Anti Street Harassment Week 2014

Hello Beautiful People,

This week is Anti Street Harassment week.  I didn’t even know this was a thing, until I saw Leena from justkissmyfrog’s video about it earlier this week. That this is a thing makes me incredibly hopeful, because it is something that has bothered me since before I even understood what street harassment was. The fact that there is a week designated to raise awareness of it, makes me really hopeful that a change can be made.

A Guide To Effective Procrastination

Hello Beautiful People!

I am the Queen of Procrastination; the action of delaying or postponing something. You might think you’re pretty good at it, but trust me, you’ve got nothing on me. I’m so good at it that I’ve now mastered the art of procrastinating the procrastination. I can avoid doing the things that I was doing to get out of doing the actual task I’m meant to be. Genius. I now do it subconsciously. I don’t even realise I am procrastinating, it comes so naturally. I’ll end up doing seemingly productive things to avoid doing the actual things!

I feel I may have over used the word ‘thing’ there somewhat. Nevermind.

Home Sweet Home

Hello Beautiful People,

This weekend I find myself experiencing a few home comforts back in Cumbria with the parents, before I head off up to Edinburgh next week. After the stress inducing madness that uni has become this term, it’s nice to have a couple of days where I can forget about deadlines, reading lists and dissertation proposals (which are too scary to think about!), and hunker down in the cosy calmness of home, where mugs of tea and yummy cakes seem to appear out of thin air at regular intervals.

Life Is A Balancing Act

Hello Beautiful People!

I set myself a goal and low and behold two weeks later I’ve failed! I know I promised to upload a blog every week and I’m aware that last week’s didn’t happen, but in my defence I have been super busy! I know this is a fairly generic and over used excuse but hear me out guys!

My week has looked a lot like this.

Don't Break The Chain

Hello Beautiful People!

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to upload a new blog every week, but two weeks in I’m already struggling. I’ve have a list as long as my arm of potential ideas but I’ve sat looking at them for a good ten minutes and none of them are really grabbing me tonight. Determined not to give up so soon I’ve just text my friend Nicola for ideas. Immensely helpful as ever, she came up with the fabulous idea of writing about how wonderful she is (that girl is so modest) and whilst she is without a doubt an incredible person, Ten Reason’s Why Nicola is Amazing wasn’t really the sort of idea I was looking for. So I’m sitting here fretting that two weeks in, I’m already on the point of failure and then BAMN! I remember the Don’t Break the Chain concept.

Make 2014 the year you take some risks.

Happy New Year Beautiful People!

Last night, somewhere after the champagne and somewhere before the rosé, I took a moment to reflect on the past year. I came to the conclusion that although it had been a year of ups and downs, overall it had been a pretty damn fine one! I survived my first year of uni (I even managed to get good grades!), I made some amazing new friends, travelled the country visiting the old ones and came to terms with drifting away from others. I spent a gloriously sunny May bank holiday dancing my heart out at Knockengorroch, relaxed in Northumbria with my wonderful (if slightly bizarre) extended family, moved my best friend into her new flat, moved my family into their new house, and moved myself into my new uni house. I celebrated engagements and pregnancies and mourned the loss of friends and family. And just before Christmas, I spent an incredibly inspiring week working on Bent Architect’s new project, England Arise. Despite the difficult parts, some so heartbreakingly painful it was as through all the air had been knocked from my lungs, in the grand scheme of things, 2013 was a pretty amazing year. And next year can only get better! Can’t it?