It's been a while!!!

Hello everyone!

Wow, it's been a long time since I was on here last! I've been meaning to write an update for some time now but things have been unbelievably stressful & busy, & I just haven't had time. Alot has happened in the last few months, & I have had alot on my plate. Many things haven't gone as planned & there have been alot of unexpected things that have needed to be dealt with. So this is going to be a bit of a long one today as I update you on what has been happening!

Firstly, a health update. Things haven't been great health-wise, & I've been finding that I'm struggling more as time goes on. I'm finding that most of the time I'm exhausted by simple tasks, & pain will often stop me from doing things. For a while I've been trying to fight off a rather nasty kidney & urinary infection, & have had several courses of strong antibiotics, which haven't helped. My new GP has made the decision to refer me to a urologist, as he feels that this needs to be looked into. One of his concerns is that this could be endometriosis related. Due to the fact that I have already got endo on the outside of my bladder, he is worried that the endo could well have penetrated inside my bladder, & also possibly be spreading to my kidneys & urethral tubes.

I've got an appointment with the urologist in March (it was originally scheduled for this month but it clashed with another appointment). Hopefully this will lead to some answers. Secondly I've been given a referral to pain management. The purpose of this is mainly to discuss other ways that may help me to cope with the pain, such as nerve blocks, acupuncture & therapies. From a medication point of view, my GP & myself are happy that I am managing my medications fine, as even though I am on alot of very strong painkillers, that I know what works for me.

I've also been put back under the care of the bowel team, for further investigations & possible treatment. During the colonoscopy I had a few months ago, it was found that the endo had penetrated into my bowel. More tests are needed to see if there are any other problems lurking, & decisions need to be made on the best course of action.

In myself, as I said before, things seem to be taking it's toll. I've noticed my stomach hurts more, & this urinary/kidney infection has been taking its toll. Simple tasks tire me out & I often need to sleep for long periods of time.

As for a general life update, things have been pretty hectic. Sadly, for several reasons, me & my man had the hard decision of postponing the wedding. Because neither of us are very well, it was too much strain to deal with at the moment & we both decided to wait until things have calmed down. However we're still very happy together & I still feel very lucky to have him in my life.

Christmas was a very busy & stressful time. Over the actual Christmas period, we had a lovely week up North with my family, & visited all of our family members as well as making lots of memories. Christmas day was particularly important this year, as it was probably the last Christmas I would get to spend with my Granddad.

The big stressful part came after that week- we had to go & spend 2 weeks with my mans family, which neither of us enjoyed. I won't say much about it but needless to say there are certain things that really wound us both up, & some people need to realise that they are not the only ones with lives to lead! Much of the visit was tainted by nastiness, backstabbing, arguments & uncalled for behaviour, & getting home was a huge releif!

Now we are in 2015, most people have made their New Years Resolutions (& probably broken them). It sounds strange but this year I didn't make a New Years Resolution. This wasn't through fear of breaking it or not being able to carry it out, but because none of us can forsee what life has in store for us. I just want to be able to take things as they happen. I have plans for things I want to do, obviously, & with a bit of luck they will happen. But as 2014 proved to be unpredictable, I want to be able to just take things as they happen.

So there we have it! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas & here's to a happy new year!!!

Jes xxx

This weeks likes & dislikes

Hello everyone!!!

I am going to hopefully put out a few posts this week on various things, as hopefully I will have plenty of time to just chill this week. Today I am doing a likes & dislikes as it has been long since the last one!

There are alot of things that I am liking at the moment, & a few not so much! So without further ado, here they are :)

Like #1: Music- music is a huge part of my life. There is a song for every mood, every moment & I often wonder how different the world would be if music didn't exist. It has gotten me through the good & bad times, & there have been so many moments when a specific song has just completely summed up how I feel. One particular song that I just love is "Beneath your beautiful" by Labrinth & Emeli Sande. Labrinth's voice especially is incredible (the raspiness literally gives me chills) & the song meaning is fantastic- about being able to see what is really inside. Love it!

