September 2017: Roundup, Highlights and Favourites

PS: Old picture of my little sister and I but I miss her so bloody much! 

The fact that this month has flown by is fantastic and normally I wouldn't say that but in a few days my sister arrives and I've never been so excited to see her. I'm looking forward to taking some time off and spending it with her but more on that next month. For now, let's jump into the highlights and favourites of this month. 

September has been the first month of 2017 that I have spent the entire month at home and I'm so thrilled. I have been so productive and ahead in all my work which is perfect for this time of year. Other than saying home and working my butt off all month, another one highlights is that I did a Sky Wire Swing. It put me out of my comfort zone but I throughly enjoyed it. It was great fun and the perfect way to spend a day. Other than that I didn't really get up to anything to exciting but like I said I've been busy at home getting ahead of work and being super productive. 

Lush Sleepy Lotion

I'm not going to say to much about this product because a review will be coming early next month but  it's honestly the most beautiful smelling this I think I've ever smelt. It relaxes me instantly. 

Manicare Miracle Growth Booster

Some of you may know that I use to be a terrible nail bitter. Last month when I was in Christchurch I went to my favourite little nail salon and got my nails done. I decided from then on I was really going to focus on growing my nails out and keeping them health. The Manicare Miracle Growth Booster has really helped nourish my nails with all the right vitamins and kept them looking really good. I highly recommend the Manicare brand in generally but the Miracle Growth Booster has been a favourite this month. 

Meg @ Wonderful You

Hands down my favourite content creator this month has been Meg. I love Meg on all her platforms and I couldn't recommend her content to you enough. 

B x

Starting Your Week With A Bang

@ariellustre

So far this month I’ve talked plenty about being productive and efficient while working, but also about self care and what you can do to boost self care in your life. This post is going to cover everything I’ve spoken about so far this month. It’s going to be about how you can start you’re week with a  positive mind set because of course, nobody likes Monday’s but it is that start of our week and I think it’s important to start how your intend to finish.

Early Mornings

I know, early Monday mornings sound terrifying but I promise you they’re really not that bad. I encourage you to get up early, if not all week, specifically on Monday mornings. Getting up earlier means you’re gong to have a little extra time to get yourself ready for the day. Nobody likes any extra added stress, especially on Mondays. 

Update To Do Lists and Goals

Find yourself 5 minutes to update your to do list and goals for the week. Start your Mondays with a fresh mindset, set reasonable goals and a reasonable to do list for the week. This way you’ll be aware of what needs to get done and by when. 

Meal Prep

I prefer to meal prep on a Sunday but I still thought I’d add this in because sometimes its nice to have a healthy meals already to be cooked when you get home. I know, that sometimes after a long day the last thing I want to do is cook a healthy meal and if you’re the same then I encourage you to get organised, and meal prep. 

Celebrate Your Success

Girl, you just got through the worst day of the week! Celebrate what you got completed, in fact just celebrate you. I’m a big self care advocate, and I’m always encouraging everyone to look after themselves. Have a hot bubble bath, a glass of wine, put on a face mask and treat yourself. 

B x 

Working Efficiently From Home

@oildale

This is my second full year working from home and while I can understand that it isn’t for everyone, it works really well for me. It allows me to be more flexible with my time, allowing me to be able to get to various important appointments specifically regarding my health but also go at my own pace. Working from home can be difficult, I'm not going to sugar coat it but I think if you’re passionate about what you’re doing then it'll work in your favour. I have quite possibly done a post similar to this before but as time goes on my routines change and there are a bunch of things that I do in my day to day life to make working from home as productive as possible. Here are a few of my favourites.

Set Goals

Set yourself regular goals. I find that if I set myself regular goals incredibly helpful. It gives me a purpose to each day, week, month and it means that I’m fully aware of the things I would like to get done and by when. Although I love the idea of having yearly goals sometimes those yearly goals can be so big that we need to set ourselves goals to achieve the yearly goals, make sense? The idea of setting weekly and monthly goals is that they are slightly more specific with a shorter time frame. Personally, I know that I’m more likely to achieve the more specific goals rather than those big yearly goals. 

