I've recently learned that actually coming to the end of my life with loads of regrets is even more terrifying. I truly want to live a life that means making the most out of every single day and I don't want anything to hold me back this year from just saying yes and going for it. Of course this is so much easier said than done but I'm so eager and determined to give it my all. 

Like I said, I'm fairly good at embracing change. I'm a big believer that everything happens in this world for a reason and it is through change that I feel as though I'm learning and growing as an individual. I want to embrace changes this year and make the most out of every opportunity that comes my way. No matter how frightening these changes may be, I'm striving to enjoy every single moment and fingers crossed everything works out for the best. 

Thank you for reading this one, I'll be back again soon with another post.

Lots of Love, 

Meg X