2015 Reading Challenge: Update!

Hello all and welcome back. Today I'm doing an updated ‘2015 Reading Challenge’, if you want to catch up on the two posts I've done on this so far you can find them HERE and HERE. I've been super bust with uni over the past month but wanted to do one of these posts so I've chosen two books which are two of my all-time favourites and one which I read in late December 2014. I'm just about to start One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey so look out for that one in my next update!

Waterstones // £8.99

The first book I've chosen is The Ladies Paradise written by Emile Zola. This fits the category, a book set in a different country, as it is set in France. I read this after watching the TV show The Paradise (On UK Netflix), the show is very very loosey based on the book and is set in Britain rather than France. The book follows the idea of a town getting its first big department store and follows the story of Mouret, the owner of the store, who falls for Denise a shop girl. Denise is kind of portrayed as an underdog character who gets picked on by some of the other girls in the shop, who see themselves as better than her. I really love this book, it’s a classic and is one I go back to time and again if I'm not wanting to start something new.

Waterstones // £7.99

The second book is the one I read – for the second time - in late 2014 and that is Looking For Alaska by John Green. I read this after reading The Fault In Our Stars, and it was recommended to me by my boyfriend who read it before me. I find after reading John Green that his style of writing is so captivating that sometimes the only book that can fill the gap of finishing one of his books, is another of his books! I really enjoyed reading Looking For Alaska, it was better than I was expecting it to be and I ended up not being able to stop reading it once I had started – my favourite quality in a book. If you've read other book by John Green I would definitely recommend this one.

Bought from TKMaxx for £14.99

The final book is one I read 2-3 times a year, or whenever I have nothing to read or just when I'm not in the mood to read something new, and that is, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Now I'm completely obsessed with this book, not just the story but the language used, the characters and really everything it involves! The version I have is the complete Lewis Carroll collection which includes both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, among other Lewis Carroll stories. The category I'm fitting this into is a book with non-human characters and that is simply because not only are many characters non-human but they’re also completely made up!

I hope you enjoyed this reading post, stay golden!
Gracie xo

Seaside walk..

Hello all, welcome back! Spring is my favourite season and recently my boyfriend and I thought we’d make the most of nice spring day and went down to the stretch of beach near us. The sea makes me feel so relaxed and I love collecting shells and bits of sea glass that have been washed up. It was super windy but the sun was out and it was a really lovely day! I hope you enjoy the photos I took and have a great week!
Stay golden! Gracie xo

The last photo is of the sea glass I collected (along with a couple of pebbles), sea glass is basically glass from smashed bottles, windows etc. which has been bashed around by the sea against rocks which smooths away the sharp edges, I find it really pretty and my mam has a jar filled with it in our bathroom so it's a nice reminder of home when I see my little collection.

March Skincare Favourites

Hi all, welcome back! This week I wanted to share with you some constant skin care favourites which I have been using throughout March and which I have been loving! Some are new products and others are old favourites

These first two products are ones I have been using on and off since January (I've done a blog post on the body lotion here) however I really got into them in March. It’s been unseasonably warm recently which led to me being very pale and unprepared and getting slight sunburn on my shoulders, the Sanctuary body lotion really helped with this, not only does it smell lovely but it’s super lightweight and moisturising which helped with the sore skin 100%! The hand cream from Vaseline is one that I have again been using loads recently to keep my eczema at bay, it smells lovely and soaks quickly into the skin.

The next three products I have been using are face products, starting with these Simple Kind to Skin brightening face wipes. I use these on days when I've not been wearing make-up to clean my face before bed, they make my skin feel clean and are super sensitive. Next up is the Q10 face cream from Aldi, this is a really nice face cream which isn't too thick or thin and it also has SPF 15. Finally, my holy grail lip balm which is Vaseline, this is such a multi-purpose product and this conditioning version is especially great to heal your lips if you share my terrible habit of biting them!

I hope you liked my skin care favourites, check back next week for a new post!

Stay golden! Gracie xo

New Years Resolutions update

Hello all and welcome back! This week I'm going to be updating you on my gym routine and overall fitness. Earlier on in the year I did a post all about my New Years Resolutions and one of those was to get in the gym and improve my fitness and health and maybe even lose a little weight in the process.

Before I tell you about what I do and show you some of the clothes I wear to the gym let me tell you a little about my overall fitness/weight loss journey! I've always been plus size and naturally gain weight very easily, but I'm also not a naturally active person and have inherited a killer sweet tooth from my mam, thanks for that!

I work out in the gym for an hour, 3 times per week but sometimes I do choose to go for a walk/jog outside instead, I find if I've been in lectures all day I'm craving fresh air and a leg stretch so that works better for me. I had a shock aged 16 when I found myself just finished my GCSE’s and gaining not only qualifications but also weighing 13 stone 9lbs, this was the heaviest I had been in my life and I was only getting heavier, my plan of action was to go on a very strict diet (mine before this was shockingly unhealthy), lowering my portion sizes and going to the gym 3-4 times per week. 

I lost 3 stone in just over three months at which point I was nearly 10 stone and a lot happier with myself, the diet I was on wasn't ‘me’ enough to be long term so I slowly started increasing treats (but still kept them low) and kept on with the gym, this got my weight to level out at 11 stone and it has remained pretty stable ever since. Fast forward 2 years and due to exam stress from my A-levels (I eat when I'm stressed) I’d gone up to 12 stone 8lbs and although this isn't much over what I had been I knew if I didn't act I would soon be unhappy with my weight again. 

Now I'm at university I have a cheap gym 3 mins away and I'm in control of everything I eat all day every day. I try to eat as much fruit and veg as possible and try to keep my diet balanced and healthy while still having the odd treat- I'm a sucker for Cadbury’s chocolate! Now let me show you what I wear to the gym…

Everything here has now been discontinued (typical) however I'll attach links to the brand website or to similar items!

Trainers - Avia, these have curved soles to work your legs more while you train

Sports bra - Sports Direct, I have a seriously flat chest so wear this more for comfort than support

iPod touch, 4th generation

iPod case from eBay

Running headphones from Best Buy in America

Running leggings - Matalan, these have a tiny zipped pocket on the back perfect for putting a gym card/house key in

I don't buy expensive gym gear since I can't afford it but I love the stuff from Matalan and also from Sainsbury's. When you're working out the most important thing is that you're comfortable so don't worry if you're not in branded stuff. Also remember that you should do whatever you're happy with, whether that's working out 7 days a week or none. Body confidence isn't about other people, it's about you and if you're happy with your body and yourself then that's what's important!

I hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse into my life and fitness and I'll have another post up on Sunday!

Stay golden! Gracie xo