Beating the Winter Blues

Amidst the grey skies, shorter days, and cold weather it's quite easy to slip into a bit of a funk - otherwise known as the winter blues. This is something I've experienced over the last few years, particularly heightened since I came to university. Quite honestly, come winter time I barely ever want to leave the house. Now keep in mind, I'm typically avoiding the gale force winds and knee high snow that accompany a Canadian winter. Over the last few years I've become familiar with the term SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

SAD is a type of depression that accompanies a change in weather, you typically feel the effects of SAD in the fall and it drags out throughout the winter months - and if you live anywhere like I do these long winters make for absolute hell on earth. Just like depression, SAD can become absolutely debilitating. Even if you don't experience SAD and simply seem to fall into a bit of a temporary funk come winter time, you'll be familiar with the complete lack of motivation, and exhaustion. This year, I decided to be proactive about my SAD. I'm tired of feeling this way each winter, and I want to do as much as I can to avoid having to undergo this this winter. As I said SAD can be entirely debilitating and being a university student it can be absolutely miserable having to undergo this funk during your exams.

 Now, I'm not claiming this to be any sort of cure but these are some of the things I've been adamant on including into my routine this winter to try and keep my SAD relatively contained.

Firstly, I recommend picking up a "SAD lamp". Light technology can help improve your moods, your ability to focus, your motivation, and energy levels. I purchased mine on November 1st (I wasn't kidding about being proactive), and have been using it twice a day and have so far noticed quite a difference! I read that it is recommended that you turn your light on when you wake up and before you go to bed to create the illusion of longer daylight (as lack daylight is a contributor to SAD). I also use it when I'm studying or working on term papers to help with my focus and concentration. I purchased mine of amazon for around $50, again they are an investment but if this is something you go through it does make a world of a difference. There are several models, some quite a pretty penny but I find mine to work really well for a fair price. You can purchase the same one I have here.

My next tip - stay hydrated! Your hydration levels are crucial to anxiety. It's important to drink a lot of water for an endless amount of reasons but I've definitely noticed how crucial this can be for how I'm feeling. If you have anxiety and ever wonder why you feel particularly anxious after a night of drinking (some call it "hangover anxiety") it is due to your dehydration. When I first learned this my mind was b l o w n.

Lastly, get some fresh air each day. I know in exams and if you work from home it's all to easy to get cooped up inside but just spending a few minutes outside, just enough to get some fresh air, can make a world of a difference.

I hope these tips help as winter rolls in!

A Day Uptown

This morning I had a law exam that I've been stressing over for weeks. For the last 5 days I've been cramped inside trying to prepare for it, so needless to say I was beyond anxious to get it over with. As soon as I walked out of my exam I called one of my closest friends Elektra, and we did a bit (a little more than a bit) of retail therapy. After having been home all week it was so nice to get outside and have a stress free afternoon. Uptown had been decorated for Christmas and it just felt like a perfectly festive afternoon. What started out as a stress and anxiety ridden morning turned out to be a day well spent with good company.

The Meaning of Christmas

This morning my cousin tagged me in an old home video from Christmas over 15 years ago. It featured highlights of me running around with an uncontrollable amount of excitement, my brothers as awkward teens, and my mom going crazy getting dinner ready. The home video also featured some family members who are sadly no longer with us.

A lot changes when you lose key members of your family, the glue that kept everyone together begins to dissolve and we all start to get more and more distant as we get older. There was something so heartbreaking yet so fulfilling about seeing us all together like that as a family. It's been years since we were all together in that way. It's crazy to see the dynamic then, and think of the dynamic now and how family really does play a key role in your life. It really hits you that behind the big production that is Christmas, family is the core of it all and without family you wouldn't have much to celebrate. Things are quickly changing as we continue to get older, while we are missing a few beloved members of our family, our family is also growing in other ways. And while it's an adjustment I'm learning to make, the most important thing is that we embrace the family we have and cherish being together this time of year. That is the true meaning of Christmas.

Festive Night In

After having my first exam last night and with another coming early next week there's nothing I rather do tonight than just stay home and relax. What an exciting Friday night, eh? 

One of my favourite ways to kick back this time of year is to put on some Christmas pajamas, curl up in my coziest blankets, whip up a cup of hot cocoa, and put on a Christmas film. With all the running around that happens this time of year, especially for students like myself, sometimes it's nice and certainly needed to take a night to yourself. 

