I like to think that I exude “happiness” – mainly when I’m around other people. I get cheap thrills out of hearing people laugh and enjoying themselves. Call it crazy, but I don’t mind being a joker and cracking the gags to make people smile. I think it’s just in my nature. To me, what is the point of being glum? I get it, not everyday can be a bed of roses and we can’t always wake up with our best face on, but isn’t it so much lovelier when world is full of laughter. Especially, when there is so much sadness in the world. FatFace’s latest range includes bold, tribal prints mixed with earthy tones and really set you up for a casual summer wardrobe and it’s all about being #WashedInHappiness – what a lovely campaign?!
This was going to be the year my sister & I spoilt our Mum spoilt rotten for her birthday. It passed with the blink of any eye last year with my granddad being in hospital so it was time to celebrate, albeit a year late (& another year older!) So off we pottered in to York on a brisk, January day. We laughed and giggled and pondered wondering how long it would take for us to get in to Betty’s. For those who don’t know this delicate, Yorkshire privilege is that there is normally a trail of winding around the tall, grand windows of Betty’s as far as the eye can see to eat a Fat Rascal or macaroon. But boy, is it worth it! We only queued for 15 minutes or so & once we got inside we were met with warmth and the decadent smell of coffee beans and all things sweet.
We were taken downstairs to another room & immediately my sister & I piped ”I feel like I’m on the Titanic” & it really did feel like we had time travelled back to 1912. The wood panelling and the boozy, dim lights made it feel more intimate than the large room upstairs with tourists staring at you. Of course, upon handed the menu’s we all opted for the afternoon tea. I, of course, went for a glass of champagne (as one does!) And what a feat we had. The delicate little sandwiches were just divine, I could have eaten a mountain of the smoked salmon sandwiches & I think my sister would have joined me in that too. A scone with jam & clotted cream was next on the agenda. By this time I was nearly bursting at the seams but it was my mission to tackle the ”third course” of a selection from the patisserie stand. A fruit tart, a decadent chocolate cake & an almond macaroon, all of which were yummy in their own special way. We sipped team laughed & giggled some more. I felt so happy in that moment spending time with the dearest woman in my life, Mum, Nana & Jessica. We vowed we needed to do this more often!
No visit to Betty’s is complete without having a little wander round the shop upstairs. I was desperate for some chocolate macaroons which were so amazing, they just melt in your mouth. I also, picked up a cute little chocolate heart to take back for Mr C, yes, it may sound cute but of course I made him share it.
Did you have a lovely weekend too? Have you been to Bettys, if so what was your favourite sweet treat?
Do you ever have those moments where you just sit there & think “boy, I love my life” kinda times? I seem to going through one of those phases & I so desperately hope that it doesn’t end any time soon.
I spent a lot of time wallowing in self-pity after the wedding last year. I comfort ate, I never exercised so I just ballooned in weight. All that hard work for the wedding was in tatters. Sadly, I’m one of those types of people who never stick anything out. You know the type, the ones who jump on a bandwagon do it twice, maybe three times & then become bored so just give up. Whatever it was becomes a distant memory.
I’ve been determined to keep being positive in 2015. It was one of those so-called “resolutions” that we all make on New Years. So far, so good. Okay, I’m not immune to an odd moan from time to time but generally I feel it am a happier person.
So, what’s making you keep to your promise I hear you all ask? Well I will tell you if you really are keen to know.
At 25 I still haven’t passed my driving test. I am a sad, sorry state of affairs that relies on public transport (sob!) or the taxi of Mr C. Whilst it’s great to be driven around like a lady of leisure I most certainly don’t feel like one. So, after the kind donation of my Nana’s salmon pink corsa (she’s called Mavis don’t you know, so for the purposes of this post you will know who, sorry, what I am referring to!) So, on Sunday Mavis got her first test drive on the open road. No, not just on private land, an actual road with other passing cars tooting along next to me. I can’t tell you how wonderfully frightening it was but I got the taste of freedom (albeit Mr C was in the passenger seat keeping a mindful eye on matters.) I can’t believe, in fact, I hate to believe that I have gone so many years without driving. So, it is now my duty to make sure I pass my test this year & be my person without having to to rely on terrible timetables or my husbands schedule.
Secondly, we
have finally joined a gym. For a mere £25 a month I can swim and gym to my heart’s content. And it’s not just me doing it, Mr C is coming along for the ride too (hey, you see what I did there right?) After being told by the doctors that in order for his back to get better he must swim & gym up to three times a week. Whilst he drives me nuts with his “Come on get a jog on” comments and the “you go first & I will follow” orders, secretly I am super happy that he’s joining me. It means we can both get fit together & it gets us out of the house too. In the meantime I am dropping the lbs (or at least I hope I am!) to a newer, slimmer & more toned me. I can’t wait to see my results in the next few weeks!
