Resolutions...

30 Dec 2019

I've never really been one for new years resolutions, realistically if I'm not doing something now, deciding to do it in January isn't REALLY going to change my mind. I made resolutions last year and just didn't stick to them at all so I was apprehensive about doing the same thing this year. I thought for this post I'd go through last years resolutions and decide how well I fulfilled them and come up with a good list for 2020 by building on 2019s goals and putting it in a blog post and posting it on the internet keeps me accountable!


SHOP THE LOOK | Jeans: Mid Blue Kimomo (x) / Shoes: Puma Basket (x) / Backpack: Madlug (x)


Grow Online Following
I didn't grow my following that much this year but I've created a following that engages and enjoys what I have to post so I count that as a WIN! Obviously, the goal is still to grow my following more but having people actively engage and enjoy your content is all that creators want!

Will I stick with this goal in 2020?: Yes!!


Spend Time curating good online content
I think I did this one well, with Instagram so increasingly becoming a cause of stress and anxiety I wanted to be mindful about the content I was creating and not just sticking something up on Instagram for the sake of it, being open and honest online, say when I was struggling and not just post the highlights reel. 

Will I stick to this goal in 2020?: Yes


Read at least one book a month
This one I FAILED in all caps! It's funny because it's actually something I did with no problem in 2018, 2019 was just a really poor reading year for me and I'm planning on righting all of my reading wrongs this coming year!!

Will I stick to this goal in 2020?: Yes (and hopefully I'll actually do it this time)

Launch photography business
I did and I didn't, I put myself out there and got some paid gigs but I haven't officially launched anything yet... will this be the year I finally do it? Probably not because final year of uni is KICKING MY ASS but you never know what the new decade will bring!

Will I stick to this goal in 2020?: No, but I'm not ruling anything out!


Read entire Bible
Another one that fell flat on its face! I started out with the best of intentions I joined a bible reading group on Bible app but I inevitably got kicked out due in inactivity...oops. This is still something I want to do but I, unfortunately, don't think that 2020is the year for this either.

Will I stick to this goal in 2020?: No, but I bought a new year-long devotional so that is a new challenge for this coming year for me to stick to

Be more organised
I think I actually managed this one, I don't have anything to show for it, I bought a planner and didn't use it but I'm definitely more on top of my work so I guess I'd say I'm more organised than I was last year... maybe.

Will I stick to this goal in 2020?: This is a goal I'll have to stick to for the rest of my life because I am the princess of procrastination.



Some extra goals for 2020:

  • Eat less meat
  • Manage my money better
  • Pick up a language again

Do you make resolutions? If so what are your resolutions for 2020? Maybe it'll inspire me to try something new!


Festive Marble Wreath Cake

24 Dec 2019

Is Christmas Eve too last minute to post my favourite festive cake recipe? Probably, but I'm going to do it anyway! I baked this last night and it turned out so well I just had to share the recipe. This is a cake we've been making at our house for YEARS but I decided to switch it up a bit this year. 

Is the only reason I made this cake because of the cute little toadstool shaped cake toppers I got from Flying Tiger? 100% but that doesn't make it any less delicious!

Without further ado, here's the recipe for the Chocolate and Vanilla Marble Wreath Cake.

5 Ways I'm Spending Less Money

17 Dec 2019

A few months ago just after an impulse purchase of a new Dune bag from TK Maxx I suddenly came to the conclusion that I was running out of money and running out of money FAST. So I had to make some drastic changes to my budgeting and massively limited myself to the things I would purchase each week. So here are a few things that I've cut down on or completely cut out of my spending.



Eating Out
I can't tell you how tempting it is to just forgo making lunch in the morning and just buy something in uni but let me just say, uni food is pretty dang expensive! I've tried to limit myself to one meal out a week (if that) whether that be lunch or dinner. Not only is it saving me money from spending a fiver on lunch every day but it's also making me more proactive in making sure I have food in the house and also that I'm leaving myself enough time in the morning to prep everything. Solid lunch staples include, but are not limited to, wraps, salads and my personal favourite, last night's pasta! I also try to limit my spending on food I know I'm not going to use and try to limit myself to around £15 a week.

Avoiding sales (to an extent)
I'm a simple girl, I see sales, I will purchase but that is a TERRIBLE habit to be in. This is why TK Maxx is so dangerous for me because I'll see something that I really don't need but see that it's such good value that I just HAVE to purchase it. This is a particular issue whenever I miss my train because I then have an hour I can spend just browsing the local shops doing my best not to spend money that I don't have. I exceeded my own expectations though and didn't purchase a single thing in the Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sales and I think that may be a first! Not that sales are bad, they can be great for getting those things that you've been saving up for or planning to get for a long time, but don't use sales as an excuse to just purchase something because it's a bargain.


Staying in
It's a truth universally acknowledged that going out costs money. Find ways to keep yourself entertained at home, get involved in free activities, or if you're a uni student join some societies which will have ways to keep you entertained on a budget. Invite friends round and watch a movie, play some board games, or even just have a chat.

Rethink your subscriptions
Truly the saddest part of the month is when your subscription fees all get taken out of your bank account and suddenly you're a little less well off than you were before! If you're paying a subscription fee that you don't use regularly, cancel it! I pay my phone bill, my Adobe creative cloud subscription and my Spotify premium subscription (luckily for me my dad pays for netflix) all of which I use regularly and don't mind paying because I get the use out of them.

Don't be afraid to treat yo self...
But do it in moderation. As a student sometimes you just really need to treat yourself after a test or a long day of studying and that's totally okay, buy that chocolate or order that take out, you've deserved it! But if it becomes a regular thing it's not so much a treat anymore, rather a staple and it's just not as satisfying and ultimately just costs you more money!

What things have you cut out or cut back to help you save?