How are you spending your Friday night? 

The Christmas Tag

That time of year has come - welcome, everyone to Blogmas 2015! Now, this is my first ever year participating in Blogmas and I have to say I'm pretty excited for the challenge. There's absolutely nothing I love more than the Christmas season and all it brings so why not celebrate it here on the blog? To kick off Blogmas I thought I'd write a post that'll get us all in the Christmas spirit. Tags aren't normally my content of choice but what better way to kick off Blogmas than a fun tag all about the Christmas season?! Now, I didn't see too many tags floating around this year so I thought I'd put one together myself! Hope you all enjoy and try the tag yourselves, I'd love to see your replies!

1. What is your favourite Christmas film?
My favourite Christmas classic is Home Alone, my more grown up choice has to be The Holiday.

2. What is your favourite Christmas tradition?
I love going to all the Christmas markets and fairs around this time of year, it's the absolute best way to get into the Christmas spirit and you can find some great one-of-a-kind gifts there as well!

3. Fake tree or real tree?
Real tree all the way. Nonnegotiable.

4. What is your favourite Christmas song?
Probably Merry Christmas Everyone - Shakin' Stevens, but I do love a bit of Mariah Carey this time of year

5. What food do your most look forward to for Christmas dinner?
My mum's stuffing is unbeatable. I don't even need the turkey, I'd be entirely content with just her stuffing.

6. What are you wishing for the most this Christmas?That everyone is able to sit back and take the day to relax and cherish the time with family. I just want everyone to be able to enjoy their Christmas! (and I mean I wouldn't complain if there was a nice new 50mm lens under the tree)

A Day at Buffer Festival

I had the pleasure of attending Buffer Festival in Toronto this weekend. For those who don't know Buffer Festival is held annually in Toronto, showcasing content by dozens of creators and allowing fans a glimpse of industry insight through panels. I attended the Beauty and Lifestyle screening, in which I had the absolute pleasure of meeting and chatting with the lovely Estée Lalonde and getting a first glimpse of some featured content by a handful of creators. 

It was really inspiring getting to hear creators discuss their content and give some insight to the highs and lows of the industry. I loved being able to see these creators showcase their content. I was able to really see the amount of pride and hard work people put into their content, something too easily overlooked when as viewers we get so consumed in expecting weekly videos. Buffer Festival was such an inspiring experience I will definitely be in attendance next year, and hopefully get out to even more screenings!  

Don't Over Think It

Somewhere over the last year I've managed to fall off the blogging wagon. For a while, it was simply due to a lack of time. Having been trying to juggle a full course load at university and working part-time, blogging sadly fell to the wayside. In that time, I seem to have lost sight of inspiration and I had been constantly feeling as though my mind had run dry of all creativity. I would be sat thinking, "How on earth did I used to cook up a new post every week??"when there I was entirely unable to think of a single post to put together. I would be sat stressing over the idea of lookbooks, the latest product I could buy and review, and researching new camera lenses. Then just this past week, it hit me.

I have been so anxious to get back into blogging that I had begun to over think my content. Doing so, had me losing sight of the character of my blog and I had realized I had been steering in all sorts of directions trying to find my own again. I was so concerned over producing this high production post that I realized it wasn't my style in the least. That's what I love about blogging is how personal it can be, and how it truly is to each, their own. That being said, my strongest piece of advice to anyone wanting to start to blog and as a little constant reminder to myself is - don't over think it. Authenticity carries it's own charm, don't worry yourself over other content or styles. Focus on what you enjoy and the creative juices will start flowing all on their own.

Getting Organized

For myself (and any other fellow uni students out there), the start of the new year also means the start of a new semester. This term I promised myself I'd stay on top of my readings and assignments. Really, time management overall is something I'd like to improve in 2015. Between work, school, blogging and time with friends and family I'd like to make adequate time for everything without stressing myself out. This is where organization comes into play.

Keeping a Planner -
I live out of my day planner, it is my savior. I won't lie to you I'm a bit of a freak when it comes to selecting the perfect day planner. It can't be too small, it can't have time slots, it must have a monthly overview etc. (I know, pathetic really) But I'm telling you, finding a day planner that works well for you will really help optimize your organization.

