Managing Motivation

15 December 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Finding motivation is always difficult. It's never something that has come easy to me, and as I've grown older I think I have become a lot lazier. But when I do get motivated or inspired, I feel like nothing can stop me from achieving this goals. On the other hand, procrastination is an easy mode to slip into. Searching for inspirational quotes and images on Tumblr isn't always enough. There are a few things that often motivate me, and can hopefully help others too.

The success of others.
In the words of DVF: "Every woman inspires another woman." This is one of my favourite things about blogging, there are bloggers who can inspire you to work hard and be successful yourself. Rather than looking at others with a jealous or envious eye, admire the hard work that was put in by them and use that as motivation to improve. Social networking is a great way to learn about the success of others, spending time on Instagram and YouTube always inspires me to write posts rather than procrastinate.

Move around.
Working at home can be the hardest way to get things done. Sitting under a duvet watching The Holiday while eating a box of Maltesers sounds ideal. But it's likely that I'll get anything else done. I live in a really quite village so I can always go down to cafes with wifi and get stuck in. There are little distractions outside the home, and during the summer, I often work in the garden just to feel a little more inspired.

Ask for help.
As an incredibly lazy ex-student, being bothered to do just about anything can be a heavy task. One of the best ways to start the day is alongside someone else. On occasion, my friends will ring me or drive over to my house which always helps. Having someone else set you straight is enough to help you focus. Sometimes, a little nudge can go a long way.
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A New Direction

11 December 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Recently I have been struggling with blogging regularly. Over the past month or so, I have been weighed down with the feeling that I don't quite fit in, no matter how hard I'm pushing. That's not down to the bogging community being hostile to me in any way, it's down to my over-dramatic brain trying to tell me I'm not comfortable with the content on my blog. To an extent, I do love just blogging about fashion, however, there's so much more to say it and I don't feel fulfilled just describing my outfit and favourite fabrics every day. Something about it doesn't feel right, it doesn't sit comfortably. 
So, I have decided to switch things up a little, until I fall into the slot where I belong. I like to write, that's my ambition and it's what keeps me motivated. I like to share experiences but I still have a keen interest in fashion and style. I have decided my blog is going to feature more topical items, in contrast to my outfit of the day, almost every day. There will still be plenty of fashion-based posts, so it's not a complete content change, yet, I would like to spend time also writing about things I enjoy and sharing more than just my wardrobe.
This is all still very new to me, Anika May isn't even a year old. I don't think I can quite define my my blog yet, I just know there might be a few changes. 
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Dark December

10 December 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
Gravitating towards darker clothing during this time of year is only natural. I absolutely love to wear all-black, just because it's one of my comfort colours so I tend to feel a lot more comfortable and confident in the colour. Today I couldn't help but pick a few darker pieces, but tried not to go all-black by including my check or flannel jacket and playing around with different textures. Leather usually looks to darkest in comparison to denim or cotton so I think mixing these up can make an outfit look less... black. Charcoal jeans are a wardrobe favourite of mine so they had to be included in today's look as they also match my jacket. I actually bought my zip-up in the summer during a sale and colour never find much to pair it with. However, this 100% cotton vest top is perfect. The top is very thin, and my jacket is quite loose so there's room for me to layer within the outfit for warmth. Finally, I wanted to match my suede shoes with the suede patches on my oversized handbag to complete the look.
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you're gone and i gotta stay...

7 December 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
you're gone and i gotta stay...
Wishlist time! I have waiting a while to post this set, partially because BT can't seem to fix my wifi, but also because I think it suits the time of year. The Tory Burch Dominique Sweater has been on my winter wishlist for a while because it's so unique. It's made of solid and foil-printed merino wool which gives the jumper the unqiue shimmery texture, but it's still cosy. The colour makes for a modern way to wear metallics which are always in trend during Christmas and New Year. The textural standout is great for a layering outfit that needs a contrasting element and the darker tones make it ultra-chic. Black jeans are an essential in a wardrobe, for both genders. Like a leather jacket, they're incredibly easy to style and pair well with many other textures as the denim look is often subtle. These YSL Skinny Jeans help the shimmery sweater stand out more and still look classy. The luxurious denim is very versatile and super soft too.
It's often said that black makes you appear much slimmer, but so do heels. The Opening Ceremony Brenda Boots are jet black, made of napper leather and naturally elegant. The round toe edge creates a smooth line in the whole look with hidden elastic for comfort. The ankle boots also have some heel, which elongates your legs, especially when paired with black denim.
To view the rest of the items on my wishlist, click right here.
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Woolly Winter

3 December 2014

Eldwick, Bingley, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16, UK
One of the main reasons I look forward to the colder time of the year is because I can wear as many jumpers as I like and roll up in blankets. The temperature is really starting to drop and it's getting incredibly chilly so the more wool and knits, the better. Today's jumper is one of my winter favourites as it's long enough to wear with leggings and is stretchy yet warm. The chunky knit keeps out the cold but also allows room for the fabric to move. The knit is also very soft on the skin, and doesn't irritate mine which can be quite sensitive to wool. My Chelsea boots are an all-year-round favourite, as I love to wear them with just about anything and everything. The versatility of ankle boots is exactly why I prefer them to any other kind of shoe. To finish the look, I'm carrying an oversized shoulder bag, made of faux leather with studded details.
Jumper // Topshop
Leggings // Next
Boots // Dorothy Perkins
Bag // TK Maxx
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