Thirdly, I’m just enjoying life. The things I previously disliked would not have even been sniffed at, but now I am learning to just accept things. Those who know me or know of my rambling “about me” I proclaim to dislike cats. Well, for Xmas the father in law bought mother in law a kitty cat much to her delight (& to my horror!) after weeks of squirming when it came near me or tried to touch me I decided to finally pluck up the courage to stroke her. And in return I got a nice little lick on my finger and then a playful claw to it. I exclaimed “You little shit!” I smiled and it actually hugged my arm. According to my mother in law I’m the only person she comes to. So maybe this cat-hating devil lady (yes, that is me) may have thawed over & decided that she may have a little hole in her life that can be filled with some kitty love….
Life is kinda funny right? I have read some truly beautiful posts recently from Megan at Wonderful–You and it made my heart bleed, but all the same empowering. Accepting things in life sounds like a cowards way out but in truth, it’s accepting it & how we deal with circumstances that slowly makes us a better person. I’ve finally come to realise that. I’m a twenty-five year old woman (yes, a woman) and try as I might I have carved my own little life for myself, there is no point trying to change things drastically. Just be a better person, doing things that make you happy with you & who you actually are! I’m finally taking back some of my self-worth & I’m on that path to ”Be the Boss” of my happiness.
I probably utter these words a thousand times a day. I’m a complainer. I have to face facts & accept it. Or should I? I’m never one for making New Years resolutions, simply because I know that I will break them. I’m not much of a rule breaker. I’m terribly boring. But I saw a little anecdote on Pinterest about complaining. It said, ”Go a full 24 hours without complaining and you’ll be amazed at how your life will improve.” I sighed when I read it because I knew this was me. I need to have a complaining ban. I need to be more positive. So no, I won’t just accept it, I’m going to make myself a better person by being more positive. When my head hurts I will go take a paracetomol and ride it out & no-one will ever know. When it’s cold I will put a heater on & warm myself up, no-one will ever know. When the house is a mess, I will get up (off my fat arse! That’s another NY resolution that needs work!) and do a bit of tidying, no-one will ever know I’m miffed.
You see a theme here? It’s all about doing & making those positive, tiny steps to get you out of that ”Negative Nelly” rut. I’ve gone in to 2015 knowing we had a fabulous year and it’s very hard to beat a year where you married the love of your life/soulmate but why can’t 2015 be even better.
This year is all about creating memories, being whimsical and spontaneous. Laughing till my sides hurts, sharing amazing days outs & travelling the world with the man I love. It’s all terribly soppy but I feel I’ve been terribly guarded this last year or so. It’s time to start living & enjoying the now.
I hope wherever you were saying goodbye to 2014 you were happy & that is all that will ever matter.
I was thrilled to bits when Beth from Beauty in Beta offered me that chance to host one of her weekly chats entitled #HealthySelves. The basis revolves around gearing everyone up to getting healthier and fitter through subtle lifestyle changes and hopefully along the way helping each other out through hints and tips, inspiration and pure ‘’egging one another on’’ to get to the results that you want to see.
I’m a firm believer that to get results you have to be in the right frame of mind, so when it came to choosing my topic for the week, #HappySelves seemed an obvious choice for me. I wanted to bring a little joy to the weekly chat (not that it doesn’t have enough joy already!) but I wanted to turn it in to a different direction and make people be happy!
It seemed quite a good choice to go with as some people declared just before the chat, the following statements:
‘’I’m not really feeling happy at the moment but I will try join in guys!’’ etc etc etc.
And by the end we had the following…
I was overwhelmed by your kind words! It was so lovely that everyone was laughing and enjoying themselves and not taking themselves too seriously. Especially when it came to my final requested of sharing a joke to win a #HappySelves care package, which the lovely Becky won! It will be winging its way to you shortly! After the chat, I felt like I had spread what essentially was my plan, to share joy & happiness with a few little quotes along the way! And by the above tweets it certainly worked. So much so, that Beth asked if I wanted to be a regular host of the chat since you had all enjoyed it so much. Of course, I was absolutely stupified that I had had that much of an impact on you all, that I really could not turn down this opportunity!
I’m so pleased that I am on board the #HappySelves team and look forward to chatting away with you. Whilst I don’t declare myself as a self proclaimed life guru, I like to think that finding happiness within yourself and enjoying the good things in life, be it small or large that is when you are healthy!
So when do I start my regular hosting duties, I hear you cry? Well that would be the 3rd November 2014 so put it in your diaries and make sure you are there! I’ll be hosting the first Monday of every month, if you have any questions you’d like me to ask then please feel free to email me queenbeady@hotmail.co.uk and I will try work them in one way or another.
I hope you are just as ‘’happy’’ as I am about being part of this fabulous, solidarity – I can’t wait to see what the future brings!
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