Free press cannot be killed
A bit of a heavy one today – to be honest, I wasn’t sure if I would blog for a while. But I always said I would come back to Darling Lovely…
Label
Love & life
128 entries.
January 2015
December 2014
A big, big announcement and a little break from Darling Lovely Life
To my dear friends, colleagues and incredible readers, This is the weirdest post I’ve ever written – it’s not one I ever expected to write. I’ve been working on this blog for…
November 2014
In a sea of somebodies, is there room for my creativity to shine?
I know a lot of creative types read this blog. I read so many incredible comments from artists, musicians, designers, chefs, bakers – a collective of clever, inventive and imaginative people. There…
October 2014
How to adjust to being self employed
Self employment is an absolute dream for most creatives. To earn a living from what you love to do, to be in charge of your own destiny and not to have to…
Why you should never, ever ignore your gut
Your gut doesn’t have an agenda. It’s not political, it’s not jealous, it’s not petty. Your gut is not attached to any particular outcome. Your gut doesn’t care what other people think.…
How to form the perfect creative partnership
Creativity is a funny beast – especially when you’re trying to be creative for a living. It’s a journey of self doubt, dizzying highs and terrifying risks. Surround yourself with the right…
September 2014
Dartmoor shoot – behind the scenes
You may have seen our epic Dartmoor photoshoot last week. No? Well here’s part one and two – part one tells the story of why we chose the location and its personal…
A Dartmoor tribute part 2 – Angels of Dartmoor
Morning Darling Lovelies! Did you catch part one of our epic Dartmoor shoot on the blog yesterday? Yes? Good. Read on. No? Shimmy over and have a glance before embarking on part…
A Dartmoor tribute part one – Wistman’s Wood
Dartmoor is a very special place to me. It’s where I used to go with my dad, who passed away around a year and a half ago. Whenever he visited me at…
Creative careers in the spotlight – so you want to be a features writer?
Starting out in the working world and looking for an exciting career path? Or fed up with your 9 – 5 job and after a change of pace? Wherever you are, and…
Creatives: how to overcome social awkwardness
I may be generalising here, and this certainly doesn’t apply to everyone. However, has anyone else noticed that many creative people tend towards social awkwardness? Honestly, I believe this is no coincidence.…
How to surround yourself with the right people
These last couple of months have been quite difficult. There has been a long illness and sad passing in my family. However, one thing that has been reaffirmed a million times over…
August 2014
The trials and tribulations of being a homebody
Staying in is totally the new going out! If you find yourself nodding along to the following, you may well be a homebody. That’s fine – after all, home is where the…
Oh, Darling Lovelies, where have you been?
You may have noticed that we’ve been posting a little less frequently this month, and that we’ve been on the quiet side. Don’t worry, Darling Lovelies, we haven’t abandoned you, we’ve just…
How to cope when the world overwhelms you
Wars, misery and worldwide woe – add these global issues together with your everyday problems and suddenly life can feel a little overwhelming. I’m not a mental health professional, and if you…
How to be creative
How many times have I heard someone say that they’re just not creative and never will be? Too many times – and I say that’s rubbish. Sure, some people are more naturally…
Things every blogger will understand
Think the world of blogging is an easy ride? Think again. Here are some common themes that every blogger will definitely understand. That feeling when a post goes viral I’m king of…
Five signs you’re in a healthy relationship
Is your relationship in a good place? Here are five signs that your long-term relationship is going well. Please note I’m not an expert of any kind – this post is based…
Is your life a success story?
