What a year you've been, 2017.

2017... Where do I begin? 

Thank you. Thank you for being challenging to say the least. Throughout I have had good moments and not so good moments but let's just focus on what truly matters. So at beginning of the year, I set myself some resolutions and for once, stuck to them. Not going into detail every single thing I have achieved or what has challenged me so I'll just list a few. 

I Graduated from the University of Lincoln with a BA Honours Degree in Film & Television. It was a great opportunity to have, to walk across the stage within the most beautiful Cathedral, ever. I can say I finally have my degree & my best friend, alongside my family were there to witness it. Forever thankful. 

I met my other half and ever since we went on our first date, we have been together. 10 months down the line and we are about to move in together in our first flat! So exciting yet so scary!! 

If you told me at the start of 2017 I would be moving in with someone I'm madly in love with, I'd have laughed in your face. Look at us now, January 2018 we will be seeing each other every day (help) haha. 

First tattoo actually happened. I kid you not, I barely even flinched. I think this was mentioned in my March favourites but it's a fantastic memory to look back on due to the fact, I had broken ribs at the time and it was so spontaneous. "Hakuna Matata, what a wonderful phrase" if you sang that, I'm proud.

I left a job that was destroying me as a person, literally. I didn't recognise who I became as I dedicated the best part of 16 months of my life to serve the community whilst being slammed to the ground. Let's just say, leaving was the best thing I ever did. Finally have my life back and definitely much happier, healthier and more relaxed.

Had my surgery and battled a tough recovery. As hard as it was, it has made me stronger for the better. I see it as an opportunity to keep myself healthy while still recovering and not to fall downstairs into a brick wall again hahaha! But no, the whole experience was definitely eye-opening and I'm ever so thankful to have gone through what I did.

Achieved amazing things. Such as taking part in a relay drive for Children in Need again for the second time. Although I didn't drive the relay, I drove home and had so much fun in doing so. On roads I've never been on the challenge was gratefully accepted and achieved. I am due to pass on 18th January 2018 after a previous cancellation (due to poor weather) and let's hope I nail it!

All in all, 2017 has encountered so many good memories I will cherish forever. Although going through harder times made me want to give up, I kept going and I'm glad because tonight is all about putting the difficult times to bed, embracing the amazing moments and looking forward to the future. 2017... again, thank you for being a whirlwind of good and bad, I've achieved more than I expected. 7/10 resolutions to be exact which is fine by me. Here's to 2018, let's make more incredible memories and kick ass!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! <3

Thanks for reading!

Find me here: 

Instagram: @jaydeekelly 

Twitter: @crashl0nelystar 

xo

Thor: Ragnarok Review/Fangirling moment | 2017

Photo credit: google.com

I haven't done a Film review in about a year or so & I've been itching to do this for a while now but rarely ever go to the cinema anymore as I'm always busy with work. Lame excuse, yes, but when I managed to go, Thor: Ragnarok was on and it did not disappoint.

Marvel films are literally the best, I mean Stan Lee is the ultimate hero for giving us these amazing comics and letting people lose themselves in the illusion of superheroes kicking ass. Films like these are the reason I studied FTV (film and television) at University. The people who make these films possible, make me jealous... extremely jealous as I'd love to be able to direct a superhero movie, or just be behind the scenes, I mean, how cool would that be?

*SPOILER ALERT*

Thor is imprisoned on a different side of the universe, fighting against time to get back to Asgard to defeat his new foe, The Ruthless Hela, in order to stop Ragnarok which would see the end of his homeworld. Taking Loki under his wing after learning he isn't dead, they team up with a familiar ally who he has to defeat to gain his trust once more. Along the way, Thor becomes 'pals' with Korg and Meek, a beloved duo within the plot. All coming together as one to allow the storyline to unfold.

My main focus was on the story, the cheesy one-liners and the AWESOME costume designs, CGI, and all the immense camera work. Suppose you can say I was in my element, film degree is handy for something. I cannot praise the development process, the actors/actresses, directors/producers and all the team behinds the scenes, enough for all the time and effort that has gone behind this film. Such dedication to keeping the iconic Superhero stereotype and genre more alive than ever. The entire film as a whole did not disappoint, going to watch it I had quite low expectations and didn't think it would be that great... how wrong I was. The camera work and each angle just fit, there were a few things I would have done different but that's what makes peoples style of the film so unique. However, you could tell how much passion had been put into every element of the film. From camera work to costumes, to the scripts being on point, actors looking so amazing and just wow. Am I fangirling? not sorry!

