What To Do If 2019 Got Off To A Bad Start

@mcjeffersonagloro

To be completely honest the first week of 2019 is a complete blur. I really struggled to get back into any kind of routine which left me feeling like a bit of a failure. I can't deny I'm a big fan of the New Year because it's one of the easiest ways to draw a line in the sand & start fresh. However, when you've got all these plans & goals for the New Year but all of a sudden they go down the drain it can be pretty disheartening. So, in case you're struggling like I was, trying to battle through the first few months of 2019, keep reading for some more positive & productive thoughts. 

A Bad January Doesn't Mean A Bad Year 

There's always a lot of pressure put on January. It's meant to be the perfect month for everyone & everything but it reality it's just one month out of 11 which carry so much possibility. Not everything has to be ticked off & done in January. Take your time, have some fun & do things at your own pace, not the pace of others. 

It's Not A Race

Much like everything else in life, it's not a race to see who can tick off all their goals first. The only person you have to worry about contending with is yourself. It never really matters what others are doing. Okay, it can be interesting to be nosey sometimes & other times it can be inspiring but other than that, worrying about what others are doing really has no positive impact on our lives. We've just got focus on ourselves, worry about what we're doing while remembering life ins't a race, it's a journey. 

Everyday Can Be A Fresh Start

Cliche, I know but as human beings we tend to be really bad at dwelling on things & not just for days, but weeks & even sometimes months. I tend to be really bad at this & constantly overthink that things that I have no control over. It quickly became a really bad habit of mine. Granted, I do still slip into bad patterns sometimes, I've noticed that I am a lot better than what I use to be. Every single day is a chance for a fresh start for something. It could be anything, even if it's just getting out of bed & brushing your teeth that day. We put so much pressure on ourselves that we tend to worry about all the big pictures things & we forget all about things that make our day go round. I get it, a new day isn't quite the same as a New Year but you can still draw a line in the sand & start fresh from the point onwards. 

Remember, your self worth isn't based on what you achieve. Achievements are wonderful things but I wish it wasn't the only way we judged someone as there is so much more to people than their list of personal achievements. 

Bad start or not, 2019 is your year. You're going to achieve goals. You're going to learn. You're going to laugh & be happy. 12 months from now you're going to be so proud of yourself for making it another year. 

B x 

A Gentle Reminder: You're Not What's Happened To You

@chrisliu

I'm the happiest I've been in a long time. For the first time I feel like I really know what I want & I feel like it's achievable yet will challenge me. I've had my fair share of inevitable life challenges. I've had my fair share of shitty times over the past 20 years but I'm not defined by what happened in my past & neither are you. 

"When something bad happens you have 3 choices. You can let it define you, let it destroy you, or let it strengthen you." 

You mind is one of the most powerful tools available to you. It can be the thing that sets you free or it can keep you locked in a cage - the choice is entirely yours. Life isn't what happens to you but how you respond to it. 

This is not to say your pain & suffering isn't valid. What you choose to do in the face of adversity though, is entirely up to you. It's okay to not be okay. You don't have to be strong all the time but it's important you don't become stuck in that mentally because that's when it becomes extremely toxic & happens extremely quickly. 

"I'm not what happened to me, I'm who I choose to become." 

You're not defined by your past. You just have to remember that it's how to choose to deal with the situation that is what ultimately defines you. Slow down, have a cry, feel sorry for yourself but don't stay there. You have to get back up & keep fighting. 

B x 

Everyday Summer Minimal Makeup & Skincare

@kevinlaminto

Thought I'd post a wee glimpse into my minimal summer makeup & skincare routine since we are now good & proper into summer now! I have a more in-depth skincare routine you can read about here, but FYI, the skincare products mentioned below is just what I use to prep my skin right before makeup rather than my whole routine. 

You would of herd me mention a number of these products before but if there's a product you'd like to know more about I'll leave everything linked below!

