7 Annoying Problems When Wearing Glasses

01.10 in 7, a, annoying, beginning, christmas, glasses, its, like, look, lot, Paid, problems, to, wearing, when

I felt like writing a different type of post today as the other day I realised weve hit that point of the year where its cold outside and whenever you walk indoors the warmth engulfs you. Any fellow glasses wearers out there will understand the annoyance of this.

I have had glasses since the age of 6/7 and started wearing them full time when I was around 12. Over the years I have created a small list of things that dont exactly frustrate or anger me, they are just those little niggles that make you complain sometimes. So I thought Id share 7 of those with you and hopefully, if you where glasses too, you can relate to them.

1. Steaming Up

Like I mentioned above, walking into a warm building when its cold outside and steaming up causing you to become lose vision temporarily. There are also other occasions when this happens such as drinking hot drinks or opening the oven door and not being able to see your food is cooked with the addition of being in the dangerous situation of being briefly unable to see whilst around hot objects. 

2. Rain. 

Seriously, when people say there should be window wipers for glasses, there really should be. I just love, once again, not being able to see clearly through the things that are there to improve my vision.

3. Smudges. 

This one does apply to the ones above as well. I just find that the majority of the time when I go to clean me glasses, I only make it worse. Try and wipe away the steam - it turns to water. Try and wipe away rain - it just combines all the raindrops into one big one. Leave the rain drops and they leave water marks and smudges. Try and wipe away smudges using glasses wipes - success! Only to find that moments later another mark has appeared.

4. 3D glasses. 

I rarely go and watch 3D films because it is just really uncomfortable balancing 2 pairs of glasses on your face. The 3D glasses are usually really close to the tip of your nose and because they dont sit nicely behind your ears, as your normal glasses fill that space, you make a move and of your face they come.

5. Face masks. 

I like wearing face masks every now and then. But I have to time it so that I know I wont be doing anything for 10 - 30 minutes  (depending on the mask). Why? Because I cant wear my glasses throughout that time as it gets all over my frames. Trying to get honey out of the hinges is a difficult job. I wouldnt mind it if I could do things without my glasses on but I end up straining my eyes as I am very short sighted.

6. Lying on your side. 

I used to love lying on my side while watching a film, reading a book, being on my laptop. But its just uncomfortable to do whilst wearing glasses. Not only do you get the frame digging into your nose and behind your ear, I am scared of breaking them. And like I said in the previous one its not like I could just take my glasses off. 

7. Questions and remarks.

Last but not least, the constant questions and remarks. I dont know what the fascination is with glasses to those who dont wear them, but continual questions like can I try your glasses on? or how many fingers am I holding up? do get tedious. Even if Ive known the person for a few years they still pop out the questions. In addition to this, if we do let you try our glasses on, you dont need to make the remark on my sight, saying wow you are blind wont surprise me - I already know this and that is why I am wearing the glasses. 

I hoped you liked this different style, and I may do more in the future. Can any of you relate to these? Or do you have niggles of your own - Id love to hear them! 

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Blogilates Beginners Calendar Day 7 !

04.09 in 7, beginners, blogilates, british, calendar, day, festival, food, great, Paid

In my summer bucket list I listed that I wanted to exercise at least 3 times a week. I managed to go swimming after 7 years - which I have actually somehow managed to keep up going at least once a week. However, I wanted to do something a little more, to get myself a toned up a little. I was determined. Motivated. Well, for about a week. 

I came across Blogilates a few months ago. For those who dont know of Blogilaties, it is a YouTube channel run by the lovely Cassey Ho. She uploads upbeat, fun pilate style workout videos which I personally love as her teaching style keeps you motivated and pushing through till the end. At first I didnt make any effort to do any of the videos. A new video of Casseys would pop up every now and then in my subscription box, which I would ignore - until a few weeks ago at the beginning of summer. I was then led to her website where I discovered her beginners workout calendar and within an hour I had already completed day one.

From Blogilates.com

I made it to day 3. Didnt reach day 4 though. When the day came around where I decided to do day 4s workout, I probably should of been on something like day 12. So I made the decision to begin the calender again. 

Day 4 done! Not followed by day 5. Once again this missing just one day turned into a week. However, I do have an excuse for this failed attempt - I stayed at my dads for 4 days, where there is no internet (I somehow survived). So I restarted.

