Helpful Tips To Get You Out of a Rut

Recently the past six months of my life, have been awful. Things have been crap in majority aspects, and I have admitted defeat many a times. I failed my driving test TWICE, my grandad passed away, work has been a nightmare etc. So these are the things I like to after I've consumed loads of chocolate, slept loads, gone through one too many boxes of tissues.

Tidy Room, Tidy Mind. 
I did this today. My room was hideously disgusting, you couldn't move in it! So I tidied it all up, got fresh bed sheets on, and made it smell good. I already feel so much better haha.

Pamper Yourself
Whether that be getting your nails, hair or a spa treatment done, or simply just taking that little bit longer in the morning to get ready. If I look ready, I feel ready to take on the world.

Exercise
100% works. Get yourself out of bed early in the morning, grab a friend or go alone and get exercising. I love going to the gym in the morning with my best friend, it's a great way for us to catch up and chat while doing something good for us at the same time. Oh my god great idea, sweat out all your stress and then have a pamper. Combination of the two. Bam.

Surround Yourself with Friends
And by friends, I mean the people who will actually support you. Not the ones that just want to be your friend when you're happy and jolly, the ones that want to be your friends regardless of what you're feeling. Just pour your heart out, and if you're like me, and you don't share your feelings (naughty us) just go out for food with them and just chat!

Do Something That Makes You Happy. 
I need to remember this. I enjoy swimming, going to the gym, going for walks, blogging etc. If I'm sad, I like to go and do one of these things and I sort of feel like I escape from my thoughts because I'm concentrating on something else. I feel like films don't do that for me because I don't fully concentrate, I find it hard to concentrate on things, so if I'm manually doing it, it's much better.

Fix What Makes You Unhappy
This can't always apply, but if it applies, do it. Recently, I found that I was dreading doing something. So I made the decision to give it up, and already a weight has been lifted off of my shoulder. If you're putting something off, just do it. It'll make you feel so much lighter!

I hope whatever is making you unhappy, gets better soon. I know it's hard and I need to remind myself of this too, but it does get better!

5 Things to Help You Stick to the Gym

As I've been the member of the same gym since I was 13, and I'm 20, I feel as if I am rather experienced in the gym world. The fact I'm a Gym Instructor helps aswell really doesn't it? Now it's the start of the year when most people start saying "This is the year I'll get fit!" They go to the gym once or twice, put an Instagram picture of their new trainers and then they're back to not exercising and watching Netflix. Don't deny it, we've all been there! I've discovered things that do and don't work when it comes to exercising and I figured I'd share them with you. 

1. Get a Work Out Buddy!

I love going on a Monday morning with my best friend, Georg! She picks me up at an early time because she has University at 1pm, and then we'll head straight to the gym. It's so good to go with a friend for a longer session, I tend to go more than once a week but my long session is always with Georg. What's better than a catch up over a treadmill?

2. Work Out in the Morning

Following on from my last point when I said I go to the gym Monday Morning, I love to go on Mondays in general. I get up, get ready and go. I instantly feel like my day has been productive and it sets a good mood for the rest of the day, whats better than that?

3. Treat Yourself to New Gear

I always say to people starting the gym, it's always worth buying a decent pair of trainers. The amount of money you spend constantly having to repurchase ones from Primark, you could've paid for a decent pair from Nike. They're made particularly for training, it will benefit you! I always find that if I buy new gear, I want to go to the gym and show it all off. Today my new trainers came, I went to the gym a couple of hours later!

4. Get a Decent Nights Sleep

I get it, it's 2am, you've just finished the last chocolate in the box, and you're about to press play on another TV show episode. But, what if you plan to go to the gym that very next day? I can guarantee you, you will hate hearing that alarm even more. Drink a glass of water, get to sleep and you'll wake up wanting to squat! 

5. Make a GREAT Playlist 

There is nothing worse than scrolling through your phone and just seeing songs like "Daniel Merriweather-Bad Day" start playing. (This happened to me today!) Make a playlist in advance of songs that you know you will work that little bit harder for. Beyonce, Little Mix and Justin Bieber are some great artists I listen to, to get me moving. Alternatively, my gym has WiFi, so I leave all the videos in my subscription box until I get there, I can get there do what I'd usually be led in bed doing, on an exercise machine!

I hope these things come of use to you, some of them are kind of obvious and raved about. There is a reason for that, it works. Remember, exercise can be done in many other different ways to the gym and even walking to work, rather than driving, can massively benefit you! 

See you soon! 

I Hate Driving..

In September, I failed my driving test. My major was in the last five minutes of my test and wasn't my fault. I was heart broken, I don't remember the last time I sobbed like that. I started driving in October last year, passed my theory in April and now I'm at the blip where I don't know what to do. I can hand on heart say I really hate driving. Lessons are just dragging, other drivers scare me, and roundabouts are just a no in my books. So I'm asking for some advice! What do you recommend? How can I like driving and get over my hatred?
Thanks in advance!
X

We're Halfway There..

Already, we are half way through another year. So far, things haven't been that great. I lost a very close friend of mine at the start of  the year, my health hasn't been the strongest, and I've seen loved ones suffer. But a sudden realisation of mine hit me last night, was that I am still focusing on the negative things that have happened this year. Where really, I should focus on the positive! So these are 15 good things that have happened in 2015 already, that have been great!

