A little while ago anxiety began to affect my blog. All of a sudden the hobby I loved felt like it had slipped away from me and I felt so out of my depth. I doubted my talents, put pressure on myself, and felt like I just wasn't made to be a blogger any more. I joined some Facebook groups to help but often it made the problem worse as it reminded me that everyone else seemed to know more and do better.

Then Charlotte threw me a lifeline in the form of Savvy Social*, her new blog-boosting package designed to maximise the impact of your social media channels.

Worrying that they may be a one-size-fits-all solution, a bumper blog manual that would confuse me further, I hadn't looked into coaching packages before. I'm not a good learner, so I needed tailored answers in an easy format, plus some support along the way to make sure I was doing things right, and that's exactly what I got.

I filled in a simple questionnaire voicing these concerns, explaining that I felt lost when it came to improving and promoting my blog, and Charlotte listened to every one and sent back a package which addressed them in easy to read points. She struck the balance of simple-but-not-patronising perfectly, and I appreciated how all the language in the package is upbeat and constructive, there are no wrongs or negatives. Straight away this made me breathe a sigh of relief as I understood what was being said and I was reminded of what I was already doing well.

The package was easy to download and it reassured me to know that I could refer to it at any time, along with Pinterest resources Charlotte shared with me. I explained that this was the push I had needed to get me into Pinterest, which had baffled me before, and she was so helpful in sending over more guides and letting me know that she was always on hand to answer more questions.

Without giving away any of the trade secrets, I can say that my package covered a bit of everything. From effective hashtags to the best sites to make my own graphics, there were handy chunks of information on all aspects of blogging. It started with Charlotte's overview of my current plan then steps to take and things to try in all areas, including how I could use my Instagram stories to advertise my shop, and how to get the balance right between promo and personal tweets. Having 8 years of experience as both a reader and award-nominated writer herself, I really valued Charlotte's opinions and insight on this.

Once I had my guide I was raring to go, and found myself feeling more motivated to produce and share content I'm proud of. This time, instead of guessing, I had clearer ideas of when and where to post, and what to deliver to my audience, and the results speak for themselves. Before I started implementing Charlotte's advice I checked my stats for the last 4 weeks, and did the same after 28 days of Savvy Social. My Twitter followers went from 3,217 to 3,291, Instagram 641 to 682, blog users went from 159 to 393, and sessions 235 to 509. My views are small compared to some, but they have more than doubled in just a month! I didn't change my style or content, I just followed Charlotte's advice for getting it noticed. Now that I know how to boost each blog post to its full potential I feel like I am on an upwards trajectory.

My favourite thing about the programme is that it isn't a 4 week plan with a strict schedule and rules, it's a handbook tailored to you to give the tools, knowledge, and confidence to flourish on your own. I view this as just the start. Combined with the advice on Blog and Beyond, I feel equipped to take my blog further, and more importantly I am excited to do so.

Alongside Savvy Social, Charlotte offers development packages to polish your content, an all rounder approach, a pic'n'mix bag to get exactly what you want, and even a monthly coaching service to really keep you on track. I'd absolutely trust her expertise in all of them. 

I hadn't had a test before because I've had no problems with my eyesight, but I also didn't exactly relish the idea of sitting in a quiet, clinical room, which was the impression I had of most high street opticians. Luckily, the brand new space in my local Marks and Sparks is situated with the clothes, so straight away I felt that little bit more at ease, and I liked that it made the glasses feel like an a fun accessory as well as a medical aid.

My remaining worries totally melted away when I began speaking to the staff. All of them were so excited about the opening and raring to share their knowledge and show off the range. Marks and Spencer have plenty of their own designs plus big brands like Lipsy, Jimmy Choo, DVF, and Marc Jacobs. Both male and female designs are stocked, but Ben, the manager, pointed out that many styles would suit any gender, and it was really nice to know that the staff encourage you to find whatever works for you. He also told me that the staff are there to advise on styles in a kind but honest manner, which I really appreciate. I tried on a nude pair and he suggested that the style was nice, but another colour would be more flattering. The staff were in no way rude or critical, but I felt assured that they wouldn't let me go home looking silly, and it was clear to me that they truly care about giving every customer a great experience.

The customer care extends to making stylish glasses as affordable as they can for every customer. Currently, the most expensive styles are still under £200, while their own are closer to £80, and they offer a buy one get one half price deal. The anti glare add on is £30, and unlike most of their competitors, Marks and Spencer will half that price when you buy new glasses.

