Autumn vibes

 
I always get a wee notion to blog around this time of year. Something about the nights drawing in, the autumnal colours and of course, the pumpkin spice lattes, makes me feel all cosy and nostalgic. 

In my Autumn is in the air post last year, I was already fully ready to embrace the new season by the beginning of September. This year I'm grateful for a slower transition out of summer because it seemed to go by in a flash. We've had some serious sunshine over the last week (unheard of in Scotland) so I'm dipping my toe into autumn without the darkness and freezing-ness. 

I'm a creature of habit, and many of the exciting things about autumn I mentioned last year still apply. What I'm most loving about autumn right now is:

• pumpkin spice lattes - but this year skinny and decaf - they taste just as good 
• gold glitter nail polish - cos I've finally stopped biting my nails
• autumn makeup - red eyeshadow and Velvet Teddy
• cropped camel jacket - third hand #lovetheplanet
• taking photos of nature and other gems while out running
• burning candles
• chilli con carne for dinner
• pinning to my autumn board on Pinterest
• my new matching white hoodie and joggers - channelling Molly Mae

And now restrictions are mostly lifted, I'm thoroughly enjoying doing fun things again and savouring every second. A real highlight was last weekend when I went to see Chicago. It was the first show back at the Kings Theatre in Glasgow and it was incredible. 

What do you think is the best thing about autumn?

5 easy swaps to be more sustainable

 
It's a sunny Saturday evening and I'm blogging. Ah, feels like 2012 again. 

A lot has moved on since 2012 though.

I've learned how the things I buy (or want to try) affects not only my purse, but the planet too.

As much as possible, I try to be minimalist and:

• don't buy stuff I don't need
• use what I've already got
• repurpose things

However, there's always going to be things I need to do like wash my face. I now try to go for more sustainable options.

I should probably note here, by way of disclaimer, that while I'm definitely eco conscious, I'm no expert. There are plenty of other people much further down the road than me. However, I know there are also a lot of people who are just taking tentative steps towards being more sustainable, or maybe haven't considered it yet. I know because that was me a few years ago. 

Being a bit more eco conscious doesn't have to be a massive lifestyle change though. 

So,  I want to share 5 easy ways you can be more sustainable. 

These are the things that've worked for me and were a painless swap from my earlier planet-damaging alternatives. 

List of Lists | Daily Edition

Way back in 2013 I wrote a post called My List of Lists and even now it's one of the most popular posts on Julz Obsessions. Guess it just shows how many list lovers like myself are searching the web for list-spiration (?) 

Back then, I realised lists weren't just scraps of paper for to dos but could:

• be an alternative to journalling
• help me set goals
• let me reflect
• keep me motivated
• help prioritise what's important
• make me feel in control
• organise my life when I have a lot on
• mark myself at a certain point in time
• reduce stress

Spring it on!

The clocks have just gone forward, daffodils are shooting up everywhere and the days are finally getting longer. Hooray!

In winter, we can get bogged down in our routines, bracing ourselves against the weather, and - after Christmas - just getting through the daily grind. I'd never appreciated the phrase 'bleak mid-winter', but I think the lockdown has really brought home its meaning this year. Staying ok can be a daily effort. 

Spring makes me excited about the future. 

There's something fresh and inspiring in the air.

It's a new chapter.

Autumn is in the air

Usually when this time of year rolls around I'm just 

not ready 

to say goodbye to summer. 

I'm a summer baby and love nothing more than long days and light nights. This hasn't been a 'usually' kind of year though.

Even though it seems like we've been in Julember for months, I also feel like spring and summer have had their time. I've been out walks (and now runs!) almost every day since April, so for the first time ever I've noticed nature and the transition through the seasons. Now the leaves and pine cones are starting to fall and I couldn't be more excited.

The Existence of Amy* by Lana Grace Riva | Book Review

Trigger warning - this book contains depictions of OCD, depression and suicidal thought patterns.

This is a no spoiler book review.

Hello you lovely folk and happy Saturday! I hope you're having a swell weekend. As I mentioned in my last book review, for a few months now I have been really struggling to get into a book. Only a tiny fraction are cutting it. I've currently got three books on the go and they're all very mediocre. So, I was delighted to read 'The Existence of Amy'* by Lana Grace Riva last weekend because it gripped me straight away and I finished it within a few hours.

