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.

4 Must-Watch iPlayer Recommendations Autumn 2020

Looking for some thrilling dramas to sink you're teeth into this autumn? Look no further. 

Since my previous post, 5 TV Shows You Should Watch on BBC iPlayer, I've been searching for even more great content. And let me tell you, I've found it. So much so that this is actually going to be a 2 part post. Expect another 4 incredible recommendations next week. I'm mixing it up a bit too so whether you're looking for dozens of episodes to keep you going or just a one-off fix, I've got you covered.

I've worked my way through the good, the bad and - let's face it - the awful, to find the absolute gems on BBC iPlayer. I'm talking truly mindblowing tele you can't turn off. Because as the evenings draw in and restrictions tighten again, one thing I really look forward to is sitting down to an episode of my current fave programme every night with some tasty treats. 

Also, since iPlayer is free, I find more people tend to be watching the same thing at the same time. That means even more enjoyment because you can talk about it and gasp at the same parts.

I May Destroy You

Without a word of exaggeration, this is the best TV show of 2020. 

Millennial writer Arabella pulls an all nighter to finish a creative project she's working on. She breaks to get something to eat and meet friends. Then blank. She comes to, back at her desk writing, with no idea what just happened. The series follows Arabella as she pieces together the horror of sexual assault, and how she begins to deal with it. 

The show deals with issues of consent from multiple angles. Angles I hadn't even thought of, let alone understood before. 

It also depicts our hustling, swiping, validation seeking, woke, hedonistic generation and it's vulnerable underbelly. And it's not just the issue of sexual assault which is explored, but the fine line we all tread in maintaining our mental health and relationships.

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 Sunday Post #19

Good evening one and all. I come to you live from the heart of hayfever hell, with a face that feels like it's going to fall off and probably a tree equivalent of used hankies (ew). It's not all bad though, as I'm working my way through some Cadbury's Heroes and it's still lovely and light outside. Have you all been basking in the beautiful weather this week?

What Have I Been Doing This Week?

Doing the 7 Day Thigh Challenge

This week I completed Blogilates 7 Day Thigh Challenge. I couldn't believe how difficult the simple-looking exercises were and I was so proud of myself for following through. A couple of months ago I would have given up after Day 1. While I haven't transformed into Miss Stick-Insect Legs, I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly I improved over the week. What absolutely killed on Monday and Tuesday was totally doable by Friday. It just goes to show - 20 minutes a day can make a huge difference.

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. 

The Sunday Post #17

I've been going through old posts fixing some technical aspects (lack of alt text, broken links etc) and very happily stumbled upon an old series I wrote in 2013 called 'The Sunday Post'. Each week on a Sunday evening I'd write a short blog post about what was going on in my life that week and what I'd been enjoying. Honestly, for the most part it was me gushing about One Direction and calling into the online abyss for friends who shared my Pretty Little Liars obsession. But I have completely loved reading these back. They're such a vivid reminder of a very specific time in my life where I was completely immersed in Higher exams and, as cheesy as it may sound, I was finding myself and my voice. Incidentally, reading through the number of posts I managed to produce back then, I'm in awe at how I managed to find any time for studying at all. I'd just got my first proper part time job in Wetherspoons and my favourite song was Avicii Wake Me Up. I ended up working in spoons for 3 years (maybe one day I'll write a book about the fun and games that went on in there). Funny enough, I've been listening to Best of Avicii on Spotify the whole lockdown. I guess we don't change that much even though our circumstances might.

So, I thought I'd dive back in - 7 years later - and write The Sunday Post #17. Even if no one reads it, I absolutely love looking back and catching a glimpse of myself in time.

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.

5 TV Shows You Should Watch on BBC iPlayer

I've never been a big one for Netflix because 1) it costs and 2) I literally can't be trusted not to binge 12 hours of shows every day. BBC iPlayer have really upped their game in the last couple of years and it's a great free alternative to Amazon Prime, NOW TV and Netflix. With classic series from Miranda and Two Pints of Lager to Doctor Who available, there's endless hours of entertainment. While I am making a conscious effort not to spend the entire lockdown glued to the TV, it's something I will do for an hour or two a day, perhaps even while doing something else like crocheting or journalling.