I'm babbling and this probably doesn't make a single bit of sense, but oh well. Can we just appreciate how beautiful Chris Hemsworth is though? I mean come on we are all thinking it. I cannot get my head around him not playing Thor... Physically can't visualise anyone else in that role. He fulfills his character so well and even his cheesy jokes just have me in stitches. The transition of his appearance within this film, well, I had to double take a few times and more or less became hypnotised by his hot-I mean nice looking face (nice save right? haha). Jokes aside, the fact the directors/writers or whoever made the decision to have Thor with short hair just made him more dreamy.

Mark Ruffalo, legendary actor to say the least. I've followed his films since I was younger and never fails to amaze me. Playing Hulk, just makes me love him more. Although his character is a crazy green wild child in a giants body, he's literally the ideal match I reckon. Can't praise him enough as his acting is flawless. I rarely ever say that about actors so when it's said, that's how you know it's won me over.
There are so many characters to sing praises for but I won't continue to do so as I will just be typing until next December haha. Although one of my new favourites is indeed "Korg" who's played by Taika Waititi who also directed the film, HOW INSANE is that?! Jealously level has just increased for sure. But no, Korg is probably the funniest and cutest on-screen personality with his partner in crime Meek, watch the film to see why.

This has been no means a review... it's been a post of me fangirling, again. Can't be helped though, so go watch this film. It's SOOOOO good. Maybe I should promote films for a living? mind that I'd be a crap promoter hahaha!

Thanks for reading!

Find me here: 

Instagram: @jaydeekelly 

Twitter: @crashl0nelystar 

xo

5 ways to overcome a tough day

Photo Credit: Jaydee Kelly (me)

What do you consider a hard day? How do you unwind?

These are the questions I ask myself when I have had an unsettling day. Whether that's at work, shopping or spending the day at home. A hard day can also just be suffering from mental health which happened to me quite a lot in the last couple of months. 

1. Step away from social media

Whether you're watching Snapchat stories, reading on Twitter/Facebook or scrolling endlessly on Instagram, put your phone down and step away from any aspect of social media. I recently found myself on social media after a hard day and all I did was tear myself apart, comparing my "crap" life to other people's and to be honest, it's just not worth it. Nobodies life is perfect and social media is a false representation of what people live like. So step back, put your phone or laptop away and find other ways to focus your mind. 

2. Listen to your favourite music 

A song that has really helped make a hard day more bearable is Move you by Kelly Clarkson as the lyrics are just... comforting. As sad as the song is when you're singing you just forget everything. This song has helped me recently through the transition of leaving a job which destroyed me as a person, took away the excitement from my life and just drained me mentally. My boyfriend introduced me to this song & now I am obsessed. Highly recommend it to anyone who is finding it difficult to unwind after a tough day.

3. Read a book 

The best books to read are the ones you can get lost in, those that leave you in awe. I am a HUGE Nicholas Sparks fan and his writing just makes me feel so happy especially dealing with a difficult day. One of my all-time favourites is "A walk to remember" - read it and you'll see why :) 

4. Take a very long shower/bath

Washing the stress you feel away is the best feeling in the world. Spend those extra 10 minutes washing your hair, or singing so badly your housemates/neighbours bang on the walls to shout "shut up" to you, give yourself a nice soak in the bath and throw as many bath bombs in as you can. Just have that time to bring yourself back to normality and relax. 

5. Write it all down 

If you have a journal, great... write in it. Or if you have a blog, then write it down. Personally, I put all my stresses into scriptwriting. I turn my "hard day" into a story and expand on it for the characters I have created. I explore my creative side and use it to my advantage to make myself feel better & to dramatise some plots for my scripts. It's definitely a good way to focus your mind creatively and to spend time doing something you love. 

Thanks for reading!

Find me here: 

Instagram: @jaydeekelly 

Twitter: @crashl0nelystar 

xo

Strawberry Shower Gel | The Body Shop Review

Photo credit: Jaydee Kelly (me)

The Body Shop is one of my favourite shops, ever. Recently I was in here with my boyfriends mum when we saw the Strawberry shower gel. The best products for me personally, is the strawberry range, it smells so nice & well, who doesn't want to smell like a juicy strawberry? 

I have never used this product before, hence the title... so let's get reviewing. Although, reviewing things isn't my strongest point, oh well, here goes. 

Anything fruity, chocolatey or something that just signifies freshness is what has my vote. I'm easy to buy for when it comes to shower/bath toiletries, most of the time. Usually, I just use what I'm used to which is Soap and Glory but it's nice to branch out your comfort zone here and there to find what works for your skin type. Pushing the scent to the side, what's in the products is also a high factor as having skin that is more temperamental than you on a monthly period, is hard to keep up with occasionally. I wish that was a joke but unfortunately, it's the truth. I make sure the ingredients are suitable for my skin as it's important to know whats flowing over your body... or is it just me? ha, anyways. It is weird, yes, BUT if it's going to help nourish and aid your skin helping it look great then why not check on these types of things? :) Soap-free products, like this shower gel, are like heaven for my skin. Keeping it as PG as I can without sounding like a creep, if my skin could you know, scream with pure joy... it would! hahaha.

