A Week In Pictures - Gran Canaria

At the start of June, my boyfriend and I went our first holiday together to Gran Canaria. We had the nicest week together and I was so sad when it was time to come home. We had the best time doing everything from just relaxing by the pool, to going on a dolphin boat tour and wandering around markets. Instead of talking in depth about our holiday, I thought I would just upload some of my favourite photographs instead.

These photos are from one of my favourite nights of our holiday. We went to a little restaurant on the beach right in front of the sea, giving us a perfect view of the sunset. The meal was delicious and the staff were also really nice, giving us a free drink before we left. Overall the evening just felt really relaxed and romantic.

On one of our first days of the holiday, we went to the beach for a day and hired a pedalo boat with a slide. I really enjoyed doing this as it gave us a good view of the part of the island we were at and was just good fun.

  One of my favourite days of our holiday was the day we went on a dolphin boat tour. I wasn't filled with much hope that we would see very many, but we actually saw loads and they were all jumping out of the water around our boat. It was amazing to see them up so close and to see so many of them.

I had the best few days away with my boyfriend, and I'm already looking forward to the next time we can go away together. I feel so lucky to have someone so amazing to share my life with, and I just know that this is only the first of many amazing memories that we'll share together.

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Michael Kors Access Crosby Activity Tracker | Review

I've never really been into sports and fitness before, but I knew that in the new year that was something I wanted to change. I felt like I needed to make more of a conscious effort to exercise and just generally get off my bum and move more. Activity trackers and smart watches seem to be everywhere at the moment, with all sorts of brands bringing out their own version of the trend. I've heard such good things about how these trackers can really help to motivate you and track your progress, so I thought that getting myself one might be a good place to start.

The face isn't cracked, it's just awkwardly catching the light...

As amazing as I know that FitBits are, they just don't look good! Now, I know that sounds really vain, but I do also work in a jewellers, so I didn't want to have my lovely watch and bracelets on one arm and this great chunky looking fitness tracker on the other. I also didn't feel like I needed all of the functions that come with a FitBit, as like I said before, I'm only just starting to exercise more and really just wanted something minimal and easy to use. So after a bit of research, I found that the Michael Kors Access Crosby activity tracker looked perfect for me; not only is it super pretty to look at, but it is also really simple and easy to use.

I put the tracker straight onto my Christmas list and was very kindly gifted it by my parents. The tracker was really easy to use right away as it is powered by a lithium battery that was actually included in the box. I think this is a great feature as I wouldn't like to constantly have to charge my watch after every days use. I also got my one in grey and rose gold, but they do come in other colours such as pink or black.

"Track your steps, sleep and goals with our cool new Activity Tracker. Designed with a faceted silicone band and stylish hardware accents, the Crosby bracelet will help you keep your life on track and look great doing it." - Michael Kors website.

The watch's primary use is for tracking your daily step count, but it also tracks how much sleep you get at night and can be set up to track a variety of your different goals too by using the Michael Kors Access app. This means you can see how well your doing at different points throughout the day just by checking your phone. I have my daily goal set to track how much water I'm drinking as this is something I need to work on, which I do by tapping the face of the watch three times. This then registers with the watch that I have had one glass of water and will register my progress in the app.

   

I do actually really like this watch and so far I'm really enjoying tracking my daily step count. I feel like it motivates me to try harder every day as I don't want to ruin my streak of meeting my goal. I defintely think this watch is only really useful for beginners however, as it is pretty basic and probably wouldn't offer very much for someone looking to get more from their fitness tracker. I've had quite a lot of compliments on the watch too, as most people seem to look at it and think that it's just a bracelet, so I'm happy about that.

Have you got a fitness tracker that you love to use? Is this one too basic for you or just what you need to get yourself started?

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Monthly Goals | February

This year I want to start being more productive and challenging myself. I want to be able to look back at my year and feel like I've made the most of it, so I've decided to start setting myself goals at the start of every month that I want to try and achieve. That way, I can track my progress at the end of the month and see what I need to work harder at. By putting them up on my blog, I'm hoping it will also give me the motivation to stick to them and not give up so easily.

Keep going to the gym!

My main goal for 2017 was to try and lead a healthier lifestyle by exercising more. Going to the gym has never been something that I've enjoyed, as I've always found it really boring. This usually leads me just giving up, however, over the past few weeks I've been trying to go as often as possible, and now I've finally started to look forward to my work outs! I'm still not entirely sure what 90% of the machines in the gym are actually for, but I'm enjoying how much happier I've started to feel since I've  been going to the gym on a regular basis, so my goal for February is to keep this up.

Cut down on chocolate!

