Twenty-Sixteen

Over the Christmas period I have had the time to think about the things about myself I want to change over this next year. You can change what ever you want at any point of the year, at the end of the day you are doing it for you. The new year is giving me the motivation to change several things that I have been sitting on over the last year. So here are four of my targets and resolutions for 2016. 

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FIND MY OWN STYLE WITH MY PHOTOGRAPHS.

I love photography, I admit my favourites are landscapes and hues of colour. I feel that at the moment my images are lacklustre and I am without a style for my blog photographs. I see so many amazingly talented people with beautiful pictures and I feel that my images don't have the look I am after. There might be a lot of experiemently images coming up on the blog this year but fingers crossed I will finally find a style that suits me and my work.

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BE MORE ORGANISED.

Theres nothing that feels as good as being organised. I love to write notes and check lists but unless you actually physically do something about it, organisation goes right out of the window.
If I spend a day doing nothing, at the end of the day I look back and feel like I've wasted it. I think if I write a list of things to do, whether it's day to day or week to week, If I have something written down I can find something on the list to do on a day that might otherwise be wasted. I really want to improve my blog and improve my content - and I believe organisation is the way to do this!

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COME OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE.

My anxiety has taken a back seat since coming home, and I know why. My 'comfort blanket' as it were is my dad. He can make me feel right at ease and safe. I know this is a state of mind more than anything, but I don't want to be restricted to where I feel safe. I want to travel around and meet new people and go new places, but I can not enjoy myself even in a safe environment with people I know. I'm not sure how to over come this problem but through out the year I don't plan on it holding me back. I need to learn to put my trust in others, quicker and without worry. Its a mental thing but I am determined not to let it control me life so much this year! I know where the comfort zone is, and I want to explore whats around it instead of staying inside that little, controlled box.

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WORK ON ME.

After finishing uni and moving home, finding a job which is now part time, I have decided to look at myself and think about all the things I want to change about myself. I have had a body image issue for several years, nothing to extreme but something I really do not want to keep. I really want to focus on my body image and weight. Whilst at uni my weight fluctuated, especially during the last few stressful months in my final year.  I'd spent almost three years not gaining or loosing weight, but the stress and timetables I set for myself really messed up my eating habits and resulted in weight gain. This year I am setting myself a target, whether I do it before the end of the year or not I am going to try and shred some excess weight. I understand its not the most important thing to focus on, but I know that for me, to finally feel confident in myself and my size, It will change so many things about me, even the way I try to hide myself. Confidence starts from inside yourself, do it for you!


I've made resolutions in the past, admittedly too many to handle, so I've decided on theses four plans, things that I've had on my mind over the Christmas period and even before. Do you have any new year resolutions? What are you planning on this year?

Happy New Year 

Charlie xo

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1. Of course working in retail means the christmas break isn't enjoyed for very long but thankfully I didn't have to work on boxing day just the day after boxing day. And every shop workers dream is for the day to pass quickly, which I am thankful that it did!

2. I always felt that the week between christmas and new year was super long and it always felt, at least to me it felt like it was over a week long. This week however, I haven't worked as much as I used too. The length of time between christmas and new year felt shorter and time just flew by!

3. So thankful that Costa is open before I have to start work, to sit down and have a hot drink whilst waiting to start work is my appreciated. Although I am a little bit concerned that the staff seem to know what I want to order... maybe I should take a break... or maybe not

4. The weather has been so mild the last couple of weeks, but there has been a few mornings where there has been snow on the hills, always adds a little smile to my face in the morning!

5. Up until late october last year, I had had the same glasses for five years. Apparently you are meant to have your eyes checked for change every two years. Well with uni and moving I haven't had chance to find an optician and get an appointment. So I got my new glasses at the end of last year but my mum had only ordered some just before christmas. On wednesday however we received a message to say her glasses have arrived in store! Great timing and she is ecstatic about her new glasses which is just so nice to see!

6. New Years Day! I can not believe how fast the year has gone! Its beyond crazy! I'm not quite the 'new year, new me' type of person, but I for some reason felt very enthusiastic about having a clean out. So a productive day cleaning and sorting out my room went pretty well, I guess it's out with the old and then there is space for anything new.

7. I didn't finish going through my room and getting rid of things on friday so I am continuing today, saturday, time to tackle the wardrobe!

8.It feels good to have a clean, tidy and sorted room to wake up to. I've thrown out things that are just way too old and worn out, and there is a pile of items, clothes, bags, belts and scarves to go to charity. I do get really attached to things so I often cling onto things, thinking 'I might wear that again' or something along those lines but clearing out really has made me feel better, I'd strongly recommend a good clear out to start of your year! (It'll give you more room for the things you brought in the sales too!)

