Things That Make Me Happy Thursday 2

Hi everyone! I meant to upload this yesterday but I forgot sorry! This week I'm just going to list the things that make me happy on here instead of on paper as I'm on holiday and can't seem to find a big enough piece of paper....or a pen! These past 2 weeks haven't been the happiest ever but I'll list as many things as I can!! 

-swimming in an undisturbed pool

-swimming topless

-tanned, blue-eyed Portuguese men (specifically one called David, a beautiful pool assistant at my hotel who could make me cry he is so beautiful. If he asked me to elope I would go without hesitation!) 

-making friends at the hotel bar

-Sam Smith 'Lay Me Down'

-hotel beds

-hotel bathrooms

-Caitlin Moran 'How To Be A Woman' possibly one of the best books I've read! 

- knowing my friends care about me 

-not having a working TV and actually interacting with people

-not having wifi 24/7 and actually interacting with people

-Taylor Swift 'Shake It Off'

-the way my Urban Outfitters skirt makes my legs look slimmer 

-doing weights in the gym

-sun 

-having blonder hair

-having long, painted fingernails 

I think that's it for this fortnight! My happy things are very holiday specific! What has made you happy these past 2 weeks?? Let me know! 

Much Love

Charlotte 

XO

P.s. Apologies for no pictures or a motivational quote! I'm on my phone which makes arranging the layout too difficult! Sorry! I'll add them when I'm back from Portugal! 

Motivation

Hi everyone! I've recently come out of serious lack of motivation phase. I had stopped my core exercises and thus lost my toned stomach, stopped my press-up challenge and would lay about on my phone watching YouTube videos I'd watched 100 times before. Now while there is nothing wrong with re-watching the hilarious and beautiful Lousie (Sprinkle of Glitter), becoming broody watching Hannah Maggs and baby Grayson or the SacconeJolys or simply watching top 100 fails of 2014. They provide entertainment and cheer you up if you're having a rough day, but spending an entire day watching them is not good. In this time I could have finished most of my holiday work which will now be left until the very last week of the holidays. Or I could have tidied my shelves to make more room for the ridiculous amount if things I own. Or learnt a language. Or started yoga. Time flies when you do nothing and so food patterns go out the window and the whole day becomes a feasting day. And generally the food is not overly healthy so with little movement and lots of food comes the gaining of weight. I haven't put on a huge amount but enough to make me look in the mirror and be disgusted by what I see. I also think the flabbiness of my stomach is down to not doing my core very often. My love handles do not look good in a bikini! 

So, I've (yet again) decided to change. While press-ups are no longer overly present in my workout regime, my core exercises are back for good. I can't stand looking at my stomach as it is for much longer. Having access to a gym with weights is so helpful to enhance the exercises and make them more challenging. 

After a generally disappointing results day I've decided to step up my game at school by 1000%. If I want to get to where I want to be I'm going to have to work my butt off whether I like it or not. I don't want to have to worry about money and I want to be able to spoil my kids rotten! The only way that is possible (other than marrying a millionaire) is to work hard. I'm not going to enjoy it but it's necessary if I want a good life after it. 

I think the realisation that I might not make it to where I want to be was the thing that rebooted my motivation to better myself again. I don't want to be average. I want to be the person with the beautiful toned stomach that people look at and think 'wow I want a stomach like that' or the person enjoying life with a happy family. I guess that's it. I want to be happy.

Are you happy with who you are? If, money etc was no object what would you change about yourself? Even though you are perfect being you! 

Much Love 

Charlotte 

XO 

Things That Make Me Happy!

So I've had a little idea for my blog, I will be starting 'Things That Make Me Happy Thursday'. For this I will write down things that make me happy on a piece of paper as inspired by Carrie Hope Fletcher to be happy more of the time and enjoy life as it is. I will of course be writing other posts throughout the week!

This week:

What makes you happy?

Much Love

Charlotte

XO

July Favourites!

Hi everyone! I know everyone says this as each month ends but I can't actually believe how quickly July has gone! I've finished year 12, been to Chester, represented Wales at an international event, been to Ireland, slept (a lot), trained extremely hard and learnt quite a bit about myself (bit deep, sorry!)

