Let's Make A Fresh Start: 2020 Edition

I love fresh starts and always find the New Year gives me more motivation to be a better version of myself. 

Throughout 2019 I learnt many different things about myself whether it was at work, at home or just about me as a person.  In all honesty, 2019 had a mix of emotions. I achieved my goals of buying my own car and gaining a new job but struggled to find myself and the direction I want to go in. My boyfriend's hard work kept paying off and he moved up in his job every single day, but this means that we can go weeks without seeing each other (I'm still super proud of him everyday). I struggled to figure out where I wanted to go in life and to be honest, I'm still not there yet but 2020 has given me more motivation than ever to find the answers to my questions. I have set myself goals to achieve by the end of the year but also promises to myself which will hopefully make this year kick last year's ass.

No. 1: Plan, Prepare and Perfect.

I'm naturally a very organised person. I like to make lists, I like to know what I'm doing and I like to have everything in a set place. This year, I want to give myself plenty of time to prepare and perfect everything that I do. Whether it is a blog post where I spend time planning out each paragraph and photos I want to add or buying birthday presents in advance rather than rushing out a the last minute. One of my flaws of 2019 was not being as organised as I'd like to have been. I found myself running into town the day before someone's birthday and buying their present and then panicking because I couldn't find any wrapping paper (which resulted in late night trips to Tesco). I want to utilise my resources this year, and that means actually using that box full of notebooks that I've bought because they're pretty (I know I'm not the only one!) As well as my diary and notebooks, I want make the most of my spare time. No more lazing around thinking about what I could get done and actually doing it. Making the most of my days off by planning my weeks and getting ahead of the game.

No. 2: Be Realistic.
Throughout 2019, I thought I was capable of doing 3 blog posts a week, 4 gym sessions and 5 full days at work. The honest truth is that this is not the case. I'm not saying I'm not capable of doing all of that, but I need to be more realistic. Every time I planned to write 3 blog posts for one week, I ended up writing one. I would pencil in when I would like to go to the gym but realistically that never happened. Don't get me wrong, having a plan set in place is one way that does motivate me, but planning too much can become quite overwhelming. This year, I need to be more realistic with my time but also reassure myself that it's okay to cut down what I am doing to make it more manageable! By taking lessons from myself, I am not going to get 3 blog posts up in a week, but I will cut it down slightly and aim for 2! I also want to be realistic with my money and budget myself depending on what events or appointments I have on. For me, 2020 is the year to be wiser in my decisions!

No. 3: Be Ruthless
This is an interesting one. This year I am making a promise with myself to be strict when it comes to money. No more pointless buying. I want to use the clothes that I have in my wardrobe rather than always buying a new outfit. I WANT TO BE AN OUTFIT REPEATER! I am trying to also use up beauty products that I currently have in my cupboard rather than buying a load and never using them. This year is the year where I save up for necessities and so far so good! I also need to be ruthless with myself. You know the saying, shy bairns get nowt. It's time to start speaking up for myself and stop shying away when I'm worried about what the outcome may be. Shy bairns literally get nowt if you stay quiet.

No. 4: Take care of my mind and body.
Every year I always make resolutions to drink more water, look after my skin, eat healthily and exercise more. It's safe to say, this year is no different. I noticed towards the end of last year how important it is to take care of our skin. I always get myself into a proper skincare routine and within weeks I give up. This year I've decided to educate myself on the importance of different products and how to properly take care of different areas of my skin. It's safe to say, my skin has massively improved and I now love not wearing any make up! As well as a skincare routine, I have made a conscious effort of drinking more water. Whenever I'm at work I always forget to drink water and by the end of the day I feel lethargic and downright crappy. It's important to stay hydrated not only for your health but for your skin and mind as well.  

So that's my 2020 fresh start! I'm looking forward to what 2020 brings and would love to hear all of your goals and ambitions which you plan to achieve this year!

Charlotte xxx

10 Things I Love About Autumn

I don't know about you, but I LOVE Autumn. We all know when Autumn has arrived when Starbucks announce their pumpkin spiced lattes and the shops are filled with all things knitwear. I think for me, the Autumn months have to be my favourite months of the year. Don't get me wrong, I love Summer too, but once my birthday is over at the end of August, I just want it to get colder and wrap up in my jumpers and coats.

To get us into the Autumn mood, I thought I'd kickstart with a good old '10 things I love about Autumn' (standard). Who doesn't love a list?

