Six Books I've Read So Far In 2020

Ok, I know it may seem that it's taken me a hella of a long time to read six books as we're now in May, but I think because of my Grandad being ill and passing away at the start of the year, it took me a little longer than usual to get through reading six books, cause you know, priorities and that.


Anyway, I think I've just realised that this is my first book review on my blog in like EVER. Well, it's more than one book. I'm sure I'll get the hand of this book review lark eventually.

Talking About Your Mental Health Online - Should We?

My Mam and me were chatting about Facebook one evening, generally about the stuff that people post on there. She then happened to mention that one of her Facebook friends had posted about her mental health on one of her statuses, something my Mam thought was wrong. Something which I disagreed with. Something that I made her aware of is that I suffer with my mental health also.

Kegel Exercises: Why They're Important and My Personal Experience

Disclaimer - There are gifted items in this post. 

See the end of the post for more information.

Is there a stigma attached the words 'pelvic floor'? Even though we all have a pelvic floor, for some people, it can be a source of embarrassment.



As somebody who has had pelvic floor issues in the past because of my illness, I should know. I think a lot of people relate pelvic floor problems with the elderly. However, that isn't the case. It can be an awkward issue for younger people also. From pregnant women to people like myself who cough on a daily basis, it can be humiliating, especially when you're out in public and have an 'oops' moment because you necked your Diet Coke too quickly in the previous pub.

A Birthday Like No Other

Yes, it's my birthday today and I'm turning 27. What will I be doing to celebrate this fine occasion? Nothing.



But I'm ok with that. Purely because I can't exactly go to town and neck vodka and cranberry juice all night - I'll be doing that at home instead.

How To Gain More Of An Organic Following On Your Blog / Social Media

I received a DM from a new blogger the other day asking me how I gained so many followers on my blog and Bloglovin' and other social media outlets.



First of all, I'm not an expert and I'm not overly swimming with followers so I felt I could only offer what I have learnt over the years.



Gaining a social media following isn't easy by any means. The only way you can gain a good amount of followers is through your own hard work.

7 Lockdown Challenges / Ideas

Bored of lockdown? I feel ya.



I reached the point the other day where I tried on all of my bras (well, one at a time) and adjusted the straps that felt a little loose. The peak of boredom/insanity right there.



Away from bra strap adjusting, I've come to rely on social media to make me smile and bring me a little joy into my boredom.

The Isolation Diary: Part One

I was going to post this diary at the end of isolation, however, as it is going to be a hell of a long time until life returns to normal, I thought I'd split it into parts. Well, hopefully I won't be writing TOO many parts of this. So, here's the first part of my isolation diary:

My Daily Lockdown Routine

Jeez my routine has changed a hell of a lot in the last few weeks. Not just mine, so many of us have to had to alter our normal schedule.



I'm not going to lie it's been hard adjusting and adapting to life with everything that's going on right now. However, it has been quite fun in a way to figure out a new routine that suits me best.



Making a new routine is all about adapting to your specific needs and to do what makes YOU happy. Just because somebody takes their bath's in the evening, doesn't mean you have to too. Some people choose to wake up at 6am, some choose to stay in bed and get up when they feel ready to.

My Favourite YouTube Workout Channels

I never thought I would say this, but I really miss going to the gym! Going to the gym used to be a part of my weekly routine and it was nice to exercise somewhere different that wasn't my house.



Since being in lockdown, I've being doing a hell of a lot of workouts that are on YouTube channels everyday, as well as going on my treadmill. One thing that I have loved about doing this though is that I have discovered new fitness videos. I now have a varied exercise routine right now which I'm loving right now. Being indoors has allowed me to discover more fitness channels on YouTube and try new workout videos I genuinely thought I couldn't do because I wasn't flexible enough too i.e. yoga. Yep, you should watch me do yoga sometime, it's a real treat. Perhaps I should put it on TikTok?

My Favourite YouTube Workout Channels

How To Budget

Every time I hear the word 'budget' , I think of the Chancellor standing outside 10 Downing Street with that red suitcase and holding it aloft for the tens of paparazzi there waiting to snap a quick photo.



