Feb 15, 2015

30 Before 30 (A Realistic List)

Posted in Writing.

I’m 30 this year. Granted, it’s almost as close to the end of the year as it can be (see below), but it’s still this year. Like most people with an impending ‘milestone’ birthday, I want to mark it in some way. And not just with a massive party, although I’d like one of those too (family, take note).

No, I’d quite like to work my way through a ’30 before 30′ list. And before you say it, I know. They’re cheesy. Like, horribly cringeworthy. “Swim with dolphins”, “do a skydive”, “learn a new language” – earnest pursuits to get out of the way before the big 3-0 hits and you give up life to raise children. That’s how these things usually work.

But I’m not interested in enriching my life or improving my intellect. I want to have fun. So this is my 30 before 30 list. Warning – contains gin, piercings and tattoos (family, take note).

Updates in italics!

1. Get a nose piercing
I’ve wanted one for years and never had the nerve, but now I’m totally ready for a teeny gold stud.
Done! It hurt. A lot. Here’s a pic.

2. ~~Cut my hair off~~
~~This is an easy one for me – I’ve had all sorts of hair lengths and colours over the years. It’s time for the extensions to come out!~~
Done! And here’s the proof.

3. Go to a roller derby
I absolutely love rollerskating. I’d love to go watch the Leeds Roller Dolls in action and maybe have a go myself… failing that, a roller disco would be similarly awesome.
Sadly I didn’t do this before turning 30… one for the 31 list!

4. Have a least 10 spa treatments
Because they’re amazing, restorative and so worth the money.
12 in total! Done.

5. Learn to cook
Ok, so this is a little earnest. And I can cook, but I want to learn more and be better.
I totally lost my way with this around July time and my eating habits descended into Pizza Hut territory. Whoops.

6. Visit San Francisco
My beautiful friends Adam and Heidi moved to San Fran last year and I’m determined to get out there to see them.
Ok, so I didn’t quite manage it in my 30th year but we’ve booked our flights for May 2016 so I consider this… done!

8. Do a 10+ mile walk
I did a 10 mile walk in 2013 for St Gemma’s Hospice and loved it. Not sure I’m ready for the Three Peaks, so something a little less intense would be great.
I did the 16 mile Yorkshire Three Peaks Valleys walk!

9. Go to a gin tasting
I love gin but I’m so set in my ways – Hendrick’s with cucumber or Gordon’s with lemon. I’d love to go to a proper tasting session at Lazy Lounge ~~in Leeds and mix it up a bit!~~
I did the Lazy Lounge gin tasting in November and it was super fun… if a bit heavy! Did you know the history of gin is actually quite devastating?!

10. Bake a cake
I literally cannot do this. Every cake I’ve attempted has been a disaster – maybe this will be the year I pull it off?
Gonna be honest – I didn’t even attempt this. But I *did* bake mince pies at Christmas so… progress?

11. Volunteer [updated]
After the election results I’ve felt a real need to be a more active member of my community, so I’m looking into volunteering at my local food bank or at the very least, donating some food.
I set up a monthly donation to Amnesty International, I raised money for Heart UK and I donated lots of food to my local food bank. And I’ve started the ball rolling on a volunteering opportunity for the coming months, so… done AND ongoing!

12. Go on a girls’ holiday
Girls’ holidays are just the best. I’m thinking Ibiza or Dublin.
I went to Lisbon and it was AMAZING! Here’s the vlog and here’s the photo album.

13. Do a yoga workshop
I did an ashtanga class for the first time today and it was tough – I think a workshop would help me understand the movements more.
My interest in yoga petered out right around the time I decided Deliciously Ella was bullshit… so I failed on this. Oh well.

14. Find the perfect jeans
I wear jeans almost every day, and yet I’ve never found my perfect pair. I’d like to go to a specialist denim shop like Donna Ida and treat myself to some designer denim.
They might not be entirely *perfect*, but I rediscovered my love for Joni jeans and now I have three pairs in constant rotation. So I declare this one… done!

