Awesome August: My Goals | Sunflowers and Lavender

Hello again guys (well I have 2 followers now, so hello lovely 2 people if you are reading!). Today I am going to share with you a more personal blog post: my goals for August.

Today is the first day of August. The first day of a month always always strikes potential, as to me it can be looked upon as a fresh start, a new beginning (especially if the month before wasn't particularly a good month). To someone reading this it may sound complete and utter nonsense, however, this is how I look upon a new month. So deep... ha ha!

I am entering the month of August with a mixed array of thoughts. These thoughts can be looked upon in both positive and negative aspects, however my first goal is to remain positive. Positivity is key in everyday life, and also key to each of my goals. Every single of my goals can only be achieved with a positive mindset. Therefore, remaining positive is top of my August goals.

Goal number two is to aim to work out every day of August, preferably more than one workout daily (e.g. cross training, long walk, toning exercises). This goal links in with another goal of mine: weight-loss. I have not yet reached my goal weight (a size I am comfortable with). Occasionally I lose sight of my weight-loss target but I am looking forward to a motivated August! My knowledge within the world of health and fitness has most certainly grown over the past year, and my health has improved vast amounts, and I will continue to work on my health and fitness (in a positive way!).

Not comparing myself to other people is another goal of mine this month. There is a quote in particular which I love and inspired me to make this goal. 'The only person you should try to be better than, is the person you were yesterday'. This quote oozes positivity and truth. We often compare ourselves to others; change ourselves in ways that don't suit us, but those around us. In this month I will find MYSELF and not compare myself to other people (this is something that has become a habit).

Reading more books and doing more artwork is something I am looking forward to do in August. I love reading but often slack, and turn to my phone rather than turning pages of my favourite novel! Books are amazing and I simple can't wait to become a bookworm in the month of August. As for art, I have been sketching randomly but not putting hardwork into my art. In August I am going to complete some pieces to a high standard, and getting back into the swing of art (considering it is a subject I am taking for A-level - I am taking English literature also, so books are essential)!

So guys, I have shared my August goals with you. How about you comment below and share some of your goals with me? :)

Sarah x

Summer Sunshine | Sunflowers and Lavender

Hello everyone. Before I start reviewing Topshop nail paint in 'beach shack' I want to apologise about the lack of posts recently. I have been feeling a bit under the weather these past few weeks (literally, I blame it on the weather ha ha!). England has been shocked by an unexpected heatwave which I am most certainly not a fan of. Unlike the majority of people, I would have to be the awkward person who prefers the cold, wet and windy weather Britain is famous for. The weather was pleasant for a day or two but my body doesn't seem to agree with the hype about the hot weather. Heat makes me uncomfortable, I get tired and any energy drains out of me. I lose any motivation and just lounge around inside of my house hoping for a 'pitter-patter' of rain to hit the window. Anyhow, I shall get on with my review! I am once again rambling. 

Topshop nail paint. Where to start? I really do love the stuff. As soon as they arrived in store I literally fell for them. The colour selection is forever growing and continues to fascinate me. As an art student I am naturally attracted to pretty polka dot lids and almost every shade imaginable in the colour spectrum. Today I am reviewing this gorgeous sunshine yellow in 'beach shack'. If you're not daring enough to wear a neon yellow or prefer a more subtle shade of a summer classic, this nail paint is a perfect colour for you.

I was impressed with the pigmentation of this polish and really only needed to layer two coats onto my nails, but I lavished a third one on for luck! In doing so I enhanced the colour further and was really pleased with how my nails turned out. In addition, the application of Topshop's nail paint is simple. I love the brush as it applies the colour flawlessly to the nail without missing any areas. The polka dot handle is super cute and easy to work with too! 

I am super impressed and in love with Topshop nail paint and look forward to growing my collection. Currently I have four but can see that number multiplying. The nail paint retails at a price range of £5-£6, which could possibly be a problem for some people. I was hesitant at first as I usually only pay £3-£4 on Barry M nail paint, but I am glad that I ventured to the depths of Topshop to come across these colourful gems!

Topshop's 'beach shack' - a perfect summer shade!

Thank you for reading everyone. I hope you enjoyed my FIRST review! If you have any requests of any future posts feel free to comment below. Talk soon!

Sarah x

A Fun Thing Called 'Fitspo' | Sunflowers and Lavender

A Fun Thing Called 'Fitspo'

Welcome back sunflowers (or lavenders... you choose!).

Today I am going to be talking about something called 'fitspo'. You may in fact be familiar with the term, but then again you may be totally confused. Basically, 'fitspo' is short for 'fitsporation'. Fitspo usually consists of images of active, strong and fit women and men that promote a healthy body, along with a balanced diet and exercise. Fitspo could include images of women/men  in workout clothing, images of women/men exercising or images of a certain area of the body that is toned. However, fitspo doesn't have to be pictures of people or certain areas of the body, it can be motivational quotes situated around the idea of a positive mindset about diet and exercise. Fitspo can be images of healthy foods. The idea of fitspo is to inspire people to make the most of their body, to exercise and nourish it with the best foods. 