When I went in for the pre-test, a lovely lady called Jane explained the machines to me with so much enthusiasm, I actually found myself a little excited rather than daunted. First she had me look into a machine and focus on a hot air balloon in the distance, then she took a picture of the back of my eye, which proved to be quite fascinating! They use the same cutting edge cameras as Manchester Royal Eye Hospital to gain the clearest pictures and therefore the most accurate results to help you get the perfect prescription. It was very weird to be looking at the inside of my own eye, that's for sure. Neither of the tests hurt in the slightest, there was just a bright flash from the camera which Jane had warned me to expect, and they gave the optician to have a starting point for her assessment, which saved time overall.

The full assessment looked at my overall eye health, including how well my muscles were working, then I completed the classic 'read the letters' test with different lenses over my eyes. I was able to read the smallest line on every screen, so my vision was declared perfect! This now means that the optician has a baseline to refer back to at my next appointment in 2 years, or should I have any problems in the meantime.

Marks and Spencer really did open my eyes (ha!) to the importance of regular eye tests, but more than that, they made me truly enjoy mine and I will trust them with my tests going forward. If the lure of having Percy Pigs close by wasn't enough, the staff totally cinched it. I left with every question and concern answered, and through every step of the process I felt really comfortable thanks to their genuine passion.

Are you due for an eye test?

My eye test was provided FOC in exchange for honest review.

It occurred to me this year that I own far too much makeup, so I drastically cut down on how much I was buying. Gone are the weekly impulse buys, and in their place I'm making it my mission to work through what I already own. I decided that a good way to do that would be to challenge myself to use my eyeshadow palettes in new and different ways rather than sticking to the same colours and techniques, and maybe encourage you to make the most of your collection too.

First up is the Revolution New-trals vs Neutrals palette, which I was very kindly given for Christmas by my friend Kiah. I'm so glad she picked this out for me, as it's not something I would have thought to try. When I first open the palette my eyes register the darker, coolder shades and I'm scared off, but actually it contains a golden highlight, some pink, copper, and mauve foil-like shimmers, and some unusual shades like a coral and a raspberry. All the eyeshadows are vegan and cruelty free, and the palette has a double sided brush and full size mirror. 

With the title as my inspiration, I created a neutral brown eye using the matte transition shades, which formed the base of both looks. I tried to keep the shape of this one pulled to the side for a more sultry look, hence why my eyes look completely different shapes!

Let's be real, the pink shadows are the star of this show. Pinks may be my favourite to wear and Revolution have definitely delivered. Even the darkest shade is a black with pink sparkles through it.

For this halo-y eye I used the neutral mattes to create a base then packed that beautiful deep pink, Tone, onto the outer and inner corners. This might be my favourite colour from the whole palette because it's something I would expect to see from ABH or high end brands yet it has a drugstore price point. Tone does take a little building up, but nothing too bad, and it doesn't stain my skin.

In the centre of the eye I patted the shimmery pink shades, Personal and Style. Style is one of the metallic, foiled shades and I find that these work best with the natural oils of the fingers or a brush dampened with setting spray. 

Which look would you wear?

Considering I'm scared of my own shadow half the time, I'm actually pretty daring when it comes to adrenaline-surging activities, and last week I ticked another off my 'wild side' wishlist: Go Ape.

Based in Rivington, a forest walk not too far from me, the Go Ape treetop course is something I'd seen many times before. Let me tell you now, it's a lot less scary from the ground! Naively I had imagined that I would be just walking around the course, firmly attached to an overhead cable at all times, and with an instructor by my side. Boy, was I in for a surprise.

Our instructor, Luke, had us all read safety sheets and sign to confirm we understood them, then got us all kitted up and explained that we had a pulley and two carabiners on our harnesses. He then dropped the news that we were in charge of ensuring that we swapped these over one by one at each point, thus staying attached at all times. No instructor would be doing it for us, we would be (quite literally) flying solo! Luckily we were given a test run on terra firma, then a very small, low course, and tested on our knowledge so we were quickly confident and raring to go. 

Fear kicked in as soon as I set foot on the first ladder, but as I clambered onto the platform and swapped my carabiners securely over, I was hit with a wave of relief and the realisation that I had done it. That very much set the tone for the whole course. The more fear I felt, the more pride I experienced when I didn't faint, vom, or fall, and believe me, there were some very testing moments.