Skincare

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Sunscreen Liquid Lotion SPF 50+

Clinique Moisture Surge Replenishing Hydrator

Makeup

Maybelline Age Rewind Concealer

Chichi Brow Pomade

Natio Brow Powder

Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara

Maybelline Matte Maker Mattifying Powder

Revlon Sculpt & Highlight Contour Kit

Maybelline Total Temptation Waterproof Mascara

Maybelline Master Fix Setting Spray

B x 

5 Things To Remember When You're Feeling Lost

@gabriellehenderson

I struggled at the beginning of this year. I felt lost. I didn't really have a plan for myself & when reflecting on 2018 I realised that a lot of what I did was because it had to be done & there was simply no other way around it. 

Since then, I've set goals for myself, big & small. I've given myself something to aim for. I want 2019 to be the year where I do things because I simply just want to, not because it's my only option. 

On the outside my life is a dream. It's a life that I'm incredibly grateful for, every single day. I have an amazing family & friends, an incredible support system, a cat that cuddles me & listens to all my problems, a beautiful place to live & I work with some of the most beautiful people. And yet, there is still this internal struggle that takes place in my head on most days. The thing is, sometimes out biggest struggles happen deep inside, in a place invisible to others. If this is something you're going through, don't give up. Be gentle with yourself. I know it's easier said than done but if I can do it, you can to. It's important to keep trying & remember some of these things. 

You Are Not Behind In Life

There isn't some invisible or official timeline by which you life has to move at. You don't have to go to University straight after graduating High School. You don't have to get married at 25, own a house at 30 or have a family by 35. I'm 20 & I'm not at University, I'm not even 100% sure what it is that I want to study. Yet other people still feel obligated to point out that it's odd that I don't know what career path I want to go down. It's not odd, in fact it's perfectly normal. At High School you're constantly asked what it is that you want to do when you leave school. I never had an answer, or if I did have an answer, it's not necessarily something I want to do now. You can't beat yourself up over feeling 'behind' on anything in life because you're not behind. You're life is going to be different from mine & that's okay. It's okay for all of us to follow different paths. Doing things differently doesn't mean you're doing things 'backwards' or falling behind. 

Give Yourself Time

I quite often have to remind myself to allow myself time. Sometime when life throws you a curve ball, you become desperate for things to go back to 'normal' & you want it to happen now. Unfortunately, it doesn't happen like that. Regardless of what personal challenges you might be experiencing, you have to allow yourself time. I know it can be difficult because we often feel like we have to follow 'the plan' & falling behind isn't apart of that plan. You don't have to force yourself to get better, to feel happy. Give yourself time to heal, time to adjust. 

It's Okay To Not Be Okay

I cannot stress this enough. Feeling lost doesn't mean that you're weak. Allow yourself to feel the negative emotions, allow yourself to ugly cry & allow yourself to fall apart. Don't look at it as a weakness. You can't shove those kinds of feelings somewhere deep inside you & hope for the best. It doesn't work like that & I promise you, it'll come back to bite you in the butt. Every now & then we should allow ourselves to fall apart so that we can find ourselves all over again. 

It's Never Too Late To Start Over

It doesn't matter how old you are or how much 'baggage' you think you carry with you. It is never to late to start over. Throughout my life time, I've met people from all walks of life. I know people who have completely turned their lives around, reinvented themselves, found passion again & finally started living their lives on their own terms. It's never too late to start over - no matter who you are. 

Don't Be Afraid Of Change

Change can be intimidating, confusing, frightening & a breeding ground of self-doubt. Sometimes there are set backs in life that you think you can't come back from. You go through situations that not only challenge you but can also change you. Somethings might never go back to 'normal' & that's okay. That's when we have to come up with a new plan & reinvent ourselves a little. We can't be afraid to press the reset button & see things from a different perspective. Being afraid of change can hold us back. We don't have a resist change. We just have to remember that we are in charge, even when it doesn't always seem that way. 

There won't come an age or a time in our lives where we'll have it all figured out. You don't have to have an answer to everything. Does it mean you won't ever feel lost again? Does it mean you won't ever find yourself in a place where you'll have to pick yourself up again? No. Life isn't about having life all figured out. It's about growing & learning along the way. It's about enjoying every small beautiful moment & fighting through every 'bad' situation. You're not alone when it comes to feeling lost, we all experience it from time to time. Not know what to do next it okay. You are okay - but if you're not right now, you will be. 

