Five Lockdown Activities To Keep You Sane

Five Lockdown Activities To Keep You Sane

Wednesday, 29 April 2020

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They say only boring people get bored. I doubt those people had been in lockdown for the past six weeks. Guys, lockdown is hard. It's vital and necessary and so very important but it's intense. And boring. Now before anyone thinks I'm whinging about lockdown, I'm not,  well not a lot. I'm painfully aware that I have things a lot easier than a lot of people, especially all of our NHS workers on the frontline... but still, it is boring. So I've put together a list of things I've been doing to stave off the boredom while I'm safe at home. Enjoy!

April Goals

April Goals

Wednesday, 8 April 2020

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Hello April!


It's been a long old time since I last sat down to write a blog post. Months even. I have a couple of reasons, none of which I'll bore you with now, because you'll have heard my excuses before. The important thing is I'm back now and glad to be posting again.

May Goals

May Goals

Wednesday, 8 May 2019

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May is here. May. We're so far into the year now that before we know it it'll be Christmas. I know, I know I say the same thing every month - it annoys me too - but if I didn't set my monthly goals I don't think I'd really notice the passage of time as much, but I do, and time is just disappearing. I feel like I just sat down to write my April Goals and BAM we're already in May. Anywho, let's talk about my May Goals, shall we? 

Write everyday

I love writing, I’ve always loved writing. But it can be really hardwork. Especially when you write for a living, which I do. Honestly, the fact that I get to say that is beyond amazing, however it does have its downside, because when writing is your job, it becomes a job, something to be ticked off a list. It can take all the joy out of it and, depending on the size and scope of the subject matter, it can be really, really fucking hard. And boring. Recently, I’ve become a bit jaded with writing. The love hasn’t gone but I’m struggling. And because of that struggle I don’t want to do it, putting pen to paper, or fingertips to keys, feels like an insurmountable challenge. The only thing I can think that will help is to write more. Specifically write more for the sheer joy of writing, write things that are just for me, so it doesn’t matter how shit they are. I put a tremendous amount of pressure on myself and my writing and I need to take it off and just write. It’s genuinely the only way I think I’ll be able get over this particular bump, and it’s the only way I’ll get better. Writing is a skill and I need to cultivate it, and the only way to do that is to write more.

Finish Game of Thrones

Guys, it finally happened. I’ve started watching Game of Thrones, and more importantly I like Game of Thrones. I really like Game of Thrones. It’s so good. The hype was real. Who knew? Luckily, the entire back catalogue is on NowTV (*not spon) just waiting for me to watch it. Unluckily the first six seasons are only there until the end of the month. Herein lies the problem, I do not have the kind of binge watching mentality that a show like Game of Thrones almost demands from its viewers. I just don’t. I left it at uni alongside my ability to concentrate on one thing for more than 45 minutes and my fondness for neon coloured tights. Watching 56 hours (I’ve nearly finished season two) of GOT in just over three weeks is going to be a real challenge. A real challenge. I genuinely don’t think I’ll manage it, but damnit, I’m going to try. Wish me luck. 

Read more

I actually read quite a lot. It took some time, nothing kills a love for reading quite like an English degree IMO, but I’m finally back in a place where I’m reading fairly regularly - I’ve managed to get through 17 books so far this year - however, reading is always something that I want to be doing more of. Especially because it’s so intrinsically linked to writing. Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the Wonder Woman of Fleabag and Killing Eve fame, said in her Vogue 70 questions interview that reading is the best way to get over a bout of writer’s block, and I can actually see where she’s coming from. I know when I read a particularly good book or piece of journalism it galvanises me. It makes me not only want to write but to pour all my efforts into writing something good, and that is why I want to read more this month. 

