The 3 best things about working from home... and the 3 worst

Hey lovelies,

I took the end of last week off of work and so I also took the week off from blogging, but I am back now once again. 

As it seems that the majority of us will be continuing to work from home for the foreseeable future, I thought I would run through what I believe to be its biggest benefits, and also what I see to be its biggest disadvantages.

Here are my three favourite things about working from home, followed by my three least favourite.

Let's start with the good...

#1: An extra hour and a half in bed

I'm really not much of a morning person. When I'm working in the office, my commute is over an hour, and so I have to get up at 6:30 in order to get ready and get to work on time to start at 9. Now that my commute from my bed to my desk takes approximately half a second, I don't need to get up until 8am. 8AM! Heaven. Still too early for me though.

#2: Saving money on diesel

As I said, my commute is over an hour, and I recently upgraded from my adorable yet small Fiat 500 to an Audi TT with a much larger engine, so my fuel costs are a bit higher than initially expected. Working from home saves me a lot of money monthly, and as I physically cannot go anywhere, I have actually been able to save a lot more money than I would have otherwise!

#3: Having a bit more freedom with my working day

My work are pretty helpful anyway if you need to start late or finish early - you just work through your lunch or make sure your hours are made up another day. But working from home makes it so much easier to start early or finish late, as it means that I don't need to go anywhere. 

Working from home also means that I can do quick chores, like sticking a wash load on while I'm grabbing a coffee. They only take a few minutes, but otherwise, they would have to wait until I got home.

I can also have a bit more freedom whilst I'm actually at work. I can listen to music or a podcast without having to worry about distracting anyone, and I can eat fish for lunch without worrying about stinking out the staff kitchen haha!

As much as working from home can help, I must admit I don't really like it. Here are my 3 least favourite things about working from home...

#1: The lack of social interaction

If I have a day of no Teams meetings, sometimes I can go the whole day without verbally talking to someone until I see my family after I finish work. It is so draining and makes me feel really lonely sometimes. I miss the idle chit chat while you're waiting for the kettle to boil and the work banter that you are more likely to have in the office environment.

#2: The total lack of a work/life balance

I honestly don't know how freelancers and full-time bloggers do it. When your desk is literally half an inch away from your bed, it is almost impossible to stop thinking about work when you clock off. It's usually little things, and it is not all the time, but I can find myself thinking about work hours after I have finished for the day because there is no difference between my workspace and my relaxation space. It can be really stressful and I also sometimes panic that because I'm not working 13 hour days when I could because my desk is right there, I'm not doing enough. I would never have normally worried about this, but sometimes I do worry that everyone else is doing more than me.

#3: I actually miss my commute

Despite it meaning that I have to get up at an ungodly hour in the morning and it costs me a fortune on fuel costs, I actually really enjoy my hour-long commute. It's my me time. It wakes me up and helps to prepare my mind for the working day in the morning, and it gives my brain time to shut down before I get back home in the evening. When working from home, I feel like I miss out on this extra step so I "arrive" at work still a bit sleepy and groggy, and I "leave" still fully switched on work-mode.

Ultimately, I am just very happy and grateful that I still have a job. I do feel for everyone that has been laid off or furloughed for an extended period of time. It must be really tough. But I also know a lot of people are struggling with working from home, so I know I'm not the only one. Hopefully, we will all be able to return to work soon, whether that be getting a new job, getting off of furlough or returning to the office.

Are you guys working from home? If so, are you struggling or thriving, or somewhere in between?

With love, Chloe x

What I'm looking forward to in 2021

 Hey lovelies,

On Monday, Boris gave us the news I feel like we've all been waiting for - a plan to get us out of this Coronavirus mess. I know it's not set in stone and that the roadmap will go on 'data not dates', but I am SO grateful that we have a timeframe and an 'end date' to look forward to - even if it does change slightly along the way. I have been trying so hard to stay positive throughout this but I have definitely been struggling, so it is so relieving to have a bit of positive news for once and I am counting down the days. Here are 5 things that I am looking forward to in 2021, now that we have a timeline of when we can expect to do things again.

#1: Hugging family and friends again

I cannot wait to be able to hug my cousins and friends and Sam without effectively having broken the law! It's these things that you never realised how much you would miss until they were taken away from you, and now I cannot wait to be able to give ALL THE HUGS to my family. I've missed them all so much.

