10 things about me

Hi guys, so since today is my birthday, I decided that I would do a '10 things about me' fact post because personally I'm really nosy and I love finding out things about other people so maybe you guys would like to more about the person that you've sort of known for nearly 3 years? If so then read on!

(Disclaimer: its just like when you do those ice breaker activities in class and suddenly you forget everything that you know about yourself! So apologies over the boring facts but I'm not a very exciting person.- I should have been creative and made it 19; one for every year of my life but I don't appear to know enough about myself for that hehe)

1. Cringe time....I have the BESTEST -that's officially now a word...for me at least- best friend in the entire world!

2. I'm going to see McFly in concert with my best friend in June!!!

3. I LOVE photography...im not necessarily very good at it but you don't need to be good at a hobby right?...right?

4. When I was a kid I used to literally cry my eyes out at the prospect of a photo of me being taken...except this one...hehe

5. I'm addicted to social media- I mean Snapchat is just life right now...and of course twitter is an all time love *wink wink*

  

 

6. I'm an animal lover...I mean, you've all heard me gush about my cat 24/7

7.  I come from a BIG family...like multiple brothers and sisters (and 10 pets)

 8. I am your stereotypical British lover of tea...I mean seriously, I drink up to 10 cups a day...woops.

9.  I had never taken a selfie until around February last year!...I know, how bad is that?!

10. As of today I am officially 19!
So its customary for you guys to have a very embarrassing ugly baby photo...enjoy!

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Hope you guys enjoyed these, if you don't really care about any of these facts at all (because lets face it, they're not exactly riveting, then thanks for reading and I hope you have a lovely day)

Love,

Louise x

Purchases: Mindfulness books

 

Most people who know me, know that I am a complete book nerd. if I have any money, and theres a book store (online or in a town) available to me then that money isn't going to last. I love reading, and reading inspirational thingsm especially mindfulness or positivity books. these are a really large part of my recovery, reading just one small passage a day helps put me into the right mindset to approach the day with a healthy outlook. I thought id share with you guys some of the books that I have brought over the last month (sorry bank account) because theyre all too damn good to miss out on!

 

 Gabrielle Bernstein: I've been a big fan of her books, YouTube videos and statuses on Facebook for a long time now. I kept promising myself that when I had some spare money I was going to invest some of her books...they consequently stayed in my "saved for later" list on Amazon for over a year. Finally, I've got them and I cannot wait to read them!

 

Doreen Virtue: I've used her oracle cards for a few years now, one deck I have even had since I was a little kid- and they're Unicorn Oracle cards! I still like to use them every now and again though- even if its just to look at the pictures...they're absolutely beautiful! added to this, I knew that her books on negativity were just what I needed and they have a little added magic in them or 'sparkle' as she puts it.

 

 Louise Hay: I have been a huge fan of Louise Hay for a little over a year now, since I got into mindfulness as a practice and anything I buy that has her name on it, I know is going to be just the ticket! I honestly cannot wait to implement these practices into my busy lifestyle.

 

Don't sweat the small stuff: This was one of the books that was suggested to me by a good friend (I think on her Instagram account) when we had been chatting about how I still struggle with focusing on the negative things when they crop up. As usual, she's absolutely right, this book is perfect for me! so if you find yourself thinking a little too much about the negative stuff or the stresses in life then I recommend this book for you!

 

Holistic therapy (overcoming Depression and Anxiety naturally) by Emma Mary Gathergood: I'm a sucker for self help books, I think that the more we know about a subject, the easier we will be able to deal with it. Plus you've got to admit, learning the different ways in which we can approach any troubles in our lives cant be a bad thing right? This book covers different holistic therapises such as 'the three faces of self', CBT and coping strategies, body-mind awareness and also provides an understanding of depression, anxiety and panic attacks. For me this book is perfect not only for people who suffer from these illnesses but for people who want to learn more about how they "work" and how they can be dealt with.

 

Gala Darling: So this book was on the recommended list after I brought some of the other stuff (above) and I just felt I needed to have it. After reading an article on her in the Spirit and Destiny magazine, May edition (I think), I knew I had made the right decision. Everything about this lady just makes me think of a light, beautiful soul. She is a perfect example of how you can turn your life completely around.

 

Kate Hudson: So I must confess, I have never actually read anything like this with examples from these celebrities lives, I'm not even a huge Kate Hudson fan (I mean she's fab don't get me wrong) but after reading the write-up for the book and just getting a general look at it, I knew this book would be a major interesting read even if I never tried anything out from it. But we all know I will because it's full of healthy lifestyle tips and emotional wellness advice!

 

Hope you enjoy them!

-Louise x

Where I'm at lately...

