Getting creative

Being creative isn't only fun, but it is a hobby with many benefits. It is suggested that expressing ourselves creatively can prevent the urge to buy impulsively and save money. It not only gives you a deeper sense of fulfilment, but learning to make things can prevent the need to buy as much. It is also linked to helping to combat stress, and considered a form of meditation.

I've never been one of those that excels in art, so I will never try to persuade any of you to make anything elaborate. However in my quest to get to know more creative hobbies I may enjoy, I have tried a few activities that sound appealing to me.

I did it in my teens - trying to collect my gig tickets, gathering pictures of friends etc but somewhere along the way it has been lost. However, moving to Ipswich at the end of last year, I was keen to get involved in something new. This is where I came across two interesting classes with Craftability- jewellery making and scrapbooking. Although I think they are only local to Ipswich, I think it's always good to look things up locally. I simply searched for things I was interested in e.g. jewellery making, knitting and crochet and a few things popped up. I suggest doing the same! I'm working a lot of Saturdays at the moment and most of these workshops seem to take place on weekends. 

Since my necklace didn't survive a recent night out, I won't be discussing that. It wasn't that the class wasn't good; it was more of a reflection on my talents. The heart broke off and another part fell off later in the day. It didn't even last 24hours! 

Onto scrapbooking...

I loved it! Like I said I'd done it before, but nothing fancy. Sticking pictures down, maybe decorating with glitter or given some kind of heading. The workshop taught me to use  backgrounds, reminded me how to cross-stitch, putting shapes and even using double-backed tape (you can't underestimate my excitement there). 

It would probably be more fun to do a step-by-step process, but honestly can't remember it too much. It was all about getting the measurements right and adding my own touches. For example, the sample one only had two photos for this one, but didn't like the blank space. I also used different tools to make the paper curl round or stitching that circle was the longest; as I needed several different strings and threading that needle!

I love the colours and different textures to try for this one. I also enjoyed using the stick-on pearls and would be tempted to use so many more! I made a glue mess on the graduation picture so covered it with a square and the snowflake. However think it now looks odd! 

I haven't done anymore scrapbooking, but would definitely attend another workshop as it was only £7.50 and just asked you to bring your own photos. You received teaching of techniques and use of appropriate materials. The workshops are on Saturdays, but the next one I hear I can do, I will be doing so fast. In the meantime, I need to print more pictures off and get scrapbooking! 

I hope you enjoyed my more creative post. I came across the Make it Monthly post by Whimsical Mumblings, and knew I needed to get involved. It was all about craft and sharing your wonderful creations. I thought it would be great to discuss my recent scrapbooking, and can hopefully encourage me to do more fun crafty things!

For any bloggers reading, feel free to get involved in the fun. I'd love to read and be more inspired to be creative. 

Goal progress in January

I thought it might fun to include how I'm getting on with my goals. When I've read the progress of others in fitness or other goals, I find it highly motivating. Let me know what you think as I might do them quarterly rather than monthly.

1. Passing my driving test

The progress is there. I have already paid for 10 hours, and done 6 hours of driving lessons. I am making great progress. I've noticed more confidence leaving the roundabout and knowing when to go, which is my ultimate fear. I really hope to keep progressing. It is great since it's the first time even been driven around Ipswich. However also noticed new instructors have different priorities and notice new things you're bad at.

2. Go abroad

I really hope to do this, but this is not a priority just yet. I think I may visit a friend who lives in Norway now, but then again it is more costly to visit than to get there. Seen flights for under £100 return but know it is expensive to buy and do things!

3. See at least 3 gigs this year

I've looked a little, but not seen much I fancy. I'm booked to see comedian, Jon Richardson in September and had hoped to see Ed Sheeran. Unfortunately I couldn't get tickets, but hopeful I will think of other performers to see.

4. Start yoga again

I've looked into local classes, but am nervous to start any alone. I have also tried looking at few youtube videos. For anyone else wanting to try yoga, I noticed a fab post published by Saccharine-soul. I've actually tested a few of the routines suggested here. Although I'm not a beginner, I'm not confident enough to move onto intermediate or more advanced.

5. Do a charity challenge

I've enquired about doing the Great Wall of China in aid of the British Red Cross. I love how you will help rebuild it too. However I know the work it took to fundraise for climbing Kilimanjaro and had the resources there: supportive work colleagues, uni support, friends to attend events, and just don't  have that locally.

I'm also considering trying an abseil again. I've seen an abseil for the local hospital which sounds so fun. Anyone who knows me will know how gutted I was to have let down a favourite charity, when I couldn't take on the 160ft abseil off forth rail bridge. This was despite doing a 10,000 ft skydive, a bungee jump and climbing Kilimanjaro in the past. I feel doing this will really boost my confidence again. It will also be something fantastic to really look forward to. I fear I may have an anxiety attack again, but doesn't feature my ultimate fear of bridges.