#2: Pints and pals in pub gardens

I am so looking forward to when I can meet up with more than one friend and actually socialise, rather than exercise. Just think - the sun will be shining, the pub garden will be buzzing with people, some tunes will be playing and you will be laughing in person with a group of your nearest and dearest, cold pint/glass of wine/cocktail in hand. I can almost taste the gin already!

#3: Having people over to mine and Sam's house

Sam and I have been looking around different properties to rent for the last few weeks and I am suuuper hopeful that we will be able to have people over for BBQs and to stay in a place that we actually live together! Fingers crossed we are able to rent a place we love in time for a few of the restrictions to be eased!

#4: Having in-person work meetings

I know this seems like a bit of a strange one in comparison to the others, but because I started my new job in August and was only in the office for a few weeks before the Work from Home order was brought back in, I have had hardly any face-to-face work meetings. Teams meetings are fine but it's so much easier to get involved in large meetings when there isn't such a thing as "Teams etiquette" that you have to follow. I feel like I will be so much more involved in meetings when I don't have to un-mute myself to say things! Nothing beats discussing business plans and ideas in-person.

#5: Getting back to the gym

Over the past 9 months or so I have been on a bit of a fitness journey, and I am really pleased with my progress, especially over the last month while we have been in yet another lockdown. My personal trainer has been offering outdoor PT sessions, but having to work out at 7pm outside in the dark and cold isn't the most desirable or motivational thing! I cannot wait until the gyms are open again and I can continue my journey properly.

What are you most looking forward to? Fingers crossed Boris's roadmap can go ahead as planned and we can start doing all these things safely again soon!

With love, Chloe x

3 things my Mum's brain haemorrhage taught me

 Hey lovelies,

Tonight's post is a bit of a heartfelt one. It's on something very close to my heart. Some of you may know, that on the 29th of July 2019, just 4 days after my graduation, my mum was rushed to hospital after searing pain in her head made her fall to the floor of the bathroom. After several hours of tests and scans, we learnt that she had experienced something called a subarachnoid haemorrhage after 1 of 3 aneurysms in her brain had ruptured. 

Luckily, she had life-saving surgery at Oxford's John Radcliffe hospital the following morning and so has recovered from the haemorrhage, but that day was definitely life-changing for us all.

According to the NHS website, a subarachnoid haemorrhage is 'an uncommon type of stroke caused by bleeding on the surface of the brain. It's a very serious condition and can be fatal... About 3 in 5 people who have a subarachnoid haemorrhage die within 2 weeks. Half of those who survive are left with severe brain damage and disability.'

We are aware that she was very, very lucky, and I am so grateful to all the NHS staff that cared for her - particularly the paramedics and the surgeons. 

The doctors still aren't really sure what caused the brain aneurysms, as they are usually found after blunt trauma to the head. However,  The two operations that she has had in total have managed to stop the bleed in her brain, however, they have since found another aneurysm that was too small to operate on, and suggested that she may have small brain aneurysms for the rest of her life.

That day, and the following weeks while she was recovering in hospital, was honestly the most difficult and stressful time of my life, but it also taught me some important life lessons. Here are 3 things that my mum's brain haemorrhage taught me.

#1: How utterly and completely lost I would be without my mum.

I think as you grow up you truly realise just how special the bond between yourself and your mum is, especially (in my opinion) for girls and young women. 

My mum is my best friend. She has done absolutely everything for me since my birth. She is one of my favourite people to talk to, and despite our occasional arguments, she is the first person I want to tell any news to. She's been my shoulder to cry on for 23 years, and she's helped me get through some really tough times when I didn't think I had anyone else. 

She is the most remarkable woman I know, and I would be indescribably lost without her. I thank my lucky stars every single day that the surgeons were able to operate successfully, and that she had no lasting symptoms from the bleed or the surgery.

#2: How important family is.

It isn't until you almost lose someone in your immediate family that you realise just how important family is. Despite all the rows and silly arguments, they are (usually) the only people that you know will always have your back for as long as they can. 

I really believe that I didn't appreciate my family as much as I could, and I sometimes still don't, but since that day I think I have definitely learnt to be more appreciative of my family unit, and I feel incredibly lucky to have everyone around me.