15. Try contact lenses
I’ve never worn contact lenses. They freak me out a little. But I’m interested in life without glasses, so…
NOPE. Couldn’t do it. Glasses for life.

16. Have a night out in Liverpool
I’ve heard it’s great. Any recommendations?
Didn’t manage this one, either!

17. Nurture my nails
I’m really into nails at the moment – I’ve been wearing mine long and more pointed, applying almond oil every night to keep them strong. I want to get them perfect!
Until I decided to try acrylics, I was doing really well on this. The acrylics looked perfect but they did screw up my nails just a lil bit… but I’m back on track now and they’re looking much better, so I think this one is DONE.

~~18. Get serious about cycling~~
~~I’ve dabbled in cycling on and off for the last few years, but I really want to do it properly and cycle to my studio.~~
I cycled to work for about 3 months over summer and loved it. I’m definitely a fairweather cyclist and my bike’s been in the cellar since September, but I’m planning to get back on it when it’s a little warmer outside. So, done!

19. Learn to DJ
I’ve done a few ‘sets’ over the years and I love making playlists… I’d never do it professionally, but it’d be good to mix my songs rather than just click ‘next’!
This is the one I’m really annoyed at myself for not even attempting… I did two more ‘sets’ over Christmas and loved it even more, so I’m putting this back on the list for 2016.

20. Explore Scotland
I’d love to go up to Aberdeen and spend more time in beautiful Scotland.
I went to Edinburgh for my 30th and stayed in a completely new part of the city, which was amazing. My favourite trip yet!

~~21. Get another tattoo~~
~~This one’s already in the works – I’m going to Paris in May to get my second piece!~~
Done and done! Thanks Rebecca for tatt number 2 and 3 x

22. Master lipliner
I wear a lot of red lipstick but I’ve never got the hang of lipliner. This is the year.
Lipliner was massive back in early 2015 and I was all over this trend, but then I decided drawing on my lips every day was way too much faff.

23. Read at least 10 books
Can I sneak a final earnest one in? Don’t tell anyone.
I managed about 7 books last year which is a pathetic attempt. Improvement needed.

24. Attempt flower arranging
I have a vague idea that modern floristry might be what I do when I’m through with this social media game. So maybe a course, or just some practise at home?
I bought lots of flowers and did lots of practise – it all looked very pretty, so consider this one done.

25. Get some office space
This one’s happening quite soon – in April I’m moving my business from its current open desk space into a studio of its very own!
I moved into my studio in July – post coming soon!

~~26. Go to the ballet (and not to see The Nutcracker)~~
~~Ballet is one of the most beautiful things to watch, and I’m lucky to live in the same city as Northern Ballet.~~
Done – I saw Romeo and Juliet and it was wonderful!

~~27. Learn how to blend eyeshadow~~
~~I’d love to create a perfectly-blended smoky eye – surely YouTube can help me with this?~~
Getting much better at this after watching loads of Jennie Jenkins videos!

28. Sing karaoke
A few years ago my friends and I were obsessed with Singstar, and I’ve been to my fair share of karaoke bars – there’s nothing like belting out Beyoncé! I’d love to get back into it.
When we went to the Christmas cottage late last year, there was a karaoke machine with a few classic tracks and we had a ball belting them out. Done!

29. See the sunrise over New York City
I want to recreate Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, basically.
Not quite, but as part of our US trip in May we’re visiting NYC and I am determined to do this. So let’s say ‘in progress’.

30. Have afternoon tea at Claridge’s
Wouldn’t that be a great way to spend my 30th birthday?
I missed out on this for my 30th but now I know about Sketch I’m desperate to go. Maybe during my trip to London in March?

Being Well

Posted in Food, Home, Writing.

