So much has happened in the last 12 months, of which I will go into a little more shortly! But coming back to this blog and realising that it has been almost 12 months since I actually posted anything made me a little sad, and have missed doing it. I have had ideas and this blog has been constantly in my mind, but I have been focusing on other things!

Before I go into anything else, here is a roundup of some of the things that have been keeping me so busy!

• 2x House moves.
• Spending every other weekend away from home with my partner and his son stepmomming.
• Living with a routine and job that didn’t do me any favours.
• Travelling.
• Going to events and weekends away with my partner.
• 1x Job quit.
• 1x Starting a new business.
• General housekeeping
• Binge watching American Horror Story
• Blog writing for my business

So, it is fair to say that this blog has been neglected! Most of my online energy and creativity has been poured into my business blog. However; there are things that I want to share on both this blog and my business blog that kind of intertwine a little. So there will be posts that link to my business blog, post that are more fitted for being on here, but will be linked on my business blog as some people that are interested in my business may also find interest in the subjects that I may talk about on here!

There has been many ideas floating around in my mind on how to manage the things I want to talk about, and even thought about just using the one blog (business blog) for everything, but as my business blog is centred around beauty and wellness, not everything will be suitable for that.

I have decided to start fresh with a new blog site, under the same name. I will post all of my previous blog posts before all else on here, just to keep the order!

Here will be a place for more generalised posts, recipes and sharing my thoughts and ideas on a wider range of subjects. So here’s to being more active on here going forward!

See you soon in a fresh post shortly!!

L xoxo

Photo by Behzad Ghaffarian on Unsplash

Written and posted December 2018

Siana,

Not only are you my sister, you are also one of my best friends. I’m lucky to have you in my life, and appreciate everything that you do for me. Sometimes, people find it a little difficult to understand you and get you, because you’re so weird… but please don’t change that!

I know hands down, 100% that you’ve always got my back. This year has been hard for me, and I don’t think I would have gotten through it as well as I have without you there. Thank you for being there to drink wine with me and eat junk food back in February.

Thank you for looking after me when my back decided to give way, even though I feel that my fall down the stairs was slightly traumatising to you! Thank you for all of the little things that you do for me; like make my lunch, buy me coffee and Lush bath bombs.

You may have a hard shell, but you’re a big softy really. I hope you know that I will always be there for you, no matter what. I am proud of you for everything that you have done and achieved in your life so far. Keep being you, because I wouldn’t have you any other way.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SIANA!!

Written and posted October 2018

I always thought that wearing your heart on your sleeve was a bad thing, I thought it opened you up to getting hurt more often and easier.

But it’s not…

I’m always 100% myself, what you see is what you get. I’m an open book. I never have to worry about people learning the “real me” and worrying about whether they will stick around once they learn who I am.

Because I put myself out there, whole heartedly… right from the beginning, If something doesn’t feel right or someone doesn’t like it.. then I’ve not wasted much of my precious time. In fact.. I haven’t really wasted any of my time.. because baby… that’s called a lesson and lessons In life are important!

You learn quickly who is around for the right reasons, your sincerity of emotion will weed out those people that are interested in different levels of a relationship with you.

I feel open minded, so excited to learn about other people and what their interests are. Open to try new things and find out if I enjoy them and create new experiences!

It’s actually less drama, when you put yourself out there… you’re honest. You know your intentions and the people you connect with also know your intentions. When or if it doesn’t work out, you don’t feel it as hurt, you accept that you’ve experienced something and you move on to the next experience.

Being open and expressing your true self, doesn’t have to mean that you GIVE too much. I don’t always think that giving too much is a bad thing either, if you know you’ve given something your best, and it doesn’t work out.. you know that there’s nothing wrong with you, nothing you’ve done. It’s the other person… they had a problem, an issue… something that they’re going through and they need to work through it alone.

