Is Your Home Happy And Healthy?*

*This is a collaborative post*

Modern life is truly exhausting. Everybody has all sorts of pressures and responsibilities that are unique to them, and so are the ways of dealing with them. Some people find that when they get home from a long day at the office, they can just switch off and relax a little bit. Others find that they need an outlet for all of their energy and frustration and do something like going to the gym or jog for an hour or two each night. Others like retiring to their beds with a good book and some can only let go when they are in a nightclub with a drink and the music blasting. All of these ways are good if they work for the person who practices them. While it is the case, that on average, the number of hours a person works each work has declined in recent years (it is now 37.4 while it was 37.6 in 2014, a sign that the economy is recovering from the financial crash of 2008), many people are still stressed and need to find a better way to relax. Stress can be caused by all sorts of things, and the ways of dealing with are just as varied. However, one constant is a person’s environment. If you find that you cannot relax while you are at home (where you are supposed to be able to kick back) then there is a big problem. For the sake of your own health and happiness, you should ensure that your home is the perfect place to unwind. Here are a few things to help you make your home the oasis it needs to be:

Photo: Unsplash

An interesting but little-known fact about William Shakespeare is that in his will, he bequeathed to his wife Anne Hathaway his second best bed. This could easily be seen as a rather cruel parting shot at a woman who stood by his side for 34 years and raised his children, however, it is quite romantic really. The Shakespeares’ best bed would have been reserved for guests, so the second best one is the one that William shared with Anne. Bequeathing it to her was a recognition of the central role that she played in his life. In any case, the thing that is important about a bed is that it is comfortable. If you are going to truly relax, you need to sleep well, and having a bad bed is a sure fire way to make sure you don’t. Investing in a good bed (like vi-spring beds for instance) is just common sense. Besides, you spend about a third of your life in it. It should be the best thing you own, guests or no guests.

Photo: Unsplash

Gardeners are sometimes seen as odd because they spend so much time on their hand and knees in the mud that they do not seem to find the time to enjoy the fruits of their hard work. Whatever your garden is like, it is hopefully peaceful and quiet. You do not need a patio or expensive furniture to enjoy it. Just getting a chair or a picnic blanket is enough to allow you to sit back and spend some time with mother nature. With summer coming up, there is no better place to relax.

*This post was contributed by Sam Jones

FOLLOW ME:

Twitter | Facebook | Bloglovin' | Instagram

Subscribe to GirlGone Dreamer by Email

6 Ways In Which You Can Be A Unicorn

I bet I got a few odd looks at this title.

'What's she on about now??!' 

Go on admit it. You thought it too right? But this isn't about actually being a unicorn per se. It's more about what that stands for and how you can embrace the sentiment.

Being a unicorn for me essentially means to be unique. To be different. To stand up in a crowd when you believe in something, even if that means you're the only one. To be the odd one out when everyone else is following a trend. To not give into peer pressure. To be okay with going against the norm when no-one else dare. To go a journey alone because you have faith even if no-one else does. To stick to your morals, beliefs and even religion despite the opinions of others.

There are a million and one ways in which I could express my point but you get the general gist - or so I hope.



Here are six ways in which you can be a unicorn

1. Don't Follow The Crowd

Get a group of gaggling girls together and the bitching starts. You know what I'm talking about. I've witnessed it first-hand both in person and online. Thankfully in every group there's also usually 'the unicorn.' The one who isn't afraid to stand up and say, 'Hey folks this isn't on. Stop bad mouthing such and such a body.'

The unicorn is not afraid to speak out for what's right and call it when it's wrong. Sure it's easy to be led by others when you're part of a group for fear of being pushed out, but going along with something just because it's the easy road doesn't make it right.

2. Be Yourself

Really be yourself. I'm gonna throw a Dr Seuss quote at you for this one.

'Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind.'

As you go through life you'll come across loads of folk. And out of those hundreds you'll find a handful who are your people. Your tribe. They'll have your back, love you for you and you'll never have to pretend to be someone you're not around them. So if you're goofy, be goofy. If you talk too much, too loudly, too fast, (me then!) what the hell does it matter? Your people won't care cos they'll accept you for you.

Bottom line. Always be yourself.

3. Dress To Impress You Not Others

Do not choose attire if it's simply to impress others. Don't succumb to the latest fad if the only reason is to fall into the right crowd or to feel accepted. Wear what you want to wear. If that means you dress in head to toe black with a skull and cross bone through your nose then go for it. If it means you live in flats and avoid high heels so what?

For me, being trendy or fashionable is more about staying true to your own unique style even when everyone else is following a trend.

4. Accept Your Uniqueness

We all have our own hobbies, goals etc. People often look at me like I'm insane when they hear how many hours I put into my 'dream' career aka this blog and my freelance writing. But it's who I am. Writing makes me tick. It's my passion.

I might not go out drinking every weekend but I also don't feel compelled to anymore. At one point in life - maybe my early twenties - I used to wonder what was wrong with me. Why I didn't enjoy going out clubbing when it was all my friends wanted to do. I was always more at home with a good book or writing a piece, curled up under a duvet. These days I don't give a stuff what anyone thinks.