Day 7?! The first week is complete! This sense of achievement in addition to feeling physically great has given me a boost of motivation. I would say day 1 and 2 where the hardest as it felt as if I was trying to complete a chore, but by day 6 I was looking forward to my chance to workout. Which is something I thought Id never say, lets hope it keeps up!

I personally thought day 5 was the hardest and was unable to complete the last video but I made sure that didnt stop me wanting to carry on on day 6, the day which was my favourite. The stretching felt absolutely amazing and that What Makes You Bootiful workout, wow definitely felt that!

Are you a fan of Casseys workouts? 

Read about the other weeks:
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4

Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can. - Arthur Ashe

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Emma Healeys Elizabeth Is Missing Review Film Roles

06.11 in 7, diy, elizabeth, emma, essentials, film, healeys, homely, is, make, missing, Paid, review, roles, room, to, uni, your

Elizabeth is missing, reads the note in Mauds pocket in her own handwriting.

Lately, Mauds been getting forgetful. She keeps buying peach slices when she has a cupboard full, forgets to drink the cups of tea shes made and writes notes to remind herself of things. But Maud is determined to discover what has happened to her friend, Elizabeth, and what it has to do with the unsolved disappearance of her sister Sukey, years back, just after the war.

A few weeks ago I added this book to my reading list over on pinterest and it was just my luck that I came across the book in a charity shop for £1 - so I just had to pick it up. I finished reading it the other week and I have to say I was pretty impressed. Normally, I wouldnt go for this type of book as when I think back over the books I have read (the list may not be as extensive as others but its growing) they all tend to be dystopia or fantasy types. 

Like with many other books, it took till about the first/second chapter to really get into the story. Im someone who cant put a book down in the middle of a chapter and often found myself saying Id put the book down at the end of a chapter and then once reaching the end just turning into the next.

Something I really liked about the book was the fact that we got to go back in time and hear Mauds story from when she was younger. I dont know what it was, but I fell in love with young Maud. You may be wondering why it was young Maud specifically and not the character as a whole, but I honestly dont think I could say why. I felt the past and present versions were quite different. 

 But I also felt it broke the book up nicely as if it was all set in the present day, I personally think that it would have been a little hard to follow - due to Mauds forgetfulness. Parts of the narrative from the present day reminded me a lot of a book I once read for my AS English - Paddy Clarke. However, I could not stand that book due to the way it was written, even though it was very clever, I found it was hard to follow. But with Elizabeth is Missing, Emma Healey very cleverly writes so that the reader feels Mauds jumbled thoughts and experiences some events alongside Maud in a muddled way, but not to the extent so the reader becomes utterly confused at what has happened, what is happening and what will happen.

Another aspect I like about the way the reader is joining Maud in the mystery surrounding Elizabeth is that exploration of dementia. As it is written in first person, we are given an insight into the life of someone suffering from it and personally, as someone who has thankfully never had anyone in my life suffer with it but also as someone who isnt that aware of what it is, it was an interesting way to become a little more informed on the disease. 

After finishing the book, I came across this article on the dementia blog and found Healeys intentions interesting  I just wanted better ways to guess at what my grandmother (Nancy), and several other members of my family, were going through, how they might feel, what they might be thinking, why they said and did the things they did. 

One last thing Id like to add is that I attached to the story. I think its because Maud is a lot like my grandma in the way she speaks and certain things she says to Helen. There were multiple times throughout the book were I could hear my grandma speaking Mauds words - it was strange. And to further add to the familiarity, Helens reactions remind me so much of how my mum is with my grandma, and to top it all off, my mum is also called Helen. Just thinking about it, I maybe even a little like Katy. 

Overall, Elizabeth is Missing is a really good read, there is bits you will laugh at and bits that will make you teary eyed. I would definitely recommend it, even if its not the sort of genre you would normally read.

As many people have reviewed the book, I felt I would add in my own little extra. One thing I always seem to struggle with when reading a book or creating my own characters etc, is visualising them. Well, actually Im find with visualising them, but I for some reason picture them faceless (which gets a little creepy at times). Once Id finished the book, as if I was going to turn it into a film, I thought of actors who would fit my idea of what some of the characters would look like - as away to stop imagining faceless people, which may help when reading books in the future. 

Maud - Eileen Atkins

Elizabeth - Joan Plowright

Helen - Emma Thompson

Young Maud - Izzy Meikle Small

Sukey - Saoirse Ronan

Frank - Douglas Booth

Douglas - Jake Abel

Have you read Elizabeth is Missing? And do you have any book recommendations, Id love to know?!