I warned you that I was naive, so it hadn't occurred to me that my body would be tested along with my mind, but I soon learned my lesson as I wrestled with a swinging net, swearing along the way. The nets, along with swinging steps which had me dangerously close to doing the splits, were the only part of the course I genuinely disliked. They even left me questioning whether I would go again. I have the upper body strength of a wet paper towel, so the nets in particular were super tough and I did feel the strain the next day, but looking back I'm still glad I did them. It reminded me to be grateful for my mobility, really pushed (and pulled) me, and rewarded me with the best part: zipping over the water. 

The reservoir at Rivington runs along the forest, so I've seen it plenty of times, but during Go Ape I got a completely different view as I flew right over. Oddly enough, I wasn't scared at all, I felt totally free and exhilarated as the wind blew through my hair and the water sparkled below. It was breathtaking. The course had four more zipwires, one at the end of each segment, and while they were all equally fun, zooming out in the open was the clear winner for me.

As an anxious person, I very often feel that things are dangerous or even impossible, that I need someone to look after me, and that I'm just not capable, but for 2 hours every one of those worries was proven wrong. My boyfriend cheered me on and the instructors reassured us that they'd be there for emergencies, but it was up to me, myself and I to climb, jump, swing, and wobble my way around, and I did! Yes, some parts were hard, but if the worst things to come from dangling on a rope for 2 hours were a few bruises and a very muddy bum, maybe the little things I fear aren't so dangerous after all. 

Would you give Go Ape a go? 

This post was NOT sponsored, but I did visit in exchange for posting content on my Instagram. I just loved it so much that I'm chatting about it here too. 

The shabby chic trend seemed to roll around when I was in my teens, and it doesn't look like it's leaving any time soon! While I wouldn't personally decorate a whole room in the style, I do like how it looks clean and cosy, and it translates really well to blog pictures. Soft pastel and neutral tones mixed with textures create a great balance between visual interest and letting the products shine. I've rounded up a collection of items under £10 to help you try it out. 

Contains affiliate links. All images belong to sellers. Prices correct at time of writing.

1. White Rattan Hearts £2.99

I have some of these in star shapes and they're great for adding height and texture, as well as brightening the overall picture. This set comes with 3 but you could buy a few packs and string them onto ribbon to make a garland for interior photos or filming backdrops.

2. Magnetic Chalkboard £9.89

A 2-in-1 blog product! You can write your ideas on this and use it in photos too. If you create food posts a really cute idea would be to prop this up with a shopping list written on it and a few ingredients placed around it. You could also write the titles of blog posts on it and hold it up in photos.

3. Patterned scrapbook paper £2.99

If you haven't got much storage for blog props, these are a great solution, as the pack contains 12 different designs which you can store and reuse. Try sticking one to a wall with masking tape and taking close up shots of beauty products in front of it. Brucey bonus- These ones are also made from sustainable paper.

4. Wire Fairy Lights £3.99

Wire lights are much more flexible than cable fairy lights, so you can wrap them around products or furniture. The bulbs are smaller, too, meaning you can get artistic effects. Try having them in the foreground or background of the picture while focusing on a product to get a blurred, bokeh effect from them.

5. Rose bouquet £1.89

This bouquet comes in several colourways and has 15 flower heads, so you could use them individually in flatlays or style the whole set in a vase in the background of photos or videos.

6. Hessian and lace ribbon £2.48

A simple thing with so many possibilities, another great choice for anyone with limited storage! Wrap some of this around empty jam jars for DIY vases or brush holders, glue strips to a board to create a flat background, or just wind it around products for photos.

Not to get all Love Island circa 2017 on you, but the IT Cosmetics CC +cream* is 100% my type on paper. Promising 'your skin but better' thanks to high quality, complexion perfecting ingredients and a formula partly developed by plastic surgeons, it was easy for me to see why this cream caused such a splash in the beauty community.

What drew me in was the idea that the cream isn't just a cover up, but a product to really benefit the skin. The pigment and colour correctors are held in a hydrating serum base with an SPF50 to protect from dryness and damage, keeping it looking and feeling healthy. IT Cosmetics describe it as 'your only step!', replacing a full routine of moisturiser, SPF, primer and base, and while I still prefer to use an SPF under this for full days outdoors, I do agree that it's a quick all-in-one product that works well for speedy makeup or travel. Even the flexible tube and built-in pump make it ideal for throwing in your bag without a worry.

