ED recovery

Acknowledge that your behaviour is unhealthy and you need to make changes. Change is YOUR choice.

Christmas Eve special!

So this post is a little more centred towards those with small children because lets face it, one of the things that makes Christmas more magical is the things we get to set up for the little ones. They are the purest ones who still believe in all of the cheery figures that we often think of with this holiday. Here are some tips that I have found to make christmas eve a little more special for everyone:

Blogmas Day 12: My favourite Christmas traditions

Christmas is a time for family and traditions. I love it when I get to find out about all of the different traditions that different families so I thought that I would share mine with everyone. I don't really have a lot to share but some of them we don't do anymore so it is a nice trip down memory lane!

Blogmas day 11: Holiday outfit ideas

 It's party season! I love nothing more than getting dressed up for a good party, especially when I know I'm going to get to have a good dance around and spend some time with those I'm closest to. There's something about wearing a dress or making just that little more effort with my appearance, That makes me feel 100x better in myself. Here are some outfits that I would just love to be able to wear this year (even though, lets be honest I have zero parties to go to...so my bank balance is sighing in relief!) 

Blogmas day 10: The best Christmas Adverts of 2016

Not entirely sure if it's the same everywhere else but in the UK, our Christmas adverts are an important thing. It's usually a huge competition to see who manages to win the hearts of the people with the best Christmas adverts. This year, all of the companies seem to have pulled out all of the stops. There are so many different adorable takes on the Christmas spirit and what the season should mean to all of us. I have collected what I think are the best 5 Christmas adverts of 2016.

Blogmas day 9: christmas party playlist

Whats a way to make take your Christmas party up a few levels? The playlist. Whether you choose to go all out with the christmas songs or just add one or two in to create the mood, I have collected some of my festive favourites which are sure to be crowd pleasers. 

Blogmas Day 8: My favourite Christmas treats

Christmas is the perfect time for everyone to get creative with food, no matter what your skills. It's something that is perfect for including the little ones, which let's admit it, adds a whole lot more magic into the holiday. I went online and collected all of my favourite Christmas snack recipes that I love to create to share with you all.

Blogmas day 7: Winter bucketlist

I love the amazing things that we can do that are specifically targeted for each season. Winter means magic.  It means family, love and miracles. Some of the things that I have collected for my winter bucketlist are things that I have done before, while others are completely new. I cannot wait to try out EVERY thing on here. It's time to bring on the magic. 

Blogmas day 6: Best Christmas ideas for Instagram

I'm slowly becoming one of those people that don't care what the occasion is, and share about 30 photos on Instagram with all of you that probably couldn't care less. Whether it's the barely there snow on your plants in the garden, or your perfectly blurred Christmas lights on your tree, I wanna see it.  So I've gathered up some of my favourite festive photos to double tap this season.

Blogmas day 5: vlogmas faves

I love to watch the daily comings and goings of my favourite YouTubers. It's my favourite way to unwind and the relationships that can be formed between YouTubers and their viewers are a powerful thing to see. One thing that I love about December is that it marks the beginning of Vlogmas, which means daily vlogging for all of us fans. It's wonderfully festive and makes me feel all warm inside. I've compiled most of my favourite vloggers that take part in Vlogmas, some every year, others are from 2014 but I love to re-watch no matter what. Enjoy!

Blogmas day 4: The best Christmas jumpers

Whether you need one for the pure festive joy of it or just because of a Christmas jumper day at work, we all need a Christmas jumper. Some are just for the delight of the children but that doesn't mean that we can't enjoy them either. Here are some that I thought were too cute not to share.

Blogmas day 3: Top 10 Christmas films

I think this by far has to be one of my favourite blog posts to write. I always get my Christmas spirit from Christmas songs and seasonal films. In order to be less of a scrooge this year I've had so many different Christmas films on my TV in the background so that I gain some more cheer. So far it's doing quite a good job in the short term. Here are some of my favourite overall Christmas films and because I love Hallmark films, I thought I would share some of my top 10 fave Hallmark Christmas films as well. I'm sure you  enjoy!

Blogmas Day 2: Practical gifts for bloggers

For your blogger friends, it can often seem like a really hard task to be able to find the perfect gift for them, especially since it sometimes seems like they have everything they want. I did a little searching through some of the things that I have purchased in the past for my blog and that I thinks you guys would love too.

