It's Time for a Catch Up

Hello everyone!  Long time no blog...

Okay, i'm not sure what that intro was but it has been a fair while since my last post and I feel a bit rusty haha! Since restrictions in the UK have been lifting, we have been able to see more people and do more things and I have made the most of it! 

I forgot how busy life was before COVID and now things are opening, I feel like I don't want to turn anything down with the fear I will regret not doing it if anything like this were to happen again. So, I have said yes to pretty much everything and boy has it been busy which means I have not had time to sit down and really get into a blog post. This week I have had a rest week which has certainly done me good. I have been thinking more into the whole work, life, hobbies balance and decided to not take on too much at a time as it burns me out (as it did last week). I am going to try and get a new routine which allows me to do some things but also have me time and work on hobbies and projects too - i'll let you know how I get on in a future post.  But, for now I thought I would share with you some of the things I have been up to over the past 2 months as a kind of catch-up blog.  So, grab a cuppa, and a biscuit and get comfy! 

I would say it was May where things for me began to change and life got busy as we could meet up with family and friends and do more than just go for a walk.  On the first weekend of May, I met my parents and sister for a trip to our favourite zoo to celebrate my sisters birthday.  It was so lovely to be able to go out and celebrate somewhere, especially as on her last birthday we were only allowed out for a daily walk. Luckily it was a sunny day and all of the animals came out to say hello and if you ask me, I would say it seemed like they missed seeing people as they were all showing off and looking their best. It felt nice to be out again and as we were outside we did not have to wear our masks which at some parts did feel very strange as I felt very aware of people, space and how close people were to me when standing by the enclosures. But I think as we have been going out more and life returns to a some what normal I have become used to small crowds and people standing next to me. 

I have also enjoyed meeting up with friends and going out for dinner and drinks whilst sitting indoors at our favourite restaurants/bars and trying new places too!  It has been so lovely to get all dressed up and see each other for a good catch up and I can't to do it more. 

Another trip I have done for the first time in.... well I can't even remember, is to the cinema.  I went with my boyfriend and his family to watch a horror film (my first horror at the cinema) and i'm proud to say I didn't have my eyes closed and fingers in my ears for the whole thing haha!  Some things have changed about how everything works now with food orders done at the same touch screens you buy your tickets, masks worn until in your seats and of course social distancing.  But it felt good to be back and I really enjoyed it!

If you follow me on Instagram (@sweetpea97.blog), you will have seen that my boyfriend and I also took a little trip away to Bournemouth to see his sister.  It was so much fun, we got to go to the beach, shopping, bowling, an escape room and played mini golf (which I didn't loose at haha!).  It was a jam packed weekend but it was great fun and although a little grey it was very warm.  

I have also been working on some projects behind the scenes of my blog which I have loved! One of these is writing and recording a song with my sister.  If you follow me on Instagram you will have sen that over the past 2 months my sister and I have been writing and recording a song with Chart House which hopefully will be released soon- stay tuned!  It has been so much fun coming up with lyrics and a tune and getting to to it together has been amazing.  My sister has been singing and writing music with them for about a year now and when she asked me to do a song with her I couldn't wait (even though I was very nervous).  

Another project I have been working on is setting up my own business.  I know crazy right!  I still can't quite believe it either but I will soon be launching Sweetpea Designs - bespoke handmade table signage for weddings and events.  I have absolutely loved working on this especially working with the lovely Beth from @BeingBethDesigns who has been amazing at helping me with all of branding for my new business. So, keep your eyes peeled for the launch over on Etsy and Instagram. 

One of the best things I have done since restrictions have eased is go and visit family members indoors and give them a hug! It has been so strange only seeing people on a screen, from outside the windows or stood in the doorway that being able to go into the same room as them and hug them has felt amazing! We have all had such a laugh with shopping trips, cocktails and catching up on big announcements.  I wish each visit could have lasted longer but hey, it gives me something to look forward to. 

I have also been accepted to do an events internship which means a change in my career back into the events industry! I am really going to miss my friends at my current job and feel so grateful they took me in a year ago, after being made redundant as a result of the firs lockdown. But, I have really missed the event industry and can not wait to learn more and grow in my dream industry.  

So, I have had a pretty busy 2 months and I have loved every second of it!  We still have a way to go until all of this crazy is over, but I have had my first vaccine and I am ready for weddings, family gatherings and holidays when we can.  But for now I am going to enjoy every minute of the things we can do now and I hope you do too. 

April favourites

I haven’t written a blog post in what feels like forever!  I have just been so busy this month as we are now allowed to go out more and actually see people, which has been lovely and I have really enjoyed.  But, I miss being creative and writing so I thought it was about time I get back to it.

 

I have always loved nosy blog and vlogs where people share what they are loving or doing as I always find these things so interesting to look back on and a good way to discover new products or places. So, I thought I would do a classic April favourites!