I’m not entirely comfortable with the word ‘wellbeing’. It sounds a bit faddy and unobtainable, like ‘paleo’ or ‘no carbs’. I don’t think I’ve ever referred to my own ‘wellbeing’ out loud – it’s the kind of word used only at your yoga class or in an online forum for vegetable juicing. But I’m trying to put my sneering judgement aside and embrace elements of a lifestyle that would, at one point, have me snorting into my Diet Coke and reaching for a frozen pizza.

I mentioned in my 2015 goals post that I wanted to take my health more seriously. I’m not really an unhealthy person – I don’t binge eat burgers or sink a bottle of wine a night, but nor do I eat leafy greens and exercise daily. Or like, ever. I’ve never paid much attention to what I’m putting into my body – additives, sugars, trans-fats, whatever. I don’t read ingredients lists. The McDonald’s Double Cheeseburger is in my top 3 foods of all time. I drink a lot of gin.

Aside from food, I’m also very poor at ‘switching off’. Both literally and figuratively – my iPhone is a constant companion. I think about – and carry out – work tasks all day every day, including weekends. I haven’t had a proper, no-work-to-be-done holiday since my honeymoon in 2013. The symptoms of burn out are very familiar to me.

At the beginning of the year I decided to make some changes. I’m quite good at dealing with stress – in fact, I think I thrive on it – so realising something wasn’t right took me longer. I’m the person who says ‘I can do it. No worries. Leave it with me. I’ll have it to you in an hour’. But I needed to be the person who says ‘not today. Maybe next week. I can’t take this on right now’ and closes her laptop.

So, changes were made.

In the pursuit of ‘wellbeing’, I gave up fizzy drinks. I’ve had two glasses in 2015 so far – a vast improvement on my one-can-a-day habit. I don’t drink tea or coffee (aside from the odd Earl Grey when I’m somewhere fancy) and I’ve also cut out squash, so now only really drink water with lemon… and gin and tonics. Obviously.

I also no longer buy ‘diet’ versions of anything. No ‘Lighter than Light’ mayonnaise. No reduced fat butter. No ‘healthy’ ready meals. I read an article that explained what goes into diet food to make it look and taste like normal food and it seriously turned me off for life. I’d rather have less of the real deal than lots of an artificial hybrid.

Food is an area I find difficult, because processed stuff is literally amazing. I love pizza and burgers and Pepperamis and crisps. But I am trying. Vegetable crisps with homemade guacamole, for example. Bananas with natural yoghurt and honey made by my mum. Wholewheat pasta. Dark chocolate. I’m making subtle changes where I can, because life is still for living and dieting is seriously boring.

I don’t want to be thin, I want to be well.

On the lifestyle front, I’m pleased with the small changes I’ve made. I’ve started going to yoga once a week which I find amazingly relaxing – a whole hour away from my phone, no screens in sight and 10 minutes with a lavender eye bag at the end. I went on a spa day and had the most brilliant full body massage (at Eastthorpe Hall, which I thoroughly recommend), which made me realise regular massages should absolutely be ~a thing~ in my life. I’m trying to be better at scheduling client content over the weekend, so I can leave it to post automatically. Little things like closing the laptop to properly watch a film or leaving the office for an afternoon walk are making a big difference to how I feel.

This is definitely an ongoing thing – a journey, if you will. I’ll always get a Diet Coke refill in Nando’s (it’s just common sense) and I’ll still Instagram my way through a ‘relaxing’ weekend away. But I’m hoping there will be more balance, and I’ll manage to find some ‘wellbeing’ in among a busy life.

I might even say the word out loud.

How To Wear Doc Marten Boots

Posted in Daily Outfits, Fashion.

My first outfit post of 2015! In the last few months I’ve really stepped back from daily outfit photos – I started to find the stress of creating a ‘blog-worthy’ outfit too much to deal with in a busy life. Maybe I’ll pick them back up when the weather is warmer and I’m not just wearing a daily rotation of black, navy and grey knitwear, but we’ll see.

