Works out, child is about.

He loves the camera.

 Hey guys I hope you are all doing okay. I'm over the moon the anxiety has passed after a night of calming myself, it has been a hectic 6 days at work, within these days I slept at work 3 out of 5 of those days not forgetting the 15-hour shifts as well, you can imagine how tired I am and extremely excited to finish for a few days to spend with the children. I'm a support worker working with mental health and disabilities, don't get me wrong I love my job but with the long hours and also study psychology at UNI it's nice to shut off, unwind and enjoy family time creating memories to look back on (more like embarrass the children when they're older) 

Sadly my youngest is away still with his dad, step mum baby sister and stepbrother so I spent the day with my eldest child who turned 12 in April, in a way it's nice to spend quality time with my eldest cub whilst his little brother is away having so much fun with his second family. I know it can be hard at times to balance being a muma bear to both cubs equally and spending time with them separately, so today I took full advantage in taking plenty of pictures and having fun.

how pretty are these, I had to take a photo 

The weather is amazing today in the UK, it's been at least 23 degrees over the last few days so we are making the most of this gorgeous weather and spending time outside visiting the horses, relaxing at one of our favourite places. So quiet here, if we are lucky we may even spot a deer. kallem has been helping with feeding the horses and taking down water for them. He was chased by Hansel the goose and walked through the orchard as well. Took the football however kallem is a much better player than his mum I was not that great but luckily saved a goal. 

we enjoyed the picnic on the fields and I also managed to get time to relax to read my book. In all, I think it was a superb day. A day to enjoy the company of loved ones, without spending any money which can sometimes help when the children are off school for a long period due to the school holidays. 

Can not believe how long we have been out playing games, we decided to get competitive me and my cub versus stepdad and step-uncle. Well, let's just say a lot of cheating went on between the adults so of course, they won. It was a good football game though  and I  was pretty good in goal as well. 

I wonder if I could fit through the fairy door.

Taking time out to visit the horses, feeding them, kallem even picked a little grass just to give boo (nickname) for Niko one of the family horse's.  I love that the children get involved with the animals and I'm also teaching them how to care for them, he helped with hay today and the horses feed. 

A little cheeky grass 

This is boo(niko) 

while we have been down here today enjoying the sun, I even managed to get some cute pictures of my son. I do believe he was a great little model today, catching some great shots from me whom I must say( I'm not a great photographer by no means) but I do love taking photos and making memories especially while  they are still youngish. 

Water fights began, of course, what better way to finish our little outing than to fill up bottles of water and run around the fields completely soaking one another. Not forgetting to top up the suntan lotion to protect us from the heat. I was completely soaked once we had finished and I think we are all tired now and have decided to layout on the grass. 

You can enjoy good days out, imagination, making fun activities with items we already have at home and uncovering new destinations to take advantage off anyone can have great family days out with out spending a fortune. 

What child doesn't like climbing trees.

This is just a little in sight on a family day with the Morgan catons. Hope you enjoyed reading came across some ideas you may want to enjoy with your family. 

Have you all enjoyed the sunshine? any activities you and your family enjoy outside like making dens? Visiting the beach? Relaxing in the garden? 

We would like to no all about your sun fun days xx

With love, sharleeigh and family xx

 

Scream to be heard

 Life is what you make of it! Sadly it has taken me a very long time to realise (you should appreciate what's in front of you, if anything else positive were to happen then that would be a bonus)  After taking time out from my blog I have realised I should be writing about my truth, life how I see it, the negatives and the positives. 

I have spent so long dwelling on the past, blaming myself for every little thing that has happened around me, drowning in my guilt. It is hard to take a step back and realise that "it's okay not to be okay" 

Anxiety is silent, it attacks when it wants to without any warning, working a long shift at work to suddenly freeze unable to catch my breath. So many glares from everyone around me not understanding what is going on because without knowing they have no idea what I'm going through. It is a battle I have with myself every single day. I have this feeling of unease, worrying about everything, the fear of not being able to control my feeling or emotions. It fluctuates at times, sometimes mild, however, most of the time is severe. It took me a while to speak to my GP regarding my concerns for my mental health because I did feel a sense of worry in case I was wasting their time or if what was recorded on my medical notes could have ruined my future choices. When the day arrived and I spoke to my GP, to be honest, it went better than I expected after expressing my emotions and how I was feeling, she was so supportive there was no judgement and she also made me feel at ease. 

