How I Ended Up Owning My Own Business

This is something I get asked about alot. People I meet or haven't seen in years are sometimes shocked when they ask what I do for work and to be honest ... so am I!

Owning a business, I don't think, was ever on my life agenda. Being self-employed possibly was but I just never saw myself as a 'boss'. An 'owner'. Or even an adult!

A Week Without Foundation : How Did I Cope?

You may have spotted over on social media that for 5 days this past week I decided  to test myself.... can I live without foundation?

I have worn foundation more or less daily since I was about 14. Yes.... that is a long time, 12 years in fact, of slapping on a face full to hide bits and bobs about my face that I'd rather others didn't see.

I am lucky with my skin (*touches wood*), I've never been a big sufferer of spots or blemishes but I still use foundation like a security blanket, hiding redness here and there and creating an even toned base to work with.

As I'm getting older I'm slowly becoming more confident with my skin and the thought of going without foundation isn't actually that daunting or scary anymore. And after having a few of these thoughts last Sunday I thought I would give it go..... head to work and spend my week totally foundation free, how bad could it be?

Lets start of by talking pros.

1. Time Saving. Holy moly I didn't realise how much time cutting this step out of my make-up routine would save! I did cut down the products I use by half whilst going foundation free and it cut my make-up routine to just 5-10 minutes - perfect for when I'm running out the door each morning. 

2. Saving on products. Because I wasn't using foundation I also cut out my primer and bits and bobs for contouring and highlighting! The perfect way to save on my expensive products that I do like to use daily, not just foudantion. Plus.... it takes alot less cleanse and polish to remove the few products I was wearing, making that end of day ritual alot less of a pain in the butt!

3. My skin got to breathe! It was quite nice knowing that I didn't have a face-full of make-up just to go to work. Don't get me wrong if I still worked with the public I probably would feel a little different about this experiment but now I'm in an office with 3 other lovely ladies (1 of which I've known since I was a teen) I felt like it wasn't a big deal! My skin wasn't clogged to the brim with slap, it was nice.

Now.... a couple of cons.

1. My redness. The number one reason I wear foundation. I don't have rosacea (I don't think) but my skin does have red patches and it does have a tendency to go red - at the most annoying times!
 Our new office seems to be like a greenhouse so I have been SO warm and my skin has definitley been resonating it haha! Going to gym classes and on runs have really been showing aswell haha - my boyfriend couldn't believe how red I was the other night and all I could say was - this is what it's like with no foundation! Saying this.... it does feel alot nicer breaking a sweat without a face full of make-up clogging up my pores.

2. PALE. I felt SO pale.

My Foundation Free Routine
So I suppose you all want to know what products I WAS using? So let's chat.

I started off each morning with my using cleansing routine then popped on some of the Madara Ultimate FaceLift Day Cream (I thought if I wasn't going to be using a foundation I might aswell try and improve my skin in a different way.... I was aiming for ten years younger!).
I then used my Recover concealer which is made for redness to tackle around my nose and my eyes. I have to have a bit of a glow/shimmer as my dull skin is totes boring so I then dabbed a bit of MAC strobe cream on my cheek bones, down my nose and on my forehead. It was then just my eyebrows, which I use MAC eyebrow pencil and my lashes - Maxfactor Masterpiece Max mascara. They are two things that I definitely couldn't go without. 
That was it, my morning routine done and dusted - seriously.... so much time saved.

The Verdict

From now on I think that for normal work days and just day to day life.... I don't need foundation - I can't believe I'm saying that!
 If I'm off out with friends or spending the day somewhere then yes I will feel alot more comfortable with it on but for work int he office/the gym/popping out here and there - I'm going to go foundationless! (Bring on summer when I have a bit more of a tan though!)

What do you think? Could you go #FoundationFree for a week?

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6 Products That Give Me An Instant Confidence Boost

As a normal 25 year old female I am overcome more or less daily by my insecurities, but I mean.... we could have a whole other post about that... today I just want chat about a few particular products that make me feel better about myself. Easy peasy instant confidence boosters... because who isn't interested in those?!