#3: Not to take things for granted

In your early 20s, losing your mum is not really something you feel the need to think about, especially if there has been no previous diagnosis of an illness. You kind of take your family for granted. Believe that it's OK because they'll 'always be there'. Which, for most parents, is true until they can be there no more.

I really don't think I ever realised just how much my mum did for me and the family on a daily basis until I was kind of forced to take over the role while she was recovering in hospital. Seriously, I don't know how she fits it all in, there are NOT enough hours in the day. Taking the dogs out twice, making lunches, cooking dinner, cleaning, washing, looking after my sister and making sure that my granddad was OK, all while making sure I still had the time to travel to Oxford and back every day to visit mum in hospital.

Seriously, I don't think I did half of what my mum does all the time, and I only did it for a few weeks before she felt stable enough to do it herself and I could go back to work. But let me tell you, I'd take a full working day over that any day. It really made me appreciate what she does for the family all the time. She really is a Superwoman.

Luckily, in the 12 months since the last operation, things have pretty much gone back to normal. My mum can still do all the things she could do before the haemorrhage and it hasn't really affected her daily life much. She still sometimes gets headaches, and they are always a worry, but she knows the pain scale and she knows whether it is bad enough to call an ambulance again.

This post wasn't to generate sympathy or to cause anyone sadness, but I thought that with Mother's Day coming up it would be important to reflect on how much my mum means to me and how lost I would be without her. I love you so much, Mum.

With love, Chloe x

'Keeping ya love lockdown, ya love lockdown': Living apart from my long-term boyfriend during this pandemic

'I'm not loving you, the way I wanted to'. Who knew Kanye West lyrics from 2008 would relate so closely to the world we're living in now, over a decade later?

When the pandemic hit the UK back in March 2020, Sam and I had (semi) recently returned from a trip to Amsterdam, a belated 21st birthday present to him from me. Looking back, I am so glad that we were able to go on that trip - not only because it was amazing and I loved every second of it, but also because I was (and still am) able to look back through the photos and relive those wonderful memories that we shared together. This was something that I found myself doing a lot, especially during the early months of the first national lockdown, where restrictions were at their toughest and you weren't able to spend time with anyone that you didn't live with. Sam and I both still live at home with our parents, and neither of us really wanted to move in to the other's parent's house, especially when we thought it would only be for 3 weeks. But obviously that wasn't the case, and Sam and I didn't see each other at all for 9 weeks. Sure, we facetimed and zoom-called, but it's just not the same. Especially for a couple in their early twenties that had been together for over 4 and a half years at that point. I just felt that, as much as I wanted to see and speak to Sam, when we did chat over facetime, we had nothing to talk about because obviously we weren't doing anything. 

Don't get me wrong, I understand that the national lockdown was 10000% needed, and at the time I was really hopeful that by following these restrictions, we would be helping to make a real difference in reducing the spread of the virus and helping things to return to a bit closer to normality.

And then we reached mid-May and restrictions started to ease. Slowly but surely, Sam and I were able to start seeing each other again. First on long summer walks or picnics in the park, then he was able to come and sit in my garden. The rules changed again, and we could actually enter each other's houses! A prospect that seemed so trivial just 6 months prior, actually was life-changing for us at that stage. And finally, after what felt like an eternity, overnight stays were once more allowed. Things finally appeared to be heading somewhat back to normal, and through being able to spend quality time together, I found myself falling in love with him all over again.

But, as we all know, if something appears to be too good to be true, it probably is, and the UK went back into a full lockdown in November, the day before we were supposed to go to Cheddar for a well-deserved long-weekend together. I was absolutely devastated. I remember the night that the announcement was made. My mum was out with a friend, my sister was upstairs, and me, Sam and my dad were watching the news. I just burst into tears. 

Once again, our time together was restricted to outside dog walks. But November in the UK is cold and dark, and although I was happy to just be able to see Sam at all this time around, I wasn't as enthralled by the prospect of walking outside as I was back in the summer.

Without going on too much about how the UK seemed to yo-yo in and out of lockdowns and tier changes, the restrictions were eased again after the November lockdown, which we'd had to "protect Christmas", only to be tightened once more. On Boxing Day, Swindon went into tier 3, and on New Year's Eve, tier 4. It just kept getting worse. And just as we all thought that, with most of the country being in tier 4 already, restrictions couldn't get any tighter, BOOM - England went into National Lockdown no.3.