I were prescribed medication to help control my anxiety, yes they help but I believe that the best medicine when suffering from any mental health condition is YOURSELF! The effort I have put in with regards to my mental well-being has been time-consuming to start with I did not know where to look to find answers with how to feel myself again?  Why don't I feel happy? What is wrong with me? Yes, I know my GP told me I am suffering from anxiety, but why? 

I have come to realise that anxiety is my new best friend and enemy, it will stay with me and I needed to find ways to deal with my emotions, thoughts and to release the build-up of anxiety that is causing a lot of strain on me when the episodes ensue. 

No 1- breathe taking in long breaths while also counting in my head. 

2- always confessing to myself, partner when I'm anxious 

3-challenge my thoughts, to have a clear understanding of why I'm thinking certain things and turn them into a positive outlook. 

4-release my anxiety, this does not control me so I should be standing up and taking my life back.

5-repeat to myself "I'm calm" this does work. 

6-think everything through, speak out loud to my loved ones around me and explain how I'm feeling right now.

7-I always listen to calming music and sounds, my favourite is either rain or firewood crackling in the background. 

8- Change my focus, instead of directing my time on my anxiety attack, I tend to start cleaning or playing a game with my children. Anything to take my mind off this.

Over time this routine has helped me immensely in regards to how to control my anxiety attacks and panic attacks. Sometimes it may not help and just sitting with my partner and knowing I'm in my safe place will help control my nerves. 

Becoming frustrated when I can't just go outside of my home for walks as I get this horrible feeling of people looking at me or laughing at me, it's a horrendous feeling as though I don't even control my life anymore. Making plans then cancelling on friends and family because my emotions get the better of me. I spend hours crying, I'm surprised I don't have a waterfall in my front room LOL! 

Sometimes I feel as though I'm on my own and no one else is there, it's nice to know that after all this time many people suffer and they have been suffering in silence just like me. It would be great to hear from others who are suffering from Anxiety and your coping mechanisms you use to help you. 

Today is one of my bad days, have worried all day, I get this feeling of something bad is going to happen, that's is the attack begins. The feeling as though I cannot breathe, the sweaty palms. My forehead begins to shine from sweating. My hands begin to shake and the palpitations that have happened this evening made things worse. I needed to calm myself down. I began my routine, I'm currently sat writing my thoughts here this evening while listening to the sounds of firewood and visualizing sitting beside a campfire roasting marshmallows, listening to my boys play the acoustic guitar while the sunsets. See this sounds like heaven right?  Even though it's a story I made up in my head I was directing my thoughts on to this story and not my attack. I have been a little emotional and evaluating my existence and knowing my children love me and believe I'm a good Mumma bear who protects her cubs and my partner who tells me every single day that he adores me and I make him happy, it's little quotes like this from these three amazing individuals in my life that help soothes the ongoing battles I have daily.  

I'm very positive about the prospect of a happy life and engage in activities to protect my mental health also. learning to live and adjust to taking medication, living with anxiety and knowing that in the end, I beat the attacks, I come out stronger right!?

It is not easy in any way however I SCREAMED and for this, I was heard

To you all, if you suffer don't be silent, reach out because you deserve to be heard and I want to listen. 

With love, Sharleigh xx

what I use for my problematic skin........

After a 14 hour shift at work, there is nothing better than coming home and taking a nice hot shower and getting into my nightwear, steaming my face to open up my pores and applying a face mask. 

Here in this photo, I have applied the YOU-OLOGY brightening peel-off mask, this mask works to improve and even out skin tone and minimize the appearance of pores leaving my face super soft and looking radiant as well. 

I leave my mask on until its completely dry and feel tight on my skin then it's ready for me to peel off. My skin feels amazing afterwards and looks fresh. 

Whilst I am on my night shifts I find my skin feels dry as the night goes on, I always make sure I have my Rose Water toning spritz, this spray is a product I use every single day but I always make sure it’s packed in my bag because you can spray when required. 

I use the You-ology Rosewater toning sprit,  it smells amazing, leaves my skin feeling hydrated and feeling fresh. 

It’s formulated with

. Rose extract 

. Bitter orange  flower extract 

. Sodium hyaluronate 

I love that it comes in two sizes which is great as I use the smallest size which is 50 ml to place in my handbag and I also have the 100 ml bottle which I use at home. 

Invigorating toning spritz refreshes and soothes my skin with nutrient-rich rose water. Specially formulated using rose extract and beneficial vitamins. 

I also like to spray my face throughout my long shifts to awaken and refresh my face, it’s really easy to apply as it comes with a spray pump applicator. My skin always smells like fresh cut roses -refreshed and ready.

I enjoy applying my YOU-OLOGY beauty oil at night before I go to bed it’s the last step I take in my skincare regimen.