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Blogilates Beginners Calendar Penguin Walk

10.09 in 7, beginners, blogilates, calendar, day, Paid, penguin, walk

From the Blogilates website

Week 2 is complete! Well not every video. I did miss a few videos on a few days. Hey, but at least I did 1 video a day - which is good if youre an unfit person like me. Though I definitely feel stronger towards the end of this week opposed to week 1. This week I see a difference in my legs, whereas last week it was mainly my stomach. I feel like there is more definition and my legs are starting to feel more firm and muscular. It motivates me.

Id have to say my favourite two workout videos this week are two that also came up last week - the Pick me up quickie workout and Feel good soul stretches. Id definitely recommend you try those to out.

Credit

One workout video that Im not so keen on, which just so happened to pop up twice throughout the week, is the 8 minute abs. I can start off fine and can get through the first 3/4 exercises but then I just collapse because me neck hurts. Cassey does remind you to use your core to hold you up, to save straining your neck, and even though I do feel like Im using my core I equally feel like Im straining my neck. So Im setting myself the aim to learn how to do this pilates stance correctly.

The video that killed me this week - Call me maybe squats. Wow I had to take a few breaks. And sure do feel it today, walking to and from college like a penguin. Its all good fun! Who knows maybe next time the video pops up Ill be able to fully complete it.

This gradual healthy change Im making is going well and its becoming more enjoyable. Remember it only takes 21 days to create a habit! Why postpone those 3 weeks?

Read about the other weeks :

Week 1 

Week 3

Week 4

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. - Jim Ryun

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Healthy Banana Bread Oil Free

10.31 in 7, annoying, banana, bread, free, glasses, healthy, oil, Paid, problems, wearing, when

I love banana bread. And banana cookies. And banana pancakes. Well I just love bananas in general, I usually have at least one a day without fail. But that becomes a bit of a problem, as I never give them chance to become over ripe, meaning I rarely get the chance to bake with them. Luckily, my mum accidentally ordered too many bananas and we had a few that got to the over ripe stage - it was a joyful moment.

Many of the recipes I have come across call for oil, and personally I dont like baking with it, so I used apple sauce in place. Also because the bananas where already very sweet from being ripe, I didnt want to add in loads of additional sugar, and this created a really natural taste to the bread and wasnt sickly sweet - which I have found other recipes to be. 

It is lightly spiced, perfect for the season. And the smell! Mmmmm. When it was baking away the whole house smelt delicious. The sweet smell of banana makes your stomach rumble. The hint of cinnamon and nutmeg gives the house that warm and inviting feeling when its all cold outside. My mum actually came in from work and asked for a slice straight away, but it was still in the oven.     

I decided to only make a small loaf as I guessed it would only be me and my mum eating it, and as it is better the fresher it is, didnt want to be left with a large amount. Personally, I love banana bread when it is slightly chewy on the outer crust, but moist and gooey on the inside. So I made the mixture a little wetter and baked it on a lower heat for 1 hour.

As you can see I left a few chunks of banana, which I really like along with the chunks of walnuts and dates.

I prefer it when it has cooled down with a nice amount of peanut butter spread across (my stomach is rumbling, I think I may have to go an get myself a slice). If youre more of the eat warm kind of person, a dollop of ice cream would go perfectly. Or equally as good, and more seasonally appropriate - custard.

Ingredients
Yields 1 small loaf

• 1 1/2 ripe medium bananas, mashed
• 1/2 cup wholemeal flour
• 1/2 cup oat flour
• 1/3 cup apple sauce
• 2 tbsp light muscovado sugar
• 1/3 cup full fat Greek yoghurt
• 1 egg
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup pitted dates, chopped
• 1/4 cup walnuts, crushed

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 160°c and line a loaf tin with greaseproof paper.
2. In a bowl combine your mashed banana, apple sauce, egg and sugar and mix well until the sugar has dissolve.
3. To the mixture, add in your vanilla extract and Greek yoghurt.
4. In a separate bowl, combine your wholemeal flour, oat flour, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg.
5. Next, fold your dry ingredients into the wet mixture and mix well.
6. Fold in your dates and walnuts.
7. Pour your mixture into the prepared tin and place in the oven for an hour. However, check on the loaf after 30-40 minutes and if the top is browned, cover with foil and return to the oven. After an hour check the bread with a skewer. For a gooey bread it should be mostly clean but still have some mixture on. If it still feels too unbaked return the oven, however please remember that it is a moist recipe.
8. Once it has been removed from the oven, allow to cool for around 5 minutes before removing from the tin.