There's nothing better than stumbling upon a brilliant new TV show, so I've rounded up my top 5 must-watch list.

Recommendations on BBC iPlayer for 2020

The Nest

The final episode of this 5-part series aired just last week, so I partly envy those of you who can now go on and watch the whole lot rather than waiting a week for the next instalment.

The Nest follows the story of a rich couple, Dan and Emily, who are desperate to have a child. They find an unlikely surrogate in Kaya, a troubled young girl who has just left the care system and is determined to make a success of her life. The series unravels the mystery of why Kaya was in care and how Dan managed to go from scheme boy to owning half of Glasgow. That's the other fantastic part of this show. It's set in Glasgow. I absolutely loved the beautiful aerial shots of my city, the Merchant City sets and the incredible lochside mansion house.

Gripping, emotional, unbelievable.

The Capture

I watched The Capture when it dropped last year and I don't think it got anywhere near the amount of praise and hype it deserved. I therefore take any opportunity to convince anyone to watch it.

Shaun Emery, a British soldier, has his murder conviction overturned at retrial because his brilliant barrister proves the evidence which convicted him was faulty. He is released and, after a night of celebration, his barrister Hannah is caught on CCTV being brutally attacked and kidnapped... by Shaun. But he doesn't remember it like that. Meanwhile, ambitious Detective Rachel Carey starts with the Homicide and Serious Crimes Unit and is determined to prove herself.

The six part thriller follows Shaun as he becomes entangled in the multi-layer nets of police, secret service and other actors. Shaun, Rachel and we, the audience, search for the truth about what happened to Hannah, and what is at stake by her disappearance.

Wonderful, addictive, brutal.

My Top 5 Podcast Recommendations

During this weird and wild time where we're all on lockdown, if you're blessed enough to be safe and well and finding yourself at a loose end, you'll be looking for some great content to pass (and make the most of) the time. 

Whether it's Youtube videos, blog posts or articles, I'm always on the lookout for something new and inspiring to become obsessed with. Podcasts are no different. Over the last year I've listened to these on the commute, before I go to sleep, as I do housework and as I walk to the gym. Now, they're my go-to for my daily walk. 

I thought I'd share my all-time favourite podcasts in case you're looking for a fabulous new listen. There's an eclectic mix of educational, entertaining, spiritual and just plain fascinating. 

The High Low
The High Low provides my weekly injection of culture, pop culture, news, intellectual happenings and general silliness. I happily stumbled upon it after reading the brilliant 'Everything I Know About Love' by Dolly Alderton and stalking looking for more of her work online. She co-hosts the show with Pandora Sykes, a journalist who has written for ELLE and The Sunday Times.

The High Low balances a light-hearted take on current affairs with a multi-faceted examination of every angle, interpretation and consequence. I'm a critical thinker, and the style of this podcast is the very definition of 'Yes, but...' that is right up my street. Their manner of speaking about the world is so refreshingly self aware and socially aware. 

It's also hilarious.

Self-care Sats

I've always been a bit sceptical about the term 'self-care' as when it first became a thing when I was in uni it always seemed a bit self-indulgent and well, shallow. 'Feeling blue? Paint your nails and put on a face mask.' I got where people were coming from but thought the whole thing was a bit naff.

However, fast-forward a couple of years where I'm now working a hectic job Monday to Friday, self-care is essential. I've got a much better insight into the need to recharge and come back to yourself. If nothing else, when you have limited free time you realise the need to make the most of it.

With the motivation of a new year wearing off, and Valentine's Day just around the corner, there's no better time to regroup, celebrate yourself and spread the love to everyone around you - family, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends...

