Five Favourites: Blogs

It's Fridaaayyyy! For the first time in a long time I've got the genuine Friday feeling because I've just had my first full working week before I begin my job properly at the beginning of August. Even though it's nice to come home and be able to leave work behind, my supposedly completely free evenings have still been super busy this week. Exercise classes, riding and running have all figured and I have to admit, I'm loving having a bit of routine and purpose now that university has finished. I also have a nice slot in the mornings which allow me to mull over my breakfast and check out the latest on my favourite blogs... Which leads me nicely onto my Five Favourites this week! In no particular order, these are my go-to blogs for checking updates, finding recipes, or just generally seeking advice/comfort!

1. Cider with Rosie
I included Rosie's Instagram account on here a couple of weeks ago (post here), and thought it was time to recommend her blog because it's just an all-round great read. She includes restaurant reviews, beauty posts, outfit ideas, and generally lovely snapshots of her life. She also regularly features other bloggers who advertise on her site, and I've found some great new blogs through her.

2. Deliciously Ella
I've said it before and I'll say it again - Ella Woodward is incredible. I honestly believe she could be taking over the world. She's taken the internet by storm and is an Amazon bestseller since her first cookbook was published back in January (I'm a proud owner of a copy). It all started with this blog where she documented her food journey as she struggled to overcome an illness. She strives (and wholeheartedly succeeds) to create delicious but completely healthy and nutritious recipes designed to make you feel amazing. She partly inspired my diet transformation about a year ago, and I have never looked back. I cannot recommend this site enough.

3. Ashley Abroad 
This one is a relatively new discover of mine but admitting that three months after graduation she left to live in Paris for a year, I knew Ashley was a girl after my own heart. Her blog is a lifestyle and travel blog and she really does write incredible travel pieces and exudes the most wonderfully positive and refreshing attitude to life. Her posts on Paris and France are of particular interest to me, and they really are useful for those thinking of spending time over there.

4. The Wonder Forest
I turn to this beautifully designed blog for anything blog or tech related. Dana is a master of design and has given me such great ideas for building my blog in future and also how to get things working properly! Her graphics are great, and her photos gorgeous and those alone are enough to inspire greater things for your website. She also has a great tone to her writing, and her YouTube channel allows her bubbly nature to come across.Fit 

5. Fit Foodie Finds
Lee is my go-to for any exercises, quick and healthy meals and general motivation. She's a real fit-bunny whose positivity shines through her blog and just makes you want to grab your trainers and then recuperate with one of her yummy breakfast ideas. I discovered her website a while back, and it's recently undergone a bit of a makeover which I love. It's so much clearer and easier to navigate and makes the food look even more incredible. If you're into your healthy lifestyle, this is definitely one for you!


I hope you like some of these blogs and I have encouraged you to try something new! I love the blogging world because it opens up a world of completely new possibilities of meeting and interacting with incredible and inspiring people like those above. Are there any blogs you particularly like? Do you religiously check for new posts? Or do you prefer vlogging? As always, sound off in the comments below!

How to start running (and never stop)

Let me start this post by saying that by no means do I class myself as an excellent or highly experienced runner. I haven't run any marathons, or half-marathons for that matter, and I've only been running for about two years which is apparently quite a short period of time in the running world. However, I think what I am able to offer is a 'normal' person's view of the exercise and how I genuinely believe that anyone can start running and learn to love it. Sound too good to be true? Read on!

I think there's this assumption that to be a runner, you have to be naturally sporty and fit. I can tell you now that, in my case, that idea could not be further from the truth. I began running during my year abroad in France because with no internet connection and a lack of a social life, I needed to fill my time and also find an outlet for the stress and anxiety that came with moving countries. I found this in running. Sure, I'd tried to get into it in previous summers and loved seeing an improvement but I gave up pretty quickly. It was always easier to sit in and eat (because I've always loved food) rather than to get out running. Nevertheless, I kept at it in France. Probably driven by my situation, I started around October time and shortly I was going about three times a week.

Knowing that I had to run past the school children (including some of those I taught) or that I would have to get up early to avoid them almost hindered my motivation. But I think the key to combatting excuses and discomfort comes with routine. I organised my runs around my teaching days and knew I loved to run early on a Sunday morning because I was usually the only one around. After about three weeks, it became habit and gradually I felt my ability getting better and better until I managed to run for 40 minutes without stopping. Soon, I'd continued throughout the Christmas period when I had returned home. I'd even had to buy a new pair of trainers, and I was considering signing up for 5kms races when I came back to the UK.

And, unbelievably, I stuck at it. I stress that I am not a sporty girl (or at least, I wasn't!)- I was the girl who hated PE at school. But I think once I'd got myself into the routine and began to see a quick improvement which does happen when you first start, my motivation stayed and it became normal. Now, I can honestly say I love it. Sure I have bad runs, but I've never regretted a run and I think that's key. I'm always pleased I've got out, even if it's only for half an hour, and if I go for even a day or two without running I get a real itch to go again. It's a part of my life, and whenever I feel myself getting a bit reluctant to go, all I have to remember are some of my longest and best runs; absolutely nothing beats reaching the top of a tough hill and being met with the view of a sunrise. 

