2016 goals - how did I get on?

As I've mentioned before, last year was an odd and sometimes very tough year for me. As we are now head first into 2017, I thought I'd take a look back at the some goals I set myself last year to see how I got on. I feel like I started the year strong yet got lazy as the months went on. But at least I tried eh? Even if I didn't quite succeed.

1. See even more of the world
This one I absolutely smashed with flying colours. Yeah it skinted me quite a few times but it was 100% worth it. The more of the world I see, the more desperate I become to see more. I've fallen even more in love with Europe and sometimes can't quite believe that I live on such an incredible, diverse continent.

2. Put more of my passion into my blog
So for the second year running I have kinda failed at this goal. I can't imagine never having this little piece of the internet but I guess my motivation isn't quite as high as it should be. I absolutely adore putting my words down in a post but it's not high on my list of priorities at the minute. I struggled to find the time this year thanks to a long commute. Opening my laptop isn't always the first thing on my mind when I get home from work. But I'm so proud of everything this blog has achieved and it's without a doubt one of the best things I ever did.

3. Spend more time with those I've known the longest
Well I didn't do very well at this one either. I didn't see some of my oldest friends as much as I would have liked. But the older I'm getting, the more I'm realising is that this just happens. We all work such longs hours and lead such 100 mph lives that it's natural to not see people as often as you liked. But I have realised that the friendships I do have are pretty special. Even if I don't see them for six months, five minutes into a conversation it's like we have seen each other yesterday.

4. Look after my skin
I really noticed my troublesome skin last year as the commuting took it's toll. Some nights I was lazy and just used a wipe and other nights I spend 20 minutes pampering my skin with my lotions and potions. I wasn't very consistent and it showed if my breakouts and dry skin are anything to go by. I have gotten out of the habit of sleeping in my make up which is a bonus. Small steps...

5. Learn to have more self confidence
2016 was the year that I began to really trust my instincts. The year I stopped being so unsure and just went for things. Sure I had little wobbles but the mantra 'fake it till you make it' really does work. I just winged certain situations and to my surprise, I pulled them off. The one thing I'm enjoying about getting older is my confidence growing in myself. I feel so much more sure of what I want and what I won't put up with.

So, last year didn't quite go to plan as I would have liked given at how many of my goals I failed to hit. But that's ok, sometimes life just gets in the way. That's the fun thing - you never know what will be around the corner. Stay tuned for my goals for 2017. I'm determined to tick them all off this year. *She says*

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How to spend 24 hours in Glasgow

Over the festive period I headed up to Glasgow for a friend's wedding and to see in the New Year. Scotland is my favourite country within the United Kingdom so I was pretty excited to see what Glasgow had to offer. Luckily it lived up to my expectations. It's a city full of wonderful culture, incredible places to eat and gorgeous architecture. I could have stayed in the West End all week - I'd definitely recommend you use it as a base. But if you're not lucky enough like me to spend a week in the city, here is how to get the best out of Glasgow in 24 hours.

First up head to breakfast at Hillhead Bookclub. Located in the West End, this cosy little place does a cracking brunch menu. Go for the poached eggs in a bed of spicy chorizo, creamy avocado and a hollandaise sauce with a side of bread to mop up the delicious leftovers! If you fancy something a little more substantial, the Scottish breakfast looked great. Once you've filled your belly, it's then time to start exploring!

Catch the Hillhead Subway into the town centre for a wander around. It's £4 for an all day ticket. Do a little shopping if you fancy it - you'll be spoilt for choice with everything on offer! Make sure you stop for a photo opportunity at the famous Duke of Wellington statue in Royal Exchange Square. You'll spot it straight away thanks to a traffic cone on it's head!

Catch a taxi - so cheap! - or the subway back to the West End for lunch at Hanoi Bike Shop. This Vietnamese gem is hidden down a side street opposite Hillhead Subway. As the city's only Vietnamese restaurant, it's very popular with the locals. Go wild with the sharing dishes or ask them to choose you a selection for under £20 per person. We loved the pheasant curry and the honey chicken - I wish I could have bottled up the sauce to take home!

