Staying on Track and Getting Stuff Done
13 May 2016
Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
I do find it very easy to forget the smaller tasks when my
brain is in high speed mode and I can’t tell up from down. While I find myself
trying to work out what I need to do, or even constantly repeating my to-do
list in my head, it’s time to write it all down. I spend so much time in
Paperchase, it’s time to finally start using those (billions) of notebooks I
have collected. Having different notebooks for different activities has also
helped, for example: I have a notebook that is only for drafts of chatty
blogposts, and I have a diary to note down different events or places I need to
be, as well as a journal that is design solely for writing down to-do and
shopping lists. It’s really helpful to have all that brain noise on a page
rather than in my head.
It’s ridiculously easy for me to get lost in my phone. One
Snapchat message and I’m watching a whole bunch of stories and have lost half
an hour. The same applies to Twitter;
I have notifications turned on, so whenever I’m tweeted I know immediately. This is helpful for
blogging, but an enormous distraction as tapping the home tab has almost become
instinctual. For the most extreme of circumstances, I will plug out my WiFi hub
and work from my bedroom just so I’m not tempted to use the internet on my
laptop. It’s natural to start researching things on the internet, or shopping
online for your OOTD look, but before you know it, you’re completing your
eighteenth BuzzFeed quiz and watching night routines on YouTube – not okay.
If listening to Eye of the Tiger on repeat was an option, I
would do it, but I’m positive it would drive me crazy. Music that motivates you
to work hard is definitely a top tip, because there’s always a playlist out
there that’s full of songs to get you going. I tend to avoid YouTube for
playlists, because I could easily end up watching a Too Faced palette tutorial
rather than working. Spotify, Soundcloud, 8tracks, and Pandora are all great
music streaming services that have pre-made playlists. Sometimes I prefer to
use my own playlists, but try to avoid music that results in me acting out a
music video in my room, or running around the house like a mad woman. It’s said
that classical music helps with focus, but I find that music I’m interested in
and can bop around to is great for blogging – as long as it’s not full blast!
When you’re very busy, with too much to do, it’s really easy
to start doing multiple things at once, ending up with a load of half-done
jobs. There have even been times when I’m excited to write blogposts and have
plenty of ideas, so I’m trying to write them all out at once and it just ends
up falling apart. Sticking to one task at a time is a really easy way to stay
focused. With a to-do list laid out, there’s no need to stress about other
things that could be forgotten. I don’t like to juggle things, simply because
I’m not co-ordinated enough so pushing all else aside and working on one
activity is the best way to stay on track. Although it may not seem
time-effective, it means the jobs that are done are done well.
Panicking gets you absolutely nowhere. It’s really
common for me to sit and think, “Oh my goodness I have so much to do and I
don’t know where to start and now I can’t breath and uh-oh panic mode!” This is
one of the worst mind sets to be in, as it results in the vicious cycle again.
Even when working, I can get distracted and start stressing about the workload.
I’ve found that taking breaks every so often is really helpful, but also
training my brain to turn down all that noise, turn it into English, and turn
it into action. When the worry sets in, it’s important to take a moment to step
back and return with a fresh point of view. Panic mode is not a fun mode, and
can be quite discouraging too.
Stila Cosmetics Face Haul
9 May 2016
Bingley, West Yorkshire, UK
There’s always one brand you go back to, no matter how much
you try to experiment with different products. For me, Stila has become that
brand. As the frugal person I am, spending money on makeup is one of my least
favourite activities (despite how much I enjoy owning it), but sometimes you
really have to splash out on a product that you love. I really like Stila’s eye
shadow palettes and liners, but their foundation and powders beat them all.
Stila
Stay All Day Foundation & Concealer - £29.50 (Shade: 06 Cocoa)
This foundation and concealer is absolutely perfect for the colder
weather and contouring. The foundation is faultlessly thick without being too
light and is very pigmented so there’s no need to go overboard with the amount
of product used. The foundation can be spread lightly because it is such a high
quality, and I don’t use a lot each time. I love that the foundation comes with
a mini concealer on the top, which is a lot thicker but still the same shade.
It works really well against the foundation and can even be layered on top. The
product really is Stay All Day as I
can apply it in the early hours of the morning before work and never have to
touch-up before going out in the evening – plus, it comes with its own brush.
