How to be Happy Being Single in the Summer

Hi everyone,

It's summer and lets face it there are couples everywhere but fear not, being single can actually be pretty awesome. I'm going to share with you some things to avoid to ensure you still have fun.

Before we get started a little disclaimer I am not expert and even after reading and following these rules you are still miserable and bitter - I'm sorry! 

1. Couples
I'm not saying avoid all couples, obviously. Some couples are hilarious and positive and bring best out of you. I'm talking about those couples that make you feel like shit, the ones that greet you with sad moon face or talk to you as if you less accomplished in life. No, no, no we don't need that. If they make you feel miserable every time you see them, stop seeing them - done!

2. Exes
It might seem like a good idea at the time, and you might try to convince yourself it wasn't that bad - *sigh* ...Back up! Its like starring in your own version of Groundhog Day, any attempt to continue it is futile. However we're only human, so just remember why it didn't work in the first place.

3. Depressing Single People
If you want to be a dynamic singleton you need to hang out with other sassy singles. Try not to give too much time to those depressing needy people, it could kill your vibe.

4. Internet Dating
The internet may be a fun and amazing way to meet new people, but lets face it - its a little sad too. The fabulous, single, intriguing version of you does not retire from the universe so easily. Don't become a home hermit!

5. Routine
Work, Home, Eat Repeat. Ok so we all fall victim to that pattern but where possible doing different and spend the day with different people. Having variety in your circle of peeps is never going to be a bad thing.

More importantly you should be happy in your own skin and remember to smile 

I hope you enjoyed list of tips for singles at summer, if you've had a different experience or have other tips/rules please share in the comments :)

Thanks,

Faye 

Cool Apps You Should Know

Hi everyone,

I wanted to share with you a few apps that I absolutely love. Like most people I'm slightly obsessed with my phone and tablet, I'm always checking for new apps to try and experiment with.

Being the bargain hunter that I am all these apps are completely free! So without further adieu, here are a few of my very favourite apps that you should have!

Money Tracker
Seriously, this quickly becoming my favourite app for keeping track of my money ins and outs. Using a simple layout it allows you to create folders and categories, so you see where it all goes and where you could make savings! Perfect, right!

Duolingo
Google Translate is great but the long term goal is to speak all those languages yourself. Duolingo is convenient education tool and cost absolutely nothing. And is great if your into travelling or simply just want to learn something new, plus is fun. 

Show Box
This is amazing! I don't always have time to watch latest of Empire or Games of Thrones but using this app its doesn't matter. All the episodes and movies are there in abundance, which of course makes me a very happy bunny. Definitely one of my favourite apps ever!!!

7 Minute
This app has just become part of my daily routine. I really like this app because its not too light and not too ridiculous that I want to give up. I feel this right amount of push for a beginner and you can work it in a way that works for you. 

8 Tracks
This app is basically a collation of different playlist created by other user or yourself. What I really like about it is that it doesn't have those annoying adverts that YouTube has and the more you listen to playlists, it will start to suggest playlist for you. And so far the suggestions have been spot on! A must have app on tablet or phone.

Hope you guys enjoy the apps! I'd love to hear about all of your favourites in the comments down below!

Take care x

Starter Locs Journey

Hey everyone,

As I mention previously I have decided to locs up! Yay!! whoop whoop! One more for the natural sisters of the world.

Ok, so I've made the decision now what? Although I got the gist of starting locs is two stand twist and leave it for a while, but even still I had so many questions. Like how thick should my dreads be? What is the best technique for my hair? What should I do to my hair before I start? How do I look after my locs? How often should I wash my hair? and biggest question was how will it before hair is down to my bra strap?

I am so excited to get to the point were I can do those amazing locs styles I see in the magazines and videos. Seriously check out pinterest the styles are amazing!

Before I get into my story, just a little disclaimer I am not an expert, everybody hair and experience is different this just my personal experience. Before I started I washed my hair, had a treatment and trimmed my ends. The technique used on my was a two stand twist that was interloked at the base (with fingers). In terms of how thick i wanted the locs, I wanted them to be medium/thick. As pretty as skinny locs are, I was worried about the strength of them. So the size partings the stylist did was approximately 1 inch squares. My hope is that my locs/hair will be thick enough to fill it out.

