Happiness, Weight Gain & A New Relationship

This time last year I was one big emotional wreck.

This summer I'm the happiest I think I've ever been.

This time last year I was in a very unhappy relationship. My anxiety levels were extremly high. I felt worthless and disregarded and found it difficult to concentrate on anything. Bearing in mind I was in my first year of university and my entire time was occupied by the negativity of my relationship at that point. I spent the majority of my time asleep as it was an easy way to cope with the stress and the only way I could shut out anxiety. Despite this I was eating healthy, working out daily and physically feeling fit. But my physical happiness was always contradicted by my mental state. Part of my physical challenge was in fact spurred by the difficult relationship. For some stupid ass reason I thought if I lost weight and got into shape it would sort out my relationship issues. Obviously I couldn't have been more wrong. But being physically healthy helped me through the process.
Fitness being a good outlet for stress and the healthy eating side gave me something I could focus on, new recipes, editing and changing them to suit my student budget.

The past 9 months have been crazy. It has probably been one of the best years of my life. After ending my relationship, I hit the bottle hard. Not because I was struggling but because I was finally going out and being selfish for a change. In hindsight it was a stupid thing to do. I should have focused on university but instead my social life came first. And as bad as it may have been, I loved every minute of it (maybe not the hangovers...).

I started to pull my socks up. Stop drinking (as much). And began to get on with my uni work. I was happy just doing my own thing, living my single life.

My group of friends solidified. This year I became really close friends with a handful of girls on my course who I absolutely love to pieces. I spent alot more time with the people that mean the most to me. And got back into the things I love doing, things I didn't even realise I'd abandoned until recently.

I wasn't looking for a romantic relationship. I was happy with my friendships and my own company. And then BAM. Out of nowhere... He appeared.

Everything started to piece together. It just sort of gradually happened. And despite the fact it's come out of nowhere and hit me like a ton of bricks, I couldn't be happier. I won't get mushy... but sweet lord he's well alright!
He's come along and as a result all my future plans have been sabotaged. My life plan is having to be re-evaluated but I'm much more excited about this one!

However, there has been a flip. My happiness concerning my physical being has decreased, but my emotional being has increased drastically.

My new relationship has been built on a foundation of food. Going out for dinner, staying in and stuffing our faces with chocolate and eighty quid on Deliveroo orders, late night McDonalds during all nighters at the library... and so the pounds crept out of my bank account and onto my waist line.
And now, I have a wedding fast approaching,  a bridesmaid dress I need to get into, a holiday that's already arrived.

But some extra chub is easier to shift than toxic relationship and aload of anxiety. It just takes discipline (that I don't have), and time. I suppose you can call it 'happy weight'. And I'd much rather have a few extra pounds than a constant battle with anxiety.

In comparison to this time last year I feel completely different. I never dreamed I could have turned my life around in the space of a year.

So overall my New Years Resolution of "No Boys!!!!" went straight out of the window. As did my "year on my own". But to sum in up in the cheesiest phrase of all; I wouldn't change it for the world.

Attitudes Towards Women In Nightclubs

The attitude towards women who defend themselves against the objectification of today’s society has yet again proved to be a disappointment. A few months back, I was subject to harassment in a club unlike any I have experienced before.

Here is a little context:

Men grope. If you are going on a night out, particularly a girl’s night out, you have to be prepared for unwanted attention in an overcrowded club, as disgusting as this concept may be in the 21st century – hungry hands will usually find you.  This is what happened on ‘said’ occasion. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing a glare and a ‘leave me alone’ won’t solve.

The ‘star groper of the evening’ moved around my small circle of friends, putting his hands around waists, touching butts… and each of us, in turn, told him to go away. Once he had completed the circle, finishing his groping with me – I told him none of us were interested, and told him to move away from us. Unbelievably, he asked me to clarify, as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing (because he’s just such a catch with his hands all over my friends) so I repeated; and the ‘groper’ finally sulked off.

A New Kind of Period - The OrganiCup

Having recently been following Hannah Witton’s ‘The HormoneDiaries’ and having a sudden surge in wanting to become environmentally friendly as best I can, I decided to jump on the bandwagon, and give the menstrual cup a go.

