Tips for Feeling More Confident Everyday...

We all have days where we are dreading what's going to happen, or we wake up feeling just a little apprehensive about what we have to get done that day. 

I know this happens to me a lot, particularly when I have to drive somewhere new, or meet someone new, or just sometimes when I have a lot going on. When you've already gotten up in the morning and you have too much time and not enough to do, there are some tips I have for you to help you to take your mind off of your rushing thoughts, or to feel a little calmer. 

The first thing I try to do is to look how I want to. I make sure that I get up in plenty of time to pick out some clothes that I feel both confident and comfortable in. I don't usually wear makeup or do much to my hair, but if this helps you to relax and feel comfortable and happy with you, then please do it. It'll help you ♥ 

Something that definitely helps me to feel more confident is to wear my favourite scents. When I had just started college, I felt anxious/worried a lot, and something that helped was spraying some vanilla body perfume on my neck, where I'd move and sometimes smell it. It was such a comfort as it's such a warm and welcoming smell. Now, I have various scented hand soaps and body washes from Lush, which I'll wash my hands with before I leave the house. The scent stays long enough for me to stop feeling nervous and to start feeling confident in my situation. It sounds like a silly little thing, but it will help. 

When you're feeling nervous or scared of a situation surrounding people, try to understand that they are probably feeling nervous too, especially if it's a big presentation or an interview. You won't be the only feeling scared of your situation, and this always seems to be a comfort to me. 

By trying to relax and not think of the other things you have to stress about on a day when you have enough going on, you'll minimise the worry of the moment. Just think (not too much!!) about the task/day ahead. Just go with the flow, and try to block out whatever is on the horizon for you. Take some calming breaths and continue as best you can.
Fitting with this (ish..), try your best to feel confident in yourself, and to love yourself. Appreciate yourself for all that you can do, and know that you have the strength to make it though today's stress as well. You've got this!

Finally, the last tip I have to offer you is to Fake It till You Make It. Confident and self-love/appreciation doesn't happen overnight; it takes time. Just pretend like you got this, and pretend you know what you're doing and chances are, it'll happen. 

Again, you got this. You can handle today, and all of the other days to come. 

You can do it!!

♥ Dottie x 

Treat Yourself this Valentine's Day ♥

Valentine's Day originated in Roman times; on February 15th, they celebrated a festival of Lupercalia, a ceremony of fertility. As this was a Pagan celebration, the Pope Gelasius decided to rename it as a Christian feat day, and the 14th of February was henceforth known as St. Valentine's Day. There were at least three St Valentines in early Christian times... So basically, Valentine's Day is a great mystery based upon the celebration of our bodies being able to bring life... 

Today, Valentine's Day is kind of shoved in our faces right from the off; as soon as we reach January, there's red roses everywhere and posters telling us what we should buy to show someone we love them. But really, we don't need just one day to show people we're loved, we can do it any and every day we see fit... You don't need to buy them the perfect present for them to know how much they mean to you. 

Another thing that comes along with Valentine's Day is so many people feeling as though they should have the perfect partner... No.

Take today for you. Fall in love with yourself. Wonder at the world, and your place in it. We are tiny in comparison to the universe, but you are significant. You have a place here. Marvel at how lucky you are to be alive, and at what this world has. 

There are some amazing species on this earth, and you have the power to become one of them. You're made of the same atoms as the stars and the sand and the tallest of trees and you are wonderful. 

Appreciate yourself. You're so much stronger than you think you are, you can do anything if you truly believe it. You have the means of walking the earth and seeing the greatest of sights. 

Take today for yourself. Run yourself a bath, take a walk to your favourite place, eat that yummy-looking cupcake. Today, do whatever makes you happy, make your body feel loved. 

Today isn't about who is loving you. It's about you loving you, and knowing just what you're capable of achieving. 

Independent Venue Week - Dead @ The Sunflower Lounge 26/01/17

Independent Venue Week is a 7-day long celebration of small music venues around the UK, and a sort of shout-out to those who own, run, and work in them. The week supports small bands and artists and allow fans to be right up close to musicians that one day might be headlining massive festivals.

Bex Saunders Photography

I headed down (up?) to the Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham to check out Dead!'s performance. The band were supported by False Advertising, and Orcas. 

The first band to step up onto the teeny tiny stage was in fact Orcas. While they looked a little scared of the audience in front of them, when they got into the music, all of that went away, and for a band I'd never listened to before, they got me interested and definitely wanting to hear more!

False Advertising stepped up next, and immediately caught my attention with their heavy riffs and strong female lead vocal. (I'd compare them to Milk Teeth, but while they're in that "cool with female band member" section, I'd say the music is a little different). 
The band played with passion and energy, and definitely got the crowd excited for Dead!
Frontwoman Jen Hingley provided stunning and interesting vocals, accompanied by band members Chris Warr and Josh Sellers. Playing tracks such as Dozer and Give it Your Worst, I'd say False Advertising are definitely one to watch!

Finally, at long last it was time for Dead! to play their set! As always, the boys brought an incredible amount of energy to the room, and very quickly got the whole room bouncing, singing, and dancing! 
Playing old favourites such as Phantom and We Are Dead, and treating us to some new tracks from their upcoming album, the band managed to capture the attention of everyone in the room. Frontman Alex Mountford put incredible amounts of emotion into his performance, moving around the stage with the energy of a man possessed. After letting us in on the 'secret' of not doing an encore, the band left the stage (too early at before even 10:30pm!!) sweating and exhausted, yet seemingly exhilarated.
Dead are a band that always manage to make their live performances energetic, interesting, and crowd-involving, and the show at the Sunflower Lounge was no different. 
Thank you, guys!  

My Most Perfect Morning...

The perfect morning would see me waking up at about 8:30am - without an alarm (or three!) - feeling well-rested and positive about the day ahead of me. Before this perfect morning, I would have already scheduled my plan of what I need to get done and when, leaving me much more time to actually be getting on with tasks. 

On said perfect morning, I'd wake up on time and with freshly washed hair, instead of having to dry shampoo the shit out of it because I was just too tired to shower the previous evening.

I'd have the day's outfit planned and ready to put on - something stylish and flattering, whilst also being comfy and practical for the weather. 

I'd roll out of bed and put on my fluffy dressing gown, and pad to the kitchen where I could make the world's best cup of tea and drink it whilst reading a really good book. 

Once the tea was finished (and maybe even the book...), I'd pop some crumpets in the toaster (because this is my ideal morning, I'd obviously have a toaster that I can put crumpets in, like a normal human), and get the butter and strawberry jam out of the fridge. Whilst eating, I'd catch up on any missed blog posts from the wonderful people I follow, and then set to work writing my own. 

My most perfect morning would see me most at peace with the world already up and awake around me. 

My most perfect morning would see me confident, happy, and see nothing going wrong. 

I'd be organised, wake up in a clean room, feeling clean and safe and warm. I'd be happy, not at all stressed, and the kind of relaxed you  feel after the perfect night's sleep. 

Please can I have a most perfect morning? I feel it's about time it happened to me...