I think this is something I will probably struggle with. Chocolate is something that I always seem to crave, and I don't really know why. I'm definitely what you'd call a chocoholic! But it's also full of sugar, which I know that I need to cut down on, so I'm going to try really hard this month to just eat less of it. Especially with summer not too far around the corner, I should probably start working towards my summer body at some point!

Stay on top of my uni work!

So far this semester I've been really good at attending my lectures and keeping on top of all of my reading, but I know that I'm easily distracted and will probably start slacking at some point. So I'm going to try really hard to stay focused over the next few weeks and do as well as I can!

Spend more time with my family!

Since moving into my own flat back in August, I haven't really been back home to see my family all that often. This is mainly because I don't have a lot of spare time between university and my job, and the train fare can get a bit expensive. But I have the new few Sundays off from work, so I'm going to try and use that free time to see my family a bit more, as I do really miss them and I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of family experiences.

I'm hoping that my goals for this month are realistic enough for me to achieve them. I'm going to try really hard to stick with them, and hopefully at the start of March I can report back that I've done really well. Have you got any goals for the month ahead? I would love to hear them!

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Regime London Coconut Quench Review

I've always been fairly lucky when it comes to my skin. I've never really had any problems or suffered with any acne, and my skin has never really been oily. However, once we get into the colder months of the year, my skin always seems to get quite patchy and dry. The harshness of the cold temperatures outside plays havoc with my skin, making it really difficult for my make-up to last all day on my face. So when Regime London contacted me a couple of months ago asking if I wanted to try out one of their products, I jumped at the chance. I did a little research as I'd never really heard of them before, but all of the reviews on their website seemed super positive. I definitely wanted to give them a try to see if they would work for me.

"Regime London is a premium range of nutricosmetics designed to provide a deeper level of beauty care and support, helping to bring the ‘inner you’ to the surface."

The product I was sent to try out was their 'Coconut Quench' capsules, which are designed to increase the moisture content of your skin. These sounded like exactly what I was looking for to help improve my dry skin, so I was excited to give them a try. Each capsule contains 4000mg of coconut water extract and hyaluronic acid, designed to increase your skin's moisture content in just 30 days. I was quite intrigued to see if there would be any noticeable differences in just one months time.

According to Regime London, taking one capsule daily with a glass of water is enough to quench your entire body with moisture, which in turn also helps repair any damage caused by cosmetics. Although the capsules are quite large in size, I found them easy enough to swallow, and I usually take them in a morning when having my breakfast. That way I don't forgot to take them.

 I've now been taking the capsules for 30 days and have finally run out of the capsules. This time of year is especially tough on my skin, not only because of the weather, but also because of all the extra hours I've been doing at work and the lack of sleep I've had. So the capsules have definitely been put to the test.

To be completely honest, I'm actually pleasantly surprised with how they've worked for me. I definitely still have a few dry patches around my nose (probably due to having a constant cold), but my skin has been feeling really smooth recently and I also feel like it's helped the overall brightness of my skin's appearance.  If you're looking for a convenient way to keep your skin looking clear and fresh, then I'd defintely recommend giving the 'Coconut Quench' capsules a try.

If you'd like to check them out for yourself or find out more, then you can purchase them here.

You can also check out Regime London on social media;
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram.

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My Goals For 2017

One of my favourite things about the start of a new year is the push that we all get to make a few changes and try to better ourselves. It always gives me that extra push of motivation that I need to set myself new goals and challenges for the year ahead. All of my goals for this year are extremely achievable if I just put in that little bit of extra effort that I've previously been lacking.

2016 was quite a crazy year. I had a lot of new experiences, realised I have some amazing friends, and I also feel like my self-confidence finally soared. But I also faced quite a few tougher times that I struggled to overcome. Overall, 2016 was a bit overwhelming, so I'm hoping that by setting myself some goals to work towards, it will help me make the most of my 2017.

Image source: Pinterest

One of my favourite things to do in life is travel to new places and go exploring. Last year, I didn't do half as much travelling as I would've liked too, so this year, that is my goal. Of course, being a student means I don't have the money to go jet-setting across the world in my spare time. But there's so many amazing places in Scotland that I've never visited before that I would really love to go and see. This year I want to explore as many new places as I can.

This kind of leads me into my second goal, which is to try and take more photographs. I'm so guilty of doing something fun or going somewhere new, and then forgetting to take any photos. Which I always majorly regret afterwards. I recently bought myself the Olympus Pen E-PL8 and I love it, so I defintely need to get into the habit of always carrying it around with me. I want to be able to look back at all of my photos and remember all of the good times that I had.