This was my first day, hopefully you can see the twists

Not going to lied you, once it was done it really wasn't want I was expecting. It was far too gappy and I could see too much scalp. This was not how the girls on Youtube look! After a little sulk I remembered that locs is a journey and there are no quick fixes. Time to man up and get on with it. I noticed my hair had shrank at bit since the initial twisting, which I was not expecting.

After about a month this is what it look like - thank goodness for hats!

I went through an 'ugly' stage (tbh I still go through this every now and again), this is development stage. My hair hadn't quite worked out how to be and was not 'looking' the way I'd like. I didn't feel very attractive, I couldn't do much with it. It took time for me to build confidence at first, but slowly but surely its really started to home in that my hair is for me, not for anyone else.

Although its neater still looks thin and a bit gappy 

About 5 months into locs I decided to go to a different salon and get my hair neatened up and interlocked tightly with the tool. I decided  to do this because my hair was starting to unravel and the 'interlocking' that was done was pulling out. After doing this my locs felt much more secure and fuzziness at the ends had reduced. At this stage I also noticed my hair had began budding so progress at last.

This was in January

Fast forward another three months and this is were I am. I try to re-twist my hair every 8 weeks or so. My aim is learn how to re-twist and style myself and only go to the salon for special occasions. I'd like to talk about product build up and lint, as well as frizzy ends. But I'll leave that for another post.

Overall I am happy with my hair and the way it looks, but I still have much to learn. There is no set time on when your hair will loc. Patience is needed, its a process. Its going to take time.

Take Care x

Birthday Wishes

Hi everyone,

I should have post this a month ago but you know me; might take a  while but I get there.

Well there goes another year... dam it gets faster every year. As you know birthday's are a time of celebration and thankfulness (well most of the time it is).

Even though our faces are cut off I quite like this picture

Okay so I have a small confusion to make I did not have a party for my birthday... nobody loves me :-( lol only joking, thinking of one next year ;-)

 My birthday was pretty simple it terms of things to do, but it was still special for me. I spent the majority of it with my sister goofing around, eating yummy food and pampering ourselves at a beauty salon. Then meeting up with family in the evening. My sister was quite sweet, although she can a pain sometimes, she went out her way to make me smile :)

Here's a picture with our full faces. Big thanks to her for giving me should a lovey day.

We had a food a at really place called Havet, which is a smart Turkish-Cypriot venue with contemporary styling, serving hot/cold meze and chargrilled fare. For a local place I was pleasantly surprised the food was as good as it was, yet still be a reasonably price.

We went for the King Prawns with spicy rice and Monkfish shish with mixed leaf salad. King Prawns are one of my favourite things to eat, so I knew that was a safe bet. It was delicious, I easy could have eat them all day. But this was my first time trying Monkfish...wow so good. If I was going to go pescetarian this would be definitely be on my shopping list, its meaty, fulling and not too 'fishy'. Also if your easily embarrassed, do not tell them it's your birthday and you have cake, they will play Stevie Wonder, sing and light the candles for you in front of the whole restaurant. I however loved every second of it lol

My most attractive face lol :D

So I welcome my new year. A more grown up me, please please bring me happiness, joy and love, and maybe my future husband pretty please!

Hope you having a good day, take care x

My Natural Hair Journey

Hi everyone,

It feels a bit late to say Happy New Year, but it would be rude if I didn't. Thank you for visiting my little blog and lets continue to get to know each in the new year :-)

So a while ago I decided to give up the perm and go natural, well... sort of. The transaction period of straight ends and thick bushy roots was incredibly frustrating. Simple styling or even basic combing was becoming difficult and painful, no matter what I did my hair would not cooperate. It was embarrassing and it really knocked my confidence, I didn't want to go outside and I felt so unattractive.

My quick style for natural hair

For over 10 years my hair was permed. I was never really one for long hair so I was sporting short styles, it was easier and manageable. However over time I was beginning to see a difference in the texture and thickness of my hair, even though I had regular treatments.