Yes, budgeting. It's not easy. Whatever income you have coming in, it's all about prioritising, especially if you don't live in your own place. Whether you're employed, unemployed or self employed, having a budget is so important.

8 Things I Plan To Do When Self Isolation Is Over

I'm currently watching Gavin & Stacey, it's the episode where they have the curry night at Pam and Mick's house. It's safe to say that when this pandemic is over, we shall all party like the Shipman's did that night. We shall dance, get pissed, have fun with our families and celebrate by ordering a chicken bhuna, lamb bhuna, prawn bhuna, mushroom rice, bag of chips, keema rice and nine poppadoms. 




At this moment in time, cabin fever is really beginning to kick in. I'm struggling to get motivated to do anything, I've become lazy, I'm sleeping a hell of a lot more than I usually do and I just (like everybody else) can't see a light at the end of the tunnel. However, it does feel a little comforting to know that I'm not the only person in this position. We're all staying at home, crawling up the walls and finding something and anything to do to keep ourselves occupied. Whether it be re-grouting the tiles in the bathroom or organising photo's into photo albums.

The Things I Plan To Do When All This Is Over

How To Have A Digital Spring Clean

Yes, spring cleaning doesn't have to just involve washing your curtains, hoovering under the sofas or Dettoling the kitchen cupboards (obviously you take the food out first) . It can also mean having a digital sort out. By this, I don't mean getting the screen wipes and wiping down your phone, laptop or Ipad screens.



When was the last time you looked through your phone and thought "Yep, I don't need to unfollow, unsubscribe or delete anything as everything is tickety boo and my phone has enough memory to last forever and ever!" Yep, didn't think so. You wouldn't hoard everything like a squirrel in your house to take up valuable space, so why do the same for your technology?

How To Have A Digital Spring Clean

The Value of Online Friendships

I tell someone that I hope they feel better soon when they've caught a cold. I tell someone how much I love their outfit. I say a massive hell yeah to someone who has written a tweet I wholeheartedly agree on. I tell someone how cute their cat/dog is. I let a blogger know that I have commented on their newest blog post. There's just one thing - I have never met these people.



I've come to grow very fond of online friendships. Social media can be a lovely, friendly environment to be a part of. There's always somebody you follow and who (or whom, which is it Ross?) follows you that has your back. People you've never met give you so much support, encouragement, love and genuinely care.

The Value of Online Friendships

Trying To Regain Some Normality

Disclaimer - this post contains gifted items. See end of the post for more details.

I don't need to tell you what is going on in the world right now. It feels like a bad dream that we're all awaiting to wake up from.



All of our routines have been thrown out of whack. Some are working from home, some aren't able to do that. Some amazing people AKA NHS workers are putting their lives on the line to save us and take care of us. Something which I can safely we are eternally grateful for.

Trying To Regain Some Normality

I'm Bored - What Can I Do?

Disclaimer - in no way am I going to encourage you to panic buy toilet rolls and baked beans in this post. 

Unless you've been hibernating in a cave these last few weeks, there's this thing called the Coronavirus dominating the headlines, newspapers, social media feeds, small talk and even dogs and cats are beginning to guess what's going on.

I'm Bored - What Can I Do?

My Lifestyle Goals

I was quite uncertain about what to title this post. The goals I'm about to list are a mixture of lifestyle and life goals. Some long term, some short term.



Anyway, remember those times in childhood when you thought you would be married, have kids and live in a house by the time you were an adult? Ah, the innocence of youth.

My Lifestyle Goals

How I Work Smart

And the award for "The Best Procrastinator" goes to...

 

 

 

Yes, you guessed it - me. I'll admit, I'm a lazy bugger sometimes. I'm the person who puts tasks off to the last minute (sometimes) because This Morning are showing a UK tree that is up for European Tree of the Year. Not that I have a huge interest in trees, but it's daft things like that that distract me easily.



How I Work Smart

The Grieving Process: How It's Different For Everybody

This post is quite difficult for me to write, the feeling still feels raw. Then again, there's no better time to write it when I'm going through it myself - the grieving process.




