100 Happy Days Day 38: Healthy Eating

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Since, it has been over a week since I started eating healthily, I feel I can now say that I am officially on track. Throughout this past week, not a single piece of dairy or junk food has passed my lips and I am reaping the benefits! I feel so much more awake, brighter and happier than I have done in ages. 

The first 7 days were tough and I found myself constantly craving something sugary but I fought through it and I am so glad I did. Since two or three days ago, this craving has completely disappeared. I don't even think about junk food and if I see any around the house I am not the slightest bit phased. Yesterday, my brother got a KFC Krushem' (knowing they were my weakness) and I didn't feel even a tinge of jealousy. I understand that this could be a short phase I am going through and could have more to do with my mood than anything but I am still extremely proud of myself for lasting this long since I have tried and failed to healthy eat too many times to count.

I think one of the best ways of keeping yourself on track is finding new and exciting foods that also happen to carry the label of 'healthy'. I've been scouring blog posts and YouTube videos for healthy yet delicious meals and snacks and it has benefited me greatly. If you follow me on Instagram (@indiamcleodkay) you'll have seen that I am becoming one of those people who posts pictures of their food a lot. I do apologise but it probably won't stop anytime soon. I just feel like it motivates me more and also I get very excited about the new nutritious creations I have discovered and want to share them!

100 Happy Days Day 37: New Workout Clothes

Back in spring time this year, I was massively into working out and was getting in some form of exercise every single day - whether it be a light walk or a full body workout. However, when I went on holiday to Turkey in June, I decided to give myself a break for the week, which I think most people would do, unless they're hardcore gym fanatics. The only problem with this was I got used to lazing around again and by the time I was back on Scottish soil, I had no energy or enthusiasm for exercise and haven't done since. 

But this week I've really been getting back into it. I've been building myself up slowly, starting with fairly easy workouts and progressing a little each day. I have now written an exercise schedule in 'Notes' on my phone, which I am hoping to stick to for the next few weeks or so before I start making it a little harder. 

This time I am doing all I can to keep motivated and I think one of the best ways to do this is to buy attractive gym wear. So while out shopping today, my Mum treated me to these shorts. Being my first pair of proper workout bottoms, I am hugely excited about them and can't wait to workout again, purely so I can wear them. They are super comfortable to wear and are very stretchy, providing room for lots of movement. Best of all, they were only four pounds from Primark! I would definitely recommend them for all the reasons I have already mentioned, if not for the simple fact that they look extremely cute on.

One thing I would say is try before you buy as I had to go a size up!

Where's your favourite place to buy workout clothes? Any other advice on staying motivated?

100 Happy Days Day 35: Getting Paid To Write!

Only yesterday, I received an email through my university advertising a position as a freelance copywriter for a great website called Songkick. The website allows you to track your favourite music artists and venues so you can be notified about their upcoming concerts and click on one of the links provided to purchase tickets. Basically, the job is to write live reviews on the artists that don't already have them and earn a little money in return. If you read my blog often, you'll know that writing is my passion and it is how I wish to make a living when I leave university so, of course, I jumped right on this opportunity to get a taster for it and add some experience to my CV. In order to apply for the position, you were required to write a sample review of a minimum of 200 words, including information about the artist, their career and what it's like to see them live. I immediately wrote about one of my favourite bands, Boyce Avenue, and sent it away to be judged.

Today, I received an email informing me that they had enjoyed reading my sample review and, therefore, would like to bring me on board to write some more. I am to write as many reviews as possible on the artists from the list provided and at the end of the month will be payed £3.33 for every approved review. I've already looked at the list and this job is going to take a lot of research; I will have to watch countless YouTube videos of live performances as I haven't even heard of the majority of the artists on the list. However, I was happy to find that there are a few bands and musicians that are not very well-known but that I have loved for years. So I think we know which ones I shall be kicking things off with!

I understand that this won't seem like a major deal for most people reading this but for me, it's incredible. It's my very first time being paid to write anything and I think it's something that I will be good at and enjoy tremendously. I'm so grateful for the opportunity, no matter what comes of it.