What are your goals this month? Xx

How To Read More

How To Read More

Wednesday, 16 January 2019

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Read more is probably one of my most frequently set monthly goals. Because I love reading, always have, and I just don’t do it enough. It’s a story I’ve told time and time again. Reading was my passion, two English degrees killed that passion - don’t study what you love kids! - and, in the four years (!) since I graduated, I’ve desperately tried to claw it back, but try as I might I just couldn’t seem to get in the right mindset to read more and incorporate reading into my everyday life. For something that used to be completely effortless for me, it’s been really hard work. But finally, FINALLY, I’ve cracked it and am reading more than I have in years. Here’s how: 

Accountability

Having a book club with my best friend has been amazingly helpful to get both of us back into reading. It works really well as we love the same kinds of books - trashy crime thrillers mainly - and have a soft spot for pretty books. We also don’t trust people who say they don’t read and both of us organised our bookshelves by colour, something that is aesthetically pleasing, outrageously statisfying and completely useless! Anyway, having that accountability to another person is a great motivator to get reading. Plus spending an hour or two talking about books over hot chocolate and millionaire’s shortbread is a delightful use of time. It’s the best! 

Consciously choose to do it, and then do it

Firstly, I must apologies for that particularly wanky phrasing, I couldn’t think of a better way of framing it. Let me explain, I was listening to The High Low, my fave podcast, when Pandora Sykes was asked how she read so much and her response was brilliant. She basically said that people have the attention span to carry out whatever task they need to do, including reading, and that it just comes down to being aware of your distractions - phones,  music, social media etc -  so you can minimise them. I’m notorious for trying to read and listen to music at the same time and sometimes I can concentrate on what I’m reading, but more often than not I can’t. I’m also really terrible for taking out my kindle and then playing on my phone. It’s so easy to get distracted. So when I say choose to read I mean getting rid of all distractions - phone, music, food, whatever - so I can focus entirely on my book. It’s infuriating that it works but it does. 

Make time

I managed to read 22 books in the second half of last year purely by reading on my commute. Instead of spending my bus journey pointlessly scrolling through Instagram, I’d get a book out instead. Also when filling my hot water bottle. That’s an oddly specific time that’s probably not applicable to everyone. I really feel the cold, guys! But if you, like me, are a cross between a young grandma and a lizard and take a hot water bottle to bed with you too, then this is a great time to read. It takes roughly 10 minutes for me to fill and boil the kettle twice so my hot water bottle gets full. You can do a lot of reading in 10 minutes. Just sayin’. I think the most important thing to remember is that there are definitely pockets of dead time that aren’t being used effectively, you just need to find them. Reading before bed is also a great shout, for loads of reasons, it helps you sleep, it’s relaxing, and, my personal favourite, it’s cosy af!

Audiobooks

Personally, I prefer reading to audiobooks. However, that’s not to say I don’t love an audiobook every now and then. Because I do. I think they’re a great way to get through a lot of books in a short space of time. They’re basically a podcast but longer! They’re also great if you’re on a particularly busy tube, feeling lazy and/or reading more than one book at a time, which is how I tend to use them. They’re also good for when I’m at work and not really in the mood for either music or podcasts. Side note: I’m currently listening to Jog On by Bella Mackie, it’s excellent! and she has such a soothing voice. 

Hopefully these will help you read more if you’re struggling. Let me know if you have any book recommendations! Xxx

Autumn Reads

Autumn Reads

Wednesday, 31 October 2018

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It's that time of year where all I want to do is curl up in a cosy corner with a mug of tea and my dog and read all of the books. I just love the idea of sitting by a window, with the leaves falling, and getting completely lost in a book. But in all honesty it's been a very long time since I've done that. And this year, for the first time in a very, very long time, I’ve actually done it. I  have read loads! Loads!  I haven’t read like this since before I went to university, and ultimately, destroyed my concentration and ability to focus on anything that wasn't instagram for longer than 30 seconds. Over the last six weeks I've made reading a serious priority, and have really reminded myself of how much I fucking love books and reading. I love it so much. Why did I stop? Anyway here's just some of the books I've read and loved recently.

No Further Questions by Gillian McAllister

If you love a slightly trashy but compelling crime novel (my fave!) then look no further (is that a pun?!) Told from the perspective of both sides, No Further Questions is a courtroom drama, about sisters, Martha and Becky, who are embroiled in a court case, where one of them - Becky - stands accused of murdering the other’s baby. Despite the quite dark subject matter, not going to lie I don’t love reading about children being murdered, I was completely consumed by the story, which drew me in from the very first page and kept me reading until the bitter end. It’s a fantastic read.

