Keeping Your Mind Healthy

Staying healthy is a difficult thing these days. We often devote a lot of time to keeping our body healthy. Eating well, exercising, and taking all sorts of different vitamins and supplements. But most of us forget about keeping our mind healthy. The effects of an unhealthy mind are not as obvious as an unhealthy body so we often neglect it. An unhealthy mind can lead to wider health problems and so it is important to take care of yourself mentally as well as physically. There are plenty of simple ways that you can maintain a healthy mind without having to completely reorganize your life.

Eating and Drinking Well

Eating properly is good advice generally, but there are some specific foods that can help maintain your brain. One of the most popular ones is Avacado. It’s everywhere at the moment, and for good reason. It’s delicious and packed full of goodness. It’s high levels of good fat promote healthy blood flow, which in turn, improves the health of your brain. There are plenty of ways you can prepare an Avocado so if it’s not already part of your diet, it’s worth adding.

Fish is another versatile ingredient that can massively improve your health and inspire a healthy mind. Deep water fish, in particular, are rich in Omega-3 which increases brain function. It has also been linked to an increased risk of depression.  

Replacing snacks with nuts and seeds will increase your vitamin E levels. Vitamin E decreases the risk of brain deterioration in later life. There’s plenty of different ones to choose from and you can easily add them to breakfast in the form of nut butter.

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Blueberries have been called a ‘superfood’. Although, this might be a bit of a misleading term, they do have a lot of health benefits and can help to keep your brain healthy. They have been linked to an improved capacity for learning and reduced risk of Alzheimer’s.

Avoiding Alcohol and Caffeine is also very important. You don’t need to cut it out completely but you should be aware of how much you are consuming. Drinking too much alcohol can have long term affects on your mind as well as your body. The occasional drink is fine but drinking too often will affect the chemical balance in your brain and can lead to feelings of depression or anxiety.

When it comes to Caffeine, a small amount is actually good for you. A few cups of tea everyday can help improve focus and mood, and the antioxidants in it can improve blood flow to the brain. However, if you have too much you could suffer from anxiety and trouble sleeping, which will impair the health of your brain even further.

Exercise

Exercise brings a whole host of health benefits. You will lose weight, lower cholesterol and lower your risk of heart disease to name a few. But exercising will also massively improve the health of your mind, and the results are almost immediate. After exercising, you will have more energy, improved memory, and a more positive outlook generally.

Exercise has been linked to a decrease in symptoms of depression and anxiety. When you get your body moving, your brain releases endorphins, the chemicals responsible for feelings of well-being.

It is also a brilliant way to relieve stress and avoid these kinds of problems in the first place. High levels of stress can cause a lot of health issues, so doing regular exercise to stop stress building is a brilliant way to keep your mind healthy.

Meditation and Mindfulness

Eating well and exercising can look after the physical well-being of your mind, but it is important to look after yourself spiritually. The benefits of meditation have been disputed in the past, but in recent years, the science to back it up has improved. People that meditate on a regular basis have much higher levels of concentration and improved memory.

It has also been proven that regular meditation sessions physically slow the process of brain ageing. A 2015 study showed that the levels of brain matter loss were significantly lower in the meditation group than they were in the non-meditation groups.

Anxiety levels have also been seen to drop drastically after only a short period of regular meditation. Having time for yourself to organize your thoughts can really put things into perspective and stop you from stressing over insignificant things. As you become more experienced, you will be better equipped to deal with your own negative emotions, and avoid letting them build up and overcome you.

Fitting meditation into your daily routine is not difficult. You only need to do it for sessions of around ten minutes, so you can easily get it in in the morning or before bed.

Avoid Negative Influences

Avoiding negative influences is very important because, no matter how hard you’ve been working to keep your mind healthy, you’ll be fighting an uphill battle if you surround yourself with negative influences. Unfortunately there are plenty of them out there.

The media is one of the biggest negative influences in all of our lives. We are constantly bombarded by stories of pain and suffering. You might not realise that it is affecting you that much, but it will increase negative thinking. It is important to keep up to date with the news, of course, so there’s no need to cut it out completely. Just try to avoid it as much as possible and when you do watch it, be aware that it is designed to be as negative as possible.

Negative people are a lot more difficult to cut out of your life but if you are on a journey to a healthy mind, it is vital to remove these negative influences from your life. You will subconsciously pick up on the attitudes and thought processes of the people you spend a lot of time with. There are probably some people in your life that leave you feeling pessimistic after talking with you, or encourage you to involve yourself with negative behaviours. Unfortunately, some of these people might be work colleagues or family members that you will have to see regularly. If you can’t cut people out completely, look at ways that you can work on your relationship to make it a more positive one for both of you. If you do decide to cut somebody out completely, ensure that you have thought it through properly and you are doing it for the right reasons.

If you do decide to cut somebody out of your life, you may lose contact with other friends, but if you are removing a strong negative influence then it may be worth the sacrifice. Be respectful of the person you are cutting out, after all, you were friends once so don’t bad mouth them to others.

Spend Your Time Well

The way that you spend your time can have a huge affect on the health of your mind. If you occupy yourself with things that aren’t interesting or rewarding, you can end up feeling as though you are wasting your time.

If you are not happy at work, start looking for something else. We often make the mistake of thinking that everybody gets fed up with their job and it’s just normal. But if you are spending most of your days in a place that doesn’t fulfil you, your mental health can really suffer. Making a positive change will completely revamp your outlook on life.

Finding a hobby is another good way of spending your time well. You might not get much free time and if you spend it all sat in front of the television, you could find yourself getting stuck in a bit of a rut. During the summer months, look for an outside hobby, as being out in the fresh air will improve your mental state.

There is no better way to improve and maintain your mental health than surrounding yourself with people you care about. Having the support of family and friends, and being open with them, will help you to deal with any negativity in your life.

