lifestyle
Summer Technology Wishlist
17 May 2017
Leeds, UK
I can be a little bit of a tech geek when it comes to
stylish gadgets and cool must-haves. I like to have the latest of most gadgets,
especially if it’s going to make life a little easier. Let’s just say, I rely
on Siri and assisted parking a lot.
iPhone
7 Plus (in rose gold, obviously)
I currently have the iPhone 7, and as much as I adore
this phone, I would love the 7 Plus! It’s bigger, which makes tasks like
blogging on the go a little easier, but the thing I love the most has got to be
the camera. Pretty much everything about the 7 Plus is the same as the 7
regarding its operating system and effectiveness, and the camera is magnificent
and would mean less time packing up a DSLR and having fun with the 7 Plus’s
dual camera lenses and portrait mode.
This camera has got to be one of the most famous vlogging
cameras ever. And although I’m not a vlogger quite yet, if I was to purchase a
camera just for this hobby, it would totally be this one. This pocket-sized gem
basically has the power of some of the greatest DSLRs at half the weight. You
could create a full HD film with this camera alone, and it’s ideal for
travelling and working on the go. With built-in Wi-Fi, 1080p quality videos and
its own pop-up flash, this Canon is perfect for me.
I’ve had my current television for about seven years.
Don’t worry, it’s a flat screen but a very chunky one. Unfortunately the
quality is not as good as it used to be, despite the efforts of my Sky+ HD box.
I’m the type of person that gets excited when I can watch a YouTube video in 4K
on my desktop, so imagine having it on your TV! This television has a
cinema-like display and it’s own Firefox operative system which means it’s
perfect for catching up on my subscriptions as well as my Netflix shows! Plus,
it’s less than a third of the weight of my current TV.
It’s like someone created my dream laptop. I first saw
the YouTube advertisement
online and was immediately sold. I’ve never had a MacBook, so I’m very used to
the Microsoft Windows operating system and feel perfectly happy using it. I was
elated to find out Microsoft had created a powerful laptop, that would be ideal
for blogging and creating online content. The design feature is stunning and I
love the idea of a detachable keyboard that also works with the Surface Pen.
I currently have the Bose Soundlink
Mini II and I absolutely adore it.
But it’s not great for a raging house party or hooking up to my TV. On the
other hand, the Sonos Playbar has 9 amplified speakers and can be connected to
just about anything, including the latest TV. It’s super sleek and stylish, so
it would love wonderful in my minimalistic living room, or even in the bedroom.
It doesn’t come with Bluetooth, but the built-in Wi-Fi is ideal for me.
Is a car under the technology category? Well it is now. I
looked up a YouTube
review of this car after spotting it on the street and immediately fell in
love with it. I only bought my first car a couple of months ago, but I like to
be ambitious. Any Mercedes is a classy car, and this one has just about
everything I need. Perfect from every angle, and awesome built-in technology –
I think this is definitely the next car for me.
*Paid
promotion
5 Ways to Positively Get Rid of the Negative
9 May 2017
Leeds, UK
#1 Stop focusing on enemies
I plan on writing a whole blog post on this in due time, but one way I got rid of negativity was to stop thinking or dwelling on people I don't like. I'll admit it, I'm human, there are some people in the world who haven't been kind to me and so I don't like them. And I love a little gossip from time to time, but sitting and talking about someone in a bad light for hours doesn't really do anything for you and doesn't even matter to them.
#2 Enjoy each moment
A lot of the time, I feel like I overlook those special moments in time. Or I spend those moments worrying about something else. To brush off the destructive vibes, I spent more of my time enjoying and simply loving the things that make me happy. Doesn't have to be anything big, just something like a beautiful sunset or the scenic drive to work. Sometimes I get stressed because I’m stressed. Spending less time fretting, means I can take in what's around me.
I could easily say I’ve been on a diet for six years. But this time, I’m taking it seriously. I re-joined a gym in March and since then have been going around five times a week, as well as working out at home when I can. Being totally honest, I’m not happy with my body, I wouldn’t be confidence to stand next to my friends in a bikini, and so what’s the point in moping around about it? I’m changing it! Working out has helped me in so many ways, from my strength to my attitude. I love it!
#4 Make a conscious effort
It’s no secret that I have a slightly pessimistic outlook. But I need to shake it. I can be sarcastic and petty, but I don’t want to be that way permanently. I have a notebook (among many) that I save just to write down positive things. I also try to make a conscious effort to think about optimistic memories, or something that makes me happy. It’s like squashing all the toxic stuff and replacing it with puppies and rainbows. Totally works.
#5 Smile and laugh
I’m currently smiling as I write this blog post. I’m also listening to a Jenna + Julien podcast that’s guaranteed to make me laugh. If I’m ever feeling down, I try not to sit in that state of mind for too long, because negative feelings with anchor in my brain and I’ll become unmotivated and lethargic. To filter out the bad vibes, I find something or someone who will turn that frown upside down. Whether it’s my dorky little sister or bloopers from Friends, a little levity goes a long way.