Now, as I've said, I know it is for a good reason, and that saving people's lives and protecting the NHS is far more important than little old me getting to see my boyfriend. I understand that for a lot of people, Coronavirus has had a far more negative impact on your life. I really do feel for anyone who has suffered badly with COVID-19, or who have lost family members to this cruel virus. I am genuinely so so sorry that anyone has had to deal with that, and I don't want to trivialise those experiences at all - because in the grand scheme of things I have been very very lucky.

However, I don't think I would be alone in saying how disappointed I am that we seem to be going round and round in a never-ending circle. I feel so disheartened that the 2 previous lockdowns didn't really do much, and in my opinion, weren't really given a chance to make a positive difference. I just feel very let down. And I think that the UK should never have been allowed to get into this state.

But, we are in lockdown 3.0, and almost in a state of déjà vu, Sam and I are stuck AGAIN doing our freezing Saturday morning walks just in order to see each other. I really hate not being with him. Even the little things like watching TV together and eating dinner together I miss, despite being perfectly capable of doing these things on my own or with my family.

And, like everyone else, we are desperately hoping that the vaccines get distributed as quickly as possible, and as many people have it as can, so that COVID can stop taking away people's lives - in both senses of the phrase - at the earliest possible time.

We are looking to move in together in the next few months - something that I am really looking forward to. But until then, the weekly walks will have to do.

Have any of you had a similar experience, or are you lucky enough to live with your other half?

With love, Chloe x

How to cope with the winter blues when you're just really missing summer

Hello my lovelies,

With it being January, many people are fed up of the weather (at least we are in the UK.) It's cold. It's dark. It's probably raining. The days appear to be getting shorter and shorter and your motivation to get anything done is dissipating by the second. You just really miss summer. I get it - especially at the moment. Lockdown was just easier to deal with in the summer. It was warmer so outdoor exercise didn't feel like a chore. Back when seeing your friends was legal, it was actually fun to go for a walk around a park or sit and have a picnic in the sunshine. Now though, it's way too cold to sit anywhere outside for long periods of time and going outside for exercise is the last thing you want to do.

However, winter is a season that, unfortunately in the UK, is long, cold, dark and drizzly, and reoccurs every year, so you do just have to learn to deal with it until spring finally comes back around. *That being said, if you find that the change in the seasons are drastically affecting your happiness and mental state, please please seek help. Both Mind and SANE offer advice and resources on how to cope with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other mental health issues.*

But, how can you make winter more bearable?

First thing's first, you have to look on the bright side. Ironic because on the evening that I am writing this post, the temperature didn't reach higher than 1°c and the fog hasn't lifted all day. But in order to get through the winter, you have to think of the positives of winter!

It can be really, really beautiful. When the rain hasn't let up all day or it's so foggy that you can't see more than a foot in front of your face, you have to remember how beautiful winter can be. One of my favourite kinds of weather is a really bright, sunny, cold Autumn or Winter day. It just feels so fresh and crisp! Or the snow! The snow can be so beautiful. So peaceful. So fun! Think snowball fights and sledging - those days when you're enjoying yourself way too much to even realise how cold you are. (I promise, I am an adult really.)

Or if venturing outside into freezing temperatures isn't really your kind of thing, now that it's cold you don't need an excuse to have a cosy duvet day. Get on your warmest pyjamas, grab a hot chocolate and stick on your favourite film or read a book under the covers. There's not much better than being cosy - there's a reason why so many cultures have specific words for the sensation of being cosy ('hygge' in Danish, for example.)

And although people can suffer from SAD during these winter months, the cold does bring with it some health benefits. 

According to a 2017 study from Stanford University, people can perform cognitive tasks such as remaining calm and making decisions with more control when it is colder. Colder temperatures can make you think more clearly, and if I ever need to clear my mind in winter, I find that a walk in the fresh air always makes me feel better, refreshed and less stressed.

As well as this, you're less likely to suffer from certain allergies in the winter. I think hay fever sufferers must all breathe a sigh of relief as soon as it hits October time and the temperature starts to drop, because the pesky itchy eyes and constant running nose symptoms finally start to ease.

And just remember, us Brits are never happy. In the winter, we are constantly bemoaning the cold and counting down the days until we can whack the shorts and bikinis back out. But in the summer, we complain that it is 'too hot', and can't wait for the cosy jumpers and hot chocolates season to return.

