Just A Minute! - August 2013

Just a Minute! is a monthly blog post that I used to do on my previous blog. It's a quick and easy to read post that updates everyone briefly on what you've been doing that month and it's a great way of catching up with everyone, whilst also keeping a record of what you've been doing. The idea is you take a minute to think about what you've been doing in each category, and reflect on the last month of your life.

I've decided I'd like to start it up again, so here goes...

Reading… The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. I've read this book before but I needed a little extra positive inspiration so I dug it out and got stuck right in.

Watching… I've just finished watching True Blood which is my all time favourite show. Can't believe I have to wait a whole year for the next season. How depressing.

Loving… The sunny days and spending some quality time away from work recharging my batteries. I had a drastic change of hair style today so I'm also loving having a bit of a revamp in my life in general (not just the hair!)

Craving… Gluten free goodies! I've just discovered that I am gluten intollerant and have been on a gluten free diet for about 2 weeks now. I'm still getting my way around what I can and can't eat, but at the moment I'm craving some yummy chocolate.

Learning… To drive! I had my third driving lesson today and I'm really starting to enjoy it. I first learnt to drive when I was 18/19 but I failed my test and didn't bother to try again. I haven't driven a car in 5 years so it's taking some getting used to, but I can't wait until I've passed and I have my independence back!

Planning… my birthday. I turn 25 on 14 Septemeber so I'm planning something fun for me and my partner to do for that as we don't really socialise or have date nights anymore. I'm also taking some time away from the business to recharge my batteries and will be doing a week's work experience in a grooming salon for the first week of September so I'm planning lots of business things to be doing for when I get back. It's nice to have a break every now and again to get your creative juices flowing.

And that's it! I'm looking forward to what September has to bring. It seems as though it's going to be a very exciting month.

If you're doing a Just A Minute! blog, leave a link in the comments so I can have a peek! I love being nosey.

Hayley xo

Positive Mental Attitude

I've written before about positive thinking and how important I think it is in your every day life but I wanted to expand on it a little more here today.

Positive Mental Attitude

Like most young women in their early twenties, many years of my life have been plagued with self-doubt and negative thinking. What with having to worry about body image, education, relationships and career choices, it's no wonder that the stress of life can get to us all sometimes, and this reflects in the way our minds work, and the everyday thoughts we have when we wake up in the morning.

I'm trying to overcome the negativity that I've grown up with for so long. I'm trying to be more positive with my life. Every single aspect of it, starting with the way I think. It's not easy completely changing the way you view yourself, and the world around you but after reading The Secret, and watching the DVD, I'm finally starting to see what I'm supposed to be doing differently in order to achieve happiness. I have days when I fall of the wagon and completely forget about it, but I'm hoping that writing this post, informing you of what I'm doing will inspire me to keep it up.

I've written a positive mantra that I'm going to say to myself 3 times every morning before I get out of bed. If you are like me and have trouble with negative thoughts and feelings about yourself, or your current situation, I invite you to join me.

"I am a confident, beautiful, successful woman. Today I am going to achieve my goals. I am not a prisoner of my circumstances"

"I am a confident, beautiful, successful woman. Today I am going to achieve my goals. I am not a prisoner of my circumstances"

"I am a confident, beautiful, successful woman. Today I am going to achieve my goals. I am not a prisoner of my circumstances"

Say it with me girls!....

 

The Irish Surprise, The Party and The Farmers Market.

Now that I've finally recovered from the exhaustion of "The Surprise Weekend" or "Operation Fluffy Eagle" as we called it, I can finally tell you all about it.

The weekend of August 9 - 11 was probably the busiest and most stressful weekend of the year for me, or maybe even my life.

We had planned two surprises for one of my close relatives 65th birthday. The first was to surprise him on the Friday, as we had flown some of his family over from Ireland without him knowing, and the second was a surprise party on Saturday with his family and close friends.

Let me just say this before I start: I WILL NEVER PLAN A SURPRISE PARTY EVER AGAIN!

It is the most stressful event I have ever organised, and I absolutely love organising events. However, it was totally worth it as everyone really enjoyed themselves but I definitely won't be doing it again. Someone else can plan the surprises from now on.

We had a lovely lunch on Friday after the family arrived from the airport, and then on Saturday morning everyone else went out to Windsor for coffee and breakfast whilst myself and K set up the garden for the party.

I did all of the catering for about 25 people, and I was up at 5am baking bread!

I was absolutely exhausted by the time the party started a 2pm, but it was all totally worth it to see everyone having a good time, and I got lots of compliments on the food which always makes me happy. I love to cook, it's one of the few things that truly relaxes me and I love to hear people's reactions when they try my food (as long as they are nice ones!)

I wore a George black maxi dress with a cardigan as I wasn't sure what the weather was going to be like and I needed to be comfortable all day, but luckily it was nice and sunny and it didn't rain at all. It was also nice and lose fitting so as to disguise my food baby after I tucked in to all the party food.

It was NOT a good week for weight loss. I put on 3.5lbs! Oops!

I did attempt to do pretty make up, and got a few compliments on my Rockalily Vintage Vixen lipstick, but after a few hours in a boiling hot kitchen, most if my foundation had melted off me. It was not a pretty sight!

I had a custom cake made by my best friend Lucy at Juicy Occaiaions and everyone at the party would not shut up about how delicious it was. I think she did at great job at decorating it too. I sent her a sketch of what I wanted and the final cake came out better than I could have imagined. Don't you just love the vinyl record on the top!?

Thanks Lucy & Carla for such a scrummy cake!

After all the food had been eaten and the guests had gone, we all sat round the fire pit until late at night talking. It was really lovely, but unfortunately I was first to go to bed as I just couldn't keep my eyes open!

On Sunday, I popped down to Maidenhead Farmers Market in the morning, as I had won a £5 voucher to spend there through a competition on their Facebook page.

I chose to get some gorgeous venison and recurrent sausages, and the lady on the sausage stall even gave me a pack of duck, apricot and orange sausages for free which was really nice of her! They were delicious! If you're in the area I would recommend popping down for a look. I think they are there every Sunday.

It was a lovely weekend, although very tiring. I can't wait to see everyone again at the next family party, as long as I'm not organising it!

Until next time,

Hayley xo