 

These are just some of the ways that you can keep your mind healthy. The important thing is to make sure that you are looking after your mental health just as much as your physical health, because the negative effects of an unhealthy mind can be far more damaging than an unhealthy body.

Document Your Travels The Fun Way

Thanks to twenty-first century technologies, we have more choices than ever for recording special moments. Of course, when we’re travelling or taking a holiday, we want experiences and memories that will last forever. You want to feel the sand between your toes, and smell the sea air. The tastes, the sounds, and the conversation are all part of the purpose of visiting somewhere new.

So how can you record those experiences and share them with the friends you left at home? Technology, social media, and your creativity can combine to document what you enjoy about your time away. All you need is a knack for telling a good story, and you can create a fabulous travel blog, video channel, or even an eBook about your journey.

document travel photo

Start by clarifying what the purpose of your journey is. Are you going to experience a new mode of travel for the first time? Are you going to a country that has different customs and traditions to your own? Perhaps you want to witness some incredible natural phenomenon? When you know your reason for going, you can start to brainstorm some ideas on how to present your experiences to someone else.

Many people love to browse through photo albums and travel scrapbooks. These days you can create them online to print hard copies. Or you might choose to publish them as an eBook. You could use free printable postcard templates to design each snap with a caption. This provides an insight to your feelings or clarifies the experience you had from that view. If it’s a picture of a monument or iconic building, perhaps you could caption the photo with a word or two about the history of the place.

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If you’re creating a video of your holiday, be mindful that most of what you do won’t be included in a video short. Videos are great for showing your reaction to the activities you’re engaging in. They show views you’re enjoying, and the spectacle of things happening around you. It can be a good idea to speak to camera, as if you’re speaking to the friends that will watch it. Some shots work well from a tripod. Action shots when the camera is moving along can be exciting too.

So what equipment do you need to make use of all the different ways of documenting your vacation? Your mobile phone can do everything you need. You can also buy small, hand-sized tripods that will connect to it for a steady shot. You can take still photos and videos, and even edit them on the go. However, you may run out of memory pretty quickly. If you can’t expand your phone’s memory, consider a small action camera instead. Both these devices can be connected to the internet for live uploads to FaceBook or YouTube, saving your storage!

Creating a photo scrapbook or book of custom postcards can be a lovely gift for someone too. It makes a wonderful keepsake for you too! Digital, video, or paper-based documents of your travels can be a fun way to remember your experiences forever.

Let’s Get Summer Ready: A Guide To Riviera Fashion

french riverThe French Riviera is where it is all going on in the summer. This is where the rich and famous head to be, well, rich and famous. You will see the likes of Angelina Jolie, Lewis Hamilton, George Clooney and most of the other VIP jet set, heading here to let their hair down and enjoy a little European culture.

With the Monaco Grand Prix hitting the Riviera and the Cannes film festival around the same time, you will find May and June the perfect celeb spotting time in the south of France and one of the coolest things about this hot coastal heaven, is the fashion. Let’s get a few tips on how to rock the Riviera look.

During the day it is all about simplicity. Most of our celebs will be hitting the shops of Monaco, enjoying a long lazy lunch at a marina bar in Nice or spending the afternoon on a yacht. The basics are always less than basic. Hair and makeup will be perfect, so it may be a good time to consider the latest trend in hair exfoliation. Think Princess Kate of Cambridge and you will understand the look you are trying to achieve. Perfectly groomed, flawless hair. While makeup is on point; the Riviera day look is all about flawless foundation, a perfect brown and that killer pout. So strip it back but get it right.

There are only two types of shoe suitable to the Riviera, killer heels or cute flats, you might see deck shoes a plenty, although a loafer is more acceptable if you are a lady! Deck shoes are most definitely a man thing. If you are popping on board any luxury boats, you will need to remove your heels, though, so it’s always worth keeping some ballet pumps in your bag. That way you won’t be walking around with your feet out! It’s not the beach don’t you know.

A gorgeous white shirt dress with rose gold accessories makes a simple outfit which can be glammed up or stripped down. You can even throw this over a stunning bikini so you can slip it off for those sunbathing moments. You will need a large oversized hat and a pair of sunglasses to match. There is very little else to complete the look.

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The evening look is all about uber glam; there is no other look here than ultra sexy, floor length, big haired, red carpet every night. Most of Monaco is, actually, red carpet. So you need to find a stunning dress which will hold up to the evening as long as you will. While most do go with a high heel, this is fine in the casino or bars on dry land, if you are heading to a yacht, get your flats at the ready.

Of course, the chances of you finding yourself on the French Riviera might be a little slim, but who cares? Take this look and strut it about as if you have just got home from your three-week vacation in Nice.

Keep your colors neutral and use layering if you need to, the weather is beginning to break, so it’s time to get those pins out, this look is all about faking it, so grab yourself some of the SiennaX tanning mousses and get your glow on.  Your friends won’t believe you haven’t been away. Ensure everything is on point, so a visit to your beautician for an HD brow and full leg wax is also going to help achieve the look.

You don’t need to have seen the Riviera sun to pull off this look and add a little glamor to your office. Just walk in with confidence, grab the biggest pair of sunglasses you can find and strut your stuff.  Smile as if you have a thousand paps following your every move and viola! You have nailed it!

 

Finished Reading List In Last Month

2017-03-25 readingCurrently I’m on a quest to read as many good novels as possible. Though once upon a time I thought reading novels is a waste of time and devoted my spare time on self improvement books, I really missed the sophisticated writing style that most self improvement books don’t possess.

Last months I finished a few books that I started but quit reading a while ago:

For WhomThe Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway. Why I didn’t I finish reading this book at the first go? I felt it was going too slow – it took more than 300 pages to describe a 3 day event. I simply didn’t have the patience to read all those conversation with so much Spanish elements and the details went through Robert Jordan’s mind.

But reading all those self improvement books have taught me to be patient so I set on reading the book again. Omg, how glad I am to have finished this book and how I admire Hemingway as one of the greatest writers! I got goosebumps at the end of the narration. The ending touched me so much and I still get goosebumps whenever I think about it. I guest that’s the power of a good book hey.

