Mind Over Matter

So it's taken me a while to compose this post. If I'm honest. I wasn't really sure if I wanted to share this or not...it doesn't really show me at my best, but then I figured no, this is something I'm interested in at the moment and this blog is all about things I'm interested in.
So what could I be talking about? Taxidermy of small animals, my new chewing tobacco habit? Nope - being healthy! Feel free to bugger off and go and eat a burger or 3 now if you so wish, I won't be offended. Up until recently I'd have done the same. Then you make some new friends who are really healthy and look hella good for it, you put on a bit of extra weight and crop tops are still totally a thing and before you know it your Instagram and Pinterest feeds are full of fit girls, healthy recipes and fitness quotes! You're buying Women's Health and have cut out sugar and alcohol for a week!

And there in lies my main issue, I start all these things and then life gets in the way. I started going to bootcamp classes after work but then I had too much work to do after actual work so I didn't feel I could legitimately spend any time on me. I kept up my non-sugar diet for a whole week, including eating out, but it was the most stressful week of my life thanks to epic stress at work, so when I got to the weekend and I'd made it through I sodded it all off again and didn't start again. Then last week I decided to kick start it again. I've recently discovered Chloe Madeley's blog fitnessfondue.com and her Instagram and she looks amazing! I even downloaded her 12 week fitness plan, I got up at 5.30 to do my fasted cardio on Monday, ate my meals that day and came home and did my circuits from her plan. You may have seen this on my Instagram, I was so proud of myself, lol!

Then life hit again, otherwise known as prepping for parents' evening on Wednesday and I gave in. I gave in so bad I ate this for my dinner:

See when I give up, I really give up! I've had fuck all healthy food this week. Including this most delicious monster on Saturday night:

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm...drooling just thinking about it now. See my problem is I'm one of the lucky ones who's always been able to eat and drink what I want and be pretty sedentary and not put on any weight, only this means I'm not actually lucky, just lazy. Real lazy. And I'm also very used to working on no sleep, which is not conducive to healthy eating and exercising.
Since coming back to the UK to teach my life has become 100 per cent more stressful, it's become 100 per cent more exhausting and 100 per cent less fun if I'm honest. During the week that is - weekends are my fun time to be spent working (ergh), with my boyfriend and seeing my friends. The week is all about making sure everything is done to just keep treading water and not drown under the pressure that is teaching in the UK, so no real time for taking care of myself.
But surely taking care of yourself should be your main priority in life? And I think that's the conclusion I've come to in this very rambling post that you have been very nice to indulge me in reading.
So as of this week I've already prepped my lunches (well 3 outta 5), I'm not getting up early to do cardio tomorrow as I;m going to bed late, but I will do on Tuesday. I'm not going to jump straight into a hardcore 12 week plan in my final week of work as work always gets in the way. But what I am going to do is go for a run at least 3 times this week, eat healthily this week and then I've started to form a habit. I'm going to take it a week at a time and use my summer holiday to take time for me and hopefully by the time term starts again I'll have a new habit of eating healthily and exercising instead of staying up late, drinking and comfort eating. Watch this space!

See I've really prepped my lunches - turkey breast in herbs roasted in water, quinoa, spinach, sweetcorn and sweet pepper. Nom!

Anniversary

My boyfriend and I celebrated our one year anniversary on Wednesday so we made sure we cleared our very busy work schedules so we could go to dinner. It was lovely and I was very lucky as he bought me several amazing presents that included clothing and a ring. It's so pretty! Anyway, this is what a wore; a skirt he also bought me! He's soooooo sweet. This skirt is a huge divergence away from what I would normally wear; for a start it's pink, then there's the length - ankle length is so not my scene, and it's all girly and satiny. However...I love it! It makes me feel like a princess and I was drawn straight to it when I saw it in H&M! I am definitely in love! But decided to dress it down a bit with my favourite white jumper from Topshop. Oh yeh, I chopped my hair off btw. This is it in it's wavy style. I keep having moments of love and loathing with it though. I think over all it's love...what do you guys think?

Skirt & necklace; H&M: shoes & jumper; Topshop

En Vie September

Hey guys, the September issue has been out for a while in case you haven't seen it. Check out the animal print trend - I have both items and will be posting pics soon. I also wrote the article Boho Babe on the latest take on the bohemian trend. Read it here.

