lifestyle

5 Netflix Shows You Need to Watch This Month

12 June 2017

Bingley, UK
I’m a self-confessed Netflix lover. Ever since signing up, I have just adored the site and use it more than I use usual TV. There are a lot of TV shows and series that I have grown to love, and watched way more than three times. Therefore, my joy must be shared!

01. Girlboss
The phrase #GIRLBOSS is pretty famous thanks to Nasty Gal CEO Sophia Amoruso, and this show is a total inspiration. Although it hasn’t received the best reviews from critics and some feminists, I still love how determined and unique Britt Robertson’s character is. The story is interesting, very much like the book, even though the narrative is a little slow. If you’re looking for the motivation to start your own business or jump into the fashion industry, check out this show.

02. 13 Reasons Why
I completely understand why this show was controversial. Some scenes were truly terrifying to watch. Why you should watch it? Well not only because everyone is talking about it, but because this show will alter the way you look at the world. While watching it, I started to think about my own personal demons and actually become motivated to defeat them. I was moved by Hannah’s story, as well as Clay’s emotional turmoil as each episode unfolded. There’ll be characters you love, totally despise and want to hug. It’s a series full of relatable types and eye-opening messages. But please watch with caution!


03. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Whenever I’m on my lunch break, I look for something light and humours to watch, as it’ll lower my stress levels and put me in a better mood before I return to an afternoon of reports and cold cups of tea. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is that perfect show. Not only is it truly hilarious, but I fell in love with the characters, especially Titus. You’ll often see gifs of him floating around the internet, so tune in and enjoy.

04. Riverdale
I can’t lie, I really struggled with this show at first. With the first few episodes, I couldn’t get addicted, and didn’t relate to the characters this much. By the third or fourth, and a little encouragement from my friends, I really started to enjoy the show as more details of the mysterious murder were revealed. One thing I noticed with the characters in this show, is that you really get to know them and their lives, and are able to make your own decision as to whether or not you like them. And like any good show, there are some great couples to obsess over!

05. Gossip Girl… obviously
I mean, if you haven’t watched this show. Kmt. I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve been a Gossip Girl fan since it first showed on ITV2 a couple of years ago. I became obsessed then and I’m still obsessed now. It’s definitely the show that helped me to fall in love with New York City, fashion and glamour. The drama is enough to have you hooked, and each season has a hint of mystery; on top of the biggest mystery of all – who Gossip Girl is!

Six Ways I’m Approaching Blogging Differently

7 June 2017

Kettering, UK
In December 2016, I decided to take a break from blogging because I fell out of love with it. During this time, I wanted to really figure out the type of person I want to be, and I want that person to be the same online, as in real life. Blogging became more a chore for me and I feel like all the joy was zapped out of it. And articles from bigger bloggers saying the market is saturated and there’s no room for everyone else doesn’t help, but it isn’t going to stop me. I’m back to blogging for good, and I have six different ways I’m going to ensure that happens.

KILL THE COMPARISON
One of the main reasons I fell out of love with blogging is because I was comparing my blog to everyone else’s. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to improve and grow as a person, but it should be to your own standards, not to the achievements of someone else. I was measuring my success based on how similar I was to other bloggers I looked up to, and when I wasn’t close to them, it started to get me down. I’ll still look up to bloggers, but not try to become them. I wanna be me!

NO MORE PRESSURE
I used to really pressure and push myself while blogging, almost to the point of not wanting to even switch my computer on. I used to seriously freak out if I wasn’t getting four blog posts out a week and had to post on Instagram three times a day. That’s when blogging really became a chore. I was even setting reminders to tweet and so on. Now that blogging is more personal to me, I’m posting when I feel I should post (but still frequently) and tweeting what I’m actually thinking, rather than just a quote of the day or a photo of my breakfast. With Instagram, I still post every day, but filling up people’s feeds isn’t at the top of my list any more.

