Making small steps to a more sustainable life

Hey!

I hope you are all well! 

Over the next few weeks I want to cover a few topics I feel really passionate about. 

 I love fashion, I have a degree in that forte but as I get older I am becoming more aware of my surroundings and what kind of a world we live in. As I think about the future for young people today and the earth I will leave behind for my children I feel I have more responsibility than ever to look after the world we live in and do what I can for nature. Yeah I love fashion and love wearing nice clothes but is it actually bringing any good into the world? No! 

Lately I have become more passionate about natural living, doing good in the world and trying to live a more sustainable life. Thinking about what I am wearing, using, putting into my body externally and internally. I have been trying to maintain a sustainable lifestyle for a while but as me and my boyfriend have just bought a house I thought what better way to have a clean slate and really give this sustainable living a good go. 

Small steps make big changes so I am sharing with you a few things you can start off with if you too want to help the planet. 

Starting off with this book by Jen Chillingsworth '52 Steps for a more sustainable life'. 

In this book you will find some great tips and tricks on how to make changes in your home and lifestyle over the course of a year. It includes making your own cleaning products, shopping vintage, using less plastic and many more interesting things! I am starting off by reading the whole book and then slowly incorporating certain ideas into my home and lifestyle. I am really enjoying it so far and it has given me some great ideas. I recommend this if you are just starting out properly like me and need some inspiration and ideas easily at hand. 

Next up is organic sanitary products. This is a topic which I recently covered on my Instagram story.

Some of you may not realise that with non-organic sanitary products you may be putting pesticides, chlorine, and all sorts of potentially toxic chemicals into your body. When buying sanitary products the bad ingredients to look for are things like chlorine, non-organic cotton, fragrance, rayon and BPA.

I want to do a whole blog post covering this topic so I won't go into too much detail right now but non-organic sanitary products are so harmful to the environment. A conventional sanitary pad contains the equivalent of 4 plastic bags! 

Using organic sanitary protection means they are plastic free, perfume free and chlorine free. They are made from certified organic cotton and are biodegradable. Other waste free products you can use is the moon cup but I am not yet brave enough to try that out. My favourite organic sanitary brand is Natracare and I have also just bought some organic tampons from TOTM. 

Better for the environment and better for our bodies, its a win win!

Re-usable take out cups. 

I personally don't ever buy drinks from places like Costa because I used to work there and know how overpriced it all is but I do like my cup of tea on my way to work in the mornings. If you take your own coffee cup to a coffee shop they usually offer a small discount for bringing your own. 

The paper cups they provide are actually covered in a plastic paste known as polyethylene, this prevents the cups from being recyclable. 

6.5 million trees cut down each year for a paper cup

4 billion gallons of water wasted per year

Enough energy to power 54,000 homes wasted per year

BRING your own cup! 

I got mine from Primark, it has a silicone lid, is BPA free and glass. 

Other great brands include Keep Cup as they are made from glass too. 

My next favourite is using a natural deodorant. Now, I know the deodorant is in a plastic container BUT one of these seriously lasts me about 6 months. 

A conventional deodorant contains triclosan, formaldehyde, parabens, diethanolamine, aluminium, aerosol (as propellant) etc like chemicals. All of these have bad effects on the body as well as the environment and most are unaware with the severe damage caused by deodorants. - www.naturalquestproducts.com

I look at this way, if I am spraying deodorant that toxic onto my skin and into the room then what must it be doing to the atmosphere. 

Buying natural deodorant lasts so much longer than these cans so therefore you are cutting down on waste and it is also so much better for you. My favourite brands are Faith in Nature and Tisserand, these are also cruelty free and vegan!

Ok so another favourite is a bamboo toothbrush. 

I never even used to think about the plastic on my toothbrush until I watched Bear Grylls The Island and saw that they found toothbrushes washed up on the shore to use! Ever since I have used bamboo toothbrushes and my electric toothbrush. 

They are much better for the environment as the toothbrush handle is made from bamboo and once you pull out the nylon bristles you can put them in your recycling bin, then put the handle in your compost bin and it will biodegrade. 

I use Humble Brush which I buy from Tk Maxx for £2.99 but you can find many on eBay and Amazon. 

PS. Tk Maxx sell so many eco friendly products.

And finally a Sea Sponge. 