Yes, there are a few things out there that in my mind 'up' my glam game and give me that confidence that I'm otherwise lacking. 
From fake lashes to tanning lotions here are my favourite things to make me feel a bit better about myself :)

1. Fake Eyelashes
I can't actually remember the last time I went on a 'night out' without a pair of fake eyelashes on. I think I've been wearing them ever since I went to Ibiza in 2009.
For me, these are a MUST when heading out the door on a girls night out, I have THE shortest, stumpiest lashes and really small eyes so without them I don't ever feel like my make-up is finished or anywhere near as good as it could be.
Favourites :  Eylure Eylure Eylure- I love 101's and 107's ALOT and I do struggle to use other brands I'm not going to lie! I really want to try out Fleur De Force's new range aswell - maybe even the individual ones as I've heard they can stay on all weekend which would be amazing for Festivals and trips away!

2. Highlighters
The world (and my face) would be a sad sad place without a good highlighter! I think I have a slight obsession, I don't think I will ever own enough. Ever since buying the makebelieve skin lmizer as a teen I have be striving to find products that give me that dewy glow that all the celebs rock with ease!
Favourites : theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer, Seventeen Skin Wow!, Rimmel London Good To Glow, Benefit High Beam & Victoria's Secret Illuminating Powder.

3. Tan Tan Tan
Not only do these products stop me from looking like a pale whale they also help to tone the look of the skin - a good tan can make you look a whole lot skinnier you know, I just wish I had more time (and patience) to use it more!
Favourites : Anything St. Moriz.

4. Razors
What feels better than freshly smooth legs? Seriously though - smooth, soft legs are the best - a major confidence boost in just a few swipes!
Favourites : Venus Sensitive Embrace

5. Instagram
Yes I'm saying it and you may think it's obnoxious and vain but in all seriousness - a good filter and a bit of editing can make me feel better about myself and I know a lot of you girls feel the same.... so don't act like I'm being fake and self-centered haha - you all love a good selfie!
Follow me @ Kirstielouises

6. Blonde Toners
Last but not least.... this is a big one for me when it comes to confidence.
 I am blonde, but I'm not a natural blonde, so I am always paranoid about what shade my hair colour is looking. 
My hairdresser is amazing and everytime I had my hair coloured I fall in love but after about 6/8 weeks I can see my colour fading and becoming dull - and sometimes even.... yellowish #booo! BUT there are products that can fix this and I have become a slave to them!
Toning shampoos are totally and utterly fabulous and after getting over my initial fear of using them (I was paranoid I would have purple hair if I left it on for longer than about 45 seonds) I have realised how much they can help and if I feel like a pick me up this is one of the first products I reach for!
Favourites : Pro:Voke Touch Of Silver Twice A Week Brightening Shampoo & Intensive Treatment Conditioner.

What are your favourite confidence boosters?

Get your own confidence boosters :

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My 'Me' Project

Writers block has hit me hard lately, so I'd like to apologise first and foremost for the reduced amount of posts on here.
  I have so many products I want to talk about and so many post ideas lined up in my brain but I can't seem to muster up the words to type - it's very frustrating but I'm hoping to shake it off asap.
In the meantime I've decided to write a post from the heart... you know one of those personal ones with all the feels, not like me but maybe it will help with my writers block?

Recently I've been thinking alot about my life. Work life, my health, my future and I've come to the overwhelming conclusion that I may be having a quarter life crisis!
I've been a bit down in the dumps to be quite honest and the amount of thoughts and negativity buzzing round my mind just isn't on!

So, I thought it's time I took matters into my own hands to turn this feeling around.
It's time to start a ME project. I want to do everything I can to make me, myself & I the happiest and most confident I can be, because like they say "The best project you'll ever work on is YOU."
Those aspects of my life that I'm not happy with are all in my hands and my hands only! Only I can change them and what better a time to start than right now.

First up.... that thing I do 5 times a week. 
My job isn't my dream job, I think the world and his wife probably know that. My whole life I've had one problem and that's that I've never known what I've wanted to do when it comes to work and a job. 
I envy anyone who has a career plan from a young age - I feel like I never really achieved what I probably could have due to the fact I wasn't working towards a goal.
Turning 25 has given me a kick up the butt to strive to achieve. Obviously my dream job and career nowadays would be blogging (or something along those lines) - I have such a passion for it and get so much joy from running this little site - but I know the reality of this is very, very, very slim.
I hope I can find a job I love to go to daily over the next few years, it's just a pain in the butt living on an teeny tiny island with little opportunity, but I'm hoping that I can work towards something closer to my heart than retail.