'You Are A Badass' by Jen Sincero Book Review

I always feel a bit deflated after Christmas. It's my favourite time of year and I build up to it from October, so it all seems to go by in a flash and come Boxing Day normality slaps me in the face like a big dry turkey. 

I'm never quite sure what to do with myself in the days between Christmas and New Year and I'm definitely not someone who gets hyped up about Hogmanay (what's the big deal?) BUT there is something extremely inspiring and energising about the first of January. I always reflect back on what I've done in the previous year and plan out what I want the coming year to have in store.

It seems like the stars aligned because I stumbled upon the perfect new year book. I had wanted to read 'You Are a Badass' by Jen Sincero for a while but I didn't want to pay full price from Waterstones because I'm trying to restrict my spending so you can imagine my delight when I found a copy in a charity shop for £1.50.

You Are a Badass has the subtitle 'How to stop doubting your greatness and start living an awesome life'. While there is a tiny part of me that felt a bit cringe reading this i.e. with people on the train looking over and thinking 'Woah she must think a lot of herself reading a book like that'... I also can't help but think its exactly what our generation of over-thinking, self-conscious social media addicts need - a bit of positive affirmation. And let's face it, besides everything else it's a pretty attention grabbing title.

Treasures from the Old English Company

Happy National Stationary Week everyone! I saw that this was a thing today on my instagram and knew there was no better time to share my new bits and bobs from the Old English Company* with you all.

If you've followed me for a while, or even if you've just landed on this page and have had a first glimpse, you'll know that I have a real penchant for beautiful notebooks and anything pink. You can imagine my delight when I found the Old English Company's website: a sanctuary of dreamy homeware, stunny planners and subtle colours. Swoon. 

Old English Company hand letter all their own products with cute quirky messages. I for one am obsessed with the selection of unique fonts which make each one of their products extremely instagrammable. Their website is really easy to navigate (or ahem, spend hours on) and there's even a cute little feature which pops up to tell you who is buying what as you browse. Maybe it is just because I'm nosy but I love this. I guess it's like when you're in a shop and see someone pick something up to buy and suddenly you need it too. 

After a long time of umming and arring I finally narrowed my selection down to:

The Blush and Gold A5 Planner

Don't Worry Bee Happy Mug

You've Got This Keyring

Love Heart Keyring

I love the gold theme of what I got. I'm going to be straight with you - I did get the 'Love' keyring purely in honour of Louise from St. Louis. The 'You've Got This' keyring is for a little reassurance whenever I need it. I had my last EVER university deadline on Tuesday and although I am so happy to be finished and have lots to keep me going for the next couple of months, I think it might be easy to slip into panic mode about the big wide world or the rest of my life. So, this will serve as a friendly reminder to take my worry hat off. I don't even need to explain why I love the mug - between the copious amount of tea I drink and the sheer cuteness of it, I'm sure you can guess. The planner is simple and gorgeous: a very pale pink cardboard cover with 'Old English Company Made in England' embossed in gold on the back and each page inside printed with bullet points for 'Today's Tasks', space for 'Notes', and a header to mark in the date. Nothing motivates me like being able to tick a task off my to do list.

I am so glad I discovered Old English Company - it is such a gem and the perfect place to buy unique gifts and treat yourself.

*These lovely products were sent to me for consideration for review, but all opinions are my own.

My Very Own Personalised Notebook!

With a name like Julianne, it's a real struggle to buy personalised items. When I was little and the likes of Jack, Amy and Emma would come in to primary school with their personalised rulers, calculators and keyrings I'd be a bit jealous. More recently, I tried and failed to get a Coca-Cola bottle with my name on it. Increasingly though, unique name spellings seem to be becomming more popular and there's a lot of us in the same boat. 

This is where Ryman comes in. Thank goodness for online shopping eh folks? They have recently launched a new line of personalised gifts including frames, notebooks and even wrapping paper. When I was asked if I wanted to try out my own personalised notebook* of course I jumped at the chance (you all know how much I love stationery!)

