5 Steps to a Happy, Healthy Relationship

At such a young age with many mistakes yet to make, I don't feel entirely qualified to write about this, but I've been in a happy relationship with my boyfriend for close to 3 years now. There's something morbidly satisfying knowing that you've outlasted a few couples that you thought were made for each other *muaha* and something completely satisfying about sharing how you've stayed so happy in your relationship so that others might feel the same.

I met Josh when I was 16, after crashing his 18th in August (he didn't even know I was there) and having near to no idea who he was to getting a surprise kiss at new year as the clock chimed 2013. We've talked every day since then, despite us both being very busy at times and living 60 miles apart for almost two of the years, him being in Magaluf then Tenerife for a week (god save our souls) and me being caught up in client work or bar work. For around a year our relationship relied on train fares, travelling and wi-fi, but it was so worth it and it shows. 

At times, it may have not been a dream but getting past silly arguments (which barely happen) and talking about bad events has eliminated bad times, one less drunken tiff at a time. He's not just my boyfriend but my best friend too. 

Here are some ways I've learned to keep a healthy, happy relationship. 

Never let the sun go down on an argument. 

I think this was something my grandma used to say but it's something I live by. Whether you're arguing about what to have for dinner or why you haven't seen each other lately, don't go to sleep on an argument. It's best to get everything out in the open at once and forgive or agree to disagree than stay mad at each other. It's so damaging!

Use what you have in common to bring you closer. It's all fine and dandy going to see a movie that you both like but what happens when that movie ends? What do you both like to do together? Can it be made into something bigger, something important? For Josh and I, 3 Parts Mad is a combination of both our creative sides. It gives us a chance to turn our work into a passion and requires effort from both of us. There's nothing better than feeling proud of your partner and always having something to fill a rainy day.

Make time for each other. I love being surprised with dates, but sometimes I get worried and wonder when I'll next see him (probably from having a distanced relationship for a while at the start) so we often make dates for each other. Plan a walk together, cocktail night (extra fun if you make them up as you go along), a picnic, movie night, day out or just a cup of tea before work. Texting is great but it isn't the same as face to face contact! I worked out that in a year alone of train rides to see Josh I'd spent around £450+ and if we ever break up, I'm suing him.

Whatever will be will be. Accept this. If they want to leave you then they will, if they've moved on then they'll tell you. Don't waste the time that you have together worrying if they're going to leave, questioning their every ringtone. Do NOT go into their phones and try not to dwell on that girl's photo he liked on Instagram or whatever. If you need to, ask about it, tell him or her your concerns and talk it out. There's nothing worse than being in a relationship where every text is looked at over your shoulder.

Appreciate each other.

This is a pretty obvious one but when you're in a relationship for so long, you might still appreciate them but not tell them. It starts to fade into your persona and it stops being so obvious that you care. Let each other know how much you love them with words, actions, the rest of it and it'll take care of itself. This person doesn't have to be with you or anyone, so show them that you love them more than anyone else does ;)

So there's some tips that have helped me. A relationship is a conscious effort, whether it's with your partner or that bacon sandwich that you're making- not sure the same rules apply but who doesn't love a good sammich, hey.

Do you have any tips for a healthy, happy relationship? Let me know about your experiences in the comments!
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Getting ready for Autumn with George | #JumpNJeans

Hello lovely people! I don't know about you, but here in the UK it's starting to creep into that time of year where the summer sun is deceiving, conkers are beginning to crack on the pavement and the leaves are slowly but surely starting to turn. I've decided to get down and cosy in George's transitional summer to autumn range*, readying myself for the inevitable cooler months ahead.

There's something lovely about watching movies on a rainy day in your favourite cosy jumper, but with the weather not being quite as arctic as usual yet, it's nice to have an in between with a cardigan like this. 

As I read the label, the thoughts of 'Please don't be angora, please don't be angora' (after the scandal with Topshop) were rumbling through my head but relief set in when I discovered that the only animal product in this is alpaca fur, one of the softest out there and always safely harvested. Is harvested the right word? You know what I mean. But the softness explains why I want to fall asleep in it every night! I don't doubt that a lot of the products in their transitional knitwear range also include alpaca fur- not great if you're vegan so check the label. 