So if you take anything from this post, take these five points:

1. Don't think you can't run, because everyone can (unless you have injuries, in that case you're forgiven!). All you need is a pair of trainers and headphones. 

2. It's horrible to admit it to yourself but the voices inside your head that say 'go tomorrow', or 'it's a bit early' are excuses and if you really do want to run or exercise more, I promise you'll feel 10 times better once you recognise that and overcome them.

3. Get into a routine. Dedicate a certain time each week and stick to it for a few weeks and it'll start to feel normal.

4. Recognise and appreciate your improvement. You know that tree that you couldn't run to last time? Feel that pride once you pass it because even if it's only by a few metres, that's still an improvement and it'll make you feel epic.

5. Finally, if you ever feel like you 'can't' (the amount of times this word has been through my head is probably in its millions), remember some of my favourite running quotes:

I hope this post has been helpful, I definitely could have done with some reassurance when I first started. So go and get motivated!! And let me know below how you get on! 

Let's talk about stress...

I'm the first to admit that I'm a complete stress-head. I'm a nightmare for worrying and panicking. It's partly because I'm a bit of a perfectionist, so when things don't go quite according to plan my automatic reaction is to get anxious.

Joining the Bloglovin' community recently (omg, best decision everrrr - it's equalled Instagram in its addictiveness) I found quite a few posts about stress management and general advice about coping. Although most of the advice was pretty obvious, I actually found the posts extremely helpful. Maybe it's because I feel guilty if I tell myself I'm stressed, like I'm not allowed to be, but when other people suggest that it's okay to feel overwhelmed and take a step back from it all, I listened. And it felt good!

Here's one blogger whose post I could definitely relate to. The part about feeling guilty and university was particularly relevant! From Roses is a fantastic blog, and I'd thoroughly recommend taking a look around her site because her content is both beautiful and insightful. 

That I was helped by such posts made me want to write this one. As a self-proclaimed stress-head (see above), I hit a new low during my dissertation process. I always knew it would be one of the most intense periods of my university career, but I got so worked up about it that I actually began to make myself ill. Nothing serious, but enough that made me sit up and take notice and realise that it wasn't worth it, stress is simply not worth sacrificing happiness, health and well-being. So this turning point has led me to offer the following advice if you too are a worrier, stress a lot, or just find it difficult to relax...

1. Exercise. I know, I know. Some of you might roll your eyes at this, and I know that some people don't think exercise if for them but believe me - I was one of those people!! About 18 months ago, I wouldn't exercise if you paid me. But then I discovered running and I never looked back. It's become a part of my life and acts as a serious stress-reliever. The power of escaping your worries and running in the countryside is unbeatable.

2. Plug in those headphones, put on your favourite songs, and turn it up. Whether you feel like listening to a calming playlists (there's some great ones on Spotify), or you choose your favourite pop hits, do it without looking at/doing anything else - just listen. If you want to get up and dance, do it! Having a boogie is one of the best stress-busters.

3. Light some candles, get a mug of your favourite hot chocolate and curl up with a book or your favourite program. Go wild and add a bar of chocolate into the mix. Losing yourself in a fictional world is the perfect escape, even if I am biased as a Literature student!

4. Don't isolate yourself. This is easier to do than you realise. Working independently, even when you're surrounded by people, takes its toll and a simple interaction like a half-hour coffee break with friends will do wonders. It'll take your mind away from your worries, give you a chance to laugh and ensure you take a break from your work!

5. Nourish from within. Around the time I got into running, my diet and tastes had a change too. I discovered how good it feels to feed your body with the right foods and nutrients it needs. This is something that easily gets lost when you're stressed because you'll feel like spending time preparing something in the kitchen takes away from productive time spent elsewhere. But if you want your body and brain to perform at its best, there really is no replacing the benefits of good food. 

6. Take 10 minutes of total relaxation. If you find yourself on the verge of a complete panic, take a step away and for at least 10 minutes lie down, close your eyes and put all of your concentration into encouraging every muscle in your body to relax. I recently started going to yoga and other well-being classes and the relaxation time at the end is one of my favourite parts. No matter what my worries are, I'm able to forget them in this moment and concentrate on making my body feel more relaxed. On a similar note, don't disregard the power of sleep. The optimum of 7-9 hours per night allows your body to re-energise and gives a new perspective on things in the morning.

I hope these ideas could help you in the way that I've been encouraged by other bloggers to allow myself down time, and not feel guilty about it. I've realised that my well-being and health are super important and now definitely understand that my body needs time out to work at its best. 

Are any of you worriers too? What do you all do to relax? Or do you have any tips to help with stress management? As always, I'd love to hear your thoughts below!