Sea Sponges are sustainably harvested, when sponges are collected parts of the sponge are left on the ocean floor grow back. They can be harvested over and over again as they regrow to their original size within a few years. 

Most artificial sponges are made from petroleum and dyed with a chemical. Sea sponges are antibacterial and self cleaning because of the little holes they have on them, they won't develop any nasty smells. 

You can use them to clean your body, clean your kitchen, bathrooms etc. Once you are finished with it, you can put it in your compost bin and it will biodegrade. 

Other great ideas is using a glass water bottle and refilling it yourself, again better for the environment but also better for you as it won't contain any nasties in plastic. A bamboo lunch box or tupaware as again bamboo is biodegradable and doesn't contain any BPA found in plastic.

And finally always say NO to single use plastic bags and bring your OWN!

I hope you found this post useful! 

Let me know if you have any other great tips to live a sustainable life. 

Lauren x

Current Reads with Watkins Books

Hey guys!

I have been absolutely loving these little books by Dani DiPirro that I was recently sent from Watkins Media, full with effortless inspiration for a happier life these make the perfect everyday pick me up.

DaniDiPirro.com

 - Forgiveness and Living In The Moment by Dani DiPirro
- Gratitude and Compassion by Dani DiPirro

Inside you will find pages of inspiring quotes focused on the theme of its title. Each quote is followed by an insightful explanation, a thought provoking activity or question and a memorable affirmation. This book encourages you to incorporate each theme into your everyday life.

They have an appealing design with uplifting content, perfect as a gift this Christmas or even for yourself to brighten up a dull winters morning.

I've been reading these books either in the morning to start my day positively or in the evening whilst enjoying a warm relaxing bath. I personally think these are gorgeous, they would even be perfect on your coffee table for house guests to browse through while you put the kettle on. 

You can purchase the books for £5.99 each here:
Forgiveness
Living In The Moment
Gratitude

Compassion

Every Breath You Take by Rose Elliot, MBE

Breathing is universal; if you can breathe you can be mindful, and if you can be mindful you can find inner peace. 

Over the last few months I have really been enjoying this read, I have tried to learn more about mindfulness in the past but always found it quite hard to actually maintain. This book really helps you to understand mindfulness and how mindful breathing can impact your day to day life, 

Mindful breathing uses your breath as a focus and a tool for mindfulness.

Starting with Rose's experience with mindfulness she explains to her readers how it has changed her life and how the book is based on the actual Buddha's teachings. It then leads on to breathing exercises which you can practice in between reading the book, helping you to understand mindfulness a bit better. Different chapters of the book include healing your body, calming your feelings, soothing your mind and freeing your spirit with the flow of life. 

In this book Rose explores the universality of the practice, if you can breathe you can be mindful, and if you can be mindful you can find inner peace and transform your life.

As you know I am always inspired by Buddhist teachings as well as always being on a journey to find inner peace and I am open to reading books that broaden my knowledge. I would definitely say that this book has given me the opportunity to learn, practice and understand mindfulness. Since reading the book I am always conscious of my breathing, especially when I am feeling anxious or stressed but mindful breathing brings an immediate sense of peace. I now can simply put everything I have read into practice on a daily basis, helping me to achieve an inner sense of well-being, energy and joy.

With a fresh approach to mindfulness and mindful breathing, I would say that this book will inspire anyone who hasn't tried it.

It would also make a super lovely Christmas present for family or friends. 

I will definitely be purchasing more of Rose Elliot's books!

You can purchase the book for only £7.99 here:
Every Breath You Take

Lauren x

A day trip to Brighton

Hi!

Last weekend I visited my university friend Jess down south and we decided to take a day trip to Brighton. I love Brighton, it is one of my favourite places in the UK and is basically London by the sea. We enjoyed some yummy ice-cream on the sea front and then went for an exciting adventure to the new British Airways i360.

britishairwaysi360.com

If you haven't yet heard about the i360 then I definitely recommend you take a trip to Brighton to experience it. The i360 is a 162-metre observation tower on the seafront, opposite what is left of the West Pier. Up there you can see the South Coast and a great view of Brighton, of course.

It cost us around £12.50 (this was student price) for our ticket and you get around half an hour but this is including actually getting into the pod, going up, staying up to admire the views and then coming back down. The only negative I have is that you aren't actually up there at a standstill long enough, I'd say you get around 10 minutes actually up there to get a few photographs and walk around the pod to view each side but you do feel rushed. It was a cool experience though and the views are very beautiful, it definitely made our day more memorable. 

