A Clean Slate

I know a lot of people get sick of the 'New Year, New Me' thing every year, but I love having a clean slate and a fresh start to the year - even if it does only make me feel motivated for a week or two. I like to look back over my blogs and Facebook posts to see how my year went at a glance. 

I have to say, 2017 wasn't a great year for me - and a lot of people, I'd guess - it came with a lot of challenges, knockbacks, some health issues and plenty of obstacles. But here I am, going into another year and feeling pretty happy with life at the moment. I truly believe all the crap and bends in the road life throws at you help you get stronger and deal with everything. The way I see it you can either pick yourself back up and dust yourself off or let life pull you down with it.

In 2017 I went into my second year of college, went to Newcastle, a photo I took won a photography competition, got a First in my exams, suffered from depression (probably my biggest challenge of the year), attended counselling and got the help I needed to overcome that challenge, dabbled in upcycling/craft, and felt like I (mostly) got my shit together.

In terms of what I'm hoping for in 2018, and my sort-of New Year's Resolutions: I'd like it to be a year of health, more adventures and trying different things, being healthier (this is a big one), putting more time and energy into the blog and blogging about things I really want to write about, whilst trying to figure out if the 3rd year of my college course is going ahead or if I'll have to try and get a job - if any employer in Sligo or Athlone is reading this please keep me in mind for next summer! I'd also like to upcycle and craft a bit more because it has piqued my interest lately, so watch this space.

So that's my hopes and dreams for 2018. I hope it's a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year for you all. Let me know what your ideal 2018 looks like, and as usual, thanks so much for all your support. Happy New Year!

Hook(ed), Line & Sinker

I'm sure most of my Sligo-based readers have heard the buzz about Hooked - Anthony Gray (of Eala Bhán)'s new restaurant in Rockwood Parade. Hooked is very different to Eala Bhán but the ethos of fresh, creative food and local producers is still there, as is the beautiful decor (a boat hanging from the ceiling and a mural made entirely of Sharpie writing and drawings!)

The excitement around Hooked isn't unwarranted - I went to check it out last week and was very impressed. Anthony focuses on quality ingredients and dishes with a creative flair. The menu includes fish and chips, gorgeous salad, the famous Joe Gray sausages, and heavenly desserts. There's something for everyone at Hooked.

I went for the skinny egg white muffins on avocado almond butter toast, which ROM came up with (so it's definitely very healthy!) and it was divine. It's quite unusual to see such a dish but it's right up my street. I'd like to recreate this myself at home!

To ensure I was getting a balanced lunch (ha) I had to share a knickerbocker glory with mum - and I'm glad I did. It was gorgeous - butterscotch pieces, brownie and meringue pieces, and smooth sweet ice cream. Swoon.

We left with full and satisfied bellies, and I swear I dreamt about the knickerbocker glory that night! I'll definitely have to go back to Hooked and try out their chocolate brownie next time - for research purposes, of course. 

Best of luck to Anthony and the team on their new venture, go try it out for yourself - you'll be Hooked.

Dabbling in DIY

I'm shite at most things creative - I can barely even draw the curtains. But lately I've found myself spending time on Pinterest looking at '500 things to do with empty toilet roll holders!' and '25 autumn crafts!' type things, even though I've never really been the crafty sort. However, over the past couple of weeks I've been telling myself to just bite the bullet and try my hand at a bit of DIY. 

I decided to decorate a trinket box to store my makeup in. This is kind of cheating seeing as I bought the box ready made but it did take a bit of time and effort so that counts, right? I got most of my craft supplies from The Art & Hobby Shop, Dealz, and The Works in Athlone. All of these shops are brilliant for little bits and bobs to make cards or just decorate things. I was tempted to walk out with all sorts of random knick knacks but managed to resist.

To start, you'll need a wooden box that's been sanded down, so that you can paint it. Mine came with a heart shape cut out on top with a sheet of perspex under it (which I removed so it was more open) and was €4 from The Works. They sell all sorts of different ones too and they're really nice quality. You can design the box in any way you want - go mad with it! I used washi tape, copper paint, blackboard effect spray paint, blackboard tags and stickers. I wanted my box to be quite autumnal themed, hence my choice of colours and stickers. You'll also need some newspaper or something to put down, and some paintbrushes.

I started by carefully painting the top of the box with my copper acrylic paint, making sure it was as neat as possible. For the main part of the box I used blackboard effect spray paint, which was a bit of a faff as there wasn't much control and I ended up getting a splash on the copper part (which I painted over, so it was ok). I used polka dot washi tape around the edges, originally to make sure the paint didn't go over them, but in the end I really liked how it looked so I kept the washi tape on. Side note: if you are using spray paint make sure you're in a well aired room. I was high as a kite after inhaling so much of the fumes!

I left my box to dry overnight and the next day, when it was dry, I added my stickers, touched it up a bit, and then tied a blackboard tag to the hook that opens the box. Voila! A unique, simple trinket box to put all my crap treasures in. Doing this little project has inspired me to turn our spare bedroom into my makeshift craft room - watch this space...

Boo! Quick, Easy Halloween Treats (No Tricks)

Once again, apologies for my long absence. I've been going through a disheartened spell where I haven't been motivated to blog. Combined with being in my second year of college, and battling depression, it's hard to find the time and energy sometimes. However, I'm feeling a lot better recently and am looking forward to getting back into blogging!

Seeing as Halloween is tomorrow (where has this year gone?!) I decided to make a few quick, easy nibbles for if you've forgotten all about Halloween or don't have time to put on a massive spread. Most of these recipes are pretty healthy too so it's a win-win! Note: I'm no Nigella Lawson and am aware some of these snacks look like I was blindfolded whilst making them, but I tried my best. You can play around with the execution of these snacks and do what you want with them - I'm sure you're all a lot more creative than I am!

