It's that season again where everyone is going back to reality and facing uni, or for some looking for their first graduate job - even looking where to begin. I've felt a huge wave of depleted energy not just around me but on social media with the endless cycle of "I'm tired" or "can't be bothered" type of energy. I'll put my hands up and admit that I have played a part in the sleeping Olympics in recent months - beginning with this blog which before used to be everything to me, an outlet and my own space. Creative block is a real thing and absorbing negative energy is also real - over the past couple of months I've written whole pieces and not posted anything or ignored opportunities presented to me on a platter. However, looking back at everything this isn't the first season of blockage and it probably won't  be the last - but what does need to happen is realising the season you've put yourself in. By season I mean have you placed yourself in a cycle, whether that be a season of being unmotivated or a season of self doubt. The question ultimately is, when are you going to let it pass?

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a tweet coming for self employed bakers and the rise of 'waffle makers with a sprinkle of parsley' on the timeline. At first I remember thinking "and I oo-" but this summer there has been a growth in the amount of people who I've seen tune into their talents and gifts - making their coin and still being critcised for it. Yet if we look at some of the most successful people, its usually those who found a hobby and honed in on it marketising and growing in their craft. To all the bakers, nail techs, make up artists, product developers and creatives - keep powering through because it only takes one thing to help you blow.



I've learnt, even though its taken me a long time to learn, that we need to take ownership in the environment we sometimes create for ourselves - realise what it is that is preventing growth. Relearning to be passionate, with child like energy, about the things that are happening around us and taking note of major changes that are and can affect us. Politics over the last month alone has been a whirlwind of changes, distraught and confusion amongst the general public. Staying alert  in times like this will prove important in months to come, learning what each leader has to say particularly during the current party conferences could determine the vote I foresee happening sooner rather than later. Engaging in politics and finally realising the issues we're facing now will prove key to change - which ultimately can be changed by the young people of this country. If there is anything to take away from this, REGISTER TO VOTE  and engage not just in the party your family may feel affilliated with/to but to what you believe in. Greta Thunderland, a 16 year old climate change activist, recently spoke at the UN Climate Summit - her devotion to such a pressing issue spoke volumes. She realises the power of dedication to a cause and the magnitude of impact she has had in the time is beyond. The one thing that stood out to me is "if you fail us, we will never forgive you" - in many ways this can be applied to things that go beyond the climate - but can also be addressed to self, finally realising the impact of yourself and how you can use it. 

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” - Luke 6:38 

The concept of Lent to me has never been something I've ever observed or even taken into consideration - probably because it wasn't part of my upbringing. Then I stumbled, quite literally, across the movement that is '40acts' started by the Christian charity 'Stewardship' - with an aim to challenge people in the everyday to give more freely. Some of the acts are seem really small an example being on Tuesday the act of giving joy to someone in the form of chocolate - Andre Spence documented his act of giving on his Instagram if you're interested in looking. Chocolate can literally cost pennies and yet has the ability to bring a child like joy to people - which has reminded me to appreciate the small things life has to offer a lot more. Usually, you hear a lot of people giving up chocolate for lent and failing then feeling a way about it - the act of giving then gives you the ability to share more.

Yesterday, the 8th day of Lent, the challenge was to 'Bring life' in the form of blood donation. This has always been something I've been intrigued by over the last year - I couldn't give prior because of my tattoo then this triggered me to look into it again. Giving blood within the black and other ethnic minority groups isn't practised as much with less than 5% of donors in the last year being from these backgrounds - yet we form almost 15% of the population. This number is crucial in light of the number of patients that require constant blood transfusions - particularly those with Sickle cell from the black community and Thalassaemia in the Asian and Mediterranean communities. Some blood groups are a lot rarer to find and have been seen to be most prevalent within the black community - so surely we should collectively aim to give and give freely if we're able to.





The act of giving challenges you to put yourself at a lower place to humble yourself - knowing that all you have within you has the ability to be shared and used by people who desperately need it. If I was being completely honest, the thought of blood makes me sick as in the anxiety that built up in me to donate was overwhelming. In reality, the blood that you donate replenishes itself in less than a month - which you won't even notice go by if you really deep it. The average person can give up to 6x a year - why don't you start with giving once?


Check if you're eligible to give at www.blood.co.uk  - if there's anything to take away from this post is to give and to give freely. You never know what your giving will do. 

Happy new year to all of you - it seems like January is literally slipping away as if Christmas wasn't yesterday. I don't know what you're hoping for this new year but what I do know is that this is going to be of blessings and new beginnings - my prayer for this year was that 2019 would be a year of an abundance of growth. Setting new years resolutions hasn't ever sat well with me, purely because I know once they're set we usually only look at them for the first couple of months if not weeks of the year. Setting goals instead for me appears more systematic, allowing for me to divide them according to each season of the year. But, what I do know is more people are getting married and engaged - awaiting probably one of the biggest days in life which of course is your wedding day. Next month is observed as one of love and romance, so I've teamed up with the people at OKDress - https://www.okdress.co.uk/ - to help any of you browsing for your dress.

OKDress is an online wedding boutique showcasing a huge range of dresses to fit every brides style - from the traditional to the modern they've got a huge catalogue to choose from. Their size guide helps to take the ease off of ordering a dress online and allows you to find the right fit of dress - you can even chose to have a custom size of the dress which I would recommend to ensure the best sizing. If you don't want the typical white/ivory for your dress, what's great about OKDress is that you have full power over the making of your dress even down to the colour. Online shopping has become so normalised now that getting your wedding dress online just doesn't seem that out of the ordinary.To chose a dress online I would recommend collating a collection of ones that you gravitate to - envision what styles mirror the kind of person you are. I've pieced together some of the styles that pop out to me, all under £500 which is hard to find. If it's not your wedding day then the site also has a collection for wedding guests and bridesmaids too. The struggle of looking can be hard so here are the picks that popped out to me:

Champagne with church train - also comes with a detachable skirt - soft lace allows for more movement with this style of dress. Modern approach to the traditional dress.

This beaded lace applique dress accentuates the silhouette, the champagne and blushing pink options would look amazing against medium/dark complexions

Traditional white applique tulle dress allows for your figure to be a prime focus, with the drama of a ball gown still in the dress.

A line Bardot Style Dress - The fit of the dress is beautiful coming out at the waist with the applique bringing it all together. I picked this one out for a more conservative feel but with a bit of shoulder clavicle - which I love as a cut in general anyway.