I did, however, snap a few photos of today’s outfit, because I wanted to write about my DMs while in my current state of total infatuation. So here we go!

I generally stay away from chunky footwear – I have size 8 feet, so anything that adds extra inches is simply unnecessary. DMs have always been in the ‘no-go’ area of fashion – too big, too clunky, too much. And I’ve always had that underlying fear that I’m just not cool enough to pull them off.

But then snow came to Yorkshire. One trip out in my (blatant-fashion-accessory) wellies and a falling over later, and I decided I needed some practical boots. Not pointy toed suede Zaras or leather Chelseas with soles as smooth as an ice rink, but actual, proper, all-weather boots. So I went into Schuh and tried some on.

As soon as these shearling-lined, super-grippy baes were on my feet, they weren’t coming off. And not only because they’re actually really difficult to get off (so. many. laces). I bought my DMs about 3 weeks ago and I haven’t worn any other shoe since. There’s something really satisfying about stomping along in them – they take on the worst of Yorkshire’s weather with ease and they’re insanely comfortable. Tick, tick.

If, like me, you’re used to a more refined sort of shoe, DMs can take some getting used to. I tend to wear mine with black, grey, navy and denim to keep things classic without straying into 90s Alt Kid territory. Here are a few silhouettes I find work well:

– With leggings (Zara and Topshop do great thick ones) and an oversized knit
– With skinny jeans and a loose white shirt
– With a smock dress and tights
– With a leather skirt and jumper

My DMs have a shearling lining so they were really comfy from the start, although I know the classic boots take a bit of breaking in. I’m tempted to buy a maroon pair without the lining for the summer months – how cute would they look with floaty dresses and denim cut-offs? So Gwen Stefani circa 1998!

What To Do If You’ve Screwed Up Your Tax Return

Posted in Writing.

At this time of year, the self-employed people in your life might appear slightly more stressed than usual. They may have a bit of a grey tinge, look sweaty and pale or carry a calculator on them at all times. The reason?

Tax return season.

Being entirely responsible for your own tax liability is terrifying. Seriously terrifying. And although the concept is seemingly straightforward (save 20% of whatever you earn), it’s very easy to screw it all up. So, if you’re currently experiencing a breakdown while surrounded by Excel spreadsheets that just don’t add up and receipts for stationery you bought a year and a half ago, here are my tips.

Panic, then get a grip

I think a little bit of panic is good. It shows you’re serious about the situation, and you want to fix it. Being blasé about tax is never a good look.

Once you’ve finished panicking, get yourself together and start tackling things head-on.

Check, check and check again

If your accounts just don’t make sense and things aren’t adding up, check again. Get someone else to check. Run the figures until you’re certain they’re right. Things might even out, but if they don’t…

Speak to an accountant

I can’t recommend this enough. If you’re in a pickle with your accounts and you just can’t see a way out, speak to a pro. It’s not your job to know the ins and outs of our very complicated tax system, but it is an accountant’s. Unless you are an accountant. But then you probably won’t need this advice.

Call HMRC (early)

The Inland Revenue (or whatever it’s called these days) is not as scary as you think. If you can’t make your payment next week, you’re unsure about how to process your payment on accounts or things just aren’t making sense, give them a call. They’re (usually) very helpful, knowledgeable and understanding. Just call bang on 8am when the lines open, otherwise you’ll be waiting on hold for the rest of your natural life.

Set up a payment plan

If you’ve miscalculated and just can’t stretch to your full bill come 31st Jan, you can arrange a payment plan with HMRC and split the remainder into more manageable monthly sums.

Don’t think you’re going to prison

Seriously. It will be fine. You are not Starbucks.

Bedroom Details

Posted in Home.

Rob and I have been in our house just over a year now, and it’s finally taking shape. I don’t have my hardwood floors or Smeg fridge quite yet, but the rest is looking pretty good. Here are a few photos from my bedroom.