I am who I am, I like what I like. I don't force myself to do the things I don't enjoy. It took me years to accept that I didn't have to conform just because others said I should. Not any more.

Learn to accept everything about yourself. If you have a hobby that some may class as odd, don't let that stop you from doing it. If you have a dream and everyone tells you you're crazy, go for it anyway. Don't let anyone or anything bring you down.

5. Bring Joy To Those Around You

I find it's sometimes just the little things that can bring a touch of magic to someone else's day. I often try to go out of my way to make someone feel good. To make them feel better about life or themselves. Sometimes I'll just compliment a patient on their shoes. Sometimes I'll let someone out of a side road in traffic. It's just the act of kindness that I find often catches people off guard. It pleasantly surprises them and you can visibly see a difference in their face.
Here's another quote for you by Maya Angelou.

'People won't remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.'

It's a quote I try to live by. I work in the public sector and from time to time I do have to deal with irate patients. These days though I try not to meet their anger with my own. Instead I come back at them with niceness. Often the pure shock of this can instantly diffuse the situation. Why not try it for yourself?

6. Wear A Unicorn Horn

Okay. So this last one is obviously a joke. But it made you look twice right?! ;)





How are you unique? Do you already live according to any of the above?


If you made it to the end of this post then yay and thanks for reading. I'm not crazy honest! Well... Maybe a little. :)

Until next time...


Justine xxx



This post was actually inspired because of a gift from Tracy - The very pretty unicorn mug shown in the header image above.

The Upside of Unrequited Review: Guest Post By The Bibliophile Girl

It's 00:27 and I've literally just finished reading The Upside of Unrequited and I can tell you this: it had all the feels. My heart was crushed but it also soared because of how amazing Albertalli's writing is... Seventeen-year-old Molly Peskin-Suso knows all about unrequited love - she's lived through it twenty-six times. She crushes hard and crushes often, but always in secret. Because no matter how many times her twin sister, Cassie, tells her to woman up, Molly can't stomach the idea of rejection. So she's careful.

Then a cute new girl enters Cassie's orbit, and for the first time ever, Molly's cynical twin is a lovesick mess. Luckily, Cassie's new girlfriend comes with a cute hipster boy sidekick. Will is funny, flirtatious, and just might be perfect crush material. Maybe more than crush material. And if Molly can win him over, she'll get her first kiss and she'll get her twin back.

There's only one problem: Molly's coworker, Reid. He's an awkward Tolkien superfan, and there's absolutely no way Molly could fall for him. Right?

For me, the character of Molly is so relatable. When I was younger, I used to crush on so many people - just ask my best friend - I crushed on so so many people throughout high school, it was crazy. Unlike Molly, I have had long relationships but I could still relate to how Molly felt when she thought no one would want her because of her weight (I feel the exact same way), and I could relate to how Molly always felt left out when she was around other couples.

For me, The Upside of Unrequited is on the same level as Simon v The Homo Sapiens Agenda and even thought SVTHSA had a better storyline, I feel like the diversity within TUOU put it on the same level as Albertalli's debut. At least 50% of the cast was diverse. There were lesbian Moms, Cassie who is a lesbian, Molly who is heterosexual, Mina who is pansexual and Korean-American, black side characters, Jewish main characters, a main character that suffers from anxiety, and white characters. I mean, how awesome is that diversity? Sure, the main character - Molly - is heterosexual, but she's described as overweight which challenges other young adult books where the female protagonist is always described as gorgeous.

"When you spend so much time just intensely wanting something, and then you actually get the thing? It's magic."

- Becky Albertalli, The Upside of Unrequited

What was also amazing about this book was that it was around the time when gay marriage was legalised in the U.S.A and I loved it when Nadine drove Molly to the White House to see the building lit up in the LGBT flag. I thought it was such an amazing moment. And I also loved how we witnessed a lesbian wedding as that is something that we never see within young adult books. Another thing that I absolutely loved was that when given the opportunity *slight spoiler ahead* Molly didn't choose the 'attractive hipster guy', she chose the geeky, slight overweight Reid and she defied all expectations. She chose someone who made her feel comfortable with herself and who made her laugh - which I think is really important.

I know that I've just rambled on about the diversity within the book but please, how could I not? It was amazing to see this kind of representation in a YA book. I also loved the sisterly relationship between Cassie and Molly. Even though there is seven years difference between my sister and me, I could still relate to the turmoil that Cassie and Molly went through and I recognised a few of the arguments that they had. It was nice to see a sister relationship development arc be one of the main elements of a book instead boys being the main focus.

Overall, this book was amazing and considering that they're doing a film of Simon v The Homo Sapiens Agenda, I would love to see The Upside of Unrequited get a movie deal as well. I think it would be brilliant to bring the diversity to the big screen. Yet another fantastic book from Albertalli and I can't wait until she graces us with her next book. I'm eager for it already.

