Pampas and Pearls

Spring is nature's way of saying, 'Let's party!'- Robin Williams Spring is a season of renewal and growth, making it the perfect time to focus on wellness and self-care. As the days get longer and the weather warms up, it's a great opportunity to embrace healthy habits that can boost your physical and mental well-being. The simplest way to start your spring wellness routine is by getting outside and enjoying the fresh air (when it isn't raining of course). You might try going for a walk in the park, sitting outside at a coffee shop, or simply taking a moment to sit in the sun, spending time in nature can have a calming and rejuvenating effect on your mind and body. Spring is also a great time to focus on nourishing your body with fresh, seasonal foods. Incorporating plenty of fruits and vegetables into your diet can help support your immune system and provide essential nutrients to keep you feeling energised.  Consider visiting your local farmer's market to

“ The changing of seasons is a reminder to live in the present and accept each moment as it comes. ”  - Anonymous  This week we’ll finally be going into spring and I couldn’t be more excited! I love when it begins to get warmer and we’re able to experience more daylight. But there’s just so much to love about spring.  I’m also SO ready to get out of winter and out of the bad habits I’ve developed since Christmas. I want this season to be a new beginning and be a time for me to bloom with the flowers. Here are some habits I’m bringing into my life: • Consistency in exercise: I have a confession, I’ve really been slacking since Christmas. Once my body gets used to rest, that’s all it craves. I think the sun setting earlier also had something to do with that. I generally feel more energetic during spring so I’m able to have more consistency. • Eating healthier: Similar to exercise, my eating habits are not good during Christmas time. The only problem is that I get used to eating chocolate

"You define beauty yourself. Society doesn't define your beauty" - Lady Gaga Body positivity is more than just a trend; it's a movement towards self-love, acceptance, and empowerment and it is something for EVERYONE! In a society that often promotes unrealistic beauty standards, but it has improved other the years. But it is essential to cultivate a positive relationship with our bodies. Embracing a body positive mindset means celebrating all body types, sizes, and shapes. It's about recognising the uniqueness and beauty in each and every one of us.  To start you body positive mindset journey: Start by challenging negative thoughts about your body Whenever negative thoughts about your body arise, challenge them with positive affirmations. Remind yourself of your worth beyond your appearance and practice gratitude for all that your body allows you to experience in life.   Remember, you are more than good enough just as you are. Practice self-care and self love Trea

“I glanced out the window at the signs of spring.” - Unknown Is anybody else excited for spring? Spring is my favourite season and it’s the season I thrive in. As it’s my favourite, I like to prepare for it. There’s a lot I enjoy doing but here some ways to get started in preparation for spring. • Cleaning out your wardrobe: This doesn’t have too mean getting rid of things but just rearranging your wardrobe to match the season too. This is the time I shift my winter stuff towards the back of my closet and place my spring/summer stuff at the front for easy access.  • Wearing more colours: similar to rearranging your wardrobe. One thing I love doing is wearing certain colours in certain seasons. For spring I keep things more pastel. I do this with makeup too. I pack away my brown and terracotta lipsticks and I behind wearing more peachy, pinks and oranges.  • Cleaning up my social media: This is something I incorporated recently. Privacy is key and it’s good to clean out your social med

"Spring is when life's alive in everything."- Christina Rosetti  March is here and Spring is coming. Spring is often associated with new life and restarting so if you are feeling suck in yourself then this is the blog post for you.  Getting ready from spring often involves is big spring clean and I am here to help you get started.  The big spring clean can feel overwhelming, where to start? what to keep? I am sure the questions will spiral but slow down and take a breath, we've got this.  Start simple: I have a Spring- Summer (warm weather) wardrobe and an Autumn-Winter (cold weather) wardrobe and when getting ready for spring I switch my wardrobes over, at this time I will declutter things from my cold weather wardrobe that I didn't wear or no has any significant imperfections. I will then go through my warm weather wardrobe and declutter (and resell) things I no find being a part of my style.  This decluttering process gives me a fresh mindset for a new season a

“Cramps…more like angry little ninjas inside you trying to kill you.” - Unknown Anybody else struggle with the worst period pain? In my late teens I struggled to the point that I would throw up every period and have some diarrhoea, sorry TMI. I always felt like I was going to faint and I couldn’t go to school. I would feel this way even with medication. I was also at my lowest weight. Over the years, my pain has subsided but it’s not that the pain has gone. I’ve learned how to take control.  Here are ways I learned to take back that control. • Ibuprofen: I’m not a huge fan on relying on medication, but in my own experience I actually need medication to feel somewhat normal. I try to limit the ibuprofen to the first 3 days of my period when the pain is unbearable. Ibuprofen is actually a lifesaver and it takes my pain from 100% to about 30%. • Hot water bottle: Another lifesaver! Using one gives so much relief whether you place it on your stomach or back. Either way, the warmth is so