I have the black soft cover notebook, personalised with silver foil. I'm absolutely in love with it. Everything from the cover to the pages and page marker are a lovely quality. I think the typography on the front is especially beautiful. It actually resembles my own handwriting (weirdly) - being joined up and having the same 'J' that I do! The notebook is kept secure with an elastic closure which is useful for carrying it about in handbags to prevent it getting worn. There's a little elasticated pen holder on the side too - ideal if, like me, you always find yourself looking for a pen. It's nice that both these are also black so blend in with the cover. Thankfully, the pages are ruled so I won't go sweggy writing in it, and are ivory-coloured which looks so professional. Another plus: delivery was super-quick. I've noticed on the Ryman website that if you order by 6pm tonight Christmas delivery is guaranteed. This would definitely make a fabulous, unique present. 

I'm still musing over different things I can use this for. Does anyone else do that when they get a new notebook? It's definitely too special to just use for lecture notes. I'm thinking for goals, new year's resolutions or as a year planner since my current organiser has run out of space.  Maybe if I write out all my new year's intentions it will give me a bit of motivation. Since I finished uni for Christmas, I've done nothing but slob about, watch TV and drink tea. I think I've worked so hard over the last 12 weeks that my brain needs a while to rest. Ah well, if you can't be a sloth at this time of year, when can you?

*This notebook was sent to me for consideration for review, but all opinions are my own.

Wilko Have Done it Again!

You may remember in August last year I wrote this post raving about Wilkinson's gorgeous range of affordable stationary. Well you'll never guess what? They've gone and done it again and this time the range is, if possible, even cuter.

Project Book: £2.75 | Exercise Book: £1 | Colouring Book: £1| Desk Planner: £2

I'm an absolute stationary fiend and have been using my Wilko organiser religiously since the beginning of the year to keep track of my schedule and to do lists. There's nothing I like better than writing a list and getting organised because it makes me feel in control during the chaos that is a university semester. When I write things down, not only do I remember them, but I am so much more likely to actually get them done.

As summer approached, one of the things I was looking forward to was Wilkinson's new stationary collection (is that sad?). This new range, called 'Enterprising Britain' has a beautiful colour scheme of pink and mint; each page is fully lined and coloured; and there is an uplifting theme of positivity and affirmation. But the best part? Nothing in the range costs more than £4! I've said it before and I've said it again, I think the quality and design of Wilkinson stationary easily rivals more expensive brands. It took a lot of willpower not to buy the entire collection.

Have you bought any stationary from Wilko?

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone! Hope you've all had a lovely day. I forgot just how much I love Easter until I got lots of chocolate goodies this evening... yum! I've had lots going on lately - a broken laptop, crazy exam revision, work and a weekend in Manchester. Normal blogging service will resume shortly though. 

How did you spend the day? Do you have anything exciting planned this week?

Celebrating International Women's Day 2017

I hope you have all had a lovely and empowering day celebrating the lives and achievements of women across the globe. I for one have been tremendously inspired by things I've seen online today, from tweets encouraging women to stand together and support one another to Youtube videos sharing this year's IWD's theme : #BeBoldForChange. IWD commemorates the struggles women have faced in the past and encourages us to continue the movement for gender equality. Something that has been brought to my attention by this year's theme and really rings true in my own life is how women, more than men, tend to be unnecessarily apologetic for their success. In my own life, I play down my own achievements for fear of being labelled big-headed or arrogant. Its one thing being modest, but if you say that you're not good enough so many times, you begin to internalise it. Why do I play-down my achievements, passions and the causes I believe in when I should be proud of them? What would happen if I confidently expressed my thoughts and myself instead of constantly justifying myself? Would people judge me as arrogant? Or might they be interested or even inspired?

