Taking a break....

Dear readers,

Once again I find myself being MIA from blogging and have forced myself this time to make a tough decision, to take a proper break from blogging.

I started my blog 2 years ago as a way of keeping myself motivated on my fitness journey and it became a lot more than that. It was a way of interacting with new people I wouldnt otherwise have met and became a great way of sharing thoughts and opinions with the world.

For the past few months I've found it hard to dedicate the time to write, and when I have sat myself down the words just haven't come. Over Christmas I gave myself a talking to and decided that I would continue with my blogging in 2016, that part of my new year promises would be to force myself to blog and post more regularly again. But I didnt expect the year to start the way it did.

It hasn't been a great start to the year, particularly with work. I've ignored problems and left things build up for far too long and they finally came to the surface at the start of the year. My head wasn't in a good place at all. I need to spend some time sorting myself out, dedicating more time to my friends and family, finishing my exams, getting back on track at work and getting myself happy and healthy again. Unfortunately to do that something has to take a backwards step and at the moment that's blogging.

I hope to back again at some point in the future with a fresh mind and fresh ideas, I just dont know when that'll be at the moment.

Thanks to everyone who has read my blog and interacted with me over the past few years. I really appreciate it.

Love Sarah x

Hello 2016!

Hi everybody and welcome to the first Berrysmiles blog post for 2016!

I always love the start of a new year as it does feel like a fresh start. Everything that happened in the past 12 months is now fully in the past and you've got a full new 12 months to look forward to. It feels different, even though it is just the start of another normal day. With the build up to the new year and since it's turned 2016 I've been thinking about the year ahead, what I want to achieve and what my plans are and I'm hear today to share them all with you. So here goes...

January to March

I'm very excited for the first three months of the year. Although work is going to be busy, and I have an exam coming up in March, there's some fun stuff happening too. I'm starting a new contemporary dance class this week which I'm really looking forward to. I love contemporary dance and can't wait to meet some new people and learn some new technique. It's also my Dad's and Mum's birthdays in the first 3 months of the year. We're already beginning to plan the celebrations for my Dad's birthday which I'm really looking forward to, and I'm sure we'll end up with something exciting for my Mum's too when we get to it. It's also Valentines day coming up and I'm hoping to do a couple of posts in the lead up with some ideas and inspirations for dates, presents and food. And finally, to finish off the first quarter of the year, I'm heading off to see Shane Filan in concert with my Mum. The tickets were part of my Christmas present and I can't wait to go. His last concert was amazing.

April to June

April starts the countdown to my final CIMA exam. I'll be back at college studying again ready for the final exam in May. It's probably going to be a very quiet few months as I make sure I pass that last exam, but once it's over I get to enjoy myself. The plan is once the exams are over to go to the Harry Potter Studio Tours. Harry Potter has been such an important part of my life for so long I can't wait to go and visit the studios. I'm also hoping to do a series of tips and tricks for exams and assignment writing as I know a lot of readers out there will be going through some really important exams around this time.

July to September

I love this time of year as it's summer and that means it's my birthday! I'll be 25 this year....which is a very scary thought. It's also Omar's birthday a few weeks before mine which means we get double celebrations. But firstly we have to survive July which is when I find out the results to my CIMA case study exam. I'll either be delighted or devastated! Fingers crossed for the first one and then I'm free. I'm also thinking about having a little trip to Leeds in the summer for a dance summer school. I love the idea of a week long intensive learning technique and routines but it's all dependent on cash and being able to get the time off work at the moment. I've also got some ideas planned for some blog posts on life after university and what to expect when starting university.

October to December

This seems so long away now but I'm sure it'll come around quickly. At the moment I have no confirmed plans, I'll be just getting ready for the build up to Christmas. It'll be mine and Omar's 6 year anniversary in November, we didn't get to celebrate our 5th anniversary very much last year as there was so much else going on, so hopefully we'll be able to celebrate this year. And it's also my best friend's birthday in November too, so another celebration to look forward too. If I get myself organised, I'd love to participate in Blogmas this year. I really enjoyed reading everyone else's blogs and have some ideas I'd love to do for this Christmas.

* * *

As I said the other day, 2015 wasn't a good year for me but I have learnt a lot, and I want to carry some of what I learnt forward into 2016. I want to stop putting myself under so much pressure and getting so worked up over everything. 2015 taught me it's ok to admit that things are getting too much, and to ask for help rather than struggling through. I want to make sure that I keep pushing myself to achieve more, but that I don't let people take advantage of my willingness to do more and to help.

In 2016, I want to achieve everything on my 25 things list and I want to enjoy myself. I want to get back into my gym routine and healthy eating that I did so well with last summer and get back feeling confident and comfortable in my body. I want to save some money to be able to afford nice new things for my house, but not restrict myself by missing out on things with my friends and family. I want to read more books, see my films and catch up on all my TV shows.

I want to grow my blog over the next 12 months, build up my following, post more regularly and come up with some new content. I want to be more engaged in social media and start to interact a lot more with my readers. I have some ideas for content already in the pipeline, and I've shared some of them above, but if there's anything you would like me to blog about, please let me know in the comments below.

* * *

So 2016, we've got a lot to do this year. Let's work together and have a good year. Let's make this one of the best years we've had.

Sarah x

Goodbye 2015!

As far as years go, 2015 is one I'll be glad to say goodbye to. There's been some good points; my holiday to France in the summer was amazing (you can read all about it here). The sun, the heat, the relaxation, the sights. I'd go back in a heartbeat! I've also gotten to try out some new things like Pointe and pole dancing, and I've got to see Wicked and Les Miserables on stage. Two shows I've wanted to see for a long time. I also got a weekend away in London so after 24 years of living in the UK I can finally say I've visited my capital city.

But there's been some low points too. Failing my exam was definitely one of them. I've never failed anything in my life before, so this came as a shock to me is something I didn't cope well with. Work making the changes it did, and the impact that has had on everything else has made this year very difficult and on occasions, very overwhelming. But by far the worst thing in 2015 was losing my Grandad. Not being at home meant it came quite out of the blue  and took a long time to come to terms with. He was a big part of my childhood and it's very weird to think he's not around anymore.

The things I've been through this year, both good and bad, have taught me a lot and I've had to grow as a person to cope with some of them. It hasn't been easy, and at times I have wanted to throw in the towel and give up on some things, but I've persevered and come out at fighting at the other end. I may not have enjoyed you 2015, and I am glad to see you go, but I just need to say 'thank you' for all that I've learnt. Goodbye!

Sarah x