Happy New Year! So, another year done. And 2018 has been a pretty good one. The year we traveled to Japan and I dreamed of moving there. The year I founded my little business and the year I really started to understand myself (I can’t use the term found myself, sorry it’s just too wanky, even for me).
Travels
We travelled, oh boy did we. On that front I don’t think we will ever have a year like it. We spent a family Christmas in Bali and Nusa Lembongan. I fell in love with Thailand, nope it’s not over as so many people would lead you to believe. Visiting Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Krabi, Koh Lanta, Koh Yao Noi and various beautiful beaches in the south-west. We had a blast in Japan, not wanting to leave. We visited Malaysian gems, Langkawi, Melaka, Ipoh, Perhentian and Borneo. We experienced the wonder of Siem Reap, and came away with a love of the local Lemonade (it’s not a soft drink). And I got to go back to my all time favourite place Lombok and Gili Air, being lucky enough this time to visit Gili Meno.
Me
I realised that trying to change myself, to suit an ideal I didn’t even believe in, was crazy. I stopped the yo yo diet train and just started to eat what I wanted, when I wanted it and boom I no longer obsess over food. Not having good and bad foods means I don’t stuff my face with chocolate and crisps as much and feel better for it. These things were off-limits before so I ate them in secret or gorged on them, whenever I had them.
I have found acceptance with who I am. I have made peace with the fact I have done 28 different jobs, because I just can’t settle for anything and bore easily. And have come to understand that a lot of this is to do with denying myself the creativity I crave. Doing the ‘right’ job, instead of following my heart and allowing fear to get the better off me.
I am not perfect, but seriously who is? and actually who would want to be? Screwing up is what makes life fun, sometimes flying by the seat of your pants is just what you need.
So a few lessons learnt and a travel itinerary to rival Palin, its been a good one. So in a more frivolous round-up I’m going to share so of my favourite things.
The Best of 2018 – What I’ve loved
Skincare & Make up
2018 was the year I really got into skincare, understanding my AHAs from my BHA’s and getting into a proper routine. I tried lots of things and ended the year moving towards natural skincare, where possible. My 5 skincare favourites were…
- Hado Labo Gokujun premium hyaluronic solution is an amazing hydrating lotion, I put it on straight after I have double cleansed and used a glycolic acid toner.
- SON&PARK Beauty Water is my morning toner, gentle and packed full of skin saving ingredients. It’s hard-working, meaning it can be used as a spritz to freshen during the day or even to remove make up.
- Nakin Eye cream loving this natural skincare brand
- The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane it’s that time of life when Retinol is now an essential part of my weekly routine, not every day but every second day.
- Laneige Water Sleeping Mask I have loved this for a long time. Feels good on the skin and I wake up with better looking skin.
Make up
- IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better™ CC+ Cream™ SPF 50+ It would have to be an amazing product for me to stop using this in favour of something else. Everything about it is fab, it lasts close to 6 months as you need so little of it. It is nourishing, makes my skin look amazing and goes on with ease.
- Kiss Me Waterproof Mascara best budget mascara I have ever used. At around a tenner it has a similar effect to those twice its price.
- PIXI Rose Flash Balm Love the rose fragrance and it acts as a great primer. Not cheap but lasts well, had mine 6 weeks and still have loads left.
- Becca Be A Light Palette bought for me as a present and it gives me the best colour and tone. Never one for over contouring, this does that without looking fake, you know what I mean!
- Nudestix one of my favourite discoveries of the year. A lasting colour that is moisturising.
Books
I really got back into reading last year, reading multiple books at once. My 5 favourites were…
- Everything is Lies – This was amazing. Tense, intriguing, a real page turner. I could not put it down.
- Emma Gannon’s Multi-Hyphen Method – given what I said earlier about all my careers and my desire for creativity this book was perfect.
- Alice Judge-Talbot’s The Back Up Plan – Laugh out loud funny at points and a fab look at life as a single mother.
- Arthur Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha – After Japan this was a must read for me and it was just fabulous.
- Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl – An oldie but goodie. The book IS better than the film!
Film & TV
Best film I saw by far was Loving Vincent – just wow. The look of the film just blew me away.
Best TV series The Marvellous Mrs Maisel Is fabulous, I want to be her, seriously.
So there you have it, my favourite things of 2018. It wasn’t a walk in the park but I see how lucky I have been and what a privilege it has been, to experience so much. 2019 you have some big shoes to fill.
As with everything, somebodies great year is another person’s shitty year, so however 2018 was for you I hope 2019 is even better.
