How To Get Instantly Happy | 7 Mood Boosters

Because sometimes, we just need a little help on Mondays...

 

Stand up and dance to at least three songs. - I say three because you have to give your body and mind time to get into the swing of things, but after three of your favourite songs you're likely to be bounding around the room like Beyoncé! Who run the world? - You. You can stop after three if you want, or you can go with that good feeling and keep dancing till you drop. (My money's on the second one...)

Listen to 'Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)' by Baz Lurhmann. - Linked below. It's not one to dance around to, but everyone should hear this song at least once in their lives. Adapted from an inspirational speech given to students graduating high school, it's filled with the best and most powerful life advice you'll ever hear, and will help put things back into perspective.

Spend some time around your pet. - If you don't have a pet, (firstly, why not? They rule!) take your parents/friends/neighbours dog for a walk or get yourself down to a pet shop like Pets At Home. Go look at the guinea pigs, watch the fish swim around, ask to stroke a customers dog - they always say yes and nobody thinks you're weird. Animals are incredibly therapeutic and being around them can help you stay calm and at ease.

 

Take your makeup off. - Imagine you're wiping away the day. You can make this as ritualistic as you want, taking your time and going in with cleansers, oils, maybe even your favourite face mask. Pamper your face like it was your soul and you'll start to feel cleansed and new again. You can even reapply your makeup afterwards if that helps you relax, but apply it differently to before, give yourself a fresh start.

 

Take a long shower or bath. - What better way to chill out after taking your makeup off than a good, hot soak. (Are my readers shower or bath people I wonder, let me know) Wash away your worries and take as long as you want. This is "me" time. Then slather yourself in body lotion and get into clean, cosy PJs. Bliss.

 

Have that treat because you deserve it. - That chocolate bar, that bag you've been eyeing up online, that glass of wine and trashy T.V. program. Just eat it/order it/do it. Don't wait for others to offer or tell you that you can, sometimes you need to remind yourself that you deserve a treat once in a while. Don't let yourself feel guilty, just do it!

Write down five things that you're grateful for. - Just like the dancing, you can stop at five or keep going until you run off the page. After you've found five, the rest will come flowing and you'll realise that you have so much to be thankful for. If you're struggling for ideas though, listen to Baz Lurhmann below, he'll give you some inspiration for sure.
"It's not happy people who are thankful, it's thankful people who are happy." - Unknown




What do you do to feel instantly a little happier? Leave your pick-me-ups below and let's help each other get through this first Monday back at school and work!

Amy's Makeover | Everyday Mummy Makeup

If you follow me on Twitter (which you really should by way) you may recall that a few days ago I went to give my lovely friend Amy a makeover/make-up lesson. With two little ones at home, she needed a look that was easy to apply, gave a pulled together, wide awake look and wouldn't take more than 5-10 minutes in the mornings. Below is the finished result (forgot that all important "before" photo - damn it) and how we achieved it.

First Comparison Products Used:

• Bare Minerals Foundation on the left, Rimmel Match Perfection on the right
• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer on the left, Rimmel Wake Me Up on the right (under the eyes)
• Benefit Throbb blush on the left, Rimmel Stay Blushed in 'Pop of Pink' on the right

Looking at Amy's skin and colouring, we preferred the Rimmel Match Perfection foundation and the Wake Me Up concealer, but the Benefit Throbb blush.

Other Products Used: 

• Benefit High Beam
• Rimmel Bronzer in 'Sun Glow'
• Rimmel ScandelEyes Shadow Stick in '001 Bluffing'
• Natural Collection Shadow in 'Butterscotch' (in the inner corners and under the brow)
• Amy's own eyeliner pencil in black (on the outer corner of upper lash line)
• Maybelline The Falsies Mascara (on the top and bottom lashes)
• L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper
• L'Oreal Rouge Carress in '101 Tempting Lilac'

We talked about different variations and what would be necessary every day vs what could easily be skipped. We realized that the L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper, Benefit High Beam and eyeliner pencil weren't that necessary for Amy and that her time was better spent on other products when she's in a rush. Amy also has great skin so I convinced her to stick with her BB Cream on a daily basis and only use foundation when needed.