Last night I was lucky enough to be a FROWer at London Fashion Week, it was awesome. Check back later for the write up and October's En Vie for pics and a more in depth look.

Off to finish marking literacy as am up early to explode a volcano tomorrow!

80s Child

Sorry I've been AWOL yet again guys! I've been stuck doing work constantly, which is sooooo depressing! And I've moved house! However the good news is school ends on 23rd July and I'm not going back in September, yay! So should have much more time to work on here and on the magazine. Another piece of good news is that since I've moved I now have a really cool roof I can take pictures on, as you can see above! Yup that's London in the background, you can just about see the London Eye. Different views to come soon. I've been taking lots of pictures but haven't posted any. I promise I am now attempting to catch up, so keep your eyes open for new posts!

Anyway, I wore this outfit for a lazy day last Sunday. I got dressed then realised just how 80s it was, which I love! Yes the 80s had bad hair and dodgy makeup but I really, really love the clothes! These jeans are such a go to piece at the moment in my wardrobe, which is cool considering I wasn't too sure when I bought them. I wasn't sure on the whole distressed denim thing; there was too much of it on British boybands back in the 90s for my liking! However am I now officially a convert...so long as it's on girls that is!

Hope you're all having a good week!

Glittery dance shoes; French Sole: boyfriend jeans & crop top; Topshop: shades; H&M: watch; Guess: bracelet; school summer fair.

June En Vie

It's the start of a new month guys (how is it June already?) and that means there's a new edition of En Vie out, yay! Check out this months magazine, paying special attention of course to the news and trends and my article Make Me Up about a new makeup artist Sam Enticknap. Check it all out here!

Proof Reading

Please excuse the face and posing....quite drunk in this picture! I thought that I'd show you that I practice what I preach! Here is my bustier over a t-shirt look. I wore this for a night out with colleagues and love it! It covers my stomach, which isn't ready for a night out in full view, but I can still wear a cute bustier top, yay! I wrote about it this style in the trends page of April En Vie which you can read here. I hope you're enjoying reading En Vie as much as I am enjoying editing and writing for it!

Jeans, bustier & necklace; Topshop: T-shirt; H&M: shoes; Zara.

Sumimasen!

I am sooooooooooooo sorry I've been AWOL guys! I've had a hell of time at work, so much so I had to resign and try and find a new job! Craziness! I have some HUGE news for you and lots of posts coming up so just bear with me and keep watching this space as I make it through my first week at my new job!

And to tide you over, look; I got published again! I wrote the piece 'To Boldly Go...' check it out here


Love Jen xxx

Sports Day In The City

Hey guys, sorry I've hardly posted recently. Term started today and I have been prepping for classroom displays and being responsible for 30 5-year-olds, crazy times! I'm happy to report that today all went well and we all survived! My class are adorable and I am very much looking forward to teaching them over the next year.
Anyway, before it all got a bit mental I was asked to write a fashion editorial piece for a digital magazine based in Osaka and it has just been published in the September issue. It was actually harder than I first thought to write 300 words that people actually want to read, but I'm pretty proud of it. And it was a lot of fun. Anyway check it out here: http://www.en-vie-fashion.com/
What do you think?

Second Tattoo

So I'm slightly OCD when it comes to numbers, I have a thing about odd numbers...moving on! I realised the other day if I only get one new tattoo then I'd have seven, so maybe I should get two like last time so I'd have eight! I was thinking I want one behind my ear and I want a feather tattoo. There are loads of pictures on Google and such that show truly horrific feather tattoos behind the ear and elsewhere which has put me off for ages, then I came across this picture and, well, perfection!

I love how it follows the contours of her ear and hair, and the outline isn't solid like some feather designs. So yeh I'm thinking this one and a quote on my arm. When I have the money anyway! Oh and a nose piercing too...hmmm...maybe being a primary teacher wasn't the best idea I've ever had!

Tattoos

I've finally decided what I want as my next tattoo, yay! But....I have yet to decide where. I really want it somewhere on my arm, however being a Primary teacher and already having one visible tattoo on my wrist I'm not so sure this will go down well with the parents...
But anyways, here are some photos I've been using for inspiration for placement for my latest one. Now I just need to save up enough cash (this could take months...boo!).

