Beyonce isn't Flawless?

Warning:This post contains shocking images that some readers may find offensive.

Some pictures have been leaked. Pictures that will shock the world. Pictures of...wait for it...Beyonce UNphotoshopped. Say whaaat? Let us all take a minute to process this guys...it's a scandal. Somebody call the police. 

But is it really? 

I wanted to write a post as soon as I came across an article (on none other than the Daily Mail), containing these unretouched photos of Queen Bee from her 2013 L'Oreal cosmetic campaign, 200 of which were recently leaked and removed from one of her fan sites. 

The latest celebrity to be scrutinised for her appearance. Judged for her spots and less than perfect complexion. The fact that these images even have the ability to cause such uproar and horror is shocking in itself (there are surely more important issues...like ISIS overtaking the world...!!) So Beyonce doesn't have 'flawless', unblemished skin. News flash...noone has Barbie-like skin; Beyonce, Miranda Kerr, Jennifer Aniston and all celebrities included. They're human beings like us! Hoorah!

What worries me is that girls are surrounded by these photo-shopped images and have unrealistic ideals of what it is to be 'attractive' or 'pretty' or what the perfect body should look like. I've been there, and if I'm honest, as aware as I am that these images are all computer-made, I still struggle with the whole thing.

Magazine images are so distorted that if you saw the women in the street, chances are you probably wouldn't even recognise them. Trust me, I've seen a bare-faced Cheryl Cole in her trackies and hoody, as far from the glitz and glam she's usually caught up in, and guess what...she's a normal human being with imperfections too. 

So here's what I say...

B, it's okay, I take you for you, yourself and you. I'm still head over heels, crazy in love with you. You're still irreplaceable. I'd still put a ring on it...and a few spots and whiteheads ain't gonna change that!

XOXO

17 THOUGHTS A GIRL ON THE PILL FACES DAILY

Regular sex; always a good thing. The side effects; not so much. 

Who would've thought that such seemingly harmless little circles of innocence could hold so much power. Hormones eh?!

Here's some thoughts I've had daily since I started digesting these badboys two weeks ago: 

1) Why do I feel an irrational urge to eat anything and everything around me?

2) I thought the pill was supposed to prevent pregnancy, not make me resemble pregnant lady.

3) 1000 Activias couldn't beat this bloat. 

4) Extended periods. Oh the joy.

5) My jeans are too tight. 

6) No really. They didn't shrink in the wash and I'm not experiencing the placebo effect. I just got fat. 

7) My poor boyfriend. What if I go crazy and he dumps me for a sexier, thinner sane person. 

8) He's the best. 

9) Brb while I have a little cry for no reason. 

10) Whoever said that your sex drive decreases is cuckoo cray.

11) It's only 99% effective. Oh my god. What if I get pregnant.

12) Note to self: never google medical side effects and spend hours reading through negative forums.  It will not help your situation. 

13) Women are complicated.

14) Don't mess with us. 

15) Someone pass me the wine and chocolate. 

16) Ah, that's better. Choccies and wine solve everything. 

17) I've got this dowwwwn. 

18) He's the best. He's worth these highs and lows. 

XOXO

2014 Reflections & My 2015 Goals

New Year. New Nish. 

I said that last year, along with 95% of the population. 

Looking back at my YouTube video and post on my 2014 resolutions (see here) has been strange and quite frankly, depressing, because not only has it made me miss my long locks, but also serves as a stark reminder that I have failed. Failed to learn to drive. Failed to save money. Failed to travel.

However, I've (sort of) stuck to 3 of the 6 resolutions; I have gymmed 3 times a week (most weeks), continued to develop and write my blog, and am finally starting to get to grips with "eating well", and by this, I mean I have felt less need to 'binge' and yo-yo diet, and am beginning to view my dietery habits as a lifestyle choice. Go me! 

I have also, somehow, against all odds, acquired a boyfriend along the way, and although this was by no means a resolution, I feel that anyone who has been subjected to my endless discussions surrounding 'the one', heard my cries and ultimately seen me embrace the single life like an independent woman (thank God for Destiny's Child), will understand the significance of this milestone. Oh, and FYI, single lyf for the last 4 years…totally my choice. 