I had a quick look through Pinterest to get some inspiration but kind of added my own flair to these. I also asked my lovely boyfriend, Laurence, for some ideas as he's pretty good with this sort of thing. So, without further ado, here we go!

1. Halloween Nibble Platter

Cocktail Sausage 'Rotten Fingers' - this one is easy. Simply get some (cooked, unless you hate your guests) cocktail sausages - I used Quorn ones as I'm veggie but you can use any ones you want - dab some ketchup on the top of them to look like blood, and add a pumpkin seed to each tip. Alternatively, you can use flaked almonds to give the look of nails, but I didn't have any so I improvised. Voila!

Babybel Eyeball/Pumpkin - get Babybels. For the pumpkin, just carve out eyes and a mouth with a small sharp knife. For the eyeball, cut out a tiny circular piece of Babybel from the middle. Slice an olive and take one of the little olive rings. Place the olive ring in the middle of the Babybel over the hole you cut out, put the circle you cut out on top of the olive ring and add some black food colouring to make it look like a pupil. I dabbed some ketchup around the 'eyeball' to give the illusion of bloodshot eyes.

Devilish Eggs - Hard boil some eggs. Leave them to cool, or if you're lazy like I am, run cold water over them until they've cooled down. Tap and roll them once on the kitchen counter so the shell peels off easily. Peel them, slice in half lengthways, and scoop out the yolk. You can mix the yolk with mayonnaise or just fill them with mayonnaise, hummus or even guacamole. I don't like hard yolks so I just filled mine with mayonnaise. Sprinkle with paprika. Get a red chilli pepper and cut out little devil horn shapes. Stick the horns into the mayonnaise in the middle of the egg. Don't do what I did and slice the chilli pepper and then go to the toilet, unless you're into that kind of thing.

Severed String Cheese Fingers - Get a Cheesestring or any peelable cheese. Cut it in two halves. Slightly peel the bottom of it so it looks like it's been cut off. Get a knife and slightly round off the top so it looks more like a finger shape. Dab a bit of ketchup at the top and bottom to make it look bloody. Again, add a pumpkin seed or flaked almond for fingernails.

2. Crunchy Chocolate Apples

Use your favourite apple (I used Pink Lady apples as they're my fave). Melt chocolate of your choice - I used some popping candy milk chocolate and a couple of peanut butter cups. Melt the chocolate either in a heatproof bowl over a small pot of simmering water, or in the microwave - just make sure you take it out every few seconds and stir so it doesn't burn. Coat the apple in the melted chocolate and put on a tray. You can also stick a gummy worm to it if you want to make it look a bit funkier. Leave the apples to cool until the chocolate is set and dig in! I didn't have any wooden skewers or sticks to put in them but if you do you can just stab one through the apple before coating with chocolate.

So that's it! Like I said, they're really simple snacks and they don't take long at all to make. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go shove my face in the bowl of leftover melted chocolate and throw away those damn chilli peppers.

Until next time - have a good Halloween!

Waves

I've been back at college for 3 days and I already feel like I'm drowning. The drastic change in routine, workload and timetable has made my head feel like it's about to explode. I sit in lectures and wonder how I'm going to remember things and pass my exams. I get home so tired and cranky that I just want to sleep. 

Some days it really doesn't feel ok. I'll look at all the unpacking I still have left to do, the dishes piling up, my timetable that has changed for the fourth time, or I'll get a question wrong in class and be so embarrassed I don't want to ever answer up again. 

And then my boyfriend will cuddle me and listen to me, or make me my favourite snack, or make a joke, and it feels ok for a second. Or I'll meet up with a friend who I haven't seen since summer started. Or I'll drink a hazelnut hot chocolate even though I'm trying to have a healthier diet. Or I'll answer a question correctly in a lecture and feel a glimmer of pride.

I feel alone a lot of the time, like I'm trying to swim against the waves and there's no lifeboat to be found. I do have a supportive network of people around me which I'm thankful for, but there's only so much people can understand or help. I hate feeling like a burden so I mostly keep quiet until everything boils over and it all just comes out. 

But it's not all doom and gloom. I get up every morning, and I go to my lectures, and I try my hardest, and I do my makeup, and I try and be as affectionate as possible to my boyfriend. I try and talk to as many people as I can even if I feel like they're just being polite talking to me. I've applied for extra support in college. It's nice to know that some other people want to and are able to throw you a life jacket sometimes. 

At the moment I'm just trying to take each day as it comes, stick to taking my medication and just try to keep plodding on. Sometimes, it's like there's a glimmer of light trying to break through the surface and I can see it, I just can't grasp it yet. I found a song called Waves by Dean Lewis which I love, and I think the lyrics are so apt for how I feel right now:

"There is a light in the dark,

And I feel its warmth

In my hands, in my heart

Why can't I hold on?

It comes and goes in waves,

It always does."

So that's it. I guess I just wanted to write this to update whoever reads this blog, and to get it all out of my head and remind anyone going through depression or anxiety that it is good and okay to talk about it. We'll keep on swimming together.

Relaxation in Rosses Point

In my previous blog I mentioned how nice it is to take some time out and treat myself whilst struggling with mental health issues. So, I was delighted when Yeats Country Hotel & Spa in Rosses Point, County Sligo, invited my mum and I along for a mother-daughter spa day. There's nothing like getting pampered and escaping from the trials and tribulations of life for a few hours!

I have been to the spa at Yeats Country Hotel before and absolutely loved it. Sometimes I do feel a bit intimidated going to a spa as I feel like I'm not a normal person half of the time but the girls at Yeats are so lovely and welcoming. We were greeted by Mary who showed us to the relaxation room, which was gorgeous and bright and overlooked the sea.

We chilled for a short while as our aromatherapy baths were being prepared. The baths were so relaxing, the perfect temperature and the scented aromatherapy oils in them made our skin silky smooth and smelled amazing. We sat back in our baths and listened to the soothing music and got out after about an hour. I could've stayed in there all day!