Rejection happens… and it happens faster when you’re open and wear your heart on your sleeve. But why is this a bad thing?? Again… your time is precious.. don’t waste time on people or things that didn’t work out, didn’t appreciate you, weren’t ready in their own emotional state to love you or be with you. It just means that you get to move on to the next adventure, the next connection, the next person that you will learn from.

This why it’s always so important to be kind, you never know what someone is going through. If you’ve had a positive impact on their life, or you’ve helped them in some way or another.. then that can only be a good thing right?

Wearing your heart on your sleeve doesn’t mean that you’re this “crazy in love” person. It just means that you’re honest. You accept your feelings, you learn to enjoy each and every experience and connection that comes your way. You’re excited about life, the people that you connect with and what impact they may have on your life. Whether they’re there forever, or as a lesson.

Stop shutting yourself off, desensitising yourself from the world. We are all too afraid to say too much, to feel too deeply, to let people know what they mean to us.

There is something breathtakingly beautiful in the moments of smaller magic when you strip down and are honest with those that are important to you. Let that girl/boy know that they inspire you. Express, express, express… open yourself up, do not let the world harden you.

Be bold in who and how you love.

Be honest

Be that person that gives

Be who you are

Be kind

Watch yourself radiate.

A heart of gold is made up of a heart that has been slightly cracked and broken so many times, but repaired with gold. A beautiful, precious, soft AND hard material.

Photo by Amy Shamblen on Unsplash

Written and posted October 2018

I am so in love with my life, more so than ever!

Almost anyone that knows me, will know that I haven’t had the easiest year! Some really, reallllly shit things have happened…

It may have been the worst year of my life, and also the best so far…

I am so excited, for today, for tomorrow and for everything that may come my way in the future. I feel awake, I feel like I’ve grown, I’ve expanded my mind and soul.

I’m so proud of myself, for getting through everything I have this year. I’ve been to some dark and deep places, but they were all pitstops in the journey of life.

They are lessons.

Learn to listen.

Be willing to open your mind to what the universe is trying to teach you. Change your perspective, the way you look at things has a profound effect on the way you deal with something.

This is not to say that you will never suffer, or be sad or go through tough times. You CAN learn how to better deal with the cloudy and stormiest days.

The bad things that have happened to me, turned out to almost be some of the best things that have happened to me. If they hadn’t happened, I would never have been shaken up, given a chance to be free and CHOOSE a better life.

I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to fully heal my mind, to seriously think about what I want in life. I wouldn’t have figured out WHY it’s so important to identify what I want, to realise that adventure is out there and what I need to do to go out and get it!

However small or big they might have been, every experience I’ve had in the last 8 months has had a positive impact one way or another. I’m sorry to repeat myself, but there’s that word again… perspective.

Sometimes you need to be kicked to rock bottom, before you can get back up again.

Sometimes people hit rock bottom more than once, but they’re damn strong people for picking themselves back up again and again.

I have never been so excited in my life for what’s to come.

Don’t just hear, listen

Be kind

Be compassionate

Be patient

Be ambitious

Be you and love every part of yourself, the good, the bad and the ugly.

Don’t look back, that’s not the direction you’re headed!

Embracing your true self radiates and natural beauty that cannot be diluted or ignored. Confident, powerful, untameable, badass you! – Steve Maraboli

Photo by Samantha Gades on Unsplash

Written and posted September 2018

I’m sure most of you have heard the term mindfulness being thrown out there more and more these days. The reason for this, is that people are starting to tune themselves back into the here and now.

Taking some time each day to slow down, and just be present in that exact moment to observe your surroundings, your own breathing, your thoughts and any sounds around you.

I started this practice about a year and a half ago, I’d usually do it whilst driving to work in the morning as my commute was over an hour. Not only did I have that allotted time in the morning to be completely alone, it gave me time to observe, reflect and clear my head to start my day.

Whilst driving to work, I’d try and take notice of every day happenings, objects, people and actions. It started with something as simple as seeing the sun shining through the clouds, or someone smiling at you to say thank you for stopping to let them cross the road. I noticed the change in seasons as the year went by and the beauty that each season bought.

