Just a quick note...

To everyone reading this I want to say a huge thank you for sticking with this blog. I know it's been pretty quiet around here recently and I'm sorry about that. Posts should resume just as soon as my exams are finished on May 6th. I've really missed blogging and taking this break really made that clear. I can't wait to begin writing again.

I've joined the gym!

So, as I'm sure you can tell from the title of this post - I joined the gym! Well, in all honesty, I joined the gym back in December (exactly two months ago today strangely) but it only opened earlier this month.

I've been to several other gyms before for varying lengths of time and I really enjoy being a member of a gym. But, like most people, I struggle with motivation.

It's really important to stay hydrated at the gym and so I always take a big bottle of water with me. To make it a little more interesting I add a few slices of fresh lemon and lime or some frozen berries. The great thing about this is you can fill up your water again from a fountain and the fruit will give the same great flavour.

After the gym I'm always starving and so I always pack a small snack with me. Nakd bars are a really great choice because they're small and sweet - and also really good for you! These incredible bars have completely replaced chocolate bars and cereal bars in my diet.




















I was very kindly sent a selection box of Nakd bars from Natural Balance Foods but I've been a huge fan of these bars for ages. This did give me the chance to try a lot of new flavours out though and I can definitely say that Berry Delight and Cocoa Delight are still firm favourites, and Bakewell Tart tastes exactly like the name suggests!

Natural Balance Foods are a British company selling wholefood snacks and I'd definitely recommend checking out their website here. They've also compiled a list of tips and tricks for gym motivation - check it out!

Now, I know it might seem a little odd to start a post about the gym and to then talk about an easy recipe for flavoured water and then some snack foods but believe me - these two things really help give me the boost I need. Let me know in the comments if you have any tips for someone getting back into the gym lifestyle - and if you'd like to see more posts related to fitness? I'm thinking of doing a sportswear haul soon...

Thanks for reading!

January Update

With this being the last day of January I've been thinking about what tomorrow will bring; a new month, and possibly a new start. Sprinkle Of Glitter posted today on Facebook a reflection on her month (read it below) and this inspired me to reflect on this month rather than focusing solely on the new month.

2015 was overall a great year for me. After a not-so-great summer, the year spun on its head and ended on several high notes. I wanted 2016 to be completely full of highs, but that's not realistic is it?

January has been a tough one for me for several reasons. I've started my second semester of my second year of university, and already the workload is getting to me. I've had money problems and due to the financial crisis in my university city, there aren't any jobs. My relationship could be said to be out of the "honeymoon period" and with that have come challenges.

Overall, I've faced ups and downs of emotions. Of course, amongst the challenges there have been so many great experiences. I've spent a lot of time with my brilliant friends, been enjoying getting back into old hobbies like playing the piano and reading and also really liked eating much healthier.

My word to sum up January is BALANCE. It's something I've been working towards this month and I plan to continue - is it something you ever really get to, I wonder?

Today is the last day of January. We've done the first month of 2016 and I'm in a reflective mood. 2015 was a big...
Posted by Sprinkle Of Glitter on Sunday, 31 January 2016

Let me know in the comments what your word to sum up January is.

My First Post of 2016

Well lookie here, what do you know, we're two weeks into 2016 and I've not posted once on here. Nope. Nada. Not once. For some reason, I've been really nervous to write this first post of the year and I'm not really sure why. So today, I'm taking the plunge and sitting down and writing it. I've told myself that when I'm done I'm allowed to go downstairs and have a cup of coffee (using the milk frother because I'm fancy) and a vegan blueberry porridge bar that I made the other day. Rewards are essential to my sanity guys!


This post, titled every so imaginatively "My First Post of 2016" is a run down of 2015 and a look ahead into what I want to achieve this year. So basically, what every other blogger and their mum has already done.


This year I turned 18, started a blog, sprained my ankle, cut my hair short, finished my first year at university, passed my driving test, dressed up as a doll for Halloween, started a new relationship, fell out with my parents more times than I can count, laughed a lot and drank way too much. 2015 was an amazing year.


As for 2016, well I saw a quote that I really liked and think applies quite well:

"Stop trying to change yourself every year with new resolutions; just accept the fact that you're a fucking mess."

Nevertheless, there are a few goals that I want to work towards.

Blog blog blog

• hit 200 followers on Bloglovin' (follow me here)
• blog a minimum once per week
• new blog design
• new content - healthy living, more lifestyle posts
• make new blogging friends and keep those I already have

Save save save

• stop spending all of my student loan every month
• keep applying for part time jobs
• operate a one in-one out policy with regards to skincare, makeup and clothes

Healthy mind, healthy body

• continue with the plant-based diet I have chosen (more on this in a coming post I'm sure)
• not say I'll exercise 7 days a week and then get disheartened when I don't: instead, I will aim to exercise as often as I can
• make better choices regarding my mental health
• read 12 books this year (I'm using Goodreads to keep track)
• continue sticking to my skincare routine every day
• make more effort with my appearance day-to-day: wear some jewellery, put some thought into my outfit, wear lipstick

Finally, I just want to say thank you to you all for coming with me into 2016!

Goodbye 2015

This is just a quick post because I need to get back to celebrating the end of 2015 and the start of the New Year with my family, and I'm sure you are all busy also! I just want to wish all my fantastic readers a happy New Year.

I really want to continue with this blog as I progress into 2016, however, in turns of design and content I do want to branch out a bit further whilst also sticking to lifestyle and beauty.

As cliché as it sounds, I want to make a lot of changes in 2016. I think it's very unfair for people to make fun of those who want to better themselves, and the new year is a wonderful time to do this. A new gym is opening very soon near me and I have joined this because I've had a guest membership at a Bannatyne's gym for the past few weeks which I have loved using. I also want to get back into the healthy eating I was doing before Christmas.

Please let me know in the comments if you would like to see more posts about healthy living, or if you would not be interested in this.

I know that posting has been very here-and-there (and Blogmas was a fail) and I want to post more regularly, whether this be once or twice a week. I think I can manage twice a week if I make sure and schedule my free time better - however once a week is the minimum that I'll be aiming for.


Anyway: that ended up being not so short! Wishing you all the best for the New Year!