Like #2: Hot chocolate- Can't believe summer is over already! The days are getting colder (& wetter!) & already some shops are starting to advertise Christmas stuff! Mental! But seriously, I love hot chocolate. There is nothing better than sitting in front of the telly when it's cold outside, you've got a fluffy onesie on, something good to watch, & a big mug of hot chocolate with cream & marshmallows (calories, yes. But oh-so-yummy). Bliss.

Like #3: Chunky knit jumpers- Again, on an autumny/wintery theme, chunky knitted jumpers are an essential for me. I hate cold weather- I am one of these people who starts shivering at the slightest draught, & the cold affects my joints badly. This year I got a head start & bought myself some really cute, cosy knits. Not only will they keep me warm, they are also bang on-trend (think I'll do a haul post/video on this!) & I have one for every occasion.  My favourite is definitely a long, cream-coloured cable knit jumper-dress that I got on Amazon for the bargain price of £6.99!

Like #4: Home-made goodies- Nothing is more enjoyable than something home-made that you have put the effort into making, & it turning out even better than expected. A few weeks ago I made some preserved lemon & lime wedges (Everything tastes better with a bit of citrus!) & they turned out fantastic. I love putting them on fish, in pasta dishes or even just eaten on their own when you have those middle-of-the-night, only-salty/savoury-will-do cravings!

Like #5: Loom bands- I have become hooked on the latest craze now. For a few quid, there are hours of fun to be had & the colour combinations are endless. One thing I like about this craze is that it is just simple, cheap, creative fun for all ages & you don't have to bust the bank or be a super-creative, Pintrest-worthy genius to make some really pretty creations. I've got loads of colours now & just enjoy sitting & making them when I have a spare moment.

Dislike #1: The current obsession with zombies, apocalypses & the world ending- It's getting to the point where you can't even switch on the TV without there being something zombie/apocalypse/world-ending related. It's doing my head in. Why is everyone so obsessed with miserable, morbid things nowadays?

Dislike #2: The soap storylines- On another TV theme, I have completely stopped watching the soaps. Some of the storylines are just so far fetched & they drag on to the point of being completely unrealistic. Also, why is everyone always so miserable in soapland? No wonder the ratings are dropping.

Dislike #3: Dirty people- There is nothing worse than being on a bus or out in public & being near someone who doesn't wash. I ended up leaving a queue in the supermarket & moving to a different one due to one such person stood in front of me. Also, it really bothers me when you see someone happily coughing & sneezing everywhere without covering their mouth & nose. Yuck!

Dislike #4: Warm, damp weather- I don't know why but lately it seems that the air is constantly all horribly hot & sticky. We haven't had alot of rain so that may be why, but either way it's horrible.

Dislike #5: Judgemental people- This one is based on an incident that happened this week. Not going into detail but someone rather upset me this week. They very rudely said "Oi, you can't use that, it's for disabled people, not just anyone..." whilst I was holding my rather annoyed fiance back (annoyed is an understatement) I politely informed them that in fact I was disabled. Then they turned round & said "Well what's wrong with you? You're not in a wheelchair". So I simply told them that 1) Not all disabled people are in wheelchairs & 2) That I didn't have to justify myself to them or owe them an explanation.  An old man who was watching this turned round to this person & said "I suggest you stop being such an interfering nosy parker & go home & educate yourself. Just because you can't see what's wrong doesn't give you the right to judge". The person needless to say walked very quickly away with a red face & their tail between their legs. I thanked the man & he told me "Don't worry love, some people are just morons". This incident upset me though- it just goes to show how ignorant some people are, & they need to think more before they speak.

So there you have it. Hope you all enjoyed reading. Does anyone have any likes or dislikes they want to share? Post in the comments below :) Have a lovely week :) xxx
**********************************************************************************************

For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, feel free to post below or email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com

My decision to have my fiancee's name tattooed on me...