Unfortunetly, Throbb belonged to Amy so I had to substitute it with Dandelion in this photo... you get the idea.

We were left with a pretty but low maintenance look that left Amy still looking like herself, just a little more polished. The whole thing can be applied in around 5-7 minutes and only required one brush to be used for bronzer and blusher, the rest works perfectly - better even - with fingers.

Final Quick Mummy Makeup Look:

• Garnier BB Cream for every day (to be replaced with Rimmel Match Perfection on special occasions), with Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer under the eyes. 
• A quick dust of Rimmel Bronzer in 'Sun Glow' followed by Benefit 'Throbb' blusher.
• Rimmel ScandelEyes in '001 Bluffing' over the lid and Natural Collection Shadow in 'Butterscotch' popped into the inner corners.
• Finishing off with a coat of Maybelline The Falsies on the upper lashes and a quick swish of L'Oreal Rouge Carress in the plummy shade 'Tempting Lilac'

Let me know what products help to give you that instant pick-me-up when you only have 5 minutes to spare in the morning, I'd love to pass on your recommendations to Amy. 

Fashion & Makeup Haul | Primark, Superdrug & Boots

What's the best thing about having two weeks off work? You guessed it; the extra shopping time. I thought I'd share a few goodies I've picked up over the first week of the Easter holidays (don't worry, this was not all one trip) so I guess you'd call that a 'collective haul'? Woah, I've never sounded more 'YouTube' in my life...

Primark.
Oh Primark, how I've missed you. I always leave it far too long between Primark outings and often find that I miss great products (namely, awesome Disney shirts and dupe handbags) that everyone else has the common sense to pick up before they sell out. Whilst I normally miss out due to my inability to stomach a Primark frenzy on Saturdays, I will happily venture in mid-week and enjoy the bargains without feeling like I wandered into Wall-Mart on Black Friday.

I grabbed two vest tops (the best kind, that come in every colour with adjustable spaghetti straps) in khaki green and white, and also a black cropped vest top that I'll wear under sheer shirts or as a larger bando type thingie. These are great for layering or for holidays.
As are Primark's espadrilles which I lived in last summer. I thought it best to pick them up in my size before they go.
I also couldn't decide between two paneled handbags and in the end I left with both. #sorrynotsorry
They were £8 each and FYI, I've used the black, taller one far more.

Superdrug.

I went a little Tanya Burr crazy and picked up two lipglosses in the shades Aurora and First Date, at £6.99 each. I'm thinking about doing a post on my Tanya Burr glosses, would that interest anyone? I also liked the look of her individual lashes, £5.49, and somehow they found their way into my basket too, oops.
From one YouTuber to the next - I grabbed a travel size Co Lab dry shampoo by Ruth Crilly (A Model Recommends) in the scent 'Rio'. This little cutie was only £1.99 and a great way to test it out before committing to the full size.

Boots.

Boots next, the one shop on the high street where I think I could loose several days of my life browsing the shelves, swooning and swatching. I finally caved at the Benefit counter and bought the ever popular 'Gimmi Brow', and lemmi tell ya, this thing had better work miracles for a painful £18.50! For comparison purposes, I also grabbed the L'Oreal 'Brow Artist Plumper' for a much more reasonable £5.99 (I have a blog, I can buy two of the same products at once it's... totally justifiable research).
I also replaced my Soap & Glory Brow Archery (I was clearly having a brow moment) and also grabbed three sachets of the Montagne Jeunesse Cucumber Peel Off Masks at a pound each. Steal.

Others & Extras.

This week I've also picked up this darling little dish (that I'm really milking in this post, eh?) from Sainsburys that says "Pretty Things". I saw it and thought it would be perfect for blog photos.
My lovely, very generous StepMum Anj (Hi Anj!) was super kind and bought me two new Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks in the shades 'Naked' and 'Obsessed', during a trip to London. I've written a review on these lipsticks here. Thanks Anj!
Last but hopefully not least, I've also jumped into the world of Face Oils and bought this 'Overnight Serum-in-Oil' from the Body Shop's Vitamin E range. I'm a bit scared but can't wait to see how I get on with it.


