Quirky Reads: All I Know Now, Wonderings And Reflections on Growing Up Gracefully.

Rachie's Musings on: All I Know Now, Wonderings And Reflections on Growing Up Gracefully. 

Before I start with my thoughts and musings, I'm gonna put it out there - I quite like Carrie Hope Fletcher!
Well, I don't know Carrie, but I like the bits of her personality I've seen in her YouTube videos and in her writing. 

Carrie and I share a few similarities, we both have naturally curly hair that is prone to doing it's own thing, we both like musicals, we both like to read and we both have a massive place in our hearts for all things Disney. Unfortunately I am neither a West End actress or a published author so that's possibly where our similarities end :-) 

If you aren't familiar with Carrie, she's pretty cool! Primarily an actress, currently appearing as Eponine in London's West End production of Les Miserables, Carrie is also a singer, a writer, a YouTuber and honorary big sister to her 500,000 plus subscribers
'The Hopefuls' 

Carrie, albeit unintentionally, has become a role model/big sister to so many young people who look to her for advice and help. This is a responsibility she takes very seriously - so much so that she wrote a book offering advice and insight (and some hilarious personal stories & tongue in cheek musings) from her teenage years and some of the life lessons she has learned along the way. 

At 26, I have a few years on Carrie (four to be precise) and I probably have more than a few years on the vast majority of her primarily teenage audience, so I was initially concerned that I sat outside the targeted demographic for the book. 
I needn't have worried.

I don't want to go into too much detail and spoil something for anyone who hasn't read it yet but to give an idea -
Carrie's book 'All I Know Now, Wonderings and Reflections on Growing Up Gracefully' covers many topics and issues such as bullying, body image, consent, how to apologise, hindsight, relationships - to name but a few and there's even a section on navigating the scary world of the internet!

Yes, there are some topics that are especially apt for teenagers but adults can learn many lessons from All I Know Now as well. 
Bullies, insecurities, making mistakes and relationship worries don't disappear into the distance when you stop being a teenager. They can linger on for many years to come and in some cases, forever.
I know a fair few adults, myself included, who could do with mastering the art of apologising :-) 

I found myself nodding along in agreement with Carrie throughout the book when I read things that I too have come to realise over the years and had a few moments when I came across something that never occurred to me before!  Carrie doesn't claim to be a professional in any area of her advice - in fact, there is an entire section of the book that signposts to organisations and helplines in various parts of the world. 

What Carrie has created in All I Know Now is not only a fantastic  manual for navigating your way through the teenage years,  but also a friendly and reassuring voice when you need reminding that it's okay to be human and more importantly - you. 

Whether you are 13 or 30 or 102, I'd recommend having a read, not just for advice but as a reminder that there is always someone you can turn to.

Thumbs up from Rachie! :-) 

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Simple Pass Times

A lot of the things I like doing, like eating out, buying shoes, going to the cinema, going out for the afternoon with friends (which can at times include all of the above) - all cost money, which I unfortunately don't have growing on a tree in the back garden. How cool would that be though? If you could just nip out the back and pick off a note or two when you need some pennies? I digress, moving on. 

I've been making a conscious effort over the past little while to try and enjoy some of the things I can do and see for free, not because I can't afford to spend anything but because I don't always have to be spending money on something extravagant or exciting to have a nice day.  

Most days, I can happily pass the time at home getting stuck into a book, watching films (three of which today were Disney  - whilst reading a book!) chatting nonsense with my parents or letting my imagination run away into the wilderness while I type nonsense stories and poems. There are times however, when it's good for me to remember that there is also a world outside of the security of my bedroom door. 

A few times this year, I've found myself with a little bit of time to spare while waiting for a friend to arrive in town or I've had time to spare before or after an interview and I've popped into the Gallery of Modern Art and had a gander at what the current display is or nipped downstairs to the library and either started a to read a book or made lists of books I'd like to read. 

A few days ago, I had a picnic in a local country park with my boyfriend (who shall in future blog posts, should he be referred to at all, be referred to by his name James or a variation of that as the phrase 'my boyfriend' feels icky lol), as well as enjoying the sunshine and home made tuna mayo & chive pasta, we went on one of the nature walks, taking in the hidden beauty of the forest, skimming stones across the water (Well, James skimmed stones, I watched).  We also spent time appreciating little things like how many dogs were enjoying running around the freshly cut grass (thankfully my hey fever was kept at bay lol)

and how pretty the views of various parts of the city, which seemed to stretch on forever, were. All for the price of a return train ticket, a packet of doritos and a packet of tangfastic!

Yesterday, I visited another local park with my friend Nicole and again we enjoyed taking in the greenery, the pretty fountain and learned more about our city's history in the museum - all we spent was £3.25 for a pretty large Mango Smoothie - bargain!

I sometimes forget that I don't always have to be rolling in money to get out and about, enjoy the fresh air, get some exercise and discover new and exciting things. 

I'm going to keep making a conscious effort to get outside and enjoy the simple things like parks, museums, nice views, lovely weather - that don't cost much to enjoy. 