Tender Is The Night. For something reason this book didn’t grab me as much as The Great Gatsby did. I loved reading The Great Gatsby and finished it without stopping. Tender Is the Night on the on hand, started really slow to me. For a while, I thought Rosemary would be the main character.  But as the story went on, I couldn’t let go of the book. I cared more and more about Dick Diver’s fate while hopelessly wishing he’d pick himself up again. But Scott Fitzergerald just didn’t write any happy ending books, did he. My heart sank for days and days after finishing reading the book. I simple can’t get rid of notion that Life Is Pain. Maybe that’s why I stopped reading novels – I could get too emotionally involved.

1984 by George Orwell.  Why I couldn’t finish reading it at first? I thought it was too painful. Too painful to go through the endless lies and manipulation by the evil inner party; to painful to face the torturous experience Wilson Smith went through. Yes it was all fiction but I didn’t have the mental strength to deal with it all. But you see, if I couldn’t deal with the pain depicted in a book , how can I deal with real life’s problems? With that thought in mind, I read the whole book. Still can’t help but say: How clever was George Orwell.

Right now, I’m reading Gone with the Wind, by Margaret Mitchell, a book that I read many times in Chinese version and know the story inside out. It is a much easier read compared to the 3 books above though it’s still kind of sad. I love the English version and have more than 1000 pages to enjoy.

My “To read” list consists 2 books I’ve been trying to read since 2000 but never managed to finish:

One Hundred Years of Solitude

Catch 22;

a self- improvement book someone recommended to me a couple of days ago: The Power of Asking and a book I’ve started earlier this year: The Great Philosophers.

Tips for a Simple Sophisticated Party

Entertaining friends and family in your own home is one of those simple pleasures that can really make life living and show your loved ones you really care. However, in the 21st century, we all have so much to do that there is little time left to plan the perfect event and this can lead to ‘party planner’s stress’ and a damp squib of an event if we aren’t careful.

So, if you’re planning to host a party anytime soon, and you want it to be sophisticated without being stressful, check out these simple tips for party success:

Send Elegant Invites

Just because they’re your friends and you have all their cell numbers doesn’t mean that you can do away with invites.  No sophisticated hostess would deem it acceptable to send text or email invites rather than the real thing. Sure, it will take slightly more effort to go to the store and pick out some pretty invites, but it will set the tone for the whole party, so it’s pretty essential.

Keep the Menu Simple

Instead of trying to cook an elaborate multi-dish menu, bring out the classics and cook that one pot dish that you love. Something like beef bourguignon can be whipped up pretty quickly in advance, but it is also a very impressive, rich dish that your guests will love, and if your dress up your table with monogrammed napkins and your best silverware, your guests are guaranteed to be impressed by the elegance and sophistication of the evening, so much so that they won’t even question how much effort you put into the meal.

Make Signature Cocktails

cocktail-house party

Instead of spending a stressful evening mixing up all manner of cocktails for your guests, choose 2-3 of your favorites and let your guest know that they’ll only be able to choose from those. That way, you can mix up a few pitchers beforehand and spend more time socializing with your friends, which is the whole point of having a party really.

Itunes some Classy Tunes

Usually, listen to hip-hop or have a secret love of Justin Bieber? That simply won’t cut it at a sophisticated soiree, so before the party, download a classy playlist that will increase the elegance of your party immediately. Classical music and soft jazz work well, but feel free to play it by ear.

Buy Dessert

Buying a nice dessert from a local bakery will save you a lot of time and stress, and your guests will enjoy it just as much as anything you could make yourself. Just don’t buy a dessert from a regular store – they’re never as nice, and they’re rarely sophisticated either.

Raid Your Wardrobe

If you don’t have the time or money to shop for a new outfit, it is almost certain that you will have something suitable sitting in your wardrobe. You can rarely go wrong with a little black dress, providing it isn’t too little – this is a fancy party after all. The key is not to stress about your outfit. Pick something, wear it and forget about it.

How do you remove the stress of throwing a cocktail party for your friends?

 

Answering The Awkward Question Most Women Will One Day Be Asked

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There comes a certain point in a woman’s life where strangers feel it’s appropriate to comment on her life choices.

It’s a strange thing, especially when you put it like that! But it does happen, time and again, either through general curiosity or people just not knowing where the limits should be.

If you are over the age of 25 and in a relationship, then it won’t be long until you’re on the receiving end of one such statement:

“Won’t be long until babies come along, I bet!”

“Are you trying to get pregnant?”

“Tick tick tick!” They will say, particularly if you’re over the age of 30. “That biological clock isn’t going to be able to wait for long!”

The most annoying part of this is that… to an extent, they’re right. If you want children (and let’s be clear: many women don’t, and there’s nothing wrong with that), then for a woman, age is a factor.

Of course, it’s not the only factor. Being ready to have a child is crucial, and getting to that stage tends to be something that comes with age. More and more women are choosing to enter motherhood later in life and society has yet to crumble. Yet the questions will still come; some from your parents, eager to be a grandparent. Others from acquaintances, friends who are already parents, or just someone who is asking to be polite. So if you’ve made the decision that parenthood – or if you’re already a parent, extending your brood – isn’t for you right now, how do you handle it?

  1. Explain Your Decision

If you have reasons for waiting, then don’t be afraid to share them. For some people, a desire to have a child as soon as possible was such an innate desire that they can’t necessarily understand someone choosing differently.

Say: “I’m not at a point in my life for that right now. I want to improve my self-esteem, travel more, be more financially secure – but we’ll get to it one day.”

  1. Explain Your Alternatives

If you seem at ease with your decision, then that’s more likely to come across. Explain that yes, you know the biological clock is ticking, but it doesn’t concern you. And why should it? This is world where adoption, IVF treatments, and surrogacy exist – if you want to be a parent, then you’ve got all the time in the world to pursue it. Biology doesn’t come into so much anymore – there are alternatives.

