June Goals Review

Fail.

 

Hey there you.

Let's see how badly I failed at June then shall we? Come along and find out with me.

 

Take more iron.

I had 1 solid week at work where I took it every day. Then I got a bit patchy. But I did feel better when I was doing it so I'm going to try and keep it up. Surely irregularly is better than never right?

Work on my posture.

Again, I had a really great week or two where I was really aware of my posture. I was even doing a stretch routine in the hope that it would help. But now I seem to be sneaking back into slouching. I am considering swapping my chair at work for a more back friendly one. I'm sure there's one in the other office!

Stick to my budget.

Oh ho! Yes! A success. I'm normally okay with my money but I really wanted to keep a spending diary in an attempt to make myself more aware of what I spend on. This I have succeeded in doing pretty much 100%. There have been a few days where I forgot and had to update my app the day after but it has overall been a success. I shall see if I can do even better next month!

Complete some sort of craft project.

I started (another) a new one. Enough said.

Fill a bag for charity.

Another success. One bag filled up for the charity shop. A few things lighter on my end. Every one is happy. I might do a little post about it, just to remind myself of my efforts!

 

June has really torn by. I can hardly remember it. In fact I remember it starting and thinking it was AGES until my next day off from work and that has just happened. Time is disappearing and that is a bit scary. But the only thing to do is go with it becuase it's going to disappear anyway.

 

I hope you've had a successful June, in whatever way that might be.

See you for July!

Pip pip

Charlotte x

A 'quirky' night out.

8 Players

3 Women

5 Men

10 Ukuleles

100% Fun

Last week, a friend at work asked me if I had any 'Fun, different stuff coming up. Because, you know, you're a bit quirky like that and you always seem to be doing stuff that's just, well, different.'

I'll take the compliment although the I don't know if I'd describe myself as quirky. I'm just me, I like the things I like and so I do them. And as is happens, the most 'quirky, different' thing I had going on last week was tickets to see The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

I first saw The Ukes on Jools Holland and they did Smells Like Teem Spirit. It was incredible. I've loved them ever since.

I only have a handful of their tracks on my iPod at the moment (soon to be many more I hope) and quite frankly I would rather listen to them than the original versions of their tunes. No offence intended Ms. Gaga but your version of Born This Way has been surpassed in my ears by a bloke with a little 4 stringed instrument.

 

I'm not going to lie, I can't remember the night that well. Everything was so fun and it has ended up as a bit of a blur. I know they they did 'Valarie', one of my personal favourites 'Le Freak' and what I thought was pure brilliance 'Happy'. The reason for this was that Mr. Williams of Happy fame himself was playing just down the road at the big arena. Give me my ukuleles and a beautiful town hall any day.

I don't know how to explain them. Their voices are unique. The range of music they turn their strings to is vast. They did a medley that involved both Frank Sinatra and the Pussy Cat Dolls together. More so IT WORKED. If you don't like 'fun' music, or music with a novelty factor then maybe they aren't for you. They most certainly aren't taking themselves seriously. But they music is. Entirely professional. The highest standard playing. If you like music, proper music and appreciate it being performed to the peak then check them out. You can YouTube them. They said so during their show.

 

Toodleoo

Charlotte x

 

15 Favourite Feelings

I saw this originally on The Vlog Brothers and then the lovely Essie Button did her video too. I thought it was such a lovely idea so here are 15 of my favourite feelings.

 