Have you ever heard somebody being referred to as successful because of how much they earn, or how much they own, or how well known they are? I have – many times.…
Five things freelancers are sick of hearing
When I first started out my blogging career, I wasn’t doing quite as much freelance journo & PR work. As a result, a lot of my friends and family couldn’t wrap their…
How to work from home – and keep your personal life
Working from home can be a great gift: you can work in your PJs (or your underpants, whatever floats your boat) your commute is a dream and you can have an afternoon…
July 2014
How to deal with an unreasonable person
Good morning, Darling Lovelies! Today’s topic is one I’ve been doing a fair bit of research on. I’m not a psychologist, counsellor, psychiatrist or anything else – if you think someone is…
The ten most important life lessons you’ll ever learn
Welcome back, Darling Lovelies. I had a little bit of a self-imposed break to avoid burnout (this happens every few months, like hibernation, but it always draws to a screeching halt when…
Coming out of the summer-hating closet
My Darling Lovelies. I don’t like to use the word “hate” on this blog, because this is a blog about love and lovely things, but I do have to get something off…
Three subtle ways to wreck a budding relationship
Morning Darling Lovelies! Today’s topic, is relationships. New relationships, and by this I mean any kind: romantic, platonic or professional, are fragile. The smallest thing can plant seeds of doubts in someone’s…
Project Pretty as a Picture #20 – be good to yourself
Three healthy meals a day, plenty of water and enough sleep – it may sound so obvious, but sometimes we’re so busy being busy that we forget to be good to ourselves.…
You can always adopt – and other infertility gaffes
I’ve made no secret on this blog of the fact that John and I suffer from fertility issues. I’ve written quite extensively about it in the past , and here’s my post…
Project Pretty as a Picture #19 – what does your workspace say about you?
Every job requires a degree of creativity. It’s true that the amount of creativity needed varies drastically between professions, but even if you’re not in a traditionally creative industry, to be the…
Ten reasons why loving yourself is awesome
Think loving yourself is big headed, over the top or narcissistic? Think again! Here are ten reasons why loving yourself is the most awesome lesson you’ll ever learn: ♥ Oh my God…
Stop saying “Do What You Love” devalues actual work – you’re devaluing something much more important
The phrase “do what you love, love what you do” (DWYL) has taken a bit of a battering lately. I can sort of see why. Where it was once intended as an…
Want to advance your career? Ditch the networking
OK, don’t ditch the concept – it’s important to meet people in your industry to collaborate with, but here’s why the word “networking” just doesn’t work for me – and how I’ve…
Project Pretty as a Picture #18 – create your own reality
This picture is set up. It’s a peony inside a paper pom pom surrounded by glitter, confetti and petals. But that’s not what I see when I look at it – I…
Project Pretty as a Picture #17 – don’t put yourself in a psychological prison
I often hear people telling me there are things they wish they could do. If only they could start their own business, if only they could leave the job they hate, write…
My day shadowing a wedding photographer: the hardest job in the world
OK maybe not THE hardest (doctors, lawyers, counsellors, bathroom cleaners… I could go on…) but after spending one whole day of my life shadowing a wedding photographer, I can honestly say that…
June 2014
It’s always been a Vintage Life for us – now it’s official!
A short and sweet announcement today. It’s with great pleasure (and a small pinch of disbelief) that I can announce that I’ve been appointed Online Editor of my all-time-favourite magazine, Vintage Life…
Five things I wish I could tell my twenty year old self
Six years doesn’t sound like a very long time, but in your twenties it’s an eternity. I can barely recognise myself at 26 from the person I was at 20. I was…
Project Pretty as a Picture #12 – patience is a virtue
Ever heard the saying that good things come to those who wait? This beautiful bouquet didn’t just appear, seeds were planted – seeds turned to saplings which were tended to lovingly with…
Three years of blogging – what have I learned?
Three years ago (yesterday) as a young, excited bride-to-be, I started my very first blog. It was really just meant as a platform for me to obsess over my wedding but it…
Project Pretty as a Picture #11 – sometimes you have to rummage
Once upon a time, John and I were travelling through the mojave desert (as you do) when we came across a little thrift store on the side of the road. At first…
Project Pretty as a Picture #10 – celebrate our differences
No two people are exactly alike – even identical twins have their own quirks, traits and unique experiences that make them two, distinct individuals. So instead of spending your life trying to…
Project Pretty as a Picture #9 – if music be the food of love
Music is so important – it can instantly lift your mood, take you back in time, make you want to weep uncontrollably or give you a jolt of inspiration you never expected.…
Project Pretty as a Picture #8 – stop looking for the answers you already know
Books, courses, blogs, newspapers, Google, other people – they’re all great teachers. But sometimes they’re completely unnecessary. The answers to the really big questions – “who am I?” “Why am I here?”…
Do you have impostor syndrome?