Clean and Tidy Space

 I have a clean house policy when it comes to working from home. Before any work gets done, I’ll make sure the house is clean and tidy. A clean and tidy house means a clear and tidy mind. I really struggle working in a messy environment and I tend to be less productive. A clean and today space means that I can fully commit to what it is that needs to get done on a specific day and I’m not worried about what needs to be done around the house. 

Change of Scenery 

I highly encourage any of you that work from home to change up your scenery every now and then. Whether that’s working from your local coffee shop, library or even working outside on a sunny day. For me, it only takes a change of scenery to get a boost of motivation, focus and creativity. As long as you have access to good internet and great coffee, wherever you go will work well! 

Set a Schedule
While working from home I’ve found it great to have a set schedule. I have a set time when my morning routine needs to finish, when I’m having breaks, and when I’m finishing for the day, then everything else goes around that. Sometime things will have to be changed slightly depending on things like appointments and meetings, but other than that everything I pretty structured when it comes to my work day. I do want to make it known that the flexibility that comes with working from home is definitely a bonus and I do use it to my advantage when needed. 

B x

What Helps With My Mental Health

@brookecagle

My mental health holds huge significance in my day to day life. Because my mental health can change on a daily basis, it’s something I need to be continually working on. I do want to mention that I am medicated for my mental health but by no means do I just take a couple of pills every morning and that’s that. I’m aware a lot of people assume this, but it’s definitely not the case. There are several activities in my daily routine that help work towards a positive mind set and good mental health. 

Please keep in mind that this is what works for me. Just because it works for me doesn’t mean it’ll work for you. We’re all individually different and it’s so important to remember that. If what I’m about to mention doesn’t work for you, try not to get to disheartened because there is something out there that well be beneficial for you and your mental health, it’s just about figuring out what that specific thing is. Please, feel free to mention in the comments what works for you and what you find beneficial as it might work for someone else but they're yet to realise it yet. 

Organisation

Wow, surprise surprise I'm talking about organisation again but being organised significantly helps with my anxiety. I need to know what I need to be doing, where I’m going to be doing it and when it needs to be done by. I’ve always been like this for as long as I can remember but now that I’m that bit older I have more control over my life, opposed to when I was say 15 and still quite dependent on my parents. 

Talk About It

I never use to be one to talk about my feelings and although I still struggle sometimes I’m so much better than I was. It’s so important to not feel ashamed about how you’re feeling. I know, easier said than done but as soon as you’re able to accept and acknowledge how you’re feeling, the easier it will be to open up and realise that you’re not alone. If you read my blogpost, ‘Therapy And What It Taught Me’, then you’ll know that I went through some intense therapy recently, and by the end I was openly talking about emotions and situations that I had suppressed from years ago. I never thought I would be talking about those situations so openly yet it felt so incredible to talk about it all and I feel really amazing for it now. 

Exercise

I remember rolling my eyes when doctors would tell me that exercise was good for my mental health and I think that was probably because I never really understood how that worked because I was always so tired and lethargic but they were right. Exercise does wonders for my mental health. When I was living in Christchurch my exercise routine was way more intense than what it is now but ever since been sick I’ve had to cut it back, however you’ll be surprised how much just getting outside and going for a walk will help clear your mind and make you feel so much better. I always encourage those who are just struggling in life, to take sometime for themselves and get outside. 

Don't ever feel ashamed of your mental health and I'm proud of you all for coming this far. 

 B x 

Productivity VS Procrastination

@brookecagle

Just a quick post from me today but I wanted to talk about how I beat procrastination. I work from home so my everyday work environment isn't you're typical office environment and one thing I’ve learnt about myself while working at home is that I can be quite the procrastinator when I want to be. I find it so strange though because I never use to be a procrastinator when I was younger, so I wonder what’s changed? Whatever it is, I don’t like this procrastination thing and here’s how I learnt to kick it in the butt. 

Dedicated Work Space

A lot of you know that I work from home and working from the lounge suite, although great sometimes, wasn’t ideal nor was it a permanent solution. I’ve now turned my spare room into my office. My office is where everything work related gets done and it’s so lovely to just have a space where I know I need to bd focused and get things done. Having a tidy work space also does wonders for my procrastination, because lets be honest, organising all my notebooks just doesn’t really cut it as work. 