We then headed to the North Lanes where you will find some really cute and quirky shops as well as many Vegan options. We stopped off at a small Cornish pasty cafe where we enjoyed a pasty and a nice warm mug of tea, we sat on the little benches outside the shop and did some people watching. You will find there are a lot of students around so there is a great variety of people and styles. I felt very inspired after because there were some really stylish people. 

After we had a look round some of the shops we headed into the city centre to have a look in some shops, there is a huge Bershka in the Churchill Square shopping centre and I so regret not buying the puffer jacket I tried on haha!

As it was a Sunday the shops shut quite early so we went and sat on the seafront before going and enjoying a Sunday roast in just your average Yates. Although I will say, even though it wasn't anywhere fancy it was super delicious and only £6.95 for a roast dinner and free desert - cheap and cheerful. 

It was a great day out, if you haven't been to Brighton before then you need to go. A great mix of city vibes and beach fun. 

I am wearing 

- Pink love heart puffer jacket from Lazy Oaf

- Pink fluffy top from Missguided but I bought it off Depop

- Black cullottes from H&M

- Mini Backpack from Boohoo

- Nike Air Max 2015 trainers

Lauren x 

I Graduated!

A very proud day!

Me and my closest university friend, Jess

-----------

Hi! 

It's been an exceptionally long time since I did a blog post but now that I have graduated from university and had a summer of fun, I am ready to start writing again. 

If you have visited my blog before you may know that I studied Fashion Promotion with Styling at the University of Central Lancashire. It was a great three years of studying and having fun along with some hard times too. I will be eternally grateful to my friends, family and tutors for supporting me and helping me through my final months. 

I'm not sure how anyone else felt after their final hand in but for me I felt it was a bit of an anti climax, its strange because during the hard work loads you want nothing more than for it to be over. But once its handed in you almost feel lost and not sure what to do with yourself. 

It is a very strange feeling!

I graduated with a Second Upper Class Honors (2:1) and I am very happy. To me university is not only a personal battle but it is also mental battle, I suffered from anxiety and depression during my time at university which made some tasks really challenging. I am so proud that I managed to stay focused throughout and come out the other side with an amazing degree when I wanted to give up so many times. My advice to anyone who is struggling at university is to keep positive, use any support that is available to you, talk to your friends and family regularly and also to go home when you need to, you can get through it!

So what have I been up to since university? 

Well I have been so blessed to be able to have a great summer of complete freedom.

I went to Ibiza just before my graduation, I visited Cornwall, Jamaica and I recently took a brief trip to Brighton. 

I think many people feel lost after university is over, you miss your friends, the freedom and you feel like you don't really know what the future holds or which direction you want to take. Now that summer has come to an end I am working hard to find a job to support myself and my hobbies, as well as looking for the right career path suitable for me.  

If you would like to view any of my work from university then please visit my website where you can see my portfolio.

http://laurenhardcastle.wixsite.com/portfolio

 Lauren x

Our first ever photoshoot in 1st year

#proud - Me with my work at our end of year exhibition

Finally, a few of my classmates and our tutors

International Women's Day

Today is International Women's Day

'International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.'

Since starting my spiritual journey I feel I have been encouraged to do yoga as it is has many great benefits for your body and mind. It is difficult for me to really kick start my yoga as I only have a small university room but I am definitely considering going to the yoga classes at our local gym.

I was recently contacted about one of the UK's top yoga and mindfulness teachers, Kirsty Gallagher who shares with us the benefits of practicing yoga especially for women as it is important to take time to nurture and look after ourselves.

The Benefits-

-Helps to balance hormones: As women we can probably relate to experiencing a hormonal imbalance at some point in our lives causing mood swings, fatigue, weight gain and digestive problems. Yoga helps stimulate, activate and balance the glands and organs responsible for hormonal health - mainly the pituitary gland, adrenals, thyroid and ovaries. It can aid with the movement of lymph fluid around the body, and this elimination of toxins helps balance hormones naturally. 

Suggested Pose: Supported Sukhasana (easy pose) - Sit in a comfortable cross legged position on the floor in front of a chair. Rest your head on the chair and just allow everything to relax. This will not only help to stimulate the pituitary gland but also any poses in which we are deeply supported and at rest will help to aid the adrenals. One of the best things you can do for your adrenals is to breathe slowly and deeply, so combine this with any restorative poses. 

