REAL TALK

Judging by the title of this post, you should know generally what the next few paragraphs will consist of. I don't know why it's such a taboo subject for women because essentially it takes two to 'tango' - for want of a better word! You get males thriving off their sex lives and getting continuous praise for being a "lad", a "player", upping his numbers, however if a woman dares to even discuss their bedroom activities we are branded a "whore", a "slut", talk about double standards, eh?

I feel like this isn't communicated enough, there's so much talk of equal rights in the workplace, feminism acts that yes, are just as important, but shouldn't a female feel comfortable in her day to day life without being judged and scrutinised for being single? All this 'independent woman who don't need no man' talk is fine but a girl is allowed to have fun with a guy(s), I mean, there's only so much Ann Summers stock that can satisfy alone.

It's 2018, we have come so far in the progression of the LGBT community and taking pride in who you are and who you love, but what if you enjoy being single with numerous sexual partners? As long as the right precautions are taken, I'm not trying to promote unsafe sex at all, use contraception, whatever form that suits you and do whatever and whoever you like!

We live in a world that we all think it is okay to judge others whether that be on their appearance or life choices because from a young age our minds are drilled with idealities that are simply just unrealistic. It doesn't help that technology and social media has allowed us to share so much more which can create vulnerability because it allows the public to form an opinion of you when in reality, who gives a crap what Doris from Stoke had for breakfast?

Unfortunately, being part of a lifestyle because of where I work, it's similar to a Uni environment where you live on campus and everybody knows your business because we are so close knit, there's always mutual friendships/enemies just around the corner so if I even get spotted with male, it's escalates into a story so extreme I feel like I should be in my own soap opera, and the worst part is, because of our nosey nature and being gossips, people will believe it and spread it further. So what if I am sleeping with the bloke? That's OUR choice, we don't need your 2 pence worth.

What does it really matter to you? Why are you questioning it? If it makes a person happy, makes them feel empowered then we should encourage that not belittle it.

Everybody is different, everybody progresses through life differently, so why don't we all just mind our own business and focus on perfecting our own lives before involving ourselves in others.

The End.

Playsuit: LASULA

Katie x

I Did What?!

Where Have You Been? I hear you cry.

Well it's true I've had a complete hiatus from blogging and I haven't really had any excuses really but what I can tell you is I've definitely spent this time wisely (or not so wisely some may argue after this post) 

If I've learnt anything growing up it's definitely that life is short, you never know how much time you have so why not make the days count ey? Whether it's planned events or a last minute booze-up, I can guarantee when we're old and grey, they are the memories we will cherish no matter how much we may regret them at the time. Which brings me to the theme of this post; Spontaneity.

Here are my top spontaneous/random moments so far (most of which actually include the same 2 friends; bad influences maybe?)

1. Travelling over an hour at night to get dessert.
Because noone wants just plain old ice-cream from a supermarket to satisfy their sweet tooth right? We decided to go from Minehead to Yeovil to go to Kaspa's dessert place. So I may have exaggerated a little, my friend is actually originally from Yeovil but a little drive around escalated into going to his hometown to get chocolate covered waffles and cookie dough. But this is just the start of our driving adventures ....

2. Deciding to travel to MANCHESTER the night before for a 'casual' day trip.
Yes .. Manchester, as in North of England, as in at least 4 hours away from where we live. We are surrounded by mainstream cities like Bristol, Birmingham, Plymouth, yet those just didn't tickle our fancy. Instead, we wanted somewhere different to go shopping (baring in mind we were all semi-broke at the time) so we thought it was the best option. Was it? Well, Trafford Centre is INSANE. I just wish I had longer to get my head around how massive this place was and explore properly, it was definitely a culture shock to the shopping centres we are used to. Also, the boys got some pretty decent suits for our upcoming awards night so all in all a successful trip. However, we did do one more thing whilst we were there ...

3. Getting our Nipples pierced whilst in Manchester.
Now, don't get me wrong, nipple piercings has always been something I said I'd love to get but it was one of those things where I didn't think I would actually go through with it. Well, after the tiniest bit of peer pressure and finding a studio at last minute on Google, we all decided to bite the bullet and get it done. Only the one mind, which I'm actually glad about because that trip home was painful! Seatbelts and sore nips are not a good combo boys and girls especially having to travel home 4 hours!

4. Booking + flying to Tenerife in less than a week.
I don't know if you've picked up on this or not but I do struggle with last minute plans at the best of times but a holiday with no notice spared gave me complete anxiety! This actually was back in January 2017 and my first holiday away without my parents which was a big deal to me. My good friend Katie literally texted me not suggesting but TELLING me we were going to go with our other pal Dan, and sent me the cost and details, at least someone had it planned out! And it was all because of a passing comment that we should get away somewhere. I never thought I'd ever have the courage to do that but it turned out to be exactly what we needed.

So the point I'm really getting at is, life is really short and although our credit cards take an absolute beating, often the most unexpected days, trips, moments are the ones we will remember in a few years time, not the ones where we are stuck in work, stuck with the same daily routine. So do something out of blue, you never know it could be the best thing you do this year.