I'm sure I'm not the only one familiar with the whole butt bigger than your waist scenario, which is a massive pain in the arse (literally) when choosing a pair of jeans. As a gal who swears by high waisted jeans, I was worried that I'd have to return the jeans that George so kindly sent over but they fit amazingly. I'm usually a 6 (if I'm having a good day)-8 on the waist and a 10-12 in the hips so I'm always trying on multiple pairs of jeans until I get it right. 

I chose a pair of distressed skinny jeans, my favourite style that can work from summer through to winter! The colour blue is dreamy and it makes a change from my favourite pair of grey jeans that you can see in this OOTD post. You can take a look at their wonderful denim range here!

I'd definitely recommend checking out their range if you're an AW lover like myself, as it's affordable, comfortable and each piece can be teamed up with almost anything to make your perfect outfit. 

What do you like to wear in that transition between Summer and Autumn? Will you be checking out George's new range? Follow me on Bloglovin'! 

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Getting ready for Autumn with George | #JumpNJeans

Hello lovely people! I don't know about you, but here in the UK it's starting to creep into that time of year where the summer sun is deceiving, conkers are beginning to crack on the pavement and the leaves are slowly but surely starting to turn. I've decided to get down and cosy in George's transitional summer to autumn range*, readying myself for the inevitable cooler months ahead.

There's something lovely about watching movies on a rainy day in your favourite cosy jumper, but with the weather not being quite as arctic as usual yet, it's nice to have an in between with a cardigan like this. 

As I read the label, the thoughts of 'Please don't be angora, please don't be angora' (after the scandal with Topshop) were rumbling through my head but relief set in when I discovered that the only animal product in this is alpaca fur, one of the softest out there and always safely harvested. Is harvested the right word? You know what I mean. But the softness explains why I want to fall asleep in it every night! I don't doubt that a lot of the products in their transitional knitwear range also include alpaca fur- not great if you're vegan so check the label. 

I'm sure I'm not the only one familiar with the whole butt bigger than your waist scenario, which is a massive pain in the arse (literally) when choosing a pair of jeans. As a gal who swears by high waisted jeans, I was worried that I'd have to return the jeans that George so kindly sent over but they fit amazingly. I'm usually a 6 (if I'm having a good day)-8 on the waist and a 10-12 in the hips so I'm always trying on multiple pairs of jeans until I get it right. 

I chose a pair of distressed skinny jeans, my favourite style that can work from summer through to winter! The colour blue is dreamy and it makes a change from my favourite pair of grey jeans that you can see in this OOTD post. You can take a look at their wonderful denim range here!

I'd definitely recommend checking out their range if you're an AW lover like myself, as it's affordable, comfortable and each piece can be teamed up with almost anything to make your perfect outfit. 

What do you like to wear in that transition between Summer and Autumn? Will you be checking out George's new range? Follow me on Bloglovin'! 

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Ain't Easy Being Wheezy | ASTHMA AWARENESS

In the UK 5.4 million people struggle with asthma everyday. I was diagnosed at the age of around two after struggling to breathe and contracting chest infections. Now, at the age of 19 breathing is something I still struggle with every day, though how difficult it is changes from day to day.

Credit Cirque de Art

In 2009 I remember waking up one morning and finding out that a girl I knew (albeit via Twitter) had suddenly passed away during the night from an asthma attack. She hadn't been ill, or sick or congested, she woke up in the night and went into an attack then died and it terrifies me that that could happen to any of us.


Yet throughout school I was and still am embarrassed to take my inhaler in public. On a bus, in class, out walking, in the shops. I'm not sure if it's because of the way 'geeks and nerds' have been portrayed on television, we've all seen them- glasses taped together, books in a bag and taking an inhaler between sentences, or because people look at me funny as I inhale from this 'alien object'.

Asthma is NOT a joke. It shouldn't be portrayed as anything less than a disease, it is not a stereotype, it does not make you an outcast (see list of TV, music videos and movies that use this stereotype here) or an object of interest. Obviously, some struggle more than others. Some subdue it with age while others continue on stronger preventatives so that they might be one of the lucky ones who lives through the daily annoyance of being unable to breathe. 

But you want to know what grinds my gears just as much as my lungs sucking at being lungs? That asthma sufferers still have to pay for prescribed inhalers and tablets... if diabetes and epilepsy (both conditions that affect sufferer's day-to-day life) are exempt from prescription charges then why isn't asthma? Three people die every day from attacks. I can't leave the house with my little blue inhaler and keep one at my boyfriend's house as well as my own. I even took one for walking down the prom for this OOTD post. It's crazy that this object rules my life so much!