1. Dark nights. I love light nights in the Summer but when the dark nights start to creep in, it makes me excited for Christmas. As I'm sitting here writing this blog post, it's actually really dark outside (and raining), and I've never been so relaxed. I always love the cosy feel that they bring and especially when you're wrapped up in bed and not going anywhere, it's the perfect feeling.

2. Candles. Oh my goodness gracious me, I love candles. What's not to love?! I light candles all year round but it doesn't get as serious as it does from September. I light a candle nearly everyday, just for a few hours, and it makes my room smell so Autumnal, particularly when the cinnamon and pumpkin scents come out to play. 

3. Rain. This is funny because I hate rain when I'm out in it but when I'm all warm and cosy inside and I can hear the rain hitting off my window, I'm in heaven. And what's better than that? Thunderstorms.

4. Chunky knits. I love a good woolly jumper and what is a better time to get them out than in Autumn. In England, it's always cold, and I have already whacked out the chunky knits. A jumper and a pair of leggings is my cosy Autumnal night outfit. What's not to love?

5. Boots. It's officially Autumn when the black boots appear from my wardrobe. Give me a pair of chunky heeled boots anyway.

6. Fairy lights. I actually don't think there's any better feeling than coming home from work, changing into some comfy clothes, lighting a candle and turning on my fairy lights.

7. Fires. We have a log burner at home and to be completely honest, we've already started lighting it!

8. Coats. I'm a coat fanatic. Most people tend to buy one Autumn/Winter coat for the year but me? No, I have 10. 

9. Autumn colours. Khaki, burgundy, black, grey and white. I love wearing these type of colours. I feel like they're the perfect Autumnal combination and match the leaves on the trees. Because who doesn't love to coordinate with trees ey?

10. Baths. I have baths all year round and there is no secret in that. But there's something about a bath in Autumn/Winter when it's cold outside that makes them much more special. Using a bath bomb that smells just like Autumn would smell, if it had a smell (SMELL SMELL SMELL), puts the icing on the cake.

What's your favourite thing about Autumn?

Charlotte xxx

Newcastle's Hidden Treasures: The Great British Cupcakery

From flower walls to unicorn milkshakes, The Great British Cupcakery, in the heart of the Newcastle Quayside, has everything your sweet tooth needs. The cafe is filled with gorgeous pink flowers and chairs, neon lights and marble tabletops, perfect for every blogger (the aesthetic was too much to handle).

I have visited The Great British Cupcakery in the past, before they had their refurbishment, and I was just as in love now as I was then. Previously, I had one of their amazing milkshakes topped with whipped cream and chocolate brownies. I can tell you now, between my boyfriend and I, we finished that within 15 minutes of receiving it. This time, however, I was kindly treated by one of my best childhood friends to afternoon tea for my birthday and it's safe to say I was not disappointed.

The afternoon tea was brought to us on the cutest vintage cake stand alongside a giant pot of tea between two of us. We both got a stand each which was nice because then we knew we weren't taking each other's food! What I loved about this afternoon tea, which was different to any afternoon tea I have had before, was that I liked every single bit of food in the selection. Sometimes I feel like with afternoon tea, there are some things that I'm not keen on or don't fancy eating. With this one, however, I could eat everything.

There were four different finger sandwiches on the bottom plate: egg mayonnaise, tuna and cucumber, ham and pease pudding and cheese and pickle. We dug into them first then followed them with a fresh cheese scone. We were told by the lovely waiter that the cheese scones were fresh out of the oven and he was right as they were still warm as we buttered them. For sweet, there were four different items. Sometimes there are always too many sweet items for me but four was just enough. We were given a huge plain scone filled with cream and strawberry jam. I must say, this was probably my favourite part as they had put just the right amount of cream and jam on and the scones were delicious! We were then given a miniature chocolate brownie and a miniature white chocolate and raspberry slice which were to die for! And to finish, a cute little pink cupcake with a tiny meringue to top it off. I was so full I had to take the white chocolate and raspberry slice and cupcake home. It's safe to say, they're long gone! Nothing better than a cake and a cuppa ey?

As well as the food, the cupcakery's decor was absolutely stunning. They've recently had a massive refurbishment and it is every blogger's dream. I couldn't wait to get a good insta in front of the flower wall and of course, I had to match with my pink suede jacket from Zara. They have thought of every last little detail and can I just say, their instagram matches that (@gbcupcakery)!

The afternoon tea is £19.95 per person, and they also have a full menu of cakes, sandwiches and milkshakes to choose from. As well as their cafe, they also make bespoke cakes for weddings and birthdays etc, which you can view and order through their website.