What Would The Spice Girls Do? by Lauren Bravo

What Would The Spice Girls Do? is an exploration of the Spice Girls and their undeniable impact on pop culture and, not to be overdramatic, the world. More importantly, it's about the Girl Power generation and how we grew up. 

I was only five when Wannabe came out and set the world on fire, so I am a fully paid up member of the Girl Power generation and a former Baby Spice wannabe. I grew up with the Spice Girls. I was obsessed with them. I loved them! And I loved reading this book because of that. Reading it was so nostalgic, because I lived it all. I was obsessed, I had the dolls, I had the photo cards, I had the Impulse body spray, I ate the crisps and I even had an unofficial blue Spice Girls t-shirt that my mum got me from the market. And you probably did too. 

Now even if you didn't love the Spice Girls - you did, you know you did! - it's still a fascinating and hilarious read. It's whip-smart, hilariously funny and stridently feminist without being preachy. I'm a total Lauren Bravo fangirl, and the way she writes is just *italian chef finger kiss* It's brilliant.

A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

Set inside a Women's Clinic in Mississippi which has been taken over by a shooter, A Spark of Light is an incredible book about abortion and the different arguments on either side of this very contentious topic. Starting at the end, the story works backwards and is told from multiple perspectives, including that of the shooter. It's very cleverly and sensitively done, but it's also incredibly well written. I'm reading it at the moment, and I'm about half way through but I'm finding it to be a really compelling read. It's utterly addictive and compelling but thought provoking and incredibly relevant. I think it's amazing and I can't wait to find out what's going to happen. 

My Thoughts Exactly by Lily Allen

You don't have to be a fan of Lily Allen's - I wasn't particularly, I am now - to think that her autobiography is a spectacular piece of work. It's honestly incredible and I wasn't expecting to be as emotionally invested in it as I was. My Thoughts Exactly is Lily's answer to all the tabloid stories and trolling and all other horrible bull shit she faces on a day-to-day basis. It's her story told  in her words, and those words are bloody brilliant. She's very open and honest, to the point where it's painful  at times, but she's also funny and warm, and her story is really moving. I loved it.

This Will Only Hurt a Little by Busy Phillips 

Okay, so this is the only one I haven't read yet, but it's next on my reading list. Lately, like the rest of the world, I've become a bit obsessed with Busy Phillips. Her autobiography, This Will Only Hurt a Little, from what I've heard, is funny, brutally honest, refreshing, heartbreaking and awesome. I cannot wait to get stuck in. 

So those are my reading recommendations, what are yours? Let me know xxx

October Goals 2016

October Goals 2016

Sunday, 16 October 2016

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It's a bit late in the month for me to be setting goals, life hasn't really slowed down quite as much as I wanted it too - I haven't even been going to the gym as much lately - but I thought I would do it anyway, we still have 15 days left of October for me to try and make a dent in them.  

Watch Breaking Bad

I started watching Breaking Bad last year and I got really into it and then I lost interest about half way through the third season. My sister's recently watched it and has been raving about it and I know loads of people who have watched and loved it, so I want give it another go to see what all the fuss is about. Now seems like the time to do it because it's cold out and the nights are getting longer.

Get some sleep!

Since I started working for myself my sleeping habits have gone to hell in a hand basket. I've never been a great sleeper. There've been a few times where I've completely reversed my sleeping pattern and was actually nocturnal for a while, and then there was the time I only got 12 hours sleep over 10 days. Struggling with sleep is nothing new for me, but I'm not 18 anymore and the days when I could function on 20 minutes sleep and 6 cans of full fat Coke are long since over, for one thing I try not to drink Coke anymore. In the last couple of weeks I have really effed up my sleeping habits and haven't been falling asleep until 4 in the morning which then means I accomplish basically nothing during the day which I then try to make it up for it at night and then the whole vicious cycle begins again. I need to sort this out, because it's not healthy and it's driving me insane.

