At the time of writing this, we have been in lockdown for nearly two months. That is a sentence I never thought I'd start a blog post with...
Time, since mid-march is a complete blur - days are blending into one and this new temporary normal is weird. It's a funny thought process for me when I think about what I wanted to achieve with this time at home. I had to find that balance between realising that lockdown during a global pandemic is not the time to force myself into new skills and mega productivity but also not wanting to look back at this time with nothing to show for it. As a creative person, I want to create! I'm grateful I'm able to do half my job from home and that has kept me busy during the week and weekends have been a time for hobbies, tv shows, books and embracing life in the slow lane. Who knows where this rollercoaster is heading to next - with very little clarity on what plan is in place - but we certainly won't be back to busy weekends and booked out diaries.
So with that, I thought I'd share the things that have kept me occupied the past few weeks. (These are some faves of mine, lockdown or not!)
So with that, I thought I'd share the things that have kept me occupied the past few weeks. (These are some faves of mine, lockdown or not!)
WATCH.
- TV SHOWS -
- TV SHOWS -
Normal People
Me and the rest of the UK are falling head over heels for this love story. It is perfect. It is happiness, love, calm, chaos, sadness, joy, loss, it's every emotion and somehow you'll feel them all at once. It brought me tonne of joy and also left me with an emotional hangover for about three days.
The OC
Late to the party, by a good 15 years...! But as a Gossip Girl fan, I knew I'd love The OC. I'm just about to start Season 4 and it's ticking all the old school American teen drama boxes very nicely.
Desperate Housewives
An oldie, but a goodie. First time round, I was probably a little to young to be watching it when it first started, but with a tv in my room and a ninja quick reaction to turning the tv off (who am I kidding, Mums know everything) I watched this the first time round from Season 2. Re-watching it, it is just a good second time round! It is juicy and dark and sassy and just so. damn. good.
The Bold Type
When there was a Gossip Girl and 90210 shaped hole in my heart, The Bold Type came along and filled it in the best way possible. This show is SO good, it covers so many important and very real issues (big and small) but in a relatable and non preachy way. They basically feel like your best friends. You can find seasons 1-3 on Amazon Prime, but I need to find somewhere to watch Season 4, any UK links please send my way.
- Other Faves -
Fleabag, 90210, Clique, Cold Feet, YOU.
Fleabag, 90210, Clique, Cold Feet, YOU.
- IG LIVES -
People are giving the goods online at the moments. It's nice to watch things from people who are in the very same situation to you - whether they're keeping you fit, talking about their faves, answering juicy questions or having a Friday night drink, it's nice to remember we're all going through this together. Here's a few of my fave weekly IG lives.
Danielle Peazer workouts - most week days 11am
Lily & Anna Live - Saturday 1:30pm
Lindsay & Lizzy 'Things Yer Can't Ask Yer Mum' Live - Monday 5pm
Jim Chapman & Guest 'Speakeasy' - Friday 9pm
LISTEN.
- MUSIC -
Right at the beginning of lockdown I put together a bunch of my favourite feel good tunes to have a little song and dance to when I needed a pick me up. A few friends are now turning to this as their go to music selection so I thought I'd share it with you guys too. Click here to see my 'quaranTIMES' playlist on Spotify.
Right at the beginning of lockdown I put together a bunch of my favourite feel good tunes to have a little song and dance to when I needed a pick me up. A few friends are now turning to this as their go to music selection so I thought I'd share it with you guys too. Click here to see my 'quaranTIMES' playlist on Spotify.
- PODCASTS -
One of my favourite ways to crack down on my screen time is to put a podcast on and put my phone away. Here are some of my faves. (Note - My Dad Wrote a Porno is not one to listen to out loud in the family home...!)
One of my favourite ways to crack down on my screen time is to put a podcast on and put my phone away. Here are some of my faves. (Note - My Dad Wrote a Porno is not one to listen to out loud in the family home...!)
