Fail to prepare, prepare to fail!

Remember me? I'm not quite sure how it happened, but it has somehow been an entire month since my last blog post. I'll be honest with you here. Despite taking on a new job and a nasty bout of laryngitis, there are no valid reasons for this. In fact, when a friend enquired about when my next post would be a few days ago, I replied 'What blog?' .. for shame. Despite the organisational goals for 2014 laid out in my first post, I'm afraid the reality is a classic case of not using my time effectively. It may also have something to do with the fact I've been using that time to watch back-to-back episodes of Gossip Girl on Netflix in my PJs. I'm not proud of it.. you may take your judgement elsewhere!

Well, I think it's quite clear some planning is needed here. After a fantastic start to February spent in the cultural wonderland that is London, my brain wandered back to this little space on the interwebs. There is something about the view in the picture on the right (taken from a swanky apartment in Canary Wharf, no less) that evokes thoughts of the endless opportunities out there and gets me feeling all creative. Now I just need to work on the focussing part. So, I have taken a couple of steps to ensure that this blog can finally get going, if a month late. 

One thing I've found frustrating in these first few posts is the quality of the pictures. I decided to take the plunge (as well as empty the contents of my purse) and get myself a DSLR. I've been having a practice and can't wait to start showcasing the results on here. Now that ticks off the quality issue, but we've still got quantity. Once a month isn't going to cut it. It can be difficult when you work full time but I've decided to start scheduling posts over the weekend. As time goes on, I also want to include regular ongoing features which should bring along some much needed structure! 

The first of these weekly features will be commencing on Friday and it's all about health and fitness. A little challenge if you will. It's not just the blog inspiration that has suffered recently. Apart from my daily last-minute sprint for the bus, January has seen a complete lack of exercise. So much for those resolutions eh? I'm looking forward to getting stuck in and will reveal all the details in Friday's post.

That's right.. two posts in three days. I don't want to speak too soon here but I think I may have turned the corner. 

January Saviours

In comparison to the hopes and resolutions that come along with January 1st, it's only a matter of time before those post-Christmas blues start to kick in. Gone are the pretty lights, the excuse to eat your own weight in cheese and quality time with family. In their place are the dark grey mornings, the baggage of those few extra pounds (darn you, cheese) and a whole new set of commitments. However, to remind myself of the potential that a new year brings, I have compiled a list of the things that are making me feel a little more human this January!

The main area that needs the most attention for me in January is my sleeping pattern. After the late nights celebrating (eating) over the holidays, it can be hard to re-adjust when you're suddenly hit with those demon 6am alarms. Before going to bed, I've been using the This Works Dream Team which consists of a pillow spray and a rollerball to be used on pulse points. I've relied on this handy little duo ever since receiving them as a free gift when staying at a hotel years ago. The lavender scent of the pillow spray mixed with the calming and cooling effect of the rollerball really help to promote relaxation and clear a racing mind after a long day. The addition of a hot chocolate in the colder evenings also makes the perfect treat to finish the day. I'm slowly making my way through the variety of Options flavours (mint chocolate is my personal favourite) and at 40 calories each they don't threaten to ruin any new year diets! For those nights when there is simply no solution and you find yourself staring at the ceiling at 2am, I find the Origins 'No Puffery' Cooling Eye Mask to be the most effective way of disguising those panda eyes in the morning!

One of my favourite things about the winter months is the opportunity to wear the slightly darker shades of makeup that may be deemed slightly too much when it starts to get warmer. For this, I always turn to my MAC lipstick collection (definitely deserves its own blog post) and I've recently been drawn to the shade 'Plumful'. It's the perfect berry shade that makes a subtle impact, yet still looks natural enough to wear everyday. However, the downside of those cold winds means the need for some pretty high duty lip balm to pull it off. I've recently been using Nuxe Reve de Miel which has a matte texture that manages to keep lips moisturised without too much sheen. Despite going darker with the makeup, I've brightened up my wardrobe by adding this Urban Outfitters scarf (shown above) which I've found to be a refreshing take on the tartan trend by adding a pop of colour to those monochrome mornings.

I think a new year is the perfect time to treat yourself to some new listening and reading material. Having something else to keep your mind occupied during those bleary-eyed commutes can bring about a much more positive start to the day. For maximum motivation potential, I've recently been reading 'The Secret' by Rhonda Byrne after hearing so much about it. The teachings in this book are based on the law of attraction and how our own thinking impacts the way in which we live. As a former Psychology student, I have found it a fascinating read so far and would definitely recommend it to anyone stuck in a January rut. Every commute needs a soundtrack, and my album of choice at the moment has been 'If You Wait' by London Grammar. Now this album is certainly not the cheeriest by any means, but there is something about the captivating melodies that adds a definite hint of calm to my day.

So there we have it, my January saviours. In fact, after writing this post I'm almost looking forward to my alarm going off in six and a half hours! If I keep telling myself this (putting 'The Secret' into practice) then it's true right? Who am I kidding.. bring on Feb!

New Year, New Blog!

First things first, Happy New Year! I've been thinking about making a blog for quite a while now, but as an avid follower of a lot of lifestyle blogs myself, I was unsure about what I could really add to the table. However, in the spirit of my main resolution this year to worry less, I thought it was about time to throw caution to the wind and have a crack at this blogging business myself! As for the name I have chosen to christen this blog with, it is an old long-standing nickname and not in fact my own take on Gwyneth Paltrow's website 'goop'! There shall be no talk of mung beans here!

One of my favourite things about blogging is the organisational aspect. Is is just me or is there something so satisfying about categorising and documenting stuff!? Wow, I sound like a right hoot. Whilst I pride myself on this skill in the office, I often fall at the first hurdle when it comes to organising my own life. 2013 has seen far too many skipped workouts, ready meals, lazy ponytail days and forgotten hobbies. So, with the intention of making the most of life outside of the daily grind this year, here is a little introduction to what I want to include in this little blog of mine along with some other resolutions for 2014.

I can't quite pinpoint when my interest in beauty and style began, but somewhere along the line I have made some progress from the heavy waterline eyeliner and khaki corduroy trousers I sported as a seventeen year old. The majority of the blogs I follow are beauty based and my love for a good product review is demonstrated by my ever-growing makeup collection! I'd like to make the most of that collection by being a bit more experimental this year. I often take on the role of makeup personal-shopper (seriously, if this is an actual thing then it is my calling in life!) when on a spending spree with friends, so I thought I'd use this space to share my favourite looks and products. 

My list of resolutions always includes the obligatory 'lose x amount of weight' by a date far too soon in the future. This year there are no numbers or timescales; just the intent to make healthier decisions. After many failed attempts at the whole gym thing, I have learnt that I always get the best results with my Jillian Michaels home workouts. I am definitely a fan of sticking with what works for you, demonstrated by the fact that all DVDs shown here are Jillian's ha! I want to try and create my own routine, gradually incorporating all of these workouts over the next few months. I also plan to make more healthy food from scratch, no more evil ready meals!

When you're in full time work, it's easy to let your interests take a back seat. Many the time I've returned home at 7pm, got straight into my PJ bottoms and watched a Made in Chelsea marathon - hardly mind-testing stuff! I have played the piano since I was little and received a ukulele for Christmas presenting a brand new challenge! My Dad gave me a book on constellations with the promise of visiting some designated dark sky areas this year, which should be a fun way of learning something new. Living in the West Midlands, I'm not presented with many exciting cultural opportunities so I'd love to see more of the UK this year in general.

I can't wait to start posting on here properly and look forward to fitting in as much as I can before I turn the big 2-5 this year (shudder)! We have eight months to work with here - watch this space!