-Strengthens bones:  On average 80 % of osteoporosis sufferers are women so it’s important for us to take bone health seriously. Weight bearing yoga poses help to build bones and improve bone density in a safe way that is low impact and doesn’t add any unnecessary pressure and stress to the joints. 

Suggested Pose: Virabhadrasana 2 (warrior two)  - This strong pose will help to greatly increase strength  in the legs, ankles as well as arms and shoulders. Stand with your feet around 3-4 feet apart. Turn the left toes in around 5 degrees and the right toes to 90 degrees. Bend into the right knee keeping the knee over the ankle in line with the third toe. Reach the arms out to either side and reach strongly through the arms relaxing the shoulders. 

- Reduces stress:  Stress can be unavoidable and as women we can take on the role of the multi-tasker and be many different things to different people . Yoga helps to reduce stress levels by regulating the breath, relaxing the body and bringing us into the present moment where we can find a sense of calm. 

Suggested Pose: Balasana (childs pose) - Stand up on the knees and then gently start to sink the buttocks back towards the heels and rest your torso forwards over the thighs. The forehead will either rest on the floor or you can make fists with the hands and rest the forehead on the fists. Keep the knees together or wider apart, the arms out in front or behind you by the sides – find your most comfortable place. Breathe deeply and feel the calming effect on your entire body and mind.

- Aids with your menstrual cycle: A regular yoga practice can help to regulate your cycle, reduce symptoms of PMT, lighten heavy bleeding and ease cramps and pains. 

Suggested Pose: Baddhakonasana (bound angle pose) is an all round go to for menstrual problems. It is one of the best poses for helping to relieve cramps and heavy bleeding and if practiced regularly will also help to keep the ovaries healthy and regulate your cycle. Come to sitting with the legs straight out in front. Then bend the knees bringing the soles of the feet together. If the hips are tight you can move the heels away from the groin and even sit on a block or blanket if needs be. Either stay upright or fold forwards over the legs if you are able to.

- Tones the body: We all have those body parts that we’d like to see a little more toned and defined. Luckily yoga can come to the rescue and a regular practice will help you to sculpt, tone and strengthen the entire body. 

Suggested Pose: Matsya Krida (dolphin pose) - A great pose for strengthening and toning the arms, legs, shoulders and core. Come onto all fours and then place the forearms on the floor with the shoulder above the elbow. You can keep the hands elbow distance apart or interlock the fingers. Tuck the toes under and lift the hips up. Press the forearms into the floor and draw the shoulders away from the ears. For more intensity as you inhale come forwards bringing the chin beyond the hands, as you exhale draw back. 

-Boosts Fertility: From the very beginning when you are thinking of conceiving right through pregnancy, birth and beyond yoga can help you every step of the way. With poses that help to stimulate the ovaries and then support the lower back and open the hips yoga is a great friend to have by your side through your journey to motherhood.

Suggested Pose: Fertility - Paschimottanasana (forward fold) - This beautiful pose stimulates the ovaries, uterus and entire reproductive system. Come to sit with the legs stretched out in front of you. Bend the knees as much as you need to so that the belly touches the top of the thighs and reach your chest towards your toes without straining the neck. Stretch out the legs as far as you are able to without rounding the spine. 

You can also join Kirsty on one of her upcoming dedicated yoga retreats for women :

Empower Your Life- Yoga, Ayurveda & Nutrition Retreat Ibiza 11th-18th June

Autumn Equinox Goddess Retreat Ibiza 17th-24th September 

For more information visit www.kirstygallagher.com

Images taken from www.kirstygallagher.com

How are you celebrating International Women's Day?

'Finding Me' - Part 3: Compassion & Veganism

'When someone approaches you with a negative or aggressive attitude, it is reflecting the negative and aggressive nature of their inner attitude towards themselves.'

I remember a few months ago I was not the most friendliest person I could of been and I was very negative about everything around me externally. I can't imagine I was a very nice person to be around when I was in this frame of mind and I know now that it was probably to make myself feel better due to my insecurities, jealousy, bitterness and selfishness. I was so unhappy with my own life that I just became negative about everything and anything. People will not want to be around you if you are negative all the time because you won't be any fun and why would anyone want to be around someone who is constantly moaning.