Disclaimer: this book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Released 11th April

Huge thanks to Kirsty of The Bibliophile Girl for this wonderful guest post. If you enjoyed this one then be sure to visit Kirsty's blog where you will find plenty more book reviews. You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Bloglovin.




Image via Goodreads. Copyright not my own

Imitation Is The Greatest Form Of Flattery - A Must Read Blog

So it's the last day of March hey? In less than nine months I'll be feeling pretty festive. (Sorry not sorry.) Moving swiftly on before someone throws something at me... :)

Today I would like to share another of my favourite blogs with you all. Imitation Is The Greatest Form Of Flattery is a blog written by Sophie Pearl Edward. 

I have to admit I'm slightly envious of Sophie. As a costume making graduate she is currently working as a costume stylist for music videos and commercials. How cool is that?! If fashion is your thing then you absolutely have to check out her London Fashion Showcase post. 

In addition to her love for sewing, in particular hand embroidery, Sophie has always loved blogging and enjoys being part of the blogosphere. I think this really shines through in all of her posts. Here are links to three of my favourites. Enjoy xx

Lifestyle | Working For Free As An Adult - Exploitation Vs Experience 

Fashion | London Fashion Showcase With A Story To Tell 

Lifestyle | Non-Fiction Books You Must Read In 2017

If you like what you read then do pop on over and let Sophie know. You'll also find her on Twitter and Instagram. 

Images via Sophie Pearl Edward

6 Things I Did To Improve My Blog

It's almost been two years since I started GirlGoneDreamer and it's safe to say I've learned a lot since then. What was good enough back then just doesn't cut it for me now. Blogging is no longer just a hobby. I'm building a brand, pushing forwards every single day to create the life I have always dreamed of. As such by Christmas 2016, I felt that my blog needed to up it's game. Here are six things I did to improve GGD.

1. New Layout/Template

A new layout can make all the difference. It can bring life back into your blog if you're bored with how it looks. And the more user friendly it is, the more it will encourage your readers to return.
When I chose my original template I wasn't thinking about how user friendly it would be. It was more about how pretty it looked and to be fair it was perfect for me at the time. I'd dabbled with various templates but none were really cutting it. Then Fiona from WishesHopesDreams kindly uploaded my latest template (designed by KayLuxeDesign.)
I love it because it's much more user friendly for starters. And I love the 'You Might Also Like' feature at the end of every post. (Apologies if you're reading this on a mobile phone rather than a computer as you won't be able to see what I'm on about. I do plan to add this feature to the mobile view in the very near future.)

2. New Logo

Along with a new layout I felt as if I needed a new logo to represent GirlGoneDreamer. Some might say it's too 'young' but I really love it. I've always been young at heart anyway and the unicorn represents the dreamer side of me. It couldn't be more perfect. Anyone after a new header should check out Dorkface. It was indeed Dorkface creator Jemma who created mine.

3. Posting Quality Content And Doing So More Frequently

When I made the decision to take my blog up a notch I realised that I also needed to up my own game. Posting sporadically wasn't going to cut it. Ever since New Year I've tried to post content three times a week. The most important thing for me is the quality. I won't publish anything that I haven't put 110% into or I feel is sub standard. And I've definitely found my numbers have grown since posting on a more frequent basis.

4. Finding My Niche

People go on about finding a niche don't they? I honestly didn't have one up until - ooh I don't know, maybe yesterday? Don't get me wrong, I thought I did but after posting several book reviews, mini hauls and various other 'unsatisfactory' posts I just wasn't feeling it.
Then it occurred to me that this was all supposed to be fun, and I was trying too hard to be like other bloggers. So much so that I wasn't even enjoying the content I was creating. This was the moment I decided that no matter what, I would always write posts for my enjoyment first and foremost. And hey presto. Three months in I think I might actually have found my niche. My advice to you all is to write for yourself, because if you do, your personality will ultimately shine through. Stick with it because over time maybe your niche will also reveal itself.

5. Working On My Social Media Growth

Okay so item number five isn't about improving my blog as such but it still counts. Writing quality content on it's own just isn't enough. You can't expect the readers to flock to you of their own accord so self promotion is hugely important. Now more than ever I know this to be true. I've spent a lot of time networking, scheduling, sharing content written by others. It does pay off if you work at it. My 1k growth in just one month alone is proof of that. If you want your blog to go places you need to up your social media strategy.

6. Going Mobile Responsive

One of my blogging pet hates is clicking a blog link to find it's not mobile responsive. I will always leave said blog in a nano second. If you haven't already gone mobile responsive then pleeeeease go do it now. People do not want to try read a blog in 'website view' on a teeny tiny phone screen. Trust me when I say it's losing you readers. And if you're not sure how to do this, then ask Fiona from WishesHopesDreams. She's a dab hand when it comes to all of this tech stuff! Who do you think helped me with all mine? :)


Finally, if you missed my blog post on 'Learning From Others' then do go take a look. Anyone who thinks DA stands for District Attorney definitely needs to read it.  ;)


How have you improved your blog? Do you have any tips to share?


Until next time...



Justine xxx




Image via Pexels