I've also decided that I really do want to write a book. Laugh all you want but why not eh?
I've said it for a long time now and I've said it in a jokey way to both friends and family but really - whats stopping me?
 I have an idea and want to get started on it soon and even if I'm the only person that ever gets to lay eyes on it, I would have done it and enjoyed the journey. Something ticked off the bucket list at least and something to put my heart and soul into.

Next thing on my 'Me' list is my health. Now this is not only internally but externally too. A few years ago I took my health very seriously and managed to loose a tonne of weight (well not literally a tonne I wasn't an actually elephant) but I feel like recently I've slipped back into some bad and seriously unhealthy old ways and slowly but surely I have started to gain back weight. Something I have been trying to avoid for so long now and my confidence is hitting rock bottom once again.
I need to think more about what I'm putting into my body, I definitely have a sugar addiction and my late night snacking is something which I am loosing control over! I always feel tired and want to feel healthy again, so a new diet and a few big changes need to occur pronto!
I'm only young and really these years should be the best I ever look not the ones where I just want to wear baggy jumpers and the same pair of jeans all the time.
My diet needs an extreme overhaul and I want to make sure I'm exercising alot more. Now the weather is nicer it's going to be easier for me to get out and run which is great, I'm hoping by the time summer hits I will feel comfortable and confident in rocking cute trends in the sunshine.

I'm hoping with starting this Me project I can feel happier, healthier and more positive with where I'm at! The world is my oyster right?

Maybe you want to start a 'Me' Project too? Take control over certain aspects in your life that you aren't happy with? 

Join me - anything is possible, we can be whoever we want to be...... apart from Taylor Swift.... unfortunately we can't be Taylor Swift.

Check out and follow my very own 'Me Project' board on Pinterest - here , I'm hoping it will keep me motivated!

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#ProjectBareAll

Recently the lovely Megan form Thumbelina Lillie asked/challenged/tagged me to join in with her amazing new blogging project - #ProjectBareAll.
 I'm very lucky to talk to so many lovely bloggers on a regular basis (total babes) I always feel so inspired by them and love the sense of community that us "beauty bloggers" have and this post is something that really struck a cord with me personally and something that I think everyone should join in with!

#ProjectBareAll is simple - it is all about having confidence without that safety blanket we call make-up. 
I, for one, am guilty of wearing make-up near enough all the time and I treasure those days where I feel I don't have to apply it!
Don't get me wrong I love love love make-up.... a little too much really but it has become the norm for me and I do not feel myself or confident enough to go about my daily life without it.

We all have our hang-ups mine range from my small eyes to my sparse eyebrows to my awkwardly shaped nose and don't even get me started on the dark bags under my eyes! But with make-up I feel like I can make myself feel slightly better about those little hiccups on my face. 
I've worn a full face of make-up probably since starting high school, which is actually 10 years ago now and for me now the thought of going out or to work with no make-up on is... well.... bloomin' scary!

I think the main thing for me is how different I think (do) I look without it, I've taken a few make-up free pictures in the past and have always had comments come my way from people I know fairly well saying things like "it looked nothing like you" or "you look so different without make-up" - this I obviously took as a bad thing and so it is rare that you will see a make-up free photo of me, well until now!

After reading Megan's fab and honest post I was inspired to join in her journey of becoming more confident without make-up. I'm not saying I'm going to rock up to work tomorrow footloose and make-up free but I need to learn to how to feel good in the skin I'm in and worry less about what others think of me and my face. (In reality, who actually cares?!)

So there it is, my #ProjectBareAll bare face (and arms apparently). The list of things I've picked up on looking at this photo is endless but this project is all about confidence and I need to find mine so this post is going up and I am going to make myself feel good about it!

 I urge you all to go and read Megan's post (and follow her amazing blog - it is one of my favs!) and join in yourself whether it be on your blog, Instagram, Twitter or even Facebook - just use the hashtag #projectbareall and rock that bare faced look!
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How To Be A Blogger : My Tips, Tricks & Advice

After seeing Jim Chapman's recent video called 'how to be a Youtuber' this seemed like a fun thing to do! I was going to do this as a video but my Flip camera has decided to die so I shall be writing it out instead .... which, seeing as this is about blogs kind of makes sense doesn't it?

 Over the last few months I've been getting more and more e-mails for girls wanting advice on blogging or who have a few questions about blog related things - literally anything from giveaways to how to increase your views! 