For as long as I can remember, I've always been extremely critical of my appearance. It's just something I've never been completely happy with. Towards the end of 2016 I decided to join the gym, and I've actually been enjoying going. So my goal for 2017 is simply to exercise more, as whenever I do it always makes a huge difference to my confidence and mental health. Whenever I exercise, I know that I'm doing something positive for myself, which ultimately makes me feel happier in myself. My aim is try and go at least three times a week.

Between work and university, during the semester I don't actually have a lot of time off to myself. But on the days that I do have off, I'm very guilty of just spending the day in my pyjamas and not actually doing an awful lot with my time. So this year, I really want to make the most of every day and do more with my spare time. I need to be more outgoing and start saying 'yes' to making plans and trying new things, as I want this year to be memorable for all of the right reasons.

My final goal is just to try really hard at university this year. Last semester, I definitely didn't try as hard as I could have done. Even though I still managed to pass all of my coursework, I definitely could've done so much better if I'd put more effort into my work. I'm also extremely guilty of skipping lectures, so this year I'm determined to stop doing this.

I'm actually really looking forward to seeing what 2017 has in store for me. I have lots of exciting things to look forward too, such as being a bridesmaid at my Uncle's wedding and possibly moving in with one of my best friends. So here's hoping 2017 will be a very good year!

Do you have any goals or resolutions for the year ahead?

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Things I've Learnt in 2016

I can't believe it is already the first day of 2017! Time just seems to be flying by, and this past year has certainly been an eventful one. Looking back at what my life was like a year ago, it's quite crazy to see just how different things are simply one year later. A lot changed in 2016, including myself, but I genuinely feel like it was a good year overall. There's been a lot of ups and downs, but I'm thankful for all of the support from my amazing friends and family.

I definitely feel like I learnt a lot of important life lessons last year. From moving out and getting my own flat, to having people walk in and out of my life, to even just starting my second year of university, I've definitely had a lot of growing up to do. However, I feel like everything I've experienced over the last 12 months has made me a much stronger and better person overall, and I can't wait to see what 2017 will have in store for me.

1. Being an adult is extremely confusing and expensive! 
 Now I understand where my parents were coming from when they told me to enjoy my youth and not take things for granted.

2. Not everyone will like you, and that's okay! Know your worth.
No matter what you do, you just can't please some people. There's no point trying to change who you are because, in the long run, it probably won't be worth it.

3. My parents are usually right. 
It might have taken me almost 20 years to realise this, but it's definitely true. I'm not sure how they do it, but they always know the right things to do and say, and I don't know how I'd have coped this year without them.

4. Heartbreak is a real thing. 

5. Self-confidence is important.
Cue the cliché; but one of the most important things I've learnt this year is that in order for other people to believe in you, you must first believe in yourself. This is something that I still struggle with, but I think I'm definitely getting better.

6. Everything happens for a reason.
This one was more of a harsh reality than a lesson to be honest. However, I now truly believe that everything happens the way that it does in order to lead us on to the next stage in our lives.

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Home Sweet Home

The past two weeks have been extremely hectic for me. What with finishing the semester at university, studying for exams and then working crazy hours at work, I haven't had an awful lot of time for myself. I'd been counting down the days until Christmas Eve, but not for the same reason as most people! It was simply because I couldn't wait to finish work and spend a few well needed days at home with my family. The last time I was home for longer than one night was back in September, so I've defintely missed all of my old home comforts.

One of my favourite things about Christmas and this time of year is having all of my family together. It's not very often that I get to see my extended family as they all live in England, so Christmas means we all get to see each other and spend some quality time together. My Grandad had also come to stay with us for a few days, so it was lovely to spend some time with him as I really don't get to see him as often as I'd like too.

One of the things I miss the most about living at home has to be my mum's cooking. I definitely think I took it for granted before, my own cooking just doesn't even compare to hers! Being home for Christmas meant one thing - the Christmas dinner! And my mum certainly went to town, making wayyy to much food and having enough left over to feed another small family. I've eaten more food over the last few days than I even want to comprehend, but I suppose it's only Christmas once a year. The thought of going back to Stirling and having to cook for myself again is actually making me quite sad!

My Mum is definitely my best friend, so I was looking forward to spending some quality time together. The last few weeks have left me feeling pretty stressed out, so phone calls from my Mum have been one of the only things that have kept me feeling relatively sane. My head has been a little bit all over the place too recently, so it's been nice to offload and hear her advice about things. It's taken me over nineteen years, but now I understand what people mean when they say Mum's know best!

My family really do mean the world to me, and it's at times like these that I feel really lucky to have them. One of the things that I've learnt over the past couple of years is to fully appreciate the moment and everyone around you, as you never know when things might change. This Christmas has been one of my favourites, simply because of how relaxed and chilled it's been, and I now feel ready to face everything that I have coming up over the next few weeks.

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