And though we are itching to get the sun cream back out and to bury the fluffy scarves and gloves back into the depths of our wardrobes once more, it will be summer again before we know it and we'll all be moaning about the heat soon enough!

Are you counting down the days until summer, or are you quite content in the cold? I quite like both, but I do think summer will always have a special place in my heart. Here's hoping that Summer 2021 will be the summer that last year couldn't be! I have too many fun ideas planned for another 3 months inside!

With love, Chloe x

How to cope with stress

Hello lovelies,

With it being the start of a new year, most people will be becoming inundated with social media posts boasting about how much they succeeded in 2020 despite the global pandemic and marketing materials capitalising on the 'new year, new me' trend, seemingly stating that the only way to have a 'successful' year is to completely tear down the person you were last year in order to create a new, better version this year.

Seriously, how many 'improve your productivity to improve your prosperity' posts have you seen on LinkedIn already this year? And it's only mid-January. In a society where being successful = being busy, it is becoming increasingly difficult to realise when you need to up the workload or when you need to take a step back and breathe.

According to the NHS website, 'stress is the body's reaction to feeling threatened or under pressure.' Stress can be a completely normal, manageable part of life, and can even be motivation to help us get on with tasks that we were putting off. However, too much stress can cause a negative impact on our lives, our relationships, our mental health, and our physical health.

One of the best and most important ways of coping with stress is to talk about it. With friends, family, or a professional. Talking is a really valuable way to make things feel easier. After all, a problem shared is a problem halved.

Another tip for managing stress is to split up big tasks that are stressing you out into smaller, more manageable chunks, and to plan ahead. Use diaries and to-do lists to prioritise your workload and to split up jobs. Honestly, I couldn't live without lists. I have a diary exclusively for my work, where I write daily to-do lists and check everything off once it's done. This makes me feel a lot less stressed as I have managed my workload, and I can also feel really accomplished when I have ticked everything off for that day. I also use calendars and notepads to plan the rest of my life and make to-do lists for anything that needs doing outside of my job.

Exercise is a fantastic way to relieve stress. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins. These endorphins interact with receptors in your brain and can reduce your perception of pain. They can also trigger a positive feeling in the body. For example, before lockdown 3.0, I would head to the gym if I had a stressful day, and as soon as I had completed my workout, all my angst about whatever it was that had stressed me out had completely dissipated. 

Getting out in the fresh air for a walk or a run - or even just sitting on a bench admiring nature - has a similar effect. Being outside can increase dopamine - the 'feel good hormone'. It's a great way to clear your head, and hey, if science says it can help you de-stress, then it must be worth a shot.

My final tip to reduce your stress is to distract yourself. Read a good book, chat to a friend, watch your favourite film or tv show - anything to take your mind off of whatever it is that is troubling you. It won't make the problem disappear, but it will definitely mask it for a while, and sometimes that is all we need.

Hopefully 2021 won't prove to be as stressful as last year was, but if you do find yourself in a bit of a frenzy, I hope that these tips will help you to feel better.

With love, Chloe x

Looking back on the year we did nothing, that somehow changed everything

Hello my lovelies, and Happy New Year!

Usually I hate January - waving goodbye to Christmas and my birthday for it to be replaced with the requirement to go back to work has never been something that I particularly look forward to. This time though, like everybody else, I was definitely ready to see the back of 2020.

Now, I know that in England, on the 5th of January we were put into a national lockdown...AGAIN, and I knew that everything wasn't going to magically return to 'normal' once the clock struck midnight on January 1st, but something about a 'fresh start' really appealed to me, and I was looking forward to 2021.

Looking back at 2020, it is important that I realise that as much as Coronavirus ruined the year for almost everyone, I'm lucky that, for me, it wasn't all bad. I was lucky enough to escape to Amsterdam for a long weekend with my boyfriend, Sam, back in February (before COVID-19 was really even spoken about in the UK). We had a really amazing time, and it was a lovely belated 21st birthday present for Sam. I am so grateful that we were able to go before Coronavirus really impacted Europe, and we made memories that I have really treasured throughout last year when I had to go for really long periods of time without seeing him.

2020 was also the year that I moved jobs and could finally put 'full-time copywriter' on my CV. I had wanted to become a copywriter for such a long time, and I am so proud of myself that I not only started my marketing career just over a year after graduating, but also in the middle of a global pandemic!