I'm shocked and overwhelemed everytime someone comes to little old me for advice or with a query as I've only been doing this for just over a year and am noway any form of 'expert' in the subject. All I know if what I've seen/done/realised/taught myself over the past 14 months and I'm going to share all those things with you now!

These things may be obvious to you or they may not even interest you but this is what I've found to have helped me so far in this little journey!

So get a cup of tea, some comfy clothes on and settle down because this could be a long one... you've been warned!

Taking The Plunge & Getting Started

Anyone can be a blogger - if you have a blog and create content for it - you are a blogger.

1. The Right Reasons

You want to start a blog because you love reading other blogs and you have a passion for a certain subject and want to share that passion and your knowledge of it with others as a fun hobby, then GO FOR IT! But..... if you want to start a blog because you want to get free stuff and make money - stop now, it doesn't work like that. You've got to have a passion and drive about what you are writing about, if you are there for the wrong reasons it's transparent, it will be seen.

2. Picking That All Important Name

This is the tricky bit. You've got to think of this one username that's going to stand out, not confuse anyone and be original.

I think everyone goes through the stage of wondering weather they've picked the right name for their blog and I've seen a fair few change in the past year or so. I always have moments of doubt - should I change it? Is it okay? But for me I feel it's too late now to change it now and I've grown to like it!

Here's a few tips to help you create that awesome new blogname...

• Pick Something Easy : No-one is going to remember 'babygirl27lovesmakeupforlife446539' are they? It's too hard to remember and too long for people to care about or type. Have something that's easy to read, especially when it's written all as one word and easy to remember! (People get mine wrong alot which is frustrating - you don't want that!)
•  Google : Thought of a few ideas? Google them, see if there is anything similar already taken, if so try something else!
• Be Original : You want to stand out right? So don't copy someone else or have something super similar - there's no point calling yourself PollyBowBow or SprinkleOfSparkle! You want to be a first rate version of yourself not a second rate version of someone else.
• Commit : Once you've picked your name, commit to it - learn to love it - you're going to be typing it alot!

Content & Aesthetics 

I think I'll probably just be echoing alot of other people's thoughts here when it comes to what readers re looking for when they click on a blog to read.

1. Photography & Pictures

Now firs off - you don't need a big flash DSLR to create great pictures for your blog! As long as you have a camera and some decent lighting you can make it work! Just make sure they are clear and big, small, dimley lit photos are a big turn off for people and it only takes a spilt second for someone to decent weather to stay and read on or not - make sure they want to stay!

2. Font

Pick something readable , tiny fonts and funky calligraphy writing will put people off staright away aswell as bright colours/hard to read colours! Alot of people I've spoke to said that simple dark font on a white background is what they want to see as it is easy to read and clear.

3. Layout

Simply laid out blogs are usually the most popular. Lots of pop-ups and different places to click with multiple pictures and colours can put people off. Make sure each section is clear and it isn't too over-crowded for the reader. Just think of what you like to see and what you enjoy and don't enjoy when looking at blogs! 

4. Writing

Everyone is different! Just because someone writes a certain way doesn't mean you have to fit that mold and write that way. Everyone has their own style and you'll develop it over time, you'll tweek and edit til' your blue in the face but if you know what you want to say you'll get it out! Just make it easy to read and well structured! 

5. Content 

Just because everyone else has gone out and bought every single one of the baby lips collection doesn't mean you have too! Buy/blog about things that really do interest and excite you not just because you think it's what everyone wants to see and will get you more views from it. If you really like something and want to share it that will shine through in your posts, if it's not genuine that can also be noticed!

DO NOT steal/use other bloggers content - writing, photos, anything - you will be found out an it's just not cool! 

6. Honesty

Bloggers nowadays are relied on alot for decent and honest reviews and opinions on a range of different products. I always go to bloggers first when it comes to trying out something new or wanting recommendations. Being honest is a key ingredient for your blog. I'd say it's the number one rule when it comes to blogging - there is no point writing something if you don't mean it. Saying something is amazing when it isn't won't do you any favours, just say how you feel, everyone has the right to express their opinion right?

7. How Often Should I Post?

That is totally down to you and your lifestyle. I post more or less everyday and that has become my routine but I'm well aware this isn't doable for everyone and there is alot of the time where I do struggle. Don't put pressure on yourself, this is meant to be fun - don't turn it into something else! As long as your posting as least once per week you should keep people interested.

