Have I Ditched My Habits From The Start Of 2019?!

I made some goals (not resolutions) at the start of 2019 to kick out some habits which kind of took over my life and affected my wellbeing. I even wrote a post about it so I knew that there was no denying what I had set myself to do!




What I've learnt over these last twelve months is that breaking a habit is easier said than done. It's like trying to stop your nail biting habit, or for others, maybe smoking or drinking. The theory is that you can break a habit in a matter of 21 days. Nah, that's a load of crap! Saying that, we're all different, it may take that 21 day period to break a habit for some. However, I can safely say that I'm not a part of that group. The habits I had listed that I wanted to stop took a longer period of time to break.

Have I Ditched My Habits From The Start Of 2019?!

Blog Reads Of December

It's almost time to take the Christmas decks down and pack away the Christmas tree for another 11-12 months. We're also nearing the end of 2019 and we're about to enter a new decade, which pretty much seems daunting in a way.



I've read so many blog posts this month. A lot of Christmas themed ones (obvs the best time to write them) and also Christmas-less themed ones. Even though I've been panic buying Christmas presents, sorting out cards and getting annoyed with my wrapping paper for not folding properly when wrapping presents, I've still had time to sit down with a cup of hot chocolate and scour through my favourite blogger's posts.

Blog Reads of December

Single All The Way: Why Being Single At Christmas Isn't All Bad

"It'll be lonely this Christmas, without you to hold"

 

 

Ok, before I start necking down the mulled wine and scoffing all the Quality Street tin chocolates, let's be real here - being single at Christmas can kind of suck sometimes. Maybe because there is one less present to open under the tree. It's always nice to cwtch up to someone at Christmas, watch cheesy festive films over a hot chocolate and just flake out on the settee. Waking up together on Christmas morning and opening your presents by the tree. Maybe even going for winter walks through the park. Right, that's it, where's the vodka? Someone please pass me the Smirnoff!


Before I start getting maudlin and imagine myself becoming a nun and joining a convent, let's think of the pro's of being single during the festivities! There are some, I assure you -

Christmas Markets

A few weeks previous, I took a trip to Cardiff Christmas Market then more recently, I took a trip to Bath Christmas Market. Both lovely markets but completely contrasting from each other. Cardiff's certainly wasn't as big as Bath's, but I loved the Welsh feel about it (well, being in Wales, it would be wouldn't it?!). Bath's was on a grander scale, albeit a lot more busy.




Bath was one Christmas Market I had always wanted to visit. Purely for the setting and just to visit Bath itself. I enjoyed the time I had there very much, it was lovely to see all the different stalls that were situated on the picturesque streets of Bath. There was really something there for everyone.



Christmas Markets

Christmas As A Kid: The Traditions I Miss

Apart from the Scrooge's and Grinch's out there, the majority of us all love the mince pie and tinsel season. Christmas in terms of buying presents has evolved so much over time. Nowadays, my friends who have children of their own are buying their kids iPad's, iPhone's or X Box's. Every present they get now seems to involve a plug socket and a hike in your electricity bill.



When I was growing up, the most my presents would need to make them work were batteries. Other than that, 95% of my presents didn't come with wires or involve anything electrical. It makes me melancholic to think how Christmas has changed so much over time.

Christmas As A Kid: The Traditions I Miss

Tips For A Stress-Free Christmas

*This post is an AD. See the end of the post for the disclaimer.

Christmas is ultimately the busiest and most frantic time of the year. We're all running around like headless chickens trying to get everything done for the big day on the 25th. I do love the hustle and bustle at Christmas, even though we're all running up and down the aisles trying to find the perfect gift, we all have an aura of festive happiness about us which in turn, makes me happy.



However, Christmas, for quite a few of us, can cause a lot of stress and tension. I'd love to say that I'm as calm as anything at Christmas, but, me being me, I stress about who I need to buy for and what in the hell I'm going to buy them! There's always that one person you don't have a scooby doo what to buy them, they seem to own everything on the planet.

Blog Reads of November

It's CHRISTMAS. Well, not quite, but it's the end of November, which literally means it's Christmas. Even though Christmas started for me a while ago when Christmas songs were being played on the TV music channels.




