How have you come around so quickly? It feels like only yesterday I was singing Christmas carols and sat around the Christmas tree with my family. You seem to have come so quickly but started a lot earlier. It is only November but festivities are all go go go!

I love the feeling of seeing the frost and the green outside of my house in the morning whilst sitting on my bed by the radiator, feeling warm and cosy whilst the leaves on the trees are scattered around the bottoms of their trunks. I love walking to my bus stop and treading on crisp leaves that are frozen into positions like gymnasts. 

I love drinking cups of tea in Christmas Costa Coffee cups whilst browsing the aisles of Christmas luxuries in Boots. I love the colour of the trees as I look out of my window whilst I am sat at my desk, writing blog posts and doing homework. 

But the bit I love the most is that everyone's spirits are uplifted. The feeling of happiness as you smile at someone as you walk down the street. The feeling of warmth on a cold winters day. The feeling of joy as you spend time with your favourite people.

I feel very fortunate this year, Christmas, as I have so many friends and family that I know love me and I have a home to enjoy the festive time of year. I am grateful for that.

So although you are over a month away, Christmas, welcome and I hope you have a nice time whilst it lasts.

Until next time,

Katie xx 

As you may know, I have been blogging for nearly two years. I would say I am the best blogger by any stretch of the mark, but I know how to write and plan a post. Here is how I write and plan blog posts!

Firstly, You need a subject. This could be a poem, your favourite things, lists or anything else you want to write about. Let's say that I want to write about my 5 favourite quotes from this month. I use the blogger website to draft my blog posts, but many use Word documents or equivalents. Write the title that you want to give your blog post at the top of the piece. If you do it on Word, you don't have to do a title until you transfer it to the website, but the Blogger website has a box for the title at the top.

Then, you want to make sure you know what you are going to say. Although sometimes I make things up, like poems, on the spot, I usually have an idea of what I am going to write beforehand. Take a look and see whether your font type and size are correct for you and then you can begin!

Start with an introduction to the post. For example, I said "I said a while ago that I wasn't particularly motivated by quotes, but recently, that has changed. I like the idea that you can read something and suddenly feel like you can do anything. Here are my 5 favourite quotes this month." You want your readers to get a good impression and want to read on! Something eye-catching, for example, a joke or a fact about yourself. 

Then, start to write. If you are doing a list, you can use bullet points or numbers from the toolbar and the top. I used numbers so that I can show that they are my top 5, but you don't have to if that isn't you.

After you have finished, sign it off in a way you like. On my blog, Katiewaytohappy, I always sign off with "Stay Happy, Katie xx". If you don't want to put your name, that is your choice! There are no set rules to blogging (within reason) so you do your blog your way. 

After I have finished writing, I add my pictures. You can do this as you go along, but I like to do it at the end so I don't get confused. You can add as many as you want or none at all, but people love pictures!

Also, add any links in if you want. For example, I wanted to link my Pinterest board to the post, so I clicked 'Link' and then add the website and highlighted the word I wanted to have the link on.

Make sure your blog post looks the way you want it to. Have you done everything that you need to on your post? There is a checklist below that you can use to check!

You can add labels to sort your posts into categories. I put the labels 'Quotes' and 'Favourites' in to show that this is what my post is based on. 

If you want to put the post up at that moment, go ahead and click publish! If not, you can schedule your post by clicking the date and time you want to put it up for, click done and then remember to press publish otherwise it won't publish at all.

Then, you can plug it on social media. I use Twitter and Instagram mainly. I schedule tweets with the link in on TweetDeck and pin them to my profile!

I hope this helps newbies or not so newbies with the basics of blogging!

Until next time,

Katie xx

“Oh, she’s beautiful!”

“Just look at those little eyes!”

“She is a cutie!”

Why is it that compliments are most used in a physical sense? Ever since we’re young, we’re complimented on how beautiful we are. How our eyes are so bright like our father’s. How we have our mother’s gorgeous smile. And at first, yeah it makes sense. You’re a new being, a life has been created and safely born— and you’re beautiful!

As you become older, it starts to make less sense how people always comment on looks, and it seems to be the main compliment given! Yes, it is a lovely feeling when you’re told how great you look, but with society’s irrational beauty standards, it becomes about more than the words we say to each other. It becomes about how we look and so much seems to revolve around that. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy compliments, I enjoy feeling that I look good, but it’s important to remember that there is no one way that is beautiful and that there is more to someone than what you physically see.

“Aren’t you a gorgeous girl?”

“You’re very pretty.”

“Oh, you’re beautiful!”

Beauty in society is no more associated with how you act, or the fact that your living, breathing body is amazing and strong and beautiful because you exist; it’s about looking a certain way. So when we, as people in this society, are only complimenting on looks, it puts the idea of beauty on an unattainable pedestal, and everything else falls away.

What we need to remember, is that there is so much more than this idea of ‘prettiness’. There is no one way of being physically attractive, and there is so much more to a person than what you see. We are human beings. We are made of bone and muscle and blood, and our bodies are capable of amazing things. Our minds are incredible. There is so much we can do, yet society is hung up on the ideology of being pleasing to the eye.

“You’re so pretty!”

“You’re stunning.”

“Your body is goals.”

So often we are reduced to what we look like, and it’s not right. There’s nothing wrong with being concerned with how you look, of course, but we need to remember that every single being is more than what they look like. You are strong and capable, and deserve so much recognition for that!

So don't be afraid to say, "and...?" because you are beautiful, and more.

“You are beautiful and smart.”

“You are intelligent and brave.”

“You are creative and inspiring.”

You are more than one thing.

You are extraordinary.

