Weight Shaming.

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If I had a £ for every person that's said me 'why are you at Slimming World?' 'Why do you go to Slimming World', 'If I was your size i'd be ecstatic, not weighing myself every week.' i'd be bloody rich. 

I think they think it's a compliment, but it isn't. I can't help the way I feel about myself and my body. I don't like my body and I don't feel good about myself. Whether i'm 2st or 20st, if you aren't happy in yourself, no matter what other people say, that isn't going to change. I'm sick to death of feeling scrutinized every time I go to group. My group leader overheard a group of women commenting on my weight, and he said 'how do you know she didn't start out being heavier? How do you know she hasn't lost 20st and stuck to it and got down to where she is now?. Don't judge someone for something you have no idea about. 

I know i'm not the heaviest there, but that doesn't give them a right to judge my decision to join a weight loss group. They have no idea the feelings and thoughts I have about myself. 

Recently, Cheryl Cole was horribly abused online for pictures that were put up during the X Factor auditions. 'Omg, eat something, she's disgusting, how horrible, calls herself a role model'. I couldn't believe the vile things that people were writing. If that was an ordinary person's pictures put up there, would they write such nasty things? No, probably not! But because it's someone famous, it's allowed? Words hurt, no matter how famous, successful or rich you are.

'Real Women Have Curves' 'Strong Is The New Sexy' is a bunch of bullshit. You're sexy, however you damn well feel sexy. I'm no less of a woman because I don't have a Beyonce ass! Quotes like these are what make girls and women feel like they do. You can't win no matter what size you are. I don't have curves in 'all the right places' so i'm not real?...no way in hell am I strong, so I can't be sexy? 

I don't know what gives people a right to say such negative things. Who are they to define what shape or size is sexy? 

Research has found more 11-13 year old British girls than ever have emotional issues linked to body confidence. How bad is that? And it's body shamers, weight shamers and quotes like the ones above that are encouraging this. 

Since when did everyone become so judgemental? To quote one of the greatest movies EVER. 'I just want to make a cake out of rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy.' 

Slimming World | The Good, The Bad & The Ugly.

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What Makes Me Happy.

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It's so easy to forget to be happy. I know that probably sounds stupid but it is. You get so caught up in life; paying bills, working full time. You forget all the things that make you happy. I am a really positive person, and extremely optimistic..maybe a little too much. I thought i'd write this post as a way to look back and remember all the things that make me happy! The majority of these will probably be food...#greedygirlproblems. Clearly my family and friends make me happy in an instant so they won't be on the list. More room for food that way ;)

1. Being in my happy place.

2. Fresh flowers.

3. Cakes. All kinds of cakes.

4. Fresh bedding.

5. Holidays!

6. Finding money in your pocket that you didn't know you had, SCORE.

7. Netflix.

8. Gus, the cutest cat in the whole world.

9. Sunny days.

10. Being able to peg my washing out. Yes, really.

11. Eating out.

12. Discovering something new.

13. Reading a good book.

14. F.R.I.E.N.D.S

15. Payday!

16. Special occasions.

17. Looking through my memory box. 

18. Not having to set an alarm.

19. Travelling.

20. Hugs!

21. Pizza.

22. Ben & Jerry's.

23. Waking up earlier than my alarm.

24. Lighting a new candle.

25. Hearing a song that instantly explains how you're feeling. 

What makes you instantly happy? Are any of these on your list? 

23.

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"I don't know about you, but i'm feeling..twenty-three...?" Today is my 23rd birthday and i'm so excited. I love birthdays! Not just my own, but everybody's. I love celebrating their special day that's just for them. Seeing them open their presents, blowing out their candles..it makes me feel all warm and mushy inside. 

I am so lucky to be spending the day with my favourite people. I'm going into Manchester with Aaron for shopping and lunch, then i'm coming home and having a little get together with all my family and a couple of my closest friends. It won't be doing anything fancy, just some pizzas and cake. Winning combination right there I tell thee'.

Looking back over my 23 years, i've achieved so much and experienced so many things. Travelling to different places, buying my own home and getting Gus, plus so many more! There are so many things I still want to do and places I still want to see, and i'm sure i'll get round to them all eventually!

x

Poolside Essentials.

Summer is well and truly upon us and most of us will be getting ready for our Summer holidays. I go to Egypt on the 30th June for 2 weeks and i'm so frickin' excited, it's unbelievable. As I go in just over two weeks i've started giving some thought to what I will be taking with me. 

I spend a lot of my holiday by the pool or on the beach so the items I take with me, are essentials. 

June Reading List.

I am a huge book lover and probably spend more money on books than I do on anything else. I have my priorities down, i'm tellin' ya! 

However, I spend more time choosing a book, than I do actually reading it. Only a true bookworm will understand the time and deliberation it takes when choosing what to read next. Book or kindle? Romance or mystery? So many questions and far too many books...

I FINALLY managed to compile a list of books I want to read this month and it wasn't an easy decision. Some of the books are new purchases and others have been on my bookshelf for a while and i'm only just getting round to reading them. I'm a little bugger for buying new books every month and forgetting to read the ones I already own. I really need to start working on my 'To Be Read' books...

My Summer Bucket List.

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Summer is absolutely my favourite time of year! Everyone is in such a good mood, more laid back and relaxed, it's just perfect. I have decided to come up with a bucket list of all the things I want to try/learn/do this year during the warmer (hopefully) months.. I might do a separate post at the end of Summer, ticking off all the things i've managed to do!

• Go Camping- I love a Summer holiday as much as the next person, but i'm also a HUGE fan of camping. There are so many gorgeous places to stay and i'm determined i'm going to do it more.
• Go for Picnics- Nothing screams Summer like picnics in the park. I love the chilled out vibe you get, picking at delicious foods and enjoying the sun.
• Row a Boat on a Lake- Myself and Aaron did this last year and LOVED it. I want to do it again definitely. It was so much fun and reminded me of the scene out of Bridget Jones Diary, although we didn't recite limericks to each other...
• Go for Evenings Walks- I'm the definition of lazy, but in Summer when it's still light at 9o'clock an evening walk is just what I fancy. I need to turn off netflix, get off my ass' and go for a walk. There's no excuse not too really...
• Breakfast Outside- I always see this on films or on the television and it just looks so romantic and relaxed. I need to buy a patio table first but when I do, eating inside will be a thing of the past.
• Drive In Movie- Fancy re-enacting the iconic scene out of Grease? 'Stranded at the Drive-In, branded a fool...' Danny Zuko *Swoon* we have a great cinema in Manchester, just behind the Trafford Centre and they always have great offers on!
• Go To A Food Festival- Food lover? Check. Festival lover? Check.
• Go Strawberry Picking- Strawberries are my ultimate favourite fruit, so I can honestly not think of anything better than going picking my own.
• Eat Fish & Chips On The Beach- St Anne's is one of my favourite beach locations in Summer and there's just something I find really comforting about eating fish and chips on the beach..must be the old lady in me..
• Write A Book- I am a huge book lover!! I love reading books and even have dreams of becoming a best selling author. Chances are..that aint' gonna' happen any time soon but I can still give it a bash...right?
• Learn A New Language- I love different languages and I alway try and learn the basics of different ones when I go to certain countries. I'd love to learn another language properly and be able to say more than hello, thank you and goodbye.
• Travel Somewhere New- Discovering new places is my favourite thing to do, whether it's a new town or a completely new country. I love it!

Those are some of my wishes for the Summer, I'd love to know what yours are? Is there anything this Summer you would love to do or learn? Let me know.  xx