Love Katie x

How I Fake Confidence

When it comes to my job there's no hiding, you have to be confident and outgoing to make an impression on those thousands of guests who pay good dollar to be on holiday, after all, they're after the high quality service. However, anyone who really knows me would have gone through this life journey with me and in actual fact most of the time, it's a total facade. I'm self-conscious, anxious and often quiet around new people. That's right people, I'm a total fake but I'm going to let you into the secrets of how exactly I completely blag my way through life.

• Make an effort with yourself. This is such a materialistic way to start but I believe that if you take that little bit of time to do your hair and make-up and even tan yourself up, you're already half way there because looking good makes you feel good. Am I right? Not many girls can say they feel 100% confident with their hair in a top knot, joggers on and Au Natural.

• Put on your favourite outfit. Of course this applies if you don't have work or a uniform but even so just style it to suit you with your favourite accessories. You can tell when someone feels comfortable in and enjoys what they're wearing as apposed to over-dressing or wearing something not your style, you aren't fooling anyone we know you feel awkward and conscious. Of course I'm all for taking risks but ensure you feel happy before stepping foot in public.

• Walk with your head up. Put that phone away for a change, we all are guilty of clinging onto it as a safety guard to avoid awkward eye contact or conversations but when you look and feel good, show that off. People may disagree that they hate being noticed but walking past someone with your head up will make them take a second look, you look more approachable and I don't know about you but knowing someones acknowledged you or your effort will boost your confidence that extra step.  

• Smile. This fits in with my previous tip. As much as you think your resting bitch face is doing you favours, it doesn't. Simply smiling to whoever you walk past, whether they smile back or not will actually also put the other person in a good mood aswell. After all, smiles are infectious. The only downside is I'm so used to smiling in my job that when I'm that friendly out of uniform I get a few odd looks but trust me, it works.

• Don't overthink. I think I can speak on behalf of everyone that 9 times out of 10 we rehearse what we want to say in our heads beforehand even if it's for an appointment, a phone call or what you're ordering for dinner. But sometimes it's beneficial to drop that filter in everyday life. Letting your words run free tends to reflect more of your personality even if you are a bit shy. Say something cheeky, be sarcastic, make a joke because actually you will have more of an impression on that person (good or bad) that if you kept your mouth shut. Obviously this is only to an extent, don't be inappropriate or rude and know when to be quiet (word vomit is a genuine disease for me) but it definitely helps the conversation flow that little bit more.

And that is pretty much it. I hope this will help you fake confidence as much as it does me. Of course, there are days I do none of the above but trust me, all this tips will have an impact on your confidence overall, you just have to take a chance and embrace it.

Love Pook x 

Why Why Why?

Guilty, there's only two whys in this post...

Why I miss blogging.

Wow, it's been well over a year since I sat down and wrote out a post to publish. Sure I have a few drafts but honestly, with the lifestyle I've adapted to, I fell out of love of blogging. It became a bit too forced to me like I just had to post anything for the sake of posting but truthfully I just didn't know what I actually felt passionate about writing.

After a year full of constant change and hecticness that surrounded my life, I finally have a few days a week to sit down, relax and reflect on everything and whilst scrolling through Twitter there are so many bloggers that I still follow and their content is amazing and then I began to miss writing down how I felt.

I then started to use a notebook which admittedly helped satisfy my writing needs and it also helped me alot mentally, actually putting pen to paper and just venting for a few pages, really started to put my mind at ease because I find it difficult to express how I feel verbally, (unless of course it's to my mother!) and it was then I thought what if I just resume my blog?

Why I don't understand boys.

How do I even begin to explain my confusion with the opposite sex? As a female, I can put my hands up and admit us girls are hardwork. There's no denying that, especially when we know what we want and as much as we can be indecisive I'd like to think we are consistent with our work, our life and our feelings. Yeah, we have our ups and downs but ultimately we are honest and true to ourselves. I'm not talking on behalf of all guys but so far, all males that have entered my life, initially, seem sure of themselves, what they want and their carefree attitudes but their inconsistency is such a turn off and ultimately frustrating! One day they can act so into you, almost a little bit too clingy and then the next they do a complete 180 degree turn and go cold, distant and leave you feeling like you're the size of a peanut, as worthy as a round £1 coin. And yet, they seem so oblivious to how they actually are making you feel then resume talking to you days later and because we are all suckers for a little bit of attention, we somehow have short-term memory loss until the next time it happens! It's a vicious cycle until the conversation and any kind of relationship you had dies completely. 

Why is this generation's dating system so fucked up and complicated? Surely if you like eachother you like eachother, if you don't you don't. Call me old fashioned but bring back the days where my parents met and 6 weeks later moved in together. Skip forward 34 years and they are still very much inlove. 

Things were alot more consistent back then!