As a teenager I am becoming more aware of the type of foods I am putting into my body, and of course the amount of exercise I am doing daily. Teenagers, particularly teenage girls tend to become more wary of their image, the type of foods they eat and of course the amount of exercise they do. Girls and boys at this age tend to be drawn in by society's obsession with being skinny and thin, and therefore I believe fitspo is better suited for girls and boys in their teenage years. Fitspo looks at being healthy, by combining the right diet with a stable amount of daily exercise. Thinspo on the other hand idolises the idea of being thin, skinny and depriving your body from food and over exercising. Thinspo is not healthy, and in no way do I promote it. Infact, I am opposed to the idea thinsporation. It is dangerous. Young people are being exposed to the world of thinspo, but more recently fitspo has become a more popular choice among the teenage crowd. Go fitspo!

In my opinion it is great to have a healthy body, mindset, and the right diet to nourish my body and fitspo has motivated me to achieve this. Only last year was I lazing around doing next to no exercise, and eating processed junk day in day out. When I decided to change my eating and exercise habits, I admit it was tough. I tended to reach for the popular choice of Weight Watchers® low calorie meals, and Marks and Spencer's Count On Us range (also low calorie meals). I exercised a little more but not at all a healthy amount. I deprived myself of nutrients, minerals and vitamins found in natural foods by opting for the low-calorie processed microwave meals. It seemed a good idea at the time, but after a while I felt sluggish, fatigued and lifeless. I lost weight but mostly muscle as I didn't exercise enough and ate little calories. I knew something had to change, so I turned to the internet and researched the idea of a balanced lifestyle. This was where I was going wrong. I was obsessed about the weight-loss; I looked upon my eating habits as a short-term diet, something I would stop once losing a desired amount of weight. 

Researching the idea of a healthy lifestyle educated me to make the right decisions. I began eating simplistic meals incorporating lots of vegetables, fruit, protein and healthy carbohydrates (e.g. brown pasta, wholemeal pitta breads etc.). I also invested in an elliptical trainer to do daily cardio workouts, and I went on long walks for toning purposes and just to enjoy the natural environment around me. I do a range of leg workouts and ab workouts, even arm workouts. I mix both strength training and cardiovascular exercise to get the perfect workout routine. I eat treats but in moderation; depriving yourself of certain foods is unhealthy, but filling your body of processed foods is also unhealthy! It's about balance. Finding balance can prove a struggle at times, and this is why I turn to fitsporation for help. Looking at quotes related to a healthy lifestyle inspires me and motivates me to have the healthiest lifestyle I could possibly can. Other people's success with a healthy lifestyle inspires me to strive for success. Seeing other people enjoying exercise and nourishing their body with great food makes me want to do the same. Eating 'clean' 100% of the time is not expected of us, of course we are allowed treats. The key is moderation!

I hope that I have educated some of you into the world of fitspo and a healthy lifestyle; I would love to have inspired someone to take the same journey that I am taking! A balanced lifestyle and positive mindset is very much fulfilling and I am so happy that I chose to take a healthier route. I am so much happier now, I am much more energetic and I love what I eat! Below I will post some photographs of some fitsporation to inspire you to endeavor a healthier lifestyle, along with some helpful links. Thank you for reading (if you got this far... ha ha!),

Sarah x

Fitsporation links:

www.thefitspogirl.tumblr.com

www.fitspo-healthy.tumblr.com

www.ohsofitspo.tumblr.com

A Sweet Welcome | Sunflowers and Lavender

A Sweet Welcome 

Well... Hello everyone (if anyone is actually reading)! I would like to introduce myself. I'm Sarah, a sixteen year old girl from the North-East of England. Due to the fact I have only recently left secondary school after finishing multiple GCSE exams, I have a lot of spare time on my hands and a long summer holiday. Perfect! I have always been interested in bloggers and vloggers and so thought I would try and create my own blog (maybe vlogs a bit later... not just yet!). 

My blog will consist of a mixture of beauty, fashion, fitness, art, photography and literature. I'm pretty versatile! As an artistic person I am totally infatuated with beauty and fashion, along with photography, drawing, painting etc. In September I will actually be an A-level Art student, I can't wait! Along with art I adore literature on a whole. Reading is something I have always enjoyed from a young age, and I have recently began writing poetry and I look forward to writing some short stories this summer! If you were wondering, I am also taking English Literature at A-level alongside Religious Studies. Oh, about the 'fitness' element of my blog. Over the past year I have grown to love fitness and eating healthy. Before my lifestyle change I was a mindless eater who's diet consisted of all the wrong foods. On the contrary, now I love to make the most of what I eat, enjoying my food and nourishing my body.

The sort of posts I look forward to creating are hauls, reviews, makeup looks, fitness routines, recipes, my artwork and photography and much much more! I look forward to making some lovely new friends and I hope I am able to fit into the blogging community.

Thank you so much if you read this far - I waffle too much!

Sarah x

(a.k.a. Sunflowers and Lavender) 

(myself!)

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