 It has a blend of

. CoQ10 

. Vitamin C

. Vitamin E

. Squalane 

. Sweetleaf cell extract 

This oil mimics my skin’s natural moisturising process, this light, yet intense oil nourishes my skin. It uplifts and conditions my skin with an oil specially designed to soak into my skin quickly and it does not leave my face feeling greasy once applied. 

I put this oil on to my face before bed and sleep whilst this oil works into my skin. When I wake up in the morning my face feels super soft and really does feel moisturised. 

 Nano Ionic facial steamer 

I have suffered from problematic skin ever since I became a mother, I have been using steam on my face for many years because I feel it works for my skin. I have seen the benefits since have started using this Nano steamer and feel like it moisturizes my skin and deeply cleanses my pores giving my face amazing facial hydration. I purchased my Nano over on Amazon after reading reviews. There were so many to chose from but I felt this one had so many great reviews I  decided with this one. I have been using my Nano twice a week for ten-minute sessions. I feel like my skin is less aggravated and red however, you do need to use bottled water when using the steamer. I  prefer using bottled or filtered water because  its fresh and more clean. Our water system is not the cleanest in my area so I was happy that I did not need to use tap water when it came to using my facial steamer. 

Acnecide

My GP recommended acnecide and told me to try this gel and to see how I  got on with it. I  have been using this for the last 2 years, don't get me wrong my skin is not flawless and I still break out because I suffer from hormonal acne however I feel like since I have followed this skincare regime my face is less red, blotchy, less scaring and I only break out occasionally but when I do suffer from breakouts they are pretty harsh, sore and my confidence suffers. I will use acnecide 2 times daily once in the morning the last step of my morning routine and at night before bed as the last step of my nighttime routine. 

                My final words           

Try to find products that work for your skin type and give them a chance to work, I was a nightmare when it came to purchasing skincare because I would buy a product and use it for a week then stop. I was not giving my skin a chance therefore my skin was actually suffering. I now use the same products every day and always make sure I'm stocked up so I am never running out. 

I also take Zinc and vitamin C tablets once a day to help my skin and I drink plenty of water as well. 

What products do you live by? Do you suffer with problematic skin?

with love Sharleeigh xxx

Dont forget your duster & your..........

                                                   Marigolds


I know a lot of people hate to clean, some of you may complete a deep clean every Sunday and some of you may be like me and feel as though we are cleaning every single minute of every single day, especially when a lot of us have children. Whether it’s to scrub the hob or inside the oven for hours until your hands are exhausted, Removing stains from the carpet or sofa because the children have spilt a drink all over it.

doesn’t matter because housework needs to be done.  I ask my children to tidy their rooms, bring down the dirty laundry and put their clean clothes away. Who else still goes over what their children have done because it’s not up to your standards? well  I do, I have a persist way I like things to be it’s a lot easier when you enjoy it as well which I do.

Turning my Alexa on playing a selection of different songs. You can also ask Alexa to Play “housework music” which gives you so many classics. I turn up the volume. Put my comfortable clothes on tie up my hair and I am ready to go.

I’m sure I am not the only person who grabs the broom and starts dancing around the kitchen with it. There are so many Mrs Hinch fans out there trying her cleaning tips, I thought I would share some of my favourite cleaning tips for you guys.

My friend told me about Mrs Hinch and of course, I have tried a couple of her cleaning hacks. Everyone has their own way of cleaning their homes and their favourite products that work for them. I use 2 carry baskets whilst cleaning my home 1 for upstairs and 1 for downstairs,

this comes in handy as before I used this method I was up and down the stairs several times just for cleaning products I forgot. The basket I use for only upstairs purposes my son called it bear one day and it stuck. It is not just cleaning the house but it’s the finishing touches as well like home fragrance, rearranging the cushions fresh flowers and plants.

It is only when I have lit the candles and Used my fabric/furniture spray is when I feel most satisfied and I can finally relax for the day.


Here are only a few of my favourite cleaning hacks.

1. comfort 

1 cap of my favourite fabric conditioner and boiled water from the kettle. (Comfort, Blue Skies) or (Comfort, Strawberry&Lily)

I was spending so much money on Febreeze, I wanted to try an alternative so I decided to use fabric conditioner and my spray  works just a well, I think it has a longer-lasting fragrance and leaves my house smelling super fresh.

2. Lemons & Limes.

I'm sure you all have bins in your kitchen, I do and obviously, for waste disposal, it can start to have an unpleasant smell I use either a lemon or lime cut into quarters. To help deodorise the bins in my kitchen I place the citrus fruit once cut up into the bottom and leaving overnight.