6. Pursue creative hobbies

I've gone to both a jewellery making and scrapbooking classes. From this, I'm unsure I will try this again as the necklace broke to pieces and didn't make it to feature in this post. I've done scrapbooking before and learnt some new techniques, and would love to go again.

I'm proud that I actually stitched the gold circle...

I still want to learn to make bracelets, but going to look at Youtube to learn that one!

7. Lose weight

I'm really happy with my progress in this. I've had compliments from family members on the look of my skin and how much healthier I look, which is obviously a huge confidence boost. Most of all, I love the boost to my energy and how much happier this has had me.

This has only been from small steps - walking at least 30 minutes a day, drinking lots of water (admittedly I did this well already), adjusting my attitude to portion sizes and actually eating more fruit/veg. Instead of thinking, "oh, I've got a few more of these I might as well finish", I just stop eating when I'm full. Instead of cutting out sweets or chocolate, I eat what I fancy and then don't crave it as much. I've even started craving things like crisps or cheese, which is so unlike me! 

8. See more films from my list

If you like my facebook page, you will have seen that I received lots of DVDs and watched them. Please refer to the review on the films I watched here. This month, I've seen 12 off my list and 13 in all. I hope I can beat this in February as I've watched more DVDs than my usual Netflix.

9. See friends more

There are no plans yet, but this is important to me with many friends living in Scotland. With the closest friend being about 400 miles away, it is essential and especially with friends getting married, having babies and getting promotions, not seeing them as often can feel like missing out.

10. Walk dogs more

I have been walking the dogs on almost every day off, and actively making the effort to spend more time with them.Cuddles are the best!

11. Do more in spare time

This one is still very much in progress. At the moment, my spare time consists of walking dogs, writing for this blog, promoting the blog, reading and anything that might come up. That doesn't sound hugely exciting, but definitely been feeling more positive.

12. Keep writing

I've not looked into alternative ways to write outside of this blog, but definitely want to. I'm really not sure where to begin on that one!

13. Read more

Already I feel like I'm making great progress on this. Most times I read no more than 4 or 5 books in a year. This month alone, I've already read 6 books. Please refer to this post about the books I've read here. I'm looking forward to reading more as part of the Popsugar challenge as discussed here.

How has your January been going? Any tips for me to continue to tick off my goals this year?

The Year Review

Goodbye 2016 and like many others I'm glad to see the back of it. Personally, it's been the toughest year for me, but I learnt so much from it.

This post is all about the big things that happened month by month, and also an opportunity to address new year's resolutions and advice on how to start the year.

January
This was the month that affected the rest of the year because I quit the job I had just started and hated. I quit without a new job, which was the hardest thing I did; I don't regret it as I felt it was necessary, but not going to go into that negative part too much...

I attended a friend's 30th birthday, and then went go-karting the next day (completely hungover and with little sleep). I've always wanted to go-kart, but haven't. It was so much fun. I went for a friend's birthday. For anyone who hasn't done it, we did a tester part, which I failed and then you compete with friends to come 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I failed as didn't know you could brake, but crashing was fun! (Scary to think I'm learning to drive).

More friend birthday events were attended too.

February
After ending a relationship in the end of 2015, I decided to embrace alone time more. Living by myself and working independently.

I started to enjoy doing independent things such as attending my first gig alone, which was terrifying. I realised friends didn't all have the same interests as me, so I needed to not that stop me doing what I wanted to.

One of my closest friends, Jools had been with her boyfriend for 6 years and he proposed. I was so happy for her solemate to finally do it! I jokingly asked for many years when he'd do it, and he finally did! Jools called me immediately after and asked me to be her Maid of Honour, which I was so happy about. I talked about the joy of being asked to be a bridesmaid in one of my posts this year, but can't seem to find which post it was. If I can, I will update with the post.

March

It was a long month trying to get sorted with jobs and had temporary positions, but money just dried up. I made the hard decision to move away from Dundee, away from friends and move back with parents, who had now moved to the Isle of Wight.

April 
I actually made the plunge at the start of the month and moved back with parents. First, my grandparents who were slightly closer and lived in Yorkshire visited me. They then helped me move my stuff into their car, I stayed at theirs for a few days (that was bizarre being in the small town I once grew up in, and went to school; it had changed a lot, but then was completely the same too). Then we made our way through much more driving and a ferry from Southampton to Isle of Wight.

I also enjoyed taking lots of pictures and discovered I like photography again. Here is a post describing my love for photography.