Also it's just dawned on me that we are entering 2020 in a matter of weeks - how the hell are we entering another decade?! This time 10 years ago, I was a fresh faced college student lugging around folders in a fake Michael Kors bag , as you do.




Anyway, the end of the month means it's time for my blogging round up. I'm quite surprised how much I have read this month as I've been rushed off my feet! Well, I say rushed off my feet, I basically mean drinking lots of green tea and doing a lot of procrastinating. Don't we all?!




Ok then, here goes, here are my favourite blog posts from November:

My Travel Goals For 2020

I may sound a little premature talking about goals when there’s still well over a month of 2019 left, but I felt like sharing them. Sod it, it’s almost Christmas! Not that has anything to do with it *shrugs shoulders*



I’ve sort of found my rhythm with travelling in 2019, and I want that rhythm to continue in 2020. I visited Liverpool (obvs) twice, Brighton and Birmingham. All lovely cities, but all visited for different reasons.

All I Want For Christmas with Boots

*This post is an AD (paid) with Boots UK. See the end of the post for details.

Is it too early to be talking about Christmas? Of course it's bleeding not! It's not just me who feels this way, Boots do too!

A Little Life Update

I haven't written a life update in, well, yonks. I thought it was the right time to do so after a tumultuous couple of weeks.




It all started on a Thursday evening about 11 days back. I received two sets of heartbreaking news in the space of a few hours. Two of my friends passed away. As you can imagine, I was inconsolable, the news just broke me. To lose one friend is heartbreaking enough, but to lose two in a short space of time was beyond devastating.

Don't Sugarcoat It, I'm A Diabetic

It's World Diabetes Day - and I'm writing this as I am a diabetic myself. Yes, on top of everything else I already have to put up with, my body has dealt me the diabetes hand.



I wanted to write this to give people more of an insight into life as a diabetic.



So diabetes - it basically means that my pancreas is as lazy as f**k. It's not producing enough insulin to help keep my blood glucose levels down or help with nutrition. I've been a diabetic for nearly 15 years now, 15 years of finger pricking until my fingers have gone numb, using my belly as target practice for my insulin pen and for hearing the immortal words numerous times - "Can you eat that?"

How To Write The (Almost) Perfect Blog Post

Well, I say perfect. My posts are NEVER perfect. I'm always rejigging and tweaking already published content as I always think of new ideas or sentences to add or I have to correct a grammar or spelling error that I may have missed.



Believe it or not non-blogger's, there is a real process in creating a blog post. As blogger's can testify to, we all want our content to be perfect. We don't want to be publishing slapdash and average work. At the end of the day, it's going to be published on the world wide web, world wide meaning that potentially a lot of internet users may come across it at some point in their online journey. Well, not everybody, that's a wide audience, but you get what I mean.

Fat Shaming - Why's It Still A Thing In 2019?

Good Lord, the amount of tweets or comments on Insta pictures fat shaming people or making lewd suggestions at their weight and body size is beyond preposterous.



Why is this still a thing in 2019? Is it down to jealousy? Nastiness? Or just dumbfoundedly thinking that it’s still ok to do so in this day and age?



I posted these pictures of me in my bra a few weeks ago, something that this time a year or even two years ago, I wouldn’t have the guts to do. There’s always that small voice of doubt that people may think I’m attention seeking or I’m setting myself up for every snide remark there is to be thought of and said.

Three Years of Blogging: What I Have Loved

I've been so swamped with so much life admin and just life in general that I almost forgot that Lucy Mary is three years old!



Yes, I have owned a teeny miniscule of the online world for the past three years and have (hopefully) managed to put my personalised stamp on it. I feel extremely lucky to be doing this as a side hustle, once upon a time it was a hobby.

Blog Reads of October

How is it that we are days from dusting off our Halloween decorations and buying makeup to look our goriest best?! It's almost the end of October, Autumn is in full swing, the clocks are going back this weekend and the early nights await us.



The end of a month also means something else to me - another 'Blog Reads Of' edition! With the weather quickly turning cooler, it means me wrapping myself up like a cocoon in a blanket reading dozens of blog posts through Bloglovin' or Twitter blog threads.