I also think that the biggest things for me to take away from 2020 are the lessons that I have learnt. I learnt the importance of family, friends and relationships - you never know how special someone is and how much you will miss them until you are forced to keep apart. I learnt that, in the grand scheme of things, the little irritants that used to get me so wound up really do not matter as much as I was making them out to, if at all. I've learnt to enjoy my own company - I spent a lot of time alone and so I needed to. And I learnt the importance of a positive mindset. Last year was hard. Really hard. And I often struggled to stay positive. But I learnt that dwelling on the negatives will only make things worse, so it's best to focus on the positives and try to make the best out of a bad situation... I think I'm still learning that one.

In terms of my goals and expectations for 2021 - I'm not really setting any 'resolutions' this year, as you never know what is going to happen. Instead, I have set out a few 'hopes' for 2021. First, I am hoping to move in with Sam. I have really struggled being apart from him so much last year, and so I am excited for us to finally be in the same space. I am hoping to progress in my career. I want to gain as much experience as possible - not only in copywriting, but in as many areas of marketing as possible. I'm hoping to continue on my fitness journey. Last year, I got myself a personal trainer, I was in the gym 4 times a week and I was loving my training. This year, I want to be able to continue on my journey and build on my new-found passion for exercise. I also want to hit a 100kg squat PB (my current PB is 75kg for 2 reps). Finally, I am hoping to spend more time with my family, when we are allowed, as you never know where life could take you and I want to make the most of my time.

Have you set any new year's resolutions or goals for 2021? Let me know what they are!

Sending everyone positive vibes, and here's hoping 2021 is a better year for everyone.

With love, Chloe x

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MEET RIKKI ETC.

Hello lovelies,

I haven't been very active in the blogging universe recently because of the stresses of uni exams and work, however I have now officially finished second year!! (lol what?) and I want to use to summer "break" to focus more on my blog. I thought a good way of getting back into the blogging scene was with an interview. I have never done one of these before but my friend from school very kindly agreed to help me by being my interviewee. Fellow blogger, Rikki, has her little corner of the internet over at RIKKI ETC. I asked her questions all about her blog and her experience with blogging over the last few years.

1.    Can you tell my readers about yourself and your blog?

Yes, of course! I’m Rikki, a 19-year-old student at the University of Reading, studying English Language. I started my beauty blog around 5 years ago and although I mainly post beauty reviews, I do occasionally like to switch it up with DIY’s, holiday posts, fashion posts and interviews.

2. How did you first get into blogging?

I started blogging for numerous reasons. Firstly, I was in the midst of GCSE’s and I took them really seriously. So, I found myself getting really stressed out and decided to start blogging to relax me- (it worked!). Also, I never really had a talent or hobby, so wanted to find something that could fill that gap. I knew that I liked doing my makeup, I loved creative writing and I thoroughly enjoyed photography, so blogging was the perfect way to combine all 3! The last reason I started blogging was because I had ALWAYS wanted to start a YouTube channel, but I was super young and was really sceptical of YouTube at that time. I was scared of random people watching and judging me, so blogging seemed like a good alternative- and it was. It’s honestly the best thing I’ve ever pursued!

3. What inspired you to start your blog?

When I was around 15, I started getting into makeup. I’d go to my local Superdrug and would go crazy buying “loads” of makeup. (At that point, loads of makeup was a new concealer, mascara and lip gloss- oh, how times have changed). But I’d come home and either be really disappointed or would be really excited to show up to school the next day with my ‘new look’. I really wanted to share my opinions of products with the public so that largely inspired me to start a blog. I was bullied at school and the last thing I wanted was to draw more attention to myself, so I actually kept my blog a secret for years (although some people did find it). Now, I feel comfortable being a lot more open about it.

4. How would you describe your blogging style?

This is a difficult one. I feel like my style has changed over time… I have always written in a chatty style, but would avoid using swear words or slang, because you do need a certain level of formality. However, I have never sat down and structured a post. I just type how I think, because I feel like it can sometimes seem ‘staged’ and ‘fake’ otherwise, whereas this way it feels 100% genuine.

5. Who are your favourite bloggers and why?

I genuinely don’t have ‘favourite bloggers’. I much prefer to spend my time discovering more new bloggers rather than reading the same ones. I will say that I feel as if there are sooo many underrated bloggers out there. I have found many bloggers in my time who have less than 300 followers, yet I enjoy reading their posts more than those with 300,000 followers, because they are passionate about what they do, and it shows!

6. Have you met anyone interesting/famous on your blogging journey?

I have interviewed a few cool people over my time, like Caggie Dunlop from Made in Chelsea and Jemma McKenzie-Brown from High School Musical 3. I also went to ‘The Clothes Show’ a while back, where bloggers had their own little room to stay in. It was right next to the celebrity room so I met some interesting people there, mainly reality TV stars. I have been invited to many events over time, but I’ve always been way too scared to attend them, so have missed out on some great opportunities at companies headquarters or London Fashion Week events etc. I’d love to attend one this year, but I just find the concept seriously daunting, especially when you’re alone, so have missed out on meeting so really interesting people, as a result.

7. Do you have any specific goals for the rest of this year?

Definitely! I like setting goals because it helps me stay on track and be the best I can be. As for my blog, I’m simply working on making my photography, content and layout better. With my Instagram, I have more of a milestone I’d like to reach, which is 5000 followers by the end of my Summer holidays. I know it is a MASSIVE push, considering I’ve only just hit 2K, but it is important for me to keep growing, particularly because of the career in marketing/ advertising/ social media, that I want to pursue.

8. Would you encourage other people to start a blog and why/why not?

Starting a blog was the best decision I personally ever made... The good points definitely far outweigh the bad, however, it is extremely time consuming, competitive and hard-work. One thing I would stress is that you should never start blogging if you’re doing it for the wrong reasons (because you want followers or free products etc.). If that is the motive, then your readers will honestly see right through it. If you’re really passionate about something though, then it’s definitely worth starting a blog where you can share this.

9. How do you manage to get such banging photos for your blog and instagram, both of yourself and of products? Do you take your outfit photos yourself or get others to take them for you?

Ahh, haha, thank you. I’m not entirely happy with my photography yet, but I am a bit of a perfectionist. For my blog, I use a ring light (which is really useful in the winter, when the lighting is awful) and I use a Canon 700D. It was pricey, and you definitely don’t need to invest in a fancy, expensive camera. My Instagram pictures tend to be a bit more personal than my blog, in the sense that they are normally selfies or pictures with friends/ family. I deliberately wanted my Instagram to be like this, because although I adore blogging, it’s really difficult to get that personal touch, so that’s what I try to achieve through Instagram. My selfies and mirror pictures are taken by myself but my full-length posts are usually taken by somebody else… I use anyone that’s around me at that time, whether that’s my sister, the boys that I live with at university, or one of my best friends- Isabel, who seems to always take the best pictures of everyone! I just use my iPhone 6 for that.

10. What is the best thing about blogging?

There are so many things, it’s hard to pick one. But, I’d probably say the community. The blogging community are honestly amazing and are always willing to help each other out. It’s a really warm and friendly environment where all are welcome!

Thank you so much Rikki for agreeing to be interviewed! Please read Rikki's blog and follow her on Instagram and Bloglovin'.

Rikki can be found on these links:

Thank you for reading, I hope you liked this post!

With love, Chloe x

New Year's Resolutions

Hello lovelies,

Happy New Year! I cannot believe that it is 2018! Wow, 2017, what a year! 2017 was a really strange year for me, in some parts, I had a really good year, but I definitely had some struggling times throughout the year and I can definitely say that 2017 was not MY year. Every year I make some New Year's Resolutions. Some I stick to, some I don't, but after such a strange good-but-bad year I decided that in order to make 2018 MY year, I needed to try and make resolutions that I could stick to. They aren't super strict and difficult, and for some of you they might seem really trivial but they are important to me. I tried to make them slightly more vague so that I didn't stress out about not having gained a certain amount of followers over the year or not having lost a certain amount of pounds each month, and I tried to vary them as much as possible, so here they are, my 10 New Year's Resolutions for 2018.

1. Drink more water. I actually got pretty good at this during the beginning of 2017 because being at uni, water was the only thing I could afford, but after coming back for summer, I got very bad at it and haven't really improved much since- oops.
2. Get more sleep. I am ALWAYS tired, and I want to try and improve that by trying to sleep slightly earlier. That way, I will *hopefully* get up slightly earlier and will *hopefully* be more productive during the day.
3. Eat more fruit and vegetables. I don't really struggle with veg because I'm pretty good with what I cook at uni, but I hardly eat fruit, which is such a shame because I actually love it- I'm just bad at remembering that it is in the fridge and then by the time I remember, it is out of date- OOPS.
4. Exercise more. I know I'm not fat but I would like to exercise more often to feel healthier, sleep better and relieve stress. I would like to lose a bit of weight this year but it's not the end of the world if I don't. I just want to feel healthy. In the beginning of 2017, my flatmate Ellie and I were running at least once a week but over summer we both stopped and haven't yet started again so we need to start that up.
5. Work on my mental health and be happier. I am in no way suggesting that I suffer from depression or anything of the sort, but I have had a pretty difficult 2017 so I want to sort myself out and get my happiness back on track.
6. Stop accidentally pushing people away. So by suffering with stress and mood swings and blah blah I have actually pushed a few people away over the last year. I was really horrible to my mum and Sam and a few others (luckily they were amazing enough to keep coming back) but I don't want to lose anyone I love again so I need to stop taking my mood swings out on those I care about.
7. Continue to work hard at uni. I did well in my first year but not as well as I'd hoped so I need to continue working away and trying my best. Hopefully I finish second year with *at least* a high 2:1. Fingers crossed.
8. Continue uploading a blog post once a week. Again, this is something I got quite good at for a while and then let trail off towards the end of the year so I want to keep that up this year so that my blog will continue to grow.
9. Get more involved in the blogging community. Similar to the one above, I did get really good at reading lots of other blogger's posts and commenting on them I joined a whatsapp group with some other female bloggers which are lovely but we haven't used the chat in months which is really sad. I'd really love to go to some blogger meet-ups this year and really get stuck in in the community, which will hopefully lead to lasting friendships and possibly better networks for the future- in blogging and outside of it.
10. Have fun and smile. As I have mentioned before, I want to make 2018 better than 2017. I am determined to make 2018 MY year and enjoy every second!

Happy New Year! I hope you had a fabulous Christmas and New Year and I wish you the best for 2018. What are your New Year's Resolutions?

With love, Chloe x

Halloween Help: 5 Halloween Costume Ideas for Women

Hey lovelies.

Halloween is fast approaching and I am so so excited! Halloween is one of my favourite holidays because I love dressing up! Over the past few years though, I have found it more difficult to decide what to go as, so here is a handy list for all of you who are struggling to find a costume this year!

1) A Disney Princess- This year my original plan was to go as Alice in Wonderland, but that changed once my flatmates and I decided to do a group costume. Dressing as a Disney character is perfect because a lot of the time you can DIY a costume for cheap, and who doesn't want to be a Disney Princess for the day! As well as this, if you are more into the 'scary' part of Halloween, you can change yourself into 'Dead' Cinderella or 'Dead' Alice in Wonderland really easily with a bit of pale makeup and some fake blood.

2) Princess Peach/ Princess Daisy/Female Mario/ Female Luigi- This year my flatmates and I are going as Mario Kart characters. We have a Mario, Luigi, Toad, Waluigi, a female Mario and a female Luigi. I really wanted to go as Princess Peach and my flatmate Ellie to go as Princess Daisy, but we couldn't find any decent costumes for cheap. But if you are more willing to spend a bit of money then go for it!

3) A Powerpuff Girl- A few years ago for Halloween, me and 2 of my friends went as dead Powerpuff girls. It was a really easy DIY costume, all you need is a dress/ long top either in blue, red or green! I went as Bubbles because I'm blonde. It was really cheap, easy and fun, so if you and 2 of your girl friends want to do a group costume, this one is definitely a winner!

4) Lara Croft- About 4 years ago my friend threw a videogame themed Halloween party. I know NOTHING about video games, so I decided to go as the only female video game character I could think of- Lara Croft. Again, super easy and you probably have the components of this outfit at home already! I just got my costume a bit dirty and covered it in fake blood, threw my hair up into a ponytail and I was good to go!

5) A cat/ devil/ dead school girl- Some years, we really just wanna be basic. There is nothing wrong with going as any of these things for Halloween so don't let people tell you it's basic or boring because you will look fab anyway! I went as a devil last year and I loved it so screw what anyone else thinks!

I hope you enjoyed this short little post giving you  a few ideas as what to go as for Halloween. Let me know if you use any of these ideas!

Thanks for reading.

With love, Chloe x