Stila
Stay All Day Bronzer for Face & Body - £28.00 (Shade: Dark)
If I’m using a Stay All Day foundation I need the Stay All
Day bronzer right? Well, that’s my logic anyway. I have always been a fan of
Stila’s powder and bronzer range because they really help foundation to set and
stay in place and absorb oils and grease. I used to use the Stay
All Day Bronzing Powder (which is currently on sale for £9.00) but recently
started using the bronzer for face and body – and I just love it. The best
thing about the bronzer is the setting power, and that it doesn’t come off
easily. There’s nothing worse than finishing a base for makeup, and then
finding brown fingerprints all over my white walls and doors. The powder doesn’t
lift off easily, meaning less need for setting spray!
This foundation has become the perfect product for the
recent warm weather. If I’m ever going for a ‘no makeup’ makeup look, this
foundation is the one to use. It’s so lightweight, I often forget I’m wearing
any makeup. The light, bubbly texture is ideal for the summer or being in the
holiday heat. The foundation is a lot more hydrating that the Stay All Day foundation
and keeps my skin fresh and able to breathe. The foundation blends really well
with other concealers, and is an amazing base for powders. Like the rest of
Stila’s line, the product doesn’t come off the second you touch it, so I don’t have
to worry about waiting for it to set.
Have you tried any of Stila’s face products? Did you like them?
Goodbye Teenage Years! Turning 20.
5 May 2016
Eldwick, Bingley, West Yorkshire
So it's official. I'm 20 years old today and I'm excited to
grow up a little bit more, but sad to say goodbye to being a teenager. I feel
like you get away with a lot more, but being 20 puts adult life into focus as
it means I'll no longer get the "awwww still a baby" response... I
hope. When I turned
19, I mentioned my life is very different to the way I would thought it
would go, but this is a good thing.
There are loads of things I wanted to do before I turn twenty and luckily, I’ve
managed to accomplish a few of them.
I never went to university, but from being young I knew I
wanted to do something creative and something linked with fashion. I went through
the full spectrum of wanted to design, and then realised I have not inherited
any of the skills my mum has and can’t even cut in a straight line. I also
wanted to be an editor, but slowly learned that the non-stop, quick-paced
lifestyle isn’t the one for a laid-back Yorkshire lass like me. That’s when
Anika May came about, and I’m so glad I decided to create this little corner of
the internet for me to ramble on about everything and anything. Plus, blogging has
provided a whole load of opportunities for me, especially during this last
year.
I wanted to make some new friends before I start acting like
a real adult, not that I didn’t have friends before, we just weren’t close. But last year, I went on a random
trip with a group of amazing people and now every single of them are humans I
would consider a really close friend. It’s great to have people to actually
talk to and who appreciate friendship! I’m also a lot closer to my little
sister, which is unexpected as we are polar opposites. My sister and I can fight
over absolutely anything; we once argued over a pencil that I thought was red
and she believed was “a deep blood-like orange” (it was totally red). But now
we have a pretty close relationship and she takes some of my outfit photos for
me, meaning I can shoot on location.
Before I turned 20, I wanted to be sure blogging is the
career for me. I’m happy to say it is, and it’s a hobby and I completely adore.
Whenever I’m bored, I turn to blogging. And that could be stalking other blogs
and building my ever-growing blogroll or creating a new draft for Anika May.
While I was 19, I visited the Next
Blogger Network Event in London which was total dream come true. Not only
did I meet Danielle Peazer, Jen
Stanbrook, Samantha
Maria and Rosie Fortescue – bloggers I have admired for years, but I also
learned a lot about the industry and won a runner-up award!
During this last year, I went to BBC Radio 1Xtra Live (with
my new group of friends) and this was such a ridiculously amazing night, I’ll
never forget it. Similarly, I got to visit Oslo with two amazing ladies I’ve
known for quite a while and we were able to explore a city on my bucket list
and take a lot of photos!
Oslo is one of the most exquisite cities I’ve been to, the people and the
atmosphere is so relaxed and it’s a really blissful environment to be in – I would
happily move there one day.
My nineteenth year of life has been life-changing, I’ve had
a full-time office job (which I managed to escape), I went through a period of
wearing acrylic nails (never again), cleared my skin of acne (thank goodness) and
saved enough money to start learning to drive (finally)! There’s so much more I
want to experience, and I can’t wait to get started on building Anika May as
well as the two charities I work for and continue to develop: Clothing Solutions
and Beaneezy – make sure
to check them out and give the Facebook pages a like if you can. Neither are
government funded and benefit an enormous amount of disabled people in the UK.
Here’s to being an adult!
Live At Leeds 2016 | The Outfit
3 May 2016
Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK
I recently went to the Live at Leeds festival on April 30 and had an amazing time. The Blogger Programme and The Zeitgeist Agency sent me to enjoy the festival which is held every year in Leeds, at different venues across the city. It takes quite a bit of planning before hand, such as deciding which acts to see, what to bring, and what outfit to wear.