What's the story?

From the outside you'd be forgiven for thinking Amy was normal (whatever 'normal' actually means...). She has a great job in digital marketing, brilliant work friends and a nice house. However, we are privy to Amy's perspective, and from the inside her life is a constant struggle. The title pretty much sums it up: she's just existing, not living.

Amy's whole existence is dictated by her OCD (and subsequent anxiety and overthinking) and bouts of depression. She fights with herself to keep up appearances and continue the charade of a normal life but its exhausting.

The Sunday Post #18

Happy Sunday folks! I've had a lovely evening consisting of Line of Duty, an online book club chat, a Harry Potter quiz and Neapolitan ice cream. Not too shabby at all. I took the above photo today when I went a bit on a candle rampage. Does it feel inception looking at it?

The Week

I finished the SEO work I've been doing piecemeal for weeks on Julz Obsessions. None of my photos had alt text so going through 300 posts and adding it was pretty laborious. I did love re-meeting old me as I went back in time though.

This week I wrote my first article for Quite Literary, a new online magazine called 'Books to Read in Your Early Twenties'. Give it a read and let me know what you think. Writing is exactly what I want to be doing more of in the months and years to come so I feel like this is the first step of a fabulous journey. 

It looks like we're finally going to start coming out of lockdown. Is it just me or has everyone else lost all sense of time? It's as if we've been like this for 2 years, but also 2 minutes. While I'm very much looking forward to doing things like going to my fave restaurants, seeing my friends and family, going to the pub and shopping when we can, I also think I'll emerge on the other side changed. It's like the reset button has been pushed on my life and I can see clearly what's important, what I want, what I should be doing more of and less of. 

Great Home Workouts For People Who Hate Exercise

I've always been a fully fledged member of the lazy gals club. My base instinct is to sloth. Give me a phone, a TV or a book and I'll beat records for time spent sitting.

You can therefore imagine my sheer incredulity upon discovering that lockdown has made me somewhat of a fitness fan. I know right?! 

Hear me out.

What I Got For My Twentieth Birthday

It feels so weird no longer being a teenager. I'm a proper adult now- I feel like I need to start doing 'being in my twenties' stuff- though I'm not sure exactly what that is! 
I absolutely love seeing other bloggers' birthday present posts and videos so thought I'd share my own since I'm so chuffed with everything. I got all of my favourite things- chocolate, makeup and skincare bits as well as some gems I've wanted to try for ages including MAC Velvet Teddy lipstick, a Sephora mask and Topshop sunglasses. I always talk myself out of buying things I don't really need so I feel so grateful to be treated to both my everyday essentials and special luxuries. A very big thank you too to Melanie who sent me such fab gifts (as always) which I am so excited to use. I have never seen the Cheryl perfume set but already I love it- the perfume smells lovely, the bottle is really pretty and eyelure lashes are my favourite. My mum also managed to secure the coveted M&S beauty box which has a fantastic selection of high end brand mini's to try. 
I had an absolutely fab day!

'Is It Just Me?' by Miranda Hart

I've just finished 'Is It Just Me' by Miranda Hart and thought I'd write a little review for anyone who is thinking of giving it a read. I actually got this for Christmas and its been sitting in my 'to read' pile since - reading books is the basis of my degree so I don't get through much personal reading. 

At just over 300 pages, this is no run of the mill joke book, but it made me laugh out loud and I finished it in a couple of days. Essentially, this is a compilation of life's awkward and embarrassing moments. The chapters cover subjects from diet and holidays to pets and weddings. Speaking to her 18-year old self, Miranda revisits her most painfully embarrassing memories with the intention of reassuring her, and us, that they happen to everyone. The frequent back and forth interaction between young and 'big' Miranda did make the book seem a little disjointed, and I think it could have been just as good without 18-year old Miranda's input, but she did offer some insights about how weird today's technology-obsessed population would seem to a teen 20 years ago. 