Say: “I know time is a factor, but I’m comfortable with exploring other options for parenthood if it comes to that. I don’t see the point of rushing into something just because of that.”

  1. Refuse To Answer

Realistically, this is a subject for you and your partner. So if you don’t want to go into details, then there is absolutely no requirement for you to do so.

Say: “Actually, I think that’s best kept between me and my other half, but thank you!”

  1. Them To Mind Their Own Business

Well it’s true, but you’re probably not going to pick up many politeness points! Still, if someone is persistent, it might reach this point!
Say: “I’d rather we didn’t discuss that, thanks!”

 

A Superior Exterior: Presenting The Best You

positivePeople talk about how you can change yourself from the inside outward, that developing that sense of inner confidence will impact on how you externalize yourself, and yes, it’s true. But it is a long journey to undertake. It is a worthwhile journey, but in this world that looks for quick hacks so they can get onto the next thing, people are looking for ways to make themselves appear different. Confidence is all about self-worth, and there are ways to achieve it from the outside in…

Positive Self-Talk

It is a thing that you may think is usually reserved for sportspeople and “hippies” but having a round of positive self-talk in the mirror or away from prying eyes is a great habit to get into. While it may sound like it is a pointless pursuit, there is some science behind it! It is a fact that your brain cannot tell the difference between what is real and what is fake. You can, of course, but this is why people talk so much about the power of positivity and motivating yourself. And if you don’t believe me, why are there so many people that suffer from self-fulfilling prophecies? Because they believed that they couldn’t do something, so they didn’t! All you need is five minutes in the morning to repeat a little mantra to yourself (you need to say it loud, you can’t think it). Something as simple as “I am super confident” repeated over and over will make you feel pretty good, and you’ll see why athletes get so pumped before a game.

Fake It ‘Til You Make It

A very common approach that people do when they don’t have the skills to get them through a key problem, whether they are running a business or they need to learn how to do something, many people really go for the “fake it ‘til you make it” style of learning. It’s all about projecting a certain image, and then eventually your brain will catch up to the notion and start thinking that way. It is in many ways an extension of self-talk, by dressing a certain way, or by holding yourself up higher in your posture you are communicating to the world that you are confident. Changing your image is one big way people give themselves an overhaul, and there are many ways people do it, from wearing contact lenses of different colours to changing the colour of their hair! These are things people do when they are unhappy with how they are projecting themselves to the world, and need to make a change to assert their identity. If you want to project something completely different to who you think you are being perceived as this is a perfect start to giving yourself that positive change internally. It is very hard to fake it at the start, but this is why you need to apply these two tools to your life if you want to change your image and your confidence.  

 

7 Ways To Look More Expensive Day To Day

You don’t need to have a ton of money in the bank to look expensive when you leave the house. You can look more expensive with the 7 simple tips outlined in this guide. Take a look and see what you can do!

Fall In Love With Black

If you’re not a huge wearer of black at the moment, change your stance on it. Black can look super expensive, even if it’s super cheap. Make black your go-to color, whether you’re looking for a skirt, a plain top, trousers, a coat…the list goes on. You don’t have to dress solely in black, but wearing more of it will help you to look more expensive in a heartbeat.

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Focus On The Finer Details And Your Grooming

Focus on the finer details of your outfit, such as your socks. Yes, even your socks can make a difference to how you look! A huge trend at the moment: those fishnet socks, but you can get so many different styles depending on what you’re wearing. By focusing on the small details like this, you’ll really give your outfit a more expensive feel. Make sure you focus on your grooming too, such as your nails and your hair.

Incorporate Lots Of Texture

Adding more texture to your outfit is never a bad thing. You’ll notice that the most stylish, expensive looking outfits always have plenty of texture. Incorporate it in any way you can to stop your outfit from looking dull.

Wear Quality Jewelry and Accessories

Quality jewelry and accessories will add to any outfit, no matter how much it cost. If you’re going to invest in anything, then make sure you invest in these things. You can look at diamond pricing if you want a diamond ring or diamond studs to wear each day. Or you can opt for a second hand watch to add more elegance on your outfit.‌

Quality bags, shoes, and things like that are also important for enhancing your outfits. Make sure you know what counts as quality, and don’t just go for a brand name!

Go To A Good Tailor

If your clothes don’t quite fit you properly, then you need to visit a good tailor. Otherwise, how will you ever look as lavish as you want? It’s worth doing these with your more pricy items of clothing.

Invest In The Basics

Always invest in the basics, and do your best to avoid trends. Trends come and go, the basics are going to be in your wardrobe forever. Make sure you have a nice pair of trousers, jeans, and plenty of classic tops that you can mix and match.

Avoid Logos And Tacky Embellishments

Always avoid tacky logos and embellishments. They will cheapen your outfit rather than making you look more expensive. Always choose outfits like this carefully!

Use these 7 tips and you’ll easily be able to emulate a more expensive appearance day to day. You don’t need to have lots of money, just a keen eye for quality pieces and a willingness to invest your money when appropriate. Leave your own tips below!

So, You Love Your Holiday Spot So Much, You Never Want to Leave

You’ve found a new holiday spot that you love. Maybe you found it a while ago, and you can’t help coming back again and again. In fact, you love it so much that you never want to leave. No, really. How can you stay there forever? Sometimes you fall in love with somewhere so much that you start looking for ways to make a more permanent move, or at least to come back as often as you want. It might feel a little crazy at first, but it’s not an uncommon thing to do. So what do you do when you find somewhere you never want to leave? You might not be able to live there forever, but you do have a few options.

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Get a Holiday Home

The first thing that might come to mind is buying a holiday home. It’s a big step, but it’s also not the most drastic leap. If you keep coming back to the same place, it makes sense to have a base where you can feel at home when you visit. You can get a property somewhere with other holidaymakers, or it could be somewhere you can settle into local life. And when you’re not using the property, you could rent it out to others. However, you do need to check the rules about buying a property if you’re not a citizen and offering short-term rentals too.

