REFLECTION: 2013

Hello all! I hope you will all bringing in the New Year in the way you want tonight. We're just having a chilled night in.

At the start of the year, I posted THIS blog talking about New Years Resolutions and things I wanted to do this year. I'm not usually one for the whole Resolutions thing but there was a few things I wanted to do so I did it.
My main two things for this year where to become a blood donor and join the bone marrow donor list. I went for my first blood donation at the start of January but as I had been unwell, I wasn't allowed to donate so I went back in March and successfully gave my first pint. I was buzzing! It was nowhere near as bad as expecting and I felt great afterwards. I went to do my 2nd donation a few months later and afterwards I was a bit ill and the same thing happened the 3rd time and unfortunately I've been told I can't give blood anymore, or at least for a few years. BUT, I managed to give as many pints of blood this year as a female can and I did join the bone marrow donor list so I have done some good and I'm proud that I managed to do it.

The other main thing I wanted to do this year was to basically sort my life out. I wanted to get myself a more stable job and at the end of May I left behind the world of retail after 4 and a half years and got myself a full time office job. I do a lot of admin, marketing and sales work now and it still feels a bit weird not being in a shop (especially at Christmas! I've never had time off at Christmas!) and I miss the girls I used to work with so much but I am enjoying my new job. Before, my hours would fluctuate so much and some weeks I would be doing nearly 40 hours and some I'd only do 20 but now I have a solid work schedule that doesn't change and it's helping me get a more settled routine.

The other two resolutions mentioned on the post were to try be healthier and stress less... I think we all knew they were unachievable pipe dreams! I did try eat healthy for a good month but now that I am in the office, I'm not surround by fast food shops and I only work round the corner from home so I go home to eat so I guess I have become a teeeeeeny bit healthier. As for stress, that is something that is apparently never leaving my life. The joys of being an adult.
One thing I did want to do that I didn't have on that post was to drive on the motorway. I've been driving 2 and a half years and still haven't done it. I don't know why but now I'm probably too scared to do it but 2014, I will do it!

So, what will 2014 see for me?

Other than driving on the motorway, I'm going to start doing some serious saving so that maybe this time next year I'll be in a position to move out of my parents house and fend for myself. I'm very much at that stage where I know I want to move out but I don't have the funds to allow me to do it.
Then there's Laddered Tights. I know that I've not been the world's greatest blogger and I have neglected this site a little, especially in the last few months, but I'm going to make a conscious effort with it next year. I said how I've got more in to a settled routine now with work so I'm going to plan more and hopefully get a decent schedule going because when I do post things on here, I do get really into it and I really enjoy it but finding time and not wanting to be as "samey" as everyone else has proved difficult this year. But I do hope you'll bear with me and stick around!

I have quite a busy January coming up (which is definitely not norm!) so it may take a while for this "schedule" to action. I've a few shows/gigs booked and I'm also heading to Russia for a week on the 19th! (I know, I know. I am mental. I am aware of this.)

I really wish you all the best for 2014. Thanks for leaving such kind comments this year.

And if you missed it, I posted a 2013 Favourites the other day. Click HERE to read that. And remember to hit the follow on Bloglovin' button in the right hand sidebar, or leave your email to subscribe to my posts.

xxxx

2013 FAVOURITES

I mentioned in the previous post how I wouldn't be posting Monthly Favourites anymore, more just little reviews of new products I've been using, but I thought a nice way to round off the year would be to share my best of the best across the board.

First up, beauty!

Clarins Cleansing Milk | Soap & Glory Sugar Crush Body Wash | The Body Shop Tea Tree Toner | Bourjois 1 Second Nail Varnish Remover | MAC Mineralised Skin Finish Natural | Rimmel Nail Rescue | Benefit Pore-fessional

NEW IN: REVIEWS #1

I didn't do a Favourites post in November and I don't have one planned for December. And the last few I did weren't that great, to be honest. It's mainly that I've just not been trying new products lately and the ones that I have bought haven't blown me away.
I have bought a few new bits over the last couple of months however that I haven't mentioned on here so far so I've decided that every so often I'll do Mini Reviews to show you new things I've been using and my thoughts on them.

So for the first installment...

#TBSXMASBONANZA MEET UP

Last week the lovely Rachelle organised a little Christmas Blogger event at The Body Shop in Preston. We got an exclusive 40% discount off anything we bought, signed up for a Loyalty Card for free and we could choose our own samples. As well as munching on yummy cupcakes, drinking mulled punch and having a good old natter with some lovely bloggers. It was so nice to see a load of the #nwbloggers and meet some new people too.
And I certainly didn't hold back when it came to throwing new products in my basket!

Just going to apologise now for shoddy iPhone photos. I'm such a fail when it comes to remembering I own a camera and actually using it.

HAIRSPIRATION: BRAIDS

Over the last two years I have stopped attacking my hair with straighteners (bar my fringe), I haven't used a hair dryer or dyed my hair and now my hair is in such a better condition and has finally got to a length that I want it.

I've recently found myself constantly putting little braids in my hair. Sometimes purposely. Other times, through boredom and I don't even realise I'm doing it. I've also cracked the fishtail plait! But as my hair is still in the process of growing out layers, they don't always look that great.

So yeah, I've found myself getting a little braid obsessed and so here is a bit of "hairspiration" for you for some cute and simple hairstyles.