As you know I recently decided I wanted to change my life around, become the best version of myself and to pursue a journey to inner happiness. My journey started by facing up to my issues, giving myself time to gather my thoughts, erasing out certain aspects of my life which I knew were affecting my moods and I also started reading The Art of Happiness which lead me onto my spiritual journey. I have also made a sustained effort to change my external behaviour which has been helpful in overcoming bad habits and has also changed my underlying attitudes and feelings.

The Art of Happiness has taught me the value and benefits of compassion and how it can make you into a much warmer person, in Buddhism compassion is an essential to a person's spiritual development and in the book Dalai Lama defines the word.

'Compassion can be roughly defined in terms of a state of mind that is nonviolent, nonharming and nonaggressive. It is a mental attitude based on the wish for others to be free of their suffering and is associated with a sense of commitment, responsibility and respect towards others.'

In the book it also states that 'in developing compassion, perhaps one could begin with the wish that oneself be free of suffering and then take that natural feeling towards oneself and cultivate it, enhance it and extend it out to include and embrace others.'

And that is exactly why I wanted to share my journey with anyone who may interested. I want to inspire others and help others to free themselves from any suffering in their lives because if I can free myself then so can lots of other people. I was in a really dark place and this book has honestly changed my life, life doesn't have to be rubbish and never feel like it won't get better because it will. You have a right for happiness just like anyone else.

I now make a conscious effort to make people smile, be kind to everyone, to give people advice if they are feeling down and to just cheer people up. You want the people around you to be on the same frequency as you so by letting off positive energy you are spreading those vibes. Always remember that whoever you meet on your journey could be a potential new friend or even lover so be kind and do not judge the person before you get to know them.

I won't go into to much detail about all the different areas of compassion which is discussed in the book because hopefully you will read the book but I just wanted to briefly touch on the topic as I feel it has made me into a such a better person in every way. My best friend at university told me that I am so much more enjoyable to be around now and I think we have become a lot closer over the last month or so because I'm no longer just moaning 24/7.

When you are positive you will attract so much more good in your life and attract more people because you have what I like to call it, the 'happy glow'.

With this compassion came my transition to veganism.

I have always been an animal lover and I absolutely adore dogs, but recently I have started to take notice of some of the posts which PETA are sharing daily on Facebook. (Ps this was before I gave myself a Facebook ban ha ha! Refer to Social Media & Technology post)

I started off by taking an interest in the real fur industry and the cruelty behind it, I have always been aware of it but I have never really looked into it properly. I can't believe that animals are being skinned alive for us human beings to wear and to flaunt, you would think that in this day an age this wouldn't be happening. So anyway, I started my research on the industry and have started to make people more aware of this cruelty by sharing on social media platforms. I have also looked into the cosmetic industry and how they are using animals to test their products, again an issue I was always aware of but was quite ignorant about and began raising awareness of this also.

I recently visited Selfridges and Harvey Nichols (both Manchester stores) and made myself aware of all the fur being sold in these stores with Harvey Nichols selling the most, I then sent an email to Harvey Nic's asking them to stop selling fur. This is a pre written email by PETA themselves.

If you want to ask Harvey Nichols to stop selling fur then here is the link -

http://action.peta.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=5&ea.campaign.id=23120

If you do not want to support these industries which cause harm to animals then please do not buy any items which have real fur on them, this can be fur keyrings, fur pompom's, fur hood trims, leather shoes, leather bags etc. And do not buy products tested on animals.

I recently bought some new toiletries which are suitable for vegan's and are not tested on animals. The superdrug (vitamin e) products are an affordable price of £2.99 and the coconut body cream was 99p from Savers. I was really pleased to see that Superdrug are AGAINST animal testing, I will definitely be buying from there again. My next goal is to make my make-up all cruelty free.

Superdrug have a huge range of vegan products and have a full vegan make-up brand which I will be doing a review of very soon.

Here is the link to have a browse through what is on offer -  

http://www.superdrug.com/search?q=vegan

Basically I realised if I am trying to raise awareness of this animal cruelty (fur & cosmetics) but at the same time I am eating meat, it actually makes me a hypocrite. So I have decided to give Veganism a go, I have been vegan for about a week so far, its going well and I have rekindled my love for cooking. I had already made my mind up about becoming a vegan but after I watched a YouTube video which was recommended by one of my favourite YouTubers, Mika Francis, it definitely opened my eyes way more to the industry.