Next, it was time for our treatments. I chose a facial and mum went for a back, neck and shoulder massage. I love getting facials, they always make my skin feel amazing and rejuvenated. My facial was just lovely, I loved the heated towels - so much so that I nearly fell asleep! If only I could get a facial every day. After my facial I had a lovely Indian head massage. I absolutely love head massages and this was heaven, I could feel all my stresses melt away.

For my final treatment I chose a nail file and polish as my nails were very chipped and in need of some TLC. I picked a gorgeous purple colour which was very hard because they had some amazing colours! I was tempted to get a different colour on each nail. Overall I was delighted with the end result, my nails looked fantastic and the polish lasted ages.

After our lovely pampering it was time for lunch. We were brought our food to the Relaxation Room which was wonderful, we didn't have to lift a finger! I had a delicious vegetable noodle stir-fry and mum had a sesame seed crusted goats' cheese salad which was to die for. The food was beautiful and the selection on the menu was really good, they do pizzas too. 

I highly recommend you go to Yeats Country Hotel & Spa if you ever find yourself around Sligo. It's one of my favourite spas, so friendly, relaxing and the food in the restaurant is great too so you can make a proper day of it! Thanks again to Yeats Hotel for such a brilliant experience.

Luscious Locks At Marian Dineen Hair Studio

If you've read one of my more recent blog posts you'll know I haven't been feeling myself for the past month. I'm feeling a lot better recently but I still have ups and downs. On my down days I like trying to get out of the house and do something nice for myself. So, I was very excited and grateful to be invited for a few blow-dries from Marian Dineen Hair Studio in Sligo recently! 

I absolutely love getting my hair done, it's so relaxing and such a treat and I rarely get it done since going to college. There's nothing like sitting back and getting your hair properly washed and massaged and leaving it in someone elses' capable hands. 

My mum and I have been twice now and the girls there are so lovely, the service is spot on and the salon itself is very swish. I like how friendly the stylists are and how comfortable I felt, sometimes I feel a bit shy going to the hairdressers but I didn't here. The girls really listened to what I wanted from my blowdry and used different styling tools to achieve the look I wanted. They even have a Steampod straightener which looks really snazzy!

The first time I went the lovely Sarah did my hair and it came out amazing. I went for curls seeing as my hair is naturally straight with a flick, and quite boring. I love having my hair curled but it usually drops fairly quickly. Sarah blowdried my hair and then ran a thin GHD over it to create gorgeous curls, finished with lots of hairspray. I was surprised with how long the curls lasted especially seeing as it was raining outside - a job well done!

The second time I went I went for a straight blow-dry and I loved it. I don't usually wear my hair super straight but it looked really sleek so I'd definitely wear it like that more often. Thanks to Chloe for making it look so chic.

Overall I had an excellent experience in Marian Dineen's. We also met Marian herself who was absolutely lovely and gave us both a hug and showed us round the salon. It was such a lovely treat and really perked me up so thanks again to Marian Dineen! Definitely pop in for top class hair styling! You can read my mum's blog about the experience here.

Recipe: Forest Feast Energy Balls

I was delighted to receive a box of Forest Feast goodies recently. Forest Feast offer healthy snacks such as dried fruit and nuts which are all so tasty. I love grabbing a bag for a college mid morning snack or to use in healthy recipes.

One of my favourite recipes to use dried fruit, nuts and seeds in are these really quick energy balls. Full of healthy fats and protein, they're great for grabbing on the go when you need something less naughty with your afternoon cup of tea, or on your way to the gym.

You can blend up all the ingredients if you like, but I prefer mine with a bit of texture and crunch. Bear in mind if you do blend them this will release the natural sweetness of the dates so you may need to adjust the sweetness of the recipe accordingly. Honestly these are pretty forgiving and are trial and error - play around with them and add whatever you'd like!

Ingredients

Forest Feast Dates (chopped)

Forest Feast Goji Berries

Chopped brazil nuts

100g oats

Sunflower Seeds

2 tbsp sweetener such as honey or maple syrup

1 tbsp peanut butter

1 tbsp chia seeds

2 tbsp water

Method

1. Add all of the above ingredients to a mixing bowl. Add sweetener to get the desired consistency and sweetness and roll into balls. Leave in the fridge overnight so they hold their shape. Enjoy!

You can also use this recipe to make breakfast bars, just shape them into rectangles or even bake them for a bit to make them crunchier. I like using different Forest Feast fruits to create different flavours - a lovely tropical version can be made using Forest Feast dried pineapple or mango and roll the balls in dessicated coconut. Delicious!

Hope you enjoyed this quick simple recipe. If you decide to make it, let me know how it was!

It's The Little Things

A few years ago I was diagnosed with general anxiety disorder (GAD). I went to a couple of sessions of CBT which helped to alleviate some of the more specific anxious issues, but the anxiety still lurked somewhere in the deepest recesses of my brain, like a cat waiting to pounce. I'm fortunate to be able to manage mine somewhat, and panic attacks are a rare occurance. But there are still times I long for the nuisance of being anxious to just disappear. 

I know what my triggers are by now. For example, walking into Penneys at any time it may be possibly a bit busy is like an anxiety warzone. Screaming babies, people rushing towards you with buggies and baskets wielding hangers that look like they could poke your eyes out, nearly getting shanked for a Chip cup - I could go on. Often I walk in there with something specific I need to buy and walk back out with something I don't need or want like blonde extensions despite the fact I'm brunette (ok, maybe that's an exaggeration), just because it's like the Krypton Factor in there and I want out. I sometimes wish I could go shopping wearing full-on battle gear, or in a Zorbing bubble, wearing noise cancelling headphones playing soothing dolphin sounds. Ahhh.