So keep your eyes open, I'm sure some of these will be making further appearances on here as I test and trail them all out. Let me know if there's anything you'd be particularly interested in seeing me review or if you've tried any yourself. I'd love to know how you got on.

Sneak Peek Inside Mum's House | Home Decor Highlights

Maybe I'm a nosy parker but I've always loved getting a sneak peek into someone else's home. Whether that's to find out more about them as a person, "borrow" home decor ideas or just good old fashioned voyeurism, I've always preferred getting glimpses inside of real homes over the staged, sterile show-homes in magazines. They either look entirely unattainable or cold and uninviting - sometimes both - and who wants that? A proper home is so often a reflection of the lives happening inside of it, perhaps that's what makes it a pleasure (and a privilege) to observe. So without further adue, let me introduce you to the authentic, lived in, very loved home of my Mum and Stepdad.

One of my favourite bits in the entire house has got to be the Kitchen wall. Our appliances (fridge, oven, draws, cupboards) all line up along the other side of the room, leaving a rather boring plain white wall, which Mum and Steve cut bright green squares into, creating a real statement piece. The kitchen overlooks our garden, and bringing the green inside as an accent colour keeps the room looking open, spacious and fresh. They then filled the space with over-sized Scrabble letters, to spell out the very wise words, "eat cake".

If we leave the kitchen and head out to the garden, (excuse the dog toy!) you'll mostly find lawn leading to a small outhouse that my parents use as an office/garage. But before this, there's a patio area with a picnic bench, a few plants, etc. My favourite part of the patio is the small stretch of brick wall that Mum and Steve have covered with plates and pottery from their travels to Morocco. Lanterns hang from the wooden rafters and the vibrant colours give the garden an exotic, warm feel... even in the dreary British weather!

From one garden to another; meet Duck. Duck has sat on her little blue "pond" in our front garden for many years now. She's a bit weathered and worn but she still attracts a lot of attention from passers by and we love her. The blue shingle she sits on makes it look like she's bobbing along happily in her watery home, and visitors and friends can often tell which house we are by asking, "are you the one with the giant duck outside?"

Rather fittingly, we're finishing our tour with a stop at the bathroom. The light creams and sandy colours all work well together to create a very peaceful, relaxing vibe, and the tiles paired with the white wood and pebbles make everything feel a little spa-esc. You may be wondering what a photo of the inside of the shower has to do with anything, but I truly love this shower for it's amazing seat. I can assure you, that there is no greater feeling after a long day than getting into a steaming hot shower and sitting comfortably, undisturbed, under the running water. Pure bliss... Oh, and super easy to shave your legs too. Just sayin'.


My Mum does read my blog (Hi Mum!) so please keep your comments kind - as I know you will. What little trinkets or rooms in your house are your favourite? Let me know below, I'd love to read about what makes your house your home and maybe "borrow" a few home decor ideas from you too!

My Dad's 50th Birthday Hamper | Men's Gift Ideas

So I've always found men much harder to buy for than woman, is this just me? Namely, I've always found my Dad hard to buy for. My Dad is the most unmaterialistic person I know (must be where I get it from, no?) and designer clothes, posh aftershave or expensive luxuries are mostly wasted on him. In fact, my Dad so rarely wants for things, that when he does, he usually buys them for himself. This means that he's got the good gear when it comes to walking, music and camping (his biggest hobbies) and doesn't leave me with a lot of scope to "push the boat out" for his 50th birthday.

Hence, the Man Hamper. The Manper, if you will. God bless Wilko for their unnecessarily large collection of random baskets, as I was able to pick this perfectly sized one for a mere £8.50 and proceed to fill it to the brim with manly goodies. I thought I'd share the finished product with you all, in case like me, you struggle with gift inspiration when it comes to the men in your life. I hope it sparks some great ides for you and you find it useful.

