You&Me

~ Maybe the journey isn't so much about becoming anything. Maybe its about un-becoming everything that isn't really you, so you can be who you were meant to be in the first place ~

Unknown 

~ Like wildflowers; you must allow yourself to grow in all the places people thought you never would ~

E.V.

Outfit Details:

Jacket, slip dress and hat - Op Shop finds

Shoes - Diana Ferrari 

Photographer - H.Landford

Be gentle with yourself

It sometimes amazes and exhausts me how self-critical we have become. I say 'we' because I do not distinguish myself from this statement. I too critique myself, put myself down and  pick on my imperfections. Is this healthy? No. Do I do it even though I know it is unhealthy? Yes. The answer we all need to ask ourselves is why do we do it? 

I find that I often put myself down or criticise myself and others when I am stressed, scared, threatened or insecure. In a sense, it becomes a fight or flight reaction. We are reacting to something negatively to protect ourselves. 

For instance, in every single one of these photos I look happy, energetic and lively. Little do you know that I am showcasing one of my biggest insecurities - my stomach. Am I fat? Nope. Do I have a chiselled six pack, most definitely not. I have a flat, very pale little belly and this little belly has caused me many tears and upsets of the years. 

I uploaded a photo to my Instagram and in the caption I made a joke about my stomach, making fun of myself before others could get in first. Why? Well I have come to realise that whenever something is going wrong in my life - stress at work, lack of motivation, a fight with a partner - I take it out on myself. There have been days where I have focused so much on the negatives that I have not left the house, cut out my friends and family all to make myself feel worse. I guess I am so used to it now that I get in there and self-critique before others can. A form of self-punishment and preservation all at the same time. 

Where did this get me? Absolutely nowhere. 

Sadly, only through experience have I learnt that this kind of reaction, self-critique and self-punishment never works. It has never made me feel better about myself or lead me to combat what is truly bothering me. 

Time, multiple tears and a few Bridget Jones movie nights later have I come to realise that right now is the best possible version of myself that I can be. Beating myself up and not accepting me for who I am leads to a sad, lonely and unhealthy life. 

Don't get me wrong, I am sure I will still have moments where I am extremely self-critical but my focus now is to remember that I am doing the best that I can do. To make sure I actually do this I am going to focus on daily mantras that will trigger positive thoughts. I will leave you now with my mantra for the day, I hope it triggers beautiful thoughts for you too.

~ Be gentle with yourself you're doing the best you can ~

XOXO

 A little shoutout to my photographer and general happiness maker Mr Hickey (check out his bearded magic on Insta, I dare you). Thank you for being you and taking photos of me in front of giant blue walls. 

Mid-Week Mood

All images are sourced from Straight into Style, Borrowed Heaven and Better Tomorrows

Morning Glory

I was always that person whose body clock went off at 5a.m. and within minutes I was dressed and ready to attack the day. By 7a.m. I had exercised, eaten breakfast, drunk my morning tea and was ready for whatever the rest of the day had in store for me.

Over the last 7 months my morning enthusiasm has flown out the window. My zest to get up and go has been drowned by warm cuddles, the snooze button being hit on repeat and an ‘I will do it later’ attitude. What have I become? Where has my ‘oh so annoying’ morning persona gone?

Now that I have lost my morning person edge, the concept of trying to get back into the routine of waking up early and seizing the day is incomprehensible, but with summer fast approaching I really need to get my bum into gear.

In order to fit everything into my day – work, the inklings of a social life, exercise, date nights and the occasional alone time – I have to start getting up earlier and making the most of every minute. I have read countless articles on the internet and a million and one tips on how to become a morning person but let’s be honest, some things work other things do not. Here are some tips and tricks that work for me and hopefully will work for you too.

Plan Ahead

Currently, the more sleep I can get the better. I can sleep for an extra five to ten minutes in the morning (trust me it is worth it)if I pack everything I need for the next day the night before. I prep all my food and pop it in a plastic bag so it is quick and easy to grab. I lay my clothes out  - including work wear and my gym ensemble – literally everything and anything that I will need to get me through the day. My carry bag will also be packed for the day ahead so when I wake, all I have to do is get dressed, grab my food and I am out the door. This is a great way to maximize your time first thing in the morning.   

Routine routine routine  
If you didn't catch what I was trying to say with the above subtitle - routine is key. Staying up late and binge watching on the latest season of Peaky Blinders is not going to make it easier to wake up at 5:30am. Your body responds well to patterns. Going to bed at the same time and waking up at the same time every day will make it easier for you body to respond to certain things. Make these patterns a habit, not a matter of willpower. By making it a habit you are taking away the decision making action, and turning it into a process.

The good old snooze button

Don’t hit the snooze button. The night before this sounds like a very easy task but come 5:30am the snooze button is irresistible. The only thing that works for me is moving my phone to the other side of the room so I have to get up.  If I have to get out of bed to turn off my alarm, I am far more likely to actually stay up. In saying that, I have been known to roll over and make the better half get up and turn it off. Whoops - at least I’m trying, right?

Seize the day

I think it is extremely important to acknowledge why you are trying to get up early in the first place. If it is for no reason than why are you forcing yourself to get up?  

If there is a specific reasons you want to start being more of a morning person then get up and do something YOU want to do. If exercising isn’t your thing read a blog, pamper yourself, meditate, and listen to a podcast – whatever it is do something for you.

Trust me, you will feel so much better about yourself when you have had the time to start your morning off right and do something that will benefit you. Whether that is relaxing over a morning coffee and newspaper or getting up and doing a morning salute to the sun – make the most of your time and your life.

XOXO 

Under Wraps

I often wear various types of headwear to accessorise my outfits. Whether that be my favourite Brixton fiddlers cap, a beanie when it’s freezing cold or a jewelled headpiece for fancier occasions. My obsession with headwear accessories is endless.

 One of my all time favourite accessories has to be a headscarf. There are so many amazing, unique things you can do with a simple scarf that can turn the most casual of outfits into a stylish ensemble. The versatility of a scarf allows you to make brilliant fashion statements by experimenting with colours, patterns and materials to create unique designs. 

Whether you want to go for an easier version and pop on an already formed styled turban, or you are open to creating your own unique look, a headscarf is the perfect accessory to make you feel beautiful, unique and classy.  

*Please note that I have the upmost respect for those who wear turbans or scarves as a part of their religion or culture. This post in no way tries to demean the cultural significance of headwear, this post is purely to demonstrate various looks that can be achieved with a scarf as a fashion statement.