Regular Breaks

I never use to take breaks, I’d just work right through until the end of the day. Even if I took a lunch break, I’d normally still be on my laptop or phone checking my emails. It such a bad habit to get in to. Taking regular breaks is so helpful, it allows you to refuel your mind and body. Taking regular breaks means that I’m so much more productive throughout the day, compared to when I wasn’t taking breaks. 

Plan

You all know how much of a planner I am, and trust me, nothing changed. Of course, do what works for you but writing lists is always helpful but also having a place where you can keep appointments and meeting times. I use both a digital and a written planner to keep myself on track. To be productive it’s important to know what needs to be done and by when but also where you need to be yourself, and when. 

These are just my top three tips and maybe you have some tips of your own. Share them in the comments below to start up a conversation. 

B x

What's Making Me Happy Right Now

@brookecagle

After a rough end to August, I knew it was time to sort out what was making me so unhappy and change up the things that were no longer working for me. A few tweaks have been made and my motivation, focus and happiness levels are back up. Here are a list of a few of the things I decided needed changing up in my life and now because of it, are making me so much happier. 

Getting My Life In Order

I’ve recently overhauled my organisation system and tweaked a few bits here and there. I think because I’ve been so busy lately, my old system just wasn’t handling it but now with my new system in place that spark of motivation, and focus has come back which has made me extremely happy and content. 

Books, Books, Books

Books are probably one of my favourite ways to relax. Over the past month I simply haven’t been reading enough. I’ve been struggling to find or make the time to read but thanks to some amazing recommendations I’ve now got a reading list as long as my arm that I’m so excited to delve into. 

Zero Travel

 I always have been and I always will be a homebody. There’s nothing quite like some comfy clothes and a homemade cup of tea. A lot of you will know I work from home but for all on 2017, right up until September, I’ve been away at least once every month. So, for the month of September I’ve made it my mission that I’ll be staying nowhere but my own home. So far, so good! I’m so trilled to get be cracking on and getting things done. 

Is there anything specific that's been making you happy recently, let a girl know! 

B x

Just A Few Of My YT Faves

@tranmautritam

While I’m subscribed to many incredible creators on Youtube,  but there’s only so much Youtube you can watch in one day. I go through phases of those I watch on Youtube and it’s constantly changing. Below you’ll find six different Youtube creators I’ve been obsessed with lately, along with links to where you can find a variety of there content. I hope you enjoy their content as much as I do. 