Just a heads up... yes, I will be discussing periods and tampons and the natural functions of the female body. So if you're prude or old fashioned, and periods offend you, leave now. Or just get a grip because... hello... 21st century, without periods, you wouldn't be here. Continuing.... 

So... I searched around and settled on the OrganiCup.

How To Survive The First Week Of University

Going to University for the first time, is both exciting and terrifying.
For the first time, you are left to your own devices and yes, again, thats both exciting and terrifying. 
Getting through that first week is the hardest part of University, finding your feet, adjusting to being away from home, and meeting new people; it's a lot to comprehend! 

Here are my top tips on surviving the first week of university: 

1. Drink Plenty Of Water 

We all know Freshers is bound to take over. Keeping hydrated is key. Try to alternate with alcoholic beverage, water, alcoholic beverage, water. This doesn't mean you can't keep up. It just means that your hangover the next day - will not be as bad as your dehydrated friends! It's important to drink loads the next day too! 

A Day Trip To Rye

Rye is a beautiful seaside town in Kent with antique, jewellery and coffee shops galore!

It’s a perfect destination for a weekend escape with family, friends or your significant other, or simply for a day out to do some off-the-high-street shopping!

On a warm July afternoon, my Mum and I popped to Rye for a Mummy-Daughter-Day.

There are lots of lovely little jewellery shops throughout Rye, most of them Antique Jewellery shops offering hundreds of unique trinkets, their window displays housing everything from rings to necklaces to broaches, popular designs being art deco and marcasite pieces. Mum and I spent hours wandering from shop to shop marvelling at all the sparkles filling the cabinets, the major problem being limited money and far too many beautiful things.

For lunch we were aiming for The Bell restaurant, a beautiful old pub with an outside area underneath a beautiful Wisteria Tree.

However, all the outside tables were taken as it was at the height of lunchtime – but just opposite, was a beautifully quaint tea room called The Cobbles Tea Room, tucked away down a little cobbled pathway. So we decided to have a bite to eat there instead.

This café was once a lovely little house and has been turned into a cosy tea room, with a lovely outside area and courtyard.

We each had a Jacket Potato, served with coleslaw and a side of salad with a refreshing lemonade. The staff were incredibly friendly and the food was great, despite it being fairly busy the wait was not too long either.

20 Things I Learnt in my First Year at University

I've finished my first year at University. And as cliché as it may be, it's flown by, I literally cannot comprehend just how quickly time has gone over these past 6 months; and how much I've learnt. 

I've compiled together a list of the most important things I've learnt whilst being in first year at university... 

1. Making Mistakes 

Making mistakes is okay, as long as you learn for them. We will all make mistakes, and there are many we must make ourselves, it's a learning curve, it will happen. Don't punish yourself for it, take it on the chin, learn from it and move on. 

2. Homesickness 

Being a family girl, I knew I would miss being at home with my family, despite the fact I'm only an hours drive away. Having lived away from home, I've learnt to value what's important. 

3. You Can't Get Along With Everybody 

We cannot please everybody in this world, much like not everybody will please us. Learning to be polite, and to accept others as who they are despite your differences is one of the most important lessons someone can learn. 

A Day At Wimbledon

I was lucky enough to be able to get my hands on a pair of Grounds Tickets for The Wimbledon Championships 2016!

I have not always been the biggest sports fan, nor the biggest fan of tennis. But it was always an event I was interested in going to if I got the opportunity. And that opportunity finally arose!

So Monday 27th June 2016, my bestie and I headed off on our tennis filled day.

Driving to Wimbledon can be a huge pain in the neck, the traffic is a nightmare and for where I live, it was just easier to make use of public transport.
We jumped on the tram from New Addington, only to have to hop off at Grove Hill because we realised we had forgotten the tickets... Luckily enough my Grandfather hadn't got far and managed to drop them to us in a matter of minutes - I will definitely not be doing that one again!

So, tickets in hand, we finally embarked on our journey!