Hello everyone,

Well I've had a busy couple of weeks. I've been away visiting my in-laws & now I've come down with a very nasty chest infection/pluerisy type thing which has nearly hospitalised me (more on that later). In my last post I metioned that I'd had a new tattoo & said that I would be doing a post about it.

Tattoos are still very much a controversial subject. Love them or hate them, they are seen everywhere nowadays. Years ago, people would have been shocked if someone with a full sleeve or bodysuit walked past them but now its seen as the norm. I am a tattoo lover. Since I was about 10 I've always wanted tattoos. To me, tattoos are a way of adorning your body, & if they are done well, they can be beautiful works of art.

The tattoo that I have just had done (well... completed) is something that is still a particularly taboo subject. I have been with my fiancee since April 2012 (since I was 17). One day in December 2012 we walked into a local tattoo parlour. I had his name tattooed on my back in small letters & he had my name & the word "Forever" put on his upper arm in considerably larger letters.

At this point several of you are probably gasping & thinking "Oh my God I would never do that" or "That was a stupid thing to do" or "What if they broke up?". Alot of the people I knew said the same. I had planned to have a heart & banner put around mine too but didn't have the cash at the time. However that was what I recently had done.

I am not going to sit here & feel like I have to defend my decision. Why should I? Yes, alot of people are going to want, as the saying goes "Their five pennorths worth of opinion" but at the end of the day it was my choice. It's my body & life is too short to think "What if" or "I might regret this". I love my fiancee & am marrying him because we want to spend our lives together. Marriage & relationships nowadays are often based around planning for a grim "in the event that it goes wrong". It shouldn't be about that. Relationships should be based on love & the will to make things work without having to worry about if's, but's & maybe's.

If something was ever to happen between me & my other half (unlikely as everyone says we're like one of these old married couples you see who still hold hands in their 70's lol) then I'd still not regret my decision. It would be there to remind me of all of the lovely, happy memories we have together. It may sound like I'm bragging & going on but I'm not. I think the key to our relationship is honesty & trust. We talk through our problems & support each other. My partner is patient, kind & honest, & in return I try to be the same for him.

His name on my body makes me feel like he really is a part of me & shows how big a part of my life he is. Probably sounds cheesy lol but it's true. He says he feels the same about my name being on him & I know that neither of us are going to live to regret it. Like I said, people will have their arguments but that is their cross to bear & I'm not going to let "what if's" get in the way of my happiness.

I'd love to know if anyone else has experienced something like this & how they feel about it. Thanks for reading :) xxx
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, feel free to either comment below or email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com :)

A very busy month!!!

Hello lovelies!!!

It's been almost a month since my last post, but this isn't down to laziness,  I promise :)
The last few weeks have been crazy busy- birthdays, endless hospital appointments, travelling & some personal changes. It's not been easy- & I'm hoping that this next few weeks will see things slow down as I am absolutely exhausted.

So the first thing is I turned 20 a couple of weeks ago. This for me was kind of a big deal as it really bought home just how fast time passes. 2 days before my birthday I was worried that I'd be in hospital for my 20th as I ended up being rushed to A&E with chest pains again (I got released the next day being told it might be the endometriosis spreading to my chest & that I needed to go back & see the consultant as soon as possible). My birthday itself was nice- just a small party with family & friends. I went up North to my grandparent's that weekend & had a nice shopping spree in Liverpool (more about that in another post!).

The second thing is all of the hospital appointments- I am having hand therapy at the moment & have 1 session per week. Me & the hand therapist have both agreed that I'm not benefitting from it, but I want to go through with it so that I can at least tell the consultant I tried. It is a shame as I was hoping it would help, & I am really now hoping that the hand consultant will be able to do something. I've also had various other appointments- general checkups, blood tests, medication reviews ect... the list goes on.

