10 things you should stop doing just to please other people
When I was 17 I grabbed a box of the brightest red hair dye I could afford and went from blonde to copper one Friday afternoon in my parents' bathroom. It was the first time I'd thought 'fuck it' and done something on a whim. I kept it that way for a few years, but as...
Why I’m grateful for my family
It's that time again where I want to set my other work aside and practice gratitude. This is a task I'm taking great pleasure in if I'm honest, and I didn't realise just how much I have to be grateful for until I started this challenge. I'm also joined by Lu Lu Blue...
4 reasons why Blue Monday is the perfect time to admit you need help
Every year the media reminds us that there is one day in January called Blue Monday. It's today. It was created as a PR stunt by a lecturer from Cardiff who has since admitted that the whole concept is "not particularly helpful". Having a day dedicated to people...
Year of gratitude week 2: Spouse
It time to explore the year of gratitude again, and I'm so excited to talk this week about how grateful I am to have my husband! If you like this post then check out this post from LuLu Blue on the same subject. I don't think you need to be in a relationship to...
Can Instagram really make you more body positive?
Since ditching the dieting lifestyle that gave me the 'perfect' body and a twisted mindset, I've made a conscious effort to redefine what beautiful means to me. I've retrained my brain to realise that not everyone can or should look the same. We can't all have a tiny...
Year of gratitude week 1: Why start this challenge?
If you didn't catch my post earlier this week, click here to find out more about the year of gratitude challenge that I've decided to try out on my blog. I won't lie. I kind of decided to do this at the last minute. I was at my in-laws house over Christmas and I was...
Why I’m not dieting this January (even though I’m a size 16)
A few years ago I would've planned a fresh new blog post ready to go live featuring my favourite fat-loss tips for January, or how to 'get back on track' after Christmas. Now, I can't be f*@ked with all that. I still love eating healthily because it gives me the...
Why I’m making 2017 the year of gratitude
I'm always trying to be more mindful. I'm getting better at it thanks to the odd yoga class and learning to put down my phone once in a while but of course, it's all rather difficult. Learning to count your blessings is difficult when you have depression. I feel...
3 ways the beauty industry has affected my mental health
I've spent years rejecting the idea that the beauty industry can have a positive affect on my mental well-being. How can a lipstick make you happy? Why are young girls caking their faces in concealer when they don't even need it? It's taken me until by thirties to...
An ode to anyone with depression this Christmas
It’s Christmas day and everywhere, people are smiling. Children are grinning from ear to ear as they tear open their long-awaited gifts, and parents look on with pride, feeling accomplished after a long year of working hard to provide for the family....
How to survive Christmas day as an introvert
Christmas Day can be pretty intense. Even for the most outgoing person, the idea of being cooped up with your nearest and dearest for 12 hours straight with nothing but food, alcohol and polite conversation to pass the time can be a little daunting. For someone like...
The stress of a GP appointment when you have a mental illness
I'm currently sitting in Starbucks with a mug of tea; my humble reward for doing the thing that I hate the most. The thing that still fills me with fear every few months, even though I've had this debilitating illness for almost 5 years now. I successfully attended an...