'Is It Just Me' is fun, light-hearted and has some really amusing illustrations. I very much liked the frequent address of readers and the challenges sprinkled throughout such as speaking affirmations aloud or spontaneously rolly-pollying- wherever you are while reading. There are also periodical checklists- 'Miranda's Amazing Tickbox Game'- where you too can share the elaborate adventures she embarks on. Miranda's wacky take on things is pretty hilarious and the extent of her very British social awkwardness and etiquette hiccups is certainly reassuring. 

I think everyone could relate to this book and it is very light-reading. I think I've been spoiled with really profound literature on my course so I found this book a little too light overall. It might be because I don't read a lot of comedy but I think Miranda's humour comes across better on her TV show (which I would 100% recommend!). I got more out of the book because I have seen the TV show, and read most of it unconsciously in her accent. While I wouldn't reread this or absolutely rave about it, I'd say its still worth a read. 

A Trip to York

Last month my family and I spent a long weekend in York and I couldn’t think of a better way to share the highlights of the trip with you than a very photo heavy post. York isn’t somewhere which would immediately come to my mind as a weekend trip destination - in fact I think my brother randomly suggested we visit after watching Braveheart for the seventeenth time. It isn’t easy finding somewhere which has something for all of us- ‘culture-y stuff’, shopping, sports/ leisure, a nice hotel and good food but I was really pleasantly surprised by what a fantastic time we had.

My favourite touristy thing was the Castle Museum. It covered York’s history ranging from its prisons to toys to wars. Best of all though- there was a recreation of a Victorian street with people dressed as actual Victorian’s who spoke to you and told you about things! I was actually quite taken aback when the girl in her 1890s get-up turned around and told me how fashionable it was to be pale and how gloves were necessary to keep the hands delicate when I was in the tailor’s.

The hotel we stayed in, the Marriott, had big, beautiful grounds and looked onto the racecourse. It was around 30 minutes walk from the town centre but it was a nice area and I like looking at all the houses along the way (is that sad?) There was a tennis court at the bottom of the hotel gardens which was free to book out for an hour. My brother is the only one of us who plays tennis but we all had a go and it was actually really fun- as far as exercise goes anyway. I also loved the swimming pool because I’m a big kid at heart when it comes to being in water. The buffet breakfast was superb- so tasty and lots to choose from (or not choose and eat everything from). 

Talking of food, we had some delicious dinners too (see food photos and drool). I had a pepperoni pizza in Zizzi’s on the second night and on the last night we found an amazing Italian called Lo Spuntino. Sometimes chain Italians just can’t come close to a small independently run ones. The place was compact but the food was delicious and the service was great. 

Compared to my usual holiday spending sprees I actually bought very little in the town centre. I had a notion before we went to have a browse for makeup samples online and I downloaded a couple of vouchers and picked up a few freebies instead. There was a nice mix of high street staple shops like Boots and unique, independent ones. We also visited ‘The Shambles’- an old fashioned street of quirky little shops. It reminded me of the lanes in Brighton.

I found York to be pretty centralised so for only being there three days we crammed so much in. I had an absolutely excellent time and would definitely go back.

Thanks for stopping by and well done if you reached the end of this lengthy post. Be sure to leave me a comment telling me if you’ve ever been to York or any other places you like :) 

Adventures in Brighton

This year for our family summer holiday we decided to stay in the UK and spend the week in Brighton. It was absolutely amazing! And what made it even better was that my cousin who lives in New Zealand who I haven't seen in years came too- yay! We stayed in the Queens Hotel which was really lovely. The building was quite old but our room was enormous and most importantly, they replaced the biscuits and mini toiletries everyday (my family and I would give Ross Geller a run for his money when it comes to hotel freebies). I laid out all my makeup and brushes on my bedside cabinet- it was so nice to look at and very insta-worthy but I wouldn't have it at home as it would be a nightmare to clean. The hotel also had a lovely breakfast buffet and bistro/bar where we had tasty cocktails.

