3 Thoughtful Ways to Stay in Touch

Now more than ever, staying in touch with your friends and family is a really massive thing and something that we are having to put a little more thought into. Especially those friends we would usually see daily that we haven’t seen for months – definitely missing them all! It’s really important for everyone’s wellbeing that we put a bit of effort into checking in on our friends at this time. These are a couple ideas other than just picking up the phone and giving them a call, which is just as lovely!

Write them a letter: Ever wanted a pen pal? Now is the perfect time! Get out an actual pen and paper and just chat as if your friend was sat opposite you. You might think you haven’t been up to much (like everyone else!) but tell them about the latest series you binged watched, book you read or dinner you ate. It’s nice just to share some of the simple daily details of life with your bestie and to hear about what they’ve enjoyed too! You can even go out and post it on your daily walk too – win, win!

Send them a meme, gif or Tiktok: One of the simplest forms of letting someone know you are thinking of them. I don’t know about you but when I get a notification that a friend has tagged me in something funny it really gives me a boost! I always think it’s so sweet to know that someone has thought of you, you know? Just whilst scrolling I suddenly popped into their head! That means a lot in 2020! They’re usually really funny and scarily accurate, so definitely worth giving your friends a simple tag in something online to brighten their day.

Post them a special gift: If you want to send something special then now is a perfect time, whether it be something you have homemade or order it online. If they live locally you can always take it to their door and then stand down the driveway! There are lots of different things that you can send online whether it be a recent book find on Amazon or a letterbox brownie from a local bakery business. You can find lots of food delivery companies online or trying Instagram, Facebook groups or Etsy to find some local places to support. Getting post at this time is literally SUCH A THRILL, so it’s nice to pass on that joy!

Take care,

Amy

3 Virtual Quiz Round Ideas

Virtual quizzes are one of my favourite things to do at the moment! When human contact is very much limited and the evenings are much quieter, I’ve found that getting together to do a good ol’ quiz really brightens things up. It really tests your creativity though, especially as this has been happening for quite a few weeks now. So I thought I would share a few quiz round ideas to help out!

Higher or Lower: I have really LOVED Stephen Mulhern’s show ‘In For A Penny’ and this round is basically taken inspiration from that. In the show, incase you haven’t seen it, he basically scans items through a supermarket checkout and then you have to guess whether the item was priced higher or lower than the item before. Basically if you go and get 5 items from the kitchen, check their prices on a supermarket website and then you can go from there! I feel like this is a really cute one, lets you use some props and is really easy to put together!

Themes: If you’ve got a group of friend’s who all like a similar thing then a themed quiz night is PERFECT! Whether you want to go for boy bands, Shrek, Disney Princesses, Star Wars, superheroes or Tiger King – the choice is endless! Having something to theme the night around also lets you go for fancy dress too, giving people the chance to be extra creative.

Scavenger Hunt: This is one that I am yet to try but I think it looks really fun, especially if you’re doing this with a group of friends. It’s pretty simple but basically the host will have to name something and then everyone has to run and grab that item, the first person to bring it back wins the most points, then descending from them. You just need a list of items that everyone has like a TV Remote, phone, socks, shoes or a plate! The more random, the better!!

Take care,

Amy

3 Disney+ Recommendations

Disney Plus is basically one of my favourite things. Ever. If you asked me ‘What has your lockdown been sponsored by?’ I would say Disney+. With Animal Crossing and Cadbury’s Creme Eggs thrown in there too.

I’ve barely been on Netflix since it’s come out and I just have to say that, with everything going on right now, it came at the best time. A time when magic is so needed. I have made my way through a fair amount of my To Be Watched List: Disney+ and thought I would share 3 of my recommendations – SO FAR. There is still a lot more I have to watch, which is the beauty of having a whole new streaming service. Obviously I’m going to have A LOT more recommendations eventually, but this is ‘as of May 2020’.

Disney’s Fairytale Weddings: Hear me out on this one. I know you’re thinking that this programme is going to appeal to a specific type of audience but give it a chance. There is a lot of heart in this show, it is real escapism. You get to meet couples and hear their stories, it can really tug on your heartstrings this one! There are some episodes more exciting than others but just seeing the destinations and the little details – it got me EXCITED.

