Wannabe Princess

Plus Size Fashion and Lifestyle in South Yorkshire

What Volunteering Opportunities Should I look For?

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If you have a little spare time each week or month it can be nice to look into ways you can give back to others. I have done different types of volunteering in the past and it’s a really fun and worthwhile thing to get into. However, I know it can be hard to know what volunteering opportunities to look for so I wanted to share with you the places I have found volunteering placements in the past. [Read more…]

Working At Home This Summer

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As you’ll probably know, I have been working for myself for over a year now which means I am well versed at working from home. I’m actually enjoying it and the flexibility I get when working here compared to what work was like when I worked in an office is amazing! I am actually looking forward to summer knowing that I have the power to change my hours and working pattern to fit in with the weather. Will you be working at home this summer? [Read more…]

Staying (and Slaying) Positive During Tough Times

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It goes without saying that it’s been a difficult year for everyone, and it’s not like all the challenges will suddenly disappear overnight. Staying positive during tough times can be tough, but it is possible.

On top of all the real-world events, the winter months can always be difficult (remember, the vitamin D from the sun makes a huge difference for your physical health, so a lack of it in December and January can make a big difference).

With spring finally arriving, there are many ways for you to give yourself all the love and attention you need to keep calm and carry on.

There are plenty of big changes and little adjustments you can make to your outlook and day-to-day routines to put a smile on your face, so read on to maybe get that spark of energy or inspiration.

Love Your Mind

When checking the news on the telly or the newsfeed on your mobile, it’s easy to just sigh in frustration and try to shut all the depressing stories out. Plenty of studies have been done to show that spending too much time online ‘doom-scrolling’ (just going through your social media pages and seeing everyone else complain) can definitely have an adverse effect on your mental health.

That’s why it’s important to counterbalance this with positive stories and fun diversions. It’s not that you are ignoring or denying the existence of the bad news, but are reminding yourself that the world is not all dark.

The internet has become so important to how we live our lives these days, but sometimes turning the phone or laptop off can be the best peace of mind you can have. Meditation has always gone through periods of being the latest fad and then not so much, but giving it a try every so often can make a big difference.

Sitting on a rug with your back straight and breathing in through your nose and out through your mouth seems too simple to have an effect, but you might find that even doing it for ten or fifteen minutes a day can be a great life hack.

Love Your Body

The body is the temple of your mind, and that means giving it the proper attention is essential. There are many ways to do this, and that can go from the literal surface to the ways your various digestive and respiratory systems work together. If you are happy with what you see when you look in the mirror, then it’s a credit to you and your own body positivity. Good advice can come from anywhere, like waxing and shaving suggestions from the medieval era to skincare tips from a London escort. Even help from a magazine about staying positive during tough times – help and advice is everywhere.

Trying new things can be a little thrill all by itself, but the real changes can be made when it comes to a healthy lifestyle, and that means being active and eating proper. There’s no reason to think this has to include an onerous boot-camp-style exercise set-up or putting your stomach through the wringer by suddenly cutting one sort of food from your meal.

Little changes like making a point of going for long walks regularly and swapping out sweets for some veggies from time to time can be a proper change that you will feel good about. [Read more…]

3 Hobbies You Could Take Up This Summer

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I had a picky tea last night – quiche, potatoes, salad, boiled eggs – you know, that summertime tea that only really works in the nice weather. To me, that signified that summer is well and truly on its way. I know that it’s colder today but I refuse to give up on the fact that we’re nearly in summer. It’s the end of April, nice weather has to be around the corner – doesn’t it? With the better weather on its way and lockdown restrictions continuing to be eased, I am sure many of you are looking at new things to try this summer – after all, last summer was a bit of a washout wasn’t it? [Read more…]

3 Ways The Internet Can Keep Your Family Entertained

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I read something once that said you knew you were a grownup because you had to decide what to have for dinner every night – it’s so hard isn’t it? How do you decide on something tasty and varied… Every.. Single.. Day! For me, it’s also about keeping the family entertained. I’m not a parent, but my partner’s daughter stays with us for holidays and weekends – and as a typical teenager, keeping her entertained can be tough. That said, if it’s got TikTok and social media involved, she’s far more interested!

