100 Day Challenge

My blog has been mostly inactive for the last 6 or 7 months.
I was constantly struggling with what to write about because I felt like I had no interest and no direction.

Now, I am choosing to use my blog as a helpful tool in a positive way for the next 100 days.
If you are reading this, I hope you will be supportive of me on this journey I wish to take.

Right so this challenge then - it's all about getting healthy.

I have always had an issue with my weight, and it has always been something that has made me very self conscious. I used to get picked on when I was younger, and I turned to food to help me deal with my emotions. This led to a very bad lifestyle and me constantly making bad decisions where food is concerned. With me hopefully going to university in September, I've decided to get properly educated on what I really need to be putting into my body to look after myself and be the healthiest I can.

My aims for the next 100 days are:
Clean eating:- Whenever I can, I intend to make every meal from scratch. If this isn't possible, I intend to make the best choices I can. I also have a tendency to over eat, or under eat which then usually tends to binging. I am going to make a massive effort to make sure I am content, but not full to bursting or leaving my stomach rumbling.

Exercise:- At the moment, I walk to and from college three times a week, I walk to and from work twice a week, and I'm fairly active whilst at work. My plan from now on is to do at least half an hour of any exercise everyday. I really enjoy walking and it's very likely that I will take a walk everyday, but I also want to restart yoga as I found that very enjoyable.

Meditation:- Recently I have been overcome with stress, to the point that I've even struggled to do everyday tasks. I want to make sure I complete at least 10 minutes of meditation everyday to help combat this stress and improve upon my mindfulness.

Blogging:- I've decided on another use for this little blog - it's going to be the diary of my journey.

So 100 days - can I do it? I definitely believe I can but we shall see!

Book Focus - One Hundred Favourite Poems

One Hundred Favourite Poems is a collection of poems voted for by Classic FM listeners as their favourites - it's not like you couldn't guess that though.

I picked this up in a local charity shop a few months ago and I absolutely love flicking though it. 

Today I want to share with you my favourite poem contained inside, which is ranked third.

Jenny Joseph

Warning

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple 

With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

And satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I'm tired

And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

And run my stick along the public railings

And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

And pick the flowers in other people's gardens

And learn to spit. 

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

And eat three pounds of sausages at a go

Or only eat bread for a week 

And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

And pay our rent and not swear in the street

And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practise a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

Do you enjoy poetry? Do you have a favourite poem?

Let me know below!

Week in review

These past few weeks, I've been trying to do more and appreciate more. This week was my first week back at college after Christmas and I am very invested in making sure to keep on top of all my work this term. On Wednesday, me and Matt went out for lunch which was a really nice treat because we haven't eaten out in ages. Then yesterday, we went for long walk around Blenheim Palace and I snapped the pics whilst we were there. I really want to take more pictures for momentos and such.

Aspirations for 2015

                                                   

'New year, new me' posts get slated on New Years Eve every year and then the following week is filled with people posting them. Why do I want a new me? I've worked pretty hard on this version of myself and she's doing all right for herself - isn't she?

Yes Natalie, you're doing fine - but lets try and build on what's already there. I feel like the aspirations I hold for myself in 2015 can do for me what accessories do to an outfit, highlighter does to make up, and gorgeous end papers can do to a book - make it extra special and stand out. 

So my 10 aspirations to make 2015 extra special and stand out are as follows:

• Read one book a week for a year

In 2014, especially towards the end of the year, I was stuck in a terrible reading rut. Anything I tried to read or re-read just lay unfinished with a bookmark a third of the way through. I think it may have been due to my reading experience on holiday this year. I took a fair few books with me that had been massively hyped up and I didn't really think they lived up to the expectations. This left me feeling like my judgement was all wrong and that I'd been replaced by some body-snatching alien or something of the sort.

• Write more

One day, I hope to be a successful writer. Until that point, I intend to write as much as I can, whenever I can. I do struggle sometimes though, as I have to have the right working environment. At the moment, I'm really into poetry writing as I find it so open and expressive.

• Focus on me

This year, I intend to focus a lot more on myself. By that, I mean being a bit selfish and doing more of what makes me happy and not just trying to please other people. It also means prioritising my needs in regards to health and well-being.

• Vegetarianism 

In November, I decided to try being a pescetarian and eating no meat besides fish. This decision was party influenced by a documentary I watched on Netflix about the American food industry, and it focused quite heavily on the meat industry. I found it quite easy as I don't usually eat too much meat anyway, and I found that I wasn't really eating fish and didn't really want to eat it. This lead to me becoming full veggie on New Years Day. (The only thing I'm missing is Skittles)

• Eat well

Expanding on the previous aspiration, I'm trying to eat a more balanced diet and I'm aiming to eat at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day and cutting out junk food. Sorry pizza, I can't do this any more - you're smothering me.

• Be in the moment

In the past year I've come to realise I've become the annoying person that's never fully listening because I'm always on my phone. I don't want that to be my 'thing', so when I'm spending time with my loved ones I'm going to make more of an effort to leave my phone in my bag or in my room rather than in my pocket - so I'm not tempted. This means I really get to enjoy my quality time with people.