Brighton honestly has so much to offer. I don't know if its just because so many bloggers and youtubers go on about it but my excitement for visiting was so real and it didn't disappoint at all. It was as hot as when I visited Lisbon last year too because of the heat wave. Brighton scores top points from me with regard to food, shops, friendliness and general photo-worthiness. My favourite place to eat was an Italian restaurant not far behind our hotel called Al Duomo which had delicious food and reasonable prices. The selection of restaurants was amazing so the fact we went to Al Duomo twice for dinner shows just how great it was. Other tasty treats worth noting were MooMoo's oreo milkshake on the pier and Angel Food Bakery's strawberry and cream cupcake.

I done a heck of a lot of shopping too. Is it just me or is there something very enabling about shopping on holiday? I have an 'oh I'm on holiday I'll just spend £19 on a makeup brush' kind of mindset. Lush, as per usual, didn't disappoint. The lovely woman who worked there was telling us about their current campaign #gayisok, part of which was to share a picture online with their new 'Love' soap which is gold, glittery and gorgeous. The lanes were so interesting though quite hard to navigate. There are so many cute little shops selling jewellery, crafts, antiques, homeware, books, clothes, makeup and more. I saw a shop called 'Ju-Ju' which interested me immensely because that's what my family call me. Also- Sammi from BeautyCrush walked by me! Its the weirdest experience seeing someone from YT in real life because you feel like you know them, but they don't know you. 

On Wednesday we also went through to Eastbourne and the 14 year old inside me was squealing because that's where 'Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging' was filmed and I used to watch that film every night. We also went to the Toy and Model Museum close to the station- my family and I love that sort of thing.

Overall it was one of my favourite holidays ever- I can see what all the fuss is about now. If you get the chance to visit you should- its such an interesting place. I definitely want to go back.

Hello Again!

I've been finished my exams for a whole month and I haven't written one single blog post- I've been too busy chilling out and turning into a sloth watching endless TV shows on my laptop. So far I've watched 5 seasons of Gossip Girl (I LOVE!), rewatched Doctor Who and watched Breakfast at Tiffany's for the first time. I think I'm pretty much guaranteed to have square eyes by the time I'm 30 with the amount of time I spend on my laptop.

Anyway, as always, to launch back into blogging, I've put together a little updatey collage of my last few months. My blogging lapses have become so regular since I started back in 2012 that they're routine now: I blog away all summer when I have free time, get together a few posts over Christmas when I'm off and a random post or two through the year if I'm lucky. With how focused I am with studying you'd think I could apply that to blogging, exercise and other parts of life but nope- I'm lazy when it comes to everything else!

my lecturer wore these leggings one day #absoluteawe | what I'm like in uni | jk what I'm actually like in uni | I've become obsessed with Eastenders again this year- my long lost soap love | lush baths! | maoam pinballs = fave | new bikini for holiday | me arriving at the beach this year ahaha (this pic gets me every single time)  

my uni is pretty | strawberry daiquiri mmm | exploring the library | chinese takeaway= life's special moments | my laptop broke for a few days in May & it was a very, very real struggle | brunch in TriBeCa- if you've never ate here you must- immediately | my new lamb onesie is soo cosy | cheesecake (insert heart eye emoji) | going for a catch up with girls a few nights ago

Now that we're all up to speed I'd just like to say a quick thank you to everyone for sticking around even though my posting is so inconsistent. I've got heaps of post ideas for the coming months and I'm so excited to be back!  

Third Blogiversary!!

Image Source

Happy Sunday everyone! Finding myself between extremes; my first blog anniversary (biggest deal ever- here and here) and last year's celebration (non-existent), I thought I'd write a little post to mark the fact that this week Julz' Obsessions is three years old. I can't believe how quick it has gone. Although I'm notoriously sporadic, and disappear for sometimes months on end, I always find my way back to writing blog posts and re-finding love for the blogging community and the creativity that comes with it. Of all the things that I've done and all the things that have changed in my life (delving into soppy territory here), this blog has remained constant. I would say 'I hope I'll still be blogging next year' but I know that all being well I will be. And of course I'd like to thank you all for all your support, whether it be commenting on posts, clicking the follow button or just chatting away on twitter. It is the most lovely aspect of blogging! 