Get Another Passport

On the other end of the scale, there are more drastic measures you might take. Returning to another country again and again isn’t always easy, as there are often visa rules about how often you can visit and stay. One interesting option requires you to have a bit of cash. If you are able to invest money in certain countries, you can effectively buy yourself citizenship. Another option for some people is applying for a second passport if they have dual citizenship but have never looked into having two passports.

Take a Working Holiday

Perhaps you’re just thinking about spending a slightly longer period of time in your favourite place. Much of the time, 90 days is the maximum you’re allowed as a tourist. But several countries offer working holiday programmes that allow you to stay for a year or more. There’s the UK, the US, Germany, Canada, Argentina, Denmark, and many more. You just need to check that people with your citizenship and age are eligible.

Consider Making the Move

If you love somewhere so much you want to move there, you don’t have to apply for citizenship. However, the process to start a life there could be long, and you’ll need to be able to support yourself. Of course, if your new favourite holiday spot is in your home country, it makes things a lot easier. But if you’re going overseas, it could take a long time to plan and execute your move.
When you’ve fallen in love with a place, you never want to go. But maybe it’s true that absence makes the heart grow fonder?

Don’t Let Low Self-Esteem Hold You Back

unnamed (1)Self-esteem is a term used to describe your interpretation of your worth and value. Your level of self-esteem can have a profound impact on the way you live your life, and what you get out of life. If you have low self-esteem, this could hold you back. You may assume you’ll never get that promotion or land that job. You may see somebody that catches your eye in a bar but walk on by because you presume they wouldn’t be interested. If you lack confidence and self-worth, there are ways of building up your self-esteem and learning to love and respect yourself more. It’s time to stop letting a lack of self-esteem hold you back. Here are some simple ways you can increase your self-worth.

Cut off negative influences

Do you have a friend that always makes jokes about your appearance or your academic record at school? Is their banter always a bit close to the bone? Do they tend to try and bring you down by making themselves feel better? Have you got people in your life who are willing to take advantage of your understanding ear, but unwilling to do the same for you? Are you always there for others? Are they there in return? Friendship is so important and so valuable, but if you let the wrong type of people in, there can be devastating consequences. Some people build us up and make us feel better. Others can bring us down. If you have friends that make you feel uneasy or there are people in your social group that make negative comments about you, cut them off. You don’t need to be surrounded by people who dent your confidence.

Stick with your supporters

Everyone needs a cheerleader from time to time. When you’re having one of those days, who is there to cheer you up, and give you that pep talk you need? These are the people you need to cling onto and never let go. The friends who genuinely want the best for you, and will always be there to give you advice, and try and steer you in the right direction. It may be as simple as being able to pick up the phone and ask which outfit to wear for a date, or it may be that reassuring voice you need if you’re feeling anxious and you can’t sleep or think straight. Keep your supporters close.

Set targets

One of the best ways to build confidence is to set targets. It might be finding a job you love if you’re not happy where you work. It may be trying to hit a goal weight by the summer or learning a new language. You may want to complete a half-marathon or put a deposit down on a house. You may have a savings target in mind or be desperately hoping for good grades in your college exams. Whatever you’re striving for, whether it’s a personal or professional goal, keep moving in the right direction. Be patient, work hard, and don’t beat yourself up if it takes time to get to where you want to be. Be realistic, and take every day as it comes. Nobody can be expected to achieve results overnight.

Treat yourself as you would your best friend

Picture the scene. You’re getting ready at a friend’s house. You’re all doing your makeup, and trying your outfits on. How many times over the course of the evening will you tell your friends how lovely, pretty or slim they look? Here’s another scenario for you. Your friend is upset. They’ve not done as well as they were hoping in an exam and somebody has posted a mean comment on their Facebook photo. What’s your reaction? This is not a drill to see how brilliant a friend you are. It’s an example to show you how you should treat yourself. We tend to be our own harshest critics, and we’re much kinder to other people. When you’re having one of those days when nothing looks great in the mirror, somebody’s made you feel down or your day at work or college hasn’t quite gone to plan, don’t curse yourself. Be gentle. Sometimes, it’s really useful to give yourself a pep talk and try and motivate yourself to do more and push harder, but there’s a time and a place for tough love.

Give up on perfect

If you aim for perfection, you’re always going to fall short because it’s impossible for anyone to be perfect. Even Instagram models and Victoria’s Secrets angels aren’t perfect. They probably have body hang-ups, and they may also worry about their relationships with friends or their careers just like you and me. The moment you stop trying to be perfect, a weight will be lifted from your shoulders. This doesn’t just apply to your body or your face. It’s also relevant to your life goals. So what if you don’t own your own home by the time you’re 35, or you’re not married by 30? Life doesn’t go in the direction you anticipated when you were younger, but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Stop comparing yourself to others

If your self-esteem issues are linked to your appearance, this piece of advice is particularly beneficial, especially if you’re a fan of glossy magazines or social platforms like Instagram. If you spend hours scrolling through photographs of leggy models emerging from the ocean at sunset with impossibly golden skin and not an ounce of body fat in sight, it’s bound to be damaging for your body image. It’s wise to remember that very few people actually look like the models in those photos, and that these people often have squads of makeup artists and professional stylists and photographers on hand to produce amazing images. There’s also the small matter of using filters and editing software. If you find yourself comparing your life to that of your Facebook friends, again, proceed with caution. Sites like Facebook provide only a snapshot of people’s lives. What happens in real life may be very different to what you see on your screen. Focus on what you’re doing, rather than spending time worrying about other people.

If social media gets you down, stop using it. It can be hugely refreshing and liberating to stop comparing yourself to others.

