11.2.13

Life: A Bit About Me

After discovering lots of new blogs on Sunday night's #bbloggers, I realised that I don't do the one thing I really like about other people's blogs: that is, share *anything* about my life! I realised that the blogs I like the most are the ones where you have a sense of who the author is, their likes and dislikes (not just beauty product-related!), and it's what keeps me coming back to my favourite blogs. I, on the other hand, just write about the things I like, so maybe it's time to introduce a bit more of who I am and what I get up to.

And if this post gets no hits, I'll just quietly wind it down like it never happened... :)

So let's start. Here I am, wearing a silly hat which I loved but everyone I know thought was totally ridiculous. I got rid of it, but here it is for one final outing!


I have thus far been a bit nervous about posting personal pictures on here, but given that there are apparently 361,000,000 beauty blogs, the likelihood of anyone that I work with stumbling on my tiny corner of the internet is something close to impossible. With that in mind, let's get on to the detail. I'm Rachel, age 30, a northern girl who works full time in health policy and lives in south London. I'm an only child, a big football fan (Manchester United, if you're interested), and it goes without saying, a beauty product junkie. I set this blog up almost three years ago and am only just getting into regular posting and getting properly involved in the blogging community. Interacting more with my fellow bloggers and readers has made the blogging process infinitely more fulfilling, and it's on that basis that I'm pushing the boundaries of my blog content a little more!

The past two years have been a bit of a rollercoaster of self-discovery - splitting up from my ex who I lived with and realising that I was living a life that didn't make me especially happy has meant I've brought in some big changes. I've let go of my all-consuming work ambitions, learned to relax and focus on enjoying the simple pleasures in life. It's been a long road, but hugely beneficial. I'll be talking more about this in a new series soon (assuming you're not all already asleep!) A healthier approach to eating, running, yoga and meditation are all now part of my routine and I feel the happiest I've ever felt. I'm lucky enough to have some incredibly special people around me who've helped me on this journey and taught me to let go of the control and just be. Again, I'm hoping that can start to translate into what's written here.

So, what else might you want to know? Here are some random facts:

1. If it's a sunny day, you will, at some point, find me taking a picture of the sky. I absolutely adore  the sun, and have a bizarrely huge collection of sky photos, which I one day plan on getting printed. Read the same for sunrises, sunsets and rainbows. I can't help myself.

Sunbathing in Grosvenor Square, W1
Sunset from Frank's bar, Peckham Rye, which has one of the most incredible views over London
A rainy day rainbow from my window
Sunset, as seen from my bedroom
2. When I love a book, I stop reading it close to the end

This is a really peculiar habit of mine, but there have been a few books that I have been so utterly in love with that I haven't wanted them to end! 1Q84 by Haruki Marakami, The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov and The Lord of the Rings have all had this treatment. I put them down and it can be months before I start them again. I always get there in the end, but sometimes, I like to delay the pleasure. This has rubbed off onto my TV habits, and I refuse to finish Twin Peaks and Arrested Development knowing that once I've seen them all, they're officially over! Weird, I know :)

3. I'm ticklish everywhere

I was tickled on my face last week and collapsed into hysterics. There are some who know this is a weakness to be exploited!

4. I am on a diet to gain weight

Yep, you read that right. I'm working really hard to put on about 14lbs, and so far, have achieved half of that target. I've spent most of my life as a tiny size six and gaining weight has always been really difficult for me (not because of an eating disorder; just because it doesn't seem to stick!). It's taking me a long time, but I'm determined to get some meat on these bones, and so far, I'm delighted with the change it's made to my body. I've stopped running in the short term, so I'm building up to a routine that enables me to keep gaining weight and maintain my fitness. Once I'm closer to that goal, I'm aiming to start writing a separate blog that will hopefully help other people in the same position.

5. I want to travel more

Last year, I took my first two week holiday since University (yep, that's nine years, folks!). Now that my work obsession has slipped into the past, I want to make the most of my annual leave and start seeing the world. Top of my list is a trip back to New York, maybe followed by a road trip across the US (although I need to make sure I take someone who can drive as I don't have my license yet!). I'm a huge Man vs Food fan and I have several diners on my list to visit!

6. I'm a full makeup rather than an au natural girl

It wouldn't occur to me to leave the house without at least a bit of makeup. I'm not vain but being a bit of a pale ginger, I definitely look more human with it than without it! I don't tend to wear foundation, and if I were only allowed three products, they would be concealer, mascara and blush.   I've inherited my beauty habits from my Mum and Nana, both of whom had routines that had me captivated from a young age. Watching my Nana apply her brow pencil every morning and my Mum spritz her Rive Gauche perfume (evidence that I was a child of the 80s!) before she went out always left me excited for the day that I could play dress up every day, too.

I hope that's not been too boring a post. I've actually really enjoyed writing it! Do you like these kind of personal posts or do you just want more reviews?! As always, your comments really mean a lot, so do let me know your thoughts

x

9 comments:

  1. Agree with you here, i need to work on putting a bit more of me in my blog too! x
    clairemae.blogspot.com

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    1. It actually felt really good to personalise things a little more, so hopefully I will keep the momentum up! Definitely give it a :) x

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  2. Great post! Fellow Man U fan here! It sounds like you've really been taking control of your life, i wish i could! x x x

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    1. Yay to more beauty blogging Man U fans!

      Taking control has involved a massive effort - two years and counting! - but it's been so worthwhile. Initially I was exhausted and overwhelmed, and now I'm full of energy and loving life. You can definitely do it - going to post more about my experiences soon so hopefully it will help you! xxx

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  3. Thanks for sharing as they say! My favourite blogs are definitely ones where you get a sense of the person behind it too. I have a ridiculous amount of sky photos too but mine is more about clouds which I'm obsessed with. Look forward to reading more!

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    1. It's mad that it's taken me three years to realise the thing I like most is missing from my very own blog! Oh well, as long as that lightbulb moment comes along eventually... :)

      I'm a fan of the pretty pink and purple twilight clouds in summer - not so much the grey ones which seem permanently fixed in the sky at the moment! x

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  4. Lovely post, happy to discover your blog! I thought I was the only one who tried to stretch out finishing books & became quite nostalgic when they were finished!

    Nic x

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  5. What you didn't mention is that you are also kind, generous and ENORMOUS fun! Mama xx

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