2015: A Review and a Reminisce of the Year

I've been a very bad blogger.....It's been a whole month since I last posted anything but I guess that's the festive season for you! One of my resolutions for 2016 is to get back into a normal blogging routine!! 

2015 has been quite a year. When I think back to where I was this time last year I was a completely different person in a totally different environment. January 2015 me was still super anxious a lot of the time, tired constantly from the pressure of school work, absolutely LOVING rowing and being captain and lacked a hell of a lot of confidence. I was still in school with the countdown to summer exams already feeling real and I don't remember being totally happy.

As the year went on I got happier and I remember driving with my bff and we just talked about how we've never actually felt happier and I think that was the happiest I've ever been for a prolonged period of time. Rowing was going well and I had the best friends and I thought I was doing okay at school (how August would prove me slightly wrong!).

Exams passed, regattas happened and before I knew it it was results day and I was sat there (crying before I even got my results) with AAC, uni-less, jobless and extremely scared for the year ahead. My dad pushed for me to go to college to resit but I knew that was completely the wrong thing to do, I needed to get out of this little Welsh town and do something, learn something and actually enjoy life. So, with the help of my rowing coach I found a gap year position as a rowing coach and the next week I had moved 3hours and 100+ miles from home. 

Starting the job was possibly one of the most daunting things I have ever done but it was 1000000% the best decision I've ever made (other than to start rowing in the first place). Since September my confidence has soared, I've got stronger, I'm learning every day and I have only had one half panic attack since results day which I'm so happy about. I've been pushed so far out of my comfort zone on so many occasions now that I'm an -almost- fully functioning adult who does their own washing, food shopping and cleaning. Things as small as checking the oil on my car to bigger things like bank and money stuff (which I actually find so confusing). 

By mid-November-December I actually felt happy and settled, starting to really get the hang of my new job, getting better at my job and enjoying life (as cheesy as it sounds). My weeks consisted of work, rowing, procrastination (should read study but it hasn't happened yet) and more rowing and I'm completely happy with that. It's been so nice to let my hair down again with my friends since we've ll been back from uni/gap years but I'm now ready to get back into my work routine because it seems to actually keep me sane!!

Rowing wise this year has been a bit of a rollercoaster. I've improved so much in the last 4 months with 3/3 PBs on my erg tests during test week but I've also had some super challenging races when I was still at school. However school rowing was so so so so so much fun, Seville was incredible, our stays away for events are some of my best memories and I've got some really good friends from it. Now I've got a new club, new coach, new friends and I think it's going well. Over Christmas I have slightly struggled with motivation but I'm sure it'll come flooding back when I can get back into my training routine too (can you tell I live for routines??) 

I'm going into 2016 stronger, more confident, with 3/5 uni offers (praying for the last 2) and a lovely bunch of friends in Chester and at home and I'm excited for the year ahead. 

I hope everyone has had a good 2015, spent NYE with their family/friends and here's to 2016! 

Thanks for Reading!

Charlotte

P.S. I promise to write more this year and be frequent with the posts!

Now I've said it publicly I definitely can't back out! 

Autumn/Winter Essentials

December is almost upon us now and as much as I do love autumn/winter and I'm so excited for Christmas and New Year's Eve it can be a struggle to get through winter without some of these essentials!

• LIPBALM. First and foremost lipbalm is so important, there is nothing worse than dry, cracked lips that just get more and more painful! My favourites are Palmers cocoa lip balm or the classic Carmex
• Moisturiser. Similarly to dry lips, there is also nothing worse than dry hands so a good moisturiser is essential!
• Scarves are my favourite accessory in winter, just as much as they can add to an outfit, they give surprising warmth and I'm definitely going to be wearing mine everyday!
• Jumpers are the one winter essential that everyone loves to own. I have so many, especially turtle neck/roll necks. I keep buying them and buying them and buying them. I think the style really suits me and they're super easy to wear. 
• Dressing gown. I may sound like an old woman but I love nothing more than cosying up in my dressing gown with an essential hot chocolate to watch a Christmas film (it's November, it's acceptable okay!) or the X factor on a Saturday night. Mine is so soft and covered in hearts, I find it super comforting and the hood makes it soooo cosy
• Hats. This year seems to be a super windy year so it's the perfect excuse to throw on a cute little beanie to keep your hair tame. But hats also keep you surprisingly warm (who knew eh?) 
• An Electric Blanket is something I never knew I needed until I had one. It is the most incredible thing I currently own. There is no feeling quite like getting into bed and it's already warm and toasty for you and there's no need to do the bed warming dance (you know the one where you wriggle all about to warm every inch of the bed? We all do it don't lie).
• Coffee is key. It'll warm up your insides and your hands all at the same time. What more is there to say really?
• Boots are 100% the essential winter shoe. It's no good having a bit of your ankle showing when its about 3 degrees outside. I've had my little furry brown Topshop boots for almost 2 years now (I mentioned them in a post about a year ago)  and they're still going strong but I am definitely eyeing up these beauties from River Island, they have the perfect heel size (basically nothing, ideal for someone who doesn't want to be any taller) and they are a lovely material and shape (i'm obsessed someone pls buy them for me?)
• Thick woolly socks, because lets face it there is nothing worse than cold, numb feet! 

Hope this 10 essentials help you survive the cold winter months. If all else fails get into bed, hibernate and come out in about April/May when the sun decides to shine again! 

Thanks for Reading!

Charlotte

XO

Acceptance

It's been far too long since I last posted- apologise but here is a mid-week post to make up for it! 

If you were truly honest with yourself do you think you really accept yourself for who you are, flaws and all. Or do you constantly wish to change something about yourself like your big nose, your tummy fat or your chubby legs. I'm sure, like me, majority of you are in the latter group, but it's not your fault (and it's probably not even true!)

We live in a society where doubting yourself, striving for an unattainable perfection and knocking yourself down is the norm. How many people do you hear actually say they like things about themselves on a regular basis? Or if they do someone will reply with a sarky comment or they'll receive some rude words in return (this has happened to me before when I've tried to be confident and comment on part of my appearance). How many young teenage girl's profile pictures do you see with their friends commenting 'oh my god babe you look gorgeous' or 'ugh your face.. jealous' etc and generally the girl in question always replies 'hahaa says you' or 'no not really but thanks anyway' and continue to put themselves down. Now I realise some girls do this for attention as they just want people to confirm their perceived beauty but some genuinely think this about themselves and it's quite sad. We spend hours criticising every part of ourselves because we cannot accept who we are and now I've decided this needs to change. 

I don't want my sons or daughters growing up hating themselves because it is tiring and life is too short. I want them to grow up happy with their body and their personality. Not worry if perhaps their laugh is a bit odd or if they have a mole on their skin etc. It's these little quirks and perfect imperfections that make us all unique. 

I want to help promote self-acceptance because I really don't think enough people are truly happy with who they are (me included). Why should we feel ashamed with what/who we are and what gives people the right to make you feel that way?? Be strong in yourself and know that you are good enough or pretty enough or clever enough. Know that it doesn't matter what other people think of you, the only thing that is important is that YOU know you are a good, kind person and that actually you are beautiful. 

In the end we're all going to die and the years you've spent worrying you weren't good enough or you weren't perfect will be wasted years you could've spent being yourself and just being happy, so make the change now before it's too late! 

Thanks for reading!

Charlotte

XO