Justine Ezarik, iJustine 

Twitter: @iJustine

Instagram: @iJustine

YouTube: youtube.com/iJustine

Jenna Ezarik 

Twitter: @jennaezarik

Instagram: @jennaezarik

YouTube: youtube.com/itsmejennae

Kalyn Nicholson 

Twitter: @kalynnicholson

Instagram: @kalynnicholson13

YouTube: youtube.com/kalynxo13

Blog: kalynnicholson.com

Anna, theannaedit

Twitter: @theannaedit

Instagram: @theannaedit

YouTube: youtube.com/theannaedit

Blog: theannaedit.com

Rebecca Meldrum, mrsrmeldrum

Twitter: @mrsrmeldrum

Instagram: @mrsrmeldrum

YouTube: youtube.com/mrsrmeldrum

Blog: mrsmeldrum.com

Niomi Smart

Twitter: @niomismart

Instagram: @niomismart

YouTube: youtube.com/niomismart

Blog: niomismart.com

B x

Book Review: Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls

@jemerywongtsz

“There are many reasons why this book will always be special to us. Some are obvious: the record-breaking amount of money we raised through crowdfunding, (More than one million dollars! Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls is the most funded original book in the history of crowdfunding.), the astonishing number of backers from more than seventy countries, and the privilege of working with dozens of unbelievably talented female artists from all over the world. Some reasons, though, are less obvious: the messages of soon-to-be mums and dads who told us this is the first book they have bought for their daughters. The friend of a friend who said that this campaign gave her the confidence to start working on a project close to her heart that she had on hold for a long time because “what if I fail?”. The email from a mum ecstatic to have a book that could help her share her perspective on the world with her three sons, not only as a mother, but as a woman. Above all, the deep trust that out backers have put into us. This amount of trust is not something women get to experience very often. We do not take it for granted. How could we? Most of the extraordinary women featured in this book never experienced this kind of trust. No matter the importance of their discoveries, the audacity of their adventures, the width of their genius - they were constantly belittled, forgotten, in some cases almost erased from history. It is important that they know these obstacles are not insurmountable. That not only can they find a way to overcome them, but that they can remove those obstacles for those who will come after them, just like these great women did. Each of the hundred stories in this book proves the world-changing power of a trusting heart. May these brave pioneers inspire you. May their portraits impress upon our daughters the solid belief that beauty manifests itself in all shapes and colours, and at all ages. May each reader know the greatest success is to live a life full of passion, curiosity and generosity. May we all remember every day that we have the right to be happy and to explore wildly. Now that you’re holding this book, all we can feel is hope and enthusiasm for the world we’re building together. A world where gender will not define how big you can dream, how far you can go. A world where each of us will be able to say with confidence, “I am free.” Thank you for being apart of this journey." ~ Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo. 

I firstly want to start of by saying that the authors of Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls, Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo are incredible women themselves and they should be extremely proud of what they have achieved with this book. I really wish I had grown up with a book like Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls. It would’ve been incredible as a little girl, to grow up with a book as such. 

Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls has to be my favourite book of the year, well so far anyway. It warms my heart to see a book like this selling in my local bookshops and all around the world. As most of you would expect it’s incredibly inspiring and intriguing. The illustrations are beautiful and created by women all over the world. 100% recommend getting your hands on a copy of Good Night Stories For Rebel Girls. 

B x 

Ways To Get Yourself Out Of A Funk

@alexisrbrown

At the end of last month I found myself in a bit of a rut and a constant bad mood. Don’t ask me why because I’m still trying to work that out but I thought I’d share how I managed to pull myself out of it. 

Feel It Baby

Try and find away to get it out as soon as possible. Allow yourself to feel it and acknowledge the you’re not feeling yourself. It’s a hundred percent natural but never a great feeling, especially if there’s no reason behind it. Letting ourselves feel the emotion is something that needs to be more encouraged because like I said, it’s natural and completely normal. Definitely don’t bottle it up or wallow in you’re sadness because that shit is never good for our mental health. 

Talk, Talk, Talk

Talking isn’t for everyone, I know it never use to be for me but it’s now something I benefit hugely from. Talk to someone you trust and know isn’t going to be judgemental and just let it all out. Don’t downplay anything because if it has affected you, whatever it may be, it’s worth talking about. 

Don't You Dare Apologise

When we’re upset or in a bad mood our first instinct is to apologise, I don’t know why but it’s weird and we definitely don’t need to do it. What are we actually apologising for in the first place? Of course, if you’ve snapped at someone and said something unintentionally, then definitely apologise but otherwise we have nothing to be sorry for. Being upset or in a bad mood is natural and everyone has days where they feel the same. We’re all human and none of use are perfect. 

Do Something That Makes You Feel Great

We all have things we do in life that help pick us up when we’re down. It’ll vary between individuals but if you’re having a bad day or feel like you’re in a bit of a rut, I encourage you do to something for yourself and something that’ll make you feel incredible. 

B x

Staying Happy Online

@jiri_wagner

We’re all aware of the negativity that comes with social media and being online. It’s important that we don’t start to normalise the negativity because it’s 100% not okay and it never will be. The internet is a wonderful place 95% of the time but it’s up to use to keep it that way/ 

I’m going to mention a few of the ways I try to stay happy and positive online amongst all the negativity. Maybe you’ll decided to incorporate some of them to make your online time and experience a happy and positive one. 

Don't Be Scared To Unfollow Or Block

I’m pretty ruthless with who I block and unfollow on social media and I don’t feel bad about it. I’m sorry but if you’re going to be sharing ridiculous negative and shitty comments online I don’t want to be following you and nor having you comments and opinions pop up on my newsfeed. By all means, you can talk however you wish, I just don’t want to have to listen or see any negative comments or posts. 