Anyway, I wanted to make a list of my goals for 2015 because, well, I always find that writing down a list is a great motivator. This year, I want to steer away from the standard resolutions surrounding weight loss and money goals and make some more personal aims:

1) Learn to drive - I'm taking this baby from last year and carrying it over to this year. I will be behind a steering wheel by December 2015. 

2) Read more books - I don't read as much as I'd like. I am constantly finding new books I'd love to read, but thanks to YouTube and my mild obsession with various fashion / beauty channels which started this year, the publications have become mere ornaments for my pretty plain bedside table. Less YouTube before bed, more reading.  

3) Become more geographically aware - The Christmas period has highlighted just how poor my general knowledge really is, and this does my competitive character no favours. If I lose one more game of articulate / pointless / a pub quiz, I will cry. So I have ordered a world map to stick on my wall. Come 2016, you'll all be begging me to be on your team!

4) Run a half marathon - I've been a keen runner for around 3 years now but rarely run longer than 5km at a time (a mixture of shin splints and disbelief in myself). However, I recently ran the whole of Richmond Park (11.7km) with my auntie, something which I never believed I could do, and now am keen to push myself to run the Richmond half marathon on 22nd March 2015. It's a challenge, but what is life without challenge? 

5) Go on at least one museum trip / theatre trip a month - I live in London. There are a lot of free galleries and museums to be making the most of (and cheap theatre tickets). In 2014, I probably visited about two. This will change.

6) Visit New York - A naive and foolish 20 year old me made my sister a promise that for her 16th birthday I'd take her to New York. Obviously assuming I'd be in a full-time, well paid job with my very own place to live, this seemed attainable at the time. Yeah, young and foolish. But what can I say, I'm an optimist, and by 2016, we will hopefully both have experienced the Big Apple.

7) Develop a new skill - I haven't decided what yet, but I want to try new things. Maybe a dance class, an art class, a course in journalism or coding. I want to continue to learn and develop as a person, and if that means shaking my booty to Beyonce's single ladies or penciling in a naked man's willy at a life drawing class, then so be it!

8) Introduce more structure to da blog - I'm thinking of introducing a weekly post: 'Thoughtful Thurdays'. A post of personal musings where I contemplate and discuss anything from current affairs to inspirational quotes, stories or people I've come across that week. I'm really enjoying writing this little space of mine on the internet and would like to dedicate more time to see it grow and develop by 2016.

SO laterz 2014 and helloooo 2015. I welcome you with open arms.

Again, totally my choice. I mean, getting stuck in the past never did anyone any favours. Except for Taylor Swift. Reliving her roller coaster of relationships has resulted in every girl wanting to be her best friend, every record label wanting to sign her, and every man wishing they could a) be her next 'one' or b) have access to her bank account.

XOXO

New Year's Eve!

NYE. You only have to watch the film 'New Year's Eve' to note the pressure everyone feels to have the time of their lives on this one particular evening. Like the world is about to explode and this is our last chance to party hard. YOLO comes into full effect on New Years Eve. HAM is given new meaning. But mostly, the overwhelming hype surrounding the last day of the year leaves me feeling a mixture of exhaustion, excitement and mild anxiety (pretty much like how I feel when I'm running a tad late...this reference is for you Kate Dooley).

NYE also happens to coincide with one of ma besties birthdays: Happy birthday Charl!

As I've got older, we've come to realise that less pressure= more fun. So this year we made some vague plans and decided to see where the night took us!

It took us: to winter wonderland (more specifically, to the mulled wine and cider at the bar), a Thai restaurant in Soho which conveniently advertised itself as 'permanently closed' online (a blessing in disguise as it meant we could make a verrry last minute booking), an interesting, some would say 'edgy' house party / renovated warehouse in Camden (my words when we entered: guys, we need to pretend to be cool), and of course, a kebab shop; the perfect end to a pretty perfect night <3

Shout outs to some special people:

This babe and our standard pre-night picture outside of my house (but the first outside the new abode!)

Special shout out to this girl, Kate Dooley. Thanks for all the blog advice and stalking. And of course for enlightening me on the existence of Robson Green. Keep on reeling those bad boys in Kate. 

These two beauties. Always got my back. Always keeping it real. Too much love.

And lastly, a shout out to this dude who has made the last few months of 2014 a whole lot brighter! (When did I get so cringe?)

Cheers to 2015 everyone! Lets do this. 

XOXO