My godson said my name for the first time! Finally, little Lucas who is two next month, said my name. My heart burst!

I went on my first hen do for one of my best friend! It was amazing :)

I am now a LEVEL 2 swimming teacher, after a year and a half, I decided a Level 1 just wasn't good enough for me. Hence the Level 2 title ;)

I am a LEVEL 2 GYM INSTRUCTOR! This was amazing to complete, it took months of hard work and now I can help get people fitter!

I passed my driving theory test! Now it's just time for the real deal..

I went to Birmingham with one of my best friends to see Ariana Grande, I also saw one of my friends who is at Birmingham University doing Nursing, it was so good to see her!

I went to see One Direction in Cardiff. No shame.

I went to The Vamps with my two good friends.

I conquered my fear of not being able to sleep alone in the house!

Top 5 Beauty Favourites of 2014

Ooooh, the big one, the yearly favourites!

I feel as though 2014 has been the making of me in terms of beauty wise. Sure, I used a foundation the odd couple of times and I quite liked the mascara that was a fiver. But this year I grew my collection massively, especially in regards to Benefit. Benefit was the first high end brand I wanted to buy from. I would steal my sister's "They're Real" mini mascara whenever I had the chance. Now, I own a hella of a lot from there and I own MAC and Urban Decay. Lipsticks were never a main priority for me, and now I can't stand to be apart from my collection. Without further or do,  let's get into it!

Benefit The Porefessional Primer
I had never even used a primer until this.. how crazy! When I first went to Benefit, the lady put this on me. Of course I'd heard about it and the reviews were crazy, but could it really work? Did it actually make my pores look smaller, my skin smoother? YES! I absolutely love this primer, as a girl with oily skin and a lifeguard on a boiling hot poolside, I feel my makeup stays on a lot more. And I love it!

MAC lipstick in Hue
You know that lipstick that you wondered what you did before you had it? This is mine. This is my go to, everyday, perfect, nude. I thought "Yeah I'll like this" but I didn't expect to be obsessed with it. Which I truly am.

Benefit Coralista Blush
If you had told me at the start of the year, that I was going to buy a blush for £23.50, I probably would've laughed, hit you, and told you to jog on. But yes, I took the plunge and bought the beautiful box. It's without a doubt the nicest blusher I have ever used, it even has a nice smell. It looks so natural but so effortlessly gorgeous at the same time. Aaah, i just love it!

L'oreal Collection Exclusive Lipstick in Blake's Red
This year, I went out and reached for a red lipstick. Every girl needs one in her lipstick collection, I don't care what you say. I had MUA's Shade 1 before and yes it was nice for a quid. But this, is perfect. It's matte which screams for me to buy, as I am a matte girl. It glides onto the lips and just looks bloody gorgeous on. I hear it is a dupe for Ruby Woo by a MAC by the way.


L'oreal True Match Foundation
Late to the game I know, but I don't give into hypes very easily, e.g. Benefit Porefessional ;) but I thought hey ho, let's buy it. And I'm so glad I did! It's a matte finish, mediumish coverage, and a perfect skin match for me. I'm in N2!

2014 in 194 Words and 11 Pictures

2014 was a whirlwind. I feel I have grown up a lot in the terms of leaving school and working fulltime. There is a massive pressure to go to Uni and to break the sort of, trend, i guess you'd call it, is a hard thing to do. Uni has meant four of my best friends actually moved away to Birmingham, Sheffield, Aberystwyth and London, which has been hard but I appreciate them a lot more now they've moved away. Work friends have been even closer and I have some of my best friends there, that I hope will stay friends forever. My family have been incredible, supporting me in my choices an always being there. My two best friends Georgia and Alice have been my rocks. I have managed to push myself to doing more things and my anxiety has definitely improved. I went on holiday without my parents! I unfortunately had a breakup in the middle of 2014 which effected me immensely, I still miss him a lot but that is expected and I'm glad we have come to talking terms. :)

Now enough with the soppy talk, and this is 2014 in pictures!

Changes

Hello! There's a few changes on my blog I would like to make..

Name Changes
If you may or may not have noticed, I have changed my URL! This is down to the fact I made this blog when I was obsessed with tumblr, "curiousasalice" was my tumblr url and something I thought up when I was watching Alice In Wonderland, which obviously holds no relevance to this blog. To make it simple, I am now "katieloulabella"! Loulabella was a nickname of mine when I was a little baby and I think it suits better!

Post Changes
Don't worry, not too dramatic! This is just to say that I will be trying my very best to upload more and more frequently. Since finishing sixth form and undergoing a gap year, my posts will hopefully be more thoughtful rather than just a typical boring 10 minute post! I am planning on doing more lifestyle posts and beauty posts too :)

Layout Changes
I am undergoing many different styles on my blog until I find the right one. I'm sorry for those laptop/computer users who are probably fed up of seeing a different layout but I promise you that it won't be for long!

Room Changes
A bit of a personal change here! I have recently done my room up and it's still a work in progress but once everything is ready I am more than happy to show you what it's looking like.

Please let me know if you have any requests on blog posts as I'm always open to keep you guys happy!

-K x