A few questions to answer: 

Is it tested on animals? 
No. I know most products for different brands are, which is sad really and these days its unavoidable to get products without them being tested in that manner, but the body shop are strict on what they test their products on, which makes my love for them a lot stronger. Visit TheBodyshop.com to read their "Against animal testing" campaign page :)

Does it aid your skin?
Yes. Well, it does with mine... it has, in fact, helped my skin stay clear and soft every time I use it, accompanied by my moisturiser (any moisturiser is ideal). It cleanses the skin leaving it feeling so so soft! I like how it's soap-free as soap does irritate my skin if used too much, I found this out the hard way and have never looked back since!

Would I recommend this product?
Of course. I would recommend anyone looking for a skincare product to go to The Body Shop. They have a range of products that are good for all different skin types. I have dry skin & eczema so it's hard to find a good product which I am not used to that will aid my skin, but since using this product there have been fewer irritations.

Is this post sponsored?
I wish... but no it's not :)

Since using this shower gel, I have noticed a HUGE difference in my skin. It's been a lot more manageable and the bumps I had on my arms are more or less fading. It's helped my eczema as well, which I am so pleased about as most products help it then all hell breaks loose, but this time around that problem hasn't occurred just yet *touch wood*. I'd like to try a few more scented body butter/gels from The Body Shop in the near future. If you have any to recommend feel free to leave me a comment below :)

Thanks for reading!

Find me here: 

Instagram: @jaydeekelly 

Twitter: @crashl0nelystar 

xo

Life Update | Post-surgery & New Beginnings

Let's get real... The past month has been, exhausting, to say the least. I knew surgery would drain me, just didn't cross my mind with how much. Quick story short...

September 2015 - I fell downstairs at University (completely sober) and more or less face-planted the brick wall at the bottom of the stairs. I went to the hospital a few days after and they booked me in for a manipulation. I genuinely thought nothing of it... one way to go into the final year, right? Anyways, long story short, the manipulation was a waste of time for both me and my doctor back then. 

This year (2017) I began to go downhill... next thing I know I'm being told I need septoplasty surgery to straighten the wall within my nose, as my breathing was very restricted. 6 weeks ago I had my surgery, now I feel so much better being able to have my breathing back to normal. I have my check up on the 31st October, so hopefully, I get the all clear from my surgeon!! (another update to follow)
See below for the aftermath photo's ha... not much to see but funny to look back on.

A week or so during recovery, my body took a turn for hell... literally. One night I was fine, eating and drinking with no issues. Next day, I woke up finding myself running for the toilet to be sick. In that moment you think it must have been something you ate... wrong. 6 hours later after being unwell, over my temperature and still being sick, I was rushed to the hospital.
They say that if you gain a fever fresh after surgery to go in and be assessed. First, they thought it was my appendix (it wasn't) but it was a 50/50 chance. 5 days went by, being restricted to a hospital bed/ward, I was slowly going insane. The end diagnosis was Mesenteric Adenitis which is more common in children than adults. This means your lymph nodes around your tummy are inflamed and can cause a lot of pain. Which it did. I went from not eating waiting for scans etc, to eating and being sick more... my body has definitely turned against me lol. I also had to have several cannulas put in my hands/arms which has damaged my blood donor arm, very upsetting as I was due to give blood again on 19th Nov.17

A few weeks on, I'm still in recovery and unfortunately not getting as much rest as I should be getting due to working so much, which fits with my next update.

After a year and a half working as a care assistant, I am finally moving up in the world and leaving my full-time job, moving onto better things. Although it's a very sad time leaving behind the amazing clients I have bonded with, I am ready for the next adventure. I have been working two jobs since July 2017 and it is exhausting. I will have more time for my blog and to spend time with family and friends instead of saying the words "I'm working", it'll be nice to just have free time.
After leaving my job, I will be moving to the city of Sheffield too. Hopefully, I'll be going back to University in 2018, but also because of my job, partner and some of my friends are there. I'll finally be able to have my own place & not have the worries of a shared house again. The only good shared accommodation is at Uni, but even then it can get chaotic.

Thanks for reading!