Back Together Again!

Ever do that thing where you fall hard out of love with an item of clothing  then months later rediscover it? I totally did this with these snake print jeans! I haven't liked them since I got back from Japan, which is almost a year! But I wore them today and boy am I in love again! Especially with these newish shoes from Zara. What do you think? Are you in love with them too?

Jeans; Topshop: Sandals; Zara.

Morning...just!

So... last night I couldn't sleep. I probably only dropped off around 3am, then my mother called from Japan at 6.45am....not impressed. So I've only just surfaced again. Ergh, feel even more tired now! Ah well, here's hoping now I'm up I have a slightly more productive afternoon!

New Hair (again)!

Finally got the disaster that was my hair sorted out, yay!

Graduation!

Well, I did it! And on Saturday we all got to graduate in Bath Abbey. One thing I do know is that I couldn't have done it without the help and support from all my lovely friends I made on this course! So thank you guys! I love you all muchly and well done!

Dress; H&M Conscious collection (bought in Osaka): Hello Kitty brooch; present from Becky: bracelet; Topshop

The Last Night in Bath!

Well, I've done it! I made it through my PGCE and am now officially a teacher (well when I graduate). I have a job all lined up starting in September to teach very cute Y1s. I can't believe I'm going to have  my own class, I'm so excited! I've moved back up home for a couple of months whilst I find somewhere to live near my job so I've left Bath now. My last night in Bath was awesome. We had a meal then headed out to karaoke. I'm very grateful for all the lovely friends I've made over the last year who've been so amazing, especially in the past couple of weeks! So anyways, here's what I wore on Friday! :D

Sandals; Zara: Shorts and necklace; H&M: T-shirt; T by Alexander Wang.

Coming Home

So on our last day of the holidays it rained, but that was OK as we spent the day in the Palace of the Grand Masters. Then the Museum of Archaeology, which is AMAZING and then had a 2 and a half hour and slightly boozy late lunch. After that it was time to head home.

Couldn't decide which picture was best! This white jumper I bought from Topshop has been so worth it. I've worn it loads and it's really comfy! I'm also in love with, basically, what is a floral shell suit, who knew they'd be back?!

Shoes; Zara: trousers and jacket; H&M: jumper; Topshop: T-shirt underneath; T by Alexander Wang.

Ancient Kamiros

Hello, on Tuesday we had the best day ever! I am a total history nerd and so I very much enjoyed spending a few hours looking around the ancient ruins of a city that was destroyed by an earthquake, well 2 to be exact. After the second one the residents upped and left. Don't blame them really. You get to actually go down into the ruins and walk down the main street, in the temples and around the houses. I loved it! :D

Shoes and shirt; Zara: Jeans; Topshop: Leather vest; H&M: Hat; Marks & Spencers.

To the sea and Butterfly Valley (with no butterflies)

Due to going a little pink yesterday and also being eaten alive by insects, I decided to stay covered up today so repeated an outfit from earlier in the week, but with different shoes.
Just been doing some uni work but off to get ready for dinner! It's been so sunny today, I love it and don't ever want to come home.

Wedge trainers; Zara: trousers and jumper; Topshop: cap; H&M

Lindos Acropolis

Hello, just some sightseeing pics today as didn't wear anything special, just the jeans and cardigan you saw in this post http://fashionchuhi.blogspot.gr/2013/03/blue-sea-blue-sky-ancient-ruins-and.html but this time with a white vest top. Anyhoo, we went on a donkey up to the acropolis today which has Roman ruins, Hellenic ruins and loads more. It was awesome :D

All those white houses are Lindos, where we're staying, isn't it adorable? I totally caught the sun today, so am pink in random patches, but not too much. However you may be getting some faceless pics from me till the pinkness subsides, haha! I'm such a Brit abroad! Right, bedtime for me! Happy Easter guys! Hope you're having a fab holiday!

Last night's dinner

...was delicious! And here's a quick pic of what I wore...

...and where I wore it to...

Unfortunately must stop procrastinating and get back to my uni work, but I'll put up some pictures of our trip to the Lindos acropolis by donkey later!

Shoes, trousers, top; Zara: jacket; H&M: necklace; New Look.