9. We went out on sunday, just to get some fresh air really. The weather has been awful, and being inside on a dull grey day doesn't do anything for your mood. So we went out and I managed to get into a TK Max which I've been wanting to do since before Christmas. I've been looking for an exercise ball. With all the trouble my back gave me last year, I am looking to do something so I don't have to struggle so much this year!

10. With bank holiday monday tomorrow, we have decided to sit down and watch some TV, something we didn't do over christmas. (They weren't showing as much christmassy films on TV this year, not sure why but it left me feeling very behind, if our internet were better we'd consider getting Netflix but it's just not an option right now) Any way New Endeavour was on so I guess we'll get back into a good series to start the year.

I hope you have had a lovely holiday season and a brilliant New Year! 

Wishing you all the very best for 2016!

Charlie xo
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Snapshots of Blogmas 2015

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! I hope you all are having a lovely time what ever you are doing!! 

Charlie xo

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Our Christmas Traditions

1. The Christmas Tree
We normal get the Christmas tree up around the first few weeks of December, however, since moving we have to think about when to put it up a bit more carefully. We now have under floor heating, a beautiful thing in the winter, however not so much for a live christmas tree... The under floor heating actually dries out the tree a lot quicker, it heats up the water, so it evaporates quicker and we are constantly having to check the water levels every few hours, the pins drop off faster and the tree just generally suffers. So this year we've put up the pencil artificial tree in the kitchen but are yet to buy a real one. If you you know of a way to protect a real tree from under floor heating please let me know!
To me a real Christmas tree is the heart of christmas.

2. Chestnuts
Roasting on an open fire! Well ok we don't have the fire any more but thats not stopping us! You can easily roast chestnuts under the grill! Alright its not quite the same, but its something my dad and I enjoy doing together on christmas eve so nothing will stop us.

3. Christmas Eve
Before we moved, we used to visit family and share a drink and pass out the presents. Now, being 400 miles away its a bit difficult. So unfortunately a tradition has changed. Instead we spend that family time, just a bit smaller than before.

4. Christmas Day Breakfast
Ok I don't wake up as early as I used too, a lye in is something I will enjoy on Christmas day. Dad is normally the first one up, he likes to enjoy salmon for breakfast with a bit of champaign on the side, after all is a day of no rules in our house! (I don't join in on the salmon but I won't say no to a bit of bubbly, but the best bit is seeing dad enjoy himself, thats my favourite bit)

5. Christmas Day Dinner
Christmas dinner is a step up from sunday dinner. My mum and dad pull all the stops for it, To be completely honest its the biggest thing we do on christmas day. Although it's always the same dinner as previous years, it is truly the best meal of the the year, hands down.

6. Films and a Kip
Breakfast and champaign, presents and sharing, Christmas dinner is then followed by Dr Who Christmas special, which usually then leads to mum and dad both falling asleep or otherwise known as a food comer, the rest of the day is spent relaxing and enjoying the day. I would love a big family Christmas but right now just the three of us is absolutely fine, maybe one day it will grow.

Christmas is without doubt my favourite holiday. Just seeing people forget their worries, smiles on faces and everybody is so happy to just chat with anybody. At work in particular, everybody has so happy to have a conversation and good wishes are every where. To me it feels like its that time of year people come together and moods are higher, whats not to love. Christmas is my favourite time of the year by far!

Happy Holidays!

Charlie xo

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Festive Candles

Yankee Candles have always been a firm favourite with me and my mum. If only they did a 'back to mac' sort of thing! We've had loads over the years all year round, but none have been as favoured as the Christmas time scents! The smells the candles give off cover the house and give a lovely, welcoming scent to a home. One of our most brought candle is Yankee Candles' Cinnamon Stick, you can not get much more christmasy!

Woodwick is a newer find, I've only had one Woodwick candle before, in comparison to Yankee I perfer the shape of the jar and the lid of the Woodwick candles, its a lot more simplistic and cleaner in the shape. The smell compares nicely with Yankee in my opinion, however my mum thinks that the Yankee Candle large jar doesn't keep the smell, almost like it runs out or gets weaker the more you use it.

This year I'm trying Woodwicks Cinnabark, but there are plenty of others to try if you don't like the smell of cinnamon, below are five different candles which I love the smell off and each and every one of them makes me think of Christmas!

1. Woodwick Cinnabark  2. Yankee Candle Cosy by the Fire  3.  Yankee Candle Sparkling Snow  

4. Yankee Candle Winter Glow  5. Yankee Candle Sparkling Cinnamon

Do you have any favourite Christmas scents? 

Charlie xo

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