If you haven't already, check out the Songkick website now!

100 Happy Days Day 34: DIY Lamp

Today, my mum came up with an idea that I wasn't too keen on at first. She brought home a set of fairy lights, which had been reduced to only £1.50 in the B&Q clearance sale, and proceeded to place them in a glass vase to form a "lamp" while my father looked on with worry. But no one was expecting the sheer beauty of it when she finally switched it on as night descended. 

I, for one, think this is absolutely gorgeous. I'm a major fan of DIY items, having traipsed through many of them on Pinterest and other websites. It gives just the right amount of light in our living room - you might say 'mood lighting'. Best of all, it throws up the most incredible shapes and colours onto the wall behind it.

I am in love with this new etherial feature to our living room and can't wait to try out something similar when I move into my flat for university at the end of the month. I saw a lovely white, floral vase in IKEA that I may purchase along with some white or pale pink fairy lights for my bedroom.

Since I was introduced to this new and fantastic way of life, I have also spent a lot of time looking at similar items on Pinterest and have found a few particularly pretty creations.

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I think using a wine bottle, filled with potpourri to complete this look is absolutely stunning. It's something I am definitely going to try.

Have you tried out this cheap and easy DIY technique? I'd love to see your creations!

100 Happy Days Day 32: Living Room Transformation

Today, my family and I got an incredibly exciting delivery from good old DFS. Our now previous sofa suite had been a member of our family for over ten years and it had served us well. However, we decided it was time for a replacement. The last suite was a brown leather sofa that would fit two or three people and a matching arm chair. I'm happy to say we have taken a detour from leather for the moment and opted for an unbelievably soft material suite.

We now have a gorgeous corner sofa, which can fit two people LYING DOWN at right angles to each other or at least four people sitting comfortably.

And an armchair, which can act as a giant's throne for one or a love-seat for two. 

The pictures don't really give you a good idea of the size but let's just say they are MASSIVE. I couldn't believe it when I walked into my living room this morning and found the abundance of furniture. Apparently, the delivery people had an extreme workout, trying to get the items into our home. I don't think any of us knew how big it would be as we ordered online and, like I said, photos do not do these bad boys justice. I shan't be leaving the corner space I have claimed as my own on the sofa for a long, long time.

100 Happy Days Day 31: Childhood Discoveries

Today, when clearing out a disused room upstairs that had really just become a dumping ground for all unused items in the house, I found my old Playstation 1. I remember being given this as a present for Christmas one year in the distant past and being elated. At the time, we must have sat their thinking "wow, the graphics are amazing" and now...not so much. I sat for hours playing Rayman, which was my favourite game when I was younger and I was happy to find that I still love it. Retro platform games are my favourite. I love finding old favourites like this around the house and falling in love with them all over again. I have no doubt that I will spend the next week or so becoming obsessed with this game again before it returns to its hiding place somewhere in the house, only to be discovered again in a few years time.

100 Happy Days Day 30: IKEA

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Today, my Mum and I took a trip through to the capital city to visit IKEA. Yes, I'm one of those freaks who gets ridiculously excited to roam around this shop. I could honestly buy the entire shop if I had the dosh. I think it would be amazing to have an incredible budget and just take a trip to IKEA to refurnish your entire home. Unfortunately, at the moment I do not possess the means to do so. We merely looked around and got a few ideas for little bits and bobs we want to do around the house but it's little things like this that make me happy so I enjoyed myself.

100 Happy Days Day 29: Vitamin Rush

So recently I've been feeling pretty down about myself. My acne is really getting to me, I seem to get the common cold far more often than is normal, I constantly feel tired and I've had to battle with myself not to spend all my time locked up in my bedroom. After watching endless YouTube videos and reading countless blog posts about all of these things, I've realised that I can make more effort to try and change them. All of these aspects of my mood can be altered for the better by one thing: getting healthy! Therefore, I am now on a major health kick. I'm cleaning my diet up, drinking plenty of water and am gearing up to incorporate far more exercise into my daily routine. 