Blogmas Day 1: Christmas post ideas

So very recently I made the decision to take part in the 12 days of Blogmas. I will be filling my blog with festive goodness until Christmas Eve so keep your eyes peeled for the magic! It may very well be the worst decision I've ever made because I am insanely busy with my university assignments right now but in the spirit of the season, I'm going to have some faith. I did not come into this completely with my eyes closed, I did a lot of research for Blogmas post ideas so I wanted to share some of them with any of you that might be joining me on this journey and need some inspiration.

Winter skincare routine

Winter can be super harsh on your skin. Unless youre lucky enough to live somewhere where it is pretty much always warm, youre no stranger to the dry, flaky mess that can come hand with winter. I have Eczema and sensitive skin so as soon as the temperatures drop, I have to step up my skincare game. I want to share with you guys some of my winter skin saviours through my daily routine:

Note: This post is not in any way sponsored by Liz Earle, I just find that ther products work perfectly for my skin.

A-Z of Recovery: it is possible

It's that time again! Time for another one of my Recovery posts. I love to write this kind of stuff. I have said that so many times over that past few years but going back to the roots of my blog every now and then feels just great. Plus it makes me feel just that little bit better when I get to realign my thoughts this way.

How to get into the festive spirit

For me, I have been trying to be in the Christmas mood for a while now. I'm usually a bit of a scrooge so I'm giving it some extra effort this year. One of the great things about the beginning of December is that the Christmas spirit around you goes sky high. The decorations go up, the schools are practicing for their Nativity plays, choirs are getting ready for carolling and the TV channels are full of festive music and films. For some people, like myself,  we need to give a little extra effort in order to get into the spirit of things. With that in mind, here are my tips for getting into the Christmas spirit;

Beauty advent calender

The choice of advent calendars this year is better than every before. Gone are the days where your only option was chocolate now we have candles, makeup, perfume, nail varnish and so much more. Since I recently decided to purchase the Makeup Revolution calendar (see below), I wanted to share with you all some of the more affordable options out there for any beauty gurus that you may know. 

Revolution Advent calendar 2016 (£30)-

Set includes:

6x Lipsticks

2x Lipglosses

1x Eye Primer

1x Liquid Highlighter

3x Mono Eyeshadows

2x Baked Blusher

1x Highlighter

1x Anti Shine Balm

1x Bronzer

1x Strobe Cream

1x Face Brush

1x Mini Foundation Brush

1x Mini Angled Brush

1x Mini Eyeshadow Brush

1x Makeup Mirror 

1x Eyeshadow Palette

Blogger problems

I love being a blogger, it's something I hope to continue in the future as a part time job. Ive been doing it for 3 years now and I wanted to share with you some of the "problems" that I have experienced as a result of what I do. 

Matalan Christmas homeware

I think that it's pretty easy to see that lately I've been getting into the Christmas spirit (some might say it's too early). In order to prep for some blog posts, I have been spending quite some time online looking at everything Christmas themed. While I may not have put any decorations up yet, I'm always open to buying new ones and creating new traditions with my loved ones. Here are a few things from Matalan that I just love!

Holiday coping tips

Wow, its hard to think about just how fast the year has gone. There have been so many things that have changed for me this year and I couldn't be more grateful for them but if I am honest, like most people with eating disorders, I am a little worried about the holidays. The holidays means lots and lots of food and that makes me worry about whether or not I can stay strong during this season. Here are some coping tips for those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving and/or Christmas....it's coming soon!!!!!!!

November reading list

I'm a complete book nerd at heart so this month I gave myself a little extra money to buy some gems that have been sitting in my Amazon basket for a while. Ever since I saw the trailer for the film Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children, I have been wanting to not only watch the film, but read the books behind it. Needless to say, I watched the full film and straight away jumped online and ordered all od the books in the set. Just before I clicked "Purchase", I threw another book off my wishlist in for good measure. Here is what I brought;

Beauty Subscription Box 101

For me, I think there is nothing better than getting home to a wonderful package containing loads of beautiful goodies that (hopefully) my skin is just going to love. I've always loved the idea of subscription boxes because I literally have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to makeup. If you ask my Best Friend how much I know about what it is that I actually (eventually learned to) put on my face, then she will tell you that I know basically nothing. I know the bare basics and stick to the same things. A beauty subscription box quite literally picks products for me to try so I don't even have to pretend to know what I'm looking for in the drugstore. I went online and collected together some of my favourite looking boxes that I wish I had the money to be able to purchase (because I'd have them all lets not lie to ourselves).