FOCUS ON PHOTOS
When blogging my daily outfits, I used to use any old photos and just hope for the best. I have a chunky DSLR that takes killer photos, and awesome lenses, so I’m going to make use of them! I really enjoy photography and my sister (sort of) enjoys taking photos of me in random locations, which means I really need to up my game. Instead of finding hit and miss Tumblr images, I want to spend time arranging flat lays, or planning the set up for my photos, so they not only reflect my personality, but also improve the quality of my blog.

PUBLISH THOSE DRAFTS
The number one reason I started a blog is because I love to write. When I was younger, I really thought I was going to be an author or a journalist because creative writing and sharing my thoughts it my passion. I have quite a few blog posts sitting in my drafts that I wrote to inspire my readers. However I was always a little scared to publish them, worried that it means I won’t fit in to the whole “fashion” market, or that I was straying too far from my niche. Well my blog is named after myself, and myself shall decide what I publish. From photography, to travel to journal posts, I want to share it all.

CREATE VIDEOS
There’s very little chance I’m going to become a YouTuber over the next six months, but I recently edited a video called “24 Hours in London” which I shot on my iPhone 7. I really enjoyed the editing process and loved the final product. Creating a travel video out of the phone footage was genuinely an enjoyable experience and I definitely want to continue doing so. I may start small, with the occasional trip around Yorkshire or even some drone footage. But soon, I want to be able to share travel videos online!

JUST BEING ME
As I mentioned earlier, my blog is named Anika May. That’s me. There’s no point creating a little corner on the internet for myself, if I’m not being myself. I finally know the type of person I am, and I know who I want to grow to become. It’s not another blogger, or a celebrity, or even one of my friends – it’s just me. Anika. I’m not that cool, I don’t pout in photos and I like spending hours watching trash TV. I no longer want to hide aspects of my personality or worry what people think of me because it’s my blog, and it always will be. Haters gon’ hate…right?

June Goals

1 June 2017

Harrogate, UK
June’s officially the start of the summer for me and I have so much planned. Not only am I upping my blogging game, but I also want to improve my own personality and grow stronger friendships.

CAREER
Get back my blogging groove – I used to post six times a week, which I now know is way too many times for my busy brain to handle, but the chaos was kind of fun and I’d like to publish more photography online.

Meet more bloggers – I haven’t met many bloggers in real life, and although I have mutual followers and so forth online, it would be lovely to really establish friendships with more in this wonderful community and get to know the people behind the URLs.

Update my CV – I currently work part-time for my mama’s charity, but my CV hasn’t been touched for about two years. Granted, I’m not looking for a job, but the media kit for my blog is always updated; I guess my CV should be too!


FRIENDS & FAMILY
See my family – My extended family members literally live twenty minutes away and I barely see them. This results in broken relationships which isn’t healthy in the long run. I have quite a few cousins, and we should all be a lot closer!

More girls’ nights – For the first time in a long time, I have friends that I enjoy being around. There’s no cliques and there’s no drama – just how I like it. I love when we have our girly nights in and we need waaaaaaaay more.

Bond with my mum and sister – My mum, sister and I have one of the most hilariously interesting relationships I’ve ever known. We’re a peculiar bunch and could be yelling at each other one minute and howling with laughter the next… I want more of that.


HEALTH
Gym, gym and gym – I haven’t hit the gym in a while and it’s just because I’m lazy. I sort of gave up on the health kick I was on, and I’d love to hop back on that train. Being in the peak of physical health is the goal!

Prep my meals – One of the major things that lets me down is the food I eat. I hate cooking with a burning passion and will do quite a few things to avoid it, like buy Pot Noodles when they’re on offer. If I prepare my meals in advance, I’m sure it’ll help.

Take a yoga class – I’ve always been intrigued by yoga, and I love how it’s so beneficial and challenging for the body. It seems like one of those exercises that you will start to look forward to, rather than dread.


FUN
Late summer nights – Summer means more daylight and a higher temperature, that means campfires, woodland adventures and so much more. I can’t wait to get started, 2017 will be the best summer yet!