Rant: Encourage The Future Generation

I have spent about an hour trying to think of a way to begin this post, maybe something witty, cute but to be honest I don't have one. This is just something I need to vent and get off my chest. I was going to put it on Facebook or Twitter but I thought, I can guarantee most, if not everyone can relate to this.

When you're younger all you think about is what it's like to be an adult, there's so many remarkable adults surrounding you that you couldn't wait to grow up and see what living life in adulthood feels like, it must be this amazing adventure, all this freedom. Then you reach that point and it's definitely not all it seems. You stress more about little things, you sit in bed worrying about your job or your family and friends and you're constantly tired. Am I right? But that's not what I'm talking about, that I can deal with to an extent. 

What I really can't get my head around is that these "adults" you once admired are like high school teenagers. They moan, they bitch, they're sly and their two faces even put Professor Quirrell to shame. But the funniest thing about it is it's not people my age, not even people my sisters age, but people in their 40's are the ones that are the worst for it. They constantly nit pick everything, they talk to you degradingly and they bitch bitch bitch because it makes them look superior. 

I don't understand it? Surely at 40 you have lived your life, you have been in my shoes and you know exactly how hard and daunting it is to find your own purpose in this world but you still go ahead and try and make things more difficult for me. Instead of judging everything how about actually support me, give me the encouragement to succeed in life. Praise me on the things I'm doing right rather than tell everyone what I do wrong. 

Of course, it's not everyone at 40 who are like this but that vast majority who make daily life that bit more stressful need to step back and realise, we are the present, we are the future and if you continue to put us down, how does that prepare us for other obstacles we will face just around the corner? There's enough pressure on us from society, we don't need it from you aswell.

I think some adults are just so cautious of being replaced but that's the circle of life, we all get replaced at some point, we don't live forever so why don't we just all make our lives count. 

Be kind, be happy, be supportive, because if you're unable to do it, what hope do the rest of us have going forward?

{I apologise I got a tad carried away and this is entirely unfiltered, I just felt I needed to raise this issue that I have been a victim of lately}

Lots of love,

Katie x

How Has The First 7 Days Of 2016 Treated You?

It's a week into the new year and some may say that's a little early for anything significant or important to happen but that my loves is where you are wrong.

These past 7 days has seen break-ups, make-ups, laughter, sadness and excitement. If this is anything to go by, 2016 is going to be a very bumpy, eventful year!

To be honest it's amazing how one moment, one second, one message can change everything. Very early on I've lost friends that I thought I meant something to but like I said just one message can prove that can change in an instant. Backstabbing and outright rudeness is not something I'm going to tolerate this year, but I'm taking a different approach to it. Yes of course confrontation is necessary just to find out the reasons for turning their back on me but I think life's too short to constantly argue, either they make the effort or I'm removing their toxic attitude from my life. This is a way of boosting my postive vibes this year.

However onto a more exciting happier note; my 21st is creeping closer and closer and guess what? I'm celebrating it in Dublin! I know I said my heart was set on Prague or Italy but it just was not practical for the short space of time we have. 

I've been to Dublin before and it's a very beautiful city and we're staying right in the centre where I'll be able to visit all the landmarks, go shopping and best of all, there is a nightclub attached to my hotel(!?) amazing. Also I haven't seen my best friend Soph who lives there in over 4 years so meeting up with her will be so lovely! You can definitely expect a detailed, blogpost on this trip this time next month!

So there we go 2-3 of my goals for 2016 have been actioned already in 7 DAYS and I hope the rest of the year helps me achieve so much more, and that's what my message is to everyone. Why wait? Just go for whatever you want, make changes in your life NOW, because there is no room for regrets anymore. However there is room for bad choices and those are what make the best stories to tell! 

Hope you all survived your first week back to work/college/school too!

Much love

Katie x

Which Pill Would You Take?

It's midnight and I'm laid in bed doing my usual routine of scrolling through Social Media until I can't keep my eyes open whilst trying to put the world to rights in my head and it just so happens that I come across this.

Most of the time I just ignore these kind of things that come up on Facebook and this is the first and last time I will admit Facebook inspired a blogpost but this one actually made me stop and think for a minute. Imagine if you were given that decision; having the opportunity to go back and change your past or $10 million cash?

The quick and easy choice would obviously be take the money and run. Who cares about the past!? it's all about the future! YOLO! Then I actually thought properly about it.

The reason we are where we are today is because of the decisions we made in the past both good and bad, imagine having that opportunity to fix those regrets, mistakes, decisions to see if they really did impact your life. They say that the littlest things can make a person's day so what about the bigger things making someone's life?

Yes, a lot of issues and worries in my (and several other people's) life concern money but there are so many situations I wish I reacted differently to, things that I worry about in this very moment and to be honest, being able to fix that, to me, is worth alot more than $10 million.

It does make me wonder is money really does make us happy or if it's our mindsets and the way we live our lives that makes it all worth while.

Money runs out, but our lives last a hell of a lot longer, think wisely.

Which pill would you take?

{yes this is an insight to the daily debates that occur in Katie Pook's brain when she should be asleep!!}

Katie x