So my life has been really busy at the moment, I regularly (or try to anyway) post over on Perksofneverland, I have university assignments to write, blog post ideas coming at me left right and centre...This is all fantastic but with restricted time and too many ideas having to be written down, I'm spending more time writing down ideas and organising them than actually writing the posts!

I'm also a carer so most of my time is taken up with that, but you know what? It's fun and its something that I really enjoy. It gives me just a little bit of cash that allows me the flexibility to splurge and buy some little things whenever the mood strikes me. This is really good for my emotional health because it allows me to show myself (and others) a little love when we need it.

Heres a few good things that I'm loving about my life right now:

Friendships
I have never been the kind of person that has lots of friends but I honestly have to say that I wouldn't change that for the world. I have the worlds greatest best friend and two fab uni friends who we are getting to be really close with. That's the kind of thing that matters the most in my life, the depth of the relationships not the amount of them. So to say I'm happy with my friendships right now is an understatement

My emotions
Over the past few years, as some of you know, I've been trying to be positive but my negativity has been showing through and effecting the people that mean the most to me. I've been making a really conscious effort lately to not do that and I would like to think that I'm doing a good job...happy time all round!

Work
I have got lots of assignment work off uni at the moment because deadlines are in two weeks time and I work as a carer but the work is really rewarding so no matter how stressed I start to feel, I cannot help but feel blessed that I have the opportunity to be able to have these chances.


Overall, I think I'm doing just fine in my life right now,
I hope you all have a great day,
Louise x

5 ways to beat boredom when running

Trying to be active and live a healthy lifestyle is not the easiest thing. it can take a lot to be motivated on those dreary, cold days to get up and work out, for me running is the one thing I find really demotivated for. in order to combat this, I did some research about some of the ways that you wont be bored about the idea of running.


Try going up- Just running at the same pace, for long periods of time can be really quite a boring task. One of the ways to mix up your routine is to incorporate a hill or some stairs- it is actually a more intensive activity and includes interval training into your workout, plus the views you can see from the top of a hill are just breath-taking...so its a win-win!

Change your route- find somewhere like a forest, stream etc. There are so many beautiful parts of the world so no matter where you live, there will always be some wonderful slice of nature that you can easily have access to. its refreshing to be able to explore new places and see all of the amazing things that I never knew existed! (plus it makes the time go faster).

Listen to something- I'm a music lover, and theres no better way in my opinion to make exercising better and more enjoyable than music! There is something literally for every kind of exercise (especially when a mini dane session is accidentally incorporated into your workout because the music is just that damn good!) If music isn't really your thing then what about an audio book or a recorded lecture? It's a great way to catch up with studies or stay up to date with your favourite novels\tasks.

Rewards- Pinterest has great ideas about using a coin jar and dropping £1 or $1 in every time you workout. When the jar is full, take the money out and buy yourself something nice. what about some new workout gear, some clothes or even a new book? (Alternatives to actual money is counters, then just like before, when the jar is full buy yourself a treat!)

Make it social- run with friends, family etc. I love it when I get to run with my friends, it gives me a chance to catch up with them, whilst we do our warmups (and especially during the cool-down afterwards). Plus, I find that I'm really competitive so I push myself a lot more and obviously get more out of it if I'm with someone else! 

I hope you find these helpful,
Enjoy,
Louise x

Through the web: Fave instagram users

So as some of you know, I've actually had my own personal Instagram for years now but in March I created a new account for this blog called Perksofrecoveryjournal. It's actually one of those decisions in life where it a split second decision and then you cannot be more thankful of it later on. You've all shown me so much love on there and the amount of interaction we can have is just great. It's the perfect way, in my opinion, for me to be able to share more behind the scenes stuff and stuff from my private life with you all.

Yesterday's Spring sunshine. Life is beautiful 🌞 #happy

A photo posted by Empty Journal (@perksofrecoveryjournal) on Mar 21, 2016 at 3:15am PDT

Since creating that account, some new users have come to my attention (because obviously following less people means I can see more of their posts and appreciate their awesomeness a lot more). But some of these I've been following for months or even years on my personal account, even so I wanted to share just a few of my favourites with you.

https://www.instagram.com/healthyisthenewskinny/

 So throughout my journey I've slowly become a big believer in working out and eating healthy foods, not to lose weight but to treat my body the way that it deserves. In society its full of all of these controversial ideologies that we all have to look a certain way in order to be classified as beautiful. We've been through 'fat-shaming', skinny-shaming' and everything in between. What happened to just loving ourselves for who we are on the inside rather than completely focusing on the outside? This account, 'Healthy is the new skinny' is perfect for reinforcing this message; they show the importance of being happy and healthy rather than being the smallest size that you can be. I always see a wide range of body sizes shown so much love on there which teaches everyone that we are all beautiful from the inside out. So whether you're looking for bodyposi, healthy recipes or just some all round good cheer, go check it out!