Today's Shoes. 

Technically, I didn't have these shoes on today, I've mostly had my slippers on today, but I've worn them most of this week as the weather has been gorgeously sunny.

These are my floral print Lora Dora Canvas shoes, they were a birthday present a few weeks ago and they are so comfy! 

I'd never heard of Lora Dora before but I'd definitely wear them again!

Excuse my slightly sunburned feet haha!

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All You Have To Be Is You.

All You Have To Be Is You. 

It's probably not the best idea to blog when riled up about something but I figured I may as well take the passion and try and turn it into something positive. 

There is this notion that a lot of us seem to have, it is communicated to us through popular culture, on the cover of some magazines, on the rails of the occasional shop - and that notion is that we have to aspire to look a certain way in order to be considered attractive, happy, normal or perfect. 

Clothing sizes generally mean nothing and I mean nothing. Each shop differs in terms of what sizes they stock but they also differ in what size will actually fit you.  One shop could give you a completely different size from another and more often than not, clothes are made using minimal material thus resulting in you needing a larger size.

It's frightening the lengths we can go to in order to change ourselves because we don't feel we measure up to what society deems as acceptable. 

So many healthy young girls & guys, women and men end up with self esteem and confidence issues, weight complexes, eating disorders and mental illnesses in the name of conforming to how they feel they ought to look or be. 

Of course people have health concerns etc and not every situation is  as simple as 'you do you' but in situations where you feel you have to change who you are or how you look in order to be accepted or be good enough, pretty enough or normal - you absolutely don't. 

I feel particularly passionate about this but I also succumb to it on a frequent basis, every time I see a pretty celebrity, or a top doesn't fit me or I feel like I'm not good enough.

It's absolutely okay to want to change things about yourself as long as they are changes you want to make for yourself and not because you feel you have to because it's the only way to feel like you are good enough.

 Don't let other people or the world in general feed your insecurity and chip away at your self esteem.

The best way to be the best version of yourself is to be you! That's not to say it's okay to go around being an unbearable or intolerable person in the name of being yourself - there's a difference between being yourself and being as asshat but generally speaking, it's important to embrace who you are and more importantly - celebrate it! :-) 

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Am I a Grown Up? The Ponderings of a Rachie.

Am I a Grown Up? The Ponderings of a Rachie.


I'm not really sure at what point you become a proper 'Grown Up'

There are many milestones that you could attach it to such as,

• Reaching a special age like 18 or 21.
• Learning to cook.
• Clearing out possessions (toys, teddies, clothes).
• Getting your first 'proper' job.
• Passing a driving test or getting a car.
• Moving out of your parent's house and into your own home, getting a mortgage etc.
• Surviving the supermarket on a weekly basis.
• Learning your first important 'Life Lesson' (i.e. experiencing something horrible, heart wrenching or crappy).
• Falling in love.
• Losing a sizeable portion of your wages in tax.

I haven't done everything on that list yet but I don't think that's why I don't feel like a proper grown up yet.

I think I've always had this idea in my head where a grown up has certain traits and is someone who has everything figured out and has all their crap together. 

I'm gradually realising that this notion is mostly twaddle.

Some of the most interesting, mature and successful people I know and consider to be proper grown ups still have many things to figure out and discover - like finding a career path that fits for them, finding a healthy work and life balance, time management, manners, how to say no etc.

I also think for someone who advises a lot of 'you do you' to others, I've become far too worried about the opinion and validation of others, not just in terms of my appearance/personality but also in whether people consider me to be a kid or a grown up.

When I first dyed my hair red a few years ago I overheard someone say 'Oh to be a teenager and get away with such things' - I was 23, and it foolishly bothered me that someone thought I'd have to be a teenager and doing something cool, young, or experimental in order for it to be an okay thing to do. 

In actual fact, it was an elderly lady who had zero concept of what age I was, saw my youthful complexion and merely expressed a thought that just so happened to touch a nerve with me.

There are elements of my personality and image that I feel like people assume I'll eventually grow out of like the bright hair, the quirky earrings, the colourful shoes, the Disney obsession, desire to 'find the sunshine' in situations.  

There are of course times when I need to be sensible and play down the quirky, adhere to dress codes etc.

I may yet give up on the red hair, I might grow out of my Disney obsession, but that doesn't mean I have to grow out of being myself in order to grow up. 

I don't think I properly grasped that before. 

Maybe I am already a grown up but in my own way, rather than what I associate with being a grown up or what I thought being a grown up should be. 

I'll keep pondering it. 

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Good Luck, Bad Luck and Modelling for 5 Minutes!

I've had an interesting week so far and it's only Wednesday! 

On Monday my laptop went a tiny bit funny and decided it needed to be refreshed and seemed to be fine.

On Tuesday, I switched it on to find it had been infected with a virus that had encrypted all my files - eek! Thankfully the lovely chaps at the local repair shop have been able to remove the virus but it was bloody scary! 