Post all content on time

I tried to do this last month and it didn't exactly go to plan, so I'm gonna try again. Now I've had a bit of a break from blogging for the past two weeks, but from the day this post goes up (Sunday) I want to be on top of my blog and have all my content up on time. The lack of sleep is partly to blame but I do need to be more organised, like I said life has been manic but the break did me good and gave me time to think, so I have a load of ideas for posts all of which will be up on time. 

Drink more water 

Lately I've been getting a lot of headaches and I think it's because I haven't drunk enough water. The only time I drink water is when I'm at the gym, other that it's tea and Fanta Zero, which don't do much when it comes to actual hydration but taste soooo good. So I want to significantly increase my water intake. I have no idea how I'm gonna track this though, so if anyone has any suggestions please let me know. 

Read more

I've always really loved reading, ever since I was a tiny little girl and taught myself to read Dear Zoo, I still maintain it's the best picture book ever! That's why I studied English Literature in the first place because I've always loved reading and I've always loved books. But after 4 years of non-stop reading, some of which I loved - Art Spiegelman's Maus is incredible! - but most I hated - I'm looking at you Moby Dick! - it's kind of killed my love for reading. I used to go through a book a day easily, sometimes even two, and now it's rare for me to pick up a book unless I'm on holiday. I do still read but not nearly as much and that makes me really sad. So I'd like to be reading a book a week at least. A while back I put up  a post called 5 Books to Read on Holiday and I've read one of the books on that list and that's it so that's where I'm gonna start.

I've got a few other goals that I want to work on that are quite similar to the goals I had last month (read those here) I want to continue losing weight, I want to up my gym game, I want to be able to play Runaway Train by Soul Asylum on the guitar in it's entirety. There's quite a few but these are the main ones I will be focusing on. 

What are your October Goals? How are you getting on? Let me know by commenting below - I always reply so check back -, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

5 Books to Read on Holiday

5 Books to Read on Holiday

Thursday, 1 September 2016

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Reading is one of my absolute favourite things to do on holiday. Lounging by the pool with my kindle in one hand and maybe a cocktail in the other is my idea of a little bit of heaven. After a week in Bulgaria where all I did was sunbathe and read I thought I'd put together a list of some of the books I didn't get round to, but will start making my way through now that I'm home  - just in case any of you lot are heading off for some last minute sunshine.

Flawed by Cecelia Ahern - Kindle Edition/Paperback £4.99/£4.00 from Amazon

Ahern's first YA book Flawed is a bit of a departure from her usual chick lit style of writing. Set in a dystopian future, Flawed takes place in a society where flaws and mistakes are punished harshly, those who are found to be Flawed are branded and imprisoned. Celestine North is perfect, and always has been, until one day she reacts instinctively in a situation which means she could be found Flawed. I haven't started it yet but it sounds like it's in a similar sort of vein to the The Hunger Games and Lauren Oliver's Delirium series, both of which I loved, so I can't wait to get stuck in.

Yes Please by Amy Poehler - Kindle Edition/Paperback £5.69/£6.49 from Amazon

I can't quite believe that I still haven't read Yes Please because I love Amy Poehler, a lot! I've just never got round to reading it and honestly, I don't have an excuse as to why. But I'm guessing it will be absolutely hilarious, well written and very clever, because how could it not be when the author is such a bad ass?!

The Beauty of the End by Debbie Howells - Kindle Edition/Paperback £3.79/£3.99 from Amazon

I absolutely LOVED Debbie Howell's first book, The Bones of You, it's an incredible story and is beautifully written. I was hooked from the very first page and I could not put it down! I'd even go so far as to say that it is the best book I've read this year. So I couldn't wait for The Beauty of the End to come out to see how it would compare. I've had a nosey at the blurb and it sounds like it's gonna be a good 'un.

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert - Kindle Edition/Hardback £7,15/£7.50 from Amazon

Big Magic is the book on everyone's lips, it's everywhere, almost to the point of becoming a blogger cliché. I've read Elizabeth Gilbert's other books, Eat Pray Love and Committed, and found them inspiring, funny and really easy to read. I'm imagining Big Magic will be similar. I've been wanting to read it for ages and I'm thinking now might be an ideal time to do it.