101 Reasons to Go VEGAN -

This video does contain graphic content but to be honest, its real life so there is no avoiding it.

I wouldn't recommend watching this before going to bed if you have an overactive imagination like me, I sobbed so hard I gave myself a headache and then couldn't sleep because I was having continuous nightmares. Since watching the video I haven't been able to look at meat the same way and can't help but want to scream your EATING DECAYING FLESH, STOP!

"If you don't like seeing pictures of violence towards animals being posted, you need to help stop the violence, not the pictures." - Johnny Depp

Its made me feel more in touch with the planet and nature, I feel that I'm bringing good to the planet and also helping to save animals lives. I've learnt that we are all living beings, we all deserve to live a happy life and to be free from suffering!

Plus there is lots of great health benefits too!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day, if your in the UK.

Lauren x

'Finding Me' - Part 2: Social Media & Technology

Hey!

So this is the second part of my 'Finding Me' series. There are many different topics I want to cover and share with you which I think have played a part in my journey, this week I want to cover social media, the effects it has had on my life and why I have decided to take a step back form it all.

For a while I compared my life to other people's on Instagram, constantly wishing I had someone else's life because to me these people had the 'perfect' lives. Travelling with their DJ boyfriends around the world, moving into new homes, being madly in love, having amazing bodies, buying all the best products, having great style, the list is endless. I would look at my best friends followers and think "well she must be liked more because she has 200+ more followers than me and she always gets loads of likes on her selfie's, why does she get all the attention and I don't?"

It upset's me just thinking about it because now I realise how shallow and ridiculous this was, I was bitter and insecure.

These kind of demoralising thoughts are what make you miserable and bring your own life down. I recently came to the realisation that people only share their 'best' bits on Instagram or Facebook and that anyone can make their life look great on these platforms. No-one knew what I was going through because I only ever share the happy times on Instagram, I can make my life look exciting when really it isn't all that as most of the time I'm in my room studying. I know people who will delete a photograph if it doesn't have enough likes, I will admit that I've done that myself in the past. You become so obsessed with searching for validation from strangers that you forget to look at what's real, you don't need to prove yourself to anyone and just because you have double figure likes on your upload doesn't make you a better person. I also found myself comparing my body to other people's, wishing that the fat would just melt off my body and I did stop myself from eating certain things because in the back of my mind I was worrying about my figure. We all do it and its not unheard of, its just human to have those thoughts but when it is affecting your mental well-being then it is a problem. Obviously now I realise that looking on Instagram is not going to benefit me in any way, and that I know nothing about these people so why should I just presume they are living a wonderful happy life. I have realised that none of that stuff matters, I still enjoy looking through Instagram but now that I am more in touch with myself I don't look at it through a negative perspective. Yes it's nice to take a selfie (Kim Kardashian made a whole book of her OWN selfie's) and put it on Instagram, wait for the likes to come in and get a little boost when it goes into double figures but is that really what should be giving me a boost?

You don't have to spend an hour trying to get the perfect selfie to put on Instagram before you leave the house for you to feel good about yourself, let a real life person admire your beauty, or even better admire your own beauty.

Here are some tips that have helped me to live a more social media free life -

• Avoid spending the first hour of your morning scrolling through your Facebook feed, this will only result in seeing things that will annoy you which could then ruin your mood for the rest of the day. Instead, get up, put your favourite happy song on, have a dance or make a cuppa and chill.
• Try and have one day a week free from looking at any social media sites and then tell me how you feel.
•  Distract yourself from wasting time scrolling through each site by reading a book or sitting and having a real life conversation with a friend or family member. You can pick up the phone too.
• Finally, avoid the social media platforms you know will have a negative impact on your day. Currently mine are Facebook and Twitter. Simply just don't look or delete them.

From this it leads me onto technology and how we are becoming so consumed by our mobile phones, tablets and laptops, people aren't living in the moment anymore, we are forever living through our phones and missing experiences or opportunities. I found a recent quote from a magazine called Womankind and it said "I feel that many of us live our lives through these technological devices and become oblivious to our surroundings."