Doing a big chop was a bit too much for me but I felt more comfortable using extensions and weaves and deep trimming the ends between installments. I've had single plaits as a child but 2011 was my first sew in weave. It was fun to able to change things without causing too distress to my natural hair.

Weave Downsides:

• Hair does not age well (this does depend on the hair you buy)
• Crazy ass shedding - Hair all over the floor, hair all over your back... eww that's nasty!
• Once you have regrowth hair looks high and puffy -  When the wind hits the front of your head and it lifts up it looks NUTS!

Two Strand Twist Extension Downsides:

• Can take a long time to install and take down
• Difficult to hide messy roots and your hair is more liking to loc if left in too long

Out of the two I'd prefer to have two strand twist extensions in, I think it looks more natural (especially with a little regrowth) then straight weave. Its more versatile in terms of styling and its easier to moisturise the length of your natural hair.

In 2014 I decided its time time for a new chapter in my hair journey. I'm locing up! For me it just make sense, I've always been a fan of natural hair, but never really had the skills to manage my hair; problems with shrinking and tangles were a constant battle. Having locs means I can do all the things I did with the twist extensions but with my own hair and half the fuss. It won't be easy though, there will be times where it will look rough, it will be short and look thin/stringing. After much research I have learned that locs is a game of patience. It is different for everyone and it certainly doesn't happen overnight. So this is me the start of my locs journey, hopefully it would be happy and rewarding.

Goodbye little afro puff 

I do another post on my loc journey so far, but for now I hope you guys have enjoyed looking back with me. What has your hair journey been like and what have you learned? Any tips for locs please do let me know!

Until next time, take care x

DIY Christmas Gifts

Hey everyone,

As Christmas is fast approaching I thought I'd share a few cheap gift ideas with you, which are perfect if you want to add a personal touch.

DIY T-shirt Scarf:
The first  idea is one I found over the summer but now that its winter, I think it still make a lovely gift. I really like this idea because you really get creative with the colours and styles you use, with t-shirts you already own!

Picture Credit: Ninth and Bird

For more pictures and details of how to make check out Ninth & Bird 

DIY Inspiration Jar:
The next idea is another DIY, this one is super cheap and simple to make. I think this idea is really special because we could all do with some words sometimes to lift our spirits and to put things into prospective.

The idea is you roll up your favourite quotes onto a piece of paper and each day or whenever needed you can take one out and its like a little pieces of inspiration. Top it off with ribbon or label to make it look pretty and your done.

Picture Credit: Google

Painted Mug:
Last idea is another DIY! Well if you want save cash this is how it has to be! I really like one because you don't need a lot, so doesn't cost a lot. 

Just a plain mug (about a £1 or less), Oil based paint pens, Scrap book stickers (if that is the design your going for) and an Oven. Pinterest has plenty of design ideas if you wanted to get a but more jazzy.

Picture Credit: GoodandMessy.com

Depending on what you have lying around at home all these ideas should be less £5, which is pretty cool considering how customised and unique they can be.

I hope these cheap Christmas gift ideas have helped.

Take Care x

Netflix Horrors For Halloween

Hi everyone,

If you're at a loose end this evening and would rather stay in and ignore the begging trick or treaters at the door, this post just might help you out. 

To get you through the spookiest weekend of the year I've compiled a list of 5 horror flicks that are just sitting on Netflix, waiting to make your skin crawl. I know 13 would have been a 'creepier' number but movies are like a hour and a half each and 'ain't nobody got time for that'.

Anyhoo onto the list:

• V/H/S (2012) - Videos? Remember those?

• Carrie (1976) - Blood, blood, lots of blood

• You're Next (2013) - Kind of dark, kind of funny

• The Exorcist (1973) - possession and vomit

• Drag Me to Hell (2009) - This is one of my favourites a great combo of funny and scary

If worst comes to it try watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer again (this is not currently on Netflix), its actually quite good and has aged surprisingly well.

I hope you enjoyed my little list, enjoy your Halloween and don't have nightmares!

Mwhahahaha!