I Took A Mini Break From Blogging and I'm Happy Again

I've been blogging for nearly three years no (how time flies) and I recently I realised that I have not had one single break from it. Three years of not putting my laptop down, not constantly thinking of new innovative ideas to improve my blog or not trying in vain to shoot some banging pictures for my blog posts.



The last couple of posts I've written and published on Lucy Mary were already sat in my drafts waiting to be posted. All I had to do was insert some okayish photo's before hitting the publish button. So in retrospect I haven't really written or created new content for almost a month now. My brain just went flat. I felt very uninspired and I just lost the spark for blogging. I knew that was a tell tale sign that I needed a much needed break from the blogging world.

I Took A Mini Break From Blogging and I'm Happy Again

What Constitutes As Being Brave?

Brave

Definition - showing no fear of dangerous or difficult things.

One thing I like to do now and again is take little adventures to myself. The confidence it gives me is beyond what I can even describe. That being said, when I've told people, people who know me well that I'm taking a trip to another city on my own, I always get the same reaction - "You're brave for doing that"

What Constitutes As Being Brave?

I Need Help: The Benefits of Speaking to a Psychologist

Those days when you feel nothing but sadness or when dark thoughts start creeping into your mind is a moment, for me personally, when I feel I need to get help or speak to someone. When you're feeling at your worst with your mental health, it takes serious guts to admit to yourself that you need to speak to someone as professional like a psychologist, counsellor or therapist.

Keeping It Au Naturale

Let me ask you something? When was the last time you posted a photo on your Instagram where you were fresh faced, makeup free, your hair was in disarray and you were wearing your scruffs? I don't think many people could answer that question. Or maybe it's a rhetorical one - it doesn't require an answer.



I'm somebody who likes to look my best. As much as applying makeup is time consuming, I love the confidence I feel when I wear makeup. Makeup is made to enhance our beauty, perfect any flaws we feel we may have. I always like to keep my hair in good condition, I wash it every three days and I style it with the straighteners or wave wand to make me look like a standard human being.

The Benefits of Listening to Podcasts

I never used to be one for listening to podcasts. Purely because I didn't know anyone who had a podcast. Nowadays, they are the 'in' thing and it seems like a lot of blogger's are going down the path of creating a podcast, not just a YouTube channel.



One thing I do like about podcasts is that the people who speak through the microphone provide a more honest and open opinion. To me, they are more personal and engaging. With YouTube, you have to showcase a lot of good videography and creativity to keep your subscribers interested and entertained. I don't watch many blogger's YouTube channels, mainly Victoria (Inthefrow) because her videos are always absolutely banging and so creative.

Blog Reads of September

I'm writing this the day after the start of Autumn and I'm all ready for jumpers, scarves, hot chocolates, crunchy leaves, Halloween and Bonfire Night.


I've given in and finally worn my first jumper since March and I'm quite happy about that to be honest. I'm ready to welcome Autumn with open arms and embrace it in all it's leafy beauty.


Anyway, the end of September not only means the start of October is upon us, but in the blogging world it means I'm summing up my favourite blog posts of this month. This is still one of my favourite posts to write every month, it gives me the chance to showcase other blogger's amazing content that may not have got the clicks it deserved.


Let's press on then, here are my favourite blog posts from September:

Blog Reads of September

3 Hours in Birmingham

*This is an Ad. See disclaimer below.

I need to be frank here, I've only ever been to Birmingham twice in my life. The first time I went on a long car journey (car journeys seem like days as a kid) to the airport to pick family friends at a Birmingham airport hotel (don't ask me which one!). Then the second time was only a matter of weeks ago when I was had to change at Birmingham New Street to get to Liverpool.



Ok, that's probably not the most enlightening and entertaining opening paragraph I've ever written, but stick with me my little darlings.

3 Hours in Birmingham

Travelling Solo

I've travelled solo a few times now, mainly Liverpool but also to Brighton. As much as there is a sense of apprehension surrounding a solo trip, there is a great feeling of independence and confidence when you venture out of your home town.



The anxiety can dangerously spoil a lone trip away. In my case, I worry about my travel plans getting ruined by a late train or a hotel not coming up to scratch. Maybe the plans I had arranged get tossed out of the window unexpectedly. Mind you, if I named every single worst case scenario, I wouldn't go anywhere. I'd be stuck in a house like a hermit if I didn't go to new and different places.

