Lately memories of the first days of Facebook (i.e. me at the age of 16) have been pushed back into my life on a daily basis thanks to the social media sites new "memories" function. Pictures of awful outfit decisions, embarrassing status' and conversations with people I haven't spoken  to in nearly 10 years are thrust upon me every morning as I roll over to check my phone. So what would I say, if I could, to my 16 year old self?

1.) Stop with the pouting. It isn't helping your selfie game. You don't know what a selfie is? Oh yes wait you won't know until around 2011. Well, when you point the camera towards yourself - try not to do a duck face - you look a lot better without it.

2.) Spend less time on MSN. In four years time you won't use it and in six years time it will be removed completely from the internet. Don't aspire to be like the other girls in your year and put all of their best friends names/favourite song lyrics/ a boys name they've been 'seeing' for two minutes into your username. The only thing you can thank MSN for is your freakishly quick typing - other than that the embarrassment you put yourself through of logging in and out so that the boy you fancy will see you, it's not worth it. Just so you know, he's seen you - he just doesn't want to talk to you. Do your homework.

3.) Appreciate being 16 and stop trying to grow up so fast!  Yes I know you want to drive and I know you want freedom but guess what... that all comes with being an adult and that is absolutely no fun. Enjoy being a kid for as long as you can and stop trying to convince everyone you're anything but.

4.) Have some originality! Being different doesn't have to be a bad thing. Berksha is gross, not every bra you buy has to have that much padding and that top is NOT a dress.

5.) One day, you'll have unlimited texts and something magical called Whatsapp. No more using your lunch money on phone credit to waste it texting utter rubbish to a boy you won't want to even look at in 2 weeks time.

6.) No, your parents aren't letting you have a house party for your 16th birthday because surprisingly they don't condone 100 15/16 year olds underage drinking, smoking and making out under their roof. Get over it! You'll do enough of all of the above later on in life and guess what, in four years time you'll be the one in the corner of the club refusing to check your coat in, tapping a finger on your watch and waiting to pounce on the first person that stifles a yawn, just so you can persuade them to get the hell out of there and instead demolish a box of chips smothered in garlic sauce in the comfort of your own bed.

Trend Whore

My name is Zara and I am a self confessed trend whore. If something is talked about, tweeted or instagrammed enough I will be there jumping on the bandwagon and purchasing that latest fad. I thought it might be a good idea to write a post on my four latest faddy purchases and my honest opinions on them.

1. FitBit Charge £79.99 from Argos

This was one of those things that I told myself would be life changing. The normal process goes like this - I find out about the item and I listen to the shpiel about how it will change my life. I then consider my life with it and without it and convince myself I'm really losing out, make the purchase and then reality sets in. I figured that if I was to get a FitBit (a watch which tracks how many steps you do in a day, plus the distance, calories burned and the amount of stairs you've gone up) that I would suddenly become this crazy athletic being who walks/runs everywhere. I'd also be competing with many friends online who'd be racking up the steps and making my competitive side come out - thus causing me to become even more fit in the process.

The reality was I bought the FitBit and religiously wore it for a few weeks... but after that like most things it lost it's charm. The major issue for me is it is ugly. It's a rather large masculine looking rubber band which doesn't go so well with the majority of my wardrobe. There is the option to double watch and wear it on my right hand but somehow I think that's even less cool.

The second issue is that it's quite depressing. Working in an office means that you do spend the majority of your time on your bum at your desk and if you're walking around the office enough to reach your 10,000 step target you're not likely to be getting any actual work done. When I would get home with a measly 4,000 steps on the clock it pissed me off more than motivated me - how was I supposed to go for an evening walk/jog and do more steps in 45 minutes than I had all day!?

The third problem was I didn't actually have any other friends that had a FitBit to compete with, plus there is the small issue that I am the least competitive person you will ever meet. The battery life is also appalling which is a problem when you think you're doing a good job of walking everywhere one day only to check and be greeted by the annoying flashing battery sign and no track of how many thousands of steps you've done.