My luck improved on Tuesday afternoon, I won an iPad in a survey my uni sent out to previous graduates (or alumni if I wish to sound a bit posh!) and I went to pick it up today! 

I spent 5 minutes outside and inside my old uni posing for photos with my pretty new toy - the closest experience I'll ever have to being a model! Lol 

It scares me sometimes how much I rely on my gadgets/technology. 

I spend a lot of time on my laptop, whether it's job hunting, filling out applications, blogging, catching up on TV shows....but I also do most of those things on my phone too.

If I didn't have either, I'm not sure how I'd fill my time alone! That worries me, I think I need to start having more adventures to fill my time...... :-) 

I also had a nice shopping trip with my mother and had a Nutella milk shake - let's hope the good luck continues :-).

Today's Shoes

Technically I've had two pairs of shoes on today but for the most part I had on my super comfy green boots! 

They are designed to look a bit like Docs but they were a total bargain for everything5pounds.com! 

They zip up the side so the laces are just to make your foot feel a little more secure - best fiver I ever spent! 

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One Scary Thing Every Day.....

One Scary Thing Every Day.....


I mentioned in a previous post 'Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway' that along with the book recommendation, a very lovely woman named Hilary suggested that I do one scary thing every day as a confidence building exercise. Within reason of course - she wasn't suggesting I go for a bungee jump or a skydive every day, but take a few more risks to bring me out of my comfort zone and out of my shell a little bit more. Also, perhaps the most important - make decisions without panicking!

I've been doing this in fits and starts over the past few months. Some of the 'scary' things I've done have been simple, like actually saying no to something I don't want to do and not worrying that the universe will implode because I didn't say yes, ordering something I've never had before at a restaurant, the other week I fried an egg unsupervised (Yes I am a grown woman and 25 years old, but I'm also useless in the kitchen).

Other scary things have been a little bit bigger and today's scary thing was beginning driving lessons again.

I started driving lessons initially a few years ago and didn't properly get the hang of it, struggled with nerves, was easily spooked and when I got a full time job in the city centre (next to a train station), I gave up.

Not being able to drive has become something of a pain over the last few months and I decided (check me out, making a decision!) to try again with a new start, new company and new instructor.  If I'm going to learn something from scratch again, I may as well go the whole hog and give myself a clean slate.

I had my first lesson today and it wasn't as terrifying as I thought it would be, most of the lesson was spent putting me at ease and reminding me of the basics and for the last section of the lesson, I did a little bit of driving.  It was a little daunting but not the most terrifying thing in the world. I got a little panicky when a few impatient drivers were champing at the bit to get past me as I slowed their journey down by a few seconds, but other than that, I survived it and actually came away thinking 'Wow, I did that!'

My next scary thing might not be as big as today, but I'll be a little less scared to tackle it - whatever it is! :-)

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No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent - Not Even You!

No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent - Not Even You!


I'm great at pulling out this quote when I'm speaking to other people who are feeling a bit insecure or inferior to others.

'No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.'

I associate the quote with Eleanor Roosevelt, but The Princess Diaries and Barbie Charm School are also legit sources, albeit quoting the former :-).

When it comes to saying it into my own head when I feel insecure or inferior I'm not as certain. Maybe that's because other people don't actually make me feel that way - I make me feel that way.

For the most part, my insecurity isn't caused by someone else, it comes from how I feel when I compare myself to them.

Take my day out today for example, I went shopping with my friend and while her outfit looked like it had just come off a runway, mine gave off more of a 'well this was clean!' vibe and there were a few moments where I'd look at her and look at myself and think

'Bahhh, why don't I look as good as you do?'

I soon shut my brain up with some Yasai Katsu Curry!

I should point out that my friend is lovely and suffers from the same insecurities as I do and would feel awful if she thought for a second I was comparing myself to her and feeling a bit down.

It's something I've never completely grown out of as I've gotten older. As a teenager, I'd listen to my friends who were slightly less curvier than myself complain they were fat or too big and knowing I was heavier/curvier than they were, I'd immediately compare myself to them and decide that in comparison I must be huge - I wasn't. 

 I just allowed their own personal insecurities to influence and feed into mine - again knowing that if they thought for a second I was comparing myself to them, they'd feel terrible.

While feeling inferior to other people and comparing yourself is a completely normal and human thing to do - treating the people you compare yourself to badly as a result is not.

It may not always seem that way but comparing yourself to someone else and feeling you come up short does not mean that it's their fault. I totally know that I'm prone to comparing myself to others and that it's my issue, I never want to make that something they have to feel bad about.

It sounds daft but I think it never really hit home to me until today that if I don't think it's okay for others to treat me as though I am inferior, it certainly isn't okay to do it to myself :-)

Today's Shoes

For today's shopping/lunch trip, I had my super comfy blue and yellow checked converse on! The majority of my converse collection are hi-tops but I have a select few pairs of quirky low-tops. I think these ones might be my favourite, I've had them for a good few years and they are still in pretty good nick. :-)

*I also clearly ignored the 'Please do not put your feet on the seats' sign on the train, even if it was a for a second or two - sorry!*

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