“You’re feeling burnt out and discouraged, but you’ve made it this far and I think that’s really brave.” — Unknown Burn out is something that we have all experienced and most likely will experience again. Burnout by definition is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion caused by stress. Recognising the signs of burnout is crucial in order to address it effectively.  You may include feeling overwhelmed, lack of motivation, irritability, and physical symptoms such as headaches or insomnia. To overcome burnout, it's essential that we prioritise self-care and set boundaries. This can involve taking breaks when needed, practicing mindfulness or meditation, getting regular exercise, and ensuring a healthy work-life balance. Seeking support from friends, family, or a mental health professional can also be beneficial.  It's okay to take a step back and prioritise your well-being. Setting boundaries in your life is crucial for maintaining your well-being and protecting your mental

'All relationships have one law. Never make the one you love feel alone, especially when you're there.'  - Unknown It's been two weeks since Valentine’s Day and during it I was reminded of the fact that I am quite single.  It had me so hyper focused on my singleness that I started to dislike the idea of being single. Media, people and just everything around me was filled with romantic stories and date ideas. Which was still nice to see but it was a reminder of me being alone. In between those posts came a shining light. One word ‘Galentine's’, it brightened my day! I forgot that Valentines doesn’t have be all about romantic relationships and it can be very much a celebration of your family and friendships. The people around you that make your life better. So that’s what I’ve been thinking about in the past week.  I've been able to take a good look at those around me and think about how much they add to my life. I literally wouldn't be the person I am without

"Take time to do what makes your soul happy."– Unknown We've said before that implementing self-care into our daily lives can be difficult. We have busy lives and often neglect ourselves until we feel completely dejected and a deep self-care session is needed. But taking small elements of the day and making them into self-care moments may just be the thing you're missing.  A few ways to create small moments of self-care consist of: That morning cup of Tea or Coffee Often we drink this while doing other things and don't really take too much notice of it but if we take the time to sit and appreciate the moment and slow down even for just a couple of moments this can re-centre our minds and help us feel at ease and calmer for the day ahead.   Makeup Doing my makeup every morning can often be a quick 'slap it on a go' but again taking care and slowing down while putting on your face can be one of those moments that can set you up for the day. Alternatively ta

"I love you very much, probably more than anybody could love another person."- 50 first dates Valentines is over but that doesn't mean we have to stop feeling romantic and cosy. In fact post Valentines is the perfect time to whack out a romantic film. The emotional come down from Valentines day can make us feel down and low in ourselves so giving yourself a little extra self-care can really make you feel better.  So with that in mind here are some well known and not so well known romantic films for a romantic self-care evening in: Pretty Woman- an absolute classic and one I can watch again and again. It contains so many iconic moments how could you not want to watch it as part of a self-care night in.  Grease- The OG of chic-flicks , If you don't know this word for word...why not? This literally is a great feel good film perfect for that mood boost post Valentines Legally Blonde- I discovered this film about 6 years ago and it most certainly changed my mood, now it ma

'I want Jake form Sixteen Candles waiting outside the church for me. I want Judd Nelson thrusting his fist into the air because he got me. Just once I want my life to be like an 80s movie, preferably one with a really awesome musical number for no apparent reason.'  - Olive Penderghast, Easy A Not doing anything for Valentine’s Day?  Whether you’ve got a partner to celebrate with, or you’re gonna have a Galentines. OR you’ll be spending it with yourself. No matter which choice, you can have a chill valentines in the comfort of your own home. You could order a meal or cook, but then the next best thing would be to pop on a romantic film to get yourself in the Valentines mood. Here are my top romance films that are perfect to get you in the feels:  1. Edward Scissorhands: such a cute, wholesome and pure romance. This one makes me cry, laugh and smile.  2 Howl’s Moving Castle: It’s a fantastical adventure that grips you. The love between Sophie and Howl is natural, pure and wholes

