Pleasureful

Tag: life

  • Hello, 2019

    So, I have kind of abandoned blogging and my general love for writing during the last few months. I’m not entirely sure why, I guess I just haven’t had time and it hasn’t been a priority. Thing is, I love writing and creating posts for people to read and enjoy online, even only a handful of people are actually reading them. So I am determined to let my love of writing back into my life, and that starts with taking better care of this here blog.

    I thought what better post to upload to mark the start of a new year (and more consistent blogging) than explaining to you what my goals are for 2019. I’m not usually one to jump on the resolution band wagon. I mean, how many people actually manage to complete their new years resolutions by the end of the year? Maybe I’m being pessimistic, but I always seem to see people setting unrealistic goals and expectations for themselves in the upcoming year, then getting fed up with them and forgetting about them or dropping them only a month or two down the line.

    But I needed some motivation for this year. So I’ve created a list of goals (realistic ones at that) which I would love to achieve by the end of 2019. I am yet to have that one great year in my life, and I would really love for this one to be it. So, without further ado, these are my top goals for 2019…

    1. Travel somewhere new 
    • A weekend away in Amsterdam has been on my bucket list for-freaking-ever and I am going to get on that plane and visit that city this year if it kills me.
    • In terms of a sunny beach holiday, I am really loving the look of Croatia. I’ve never been and I just think it looks absolutely stunning for a relaxing week or two in the sun sipping cocktails.

          2. Read more 

    • Ever since I was younger I have had a huge love for books, but recently I just haven’t made the time to read. I am determined to make time to read more, both fiction and non-fiction. 

          3. Write more 

    • As explained at the beginning of the post, I would love to focus more on blogging and getting my writing out into the world this way. 
    • Ever since I was little I have had a passion for creative writing. I find it very therapeutic. I may even try and see if I can enter some creative writing competitions online.
    • In order to earn a bit of money on the side of my current job, I am going to look into doing some freelance writing jobs online, such as writing blog posts for other people etc. 

          4. Get down to my goal weight 

    • Something that I started doing mid-2018 was losing some weight that I have gained gradually over the past year. I managed to get myself into a really good gym routine and started eating the right foods and I felt so much better because of it. So far I have lost a stone, but there’s still some more weight I would love to lose to get down to my ideal weight. 

          5. Complete my apprenticeship 

    • In case you didn’t know, I am currently working for a company doing a level 3 business administration apprenticeship. I have gained a lot of experience doing my job, and I would love to have the course finished and passed by the end of March 2019.

          6. Get a new job

    • While I do enjoy the work I do now, once my apprenticeship is over I would love to find a job that includes me being able to be a bit more creative, such as marketing.

           7. Save more money 

    • This one I know for sure is going to be rough. I really need to start restricting my bad habits such as online shopping and eating out. 

           8. Get a new skill/hobby/interest

    • This one is a bit random, but I just wish there was something I was very knowledgeable on or skilled at. I would love to build more on my makeup skills and teach myself how to do more complicated looks. I have also been thinking about starting a new fitness class such as pole fitness or boxing. I’m honestly not sure. I think I’ll just have to try some things out and see what I like. 

    So that’s it. Not very exciting I know, but I think I’m okay with having a not too exciting year. I hope this year brings all of us health, love and happiness. Happy New Year loves.

    – S x

  • My Go-To Beauty Products

    I am most definitely not the kind of girl to wear a full face of makeup everyday; if I did, I’d constantly be late for work and my skin would hate me. However, on that rare occasion when I do decide to transform my face into a contoured and glowing masterpiece, I like to use products that I trust, sit well on my face, last throughout the whole night and help me to create the best look I can. So, here is a list of some of my all time favourite go-to beauty products, enjoy!

    1. Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray 

    Okay, so there is not another setting spray in this world that I will use over this one. It’s oil and paraben free, meaning it is perfect for my skin. I used to have a massive issue with my makeup just melting off halfway through the day/night due to my oily skin, but since using this my makeup has had no issues with staying on my face. I’ve tried other matte setting sprays, but always come back to this one, nothing compares!

    2. Revolution Bake and Finish Luxury Baking Powder

    I used to avoid baking my face at all costs. I would only lightly swipe the tiniest layer of setting powder across my face due to fear of terrible flashback making me look like a ghost every time someone took my picture. But let me tell you, this powder is a god send. It leaves no flashback whatsoever when taking those all important pictures at pre-drinks, meaning I can bake my face to my hearts content! It helps massively to keep my under eye concealer from creasing and is so soft and light on the skin.

