Web Wanderings

Outfit details at the bottom of the post

I was writing an article recently about my love of the outdoors, and I’ve spoke a lot about mindfulness and learning to slow down on here too. But, even with all its flaws, I have to confess that I love the digital world too. I love the freedom it creates in work and play, the like-minded souls you meet, and the comfort it offers for an introvert like me.

The natural and digital world are a both a big part of my thirty something life. So in praise of the internet, here’s some of my web wanderings, including tips, resources and light-bulb moments that I’ve discovered online lately.

Great sites I spotted The Creative Independent recently and it’s such a great resource for all the creators out there. Here’s the gist of their story:

Each weekday The Creative Independent will publish one essay or interview from an established or emerging artist in which they discuss their practice, their process, and the struggles and triumphs that come with it. The Creative Independent is unique in that 100% of its content will come from practicing artists and creators. Over time we hope to amass a kind of oral history of the creative process that can be searched and consulted to help educate and inspire those who create or dream of creating.

Check it out!

Social insights Allison Sadler posted on Instagram a while ago about living your life your way, and creating your own rules outside of societies outdated formulae (Read the post here). Her post really resonated me.

I’ve been feeling for a while that I’ve been kind of living a half-life, and apologising for the one I have. I think a lot of it is because I am child-free, and even nowadays a lot of people don’t understand this. I might at some point talk about this on the blog, if you like? Perhaps.

Then an email popped in my inbox from the watch brand Adexe, about a campaign called Your Time is Now and something just clicked. I’m surrounded by daily reminders that life is ridiculously short, with all my family’s health issues, and a few of my own too. And I guess, well, I’ve had enough of following the rules. Taking ownership of my life has unknowingly become my 2018 mantra. I’m excited about this.

Recommendations For a while now I’ve been in a bit of a skincare/makeup slump. I only wear makeup about 3/4 days a week but when I do it doesn’t look ‘put together’ if you know what I mean? I guess my skin has changed now I’m in my late thirties, and I’ve not bothered to really commit to a particular skincare routine or looked at what MY skin needs.

I was watching Laura Jane Williams stories ( I love her) on Instagram about her skincare routine, and she mentioned how looking after her skincare over the past year has improved not only her skin but her makeup application too. Skincare and makeup experts for the 30/40 plus age group, hit me up with your brand recommendations, I really need them!

Outfit: Maeve Dress from Baukjen (old)| Long Jacket from Primark (old) |Skinny jeans from TK Maxx (old) | Freerunner Petite Shamrock watch from Adexe – gifted item | Converse trainers | Bag from Accessorize via the charity shop!

Apps to download I might have been living under a rock as I wasn’t aware you can use a phone app to sign documents on your phone.

I needed to sign a document digitally the other day, and send it back via email. I wasn’t feeling particularly great, and the thought of opening my laptop and faffing with the printer/scanner was a bit too much for my brain. I used SignEasy, where you create your signature and then simply add to the documents you need, then download it to be sent via email. Nifty, huh?

Blog post shout-out Susan Earlam has written a perfectly timed (for me) post on Creativity and Motivation. If you have any long-term creative projects you are working on, go read this!