2014 Goals

Get a 2014 Diary

I like to be a organised person, planning ahead helps me not get too lost in my own daydreams and I get more accomplished out of my days. In 2012 I had a diary and it came everywhere with me I would jot down appointments, ideas, blog post even how much money I had for the week. When it came to 2013 I never bought one and I regretted it. I forgot plans, the blog lacked in posts, I was late for things (except work) and I felt I was missing my left arm. I know we all have diaries on our phones but for some reason for me nothing compares to the feeling of writing on paper.

Get fitter, Eat cleaner, Stay motivated

Two years ago, I lost a significant amount of weight, gradually I have let some of that weight creep back on and I have decided now it is the time to tackle it head on. I am not trying to get a body for summer I am trying to change parts of my lifestyle that will benefit me for life, and the body that results from these changes is the bonus of living healthier. Last year I found out some health issues I never knew I even had and even though I am still waiting on results and consultations, I know that having a cleaner lifestyle will only benefit these issues. My boy is also joining me on this change and is really helping me stay motivated. I downloaded My Fitness Pal App which is really helping me control portion size and see what nutrition I am getting from food and also what I am lacking in. It has a great database of food on it and you can also scan bar codes. It also links up to my Runtastic App which tracks my exercise.

Blog More

I love blogging I really do but some times I lack in my motivation to blog. In 2012 I wrote 102 posts but in 2013 I only wrote 50, this year I am going to try aim for 150. I am trying to be realistic to myself, I do not want to say Ill write 300 and then let myself down at the end of it, I work full time and unfortunately its no where near a computer so better to be realistic with myself. I am going to introduce outfit of the day posts back into the blog and also more food recipes. I also will be getting a redesign done sometime in the near future.

 Educate Myself More

For the last few years my plans have been work and travel and earn some "dolla bills". For some while now I have been feeling I have been getting older and I kind of do not have anything to show for it. Yes I have diplomas in the Hospitality and am a qualified in Makeup Artistry but I do not have a career. I really do not want to keep getting older and all my social networking sites to say

" Megan-Rose Core

Head bartender/Makeup Artist"

Even though I love working in the bar Industry its not a lifelong job for me. So come September 2014 I will be back in college and getting my full Qualification in Beauty Therapy. Yes it means putting my travelling plans on hold for two years but I feel I will always travel no matter my age but I do not think I would go back to college once I am older so now is the right time.

So these are my goals for 2014, I would love to hear yours.

Pictures from: https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/140601/diaries-planners

http://www.freshminds.net/2011/11/social-media-management-tips-effective-blogger-outreach/

http://www.keepcalm-o-matic.co.uk/p/keep-calm-and-go-back-to-college-2/

http://www.mind2body.net/blog/inspirational-fitness-quotes-joseph-pilates-celebrities

Product Review Custom On It.com Bar Blades

 

A few months back I was contacted by the lovely Paul, he had seen through twitter that I was a bartender as well as a blogger. He asked if I would be interested in trying out some of their bartender merchandise. 

I jumped at the chance and was delighted to be able to design my own bar blade. For you none bartenders a bar blade or speed openers as it's referred to in other countries is a slim piece of metal with a finger hole on one end and a bottle opener on the other end.

I first started using bar blades about two years ago and have never looked back they are much easier to use and you can do tricks with them. Mine never leaves my back pocket in work or my bag any other time as you never know when your bartender skills will be needed.

 

For my design I knew I wanted something girly, mainly because I knew the boys in work would not steel it. The quotation took some thinking about but then I remembered that my friend Saskia calls me this when ever we meet people mainly because my "attitude"  and skills behind the bar. 

Custom On It was kind enough to not only design me one but two bar blades both as a pretty as each other and girly as ever.

 

I have been testing them out over the past few weeks in work to see how the paint holds up on them as I have bought previous ones for friends on ebay that after one shift in work where you can open 100+ bottles  a night the paint had chipped off it all over the blade. But these Custom On It blades have not even chipped apart from small scrapes around the opening section where you expect it from jagged edge of bottle caps. My colleagues have all commented on how striking and well made they are  and my regular customers think they suit me down to the ground.

Overall I am delighted with my bar blades.

About Custom On It

Custom On It was founded in 2007 by Paul Serra and Adam Topping from originally just designing sweatbands and wristbands they have now grown to designing t-shirts to toys, drink ware to folders. Anything that can be printed on they print on it. 

They have minimum orders on all products which varies with each product they also offer free shipping on all orders. My bar blades took about 12 days to arrive. Need any help with your orders they provide a great customer service and are always swift in answering any questions you have.

Website: http://www.customonit.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/customonit/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CustomOnIt

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/custom-on-it

Google+: https://plus.google.com/+Customonit/posts

#Foreveralone

Single on valentines? End of the world right!

Seeing couples declare their undying love for each other make you feel sad and lonely?

Shop windows covered in love hearts and teddy bears remind you of what ifs and past loves?

My social networking sites this week have been inundated with people updating statuses with;

" Need to find a date for Valentines." And hash tagging #foreveralone. As a "permanent singleton" who has only ever spent one valentines with someone in all my years of dating, I am sick of people moaning! I was hoping to avoid the day by sleeping and working but my roster did not turn out that way. At first I was noooo, instantly must find a date/call an ex/ buy alot of munches, hire a mother load of DVDs and spend the day under my duvet avoiding the love fest outside. At the same time because we're all sheep hash tagging #foreveralone. Then it struck me that none of it even mattered.

My friend text me with news that she had organised a date for valentines so she would not be another statistic of a trending article on twitter and for when people asked what she got up to she would not seem lonely and she smile and say she had a date. This was a new boy that she had blindly been set up with so when agreeing to the date she barely knew anything about him (apart from he was a hot piece of arm candy). Few days on and countless texts later she has found out this boy is a clinger, already has cute pet names for her and in his words wants to make her 'his girl'. So with the date tonight, she is dreading it and actually wishes she was hiding under her duvet with munchies and DVDs.

The whole situation made me realise how happy I am with life right now and been single is part of it! I could not be bothered with the fact I am alone on valentines. Pretty glad I am not stressing over what size cologne to get the boy and what shade of red lipstick to wear to our dinner date. The one valentines I did have , due to my workaholicsness I totally forgot about it. And while my boyfriend at the time lavished me with jewellery cards and chocolates, I was like "Eh I will cook you dinner later."

I am not saying been in a relationship is a bad thing or that I would not be as happy if I was in one, but at this moment I am not. I am just going to let things run their course and when I am supposed to be in one I will be.

An I happy for all them loved up couples out there? Of course. Two of my work friends recently got together and I am thrilled for them even if I was the go between man/messaging service while they plucked up the courage to finally bite the bullet. I am actually looking forward to hear their loved up valentines story on Friday of what they got up to and what they got each other.

Single on Valentines? So what! End of the world did not occur on December 22nd and will not occur on February 14th just because your alone! Embrace it and if you can not then treat it as any other Thursday, it's just another day anyway. Do not want to sit in alone, then make plans with friends, go see your little old nanny/grandad, go gym, go for a walk, do whatever. But remember you do not become happy just because your in a relationship, you need to be happy within yourself first. Love will come when it's supposed to, it might mean a few more single valentines but hey you got through this one you can get through them all.

And if you are in a relationship have a great day and I hope your spoilt with love and affection. And remember Valentines maybe all materialistic these days but the greatest gift you can give someone is just showing you care!

Happy Valentines!

Picture source :http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/forever%20alone%20day