I have received an appointment to see the bowel specialist again on the 3rd of September (let's hope that this time he will actually try to help me instead of fobbing me off!) It rather annoyed me when the hospital rang to offer me the appointment though, as they told me on the phone that there was no record of him having the previous appointment with me (no notes from clinic, not even the supposed refferal to pain management which he tried to fob me off with). There was also no record of him having received or reviewed my laparoscopy results- as you can imagine I was fuming. This was the same man who sat there & told me he didn't want to treat me & was just going to send me to pain management! The lady on the phone was sympathetic & agreed that it was appauling- for someone who has stage 4 endometriosis, they should be doing alot more to ensure I get the correct treatment & help.

Rant over anyway! A couple of other changes have taken place too. Just before my birthday I made the decision to cut my hair short again. It was a hard choice but necessary- I have very thick hair & having it long meant it took alot of looking after. This wasn't always easy, especially when I'm not well & no matter how many times I brushed it it always seemed to turn into a mass of knots. So off it came. However I wasn't too upset as I went back to my old style- a cute & femenine Rhianna-style cut. I also went from bleached blonde to a lovely soft bluey-black so overall I'm happy. The second change is I've had another tattoo, but there will be more about that in a later post so for now my lips are sealed! Needless to say I am going to be tackling some of the issues surrounding tattoos so watch this space!

So, an overall very busy month. Like I said, I am hoping things will start to calm down & I am currently working on a few new posts full of exciting things, which I will post over the next few days. Until then, thanks for reading :) Xxx

**********************************************************************************************
For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, feel free to either comment below or email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com

An update, general chit-chat & this weeks likes & dislikes :)

Hello everyone!

Bit more of a cheerful update for you all this week :) if you read my last post then I am glad to say I'm feeling ALOT more positive about things now. There haven't been any developments on the medical front as yet- I have 2 appointments this week. One is with the GP to get sorted about my endometriosis after last weeks upset. The other one was today with the hand specialist to have a chat about a long-term problem I have with my left arm as things haven't improved like they hoped.

I've been seeing the hand specialist for 2 years now as the problem I've had with my arm is pretty complicated as there are birth defects & old injuries that have flared up as well as immense pain & swelling which has been pretty difficult to find what is causing it. Today when I saw the specialist, he was very sympathetic when he heard how bad things have been since I last saw him (in August last year) & agreed that on top of all my other problems that it was time they tried to sort things regarding my arm. He said my wrist & thumb joints are pretty unstable & wants me to try hand therapy again (gentle exercises & ultrasound therapy) for 8 weeks, then for me to see him again.

After a long chat with the hand therapist she said she wants to make me a new thermoplastic splint, she gave me an ultrasound session & said we'll start the exercises next week. It was agreed between me, the specialist & the hand therapist not to hold out too much hope as the hand therapy didn't work last time, but we would give it a go. If it doesn't work then some kind of surgery could be on the cards. I'll update you as the weeks go along so fingers crossed!

I am feeling generally more upbeat after being able to vent last week & am hopeful that things will start to sort themselves out. I've been quite tired this last week & the pain hasn't been easy to deal with at times but I have managed to have a few hours out today. It's been so warm lately & the weather has been nice so hopefully I will be able to get out more.

What I'm liking this week:

The Bodyshop Papaya Body Butter- this smells incredible & leaves your skin so soft & smooth. I get quite dry skin & this really helps keep it hydrated. Plus it's an absolute bargain- on offer for £5 a pot- usually £13!!!

Jubbly Cola freeze pops- the heat is making me pretty thirsty & these are so refreshing. They're on offer at the moment too- £1 for a box of 8 at Asda

Fresh grapes- I can't stop eating them!

What I'm not liking:

Rude people- they'll quite happily walk straight into you then tell you to watch it!

Litter- living by a seaside resort means I like to go to the beach & some people have no consideration & just leave rubbish all over the beach which then gets washed into the sea.

Poor local bus services- I, like many other locals, rely on buses for transport & the local council really needs to invest money in improving the public transport in out area.