Organisation Is Key

I got asked this one alot on twitter - how to keep organised - so these are the few things that I have found really helpful to keep my blog going!

1. Keep a Notebook

Write down every single little idea you have! Weather it's just a product you've bought and want to write about or a fun idea for a new series of posts I find writing everything down so helpful - even on scrap bits of paper or maybe even the notepad on your phone!

2. Plan & Schedule

Having a plan each week for my posts saves my blogging life! Each week I write out Mon-Fri and what I'm going to have up for each day. It makes it so easy to know what to write next and what to prioritise when I sit down to blog each night. Scheduling posts is a must for me, on my days off I usually try and write at least 2 or 3 posts for the up coming days/week and have them all published for certain days so I don't have to worry about it! Somethings I have set days for - like my POTW posts I normally put them up on either Friday or Saturday and wishlists on Wednesday's, it helps me to have a regular timetable to keep too.

3. Do Things in Bulk 

Taking lots of photos at once is a must for me. Having all my photos ready for the upcoming week or so makes it so muhc easier when coming to write the posts themselves.

4. Get The Apps

For blogging on the go - get the apps! I use Blogger  & Bloglovin to keep my own blog upto date aswell and catching up with everyone elses!

Growing Your Baby

I'm sure alot of you have scrolled down to find this section as this is the most askd question when it comes to blogging - how do I grow and build my audience?

1. Be Active

Make sure you are keeping your blog alive, posts as much as you can without it disrupting your life too much. If people go onto your blog and see our last post was 3 weeks/a month ago they will think you aren't that interest and will probably be les likley to follow. (I know this sometimes can't be helped with work, school, exams etc so if you know you aren't going to be blogging for a little while maybe just write a little note on there and explain to help keep people upto date!)

2. Use Twitter (and every other form of social media)

In this day in age I'd say Twitter is the number one place to share your blog and promote. Tweet every post you do, even tag the companies, if any, that are mentioned to help spread the word of your blog! Use the famous #'s and RT accounts to help get your posts across to new readers! The same goes for instagram, facebook, pinterest, 

3. Join In & Interact

If you are a blogger yourself then I'm sure, like me, you are a major lover of other bloggers and their blogs! I LOVE joining in with the #bbloggers #lbloggers #fblchat etc chats on twitter! Such a fab way to chat with everyone and find new blogs to check out and read! It's also a perfect time to show your work too, get involved with everyone and share!

Also, if you read someone's post, write them a comment - it's another great way to interact! 

4. Don't Compare Yourself

I will say this once and once only - you will (unfortunatley) not turn into Zoella  or Tanya Burr in a week. "Big" blogger are 'big' for a number of reasons including time, hard work and originality! 

Something Shaycarl says has really been drilled into me and that's 'Time & Pressure" if you put both time and pressure into something eventually it will turn into what you want it to be.... that's how diamonds are made right, time and pressure?

 Just because someone else has 458967 don't feel gutted that you don't. Success doesn't come overnight, it does take hardwork and blood, sweat and tears! Okay maybe not.... along I've definitley had a few tears in the past! 

Feel blessed for the people who have already followed/subscribed/commented on your blog/twitter instead of just thinking about the people who haven't yet! It can be hard not to focus on the numbers, number of views, number of followers but try not too.

5. Be Confident & Proud

If you are happy with your posts and like what you've written adn put together then it is highly likely that someone else will too! No-one got anywhere thinking that what they've written was a bit pants, be proud to show it off and share it. 

Uninspired? : Surviving Writers Block

Now this is something I think everyone suffers from, I have a fair few times! It's hard to give advice on this as everyone is different but I'll give it a go!

1. Making Notes

Like I said before, keep that notebook, paper, phone close at all times and write down every little idea you get! You'll never know when they might come in handy!

2. Tag Posts

When I'm suck in a blogging rut I always love doing a good old tag post!

 I find these so much fun to write and they are too strenuous on the brain either so if you're not feeling in epic blogger mood you can still bust one of these out no problem! And the good things is with these theat there's always one you haven't done yet! I seriously want to do the British Tag asap!

3. Read Other Blogs & Magazines

Now I don't mean this in a "copying" type way but really other blogs can really inspire you to think of new content for your old blog! Same with magazines, you might see a great celebrity look or a gorgeous outfit you want to create! Be insprired by others!