Absolutely No Reason To Be Nasty

 I truly believe that there is no reason to be nasty to someone in this world. I understand peoples annoyances towards certain things, I really do but I truly believe that there’s no reason to be nasty in return. People often forget that those they’re talking to or about are real people and have real feelings. Words have consequences. 

Limited Time Online

Don’t get me wrong I adore the online world but I’m very conscious about how much time I do spend online and when I don’t need to be sat scrolling on my phone when I am. More often than not, spending to much time online, amongst all the negativity, can effect my mental health. Being amongst peoples thoughts, especially when they’re negative, can be really exhausting. 

Your Community

The one best things about the interest is the fact that you are completely in control of what you do and don’t see. This very much ties in with your ability to unfollow and block people but being able to do this allows your online world to be filled with amazing and inspiring people. I’ve had comments from people who think this can be quite ignorant, to only be following the positive things, but my answer to this is no I don’t think it’s ignorant at all. If there’s somebody you know that you don’t really get along with or maybe you don’t agree with there opinions, is there really any point in following them? 

A quick little message before I leave it at that, I strong believe in ‘treat others how you want to be treated’ and ‘put out what you want back’. If you’re only putting negative thoughts and comments into our world then you’ll only receive negative back. I’m not saying that you can’t be in a funk and talk about it but spending precious time being judgemental and nasty is never the right thing to do, especially in the long run and it’ll never make you any happier. 

B x

Six Habits That'll Help Set You Up For Life

@henriquefélix

Growing up has always scared the shit out of me. When I was 10, I dreamt of nothing more than growing up. It seemed fun and exciting. And while I'm sure growing up is still fun and exciting, there are so many more aspects to life we need to think about, that 10 year Bonnie had no idea about. 

Life doesn’t just happen. You make a lot of choices that will affect your life in one way or another. Every moment in life provides a new choice and you get the opportunity to chose what you want to chose. By choosing something different than you normally would, you could possibly achieve a more positive result. Here are some of the things I know I'll be keeping in mind as my life continues to grow.

Be Proactive

Take responsibility for you own life. Don’t sit and wait for change, but instead make the change yourself. 

Keep The End In Mind

 Plan for success, think it through, create it and make it happen. 

First Is First

Life is about balance. It’s okay to say no when necessary to focus on what’s important for you. 

Teamwork

Two heads are better than one. Working alone can be great but don’t forget about what others might have to offer. 

Sharpen

 Balance your mind for self-renewal in these four main areas of your life. So physically, emotionally/mentally, socially and spiritually. 

First To Understand, Then Understood

Communication is one of the most important skills in life. Most people listen to reply and completely miss the meaning entirely. 

B x

Taking Time For Yourself When You Don't Have Time

@facileskin

I’m someone who has always believed in the importance of taking time to ourselves, even if it just a few minutes out of the day. But we all know who hectic and stressful life can get. Sometimes it feels like we don’t have anytime for ourselves. These are some of the few ways I like to take time to myself when I don’t have the time for a full pamper routine. 

PLAN 

Planning is something I have always found extremely therapeutic and it’s a great way for me to know what I just need to get on with and complete. When time is stretched really thin, it’s important to have some kind of plan. To some people this may be boring but it’s essential when you have limited time. When you’re already stressed and don’t have a solid idea of what’s going on, it’ll only making you more stressed. 

TIME MANAGEMENT

Having great time management is something we all have to learn. It takes a lot of practice and I don’t know about you, but it feels like it’s constantly work in progress. Everybody’s life is super busy these days. We all have responsibilities, things coming in and out so it’s important that we have some idea of time management. With your time management skills and great planning practices I’m sure you’ll have some time for yourself.

MAKE THE MOST OF TIME

Time to yourself is very much a luxury and I completely understand that, but also that many people are unable to take the time to themselves. Taking time to myself is literally that, me time. Taking time to myself means that I can destress, and be a better version of myself. I throughly appreciate any time that I’m able to have to myself, especially because it’s a rare occurrence. Make the most of any spare time you may have, regardless of how small the pocket of time may be. You might be able to do something for yourself in the time or maybe you could complete any of those small mundane tasks. 

B x