On the Other Side by Carrie Hope Fletcher - Kindle Edition/Hardback £6.49/£6.49 from Amazon

On the Other Side is the debut novel from youtube sweetheart Carrie Hope Fletcher - we all know I love her - and I'm really excited to read it. On the Other Side is about Evie Snow, who after dying peacefully in her sleep at the age of 82, finds herself in the afterlife locked out of her own personal heaven. She is too heavy, burdened with secrets from her past, she has to rid herself of these secrets in order to be light enough to get in. It sounds awesome. I've read the first couple of chapters already and am really enjoying it so far.  I'll keep you posted.

I have a ton of other books on my to read pile, including: The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k by Sarah Knight,  How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran, Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler... seriously there are loads. I'll let you know how I get on.

What's on your holiday reading list? Any recommendations? Let me know by commenting below, on twitter, or dropping me an email at lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check out my instagram, facebook, bloglovin', snapchat -search lolarocknroses - & pinterest for regular updates.

Love love love xxx

Lola Loves... Reading

Lola Loves... Reading

Thursday, 23 April 2015

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I was talking with my best friend last night, setting the world to rights and all that, when the conversation turned to reading and how much we both love it. As an MA English Student I do A LOT of reading. I'd say I spend about 90% of my time with a book/kindle (/kindle app on my phone/iPad) in my hand and even though most of the time I'm reading something I really don't want to be I always try find time to read for the sake of reading. So with that in mind, and it being World Book Day and all, I thought I'd share with you lot the books I've been reading and loving lately.

Looking For Alaska by John Green

I'm reading this at the moment and I'm really enjoying it. I'm slowly working my way through everything John Green's ever written (because I like super love him) and whilst LFA isn't my favourite - it's a tie between The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns - it's a good story that's both funny and sad and a really good read. Miles 'Pudge' moves to Culver Creek Boarding School in Alabama in search of 'A Great Perhaps.' Which turns up in the form of Alaska Young. Alaska is beautiful and exciting but deeply troubled. As Miles falls in love with her he struggles to reconcile the Alaska he loves with her angrier, bitchier side. It's very similar to Paper Towns (read my review here) in that it addresses how we idealise people, and loving the idea of a person is not the same as loving them. If you haven't checked it out I would definitely recommend it.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

I read this just after Christmas and then read it again a few weeks later because I enjoyed it that much. To All The Boys I've Loved Before is about Lara Jean, a young Korean girl, who has been in love with her neighbour and best friend Josh forever. There's just one catch he's her older sister Margot's boyfriend. To get over Josh, and all the guys she loved before, she writes them a letter that she never intends to send. When these letters accidentally get sent out all hell breaks lose for Lara Jean and to save face in front of Josh she pretends one of her classmates is her boyfriend and things get... complicated. I really enjoyed it, it's funny and sweet and oh so teenage but awesome. Fans of New Girl will love it.

Sweet Temptation by Lucy Diamond

This is chick-lit at it's very finest. Sweet Temptation is about three overweight women Maddie, Lauren and Jess who meet at a weight-loss group and follows their lives as they struggle to lose weight (#thestruggleisreal) It sounds pretty naff I know but it is a really good, easy read. I found myself getting sucked into the story and actually caring about the characters. I really enjoyed it, it's a perfect Beach Read.

What are the books you're loving at the moment? Let me know on twitter - use the hashtag #LolaLoves, by commenting below or dropping me an email to lolarocknroses@gmail.com. Also check me out instagram, facebook, bloglovin & pinterest. That's me for this evening but I'll be back Sunday. Until then have yourselves a lovely week. 

Love love love xxx

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns): A Review

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns): A Review

Monday, 17 February 2014

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I've been looking to expand my blog into other areas as I'm on a no new make up ban until April. So far it's going well but unfortunately that means my main source of inspiration is currently in short supply.