• Explore

I don't care when, where, or how, but I want to see the world, and not just through a screen. It could be a holiday, taking the scenic route somewhere, or even just a walk through my local park.

• Say yes to more things

When I was in Secondary School, I was quite sociable, That was, until I started Sixth Form. I hated Sixth Form so much - which is why I left after my first year - and I became a serious recluse. I became so comfortable either spending time alone or with my boyfriend, Matt, that I just stopped doing things. That was over 2 years ago, and I'm still a bit reclusive so I'm trying my hardest to say yes when people try and make plans - even if I'd rather be at home in my PJs reading a book.

• Save

What can I say? Most people have this on their to-do list, but as I'm hoping to go to Uni in September I'll have to start saving some serious dosh and get extra thrifty.

• Be happy

This doesn't really need an explanation now, does it?

A bit late on these posts but have you got any resolutions? 

I'd love to hear them!

Christmas Books

                             

Over the Christmas period, I was lucky enough to receive some lovely books from my friends and family - and I treated myself too.

My friend Ruby bought my Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay which I was very excited to open - I've read the first essay in this book and I really enjoyed it. I have this on my table in my room, as I feel like it's the kind of book I can dip in and out of which I love and I can't wait to read some more of it.

My brother bought me Not That Kind of Girl by Lena Dunham, Gone Girl and Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, and Billy and Me by Giovanna Fletcher. I'm about halfway through Billy and Me, which I am absolutely loving and I can't wait to read Not That Kind of Girl.

I received The War of Art by Steven Pressfield from my friend Josh which looks super interesting and is definitely going to come in handy when writer's block rears it's ugly head.

I bought myself I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb. I've had a little flick through this and it looks so interesting. I think Malala is an absolute inspiration and I'm going to read this properly when I have the time to sit down somewhere quiet so I can thoroughly enjoy it. 

Lastly, 2 weeks before Christmas I took my second trip to The Warner Bros. Studio Tour and picked up Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them and Quidditch Through the Ages by J.K. Rowling as I have all the Harry Potter books and The Tales of Beedle the Bard. 

Did you get any books for Christmas?

Anything unexpected? Let me know!

Life update

Hello, old friends. It's been a while since I wrote you last. Here's a little update. 

 In September, I started my second year of my college course. This also meant UCAS and all the stresses that come with it. I also started a college magazine which we're still working on. My 3 days at college were packed and tiring, and my free days were spent recording my radio show, filming for my course, and going to work. Pile UCAS and magazine deadlines on top with the odd driving lesson thrown in, and I was swamped!

 Now - with driving lessons postponed and UCAS out of the way - I have one free day dedicated to what I like. Wahoo! Mostly, I intend to fill this day with reading and writing. I will be uploading more posts to my little corner of the web, and I am aiming to upload at least once a week but hopefully more. I am not, however, going to push for content that feels unnatural for me to write as I have in the past. 

 The blogging world is very strange, and when I first started my blog I felt this immense pressure to be someone I am not. I think a lot of people feel this pressure with social media especially, and presenting themselves as this flawless persona. Everyone has flaws. I certainly do. Taking a four month break may be seen as a flaw, but I'm back and I'm here to stay. 

Nat x

High Street Lipsticks

Up until recently, I was never a big lip product fan. In the last 6 months or so, however, I've developed a major love for them and a few weeks ago I decided to pick up a few from Superdrug as I wanted to expand my collection, and decided to try out different types, brands and shades.

The first product I picked up was the Bourjois Shine Edition in 20 1,2,3 Soleil. I'm not going to lie, the main reason I was drawn to this was the packaging. I think it's absolutely gorgeous. It feels a bit like a mixture of a lip butter and balm, and is so moisturising on the lips. It's super super pigmented for the texture it has and I love wearing it.

The next product I picked up was the NYC City Proof Twistable Intense Lip Colour in 050 Park Slope Peach. Since buying this, I've picked up a few more lip crayon products, but this was one of the first nude-y colour that I picked up. I really like the colour of this and really liked the idea, but it really dries my lips out and I don't think the shade quite suits me.

(dat miserable face)

Then I found my new favourite lipstick - the Maybelline Superstay 14 Hour Lipstick in 150 On and On Pink. If the colour of this lipstick wasn't enough, it lasts all day and smells like berries. Do I need to say anymore?!

The next lipstick is the one that impressed me the most. This is the MUA Matte Lipstick in Peachy Keen. For those who don't know, MUA lipsticks are only £1 and are sold in Superdrug and on the MUA website. I absolutely love this colour and think for £1 it's an absolute bargain. I've been wearing this quite a lot in August as I love how summery it makes me feel.

This next buy was my throwback. This lipstick is the Miss Sporty Perfect Colour Lipstick in 032 New Age. I haven't worn anything Miss Sporty for about 10 years, and that was only when I used to raid my older sister's make up stash. I was sort of looking for a lilac-y colour and I found this. The only adjective that comes to mind for this is 'frosty' as it's got quite a sheer look on the lips. It's not something I'd wear often but I though it was fun.

Have you invested in any new lipsticks recently? Which are your favourites?

Let me know below!