6 and a half months on

Precisely 195 days ago, I moved in with Rory after living at home my whole life. In the last 6 and a bit months, I've learnt so much about myself  (namely how I cannot budget) and what it's like, pretending to be an adult. First thing's first, you actually have to pay for shit things, like a TV license and a landline *rolling eye emoji*.  Goodbye trainer buying, goodbye MAC makeup, goodbye getting my nails done every two weeks (how high maintenance of me). Welcome to this new way of life.

If you're in the midst of moving into your own home, I will pass on my five wisest bits of wisdom. If you're considering it, take these tips into consideration because some of us have learnt the hard way.

1. SAVE SOME MONEY

Whoooops a diddler. Not my strongest point. Before we moved in, between us we hadn't saved a bean which proved to be a smidge of an issue when wanting to make the house our home. Things you totally take for granted, such as paint, soon add up to cost a fortune so save, save, save before you move in. It'll mean everything you want will be in place far quicker.

2. SET EVERYTHING UP BY DIRECT DEBIT

If you have a terrible memory and work full time, remembering to pay for the gas, electric, water, Sky, home insurance and any other bills will prove to be difficult. This will save you so much unnecessary stress and will mean you won't get the hideous reminders through the post about 

forgotten bills.

3. BE CAREFUL WHERE YOU LIGHT CANDLES

Did you know window sills can catch fire? Yep, me neither. They can though, as I learnt from first hand experience. They melt and they turn brown, who knew?

4. ALWAYS HAVE SPARE LIGHTBULBS

There is nothing more distressing than wanting to eat later in the evening and your lightbulbs in the kitchen all being blown. There are only 3 options at this point; not to eat, use your phone as a torch to navigate or fumble to the fridge and use the light inside as your light source. *NB - also make sure your lazy arsed boyfriend will fit said lightbulbs.

5. STAY FRIENDS WITH YOUR PARENTS

This is quite self explanatory - especially the week before payday. It's like going food shopping, but FREE!

Do you have some tips for those who have moved out? Or who are moving out? 

xA

Update number 2

So, today is a week on from my first post. Remember how I said this would be to keep me busy over the summer holidays? Yep, I'm full of shite. Instead this week, I have been to York for my Mam's birthday, eaten out (shock) and had one too many rose wines (shock).

Before I begin rabbeting on again, I would like to thank everyone who has read this little blog. The support I've had from my friends for pottering on doing this has been wonderful and I have received nothing but kind words from everyone which I am very grateful for. However, Rory, if you are reading this, soz this one isn't an emotional heartfelt post about you, you miserable shite.


Back to business...

In this post, I would like to share two of my favourite beauty related finds in a while. One of these is Shanghai Nails, a little nail shop in North Shields which is not only a bargain but has the nicest staff. As you may be able to tell by the name, the staff are Chinese, much like the infamous Hollywood Nails. I, like many others, have used Hollywood for my nails for years, despite constantly vowing never to go back. Once the nails are off, you're left with peeling nails, sore cuticles and ruined nail beds. My own personal horror story was a man leaving the drill on my nail for too long and burning a hole in the middle of my nail. Yup. Disgusting. If only they were on TripAdvisor.

Back to Shanghai. Although it looks a dump from the outside, the staff are lovely and I picked up a set of infills, gel polish and jewels for less than £20. I can't stop recommending this place to people, even those who don't live local.

My next special find is East Terrace Hair in Newcastle. Prior to having my first appointment here a year or so ago, I had been a customer of another well established hairdressers in Newcastle. However, that relationship soon went sour when the hairdresser didn't protect my clothes from the bleach and ended up bleaching a £35 t-shirt.

Earlier in the year, my lovely hairdresser helped me go from a chocolate brown to blonde in one session and earlier this week I went grey! That's right, a full on blue rinse. I LOVE IT!

Nothing is impossible for the team and they are so friendly, I can't imagine going anywhere else. They don't even mind when I show up with my unbrushed hair!

My new grey hair!

My hair transformation in March - brunette to blonde.

Have you found any new beauty places you can't stop raving about?

xA

It's beginning...

I sit here,  alone in the darkness of my cosy living room and I realise - I am not fulfilled by my life. "Fulfilled" may be the wrong word to classify this feeling: I have an excellent career, an amazing group of friends, supportive and caring family and a boyfriend who cares for me deeply.  And as I write this, I think, 'where is this coming from?'

I blame (partially) the disparaging holiday blues which have surfaced since I returned from Ibiza on Friday. I also blame the ever so slight hangover raging at the back of my oh-so fragile head, sitting there as a result of too much cheap, sweet rosé wine which I downed in celebration for my mother's 50th birthday. I blame the gluttonous pig within me, who ate two afternoon teas this weekend, the taste of clotted cream still rife on my tongue. However, the key issue which needs mentioned, is the fact that I have just watched Kylie Jenner's snapchat and I watched in awe as she took a makeup bag, a blazoned with the dripping lip logo on her other cosmetics. As I looked, I knew I needed one. Will I get one? No, because they will all be sold within minutes!!

And here I am.

Alone, half watching James Bond, waiting for my tumble drier to finish. Thrilling. I've flicked through Pinterest, looking for inspiration for healthy smoothies and ogled the perfect winged liners that the beauty gurus upload. Toenails were freshly painted Friday, hair washed yesterday, my acrylic nails are going to be filled in tomorrow. No tasks left to complete.

I have considered watching more episodes of Sons of Anarchy on Netflix whilst Rory is out with his friends, but it will only lead to a disagreement if I already know what is happening in Charming.

Then it hit me, as I scrolled past another tanned, size 8 model with a taught tummy wearing a crop top. I will start a blog. A blog where I can write how I actually feel about my constant battle with my ever changing weight and the atrocious diets I follow to become this girl in said cropped top. How I feel about my work. How I feel about the most recent visit to my favourite burger restaurant. How I feel about the latest beauty product I've lusted over for months and when it's finally arrived in my little, orange hands, it's in fact, shit.

And now, here I am. Daydreaming of the possibilities: should I start a new Instagram, Twitter and email address with the same tag line as this blog? Probably not, even though it will be an instant regret. So, there it is. I'm doing this. I wonder if this will continue tomorrow when my nails are too long to tap at my poor, broken iPad. Let's wait and see.

xA