Does this sound familiar? ♥ You constantly downplay your skills and achievements ♥ You’re reluctant to celebrate anything you’ve achieved because you think others helped you there or you got there by…
Five signs you’re in a happy, committed relationship
It’s summer, the sun is shining, the birds are singing obnoxiously early and well, it’s a great time to be in love. So I thought I’d share some little observations about being…
Project Pretty as a Picture #7 – be true to who you are
I don’t know if you guys have noticed, but lately I’ve really tightened up the Darling Lovely Life branding. That covers everything, from what I have in my home to what I…
Project Pretty as a Picture #6 – celebrate good times, come on!
How often do you stop and pat yourself on the back when you accomplish something? Not very often, I’ll wager. We tend to do the very British thing of underplaying our achievements,…
Project Pretty as a Picture #5 – see the beauty in small things
Sometimes we’re so busy chasing big goals or trying to get by that way forget to stop and appreciate the little things. For me, nothing beats the smell of fresh flowers or…
How to find, and bag, your dream job
I have a bit of a pic’n’mix career – I do everything from digital marketing for businesses to writing for national magazines, PR and, of course, the blog you’ve stumbled on. Being…
Project Pretty as a Picture #4 – find your own therapy
When brilliantly witty and inspirational author, Marian Keyes, was facing a battle with depression, she channelled those feelings and found that being creative helped her to get through each day. Her creative…
Project Pretty as a Picture #3 – you don’t need to compete
Which of these flowers is the most beautiful? The answer? All of them, in their own way. Just because other people are doing great things doesn’t mean that you don’t shine just…
Project Pretty as a Picture #2 – be bright and beautiful
Today’s Project Pretty as a Picture entry is all about being bright, beautiful and letting your creativity shine for everybody to see. If you have something creative aching to burst out of…
Let’s agree to disagree
Lately this little blog has really started gaining momentum – the further it reaches, the more people are expressing their opinions on my opinions – getting involved with debates and really awesome,…
Project Pretty as a Picture #1 – live with an open heart
Welcome to the first official Project Pretty as a Picture post. As some of you may know, I picked up a DSLR camera about a year and a half ago and never…
Makelight Photography Workshops with Emily Quinton: review
Hello Darling Lovelies – I’m just back from a creative photography workshop that was fun and inspiring in equal measure (and there was cake – just sayin’). Regular readers will know that…
May 2014
Three things that are wrong with the fashion industry
As you can probably tell, I love clothes. I think of what I wear as decorating myself – I love to be creative and to show my personality with the things that…
How to approach someone you’ve never worked with
As a blogger, my biggest career stumbling block was learning to approach people I’ve never met. It’s a nerve-wracking thing, to approach someone you admire, especially if you’re approaching them to ask…
Three small ways to change the world using your brand
Once upon a time, in an era I’m thankful I wasn’t born into, a mixed race couple would have been considered the height of controversy. Don’t get me wrong, we’ve still got…
Five ways to earn respect
R-E-S-P-E-C-T is an important thing! If you respect yourself, and others respect you, then you know that you’ve been one hundred per cent true to yourself, honest and that you have integrity.…
No bitching for a month – the final assessment
As many of you know, I took on the unenviable task of quitting bitching for an entire month to raise money for the Sam Beare Hospice in Weybridge. While the month had…
Six perfectly valid reasons not to have children
I’ve reached that age, around my mid/late twenties where a lot of my friends are starting families. As many of you know, John and I have our own reasons for not starting…
Five adorable ways to say I love you
Because sometimes it’s just nice to say “I love you”, we’ve put together five unique and adorable ways to make your other half feel appreciated! Enjoy! Little letters of love by Ananya…
Five wedding-planning pitfalls to avoid
Congratulations – if you’re planning your big day you’re in for an exciting few months (or years). When John and I got engaged, I made some really basic mistakes that, in all…
Five ways to cope with a long-distance relationship
Good morning Darling Lovelies – we’re coming to you this rainy Thursday with a piece for those of you out there separated from your loved one! Whether it’s a short-term arrangement or…
April 2014
A personal post: on gratitude
I have to admit, gratitude isn’t something I’ve been very good at in my life. I spent a large portion of my life being a glass half empty type, someone who always…
Five situations where you shouldn’t help people
I know, totally not my style to not want to help people – but think of this article as helping all of the chronic helpers out there! There are many people with…