Very recently, my Grandad passed away from cancer. Something that us as a family we're expecting for so long, but it still hurt and broke our hearts. I shed a few tears, listened to his favourite song in his memory and remembered all the fond memories I had with him. On a Friday where I was supposed to be looking forward to the weekend, I found myself crying with my Mam and my Aunty over the news we had received.




The Grieving Process: How It's Different For Everybody

Instagram Pods: Are They Worth The Hype?

In the past, I've always been a little hesitant about joining an Instagram pod. I never really believed that they worked, it was a pointless exercise and that my engagement would increase by the bare minimal. I thought it would been like joining a colt, or a gym. Gym memberships are a bugger to get out of.




Recently, I got asked by one of my favourite blogger's to join an Instagram pod. Automatically, my answer was going to be thanks but no thanks. However, pushing my scepticism aside, I thought, "Would it do any harm?" they say that you should try new things, so this could be my new thing for today? I messaged my friend back and said yes. Before you know it, a notification flashes up from Instagram saying that I have been added to a group chat AKA pod.




Instagram Pods: Are They Worth The Hype?

12 Things That Only Welsh People Say!

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus!

Translation - Happy Saint David's Day!

 

 

 

What's occurring? Well, it's the 1st March, the day we celebrate the patron saint of Wales, St David. Well, only Welsh people celebrate this day.



12 Things That Only Welsh People Say!

I Stopped Giving A Sh*t About My Body Flaws And I'm Happier Now

I had my annual MOT at the hospital earlier this month. In other words, it was my annual review where they go over my health over the past 12 months and carry out every single test they can possibly think of on me.



Anyway, at the review, I got weighed, as I do at every appointment I have at the hospital. I got told by my dietitian whilst putting my shoes and socks back on that I had lost weight. Now, to normal, healthy people, this would be seen as a triumphant moment. In my case, a little panic set in. I kind of knew the reason why I had lost weight, purely because I wasn't eating enough. I haven't been dieting or anything. If only I could. A lot of things have been happening in my life lately and it's meant that I haven't felt like eating much. I've made a little promise to myself that I'll put a pound or two back on before Easter.

I Stopped Giving A Sh*t About My Body Flaws And I'm Happier Now

How Having A Pet Can Help Mental Health

I do say quite a lot that I will eventually end up with nine cats rather than a husband. To be honest, that hypothetical scenario is getting more and more likely to happen by the day.




I've had pets all of my life. Well, I say pets like I've had the entirety of the RSPCA and Pets At Home live in my house. 95% of my pets have been cats. The other 5% being goldfish named after trains from Thomas the Tank Engine. Yep, Thomas, Percy, Gordon and I think a Henry also.




How Having A Pet Can Help Mental Health

The Topic of S-E-X

*Items in this post are gifted with no obligation to post. See disclaimer at the end of the post.

In school, during a biology lesson, or a an PSHE lesson, I can't remember now. Anyhow, I learnt about Maslow's hierarchy of needs. It's basically a five tier triangle stating what we as humans cannot live without. The needs lower down in the hierarchy triangle must be met and satisfied before you can move up further in the triangle (I'm no science expert). The basic needs (the lowest level on the triangle) are food, water, air, shelter, sleep, clothing and...sex.





Yes, I said it, sex. It's something a lot of us have on regular basis (please don't message me your sexual timetable, I don't need to know) we all need it, as Maslow's hierarchy of needs states.



The Topic of S-E-X

Little Improvements I Want To Make

I'm a believer in continuous improvement. I believe that there is always room to make little fine tunings in my daily life. It could be something as simple as adding an extra task to my routine, remembering to put the recycling out, reading more or cleaning my makeup brushes more often (a very tedious task).



Now, I'm not saying completely overhaul your life because it needs a mega DIY SOS renovation, but maybe there is something you would like to improve in your life, maybe make a little change which may benefit yourself. It doesn't have to be a deadly serious choice, like deciding whether to be buried or cremated. Ok, that is a bit morbid, I apologise. But you get my drift, it could be something like spending less money on clothes, practicing self care or going for a walk every day.