I absolutely adore reading, always have done. According to my mum I taught myself to read when I was 3 (I don't know how true this is) even now I love nothing more than curling up and losing myself in a really good book, particularly when it's raining or cold outside.  I recently read and loved Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling and I thought I would review it for you lovely lot.

 As a third year English student I spend most of my time reading however I usually don't have the time to read something I actually want to read rather than something I have to for my degree. Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) -hereafter referred to as IEHOWM - is the first book in a long time that I've read purely because I wanted to.

IEHOWM is a memoir interspersed with observational essays, detailing Mindy's life from a geeky yet adorable child, to working as a babysitter in New York and then finally to landing her dream job as a writer on the brilliant and hilariously funny US adaptation of The Office. Usually I am not a fan of autobiographies, much preferring to lose myself in a fictional word where children are forced to fight to the death (I realise that sentence makes me look like a psycho) or a boy wizard who has the fate of the magical world on his shoulders. Having said that I utterly adored it, Mindy's book was both hilarious and utterly absorbing. I could not and did not put it down.

I love Mindy, I'm a huge fan of both The Mindy Project and The Office (US) so I'm not even a little bit surprised that I thoroughly enjoyed her book. The thing I love most about Mindy is that she knows who she is and is completely unashamed of that fact. This comes through in her writing and I adored it. A self confessed "vain flake" Mindy comes across as both funny and honest, making the book like a conversation with your best friend where neither of you can stop laughing.

Obviously I loved finding more about Mindy, (she's my spirit animal, her and Jennifer Lawrence), but what I really loved about this book was the random lists, I am the kind of person who makes lists for everything in life. My To Do List has it's own To Do List (would that be a To Do To Do List?). I particularly loved Best Friend Rights and Responsibilities and Types of Women in Romantic Comedies Who Aren't Real. Both were hilarious and accurate. In fact I found myself saying "it's funny cause it's true" whilst giggling more times than I can count throughout the course of this book.

My absolute favourite part though was entitled When You're Not Skinny This Is What People Want You To Wear. As a fellow not skinny girl I know how awful it is when people pick out clothes that they think you should wear, I'll give you an example for Christmas my size 8 sister bought me, among other things, crop tops. I'll say that again crop tops and that's plural, as in more than one . I would not be seen dead in a crop top for a lot of reasons and can't even begin to fathom why she bought them for me. Oh we'll it's the thought that counts. Anyway...

  

I thoroughly recommend this book for anyone who wants to have a giggle with one of the funniest ladies in comedy. I loved it.

Until next time lovelies check out my twitter, facebook, Bloglovin, instagram & pinterest. 

Love love love xx

The Cheer Up List (from damn unpretty to pretty damn happy)

The Cheer Up List (from damn unpretty to pretty damn happy)

Wednesday, 5 February 2014

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So this post is a follow up to my last post Damn Unpretty (read it here). I thought I would share with you the list of things I do to cheer myself up when my self esteem or my mood goes on the down swing. Try any of these when you are having a particularly bad day and I guarantee you will feel better :)

 

Nails in Hip Hop by Rimmel London Salon Pro Plus
      

Paint my nails - Usually red, red is the colour of confidence and it seems to be my signature colour (I love that). I love painting my nails it's really therapeutic and I like looking at them when I've finished, it gives me a small sense of pride (particularly when I don't smudge them) and seeing the pop of colour on my nails makes me happy.

 

Put on lipstick - I think my lips are my best feature. Elizabeth Taylor famously said 'Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and  pull yourself together.' I love that. Whilst I'm not a big drinker, I feel like I can face anything if I've got the right lipstick on. My favourite winter lipsticks are: #1 Seduction by Collection 2000, #500 Diva Red by Rimmel London & Pom Pom by Soap & Glory. I am also obsessed with Apocalips by Rimmel London in Apocaliptic (pictured).

Happy Place :)

Go for a walk - I live a five minute walk away from Bedford Park, which during the summer is absolutely beautiful. Whenever I feel myself stressed to the point of breaking I put on my iPod, listen to happy music and walk round Bedford Park until I feel better. It's so peaceful and secluded that even though I am in the middle of the park it feels like I'm the only person in the world. It's my happy place.