I honestly would recommend everyone to take a visit here!

Let me know if you've been to The Great British Cupcakery!

Charlotte xxx

June: To Do List

Hi my lovelies!

Long time no speak.

Finally we have some sunshine and it is really motivating me to start writing again.  I have encouraged myself to get back into my organised self and do the things I love again. So to start off, I thought I would make a to do list for this month. After all, I love a good list, and why not share it with you all.

Workout more. I'm always falling in and out of love with the gym. I go through phases of wanting to go and then just point blank refusing as I have very little motivation. Exercise has never been my favourite thing to do but I want to start falling in love with it. I've realised how little exercise I actually do and so June will be the month I start a more healthier lifestyle.

Run. This may sound like I'm just repeating myself and to some, it may sound like a funny one to tick off the list. To be blunt, I hate running and always have done. My goal for this month is to start running on the treadmill so that by the time summer arrives, I am able to go out for runs in the (hopefully) sunny weather and enjoy it. I've ran before but decided it just wasn't for me so by doing a little bit at a time I will hopefully build up my fitness levels but also enjoy running.

Change up my wardrobe. I tend to have a regular de-clutter of my wardrobe every few months and give to charity whatever clothes I don't wear anymore, so that will be on my to do list! I also want to be more adventurous with my style choices and Pinterest is my port of call when it comes to style inspiration!

Print photos. When I was little, we had albums and albums full of photos. My Mam loved taking photos, and still does, and every now and then we like to reminisce on the good times (and the bad haircuts). Nowadays, we take so many photos on our phones that we just keep them there and never have physical copies so from this month, I want to get loads printed and organise them into albums so that in the future, I can look back on the good times I'm going through now.

Share more on Instagram. Following on from the photo theme, I really want to share more photos on Instagram. I love Instagram, it's probably my favourite app. I love arranging photos and making them look pretty so I would love to share more.

What's on your June to do list?

Charlotte xxx

'Life is better in rose gold'

'Rosefield watches are a tribute to the great vibes, the energy and the tolerance for free thinking that is typical for both Amsterdam and New York City*.'
Watches have always been a big love of mine. I've never been a jewellery kind of girl. I'm not really sure why as my Mam absolutely adores her jewellery but I have just never been that interested. However, when it comes to watches, I'm in my element. I always feel that a watch can really complete an outfit, and if you do wear other jewellery, can tie every piece together. For my 21st birthday, I was mainly looking for a present that I could keep as a memory of this milestone. I was given a Daniel Wellington watch for my 18th birthday and thought it was time to invest in a new one. I found the online store, Rosefield Watches, which I had actually seen across Instagram and Facebook so I thought I'd give it a browse and found my PERFECT watch: The Mercer. I subtly sent a picture of the rose gold watch to my amazing boyfriend with many hints saying how much I loved it and here it is. The little beauty.

Background
Rosefield claim that they make 'fashion-forward watches where classic meets modern*' where they aim to combine both the style of Amsterdam and New York and create fashionable, functioning watches. The brand combine both Dutch minimalism with the contemporary aesthetics of New York fashion to produce beautiful pieces. They very much value the quality of their designs with high quality materials, for example luxurious leather and stainless steel mesh straps. These straps are also interchangeable, giving you the option to pair your watch with your style. With a range of colours and styles, Rosefield really do give you a range of watches to choose from.

The Mercer
"Paying tribute to an exciting street in one of NYC's signature shopping destinations, the MERCER collection features stainless steel mesh straps for an exquisite look that suits this fashionable neighbourhood*."

I decided I wanted a metal strap in rose gold, as my previous watch was brown leather and felt like I needed a bit of a change. I am a massive fan of rose gold and always have been, so it was inevitable that my choice would be just that. I picked the Mercer because I had originally seen it advertised on Facebook and loved how it looked but I also found that compared to the other similar watches on the website, the face was the perfect size for my wrist. I have quite small wrists so I have to be careful that watches aren't too oversized and are the perfect fit. I also chose to go with a black face rather than white. I chose this because it was a lot different to the watches I've had before and I thought it looked extra classy.

Details:
The diameter of the watch face is 38mm, making it just the right size for my tiny little wrists. The strap is rose gold-plated stainless steel mess and can be easily adjusted to minimum of 15cm up to a maximum of 21cm, according to the Rosefield website. The strap can also be interchangeable, allowing you to change your style. The dial is black with rose gold detailing, including the hands and indexes and also includes the Rosefield logo in small print.