Find me here: 

Instagram: @jaydeekelly 

Twitter: @crashl0nelystar 

xo

September Favourites | 2017

Photo credit: myself. Edited on: befunky.com

September was a crazy busy month. I had no time to sit down and blog, which is honestly quite upsetting as I love writing. When it hits you that you abandon what you love, it's like a brick being thrown at you. Quite shattering. But anyways, I have a few very random favourites to share so here goes; 

Simple wipes & Vaseline Lip balm: I must've used these religiously since being in hospital mid-September as I couldn't bathe properly after my surgery so using wet wipes and creams helped keep my skin from looking dry and flaky.  

Vaseline cocoa butter became my best friend in recovery. Even more so when I was rushed into hospital during my recovery (I will do a separate post on this)

Dove Shampoo and Conditioner: Having long hair is great until you need to wash it and keep on top of the natural colouring coming back through. Usually, if I use a shampoo and conditioner for ages it will make my hair so dry and it feels horrible. Since using Dove for my hair as a trial, my hair has felt amazing. 

Photo credit: myself.

Favourite Youtube Channels: Recently I have been loving fitness channels. I want to get back into training in a gym as the last time I did, the only thing I benefited from it was a stronger body... I did lose weight but I gained it back. Ever since it's been up and down and watching these ladies have inspired me to track my journey. 

Meganfitmusic & Busybeecarys

Photos belong to @Megannfitmusic (left) & @Busybeecarys (right)

The Walking Dead: What can I say... my boyfriend is obsessed and has been trying to get me to watch this for the 7 months we've been together. Safe to say, I caved. Never thought I'd get so into a zombie apocalypse television show, but it happened. No regrets. It's so addictive, so well written and the plot/twists just leave my jaw dropping. It is quite gory but it's hard not to press "next episode" when one finishes. I'd highly recommend anyone who is wanting a new television show, to give this a whirl. You won't regret it!

Photo belongs to google.com

Sheffield United vs Sheffield Wednesday - Football madness: Things you do for love... haha! I like to keep my other half happy, even if that means getting involved watching his favourite team play. During my recovery from my operation, we put the football on and more or less consisted of me screaming at the television. Not only did we have pizza, cuddles and quality time, but it was one of my favourite things to be involved in something my boyfriend is so passionate for. Was definitely one of my all-time favourite moments. 

Photo credit: myself

Fostering kittens: An opportunity came along at beginning of September. I fostered three kittens and their momma that had been abandoned. I do home-care for my job and came across these beautiful babies at a clients house who unfortunately is quite unwell. I and another carer, who is one of my closest friends, decided to act on the fact these kittens needed a temporary home until a shelter could take them. So that's exactly what we did, we took the kittens and their momma to my home and brought them back to health. The momma cat wouldn't stay in but she would always come back to check on her babies, it was adorable. I ended up naming them all, we decided to call momma cat Lola as it suited her personality well. The kittens were named; Milo, Max, and Harvey. I fell in love, it's no secret. It was devastating giving them to the shelter, but knowing they are all being rehomed makes me happy. 

Fostering an animal is such a rewarding experience. You receive unlimited cuddles & get to take photos, see below... Super cute. But knowing you're helping an animal is the best feeling in the world. I'd recommend fostering any type of animal as there is plenty that needs loving homes! Unfortunately, due to being in a shared housing property, animals aren't allowed although my landlord was pretty cool about having them stay a while. Everything happens for a reason right? Genuinely feel grateful for this experience.

Photo credit: myself

All the bright places, By Jennifer Niven: After the madness of kittens was over and done with, I had to go in for surgery. I will most likely do a separate post on this as it was definitely a wild ride. However, in the process of my recovery, being bed bound was proven difficult as I'm quite the active person and wanted to go anywhere and everywhere. Somehow, my boyfriend managed to make me rest & discovered a new book which is literally the best read, especially when you get lost in the plot... so engaging. Sometimes it's a struggle to focus on a book, or I put it down and don't finish it for ages. Won't lie, this has happened more over the last couple of years/months, terrible habit for sure. The book is called "All the bright places". Not yet finished it but it's made me realise a lot about mental health and how much I actually relate to it. I'll hopefully do a post on this too when I've read it all, definitely worth a read.

Thanks for reading!

Find me here: 

Instagram: @jaydeekelly 

Twitter: @crashl0nelystar 

xo

Summer Train Watching | August 2017

Hola, everyone!

Throughout this month, we have had some mixed weather. One evening I had off work, myself and my partner decided to go and watch trains. I was so excited because they kept waving and pipping their horn ha. But alongside, I managed to get some beautiful photo's, see above. 

