Guest post: Top tips to help you live your best life!

Blogging has brought me many gifts. One of the most valuable being the wonderful people I’ve met along the way.

Sometimes, just sometimes, you’re lucky enough to meet someone that you click with straight away. You’re on the same wavelength, you have similar interests, you giggle, you conspire, you wish you lived closer to them for long, coffee-fuelled chats about life, the universe and everything.

Ever happened to you?

It has to me and when I knew we were going to be throwing most of the house into our car and driving the length of the UK to bonny Scotland for two weeks of fun and family time, I didn’t hesitate to reach out and ask one of those lovely someones – Katie from Pouting In Heels – to guest post for me while we were away.

Katie is a freelance journalist and copywriter and started her wonderful blog Pouting In Heels when she hurt her back in early pregnancy. She is the Queen of stylish selfies (read her top tips here) and shares wonderful stories about her life and family including 50 things I’ve learnt about Motherhood and style inspiration like Five things to try if you’re in a style rut.

She says of her corner of the blogosphere:

I don’t know about you but I’m sick to the back teeth of women being torn apart. Our figures, our choices, our styles and our lives are always up for debate and criticism. My desire is that this blog will become known as a place where women can find a warmer, encouraging voice, plenty of inspiration, a good dash of humour and a hell of a lot of style too.

Here here!

I absolutely LOVE Katie’s writing – it IS warm and encouraging and this guest post is a great example of that. It’s become my new mantra for life! Enjoy.

You can follow Katie on Twitter , on and .

When the lovely Michelle from Bod for Tea asked me to write a guest post for her super duper blog, I just couldn’t refuse. After all, it’s not every day you get to write for one of your favourite bloggers now is it?

So accepting was easy but the tricky bit, the real tricky bit was what on earth to write about?!

I’ve racked my brains for the last few days, tossing around a few ideas but all of them just didn’t feel quite right.
And then today, over lunch (a big juicy burger in case you’re interested) I had a lightbulb moment. Blogging is all about sharing right?

So I thought to myself, what better stuff could I share with you all, then some of my ‘how I get through life’ secrets?!

I mean life is tough at times isn’t it? Wonderful yes. But also a challenge on many an occasion.

I’m a first time mum to a toddler. I work for myself. I’m married. I have a busy social life. I blog as much as I can. I have a house to renovate. My life – like yours – is full. On.

As we trudge, or skip (you choose!) through the trials and tribulations of life, it’s essential that we pick up some top tips along the way. Essential to our well being. And indeed our survival.

Below – from the sublime to the ridiculous – are some of the things that truly work for me from thoughts to practical tips.

That get me through my life, the good days and the not so good.

Some are profound, some not so much, but I promise you, they’ve all been tried and tested by yours truly. This is the stuff that works for me. I can only hope that some of them may just work for you too.

(And if you want to find out more about me, my hectic life and perhaps pick some inspiration up along the way, do pop over to my blog Pouting In Heels and say hi! I’d love to hear from you! x)

Life

• Nearly everything seems better after a cup of tea and a hot bath.
• Nothing cannot be fixed.
• All we really have in life is our time so always use it wisely.
• When it comes to people, think plumbing. Folk are either radiators or drains. Which one are you?
• Whenever you have a tough day, breathe and say this: “everyone’s fed, nobody’s dead.” It puts everything into perspective.
• Be the best friend you can be. To others. And, just as importantly, to yourself.
• Love is the most precious thing. Don’t ever take it or those you love for granted.
• Always give yourself at least 15 mins a day for YOU. Do a mini work out. Meditate. Close your eyes. Go out and breathe some fresh air. Start with 15 mins and see if you can increase it to 30, then an hour. You deserve your alone time.
• Grab sleep whenever and wherever you possibly can. Especially when you’re a mum.

Style

• To look groomed in seconds, pop on some earrings and lipstick. Both take seconds to apply but imply effort, confidence and good grooming.
• Organise your wardrobe into outfits. It will save you heaps of time and will force you out of your style comfort zone. You’ll be amazed at the combinations you can come up with.
• Get out of your jeans and wear more dresses. Not only are they comfortable, they’re stylish and incredibly feminine too.
• Black may be chic but it’s colour that will make you stand out from the crowd.
• All you need for a big night out is big hair, smokey eyes, sequins and heels. Think Studio 54 and you’ll never go wrong.
• Whenever you need to feel more confident, wear heels.
• For one of a kind pieces go vintage.

Sass

• When it comes to your beautiful body, think strong and fit, never skinny.
• Embrace aging. Stop being afraid of it and realise how lucky you are to be still be here! Forgo the botox and be inspired by stars who aged gracefully like Audrey Hepburn and Lauren Bacall. Wrinkles are beautiful.
• Confidence will help open doors that beauty, talent and skill sometimes cannot. Always believe in yourself, especially when others don’t believe in you.
• If you don’t ask, you don’t get.
• Fear can either stop you in your tracks or help propel you to the stars. The only way to tackle it is on head on. Use it as an indicator and a motivator.
• True beauty is about much more than looks. Be charming, kind, intelligent, warm, funny and open to the world.

Secrets

• Ballet workouts give you the best body.
• If you cut out white carbs or replace them with healthy ones, you will lose weight easily.
• Everyone is just as afraid and insecure and worried as you. Some are just better at hiding it.
• Freelancing is the best way to earn a living and spend more time with your children.
• Herbal tea is the bees knees. Try peppermint when you’re bloated, camomile tea when you’re stressed and delicious fruit tea for a change to squash or fizzy drinks.
• Every mum has awful days and every mum thinks she is failing. We’re all just doing the best we can.
• Women are stronger and more powerful when we work together and support each other. Let’s stop attacking each other and create a sisterhood.
• Nothing is more attractive and appealing to other people than being interested in them, so when people speak, listen and give them your full attention.
• You are never alone. Whatever you are going through, someone has been through it. Please don’t ever be afraid to reach out and ask for help.

With love (and pouts)
Katie
Pouting In Heels

x

 

Linking up with The List over at You Baby Me Mummy