May
When I was younger (maybe about 5 or 6), we lived with squirrels. Not by choice! They kind of invaded. In May, we discovered we were living with mice. That was fun! We realised when we saw that cous cous had holes in, and when they attempted to get my Dad's peanuts that were kept in a container. For many reasons including this, we hated living in the bungalow. We then made the journey to move to another part of the island. It was good as we moved closer to more shops and just more, more.

June 
While out for a meal to celebrate my Mum's birthday, another friend who proposed to her boyfriend in February asked me to attend her 2018 wedding. Minutes later, I found out my Lisa was the next engaged lady. Her boyfriend of 5 years asked her to marry him, while on holiday. I was over the moon!

July
Lisa asked me and my close friend, Hannah to be one of her bridesmaids. We both received hampers like this:

July was also the month that I started writing this blog. Click here to see the very first post.

August
I started working in a temporary position at Waitrose - working 6.30am to 1.30pm on Saturdays (don't miss those early starts) and 1.15pm to 4.15pm on Sundays (where I rarely finished on time).

I also started working towards improving myself more - attending a six week course of stress workshops,which was great. It taught me things I already knew and new things about sleep, exercise and diet helping to improve stress levels. I recommend this to everyone!

September
I volunteered for a charity called Community Empowerment - helping with bid writing for a few weeks.

I visited my friends in Scotland - travelling to Glasgow, Aberdeen and Dundee. It was a time to meet the other bridesmaids and groomsmen for Jools and Peter's wedding in Glasgow, go shopping, eat out a LOT, quality time with friends and of course attending Lisa's engagement party.

I took a great few pictures, but felt that was hugely personal. Therefore, here is a picture of my subcrawl with Jools and the rest of the groomsmen etc. This is a picture I took with two women who told me that they attended the comic-con that day:

How cool do they look? Shame I look awful!

October
I left Dundee and made my way home at the very start of the month.

For the blog, I took part in Blogtober. Feel free to re-read these posts! I love writing them and expanding my ideas of what to write about.

It was also my 24th birthday, which was unfortunately a bit disappointing - not seeing my friends, not doing anything special but got everything I could possibly ask for.

November

Due to certain circumstances, we needed to move again, so on the 26th November, we moved to Ipswich.

Before leaving the island, I enjoyed volunteering for the local hospice on the island. Helping to promote their Santa Dash event, working on admin tasks for the fundraising team and generally helping where I could.

December
I learnt that there will be more surprises to come in 2017 and lots more to look forward to besides engagements and weddings.

I also took part in Blogmas, where I wrote 12 posts on the lead-up to Christmas and the new year.

I also volunteered at the local Ipswich Hospital charity assisting in wrapping presents and taking presents to the children's ward. It really bought home the spirit of giving during the festive period. I hope I will do it again next year as it was truly the best fun!

Finally, I had the best Christmas I've had as an adult - spending it with parents, getting everything I could ask for and relaxing. Then seeing grandparents a few days after to celebrate all over again!

As I draw to the end of the first 2017 post, I'd like to say a few things about the new year, and advice on making the most of it:

1. Dust
Like the motto: "Tidy house, tidy life" or it goes something like that! I think there is something therapeutic about starting afresh with a more organised and tidy start to your house and life. I have been dusting my room today, as living with parents I can't always control the rest of my surroundings.

2. Sort out things
This is said in a very broad sense. Yesterday started with me tidying drawers which didn't have set places for things. Now I have folders with stationery, financial/important information and medical stuff. Everything has it's place! It was also the first time to find places for things as moving I still feel, not everything has a home just yet!

3. Get rid of crap!
I often find that I do a spring clean in autumn - getting rid of clothes, DVDs, books etc, all the things I don't need or have used. However I've decided I've already accumulated so much rubbish since moving. I suggest you do it at the start of any new year - it's great!

4. Set realistic goals/resolutions
So many people fail at their New Year Resolutions, but I strongly believe it's because they look at it the wrong way. Every year I love to set goals, more like plans for what I wish to do in the new year. I don't get disappointed if I don't do them all as they are mainly ideas of what I would like to achieve over time. Here are some pictures of ones I set in previous years:

2009 New Year Resolutions

2011 New Year Resolutions

I love organising things for the new year.

5. Keep organised
Get a diary or calendar to make sure you don't miss a single appointment or engagement. Organise yourself in any way that might help. With my new planner, I can now budget, keep a to-do list and plan my meals to get healthier.

6. Plan
Make your plans for the year for holidays, career and anything you feel needs improving.

7. Do YOU!
I'm not sure what to add here, as you know what you need to do for yourself - I don't. I want to start looking after myself more - moisturising and exfoliating my body, concentrating on things that matter to me and help achieving goals.

8. Get back to work
Christmas and New Year's Day is now over, so you're either back at work or getting ready to properly start the new year. I wish you well, and hope you all work to achieve what you want both personally and professionally. I'm excited to get to it!