Guess Who's Back... And 21!
5 May 2017
Eldwick, UK
Happy May! Anika May is officially back in business. If you follow my blog on Bloglovin', you may have noticed a distinct gap in between my posts. In fact, my last post was December 2016! At the end of last year, I fell out of love with blogging. I started to change the way I posted on my blog, worrying about how my outfits look and stressing out if I didn't look fashionable enough. I started to compete with other bloggers, who had no idea I was competing with them. Comparison got the best of me and it started to get me down. Before long, every aspect of blogging before something negative or a chore.
Well today I turn 21 and I’ve been reflecting on the past year of my life. There’s been massive ups and enormous downs, but overall, there’s a hole in my life that used to be occupied by my blog. Since taking a break from the big digital world, I’ve been able to figure out exactly the type of person I want to be, the type of career I want, the type of blog I’d like to own. Now that I’m a whole year older, I want to fall back in love with blogging. I remembered the reason I started blogging, because I thought it was cool to have my own little corner of the internet, and write about everything and anything. I absolutely adore photography and travelling, so why not incorporate that in the way I publish content!
It's a little late for the whole "new year, new me" vibe, so how about new age, new me. I want to give this dream career of mine another shot, and I’m more motivated than ever.
I have missed blogging more than anything in the world, and I can't wait to share more and more online. I want to alter my mind-set to being more positive, and then spread that online. I’m learning as I grow, and documenting each step of the way will be a lot of fun. I know turning 21 isn't really a big deal, but I’m back to blogging, and I couldn't be more ready.
Hurray!
5 Ways to Unwind After Work
18 December 2016
Work life is a hectic life. You enter the building stressed
and often leave stressed, which makes it a lot more difficult to relax in the
evening, and get other tasks done. For me, it’s really important to unwind
after work, as shake off that office feeling before the night sets in. So, here
are five ways to unwind after a long day!
Write down your worries, and ignore them until tomorrow
I wouldn’t live without my journal. I write down a lot of
things in there, from blog post ideas to goals for the New Year, but one thing
I do to unwind is note down every worry or stress from the day, to be forgotten
about until tomorrow. It’s one of those “cross-the-bridge-when-we-get-to-it”
things, but never procrastination. I hate coming home, and still thinking about
stuff to do for work, so if I note them down, I feel less guilty about
unwinding at home.
Grab a colouring book
I was actually very critical of adult colour books when they
first became a huge trend. It’s just, how can colouring possibly calm someone
down? Well, they do. They really do. I bought a super simple one from
Waterstones (out of fear that the complex ones would stress me out more), and
also downloaded the Recolor
app for when I’m on the go. Colouring books are so much more relaxing than I
ever expected, and I look forward to getting home and just chilling with my
pencils!
Lay down somewhere comfy and cosy
I’m an incredibly lazy person, there’s no doubt about it. So
any chance I get to lay down, is one I’ll take. Usually my sofa is the go-to,
but I’ve started heading straight to my bed and just getting cosy for a few
minutes while I chill, rather than the living room. The reason behind this, is
because I try to avoid screens for the first hour or so when I get home, just
to really unwind. There’s no television in my room, so I’m not tempted to lay
down, watch TV and stay there for the rest of the night.
Give yourself a mini massage
I’m not the best at massaging others, but I can give myself
a mini shoulder rub to chillax after work. Giving yourself a mini massage with
two hands or tools is really relieving, mentally and physically. I found this
awesome article with some of the best
self-massage tools to buy, and they’re so affordable! Making a mini-spa in
my own home is one of my favourite ways to wind down as I can’t help but feel
more relaxed than usual J
Change the environment or atmosphere
There’s one thing I know for sure, when I leave work, I don’t
want to think about work. I love my job, but I don’t want to be in it 24/7. Once
autumn hits, it’s no secret that literally
everyone becomes obsessed with candles and I’m no different. It’s almost instinctual
to grab a lighter and light up everything in sight. Music is also a big yes,
because it can change any atmosphere in an instant – oh how I love Spotify. There
are thousands of playlists, and the acoustic-based ones have to be my
favourite, they set a really nice ambience for a relaxed evening.
How do you like to unwind after a long day at work? Have a great Sunday!
Into The Woods | Gallery
3 December 2016
Eldwick, UK
One of my favourite things about living in Yorkshire is the
scenery that’s simply footsteps away. It’s one of the main reasons I won’t move
to London, I need these kind of views every day. I live in a tiny village in
the West of Yorkshire, with moors right outside my bedroom windows. However,
between the moors and my house, is this huge valley which everyone just calls “The
Woods”. It’s easily become my happy place, because it’s hidden, untouched and
peaceful. The only sounds you can hear are from the brook that runs through the
valley and hundreds of birds. It’s one of the best places to run away to, and
as it’s so close to home I’m there basically every day.
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