3. microwave and a damp sponge.

By placing a clean and slightly dampened sponge onto a microwave-friendly tray, place the sponge into the microwave, turn it on to high for at least two minutes. This will kill the build-up of bacteria whilst steam cleaning your microwave, once finished use the same sponge to wipe down the inside of the microwave.


4. Unstoppables .

I like to keep my clothes fresh whilst away in my wardrobe, not only do I use the Un

Stoppables in my machine but I also use a couple of the overpowering fragrance boosters wrapped in a cloth and tied with ribbon I will tie these on the clothes rail in my wardrobe and I will place them in my drawers. This will keep your clothes smelling fresh and not losing that freshly washed scent.


5. Lenor tumble cloths


If your anything like me and like a strong lasting scent floating around your home then use the Lenor tumble dryer cloths, I take one and spray the cloth with my spray I make and place over the radiators and leave if I don’t do that I will literally just spray the fragrance into the radiators whilst they are on. This is great if you want the scent to linger for longer.

6.   Olive oil.
Olive oil has so many nutritional benefits but it’s also brilliant for cleaning stainless steel,  applying olive oil to a soft cloth and rub in circular motions to your pots, pans and appliances to buff out any dirty spots leaving them clean and mark free.


7. Baking soda & vinegar.
 The number of times I have had this problem with blocked pipes, Trying everything I can to unblock them my self, spending money to have someone come out to investigate. Oil is a nightmare especially when I know too well what happens when someone decides to pour hot oil down the sink after cooking eggs. Yes, that was me. I came across vinegar and baking soda whilst looking up on the internet, I had both ingredients at home so decided  I would try this method out. It actually works a treat, the bubbling reaction that happens between the vinegar and baking soda. It helps dissolves whatever has clogged up your pipes and really does give your pipes a deal clean. I even use a little zoflora  in my sink once I have finished cleaning my pipes leaving for a while before pulling the tap nice little finishing touch to clean healthy pipes that also smell great as well.



8. Zoflora.
I Use this for everything, I pour a little into my outside bins for a nice little scent.
I use in my sinks overnight, when I come downstairs in the morning it’s a lovely fresh clean scent flowing through my home. I place zoflora in my kitchen and bathroom bins just half a cap full, down my toilet and to clean my toilet brush  I even wash my skirting boards in zoflora as well. Use diluted zoflora (as directed on box) in a spray bottle and spritz onto my upholstery, my curtains and mattresses and my rugs and carpets as well throughout the day to not only make my homes smell fresh but it does kill bacteria, too. using this 3  in 1 action to kill 99.9% bacteria and viruses, will eliminate odours and allows my home to stay fresh all-day.



9.  shaving foam

Harsh stains are always a nightmare to get out of any fabric, why hire a professional which would probably cost you a small fortune when you can easily sort this yourself. I always use shaving foam to eliminate stains. Rub a little bit of shaving foam ( anything but the gel kind) into the stain, leave to sit for 30 minutes or use this Method in the evening and leave overnight, and then blot dry. please just make sure that you have tested this method on a small piece of the fabric you are planning on cleaning before going ahead and using this tip, as there is always the small chance of damaging the fabric.


10.  cleaning tiled flooring.

All the way through my downstairs is tiled flooring in off white tone,  my weekly cleaning tip I like to use to keep floors clean and looking fresh I mix 1/2  cup of vinegar in a bottle, preferably a 16 once spray bottle with 1 drop of dish liquid and warm water and a little dash of  Dettol. Spray the floors one section at a time and wipe with a damp microfibre mop as you go. I also have a floor steam cleaner which is amazing at cleaning tiles and grout using only steam, kills bacteria and removes steam without feeling as thou I have just completed an extra workout.


To finish off my cleaning I love to light some candles around the house, my favourite still has to be Jo Malone pomegranate noir which is amazing, sadly I have lit it so many times that it has nearly finished.

 I also like wax melts,  either like fresh and clean scents or sweet and bakery scents. I still like my Yankee candles but try not to burn them so I  prefer to use wax melts as  I hate half-used candles around my home.

I like them new and unused or only burn one at a time however I  get bored with my home fragrance quite easily so just stick to wax melts now.


 Do you have any cleaning tips to share?  I would love to try them out. What is you favourite       Zoflora scent?  Do you have a favourite Comfort scent? Do you have any recommedations for any other candle fragrances i should try? 