    3. Jaclyn Hill x Morphe Eyeshadow Palette

    Let me start off by saying I just love all Morphe eyeshadow palettes. They’re affordable, you get so many amazing colours ranging from matte to glittery and they are always so pigmented. But this palette in particular completely stole my heart. Every single shadow in this palette is beautiful, there are so many different looks you can create with just this one palette! I will say that the fallout you get from this palette isn’t brilliant, but despite that tiny flaw I still find myself reaching for this palette more than any other!

    4. Jeffree Star Cosmetics Peach Goddess Skin Frost

    If there’s one thing I love, it’s a great highlighter, and this is it. When it comes to other products by Jeffree Star, I can’t comment as I admit I’ve never tried anything but this highlighter. But it’s one of the best ones I’ve ever used! The colour is perfect on my skin tone, and you can either build it up for a strong glow or dust it on for a subtle shimmer. The pink isn’t too strong, so it doesn’t leave me looking like a clown. It’s the right mix of colour and icy highlight, and goes with most of the makeup looks that I love to create. I would definitely try the other shades of this highlighter!

    5. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original

    So a while back I didn’t even know primer was a thing, let alone eyeshadow primer. This is the first and only eyeshadow primer I’ve ever used, and I see no reason for me to look for another one. Since using this, my eyeshadow hasn’t creased ONCE (which says a lot, as due to my oily skin having my eyeshadow crease towards the end of the day was always inevitable). My eyeshadow in general just seems so much nicer to apply, and the colour seems so much more pigmented after using this first. And the best part is this lasts forever! I will not do my eye makeup without it.

    6. Benefit Hoola Powder Bronzer

    This is the only bronzer I’ve ever used that has the most perfect shade of bronze for my face. I’m not a fan of liquid contouring, especially in the summer, as it leaves my face feeling way too cakey and heavy. With this bronzer, I can leave my cheekbones looking sculpted and my face looking tan and healthy without over doing it!

    7. Urban Decay Optical Illusion Complexion Primer

    Okay so I don’t know what Urban Decay are doing to make their primers this damn good but whatever it is I am grateful for it. I’ve tried a few primers before (that’s after I discovered primer was a thing I should be using), both high-end and drug store, and nothing compares to this one. It feels so soft and satiny when applying it to your face, but it’s not overly oily. My foundation glides on perfectly over this primer and it makes my pores almost non existent, giving me the most flawless base for my makeup! It also lasts for such a long time. It may be slightly pricey but it’s definitely good value for money.

    8. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

    This mascara is hands down the best mascara I have ever owned. I am obsessed. I’ve been using it for a couple of years now, and I’ve tried to branch out and try out other mascaras from different brands but I always come back to this one. It gives you the perfect amount of both volume and length, isn’t too watery or too clumpy, isn’t so heavy that it weighs your lashes down after curling and lasts all day with very minimal smudging. Honestly I’ve cried wearing this a fair amount of times and my mascara has kept it together even when I haven’t. Trust me, you need this.

    So, that’s that. My go-to beauty products. There are probably a couple more I could have added to this list but I didn’t want to bore you all, so let me know if you want to hear more reviews/opinions from me on beauty products or if you want to know more about my favourite products and brands! I’m thinking of doing a skin routine/favourite skin products post so keep an eye out for that. That’s all from me for now, thanks for reading!

    – S x

  • Ten Things Making Me Happy Right Now

    I guess it’s easier to think about all the bad things in life and what isn’t going the way you want it to. I think that it’s human nature for us to automatically focus on the not so positive things in life – even though we know that the more we think about them the more down we’re going to be. Lately, I’ve been trying to be more positive when it comes to every day life, trying to think about all the good things and what’s going right for me at the moment. So, I’m going to share with you a brief list of ten things that are making me happy right now.

    1. Friends
    2. Dogs (mine and other peoples)
    3. Writing (whether it’s blogging or in my own private notebooks)
    4. The weather (despite being a bit too hot in bed at night and in the office, and the dreaded hay-fever, I do actually enjoy the sunshine)
    5. Food (gotta love it)
    6. Family (especially my Mum, she’s not just an amazing Mum but a great laugh)
    7. Work (although it exhausts me and I do my fair share of complaining, I’d be bored and lost without a full time job)
    8. My new short hair
    9. Books
    10. Busy (but fun) weekends

    So, there you go. Sorry for the short post, but I hope this list encourages anyone reading this to think about ten things that are making them happy right now. Even if you can’t think of ten, even having that one thing that brings positivity into your life is so important, and you should focus on that as much as you can. Thanks for reading!

