Typecast

If you've read any of my Fitbitches posts during 2017 you'll notice a theme - it's all about the struggle; the struggle with my mental attitude... not being as good as I could/should be and over-thinking the whole situation instead of just getting on with it.  I did have two goals for 2017 - "a medal a month" and "1000km in 2017".  I know for sure that I didn't achieve the second goal as my Strava profile shows 657.5km covered for the full year but as I evaluate my activity,  I know that with some effort and determination I can actually cover 1000km in 2018.  However, you'll see by the picture, I did achieve twelve medal however it wasn't exactly one a month. So rather than mull over the negative, I did think it would be a positive exercise to reflect on my achievements, namely in the medals that I received for completing challenge and races, and share some thoughts about each one. The Unicorn Medal was achieved in Janu...

If you’ve wanted to save money then you’ve probably looked at “boring” ways of doing so. Perhaps you’ve finally decided that you want to purchase a home in the future and maybe that has led you to open a savings account. However, taking money out of your salary every week or month and depositing it into a savings account can sometimes be frustrating or upsetting. It’s a boring way to save money and it can severely reduce your chances of successfully saving your cash. To make things easier, we’ve put together a couple of fun ways to help you save money so that you can easily secure your financial situation in the future. Image Credit Avoid Brands While it might be normal to go for branded items such as toiletries, food or even clothing, it’s a good idea to look at the generic nameless items or brands as well. If you’re lucky, you’ll find that there are plenty of cheap nameless alternatives to your everyday items that you spend a considerable chunk of money on. Whether it’s...

Do you have a stationery lover in your family but you're not sure what to buy them in case you make a huge faux pas?  As " Stationery Blogger of the Year ", I've had the opportunity to try a number of stationery items during the past few months and have also been on a journey of discovery so I'm happy to recommend presents that any stationery aficionado would be pleased to receive. ¨¨°º©©º°¨¨ I've been working with Mustard Gifts all year and their products are themed into collections for a full-on desk make-over. I filmed a Facebook Live video showcasing some of their items a while back so take a look... My favourite themes so far have been Rainbow themed stationery (awesome  sticky notes  and  page markers ) and the really fun T-Rex collection (check out the  mini pencil case which doubles as an elastic notebook closure  and the really fun  bookends ).  They also have a tech section on the website which includes ite...

As ' Stationery Blogger of the Year ' I've been lucky enough to review and recommend lots of stationery items this year, including many diaries, journals and notebooks, in all shapes and sizes.  If I'm being totally honest, I struggle to find a diary that totally suits my needs so I tend to mix-and-match with a diary and bullet journal plus reminders on my phone. There are, however, some stand-out items in journal land so I've collated them to help you choose your diary for 2018. ¨¨°º©©º°¨¨ Pocket Notebooks If you are a list maker or an incessant note taker then Pocket Notebooks will definitely have the jotter for you.  If you're after a pocket diary then they stock the Word. Standard Memorandum  but also a wide variety of notebooks, including left handed memo pads .  They also have added a selection of pens, pencils and accessories.    Shop here Facebook | Twitter | Instagram   Mustard Gifts  I wan...

When I stand on the beach, with the wind nipping at my ears and whipping my hair, I can lose myself in the enormity of it all. I look one way and see nothing but sea, spilling off the edge of the horizon. I look another and see the wrought iron pier with the strange edifice just off the end; the wooden remnants of the fire thirty five years ago. I can turn three hundred and sixty degrees and not one inch of the landscape appears unchanged. This was my childhood playground and I have made it my children’s and grandchildren's playground too. We drive out here as often as we can and walk for miles. We count the colourful beach huts and run up and down the sand dunes. We dream of living in one of the houses opposite – in a 1950’s carefree style – shorts and sandals, picnics, adventures and endless holidays. We prefer this end of the beach because it feels like a local secret. The tourists stay near the shops and the hotels, paddling in the boating lake and digging into the...

I was super excited when I saw Mia Tui tease one of their new handbags on their Facebook page recently.  The style, shape and size reminded me so much of  my Fossil Sydney Satchel (which I'm sure you are sick of me talking about now) so I was keen on comparing the two.  I'm a huge fan of Mia Tui and own a number of their bags already. It's amazing to see this company grow and learn what their customers want and need as new styles are added. As ever, the build and finish of the Jane bag is excellent and the contrast between the outer faux-leather colour and the interior lining is lovely - this is the first lining I've had in one of their bags that hasn't been pink!  As a straight comparison, there isn't much difference in what you can carry in the Mia Tui Jane and the Fossil Sydney Satchel.  What is great about the Mia Tui Jane is that their traditional internal pockets allow you to fully organise the contents of your bag and it doesn't feel like...

Back in 2012 I wrote about the effect that your digital footprint will have on your future social standing and five years later we are still hearing about how 'celebrities' are being hauled over the coals for their digital past. I've noticed a trend for this activity when they appear on a mainstream reality tv show and viewers and/or journalists take it upon themselves to trawl through their tweets from years gone by to expose any racist, political, misogynistic or otherwise non-PC language used in their online history.  I suppose you could categorise this as 'trolling'... but do we have a right to know how these role models have shaped themselves or should the past be left in the past? This type of exposure is not exclusive to, but is more prevalent with, new media stars; the likes of YouTube celebrities with their millions of tween and teen followers.  The ones that have grown up with social media literally at their finger tips.  Many of them not even kn...

Change is a part of life, but the first major change in a child’s life can come as a huge shock. The way a child responds to and deals with the first big change can lead the way in how he responds to all the other kinds of change in his life. So, as parents, the more tools we can give our children to handle change and stress, the better. Here are four ways you can help your child. Photo Credit :  Pixabay Sit and Talk The worst thing you can do is let change happen without giving your child any prior warning. No matter how old they are, sit them down and explain as best as you can. It gives the idea time to sink in and your child time to ask you questions. By asking questions, you’ll be able to put some of your child’s fears to rest, instead of letting them stew on their own worst imaginations. Be as open as you can about the change and keep the lines of communication open as the change happens. It can also help to get your child involved. For example, if you’re moving home...

Just because temperatures are dropping and the nights are drawing in doesn’t mean we have to feel low. This is the most wonderful time of the year, after all. From open fires to woolly jumpers, winter coats to spicy hot drinks with a little kick, there’s plenty to love about winter. Here’s just 10 of the best. Turning on the heating I’ve talked previously about how to keep your hand off the heating in the autumn, but once winter rolls around there’s no need for that self-control. Come late November, it’s genuinely cold and time to get those radiators nice and toasty. Buying a new winter coat If we’re going to face the bitter cold this winter, we might as well do it with style. A new coat might seem like a luxury, but we have to treat ourselves when the mercury drops and there are countless options for affordable women’s winter coats these days. The Tu winter coat selection is making me think it might be time to ‘misplace’ last year’s coat in the attic anyway. Cosy...