https://www.instagram.com/projectheal/

 Everyone knows that I am a complete quote addict, I can never get enough of all of these different quotes, they literally are perfect for any emotion. 'Project heal' is a "non-profit organization that raises funds for eating disorder treatment & believes recovery from an ED is possible." Honestly if you every are feeling a little down and you find reading positive messages very inspiring then this account is 100% up your street! I love using some of the quotes for my quote jar (post to come soon to explain), it sets my day off for the best possible start.

https://www.instagram.com/positivebodyimage/

This account is so empowering, its literally amazing. It's one of the larger accounts that I follow, and I have to say a huge congratulations to the two girls who run this account because inspiring isn't the word for it! There's something on there for everyone, no matter your body size or background because these issues don't discriminate. It has become a wonderful little community over there so be sure to go over and say hello!

https://www.instagram.com/nourishandeat/

 For so long now I've been a huge fan of this account. It is literally, in my opinion the perfect account for anyone who is currently dealing with body issues. She shows her transformation through pictures and shares her recovery story with everyone. Not only that but she is a big advocate for showing up the way the media have been influencing our views of ourselves; she covers the Photoshop myths that they use and how they portray the perfect people to be thin, and have a 'perfect' face. Another huge selling point is pointing out societies myths that your weight signifies the severity of your eating disorder and what type it is. There are so many people out there who have Anorexia but they constantly get shamed with the thoughts of "but you don't look like you have an eating disorder" or "you're too fat to be Anorexic or Bulimic". 

 Life is beautiful so why not capture all of those memories? Come over to Instagram and lets chat!
- Louise x

How I got out of my blogging rut

So if this isn't your first rodeo over here then you will know that recently I have suffered with yet another bout of blogging blues. I'm not the first to have these, and I certainly wont be the last. Bloggers, no matter what their niche, all experience this at least once during their blogging journey...and thanks okay. There's no way that any one person can stay motivated with one thing for months or even years at a time without feeling like they need a change because they are bored or have ran out of ideas.

Originally, the change from a solely recovery and Mental Health based blog created a lot more opportunities for me to continue my journey but the change between the two was very daunting and thus, my first rut was born. The amount of consistency on this blog over the years has been up and down like a rollercoaster because life got in the way. Now that's not to say that its a bad things, because we were very good at sorting out the more pressing issues that we were facing and then we used the free tme after that to return here.

Pretty much since the start of 2016, I have been really very good with my consistency of posts...which as you all know is pretty much a miracle... but I did it! I'm really getting back into blogging a lot more and I'm enjoying it just as much as ever because now I have freedom. I have the freedom from my thoughs that used to weigh my down.

Heres how I picked myself up out of the blogging blues;

- Chat with Frankie- so she is one of my favourite people that I have ever met over the internet. She's like my Nanny McPhee, I love her so much. Whenever I have something great to share or im in need of advice or help, she always there...through the good and the bad. It's really great when I get her perspective on things- she just somehow gives the right kind of advice for every situation! It felt so good to get everything off my chest and she was very quick to point out where my struggles were originating from!

- Not focusing on statistics- followers, likes, Rts etc. Like many people,  I've fallen into the trap of caring more about how many people are reading ym tweets, reading my blog posts, liking my photos on instagram etc and you know what? It's exhausting! My self worth and the worthiness of what I do isn't contingent on how many people shoe their interaction. Some days it's High, other days it's low...and that's okay. I'm doing what I love and that's all that matters.

- Writing what I want rather than what I think will get peoples attention- it's really easy to get bored and unmotivated when you cannot carry on doing something that you love. This blog means the world to me but constantly feeling like I had to write about certain topics rather than what I actually wanted to is really demotivating. It just took the love right out of it. Although views and interaction is obviously important in its success, I made the decision to put that stuff out of my mind and write what I wanted to Write. At the end of the day, if you guys like it then you'll read it...if not then that's cool too, but someone out there will like it!

- Getting back to my roots- getting back to my old posts where I have literally done no planning and I just ramble on about how I'm feeling that day was so important to me. They are literally my favourite to write and I had convinced myself that planning was the key to improving my blog...while that's mostly true, the occasional spontaneous post is good for me!

- Not putting as much pressure on myself- after blogging for a few years,  it's reasonable to put the pressure on for great content, right? Wrong. While the content is important, the amount of pressure I put on myself (and I'm definitely not the only one) to post as often as possible with the best content, in order to get loads of views and comments was ridiculous! So out with that idea right away.