The other day I had to pop into the bank to set up online banking, because for some reason you can't set up online banking online (that would make far too much sense) so you have to face your fears and either call them or talk to a human, or suck it up and get major fear not knowing what's in your account. So I opted for the human. I was assisted by a friendly staff member who brought me over to a chair with a computer in front. How civilised, I thought. Until she picked up the phone, babbled a few numbers into it, and then brandished the phone at me. I stared at it like it was a nuclear weapon before tentatively taking it and gearing myself up - I didn't study! Why does anxiety make us panic while talking over the phone? Calling the takeaway is one thing but if I have to ring about something more important I feel like if I answer one question wrong the Financial Authority of Ireland will be on to me. 

It's the exact same thing having to book an appointment for the doctor or dentist. I work myself up about it so much that I put it off, then get more anxious about the fact I've put it off, so I put it off some more. It's a vicious cycle. If everything was online or could be done under anaesthetic it would be lifechanging. Alas, the world does not work that way. I'm beginning to realise the only way to beat this is to take each day as it comes. It's not easy, and some days I'm more anxious than usual - yesterday, for example, I forgot to bring my makeup with me as I usually do it in the car, so I  had to walk around town with practically no eyebrows and no winged eyeliner, and I felt more vulnerable than ever. 

I'm still trying to come up with simple ways of feeling less anxious, but I know it's an ongoing battle. Lately, I think there's a lot to be said for looking good and feeling good. A nice outfit, a good hair day and wearing your favourite perfume can do wonders for my confidence. It sounds silly but hey, if a cat eye and some killer shoes help you get through the day - what's the harm? After all, we're all just trying to get by.

If you've had experiences with anxiety and have any tips to manage it, I'd love to hear them! Thanks for reading.

Tan Tales: Bellamianta Tanning Lotion Review

If you know what I look like in person, you'll know that I'm as white as Caspar the Friendly Ghost. I reflect light when I go on sunny holidays, all 'Ivory' foundations look like Wotsit dust on me, and small children run screaming when I walk down the street. Just joking about that last bit - sort of. The point is, I am ghostly pale, and mostly I'm cool with it and embrace my pale skin but sometimes I want a little bit of a glow, usually if I have a big night out or an event. 

I won a Bellamianta Medium tanning lotion a while back in a hamper, and decided to finally give it a go. Bellamianta have been all over the bloggersphere recently and are said to be excellent tans so I was excited to try it. I usually use Cocoa Brown or St Moriz mousse when I do tan, so using a lotion was a bit of unfamiliar territory for me.

I put on some Cocoa Brown tanning gloves and a mitt and got to work with the lotion. I'm a devil for not exfoliating and moisturising my skin because, effort, but I did use some Cocoa Brown Chocolate Whip moisturiser beforehand, and I found the lotion blended in perfectly even though my skin was still a little bit dry. It smelt pleasant (no gross biscuity smell) and the colour looked nicely golden brown without being too brown. I enlisted in the help of my boyfriend to help me put tan on my back and he actually did a pretty good job even though you know what lads are like when it comes to tanning!

I applied my tan during the day so that I didn't ruin the sheets (I'm also known to, erm, drool in my sleep so I didn't want any snail trails down my neck #TMI) so I popped on a loose black outfit and went about my day. I waited about 4 hours before washing it off but I could have done with leaving it on longer. The end result was a nice, subtle golden brown colour which made me look a bit healthier but not totally Tango'd.

Top: My arm after the tanning lotion. Bottom: My left leg is before tan, my right leg is after the tan.

I was very impressed with the lotion overall, although I am still a tanning mousse kinda gal. Again, I'd definitely leave the lotion on overnight next time - snail trails and all. I have a wedding next Thursday which I want to tan for so I'll definitely be giving the Bellamianta Tanning Lotion another go for then! Hope you enjoyed this post and as always, feel free to follow and comment.

Afternoon Delight @ Lena's Tea Room

No, the title is not an innuendo. I swear people must think all I do is eat! For Christmas last year Laurence and I got my mum a voucher for Afternoon Tea at Lena's Tea Room in Carrick On Shannon, and I was lucky enough that my mum decided to bring me with her seeing as it was for two people. I was making dying whale noises by the time we got there because I was so hungry - which was a good job because there was so much food.

I've been to Lena's Tea Room once previously so I had a fair idea as to what the food would be like, but I had no idea the Afternoon Tea would be so good. Mum told them on the phone before we booked that I was vegetarian and they were very accommodating. 

The Afternoon Tea came out after a short wait and it was presented beautifully on a 2-tier cake stand filled with sweet and savoury delights. There were the usual sandwiches (chicken and egg mayonnaise) but also some absolutely gorgeous treats I'd never seen in an Afternoon Tea before; grapes and cream cheese on homemade bread, roast vegetables and cream cheese on homemade cheese and chive bread, goat cheese and beetroot tartlets, and savoury cheese and tomato muffin bites. Everything was absolutely divine - I was so impressed it wasn't just a bog standard sandwich and scone affair, and the different flavours and textures made for such an interesting Afternoon Tea. 

Next, it was time for the sweet treats (the best bit!). We had scones topped with slivered almonds - with lashings of cream, jam and real butter, of course - fruit tarts, chocolate brownies, lime and coconut cake, and lemon drizzle cake. Honestly, I swooned with every bite, it was so good. I could've eaten another full cake stand full of the food - if I'd had any room left!

We were looked after so well by the staff and owner, and I just love the decor and ambience of Lena's - everything was perfect. It truly is a relaxing spot to grab a bite to eat and a cup of tea, or treat yourself to their Afternoon Tea - you won't be disappointed.

Little Things: How To De-stress

I'm writing this at 2:30 a.m. after copious cups of coffee and 4 movies whilst waiting for my beau to return from the pub, because I am a chronic worrier and I can't sleep. Quite ironic when you consider the title of this blog.