**ALL PHOTOS ARE MY OWN, DO NOT TAKE WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. If wanting to use any of these photo's then feel free to email me at jaydeekelly94@gmail.com for my permission.**

Doncaster ain't all that bad for capturing beautiful moments & it makes me happy knowing I have some well-captured photo's to look back on. They don't have nor need filters to visualise the beauty, the camera picked it up so well! It's become a regular occurrence to go to this little hideout for Trainspotting and quite frankly, it's amazing. Especially seeing my boyfriend beam at the fact he gets to see trains (he loves them) it's literally my favourite thing to do :) There's not really much to say, as the photos speak for themselves. Enjoy! 

Thanks for reading!

Find me here: 

Instagram: @jaydeekelly 

Twitter: @crashl0nelystar 

xo

July Favourites | 2017

Hola, everyone!

July for me was a good month. I have a few favourites that I wanted to share so here we go. I discovered a lot of new things, binge-watched television programmes and even achieved some goals, explored and had fun throughout. July was exciting, to say the least.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Theory test - All passed and ready to move onto my driving test. Took a lot of preparation and my advice would be to study for it. It might be 'common sense' but you learn more testing yourself before going in for the real thing.

New job - So throughout July, my new job started a few weeks earlier than planned. It's been an experience that's for sure. Juggling two jobs and a social life does become difficult but what gets me through it is knowing that I'll have enough income coming in before my operation takes place, so it'll be a stress-free two weeks of recovery! :)

Donating blood for the first time - Donating blood has always been something I wanted to do & it finally happened. As a first timer, it took a while to actually get prepared. It took two attempts to actually have my veins cooperate. I've always had an issue with my left arm veins acting up with blood tests so imagine a bigger needle trying to pierce it. Because of it dropping, we moved over to my right arm and SUCCESS... blood was flowing nicely. Although afterwards, I started to become lightheaded even though I had plenty of water & food... IT STILL MANAGES TO GET YOU. So if you're donating blood for the first time, don't try and leave if you feel unwell. This lasted a few days for me but I had annual leave so wasn't too bad. I'm booked in again for the 19th November & I can't wait :) You can sign up here if you're from the UK: NHS Blood Donation

ESSENTIAL FAVOURITES

Soap and glory hand food - my hands get really dry, especially through my job as a carer... there's no avoiding dry hands especially when you have to wear latex gloves (or powder free ones). I am obsessed with soap and glory, that's no secret. If you're new to my blog then check out previous favourites in the popular section and you'll see I'm not joking.
I carry this hand food everywhere I go, it's definitely keeping my hands less dry and icky. Couldn't recommend the stuff enough. You can find it here: Soap & Glory Hand Food

Dulcolax Tablets - I have a funny stomach. It's so temperamental I never know what mood it's going to be in. I guess you can say that about me too, being a Gemini and all ;) ha, jokes aside... if you're having trouble with bloatedness and indigestion, then try these. Take one at night time and it'll work wonders... 1 every 3 days should be enough and it's such a relief afterwards. A safer way than any other laxatives too. £1 from Asda Supermarket, can't go wrong.

Simple Wipes - Kind to skin & Radiance - face wipes can be irritable if you have weird skin. Welcome to my world if you do. I started using Simple after using the face scrub over a year ago and found the wipes cleared my skin. These wipes gave my skin a natural glow and cleared the excess dirt from my skin and OH MY GOODNESS, they're amazing. Do try them if you're looking for something to clear your skin, these help for sure.

Vaseline (cocoa butter) - Ok fine, you got me... I need to look after my lips more as I'm known for scraping the excess skin off when they are overly dry. We all have bad habits & that's one of mine. Recently, after stumbling over this cocoa butter vaseline, it's been my go to lip care and couldn't be more happy with the results. My lips haven't been as dry and this makes me happy, very happy in fact. Even my boyfriend said it smells nice and I guess if he kisses me, that's good right? haha.

MAKE-UP FAVOURITES

Rimmel London - Wake me up concealer - Nothing is more Godly than this product. I kid you not, it's literally saving my bags from imploding on my face. Fact.
I haven't used many concealer's but I more or less swear by this and use it every time I wear make-up without fail. You can find it here: Rimmel - Wake me up concealer

Lasting Finish Kate Lipstick, shade 30 - Every girl has a favourite lipstick. This has been my favourite since second year at University (two years ago... crazy!) I don't wear it very often, only for nights out, date-nights & family gatherings. I like darker shades as they suit more for my make-up looks and skin tone. The title says it all, it's a lasting finish lipstick and stays on for hours. I do sometimes have to reapply but then again that's very normal. You can find it here: Kate Lipstick - shade 30