I was luckily provided with some great accessories by BLOC Eyewear* and Dixi* to make my look different to other outfits I've put together. My shiny ring, which reads "born a bad seed" is absolutely perfect for the Live at Leeds festival and blends into my outfit with ease. Similarly, the sunglasses are super simple and don't look strange with my look, which is what I look for in accessories. I was previously wearing an enormous necklace but it just got in the way and starred to irritate me. For me, the lighter the accessory, the better. I don't like feeling weighed down, especially if I already have a few layers on.
For the outfit, I immediately decided I was going to wear this bright orange trench jacket I got aaaages ago. I found it on the floor in a changing room with a hole in the shoulder. After taking it to the checkout, the Miss Selfridge staff confirmed it was a sale item at the time (the very last in stock) and I could have it at a discount price as there's a hole alone the seam. Luckily, my mum's a fashion designer so it could be fixed and has stayed with me every since. I wear this jacket quite frequently, because it goes so well with bright blue denim in a casual look, or over black for a night time look. It has pockets, and a loose belt which I tie around the back - definitely a one-of-a-kind gem! I also have a habit of wearing my leather jacket everywhere. I'm trying to break it, but they're just too versatile and no one seems to be able to predict the weather in the UK! I brought along my faux leather just in case the clouds came in and it kept me warm once it got dark.
My skirt is a more recent buy from Next. Initially, I bought it for a night out around Call Lane (my favourite area) in Leeds. The best thing about Call Lane is that it's not an out out street, and there are so many bars and restaurants to chose from, so it's best to wear something casual but put-together. This utility-inspired black skirt is ideal, and is also high waisted so helps to create a more feminine silhouette. As my jacket is so bright, I didn't want to clash it with another colour so stuck to black for basically everything else. Live at Leeds was a super fun night and I have to say a huge thanks to The Blogger Programme and The Zeitgeist Agency for sending me along - more posts to come!
Top - homemade // Skirt - Next // Orange Jacket - Miss Selfridge (similar) // Leather Jacket - Miss Selfridge (similar) // Shoes - thrifted // Bag - Next (similar) // Sunglasses - BLOC Eyewear* // Ring - Dixi*
Black and Blue
28 April 2016
Eldwick, Bingley, West Yorkshire
My style is always changing, and although I don't like to look back at the abomination of a closet I previously owned, it is nice to dig out old pieces that I haven't worn since being back in school. I wouldn't go as far back as the high-waisted, denim-pleated, mini skirt I bought from Jane Norman in three different colours because I thought it was the greatest fashion item since neon leg warmers from Internacionale. The idea of carrying my BANK drawstring bag with any outfit is hilariously cringworthy too!
At the moment, the UK is experiencing the weirdest weather and I don't really know how to dress for it. It's sort of cold, but the sun's out, but it's not quite warm, but warm enough to leave the house without thirty layers on. You can easily experience all four seasons in one day. As the weather is so unpredictable, I like to stick to a really basic outfit, that is adaptable and comfy to wear. This jumper dress is one of my favourites during this turbulent time, and I only realised I had it a few days ago. The dress is one of those wardrobe items that is always there, and always forgotten. It's been in the bottom of my closet for as long as I can remember, and it was the ideal piece of clothing during the tortuous days of sixth form. One of my favourite things about the dress is that it can't really go out of style, because it's so basic. The simple design was created by my mum (who's a designer), because I wanted a really easy wardrobe for school. Turns out, this dress could be my must-have for the rest of my life!
My jumper dress is incredibly warm, meaning I don't have to feel stuffed with a load of layers on top. I bought this light mac from Primark during the summer, after spending months looking for an inexpensive jacket to wear during the odd weather weeks. Since the purchase, this coat has become one of the most-worn items on my clothing rail. The great thing about it, is that it's just so simple. The light jacket fits easily over and under clothing, and can be dressed up or down. I've even worn it to a wedding! On top of my mac, I used to carry this Topshop bag absolutely everywhere with me while at school. The size was perfect, and the faux leather is really light. Sadly, it's no longer in stores but I'm glad it's stayed in such amazing condition. Similarly, my lace-up pumps from Next have lasted a really long time. The suede fabric is often paired with dresses as the texture works really well against other fabrics and they stand out better. The pumps are completely flat and super soft, adding extra comfort.
Coat - Primark // Dress - homemade // Bag - Topshop (similar) // Shoes - Next (similar) // Sunglasses - Next
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