- A schedule (my title planning, post idea planning before the actual write, specific times and dates to post etc.) - Schedules don't usually work for me in the long run. I'm an avid list maker and I love making schedules but rarely do I actually manage to stick to them. One of my goals for 2016 was to be more organised on the blog.. this was a loose goal which meant less pressure if it "didn't go to plan" but in fact it's going great for me! I'm planning posts and writing in bulk whenever I'm in a writing mood and I always know what time and what day I'm giving out content.  It's given me milestones to meet and actually has made my life a whole lot easier.

- Reading other peoples blogs (something I've gotten out of the habit of doing)- one easy way to get more blogging ideas and to get the inspiration  to blog again is to read some of the other ones out there. It's as simple as that!

-Getting out there and doing things- both me and my best friend don't have a very avid social life but when we go out on day trips or go somewhere fun, it's really great because she is one of the few people who know about my blog so she's always fill of ideas for it! She's super helpful and especially since she started Perksofneverland, she's been like this little bubble of blogging heaven!

- Enjoying the simplicity of it all again! - the origin of this blog was just a place to voice my thoughts and potentially help someone with the knowledge of my experiences. Going back to that simple outcome has made it all a lot easier.  Forget about the people who read it (the amount of them at least!) Just do what you enjoy and you'll never go wrong.

All in all, I learned to ask for help and be true to who I am.
Love,
Louise x

Favourite Spring recipe

Spring time food!

Spring is that time of the year when we start to relish in the sunlight again; its been so long since we have had decent sun in the UK that spring is often that time where even a hint of sun and everyone breaks out the Barbeque. Grilling aside, there are so many different things that you can eat or drink to get you into a spring spirit!

Lavender Lemonade 

Lemonade is one of those things that although I've never actually had fresh, I associate with the warmer days and will be perfect through the summer too. after some web searching and a lot of time on Pinterest, I came across a recipe for Lavender lemonade... This immediately had me clicking on it! Although you don't actually have to use the lavender flowers, the recipe suggests Lavender essential oils instead. For the actual lemonade recipe, The Melrose Family (where this recipe is from) have created a yummy sounding one, so here it is!




Prep time:  20 mins

Cook time:  5 mins

Total time:  25 mins

Serves: 12 - 14

Ingredients

• 3 lemons squeezed with pulp {1/2 cup lemon juice}
• 8 cups of water
• 1¾ cups of sugar
• 1 cup of lemon juice

Instructions

1. Heat 1 cup of water and bring to boil. Add in the 1 and ¾ cups of sugar to the boiling water to dissolve and create a simple syrup. Continuously mix the sugar until it is completely dissolved. You'll be able to smell the cooked sugar.
2. Once the sugar is completely dissolved, cool the simple syrup by covering and chilling in the refrigerator.
3. While the simply syrup cools, squeeze three lemons. Remove the seeds, but be sure to leave the pulp. The lemons should give about ½ cup of lemon juice. Add in 1 cup of lemon Real lemon juice to have a total of 1 and ½ cups of lemon juice.
4. Combine the 7 cups of water with the 1 and ½ cups of lemon juice.
5. Finally, add in the simply syrup.
6. Garnish with lemons.

Hint: For the Lavender flavour, use 2-3 drops of Lavender essential oil but for Purple colour, use purple food colouring (original recipe used 'Neon purple food colouring')- the colouring is optional and will be yellowish without it.

I hope you enjoy this recipe, I cannot wait to be able to try this out. If you give this recipe a shot, be sure to send me a picture to my Twitter.

-Louise x

A-Z of Recovery: Asking for help

No matter what issues we are suffering from in life, it is very important that we acknowledge that help is at hand if we just have the courage to ask for it. A lot of the time, people can deal with their issues alone and with a lot of success but there are instances where talking to someone or asking for some kind of help is the best possible decision you can make.

Remember the saying "a problem shared is a problem halved", well think that through whenever you're dealing with something. There are so many different people that are there to support you if you only ask.

School/Education
This can often be one of the most stressful times for a teenager, with exams, friends, society, how you look, homework etc. It is a time where everything seems to have so much importance. The issue is, its often seen as 'stupid' or 'uncool' to ask for advice or explain to your teachers that you're struggling. I personally had to go for help to my head of year and one of my teachers, it was a really hard and embarrassing time explaining my issues and how my thoughts work but I'm so glad that I did it. I got help with deadlines, I knew where to go if and when I was having a bad day or a panic attack etc.

Friends and family
These are the people that know the most about you and generally can understand just how your personality works, this means that if you work with them to get something that is individual to you and may therefore be better. Plus the support of family and friends is very important if you have to make any lifestyle change, even if they are only emotional because they can point out to you when you're doing it wrong or if you've managed to keep it up. 

Professionals
Although I said above that family and friends are great to talk to, sometimes its harder to talk to the people that you know because you fear that they will judge you or it will affect the way that they treat you in the future. Professionals are the people that have trained for the very situations that you are in and have the know-how of what to do to influence it for the better. Whilst this information isn't 100% guaranteed, its always good to have different perspectives on how to deal with your issues, you can even personalise them into something more suited to you.