Travelling Solo

Tee - Noisy May (ASOS)

Skirt // Nasty Gal

Am I Falling Behind Everyone Else?

*Scrolls through Facebook*

Someone else is engaged, let’s comment congratulations, tell them you wish them nothing but happiness and move on.

*Scrolls even further through Facebook*

Someone is having a baby, let’s comment congratulations, tell them to start buying Huggies/Pampers and move on.



Photography - Ellie Blakeney
Am I Falling Behind Everyone Else?

The Importance Of Getting Your Bra Measured

I remember my supposed first bra measurement, my Mam took me into Tesco, held up different bras to my chest to test out each size, my Mam came to the decision that I was a 36D - or as she said, "That's close enough". So from that point on, I bought 36D bra's (half) convinced that my Mam had bought me the right size bra and that was that.

The Importance Of Getting Your Bra Measured

20 Hours in Brighton

It's ok, I haven't gone completely stupid or barmy, I know there are 24 hours in a day! However, I didn't spend a proper day in Brighton recently. Over a 24 hour period, 20 of them were spent on the seaside resort.



Brighton is one of those places in the UK you have to visit - purely for the seaside and famous pier alone. A lot of people have asked me why I booked one night in Brighton - well my friends, I booked this mini trip for a few reasons -

1) To have a photoshoot with one of my lovely blogging friends

2) To just have a night away to myself

3) To boost my confidence and help my travel anxiety

4) Because I wanted to go on the beach and buy a stick of rock (seaside ones always taste better!)

20 Hours in Brighton



Blog Reads of August

Ok, I've had quite a manic August. From starting a new job to taking two trips away and being a new cat mother, I haven't stopped to sit down! Like I said, it's been a pretty busy month. It's been nice to sit down and do some blogging over the last couple of days cause I literally haven't had the chance in the last 10 days or so. However, just because I haven't been writing much, doesn't mean I'm not reading other blogger's content!


Here are my favourite blog posts from this month of August:



Blog Reads of August

FM Living, Liverpool

Yes, shock horror, surprise, surprise, I've been to Liverpool again. And it was a lovely trip thank you for asking.


Firstly, let's just do a little bit of a throwback Thursday on a Saturday. Back in February , I won a Twitter competition for a weekend stay at one of Liverpool's newest aparthotels, FM Living . Well, of course I was absolutely buzzing when I get mentioned on Twitter for being the winner. So the dates were arranged for August, I was going back to my happy place, hurrah.

FM Living, Liverpool

I Take How Many Tablets?!

I see everyone writing about their blogging stats, eg how many followers they have on each platform or how many views they get in a year on their blog. However, I thought I would try writing statistics which are something completely different to that.

I Take How Many Tablets?!

Taking Time For Yourself: Ways To Relax

It's #NationalRelaxationDay - a day to just take time for ourselves (when and where possible) and just chill. However, some of us (myself included) do struggle to put down our tools to just simply relax. This is something I would definitely like to improve on, but I am somebody who does like to be up and about getting through my to-do list.



As someone who has a lung problem, I do need to make more of an effort to just sit down and give my lungs a break. I make that sound like a bad thing, like I'm saying that relaxing is the worst thing to do on this Earth. Believe me, there's nothing I love more than lying down on the sofa watching This Morning with a cuppa in my hand.



Taking Time For Yourself: Ways To Relax

Blogger Retreat

I'd love to go to one of those lodge houses for a weekend with my blogger friends to do photo sessions and just inspire each other to create cracking content, who's with me?! 🙈📸

— Lucy Taylor (@LucyMaryTaylor) July 31, 2019

I kind of think this title is misleading, I haven't been to a blogger retreat recently! That's the stuff only blogger's dreams are made of, or in this case, mine. However, this got me thinking - what would be the perfect blogging retreat? What place could blogger's and influencer's go to where they can write, have photo sessions and inspire each other to create cracking content?

Blogger Retreat

An Appreciation For Twitter

We see blogger’s writing posts about how to beat the Instagram algorithm, how to use Pinterest effectively and why Facebook is the cause of all unnecessary drama. But (please correct me if I’m wrong here!) I’ve never seen a blogger write a post about Twitter. Maybe it’s because Twitter is the one app that doesn’t give us grief on a daily basis.