Staying active whilst in Quarantine

                                         Keeping Our Children Active


It has been hard on all of us with everything going on at the moment, we are all struggling whether its financially or physically. It's hard to stay positive through this ordeal because of us not knowing how long we will have to live like this, with our children at home for the foreseeable future keeping them active is important. I have 2 children aged 11 and 6,  I know that trying to find ideas to keep them active and interested is sometimes hard but here are a few tips to help keep children active at the same time keeping them safe.



Here is just a few ideas that may help whilst at home  with the children, the most efficient way to make sure my children are staying active is to limit their screen time. I'm sure I'm not the only one that is  guilty of this but my boys have a console of some kind and if I was not a little more strict on-screen time they would probably be on them all the time, however, limiting screen time encourages my boys creativity and  keeps my children physically active


Here are some activities to consider for you and your children to keep busy during Quarantine.





. Baking. Enjoy messy fun in the kitchen, Let the kids take it in turns cracking the eggs and mixing the ingredients in the bowl, let the kids choose how to decorate the cake once it has cooled down. I know my boys always dip their fingers the empty bowl to lick the leftover mix. Enjoy your cake after dinner as a little treat for the whole family.







. build a den. What better way to watch Disney plus than get creative and build your own hideaway, grab your favourite snacks and a drink, My children standing at the top of the stairs throwing their pillows and covers down for mummy to catch. Zachary always brings down most of his teddy friends to enjoy our cosy afternoons watching all our favourite Disney films
and shows. You can find most of what you need lying around your home. We always find sheets we use our stairs and clothes rail. Many hours of fun building our new den and it's just as fun tidying it all away by turning it into a game. (let's see if we can clear away in 5 minutes) me and the boys charging around the house like a stampede of elephants trying to find homes for everything we used to build our den. I wonder why it doesn't take us long, hours later and I find everything stored under the sofa.


                       

. Grazeboard. I needed to add a  favourites thing I like to do because even thou I enjoy making a mess and getting creative with the kids it is still nice to have a little bit of you time in the evenings, I went into my fridge and had a selection of cheese &  ham. I also included some fresh fruit as well, enjoy with a glass of wine however me and my partner enjoy with a booster tea which can find the recipe for in one my posts down below. we decide on the film, light our candles, finally in our comfortable clothes and have a cuddle on the sofa. Everything I used I already had in the fridge so we could still have a date night at home.










.  arts and craft. Nice big space in the kitchen, we decide to cover the floor with covers and head over to the kid's art cupboard, we use this time to make an art project. old boxes, toilet roll tubes, paper, glue, paints, pens, tissue paper. We can spend a full afternoon making a mess and the kids really enjoy it. n this occasion we decided to make a boat big enough for both boys to sit in, once we completed this and it was dry we decided to play, mummy the shark in the sea and both boys are pirates.




. fresh air. Even thou we are in quarantine the guidelines at the moment says as a family you can go out for a walk, as long as you social distant and stay together in your family from your household, We enjoy this time, Zachary loves to make maps, he can spend hours drawing and colouring out maps. We will follow Zachary's map all around the park opposite our house. Fresh air is really important as long as you wash your hands and stay together following the guidelines, getting outside and stretching your legs for an hour really helps

. games. I'm sure you have many games. board games scattered around your home somewhere, we enjoy connect four, twister, kids cludo, pie face even a pack of cards. We enjoy playing snap, hours of entertainment and kids are smiling.

. staying in touch with family and friends. We spend time on live chats with our family, we have a big family and its always important to stay in touch, the boys enjoy speaking to their cousins and sharing what the have been doing throughout the day, also playing games against each other on Facebook messenger live chat.

. disco. Dancing around the living room, the kids and I love to dance, choosing a playlist and switching Elexa on, Put on the spotlights and even have a dance-off ( mummy always loses) when we start to feel tired we decide to sing along to the karaoke, we turn on the T.V and put on the music channels select subtitles and sing our hearts out. You really don't need an actual karaoke system to have fun singing along to your favourite tunes.

A little message from me to you, please stay safe keep in contact with family and friends, keeping by the guidelines. It really is not worth risking your health, your loved ones and everyone else's. All frontline workers are doing an amazing job working stupid hours to protect and care for everyone else. everyone working in the supermarkets keeping shelves stocked, Nhs, care assistants and support workers you are all beautiful souls. ( please be kind to each other, its times like this we all need each other.) 

with love sharleeigh xxx 

how are you find the situation we are dealing with at the moment? what activities have you been enjoying with your children?

Film classics whilst in Quarantine

Love for classics.