"Well managed asthma means not having to ask someone to get you something from upstairs, because you can do it yourself."

If you see someone taking an inhaler please don't stare them down, make fun or ask questions. If you have asthma and see another asthmatic struggling, let them borrow your inhaler! Sneaky tip- if you're out and you're in desperate need, nip into a public place, café, swimming pool, gym, and tell them that you've left your inhaler there. Chances are if you can tell them the name of the medication and colour, they'll give it to you. As a generation, lets take asthma seriously!

Do any of you have asthma or another disease/condition that you feel deserves more attention?

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Make-Up | MERMAIDS VS UNICORNS Eyeshadow Review

I popped down to our local comic book store with my boyfriend the other day to drop off some issues of 3 Parts Mad, without the intention of going anywhere else until I remembered that the Superdrug around the corner stocks Make-Up Revolution. 

Hollllly smokes! When I saw this palette I had to have it. I've actually had my eye on it for a little while now but never had the courage to put anything brighter than rose on my eyelids. Lately I've been leaning towards the orange/pink horizon (who knows, maybe I'm finally exiting my little emo phase, or entering a more hard 'scene' one. C'mon, we've all been there) and decided that I might as well go big or go home with this AH-MAY-ZING palette.

At £4, it's hard to go wrong. Even if I don't suit it then I'm sure I can pack it away for some mermaid fancy dress but I have to tell you, I'm absolutely loving it. I can see it already- Autumn brights along my crease, putting a punch in the early Monday mornings that are yet to grace the weeks I have left of summer. I'd say the palette is pretty seasonal, but the sparkly, cold blues and warm purples can work for that transition from summer to winter easily.

As you can see the palette is quite pigmented, except for the greens. My guess is that they're all pretty similar but as the greens are the lightest shades, you might have to use more for them to properly show up. It applies and blends well but the sparkles like to stick themselves to my eyelashes a lot! Usually I'd apply mascara after eyeshadow but I created these looks really quickly so that can be helped. 

Above, green and blue to show how bold it can be and a softer, night time look with the darker shades. See the mascara I use to get these lashes here. All in all, an absolutely beautiful palette that I'm sure can be used all year round! 

What's your favourite make-up colour scheme? What would you do with this palette?

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Hidden Treasures #2: The Sweet Emporium

Can you say NOSTALGIA?! In my previous Hidden Treasures post I took you to a little flower shop in the city of Preston, my second home. This time we're going to The Sweet Emporium in my home town. I've been away for a year and haven't ventured into the town centre so forgive me if you're reading this from the little old Lake District and have been here already, but I got excited about this place.

It's not hidden as such, being in the town centre, but it sure is a treasure. Do you remember cola cubes and rosy apples? Rhubarb and custards and those little football chocolates that used to hang out in your party bags? I sure do, and so does this place.

Even just the fact that they have a basket full of Haribo fried eggs makes me want to squeal with excitement. Stepping into this colourful emporium was like taking a few minutes out of the adult world and delving back into after-school sweet shop runs that I always adored. Throw me a can of cream soda!

There is literally something for everyone in this shop, from handcrafted chocolate to marshmallow fluff. It was tempting to spend all afternoon choosing some treats. but I didn't dwell too long here for the fact that my boyfriend and I had to dash to the post office before closing time. I've plugged it a lot here but for those who've just joined me, we were posting out copies of our comic book, 3 Parts Mad! You can read more about that and other adventures here.

The chocolate bars ranged from Jelly Bean to Lucky Charms. Crazy stuff!

I didn't touch the chocolate but purchased some traffic light lolly-pops and rosy apples for myself and Josh, before waving goodbye to this cookie dough palace. What a cool place- I'd love to do some illustrations in the windows or something! 

The Sweet Emporium is on Portland Walk in Barrow-in-Furness. You can see more from them here!

Have you visited anywhere awesome lately? What's your favourite childhood sweet?

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My Top 5 Movies for a Rainy Day

There's not much better on a rainy day than being in a blanket on the sofa, taking a break from the world around you.  Perhaps you wanted to watch a movie; there are a million of them out there but you can't think of a single one that you'd love to watch right now, so you've ended up somewhere like here. Let me help you out! Here are my favourite 5 movies to watch on a rainy day.