Get your body moving

If you’re looking for a quick and simple mood-booster, look no further than a walk, a jog, a cycle or a swim. Exercise is not just a great tonic for stress. It can also brighten up your day, make you feel happier, and give you more energy and confidence.

Low self-esteem is a very common problem, and it can have a damaging effect. If you lack confidence, it can hold you back and prevent you from living life to the full. It can also make you feel anxious and increase the risk of depression and stress. Building your self-esteem can take time, and there is no miracle cure. However, it is possible to increase confidence and make you feel more able to reach your goals. If you lack confidence, try and put these measures into place. Be kind to yourself, and choose your friends carefully. Strive to better yourself, and work towards goals. Stop trying to be perfect or comparing yourself to others. Focus only on what you want to do and what matters to you. If you’re feeling low, get your body moving, and try and adopt a positive mindset.

 

Add Some Bling To Your Wardrobe With These Ideas

We all need some bling in our life. After all, some sparkle can make us feel like a million bucks. And we should feel like that when we are out and about. However, a lot of people get confused about how they can add it to their wardrobe. After all, you don’t want to go too OTT with bling so that your outfits look ridiculous. But at the same time, you need to add some sparkle so that you shine when you are out on the town. Therefore, here are some ideas of how you can add some bling to your wardrobe.

Go for a sparkly top

When we are thinking about adding some bling to our wardrobe, one of the first things you should consider is some new tops. After all, we tend to all go into a bit of a routine where we have the same old black and white tops we wear every day. And while they are useful, they are not adding any vibrance to our wardrobe. Therefore, it’s time to hunt down a beautiful sparkly top which will help you to stand out from the crowd. You could opt for something which has a sparkly neckline and sleeves to ensure it’s more of a subtle look. After all, you can then add some sparkle to your life without going over the top. Or for something more out there, you could go for a top full of sequins. It will ensure you sparkle when you are out at a club. Or you could even wear it to work to ensure you add some sparkle to your boring morning! And remember if you are going to opt for a sparkly top, it’s best to go for some black jeans or trousers to ensure you don’t go OTT with the sequins!

Opt for a sequin dress

A lot of us have our favorite LBD that we put on every time we go out with our buddies. After all, we know it looks good, so why break a winning formula. But it might mean we are falling into the background when we are out with our friends. Therefore, if you want to stand out and look like a million bucks, you should opt for a sparkly dress instead. And one dress which will definitely help you to look great is a dress full of sequins. After all, as soon as you hit the dance floor, you will definitely be shining. And you will turn heads with your beautiful design. It’s your choice when it comes to choosing how many sequins you want for your dress. You might want something which just has them down the sides to ensure it’s not too much. Or you might want to go all out and go for something which is all over sparkle. And your sequin dress can be used all year round; from your birthday party to the Christmas work do!

Go for jeans that shimmer

We all have a few pairs of jeans that we swap between on a daily basis. And we have some which are more suitable for night time. For example, I love my slim pair of black jeans that are perfect with a fun top. But when you are looking to add bling to your wardrobe, you should be changing up your jeans too. After all, there’s nothing better than having a shimmering pair of jeans for a night out. Therefore, go for a great pair in a metallic print that has gold studs down the sides. Your jeans will turn heads and will show you are the queen of the party! And studs will give you some edge when you are on a night out. Pair it with a crop top and a leather jacket to give you some style. Just be careful where you keep them at home. After all, you don’t want the studs from the jeans to cause damage to your other clothes!

Go for some grand jewelry

grand jewllery

There’s nothing that says bling than some beautiful jewelry. In fact, it’s one of the easiest ways to add some glam to your outfit. Even if you are in casual clothes, some grand jewelry can completely change the look! Therefore, it’s time to go for something classy when it comes to your jewelry. It might be that you opt for some gold hoop earrings; put your hair up and show these off to the world. And a statement necklace would also be a great way to add some bling to your wardrobe. Opt for something which is oversized and full of diamonds to ensure you look grand!

Opt for some sparkly heels

add bling

While we might love our flats, when it’s time to go out on the town or to work, heels are definitely the answer. After all, they can give you the confidence you need when you are in these situations. But when it comes to choosing heels, a lot of us go for a similar patent black choice. Or even a nude which will go with all our outfits. But when it comes to our shoes, it’s a perfect chance to add some bling to our wardrobe without going over the top. After all, some sparkly heels can completely change the look of your outfit. You might be wearing a top and jeans that are nothing special. But the heels will show you are ready for a night out! Therefore, hunt down some sparkly heels that you will love to wear. And if heels are really not your thing, you might be surprised to know you can get some Converse which are sparkly. Or you could even do some DIY to add some shimmer and sequins to your fun sneakers!

Photos by Yvonne

The Missed Spring Clean

When we think about spring cleaning, we tend to go over the obvious that we have done in previous years. Clearing out the cupboards, wiping over skirting boards and door frames, cleaning window sills – it’s all the usual stuff. We wait for the warmer weather and have a little bit of a spurt of cleanliness, but there is definitely some stuff that we are missing out on that requires our immediate attention.

Clothes

Clothes that haven’t been worn in a while will eventually start to lose their fresh scent and can even attract moths. Take them out of the wardrobe and give them a once-over – especially if it’s something delicate that hasn’t been worn in a while like a good suit or wedding dress. Look up a clothes cleaning service near to you and send them off for a spruce. You could even clear out the clutter of the clothes that you no longer wear or need and send them off to charity or list them for sale as part of the process. It’s a double-whammy job.

Inside the Vacuum

What cleans the things that clean your things? Well, er, you do. Take a look inside your vacuum and give it a good wipe out. It sucks up all sorts of grime so that you don’t have to do the hard work, but a stipulation of this (unless you’ve got vacuum with disposable bags) is that you will have to make sure it is free of gunk every once in awhile. It stops it from building up smells and will keep it in better condition for longer.