I spent a lot of time on my phone to try and make myself feel less lonely and more connected to people, but in reality consuming yourself with your mobile phone only makes you more lonely. I got to a point where being on my phone out of boredom and loneliness only made me feel worse, I'd get irritable and restless because there was nothing new to look at and no-one was paying me any attention. Once I started reading, I found a new escapism and a distraction from all that rubbish, plus I was learning which is a lot more stimulating for your brain than an artificially lit screen. I now make a conscious effort to PUT MY PHONE DOWN and actually connect with the real life world.

For example the other day, I came out of uni and my phone was in my bag (where it should be), I was looking up rather than down into my phone screen and actually said "hi" to a REAL LIFE person.

Another example, I was walking back from the supermarket, again looking up and a lovely guy gave me a friendly smile and I smiled back. It instantly brightened my day and it was so nice to have that little bit of interaction. Now that I am more conscious of it, I see it more around me. People on their phones constantly instead of interacting and having conversations with each other, its like people are scared to actually talk to each other. Next time you go on a train or bus, look around you and look at how everyone is staring at their iPhone's or tablet's. You miss out on so much being glued to those electronic mind altering devices, you miss the clear blue skies, the birds, your natural surroundings, acquaintances etc. Never again do I want to be with someone who when they are spending time with me would rather be on their phone checking who's unfollowed them on Instagram (yes there is an app which does this) than actually having a meaningful conversation with me.

 Whilst I am on the topic of technology I would also like to say that I think televisions are also electronic mind altering devices that feed you with nothing but crap. Listen to music, read a book, look at the stars, go for a walk, spend time with people that matter, have a conversation.

Your missing out on what's real and what's important in life by consuming yourself with these devices, I'm not saying cut them out of your life completely but be more conscious of your use and limit yourself. I have seen massive improvements in my self-esteem and moods since taking a step back from all that and I actually appreciate spending time with family and friends so much more.

Lauren x

'How To Be Single' : FILM REVIEW

After four years of college, young Alice (Dakota Johnson) decides she needs a break from her long-term boyfriend Josh. Excited and ready for new challenges, the eager grad moves to New York to take a job as a paralegal. Helping her navigate her way through an unfamiliar city is Robin (Rebel Wilson), a fun-loving, wild co-worker who enjoys partying and one-night stands. With Robin as her freewheeling guide, Alice can now learn how to get free drinks, meet men and enjoy the single lifestyle.

I recently went to the cinema to watch How To Be Single, its not very often that I go to the cinema but when I do I really enjoy myself. Its such a nice escapism to sit and watch a film in an unusual surrounding. My dad actually told me about this film, he rung me and said "Lauren, I think it will give you a new perspective on being single." I mean to be honest I don't think I really need a new perspective on how to be single but it definitely makes you feel a tiny bit better. This film has a great mix of humour but also seriousness, it made me laugh but it also made me think - I didn't have any tears don't worry!

Its really good to see 4 different perspectives of single women, I won't spoil anything but it is definitely more suited to the female audience although I think some males would enjoy it too. If you love chick flicks then this film is definitely for you, its a film I could imagine watching on a Friday night with a few of my girl friends. Its a great mix of Sex and the City/Bridget Jones, the New York apartments will definitely give you some interior inspo or like me, make you want a New York skyline apartment with a cute window seat.

If your feeling like you want to watch a not so serious film with a touch of girlyness then I would definitely recommend, its not just for single ladies either!

Let me know what your thoughts are on the film.

Lauren x 

Having fun with a 35mm camera!

A little part of my bedroom



Afternoon tea at my Nanny's house

Me & my soul mate (best friend), Cara



Home - Birmingham



Enjoying the city views

Birmingham, UK



Birmingham, UK



Lunch at Bill's, Birmingham UK

(Check out my little finger, its crooked!)



My beautiful best friend



I look about 12 here & I am in my not so fancy dog walking gear

Don't watch the toes ha ha



This was before a rave in Birmingham. It was Bollywood themed. Elrow!

Uni Pals

I recently purchased a 35mm film camera, an Olympus mju 1. I have been using Kodak colourplus ISO 200 film. It is actually great fun to be able to snap away knowing that I will have physical photographs to keep and cherish. I always used to love looking at my parents photo albums from when they were younger and also of me and my sister growing up, I want to be able to gather photographs for my children to look back on. These younger years are the best times of your life right? Its so exciting when you know you've used a whole reel of film and you go to get them developed forgetting what it is you actually photographed. All I will say is don't go to Asda to get them developed, I have had some bad experiences and they have no respect for your precious photographs. 

