Positivity and the Power of using a Life Planner

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #CollectiveBias I'm going to level with you here between losing of good friends to illnesses last year as well as during the latter months struggling with stress, anxiety and anaemia I felt really burnt out by December and very much on edge. Christmas felt a bit like a tipping point, I had been working towards a calmer more minimalist approach to things and it felt like I was railroaded by others in so many ways, I felt I had to compromise way to much for others with little return, I put everyone else's needs before my own and my body suffered because of it.  At the start of January, I had another emotional rollercoaster as I faced losing another one of my longest friends to a terminal illness and saying goodbye almost broke me but in reflection, I know events like this show how resilient we really are, as woman, as mothers, to carry on. I took a much need......

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Why I've Opted IN for Organ Donation

My organ donation card came through a few weeks back and I filmed a little vlog about my reasons on opting in for organ donation, I was undecided on whether to press publish and share my reasons why but after losing a close friend to cancer and the recent terror attacks in Manchester I feel that it's actually an important time to talk about topics such as this which can have a huge impact on someones life. So for many years I have been on the fence when it comes to Organ donation although I also have to be honest with myself and say that I never really took it seriously or sat down and really thought about it properly. This year there have been a few changes, I have been detoxing my life of so many things as I journey on my minimalist challenge and it's taught me a lot about letting go both material and emotional baggage as well as taking join in the small things, random acts of kindness and being even more conscious of the footprint we leave on this world. Becoming ......

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If you knew your future would you change it?

With so many changes (many not in a good way) happening both in the UK and around the world my mind has started to think about the future and the kind of world we are bringing our children into. A couple of years ago my father passed away, I won't go into details but it was sudden and unexpected and could of been prevented, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and every now and then my mother and I reflect on what happened in the years before and after, if we had changed anything and maybe because I am somewhat a realist I try not to dwell on the past, I do like to remember him but I don't think it's good to go over and over things you simply cannot change. After he passed many things changed in the way I feel about life and I choose to see it as the glass half full. In a crazy way for me so much good came in the years after my father not passed and if that event in my life hadn't happened then I wouldn't of met my partner John or finished my degree......

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High Street Fashion Today

Nearly everyone has some kind of interest in fashion or clothes as from a pretty young age we decided how we want to present ourselves to the world and this is often expressed through what clothes we wear. I always find it interesting to hear other peoples thoughts on this topic so when a fellow writer, Robert asked if he could share his views on the current state of our High Street fashion in the UK I was happy to accommodate. What about the high street fashion? It is easy to guess that the high street fashion is the clothes that can be bought in the mass-retail chain stores, like H&M, Topshop and others. These stores sell casual clothes for the consumers of all age groups. You will find clothes for children, teenagers, young, mature and elderly people. The high street fashion is characterized with the clothes that are appropriate for different situations. One can find a good suit for business, conferences and other special occasions such as weddings and anniversaries. If......

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Looking to the future

Well you know what they say once you have children your life will change forever and there really is no truer saying. Before John and I started a family we pretty much only thought about ourselves, not in a selfish way but just in the way that twenty somethings with no real responsibilities do but the day I found out I was pregnant with Mr A that way of thinking immediately changed. Suddenly your responsible for another persons life and future which it's a pretty daunting prospect. One of the first things I did when I had Mr A was get a life insurance policy, just incase anything should happen and that way he would at least have something to help him out when he comes of age. I also started looking at ways to save and invest my money and be able to build up some kind of nest egg should he want to go to University or travel or simply to go towards a car or deposit on a house as in the past I have had some help from my parents and would love to be able to do the same for the bo......

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My Saver Story

Thank goodness for saving as if we had not been putting a little away each month we would of been hit really hard over Christmas with various things going wrong in the house as well as expecting our second child. In our family I am far more cautious and tend to think ahead while John is a bit more spontaneous with regards to purchases and yet we are the opposite when it comes to travel and adventures. Although since becoming parents we have over the years tried to hit a middle ground as when you have a household to run and kids to clothe, feed and entertain, too many unfortunate expenses can suddenly put a lot of strain on you and it's been one of those times when everything has come at once but we have been able to ride it out due to making sure we put something aside each month. As you grow as a person you of course change and so does the way you do things. Looking back and reflecting on that here is what our saving story has been in the past, present and our dreams for the ......

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Are we playing with our children's future?

I loved my carefree childhood, spent under the african sun in Cape Town, hours upon hours of outdoor fun and adventurous and even though we don't really have the same warm weather over here in the UK, the love of the outdoors is certainly something I have made a real effort to pass on and instil in Mr A, come rain or shine. For the first 3 years of his life we had pretty strict screen restrictions which I have learnt to loosen up since he turned four and I can see the advantages of certain kids films and TV shows that encourage friendship, manners and good morals, as well as educational documentaries - he loves anything to do with whales and the ocean at the moment. We have also very recently delved into the use of educational apps to assist his learning at home and as long as everything is monitored to a degree it's gone pretty well, although even with some of the most innocent looking apps there are chances for very young children to rack up a small bill for various add......

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Living Wild and Free

Summer florals, outdoor picnics and indoor inspiration ( image ) Do you ever wake up and wish that you lived in a home that was truly inspiring for the soul, a place that merged the outdoors, the freedom and wildness of it all with all the homely comforts. Since I was very young I always envisaged that my forever home would be somewhere slightly offbeat, a little quirky, perhaps not to everyones taste but a place I found inspiring and a little bit wild. I like to remind myself of this dream, especially on a Monday when the week feels so long. I thought I would share some images from my favourite Pinterest board - Inspired Living so keep the creative juices flowing throughout the week. Would love my bedroom to look like this ( image ) How beautiful is this blanket teepee ( image ) Says it all ( image ) ...

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Is saving money going out of fashion?

Is 'saving for a rainy day' something your parents and grandparents talk about? Does the thought of being in a position to save seem like a lifetime away? With the rising costs of living and the increasing dependency on credit, fewer and fewer people are saving for their future, their retirement or even unexpected expenses. According to a report in the Daily Mail, one in three people are not currently saving, despite Government warnings that, as a nation, we need to start saving much more for the future. But with more than nine million people in the UK falling into debt, how do you even start to contemplate saving? The Money Advice Service offers support on a range of money issues including debt and saving – click here for more information . If you’re able to, there are a few ways in which you could consider starting to save – and the good news is it’s never too late! Saving for children Whether you’re bringing them up or sending them off to university a......

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