Mattress

Did you know that you are meant to vacuum your mattress one a year? It helps to get rid of the majority of dust mites that may have made your bed their home, and generally freshens it up. If you haven’t replaced your mattress in the last 8 years, it’s a good reminder to do it to keep your posture great and give you a good night’s sleep.

White goods
Now’s the time to really go to town on your white goods and give them a thorough inspection. Take a look inside the drawer of your washing machine and get it out for a closer look – chances are that there is some sort of slime or mould growing towards the back that you had never noticed before. Instead of giving your fridge a quick wipe down, take out each shelf individually and soak it while getting in every nook and cranny within, including the seal around the door. If you have a tumble dryer, clear out the lint that has gathered towards the bottom of the opening. Clear out your microwave, deep-clean your oven and make sure that anything else you use for the preparation of food has a thorough scrub before you use it again. It’s amazing how much build up you can find – just take a look at the workings of  your can-opener for proof!

the missed spring cleaning

Here’s How to Make Long-haul Travel More Affordable

A long-haul flight can have a few definitions, but it’s generally seen as being between 6 and 12 hours long. If you want to travel further than the countries closest to you, you’re probably going to have to take a long-haul flight. You might be travelling from Australia to Europe, from Europe to East Asia, or from the US to Africa. Wherever you’re flying to and from, there is one thing that everyone knows about long-haul flights: they’re expensive. It’s to be expected when you’re going to be spending hours and hours on a plain, and perhaps even taking more than one flight. But you don’t want them to stop you seeing the world because they cost so much. You can save money on long-haul travel, and here are a few ways to do it.

Go In the Off-season

It’s more expensive to travel when everyone else is travelling. If you want to take your trip during the most popular times, you’re going to end up paying more. When these times are can vary by country. First, you need to consider the weather, and what type of weather people travel there for. Sometimes they’re looking for sunshine, but people also go to places seeking out snow or even rainy seasons.

Then you have to think about holidays, which can require considering both your departure and destination locations. Some research into local holidays where you’re going could be necessary. There could be other reasons people travel during certain times too. For example, northern destinations are often very popular during the times when it’s possible to see the Northern Lights. If you travel during less popular times, it might mean missing out on some things, but it could save you a lot of money.

Pick Cheaper Destinations

Before you start looking at flights, it’s also worth thinking about where you want to go. Your trip isn’t all about how you get there, even if the flights will be a larger part of your budget. If you choose your destination based on how expensive it is to book accommodation, buy food, and do other things while you’re there, you could save yourself some cash. For example, maybe you’re planning a trip around Europe. You’ll spend a lot more money in Sweden than you will in Romania. It’s important to take this into account when you’re planning a long-haul trip.

Compare Flights for the Best Deals

Getting the best price for your flight is essential if you want to make long-haul travel cheaper. Being able to compare available flights is extremely helpful, but there are so many tools available and so many different variables that it can be hard not to get confused. One of the best tools to use is Google Flights, which gives you lots of filters and functions to narrow down your search and compare available flights. Here’s a useful guide that tells you how to get started with using it and how it can help you. You can also use tools like Kayak so you can find out the best time to book your flights. Sometimes, it’s months before you fly, and sometimes it could be mere weeks.

Use Airline Miles and Rewards

Another way to lower the price of your long-haul flights is to use any airline points or rewards you might have. If you fly a lot, you can collect them by being a member of an airline’s rewards programme. But even if you don’t fly that frequently, you might be able to collect some points you can use when you do travel. For example, some airlines offer credit cards that give you points when you spend with them. There are other ways to collect airline miles through rewards programmes or performing tasks online, from buying things to completing surveys or even entering competitions.

Check Exchange Rates

Another cost to consider before you book a long-haul trip is the currency you’ll be spending. You might get some cash exchanged before you go, take out traveller’s cheques, or use your card when you arrive. Whatever you decide to do, you want to make sure you get a good deal on the exchange rate. However, this can be a little tricky, as you can’t always predict what’s going to happen. Getting your travel money in advance can help, as you can exchange your money while the rate is good instead of risking getting less value for your cash when you arrive at your destination.

Understand Code-sharing

Here's How to Make Long-haul Travel More AffordableStill thinking about how you can save on your flights? Here’s another way you can do it: look out for airlines using code-sharing. You’ve probably noticed code-sharing flights before but not really thought about what they are. It’s basically when two airlines sell seats on the same plane, running the flight together. When they do this, they often offer different prices for the same flights. You can tell if a flight has seats offered by more than one airline in a couple of ways. When you search for flights, one might say that it’s being operated by another airline. You can also check flight times and the flight number to see if two different airlines match up.

Enjoy a Stopover

Long-haul flights can take it out of you. While transferring from one flight to another can leave you feeling exhausted, taking a bit longer for a layover can give you time to refresh. It can also make things cheaper. For example, both Icelandair and WOW Air offer flights from mainland Europe to the US via Iceland. You can even choose to stop for a few nights in Iceland before flying to your final destination. You have a chance to see a bit more while you’re travelling, or at least to catch up on sleep in a hotel for a night or two. Even just a transfer window of a couple of hours could save you money.

Try a Package Deal

Package deals can sometimes have a bad reputation, but they can often save you a lot of money. And they aren’t all cheap resort holidays, either. You can save on luxury travel if you know where to find the right deals. A package could simply include your flights and a hotel. Or you can book flights, accommodation, car hire, and maybe even choose an all-inclusive resort with meals and drinks included in the price. You can save a lot of money if you find the right deal, but you need to consider your destination, and what’s available that might suit you.

Be Careful with Your Phone

There are some extra costs you need to watch out for while you’re travelling. Staying connected has become more and more important to travellers. But you need to make sure you’re not doing it at great expense to yourself. Using your phone while you’re abroad can cost a lot, especially when you’re visiting long-haul destinations. You might be able to get a good deal on using your phone overseas from your provider. However, there are other options you can consider, such as getting a SIM card when you arrive at your destination. You can also seek out free WiFi, so you don’t have to pay to use the internet.