Velvet Kiss Lip cream, shade Caramel 2 - If you're picky with matte lipsticks/glosses you'll adapt to this one very well. For £2.99 you can't really go wrong. I do wear this quite often and even picked up another one recently as it's amazing. Nude colours with a caramel hint are literally the best to finish off a simple or sophisticated make-up look. I'm not expert but if it works, it works... right? You can find it here: Velvet Kiss Lip Cream

PERFUME FAVOURITES

I don't usually wear perfume very much & if I do, it's always my Taylor Swift one... But recently, pondering through my wardrobe, I came across my "Golddigga Pink" perfume. I've had this since Christmas... I think. So I have no idea where it's from, but I assume it's relatively cheap. IT SMELLS SO GOOD, no joke. I'd highly recommend this if you're into the 'sweet' smells :)

TV FAVOURITES

Night Shift - If you have Netflix, do give this a watch. I love programmes where they focus on different types of medical aspects. With this series revolving around veterans who have served their country, it's quite inspiring and a very interesting storyline. As an ex- film and television student, if a programme has a good storyline & good intense plot, I'm sold.

Suits - It's no secret that I admire the law lifestyle, well the lifestyle television projects it as. (it's more or less how I imagine it to be) Suits is so addictive, very informative and it's got perfect dramatised plots... I AM OBSESSED. A few years ago within second year at Uni, I was very uncertain about watching it, at first I could get into it. Within final year of Uni, it was my hangover cure every other day (student life for you ha). Ever since, it's become apart of my routine especially because season 7 is now out on Netflix #notsponsored. I am loving how Donna is stepping her character up into a more challenging perspective, it's nice to see her in the limelight for once. She is literally a clear representation of my personality... sometimes.

Grey's anatomy - Where do I start? Last summer (2016) I got obsessed and it was unhealthy. Because my hours at work wasn't as hectic, every day becomes a "Greys Day" for me, with a cheeky dominoes on the odd chill day haha. I think the most emotional part of it for me was when George died... Like I couldn't fathom why they did SO LITTLE to save him. It still makes me angry even though they did what they could, it just seemed like they gave up on one of their own so freaking quick. This is how much it actually affected me... if you watch this & you cried, lets be friends.

That's all I have for now & this post has literally taken me a week or so to write haha. Can't wait to share my August Favourites in the next week or so!

Thanks for reading!

Find me here: 

Instagram: @jaydeekelly 

Twitter: @crashl0nelystar 

xo

Sprotbrough Falls Day Trip | 2017

Hola, everyone!

After having a break from my blog, again, I have decided to come back and hit harder than ever. I will do more of a life update post further through the month. 

At the beginning of June, I had the weekend off work & spent it with my partner by exploring parts of my hometown (Doncaster) as he's from Sheffield. If you don't know of these places, they're in South Yorkshire, England. 

The photo's more or less speak for themselves, the place we went to is called Sprotbrough Falls and is so beautiful. I'd not been here in years, think the last time my family and I came here was back in 2005, I think. How beautiful is it though?! Better to go when the sun is shining as it's so admirable, as you can see. 

England is known for the crappy weather, whatever that may entail. So to get heat-wave weather back in June was lovely and suited well for a beautiful, fun day out.

How handsome is he though?! Man crush every day <3 

I didn't actually gain 6lbs ha, was worth it either way! 

Before we went exploring we treated ourselves to a lovely meal and drink at the local restaurant just around the corner. All in all, it was a great day & I wanted to share the beauty of it on here. 

Days out with this one are always fun and exciting. This year I've been more places around the Doncaster/Sheffield area than I had throughout my lifetime, I think haha. It's nice to be back posting, hoping to share more days out on my blog as they are exciting to write about :)

Thanks for reading!

Find me here: 

Instagram: @jaydeekelly 

Twitter: @crashl0nelystar 

xo

All photos are my own unless stated otherwise.
Do not use/take without my permission.
email: jaydeekelly94@gmail.com for further info.

June Goals & Achievements * round-up * | 2017

Hola, everyone! *waves* 

So after not blogging for a month or so, it's about time I posted again, so here we go. 

I always try to set myself some different goals each month. Throughout June I didn't have much on the list to label as a goal really as I'm still progressing on last months which you can find here: May Goals 2017

1. Going in for my theory test... again

A lot of people project a car theory test as 'common sense' and make digs at those who don't pass the first time. I, unfortunately, failed mine by 3 marks and the feeling of utter disappointment is a huge understatement. I revised a lot and did lots of mock tests and got a good score. When it came to the actual thing, Hazards perception was so unbelievably daunting but managed to somehow pass that with 60/75 which to me is an outstanding result. You can do all the revision in the world although remembering it is also hard to do, especially if you're me haha. I got 40/50 on the multiple choice and it encountered 43 to pass so you can imagine how crushing it was looking at my result. HOWEVER, it hasn't and will not stop me from trying again. In fact... I re-booked another attempt and hopefully this time my score will be better than ever. Gotta have a little faith, right?

