Life Lately #1

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well!

I have seen these ‘Life Lately’ segments on other blogs and I always think they’re a nice way to round up what’s happening/what’s currently going on. I haven’t abandoned my blog but I’m not blogging regularly. I want to share what’s going on with me in different areas of my life and just have a bit of chat. Who knows, this could even turn into a little series?!

Blogging

I haven’t been blogging as much as I would have liked over the past little while. In November 2016 I wrote this post about motivation which explains the reasons why. These still apply (minus travel) but also there were family related incidents that cropped up in January and February. In March I feel like I got back into more of a routine with blogging and in general and over the next couple of months that will improve. Post ideas haven’t been jumping out at me so I want to make sure I have plenty up my sleeve and don’t run out. I don’t like posting for the sake of it.

Work

As you may know I started my current job in August 2016. I have been there nearly eight months now and in February my hours increased a significant amount. I haven’t had as much time to blog as a result but as I said I am getting into a better, more constant routine and naturally that spark will come back.

Personal

Relationship wise, everything with my boyfriend is good. It’s been seven months since we first met and I love spending time with him now just as much as I did at the beginning. We always make time for each other and I’m always thinking about him. We message each other every day and I love just being able to relax and chill out when I’m at his house.

I’m a person who can get frustrated and stressed very easily. I’m sensitive and can get upset over small, trivial details. A couple of times over the past few weeks I have worked myself into a mood and felt like I’ve been crying more. I don’t know if it’s because I’m tired or if it’s just the fact I’ve never been a go with the flow person and like to have things planned and organised. I’m still working on learning to care less and it’s something I’ve been trying to do for a number of years. Thankfully, I’ve got a lovely boyfriend on hand that I know I can share things with.

Music

I didn’t feel 2016 was a standout music wise but this year is shaping up to be so far! Two members of The Saturdays have released solo material. The styles of music are completely different but I’m a fan of both Una’s folky-country pop and Vanessa’s smooth R&B. I’m pretty sure Shania Twain is releasing new material this year, her first in over 10 years so I can’t wait to hear it! 90s/00s pop super-group Steps are also releasing an album of original tracks on April 21st – less than two weeks away! They released a new single last month and are touring The UK in November and December.

2017 Goals Progress

In my Hello 2017! post I set five goals for myself for the year. I am doing well with the majority of them. I have gotten back into using my Exercycle and I try to ride 10kms three-four times a week. I work weekends and evenings so I try to squeeze it in around that. I don’t mind that that is my main form of exercise. I haven’t done yoga for a long time and I can Exercycle while I’m watching TV and multitask. I haven’t been stressing about blogging, I’ve been getting posts up as often as I can. I have cut down on the amount of time I spend on social media. I check my accounts two or three times a day and if I have notifications I respond. It’s about quality rather than quantity, if I don’t have something worthwhile to share I won’t. I haven’t progressed much with my driving although I did drive my boyfriend’s car (which is a manual) about 5 metres and I didn’t stall it! That was my very first time controlling/moving a car.

---

At times lately it feels like my life is eat, sleep, work, and repeat. I’m trying to find a balance and get back into what I enjoy.

What’s been happening in your life recently?

Quick Catch Up

First off, let me apologise for not having a proper blog post for you today! I had a few options to run with but I didn’t want them to be half-hearted so I’ve put them off until next week. Today, I want to address a few things and let you know what I’ve been up to this crazy, busy week!

As some of you might know, on Sunday I flew up to stay with my brother for a few days and it was my first ever time flying by myself. I wasn’t scared to do it at all and I’m really proud of myself because a couple of years ago, I never would have done that. The flight is only 40 minutes so it was nice and quick and it made sense for me to fly up because I couldn’t drive and flying is so much quicker than driving. My brother took some time off work and the main reason I flew up was to go and see Alan Carr live. I’m so glad I went, Alan was hilarious and he was also my first comedy show.

Everyday we did something different and it was nice to explore and just wander around as we pleased. I also got to go on a train for the first time which was a lot of fun and I definitely reached my quota of 10,000 steps a day with all the walking we did! I did some shopping, not a lot because I wanted everything to fit in my suitcase and you will be able to see what I bought next week. It was good to get away for a few days and I’m looking forward to it again when I go up for the Ellie Goulding concert in October.

I’m sorry I wasn’t as active at reading posts and commenting as I usually am but I didn’t want to have my head buried in my phone all the time. I wanted to experience things and just take time out from technology. I will have a busy weekend getting up to speed and organising next week’s posts no doubt!

Some more exciting news is that I now have a part-time job. It’s not as many hours as I worked before but who knows where it could lead to and it’s good to be out there meeting people and getting experience. I’ve got something new to focus on and everyone I’ve met seems really lovely. I had my first day on Thursday (yesterday).