Anyway, lately I've been thinking about being more ~mindful and learning how to manage my own stress. Exam season is approaching rapidly (too rapidly for my liking) so I think it's a good time to start finding ways to de-stress. I'm probably one of the most stressy people I know in the way that everything worries/stresses me out. But I'm trying to change that, even if it's just a little.

Earlier I stood on the balcony - which sounds fancy, but would be a lot fancier if it wasn't facing the apartment complex bins which are surrounded by stolen Lidl trolleys - and just watched the world go by, and it struck me how rarely I just stop. I'm always running around tidying or on my phone or cooking or in college, and it's not good for stress. So, without further ado, here are just a few tips on how to make your daily life just a bit more chill.

Do 1 different thing every week - and do it for you

During the week I went to the cinema with a friend, and I realised how little I actually do things like that. I've become a creature of habit since starting college, and I've noticed myself just coming home and doing the same things day in, day out. I didn't realise how therapeutic a break in the routine could be until I finally did it. It doesn't have to be the cinema with a friend - it could be buying yourself a nice top you've been eyeing up, getting your nails done (or doing them yourself and having a pamper night at home), or going to a café you've always wanted to try. I find by just taking some time out from my usual day really peps me up. 

Keep a stress or anxiety diary

I'm no stranger to anxiety, having had it before myself and receiving CBT to combat it. I still suffer from anxiety sometimes - often in the quietest moments like when I'm washing up or trying to fall asleep. It can be a pain, but recently I read about anxiety diaries and how to make one. I chose a pretty notebook, wrote down everything I was anxious about, and what I could do (or was doing) to change it. After a few times using the diary I noticed a significant difference in how my brain handled negative thoughts. I suppose it's kind of like CBT in the way it trains your brain to think about situations differently. Either way, for me it's extremely helpful to have a vessel to cast my thoughts upon, and whenever I'm worried I open it and see all the positive things I'm doing to change my mindset. 

Try mindfulness

I know, it seems like 'mindfulness' is some kind of buzzwords people are using lately, but there's a lot to be said for it. Even something small like a mindful breathing exercise (try this website) can help. Sometimes when I'm trying to fall asleep and my brain won't shut up, I just try and focus on each breath and suddenly I'm asleep. I've heard that yoga is also good for mindfulness but I'm about as flexible as a wooden plank so that's something I'll have to build up to.

One step at a time

If you have a lot to do and no idea where to begin, try bullet journaling - basically, write down everything you need to do and use symbols to prioritise them - what needs to be done today and what can wait? This can help you delegate your tasks and ease the load a little bit. I also like a method called the Pomodoro technique which is where you do a specific task - for example, tidying or studying - for 25 minutes and then stop for a break, then do another 25 minute burst. It really does make you get things done and it doesn't feel so arduous when it's only 25 minutes.

Listen

Music, whale sounds, those weird cooking videos where they emphasise the noises (they make me feel sick but some people love them) - whatever floats your audiological boat. I'd probably be sitting in bed listening out for every tiny little noise if I weren't playing music right now. My neighbours probably love me. Try and play happy music or mellow music instead of heavy metal or sad songs - unless that does de-stress you, in which case blast it! I like the Spotify 'chill' playlists so that I don't have to scramble to find a new song whenever my current one ends. 

So those are just a few tips on how to wind down when you feel overwhelmed - I hope this helped some of you out and hang in there.

Hello Migraine, My Old Friend...

Migraines. Everyone has heard of them, but not everyone gets them or even fully understands how they really feel. They're not 'just a headache'. They're annoying, they suck, and lately they've set out to intervene with my daily life.

I'm writing this blog post for a couple of reasons. Firstly because I'm so frustrated and blogging is like a diary to me, and secondly because it's so hard to find blogs about migraines, especially based in Ireland. 

I've always suffered from migraines. In my case I believe they're hereditary as my mum also suffers from them. My migraines have always affected me, but not as much as they do now. Whereas they'd usually be a few times a month, I now find I have them around 3 times a week. A couple of weeks ago I had to go to the doctor on an emergency basis to get an injection in my bum to get rid of a migraine that had stuck around for 3 whole days. 3 days of lying in bed with the room spinning, feeling like I was going to be sick and wanting to rip my head off just to make it stop.

When I get migraines, the lights, sounds, smells, everything becomes overpowering, and nothing can alleviate it until I sleep or until painkillers kick in. Even the day after my migraine I try to get out of bed and fall over from being so dizzy. 

I've tried so many things: an alphabet of painkillers, cutting out dairy, changing my sleep pattern - but they just keep coming back. I don't smoke, I rarely drink, I don't eat meat, I get plenty of sleep and rarely drink coffee, so I'm certain it's not a lifestyle thing. With that being said, the doctor who injected me suggested I cut out tomatoes as they're a massive trigger for migraines - who knew?! 

I went to my own GP on Friday to see what more could be done to help me. He's changed my Pill as he said it could be what's causing the migraines, and also prescribed a preventative which he advised I take in a few weeks. Along with that, I was given new painkillers.

Today, yet again, my old friend migraine came back - twice in one day. Even with the painkillers prescribed it came back after a few hours. I'm hoping that when I do eventually go on the preventative things will change. For now, I'm missing a lot of college because of how often my migraines occur, and I know it sounds stupid but I worry if I tell my college they'll go 'ah sure it's only a migraine, just deal with it'.

 I don't think there's a lot of information or support for migraine sufferers in Ireland and I'd like that to change. While for some it may seem like 'just a headache', for sufferers it's so much more than that.

If anyone reading this has any tips to overcome migraines, or tales of your own experiences, I would love to hear from you.

Resolutions

I never stick to New Years' resolutions. 