2. Turning 23 
A new age, new me right? ha no, I'm the same boring old' Jaydee everyone grows to love. Jokes aside, It was my birthday at the beginning of June. I had the best birthday ever, my best friend from University who I spent the entirety of my third year with, drove 2-3 hours just to spend a few hours with me on my birthday! Had the chance to finally introduce my two favourite people to one another which made me indescribably happy. Although on the actual day, going into Meadowhall for some birthday dinner I dropped my 4-month-old iPhone and it smashed at the top corner. Might've been happy on prosecco and wine so oops haha. I could be the only person to see this as an achievement but I've made it to 23... I'll tell you why it's amazing news for me. 
At 4 years old, I had meningitis. If you don't know what it is, it's a bacterial infection which spreads around your body, affecting your hearing, sight and could experience a loss of limbs. Luckily before it could do any of that to me, my mum rushed me straight to the hospital and the doctors/nurses tackled the virus before it spread around my body. 
At age 10, I got knocked off my bike. I guess you can say it was a near death experience as I passed out half way through then woke up underneath a van after smashing my head against the pavement. I was lucky to walk away with a sliced open ear, cuts and bruising and a shattered ankle. So making it to 23 after nearly dying twice within my life, is an achievement and I'm very grateful to wake up every morning to carry on living my life. 

3. Getting back on my feet
It's been a long time coming but I'm just glad the struggle is over. It's taken me since the age of 19 to learn how to budget properly and making sure all my bills are paid on time instead of going silly with my money. My rent is £33 cheaper (was £433) as I have switched to paying weekly and it makes it so much easier. Finding a stable ground with work has helped too, making sure I'm getting enough hours while training for my new job to earn extra income. I'm so close to the end of my driving lessons, when I say close I mean... doing mock driving tests, close. It's such a good feeling to finally be in control of the things that were once brought me down. 

4. Losing weight
Let's be honest, it took me the majority of May to stop dining out. Even part of this month (June), guilty as charged. But, I have started to get more strict with eating better, along with exercising. This week alone I have had plenty bought in to eat throughout the busy work schedule and so far so good. I can continue my journey with slimming down. It's honestly the best feeling keeping your body fueled properly. I ain't doing it for anyone else, just myself - due to certain things started to eat away at my depression and anxiety which, if you suffer from you'll know how infuriating and difficult it is to maintain positive. Since May 29th up until around 15th June, remembered to keep a record of how much weight had been lost. 6 1/2 lbs lighter and it's made me realise that it is A LOT of body fat... see below to see what an average of 5 lbs looks like. It's kinda gross but seeing what you're losing is quite motivating, well it is for me anyways. I've gone from 164.4 lbs to 157 lbs - great achievement for sure. Still, a long way to go, but in order to see results change has to happen.

5. Booked time off work - finally
Never go 10 and a half months without annual leave. Biggest mistake of my life, but did my employer offer it me before? Unfortunately not which has sadly resulted in me losing last financial year's holidays. However, I've stood my ground and actually worked like a dog (lol) in order to book two weeks off which is in fact very much needed. Being a carer is so mentally draining so taking my annual leave for as long as I am should sort me right out as I'll have time to relax, blog, exercise & eat properly - all the things that are usually restricted haha.

6. Became a blood donor!
For a few years now I have wanted to sign up. Due to some health complications like having a low vitamin D deficiency, it restricted into me helping those in need until my levels were stable. Finally, my vitamin D levels are stable and have finally registered to be a blood donor! The first donation is while I'm off work on the 11th July & I'm beyond excited to finally achieve one of my biggest goals! It will most likely make next months favourites ha.  

The month as a whole has been so exciting from start to finish. Although towards the end of the month I did feel a bit run down but the best thing about June was achieving some goals, learning from mistakes and celebrating my 23rd year. All in all, it's been a good month and I'm so sad to see the end of it. Just hoping July is just as good :) 

What have been your highlights of June?

Thanks for reading!

Find me here: 

Instagram: @jaydeekelly 

Twitter: @crashl0nelystar 

xo

2 photo's from google.com - all rights reserved to them.

Unless stated otherwise all photo's are my own.

Select - Spring / Summer Wishlist | 2017

Hola, everyone!

Wish-list blog posts are becoming my favourite thing to write, as it's showing what sort of things captures my attention from affordable retail stores. Select happens to be one of my favourite places to shop as their clothing is so fitting and complimentary.