Now, let's talk about why we're only a perfect match on paper. I have dry, blemished skin, and I love quick, natural glowy makeup. A great match, right? Not quite. My main issue lies with application, and I'm aware that it could be my Sahara-like skin rather than the cream, but they just don't mesh well together and blending takes quite a bit of work. IT Cosmetics recommend using a brush, but I found it seemed to move the product around and leave it sat on my skin with some streaking. I prefer the finish a beauty sponge gives, but it does get soaked up more than my other bases, which isn't ideal when it retails for £30!

Despite being moisturising, the cream looks almost powdery on first application, but as the day goes on I like it more and more. In fact, this is where I did start to agree with the 'your skin but better' claims. I was eager to see how the full coverage and colour correcting claims fared against my infamous acne scars, and the cream's performance pleasantly surprised me. While no base can completely cover the texture and pigmentation, I liked that the illuminated finish of this CC cream deflected the light and diffused the blemishes.

To boost the coverage, I added some of their Bye Bye Under Eye concealer*, a super thick cream that works best for me when dabbed on in the tiniest amounts, too much and it remains sticky and takes off the CC cream. Again, this is formulated to flatter and benefit, so it moves with the skin and gives a brightened, hydrated finish to the under eye that does settle a tad on me but doesn't cake. I have the shade Light which is oddly much paler than both the Light and Fair CC creams. It would be great to see the shade range for both products expand, as they currently offer just 6 or 7 and therefore not fully inclusive.

The thing I liked most about these products is that I didn't have to sacrifice coverage for finish. Ordinarily, the higher the coverage and thicker the product, the drier it is on my skin. I really enjoy how well they wear on my skin, even preferring the CC cream at the end of the day to the start, but that initial wear and application struggle is really what holds me back from reaching for it every day or joining the rave reviewers. If your skin type is normal, and clearer than mine, then this could be the cream for you.

Have you tried IT Cosmetics?

*products were gifted in exchange for honest review.

Oh anxiety, you little sod. Not only is it enough for you to permanently sit on my shoulder and tell me I look like an experiment, have the IQ of a doormat, and my family are in permanent danger, you just have to shout over anything that says differently, don't you? 

Recently I had an interview where the manager shook my hand and enthusiastically said she was pleased to meet me. I stumbled over some questions, but answered them all articulately, maintained eye contact, and even made the interviewers laugh with a few ice breaking jokes. They thanked me for my time and I left with a smile, not realising that anxiety was lurking around the corner. 

The minute I stepped outside it was like I had a bully walking beside me, shouting every insult they could think of. Anxiety told how stupid I sounded, how I'd sipped my water the wrong way, how they were laughing at me, not with me. For the rest of the day I couldn't even sit still because the thoughts were so intrusive and I was filled with overwhelming nervous energy. I tossed and turned that night, going over the same nasty thoughts.

My anxiety was heightened from that situation because I was really under pressure to perform and get the job (I didn't, FYI), but even in fun situations like meeting my friends or just going for a day out, I'm always reminded that I can't escape it. It waits until I'm alone then bombards me with a barrage of abuse, telling me how ugly, stupid, and unlikable I really am, pointing out every mistake or awkward moment.

Clearly, the answer here is to work on building my confidence and destroying my anxiety (much easier said than done) but I know that there will be some of you out there who understand exactly what I mean and feel even more dissuaded from doing new things because you know post event anxiety will hit, so I wanted to share some advice on what we can do to tackle it from now on. 

Jump back in

After a bad experience, it's natural to be wary, but anxiety makes it into a bad experience because it wants you to itself. Apply for another job or suggest meeting your friends again next month before those nasty thoughts can creep in and put you off.

Prove it wrong

Anxiety will pick up on the tiniest things, so beat it at its own game and write down everything you enjoyed or did well as soon as you can. It might feel boastful writing 'X said I'm hilarious and would love to see me again', but if X really said that and you can see a reminder, it's a point against anxiety.

Have a distraction or reward

As I said, anxiety gets me when I'm alone and still, so for me it works best if I can distract myself with a craft project, walk, or even cleaning my room. You might prefer rewarding yourself with a bath or a bar of your favourite chocolate to look forward to after the event so you don't go from a high to a low.

Have you experienced PEA before? How do you deal with it?