So there we go. Thanks for reading :)

Managing & relieving pain

Hello everyone!

Today I want to tell you about some of the ways that I deal with pain. If you read my blog then you will have heard me tell you that I have been ill for a long time, with various different problems. With pretty much all of these problems comes pain, & lots of it! It's horrible & there are lots of days that I'm unable to do much & it can even leave me bedridden. Not fun!

It's not all doom & gloom though, as over time I've also found some great ways to combat pain & side effects of illness. Whether it's headaches, stomach pain, back pain, joint pain, sickness & nausea or severe tiredness, there are ways I have found that can really help.

***As a little disclaimer I have to mention that this in no way is professional medical advice & that  you should always check with your doctor if the problem persists or you are unsure of what to do.

1. Painkillers- a pretty obvious one. I am on alot of strong painkillers for some of my problems, & they do help. However, with painkillers, you can also get side effects. These include: drowsiness, irritability, addiction, allergies & may lead to further problems. It sounds old but you must always read the label to check it's ok for you- even if it has been prescribed (I am allergic to anti-inflammitory medicines & have been prescribed them by accident before!) It's also not a good idea to take over-the-counter medicines for more than a few days at a time- if a problem persists for more than 3 days then it's a good idea to see the doctor to rule out other problems.

2. Heat- this is a great one as it works on a variety of pain types. A hot bath can help soothe aching joints & a poorly tummy, as does a hot water bottle or cherry stone/wheat bag applied to the painful area (don't put a hot water bottle directly on your skin- wrap it in a towel first). It can also help in winter when you've got an icky cold or virus. Again, it sounds old but wrapping up warm really helps- instead of one big thick item of clothing, try layering lighter items- that way you can add or remove them for comfort!

3. Tiger Balm- a recent discovery for me & it has worked so well that I've ordered it in bulk from Amazon. You get two kinds- red or white, & it is available in a rub/balm or patch form that you apply to the affected area. I use the red Tiger Balm rub- simply rub a small amount into the painful area(s) & after 5-10 minutes you'll get a deep, cooling sensation which takes the pain away. I use it for everything- back & joint pain, muscular pain, neck pain, headaches & even stomach pain. Just keep it away from irritated or broken skin, eyes, nose & mouth.

4. Headache relief sticks & patches. These give a lovely cooling sensation to your forehead & help get rid of your headache- but don't get it near your eyes or put on broken or sensitive skin.

5. Massage & rubbing the area. They say your hands are your best tool & it's true. It might hurt at first but massaging painful areas really does help.

6. Light support or compression- this is great for painful joints. My arm is constantly immobilised due to a break not being treated 2 years ago. This left me with permanent damage & now my only option is surgery to fix it (more surgery- not fun). Sometimes immobilising the painful joint for a few hours or supporting it with a light compression bandage such as tubigrip or cohesive bandage can help the pain. However, you mustn't have the bandage too tight- if it cuts off the circulation or limbs look blue then take it off. Also, if the problem persists for more than 3 days then see a doctor- you can break bones without knowing!

So there we go- some pain relief tips! Hope you enjoyed reading & would love to know if any of these worked for you :)
**********************************************************************************************
For questions, suggestions, opinions and comments, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com or post a comment below

Endometriosis- the next stage

Hi everyone,

Little update for you all today- got a phone call yesterday from the hospital saying that they've received an urgent referral through to the bowel surgeon- Mr Tyrone Carpenter, & he wants me to see him next Wednesday. This is a scary time for me. At my last weeks appointment with the gyneaocologist, she told me alot of things & phrases such as "bowel resection" "will likely need a stoma" "catheter" & "Long hospital stay" were used.

It also didn't help that she told me part of the reason they couldn't remove more of my endo last time is because my oxygen levels majorly dropped & there was a huge risk of me bleeding to death.