P.s. all of the prices are in GBP but most sites have the prices in most other currencies and therefore deliver to other places too!

Christmas Gift wishlist

CHRISTMASSSSSS!!!!

Yep, sorry for saying it. I have decided to start sharing some of my Christmas gift planning online. You're probably hating me for even mentioning it right now but planning your gifts in November actually makes life a whole lot easier. It becomes a fun experience rather than a mad dash in December. Give your loved ones a little more thought and a little less stress for yourself. Think about what makes these people who they are and gain inspiration from it. 

A-Z of Recovery: Hope

Once again it's time for another A-Z of Recovery post. I must admit that I love coming back to this kind of thing. It's a really therapeutic thing for me to be able to go over old thoughts, feelings and be able to reevaluate them into the now. Recovery is a bumpy process and I've been through a lot of dips in my mood and relapsed lately but I never lost hope. 

The most important thing for me in this entire world is hope. Hope that there is a better life, hope for everything that I want for a fulfilling life. No matter, who you are or what you do, hope is the most important thing. It is what keeps you going, it's what helps you accept the past and embrace the present and the future. 

Three years ago when I started this blog as 'Perks Of Recovery' with a Alyssa (some of you who have been around that long will know who she is and why she doesn't run the blog with me anymore), I had no hope. Throughout my journey I have been tested through so many different ways. I thought each time that I had lost all hope of living. The beauty of it all is that there is always a little extra reserve inside each of us that keeps us going even in the toughest of times.

For some people, we can be reminded of it just by something that we see, feel or hear. For others, it's about the people around you that can remind us of the hope. I can guarantee you that if you are reading this then you can be that ambassador for someone everyday...even if that person is yourself. 

We should never lose hope. its the best thing we have got and it helps us to be open to seeing all of the beautiful things. 

Good luck 

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Shine A Little Light

I have decided that from now on I will be more appreciative of the things that I have in my life and I will set myself a daily goal. It will be a small goal that will help me to stay happy. I have learned over the time of having this blog that its the small things that make a difference. Each small thing that happens everyday that I either do to help someone or someone does something small to help me, it makes a huge difference.

Just remember that when you are thinking about your life and the way that you can make a difference, just small things that you can do can have such an impact. Here are some little suggestions for you to do;

• smile at a stranger
• help someone with their shopping
• hold the door open for someone
• lend a helping hand
• be there for someone
• make someone laugh
• create something for someone
• believe in someone (including yourself) it could be the extra push that they need to succeed!

You are all beautiful people, inside and out. Let your light shine in this world and don't ever let anyone bring you down. Bad things can happen, that's life but it's our job to help others (and ourselves) to make the best out of every situation. We are all going through problems so make sure that you are there for anyone who needs it. We all stick together and support each other.

Keep smiling.

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L'Oréal clay mask review

I'm really quite excited to share with you guys today a wonder product. I recently went into Boots in search of a new face mask (Because I'm a little obsessed with using them) when I came across the new clay masks from L’Oreal Paris. I had been meaning to try them since they were released so I instantly put them in my basket. I began with the Detox Mask and then a few days ago I went back for the Purity and Glow Mask (nor pictured) . 

The best things about Concert life

It's pretty well known that I'm a huge fan of country music. When I came across the tickets for country duo Maddie and Tae, I literally screamed my little head off. I missed C2C (country2country) when it came round so the fact that I could go to my first ever country concert was the best feeling in the world, especially considering the fact that I've loved these ladies since they dropped their first single! The only thing that made it better was the Emily could come with me.

As someone who really doesn't do well with crowds and strangers, concerts are always on of those scenarios where I get to push my own boundaries. It really helps me to feel like I am growing as a person and managing my issues really well. Plus, lets not forget that concerts are a great way of getting to know new friends (because lets face it, you've definitely got some common ground to build a friendship on).

