Faded Spring

    Planning A Blogger Award Ceremony

    After Faded Spring Turned One last August, it got me thinking how much I had achieved in my year of 'blogging'. Not only had I built a website from scratch, set up Facebook Groups to increase social and blog generated traffic but I had also won two awards, such as Best British Blogger and been nominated for a further three. Now awards are not everything but even being nominated shows that someone believes in you and believes that you have the drive and passion to be a success. We bloggers are mechanized to the beat of a technological drum and spend hours glued to our computers and smartphones hastily compiling tweets on the train, replying to emails on buses and writing posts with three mugs ... read more

    7 Reasons Why Crying Is Good For You

    Crying is an emotion that is often kept behind closed doors and when we are questioned, we often deny that we are upset for fear of judgement. But we should not be afraid to show that we are sad, after all crying is as natural as sleep is to restore the mind. Without tears we would not be able to see, without tears we would be emotionless and without tears our body could not flush out natural toxins. But why is it that when we someone cry we feel uncomfortable or when we feel the first sting of tears seeping through our lashes we are overcome with embarrassment and are too embarrassed to admit that we have been crying. I used to be one of those people and would get angry or upset if someone ... read more

    Why It’s Ok To Be Single On Valentines Day

    For years I leapt from doomed relationship, to relationship because I thought that being alone on Valentine's day, was the ultimate indicator of your 'inevitable spinsterhood'. I was conditioned from a young age into believing that to be single was against social norms, whereas relationships were indicative of your desirability, a theory that I now debunk. It was an unsettling time growing up and as I wrote in ' 'Why I Am Staying Single This Valentines Day', I would enter a series of relationships, only to get my heart trampled on, all because I wanted to be seen as attractive, wanted and above all loved. Largely in relation to the bullying and abuse that I faced as a young child and teen, I ... read more

    Why Nadia Minkoff Bags Are For Life

    Nadia Minkoff might not be an accessory brand that comes easily to mind and for good reason too. Minkoff is what I like to call an underground designer, whose passion for accessories  reads through 'creative design' rather than 'words'. Put simply Minkoff uses accessories to tell a story and that story is one of wonder, dedication and passion. Minkoff's sole aim is not to make 'money' but to inspire consumers to leave 'fast fashion' behind and embrace one of a kind accessories that are 'inevitably timeless'. Despite being founded in 1988, the year which the ghastly 'pouff' was in fashion, the same iconic 'traditional' aesthetic still remains relevant today. Because lets face it we may ... read more

    Why 2017 Is Looking Smokin’

    When it comes to food, do you love to go low, slow and dirty? Because if you do, 2017 is set to be a smokin’ year for you! We may not always be blessed with buckets of sunshine, but we Brits certainly love a barbecue and over the last few years a spark has ignited that has taken our love beyond the simple burger and banger. From new restaurants on the high street to popular products on supermarket shelves, a barbecue revolution is burning, with growing interest in barbecue foods from all over the world. Sticking your food on the barbecue and hoping for the best is no longer enough as slow cooking and smoking have come to the fore. And, if all of this has somehow passed you by, it’s time to ... read more

    How To Deal With Rejection

    Dealing with rejection is no easy feat and being told that you are not good enough is hardly cause for celebration. Yet over the years I have come to realize that rejection is all part of what I like to call the 'Game of Life'.  We can be rejected by our peers, by the ones we love and by people we haven't even met, who dismiss our profile with one quick click. We are rebuffed by former lovers or told by employees that we are not what they are looking for and as a result can feel hurt, angry and sad. It is perfectly normal to feel 'rejected' and whether that is through being turned down for your dream job or finding out that the one you love is with someone else, life does get better I ... read more

    10 Colourful Bloggers You Must Follow On Instagram

    1.Kate Hannah: The Rainbow Child  Author of 'An Artful Life', Kate Hannah sees the world through an abundance of colour, thus me giving the nickname of 'The Rainbow Child'. Self described as  a 'walking rainbow' , Kate's aversion to dark hues and obsession with her rainbow mane gives me life everytime I click on her feed. Whether you have had a bad day or need an injection of colour into your dull lives, Kate Hannah will be there to make you feel more colourful once again. Having blogged since 2011 at the age of 18, Kate has since curated a lust-worthy rainbow feed that has splashed colour into every inch of the world. In times of political travail and uncertainty, colour is the new ... read more

    Spa & Massage: Deep Tissue Massage

    Spa's Are The Best If there is one thing that living in London has taught me, its that stress is only around the corner. I deal with issues like rent, illnesses and mental health on a daily basis and stress causes my body pain. You see, I have scoliosis, hypermobile joints and a dislocated deltoid, all of which leaves me in pain most of the time. The biggest factor is my lack of sleep which leaves me feeling sore and disorientated yet my lifestyle contributes too. I spend hours on my feet or in front of a computer screen, meaning that I do not give my body enough rest, causing knots underneath the skin. Knots feel like stones and if you feel my upper back and neck you would be alarmed to ... read more

    The Ice Queen: Extinction Of The North

    Ice Queen Picture the scene; its a cold blustery day, where the snow drips down our weary faces. The roast dinner is in the oven and the scent of fresh gingerbread wafts under our noses. The dog barks and the cat mewls, the day turns to the night and the fireplace crackles. The trees sway in the breeze and the revelers drink til' morning comes. In this winter wonderland there is peace and prosperity, but for how long will tranquility last? For there is a dark storm brewing as the skies turn ink black. The laughter stops, the cheers quieten down and the revelers stop drinking- at least for a while. She is here, the Queen who feeds on fear- her season has come and conquered. For she is no ... read more

    Why You Should Live Life In The Moment

    Live Life Like Each Day Is Your Last  It was when I was binge watching episodes of my new favourite TV show that it hit me. When was the last time that I lived life in the moment, like each day was my last? When was the last time that I lived with reckless abandon and felt the wind running through my hair? We all do it, I mean live life as though it was a structured routine. We go to the same places and go to bed at the same time. We bemoan all the things we can't do and make excuses for why life is not going the way that it should be. I have lost count of the amount of times I have made excuses for not being able to go on holiday or go out because of money issues. But it is my own fault, ... read more