Never be afraid to speak up or ask for help
-Louise x

Stress: tips and tricks

Many of you reading this are probably going through an experience that is causing you stress. This can be anything from exams, jobs, family members or just the pressures of life itself but I want you to know something; it's all going to be okay and you're gonna get through this.

Here are some of the tips and tricks that I have tried whenever I'm feeling under pressure with a deadline or if life has become too stressful;

• schedule your time- e.g. study time, relaxation time etc
• eat your meals- food for thought- you cant concentrate if your hungry so don't skip meals because youre 'too busy'- I'm especially guilty for this!
• get enough sleep- its recommended you get around 8 hours of sleep a night.
• get some exercise- it doesn't have to be much, maybe just a walk or some stretching to get your body moving
• take breaks- every hour take a 5-10 minute break
• stay hydrated
• get everything for the morning ready the night before
• break large tasks into smaller sections
• give yourself a larger time frame than you think necessary- often things take longer than we think and then when we are 'behind schedule' it adds even more stress so be generous with timings.
• say no to extra projects- although its always nice to help other people out, you have to put yourself first because you cannot be there for others till you're sorted yourself.
• do one thing everyday that makes you happy- make sure to take some time out of your day to do something that makes your soul feel alive, this helps your mind set for the rest of the day because you wont feel so rundown.
• ask for help when you need it- its not a bad thing to ask for help, it doesn't make you weak or unable to do the job. You just need some support to fit a certain timeframe etc. 



Things will get easier.
Good luck.
-Louise x

Spring Equinox

Spring is the season of new beginnings, its the time when everything begins to get a little warmer, the shun shines brighter, the days get longer and the animals show up more. On the 21st of March it is the Spring Equinox and the time where the length of day and night is equal. Spring is a time of rebirth so if there is anything that you have been putting off for a long time then maybe now is the perfect time to make a change. 

to do: 

- The dreaded spring clean- it doesnt have to be boring or a big chore. grab some smoothies, put on some music and boogie your way through the day!
- Plant something! (maybe something to attract the bees and butterflies)
- Pick fresh berries
- Feed the ducks
- Go for a bike ride
- See the cherry blossoms
- Find the first crocuses and snowdrops

- Go for an easter egg hunt
- Look for four leaf clovers
- Blow bubbles- and chase them
- Climb a tree
- Draw pictures on the pavement with chalk
- Look out for the bees

- Spot a rainbow
- Listen to the birds singing
- Open your windows to that spring breeze
- Decorate your home with flowers (silk ones if youre allergic)
- Make birds nest cakes- quite literally just broken up shredded wheat, melted chocolate and mini eggs ...but YUM!

Have a wonderful day, get yourself outside and enjoy natures gifts!
-Louise x

Uplifting songs: updated

I am a complete music nut, I cannot go through the day without listening to music even once. I think its one of the most satisfying starts to my day and the songs that I pick can really influence my mood. So a long time ago I wrote a post about some of the songs that I find most uplifting (that I listen to), and then it was made into a playlist for you all to have a listen if you wanted to. Although my music tastes haven't really changed over the years because I listen to pretty much all genres of music, I wanted to update my list of favourite uplifting songs. So here they are;


Fight song: Rachel Platten

The Climb: Miley Cyrus

Outsiders: Against The Current

Therapy: All Time Low

Tidal Waves: All Time Low

Missing You: All Time Low

Follow Your Arrow: Kacey Musgraves

Skyscraper: Demi Lovato

Warrior: Demi Lovato

Believe In Me: Demi Lovato

This Is Me: Demi Lovato

Don't worry Now: Britt Nicole

Headphones: Britt Nicole

All This Time: Britt Nicole

The Sun Is Rising: Britt Nicole

Gold: Britt Nicole

Strong Enough: Stacie Orrico

Nightingale: Demi Lovato

Confident: Demi Lovato

I Am Invincible: Cassadee Pope

Beautiful With You: Halestorm

The Heart Of Dixie: Danielle Bradbery

Stormy: Hedley

Fly: Maddie And Tae

Help You Stand: Anthem Lights

Mean: Taylor Swift

Fight Forever: Anthem Lights

It Get's Better: Todrick Hall

Hold On: B*Witched

Check out the original playlist that still has some of my favourites in right here

Comment below or tweet me (@perksofrecovery) what some of your favourite uplifting songs are!
Have a wonderful day!
- Louise x

Healthy Lifestyle apps: Lovestyle special

So as you all know, one of the things that I really enjoy doing is working out, it leaves me feeling like I've had such a good and productive day. Over the years I have downloaded many apps, watched so many YouTube workouts etc and I thought I would share some of the ones I'm using now with you all.