Set Your Travel Style to the Destination

When you’re travelling, make sure you match your travel style to the place you’re visiting. If it’s a more expensive country, you probably don’t want to take taxis everywhere. But there could be a very affordable public transport network. If eating out is expensive, it might be better to rent an apartment or stay in a hostel or hotel where you have the use of a kitchen. If it’s expensive to go on tours, organise your own things to do instead. In some countries, you’ll be able to do more on a smaller budget, but sometimes you have to rein yourself in.

Use Domestic Airlines to Travel Internally

If you’re planning to travel around a country by plane, you might be better off leaving internal flights until you get there. You can often find better deals once you’re in the country, whether you buy online, at the airport or at a travel centre or travel agent. Domestic airlines can often offer a cheaper deal on the same internal flights that international airlines might offer. You can also find domestic airlines that work in partnership with international ones.

Take Advantage of Free Offers and Bonus Buys

There are lots of times when you can get free or cheap things when you’re travelling, depending on which country you’re in. In lots of Asian countries, you might be able to get free nights for your accommodation. Many places offer buy one get one free on your stay so you can benefit most by staying an even number of nights. There are other times when you might be able to secure free or cheap meals, free transport, and other bonuses.

Long-haul travel doesn’t have to mean expensive travel. If you plan everything carefully, you could spend less than if you go somewhere closer to you.

Beauty Tools: Explained!

It has become quite clear lately that using your fingers to apply and blend makeup just isn’t good enough. The makeup world is becoming more and more advanced, and even young teenagers have special brushes and sponges to apply their products. However, many people still get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of tools out there. If this sounds like you, here are some of the most important beauty tools, explained:

The Beauty Blender

What is the actual point of a beauty blender? Actually, it has lots of points. You can use it wet or dry to apply foundation, helping to give it the effect you want. Wet gives you a more sheer look. Either way, it turns out flawless. You can use it for blending just about anything else, and even applying powder under your eyes to hide those pesky bags!

The Eyelash Curler

Seems pretty self explanatory, but if you don’t use one of these currently, you’re missing out. Try heating it up with the hairdryer for a few seconds to make that curl last. You won’t believe the difference, no fake lashes required!

The Large Fan Brush

The large fan brush is so fluffy for a reason. It can be used to apply highlighter, bronzer, and anything else you want to sweep over the face. You can even use it for getting rid of powder spills.

An Angled Brow Brush

Want perfect brows? Then you must have an angled brow brush. This will help you to get those glorious sweeping arches and defined tails that dreams are made of.

The Fluffy Eye Blending Brush

The fluffy eye blending brush can be used to apply shadow in the crease, or on its own to help blend out any harsh lines. It’s perfect for those who want to get their eyeshadow just right.

The Tapered Shadow Brush

The tapered shadow brush is better for applying shadow all over the lid. This gives you a beautiful, even sweep of color.

Beauty tools

The Powder Brush

The powder brush can be used to apply any type of powder. However, it’s probably best for your favorite finishing powder. Once your makeup is nearly done, swirl this brush in your powder, tap off the excess, and apply.

The Angled Face Brush

The angled face brush will give you chiseled cheeks that look as if they could cut a man. Just get that bronzer into the hollows of your cheeks to shade them, and voila! Just make sure you don’t go in with too much product at first, and blend like there’s no tomorrow. You don’t want your face to look dirty.

The Small Smudge Brush

The small smudge brush is just perfect for those who want to get the smoky eye just right. Simply apply your dark shade with it and blend, blend, blend to get the sexy, smoky look of your dreams.
Now you know what to do, get stocking up on the right beauty tools!

3 Steps To Improve How You Feel About Yours Truly

unnamedWe all have those periods where we lack self-esteem, it’s a natural part of life. However, a mistake that you don’t want to make is letting your lack of self-esteem become a big deal because that’s when it starts to impact your life more seriously. We should all make it our goal in life to ensure that no matter what, we always loved ourselves. After all, life is too short not to, isn’t it?

So, with that in mind, today I thought that I would share some hints and tricks in the form of steps to help you feel better about yourself. Believe it or not, each and every one of us deserves to love ourselves for who we are, which is why having self-esteem is so, so important. Or, at least, I believe it is…

To give your self-esteem a boost, take note of the three steps below and implement the ideas mentioned. Honestly, you will feel better for it – that’s a promise!

Step 1: Determine the cause of your lack of self-esteem

The first step to getting your love for yourself (and your appearance) back is working out what’s caused you to lack self-esteem in the first place. Could it be a comment someone made about one of your features, such as that your nose is a little pointy? Has the fact that you’ve gone up a dress size impacted how you feel about yourself? Are you self-conscious of your accent because you’ve heard someone make a comment about it? In order to feel better about yourself, you need to determine what’s caused your lack of self-esteem in the first place.

Step 2: Fix the problem

Once you know what the problem is, then you can fix it. So, you know what’s making you feel down, and now you need to fix the problem. Admittedly, in some instances, this is easier said than done, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Say, for example, your lack of self-esteem is caused by hearing a hurtful comment about your appearance. You need to realise that just because someone has said something nasty, that doesn’t mean it’s true. Even if it is true – you do have a pointy nose, so what? Everyone is unique – that’s what makes the world such an amazing place. Or, say, for instance, your teeth are stained, and it’s getting you down, then undergoing teeth whitening could be the answer. It’s not about changing yourself for other people, it’s about being happy with who you are, and if that means making changes then so be it.

Step 3: Work on loving yourself for who you are

Last but not least, when it comes to being confident with who you are and how you look, you need to work on loving yourself. You can spend your whole life wishing you were someone else or that you looked like someone else, but it’s a total waste of your time because you are you and are always going to be. So it’s a much better idea to learn to love yourself and be more positive about who you are and how you look, else you will end up wasting your life wishing that you were someone else.

If you want to improve how you feel about yourself and make more of your life, take note of the tips above and implement them in your life.