Little Improvements I Want To Make

My Ways Of Maintaining A Healthy & Fun Lifestyle

*The items in this post have been gifted. See disclaimer below. 

I bet there were a few laughs and scoffs when you read the title. How can somebody like me, someone with a life threatening illness possibly maintain a healthy lifestyle?! But hear me out.





Maintaining a healthy and fun lifestyle doesn't have to be a chore. I know some people (including myself) have given up the goal of changing one aspect of our lifestyle a day or two after New Year. Lifestyle changes don't have to happen on January 1st. You, yes you, can make those changes at any point in the year, Maybe on your birthday, on Valentines or even on 6th August (just a random date) . They don't have to be drastic changes either. Just take a small step at a time, usually doing it that way helps you make the change more easily and you're more likely to make the change permanently.



My Ways Of Maintaining A Healthy & Fun Lifestyle

Focus - My Word For 2020

*This post is an AD with justyouroutfit. See disclaimer below.

Focus. - meaning = directing a great deal of attention, interest, or activity towards a particular aim.

Yes. It's time for me to gain more focus in my life. Stop being distracted by the little things and just get tasks done, not matter how menial and tedious they are.



Focus - My Word For 2020

Why I'm Focusing On My Blog In 2020

Ok, I know this happened a little while ago, but I wont my first blogging award! A day at the Dead Canary led me coming away with the 'Best Health Blog Post' at the House 21 Awards way in December (I say way back as it feels like centuries since December was here)



Why I'm Focusing On My Blog In 2020

How I've Gained New Inspiration From A Camera

I've always said in the past that I would always rely and trust my iPhone to be in charge of my photography for my blog and Instagram content. Well...I kind of cheated on my iPhone and bought a camera. A Canon G7 Mark II to be exact.



I've always struggled with my photography in the past, I'm constantly relying on Pinterest to give me photo inspo on a daily basis as my brain is completely devoid of any creativity. Well, in the photography department anyway. Is there an area of your brain for that?

How I've Gained New Inspiration From A Camera

New Year's Resolutions - Why Do We Still Do Them?

I'm writing whilst sweating my boobs off on the recumbent bike in my local gym. It's my first gym visit of 2020 and the gym is unsurprisingly but surprisingly busier than usual. If that makes any sense to you all. There's a hella lot of new faces to get to know in the gym today, 90% of them I'm pretty sure made it their resolution to go to the gym. Which is fine, good on them in fact. It'll be interesting to see how long it lasts for them, but I hope they do stick it out and keep to their New Year's promise.





Whilst trying to keep my legs going which are now in agony, I realise that we're halfway into January and only just starting a new decade (yep, I still find it hard to believe too). Now, what were your New Year's resolutions? See how I've used past tense there - WERE not ARE.

New Year's Resolutions - Do They Exist Anymore?

People/Things I'm Thankful For

"A thankful heart is a happy heart"

 

 

  

 

I'm a great believer in showing gratitude at any given moment. From thanking someone for holding the door open for you to being grateful to someone for going to a nerve-wracking hospital appointment with you, there's always something to be thankful for.

 



People/Things I'm Thankful For

2010 - 2019: How I've Evolved

Ok, we're a few days into 2020 and I keep finding it strange and surreal that we've just entered a new DECADE. It just seems a little hard to believe! At the start of this decade, I was in college, trying to keep up with assignment deadlines and my biggest life crisis being if I forgot to take my headphones with me anywhere.




Nowadays, a life crisis is not being able to add money to my Help To Buy ISA account or deciding whether to wear a coat or not when I go out. How times have changed. This is my point - we evolve over time, it doesn't take years or decades. It can take as little as weeks or even days for something to happen or you step out of your comfort zone. We grow and mature with age, we learn new things and we make mistakes, but we also learn from them too.

The Ivy, Cardiff

Before I begin, I was never asked by The Ivy to write this post, I just wanted to write about my experience there.



Ok, now the legalities are out of the way, I can relax and casually write the night away.



So yep, I visited the Ivy in Cardiff. Not exactly headline news, but I'd appreciate if you carried on reading.

The Ivy, Cardiff