Additionally, I have invested in vitamins! I've always been skeptical of those tiny little pills but after properly researching, I can now see that they could make a big difference to my life. I opted for the cheaper versions since there seems to be no definitive answer online concerning whether there is a difference between cheap and high-end vitamins. Can anyone tell me from experience?

I chose to buy Cod Liver Oil, a Multi-Vitamin and Garlic Extract as these seemed to have the best benefits for me.

Cod Liver Oil is said to contribute to the maintenance of bones, teeth and normal vision as well as the normal function of the immune system and muscles. I've also seen it mentioned in tonnes of videos and blog posts as a means of promoting healthy, shiny hair, which is perfect for me right now since I'm trying to grow my hair out but I want to keep it as healthy as possible at the same time.

Multi Vitamins and Iron also claim to contribute to the normal function of the immune system as well as the reduction of tiredness and fatigue. I clearly need some of this in my life!

Odourless Garlic Extract is also supposedly excellent for creating and maintaining overall health but it is also a naturally powerful antibiotic, protecting the body against all types of bacterial and viral attacks.


Let's hope I can maintain this new health kick and it makes a real difference!

100 Happy Days Day 28: Rainy Day Strolls

Today, my family and I drove for about an hour to a lovely village, surrounded by fields and trees, in order to go on a longer walk. It was cold and the sky couldn't seem to decide whether it wanted to rain or not, opting for 5-10 minutes on one before swapping to the other, continuously. However, I love walking in this sort of weather, I much prefer it to being out in the sweltering heat. The walk was absolutely beautiful and, despite the weather, the loch was gorgeous and peaceful. We even came across a herd of cows, roaming around on the path and had to cautiously edge past them. Every time I go walking, even if I didn't feel up for it to begin with, I absolutely love it. It's great to go on a walk with my family now that my brother is older and doesn't feel the need to stop every five minutes to climb a tree or shoot at us with his toy gun.

The terrain was...let's just say difficult to manoeuvre...at times. The path disappeared for a while and we were carefully trying to balance our way along the side of a ditch that was overgrown with grass and other plants. Not being the most graceful of people at times, I ended up slipping and face planting the mud. This wet and muddy situation was the result...

100 Happy Days Day 27: Thunder Storm

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On our journey home from visiting our friends in England, I think it's fair to say the heavens well and truly opened upon us. I would not have liked to have been the one driving us home, since visibility was definitely not what it should be. By the time we made it home and under the covers with a hot chocolate the rain sounded like it was going to smash right through the window and the thunder was booming on the other side of the glass. You may ask why I'm writing about this under the heading "100 Happy Days". Well, I'll confess. I love thunderstorms! There's something so exciting and also comforting about being inside in the warm with loved ones when all hell is breaking loose outside. To make it even better, it was a massive relief to finally have some rain and a little shiver for the first time in weeks due to the crazy heat we've been experiencing in Britain this Summer.

100 Happy Days Day 26: A Trip Into The Past

Since the day we decided to visit our friends down South, we had planned this day out. We visited the open air museum of Beamish, which "tells the story of life in North East England during the 1820s, 1900s and 1940s". The museum is made up of 300 acres of countryside and has a town, railway station, pit village, 1940s farm and more. The people working and volunteering here are dressed in Victorian-era styled clothing and will talk to you as though you are part of the town in the 1800s. 

To get around the museum, you can either walk or take a tram like this one.

We took the tram to the town first, where you can enter the various shops and find them just as they would have been in the 19th century. We popped into the pub to get a ginger beer each before looking around the houses, again made to look just like homes from long ago. 

These pictures certainly do not do them justice but I think these were two of my favourite rooms to explore. I find the first one both beautiful and terrifying, since it reminds me of a horror film and I found myself, the entire time, waiting for a creepy 'little-girl-ghost' to jump out at me. The kitchen was incredibly warm and homey and there were fresh, homemade scones to try. 

