Well hello to you my reader chums! 2016, where do I begin? For me, it has been the most incredible year. Both of my best friends have called it 'my year', as over the past 12 months I've had many accomplishments and done things I never thought were possible. It's been a year of growth, through my confidence, overcoming anxiety and saying yes to every new experience; I've truly found myself.

Let's take a look at what made 2016 a year to remember...

Travel

It's safe to say, I've done my fair bit or travelling this year. I've been lucky enough to go on 5 different holidays and experience some astounding locations. Not only have I witnessed them, but also created unforgettable memories with the people who made my adventures something else. By constantly planning my next trip in the past year, my love for adventure and embracing new cultures has grown immensely. I no longer fear the unknown in new places abroad but allow excitement to overtake with what the trip shall bring. If you've been following along on my adventures, then you'd have seen I've visited Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Rome, Athens and Cologne this year. Many fb city breaks with an unforgettable girls holiday thrown in between. 'Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer' - I couldn't agree with that statement more. Admiring sights abroad and eating local delicacies will forever fill my heart with warmth. I can't wait to continue these adventures, flying out to destinations even further away and absorbing what the world has to offer. 

Friends

I don't even know how to put into words how grateful I am for the circle of friends I have. 2016 has been the year we blossomed even more into our own little squad, doing practically everything together and building each other up. Through the adventures abroad, London days out and endless sleepovers, they are my world. I never thought I'd be apart of a group so solid and feel as cherished as I do. They bring endless amount of happiness to my days, never fail to make me laugh and are there when I need a shoulder to cry on. I couldn't wish for a group of best friends who support every single decision I make, put up with my bad days and are always cheering me on. Thank you girls, you crazy bunch, I love you with all my heart.

Personal growth

I've come out of 2016 feeling 1000 times better than how it began. My confidence has truly come along leaps and bounds. I'm more confident in my looks, where I can go out the house with no makeup on and test out more 'daring outfits'. My belief in who I am has improved massively with a change in mind-set from thinking ' I can't do it' to 'I can and I will'. I just feel more content in myself. Through persevering and saying yes to a lot more things, I was able to turn my perspective on life into something positive. The world isn't out to get you, the world is your oyster and it's what you make it.

Another aspect of my personal growth is tackling anxiety. It's not gone completely and it will still creep up every so often but I've come to grips on how to control it. A year ago, I would never imagine what I've done now because of my anxiety. Visiting London used to be more of a worry than fun because of the crowds and cramped tubes but now the tables have turned. I'm lucky to only live 2 hours away from London by train so have consistently visited this year and by doing so, slowly overcame the panic attacks and dread a day in the big city would bring. By travelling to various locations, I overcame the anxiety flying brought or entering a new place. I've stopped being so worried about everyone around me and what they think. Over the year, I learnt to put myself first more and that it's okay to be selfish with my time sometimes, focusing on me. In order to keep my mental heath on track, I've slowly trained my brain to stop overthinking as much ( even if this still tests me at times). Ultimately, my anxiety has been put on the low shelf, I've rose above it and some how tackled through which I never thought I'd do. I'm a stronger, wiser and more determined individual.

Achievements

Above all the incredible adventures I've experienced and the gratitude I have of those around me, I couldn't be more prouder of the achievements I've accomplished in 2016.

1. Flying alone - My highlight of the entire year and proudest moment has to be getting on the plane and travelling alone to a different country. It took every ounce of courage and mindful games to get me there but I did it and flew all the way back with no trouble. I used to have massive fear of flying and airports, which brought on my anxiety immensely, however I did it. I managed to sit on the plane, fly to Greece and meet my aunt with ease. Anxiety or fear didn't win!

2. Parasailing - When I was in Gran Canaria on our girls holiday, we decided to go parasailing. I wanted to do it to enforce my 'just say yes' mantra and to not be so afraid of new experiences. Before parasailing, we went on a boat cruise ( and I have to  admit, I'm really not a big fan of boats) so it was scary enough before flying in the sky. However, again I did it. I may have cried as I thought I would fall but after a minute or so I got used to it. I tackled my fear or heights, water and boats all in one. It's crazy what you can do when you put your mind to it.

3. Overcoming fear of travel - Travelling and seeing new places was always wishful thinking before I just did it. I was always scared something bad would happen to me, I'd be trapped or the new place wouldn't feel safe. After going ton a few trips, instead of that dreadful worry, I get excited what the new culture and location will bring.