How I am feeling in general...
Still in a huge amount of pain most of the time. Nights are the worst. I get big headaches most days & my joints & back are often sore. I'm so tired most of the time too. My appetite is almost non-existent (although fresh fruit, small snacks & ice pops usually go down ok). Going to the loo isn't nice as it hurts! My bowels constantly feel gassy & full. I also struggle to breathe occasionally.

On the days when I feel up to it my other half takes me out for a bit- he's been incredible. Yes he spoils me (bought me a tablet this week- I burst into tears when I saw it) & buys me little treats to cheer me up. But he's also been my rock- rubbing Tiger Balm into my sore back & joints, sitting up on 'the night shift' when I'm having a bad time or can't sleep, & doing everything he possibly can to make my life easier. I love him ♡♥♡♥

Overall, although I feel physically CRAP I'm trying to stay positive. I joined a forum for Endometriosis sufferers last night & already have spoken to some lovely people. The forum is called Endometriosis UK & some of the stories & advice have been really helpful :)

Thanks for reading :)
**********************************************************************************************

For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com or comment below :)

Loving at the moment

Hello everyone!

Todays post is going to be about products & items that I am loving at the moment. I did something similar to this not long ago & thought I would do another. I love to try out different products, whether it's hair & makeup related, clothing, food or general & I hope this will inspire you to try them too! Enjoy :)

1. Tea tree oil (£7.00 The Body Shop) this stuff is amazing. It's really great for acne-prone skin as it treats blemishes, soothes & acts as an antibacterial to treat spots (also great on cuts & grazes!) I use it after I wash my face- simply dilute 2 drops in 1 teaspoon of warm water, soak a cotton wool ball in the solution & gently apply to your face. It doesn't irritate or dry out your skin either!

2. adidas originals Adi Rise 2.0 juniors hi-top trainers (£35-£40 JD Sports) these are possibly the most comfy shoes I have ever had (not ashamed to admit that I own two pairs!) Hi-tops are very on-trend at the moment but are also a more timeless item meaning they won't go out of fashion. I got my first pair for christmas in black, sky blue & white & loved them so much that my lovely man surprised me with some black & red ones yesterday!

3. The Body Shop All-in-one Instablur (£14) & All-in-one BB Cream (£12) I mentioned these in one of my previous posts (News, chatter, likes & dislikes) I got these a couple of weeks ago in a little set that included an amazing foundation brush too (the set was worth £45 & I got it for the special price of £20!) It's incredible- use the instablur as a primer- it literally blurs the imperfections, then apply the BB cream. You would get away without foundation over the top as these give fantastic coverage & just conceal any blemishes. I went back to The Body Shop the other day & apparently it has been so popular that everywhere has completely sold out!

4. Muller Crunch Corner Toffee Hoops (69p Sainsburys) these make a really tasty treat when you've got sweet cravings- one of my favourite snacks!

5. Montagne Jeunesse face masques (90p-£1.50 each, available at all leading supermarkets, Boots, Superdrug & Primark) these come in a variety of fruity, chocolatey or generally good smelling peel-off, mud, clay, warming, exfoliating & fabric face masques. Great for an evening of pampering & helps your skin feel gorgeously clean & soft.

6. My brand new Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8.0- this was a present from my lovely man today (I burst into tears when he gave it to me) my laptop broke a while back & I'd said I was going to get a tablet instead. The cheapest place I have found it is either Currys PC World or Asda for £139. It's amazing!

So there you have it. Hope this has inspired you to try some new products & would love to hear what you think! Thanks for reading! :)
**********************************************************************************************

For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com or post a comment below :)

These are a few of my favourite things ♡ ♥♡♥

Hello everyone!

So today I thought I would share some of my favourite things with you. Obviously aside from my wonderful man & my family, I've made a list of some of the top things that make me smile.

1) My engagement ring- this is a no brainer, any girl would love a massive solitare diamond  gold ring with shoulders set with 3 diamonds on each side, but to me it's so much more. It's  a symbol of how much me & my man love eachother (not to mention that I cried my bloody eyes out when he proposed- in the middle of a restaurant!)

