What kind of blogger would I be if I didn't end this year with a reflection post?! I'm going to share with you 8 things that have made me a very happy lady this year and 8 things i've learnt throughout the last 12 months. Gosh it has it gone SO fast, I honestly cannot believe it.  2016 has been pretty turbulent but on the most part it's been a good year. I'm reflecting on this year with a humongous smile. Here goes... 

8 things i am grateful for:

Meeting new people

2016 has been THE year for meeting a whole bunch of amazing new people (although we can't forget all the existing amazing people I already know! - i love ya). I love getting to know new people and i've been lucky to make some amazing friendships. 

Travelling (a lot!) 

Graduating 

Getting ma car 🚗 

Becoming 100% vegetarian and 95% vegan 

Growth in self-love/body image

Bringing back my love for blogging

Experiences > things (life's short yo', appreciate it!) 

8 things I have learnt in 2016:

Be a good egg 

Not that this is new to me. I've always tried to be a good egg. But this year i've focused on being a 'good' person. I've learnt that it is very good to be a good egg not just for yourself but for others. So be a good egg people

There's more to life than food and weight - so love yourself regardless

This is something i'm grateful for like i said above but, it's also something i've had to learn. I've had to learn that loving myself for what and who I am is farrrrrr more important than trying to be a certain weight or look a particular way. I've had to learn that looking in the mirror and liking what I see is about more than what my body looks like. Actually, I can love me. Losing 10lbs will not make me a better, happier or more loveable person. Life is for L I V I N G and not about the number on the scales!

I can venture out the house in joggers and no makeup 

Funnily enough this has taking me 21 years to figure out. When I think back to how obsessed I was about how I looked.. it makes me cringe. In 2016 I have embraced my natural, curly hair for the first time in around 10 years (no lie!), I have embraced my bare skin and ventured out without a full face of makeup most days and i've looked like a scruff for the majority. But that's ok, you're allowed, you're you, be you. 

Nobody actually cares what you look like! 

Everyone has 'imperfections'. 

On the most part.. we're all pretty average looking. 

Body confidence isn't easy, it takes time. 

I don't need a flat stomach, a thigh gap and big boobs to be happy. 

And... neither do you! 

Hello all! A recent #lbloggers chat about blog challenges got me inspired. I have a challenge list here of all the things i'll be doing before i'm 25. But, on a smaller scale, i thought i would do this A-Z of happiness challenge. This little challenge (and it was challenging) was created by Thrifty Vintage Fashion. I thought it was such a perfect blog post to share with you what i think contributes to happiness. I tried to be different from the original post as much as possible.

Uh-oh. Controversial. But i feel like i really needed to get this post out there. It has been on my mind since i first started the blog actually. I eluded to it on my 'About Me' page. It's a rather personal post and not everyone will agree. But from personal experience and observations i can see the damage that the fitness industry can do to vulnerable people. And sometimes, i actually wish i'd never tried to lose weight in the first place. I wish i never searched #fitspiration on Instagram or Tumblr. I wish i never joined the gym. I wish i never followed bikini competitors. Most of all... i wish i never let my body define my self-worth.

Its true.. for a long time i let my weight on the scales dictate who i was a person. I had to be skinny. I had to look like my inspiration Nikki Blacketter. I had to have goals to compete. Or who was i? Why was i even working out if i didn't want a six-pack to post on instagram or to strut around in a bikini on stage? Nowadays the fitness community is bombarded with competitors. Shredded competitors with minimal body fat. At one point i wanted that. I thought i needed that. But as time has gone on i have realised i need to follow a more balanced approach.

So i fell out of love with fitness. The fitness community. The fitness ethos that i had once been such a part of. I was sick of feeling like a failure if i didn't work out 6 times a week (sometimes twice a day - can't forget that fasted cardio eh?!). Sick of seeing egg whites and protein oats on my instagram feed. Tired of looking at shredded physiques that i felt like i was never going to achieve. And you know why i wasn't going to achieve it? Because deep down i didn't really want to. I really wasn't that arsed. I value eating triple scoops of ice-cream with my family more. Going for pizzas with my flatmates. And sharing a big, fat takeaway with my boyfriend.

Behind every successful women is herself and.. her partner, her support network, her friends, her family. All those she trusts around her. 

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I thought i'd share with you my recent purchases i picked up whilst in Edinburgh for the day which, resulted in my arm nearly falling off as i rushed to the train station. It wasn't a good look. But, i adore shopping in Edinburgh. It always ends with me spending far too much money...

Its exam time. Its absolute madness. You've spent all day, everyday holed up in your room under a mountain of papers but, you still don't feel prepared. Does that sound familiar? We've all been there. Finally in my 3rd year at university i've developed some coping strategies so i don't get too hung up on exams and stress myself (and everyone around me) out!

Confidence and self belief that you can smash it:

As much as i really don't want to be talking psychology now after revising this stuff for the past two weeks, i'm going to mention a theory here thats quite appropriate. The idea of 'self-efficacy' (Bandura, 1993) - this is the belief in your own abilities to manage well in a particular situation. Some people feel fine with exams, they're like 'yes, i can do this!' others don't have confidence in their abilities when it comes to exams. So my first tip is to conquer this. Tell yourself you can do it until your blue in the face. Although this also comes with time and practice, the more you do exams the more you feel like you can handle them. I like to tell myself it's not so serious and imagine it is like a mock, this takes of the edge a little bit. Self-efficacy has been found to contribute to academic success (Zimmerman, 2000) so it is hugely important to build that confidence and belief that you can handle it!

Find what works for you: 

Theres not point me sitting here telling you what i do, you have to do what helps you learn the best. Some people prefer mind maps, some people prefer fully written notes, and others prefer Q-cards. Personally i do all 3 as writing things out a million times really helps. But what is important is that you find the approach that works for you, of course this comes with time. Have a little play around and see what techniques you like best.

Be prepared:

Believe me, self-belief is a lot easier if you have actually done the revision and preparation.
I personally print out monthly calendars, set out all the exam dates and then look when i need to start revising. I will make a checklist to ensure i have covered everything i need to do. I'll then start my notes, practice past questions and create some small Q-cards nearer to the time for 'quick practicing' and remembering names/theories.  This way i know i've done everything i need to do. Don't leave it til the last minute and leave things out. This will just get you stressed and feeling unprepared which isn't good when walking into an exam hall.

Relaxation: 

This is something that has helped me tremendously these past two years. If you're anything like me and you're an absolute nightmare when it comes to exams then these tips are necessary for keeping yourself and the others around you sane.

You are worth more than an exam grade: 

Yes exams are important, yes we want to do well. But realising that you are defined by more then a grade is incredibly relaxing and calming. As my nan always says "All you can do is your best". Nan's know best. So just remember that when you're sat in the exam hall. It isn't the be all and end all. Love yourself, look after yourself, be happy and just try your hardest. *cheesy*

Bandura, A. (1993). Perceived self-efficacy in cognitive development and functioning. Educational Psychologist, 28, 117-148.

Zimmerman, B. (2000). Self-Efficacy: An Essential Motive to Learn. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25(1), pp.82-91.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/sleep-newzzz/201508/the-crucial-benefit-good-sleep-you-might-be-forgetting

http://www.theprintedparade.com/deal-exam-stress/