How to keep calm and carry on.

Keep calm and carry on has blown up. 

You can't deny maybe reblogging an edited version maybe of your favourite song or from a fandom.

 It's everywhere and too right it should be.

I feel it's such a simple slogan, even down to the design it's not trying to sparkle but obviously everybody has noticed that in fact it does.

I'm sure we all know how this dates back to the war, it's what us Brits lived by back when things got tough, there were no men around, women had to go work in factories for some, the first times in their lives. 

Women had to fight just like their men did - just not in trenches.

See I was born in England as were my parents but their parents were Irish meaning that back in war times, I believe they were all living over there.
You know when you're speaking with your grandparents and you expect them to go really deep and go off on a big conversation about how terrible it was and how far they had to walk for stuff? I expected this.
But no. She said "oh I remember the war, I remember seeing the War planes fly over my house in Ireland"

and you think "Oh Nan, that's terrible you must of been so scared"

and she replies "no, the war was with England, I was in Ireland, It didn't bother me I liked seeing the planes"
Oh, Ok, fair enough Nan!

Anyway, it's made a comeback and I believe if it got us though that, it can get us though anything!

How to Keep Calm & Carry On:

 Lists. Lists can get you though anything. They give you a sense of control and help clear you mind. List what you want to do for jobs or what activities you enjoy doing. Just ramble them out without thinking sometimes, it's only you that will see it so write whatever you want! 

 Playlists. Create an inspiring playlist on your iPod to get you in a happier mood. Think back to a great holiday or time in your life you were on top of the world, listen to that music and think of how to get back to that person who fell in love with that song

 Talk. Find somebody you trust and just say how you feel. I've felt down for weeks and not known why I was feeling like that. If I had kept it to myself I would never have got to the bottom of it.

 Learn when to listen. Listen to people trying to help, ignore people who feel they somehow have a say in your life. Don't let anybody tell you that what you're upset about doesn't matter. People who say "So your cats ill, my grandparents ill too you don't see me crying" you know that person? Ignore them. Your problem is important and everything seems worse when it's happening to you. Don't let anybody tell you what to feel.

 Be your own best friend. Imagine your best friend was having this problem, what would you tell them to do? If its their job, would you help them look for a new one? Would you help them study if their grades are getting them down? It's easy to get clouded with your problem when you're consumed by it, take a step back and think.

 Reruns. Oh it sounds weird and so not inspiring but watching The Hills back to back has kept me going when I've felt like last months trash.

 Ask. Ask for help, ask for advice, ask to hear stories. If you and your friend has fallen out bigtime ask your mum or aunt or anyone you're close to what happened when they were in a similar situation, you'll see you're not alone and there are ways to fix every problem.

 Don't run away. I know you'll want to run away and put off the problem but honestly, the quicker you face it, own up to the issue the sooner you'll be giving it the finger and moving on. bury your head in the sand for a second maybe, but the longer you're there the more you'll be afraid to come out.

 You are never alone. Your family might not be supportive but no matter how large your problem is there are people to help. Charities are set up for just about everything these days. Use them. Even just for a chat, they'd never turn anyone away!

Remember, always just keep calm, never make any big decions in panic mode, you'll more likely than not create a bigger problem for yourself.

Everything always has to get better, remember every other time you thought your world was crumbling, when you and your boyfriend broke up and you were so incredibly upset you couldn't get out of bed. Well look at you now. You got up, you didn't let it defeat you. And you will survive this too.

It can take months and you might be scared that you'll never get out the other side, but you will because you have before. 

Please never hesitate to drop me a message if you ever feel alone.

I hope you're all okay and remember to cringe that you fell for a second maybe but stand up laugh it off and carry on walking like you're on a Victoria's Secret runway

(remember when Carrie Bradshaw fell on that fashion runway - yeah don't do that)

With so much love

xoxoxo

Have a rave not a rant!

Hi there, so from the photo you can see, I've complained. I complained hard and Nandos gave me free food. Yes I suppose they did try to kill* me loading the food i was eating full of what I was allergic to after I asked for it twice without but complaining does have it's plus points. 

After working in a store I became very good at standing my ground and what the person behind the till needs to hear until they give in. How disgusting is that to say? But I learnt to be manipulative almost. I also learnt that an email does a hell of a lot of good in your favour. I've actually complained to nandos a few times, they seem to always chuck Dairy into my food and make me send it back which means by the time it comes back, i'm eating alone (does anyone else despise eating alone?) and I've always got a good response, but one time the manager remembered me, came and asked how I was, personally called me to check I got my "chicken cheque" and literally went above and beyond. So I thought "hey if she was rude, I would complain but she is being lovely, so why not tell her managers that" so I did and I got a sweet reply at how she was being rewarded some way or another! 

So I didn't get any free chicken to feast on but I did feel good that she was a really good manager and who doesn't feel under appreciated in their jobs? So with any hope she got shown the email and went home that day thinking not all customers were meanies!!

This has become something I do a lot, just last week I was shopping in lush (YUM) and I was casually speaking to my sister about the Big shampoo, she overheard and literally ran to grab it and show me, it did not feel pushy at all, when I was all polite like "ooh yes thank you" i turned to my sister and mentioned how expensive it was and before I knew it she was decanting into little pots for me and my sister and threw in a chunk of the conditioner for free! It was so nice that she could have just carried in with what she was doing I mean she had customers about but she went all out when she didn't have to and it means a lot to me cause I always do that to my customers at work and it's nice for someone to do that for me, so with my new "rave not rant" hat on I wrote a email bigging up Naomii (checked my recipet!) and how she was such a doll, she told me by the way the founder of lush speciallises in haircare, like he trained to be some fancy pants haircare expert (she said a name, i didn't remember the name) this sold me, i'm so trying more of their shampoos, I'm yet to use Big but when I do expect fireworks, i've heard it was amazing.

a nandos "Mediterranean salad" which is supposed to contain tomatos, pepper, paprika dressing, celery and some other bits and bobs, however, i received a rabbits dream!

So what I've babbled on about is i'm all for complaining when it feels right. Never complain just for free stuff and never try to single out staff who you've felt have been rude, talk to people who you were with if they actually were being as rude as you felt. You never know what someone is going through that day, someone thought my colleague at work was being rude but in reality her sick grandad had been ill for months and she had been his carer almost and he had just died the day before. But also, of course complain if you really feel somethings not right (like some woman arguing with me that i definitely asked for extra cheese, i'm allergic, why would i!)

But with every rant you write to a company, write a rave! Maybe not about that shop assistant that gave you a big bag just because you wanted one, they're just doing their job but about that shop assistant that came up to you cause she saw you looked lost or found it no problem to stand and talk to you and hear everything you had to say, they're things they don't have to do they just did! 

If anyone makes you walk away saying "oh she was really sweet" then always write a letter to the company or right then ask to see their manager, coming from someone in retail, it means so much to have someone turn around and sincerely say "Thank you!" 

I hope you're all well and have no need to write complains!

Have you ever had to complain? Let me know, i have many more stories!

xoxo

*I joke, i wouldn't have died, just got food poisoning type illness for a few hours!