You're Hot Then You're Cold

No, this is not about a boy. This is about the weather in the UK. It was only a few weeks ago that I remember wishing that I hadn't worn such a thick top into the office cause it was like summer had arrived early and, now, it's so cold again! I've spent the last week sitting in the office at work with my coat on for the first part of the morning, looking as though I'm not staying. I've also been figuring out how to use the thermostat in my home.... So it couldn't have come at a better time for me to be kindly sent some Heat Holders products to get me through the remainder of the cold weeks (or months) before summer officially begins.

Heat Holders products use a special yarn to create a high level of insulation to protect you from the cold and hold more warm air inside. You've got to love a bit of science, right?

I really like how these Ultimate Thermal Socks* keep my feet nice and cosy in the evenings. I've never had such thick and warm socks in my life and they're great for pulling on and curling up on the sofa with a hot drink before bed. The bottom of the socks have little grips on them to stop you from slipping when you're walking around the house, perfect if your house has laminated flooring like mine.

I was super excited to be sent this Neck Warmer* as I am someone who has an extremely sensitive neck, hence my obsession with scarves. If my neck is warm, I'm warm. If I am wearing about 10 layers but my neck is exposed, I may as well be in shorts and a t-shirt. Yeah, weird, right?

First of all, I love the colour of this and how the two shades of purple are intertwined in this super flexible yarn. The inner lining is a super soft fur-like material which keeps my neck cosy at all times. This is a product that I'll definitely be keeping by my side until the sun decides to make more of an apperance.

It'll be summer before we know it but, until then, these will be my best friends to get me through the chilly part(s) of the year...

You can also find Heat Holders on Facebook and Twitter.

This Summer

This summer is going to be the best summer yet. I've decided on it it. Ever have one of those days when you wake up and decide to make a change and be more positive than before? Well, a couple of weeks ago, I had mine.

One of the things I want to do is visit more places in the UK. I've lived here all my life and it almost seems silly that there's so many beautiful places in the UK that I have not yet seen, amazing restaurants that I have not yet dined in, bustling cities that I have not yet ventured into, independent cafes that I have not yet tried.

Every time I'm in the city, I visit the same old cafe because I love it. There's nothing wrong with going back somewhere that you know and love but sometimes it's good to see what else is out there. I ended up having the most delicious lunch on Sunday at a fancy restaurant and whilst I'm unsure as to whether I'll go back again, it was definitely worth the one-time visit. With summer fast approaching, it means that I'll be able to experience some al fresco dining too, something that I'm sure I've never properly done before.

I'm also going to blog more because I do love it but it seems to have taken a backseat as my life has got more hectic lately. So expect to start seeing more lifestyle posts on here as I take you with me on my journey, wherever that may be.... (Disclaimer: On some days my journey may only go as far as the kitchen to bake some cakes...)

I'm also going to make more time to see my friends and catch up with them. I've been so busy lately that I've barely had the time to meet up with my friends, particularly those that live a little further afield. A couple of days off work is in order for me to laugh, chat, eat, drink, and chill with all my favourite people.

Come rain or shine, this summer is going to be a good one regardless of what is thrown at me.

Change

"Ain't it funny how you think you've got your whole life planned, just to find out it was never ever in your hands..."

That's a line from one of my favourite Sugababes songs. Change. Isn't it a funny thing? I've never been a believer of fate but sometimes in life, change is out of your control. Over time, I've learnt to embrace it because even though change may initially seem uncomfortable or confusing, most of the time I find that it's for the best. 

Things change. People change. Can you imagine what life would be like if everything stayed the same all the time? You'd never gain new experiences, you'd never let go of bad ones, you'd never invite new people into your life, you'd never get rid of the ones that make you unhappy. 

Change isn't always good but, if you give it a chance, you'll find that most of the time, it'll make your life a whole lot brighter than it was before. 

My life has gone through a whole heap of changes in the past six months and, I'll be entirely honest, not all of those changes have been easy but it's made me a better and happier person. I've worked hard, I've made decisions for the best even though it seemed like it was the wrong choice at the time and, most importantly, I've got a smile on my face.

Choose to make a change for the better and embrace the changes that you can not control. Nothing ever stays the same.

It's Okay To Indulge

As some of you may have seen from my blog posts, I'm making a conscious effort to lead a healthier lifestyle which includes eating healthily. However, I'm not someone who is going to deprive myself from things like cakes etc. 

I admire those who have the willpower to completely eliminate all the "bad stuff" from their diets but for me, I like to indulge once in a while. I want to be fit and healthy but life would be so boring if I could never have a calorific slice of cake ever again, or if I had to avoid most of the delicious menus on offer across the city. 

It's okay to indulge. It's okay to go for the full three course meal rather than the salad and yoghurt. I think it's all about moderation. I am a serious foodie so it's totally out of the question for me to go through life without sampling all the delicious foods on offer, and why should I? I exercise regularly and I eat healthily most of the time. 

I like to set aside a day (or sometimes two... I know, wild right?) each week where I can just eat whatever I want and indulge a little. It doesn't mean I'm going to get to Sunday and get a Mcdonalds breakfast, a lunch buffet, and then a pizza for dinner. It just means I'll have a slice of cake if I want one, and I'll go out for a meal if I feel like it, and I'll have a DVD night with nachos if I want to.

For anyone who is interested, that carrot cake in the photo was absolutely delicious and I savoured every spoonful!

It's okay to indulge.