An Appreciation For Twitter

The Story of Friendships

When you think about it, we developed and established friendships from such a young age. From our first day in school when we sat on the grass making daisy chains or having handstand competitions. You make friends with such ease when you're young. Well, when you spend 6-7 hours a day in the classroom 5 days of the week, you're bound to have each other's backs.

The Story of Friendships

Blog Reads of July

I'm writing this during a heatwave, or as I call it, Summer and I won't lie, I'm sweltering. July has been an okayish month, but I've got so many good things planned in August, from trips away to just enjoying the Summer! As always, I've refreshed my Bloglovin' feed every day this month to read some new blog posts. I have had quite a few favourites in July so it took me a while to choose which ones to include in this post! However, these are the ones that made the cut:




Blog Reads of July

In Defence Of Instagram

For once, I'm not going to moan about the infamous algorithm! Well, let's see how far I can go without mentioning it in this post...



We had yet ANOTHER Instagram outage the other day, also Facebook and WhatsApp thought they could go one better by doing the same thing on the same day. Tut tut *eye roll*. All I can say is that thank you Twitter for not being an absolute pain in the bum by not having outages left right and centre.

In Defence Of Instagram

Comparing Myself To...Myself

Comparing myself to myself - that's a thinker!



Let me start from the beginning, I did quite a random thing the other night (don’t get any ideas!) I was scrolling through my Instagram, right back to about three years ago when I posted near on everyday. Remembering an innocent time when engagement and likes wasn’t such a hot button issue with me, well, with us all I suppose. I would happily post pictures on there freely, not post on there at a certain time of day when I think the engagement on said photo would rocket (PAH!)

Comparing Myself To...Myself

Taking My Life Back

"Unfuckwithable"

Definition - feel totally in charge of your emotions

and no longer have "good" or "bad" days. 

Ok ok, I admit I haven't written THE most upbeat posts in the last month and I kind of apologise for being 'Grumpy'. Before I start singing "Hi-ho, hi-ho", let's get stuck into this post.
Now that I made that decision to move on all by myself (what a very adulty thing for me to do!) and I'm starting to feel good about things, it's time to take control of my life again!




Taking My Life Back

Dress // Boohoo

Blog Reads of June

Well, June has been a complete wash-out hasn't it?! The weather has been beyond terrible and I'm literally praying to see a bit of sunshine at some point in July *fingers crossed* . It's been an up and down month, mentally, not brilliant, but I'm hoping things are on the up and July will be a great month for me.

Blog Reads of June

As always, I've been scouring Bloglovin' and reading countless blog posts, but here are my favourite reads in June -

Tea Solves Everything

*Gifted items in this post - see disclaimer below.

 

Lost your shit over Hermes not delivering your parcel? - Have a cuppa

Broken the hoover? - Have a cuppa

Had your house robbed? - Have a cuppa

The world is about to end? - Have a cuppa

Tea Solves Everything

When Do You Tell Someone That You Have An Illness?

Ooh, tricky. It is difficult to judge when the time is right to tell someone you have a chronic illness. Whether it be a new boyfriend/girlfriend, a new boss, or that work colleague Sandra who always takes a handful of Digestives for her cuppa and never leaves any for you (greedy bitch), it's always hard to decide when to bite the bullet and just say what exactly is wrong with you.


I won't lie, I've put myself through the wringer trying to tell someone I have Cystic Fibrosis. I think it's that person's initial reaction when I blurt it out that makes me the most angst and nervous. Will they take it well? Will they only just give you that pitiful head tilt and say "Aww bless!" Or will they be an absolute bum fluff and ask you questions like "Can you die from that?" (drawing from personal experience there)

When do you tell someone you that you have an illness? 

Insta vs Reality

Now boys and girls, it's time to teach you the lesson of how everyone you see on Instagram isn't all that it's cracked up to be.


Behind every selfie, there are hidden insecurities, secret battles or concealed hints of self doubt.
I look at myself and see flaws and imperfections that I wish to keep away from the prying eyes of Insta users. There's that anticipated fear of being judged for the way I look, I can't be the only person who feels this way.



Love Island: Why I Can't Stand It!