So why should 2017 be any different? I think there comes a point where you really desperately want to get your sh*t together and sit yourself down and tell yourself: "You're kind of an adult now, maybe you should stick to some of your resolutions." It's really easy to develop bad habits.

For example, sometimes instead of cooking dinner I'll sit there and eat a plate of crackers spread with soft cheese. Or I'll just snack instead. I have so many fabulous cooking utensils, ingredients and a passion for cooking, so why don't I fuel my passion? Because I'm lazy sometimes a lot of the time, that's why. In 2017, I resolve to keep practicing in the kitchen and experiment every day. Whether it be making my own pizza dough or perfecting a recipe I've always wanted to nail, I'll do it. Or at least try to.

With that comes the classic trying to eat healthy resolution. I'm sick of feeling sick from eating rubbish so I'm determined to really give some sort of structured eating routine a go, instead of eating a whole tub of Pringles and wondering why my jeans won't do up. Watch this space.

I feel like 2016 - the latter half especially - has consisted of a lot of rushing around and not a whole lot of taking time out for myself. Since moving in with Laurence I've noticed myself becoming a bit needy and dependent on him which I think can be smothering in a relationship. 2017 will be the year I try and take up a new hobby (I'm not sure what yet, any ideas?) and practice more ~self love. Cheesy as it sounds, there's a lot to be said for having a pamper evening, going for a walk or even making yourself an indulgent breakfast you really love. Everyone needs to be a bit selfish sometimes.

Since starting college I've found myself slipping into a very same-y style of dressing. I used to always dress up in skirts, nice tops or dresses with tights and heels or boots, and lately I just dress for comfort which isn't like me at all. I was very lucky to receive some Penneys vouchers for Christmas and I'm determined to do a wardrobe blitz and sort out my style. For some reason I went through a phase of buying sleeveless summery clothes that are more suited to Malibu than Westmeath. Not very logical for Irish weather, but on my next shopping trip I'll be sure to opt for slightly warmer clothes!

This year I've been so busy I feel like my blogging has fallen by the wayside, and I've felt a little disheartened about how my blog has been faring. There's such fierce competition in the blogging world lately, but as they say, there's nothing wrong with healthy competition. Sometimes it feels as though the blogging community isn't a community and everyone is totally out for themselves though. Google has decided to take my blog off the search engine which has drastically affected my stats, and it's really getting me down. However, I won't let it defeat me. I will resolve to keep blogging, e-mail Google to see what's happening, and try and make my blog more varied. After all, blogging is an outlet for everything going on in my head and I really do enjoy it - even if there's only a handful of people reading!

So those are just a few of my resolutions - what are yours? I hope you all have a happy, safe and healthy New Year. Time to fit as many Pringles as possible into my mouth before the healthy eating kick tomorrow.

Ch-ch-changes

Yesterday was a big day for me. I moved out for the first time, and moved in with my boyfriend.

I said goodbye to my dad and my brother the night before, and my brother started playing that Beatles song 'She's Leaving Home' which nearly set off the waterworks, but I managed to reign it in. My mum and I set off in the morning for Athlone, with our little green Hyundai Getz almost as weighed down with boxes as I am after a Chinese takeaway. We laughed and chatted the whole way there, and stopped halfway through at McDonald's for obligatory hash browns and coffee. I was half excited and half filled with dread, because for all the excitement of unpacking with my mum I knew she'd soon have to go and we'd have to say our goodbyes.

My mum was such a fantastic help through the whole moving process, I dunno what we would've done without her. I'd have probably ended up moving in with just a toothbrush and a pillow! I managed to sneak nearly everything I wanted to bring in the car. It was like car Tetris trying to get everything to fit, but we did it (well, I say we, really it was my mum).

The next big hurdle was trying to get everything from two cars (ours and Laurence's) up 4 flights of stairs. Our apartment block doesn't have a lift so there was some serious manouevering required. Thankfully Laurence asked Shane, a friend of ours (who happens to be really strong) if he would mind helping us lift some boxes and he obliged. He was a fantastic help and we had all the boxes up within a couple of hours. He even unblocked the gutters for us! The lads sat down playing a video game - typical boy, the first thing Laurence unpacked was his PS4 - while we cleaned, unpacked and then went to Mr Price and Tesco to get a few last minute bits we didn't have.

I tried to hold it together while I said goodbye to mum, but it was incredibly hard. I didn't want to start crying because I knew I'd set her off crying and it'd make it even tougher! Laurence and I waved her goodbye and then went back up to say goodbye to Shane a.k.a kick him out. Laurence left me in the apartment for a few minutes while he waved Shane off. I decided to read my mum's blog post while I had a few moments to myself. Poor Laurence walked back into the apartment to find me crying my eyes out in front of a bowl of half-eaten cold spaghetti hoops. All the emotions I'd built up had finally culminated and the floodgates were open. We had a little cuddle as I sobbed onto his shoulder and got snot and makeup and tears all over his shirt (#sexy), and then he started crying because I was crying.

Last night was such a weird night. Our first night living together. We went to Lidl to get bin bags and kitchen roll (exciting) and then made our first dinner in the new house. I lit a scented candle and we enjoyed our food with a glass of wine, making a toast to a new chapter.

I was so emotionally exhausted I didn't want to do anything else so we just snuggled up on the sofa, watched half of a shite film on Netflix (it was called Before We Go - don't watch it - Chris Evans I'm ashamed of you), and got drunk off the gorgeous bottle of wine my mum gave us as part of a fab housewarming hamper.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit homesick and I miss my family like crazy already. It's like a piece of me has been taken out and I'm wandering around trying to feel normal again. I sat at the table this morning eating my breakfast on my own as Laurence is at work, and I felt very lonely.