    – S x

  • My Top Five Tips for Improving an ‘Off Day’

    We all have those days when we don’t feel like ourselves, some maybe more than others. On these days you may feel down, unmotivated, tired or you might not even understand exactly what it is that you are feeling. Your mind and body probably both tell you to stay in bed, to just call the whole day off. Except this is only going to make you feel worse – trust me. What you need to remember is that it’s okay to have days like this; we all need to take some time to recharge and refresh before we get back into the swing of things. Taking a break from the busy wonder that is the outside world is something we all deserve from time to time. From having experienced my fair share of ‘off days’, I have accumulated a number of things that I know make me feel better personally, so I thought I’d share some of them with you. Please, feel free to take away from this list whatever you think would work for you to get you feeling better on your ‘off days’ too.

     

    1. Make yourself feel clean. Whether you go for a five minute shower, an hour long bath or you go through your whole skincare routine, just get yourself feeling clean and fresh. Get out of your slept-in PJ’s and put on something newly washed. Having a shower or bath will also help you to feel more awake. Making your bed and clearing any clutter in your room can also make you feel cleaner and put your mind at ease.
    2. Make yourself feel as comfortable as possible. No one wants to wear a pair of skin tight jeans when they’re not feeling 100x (unless of course you genuinely think skinny jeans are a comfy item of clothing). Throw on something easy, light and comfortable like your favourite pair of joggers and a baggy t-shirt. If you feel better having your hair out of your face, tie it up. If wearing makeup makes you feel more like yourself, put on your makeup if you know it’ll make you feel that little bit better.
    3. Get moving. You don’t have to do a full blown hour long intensive workout at the gym (unless you feel up for it). Simply going for a run, jog or walk can do wonders. Getting some fresh air and exercise will help you clear your mind and lift your spirits. If you really don’t want to do anything too overwhelming, doing some stretches on your bedroom/living room floor can work too!
    4. Eat well. Take time to make yourself a breakfast that you enjoy but normally don’t have time to or simply can’t be bothered to make. Try to keep what you consume relatively healthy, as junk foods can make you feel even worse, especially on an ‘off day’. But still, don’t be afraid to treat yourself. You could even take yourself to get your favourite coffee if you’re feeling up for going out.
    5. Do something you enjoy. Read a book, watch your favourite TV show/movie, write, draw, paint, hang out with family and friends – anything. Even if you have to force yourself to start doing it, just believe me when I say that when you start your mood will instantly begin to improve and you’ll forget all about that ‘off day’ feeling.

     

    If you really feel as though something is wrong, or you just need to get some things off of your mind, then don’t hesitate to talk to someone about it. Everyone understands what it feels like to feel like everything has just gotten on top of you and you can’t keep up. Always make time to take care of yourself. You are the most important person in your life. Thank you as always for reading!

     

    – S x

  • What Depression Really Feels Like

    I’ve suffered from both depression and anxiety throughout the majority of my teen years. There have been times when both have completely consumed me, times when I feel one more strongly than the other, and times when I may not notice them much at all, but they’ll always be lingering. I’ve been on medication for my mental health for a few months now, and have seen multiple counsellors over the years – facts that I am not ashamed of sharing with others. My struggles with mental health are not something I am ashamed of and feel I should cover up. Talking about these issues is so important, especially when trying to overcome them.

    However, some people out there simply are not able to empathise with or fully understand those who suffer from mental health issues, as they lucky enough to not have experienced first hand what it’s really like to suffer through a mental illness. So, in order to encourage people to talk about and understand mental health, I’m going to tell you, from my experience, what depression really feels like.

    1. Depression feels like drowning. Imagine drowning, but never being able to die. You can’t breathe, you can feel the strain on your lungs as you try and fight against the strong current of the water. You can never quite make it to the surface. You’re just dying for that huge relief of filling your lungs with fresh oxygen. But you just can’t quite make it, and you’re stuck in this trapped, panicked and terrifying state for what feels like forever.

    2. Depression feels like guilt. The overwhelming sense of guilt you get for being depressed is almost unbearable at times. What have I got to be depressed for, right? I’ve got a great family, amazing friends, a steady job, a roof over my head, food in my fridge. I could have it so much worse. How can I be so down all the time? Here’s how – anyone can have depression. It’s an illness, not a choice.

    3. Depression is a ball and chain. It keeps me in bed for hours some days. It stops me from going out and having fun and spending time with the people I love. Even if I manage to get up and out, it’s still there, lingering in the back of my mind. You just have to learn to live with it, to cooperate with it. Show that depression who’s boss.

    4. Depression feels like nothing. I might laugh at that funny video on Facebook and I might be loud and outgoing when I’m with my friends. But that doesn’t mean that it isn’t still there, inside my head. There are days that I feel nothing. I don’t wanna cry, or laugh. I don’t feel like doing the things I love. It numbs me. And I think that’s one of the scariest feelings of them all, not feeling anything at all.