Printable recipe card

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7 Essentials To Make Your Uni Room Homely DIY

08.29 in 7, diy, essentials, favourites, homely, make, Paid, recent, room, to, uni, your

September is slowly approaching and what does that mean? Back to school, college or uni (or it could be earlier for some places around the world). For so many students out there, it is the exciting (and equally scary) time of moving away from home to go to university. Im one of those students; well hopefully depending on when I receive my results on the 13th of August. 

Along with many other daunting aspects of going to uni, such as meeting new people, the work load and living independently, leaving the comforts of home is a little sad. Especially leaving behind your own room which is your space to design, express yourself and hold all those precious (also many useless) items. 

Lets be honest, university accommodation isnt going to be like living in a luxury hotel. But its going to be your home for the year; your place to study, sleep, wallow in self pity and other things. Adding homely touches to make the place feel more comforting and more like your own place, rather than a last minute booked B&B, is always a great thing to do.

So when Parachute got in touch and asked about uni room/dorm essentials, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to share what Ill be planning to take and Ive compiled a list of essentials to make that dull room feel more homely.

A Rug

You may be thinking that a rug is pointless, not only will it add a nice touch to your room, but it will feel like youre bringing a piece of home with you. What do I mean by this? Well, you could use the rug a home for a while before you move out so then when you get to uni and wake up each morning youll be stepping onto a familiar feeling until your surroundings become more familiar.

Comfy Bedding 

What is better than getting into bed after a long, hard day? But lets be honest beds are just for sleeping....what about those neflix marathons! Fluffy pillows and a duvet are obviously needed, but you gotta get a lovely bedding set to cover them - whether you choose one that is plain, patterned or adds pop of colour always make sure its soft!

Blanket

I know you have the comfy bedding and all, but youve got to have a blanket to hand to snuggle into for those netflix marathons, comfort eating sessions or when you have a hangover (I expect that they will be pretty prominent in freshers week). Also, they add a nice touch to any room!

Memories

This one may come in different forms : photos, cuddly toys, ornaments, books etc. You arent going to need to take every little thing you own, just take a small selection that you can have dotted around your room. Even if you dont have the things on show at home (like me), you never know, a quick glance at those items may help banish any oncoming feelings of homesickness.

Greenery

Adding some greenery to a room brings about a sense of calmness. You could pick up a small fake plant or fake flowers (much easier to take care of) and place them in a decorative pot or vase. I plan on picking up some little succulents or cacti and having a few on a shelf in cute little pots.

Fairy Lights

Im not to sure how each university or college is with fairy lights, as I know some places dont allow them. But if youre going somewhere where they arent a problem then go ahead a string some above your bed, across shelves or wherever else theyll go. Fairy lights just make everything better! They instantly make a room feel cosy by flicking them on and any other lights off. So tumblr or what?!

Bunting

If you cant illuminate your room with fairy lights then bunting is a great option, it can make a boring shelf look all pretty or fill blank spaces on a walls. Bunting can easily  be picked up from many craft stores or even ordered online, but sometimes its much more satisfying making your own. 

So here is a really simple DIY you could be doing on those nothing to do days throughout the rest of summer (its a lot easier than it probably looks as the sewn outline isnt needed and only there for decoration).

What you will need:

• fabric (use assorted if preferred)
• triangle template
• needle & thread (use one colour or go wild with a bunch of colours. Matching the colour of the thread to the colours on the fabric looks really nice)
• string
• scissors
• hot glue gun

Directions

1. Draw around your template on the back of your fabric for how ever many triangles you want then cut them out.

2. Thread your needle then go ahead and get sewing about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch from the edge, but make sure to leave about an inch or more at the top of the triangle to create a flap over the string in the next step.

3. Lay your triangles out in the order you want them to go and using the hot glue gun stick the string along the top and fold the flap down over it to fix it in better.

4. Once its all done, hang it up and youre good to go!

So there you have it, those are my tips for making student accommodation more your own. Do you have any to add? Please share them in the comments.

I just wanted to add a little extra on the end to mention something amazing that Parachute does. Whilst having a browse on their website I found out they are in partnership with Nothing But Nets, who provide bed nets to help fight malaria. You can read about it on their website here.

As a little disclaimer, I was not told I had to mention the brand and there is no payment for doing so, but I wanted to mention them as I love that they are supporting a very good cause and wanted to share that. 

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