Yoga

As someone who really enjoys not just the physical aspects of this exercise, but also the way it helps to reprogramme your mind, it's not shocking that I have numerous yoga apps on my phone. One of the ones I find myself reaching for the most (and that we actually used to help create the Sticks and Stones posts) is called Yoga (.com). I absolutely love this app because it was perfect for me as a beginner to the practice but also great as I have progressed.

To begin your knowledge, the app provides 289 poses and breathing exercises to ease you into your new lifestyle. Not only this but there are also 37 different yoga programmes, with different specifications for beginners, breathing programmes etc. This is great for me because each video can be selected by "goal" or duration so you can always find something to fit you individually. My favourite at the moment is the 9 minute 'fight cold and flu' programme to aid my immune system.

Download on the Android app system here.

Download on ITunes here.

General fitness

Planking is something that I have been doing semi-regularly since I was 11, this is because we regularly made it a part of our PE classes. It's something that is so simple and yet can have such a large effect on our bodies. Planking uses your entire body weight against you and so is a perfect short exercise, without the need of any equipment.

Following the "30 day plank challenge", there are set planking goals ranging from 20 secs for the first few days to 300 seconds on day 30. You might be thinking "20 seconds? that's so easy!" but honestly when your holding your entire body weight up, it is actually a hard exercise. It's really great when I share this app with friends and family and they begin the first day being sceptical but I watch their muscles shake after just 7-10 seconds of holding the pose. It's a great way to tone your body without being time consuming!

Download on Android app store here.

Since beginning my recovery, I have had to be very careful with the amount of exercise that I do and the specific kinds because if there's something too strenuous and I cannot do it for the allotted time, the negative self thoughts begin. Now "Blogilates" is in fact run by the wonderfully positive Cassey Ho who gives such wonderful bits of chit chat as you're working out together (Pilates, cardio etc). It feels so warm and friendly that I find myself enjoying the way she pushes you to find a new strength in yourself but while you feel as though you are chatting with a friend (yes I talk back to a computer screen...don't judge me haha).

For videos on exercise, healthy eating and inspirational messages, follow her on YouTube here

Download on Android app store here.

Download on ITunes here.

I hope you all enjoy looking into these apps, and don't forget, to exercise isn't a punishment for yourself but as a way to show it you love it enough to be the best that it can be.

Stay strong,
Louise x

100th post!

So this post is actually our 100th post! I'm so excited and this marks such a huge occasion for us. Nearly 3 years worth of work and we have hit this new milestone. It feels so refreshing to know that our journey has been documented somewhere where I can go back and relive those moments. I decided that as this is a momentous occasion I would look over some of our previous milestones and share them with you all!

Our very first post was written 2 years and 9 months ago! How frigging crazy is that?! It's a typical, cheesy line but it really does feel like just yesterday that I was talking with Alyssa about wanting to have a social media account that allowed me to express my feelings, share my story and maybe help someone. I never really thought that it was going to happen but just look at me now! I was using all these other accounts for inspiration and it was something I was so happy about doing, nearly 3 years down the line and I still love it.



For our 2 week anniversary I remember writing this post in the back of my grandparents car. It was summer and I was so excited that the blog had been active for 2 weeks and we had gotten nearly 100 views! We were enjoying the simplest things in life and it was so much fun to just sit and catch up whilst enjoying nature and planning new things for the blog. It was literally one of the best feelings ever.

I began my gushy, epiphany moments in October and kick started some of the many moments where I would just completely and honestly share my feelings with you all. These posts are always met with positivity and an open mind so you've all made me feel so great about being 100% honest. Added to that, its still the second most popular post on my blog (and it was over 2 years ago!)

The beginning of 2014 signified the time where we stopped being anonymous. This was a really big decision for us because there were already people that we knew that had come across the blog. By adding our names, it made it a lot easier for them to narrow down who we were through what we were talking about and the experiences that we shared on here. We had kept our issues a secret from other people for so long that it was such an anxious time when we hit that "publish" button, we didn't know how they were going to react but we did it anyway. We were strong and we had faith in ourselves and everything was okay!

After we hit our first year anniversary as a blog, we were able to reflect on our journeys as a whole and see how much we have grown as people. Reading that post back right now, I was able to see just how much had actually changed for me but also how much I was lying to myself. The post wasn't entirely true with how well I was doing in my recovery at the time but the point of the post was to highlight that things aren't perfect for me and I was still struggling but I am fighting and I will never give up. I'm so happy to know that although there are still relapses and hard times, I have never given up and I never will.  (Also you'll notice that the post was published in July- not June- because we got confused at the month we started the blog...woops)

When I originally tweeted and wrote about my relationship with myself, people were very confused, I described myself as both my saviour and my own villain. It was a very strange way of me expressing that we are made of both good and bad but if we embrace the bad and accept that it helps to shape who we are then we can truly accept ourselves as a whole. At this point, I was taking the phrase "fake it till you make it" to heart. The post was my way of telling myself that although I have these issues and my life isn't perfect, but it has shaped me as a person and for that, I can never be more grateful for my circumstances. You have to truly embrace every single part of your soul in order for you to be truly happy with yourself.