I'll miss talking to my mum every night before she went to sleep, sitting on her bed and having a gossip or a bitching session or just a laugh. I'll miss her coming into my room to wake me up so we could go shopping. I'll miss cooking dinner for her and dancing in the kitchen. But I know it will get easier, because hopefully my family will come to stay - we have a spare room, ooh get us - and I can sit at the table at night with them having a cup of tea and a chitchat. I can go shopping in Athlone with my mum and give her a tour of the town. And I can cook her dinner yet again, except this time in a different kitchen with a much smaller fridge and a niggling worry about how much electricity the oven uses.

Despite everything, Laurence and I are so happy we're together and already we've made this apartment feel like a home. And despite all the boxes and bags around us and checking the Pinergy electricity meter every few minutes - I could get used to this.

Life In Cardboard Boxes

You'll have to excuse my absence lately (if anyone reads this, that is!)

As you may know, I got accepted into Athlone IT to study Office Management and I recently found out Laurence and I have been assigned to move into our apartment next Tuesday, which is exciting and scary and involves a lot of standing in front of my wardrobe wondering how many clothes I'll be able to shove into our wardrobe without Laurence giving out to me. Just joking, we'll have a wardrobe each so he can't say anything. Although I can't promise I won't use his wardrobe for my clothes too.

I've been going round the house scavenging for boxes. It's probably a bit early to be packing yet but I'm also one of those people who packs for a holiday 2 months in advance. I also went to the village shop earlier to try and ransack the shed out the back for some boxes but they'd been crushed to go into recycling. I was a bit gutted because I love me a good box hunt. #rockandroll

I managed to convince my brother to let me tip all his belongings out of some boxes in his room and set to raiding the kitchen cupboards. I was amazed at how much of the kitchen stuff was mine, mum said the cupboards have never looked so tidy! I now have 2 boxes full of food to bring up for college, I don't think we'll have to do a food shop for about 4 years now ;-)

All of my kitchen stuff is all packed up now. I went house shopping with my mum yesterday and it was great fun. I'm so lucky to have a mum who is also my best friend and who isn't afraid to tell me to stop being stingy and buy some pillows/a bin/other grown up house stuff I'd never even thought of buying before.

So after all that, I've managed to come up with a few tips for packing and shopping if it's your first time moving out. If this is helpful for even one person out there I've reached my goal!

Tip 1: Penneys, Dealz & charity shops are your new best friends.

I don't know where I'd be without the above shops - probably clutching my purse in a corner somewhere crying as moths fly out of it. You'll most likely find 99% of the things you need in those shops. Penneys is great for cute decorations, bedding and towels. Dealz is your man for kitchen utensils, boring things like bin bags/sandwich bags/kitchen spray and everything else in between. Charity shops usually have lots of dishes, bedding and towels (if you're not funny about buying stuff like that secondhand and are on a very tight budget), and other nice homey bits. I ain't about paying €16 for one bath towel.

My other top picks for cute homeware at the moment are Flying Tiger, Aldi and Lidl. The snazzy flamingo pieces above are all from Flying Tiger - aren't they cute?

Tip 2: Ask shops if they have any spare cardboard boxes.

I usually just ask my local corner shop but I'm sure SuperValu, Lidl, Aldi etc. don't have any use for the cardboard boxes when they're empty. They're usually quite sturdy too as they're made for carrying stock so there's no risk of your lovely new plates falling out the arse of them.

Tip 3: Kill two birds with one stone.

Not literally, I don't think dead birds make a good home decoration. What I mean by this is, if you have quite a lot of crockery and nothing to wrap it in (like me), line a suitcase or box with some of your clothes and then wrap the crockery up in the clothes. That way nothing will get smashed and you can fit more clothes in! Score.

Tip 4: Make a list of e v e r y t h i n g you need.

And I mean everything. Sandwich bags, bin bags, a toilet brush, the lot. We haven't been given an inventory for our apartment yet so we'll have to wait until we get up there to see what else we need to buy. Because I am a list fiend I've written out some stuff I'm pretty sure won't come with the house. I can't believe how much buying there is involved when you move out! I've never had to think about buying toilet rolls or Air Wick before. Exciting stuff.

Tip 5: Get help, if you can.

My mum is coming with me when I move up to help get settled in. She's also offered to give me a hand to clean the apartment too which is great, you never know with student accommodation what you'll find lurking in the cupboards! Our apartment complex doesn't have a lift so we'll have to lug everything up about 4 flights of stairs which is a bit of a pain. If I don't have mad biceps by the end of it I'll be very disappointed.

So there's just a few tips if you're currently getting ready to fly the nest. I start college next Thursday and I'm bricking it if I'm honest, but I'm also really excited for this next chapter in my life. If anyone else is starting AIT next week let me know!

How Time Flies

Laurence and I had our first anniversary on the 20th of August.. It's so hard to believe a year ago I met my soulmate. I'll never forget my mum dropping me off to Strandhill (a few metres up the road in case it was awks) for our first date, and me being so nervous I was sitting in the car going "I CAN'T DO THIS, LET'S TURN AROUND, I CAN'T GET OUT OF THE CAR". Thankfully my mum knocked a bit of sense into me in a tough-love way and practically kicked me out of the car! My legs were like jelly and I was rehearsing what I was going to say in my head for fear of accidentally shouting "bums" or something when I went to greet Laurence. In the end I needn't have worried. We ended up having a 5 hour date, and we enjoyed each other's company so much we ended up meeting again 2 days later. Despite the fact it was raining and windy and my makeup ran all down my face, it was a perfect date.

Fast forward to a year later and our love for each other grows stronger with each day. We share experiences, problems, tiffs and adventures with each other. We're planning on moving in together in a few weeks which is scary and exciting at the same time, and we're going on our first proper holiday together in September for my 21st birthday. It's amazing how long it feels like we've been going out for, but so short at the same time.