    I hope this helped some of you understand what it’s like to suffer from this very common mental health issue. For those of you who do suffer from depression, anxiety or any other illness, please know that you’re not on you’re own. You can live with it, it gets so much better. Talk to your parents, your friends, a doctor or a helpline because you should never have to go through it on your own. If you believe someone you know may be suffering in silence, let them know that you are there for them. Lastly, be kind to everyone; always.

    – S x

  • Three Things I Learnt From Being a Waitress

    I got my first job the summer after I had finished my GCSE’s. The role was waitressing at a family run cafe in a busy town centre. I was working mainly just Saturdays on a measly £4.50 an hour wage (so earning roughly £30 a week including tips). Despite being absolutely terrified when I started, as everyone is when starting their first job, I ended up loving it. I worked with some amazing (and admittedly not so amazing) people, got trained to make fancy coffees and by the end of my time working there I was probably one of the best workers there and I expect they kinda fell apart when I left for more hours and way better money working in the dairy section at my local Tesco (worst job ever but the dough was worth it, well, sort of). I worked at this cafe for around 18 months, and let me tell you I learnt a lot of things. Whether the knowledge I gained is useful for jobs I may have in the future, I don’t know, however it may be useful to whoever’s reading this post. Maybe you’re just starting out doing restaurant work and want to know what to expect, or maybe you are already or have previously worked in this environment and just want to laugh and relate to the ups and downs of life as a server. Either way, here is a list of things I learnt from being a waitress, enjoy.

    1. Middle-aged people are rude as ****. You’ve probably heard this one a lot from people who have worked as servers or in any kind of customer service role. I myself still cannot figure out why this is a thing, but trust me, it’s truer than Kylie Jenner’s pregnancy rumors. The kindest age groups are either your lovely little OAPs or young people ranging from about 14-30 years of age. These people were usually the nicest to me when I was a waitress; they would always be understanding if it was busy and things were maybe taking a little longer than usual, would not bite my head off if I or one of the kitchen staff had made a mistake and would always thank me and be polite. Middle-agers on the other hand… well. Lets just say if there is the slightest mistake with their order, or if something takes longer than they expected it to (because god forbid if something takes more than 15 minutes), they will not be happy. More often than not, they demand to talk to the manager and they think they are entitled to free food just because the plate wasn’t warm enough for them. Seriously?
    2. There is no job harder than being a server (except maybe retail/shop work). By this I mean that the job is both mentally and physically exhausting. Being on your feet rushing around for 8 hours (plus side of this being I lost a good amount of weight), making up drinks, taking payments, dealing with rude and difficult customers and getting wrinkly fingers from standing in the same spot cleaning dishes for over an hour with only a short 20 minute break really takes it out of you. May I also add that there would be times that I went without a break for the entire shift due to the cafe being too busy. In order to get a break at all, I had to work more than 6 hours. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t even get 10 minutes (I was 16!). Don’t get me wrong, I have respect for those who can sit in an office for hours and hours doing some kind of work involving big numbers that I’m sure would make my brain implode, however do not sit there at your fancy desk in your big leather chair and tell me that I am being dramatic. Servers deserve so much more respect than they get, trust me. I know not all restaurants and cafes are like this; many business’s do their best to look after their employees, making sure they have regular breaks and are not being pushed too hard. This is my own personal experience of waitressing.
    3.  You have way too many creepy encounters, especially if you are a young girl. For some reason, there’s something about being a waitress that makes people look at you as if you aren’t really a person. You’re there to keep the customers happy, fake laugh at their bad jokes, bring them food and clean up after them. Yes, I guess that technically is your job, however they do need to remember you are a real person, with real feelings and a life outside of your job. Not only did I encounter some very rude customers, but also some very creepy and even inappropriate ones. Not to be stereotypical, but these people were more often than not older men, 60 years+. Of course, it all depends on what kind of establishment you’re actually working in. In my case, the older men would often make comments that would make me feel extremely uncomfortable. For example, there was a time that I was working and an old man who was one of our regulars beckoned me over. I made my way to him and got out my pen and pad expecting him to order something. Instead, he pulled me closer to him by my wrist and proceeded to tell me that he ‘preferred my body to the other girls working, as they were all stick thin and I had some meat and curves on me’. Luckily, one of the other waitresses saw how uncomfortable I was and pretended she needed me to do something in order to get me away. This man acted this way to a lot of the other girls I worked with, however nothing was done about it as he was a regular and they didn’t want to lose out on any money. Charming, right?

    Overall, I enjoyed my time as a waitress. I could have had a far worse first job, however the role definitely isn’t for everyone. I hope this gave people some insight into what this job can be like, and if you relate to anything I’ve mentioned, comment what it was that you also experienced as a server, or maybe anything that I missed out. I don’t think I’ll be taking up another job as a waitress any time soon, my acrylic nails mean way too much to me. Thanks for reading!

    – S x