In May 2015, we made one of the biggest changes ever to our blogging experience; we changed our name and our niche. It was beginning to get very difficult being a Mental Health blogger, for Alyssa it was becoming something that she didn't want to do because she was trying to get over her issues now that she had dealt with them (so blogging was reinforcing it rather than letting her get on with her life). For me, it was a situation where I felt a little monotonous and like I was saying the same thing during each post. This was mainly because I was blogging about the kind of things that I personally needed to hear so I was just vocalising it on here. The change of the blog meant that we could still include mental health posts but that we could also talk about more things that we enjoy in our everyday lives.

January 2015 signified the start of a new series called Sticks and Stones which was almost like a little review of who we liked to thank that month, some facts and information about that specific month, some yoga poses, a smoothie recipe and much more. This series was very short lived due to other things going on in our lives but its something that I'm very open to maybe launching in the future. Let me know in the comments!

Another series I launched was called the A-Z of Recovery. I once again found the picture on Pinterest and thought it was a perfect piece of inspiration for 26 blog post titles. I'm really excited for actually writing these posts because our recovery based posts are always so popular and you all say they're really helpful. This so far only has an introduction post but the first post for this series has already been drafted ready for the actual launch later this year!

Our quote " your attitude is your altitude; it determines how high you fly" was originally found on Pinterest (I think) with no mention of who had created it but personally that quote just fit so well with what we were beginning to feel and what we are trying to express to you all. We all may have our own issues in this life but it is the way that we react and the ways that we deal with them that can either boost us or hinder us.

Your constant support has constantly been a reminder to me to stay strong because I am loved and I can make a difference in this world. I am here to remind you that life is like a rollercoaster so you have to endure the lows, enjoy the highs and just celebrate the ride. You're all going to get through this.

Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Love,
Louise x

February: In review

 

 

Its very easy to spend our lives obsessing over the bad things. It's almost like the positive things that happen allow us 5 minutes of happiness and then we end up focusing on a bad thing so something I've decided to do is to review every month. This allows me to reflect on anything that has made me happy, been useful etc and will actually train my brain to look for the positives in any given situation!

Beauty

Elemis Papaya enzyme peel- This is something that I have only recently tried and its a must have in my opinion! It's a gentle cream exfoliator so is perfect for my sensitive skin. The light fruity smell is wonderful and so refreshing so I have found it to be the perfect pick me up at the start of the day. You just apply it after cleansing and leave it for 10-15 minutes (it has generally dried by then) and then you wash it off with lukewarm water.

SBC Collagen 3 in 1 cleanser- A wonderful white, smooth cleanser that smells so amazing. It is one of the only cleaners that I am able to actually use over my eyes- which you are directed to do don't worry! A perfectly easy way to care for your skin and is moisturising as well so you only need a light moisturiser on top. Simply massage onto skin then wash off with lukewarm water. Easy peasy!

Life

Friends & family- as with any time in your life, it is important that you have the right kind of people around you. I must say that during February my family, and especially my friends have been super supportive of me, always listened when I have had a problem and have all round just been the best people ever so my February appreciation goes out to them!


Tv shows

Big Bang Theory- I must admit I hadn't watched this show until a few years ago and even though I enjoyed it, I didn't make a point of regularly watching it. in the last few months ive jumped on the Netflix bandwagon and im naturally addicted to watching it for as many hours as possible every day.

The Shanara Chronicles- this is something that is very new to UK TV and I've only watched the few episodes that have been aired so far. If you like fantasy shows, with an apocalyptic and 'evil' twist then you will love this show. It's a must watch in my opinion!

Shadowhunters- after reading the books and even enjoying the film I was very sceptical of the new Mortal Instruments TV adaption but it was a happy surprise because I love it. It provides a lot more depth that the film didn't have time for and shows a lot more of the character developments. The actors are so talented and you can see the chemistry between them all show through into their characters.

Music
All Time Low- this  month was also the first time I had ever been to a concert!. I went with my best friend to see All Time Low, who were supported by Good Charlotte and Against The Current. It was such a wonderful night, it was even worth the queuing for 4 hours in the cold and rain and even the flu and chest infection I got because of it. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I am forever grateful for my best friend asking me to go with her this year.

What are some of your favourite things about February?
- Louise x

Blogging: a burden or a hobby?