Take a holiday – I haven’t got anything booked yet, but taking a spontaneous trip to a country I’ve never been to sounds like the dream. Just something care-free and fun is sure to lift my spirits and help me enjoy the year with my friends.

Vlog – I already have one little travel diary from London sitting in my “Videos” folder, ready to upload to YouTube, but I don’t know if I’m ready. I think the more I vlog, the more comfortable and confident I will become with my skills.


MONEY
Attain more freelance jobs – I really enjoy doing the odd job here and there, it’s such a fun change to my regular routine and helps me build experience in the real world. I’d love to do more, whether it’s photography or a sponsored post on my blog.

Buy a MacBook – Don’t get me wrong, I adore Windows, but Windows doesn’t come with some of the software I need. MacBooks are the key to upping my blogging and vlogging game and I think buying one would help me a lot… I just need some money…

Buy a camera – At the moment, my iPhone 7 does the perfect job of taking snaps when my DSLR is deemed too heavy, but I’d love to purchase something in the middle. I’ve had my eye on the Canon G7x Mark ii, maybe June is the month I buy it.


SELF-CARE
Be positive – One of the reasons I took a break from blogging is because I no longer saw it in a positive light. That’s got to change. There may be some bloggers who believe there’s no room for anyone else to shine or that the market is saturated… who needs that kind of negativity?

Journal daily – I have a journal specifically for making note of when my anxiety gets the best of me or when I struggle to control my emotions. I definitely to write down how I feel a lot more, as storing it all in my brain just isn’t healthy.

Start saving – Not just to have money, but for my future. I have a very ambitious mind set and have already decided my next car will be a Mercedes. If I want to buy one, I need cash. Saving money from blogging and my pay-check is definitely a June goal.


What are you goals for this month?

Things I Wish I Knew When I Learned to Drive

29 May 2017

Bingley, UK
I started learning to drive in June 2016 and passed in November 2016 – so basically it took me four months to drive. I’ll admit I hated it at first. Truly, I didn’t understand why it was a privilege and didn’t appreciate the opportunity at first. After every lesson I wanted to give up. Now that I’m an independent and fully licenced driver, (who passed first time with one minor may I add) I look back and realise there’s a couple of tips I wish I had, before I got into the driver seat.

Keep calm!
Panic is an understatement when it comes to an error when driving. I remember the first time I stalled, oh my goodness I basically had a breakdown. It’s difficult to encourage yourself to keep cool, calm and collected, but really helps. It’s really easy to allow nerves to take over. There’s this little thing called clutch foot, which is a result of nerves taking over the body. It’s definitely terrifying when it comes to getting in a car for the first time, 10mph feels like 500 – but freaking out is not the answer. Take a few deep breathes when the pressure gets too much, roll down a window to cool down or request silence to help concentrate!
Be honest!
Let me tell you a little story: I needed the toilet while on one of my two-hour driving lessons. I hid it from my instructor for most the hour, but then told him I was bursting (I really was – the nerves got to me) and pulled (unsafely) into a random street. Because I was so desperate, I managed to accidentally mount the rather high pavement, and basically got out the car and ran. I knocked on the friendliest looking house and asked to use the toilet. The lovely woman (shoutout to Linda) allowed me to use the bathroom. Once I returned to the car, my instructor said: “maybe next time we just stop at a supermarket when you need the loo, huh?” I was so embarrassed. So quick tip: be honest with your instructor about how you’re feeling emotionally… and physically.