Autumn scents

Yep, I'm back again with another wishlist...shouldn't really have made the first one because now I'm addicted. It's a perfect excuse for me to scour the internet and find products that in an ideal world I would be able to splurge on. 

I'm a sucker for all kinds of earthy, woody toned scents so naturally (see what I did there?....I know that was lame..) when it gets to Autumn, all of my favourite things begin to emerge and I'm in my happy place. There are so many things that are so beautiful in terms of their looks and their scent so I thought I would share with you all some of the items on my Autumn scent wishlist!

The spirit of Halloween

Halloween is fast approaching and there is nothing that is making me more happy! As you all have probably experienced,  every year pretty much every fan of the holiday creates a bucketlist of all these Pinterest worthy activities to fill your Autumn/Fall with every kind of themed goodness ever created!

For me, it's the activities and the sights of the seasons that just make everything that much better. I love to decorate the house and spend hours on pinterest looking at all of these fabulous different things that I can do that will magically make Autumn a more memorable experience.

Blogging goals

Ive always been one of those people that LOVES to make goals, lists and all forms of self improvement. The fact that I can make goals for my blog regularly makes me little list making soul super happy. Its always super motivating to be able to set targets for the amount of followers, readers,  posts I need to make etc and be able to smash those targets. Each time you meet one it's like you a have a personal little party.

A-Z of Recovery: Gaining back your health

Even after I wrote the post explaining why I wanted to change up the way I was blogging and the sort of things that I posted about, one thing that I wanted to continue with related to Mental Health is my A-Z of Recovery series. I started this at the beginning of the year and I'm really happy with how consistent I have been with it and I still really enjoy writing about some of these topics and so here it is!

Halloween home decor lust list

So since doing my Stationary lust list the other day, I've been really excited to share more of my homeware obsession on my blog. This is a kind of avenue I have never taken in the past with my blogging but its so darn fun that I am probably going to bore you all to death with a regular lust list every few weeks. #sorrynotsorry

5 Things to be happy about

So lately my life hasn't quite been going the way that I have wanted it to (isn't that always the way?) It's very easy for me to become a complete negative Nancy but I had a chat with a friend recently and as usual I've felt a lot better after getting some things off my chest. Sometime sit just talked someone who is not a part of the everyday runnings of your life to be able to cut through the crap and help you get everything back on track.

Sometimes it's very easy to be consumed by the  negative things that are happening to you and because of this,, you miss out on some of the blessings you have been given everyday.  Because of this, I wanted to share with you guys some of the things that make me happy.

Back to uni stationary lust list

Whether you are heading back to your studies or you just REALLY enjoy a good old stationary binge when September comes about, it is that time of year again!

I like to use whatever excuse I can find to stock up on all of the most cutest looking notebooks, pencil cases and pens around. Nothing pleases me more than opening that NEW notebook, the one that smells like paper-y goodness – ready to be filled with ideas, endless lists and silly doodles (I mean, whether we make light of anything that actually goes in there is another question but still)… Here is my stationary lust list…

12 ways to turn a bad day around

It's inevitable that you're going to have a bad day at some point in your life. no matter how hard we try to be happy, positive people, because we are human, there are going to be situations out of our control and some things are going to go completely wrong. While its inevitable that it will happen, you don't have to sit there and deal with it. Following some first hand experience and tips I've found on the internet, I've compiled some ways to help turn a bad day around.

Make a list of everything youre grateful for
One of the ways to change your perspective for the day is to focus on something else. Listing what you are grateful for will help to train your brain to look for positives in life, even during times of emotional distress. This activity will consequently reduce the amount of bad days you will actually experience- so its a win-win!

Listen to a playlist of music that makes you happy
Recently I shared a playlist that contained some of the songs that I use when I am having a bad day. I'm a firm believer that there is a song for every emotion; whether you're feeling sad, angry, happy or lonely, there's always a song out there that helps you to feel a little more settled. If you are having a down day or just a 'flat' moment, listen to some tunes that you find to be uplifting for your mood. You'll soon feel 10x better about everything. (And having a good dance isn't out of the question either!)