So one of the things that has become a sticky situation for me is the amount that I post....or lack of (most of the time). As I mentioned in my post on Wednesday, I often have trouble with the amount of free time that I have in my life and then subsequently I don't post a lot or tweet much.

One of my biggest problems is comparing myself to others. This originally affected my mental health but more recently I have found that its made its way into my blogging life as well. As you all know this used to be a shared blog, and still is really by all accounts because Alyssa will always be the person that I founded this project with. The thing is, she's at university now, living in Leicestershire and she doesn't have the time to blog or tweet on here anymore. My blogging bug has never left me so I continue with this project but running a blog solo is a very big responsibility and as its been going for nearly 3 years I often feel a huge amount of pressure to make these amazing blog posts that are full of al of this advanced technology and look super professional.

Added to this, there are all of these other accounts and blogs where people somehow find the time to juggle so many other responsibilities and they write fantastic, long posts and tweet like 30 times a day. This then leaves me feeling guilty because I've spent almost 3 years doing this job and I still haven't gotten the hang of it.

The truth of the matter is, I'm not very technologically minded and I can only write the most basic of posts. The pressure that I often feel to write long posts that are stupendously positive, uplifting etc often leads me to not post because I don't feel that what I have to say is good enough. I've come to the conclusion recently that I love blogging and I love tweeting so I'm going to do what I can with my posts, with the consistency and with my tweeting. You've all always been so supportive with our  endeavours no matter how weird they are or how long they take so I hope you all continue to stay a part of my life!

I love you all
- Louise x

Let me explain...

So once again I'm apologising to you all about the lack of posts that have been appearing my blog. I often have the good intentions of writing lots of them, in fact I regularly even plan the titles, and the content and out them into a diary so that I am fully scheduled. the issue is as good as those intentions are, there are most often things that happen that just plain get in the way.

Recently I had a bad case of the Flu, coupled with a nasty chest infection so all of the wonderful things that I had planned for you all have gone out the window. I was even planning my YouTube videos to be filmed on Valentines day...but sadly none of it has happened. but that's okay, now I am spending my time trying to catch up with the university work that I have missed, caring for sick relatives and preparing for new assignments so my posts have once again taken a backseat.

One thing that I have found out about myself is that little posts like these where I am basically just having a little chat with you all are the ones that I enjoy writing the most and they often just go together really quickly and easily so you may find that this happens a lot more in the future. I have very much missed this part of the blogging where there are no set posts that I have to write about one specific topic. It gives me a lot more creative freedom just to write whatever I have on my mind at that point in time.

Throughout it all, you've all stayed loyal to me (even though I've had to draft numerous tweets as well just so that you can get regular updates) and I cannot thank you all enough for that.

Any setbacks in life, no matter how hard, we must take in our stride for they often have hidden meanings. It just takes the right time in our days in order for us to understand.

I love you all,
Louise x

healthy pancake recipe

So like pretty much every other person, I really like pancakes! I've not always been such a fan because I don't have much of a sweet-tooth and as we all know, most pancakes and their toppings are full of sugar. About a year ago, I brought a book called Nourish which included a wonderful recipe on healthy pancakes...perfect for a summer breakfast right?

(All rights to this recipe go to the creators of the book)

*serves 2-3*

Ingredients

• 2 medium bananas, roughly chopped
• 2 whole eggs
• 2 tablespoons of honey ( I find this too sweet and only use 1)
• 70g desiccated coconut
• 100g almond meal (I use almond flour but I think its the same thing)
• 1/2 teaspoon of gluten free baking powder (traditional baking powder is also okay to use but gluten free is healthier)
• Coconut oil for cooking (healthy and leaves no taste on the foods so its perfect for everything!)

To serve (optional):

• A few spoonfuls of your favourite yoghurt (I like to create a big batch of Easiyo and because this is a healthier option compared to alternative yoghurts)
• a handful of your favourite seasonal fruits (its great to change things up throughout the year as the fruits that are in season are always changing).
• toasted coconut or cacao nibs (I don't personally add these very often)
• or you can just eat the pancakes as they are!

Put the bananas. eggs and honey into a food processor and puree until light and fluffy (or use a bowl and a stick blender). Add the coconut, almond meal and baking powder and beat to combine.

Heat up a tiny amount of coconut oil in your frying pan over a low-medium heat. Cook in batches allowing a biggish (their technical terms) of mix per pancake- too big and they're hard to flip (so unless you're a pancake genius, be wary of the size).cook thoroughly (approx. time is normally 1 1/2 mins on each side. You will know when to flip once little bubbles start to appear on the surface. Keep warm and continue cooking he rest of the batch adding coconut oil as needed.

Serve hot (or cold, I like cold pancakes with my yogurt) and with your toppings!

Enjoy!

- Louise x