So, I wanted to write about how the internet can help keep the whole family entertained. [Read more…]

3 Ways To Give Up Smoking in 2021

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Give Up Smoking – With 2021 fast approaching, many of us are starting to think of New Year’s Resolutions and things that we would like to do differently next year. 2020 has been a challenging one for all of
us, so there is no doubt that most of us would like to see a very different year next year – fingers crossed eh? Have you been looking at ways to give up smoking?

If you are someone that wants to break a bad habit or change something in their lifestyle, then you’re probably considering the new year a good time to do this. Lots of us look to the New Year as a fresh start for something and therefore now is definitely as good a time as any. Although this article looks at giving up smoking, really the tips can be used for any habit
you want to break – or adapt for any new habit you want to start. [Read more…]

Tips & tricks: How to get started with sewing

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While spending more time at home, you have a fantastic opportunity to pick up a new hobby. Sewing is a great way to use your hands, and at the same time create your own clothing or house interiosr. Regardless if you are a beginner at sewing, or are skilled with the sewing machine, this article will bring you some tips and tricks when you get started with sewing.


Sewing machine and supplies

Crucial for getting started with sewing is a sewing machine and sewing supplies. If you are deciding on buying a sewing machine, doing proper research is always recommended. There are a lot of great brands and machines out there, but you should make sure to find one that suits your needs. If you are planning on using your sewing machine alot, and working on big projects, it might be worth investing in a more expensive sewing machine. With that being said, there are also a lot of affordable brands out there that will work great for your sewing projects. Research is key! For any crafters looking for their next big project, check out these creative sewing patterns by Design Bundles, the leading digital marketplace for creatives.

When getting sewing supplies, a great tip is to only get the most necessary items first, such as fabric scissors, seam ripper, sewing pins, tape measure, pattern paper, chalk or washable markers. For basic projects, not much more is needed – and once you get more experience you can invest in more supplies.

Sewing patterns

The most fun part of getting started with sewing is to find a sewing pattern for your projects. Sewing patterns can be bought physically or digitally. The digital sewing pattern often consists of a printable PDF (which can be printed at home), and instructions on how to make the garment. There are lots of sewing patterns to choose from, and easy beginners sewing patterns can be downloaded for free.
The scrunchie is a perfect beginner sewing project. If you sign up for the free Yarnie newsletter, you will receive 7 different sewing patterns for free.
Yarnie’s The Needle Craft Newsletter is a great resource for anyone who is interested in quality free sewing patterns. It’s completely free to sign up and every newsletter features a free pattern, alongside inspiring articles with talented needlecraft creators and designers. You will also be able to widen your sewing skills with the tips and tricks included in the newsletter.

Free quilt patterns and sewing patterns are included in the Yarnie newsletter.

Fabric & thread

A good fabric for beginners is a fabric that is easy to sew with, but also isn’t so expensive. You shouldn’t worry about making mistakes. In the beginning, you might use up a bit more fabric and this is part of the learning process. A light or mid-weight woven fabric, such as cotton, linen or cotton-linen blend is a great fabric to start out with, as it won’t stretch or slip while sewing. There are a lot of fabric and thread manufacturers to choose from, and the possibilities to shop online are endless. If you prefer to go to a physical store to buy your fabric and thread (to also get a feeling of what it looks and feels like) you can visit your closest craft fabric store, or visit the local market.

If you want to be sustainable in your selection of fabric, then repurposing an old thrifted fabric is a great way to upcycle a sewing project. In thrift stores, there are a lot of second-hand fabrics, such as old tablecloths, bed linen and much more.

Have fun sewing and learning a new craft!

 

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