I don't regret buying the FitBit but I do think the battery life is a big issue. After writing this post I think I will try to get into more of a routine of charging it on a nightly basis to avoid it dying on me at midday and make more of an effort to wear it - it hurts to think it set me back £79.99 (or £80 stop kidding yourself Zara) and it's gathering dust.

2. NutriBullet £69.99 from Argos

The NutriBullet was another one of those - this will change my life - purchases (I think you might start to see a theme here). Similarly to the FitBit this was bought on a lonely Sunday afternoon when the only accessible and open shop nearby was Argos... hey, when a girls got to shop she's got to shop! This was also something that I put off for a while as I had a juicer already and didn't think I could warrant having another appliance.

Fast forward about 6 months later, I am so glad I bought the NutriBullet. The juicer hasn't been used once since I took the plunge - mainly because of how easy the NutriBullet is to use and clean in comparison to the juicer. I of course do go through weeks where I don't use it once and then other weeks where I can't get enough but I would say I have consistently enjoyed using it since I got it. My favourite and most frequent combo is spinach (love how green it goes), banana, frozen mango and coconut water. The plastic cup that you blend in acts as the cup to carry it to work in and means that you only have to wash up one thing  - what a dream!  Have I lost a ton of weight or seen a transformation in my skin for drinking more fruit and veg? No - but it is easy to use and has made me eat more fruit and veg which can only be a good thing.

3. Spiralizer £25 from Amazon

2 years ago, no one would know what the hell you were talking about if you told them you ate courgetti or zoodles for dinner. Now, it's the norm! When all my favourite food bloggers and YouTubers started going on about spiralizing courgettes as an alternative to carby spaghetti I tried to refrain from buying yet another kitchen gadget. I held off for about 6 months, but after many a soggy trial with my potato peeler, I realised there really wasn't anything I could do. If I wanted to join the no carb club I'd have to invest in a spiralizer. At the time the one that I bought was the most recommended so I didn't think too much about the somewhat hefty price tag. It does the job that it's supposed to but my goodness this thing is cumbersome. Awkward to clean, too large to store in a cupboard and after a couple of injuries I can confirm it is sharp and unforgiving! Since making this purchase some other options have come on to the market which are both neater and cheaper... if I could go back in time and swap I would. Also, shockingly, I don't want to eat curly courgettes every evening. I also will never be able to completely replace spaghetti because who could live without spaghetti!? So overall - complete fad and I fell for it.

4. Lumie Light - £59.99

And now to the latest addition in my fad buying - the Lumie Light! I can't write much of a review on this as it has only just been unboxed and plugged in but basically I'm hoping it will be the answer to my dreams. I can never get up in the morning and when I do get up early and get some things done before work, I feel so much better for it. Instead at the moment I am falling into the trap of snooze, snooze, snooze, SHIT.

The Lumie Light is designed to light up your room gradually half an hour before you need to wake up so that your body stops making melatonin and starts making the energising hormone you need to get up and seize the day. Why don't you just leave your blinds open I hear you ask? Well, because that wouldn't be as fun as spending £59.99 on a substandard and quite frankly ugly bedside light that you can later write a disappointed blog post on, would it?

The Weekend

Lately, I have been living a sort of TGIF life. Luckily enough, life is going pretty quickly at the moment so it seems like each weekend is coming round quicker than the next. Last weekend, I ventured into London from the far away land that is Surrey to see some friends.

On Saturday, I met two lovely ladies who I know from work - Josie and Joanna for lunch at Burger & Lobster - a place that has definitely been sufficiently blogged about in it's time.

Joanna and I went for the lobster roll and Josie went for the lobster. I feel like choosing a burger here would be a bit of an idiot move as every option on the menu is £20. Actually, when I say every option on the menu I can't actually say that as there isn't a menu - something that does get a little annoying as the waitress rattles off the dessert options with a heavy accent.

All options come with chips and a salad, plus a garlic sauce which eventually ended up being poured on my chips - apologies to anyone that I spoke to post meal.