The Imagineering Story: WOW. So this lived up to the high expectations. If anything it left me wanting MORE episodes. I loved learning so much about Walt, the parks and the journey that the company has gone on. It was such an honest account of what has happened over the years, it didn’t try and cover up any mistakes, instead it highlighted them and showed the audience how they fixed them. One of the overriding things that came out of it for me, was just how special and unique Disney is – in so many ways from the business side, to the detail within the parks and the innovative storytelling in every single movie they have ever released. Walt was so ahead of his time and I love learning more about his incredible life. The whole series is now available and you are really in for a treat if you haven’t watched it yet.

Cars 2: I spoke a little bit in my initial post about how I was looking forward to watching the films that I hadn’t seen before – Cars being one of them. I’ve picked out Cars 2 as a favourite, but they were all great! Cars 2 just had me LAUGHING so much. It’s the tow truck, Mater, who has very quickly become one of new favourite Disney characters. He was just hilarious!!! I was surprised how much I enjoyed this, as I generally have very different tastes to a 5 year old boy, yet here I am saying that this is a GREAT film. I really want to go to Radiator Springs… like now.

Take care,

Amy

3 Recent Reads

Reading is something that I have really been trying to get into recently. I always view reading a book as something far superior to scrolling on my phone – it doesn’t feel like wasted time. For some reason though I have always found the scrolling way more tempting, so I’m really trying to turn that habit around. I even wrote a whole article about this before, as creating a reading habit is something I have always wanted to do – in my Basic Girls Guide to: Getting into Reading. Here are a few of the books that have really helped distract me from my phoneI have been reading recently:

One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus: You might have already read this one as it’s been pretty popular for a few years and I think it was recently picked for Zoe Sugg’s book club. It’s a YA thriller, mystery style book set in an American High School – all fairly typical – with a ‘Breakfast Club’ style comparison. I really liked the way the perspective was constantly changing, although it was a bit confusing at the beginning. It gave you the chance to see things from each character’s view and have the ability to see how the incident impacted them all individually. I did find this a real page-turner and if you like that very specific and popular YA genre then I’m sure you’ll enjoy this!

Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams: If you like Paige Toon, ‘The Flatshare’ or most of Giovanna’s Fletcher’s books then I think you will really enjoy this one! It has that classic romance, chick lit style to it but there is also some difficult themes in there too. It’s a book that really has some heart and that is one of the best qualities that a book can have. These are the perfect books for escapism and although sometimes it was a bit predictable, on the whole this was a really great read to transport you to happier and more romantic times.

A Good Girls Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson: I really liked the style of this book as it follows a teenagers EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) as she investigates the suspected-murder of local girl Andie Bell. There are lots of twists and turns within the book and the ‘scrapbook’ style made it a real page-turner. One of the things that I found difficult was that it was set in the UK, when the whole thing just felt really American. I don’t know exactly why this is, but it didn’t feel like it fitted within a usual British secondary school or society at all. There was something that didn’t click with the plot, characters and location which made it a bit hard to believe and disjointed. Overall, if a YA thriller is your thing then I think you will find this story really engaging and the unique writing style will make you want to find out the truth, just as much as the narrator does.

Take care,

Amy

5 Things to be Grateful for in Lockdown

I wasn’t going to mention the global pandemic on here because I really am using my blog to escape, like I imagine many other people are too. I also don’t want to seem like I am trivialising it or not taking it seriously – please know that I am. Ultimately, there is no right way to behave in a global pandemic. So I’m going to share some of the things that I am grateful for, as even when things look dark there is always light.

Sometimes I find at the end of the day just taking the time to reflect and write down just 3 things that I am grateful for from that day, it helps me go to sleep with a clearer head. I also want to make clear that this doesn’t include health, family and friends which are obviously the most important things I am always the most grateful for them.

1. Spring Sunshine: Got to kickstart this list with the classic cliche but this year I really feel like it’s true. I’ve always been such a winter girl – exhibit a –  but I think this has to be one of the first times I have really appreciated spring. Whether it’s the pretty flowers on my daily permitted walk or it being warm enough to sit outside and read. Opening the curtains in the morning to see a blue sky has really been such a blessing during this scary time.

2. Books: I’ve always wanted to be a little bookworm and I’ve gone through phases in my life when I am. Since starting full-time work though, I really put reading on the back burner and it’s only now with this extra time that I have delved into quite a few. I’ll be sharing some of the books I’ve read in a post soon!

3. Technology: Wow. Technology is really out there bringing us all together isn’t it. We are now reaping the benefits of social media, FaceTime, Zoom and even just have a good old fashioned phone call. I love being able to speak to my Grandad so regularly and having our family quiz nights. Obviously Twitter and the news outlets are still really overwhelming and I try to limit by time on those but overall I think we are seeing the best bits of technology at the moment.