Setting Goals - 

This is something new I've started in the new year. At the start of each week I set a small goal for myself at the top of the page. This I've found has helped me complete pesky little tasks that do not necessarily need to be completed right away but would be nice to get out of the way. You could even set personal goals like "drink a litre of water every day this week!" or "wake up by 8am every day!"

Setting even the smallest goals like those really help to make you feel like you've accomplished something and you'll find you'll become increasingly more productive with your days as they go on!

To-Do Lists -

Ah, a good ole' to-do list. They can either make you feel proud and accomplished or like crap for having not crossed off a single task by the end of the day. This is why I set weekly to-do lists. It's inevitable that things come up throughout your day and some tasks are likely to be shoved aside. Instead of getting down that you didn't achieve as much as you prospected, give yourself the week or even a few days to accomplish it. I jot mine down on a little sticky note and keep it on the weekly overview in my planner, this way it is always in sight but not bound to a specific day of the week. Some planners even provide a section just for to-do lists!

I hope these baby steps can be of some help to some of you, and cheers to a more organized 2015!

Spring Cleaning | Closet Clearout

 

It's almost that time of year again, folks. The time of year where we shove our Winter wear to the back of our closets and bringing out our brighter Spring colours. While I was sorting through my closet I began finding articles that I pretty much never wear, have had for far too long, or were of no interest to me anymore.

A friend of mine kept telling me of a place nearby that bought gently worn clothing. I've always been a bit skeptical about selling to consignment shops because my past experiences have been a bit shady. Store owners would only pay you once your item sold and would never notify you when it did, you would have to keep coming in store to check in. The amount you waste in gas making these visits outweighs the benefit of selling the clothes in the first place, so when I was told this consignment shop sorts through and pays you for your contribution up front, I was sold!

Keep in mind, many of these places are typically looking for name brand apparel and of course, nothing with stains, holes or pilling.  So, after sorting through my closet of clothes I no longer wanted to keep, I then sorted through those piles for the articles I figured would be of interest to the consignment shop. I was getting a bit hoarder-esque in the beginning but then began to formulate a break down to help in deciding what's to keep and what's to go.

- Have you worn this in the last 8 months?

No? Chances are you aren't going to wear it anytime soon. Toss.

- Does it fit? (Alannah, stop telling yourself it will if you REALLY REALLY try)

No? Toss...seriously, TOSS IT.

- Does it fit in with your current style?

No? Then let it go. Time to evolve.

- Would you buy it today, if it was sold in stores?

No? Do I have to say it? Toss.

I ended up with 2 duffle bags of items to take to consignment. I went in, handed them over, waited around 20 minutes and to my surprise, they had taken almost everything I had brought over! I made $74.25 for pieces I had pretty much forgotten I even owned! Anything the shop wasn't interested in taking was added to the Salvation Army donation pile.

It felt pretty good to not only clear out my closet for the new season and make space for some new items, but to earn a few dollars in the process! I would definitely recommend looking up consignment shops in your area for a little added motivation to start your spring cleaning early!

Happy Spring Cleaning!

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Kickstarting 2014 On The Right Foot

For me, 2013 was a so-so year. Between school and work it was quite easy for me to fall flat on my commitments and personal goals. I lacked inspiration and motivation in almost every aspect of my life, and just ultimately caused me to fall flat. I want my 2014 to be a happier, healthier, more organized and more motivated year.  If there's anything I've learned from this year is that you have to go for what you want, if you have to fight for it - then fight for it.

 I went out to Chapters and picked up a few things to get my 2014 started on the right foot. I picked up this adorable notebook for only $6.50, it has a cute little Where The Wild Things Are quote on it which made me fall in love with it. This is going to be my blogging notebook, just to help me stay organized and inspired. I also picked up Demi Lovato's book Staying Strong 365 Days A Year, It has a quote and goal for each day of the year. This will really help me stay inspired and motivate me on the days that I'll really need a kick in the butt. Finally, and probably most importantly, I found this adorable recycled calendar from Sugar Paper. I heavily rely on my monthly outlines to keep me on track, this one's a little more grown up compared to my One Direction choice last year (I regret nothing).

That being said, here are my resolutions for 2014:

1. Look for inspiration everywhere

2. Drink more water

3. Post at least one blog post a week

4. Make a point to exercise weekly

5. Eat clean as much as possible

6. Always choose to be happy

7. Save enough money for a trip abroad

8. Take action towards my dreams

What are your personal goals and resolutions for 2014?