The food was good but I wouldn't rush back. We didn't have to wait at all for a table but if we'd had to (which I think is quite often the case) it wouldn't have been worth the wait. The lobster roll was tasty, the food came quickly and there was a good atmosphere but it wasn't something I'd crave and want again soon. It seemed that the majority of people there (including myself) were more interested in getting the best Instagram possible of either a birds eye view of their food or a group shot of themselves and their friends wearing the obligatory plastic bibs you're given when you order.

Now onto the good bit - the company! Meet Joanna (Jo) and Josie...

Joanna

Likes:
- Country Walks
- History (documentaries, museums, period dramas, books)
- Fist pumps and high fives
- Being a perfectionist
- Cooking and hosting
- Her dog, Oscar
- Embarrassing me
- Using the word ridiculous when she's angry - "This is ridiculous!"

Dislikes:
- Abbreviated words like "courgetti"
- Most songs in the Top 40
- Wearing heels
- Getting up before 9am

Josie

Likes:
- Shopping
- Mulberry handbags
- Anything furry
- Rude boi cars
- Her friends
- Her hamster, Betty
- Shit Films (hello fast and furious!)
- Talking to strangers on the last train home

Dislikes:
- Monday mornings
- Being given directions
- Rose scented things
- When people call  her Jozie

These beautiful girls made my weekend - it's so important to make plans with friends. We all get busy and the weekends go by quicker and quicker each month, but put that date in the diary and stick to it. There's nothing quite like cry laughing with a friend or filling her in on the latest "scandalous" story. Don't take your friends for granted, show them the love and book in something fun to do soon!

Skiing 2016

At the ripe old age of 25, I decided to finally give in and commit to a ski trip with my best pals. There had been numerous years previous to this one where I had considered going but always had a last minute excuse - not enough money, not enough muscles, not enough money or muscles.  After a 2015 News Years Resolution of "Say yes to things" I couldn't say no and found myself committing to my first 15 hour car  journey, my first chalet, my first "lets exercise for six days straight", my first time on a mountain, on a ski lift, in ski's, being filmed hurtling down a blue run with absolutely no control... you can see where this is going.

As soon as I put my out of office on the fear of what was to come set in. This was only aided by the prospect of packing an entire weeks clothes (ski clothes included - those things are bulky) into one bag. When my three amigos (i.e. car buddies for the next night and day) came to collect me they were less than impressed with my two bag approach - one for ski and one for apres, I innocently remarked.  Amazingly we all made it to France in one piece, despite a warning light that came on in Calais and didn't leave us for the duration, a tantrum in a service station and french toilets with no toilet seats.

The mountains were absolutely breathtaking and it quite quickly became clear why this skiing thing was, well, a thing. Yes it was absolutely terrifying and much to the amusement of my fellow skiiers I squatted my way down the majority of the mountains, but there is nothing nicer than the sun shining on your face and feeling like you're on top of the world with your best friends.

So the question everyone has asked, would I do it again? Yes. But would I do it the same way - absolutely not. My inner diva completely came out on the trip. I was in utter shock that the fact we opted for a hot tub over ski-in-ski-out accommodation meant that we had to lug our skis and poles for what seemed like miles until we got to a ski lift. I would have gladly paid good money for the service of someone carrying my gear (or even my entire body) to the point where my skis could be snapped on and I was ready to go. There was nothing glamorous about working up a sweat through my thermals, feeling like bambi on ice and carrying my skis like a baby because I was never going to master the throwing them over my shoulder approach. I also understand that no one likes to be a beginner but when it comes to skiing it really isn't fun. The three other newbies and I spent the first day snow ploughing down what can only be described as a slight slope and then panting our way to the aladdins carpet to stand like toothpaste tubes on a conveyor belt up said slope and repeat the process over again.