4. Create a New Series Of Posts

A great way to have a constant flow is having a series of posts that you are constantly adding too, for instance I have the Dress Like Disney series that I love doing and each week I like to share my Product Of The Week and a wishlist of some sort! This provides you with at least one thing to do each week!

5. Share The Love

Can't think of anything to write yourself and at a total loss? Why not form a list of your favourite bloggers/youtubers to share with everyone! You'll make someone's day and there's nothing better than a bit of blogging community love! 

Coming to the end of this post I am so so glad I did a written version instead of a video version. Lots to get out and it's pribably better to have it in writing anyway!

I hope you have enjoyed this post, please let me know if you found it helpful at all! IF you have any questions write them below in the comments or feel free to email me at ayellowbrickblog@hotmail.com 

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Do

MY WEIGHTLOSS STORY

At the beginning of this week I completed the Race For Life run in my local area. It was 5km and I had been training for it for the last couple of  months! (and by training I mean running around my neighborhood trying not to get caught with a bad VPL and no make-up on every morning)

I know for most of you 5km won't seem far but for me I was just really chuffed to get myself fitter, complete it in a good time and at the same time raise money for an amazing charity.
  After I finished in under my goal time with crossing the line in 28minutes - it got me thinking.... a couple of years ago I would have never been able to achieve something like this and I am really proud of how much I have changed myself for the better concerning my weight and health.

So with this thought I decided that I should do a quick blog post on how I lost weight and how I have became a healthier and happier person.

Just over 18 months ago if you saw me and then a photo of me now you would have never of believed that they were in fact the same person  (in fact you may have believed that I had eaten the current Kirstie!) 

Yup. I indeed weighed alot more. How much you ask? About 2 stone more. And you may all be thinking but your fine now? you wear size 10? why do you still want to talk about it? I do still get people that I know asking me for advice and 'how did you do it?' and to be honest it is something that I did all by myself no Atkins or Marjorie Dawes involved and that is something I am still very proud of. 

Before I start I just want to state that I am all for people who want to loose weight but these things always need to be done in a healthy, moderate way. Starving yourself does not work and my response to every single person who asked me "What diet did you do?" was ... 'The eat less and exercise more diet'. I ate less crap (because I was a junk food whore) and I made myself alot more active (because I was a lazy couch potato) these were simple, easy and basic steps AND they worked.

It was 2011 and over the past year or so I had slowly but surely gained of good few unflattering pounds. This was the first time in my entire life that I had ever been bigger than your average size 10/12 or "overweight" and although my friends told me I looked no different I felt and knew that in reality, I did.
I think first truly believed I was overweight when one rainy afternoon I decided to play on my wii fit and after my first little 'test' my cute little person who I'd grown to love suddenly expanded. I am deadly serious. It full on went plop with a sound effect and became a chubbier little mii person who I immediately felt sorry for.(Lets just say the wii and I then fell out and I was determined to prove it's judgmental scales wrong). 
This, along with the fact I had just booked a trip around America for 6 weeks for March 2012, with my best friend, was the firm kick up the backside I needed to start my weight loss journey.
It was October 2nd 2011 (I remember this as it was a friends birthday) and something in me snapped and right there, right then I was on a diet. 
I'd said this countless times before... "I'm on diet"..."I'm determined" but they all seemed to end on a drunk Saturday night and a hungover Sunday morning. 

But this time it was different, I had a goal.

I wanted to be confident America and be able to enjoy myself to the full. I wanted to be able to go to the water parks in Florida, go to the beach in LA, party in Vegas and not have to think about what I could wear to cover up and how I could avoid these intense public situations. At one point I was actually thinking about wearing leggings to Typhoon Lagoon - how is that even a normal thought? 
And even though I still have hang-ups about myself (that is just something in me that will never change) I went and I had done it and felt 100000% more confident and happy within myself. 
Along with wanting my confidence and self-esteem back (which at this time were total rock bottom) America was the number 1 reason for me to loose weight. But there were also a number of other things constantly on my mind and the answer for all of them always pointed towards me loosing weight and become a healthier and therefore becoming a  happier person.
 I would get anxiety a lot back then and really really badly and I am certain that was to do with my diet and the poor poor state it was in. My fitness was also horrific which for me was just awful. I'd always been a sporty kid/teenager and too be out of breath walking to work was just not right. Fashion also played a huge part. At the time I was working in fashion retail and so much of the stock that came in I loved but I just couldn't wear it because of my size and shape.
 I'm not say I was really really huge, I wasn't 47 stone and stuck in bed or anything, but knowing my body and how I felt, I just wasn't right.