Hey, guys so it's Thursday and I think we need to discuss films. Who doesn't like films I mean I grew up in a house with a man who collects film posters for crying out loud,  ( my father)  still to this day he enjoys receiving posters to add to his collection. I guess I'm just like my father in some ways. We both admire vintage pieces, like the record player my father gave me, a selection of CDs which included  Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Athlete, Foo Fighters and The Fray which I still enjoy listening to however I have added a couple more to my old school favourites. The best thing about living with my father was his taste in movies,  I always had something to watch. Over the years my love of films has grown from the many outstanding performances from great actors to the ongoing advancements in special effects however what makes a film for me would be the soundtrack, the music pulls you in when you least expect it. Using lord of the rings for an example The Two Towers in the finale. Either heading to the cinema to watch a new movie when it first gets released or watching in the comfort of your own home.  There is always a film for all different audiences, we can all relate to at least one film. Movies are great for our entertainment, helps allows us to feel different emotions, movies can inspire us in various ways and I really believe the film is art. 

I have a selection of movies that I  really want to talk about, some of my all-time favourite movies, depending on my mood, depends on the film I decide to watch. 




1.      the negotiator

I went into my fathers DVD collection one evening and found The Negotiator so decided to take it and I never did give it back " sorry dad"  15 years later and still have it on show as one of my 5 favourite films. The negotiator was released in 1998  and was set in Chicago, its Genre is an action thriller, with the two main characters being Samuel  L Jackson and Kevin Spacey as two hostage negotiators who delivered their performances extremely well. From the minute it started I was sitting on the edge of my seat due to the film starting at an incredibly  tense scene. I have watched movies throughout the years that have been slow at the beginning and has taken a while to fully immerse in but The Negotiator had me on the edge of my seat, You fall in love with Samual L Jackson character (Danny Roman)  because you feel bad for him, he's trying to prove his innocence as well as grieve for his best friend and partner. Great plot and they cast the best actors in my opinion. when an accused man who feels as though the only way to prove he is innocent to an awful crime is by committing other crimes to get the justice he deserves it eds with one man a lot of hostages and the hidden truth. (Directed by )F Gary Gary and( written by )James DeMonaco, Kevin Fox and F Gary Gary. It is definitely a must-watch if you have not already watched it. I think you will agree with me that it is a great film and deserves the mention on my post today. Its runtime is 141 minutes and rating is  15   for violence and language. The only thing I would say about it could be taken as a PRO or CON would be its the typical Hollywood ending. In my opinion, I was happy with this because he deserved the light at the end of the tunnel, so you chose if you think the ending is a PRO or a CON. 

2.     lethal  weapon 

Great series of films however I have to say my favourite would definitely be Lethal Weapon 4 Mel Gibson and Danny Glover work amazing together and again delivered an amazing performance in all 4 movies, Lethal Weapon was filmed mostly in Southern California and scened there famous car chase scene in Las Vegas. I also think Joe Pesci deserves to be mentioned who played the on-screen character ( Leo Getz) Joe brought so much energy and comedy to the film series, film 4 there was a scene that still to this day has me in fits of laughter with his funny one-liners. Lethal Weapon 4 was filmed in 1998. It's all about two partners in the police force who live in America. Been partners for many years and are more like family, both constantly talking about retiring and mention they are too old for this now, they find themselves and their loved ones targeted by mobsters who is led by Wah Sing Ku ( Jet Li) who is also amazing playing the bad guy in this movie. However, Mel Gibson, Danny Glover and Joe Pesci decide to take thing into there own hands before the gangsters get to there families. Action-packed movie with great  fight scenes all the way through, giggles and tears, rating at 18, I highly recommend all of the Lethal Weapons, Its a shame that this did not do better in the ratings, to be honest as it deserved more than what it did receive. 

3.   An American In Paris.

old school classic came to theatres Oct 4, 1951, and was available on disc in 1999, the runtime was 115 minutes.  An American in  Paris was in the genre Musical&performance and also had romance in as well. This classic was directed by Vincente  Minnelli and was written by Alan Jay Lerner and Vincente Minnelli. Gene Kelly is Jerry Mulligan who is American and an opportunist, he is living in Pris as a painter when he is spotted by a very wealthy woman Nina Foch as Milo Roberts when Jerry is displaying his paintings in Monmarte. She takes him back to her home and later on invites him to dinner however he realises its actually a date between them and declines, he tells Milo Roberts that he is not interested but she tells him she is only interested in his work. This is a great musical with some amazing songs and dance routine.  songs including " ill build a stairway to paradise" 
"I got rhythm" "nice work if you can't get it"  this is only some of the music taken from the film, Definitely romantic throughout this film, Jerry seems confused all the way through as he first declines Milos invite and then at the ball he kisses her, but then he tells Milo about he's feelings for someone else. I really enjoy this film every time I watch it. Gene Kelly and Nina Foch play their parts outstandingly and are definitely worth a watch.