June 3rd saw the start of Love Island. Whilst everyone is already loving who's going to go off with who and be literally glued to ITV2 for the next 8 weeks, I do have a confession to make - I bloody hate the show!


I have tried to watch it once before, I'm not like one of those kids who won't try a kiwi because they don't like the look of it. When I did watch it though, I turned it off after about 8 minutes because I could literally feel my IQ level dramatically hit the floor as time went on. Now, I'm not the brightest bulb in the lamp, but I felt like Joey Essex after a few minutes of watching it. Some of the things that were being said on there just blew my mind - and not in a good way.

Losing A Pet

Ok, I'm going to challenge myself not to reach for the box of Kleenex tissues while writing this post! Possibly easier said than done, but we'll give it a go.


For those who haven't looked at my social media profiles lately because you were on a social media detox or something like that, my beautiful cat Charlie passed away at the end of May. He was a huge part of my life for 11 years and I miss him very much. Me and my Mam made the heartbreaking decision to have him put to sleep due to ill health. He had an operation back in April to have a couple of teeth taken out and he wasn't the same since that day. It looked like he had developed cancer over a short period of time and eventually it just took over.

Blog Reads of May

My birthday month is over, it's been quite an up and down month for me. The end of the month hasn't ended so brightly as I have been struggling with a lot of things. Also having my cat Charlie put to sleep due to ill health has really got me into such a heartbroken state and my emotions are all over the place! Hopefully June will bring me a lot more happiness!
Anyway, let's get on with what this blog post is about, here are my favourite blog reads of May:

The Florist, Bristol

Recently, I attended House 21's magazine launch event at The Florist in Bristol. As I'm a contributor for the online magazine, I was invited by the lovely ladies and creators of House 21 Mel and Donna to the launch event alongside other amazing contributors to celebrate our fabulousness over scrumptious food and Instagrammable cocktails.

Dress // Zara

Sandals // New Look

Anxiety: My Secret Battle

I'll never forget the first one - sat on my bed, dressed in my school uniform, feeling more apprehensive than normal about going to school -

 

"What was I going to be ridiculed for that day?"

"Who was I going to be sat by in my English lesson?"

"I know they'll be talking about me again"

 

These thoughts and more kept circulating in my head, more than usual. My breathing was quickening and I was shaking, I felt like I couldn't move. I thought I was just having a wobble, a moment if you will. However, these little "wobbles" become more frequent, and I'm not talking about my thighs. Little did I realise I was suffering from anxiety attacks.

Is Reality TV Jeopardising People's Mental Health?

With the news coming through this week that a guest passed away a week after filming on the Jeremy Kyle Show and now that the shows has been axed for good, it has definitely raised some worrying concerns about how TV shows handle mental health.


Obviously there is a lot of speculation circling about the circumstances surrounding this person's death. It's incredibly sad and if it is due to this person's mental health, then a lot of people need to have a long hard look at themselves.

Yes, There Is Such A Thing As A Mid Mid-Life Crisis!

Mid Mid-Life Crisis
Definition - a series of life changing events that occur around 25-30 years of age.

Before we start, IT'S MA BIRTHDAY! Happy Birthday to little old me!

I turned 25 last year and had a meltdown. I'm turning 26 today and I'm now feeling the same emotions as I did this time last year. Possibly even worse. It has also dawned on me that I'm closer to the age of 30 rather than 20. Dear God.

Hiding Our Likes, A Good Idea?

"Let's see how well this photo I've posted has done today - WHY HAVEN'T YOU SHOWN MY PHOTO TO EVERYONE INSTAGRAM?! - YOU BASTARD!"

Ok, mini sweary rant over. Apart from Insta being a pain in the backside for not showing my new post to my followers AGAIN, they have caused a little bit of a debate as they have announced they are trialling a new update. This update is going to 'hide your likes'. Basically Instagram have said that this will help your followers enjoy your photos. Hmm, I've always thought that was the whole point of Instagram anyway, but hey, what do I know?!

InstaStyle by Tezza

Blog Reads of April

I posted my first 'Blog Reads Of' post this time last year so happy birthday to this series of mine! Hopefully it can still continue to bring blogger's together and get others mentioned and highlighted like they deserve to be!

Here are my favourite posts from April (in no particular order!):