After exploring the houses, we took another tram down to the pit village, where the miners and their families would have lived. 

Again, we were able to take a look around the houses, which were a lot smaller and quainter than the town homes. There was also a school to explore, with a man dressed as a teacher heading up a classroom, and old playground games to try in the courtyard.

I had an amazing time at this museum and would urge anyone who has the means to to go and take a look for themselves. It really is incredible and I hope to visit it again as much as possible throughout my lifetime as they are constantly adding new attractions.

100 Happy Days Day 25: Road Trip

My family and I drove down to England to visit friends and stay for a couple of days this week. I know a large amount of people detest long car journeys for a number of reasons but I am one of those weirdos who love them. I love long journeys by most forms of transport as long as I can sit comfortably, stare out of the window and listen to music. To me, it's one of the most relaxing things life has to offer and also one of the most exciting things if you're going somewhere special. Fortunately, it was one of the easiest and pleasant drives down we have ever had, with nice weather and little traffic. Since there's not much more to write about this, I thought I'd take the time to show you some of my road trip essentials for a journey like this.

1. Earphones/Headphones

Here, I have some fabulous (not fake at all...) Beats headphones, perfect for plugging into my iPhone and internally singing the journey away.

2. Portable Charger

Now, I know this isn't particularly 'essential' but I have to say it's one of the best investments I've ever made. I actually ordered it a couple of weeks ago for going camping, knowing I didn't want to be phone-less without a real adult (I don't class myself as one of those yet). It's perfect for just keeping in your bag at all times, ready to be reached for on a day when your phone's about to die and you can't get to a power supply. I think this one was about £15 on Amazon and I would definitely recommend it.

3. Something to Read

This may not be to everyone's taste but as a self-proclaimed bookworm, I cannot attempt a long journey without a book or my Kindle. I'm currently reading The Maze Runner by James Dashner. Granted, I started reading it because one of my ultimate man crushes, Dylan O'Brien, is starring in the film but I am LOVING the book. It's exactly my type of work of fiction and I cannot wait to see the movie.

4. Body Spray

Yes, I like travelling. No, I do not always like the grungey feeling that comes with it. I am a major worshipper of Impulse body sprays and I think they are made for days like these, when you haven't felt fresh air in hours and need a little sprucing up before you venture back out into civilisation. 

5. Hand Cream

I may or may not have just added this in to emphasise my amazement with my new hand cream...

6. Chewing Gum

How fantastic are these huge tubs of chewing gum? Their novelty will never wear off for me. Again, perfect for long journeys, when you sense your breath is getting mildly odorous or you're just a little bored.

7. Lip Balm

And last but not least! Lip balm is something I always have in my bag so it's easy to reach for at any time. My lips do get very dry occasionally and I've always believed that Vaseline is the best product for combatting this. An extra advantage of having this with you on a long journey, however, is to brighten your face a little after all the travelling. I usually feel very tired when I reach my destination so I always feel that adding just a little something to my face helps to detract from the zombie look.

What are your 'Road Trip Essentials'? Do you agree/disagree with any of mine?

100 Happy Days Day 21: Leg Stretching

I apologise if it seems that my blog is getting a little 'samey' at the moment but the challenge is to document what makes you happy and if I get out in the fresh air, that's sure to be what does it. I'm one of those people who cannot deal with being inside all day, everyday for long periods of time. If I don't get fresh air, I will go absolutely stir crazy. So today, my mother and I dropped off my little brother at his friend's house about a 40 minute drive away and on our way back came across a beautiful country park. We decided to take a stroll around the place and see what it had to offer. First of all, we each got a drink in the cafe, which was situated in a pretty courtyard. I opted for a mocha!

As always, I was attracted to the stunning greenery so after this we went for a short but sweet walk around the river and found an old monument. It's days like these that make me want to start vlogging since I never feel I can get across the sheer beauty of these places in a short blog post. But for now I hope these amateur photos taken with my humble iPhone camera will give you an idea!