Firstly, a complete life saver has been the EOS Sweet Mint lip balm. It moisturises my lips perfectly and it tastes divine! I also love the packaging, its really soft and I think it's so cute (is that weird?) I find it so useful after I've been exercising as I get dehydrated quickly in the heat so this quickly softens my lips again!

Also on the makeup/beauty side I have a new favourite eyeliner and it is the Maybelline Master Precise Liquid Eyeliner. It is so easy to apply and it stays on even through sweat and a shower! It gives me good control over the width and length of the wing I want and I've been so pleased with the looks that I have achieved with it! 

The L'Oreal Paris Super Liner Brow Artist Eyebrow pencil is also a favourite of mine. While I have an ongoing battle with my eyebrows (one is thicker than the other and they are both different shapes) I think they're a fundamental part of a good makeup look. I've watched numerous tutorial from the likes of Tanya Burr  and I still haven't mastered them but every so often I have a really good brow day and it's made better by the stay factor that this eyebrow pencil has! 

Music wise Sam Smith and 5 Seconds of Summer (and of course One Direction) are still top favourites but I've been really really loving some of Ed Sheeran's new music. My top 3 favourites from the new album are: 

1. Afire Love
2. Thinking Out Loud
3. Photograph 

His voice is just heavenly and it's the perfect music to listen to when you're relaxing or reading in the sun.  On the topic of reading I finally got round to reading a non-school book (yay!). I chose 'The Rosie Project' by Graeme Simsion. I managed to complete it in just under a week and it was such a pleasurable read I can't wait to go on holiday and read it again! It was a very clever and humourous book and I loved that it was a love story from a male's perspective. Everyone presumes love stories are told from the female perspective so to read a man's was very refreshing. I'm also super super excited about new music from The Script! They released 'Superheroes' on YouTube and I've had it on repeat ever since! Apart from their gorgeous voices (and Danny's gorgeous face) I really love how lyrical their songs are and how much meaning there is behind ever line, they never release tacky songs that have no meaning other than to degrade women or with unnecessary amounts of swearing. 

My first clothing favourite is an old pair of white lacy pumps from H&M which are falling to pieces (I've genuinely pritt-stick glued them together) but I love to dearly to throw away. They look good with all summer clothing and are now moulded to my feet! I went shopping for my holiday to Portugal in August as my summer wardrobe is appalling and returned home with a ridiculous amount of crop tops to wear with my new topshop 'Mom' high-waisted denim shorts which I am in love with! 

I'm a complete Tumblr girl and (along with youtube) I spend many hours when I could be doing something useful (ie. homework) scrolling down my timeline reblogging everything from cute little cats to powerful quotes (and of course One Direction). Currently there is one blog which I am loving and that is 'Don't Say Wanna Goodbye'. Her posts are perfect and if you're ever in need of advice or simply a little bit of friendliness this is the blog to go to! 

I don't usually have a favourite app but I am obsessed with 'InstantAbs'. Before exams I had done my 8minute core workout religiously. However revision and lack of sleep meant I stopped it for a while and now I'm finally getting back into it to hopefully enhance my 'summer body' for when I go to Portugal in August. My favourite workout is currently 'Spartan Abs' which is 13mins of crunches, side plank leg raises, pull-ins, heel touches, plank and butt-ups. I'm enjoying doing it and I can alternate workouts if I get bored which was one of the reasons my 8minute workout failed slightly.  Unfortunately for me I'm also now obsessed with the Kim Kardashian game! I had a catch-up KUWTK marathon and fell back in love with the entire family! 

Food wise fresh mango has been my top favourite this month. I've always loved dried mango and it's become a staple part of my food for race days but fresh mango has always been too difficult to transport! I've also been attempting to cook more, mainly using Jamie's 15 Minute Meals. So far the best has been steak medallions and greens. The steak was perfectly cooked and had a gorgeous, peppery flavour and the greens and potatoes were delicious!

Mango and Strawberry heaven! 

My perfect steak! 

What have you been loving in July? 

Much Love

Charlotte 

xo