1. Into The Wild: One man, a successful graduate and athlete, Christopher McCandless makes his way from home to Alaska under the name Alexander Supertramp, penniless and alone in an attempt to rid himself of dependency and possessions. This truly is a movie for the adventurous escapists or the wild at heart. See the trailer here.
   
   
   
2. Spirited Away: An incredible animation directed by Hayao Miyazaki, a 10 year old girl stumbles upon an abandoned theme park with her parents and ends up in the spirit world, working in a beautiful bath house to get her life and her parents back who have been claimed by the evil Yubaba. Watch the trailer here.
   
3. The Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared:
   Yeah, you read that right. This is an indie-action movie that I can't even begin to explain so you'll have to watch the trailer here.
   
   
   
   
4. Breakfast at Tiffany's: If you're not a fan of the classics then this isn't for you, but for anyone else it's a must. I've mentioned it in my New York post so it would make no sense if it wasn't mentioned here! Holly Golightly, a girl working as an escort in New York is looking for rich, older men to marry but meets a young writer, living in her apartment building. It follows their adventures in the big apple and is a feel good movie for any aged viewer. See the trailer here.
   
5. The Lovely Bones: Heartbreaking, intense and insanely clever. The movie follows a 14 year old girl in the afterlife as she watches her family and murderer from her heaven. She must decide which will overpower her: her vengeance for her murderer or willing for her family to heal. Catch the trailer here.
   

So that's my top 5 movies for a rainy day! In no particular order of course. Let me know what you think of the list and if you decide to watch any of them!

Are there any movies you'd add or take away from this list? What's your favourite thing to do on a rainy afternoon?

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Make-up: BIG EYES Maybelline Mascara Review

For a while I've been looking for a mascara that really makes my eyes POP while not breaking the bank, and it's got to the point in the month/year where all of my make-up decides to run out at once. Even if I have very little foundation on, if my eyelashes and eyebrows are camera-ready then I look and feel okay to face the world for the day. 

With it coming to the end of summer, a lot of us are slightly skint from all of the shenanigans of the past couple of months but Maybelline's Big Eye's mascara doesn't break the bank, in fact, this one was £3 from ASDA (supposed to be £7) as a promotional offer! The aspect that caught my eye (no pun intended) are the two different wands. 

I know not everyone puts mascara on their bottom lashes as it clumps easily, or makes your eyes heavier but the delicate little brush (pictured on the right above) lets you sweep a light, black coat onto your lashes without 1. poking yourself in the eye 2. turning yourself into a panda.

I always find that coating the bottom lashes brings more attention to the eyes, opening them and accentuating the shape. The upper lash wand is slightly thicker, with twisting bristles that really 'push up' your lashes to give that deep, sultry look. Pictured below are my lashes before applying Maybelline's Mascara.

Hey, hey hey, I know what you're thinking. Look away from the unruly brows. It's been a little while since I tamed my furry slugs so cut a girl some slack! The photo below was after applying the mascara to top and bottom and apparently all over my eyelid. See the first photo in this post for an open eyed view.

Look at those bottom lashes and how black it is!

This smooth, non-clumpy formula managed to coat every layer of my lashes, though I still haven't mastered sweeping the brush from above without flattening them. The coverage was brilliant with the mascara not being too thick or thin, and for a girl who usually applies two different mascara's per eye every day, I only needed a lick of this to make my peepers pop. I love how it looks natural yet very pretty. For a golden, winged version if this eye make-up take a look at this post.

The verdict so far is that I love it! It doesn't break the bank and has lasted all day today without flaking, smudging or clumping. The only thing I could suggest to make this product better would be to put more of it in each of the tubes either side, though for the current price of £3 I may just have to buy two.

Do you go heavy on eye make-up? What's your favourite mascara?

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Make-up: BIG EYES Maybelline Mascara Review

For a while I've been looking for a mascara that really makes my eyes POP while not breaking the bank, and it's got to the point in the month/year where all of my make-up decides to run out at once. Even if I have very little foundation on, if my eyelashes and eyebrows are camera-ready then I look and feel okay to face the world for the day. 

With it coming to the end of summer, a lot of us are slightly skint from all of the shenanigans of the past couple of months but Maybelline's Big Eye's mascara doesn't break the bank, in fact, this one was £3 from ASDA (supposed to be £7) as a promotional offer! The aspect that caught my eye (no pun intended) are the two different wands. 

