Reflection | Outtakes of 2018

Morning Everyone,

I hope you had an amazing Christmas, I know I certainly did and I'm 100% about 5kg heavier too from all the cheese, chocolate and wine. I thought I'd do a little post from 2018 looking back on some of the out-takes from the shoots I've done which may or may not have made it to the gram or blog.

Fashion | The only print your wardrobe needs this season

Every season there is a hero print. Summer was all about the polka dot and now that the skies have turned grey and the winds have changed there's a new print in town and it's taking over. It's official, animal print is BIG this season.

Fitness | Investing in a Personal Trainer

Getting a Personal Trainer (PT) was something that I considered for years. I uhm'ed and ah'ed back and forth trying to push myself to take the plunge. If I'm brutally honest, I didn't think it would be worth the money. But I'll be the first to admit when I'm wrong.

I was wrong.

Fashion | 5 Rules to Follow Every Time You Shop

I know I'm not alone when I write the words a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear. I even have a t-shirt that reads 'nothing to wear'. Oh the irony.

I have a particular set of skills. Skills I have acquired over a very long shopping career. Skills that mean I can justify the purchase of practically anything. I could probably justify the purchase of a new pair of shoes even if I didn't have feet.

Lifestyle | 7 Ways to Improve your Mood

Life is a bit of a strange one. One area of your life can be going well while another area gets hit with a wrecking ball.

This is what has happened to me recently with some bad news. As a result my mood seems to be suffering with whiplash. One minute I feel like I'm on top of the world and the next my mood swings and I'm floating around rock bottom.

To combat these giant swings, I've learnt of 7 ways that I can instantly improve my mood for my own sanity and that of the people around me.

Fashion | Why You Need to Invest in a Midi Dress

Every season there is an IT item that everybody just can't get enough of. Shops try to restock as quick as they can and shoppers are desperate to get their mitts on it. This season though I think there is one item out there that has been underestimated. The dark horse of the summer. The midi dress.

Recipe | Raspberry & Coconut Protein Energy Balls

In my quest to replace some of my less healthy eating choices with healthier options I stumbled across energy balls. I mean who wouldn't want a little energy pick me up in the form of a snack?

My struggle though was real when finding a recipe that worked for me as so many recipes featured either peanut butter, almonds or walnuts and using substitutes I couldn't seem to get the balls the right consistency to stay as balls.

After much kitchen experimentation I have found a combination which works. It has oats for energy, no refined sugars and protein to help fuel your muscles. The taste fresh and will leave you wanting 'just one more'.

Hair | Ways to Upgrade your Ponytail

The scarf ponytail is my new go-to summer hairstyle. It looks chic, fun and on-trend while sweeping your hair back off your face, which is a dream in the current heatwave. What's even better is that the length of your hair doesn't matter and your ponytail goes from an average 6 to a strong 9 within seconds.

Food | Food & Cider Pairing with Thatchers

Being born and raised in Bristol it's true to say that drinking cider runs in my blood. There is simply nothing more refreshing on a hot summers day than to open an ice cold cider and sit in the sunshine.

Fact.

Typically my cider of choice is something fruity and not too dry, I know what I like and I tend to stick to it. Or I thought I did until Thatchers invited me to a Cider pairing evening at Pasture in Bristol.

Fitness | Getting Back into Running with Couch to 5k

So a couple of months ago I had a moment of insanity and put my name into the hat ballot for the London Marathon 2019.

Now to highlight the scale of crazy that this is - I'm best known for running a bath instead of actual running. If I really push myself then I can run a mile in about 12 minutes and I practically have to lie down for a good solid hour afterwards before my legs will even thinking about moving again.

Fashion | Wedding Guest Outfit Inspiration

Wedding season is already upon us and last weekend I was happy to be invited to celebrate the wedding of two friends. It was a gorgeous day and I inadvertently managed to dress to match their New York theme where the colour scheme was taxi yellow and blue. Every wedding is different and it can be hard to know what to wear to suit the weather, the formality of the occasion, what suits you and most importantly to be comfortable.

Wellbeing | How to Sneak 10,000 steps into your Daily Routine

When I worked in retail 10,000 steps a day was a breeze, I could do it by 11am. Now I find myself walking around my car a few times to get an extra couple of hundred at lunchtime or to the printer and back a few times more than I need just to edge closer to that magic 10k.

Fashion | Dressing for the Spring Summer Transition

The UK weather is nothing short of unpredictable. It can go from snow to sunshine to rain and back again in a matter of weeks if not days. You can leave the house with glorious sunshine and then be caught in a downpour just down the road.

Recipe | Lemon & Elderflower Cake

The royal wedding was just under a week ago and honestly I'm still not over it. It was a moment in history which I'm so glad I could be a part of, even if it was from my sofa slightly drunk on prosecco. I hosted a little Royal Wedding party for my mum, gran & James and I decided to make a Lemon & Elderflower 'wedding' cake for us to all indulge in to replicate Harry & Meghan's choice on the day for their own cake. I mean every wedding needs cake right?

Fashion | Steal Meghan Markles Style

As you probably guessed from my best buys for throwing a Royal Wedding party post, I have truly been taken over by Royal Wedding fever. Prince Harry has always been one of my favourite royals, but shh don't tell the others, and when he announced his engagement to Meghan Markle I was genuinely over the moon.

Fashion | The £20 Lemon Print Dress to Snap Up Now

So as mentioned in my fashion fix the other week, things are getting fruity in the fashion world this summer. Dreams of the amalfi coast and freshly squeezed juice have more than likely been triggered by D&G's 2016 lemon print dress.