Books & DVDs. 
DVDs and books are great for male birthdays. My Dad is a bit of a reader and so this year I've stayed away from DVDs and have two books in his hamper instead. The first one I've gone with is "The Camping Cookbook" which is jam packed with great recipe ideas for when you're camping (something my Dad does a lot of) and starting to get a bit bored of the same old bacon sarnies and burnt sausages... The second one I picked up is The Jungle Book, my Dads absolute favourite Disney film - and one of his favourite films in general - I saw this copy in The Works and thought it had such beautiful cover art, and my Dad will totally appreciate the sentiment here.

Food and Snacks.

A nice easy one here. Why not stock up on his favourite foodie items, or better yet, food that reminds you of him. I've gone with Skittles and Starbursts not because my Dad adores them necessarily, but because we have a tradition of putting these particular sweets out at Christmas. I included random "manly chocolate" like a KitKat chunky, Mars bar, Snickers etc to bulk up the manly element (no Galaxy Ripple here!) and then included some crisps that you're always guaranteed to find at Dad's house and a bottle of Lea & Perrins to smother all over his cheese on toast! I also bought a 10 pack multipack of rainbow drops (another guilty pleasure) to scatter about the hamper and fill in any gaps.

Other Goodies.
Other little bits and pieces I went with included the fail-safe male birthday present of beer, (three whole bottles of it) two bottles of my Dads regular poisons and a third "wild card" for him to try out. Honestly, you can't go wrong with beer. Speaking of which, I also found a quirky little wooden post card with the Adams Ghostship logo printed on the front. I though this was a bit different and only around £2.50 so I popped that in there too. I included two mugs, one with Beach Huts all the way round it (my Dad loves Southwold and had a beautiful British Seaside wedding last year) and one with the brilliant Wallace & Gromit (Dad loves them and bares a striking resemblance to Wallace...) Other goodies included walking socks, razor blades, moisturizer and Olaf themed shower gel. Yep, Dad's a Frozen fan.

Final Ideas & Tips.
So my final tips when buying for boys are to keep it easy with guilty pleasures, or find out their hobbies and then try to think outside of the box. If they enjoy film, why not get them a cinema voucher so they can see a film you know they haven't already got on DVD. Or if they like cars, why not get them a subscription to a monthly car magazine? As for guilty pleasures, these are easy because people can enjoy them again and again. Are they partial to a packet of Pork Scratchings? Do they routinely munch on Maltesters? Family sized treat bags and a bottle of beer keep things nice and simple if you're just not sure.

Let me know your manly birthday ideas below - I could always use more. And as you've had a selfie of me and my Mum already, it only seems fair to include one of me and my Dad too! Here's a very blurry (unflattering) shot of us at Dad's gorgeous wedding last year. See what I mean about Wallace?

Five Things Disney Films Taught Me About Beauty

Disney gets criticised from time to time for it's views and portrayals of 'beauty'. Teenage princesses, swept off their feet by handsome Princes who fall in love with them for their good looks and youth, and treat them to a 'happily ever after' in a castle far away somewhere...
Critics have often claimed that little girls who watch Frozen on repeat and queue for hours to see Cinderella will grow up believing that they have to look a certain way, or that their lives will never be as good as a those pretty, perfect princesses. But as a fully fledged Disnerd and self confessed princess admirer, I never saw beauty that way as a child. In fact, I thought that Disney movies taught me some valuable lessons that were mostly the exact opposite of what the haters like to suggest! So without further adue, here are five things Disney films taught me about beauty.

1. There is No One Standard of Beauty | It Has No Race, Creed or Culture

With princesses of all different skin colours, ethic backgrounds, hair colours and cultural origins, how on Earth can anyone claim that Disney princesses all look the same? I just don't see it. Even as a child, I knew that attractiveness didn't come from having this hair colour or that skin tone, because all the princesses I grew up watching were so equally admirable but so different from one another. Big Hero 6 had two female leads with entirely different body types, and I still can't decide which figure I preferred! How can you compare Cinderella's blonde hair and fair skin to Jasmine's almond eyes and thick, dark pony tail? Or Elsa's tall, slim figure to Tinkerbelle's petite curves? You can't. They're both equally stunning in their own right, and if Mulan and Tiana and Aurora can all be beautiful, than so can any real girl. Because no individual eye colour, hair colour or skin tone is better than anyone else's.