ONE

Select are like I say, one of my favourite shops to go to because their clothing is most definitely unique. From comfy clothing to smart/casual - I'm hooked. Stumbling over these pieces just had me addicted from the get-go. You can find them here: 

Call Me Never Elastic Hem Sweat

Call Me Never Shorts

Venice Beach Crop Sweat

Venice Beach Shorts

Eyelet Strap Tee

Freedom Mesh Rock T-shirt

TWO

Whether you're dressing to impress or you're dressing to comfort your body - These pieces are most definitely going to make an appearance in my wardrobe. With Summer just around the corner, it would be rude not to, right? You can find them here: 

Eyelet Choker Top

Cold Shoulder Trim Vest

Venice Beach Lattice Front Top

Crop Slubby hoodie

THREE

Last but no means least - This is more of a random selection ha, but more so what I need in my wardrobe to spice it up. I am, of course, getting back into fitness so some items I have chosen are fitness related. Some are smart/casual for possible nights out in the future or for potential date nights & some for summer to you know, flaunt what every girl should be proud of, their unique body shape. You can find them here: 

Orange Crochet Cropped Vest

Running Shorts

Black Zip Front Lotus Long Sleeve Blouse

Thanks for reading!

Find me here: 

Instagram: @jaydeekelly 

Twitter: @crashl0nelystar 

xo

This post is not an AD/sponsored.

All opinions are my own!

All photos belong to selectfashion.com

Monthly Goals for May 2017

Hola, everyone!

After being given a second weekend off for a bit of annual leave, it got me thinking what I wanted to achieve throughout May. I have had many goals this year and I won't lie, I have achieved quite a lot since my New Year's resolutions post. So this is more for motivation for myself and for other's who are wanting a little push to achieve their goals. 

1. Pass my theory test 

So I have been doing my lessons for quite some time & have massively put off my theory test as I wanted to get close to the end. Now it's near the end, approaching my test but unfortunately, I can't move forward with that until I pass my theory... After revising non-stop and it's given me a highway headache ha, jokes aside, hopefully on tuesday I can book in and finally pass in order to move onto the bigger and more scary test to actually get me out on the road. 

2. Have my operation 

This is indeed for medical reasoning - two years ago during the beginning of my third year at University I fell downstairs and smashed my face into a brick wall, therefore resulting in a badly broken nose (ouch, I know). After the last two months of having it rescheduled I have managed to ask to see a doctor who will then hopefully refer me for a "under the knife" surgery. I will more than likely post my experience of this in a few weeks!

3. Flat Hunt & Move out my shared house

Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed the majority of my time living in a shared property but I feel as if I'm ready to get my own place. Whether it's on my own or with my boyfriend, right now I just need to call somewhere home without feeling like I'm going to murder someone for being a disturbance... ha!

4. Manage my finances properly 

I have struggled for months, if not years with budgeting. So add paying bills to the mix, it more or less gets you down. Paying £400+ for a room in a shared house, actually sucks. I feel as if I never have any money left to do something for myself - or I've got so used to saving it and became tightfisted. So I've promised myself to get ontop of my finances, even if it leaves me with nothing each week, it'll be a massive weight off my shoulders for sure. 

5. Cook more - Eat out less

Eating out is great, I love trying new places. However, when it's making you feel guilty for spending money you should be saving, gaining weight and getting bored - it's time to break out and start trying to eat smarter and leaner at home. That is a big aim of mine to succeed with, as I do miss cooking and get more in shape. 

6. Have more "me" time 

I don't have much "me" time anymore as I love spending time with my friends and boyfriend. When I'm not with them, I'm at work looking after everyone there. I've recently been through a really difficult time and my depression played a huge part of it. But after having time to think about it, there's not been much time where I've spent a day alone, getting things done and enjoying my own company so I definitely need to make more time in order to do that. 

7. Exercise / Yoga 

Week by week I've said to myself "i'll start tomorrow" or do 6 days working out then I stop for a total of two weeks. I lack in motivation to help myself feel confident and look after my body properly. Don't get me wrong I have finally started shaping up and losing a few lbs here and there, but I want to keep it persistent as body confidence has a huge grind on my anxiety. Anyone who struggles with anxiety or body confidence issues will understand where I'm coming from, it's difficult. But it's a goal of mine to keep striving to do the best I can to feel happy within myself as well as my body. 

What are YOUR monthly goals??

Thanks for reading!

Find me here: 

Instagram: @jaydeekelly 

Twitter: @crashl0nelystar 

xo

The photo above is from twitter, 
all rights are issued to the owner. 
Writing added via befunky.com