Food and Drink

• Nomo Fruit & Crunch Choc Bar – This is going to sound dramatic but omg, this chocolate has changed my life!  If you have been keeping up with my Instagram, you will know I am now dairy free.  I have struggled with dairy for a while and have finally decided enough is enough and I need to stop eating it.  My first thought was what about chocolate (as I much prefer chocolate to sweets) and after trying a few different brands, I discovered this one which is also nut free!  I am honestly in love, the biscuit bits and raisins add more flavour and texture and it doesn’t give me a stomach ache after eating it.  My mum even found an easter egg in this flavour too which was AMAZING!

 

• Water melon gin – I have always been a gin lover and this month I discovered this watermelon gin in Tesco which is only £ - BARGIN!  It is fresh and fruity which is perfect for this time of year.  I like to have mine with lemonade but, if you have tried this with Tonic water let me know if it’s any good.

 

• Pimms – another classic cocktail and since we have been allowed to meet people outdoors, I have been loving having a pimms with strawberries and cucumber!  To me, this is another drink perfect for spring and is a nice easy cocktail to make at home.

Pamper and makeup

• Too faced wash the day away – I have been using this for a little over a month now to take off my makeup and I can honestly say I am hooked!  It smells incredible and leave my face feeling clean and soft (although the ewater looks grim with all my makeup in it haha).  I also feel good when using this as I feel it is better for the environment rather than using wipes.  Although at first it may seem like a lot of money, you only need a small pea size blob to take the day off so it lasts AGES!

 

• Blusher – I say this as a general term because I have been using a few different ones from NARS to Revolution, but I have been loving adding a bit of colour to my cheeks for spring and making my skin look more alive. 

 

• White nail polish – I have always been a lover of white nail polish but I have found this month in particular is has been a subtle way to brighten my outfits without having a major colour clash.

 

• Face masks – I have never really been a big user of face masks as I have always said I don’t have time.  But this month I have made the discovery of wearing a face mask whilst cracking on with other tasks.  I know this isn’t ideal for a chilled pamper session, but when I have stuff to do but still want to give my skin some tlc it’s perfect.  I have found sheet masks are easier if I am having a chilled pamper night as they tend to slip off, but I need to fold washing or something then a classic charcoal mask is great!

Style

 

• Bodysuits – I love spring, however I always find it so hard to choose what to wear as we are in that awkward is it hot or cold?  So, I have been loving bodysuits as they are a perfect layer with a cute cardigan or even under a jumper and if its hot remove the outer layer and you still have a cute top!  Another bonus (which is going to sound rather odd) is that I find with the fabric tighter around my body, it keeps me warmer. 

 

• Cardigans – A spring essential for me is a cardigan!  It is such a cute layer that can keep you warm but can be left undone if too hot.  You can also get them is so many cute colours and thicknesses depending on how much you feel the cold.

 

• French plaits – This has been my go to ‘updo’ style this month.  It is a perfect way to get your hair out of your face without giving you a headache and if left in over night gives you heat free beach waves – another cute look for spring!

Lifestyle 

 

• Reading – I don’t do this often, but when I do I really get stuck in.  I have tried to read in the evenings before bed as a way to wind down and get of my screen after staring at a computer all day my phone in the evening.  Like I say I don’t get to do this often but when I do I feel so relaxed and wake up feeling great! Sometimes it’s nice to just dive into another world, especially during these crazy time haha! I would love to know what you are reading right now as looking for my next read so leave a comment with your suggestions. 

• Running - I never thought I would be a runner, but here we are! I am actually training to take part in the Great South Run in October (more in a future blog post) but although running started out as a training thing, I have actually really enjoyed it.  Now that evenings are lighter and it is warmer it has been lovely to get some fresh air , especially after being stuck in the office all day and I feel amazing afterwards. 

• Being outside - As spring and the sun has made an appearance I have loved being outdoors.  I don’t know what it is but the fresh air just makes me feel so relaxed and if the sun is out too, bonus! Now we are allowed to meet groups of 6 outdoors it has been so lovely to finally see family and friends for a good chin wag and a cocktail! 

• The Queens Gambit - This is a series my mum actually found on Netflix about an orphan who becomes an amazing chess player! I don’t know what it was about the series but I was hooked and would definitely recommend. 

• Stranger things - I have watch this since the beginning but with the idea that a new series may be coming out soon I have started to rewatch all the old series and again I’m hooked! Every episode is a cliff hanger and I want to know more.  I also love the fashion and bright colours! 

• YouTube - i have really gotten back into YouTube and watching videos whilst doing my makeup or eating waffles on a chilled Sunday morning!  My current favourites are Charlotte Morrell ( I love her chatty videos and was inspired from her favourites videos to do this post!) and I am also loving Jess Sheppard’s styling videos - would recommend checking out both of these channels

• Calming music - my anxiety and stress levels have been all over for quite a while now, so I have found my Spotify has been heavily dominated by calming music, especially to fall asleep to.  My go to is the Keystone Nature Sound Piano guys relaxing music with ocean waves.  The sound of the waves with the soft piano really help as I can close my eyes and pretend I am in a relaxing beach somewhere with no worries. 