Do research!
Before even learning to drive, it’s good to know you’re a really good company. I really like Pass ‘N’ Go, mainly because they offer such a wide range of courses and have their own online blog. Driving instructors can be expensive, and not all are well trained, so going with a well-known company is useful. Plus, Pass ‘N’ Go have their own shop, when you can purchase study packs for theory and motorway courses. I did hours upon hours of revision for my theory test and that’s what help me pass first time! I managed to get majority of the test answers right, and got only two hazard perception clips wrong – but it still counts as a pass! If I didn’t revise before, there’s no way I would have known the answer to half the questions so doing the right research is very important. Then you don’t have to pay for a whole new theory test!
Cars are expensive!
As a child, I was always saying: “So basically when I’m 18 I’ll but my Range Rover Sport in matte black with hot pink rims and chrome accents.” Yeah… that didn’t happen. I didn’t even know insurance, break down cover and road tax existed back that and I still struggle to accept it now. Trust me, when I bought my adorable little Vauxhall Corsa in January, I had tears in my eyes. Partially from happiness, but also from the paid of paying for insurance and having to live the next twelve months with a black box. Anyone relate? Yup, black boxes suck. Even when I began driving lessons I assumed I would just be able to buy a car the day I passed. I’m not super rich, so sadly that didn’t happen.

Traffic is the new hell!

Before I knew how a car even operated, traffic didn’t bother me! I will never forget being with my mum or dad, who would yell and huff and puff in frustration of stand-still cars, and I never understood it. Now…now, I understand it. My goodness, it has got to be one of the worst things in the world – how do people in capital cities live?! Oh and I hate traffic lights too, they’re nobody’s friend. Before I got my licence, I thought things like getting MOT checks and have to park would be the bane of my life. Nope! Driving at peak times is. 
This post is in collaboration with Pass ‘N’ Go. 

Summer Technology Wishlist

17 May 2017

Leeds, UK
I can be a little bit of a tech geek when it comes to stylish gadgets and cool must-haves. I like to have the latest of most gadgets, especially if it’s going to make life a little easier. Let’s just say, I rely on Siri and assisted parking a lot.

iPhone 7 Plus (in rose gold, obviously)
I currently have the iPhone 7, and as much as I adore this phone, I would love the 7 Plus! It’s bigger, which makes tasks like blogging on the go a little easier, but the thing I love the most has got to be the camera. Pretty much everything about the 7 Plus is the same as the 7 regarding its operating system and effectiveness, and the camera is magnificent and would mean less time packing up a DSLR and having fun with the 7 Plus’s dual camera lenses and portrait mode.

This camera has got to be one of the most famous vlogging cameras ever. And although I’m not a vlogger quite yet, if I was to purchase a camera just for this hobby, it would totally be this one. This pocket-sized gem basically has the power of some of the greatest DSLRs at half the weight. You could create a full HD film with this camera alone, and it’s ideal for travelling and working on the go. With built-in Wi-Fi, 1080p quality videos and its own pop-up flash, this Canon is perfect for me.

I’ve had my current television for about seven years. Don’t worry, it’s a flat screen but a very chunky one. Unfortunately the quality is not as good as it used to be, despite the efforts of my Sky+ HD box. I’m the type of person that gets excited when I can watch a YouTube video in 4K on my desktop, so imagine having it on your TV! This television has a cinema-like display and it’s own Firefox operative system which means it’s perfect for catching up on my subscriptions as well as my Netflix shows! Plus, it’s less than a third of the weight of my current TV.

It’s like someone created my dream laptop. I first saw the YouTube advertisement online and was immediately sold. I’ve never had a MacBook, so I’m very used to the Microsoft Windows operating system and feel perfectly happy using it. I was elated to find out Microsoft had created a powerful laptop, that would be ideal for blogging and creating online content. The design feature is stunning and I love the idea of a detachable keyboard that also works with the Surface Pen.

I currently have the Bose Soundlink Mini II and I absolutely adore it. But it’s not great for a raging house party or hooking up to my TV. On the other hand, the Sonos Playbar has 9 amplified speakers and can be connected to just about anything, including the latest TV. It’s super sleek and stylish, so it would love wonderful in my minimalistic living room, or even in the bedroom. It doesn’t come with Bluetooth, but the built-in Wi-Fi is ideal for me.


Is a car under the technology category? Well it is now. I looked up a YouTube review of this car after spotting it on the street and immediately fell in love with it. I only bought my first car a couple of months ago, but I like to be ambitious. Any Mercedes is a classy car, and this one has just about everything I need. Perfect from every angle, and awesome built-in technology – I think this is definitely the next car for me. 
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