B x 

Book Review: Ice Cream For Breakfast; Laura Jane Williams

@laurajanewilliams

Laura Jane Williams is an author, journalist, scriptwriter, public speaker & Instagram stories addict. She's a columnist for RED Magazine & cult blogger of Superlatively Rude. 

Laura is know for her touching humanness, clever wit & speaking her heartfelt truth, both on & offline. Laura has a unique ability to write what we're all thinking but are too afraid to say. Her honesty & voice is unique. 

Laura is the author of the Amazon bestseller Becoming ('16) & self-help guide Ice Cream For Breakfast ('17), both published by Hodder & Stoughton.  She is also currently working on her next book which I'm super excited about! 

Ice Cream For Breakfast is one of the best books I've read in a long time & I would recommend it to anyone is looking for a new outlook on life. One that will inspire you & encourage you to be nothing but your authentic self. 

"You can own your own home and want to build a blanket fort on a bad day. Hell! On a good day, too. Give yourself permission to seek praise, ask for help, and have something soft snuggled against your face because you're sad. You can pay your bills on time and still exclaim out loud when something is really f*cking cool, run a business and wear cat-covered thermals under your suit. You can take time to play, just because. Full of spirit and un-self-conscious enthusiasm, Ice Cream Fro Breakfast is the permission slip all too-grown-up-for-their-own-good-but-secretly-scared-of-adulting adults need to locate their inner-child nestled deep within, so that we might all relax enough to laugh harder, wonder more, and marvel at magic on the daily."

B x

Product Review: Revolution Ultra Brow Enhancing Kit

"This is our amazing palette to truly bulletproof your brows! We have assembled everything you will ever need, in one amazing palette, for the most refined HD brow needs. The palette contains 4 super blendable eyebrow powders, 2 tinted eyebrow wax, the amazing eyebrow arch enhancing cream and brow bone highlighter, eyebrow pencil, and mini tweezers/applicators! All in sleek palette with full size mirror. Get bullet-proofed brows. Available in 3 shade options."

I take my brows very seriously & it's not very often that I change up which products I'm using. But after trying a couple of Revolution products I was hopeful that their brow products would be as amazing. I can only speak for the products I've tried & at this stage it's only their Ultra Brow Enhancing Kit but so far I'm really enjoying using it. It has everything you need in the one sleek palette with a gorgeous sized mirror. I'm really impressed with this product & am looking forward to trying some of their other products. 

If you're interested in other new products I've been trying, check out my post, 'New In My Beauty Rotation 002' & suggest some new products you think are worth trying!

B x 

2019: January Favourites & Highlights | Makeup, Perfume & Influencers

Christchurch International Tattoo Festival - @adeleharris

This post has been a long time coming & I apologise for that! The past week has been all about getting back into a somewhat normal routine while trying not to lose the plot at the same time. It feels good to be back writing & I'm excited to share my favourite products & moments from the past month. 

Favourites

Burts Bees Lip Gloss Crayon - Outback Oasis 

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Colour Balm - Whole Lotta Honey

Revolution Ultra Brow Enhancing Kit

Revolution X Soph Original Eyeshadow Palette

Revolution X Soph Highlight Palette

Maybelline Pure Dream BB Cream 

Kim Kardashian Pure Honey Perfume 

Hobonichi Planners 

Lily Marston & Joslyn Davis 

Everything is linked where appropriate & be sure to let me know what some of your favourites have been! Below are where you can find all my thoughts & reviews on some my favourites products from above.

'New In My Beauty Rotation 002' - http://bit.ly/2QVwLgk
'Favourite Summer Lippy' - http://bit.ly/2Cwfu84

Highlights 
January has been a month full of highlights. We celebrated Sylvie's third birthday! It's strange to think I've had him for three years now & he's grown so much! I attended the Christchurch International Tattoo Festival & it was incredible! There are so many talented people out there do some really amazing work. I've also done a lot of planning, organising & goal setting over the past month. I'm so excited for this coming year & the things I have planned. Summer has also finally decided to turn up so it's been great to actually see the sun & get some vitamin D for a change. January has been a fantastic month & it's gone so quick! I'm can't wait to properly jump into February & get shit completed!

B x