2) Flowers- I adore all flowers, but my particular favourites are bluebells, forget-me-nots & daffodils. They're so beautiful & vibrant & there's something so cheering aboit them.

3) Baby animals. I've never come across anyone yet who doesn't smile at baby animals. Puppies, kittens, bunnies, chicks- all baby animals are so cute (& most adult ones too). They never fail to make me smile.

4) Music. I like so many different kinds of music & I know it sounds weird but it's helped me get through some of the darkest times in my life & there are certain songs which really help lift my mood.

So there we go! A few of my favourite things. Hope you enjoyed reading & I would love to know what you think :)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For questions, suggestions, opions & comments, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com

Saving money

Hello everyone!

Today I've got some tips for you on saving money. Nowadays, life is expensive & we often find that payday can't come fast enough. At the beginning of this financial year (6th April) I decided I was going to see how much money I could save up in a year. So far it's going brilliant! I am nowhere near a pinchpenny or one of these "Super-Scrimpers" you see on telly, but I am pretty aware of my spending. So here are my ways that I have devised for saving up for a rainy day.

1. Budget. Work out what you NEED to spend every month & set it aside. Have some emergency money too for the unexpected, then the rest can go on what you want. We often make the mistake of "Impulse Buying" & find ourselves thinking that the £50 we've just spent on that super-cute, wear once & never to be seen again pair of shoes should have been spent on fuel. Treats are ok- just in moderation.

2. Look after the pennies... We are all guilty of going into a shop, buying something then just chucking the change in the charity tin. Obviously giving to charity is good (Help For Heroes, The Poppy Appeal & Cancer Reasearch are particular ones to me) But think about setting up a change pot. Every day, fish out the pennies from your pocket & put them in- it very quickly adds up. Since the 6th of April I've saved a shockingly large amount in change (I won't tell you how much- that will come in a years time). It's money you never knew you had- it might be a mess around but when you've got a large amount, count it up, bag it, take it to the bank & treat yourself!

3. Shop around. In one of my posts a couple of days ago I wrote that I was hacked off after discovering ways that supermarkets are ripping us off. Obviously supermarkets are convenient, but often you get alot less, not as good quality & more expensive than local businesses such as the butchers sell. So support your local businesses- it's better.

4. Do you really need it? Don't impulse buy- think about what you are buying before you hand over the cash. Unless you know you can afford it & you really want it then save your money- you'll be glad you did!

So there we go! Some top tips for saving money. Hope you all found this useful & I would love to know what you all think! Thanks for reading :)!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com

1 year & 6 months without Facebook

Hello everyone!

Got a post for you today on the last year & a half since I got rid of Facebook. This is a bit of a random one but I was inspired to write about it after seeing a question on Yahoo answers asking for advice on taking a break from social media.

So the story behind this is last January me & my fiance both made the decision to get rid of Facebook. This was for several reasons- neither of us spoke to a majority of the people on our friends lists, there were certain people who we just didn't want to be trying to contact us (I won't go into details but we both ended up having to change our phone numbers because of certain people who didn't understand "I don't want to speak to you- leave me alone") & we were both getting kind of tired of logging on & just seeing everyone airing their dirty laundry in public.

I know for most people now they couldn't live without their phones & social media, & some of you probably think I'm crazy. Thing is though for me, the minute I confirmed that I wanted to shut my profile down it was like a huge weight off my shoulders- I wasn't getting notifications every 5 seconds & my email wasn't being clogged up with games requests or friend suggestions.

Of course it wasn't easy to make my friends understand- as I had changed my number & just disappeared off of Facebook, I'd also been ill from college & a couple of weeks later when I went back they said stuff like "OMG we thought you'd moved away" or "Have you & your other half broken up because we've not been able to contact either of you". It got me thinking on just how much people rely on social media- gone are the days when people visit each other- they totally rely on Facebook & Twitter to keep up with eachothers lives.