All Rosefield watches include a 2-year warranty from the date of purchase just incase anything goes wrong with your product which is fab! I absolutely love my watch and I've had so many compliments on it, especially from customers when I'm at work. Everyone seems to want to know where it's from and where can they get one from. I haven't taken my watch off since my amazing boyfriend gave it to me, I am literally in love with it. You can buy it from the Rosefield website, John Lewis, Topshop and many other stores. The watch itself cost £89 which, in my opinion, isn't actually that bad! Feel like another purchase may be on the horizon...

All my love, Charlotte Rose x


*All quotes are taken from the Rosefield website.

New York: The Best Bits

New York. The American dream. The Big Apple. The city that never sleeps.

For years I've been desperate to visit this amazing place and not so long ago, I returned from my once in a lifetime trip to New York City. Every year, my parents would get me a New York calendar with prints and pictures of the beautiful city and every year I wondered when I'd get the chance to go. I've been to America before but New York was always top of the list. So, on the 11th September 2017, my parents and I woke up at a lovely 2:30am and were on our travels. It was safe to say, by the time I was on my first flight I started drifting off. A 3 hour sleep was not for me.

So after a long day travelling, we eventually arrived in the city of lights. We checked in to the Westin Hotel in Times Square, an amazing hotel, perfect for our stay. The rooms were lovely and the view was amazing. It was right next to Times Square so the location was just right for walking around everyday and getting to places easily. I'm going to admit, we were typical tourists. We wanted to see EVERYTHING! Five days just wasn't enough, which means I can book another trip back, right?

I didn't want to write a post describing every single thing we did on every single day, because I thought I'd probably lose you all by the second point. So, I thought I would summarise my 5-day stay into 6 best bits. In my opinion, these are the most essential things to do in New York, especially if it's your first time in the city or just want to do a bit of sightseeing:

1. Times Square
I mean, it's pretty hard to miss, but you have to walk round Times Square. The main place for all the lights, and of course, to get that perfect Instagram. Wandering round both in the day and night is amazing. In the day, it's packed full of tourists, shoppers and people on their commute to work. It's full of yellow cabs and some weird and wonderful people. The shops are fab. The Forever 21 is about 4 floors and there's a Sephora on every street corner so that was me sorted! At night, it feels like its still daylight. The lights are so bright that you would think you're walking out at 10am, when it's actually 10pm. But it is definitely a sight worth seeing.

2.  Rockerfellar Centre
We visited both the Empire State Building and the Rockerfellar Centre, however if I had to choose the best out of the two, I would recommend going to the Top of the Rock. The views are incredible. You can see the entire New York skyline and what is even better, is that you have an amazing view of the Empire State. I would advise either going early in the morning, especially when it's a bit quieter, but also at night when New York shines bright.

3. Central Park
I mean, it's inevitable. Central Park is probably one of the biggest names associated with New York and believe me, you will not be disappointed. The park itself is huge, much bigger than you'd think. We didn't have a specific path to follow which was actually the best way to do it as it allowed us to explore the park and all its nooks and crannies. If you go in the Summer, the weather should be perfect for a nice sunny walk. However, I imagine it would be just as beautiful in Winter when it snows. The Met Museum is also situated in the park, which we actually visited so if you have time and are an art lover, definitely give that a visit. There's so much to do that we just didn't have time to do it all!

4. 9/11 Memorial
I feel like this is a very sensitive topic. Something that reminds us of the horror that occurred on this particular day. However, I could not praise the museum enough for how well they have paid tribute to the many lives lost all those years ago. The memorial is quite an eery place, but nice. It's really hard to explain. I really wanted to visit this, not only to pay my respects but to see the the area and get my head around how this awful attack happened. There are two waterfalls, which represent the two towers, and on each waterfall there are names of each and every person who lost their life on 9/11. The atmosphere changes as soon as you walk into the memorial. It's quiet and you forget about the busy streets around you. Definitely something worth visiting.

5. Circle Line Cruise
A MUST! In my eyes, this was up there as one of my favourite parts of the trip. We took the cruise from Pier 83 and chose to do the best of New York cruise. The cruise lasted 2.5 hours and took us all around New York, even to the Statue of Liberty. We went past Brooklyn, the Bronx and literally every famous landmark of New York. So, if you have time and want to see every part of New York, this is perfect for you, particularly if you want to take loads of photos which we certainly did.