 

 4.  pretty woman
The iconic song, fabulous clothes and a prostitute. the feel-good movie. I'm feeling unwell I will put this on and relax, after a break up I would put this on and eat ice cream. I have even managed to persuade my partner to cuddle on the sofa and watch this with me. I'm sorry but who doesn't sing along to the song when it comes on, I may even jump up, dance and sing along the to lyrics. " pretty woman, walking down the street" " pretty woman, the kind I like to meet" " pretty woman, I don't believe you, you're not the truth," " no one can look as good as you MERCY" sorry it had to be done. Julia Roberts and Richard Gere are amazing in this film, Julia Roberts as  ( Vivian Ward)  and Richard Gere as ( Edward Lewis). It was released in the UK, the year I was born 1990 on 1st June Gere is a rich entrepreneur who hires Roberts, a prostitute to stay with him at his penthouse and as a plus one attend social events. Trouble is, it doesn't take long before Gere falls for Roberts, this is truly the movie full of romance, Petty Woman was filmed in Los Angeles, California, Beverly Hills and inside the soundstages at Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. I can't say a negative word about this movie, everyone wants to be Julia Roberts ( the fairy tale ) especially with the ending Gere arriving outside Roberts little apartment in a black Limo. With him hanging out of the top with a single rose planted inside of his mouth, Richard Gere then decides to climb out of the Limo and climbs the ladder until he reaches Julia Roberts THE END    oh and they kiss a lot, I nearly forgot that part. If you have not watched this movie, you need to, 2 incredible actors 1 amazing film. 

Do you have an all-time favourite film? have you seen either Pretty woman, Lethal Weapon, The Negotiator or An American In Paris? Which film do you prefer? Which film do you like the least? What is your favourite genre when it comes to movies?

Interview Series- Olivia Johnson

                                 Does Online Marketing Really Work 



Hey guys! I am back with another Interview as part of my Interview Series, today we will be looking at all aspects of online marketing, can you grow a business that is dedicated only to social media platforms, is there enough training to help you grow your business? can you really leave your current job to work your business full time? can you grow as an entrepreneur online even if you don't have a big enough audience?  these are only a few out of hundreds of questions that people ask there self all the time, doubt if online marketing really works. My question is can it work?





Well, today I interviewed Olivia Johnson and here is what I discovered, born in Cambridgeshire a small little town called Wisbech Olivia was working as a deli chef, long hours over the weekend period so she could take care of her young daughter, full-time mother earning a living as well to make sure her daughter was cared for. Olivia wanted more for her daughter and her self. Looking for other ways to earn an extra income. Researching online until Olivia came across an opportunity obviously she took a while to look through all the details for this new adventure before taking the leap and joining a new company online. 2.5 years later and here we are, This lady has her own following on her business page over on Facebook LeBeauties, pulled herself out of her comfort zone to come live to show her products she uses to complete makeup looks. I have watched Olivia live and she holds her self extremely well, engaging with her audience and is always available to chat with her team and customers. Comes across as bubbly, friendly and outgoing. Olivia was more than happy to answer my questions so I decided to choose a selection of questions that would help anyone who was interested or on the fence about starting a business with online marketing.










Q.  Can you explain to me a little bit about the company you work for?

A. Younique is a mission-based company, family-based to. The mission is to uplift, Empower and validate other women. We also have a charity called the younique foundation, which is a charity that helps support and heal sexually abused women. I raised and donated £600 after braving the shave to our charity.

Q. Can you tell me a little bit about your business that you have grown?

A. I started off with no intentions to sell, no intentions to grow a business. did not have a damm clue about any of that, I'm a chef  ( Gordon Ramsay mouth too) but from simply showing and sharing the love I have for the products, company and also  how I have grown as a person because off this company. I strongly believe your vibe attracts your tribe.



Q.  What Social Media Platforms are best for your business?

A. My advice when it's regarding Social Media platforms is a simple formula. Choose 1 and work it until it ( runs itself) then move onto the next one. , otherwise focusing on so many your focus is divided rather than laser-focused. Instagram has this feature where you can post on there it can automatically be shared on Facebook. That's working smart, not harder.



Q. How do you plan on growing your business?

A. Not stopping, reaching out to so many people that need this for them, to find themselves again, there purpose, family-like support, personal growth, the extra income, I bleed purple and that will never change.