2. There is More to Life Than Beauty Alone | Beauty Doesn't Define You

If you think Disney princess only have beauty for an asset, you're wrong. Or at least, I certainly never saw it that way. These girls are talented and skilful, they have dreams and aspirations far beyond just looking nice. Tiana worked tirelessly and had a strong work ethic, she wasn't afraid of hard work because she wanted a better life for herself. Rapunzel was incredibly talented and could paint for hours. Elsa had an eye for design and could sculpt beautiful creations from snow and ice. Cinderella was a master at sewing and Belle was a huge book worm, reading and learning was so important to her. Ariel had a mesmerising singing voice and a burning passion for the human world. Mulan was literally masquerading as a man and was brave above all else. Disney don't teach us that beauty is everything, because it's not. They also teach us the value of hard work, creativity and passion.

3. Beauty is Not Youth | Any Age Can Be Beautiful

Mother Gothel thought that beauty belonged only to the young, but she was wrong, and it was her obsession with staying youthful and ageless that eventually lead to her demise. Disney gets criticized sometimes because most of it's princesses are young girls, usually in their teens, but people forget the amazing wealth of older female characters who are just as beautiful. Mrs Incredible (Helen Parr) is smokin' hot, in fact even my Dad admits to finding her attractive. Rapunzels mum, Anna and Elsa's mum, in fact any time a Disney character has a mum (rare in the Disney universe) they've always been animated in a very beautiful way. Aunt Cass from Big Hero six was gorgeous, and how could we forget Ellie from UP? What a stunning older lady she was. Did her wrinkles or grey hair get in the way of that? Not at all. Woman can be graceful, glamorous and elegant no matter what age they are.

4. Beauty is Found Inside | It Shows Through No Matter What You Look Like

Furries. Yeah I said it. This is going to be a weird one but stay with me... Some people say that Disney teaches little girls to want to look a certain way, because the characters who portray beauty are always drawn in a certain way. Well I think that's totally false. I'm going use the example of Nala here. I don't think I, or any other little girl for that matter, ever thought "wow, I wish I looked like that lioness instead because then I'd be attractive". Talk about unreachable standard of beauty... But we knew that Nala was a beautiful character didn't we? Because she was kind, and loyal, and stood by her friend in order to fight for the right thing. So no, I never grew up wishing I could look like Nala, but I wanted to be like her because I looked up to her character. This can be said for many Disney characters, Belle saw the love and kindness in the Beast, and was able to fall in love with him. Duchess and Purdy were both so lady-like that we knew they were oh so glamorous darling, but we're talking about cats and dogs! Disney characters are beautiful from the inside out, and that's the lesson I took away from the films as a kid.

5. No One Is Perfect | Flaws Are Okay!

So you think that the princesses are perfect girls trapped in imperfect lives? Well perhaps you haven't been looking hard enough at some of them, because I see women with flaws, just like the rest of us, especially in the modern princesses. Cinderella and Anna don't look like morning people at all, (nice drool there, Anna) and can we talk about Meg for a second? She had no idea how to let anyone get close to her emotionally and developed a pretty sassy attitude to mask all that insecurity. Frozen was literally a film about Elsa overcoming her 'flaw' and learning to see it in a positive way. Imperfections happen, everyone has them and it's okay. People that look perfect from the outside are likely to be battling their own insecurities, and whatever 'flaws' you think you have, you look perfect to someone too. I mean, Alladin didn't love Jasmine because she was a 'perfect princess' - he fell for her when he thought she was just a street rat. Plus, Belle got past that whole Beast thing so... you really don't have much to worry about!



I hope you enjoyed this post, I realise it's a little different from my usual gig. If you did like it then please share it so others can see it and feel free to disagree or write your own "Disney beauty lesson" down in the comments. I have a feeling this could spark a really interesting conversation.