I hope you’ve all had a lovely week and I hope you enjoy your weekend!

Something You Should Know…

Hi everyone.

This post is one of the hardest and most horrible I’ll ever have to write. One thing I pride myself on is being honest and I don’t feel like it would be fair if I didn’t share this information with you. There is no easy way to say this but last Tuesday, June 21, I lost my job. It came completely out of the blue and a little part of me is still in shock.

A couple of weeks ago my new boss had approached me to arrange a time we could both meet and discuss any concerns we were having. (My new boss took over the business on April 1 after purchasing it from the previous owner). My boss and I met last Monday and all weekend up until the meeting, I had a bad feeling. Maybe I was naive because I genuinely didn’t think there was a problem. I’m not saying I’m perfect and I never make mistakes but if someone has an issue with me or is not happy I’d rather they just came out and said it.

I am going to miss that job because it helped me grow in confidence and it also taught me a lot of important life lessons. It reinforced how focused and determined I am and it made me feel good to know I was working hard to earn my money. I think the hardest thing to deal with is the fact I don’t have a job to go to anymore. I am trying my best not to let it get me down and I know I was never dishonest or did anything untoward which led to me no longer working there – it simply didn’t work out anymore. I am one of those people who believes things happen for a reason and while it feels frustrating at the time to not know the reason why, I have to cross my fingers something else will come along.

I don’t want this to be a negative time. I am planning to do a few things that will better me. I will update my CV and I now have 14 months experience of being in a job behind me which I didn’t have before. I am also working my way towards sitting my Learner Licence driving test now that I’ve got a bit more extra time and can focus on it. I received a lot of encouragement on this month’s Hey, It’s Okay… If You Can’t Drive post and I’m just going to take the plunge and do it! It will be a big worry off my mind.

In August I am planning to take a trip up to Auckland to stay with my brother for a few days and we are going to see Alan Carr’s comedy show Yap, Yap, Yap! I booked my ticket to the show and my flights last week and I am really looking forward to it! It will be the first time flying on my own but it’s only a 40 minute flight. I’ll also get to go on a train for the first time which is exciting and I’ll get to go shopping and perhaps add to my MAC lipstick collection (beauty blogger priorities). I am lucky enough to be in a position that I can afford to take some time out and go away and have a break. The flights weren’t too expensive and even if I could drive the amount I would spend on petrol as well as the extra two hours it would take to get there would make it less appealing.

Times are changing and nothing stays the same forever. I didn’t want to go into too many details about the situation which I hope you respect and understand. I did want to keep you informed though and let you know what is happening. I will still be blogging and I am unsure if there will be a time I don’t stick to my three posts a week but I thought I’d warn you in case. I probably will but in case I’m not inspired or just not feeling it that’s why.

I started this blog to keep me busy when I was looking for work after my Communications course so in some ways I feel like I’ve come full circle except this time I’m armed with knowledge and experience in both areas. Let the next part of the journey begin!

Thank you so much for always sticking by me and for reading this post! Have a wonderful week!

P.S. Have you entered my GIVEAWAY? CLICK HERE for info!

GRWM: One Year Work Anniversary!

Last Wednesday, (May 4th to be exact!) it was a whole year since I started my job and because it was such a milestone I wanted to celebrate by wearing a mix of my old and current makeup favourites. I remember I did a FOTD post about the makeup I wore on my first day of work and it’s crazy to think how far I’ve come since then, work-wise and makeup-wise. Originally, the job was only for two months but I was asked if I wanted to stay on and of course I said yes! I have learnt so much in the past twelve months and everyday I’m still thankful to have been given a chance.

Products listed in order of application:

• Simple Replenishing Rich Moisturiser
• Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer
• Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil – 002 Hazel
• Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation – 081 Fair Ivory
• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer – 01 Fair
• Rimmel Match Perfection Loose Powder – Translucent
• Maybelline ‘The Nudes’
• Max Factor Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow – Copper
• Rimmel Scandaleyes Lycra Flex Mascara
• Dainty Doll Cream Blush 003 – Billion Dollar Babies
• BYS Lipstick – Fuchsia Surprise

I applied the two shades indicated above all over my lids before going in with Max Factor’s Excess Shimmer eyeshadow pot in the shade Copper. I wanted something simple yet striking on my lids as I was making my lips the feature and I generally accentuate one or the other.

I’ve mentioned before that Fuchsia Surprise by BYS is hands down my favourite lipstick of all time. The colour, texture and pigmentation are outstanding and I always feel fearless when I wear this shade!

---

Wearing a face full of my favourite products was the perfect way to mark my one year anniversary. What makeup items do you turn to for a special occasion?