No bitching for a month – more lessons learned
When I started my month of no bitching for charity , I didn’t realise how much I would learn about myself in such a short space of time. Last week, I wrote…
Don’t let fear of disappointment hold you back
Before I start, I’d like to clarify that there IS a difference between a fear of failure and a fear of disappointment. Fearing that you may not be able to achieve what…
Three branding tips that will change your business
Running your own business is hard work. There’s so much to think about and often, when you’re starting out, you’re a one-man or woman band! We all have our strengths and weaknesses…
Five ways to reduce anxiety in your everyday life
Everyone gets days where things start to pile up on top of them. Maybe getting out of bed starts to become a chore, or you dread Monday morning or can’t enjoy your…
No bitching month for charity – my initial observations
Hola – happy Easter weekend everyone! Just checking in a few days into my no-bitching month with the following observations! Read more about what I’m doing here and visit my JustGiving page…
Love yourself
Loving yourself doesn’t mean you’re arrogant or vain, it doesn’t mean you’re self-absorbed or cocky. Loving yourself means that, no matter what goes wrong in your life, you are your own best…
How to get out of the self-employment slump
Every self-employed person on the planet, at some point or another, has felt like packing it in. Putting yourself out there is hard. Showing up to work every day and having somebody…
How to spring clean your home like a pro
Yesterday, we put up a piece on spring cleaning your make-up bag. But what about spring cleaning in general? Anyone who reads this blog regularly knows I’m a bit of a messy…
Six ways to have a more empowering internet experience
Our Darling Lovely Maddy is back – not just back with a brand new post but back in the country after an exciting few months in India (how jealous could I be…
Ten things you’re never too old for
Inside every normal, functioning adult is a wide-eyed, eager child ready to see the world in a magical light. For many of us, years of repressing our feelings and the need to…
My one-month no bitching challenge for charity
This is a personal post but I think it’s something that everyone can relate to and learn from! What would your life be like if you didn’t bitch behind someone’s back or…
March 2014
How to really listen in three steps
Have you ever had a conversation with someone who just isn’t listening to you? Maybe their attention keeps flitting to other things, or they keep referencing something that happened to them when…
How to succeed at absolutely anything
You probably haven’t heard these words in a long time – probably not since you were at school, and almost definitely not from anyone apart from your parents or teachers. They are…
Ten happy songs to get your week started
It’s been such a beautiful weekend, the sun has been shining (finally) trees are starting to blossom, flowers are springing from the ground. And as wonderful as that is, it can be…
Can we have it all?
No. We can’t. Hear me out – before you think I’m being a Negative Nelly (is that a thing? I really don’t do idioms), I don’t mean that in a bad way.…
The pros and cons of being highly sensitive
The other day I was procrastinating on Facebook (as you do) when I came across an article that made my jaw drop. I read The Huffington Post’s 16 habits of Highly Sensitive…
Taking back my body – my battle with PCOS
A few weeks ago, I went to a party. My husband, John, had a quick shower, threw on a clean shirt and was ready to go. I set aside the whole day…
February 2014
My bucket list (100 things to do before I die)
Good morning all. It seems the flu wasn’t quite done with me after all, and I’m afraid I had a rather sleepless night. Today’s scheduled post will have to wait for next…
Five professional skills you learn when planning a wedding
Good morning Darling Lovelies, we’re back after a short, lurgy-induced break to bring you our latest wedding-planning article. This one goes out to all of you organised brides and grooms out there.…
Are “thank you” the hardest words? On showing gratitude
Our Darling Lovely Maddy is back with a brand new article. Maddy is a pretty clever chick, but we know that by now. So sit back and have a ponder on her…
Ten anti-Valentine’s Day ideas for bitter old party poopers
Darling Lovely readers, I have a confession to make. I loathe Valentine’s Day. I despise it. Perhaps it’s the abundance of red, my most hated of colours, maybe I’m just a bitter…
Valentine’s Day date ideas for engaged couples
It’s easy to focus so much of your time, effort and cash on your wedding day that the run up can be a bit of a romance and money-free zone. If you’re…
Overcoming “one day” syndrome: how to write your first novel
First-time novelist here. Finally, after decades of talking about it, dreaming about it and assuming it was impossible, I have my head buried in my first novel manuscript. Most creative people I…
What type of Valentine’s Day should you plan?