Anyway, if you're still reading and haven't thrown up yet from that soppiness, on to the rest of the blog. Laurence booked us a night away in the Clayton Hotel Galway which was so thoughtful of him. He even requested a bottle of Prosecco to be left in the room for us on arrival, and breakfast the next day. Our night away was planned for Saturday night. The day before (Friday) I noticed a weird feeling in one of my teeth, but thought nothing of it until Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. when I woke up sobbing in pain, feeling like I'd been punched in the cheek. Because we were up in Galway for the weekend I had no idea what to do, but I knew I needed to see a doctor. Thankfully there's a fantastic emergency doctors facility in Galway called Westdoc, who were able to see me that evening. I nearly collapsed with relief when the lovely doctor prescribed me some antibiotics and painkillers for what turned out to be an abscess in my mouth. Laurence and I were laughing at the bad timing of the situation as we sat in the doctors, waiting for our anniversary to properly begin. Thankfully I was in and out in no time, and it was time to relax at the hotel.

The hotel was absolutely fabulous. Our room was so bright and the bed was gigantic. The bathroom had a lovely big bath and was sparkling clean. We also had a balcony which overlooked some of Galway.

We had originally planned to have a meal at The Quay Street Kitchen (one of our favourite places in Galway) but we were both so exhausted we decided to get a burrito from Boojum and eat it in our hotel room while drinking prosecco and watching Sing Street. Bliss. (We're secretly 50 years old). Joking aside, I was so tired from being in pain all day all I wanted was chill. There's nothing better than being in a relationship with someone who you feel like you could do anything with and it'll always be fun.

After a blissful night's sleep - the hotel was so quiet and comfortable - it was time for breakfast. There's a lot of choice in the Clayton for breakfast but not an awful lot of hot vegetarian food options. I ended up with a massive plate of fried potatoes and baked beans, but went back for fruit, cereal and bread. Other options included your traditional full Irish fry up, porridge, smoothies, yoghurt, meat, cheeses, and pastries. It all looked fabulous. They even had soya milk and gluten free options, which is always good to see.

I was a bit sad we ended up not having time to check out the swimming pool, but I'd definitely love to go back again for a couple of nights - it's such a nice hotel. After checking out, we spent the rest of the day shopping and mooching around Galway - a perfect end to a perfect anniversary weekend.

Money, Money, Money: Saving, The Student Way

If you're unemployed, a student or just want to save some €€€, I hope this blog will be of some help to you. I know as well as anyone else how hard it is to save when you don't have a job. I'm currently waiting on a CAO offer to (hopefully!) come so I'm twiddling my thumbs until it does. Then I'll be hurled into the student world, which, who knows why, will actually give me more of an income than I have at the moment. Strange, but I'm not complaining.

For the moment, I'm finding ways to save up as much cash as I can just in case. Rest assured, you don't have to babysit or sell an organ - but you can if you want to. I wouldn't highly recommend the second option though.

Tip 1: Jar It

Get a jar. Any jar. Put ANY spare change you have in there. Seriously, anything. I hate copper coins but I just chuck them into my jar so they're not taking up space in my purse. Even better if you just keep notes in your purse/wallet and put all the coins in the jar. Managed to not buy a takeaway coffee or meal deal today? Put the money you would've spent into the jar. Found 20c on the floor? Into the jar. It may seem petty but it really does add up! I chucked just a few coppers in my jar and ended up with €10, which doesn't sound like much but I only added to mine sporadically. If you saved just €10 a month in your coin jar that's €120 a year! Every little helps.

Tip 2: Don't Want It? Sell It

I am a huge CEX fan for this reason. They don't pay top dollar, sure, but if you can't be bothered with timewasters trying to knock you down for your games/electronics/DVDs, bring a bag of stuff into CEX and see what you can get out of it. I brought a few games and DVDs to them the other day and made €35, just like that! Alternatively, do a car boot sale. Unfortunately they're not as big here as they are in the UK but they're still a good bet if you don't mind early mornings, have a bit to sell and luck out on the weather/crowds. If you can't get to a car boot sale spot, try the online ones. I like the buy/sell groups on Facebook, I've sold a few bits on them. Just be aware there are quite a lot of timewasters on the Internet and people who try and rip you off! For selling clothes, Depop is a great app, and it's worldwide. Visit my Depop store here.

Tip 3: Sell Your Talents

Now, don't take that the wrong way, but say you've always had a knack for photography, or painting, or cooking. If you have a skill for it, people will most likely buy it. I recommend setting up an Etsy online shop and selling anything unique you've made or designed. Etsy is also worldwide, so you never know who could see your stuff!

Tip 4: Account For It

Get a nice notebook and write down your monthly income and however much you usually spend in a month. Write down everything you buy, from phone credit to food shopping to cinema tickets to those few shnakey pints on a Saturday night. If you can see places where you can save (for example, I definitely do not need any more clothes no matter how many times I tell myself 'oh but I have nothing like this!'), try to cut them out the next month and see how much you save. I know it's a bit of a bore but in my case I don't have the money to be frivolous so why am I? I'd also recommend opening a Credit Union account. It's definitely one of the biggest things that's helped me save. I can see my account balance go up every time I put a little bit in, and that really encourages me. I use it for big purchases or emergencies, and every time I take some out, I try and put it back in whenever I can.

Tip 5: Don't Discount Charity Shops

As I've previously mentioned, I buy nearly all my clothes from charity shops. Occasionally I'll branch out and buy a thing or two in Penneys but generally I prefer charity shops. Some people don't get them because at the end of the day you are buying pre-loved clothes - but as long as you give them a good wash they're fine. Not only are you helping a charity you can also revamp your wardrobe for a fraction of the cost, and you might find some unique or designer pieces. It's a win-win.

So that's about it, I do hope this was helpful in some way. I've used all these techniques and have actually saved quite a nice amount at this point! Hopefully I won't be living on baked beans any time soon. Eurgh, baked beans...

Thanks for reading and as usual feel free to share your own blogs, I'd love to read them!