Q.  What tips can you give to keep a positive mindset?

A. Daily motivation videos, audio first thing in the morning. Starting your day right is a must. My personal favourite is Will Smith. I have loved him since I was a child in fresh prince bel air and he still is impacting on my life now with his motivation videos. Surrounding yourself with positive pollys and not negative nancies. Yes, easier said than done but your mental health and mindset should come first.


Q. How did you build your team?

A. The saying your vibe attracts your tribe, I believe this. I'm a little old liv what you see is what you get. I'm not one for faking it till I make it and being Instagram perfect. That's not real or relatable, just being you attract your tribe. From that, you have friends, to supporters, possible orders and then you let them know that they can do this business too. I'm not about making a sale but to build people up and finding their purpose that's the wage for me in this business



Q.  How did you know you made the right choice?

A. It's like no other job you apply for in the corporate world, you don't know you will rock it until you try it, it's that simple!  everyone has doubtful days. am I doing it right? should I still be doing this? but do you know what? many people are relying on me to show up and that is my motivation.  all those people who think I will fail in years to come they motivate me as well.



Q.  Can you tell me a little more bout the products you offer to your audience?

A. We offer skincare, cosmetics, tools and fragrances. All can be found on my website however if you don like the website side of things then I do have a catalogue too. I have never found a foundation that has stayed put, feels light, full coverage makes me feel and look good. All with minimal effort and little product used. The products sell themselves when your audience see your love for them. ( we don't sell we share)



Q.  Do you have a favourite product?

A.  Damm just 1?  the liquid touch foundation started LBEAUTIES
 however we have upgraded to the spray foundation that's a must-have, makes my skin feel amazing with the skin care ingredients in it too but also I love the rosewate. Its helped so much with my pores and blemishes. I had no idea about skincare until it was launched and we had training so we knew what we were showing and sharing. That's important, knowledge is power.


Q.  What would your advice be to anyone wanting to start there own business online?

A.  My advice would be research and find a mentor you can connect with. Not the mentor with the most following and loads of promotions because at the end of the day if you cant relax and chat with your mentor, its all work, work and more work. If you want this to be your business then work and play is possible with the right squad.


Q.   How do you cope with negative criticism?

A.   Honestly, it used to knock me so hard like I would go offline for days, sometimes weeks even. That's because I wasn't doing self-development. I wish I did not waste a year thinking I did not need it, I was wrong. Doing self-development helps massively and the negative nancys are a reflection of them, not you. Stay laser-focused on your mission and goals. Let them become distracted while you keep looking forward.



Q.  can you earn an income with online marketing?

A.  Yes, 100%, you can earn as much as your mindset and your motivation will let you earn.  If you don't grow these two things then you won't grow your income its that simple, if it's not working shake things up and grow yourself.




Q. could you still grow n online business even without a big audience to start with?

A.  Yes off course, have to start somewhere. My best advice is start  take action don't wait for the perfect time that does not exist. being an influencer takes time. The best advice is to be yourself, if you don't know who you are, then find you in the process of sharing you and giving value, watch how inspiring you are to people. Don't be afraid to make mistakes and mess up, the most successful people have the most failures,  you learn from your mistakes and grow moving forward.


Q. Where do you see your self in 5 years?

A. This is something I've struggled with, I was raised to exist, yes we all have dreams but for me its always been a challenge setting them in a timescale. I had such a roller coaster life, in 5 years time I would like to open my own Deli lounge called Lbeauties lounge. have only shared this information with a close few. A place of sheer bliss and positivity, motivational mornings with a brew. Midweek makeover classes with some cake.


Oliva finished  the question with "if  I can get this dream started in 5 years I would be extremely happy and humble" 



One last thing before we finish this interview do you have any inspiring quotes that are  favourites that you would like to share?


-quote
FAIL FORWARD
success doesn't come without failure and we need
to have a more positive attitude towards failure, because
when we fail we grow from this to then become successful rather 
then letting it consume us.

- will smith





                               FINAL THOUGHTS.

I enjoyed interviewing Olivia today, she answered the questions without any hesitation. I admire her drive and ambition. I have a better understanding of how to grow a business and becoming an entrepreneur, I hope I have not left anything out and that the information Olivia provided will help you guys at home as well.

the final question would be,  does Online Marketing really work?  Yes with dedication and time, and not giving up so soon because you have not seen the progression. To enjoy this process without letting negative comments or trying to do too much at once pull you down, stay grounded and stay positive. It does not happen overnight but if your consistent and you are enjoying this journey you can achieve anything you put your mind to

with love sharleeigh