Take a short wander down to visit the Botanic Gardens. Set in a ornate Victorian greenhouse, it only takes around 30 minutes to really soak up the gardens. But it's a lovely place to just mill around. It always stuns me just how incredible those Victorians were and how many things they created are still enjoyed today. There's also a little tearoom if you fancy stopping for tea and cake.

Take a leisurely 20 minute stroll to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. This insane building is an Aladdin's cave. Full in interesting artefacts, incredible history and beautiful art, it's a place you can spend an hour or indeed a full day. I wish we had got there for 1pm to listen to the organ recital. Sadly we missed the famous Salvador Dali Christ of St John of The Cross. But it's just an excuse to go back again!

Have a quick drink to rest your feet at Brewdog. Situated opposite Kelvingrove Art Gallery, this branch of the Scottish craft beer company is a great place to enjoy a drink. Offering a brilliant selection of different beers, there's also spirits and ciders to try too. Try the beer flight for their best beers.

After you've quenched your thirst, it's time to head up the head behind Kelvingrove to the university. J K Rowling based Hogwarts on the building so as you can imagine, it's a dream! It's also home to the  slightly creepy Hunterian museum which is worth a wander around.

Finally head down to Mother's India Cafe on the road opposite for a spot of dinner. Keep in mind you may have to queue but it's well worth the effort. Choose from a variety of tapas style dishes for an Indian feast. We loved the dal options and the saag chicken. We ordered so, so much yet it only came to about £20 each with drinks included. It's very similar to Dishoom if you have ever been.

Have you ever been to Glasgow? If so, what were your favourite things to do?

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A look back at 2016

So another year over eh? The picture above is probably my favourite one of the year. I get such a huge grin on my face every time I spot it and it reminds me of some of the best two weeks of my life. I remember feeling so carefree. We'd been at a Hungarian festival all day, drunk £6 bottles of 'champagne', sat in the sunshine, made paper windmills in the art tent and were just about to watch Rihanna who just so happened to mine her way through the entire set. Sometimes the best moments in life aren't Instagram perfect or follow a careful script. Real life shouldn't have a filter.

I came into 2016 reeling from the shock of being made redundant, undertaking the uncertainty of being freelance and quite frankly at a loss at how to move forward. It's not until I look back at the period in my life that I realise just how unhappy I was during 2015. I feel like a different person now.

Luckily 2016 has been has been an improvement. It's been a year of extreme lows but also a year of extreme highs. Both in my personal and in my professional life.  Sometimes I just can't quite believe how much I have packed into 12 months. A year that feels like it has flown by but also a year that has moved at a snail pace.

In March I was made permanent at my current job after freelancing for a few months. I was and am still over the moon to be working with such a great team and for such a fab publication. I genuinely enjoy getting up in the morning and commuting to London. I absolutely love being back in the city and embracing the London lifestyle. I fully committed to seeing the big wide world with an incredible five new countries crossed off my list and six new European cities. It's made me realise just how much I thrive from going to to new places. It's only increased my desire to see everything out there! We have hopefully bought a house too which came out of nowhere! We wasn't really looking but one came up that we loved the look of. After a few tense weeks we finally had our offer accepted and are now just waiting for the whole process to go through. It's not completely set in stone but I'm quietly confident that it will all go through. I just hope it doesn't come back and bite me in the bum!

As a family we've taken a fair few knocks this year and at times things have been tough. Tougher than they have ever been. But if one thing they have taught me is that you knock us down, we get back up again. We will get through it as a unit. The rollercoaster is something that will probably carry on until 2017.

Despite that I'm looking forward to 2017. I'm seeing in the New Year in Glasgow with three of my favourite people, a city that I've never visited. Hopefully March sees me finally move out into my first home with my boyfriend - still working on a move date! I have a few weddings to attend and a holiday traveling around Poland to plan. Plans have slightly changed with Warsaw, Krakow and Gdansk on the list now but that's the beauty of planning a holiday!

Thank you so much for everyone who has read my little piece of the internet - sometimes I can't quite believe that I've been writing it so long. I honestly can't imagine it not being part of my life. I haven't quite nurtured it as much as I wanted to in 2016 but hoping to invest more time next year. I've got some big plans! This will be my last post of 2016 so I'll see you on the flip side!

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