4. Easter Eggs: I’ve been pacing myself with these, which takes a considerable amount of self control. Cadbury’s Easter Eggs are one my most favourite foods on the planet and take up a considerable amount of my diet from March – May … if they make it to May. I just love them. You can’t have enough of these, seriously THANK YOU CADBURYS. ALWAYS.

5. Disney+: They got the timing just perfect with this one didn’t they? Having a whole new streaming service to get really stuck does help the hours really pass by. You can see what I am most looking forward to here, a list that I am already making my way through! Getting lost in those Disney movies have really been soothing for the soul.

Take care,

Amy

Joining the World of Full-Time Work

Getting a ‘proper’ job is something that I really put off and it wasn’t until I graduated from university at the age of 21 I realised I had dodged it long enough… The time had come.

I did start to feel a bit ‘ready’ which is weird and something that I didn’t expect but after all those years in education, I just wanted to start doing. I just wanted to share some of the things I learnt from starting a 9-5 job – queue Dolly Parton.

1. Kindness is EVERYTHING: I suppose this comes with everything in life but at work, especially at the beginning, it is so important to be kind to everyone. Even those you think are a little bit dodgy or annoying, just be nice. Ask lots of questions and remember the answers – try not to switch off when a random woman starts telling you the story about their grandchild learning to rollover for the 3rd time in 2 days. Just nod along. They really appreciate it and it helps you feel really included into the office when you can ask some more personal questions when waiting for the kettle to boil.
2. Work on those Waitress Skills: Hot drinks are EVERYTHING in an office. Seriously I have made more hot drinks in the last 6 months that my whole 21 years previously. It’s just what gets people through the long hours, those cold mornings and just breaks up the day. You’ll eventually get into a little routine with it all and you will be able to just start holding up mugs at people on the phone soon! I’m very shaky just generally, so don’t worry about having to do multiple trips to the kitchen – it’s better than spilling it everywhere.
3. Don’t be scared to ask: It might feel like you’re holding a Q&A with every single person you meet, but it’s worth it. Write everything down. You might feel a bit silly for a week or two but it’s a good idea to get them all out the way early. It will help you with your confidence later on.

I’m going to leave it with 3 for this post, but there might be a follow up one in the future – can you barely contain your excitement? Thought so haha!

Take care,

Amy

To Be Watched List: Disney+

Disney remains one of my biggest loves and joys in life, so when Disney+ was coming to the UK I couldn’t wait. Especially in the current climate, I think it is really a wonderful form of escapism and it’s so nice to get lost in another world for a bit. I know I’m a little late in posting about this but I’m now really getting the chance to get stuck into it. If you’re a bit confused then it’s basically a Netflix and Disney hybrid – a real match made in Heaven. This is a list of what I’m most excited to watching!

The Imagineering Story: WOW. This is number one. For Disney Parks enthusiasts like myself, this really is a must-watch. This is much more of a documentary style and goes right back to when Walt first created Disneyland. I’m really looking forward to learning more about Walt himself and some of the back stories to my favourite rides!

Movies I missed the First Time! This is one of the beauties of Disney+… we now have all our the Disney movies in one place! We have the opportunity to go back and enjoy some of the films that we may have missed the first time round whether that be through age or just missing it at the cinema originally. This will look slightly different for everyone but for me, it includes The Incredibles 1 and 2, the Cars series and Hercules – I know that’s a biggy! These are just some of the films that I am looking forward to watching for the first time!!

High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Who came up with that name? Whilst I fully understand this will not come close to the films – Troy 4eva- I’m still excited to see what they’ve done with this! I was the prime High School Musical little kid, it hit at the perfect age for me and I have been a wildcat ever since watching the first one as a DCOM on a Friday night on Disney Channel. I’m heard it’s so cheesy, that it’s good… which is basically what I look for in most series and movies haha!

Once I’ve started making my way through this list, I’ll definitely post my reactions and reviews. Not sure in what format yet but they’ll be on here somewhere, so keep an eye out!

Take Care,

Amy

 

Guess who’s back?

You might not have noticed that I haven’t written a blog post since last September… you will be forgiven for not realising!

There is a lot going on in the world right now and I don’t think we need reminding of what unprecedented times we live in. I think it goes without saying online, but just letting you know that although I am writing about very unimportant things on the grand scale of the world right now. This doesn’t mean that I’m not taking this pandemic seriously but I just need some relief and I’m hoping writing will provide that.