P.S. - Friday's post will either be my blonde eyebrow routine and threading experience, Collection Eyes Uncovered Pallet vs Naked Basics 2, or a review of the new Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara. Let me know if you have a preference!

Beauty Related Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Don't panic, but you've now got exactly one week left to find a present fit for a wonder-mum like yours, so if you're struggling for ideas then keep reading for some beauty related inspiration. Speaking of gift ideas, can you ever have too many? I've teamed up with the lovely Georgia from White Shirt Chic (such a cute blog name) to create a collab post so you'll have double the options! My post is going to center more on higher end products, so hop over to Georgia's blog for some great Budget and D.I.Y. Mother's Day Gift Ideas too!

What woman doesn't like a good long soak once in a while? My first pick for bath and body care is the RelaxStation from Soap & Glory (£20) the kit comes with a collection of some of their best products, including Clean on Me Shower Gel, The Righteous Butter, Hand Food and more. Lush has come out with a Mother's Day Collection, most of which they've bundled into their Flowers for Mum bundle (£44.95), which is filled with bathbombs, a shower gel and even a massage bar. Finally, the Body Shop always has a flurry of soapy goodness to chose from, but I picked out this Japanese Cheery Blossom Set (£22) because the scent is gorgeous and the packaging makes a real statement!

What better to accompany a bubble bath then a relaxing scented candle? My top pick would be the Jo Malone Lime Basil & Manderine Home Candle (£40). I've written an entire post on why these babies make such a good gift here. If you're not a Jo Malone fan you might find Diptyque candles hit the spot, I recommend their Vanille Candle (£40) because it's a very versatile scent that most people will agree with. My third and final pick would be one of the Rituals Candles (£19.50), Sweet Sunrise is gorgeous and also offers classy packaging and fifty hours burn time!

If you want to keep it classic and go for straight make-up, I don't think you can go wrong with any of these next items. First up, the YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick (£26). I'm sure I don't have to sell you on this too much because their clearly such a luxurious product - look at that bullet tube! - who wouldn't want one of these on their dressing table? My next pick would be any of The Naked Palettes (£38). With bronze, taupe and rose options, there's bound to be one to suit your marvellous mummy. Last but not least, The Roller Lash (£19.50) new from Benefit. Benefit's mascaras are usually a big hit if dramatic, look at me lashes are your thing, plus there's a points offer surrounding these at Boots right now.

This is where the budget crept up on me a bit... sorry! However, I really think each of these products would go down a treat so if you've got the cash to splash then why not treat your mum to the ultimate in skin care luxury - dare I say it - the Glam Glow Get Glowing Set ($69/£45). I've picked this gift set because it offers the best value for money by far, allowing you to try all three masks for the price of one full size. Bringing us back down to Earth for a moment... the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Heritage Mother's Day Set (£26) is probably much more realistic and offers two cute lip tins to take on the go with you. Rounding up the skin care category, we have the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream (£70) Whilst this is crazy expensive, I think I'd also say it's the most indulgent product in my whole gift guide, a real way to push the boat out and say thanks.

Every mum loves a good hand cream. My own mother has a hand cream for every draw and every handbag and every coat pocket she owns. This category is arranged a little differently, because I've selected some great gift sets as well as individual products for those of you who might want to tone it down a bit or are looking for a 'top up' gift. Let's start with Molton Brown, mentioned in my February Favourites post for making such great smelling, great feeling creams. I love the Orange and Bergamot Hand Cream (£10), or you could opt for The Indulge Edition Set (£25) which offers three hand creams together. L'Occitane also have some seriously silky gems, and the packaging on their Cherry Blossom Petal tube (£14) is adorable, as is their Trio Collection Set (£22). And let's not forget The Body Shop, who I personally think offer some of the best hand creams on the market. Their Hemp Hand Protector (£5) may not be pink but it'll sort out any serious dryness or cracked skin in less than a week. It's also included in their Hand Cream Collection (£15)

And we're finally finished! I hope you've found some inspiration, why not pop you own ideas in the comments section to make this post as helpful as it could possibly be? Don't forget to check out Georgia's post on White Shirt Chic for some more budget friendly ideas. And hey - have a selfie of me and my mum for good measure!