Lifestyle | Best Buys for Throwing A Royal Wedding Party

If you follow me on Insta-stories then you will know how much I love the royals. It's something I've inherited from my mum and grandmother with pride. When there's a new royal baby I have Kensington Palace's twitter on full notifications and it's on my bucket list to one day meet a royal.

Fashion | How to Wear Stripes for 2018

Stripes are a key part of every spring summer wardrobe. They are the classic french riviera fashion pattern which is revived every year. When done right they can be incredibly flattering and make any outfit look well put together. 

Lifestyle | How to Survive Exam Season

So this post is probably a little different to many of my others but being a mature student I've done my fair share of exams. Don't get me wrong they still stress me out but I've come up with ways to survive them with my sanity intact.

Lifestyle | The Reality of Your Late 20's

As a teenager I truly believed that by the time I was 25 I would have my shit together and be a fully fledged adult conquering the world. I'd have my dream job even though I didn't know what that was at the time. I'd probably have been on the way to getting married, aka engaged. I'd have a house decorated exactly how I wanted with a dog to welcome me home. Spoilers - it isn't all travelling the world, big money jobs and Pinterest-worthy home. I have to say now I've turned 27 that my expectations aren't quite the reality.

Fashion | How To Style a Dress from Day to Night

At the moment I find that I'm often rushing from place to place. I'm not sure when my life got so hectic but I find I'm seriously lacking in time to myself or to just sit down and think. With that being said my wardrobe has had to become multi-function with work outfits being able to be quickly styled to go from office appropriate to an evening of cocktails.

Blog Help | Boost Your Instagram & Make It Work For You

Back in my post about How Unfollowing Can be Healthy I spoke about how social media seemed to be hindering communication instead of promoting it and Instagram is as guilty as the rest of them.

Recipe | Chia Berry Breakfast Smoothie Bowl

It's bank holiday weekend and it's more than likely raining where you are, I know it is here but despite appearances summer is on the way. For me that means shedding a few of the winter hibernation layers ready for the sun's rays.

Fashion | Spring 2018 Trends You Need to Know

So as I'm sat here writing this (Sunday) The Beast from the East 2.0 has just hit Bristol and outside it a snowy, slightly slushy, picture of white. If I'm honest I'm pretty bored of this cold weather now. I want spring flowers, warmer temperatures and blue skies. Most of all I want to be able to wear the spring clothes that I've been buying without risking my nipples slicing through them from the cold.

Wellbeing | Embracing the Yes

So I recently read The Year of Saying Yes by Hannah Doyle and it really got me thinking. Yes, it's chic-lit and an easy read but I love a book that can make me think at the same time. In the Book the main character is effectively challenged to say Yes to things. Things out of her comfort zone such as an entire weekend without internet, her phone or TV.

Fashion | 5 Fashion Brands I'm Keeping My Eye on in 2018

2018 is a year that I want to dedicate to more fashion on Rachel Emily. It's something I love and don't indulge in enough but I'm hoping this year that will change. I might even try my hand at Youtube again with some of my shopping sprees, hopefully now having a house will help this. I thought I'd share with you some of the brands that I'm keeping my eye on in 2018.

Wellbeing | Digital Detox - 5 Places to Stop Using Your Phone

One of my worst habits, bar my hideous road rage, is that I get addicted to constantly scrolling through my phone. I'm sure that lots of people can relate to this. We all just keep scrolling, scrolling and scrolling.

Wellbeing | Why Unfollowing Can Be Healthy

In a modern world full of social media, where communication should be improving, I actually think it's going a little backwards. People don't engage or interact with each other as much these days and it's too easy to get lost in a world where follower count is king.

Lifestyle | A Chilled Valentines at Home

Valentines is an odd celebration. Personally I don't like the idea of making people feel obliged to spend money and show someone that they love them on that one particular day each year. I think you could do it any day of the year and make someone feel really special. Love is for life, not just Valentines. That being said, I do love the idea that people who may have secret crushes find the courage on v-day to send a card or confess their feelings. I guess that's just the hopeless romantic in me. I also don't shun a little attention because it's flattering and a great pick me up.

Beauty | The Ordinary Skincare Review

The Ordinary are a beauty brand everyone seems to be talking about that have had me intrigued for a while. I knew as soon as they hit ASOS I was going to have to get involved. Thank you premier delivery.

Fashion | Wearing Winter Pink

Maybe it's because the days are finally getting longer but I can't help but dream of spring.
Cherry blossom, warmer temperatures and pastel colours.
These dreams are now filtering through into my wardrobe and I am loving winter pink.

Interiors | Planning Our First Home

Guys, it is finally happening! We have exchanged on our first house this week and will be moving in shortly and I am so excited. It still doesn't feel real despite having to be a grown up and discuss mortgages, home insurance and life insurance. If you'd have told me this time last year I would be packing things to move, I probably would have laughed at you, despite it being the plan. I mean, we're millennials, the housing market is crazy and I still had debts to clear, but we've done it and beaten the odds.

Travel | Dominican Republic Photo Diary

Just before Christmas I was lucky enough to escape the 10 day freeze we had here in the UK and jet off to the amazing Dominican Republic, coincidentally for 10 days, and it didn't disappoint. I was greeted by rum cocktails, the gentle sway of palm trees and 30 degree heat and had the most amazing time.

Lifestyle | Making 2018 My Best Year Yet

As far as things go, 2018 is already looking to be a pretty huge year in my life.