Are you a hopeless romantic or just hopeless at romance? Is Valentine’s Day an excuse to be soppy with your loved one or a cynical corporate holiday? Take our quiz to find…
Win £30 in Amazon vouchers with our Darling Lovely reader survey
Want to win £30 in UK Amazon vouchers? Answer our quick, 20-question reader survey and enter your email address in the field at the end to be in with a chance of…
How to survive your thirties
Hello lovely darlings, we’re so lucky today to have our very own Darling Lovely Maddy write a fabulous guest post for us. Maddy is one of the wisest people I know, and…
January 2014
How to survive your twenties!
Welcome to the first in a four-part series. How to survive your… respective decade! I’ll be writing the first piece (being in the later part of my twenties) and I have a…
30 things nobody’s judging you for…
Happy Friday everyone. I did have a bumper DIY post for you but *sob* it somehow got flicked into Internet oblivion between writing and posting, so while I put that back together…
What to do if you’re not invited to the party
Party season is upon us! Just as we’ve passed the dreaded Christmas social period, businesses and friends alike are throwing their annual January soirées. While this is heaven for many social butterflies,…
Five types of social media overshare
We’ve all been there: a few too many glasses of wine, a moment of frustration, an emotional outburst too far… Social media is a wonderful thing, it provides a powerful set of…
How to deal with an unbalanced friendship
I think I’m pretty much an expert on this topic. I am extremely lucky to be able to count my long-term, close friends on two hands. I’ve known some of my oldest…
Darling Lovely Life’s bulls**t dictionary
It’s almost the weekend. We thought we’d end the week on a light-hearted note. Over the last few weeks we’ve noticed an increasing number of bullshit phrases flagged up in our newsfeeds,…
Things not to say to someone with depression or anxiety
It’s a well-documented fact that I suffer from anxiety and occasional episodes of depression. I used to find that hard to say, but thanks to the bravery of so many bloggers, celebrities,…
Worry not – six reasons worrying is a waste of time
I come from a long line of worriers, on both sides of my family. While we seem to mellow each generation (a little), there are probably more worry warts in my family…
Sunday motivations: why you shouldn’t be afraid of criticism
Another week, another beautiful Sunday has rolled around. So, Darling Lovelies, grab a cuppa, put your feet up, and digest this week’s motivational quote to start your working week! Criticism is a…
Deadpan Cat solves your problems: I love my cat more than I love my boyfriend
Deadpan Cat feigns shock, but still, somehow, looks deadpan Dear Deadpan Cat, I have a problem and I need your help. I think I love my cat more than I love my…
Three small ways to be kinder in 2014
I strongly believe in the power of kindness. I believe that it’s the path to lasting success, to a better society and to greatly increased happiness. Contrary to popular belief, people aren’t…
Unorthodox hangover cures from our Darling Lovely readers
Good morning 2014! I’m guessing many of you are waking up with sore heads and a strong desire to stay in bed all day with the curtains shut. But fear not –…
Are we getting the wrong message about male/female relationships?
There’s something that’s been on my mind for a while. It’s quite unusual for me to air any of my views about society (other than how it can be changed by kindness…
December 2013
2013 – the year my heart was broken open
The funny thing about heartbreak is how different people respond to it. I thought I’d had my heart broken before – boys, friends, dramas. It was only when I lost one of…
Five new years resolutions that will actually improve your life
WEIGHT LOSS! No, I’m totally kidding. Unless you desperately want to or really feel you need to, promise me you won’t make weight loss your number one resolution this new year! Not…
Geek out with Darling Lovely Life’s Christmas 2013 pub quiz
Merry Christmas everyone! We know how the Christmas festivities can drag on, and sometimes there’s only so much TV you can watch and so many board games you can play before you…
How to survive Christmas with your family
Christmas is a wonderful time for gift giving, sharing, togetherness and… family. Lots of family. For days. Days and days with your family… Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely adore my family,…
Deadpan Cat solves your problems: how do I tell him I hate rugby?