Stationery Galore

One of the (few) pros of starting a new semester after indulging in free time, festivities and general relaxation is getting your stationary organised. I've had a thing for stationery ever since I can remember- picture me circa 2001 hanging around my Auntie's office hoping to blag some post it pads and paperclips. I buy and buy notebooks like they're going out of fashion. My favourite places to get my stationary are Wilkinson, Tiger and Paperchase (mostly when they're having a sale). I think this semester I'll stick to pretty much what I done last- write notes on cheap notebooks/ scrap paper in lectures, rewrite them out neatly later and put them in a subject folder to refer back to when revising. It often surprises me how much I have lying around my house that I've forgotten about. I searched for so long for a pencil case that was pretty, inexpensive and practical and couldn't see one I liked anywhere. I found this Ted Baker makeup bag from one of last Christmas gift sets and its perfect! I love the little tab post its in different colours- those came in really handy navigating a 3000 page book. My favourite pens to use are the basic BIC ballpoints because they don't smudge- I don't actually know why I continue to carry around the inky ones. I kind of just like having a full pencil case. Side note: a definite perk of uni compared to school is that no one asks to borrow a pen. That used to drive me insane- why do people keep them?! or worse... chew and dribble on them... ew. 

Are you loopy about stationery? Please say I'm not the only one.

The Reading Tag

I haven't written a tag post in ages and after seeing The Reading Tag on Fay Olivia's blog a little while ago, I knew this was one which would be perfect for me because although I am quite lazy with reading, I am quite the book worm when I get into it. They're also something a little different to post and let you get to know me better. I won't tag anyone specific just anyone reading this who wants to give it a go. Be sure to let me know if you do.

Do you have a certain place for reading at home?

Usually on my bed but I've been known to actually travel around the house and sit/ hang upside down in every little space until I'm comfortable.

Bookmark or random piece of paper?

I can never find my bookmarks so usually just whatever I have to hand. Recently I've used post its.

Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or a certain number of pages?

In general I can just stop at the end of a page or even paragraph. Stopping midway through a sentence is of course unthinkable.

Do you eat or drink when reading?

Reading is probably the only activity I don't consider snack- appropriate. Perhaps just a cup of tea.

One book at a time or several at once?

One at a time unless they're educational/ completely polar. I'm very easily confused.

Reading at home or everywhere?

Most of the time at home, particularly if I'm really into a book though I'll sometimes take one along on train journeys in case I run out of Facebook/ Instagram updates to scroll through.

Reading out loud or silently in your head?

Completely silently. I used to get so frustrated with my friend in school who read out loud next to me because I'd become so distracted.

Do you ever read ahead or skip pages?

I'll admit I did this when I was younger (and it gave me a rather confusing expectation for the end of HP7 - imagine knowing Dumbledore/ Snape are dead but discovering them speaking on the last page). Now I wouldn't dare.

Breaking the spine or keeping it new?

Keep it new through fear of it crumbling. I learned this the hard way when I broke the spine of my teacher's personal copy of A Scarlet Letter and had to hand it back to her in bits. 

Do you ever write in books?

Ever since I had to annotate and highlight my copy of The Great Gatsby in school I can't stop. I could be reading anything and feel the urge to note at the side that I like the way it is written or what it could represent. Its a curse.

What are you currently reading?

I'm between books just now. I finally admitted defeat with A Tale of Two Cities and now my university books have taken over. I think my next will be Pride and Prejudice though. .

Hello September...

While I myself sometimes find myself having to put in a bit of extra effort to read other bloggers' update posts, I also have an unsuppressable urge every now and then to write a big one of my own. I'm going to keep this one short and sweet though (hopefully) so it doesn't feel like you're climbing Everest to reach the end. 

Blog Stuff

• I'm so proud that I managed to keep up with my August schedule of 3 posts a week.
• From now on I'm going to be posting once a week with the odd extra post so that I can keep consistency without compromising studying.
• I'm so pleased to have reached 300 Bloglovin' followers and 320 GFC followers.
• Be sure to let me know if there is anything in particular you'd like me to post about.