Week In Review: October 27 – November 2, 2014

I post an update here every Sunday giving an overview of my week. Accompanying photos from my Instagram are also included. Here’s the latest:

A couple of mornings this week I have woken up early, like 6am early, and haven’t been able to go back to sleep. Tuesday, in particular was a long day for me and after returning home from town the pyjama pants definitely went back on!

“Pyjama pants back on, been awake since 6am selfie #selfie #tuesday #meh”

I had my job interview at one of the supermarkets on Wednesday which went quite well. The two people who conducted the interview were both very nice and thought my interview skills were excellent. Getting feedback is useful as it gives me reassurance in what I’m doing. The downside is the job is only for a fixed-term basis over Christmas and the holidays.

Wednesday also marked five years since I sang ‘Issues’  by The Saturdays at a school talent quest. I was 14 at the time and I can’t believe how fast that time’s flown! I can still picture the Thursday evening I got up and sang it in 2009. To commemorate the occasion I uploaded three short videos of me singing a couple of lines from the song.

Links to parts 1, 2 and 3.

My copy of My Side of Life arrived on Thursday which was exciting! I’ve started reading it already and have had a sneak peek at the pictures. I love autobiographies because you get to read about everything straight from the author’s perspective and get a real sense of who they are.

This weekend I started my new exercise regime. For the next two months I will be repeating both Jen Selter’s 30 day squat challenge and a 30 day sit up challenge. Instead of doing one challenge each month, I am combining the two. By the end of November I will have completed 15 days of the squat challenge and 15 days of the sit up challenge (including rest days). I will complete the remainder in December. Christmas Day even works out to be a rest day haha!

I printed out November and December from Design Eat Repeat’s 2014 Monthly Calendar and colour coded.

Purple = # of squats
Blue = # of sit ups
Red = Rest day

Hope you had a great week!

Chanelle x

Just checkin’ in

Hey people!

I don’t really post about my emotions as I like to keep my blog a positive place but this week I feel I’ve been more stressy and anxious than usual (mostly job search related). I’ve been questioning myself when I really just need to keep my mind occupied and focus on staying positive.

Once a week on a Wednesday I meet with someone at a recruitment agency type place and identify areas I’d like to work in, jobs I’ve applied for, businesses to approach etc. Last week I was set the challenge to drop in a copy of my CV to each of the supermarkets. I finally did it yesterday (Tuesday) after dreading it for the past week. It wasn’t as difficult as I imagined it would be but I worried because it was new to me and something I hadn’t done before. I know it’s normal to be nervous and in the long run it will end up being beneficial as I pushed myself out of my comfort zone.

Today I had my weekly recruitment agency meeting and I couldn’t help but burst out crying halfway through. I’m not entirely sure what upset me but I hate the thought of people thinking things of me that aren’t true, including the person I meet with. I don’t want them to think I’m lazy, don’t want to work or more importantly, that I’m not doing enough to try and find work. What gets me the most is feeling like I don’t know where I’m going or I’m not at the same place/doing the same things as other people. I like to be in control and when I’m not I feel like I’ve let myself down.

Sorry for the rant! I don’t know if anyone will end up reading this but typing it out has made me feel better.

Chanelle x

Job Interview

On Wednesday afternoon I received a call from a hotel I have applied to work at asking if I could come in for an interview. I had the interview this morning and the woman who interviewed me was lovely.

Today’s interview is only the third I’ve ever had and surprisingly I don’t get as nervous about them as I thought I would. Generally, I am quite an anxious person but when it comes to interviews there’s only so much to prepare for, sometimes you just have to go with the flow. Always remember, the person interviewing you could be just as nervous as you are!

For all you fellow job seekers out there or anyone getting ready to enter the workforce for the first time, here are some tips to help you prepare for interviews:

1. Practice
   Practice answering interview questions and also prepare some of your own to ask the interviewer.
2. Research the Company
   Start by researching the company online. Generally the company you are applying to has a website or uses social media.
3. Be Prepared
   Make sure you dress appropriately for the company you are being interviewed at. Taking a copy of your CV to the interview doesn’t hurt either.
4. Be On Time
   Arrive at the interview location five to ten minutes before the interview is due to take place. If need be, drive to the location earlier to allow for parking and so you know where to go on arrival.
5. Stay Calm
   Relax and stay as calm as possible. Maintain eye contact and listen to the entire question before attempting an answer.
6. Show What You Know
   Try to relate what you know about the company when answering questions. Match your skills to what the company is looking for.

Last night I got this reply from one of my favourite singers on Twitter and it really put me in a positive mindset. (She RT’d another one of my tweets shortly after too!)

@ChanelleTheSats Good luck for the job interview, be confident and be you 😘 xx

— Lisa Scott-Lee (@LSLofficial) August 21, 2014

Best of luck with your job hunt!

Chanelle x