Gender equality is about choice, freedom, fairness, and crucially, not reducing women (or men) to one thing. I think this was really exemplified last week when Emma Watson's advocation of gender equality was criticised, or devalued, because she posed for Vanity Fair 'topless' (not really topless at all but showing a bit more boobage than usual - for shame! *rolls eyes*). Instead of taking Emma as a whole person she was solely depicted and judged her by her body. Supposedly, the way Emma presented herself contradicted and negated her views on gender equality. For me, this is completely and utterly missing the point of feminism and the fight for gender equality. Why are women constantly reduced to and judged by just one thing? Should we really have to dress a certain way to be taken seriously? Can we only be intelligent or beautiful? How many times does it need to be said? You can be a feminist and embrace your sexuality. You can wear high heels, and be intelligent, and be a feminist, and like men, and wear makeup. 

 I want to share with you some videos of women who have inspired me. Firstly, my favourite speaker, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie who I was introduced to a couple of years ago. She approaches the topic of gender equality in such a reasonable, logical, everyday way that its impossible not to be engaged and convinced by her. And, since I've spoke so much about her, here is Emma Watson's 'He for She' UN speech and an excellent article by The Huffington Post explaining why we still need feminism.

On March 8th, and every other day of the year, be bold. Educate and empower yourself and others around you. Celebrate women's achievements of the past, the present, and all the achievements yet to come. 

What makes you proud to be a woman (or a man)? What women inspire you?

Wishlist

Believe it or not, I've been in the 'I don't need anything/ I have so much already' frame of mind for quite a few months now. I've not been buying makeup or many beauty products at all. Besides essentials like foundation, I have enough mascaras, eyeshadows, body lotions, etc. to keep me going for ages and Christmas has topped them up. I'm actually quite good at not buying things for the sake of it. Most of the time I just can't justify the cost (Ted Baker bag I'm looking at you). As a result, I accumulate quite a long list of 'maybe, maybe not' things I have my eye on in stores. Here's what's on it on at the moment:

Life Lately: A Catch Up & A Ramble

This week something completely unexpected, earth-shattering and incomprehensible happened: I submitted my two mid-term essays... 2 days early *gasp*. After worrying about how little time I had and how I didn't have a clue where to start, somehow I managed to get them done - and early. I'm odd. Since I've had a couple of well-deserved days off uni work, I've been trying to get back into blogging. It is always so strange delving back into the blogging community because everything seems to have moved on so much in only a few months. I don't know what twitter chats are still happening, what the latest hyped up products are or how platforms have changed. Its been 5 years since I started blogging but everytime I come back to it I feel completely out of the loop. Tonight I hung around the #bbloggers chat for half an hour and it was deserted - where is everyone?!

5 YEAR Blogiversary!!

Today marks FIVE whole years since I posted for the first time on Julz Obsessions. Half a decade- I can't quite believe it! Over that time, I've done my school qualifications, nearly 3 years at university, got my first part time job (and several others since), passed my driving test and learned a whole lot! 
 The best things about blogging so far have been being part of such a lovely community (even though I haven't done a blogger chat in ages - I'm here in spirit), mastering basic HTML (somehow), having something to look back on that I'm so proud of, improving my photography and discovering some amazing products and recommendations. The post I'm probably proudest of is this one that I wrote in summer 2014 about body confidence. It was quite different from what I normally write but it went down really well and its the type of thing I'd like to do more of. I also really liked putting together the 'Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone' post as so many different bloggers contributed to it and gave fantastic tips. I also love looking back at holiday pictures and update/ life lately posts. My first posts, especially the photos they come with, are so cringe but I like to leave them up for your amusement (and to see how far my technical skills have come). I do wish I'd been more consistent but after many failed attempts at it, I've come to accept that while uni is so demanding, I should focus on that and write lots when I have free time like in summer. I guess my hopes for the next few years is that, however sporadically, I continue to write and enjoy having such a fantastic hobby. 
Of course, before I go, I'd like to thank you! Thank you for reading, commenting and following. I've always said that I blog about things that interest me as my own little outlet but there is nothing nicer than one of you leaving a comment or tweeting me saying you like what I've written. I'm getting really mushy now so I'll stop. But thanks again and who knows, maybe I'll still be blogging in another 5 years!