#MusicMonday: Older - Lacey

Monday's nearly over... so quickly before this hectic day gets the best of me.

I used "Older" by Lacey to narrate my first weekly vlog, it made me remember how much I love this song.

and as always enjoy x

Check my new weekly vlog out below... 

#MusicMonday: Already Home - A Great Big World

Quick and easy because I'm putting this up so late.

I love this song, I thing the music video is a genuine visual masterpiece. Its cute and lovely and so well edited.

The song is amazing "Already Home" by a Great Big World. Just beautifully written and sung. I've been humming it all day.

 So enjoy x

#MusicMonday: The Long Ride Home - Patty Griffin

This song is being chosen out of the fact I simple can't get out of my head, if I'm not humming it, I'm actually singing it out, even if its just a mumbly sing. This song is all thats in my head and it wants out.

I'm not even a little mad about how much I find myself singing to it, It's an actual masterpiece, a classic. A song that will truly stand the test of time. It will always be good.

Patty Griffin's The Long Ride Home though deals with a sad subject, its oddly uplifting and entirely satisfying. Like your ears need to hear it.

And though I might wear it to death. I do truly love it.

So go and enjoy... on the long ride home.



One of my favourite covers of the song, by some of my fave artists who have been previously featured on #MusicMonday

Almost...

 

This quote has been weighing on my mind a lot recently, and on and off in the last couple of years. 

I feel very connected to it. Almost but not quite. 

All aspects of my life feel very almost....

So I thought I'd leave it here for you to ponder, incase you needed it. 

X

Plus Size at Alton Towers

Truth time

Going down to Alton Towers filled me with so much anxiety, I broke down in tears on more than one occasion in the weeks and days leading up to the trip. I'm not a crier, but there I was either having to hold back the tears, stop talking about the trip or full on  unconsolable sobbing. The thought of going just made me so uncomfortable. 

The last time I was down at Alton Towers was 2012 looking back I don't think I was that much bigger than I was but since I started monitoring my weight and measurements last year I have just felt huge. 

My trip to the theme park in 2012 was the second time I had been to Alton Towers and as someone who really loves roll coasters I was just really excited to go back. Until I experienced some of the most painful humiliation of my life. I was 17 and to big for Air.  

Air (now known as Galactica) doesn't just have over the top barriers but thigh locks, the couldn't get it locked to the satisfaction so after already having to move seat I made the even more embarrassing walk off the ride.  

So I wasn't really returning to Alton Towers with fond memories. 

But my friends wanted to go and kept reassuring me that I be fine, and really for myself mentally I really didn't think I should go, I was putting myself through a hell of a lot of stress to spend so much money. 

But most of my fears where unjust and I had a great day.  I will leave my measurements and ride experiences below. For all you plus sized folk who are going off to Alton Towers at any point. I didn't go back on Air or Galactica as it is now called and includes a virtual reality experienced, I'm still quite scarred from the experience and didn't even want to try the seat at the beginning of the ride.

Smiler: Perfectly fine, no extra pushes or anything, also included the nicest staff of the park.  Seats were perfectly comfortable. If you have any anxieties about it after the crash don't its probably now the safest ride in the park and is a really amazing rollercoaster. 

Oblivion: This ride contains two seat types, some have two buckles and some have one, I was moved to a two buckle seat as they have a little more room, the one buckle seat was literally like half an inch from pushing in so if your measurements are just slightly smaller than mine you will have no issues. 

THI3TEEN: An extra push to make sure it clicked but wasn't uncomfortable, staff were really nice about having to do so and double checked that I wasn't uncomfortable. 

Rita: A little anxiety before I got on this one as there was a walk off on the go before we went on. But this ride was fine, no extra pushes. 

Duel: Absolutely no worries here. Perfectly fine. 

Runaway Mine Train: No extra pushes here, but the guy did double check if I was comfortable, I'll admit it was a little tight but nothing to uncomfortable. 

Nemesis: Was moved rows to which most forums I have seen described as the big boy seats, once again a few inches smaller than me you will be completely fine. 

Congo River Rapids: Nothing to worry about on this. 

Spinball Whizzer: Now this one was a weird one, First time I went on it, it took an extra push a really skinny girl couldn't do it, but she got one of the other girls, and then that was it no bother just pushed. The second time however much different, now maybe 45 minutes had passed we had returned to smiler twice and as we were leaving passing this by we decided to just hop on one last time. It seemed like they were purposely trying to embarrass me. They stopped the ride the girl hopped on the track and told me she needed to here a certain number of clicks, I was like that fine I've literally just be on this ride, she didn't get them, so released it again told me to stand up change the position of my legs still no fit. At this point the two friends I had returned with who were sitting the opposite way where trying to work out what was going on. And we all explained that I had just been on the ride very unsympathetically I was told that she wasn't getting enough clicks so had to get off the ride. I felt so humiliated. 