1. Clean bedding: I think everyone enjoys this. Clean sheets, fresh new duvet cover and pillow cases. Extra points if it is a brand new bedding set. Even more bonus points if the bed is cool and it is a summer's day.
2. Sitting down when your feet hurt: The sweet sweet relief of kicking your shoes off and putting your feet up. Even if it's just for 10 minutes for the train ride home.
3. When you're running late but your train is running late too: Speaking of trains. The feeling of knowing you're going to miss your train (in particular the evening commute train) is not a nice one. But getting to the station to find it's still there or hasn't arrived yet is such an amazing feeling.
4. Good tomatoes: Biting into a proper summer cherry tomato and feeling flavour explode in your mouth is just pure bliss. I will eat tomatoes all year round but I relish them during summer when they are their very, very best.
5. Losing track of time: I need to know what time it is. I like to know when things are going to be. How long they'll last. How long is left. But sometimes, I get so swept up talking with someone that I forget entirely about keeping track of what time it is and it stops mattering. Those times are the best.
6. A really good sneeze: Not much more to say. Aichoo!
7. Getting a present spot on: I love giving presents. Celebrating an occasion with someone is a wonderful feeling and getting them something to mark that occasion that they truely love and appreciate is just awesome.
8. Finishing a project: I get such a feeling of accomplishment. Of achievement. Of 'Oh yes, look what I've managed to do'. This applies for everything from knitting a cardigan or cooking a meal to completing a nasty spreasheet at work.
9. Hugs: I am a hugger. I love a cuddle. They are cosy and safe.
10. Getting a proper letter in the post: Nowadays all that comes in the post is bills and bank statements and charity newsletters that I don't want to read. But I have one friend who I write to and even though we're not the best at quite responses (me in particular) when that little envelope with a handwritten address turns up it is so exciting and satisfying that I want to do a little letter dance. Sometimes I do.
11. Getting a bargain: I am a saver. Saving up for things. When I was younger it was always holiday spending money. Now it's things like a house deposit or actual holidays. And I love a good deal or bargain. Finding something in a sale or using a voucher when going out for a meal makes me smile. I'm not totally stingy but I do enjoy knowing I've gotten something for less.
12. Being organised: I am disorganised by nature and I have some hoarder tendencies. This means I struggle with keeping tidy and organised. But I am slowly getting better and every now and again I have a really motivated moment and manage to wrestle my life into some sort of order. And for the week or two that this lasts I feel so much better, calmer. The eventual goal is to be like this all the time but it is an uphill struggle.
13. Sharing food: Good food is important to me. I like making food, eating food and most of all sharing food. Whether this is a meal with friends, trying and swapping dishes or taking a cake into the office and watching people enjoy it just fills me up with happiness.
14. Being in the sunshine... With a breeze: Oh summer. I do love you for the three-ish weeks you make an appearance here in Britain. But I do feel the heat very easily. I'm talking 27 is getting a bit warm for me. Although admittedly, I've never done those lazy laying by the pool holidays. Maybe I could take the heat better if I didn't have things to do. But providing I've slapped on the sun cream (my pasty skin burns at the me mention of sunshine) I do like the feel of the sunshine. And a gentle breeze just to stop it feeling like I'm being cooked makes it just delightful.
15. Having a hair cut: A few years back I chopped my locks off into a pixie cut and I have never looked back. I think my hair is getting long when it hits about 4-5 inches. I love the feeling of having it all cut back down to 1 or 2. Sure, it's a bit chilly in the wind but I really don't like the feeling of hair on my face or neck or around my ears. When I had long hair I used to tie it back every single day. When my hair is short I can get on and feel comfy. If my hair doesn't move when I move my head, I am happy.

 

So those are 15 of my favourite feelings and as both the you tubers above also said, that was harder than I thought. It shouldn't be that tough to come up with 15 things but I got stuck on about 10 for quite a while.

Thinking the up though made me smile though. I hope more people do this as I love positive things and sharing things people enjoy.

 

Pip pip

Charlotte xx

 

 

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of These

Who am I to disagree?

 

Hello.

I do disagree actually. For the past five nights I have had some strange dreams that quite frankly have left me baffled and confused and a tad concerns for my own sanity. If anyone has any analysis on what on earth this mishmash might mean I would be thrilled to know.

 

Sunday Night

I am at home. I find out there is an important business meeting at the travelodge. The big boss is going to be there and it is mandatory everyone attends. I for some reason spend a very long time changing my outfit trying to work out whether business wear or smart casual will make the best impression. I resign myself to the fact that I have missed the meeting and flop on the sofa instead.