As many of us are on our way back to school/college/uni or starting a new step in our lives, moving up, I know that I can safely say that I have loved having my summer off. However, the thought of going back to a routine, waking up early and long days of using my brain, makes me feel slightly ill. Hopefully, these tips will help you to get back into a routine, as well as making it less of a chore to do!

Morning

Before you go to sleep, set multiple alarms, in case you fall back to sleep again, if you press snooze. Alternatively, put your phone or alarm type device on the opposite side of your room and then you will have to get up to turn it off, waking you up so you find it harder to go to sleep again.

Once you're up, wash your face and do your usual skin routine, this will brighten your skin, as well as waking you up even more.

Get dressed and do whatever else you would usually do, for example, makeup, hair or do last minute homework you forgot last night!

Then, have a glass of water, as well as your favourite morning beverage. Tea and coffee don't hydrate you as much as water does and it is good to start the day hydrated, so have some water as well. You will feel better for it! Again, it also wakes you up.

Depending on what time you have left, you could make a smoothie, pack your lunch, have some breakfast (a key pointer for the day) or make a hot beverage for those colder days.

If you are catching a mode of public transport, you should probably go and get that, missing it would not be helpful. If you walk, make sure you leave at a good time, so you don't stress from being late.

During the Day

Whilst you are in lessons, make sure you have a bottle of water with you so that you can stay hydrated throughout your lessons, because that way, you are able to concentrate more.
When having breaks, eat something that is going to give you energy and isn't too unhealthy. This will replenish your concentration levels and get you ready to go to your next lesson, prepared to learn.
At lunch, eat something because otherwise you will not feel well later and you will find it hard to concentrate. You could pack your own lunch, which would save money and give you more choice, but if not, go for something yummy but not too unhealthy!


At the end of the day, get you mode of transport home or go to an extracurricular club. Clubs are a good way to make friends and improve hobbies or start new ones!

In the Evening

After school/other education, you will probably have work to do, but if not, lucky you. However, if you are one of the many, start it as soon as you get home. This will mean you get it done quicker, which will give you more time in the evening and also make you more motivated to finish it.
When doing work, chunk it up (if you will)! This will make it a lot more manageable, as well as giving you a break. It is proven that you can only really concentrate and learn in 45-minute sessions, so there is not a lot of point trying to get it all done in one. Go make yourself a cuppa and have a biscuit or a piece of cake.
Once you have finished your work for the day, revision or homework, take a break to do something you enjoy. Go swimming, sing, play your instrument, read, write a blog post, go read the rest of the posts on this blog (cheeky promo). It is nice to do something you enjoy.


Before you go to bed, make sure you pack your bag for the next day. This will help you to save time in the morning, as well as making sure you don't forget anything! Pack your books, pens, pencils, revision guides and anything else you feel you need. It will make a difference, I can assure you!
Check your timetable for the next day, as well, to make sure you know what you have, when, and make sure you have everything.
Get a good nights sleep. This will improve your concentration during the day and make you feel so much better. There are many other benefits as well, of course, like making your skin glow and start to remove the Ikea bags under your eyes (which seems to be taking up an awful lot of concealer, for me?).

In summary, Get up when you wake up, keep hydrated and healthy, do your homework and sleep.

I hope these tips will help you to get back into a routine, even if many of us are still dreaming of summer and lying on a hot beach somewhere.

Until next time,
Katie xx

Everyone has those days, some more than others. The ones where you are feeling down for no reason. These are 50 things that I do or think to make myself feel a bit happier in myself.

Write a blog post

Send a Snapchat to someone who I like

Play my flute 

Play the piano

Listen to some happy songs!

Have a cup of tea, it makes everything better

Watch some YouTube videos, for example, Eve Bennett or Beckii Whiting

Colour in using one of my colouring book (my favourite is my Harry Potter one!)

Talking to my friends

Eat chocolate

Make a smoothie! It always makes me feel so organised!

Bake

Make a nice breakfast for me

Sit with my duvet over me, writing or fiddling around with my laptop

Fix something on a computer (things like that make me happy)

Read

Take a note out of my happiness jar, which my friend made me for my birthday

Scrapbook

Listen to the sound of waves 

Look through old photos

Play a game on my phone

Facetime one of my friends

Read people's blogs, for example, the amazing girls from Through Our Eyes

Sleep

Cook something yummy and comfort-food-like (Yorkshire puddings)

Play on my Nintendo DS, like the good times

Play my ukulele

Go shopping 

Go for a walk

Read a magazine

Text my boyfriend

Meet up with a friend

Go on the swings outside my house

Go to a website called thequietplaceproject.com - there are many options, including one where you put your thoughts in and watch them disappear - I use it a lot!

Think about my family

Try out a recipe I wouldn't usually make

Cook for my family

Surprise my sister with something she wanted

Think about my favourite memories

Take nice photos for blog posts

Sort out my room

Sort the folders on my computer into nice tidy ones

Delete things off my computer that I don't want

Dance in the kitchen to my favourite tunes!

Play a bit of Mario Kart or Just Dance (old favourites)

Go onto a social media, especially Twitter and Instagram, which are my two favourites for finding cheerful advice or friends

Do a DIY

Go on Pinterest and add stuff to my boards!

What are your favourite things to do to make you feel happy?

Sat on the edge of a boat in the ocean surrounding the island of Rhodes, Greece, and my feet skim the surface of the transparent water, just so that I can feel the cold air but not to feel the sun-warmed sea that lay beneath, falling for metres and miles below me. I speed around rocks and habitats, spying on creatures big and small as they go about the daily grind of life, in their own sense. And I look around and I see the rest of the earth.

And I love it and I hate it. 

Until next time,

Katie xx