Anyway I digress, it is October 2011 and I decide to get the "Myfitnesspal" app for my iPhone, which can I just say was absolutely brilliant for me. You can type in what you eat and how much you exercise and it calculates your calorie intake and loads more. If you are looking for something to keep track and help control your diet and find out more about what you eating  - this will help.
I knew the main things I wanted to cut out. White bread, pasta, cheese, pizza, crisps and sweet treats (mainly my top weakness - chocolate.) These are things that I knew had to go. I'm sure it's different for everyone but these were my downfall.
Drinks, surprisingly, weren't actually a problem for me. I only drink water and green tea anyway (unless I'm going out, in which case it's a vodka & lemonade) so I just made sure I was constantly drinking them. 
Water is one of the best thing for weight loss, it has so many amazing benefits and makes you feel so much better aswell, if I could give one top tip for being healthy and loosing weight it's drink more water.

Rather than bore you with what I used to eat daily I will list below food which became the main staples in my diet.

• Porridge 
• Cereals - Weeatbix/Bran Flakes
• Fruit - Bananas, Strawberries, Grapes, Satsumas, Tomatoes
• Vegetables/Salad - Broccoli, Carrots, Peas, Spinach, Sweetcorn,Lettuce, Cucumber.
• Eggs
• Baked Beans
• Wholemeal Bread
• Soups
• Jacket Potatoes 
• Fish
• Chicken
• Steak

Of course I'd still have treats now and again and most weeks I would have 1 day where I could have whatever dinner I wanted, which normally ended up being my favourite meal - my mum's macaroni cheese.

As for exercise I tried to do something everyday. I did everything from walking to Wii Zumba. Everyday I would make sure I was active for at least 20 minutes and always tried to better myself each day. I bought a stepper for my bedroom and to go alongside the exercise bike I already owned  and went on these most mornings whilst catching up with some TV shows ( two birds, one sweaty stone.)

After just couple of weeks and a few pounds I was feeling so much better abut myself and as soon as you start to see that number on the scales going down the more motivated you feel about what you are doing. The last thing you want to do then give up and ruin all the hard work you've done. 
Another thing which keeps you motivated is comments from other people, sometimes people worry about saying "ooo you look like you've lost weight" as they don't want to offend the person, but I loved it. The fact that other people were noticing these little changes just gave me that extra boost to keep going with it all.
So for the next 2 months I worked super hard and kept it up and amazingly by mid-December I had reached my goal weight, I had lost 28lbs and I had bought a size 10 dress for the first time in years. 
This was the happiest I had been in a long time and finally felt like myself again and since then I vowed to try and keep myself healthy. Yeah I still eat junk food (who doesn't) but I like to think that I am more sensible with my eating now and still keep myself really active.

If you want to set a goal, no matter how small, do it. Take little steps each day and with determination and motivation you will always make it to what you want.

Sorry if this has been a very long and rambley post and if you did/n't like it please let me know in the comments and give some feedback as too why.

Wise Words on a Wednesday

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” - Dr. Seuss

I am the biggest fan of Dr. Seuss and like to live by his many amazing quotes. This is one of my favourites and so I thought it would be perfect for my first 'Wise words Wednesday'.

The reason I like this quote is that as obvious as it is, it is ,as it says, - very TRUE. There is no-one else in the world that can be you so we should all learn just to be ourselves!

 Alot of the time we'll look and someone else and think "I wish I had that", "I wish I did that" and you may sit and look at someone and just think about wanting their small nose or maybe their thick hair but I can guarantee that those people would look straight back at you and do exactly the same thing. 

As women we criticise ourselves alot.... and I mean alot.

 I am hugely guilty of it and am a serial moaner about more or less every single little thing about myself BUT at the end of the day I am me and always will be... so it's tough! 

What we all need to remember is that we are who we are and we should be proud of it, because no-one else can be you!

What are some of your favourite quotes? 

Did you like this Wise Words Wednesday?

Write in the comments about one thing that makes you proud to be you!