"We were both young when I first saw you"- Taylor Swift, Love Story. Date night often involves a higher cost and expectations. But honestly sometimes all you need is a giant Taco Bell order and an Xbox and you're good to go. It isn't really about what you do it's about who you are with, remove that expectation that you have to get all dressed up and go to a fancy restaurant (although it would be nice), and focus on who you are with.  The cost of living crisis is something that adds a little extra pressure to Valentines that year so that can weigh heavily on our minds and impact our wellbeing, so here are a few D.I.Y tips for Date Night that won't break the bank! A movie marathon! A favourite one? A Scary film? A sexy film maybe? Set the mood and grab those snacks. They will either all be devoured or discarded on the floor (if you catch my drift) But none the less it is a great way to spend an evening just the two of you. It can also be planned to fit your per

" To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance ." - Oscar Wilde It doesn’t take a lot to love yourself but it sure is one of the most important things you will ever do! You might not know how to love yourself, here are some things you can do to  give yourself a little love. • Take yourself out: Sometimes you just need to spend some time alone, you don’t have to be around people every single day. Instead you can balance it and make time for yourself. Whether that’s going to a restaurant alone or going to the cinema to watch a film that none of your friends might be interested in or going to a spa. Of course you don’t need to spend money either and take yourself on a walk to a park to enjoy the scenery. It’s a lovely little treat for you. • Exercise: This may not sound fun, but you can make it fun! There is quite nothing like the rewarding feeling you get after you complete a workout. It makes you happier and you’re taking care of yourself through this activity. This

"She's my friend because we both know what it's like for people to be jealous of us." — Cher Horowitz, Clueless Quite often our friends are like our family and safe the say that is the case for me. We are there for each other through thick and thin, the good the bad and the sometimes ugly. We don't tell each other what we WANT to hear but what we NEED to hear and I couldn't be more grateful. With that in mind and the universal theme of  February being love and relationships its only right that I start with the most important people in my life...and how you too can celebrate with your besties! Self-Care activities don't always have to be face masks and prosecco (although we will come to that later on) but can be things you as a group or pair like to do together and brings you joy and happiness.  The one thing that is quite universal is... Friends coffee date : Now this doesn't have to be to a large coffee chain it could be somewhere local. An independen

“Your mindset is everything. It shapes your world and your reality. Choose wisely.”   - unknown  I’ve often found that suiting your mindset is necessary. It can take you from insecure to a bad b*tch!  I’ll share some of my own examples of when I needed to shift my mindset and how it affected me. • Waking up exhausted: often I would find myself feeling exhausted the moment I woke up. And the first thing I would say was ‘I am exhausted’ and I would find that I felt low and groggy all day. Then I began to tell myself ‘I am not tired, I am ready to face the challenges of the day’. When I did this, my day was more productive, I got through so many tasks and errands. I also got any exercise done then too! I no longer felt exhausted but rather looked forward to the day.  • Travelling to work: when I first started at my job, I had so much travel anxiety because some days it took me 2 hours and some it took me just over an hour to get to work. I would panic as soon as something went wrong in my

Every one of us needs to show how much we care for each other and, in the process, care for ourselves.” — Princess Diana Top tips and how to guides are all good and well but we often need a personal perspective to see what actually works and what doesn't. Setting time aside to practice self-care and wellness is easier said/typed than done and I know that from personal experience.  Seeing titles like 'simple self-care' or 'quick and easy' often give us a false sense of security or we scoff at it knowing how busy our own lives can be so here are some practical ways that I add self-care and wellness into my weekly routine.  My selfcare often begins on a Friday...  Part One: I head to my nans and spend time with her. After loosing my grandad in 2021 I have found spending more time with her helps me feel closer to him but also means she isn't on her own. We all have a takeaway and chill after a long week, ready for the weekend! Part Two: Now this is a Saturday. I cal

“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”  - Winston Churchill  I am someone that has always had a routine. I don’t enjoy much change and I prefer life to go the same way as my plans. This year I don’t want to live like that. I want to expect the unexpected. I want to live a life of excitement and adventures!  So here are some things that I’m changing this year to make space for fun. • Saying no: I used to be the type of person to cancel plans the day before and then I would regret it. Now I want to be the person who says yes and means it. So far I’ve found that the busier my life is with work and fun, I am really able to enjoy time out with my friends. It helps me let off steam! So this year I don’t want to say no as much as I used to. Of course rest is important too but I want this year to be filled with connection and enjoyment.  • Embracing alone time: I’ve always loved spending time with myself but definitely took it for granted. Now with a busier lifestyle I do