Six Things I've Learned About Joining A Running Club

Just like the rest of the UK population in January, I was plagued with guilt and embarrassment over my terrible over indulging over Christmas. And just like everyone else, I too swore on pain of death that I would get fit and healthy for 2015, and made a new years resolution to exercise and workout more. So I joined a beginners running club and roped my mum and my sister into it, and every Monday since January we've met at 6:15pm to curse our way round the running track at my old high school in our little support group of three.
There's probably a total of thirty members, and maybe ten or so coaches, and we all follow a running "schedule" (X time running, X time recovery walk, repeat) followed by homework (in the form of more running!) to complete before the next meet up.

So what's it been like? Am I enjoying it? Do I recommend it? With so many people desperate to improve their health and fitness, what's it really like to join a club dedicated to just that?
Below are six things I've learned about running club and what it's really like to join one.

 

1. The woman you’ll meet will not be intimidating.
And they won’t even slightly resemble the gazelle-like, beautiful woman you see in the sports catalogues. Most of the women at my running club are busy mums in their 40s, running together in groups of two or three, trying to shift that pesky Christmas weight. Even the coaches just look like normal woman, and not even normal woman at their best, because running outside in the cold without a scrap of makeup can give your face a little more than just a “flush”. Everyone gets sweaty, red faced and exhausted. No one there is the glamorous exception.

2. No one is watching you.
Everyone is far too busy concentrating on their own run to give a damn about yours. Look like Phoebe from Friends when you run? No one cares. Not one person is scrutinizing your running technique, your speed or your stamina. People are working too hard to care, and are just trying to get through the last few minutes without collapsing in a heap on the track. Either that or they’re too worried about looking stupid themselves to be looking at you.

3. Expensive workout clothes don’t matter.The vast majority of the woman at my running club are in their tracksuit bottoms and an old baggy tshirt. Like I said, no one is looking at you anyway so wear whatever makes you feel comfortable. Try to wear clothes designed for workouts if you can, (the fabric doesn’t bunch up or get in the way, plus they regulate temperature better) but Asda and Primark have great ranges that will more than do the job. We’ve all seen those people with all the gear and no idea, and at the end of the day, whether your gear costs £9 or £90 it doesn’t make you a better runner!

4. …but a good sports bra does!
We’ve all been there; cupping our assets as we bolt up the stairs, trying to avoid the pain. I come from a family of heavier chested woman, and if you’re blessed with the breasts, a sports bra will improve your running by 100%. It will almost completely flatten you out, keeping your boobs from spilling over the top or drooping to your knees after a year. Literally, it will feel like running without boobs. So if you’re going to invest in workout clothes don’t break the bank on a pair of LuluLemon Wonder Unders, go get yourself fitted for a decent sports bra. Seriously, embrace the freedom!

5. The only bad workout is the one you don’t do.
It doesn’t matter if you need to stop for a minute and take a breather. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t do as well as you wanted or as well as the girl next to you. All that matters is that it’s cold, and dark, and beginning to rain, and you’re out on a track trying your hardest, instead of slumped on the sofa with a Cadbury Bar & A Half. Doing something or doing nothing is a choice, so be proud you made the right one!

6. Your body can do so much more than you think it can.
When I joined running club, I thought there was no way I was ever going to be able to run for five solid minutes without stopping. But I proved myself wrong, and now I can run for thirty minutes without stopping, and feel energised enough to do it again after just a few minutes recovery time. When you push through discomfort, you can do so much more than you’d ever assume of yourself. Even when your body has reached its physical limit, if you try again in a few days, you’ll be stronger and fitter than you were before. Try not to measure results based on dropping a dress size, and look at the extra strength and stamina that your body is gaining over time. It doesn’t take long at all to build up, and watching myself improve has actually become a much better motivator than achieving a certain body type. Maybe because it happens so much faster?
Keep going and before long, today’s workout will be next week’s warm up.