So I will be attempting to share some of my writing again, in a way to distract both myself and potentially the odd reader along the way – whilst staying home, of course!

I’ve done the classic change of blog theme to make it seem like a clean slate. What do you think? I’ve also change the name slightly, as I felt like ‘Amy Always Blogs’ was untrue since this is my first post in about 6 months… Does the use of Always make it sound like this is in partnership with the sanitary pads company? THIS IS NOT AN AD – just to avoid confusion.

ANYWAY, so this is just a little refresh post to let you know that I’m back and will be getting into posting again from now really! I’m going in with no schedule for the time being, I just want to write and share when I want basically.

I have deleted my Instagram that went alongside this blog so I won’t be promoting this anywhere for the time being. I just want this space to be somewhere that I can simply write again because as cheesy as it sounds – I just wanted a creative outlet right now and I missed this!

Take care,

Amy

3 Autumn Nail Favourites

Today I wanted to share a few of my favourite nail polish colours for Autumn! I’ve spoken on here many times about my love of the colder months, so I’m happy to be sharing some darker shades with you. I find these shades always look good with a high gloss overcoat- my favourite one is from Nails Inc.

Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish in ‘335 Gimme Some of That’, £2.99: I wrote about this nail polish a couple of weeks ago, as part of my 3 Recent Beauty Buys. This is a lovely deep pink shade, that looks really classy- which is something that I often struggle to find when it comes to pink nail polish! It’s not like any of the colours in my collection and it often looks different in different lights, sometimes it has brighter hints of red and others more plum.

Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish in ‘310 Double Decker Red’, £2.99: It’s clear to say that I have been LOVING Rimmel nail polish recently and I struggle to go into Boots without picking up a new shade right now! They’re such a great price and I love the formula, it often lasts for AT LEAST 5 days on me which makes it perfect to wear for the week. This is more of a true red, its a little deeper though which makes it the perfect transitional shade for these early Autumn days.

Barry M Hi Shine Gelly Nail Paint in ‘Ginger’, £3.99: I actually featured this one in my Autumn nail favourites from last year and it’s really stood the test of time! I really love this unique shade that has a rusty red, burnt orange kind of colour to it. It basically matches the Autumn leaves! This formula has long been a favourite of mine, with its built in glossy finish, this is definitely a winner.

Amy

3 Recent Beauty Buys

Today I just wanted to share a few of the latest beauty bits that I’ve picked up! I’ve kept it down to 3 for this post, so I can really talk about them. You’ll notice this is different to a ‘haul’ because I tend to have tried some of these bits already and gotten them started, so I can give a little bit of initial feedback on the product. Sometimes I just find a post like this is a good ‘one stop shop’ method, so it saves having a haul, try-on AND then a review. It’s just like an all-in-one post, enjoy these little Autumnal pick-me-ups!

Rimmel 60 Seconds Super Shine Nail Polish in ‘335 Gimme Some of That’, £2.99: I’ve been enjoying the Rimmel formula for a few months now and have been really enjoying it. I’ve found that sometimes the lasting power on it can be great, usually get about 5 days out of them at a time. This one, as you can see in the picture has gotten a few small chips within only 2 days though. The shade is really lovely though, its a deep sophisticated pink that almost looks red in some lights though. It’s a really good one for Autumn and I have a feeling I’ll be reaching for this one a lot!

Revolution Conceal and Define Supersize Concealer in ‘C2’, £7.00: I’ve been using my Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer for months non-stop, so I felt like I wanted a change. I have tried this concealer before, but then never got round to re-purchasing it. Unfortunately, I had to settle for the supersize one… which is MASSIVE! I don’t know if they’re still doing the regular sized one, but this one is almost like a foundation stick. I found it harder to shade match me this time, there are literally so so many to choose from even in the pale section- which is a good thing really. I’m looking forward to having a bit of a change up and using this one again.

OGX Purifying and Charcoal Detox Shampoo, £6.99: OGX is a brand that I’ve very recently begun dabbling in and I’m really impressed so far. I like to alternate with my shampoos, so this one and the coconut curls one are the ones I’m currently using. The charcoal one is set to give your head a real deep clean out of any product build up and general dirt. I love a good deep cleaning shampoo, especially as I use serums, so there can often get a build up if not cleansed properly. Love the packaging of these and they’re so big, it will take me a while to finish them off- I usually try and find them on offer too when I can!

Amy