Tag: 2016

  • July | In Retrospect

    retrospectjul16

    Song of the month: Morningside by Sara Bareilles

    July. A month spent revisiting my self-worth and Shine Theory magic.

    If June was a rollercoaster, July was a month cruising along long humid highway. The journey this month was less rocky than others, with much appreciated company, moments of needed quiet and comforting phone calls with Mini Cagz.

    Starting off on a wonderful high with the ladies at Write Like A Grrl. A sense of overwhelming empowerment on how I perceive myself as a female writer. The confidence boost was much needed and I can’t speak highly enough of Kerry and the ladies of my writing group (yes, you heard that right, I’m in a writing group now). July has been filled with carnivals and cocktails and Comic Con. There’s been sunshine and BBQs and rooftop bars. There’s been giggles over Love Island and Taylor Swift shout out to Michelle for the later!). Equally there’s been stretches of much needed alone time, chances to recoup from the madness of being social to write, blog, and read (and maybe catch some Pokemon on the way).

    But I’d be full out lying if I said the let loose and live attitude that I’ve stumbled upon this month came so easily. I may have cruised my way through but it’s come with hiccups and a cold slap of reality once or twice. As cruel as it can be sometimes you need that to kick start you into the right direction, and more often than not it’s been wonderful women in my life who offered me those sacred safe moments, ranting space, and copious amounts of pizza and cake and gin to calm me down.

    In fact this month has been marked by all the amazingly kick-ass women in my life. For all the talk I spew out on feminism I don’t often talk about the women in my immediate vicinity. From work colleagues and my mad housemates to blog friends and friends who have known me since my awkward teenage days to my own family, In a month that’s been politically and socially volatile around the world, July served as a pretty magical reminder of how very grateful I am for them.

    To here’s a little homework for you guys too. If you’re feeling awful, look around. Choose to surround yourself with positive people who believe in you. Even if you can’t flush out the toxicity in your life, at least have them to fall back on.

    Ria

    This month in blogs:

    On TMM
    Shades of Brown: Diversity isn’t just black & white // Write Like A Grrl // #Fendi90Years // Going Cruelty Free Update

    Elsewhere
    I Am Not Esther Review, Blogger’s Bookshelf
    Re(Sisters) Review, Blogger’s Bookshelf

  • The Sunday Share Out

    The Sunday Share Out

    Hello and welcome to the latest edition of The Sunday Share Out! Grab your hot beverage of choice and check out which posts, videos and bloggers I’ve been loving from around the Interwebs lately.

    A R O U N D    T H E    I N T E R N E T

    • In light of the sad news that world renowned street style photographer Bill Cunnigham passed away back at the end of June, there was a fantastic piece in the Washington Post on what he taught us about ethical journalism.
    • In an awful cynical world, teeny pockets of loveliness like Grace’s ‘meet cute’ story shine like adorable bright beacons. Honestly I dare you to not come away from this little blog post without a massive grin on your face.
    • This one’s a rec from Kerry after the Write Like A Grrl workshop. A wonderful piece of advice for writers and bloggers alike if you’re struggling with creating “The emotion you have is not absolute, it is temporary. It may be useful, but it is not the truth. It is not you. Get over it.” Seriously, should probably pin this to my wall and read it about ten times a day for the rest of my life tbh.
    • Rather hilariously Rebecca is one of the first ‘fashion’ bloggers I followed back in the day, so you can imagine my amusement reading her six reasons why you’re a bad fashion blogger. It does remind me why I’m glad I don’t personally post style photos on my blog anymore.
    • Wonderfully insightful guest post from Steph (That Zombie Said) on the whether your cruelty free products are actually Vegan (and visa versa!). I’ve actually been wanting to do a post on this very topic but Steph’s summed up my thoughts on it perfectly.
    • And finally I shared a few of my favourite post-Brexit blog posts already but I seemed to miss this one out. Miho shares some very poignant thoughts on the ref from the point of view of a non-UK citizen.

    A R O U N D    T H E    B L O G S P H E R E

    & M I S C.

    • You’ve Got Mail
    • Chaleur Humaine, Christine & the Queens
    • Now You See Me 2
    • Stay Alive, Andy Black
    • Even Magazine

    Ria

  • Going Cruelty Free | 2016 Update

    If you can cast your minds back to the beginning of 2015, I made a pledge here on the blog to make switch to only using and buying cruelty free make-up and beauty products.

    I can happily report almost 18 months later I’m still going strong. So I thought it’d be nice to give you guys an update on how I’m managing my pledge as well as a reminder on what exactly cruelty free means to me.

    (more…)