4. Just saying yes - This is something I've tried to implement into my life for years now but really got to grips with it in the past 12 months. Whether it's a party, meal out, meeting up with new people or venture up town, I've always aimed to say yes. I think pushing yourself and just going for it is something everybody should take on. If you don't try, you'll never know.

5. Starting driving lessons - I wanted to start driving ever since my twin did but couldn't pluck up the courage to book in a lesson until August 2016. I finally did it and couldn't be happier. I thoroughly enjoy my lessons and surprisingly I'm very confident behind the wheel, not as anxious as I thought I'd be. I can't wait till the day I'm on the roads in my own car.

I hope you enjoyed my 2016 highlights post. What was your favourite moment of the year?

Thank you for reading <3

Well hello to you my reader chums and a happy New Year to you all! I cannot believe 2016 has emerged, a fresh year ready for new goals, opportunities and memories to create. With this year beginning, I wanted to use this post to reflect on 2015 and share with you my plans or resolutions I'd like to achieve in the next 12 months. I hope for all my readers, this year brings endless amounts of happiness, adventures and cherishable moments.

I saw in the New Year with three of my best friends Danielle, Chloe and Molly dancing the night away! I had a truly incredible time and couldn't think of a better way to have spent it. Over the past 12 months, our bond has grown even closer and I couldn't be happier to have friends who not only support/understand me but never fail to make me laugh, bringing heaps of joy into my life.

1. Say yes to new ideas - With my growth in confidence  and pushing myself out my comfort zone a little big more, I want to try say yes to new things, continuing that improvement. This could be anything from travelling on my own to a different destination, going on more nights out, talking to new people or any idea people throw at me. I want to be able to stop my anxiety from shying me away from things and try to enjoy every experience.
2. Overcoming anxiety - I set this as a resolution last year and I probably will year after year as it's a gradual thing which takes time to improve/overcome. Over the past 12 months, my anxiety has been completely up and down where I've experienced incredibly hard moments and breakthrough points, doing things I never thought I would. I want to continue with that positivity and focus on what I have achieved rather than the times I couldn't face the day nor enjoy days out. It's kind of hard to put into words what anxiety is like, but here's a post I did if you would like to know more. This year therefore, I want to take more opportunities on board and to fully enjoy them without letting anxiety affect me. Obviously this is going to be easier said than done, however I think if I try and continue with that hope and faith in myself, slowly I'll get there.
3. Be happy -  Despite growing immensely in happiness the past year, there's been times especially due to my anxiety that I've gotten really down and been hard on myself. I want to therefore focus more on bringing myself up, looking at the positives in my life when I'm feeling this way. 
4. Moisturise more - As a beauty lover, I can assure you I'm one to truly take care of my facial skincare, however when it comes to looking after every other bit of skin I have, the same can't be said. I want to set myself the goal of taking the time after my shower to moisturise my body, ensuring it receives the most care my facial skin regime does. With all the lotions I received at Christmas too, there's no excuse really!
5. Getting healthier - Yes the classic new year, new me goal. I've decided to choose this as one of my resolutions because looking over the past year, working a 9-5 job and hardly doing any exercise had the worst effect on me, where I was tired all the time. Therefore, I want to create a new healthy regime with more wholesome, filling meals and actually exercising, either joining the gym or working out at home. 
6. Writing a book - I set this resolution last year and somehow throughout the 365 days I didn't get the chance to sit down and write it. My best friend Chloe got me this writing ideas book for my birthday and I've jotted some things down, filling out the exercises given to get the creativity flowing, yet still not writing a word. This means, I'd like to put the time in this year to sit down and write, write, write to see if I could actually do it, there's no harm in trying!
7. Continuing my blog - There's nothing I enjoy more than sitting at my laptop and typing up a post on my blog. It's nearly been 3 whole years since I've created this little beauty and throughout that whole course it's brought me so much happiness, I love the blogger community its surrounded by and how lovely/supportive everyone is, through comments on here or Twitter. It's such a heart-warming group to be apart of and I couldn't thank my readers enough for continuing to always make me smile. Which means, I hope through the next 12 months, I post more and more frequently on here, sharing everything I love. I also would like to grow my audience on this blog, diving into the beauty community and becoming friends with even more bloggers!