Listen to music and dance my face off - I defy anyone not to feel better after dancing around and getting out of breath and silly. My personal favourites to do this to are: ACDC's You Shook Me All Night Long, Journey's Don't Stop Believing,  Amii Stewart's Knock On Wood and Grace Potter's Something That I Want.

Read - There is nothing I love more than forgetting my troubles and immersing myself in a good book. I don't have a definitive favourite book because I love so many but some of my favourites are: The Girl in Times Square by Paullina Simons, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, How to Love by Katie Cotugno, The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins, Harry Potter (obviously) and The Knitting Circle by Ann Hood. I love anything by Jodi Picoult, she's a fabulous writer. I also just finished reading Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by the gloriously funny, beautiful and amazing Mindy Kaling, I strongly recommend it.

  

                 

Knit - Knitting is my therapy, and I'm not alone Amanda Seyfried, Ryan Gosling, Zooey Deschannel, Julia Roberts and Tom Hardy all enjoy knitting. It's so therapeutic and calming because you have to concentrate and can't think about anything other than what you are doing. It really quiets a frantic mind and I always get something cool out of it. Win-win.

Baking - Is amazing and when done right results in untold deliciousness. It is simply not possible for anyone to feel sad whilst baking and then getting to eat chocolate fudge brownies. I'm not the world's best baker (I'm trying to get better) but I love it so much.

Have a bubble bath - Normally I prefer showers to baths, I have to really be in the mood for a bubble bath but when I am there is nothing quite so relaxing as a hot bath full of gorgeous smelling Soap & Glory Calm One Calm All bubbles (my favourite bubblebath). My flat only has a shower, so whenever I go back home to see my mum for the holidays I make sure I have as many bubble baths as I can to make up for it.

Wear super fluffy slippers - I was originally going to say wear high heels around the house just because. But I wore heels out last night and my feet have not forgiven me yet for subjecting them to shoes that torture them no matter how beautiful. So instead I'm saying slippers. Slippers are one of man's greatest inventions, closely followed by Smartie cookies, the iPhone and MAC make up. These beauties are currently adorning my feet.

Honestly it is not physically possible to be down about life when I have the plush, yellow face of Homer Simpson's face looking back at me. Plus if I wiggle my ankles it looks like he's eating my feet, there are literally hours of fun to be had in these slippers.  

 

Go swimming/for a run/to the gym - I will be the first to say that exercise SUCKS. However the feeling of accomplishment when you have finished coupled with the endorphin high does not. I personally prefer swimming because it's like a form of meditation. I just zone out and before I know it I've been swimming for over an hour and am exhausted. Before I came to uni I used to go to the gym at home twice a day. There were 2 reasons for this 1. There was an instructor there who was so beautiful and amazing I was hoping he would become the next Mr. Lauren (he didn't) and 2. I got a little bit addicted to the rush I got after, which is not the healthiest thing in the world.

SING - Singing has been scientifically proven to improve mood. On days where I am feeling ugly or sad (and I have the house to myself) I love nothing more than expressing my sorrows through the medium of song. My favourite songs to belt out are Barbra Streisand's Funny Girl, On My Own from Les Mis, Don't Rain On My Parade again by Barbra, Idina Menzel's version of Let It Go from Frozen, The Rose by Bette Midler, My Man (Barbra again), Defying Gravity from Wicked, Don't Stop Believing by Journey and anything by Queen or Meatloaf (as you can see I do this a lot). No matter how bad I sound I always feel so much better after. It's really therapeutic. I find it's best to choose a song where you have to belt out the notes, because you can let all your emotions out with the song and afterwards you feel so much better.

I have loads more - including a Pinterest session involving animals wearing hats/pyjamas, watch a film or a entire TV boxset (I strongly recommend Scrubs) in one sitting, facemasks and surfing youtube but I think I might be starting to bore you now. Hopefully this list helps you go from this...

to this...



Until next time lovelies check me out on twitter, facebook, Bloglovin, instagram & pinterest :)

Love love love xxx