 The weather is most certainly cold with snow on its way and the temperature not pushing above 3 degrees. The cold weather often comes with some blustery spells. These things play havoc with our skin, especially our faces.  With this in mind we need to take extra care and attention to our skin and here are a few tips on how to do that: Stay hydrated : Drinking plenty of water is one way to protect our skin from the harsh weather. This will hydrate the skin from the inside. Adding water into our daily routine is often more difficult than we first think. But keep going, increase it slowly... Wrap up warm : Now I am sure you would be doing this anyway, but any way to project you skin, especially your face, from the harsh cold and wind the better. Pull that scarf up a little higher and that hat a little lower... Cover those brows and keep yourself warm! Moisturise : Additional moisture in your skill is always a good thing and adding that little extra self care into your evening and morning

"For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned." - Benjamin Franklin If you know me you’d know that sometimes my schedule is chaotic and I don’t get the chance to write things in my diary until after I’ve attended an event. This system makes no sense to me honestly. But sometimes life just catches up so fast that I feel like I don’t get to organise it. Here are some things I do to keep my life tame and organised.  • Keeping a diary: In my diary I write all my events coming up. I also have a checklist for everyday tasks such as washing the dishes or working on a blog post. I make it fun by adding in ‘Best thing that happened to me today’ this enforces a positive mindset on my day as I am able to think on all the good things of the day. This also allows me to look forward to the next day. • Making plans 2 weeks ahead or more: Not only does this prep me but I am able to schedule any needed time of rest before a busy week. It’s great connecting with friends but making t

"Anxiety is something that is part of me but it’s not who I am." – Emma Stone Each new year comes with anxiety, for me especially a new year reminds me of everyone I've lost and experiences I've left behind and sometimes it takes a moment for me to bounce back and remember all the good things I have.  For many people the notion of something new, a change, can be very triggering and while this post could focus on all the things I'm anxious about for the next year that wouldn't make a great uplifting post. So instead I am going to tell you all the ways I have developed for coping with this anxiety.  New Year new methods....where shall I begin... These might seem simple but honestly they can be more difficult and emotion than first expected. Emotions can take over us in moments of anxiety, so finding your own methods of coping are critical.  Use the steps above to get you started, maybe take a moment before bed to reflect on the anxieties you feel at that current

"Every year you make a resolution to change yourself. This year make a resolution to be yourself."  - Unknown  2024 has just begun and I can already see people trying to reinvent themselves. Starting new diets, exercising, change in fashion etc. Honestly it makes me feel pressured to need to change myself as well.  I often hear people say "I need to stop eating chocolates this year" or "I need to lose weight this year".  The need to reinvent yourself can be strong. But just because it’s a new year, does it really mean you have to become new?  Rather than becoming "new", we could say “enhancing” or "reinventing" ourselves. Bettering ourselves and overall growing and seeing some changes in yourself. Yes that can still be done by starting a new diet, exercising and changing up your style. But it can also be done by learning new things.  Adding to your life instead of restricting yourself. Now I’m not going to make a list of things you can

 "Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering 'it will be happier'."- Alfred Lord Tennyson  New year is often a time for a 'new me' mentality and often we go big. I'm going to lose weight this year, or I'm going to stop drinking. Now while these are completely fantastic goals they are also the ones that we find the hardest to maintain and often give up on.  Breaking these resolutions down into small more manageable ones give us a higher chance of achieving them and feeling good in ourselves which will ultimately improve our wellness both physically and mentally.   If we take the 'lose weight' resolution as an example we can break this down into smaller steps and give ourselves a better mind set.  1. Drinking more water- this would be a fantastic start to this resolution as water is one of the best things we can put into our body.  2. Adding more fruit and vegetables into your meals- Fruit and veg allow us to be more healthy a

"I wish you have 365 days of never-ending joy in 2024." It’s crazy to think we made to 2024. But we made it, YOU MADE IT!  I know 2023 was not an easy year but I’m sure it was filled with lots of lessons.  For me, it was the first time I lost someone from my family, my lovely Grandmother. But it was also a year I experienced so much growth. I was given the chance to start on this blogging journey. My friendships grew deeper and stronger. I also realised as an introvert I crave connection. I’m sure there are many things you can think of that put you on the path you’re on! How did 2023 treat you? Now looking forward, I’m so excited about the journey that 2024 will be. New Year, New You? Wishing you all a prosperous, healthy and productive 2024! Love & Kisses, Imaan and Katie xxxx