Overall, I am glad I don't have Facebook anymore. I don't need it. This last year & a half has been proof of that.

Hope you found this interesting & I would love to know what you think! Thanks for reading :)!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com

News, chatter, likes & dislikes

Hello everyone!

Sorry it's been a while- in between hospital visits, being ill & trying to get things done it's been a mad few weeks. At the moment I'm a little better than I was- still in alot of pain but been able to get out a bit more which is good. I've been told I need to see the surgery team next week because I haven't recovered as well as hoped & another lot of (more serious) surgery is on the cards.

This isn't what I hoped for but I know it has to be done so I've just got to pack up my troubles in my hospital bag & smile smile smile...lol. I've been making the most of the nice weather when it's been nice & on my good days I've had some shopping sprees! I've got a whole new wardrobe as I had loads of money that I had saved for ages to get myself some lovely new clothes (plus some lovely treats from my other half).

I had planned on doing a few haul videos but I've decided to leave that for a while yet until I have the time. However I will say this- get yourselves to the high street! There are some gorgeous trends at the moment & alot of them are at bargain prices:

-Debenhams have some huge sales on at the moment, I've bought some gorgeous pieces from Miss Selfridge & Quiz. My local Debenhams have had a 20% off event & loads of discounts & I've bought about £300 worth of clothes for £150!!!

-Bodyshop have bought out an amazing new product called Instablur. You use it as a primer & it literally blurs skin imperfections & blemishes. I use it with their new BB cream (they are on offer at the moment- £20 for both, worth £45!!!) And they are amazing. I've also treated myself to some new makeup brushes & other stuff too- all on amazing offers!

-Primark are doing some great stuff at the moment. I've bought myself loads of summer clothes as well as some great sale items. They've also got loads of pug-related stuff (I adore pugs!) So go & have a look!

-River Island, Dorothy Perkins, New Look & Peacocks. All have some lovely stuff at the moment & bang on trend!

- Superdrug & Boots have a 3 for 2 offer across all beauty products at the moment- I've been stocking up on Barry M & all of my other favourite brands. I also bought myself a new Tresemme hair dryer which is amazing!

-Beales Department Store- I've got a couple of gorgeous new dresses from here (the green & white flower dress from Apricot- £34) as well as some gorgeous black & gold heels from Miss Selfridge!

What I'm loving:
- Animal motif jumpers. I have been stocking up on some new jumpers (It will be winter again before we know it lol) & online stores such as Amazon & Karma Clothing have some really cute styles. I'm also loving quilted jumpers- I've got 3 in black, grey & white.

- Tiger Balm Red: possibly the most incredible stuff for joint & muscle pain. I'm on alot of medication at the moment & thought I'd try this as a more natural way- & it's amazing.

- Fresh fruit from the markets & grocers. It's the season for strawberries, raspberries, apricots, cherries & peaches- all of wich I've been snacking on (healthy comfort food). I refuse to buy them from the supermarket as not only are they so much cheaper from the greengrocers, you get so much more & they are better quality too.


What I'm disliking:
-The illusion that food is cheaper in the supermarkets. In my local town we have THREE giant supermarkets (it's absolutely rediculous) plus loads of smaller ones. Alot of my fresh foods I now buy from the local farmshops, market stalls, butchers & greengrocers- not onlyis it better quality, it's cheaper & it supports the little businesses which sadly are getting fewer.

- Rude, arrogant & ignorant people. Some people are just plain rude- they'll push past you, nearly knock you over & either ignore it or look at you like it's your fault.

- Benefit cheats. These people are disgraceful- they are proud to let the taxpayer fund their lifestyles & have no shame or remorse. There are people in genuine need who can't get the help they need because of people like this & there needs to be changes.


So there you go. Hope you enjoyed reading & keep checking for more coming soon. Thanks for reading :) xx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For questions, suggestions, opinions & comments, email me at:
dollytrolley1994@gmail.com