Deadpan Cat knows how to treat ‘em mean and keep ‘em keen Dear Deadpan Cat, My husband and I have been together for three years, married for one. Throughout our entire relationship,…
Ten reasons to use photography as therapy
John and I were kindly given our first basic DSLR camera exactly a year ago when my dad was in his final weeks. At the time, I didn’t really have the presence…
Sunday motivations: wake up and make it happen
Hello Darling Lovely readers! Are you all ready for today’s Sunday motivational quote? Take five minutes and let this gem sink in. I have a friend who’s been telling me for at…
World, meet our newest Darling Lovely writer
Deadpan Cat is taking a little break today because we have (dare we say) something even more exciting to talk about. Some of you might know that we didn’t start Darling Lovely…
What to do if your friends can’t make it to your wedding
So you’ve sent out your invitations and you’re excitedly awaiting your RSVPs. But instead of those thick envelopes arriving en masse, letting you know your nearest and dearest will be there for…
Hey you – stop being a victim and start getting what you deserve!
Before I get started, I’d like to explain what a victim complex is and isn’t. A victim complex is NOT acknowledging that sometimes and in some things you are limited because of…
Deadpan Cat solves your problems: my neighbours are intolerable
Deadpan Cat hears all and sees all My neighbours are too noisy Dear Deadpan Cat, Please help me learn how to tolerate the feelings of murderous rage I have towards my neighbours.…
Ten signs he’s a bad egg
The other day my girlfriends and I were discussing some of their recent, more disastrous dates and how now, in their late twenties and early thirties, they have a much better bullshit…
November 2013
Deadpan Cat solves your problems: my boyfriend is too flirty
He doesn’t do outside of the box thinking – for straightforward answers to your problems, you need Deadpan Cat My boyfriend has a wandering eye Dear Deadpan Cat, My boyfriend is always…
Five things fertility problems have taught me
This is genuinely the hardest thing I’ve written in a very long time. I’m writing this because I know from experience that there are millions of couples out there struggling with this…
Sunday motivations: you can’t please everyone…
I hope everyone is having a wonderfully relaxing Sunday! Here’s this week’s motivational quote to ponder while you chill… enjoy! This is so true. If you try to please everyone, two things…
Deadpan cat solves your problems: my mum makes me feel guilty
Deadpan Cat has your best interests at heart… or does he? My mum wants me closer to home Dear Deadpan Cat, I moved away from my home town two years ago to…
Five things to stop doing NOW that are ruining your happiness
There’s no magic formula to being happy – nor is happiness a permanent state of being (how boring would that be?). However, there are certain things that we all do that put…
Sunday motivations: fake Buddha wisdom
*Yawn* happy Sunday, campers! I have a gem of a quote today which is actually often incorrectly attributed to the teachings of the Buddha (although I’m sure he’d agree with it). Nobody…
Deadpan Cat solves your problems: I’m single and lonely
Deadpan Cat looks forward, not backward; upward, not forward; and always twirling, twirling, twirling towards freedom How do I meet a special lady? Dear Deadpan Cat, I need help with the dating…
How to say no in ten easy steps (and feel great about it)
“No” is probably one of the hardest words to say. We’re naturally inclined towards pleasing others and rejecting them or something they’ve suggested or asked for, whether in business or in our…
Sunday motivation – what shots will you take?
Sunday is a day for lazing around and doing nothing – and the perfect time to read something inspirational to take with you to whatever you have to do on Monday morning.…
Deadpan Cat solves your problems: my wife wants to put florals everywhere
Deadpan Cat looks down on our petty, human problems Darling Lovely Life interiors posts are destroying my marriage Dear Deadpan Cat, This may not sound like a pressing problem, but I need…
Welcome to a brand new, Darling Lovely Life
Welcome, Darling Lovely readers to the first of what we hope to be many posts on our brand new blog, Darling Lovely Life. Some of you already know us, we’re the team…
Five signs it’s time to move on and find your passion
I’d like to run across these office tables, singing no you won’t have me, no, no you won’t have me – I’ll keep running till I reach the sea. Martha Tilston –…