Twitter chat timetable

So Monday I took part in my first ever Twitter chat. I kept telling myself in the past that I was going to join in but I always somehow managed to miss the chats. On Monday I stumbled across a tweet announcing that the #beechat was about to begin and so I took a deep breath and delved deep into the wonders of a blogger chat. I must say that form my experience, I now know that once you begin a chat, put your phone on vibrate/silence it because your mentions WILL be going crazy. Also, make sure that you've carved out time to do nothing other than answer the thousands of people that pop by to say hi on twitter because they have stumbled across your profile.

I can honestly say I talked to over 20 strangers (I mean that in the nicest way I swear!) that day and even though it was all very fast paced (something I'm not usually too good with), I had a really good time and hopefully I will be able to join in with more in the future.

To help you all (mostly myself) keep track of when the chats take place, who the chats are aimed at etc, I thought I would compile as many as I can find into a nice little timetable. Enjoy!

Autumn Equinox & bucketlist

First of all...HAPPY AUTUMN EQUINOX!!!!!

Today is officially the first day of Autumn/Fall in the Northern Hemisphere. So you guys know that I love Autumn. There's so much about this season that just makes my soul so happy. Recently I was going through my old blog posts and I came across this . It reminded me of how much I enjoyed doing seasonal themed posts last year and I thought I would carry it on into 2016.

I'm always seeing bucketlists online that aren't really reasonable to do. I live in the UK so it's disappointing when a lot of the lists include "going on a hayride" etc because as much as I would love to do so...I cant. I don't know of anywhere that does that. So after a bit of research I created my own little list of things I want to do this Autumn that I will actually be able to do and it has made me even more excited for the season.

*I hereby solemly swear that I shall undertake every task on this list*

Through the web: Blogger love

As part of my choice to seperate the Perks of Recovery part of my life from my blogging, I revamped an old twitter account last week so that I could dedicate it solely to blogging. I thought it was a great way of giving a little more BTS information of my blogging, whilst letting you all see a little more of what makes me tick. It also means I'm not taking away the ideals behind POR since it's not actually a blogging account, but one of positivity and a healthy lifestyle (including Mental Health). In the last week I have been able to interact with so many new bloggers because of the new account and it's been a great way to gain some blogging inspiration because I'm constantly checking out new blogs. I thought I would share just a handful of the blogs that I've been binge reading (#sorrynotsorry, I've been going all the way back to the beginning on all of the blogs having a good old stalk read). 

My top 5 ways to unwind

So for me, University begins again in just under 2 weeks so I have been enjoying what little time is left to relax in. I'm a firm believer that no matter how much work you have to do, you should always find some downtime to fit into your schedule. I've not followed this advice in the past and got myself in a right mess because of it. Throughout this holiday, I have been pretty successful in giving myself some time off because I have a lot of stuff going on. I've indulged in the things that make me happy and I want you to know that that's a good thing. Find some of the things that make you happy and make time for them, no matter how busy your life is. Your body and mind will thank you for it.

Photo Diary: Adventuring

I've always been a big fan of being in open spaces, but due to some physical issues, I cannot always get around to be able to enjoy the scenery. Nothing has made me happier than being able to go adventuring with my best friend a lot over these past few weeks. 

Something I've always been a little worried about doing is taking pictures on my travels, but Emily has inspired me lately to just do the things that make me happy. I have a lot going on right now so a little personal time with someone who really understands me has made the world of difference. 

Although my photography skills are rather lacking atm, I would like to think that I am slowly getting better. Who knows, I may even take a photography course to help boost my knowledge. It's been really fun being able to go round and take snapshots of things that make me happy. I hope you like them!

A-Z of Recovery: Freedom

The meaning behind this post really resonates with Sundays post. Just because someone suffers with a Mental illness (or any kind of illness), doesn't mean that it should have to be the be all and end all of your life. Its an issue that needs to be dealt with and will take constant care and attention. It's very easy to let it become the center of everything you do, to let it dictate who you are and what you can do. You are in charge of your own life, if there is something that you know will undo your hard work then of course, leave it alone, but don't restrict yourself just because you are afraid to let go.