6. Broadway and SHOPPING
I'm pairing these two together because this is what we did on the last day and it was the best way to end our trip. Of course you have to do shopping whilst you're in New York, it was the thing I was most looking forward to! If you're a make-up lover like me, Sephora is everywhere, and I'm not even exaggerating. I went into 3 out of the 5 days I was there. I would definitely recommend going to Macy's, just to experience it. Every shop you could ask for is there and if you're a shopaholic (yes I am one too), this will be heaven for you.

Even if you're not a theatre person, please go and see a Broadway show. They are something else. I can't explain how amazing they are and compared to home, they are on a different level. I am a massive theatre girl so I LOVED it. We saw Kinky Boots, a musical set in Northampton, England. I won't give the storyline away but the whole musical itself is absolutely fabulous. The costumes, the dancing, the singing and oh my days the SHOES. I can't even describe how out of this world it was.

Overall, what can I say. From a person who has been dreaming of going to New York for years now, I was not disappointed. To be honest, I could've spent more time there because you really can't fit everything into five days. I want to thank my parents for taking me because it really was one of the best holidays I've had. Maybe I'll be back soon? (Fingers crossed).

All my love, Charlotte Rose x

21 things I've learnt in 21 years

Being a summer baby means I have to wait nearly a whole year after all of my friends for my birthday. I mean, I can't complain as I never spent my birthday in school and in the future, I will be glad that I have to wait just that little bit longer to turn a year older. As it was my 21st birthday a couple of weeks ago, I started to reflect on the past 21 years and thought about all the things I've been taught by friends, family and every single person that has walked in and out of my life. It's interesting to see how much these people, whether they are no longer here or you still see everyday, make a difference on how you live your life. I'm in my early twenties now, even though I don't feel like it, and I'm starting to get older (and maybe wiser). Even though I'm meant to be an adult now, there are still times when I need to ask an older adult what the heck I'm doing but there are also times where not everyday goes just the way you want it to. And that's okay.

My 21 years have been a rollercoaster, but this has allowed me to learn many lessons and realise the important things in life. So here's to the good and the bad times, the real and the fake friends, the do's and the don't's. Here is 21 of the most important things I have learnt in 21 years:

1. It's okay if you don't have your life figured out yet. I have just finished a 3-year English Language degree and have come out of it still unsure about which direction I am heading in. You're still young, 21 is not old.

2. Everyone has bad days. You're allowed to cry, you're allowed to have bad moods. Not everyday has to be a perfect day.

3. Spend quality time with your grandparents. They're getting on. They won't be here forever. And they have a lot of wisdom to pass down to you.

4. Say yes more. You've got to make memories, right? These are the years to do it otherwise regret will kick in.

5. We don't deserve dogs. Cherish them.

6. It's okay to not feel your age. Believe me, I still think I'm 18 sometimes and am about to start university all over again. Acting like an adult can wait another day.

7. Just buy the coat. Stop worrying about money, it stops you doing things and getting the stuff you love.

8. Not everyone is nice. Manners cost nothing but unfortunately not everyone has them.

9. Realise who your friends are. When you're going through difficult situations, you find the people that go through them with you. Don't let them go.

10. Stop making the effort with people who clearly don't make the effort back. If they don't want to spend time with you, they won't (brutal).

11. Be positive. Always hope for the best. Believing in yourself and believing that you will be successful will get you to where you need to be.

12. Work hard now to help your future self.

13. Tell the people close to you how much you love them on a daily basis. Life is short, there's no harm in expressing your feelings.

14. It's okay to choose lying in bed in your pyjamas with a cup of tea over going out in a glittery dress with a vodka lemonade in hand. Being a granny at 21 isn't a problem, I promise you.

15. Coffee is an essential part of life. I don't whether its an "I'm now in my 20s, I need coffee to survive" kind of thing but getting through the day has proven difficult without a caffeine rush.

16. Drink lots of water.

17. Be kind to people. Kind people are my kinda people.

18. Dogs are everything.

19. Laughing is essential in relationships. There's no better feeling than uncontrollably laughing with the person that you love.

20. It's okay to still ask your parents 50 questions a day.

21. Love yourself. It's not just about keeping your heart healthy but your mind healthy too. Don't put yourself down. Think better of yourself. The more and more you grow to love yourself the more happiness you will bring to your life. If you're unhappy, talk to someone. Don't bottle it all up. You're amazing and you know you are.

All my love, Charlotte Rose x