So, that is some of my April favourites!  I would love to know what you have been loving this month and if you have tired any of the things I have mentioned in this post. 

Things they don't teach in school: how to save/manage money

I have always thought life in your 20s is a decade where you will see huge change as you enter the worlds of adulthood.  When I was younger, I imagined this time would be when you got your dream job, got a house, got married and so on.  But it turns out life is a bit more complicated and expensive then that!

Now I have finished uni and am in the “real” world, I have realised that all of the things may not happen straight away and that is okay! In fact this last year in particular I have found some of my priorities have changed and there are other things I want to do over the next decade.  Of course a lot of these goals are rather expensive, more expensive than I realised. 

The idea of seeing the world or buying a house or having a family seems so easy when you are a kid.  My sister and I would play pretend and buy a house for £100, hope on a plane to go on a family holiday with no idea how much it all cost.  Now I actually wanting to do these things myself, I can only dream that a nice house would cost £100 and you could just hop on a plane a go abroad haha! 

Money among many other adulting things isn’t really something that is taught about in school, it is something you either learn about from your parents or figure it out as you go.  So I wanted to star a little series and share some tips and advice on those things they don’t teach you about in school on my blog in the hope that it helps some of you as you enter the world of adulthood. 

This week, I thought I would share some tips on how to save money. 

I have always thought of myself as being quite good with money and knowing how much I can spend whilst being able to save too. When leaving home and heading to university, I learnt a lot of about money and the priorities of saving and spending as well as learning some tricks to help save. After taking out expenses of student accommodation, I didn’t have any student loan left for myself.  So I was extremely lucky and my parents would give me £30 a week.  At first you may read this and think that’s amazing, £30 to go out and have a good time! No.  This £30 had to pay for food, toiletries, cleaning products, using the washing machine/tumble dryer, nights out and any other things like new clothes etc.  So, I had to be very clever with my money in order to make this last. 

Here are my tips that not only helped me get through university, but life since leaving university: 

• Be aware of your monthly or weekly income - knowing exactly how much you have coming into your account is a good start to saving money as you are aware of your incomings. 

• Know your monthly or weekly bills -Things like rent, phone bills etc. all need to be taken into account so you know how much of your incomings you need to save to cover these costs. I would even recommend putting an alarm on your calendar to remind you of when this money is due to come out.

• Have a savings account - This is so important as the money you put in here is harder to spend because you don't have a card for it.  You can take the idea of having a savings account that step further and set up a standing order where each week or month you put in a set amount of money.  By doing this, even if it is £5 a week, it will add up. I now have a help to buy ISA too so I can put away a set amount for a house and then use my savings account to save for things like holidays.

• Are there any special occasions coming up - by looking at this you can decide how much you are going to put aside for this occasion when looking at your expenses for the week/month. Remember not only do you have to think about the gift, you also have to think about what you doing so are you going out for drinks or dinner, have you got an outfit, are you getting a taxi etc.  The more you can plan, the more you will know how much you’ll have left in your account. 

• Think.  Do you really need it - We all like to treat ourself but it is so important to get into the habit of thinking do I REALLY need it and am I REALLY going to use it enough make up for spending.  This can be the case for so many things like clothes, gadgets even a car. You can also look at it with food and drinks.  Yes, I could buy a meal deal every day for work, or I could take in packed lunch and make my own hot beverage. This lockdown has also taught me to enjoy home cooked meals where you don't always need to go out for a date night, you can still cook a nice steak and save a few pound! 

• Sell to spend - this is something I got into over the first lockdown.  I have always loved a good clear out even when I was little giving old toys to charity etc.  But last year I began to do a rule where if I sold an item of clothing I no longer wear I could use this money to treat myself to a new item.  Obviously I still stuck to the do I need it rule and if I didn’t the money I made from selling I put away in my savings. But this is a good habit to get into as it helps with money and storage! 

• Look for the bargins - I don't know about you, but I love a good bargin and I try to shop in the sale or use a discount code/coupon where I can.  When it comes to buying food, not only should you look for the deals but the dates to find the products that will last the longest - I even lift up the palettes in Tesco as the later dates are often at the bottom! You could take this one step further and put the difference into you savings account, so if you buy some bread on sale for £1.50 when it should have been £2 you can put that 50p difference into your savings account.  I know this may not sound much, much every penny counts. 

• Classic penny jar - I have always had a penny jar since I can remember and now my boyfriend and I have one where we put any loose change.  We have now decided to collect pound coins too as it is surprising how quickly it can all add up.  This money can then be used for holiday spending money or even a date night (obviously we would have to cash it in to the bank as it might look a little odd paying for dinner with a load of pennies haha!)

So, those are some of my top tips for how to save money.  I would love to know in the comments if you use any of these or if you have any other ways of saving money!