Anyway, I just thought I'd share with you some of my favourites so far. I cant wait to get some gorgeous images during the summer months.

Lauren x

'Finding Me' - Part 1: Discovery

Hey!

So this is the start of a new series on my blog called 'Finding Me'.

I have always suffered from anxiety but until recently I didn't actually know it was anxiety I was suffering from, I think all my life it has been an issue but sometimes it just takes a series of events for you to come to the realisation of "ok I do suffer from generalised anxiety."

If you don't know what anxiety is then let me put it this way, anything and everything can make you anxious. From phone calls to going to bed at night, the littlest things can trigger an anxiety attack.

It's only over the last few months that I have understood this disorder, I have read so many articles about it and have been able to relate to them all.

Read more about anxiety here -

http://elitedaily.com/life/like-feel-anxiety-ridden-sometimes-no-control/945502/ 

I worry A LOT, and being away from home at university makes worrying much worse. Luckily I have really supportive friends and family at home and at university who all know how much I worry and are always on hand to reassure me or calm me down.

I think the stress of third year at university has increased my anxiety levels, I had a couple of very dark weeks during October last year where I was having frequent panic attacks and terrible thoughts that something awful was going to happen to me which then made me even worse. I didn't understand why I was feeling this way and why my heart was beating at 100mph, so I made the decision to go home from university and recuperate at home for a week. Whilst I was at home I visited my GP who has been seeing me since I was baby and discussed my symptoms with him. He told me it was all because I was feeling anxious and that many things can bring it on such as feeling stressed with university work, he also told me that I was suffering from a mild form of depression which I had an idea of as I had been feeling pretty rubbish for quite a long time. I think it is very important to be the bigger person and admit how you are feeling, you will never get help or learn to get better if you don't admit the problem and believe me when I say people are a lot more understanding than you think.

Once I was feeling better I headed back to university, I carried on with life and seemed to be feeling better, I had my down days but I was feeling a lot brighter and happier. However, I did notice different lifestyle choices were effecting my moods and certain aspects would make my anxiety and panic attacks worse and some better.

I knew I needed to make some changes in my life, I needed to find happiness and fight my battles so one day I just woke up and said -

"you know what, I need to make some serious life changes. Change is good!"

I even tweeted it - ha ha!

It was from this that I started, what I'd like to call it, my spiritual journey. I started by erasing all the things I knew were bad for my anxiety, removing people that I knew were toxic to my soul, thoughts that were toxic to my mind etc. (although this a lot easier said than done). 

My first saviour was a book called -

The Art Of Happiness by HH Dalai Lama and Howard C. Cutler.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Art-Happiness-Handbook-Living/dp/0340750154/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1456156719&sr=8-1&keywords=the+art+of+happiness

This book is honestly LIFE CHANGING, it has given me a new and exciting positive outlook on life, opened my eyes to so much more than myself, made me look at my surroundings, society, given me more compassion for humans and animals, the list goes on.

Ok, I know it might sound like I am being some sort of hippie preacher but its not like that at all. If anything its made me look at real life issues rather than the insignificant dramas in my life. This book takes you on a journey through the purpose of life, discusses human warmth and compassion, how to transform suffering, how to overcome obstacles and finally how to live a spiritual life.

Its taught me to remove anything from my life that causes me suffering, to be more compassionate and understand the values and benefits, changed my perspective on suffering and learn to just be me. I will admit, I am only half way through the book but its already taught me so much so far, I look forward to waking up in the mornings and seeing what the day brings, I feel blessed every time I open my eyes because I have been given another day, I am breathing, I am human and I should be happy.

I am grateful for everything I have, for the life I have been given, for the fact I am on this beautiful earth and I want to embrace that.

These next few post's will be dedicated solely to my 'Finding Me' series, taking you a long with me on my spiritual journey to inner peace and happiness. I want to inspire others who are feeling as rubbish as I was just a few months ago, others who feel they have nothing to smile about, people who are suffering mentally or physically. Just know that you are not alone and every person is struggling with a battle of their own and everyone's story is different but you can come through the other side, happiness is all that matters, its what we all want right?

This week -

Here is an Instagram which inspires me everyday -

https://www.instagram.com/chakabars/?hl=en

Here is a magazine which explores self, identity and meaning in today's society.

http://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/womankind/9012001288333

  

Lauren x