 

Monday Night

I have gone out with an old school friend and a work colleague. For some reason the school friend's mum picks us up at the end of the night and takes us to our respective homes. I am not tired when I get I so potter about. I decide (for some reason) that I can't sleep in my bed so I take my duvet downstairs with the intention of sleeping on the sofa. Only when I get there do I realise it is light and that I have stayed up all night. I wake up confused as it is almost the same time as the time the dream ended.

 

Tuesday Night

I go to a lecture theatre with my boyfriend. It is full of trendy looking youths. We take our seats and sit through the first half. I don't know what this was about. During the break I go to another room where everything is very sciencey looking and all the colours are white and green. I have some sort of scan thing where they stick those things to your head. I return to the lecture theatre to find my boyfriend has changed seats and we are in a different row. I eat a marshmallow. He gives me a kiss and it tastes of smoke. During the break he has chain smoked 4 cigarettes. (He doesn't smoke). He tries you blame the taste on me when I question him but I know it isn't me because of the marshmallow. I refuse to sit next to him and the lecture starts again. This time it is a colleague giving a presentation on the attendance at a local college.

 

Wednesday Night

A man comes into work wanting help with his CV. He doesn't want to wait until the next available appointment so I offer him a local drop in centre at the Jewish Welfare Board. (This is a legit thing in my job, we have an adviser who works there one day a week). He says he can't go because it is only for Jewish people. I say it isn't and the adviser will be happy to see him. He shows me his CV which says that he is much better at any job than you (ie. the person reading it). Then he says it won't be too long until he can get help as he is converting and having the operation. Ouch.

 

Thursday Night

Somehow it turns out I've put my dress on inside out and someone points it out by saying it makes me look 'lopsided' and that I really should sort it out. I decide to pop to the loos and change. The first floor toilets are flooded. The second floor toilets have disappeared. The third floor toilets are just cubicles in the corridor that people can see over! I go in hoping no one is around and find that the bin is overflowing with rubbish. I hear people having a conversation nearby and panic. I don't know if I managed to turn my drss the right way around.

 

Surely you can see my concern. Why the heck is my brain coming up with this nonsense?! It's all very odd and has made for a week of not very good sleep. This is the most dreams I've ever remembered in a row I think which is why I've decided to write them down.

 

Is there anything I can do to have nicer dreams please? Where are you Mr. Sandman? Bring me a dream.

 

Pip pip

Charlotte xx

 

 

 

June Goals.

Hello!

Please tell me it's not just me that is freaked out by the fact that June has arrived?

June.

And it's not even sunny. Boo hiss pantomime style.

 

To top it off only have 1 day of annual leave this month. Right at the very end. It's going to be torture. Five day weeks again. No thank you!

So cheer myself up and to make myself feel a bit better about the fact that I'm running out of year already I am setting myself some goals for June. Just for June mind, just you give me something to focus on to get me through without sinking into a big old heap of dispari on the floor.

 

1. Take more iron.
2. Work on my posture.
3. Stick to my budget.
4. Complete some sort of craft project.
5. Fill a bag for charity.

 

Just five little goals. Five little things to focus on.

 

Firstly, iron. I've been anaemic before and while I don't feel anything like that alright now, I want to see if using my iron intake again will help me feel less lethargic and groggy. So a daily shot of iron is on the cards.

 

Secondly, posture. My posture is atrocious and I have recently become very aware of back aches during work. So I'm going to try and really focus on sitting and standing properly. Maybe I'll do some stretches too. I just want to schlump less.

 

Thirdly, money. I always try to be good with my money but I really want to try and keep track my spending this month. I've worked out a daily spend limit and I want to try and stick to it.

 

Fourthly, crafting. It is always hugely satisfying to complete a craft project and I have several half finished ones on the go. Let's box one off and feel that sense of achievement.

 

Lastly, donations. I am a hoarder but I am always trying to declutter so in June I want to get a charity bag together, even if it's just a carrier.

 

 

So, the we go. Simple goals that I hope will help me feel like I've achieved something or made an effort to make things a little bit better for myself.

 

Anyone else got any mid year ish goals? Working on something to make your life better?

 

I'll report back on how I'm getting on, hopefully it'll be good news!

 

Pip pip

Charlotte x