One of the greatest things about recovery (for any kind of illness) is the freedom you gain. You eventually get to the point that you're not tied down or hindered by the thoughts, the feelings etc that you've faced in the past. This isn't a fast acting thing. There's no way (that I know of) to begin recovery and completely feel fine straight away. It's a constant progression from the life that you used to have, to one of love and acceptance.

And so it ends

I want to firstly apologise for the sort of click-bait style title but it rang true for me so I wanted to keep it.

Ever wonder if your blog is worth it? We put so much time and energy into our little space on the internet and yet after 3 years its pretty clear to see that the way in which I blog is not getting me anywhere. Don't get me wrong, I love writing on here and some of the topics I choose to write about are very important to me. On the flip side, some of the stuff I write purely because I think that it;s what you guys want.

I often feel guilty for feeling like my blog is going no where because I love it so darn much and it's a big part of my life. The issue is, 3 years is a long time for me to be doing this and there has been countless amounts of hours, sweat, blood and tears put into this. You expect it to take time for things to get off the ground eventually.

 "Success" is all in the eye of the beholder if I'm honest and don't get me wrong, this isn't one of those posts where I complain that I don't get sent products from companies or invited to blogging events etc because it isn't. My issue is that my blog isn't what I want it to be. I've changed a lot over the years and I've let myself get stuck in a rut where I'm too worried about what everyone else will think, that I don't know what direction I'm setting myself in anymore. Let's be clear about this, there have been a few posts dotted around on this blog that have actually shown you another part of who I am. Whether these posts are ones that will ultimately help me get my blog off of the ground, we won't know just yet, but I'm cutting through all of the crap and being 100% honest with you all.

Insomnia 101

A lot of you know that I suffer with insomnia and recently it has flared up worse than ever. Although finally being able to sleep at around 5am is a new experience, its not one that I tend to enjoy. If something is bothering me then I'm not one to sit there and suffer, if there is something that I can do to help myself (especially if it's as important to me as sleep is...I love me some sleep) then I will give it a try. I've been doing some research lately for some things that I can do to make it better and after a quick Q&A on Twitter, you all told me that you wanted me to share what I found.

Natural beauty: Tarte Cosmetics

I'm a huge fan of everything natural so when I had the opportunity to get my hands on some Tarte Cosmetics, I just couldn't say no. I have never really been a big makeup wearer so this was a big jump for me (especially because its somewhat pricey). Not only is this makeup great for nature and the environment but its super easy to apply and it just glides on. After a few months of using, I am still in love with them all!

From the beginning

It seems pretty crazy when I think of the 150 posts that I have written since I started my blogging journey. Every now and then I take a stroll down memory lane and sit and read through some of our oldest posts. I've done similar posts for our 3 year anniversary and to commemorate the 100th post every published on Empty Journal. Since then I have written more favourites and I wanted to share them all with you

Whatever I write on my blog more often than not can give a truthful representation of what is going on in my life right now and how it is I'm feeling. Lately I've been filling my posts with different forms of self love because that's what I have needed to surround myself with. It's a great form of mindfulness therapy and CBT. Added to that, its a great thing to be able to look back on and give myself a little therapy session when the need strikes. If I've been feeling low in body confidence or struggling with my ED then I can read my 8 tips for a positive body image

My workout playlist

So as you all know, Iv'e been trying to get my fitness back on track. If you've read the last few blog posts I've written then you will know all about the struggle that people in ED recovery sometimes have to deal with. For a lot of people, when they exercise they enjoy the peace and quiet. Others prefer working out to chat shows or other TV shows. For me, I'm one of the many that love working out to music. I remember doing circuits in P.E. at school or running round the tennis courts and whenever a song I liked came on we would all cheer and dance round the place (which got us to move faster so the teachers loved it!)

8 Tips for a positive body image

1. Appreciate all that your body can do. Every day your body carries you closer to your dreams. Celebrate all of the amazing things your body does for you—running, dancing, breathing, laughing, dreaming, etc. Your body is the vehicle that has brought you towards every person that you care about. Without your body, you literally wouldn't be able to do anything.
2. Keep a top-ten list of things you like about yourself—things that aren’t related to how much you weigh or what you look like. what are your favourite things about your personality? do you love how caring you are? how artistic you are?  Read your list often. Add to it as you become aware of more things to like about yourself.