The High Low
Things You Can't Ask Yer Mum
Table Manners
Table Manners
My Dad Wrote A Porno
Happy Mum Happy Baby
DO.
- BOOKS -
I know a lot of people are finding it hard to switch off in the world of a book right now, but if you are looking for a new read, here are some of my favourites.
Daisy Jones & The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Behind Her Eyes - Sarah Pinborough
Then She Was Gone - Lisa Jewell
Daisy Jones & The Six - Taylor Jenkins Reid
Behind Her Eyes - Sarah Pinborough
Then She Was Gone - Lisa Jewell
Everything I Know About Love - Dolly Alderton
Ice Cream For Breakfast - Laura Jane Williams
A lastly, just a few things I turn to when I need to completely take my mind off what's happening, stop looking at screens or just get stuck into something creative.
Calligraphy
Macramé
Embroidery
Colouring books
Baking
Finding and cooking new recipes (then eating, obvs)
Tidying, sorting, clearing out cupboards
and, well, lying down and staring into space for a little while, because we all need time to digest reality right now.
That's the lot! I'm sure you've seen a tonne of these by now but there might be something new in here that takes your fancy.
G x
A lastly, just a few things I turn to when I need to completely take my mind off what's happening, stop looking at screens or just get stuck into something creative.
Calligraphy
Macramé
Embroidery
Colouring books
Baking
Finding and cooking new recipes (then eating, obvs)
Tidying, sorting, clearing out cupboards
and, well, lying down and staring into space for a little while, because we all need time to digest reality right now.
That's the lot! I'm sure you've seen a tonne of these by now but there might be something new in here that takes your fancy.
G x
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It's Friday morning, I've got my coffee, sunshine pouring in - as it has all week, so feel good - and I thought I'd write one of my favourite posts. Here's a little list of 10 things that have made me happy this week.
1. As I already mentioned - the sun has been shining all week. I've had an edit heavy week, which means a lot of work from home days. Sunlight beaming into our home is one of the best simple pleasures in life.
2. My best friend Abi turned up unannounced with coffee and homemade vegan Snickers on Wednesday. She ended up staying the whole evening. What a treat.
3. We've just had our bathroom redone and I am IN LOVE. Is it weird to want to work from your bathroom?
4. 70's style. Give all the floaty sleeves, flares and chunky platform boots.
5. Good Winter TV - Deadwater Fell, The Stranger, Cold Feet, Sex Education - there's a lot to watch at the moment.
6. Roasted Veggie & Lentil Jumble I had in my Hello Fresh box this week. It was one of the nicest meals I've had in a long time. Tasty, healthy and a good one for when Henry is out and I want something filling and nutritious.
7. Buying a new little house plant to fill one of my favourite pots that's been waiting for a housemate for a while. I'm so eager to get back out in the garden when Spring rolls back around so for now, new houseplants to look after can fill that void.
8. An app that's a newbie in my life, it's called 'Habit'. You can track if you're keeping up with habits you're trying to make stick - it's colourful, simple and visually pleasing - I'm tracking reading, drinking more water and waking up before 8am.
9. Speaking of reading - I'm on book 3 of the year and I'm loving getting lost in another world. It's a really nice break from screen-time which is at a big high right now.
10. Still feeling those new year productivity vibes. I usually find January to be a pretty positive month for me - albeit a bloody long one - and February I start to tick back to my usual headspace. This year that 'lets push forward' feeling seems to be sticking around and you won't see me complaining!
So there you go, 10 little things that made me happy this week. What's put a smile on your face?
It's that time again, when I reel off what I've been loving throughout the previous month! There's a little bit of everything - lifestyle, beauty, style, tv & music.
There's a vlog coming on Sunday so make sure you're subscribed to my channel!
It's time for another favourites video!
More lifestyle based faves this month ~ a TV show I was/still am/forever will be obsessed with ~ some music loves and style must haves.
Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss my future videos!
A round up of the thing I loved throughout last year. I'm talking beauty, skincare, style, tv, music and much more!
Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss any videos! Next up is the 1st Weekly vlog of 2017!
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Time to gather my favourite bits and pieces together and share them with you.
A mix of autumn style, high street and high end beauty, music, must watch TV shows and YouTubers and I really am LOVING them all!
What have you been loving recently?
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I love a good Netflix sesh. Light some candles on a grey, rainy day, grab your softest blanket and a cup of tea and settle down a good hour (or what could easily be hours) of Netflix.
So with that and the fact TV is in it's prime right now, with it being Autumn/Winter - I thought I'd share some of the programmes I'm loving at the moment.
1. Scream
I'm a mega wimp and usually anything that comes under the genre of 'Horror' is completely banned if I'm on my own - this series however, has me hooked! It's on Netflix and I'm currently watching the second season - so there's plenty to catch up on. It follows a similar story to the Scream films, with the masked killer making phone calls to his next victim in his crazy deep voice, picking off friendship groups one by one! I'd say it's a bit like Pretty Little Liars with a lot more blood. There's lots of jumps and twists and turns, but I'm actually able to watch it alone... but not with the lights off!
2. Total Bellas
Anyone who's read my blog for a while might know about my love for the WWE wrestlers, the Bella Twins and the TV show Total Divas. They now have their own spin off show, also on E! and I just love it. It's so easy to watch, It'll make you laugh and they're pretty sassy.
3. The Missing
Another Thriller, this time on BBC 1. This is the second season of The Missing but with a completely unrelated storyline, so no worries if you missed the first one. It's about a girl returning home after being kidnapped over 10 years ago. It's dark with a lot of suspense and it's a little confusing at times, switching between the past and present, but definitely worth a watch. The end of episode 5 had me gasping, it was pretty unexpected. You can catch up on iPlayer.
4. Married at First Sight
A slightly more light hearted option! This programme follows a bunch of singletons who have opted to be matched up by experts to meet and marry a stranger... on the day of their wedding! It's a crazy experiment, but so interesting to see how they get on and if it's all going to work out. It's on Channel 4 so you can catch up so far on 4OD.
5. The Secret Life of 4 Year Olds
If you haven't seen this you are missing out, it has me crying with laughter without fail. It follows a group of children on a day at nursery, listening to their conversations, seeing them making friends, arguing, playing, winning games, losing games and it's absolutely fascinating (and hilarious) to see how kids are with each other when adults aren't around. It'll make you laugh, cry and cry laugh but it's a great one to cheer someone up!
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Obviously I'm also loving the more usual suspects - Made In Chelsea, I'm a Celebrity, First Dates & Gogglebox. I also LOVED the new season of Cold Feet, which I'd imagine you could find on catch up somewhere.
TV is just far too good in the winter months, I can't keep up! But it's always good to have some new shows lined up for christmas time for those cosy evenings on the sofa!
What TV shows are you loving at the moment?
A few beauty, skincare & lifestyle bits I've been loving throughout January!
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to my channel for a new video every Wednesday!
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Products Mentioned:
// BEAUTY & SKINCARE //
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation
Max Factor Masterpiece Mascara
Clinique Nude Pop Lipstick
Nails Inc Nail Kale Superfood Basecoat
NUDE Pro Genius Treatment Oil
Kiehls Creme de Corps Moisturiser
// LIFESTYLE //
Joules 2016 'Seize The Dahlia' Diary
List Book - Paperchase
// MUSIC //
Causes
// TV //
Pretty Little Liars
Silent Witness
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Turns out I've been loving a lot of stuff this month! From some Space NK purchases to my new TV show to binge watch to getting that summer bod. Felt good to do a video after a little time out (grr uni...) and I'm excited to get filming some more! Please do subscribe if you enjoy it and want to see more!
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