I know not everyone puts mascara on their bottom lashes as it clumps easily, or makes your eyes heavier but the delicate little brush (pictured on the right above) lets you sweep a light, black coat onto your lashes without 1. poking yourself in the eye 2. turning yourself into a panda.

I always find that coating the bottom lashes brings more attention to the eyes, opening them and accentuating the shape. The upper lash wand is slightly thicker, with twisting bristles that really 'push up' your lashes to give that deep, sultry look. Pictured below are my lashes before applying Maybelline's Mascara.

Hey, hey hey, I know what you're thinking. Look away from the unruly brows. It's been a little while since I tamed my furry slugs so cut a girl some slack! The photo below was after applying the mascara to top and bottom and apparently all over my eyelid. See the first photo in this post for an open eyed view.

Look at those bottom lashes and how black it is!

This smooth, non-clumpy formula managed to coat every layer of my lashes, though I still haven't mastered sweeping the brush from above without flattening them. The coverage was brilliant with the mascara not being too thick or thin, and for a girl who usually applies two different mascara's per eye every day, I only needed a lick of this to make my peepers pop. I love how it looks natural yet very pretty. For a golden, winged version if this eye make-up take a look at this post.

The verdict so far is that I love it! It doesn't break the bank and has lasted all day today without flaking, smudging or clumping. The only thing I could suggest to make this product better would be to put more of it in each of the tubes either side, though for the current price of £3 I may just have to buy two.

Do you go heavy on eye make-up? What's your favourite mascara?

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Why Dieting Isn't Working For You, Or Anyone

Photo: McKel Hill

Admit it, you've probably looked in the mirror once or twice and not been happy with what you saw, attempted crash dieting for 10 days or cut your calorie intake for a week in an admirable attempt to lose weight. Maybe you lost a few pounds, but you've gained a few if not most of them back now, right? And that could be why you're reading this post on why dieting isn't working for you, or anyone.

Trust me, this is no revelation and I'm sure that you've been told before (if you haven't then grab a cuppa and listen) that dieting does not work. There's a lot more science behind it than you think and than I can fully explain incase I get it terribly wrong but it goes something like this:

You cut your calories while your metabolism continues at it's usual rate, burning off the same amount but with you putting less in, you lose weight. Over time, with the less food you feed yourself, your metabolism becomes suppressed and your body begins to actually store fat as a way of keeping you going. A 'fat reserve' if you will. Finally, your body craves the things you've deprived it of and you offer it a cheat meal or a binge. This is where eventually, every diet will drop off. Every crash diet will end and you'll be eating normally again, with a slower metabolism and your body making up for the cravings you refused. 

Lemon water is so good for your digestive system and skin!

But your body is still in 'starvation mode' and is still storing a lot of what you eat as fat. Another thing I should mention is that you can't get rid of fat cells, you can only shrink them! They will regenerate as you age but once you're an adult the number of fat cells you have more or less stays the same.

Another fad diet trick is to drink lots and lots of water to lose weight. This only gets rid of excess water in your body, making water weight disappear on the scale, but in reality the percentage of fat your body has stayed the same.

So how can we lose weight and if these diets don't work? The key is to change your diet, not go on a diet! Make a change to your life, go on a jog in the mornings, kickstart your day with a biiiiig healthy breakfast! Eat less saturated fat but don't be fooled and think that all fat is bad for you. Eat nuts, oils rich in omega3 and treat yourself to slices of cake in moderate amounts, not just because you deserve it but because you're living a healthy life and your body can burn it off while you're sat down anyway after a day of being lightly active. Cut out excess red meats and drink water instead of sugary fizzy pop.

Change your lifestyle and your weight will change, I promise, along with it your mind. You'll feel more positive and upbeat, less tired and happier with yourself. Stop counting calories. If you have to look at the label, look at the nutrients! 500 calories of baked salmon isn't the same as 500 calories of pot noodle and when us adults start realising this, so will the teenage girls that we influence. If you take a minute to step off the scales and look at yourself instead, you'll start to see things that you love.

So that's a brief summary of why dieting doesn't work, from a young northern gal who's given up caring what the magazines and pyramid scheme diet brands are telling her. Listen to your body and work with your appetite, don't put your body through colon cleanse tea's and 2 days of fasting for the sake of a couple of pounds. 

Your body is a temple *prayer hands emoji* see how you can decorate it with this post.

What are your opinions on crash diets? Do you have a particular way of staying healthy?

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