Anyway if you do venture to Alton Towers I hope you have a lovely time. x

#MusicMonday : Tyler Hilton + Kate Voegele - Live in London [Album]

In honour of Tyler Hilton and Kate Voegele venturing on a Europe tour and playing in London last night, Music Monday is there live in London album.

Unfortunately plans to venture down to London to watch the show fell through, so instead I listened to this. Recorded last time they were there on a tour which I managed to see on there Glasgow Date.

There's something about music that is so much better live.  I've seen Tyler Hilton a few times and previously had is live in Atlanta album, and honestly Tyler Hilton was made to perform his voice is just so much better, more raw live.  This was my first time seeing Kate Voegele but she also is incredible live. There a duo not to miss so if there heading to a city near you I would recommend that you make the effort to see them.

Tyler is CD1: it contains music from all of his albums, including fan faves like Missing You and Loaded Gun. And two songs in which he duets with Kate Voegele; Long Ride Home, and Where the Stars go Blue which he originally dusted with Bethany Joy Lenz

Kate is CD2 : Kate's side also features music from all of her albums and brand new EP. As well as Hallelujah which she covered on OTH. Other fan faves included on the CD are Only Fooling Myself and No Good. Tyler Hilton joins her on Caught up in You which is a great track of her wildcard EP.

A great album so go forth and have a listen.

Tyler Hilton

Twitter 

Youtube

Kate Voegele

Twitter 

Website

April Favourites

This months favourites...

Green Smoothie : By far my favourite green concoction, a mixture of apple, kale, spinach, avacado, grapes and apple juice. Will post a better grasp of the recipe on the blog at some point.

Erin Condren - Carry All Clutch : I have being using this so much recently it keeps everything neat and tidy and together. It's a nifty little size and slots in my bag perfectly.

Fabletics Outfits : When I decided to go back to the gym properly last year, I realised I needed more that the joggers and a few basic t-shirts I had. I had seen Fabletics advertised before but as a plus-size lady I did not think that they were going to fit. I've been proven wrong and have some of the comfiest and fashionable sports wear that is really affordable. I love it.

Gym Program : In april I decided to stop just going in and doing random things and work to a set program. The guy who set me up with it is so friendly and nice and often stops and checks to see how I'm doing with it. I really do encourage you all if you go to the gym to get a workout made up for you. Once again as a plus-sized person I had a little anxiety about asking for help at the gym, but it's been so far from it.

Just Add Water - Milk Bottle : My Gran treated me to this when we went out to lunch and shopping, I have been using it for everything. I love the straw.

Gin and Cranberry : This is my drink, I love it. Plain and simple.

Nights Out : A good night out is necessary, it can make all the difference to a stressful month, so let down your hair and let it be a favourite.

Watch an on the go vid below

#MusicMonday: Manic Monday - The Bangles

I honestly didn't even realise it was Monday, the day has been that manic...

enjoy x

Monthly Motivation : No reason at all

Sometimes I just need to cry for no reason at all… 

This month has been quite anxiety ridden. I’ve been filled with so much dread and panic for different activities to the point where I just break down crying and don’t really know why. I just know I have all this stuff that I’m clearly not dealing with efficiently. 

But the emotions just really boil to the top. I’m not a sad crier, I really only cry when frustrated and I think that sums up my emotions for the month. Frustrated with so much that has been thrown at me. 

I think its healthy to cry sometimes, we all need to let go. And sometimes a good cry can be  quite cathartic. It can be just what you need. 

Sometimes I’m to tired to try for no reason at all…

I lost my way this month in so many ways and just stopped trying. 

Creatively I just stopped. I don't really know where I'm going with it and emotionally and physically I have been drained so I just stopped trying to make content for the blog and log or even for me to just to quench the creative thirst.

Health and fitness wise, there were days where I tried and days where I just couldn't anymore. And I need to work on that more. 

I think we need to try and push ourselves to complete tasks that we know will make us look positively on what has happened.  

Sometimes I just have to learn to let go for no reason at all… 

With certain friends Ive been less willing to try because of the feeling of dread going into the situation and I don't think anyone should make us feel like that. That you don't want to see them avoid the confrontation. I just felt like a villain in a story that I didn't know had been written.

And sometimes you just need to let go of people and stop letting them be a part of the reason why you feel down all the time. Its hard to find the strength to deal with them, it's harder to find the strength to let go... sometimes you don't need reasons.... sometimes you just need to do it for you... for no real reason at all. 

...For No Reason At All... 

Much love this month x