My advise to any new skiiers out there - get lessons. I don't know what any of us would have done without them apart from severely hurt ourselves! Second tip - don't be afraid to fall over. It will happen. You will face plant the mountain, eat some snow that was suspiciously salty and have to do the walk of shame sans skis down the rest of the run to your group of friends who are nervously looking on hoping they won't have a full blown tantrum to deal with. And finally  - if you feel faint and decide to embrace the foetal position adjacent to a busy ski lift, make sure your friends go-pro isn't still recording. It's say to safe I won't be going off piste any time soon but I hope it wasn't my last ski trip.

Netflix and Chill

I am an extremist. I am very rarely quite keen on something, I either love it or hate it. I either do it all the time or never think about it. My dad has called me a fickle child for as long as I can remember and he is always bemused at my 'obsessions' of which I quickly forget about when I get bored. This translates beautifully to Netflix. When I find a TV show to watch, however rubbish or brilliant it is, there is nothing to stop me from letting each episode seamlessly slip into the next. My mind becomes mush, my dreams become alive with characters of the show telling me they love me and my eyes forget to blink as I stare space cadet style at my glowing laptop screen. Two months later, the story line will be a faint memory and I'll be cheating on my previous show with another 'recommended for Zara'.

Sometimes I feel guilty about my Netflix binges and think I should be doing more with my Friday night - after all, I am 25 and not 75. Motivational quotes are at an all time high at the moment on social media. These quotes and proverbs have been about for centuries but us millennial's have only just taken note due to on trend fonts and filters. One of them that stands out to me is;"I'll sleep when I'm dead". In other words, life is for living and don't waste it. But you know what? Sometimes living is about giving yourself a Netflix coma, filling your friend in on the phone with every detail of your embarrassing day or taking endless selfies with your cat. You might not be travelling to the other side of the world, meeting a famous politician or doing a sky dive, but you're happy. Don't feel guilty about not filling every minute of your time doing something life changing. You might be changing some young script writers life by watching that shit show on Netflix. You are definitely brightening up your friends day by making her laugh at your expense. Your cat surely loves you more for all the Instagram likes he's getting.

Spend your time your way... it's Friday night and I'm going back to my 6th episode in a row.

Terrible 20s

When I was growing up, 25 seemed like the age where surely I would be in full-swing of adulthood. I would have a successful job where I tapped my keyboard all day, wearing high heels and power pencil skirts, ordering my PA to get me my favourite Starbucks. I'd own a small but stylish house which had been painstakingly decorated with expensive wallpaper and bits of art my husband and I had bought in different cities on different weekends - because all young married couples have the time and the money for constant city breaks. I'd be thinking about starting a family, excited to revamp my wardrobe with cute empire waisted dresses to show off my bump. We'd have a puppy for the training purposes of having a baby, who of course would magically be able to look after it's self all day when we're off doing our long hour high pressure jobs.

The truth is, when you're in your 20s, it is very unlikely that anything will be 'sorted'. I could not be further away from the above at this moment in time and though it's hard to convince myself, I know that's okay. They say that when you get into your 30s you start to be less bothered about what people think about you and the anxiety that follows you around in your 20s suddenly disappears. I long for the day when I don't 'overthink' what people think or have five outfits on the floor after deciding that I have "nothing to wear".

At 25, people around me are starting to get engaged, have babies and buy houses - and that's good for them. Everyone develops at a different pace. Make good plans, look forward to things but live in the moment. Say 'yes' to what you would want to say 'no' to... what's the worst that can happen? 

Let's try this again

My middle name should be 'inconsistent'. It isn't something that I'm proud of, but it is undeniable, I am constantly starting things and not finishing them. Whether it's the half knitted scarf that's been in the drawer for so long I've forgotten how to knit or the fact that one morning I get up for work at 6am and practically clean the whole house before I leave the house and the next morning I'm rolling out of bed at 10 to 9 in a sleepy panic, I do not tend to stick to much. This blog is a classic example as you'll see below my first post entered the world in 2013 and has been alone without other post-siblings for the last 3 years! So here I am again, ready to give it another go and to prove myself and everyone around me wrong!