Achieving Goals in 2015

I'm back! Sorry for the unannounced hiatus in the last month, but I took some time out to study, do exams, and chill out over Christmas after a busy semester. I've missed it on here, but definitely needed a rest, thank you for baring with me.

All of a sudden it's 2015... how did that happen? Wasn't 2010 just a few months ago? With a new year comes new opportunities and a fresh slate. I know many of us want to achieve lots this year, but how do you do it? Or even, how do you start to achieve those goals?

That's not an easy question as there's a big spectrum- whether you want to grow your hair a couple inches, or if it's wanting to lose 50lbs, there's a clear difference, but there is a few things that will work for everything.

I believe in whole-heartedly knowing you can achieve whatever you want with effort. Taking the goal and using your senses to consolidate what you want can also be pretty successful. A few ways in which to do this are:

1. Creating a mood board (pintrest, or you could take a trip to the craft store and re-familiarise yourself with PVA glue)
2. Making a blog/blog series based upon your targets (e.g. weight loss blog)
3. Taking pictures of progress, for example before and after weight loss
4. Joining support groups/making friends with like minded people (smoking quitting or weight watchers)
5. Writing a diary
6. Hypnotism??? (something a little taboo, but there are people out there who swear by it)

I have a few aims I would like to meet myself, some more difficult than others... in December 2015 I will be able to look back and analyse whether they have happened!

Learn Some Spanish

Spanish wasn't a language taught in my high school: I had began learning French when I was 10, and took up German for a couple years when I was older. I never really got into it, the way the teachers taught it was so disconnected, and well, they were a bit scary. So I gave them up by 16. Spanish, however has a greater presence in the world nowadays, and I believe could be really useful in business... plus, I'd like to be able to sing along to Enrique Iglesias' Spanish versions. I have my motives.

Gain a Place in my University's Study Abroad Programme

My application form is in, now I have to wait and see if my grades meet the academic requirements. Luckily, I left myself in a strong position due to a good grade in the class test, needing only 29/75 to make the cut. But it also depends on how my interview goes, that is, if I get invited for one. This is something I'm very passionate about... not sure how I'd feel if I wasn't selected. I decided I needed to broaden my horizons- originally I was desperate to go to University of Miami, only to find out at the presentation the affiliation was on hold for the year. But I was also very set on choosing San Diego State for a high up selection. After a lot of research on colleges.niche.com, and questioning Americans on collegeconfidential.com, I found out that University of Mississippi and UMass Amherst were also really good fits for me. Just to be on the safe side I included UNC Wilmington (I can totally see myself surfing) and University of Kansas.

All I can do for now is hope that I get this amazing opportunity.

Get Healthy

I'm leaving this as a little ambiguous, because "getting healthy" means different things to different people. Some need to gain fat, some gain muscle, and others lose fat. Some people may even be a healthy weight, according to measures like BMI, but may not be eating a healthy diet.

For me I'd like to drop a size to a UK 8, become toned through tools like Blogilates and weight machines at the gym, and trim a little fat off through cardio. I use a few other support tools such as MyFitnessPal to understand my body's needs, and follow blogs which encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Let me know, do you have any goals you'd like to achieve this year? How do you plan on doing this? Here's to 2015!

The Official Colour of 2015: Get The Look

Ta da! The colour of 2015 is Marsala, and Pantone promises it to be "robust, earthy, sophisticated, hearty, stylish and fulfilling". Sounds like a colour you need in your life... here's some products that will meet those Marsala-y needs!

Spice It Up Lipstick, Mac

This is such a lovely lipstick, and oozes marsala. It's a "lustre" lipstick, so if you're not into a bold red lip, this could be right up your street as it is a dewy formula. It's also pretty subdued and wearable, just like Pantone's colour of the year. Definitely something everyone can wear!

New York Eyeshadow, Nars

I do love myself some Nars eyeshadows, and New York is going to be right on trend for 2015! A beautiful bruised red colour that will be perfect to warm up a smoky eye

Downtown Brown Nailpolish, Essie

This is like no other brown... mostly because it's not brown but a lovely rich mahogany that is practically the same as marsala. Since it's super festive, it'll look perfect with a LBD and heels for a Christmas party.

What's The Hype With Cinderella?

Yesterday the trailer for the live action version of Cinderella was released, and created a storm of bibbity-bobbity-boo over the internet. And it's not difficult to see why!

There have been a myriad of "Cinderella stories", but none quite meeting the standard of Disney's classic animation of Charles Perrault's story. There's been: A Cinderella Story, plus it's sequel's, Ella Enchanted, Ever After, and of course the version with Brandy and Whitney Houston (yes, I still have it in my video collection!).

The 2015, Disney's live action version will be added to the list of works inspired by the fairy tale, but I can't help but feel a little more excited for this release for the following reason's, and so should you!

Helena Bonham Carter is the Fairy Godmother

This is an interesting casting, as we know Helena mostly for her darker and eccentric roles, which would make her perfect for the wicked stepmother, Lady Tremaine. But in the trailer she is rocking it and looks fabulous with blonde hair, I must admit! From what I can tell, the character has been crafted in such a way to provide comic relief, and now that the trailer has been released, I can't imagine anyone else in the role! What an amazing addition to the cast! But it doesn't stop there, because...

...Robb Stark is Prince Charming

Well not quite Robb Stark, but the actor who plays him- Richard Madden is! And he's almost unrecognisable without his beard and GOT costume. And he's actually really charming. Jenna Coleman is a very lucky woman. This is another casting that's a little bit of a red herring: a Scottish guy, who played a tough, cursing Stark, but it appears to work strangely well. Maybe that's because...

...Kenneth Branagh is the Director!

I can't think of anyone else better to direct this movie. You might know him better as Gilderoy Lockhart in the Harry Potter movies, but he is also a great director! Thor? Iron Man 2? Yup, that was him! He's also an amazing Shakespearean actor, which will put him in a good position for bringing out the classical elements of Cinderella. 

The Costume Department Are Amazing

Lily James, who plays the titular character, get's to wear the dress every girl has imagined: a beautiful baby blue, with more than a dozen layers of skirt, and of course matching glass slippers, that the Fairy Godmother insists are comfortable.


And of course there are the wicked Step Mother and Sisters' costumes, which have been designed to be "a bit too much", according to Sandy Powell, the Oscar winning costume designer