Mindfulness is now just part of my everyday life, sounds appear louder, colours appear more vibrant.

Consistent daily practices such as mindfulness and gratitude help manifest a deeper connection and understanding of yourself and the way that you look at the world. It helps you gain better perspective on everything that goes on in your life.

Why not take 5 minutes out of each day to stop, be present and see what beauty surrounds you? Even if the only thing that you notice is the shape of a particular cloud in the sky, or hear the satisfying crunch of autumn leaves on the ground or it could be as simple as noticing a beautiful flower in your garden.

There is beauty to be found in each day, the more you look, the more you will see. You will become grateful for all that surrounds you, and know that even on the darkest of days, there will always be something to appreciate and shine a ray of light on your day.

Wherever you are, be all there.

Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash

Written and posted September 2018

I’ve not only realised recently, but accepted, that everything in our lives constantly changes. Our situations, the people that surround us and our everyday experiences.

Thinking about this made me stop and realise that this is okay… this is how it’s supposed to be! It also got me thinking that if everything is constantly changing, then we need to enjoy the here and now, everything that happens in our lives on a daily basis no matter how long it lasts, the present.

An example of this could be the way I looked at my last relationship. Not only did it help me gain perspective, it allowed me to accept that during that relationship, I made some great memories. I lived in them happy memories, and I accepted that that’s exactly what they were.. memories! I embraced that the relationship didn’t last, because I had made peace with the change happening in my life.

I didn’t see it as though I’d spent years of my life wasting time with someone that wasn’t right for me. Because in those lived in moments, shared with that person… it was right at that exact time. They were a collection of lessons, joyful memories and a reminder of the happiness I felt in whilst living in those moments.

Accepting impermanence in your life will guide you, help you adjust to really living in the here and now. Not thinking of the what if’s and how each experience will lead on to the next.

You could spend 1 minute, 1 hour or 1 day with someone whose energy aligns with yours… and you may well love that 1 minute, 1 hour or 1 day spent with that person but it doesn’t mean that they’re there to stay. Enjoy the moments whilst they last, let people walk in and out of your life as they need to… that’s normal (don’t confuse this for letting people walk all over you and abuse your kindness!).

This theory doesn’t just apply to people in your life, it could be allowing yourself to enjoy something completely alone. Whether it’s a day at home doing absolutely nothing, a short walk in nature… it does not matter what the activity is… just as long as it makes you happy!

What was meant to be, will be…

Life does not always unfold the way you imagine it might, embrace the journey, embrace the change and embrace the moment.

Life happens. Adapt. Embrace change and make the most of everything that comes your way.

Photo by Ross Findon on Unsplash

Written and posted September 2018

On reflection of all that has happened this year, paired with being forced to stay home and not work… or do anything remotely fun or active, has created a shift in me. I have a completely new outlook on life, what I want to do and where I want to be going.

When you experience life changing events, it forces you to re-evaluate your life. Doing this, along with suffering my back injury has made me really think deeply about my goals and what I want for myself.

I’m becoming such a yes woman.. my mind is there but my body just needs to catch up!

My mind feels refreshed, ready to take on hundreds of adventures, make new memories and try new things. I just need to be patient with my body, and trust that it will catch up as quickly as it possibly can… so I can start LIVING again.

You really do take your body for granted, until something like a painful injury happens. It has shown me that I need to look after myself, treat my body well and feed it with all the right things. It makes you realise how lazy you might have become, and how much potential your body has to take you on the best adventures and through the most incredible experiences.

I cannot wait to start a new lifestyle, one where I train, travel and trust my intuition on where I need to be.

Who would’ve known that little old me, stuck in the house for the last month mainly bed bound, would have such a lust for life!?

There is light at the end of the tunnel, and I can already see it starting to shine through.

Adventure begins at the end of the roads you know

Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash