PRETTY YOUNG THING : happy

LIFESTYLE: WAYS TO STAY POSITIVE THIS YEAR

18 January 2018

In today's post I want to talk about staying positive and ways in which I think you can stay positive and increase your productivity in 2018. I'm going to include a few products to help you stay organised and things you can do to make 2018 the best year yet!

First up it's the 18th of January so you should all have a brand new diary and calendar, if not you need to go and get one. I think writing down things really helps me stay productive and I like to tick things off and this keeps me on track. I also keep a note of any appointments etc, coffee with friends so i'm super productive and know what i'm doing from one day to the next. If I have a free day then I can use this for blogging and i'll usually write a list of blog posts I want to write or write a list of products I need to review so i've always got something to write about. I also use the calendar and notes on my phone but I find actually writing things in my diary and on my calendar works better for me. There's lots of lovely planners around like The Happiness Planner and these ones from Dot Creates and so if you work from home or like having a big diary I think they are great and have lots of sections to keep you organised.

Next up why not invest in a new wardrobe, get yourself some nice new clothes that you will be proud to be seen in. If you work in an office get yourself a nice new jacket or suit. This will make you feel really confident, and ready to get that promotion this year. If you are self-employed even though you don't wear a uniform appearing clean and professional is a good way to get new commissions, work etc, even if you just invest in a new dress, pair of jeans or a new coat.

Having a positive mental attitude is going to boost positivity and productivity this year. Why not join the gym or start going for a run, I find exercise a really good way of thinking and i've come up with some really good ideas whilst i've been out for a jog. Exercise can also help you sleep better which is another benefit and another way to boost your positive attitude.

Start doing yoga, have a massage, go for a walk around a park, just take some time out for you. Personal well-being is very important and looking after yourself should be a priority this year.

Healthy eating is another good way of staying positive, I always have a 'lets do this' attitude when i'm eating well. I'm always very motivated to do well. Sugary and fatty foods can make you feel sluggish and can leave you feeling tired and irritated.

* this is a sponsored post

MY GOALS FOR 2017!

7 January 2017

LET'S DO THIS!!

I feel like 2016 was a really hard year for myself and alot of people around me. I read back through my goals for 2016 and i'm so proud of myself for what i've achieved.

I haven't achieved all of my goals for 2016 but I have ticked off most of them. I'm really proud of my blog and feel 2016 was a great year for my blog, i've spent alot of time working with new brands and my instagram game has stepped up. My pictures are alot better and I feel I have been blogging alot.

I've worked with some amazing brands this year such as Kurt Geiger, Jamie's Italian, Johnny Loves Rosie, Freya, The Clothes Show, Rush Hair, Benito Brows and many many more.

I got my 2 and a half stone award for Slimming World, I didn't manage to get to target but I got very close!!

Clint and I still have our flat and we've managed to budget for a whole year and have loved living together.

We went to Turkey on Holiday with my mom.

A few of our friends have had babies :)

2016 hasn't all been great though,

A close family member was ill and in hospital which was so horrible, she's back to her normal self and much better now which is amazing and i'm so grateful.

One of my friends had a really horrible thing happen to her and her family and I hate that something so horrific could happen to such an amazing person in my life. She will never get over it but shes so so strong and i'll always be there for her.

I was diagnosed with Anxiety, I had 3 weeks off work and was really down. It affected work and my blog. I didn't blog much and I didn't Vlog for a while so it have a big impact on my everyday life.

However towards the end of 2016 I went on an anxiety course and learnt all about Anxiety and I haven't had any symptoms yet in 2017 and i'm so proud of myself as I feel i've used the course to manage my symptoms.

Personally my year wasn't that bad in comparison to others I know that! I know that 2016 as a whole was pretty shit, we lost some amazing people and theres been alot of change. Brexit and Trump are just two of those changes but It's 2017 now !

MY GOALS FOR 2017!!

- BE MORE POSITIVE ( i know that a cliche)

after being so down and unhappy because of my anxiety I want to look at life in a positive way and have a much more positive mindset.

- GET BACK TO SLIMMING WORLD AND GET TO TARGET

I'm actually going back to group tonight and I know I can do this!

- GO ON HOLIDAY

We did it last year so i'd love to save up for another holiday maybe later in the year or maybe even book somewhere amazing for 2018

-SEE FRIENDS MORE

We have amazing friends and I feel like sometimes work comitments can get in the way. I want to make more of an effort to see friends more. I did start this towards the end of 2016.

-RESEARCH CAREER OPTIONS

One of my goals for 2016 was to start my teaching career whether it be work experience etc and I didn't manage to do this. I'm not sure what I want to do whether I still think teaching is for me. I want to do some research into jobs and teaching etc and decide my next move with my career.

MY FIRST WEEK AT SLIMMING WORLD

21 March 2016

I'VE JOINED SLIMMING WORLD! Saturday was my first weigh in and i've lost 4LB I'm so proud of myself for sticking to plan all week and I seriously can't believe how good it is. I thought i'd share a few things i've been doing this week and what I thought of my first week and my progress.

The main thing that sold Slimming World to me is that fact that you can eat so much, your allowed to eat whatever you want. Nothing is banned on Slimming World however you have 5-15 syns per day and things like chocolate and naughty things are going to cost you syns.

You can have one Healthy Extra A a day so this is like milk and cheese, this makes sure your getting the right amount of Calcium each day and one Healthy Extra B so this is bread, cereal or porridge and this means your getting the fibre you need.

After this it's pretty easy, you can eat whatever you like some foods are free meaning you can eat as many as you like and some of these free foods are speed foods. You should eat alot of these as they will help you loose weight faster, you should have 1/3 of each plate full of speed foods. Finally syns, you can find out syns for things by searching the Slimming World App or your book that you get at group, if you can't find something you can usually google it and find out the answer.

I've been so full all week, i've been eating lots of salad, veg and fruit which is fab. I've been cooking new and exciting meals and Clints been eating the same as me so he's really enjoying the recipes too.
Even with work i've stuck to plan and we went for an unplanned meal out the other night and I managed to pick something that only cost me a few syns.

I've decided alongside slimming world I need to make an effort to be more fit and exercise more. I don't want to be all flabby so I'm trying to tone at the same time. I have made an effort to exercise this week. I've been going for walks and doing my fitness dvd which has really motivated me.

I had my first weigh in on Saturday and i'd lost 4LB which is amazing. I'm so happy I decided to join Slimming World and I can't wait for my next weigh in! It's really exciting and everyone at my group is lovely and my consultant is fab!

If you have any questions about Slimming World feel free to leave a comment or email me and i'll try and answer for you, but as I said this is my first week. I've made a Slimming World instagram account so if you want to follow me then here's a link https://www.instagram.com/amypyt_sw/ I am sharing lots of meals and fitness photos.

I'm loving it guys and i'm so glad I decided to join! Let me know if your part of Slimming World and how much weight you've lost ?

BEAUTY: IT'S A BEAUTY WISHLIST

6 January 2016

So I have a huge list here of beauty bits and pieces that i'd love to add to my collection, I don't actually need any of this as my make up collection is huge but i'm a girl and I love pretty new things.

I have had a couple of these items before but would love to repurchase them, first is Black Opium by YSL, I have had two bottles of this and I need more. Last year I was on a perfume ban because I own so much perfume and Clint bought me a bottle of Black Opium in Duty Free which is nearly gone, so I feel like I need another bottle but I know I have so many other perfumes to use up first.

I've also had Nars Sheerglow before, i've just used up the last of my bottle and I really love it, it's one of my favourite everyday/ day off work foundations. It lasts all day and makes my skin look flawless. I usually use Loreal Matte Infaliable when i'm at work because it's cheaper.

I've got so many eye shadow palettes but the Gwen Steffani palette from Urban Decay is gorgeous. I need all of those beautiful shades. It's so nice, this is going on my wish list for sure. I might have to hint at Clint that I need it!

The Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer is such a fab little product, one of the lovely ladies in Space NK recently recommended it. You can mix it into your daycream to make it into the perfect foundation or you can use it as a very very high coverage concealer.

The Steven Klein limited edition Nars Palette is so dreamy! I don't really need this as I had the Limited Edition Nars Palette last year which is still going strong however for £45 this is such a good product.

I just want a Diptyque candle I have my own place now and I feel like I should just have one, ( not to light because its a £40 candle !!! but they so pretty)

Finally this beautiful Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick, i've picked out Glastonberry because its beautiful but i'd be happy with any shade, they are just beautiful.

LIFESTYLE: BEING POSITIVE

26 January 2015

So this is abit of a different blog post, I suppose it's a little bit more personal. This year as you have probably noticed i'm trying to change a little for the better. I've been eating better and started going to the gym! I've been blogging and instagraming because I really need the push and the motivation to keep going. I'm really trying to be more positive and proactive. The last couple of years have been a mixture of highs and lows! A lot has changed, I met Clint and ended my previous relationship, I was with my ex for nearly 7 years so that was a huge change. Last year was my final year at Uni, which meant degree show and dissertation and I did it! I got my 2:1 and graduated! My final year was so stressful and I couldn't have done it without Clint, he was there for me and got me through so much. This year i've taken a year out and i've just been working part time and blogging. My plan is to gain some teaching experience so I can decide whether I want to teach and then I will need to do the PGCE teacher training course which I know is going to be so intense. I feel like i'm putting the course off and I don't want to give up! So i've made it my aim to be more positive and motivated. I need to get my shit together. I'm going to Florida in March so my aim is to get my CV and cover letter together and start researching schools for placements and start contacting them before my holiday so then hopefully I have a good period of time between easter and the summer for placements, this will be when i'll decided whether I want to teach and whether i'm going to apply for the course this year or next year.

Do you have any tips on how to stay positive and motivated? Have you ever taken a year out and did you find it difficult?