Life Stuff

• I'm really pretty ready for the autumn. I've already been living in cosy jumpers and darker colours. I like the thought of being cosy on winter nights with candles and hot chocolate!
• I'm starting university this month! I'll be studying English Literature, English Language and Sociology.
• As of yesterday, I've been working for a year. I'm also now training as bar staff.
• I've been doing driving lessons. Its going really well and I'm enjoying it a lot.
• I went on my first holiday with my friends to Malia and it was absolutely incredible. I've never wanted to stay on a holiday more.
• I've finally been making an effort to drink more water- hooray!
• I've achieved most of my summer bucket list but I've decided not to write an autumn one because last years was a bit of a fail. Who has time to go nature walks and take pictures of leaves anyhoo?
• TV wise I'm still loving Doctor Who and PLL and I'm so excited that The X Factor is back!
• I'm loving Ed Sheeran's album 'X'.

Hobbies To Try Update (See this post)

• I'm going to my first yoga class in 2 years tomorrow.
• I made really simple bracelets and loom bands.
• I tried 'colouring pages' (yes it really constitutes a hobby) and while it could be seen as relaxing, I found it pretty under-stimulating and time consuming.
• I haven't done any actual origami, but I have pinned a lot of ideas. I'm basically half way there.
• I haven't managed much reading (still on summer reading book 3/40), running (lol) or scrapbooking. I still have a fortnight though!

I think that's everything! What's new with you?

Why I Love Blogging

Hey Everyone!
In keeping with my back to blogging mind set, I want to share with you all some of the reasons why I love it. You might be interested in this if you're considering starting your own blog, or if you're taking a blogging break and need a little encouragement (like I did) to get back into it. 

In my opinion the blogging community, particularly the beauty blogging community, are some of the friendliest people online. I absolutely love the inspiration and product recommendations you get from twitter chats. Blogging also links you to people with similar interests. Not listed above: I've recently realised how many design, social media and business-y skills I've gained from blogging that I never would have otherwise. I think its a hobby which is not only really enjoyable, but allows networking and is an interesting little addition to a CV, particularly if you're wanting to go down a career path of writing, PR or the beauty/ fashion industry. 
I'd really like to see in the comments reasons why you love blogging.

Things I Love About Summer...

...♥Sun ♥Ice Cream ♥Cute outfits ♥Sunglasses ♥Days out when its sunny ♥Being stress free ♥Holidays and trips ♥Flowers ♥Music ♥My birthday ♥Blue skies ♥Long days/ light nights♥ Good TV ♥Swimming pools ♥Sandcastles ♥Blowing bubbles ♥Reading ♥The smell of BBQs ♥Sleeping in ♥Cold drinks ♥Bright nail polish ♥Photos ♥Fresh fruit ♥Late nights♥...
What are your favourite things about summer?

Ellie Goulding Love

I do this all the time. Someone, usually a celebrity, comes onto my radar and something about them inspires me or sparks my interest. I then try to find out everything about them. I want to know their favourite products, how they got to where they are now, where their clothes are from. Heck my obsession with Caroline Flack a couple of years ago got to the point that I bought a dress just because she wore the same one on Xtra Factor (albeit the dress was very pretty- she does have amazing style). Anyway, I aspire to the person almost to the point of stalkerism until the phase slowly mellows out. 

Right now I just love Ellie Goulding.

It began seeing her perform live at T in the Park. She was a real stand out and I definitely didn't expect her to be as good as she was. I loved how much energy she put into her set. I then began to think how I actually liked a lot of her songs too. I then read this months issue of Glamour magazine which she is on the cover of. I was sold. I love her hair, her figure, her clothes. Whats more she seems lovely, mellow and down to earth. 

Now, I'm fully aware that I look nothing like her. That fact didn't stop me wanting to take inspiration from her makeup look in Glamour and try to recreate something similar. Never would I usually use pink eyeshadow and pencil liner on my top lashline. I am fully committed to my earthy tones and black liquid eyeliner. Surprisingly though, I found that stepping out of my usual makeup comfort zone was a great idea. I loved the eyeshadow! It took quite a while to do as I was cautious of looking like I had pink eye or like I was on my way to a rave but it actually turned out really well.

I've not went into detail about the products I used but if you're interested just leave a comment and I'll let you know.

What do you think of my attempt? Do you like Ellie Goulding?