Amber’s Diary: Birthdays, bonds and the Broadchurch bug!

It feels like it’s only been about 2 months since my 21st… but apparently it’s been a year! This week it was my 22nd birthday (a day I’ve waited for since I was a wee girl just so I could say I was “22 on the 22nd”)! and after not planning any celebrations, a suitable fuss was made! I also gained a LOT of inches onto my hair by getting my luscious long locks back again for summertime in the form of blonde keratin bonds, and I’m finally almost finished series 3 after catching the ‘Broadchurch bug’…

Amber’s Diary – split shifts, spring hair & Sheeran

This week was a funny one. It went slowly at the start but by the end it went so quickly! With so much on as usual this week it was another eventful one, I was covering the travel & co-hosting on the Clyde 1 breakfast show as well as working my usual afternoon slot, decided to take the plunge and dye my hair blonde and saw the one and only Ed Sheeran – an artist I’ve wanted to see live for about 8 years and never had the chance to – even better… I got to meet the man himself!

Amber’s Diary – bouncing, buddies and brand new adventures!

Where is the time going?! Another week, another diary. This week as always was busy busy… or should I say bouncy, bouncy?! I’m jumping all over the place after visiting Glasgow’s biggest trampoline park! I also was reminded of the value of true friendship and I have a brand new adventure that I can’t wait to share with you all…

Flippin’ Fabulous!

Ahh I’m so excited about this! If you’re looking for something to do with the kids in the easter holidays then I think I may have found the perfect place that will keep them amused for hours and (hopefully!) tire them out…

Amber’s Diary: storytelling, snazzy nails & shopping for cars!

I’ve decided a good way to log memories, keep note of what’s happening in my life and a fun thing to do would be to keep a weekly diary within my blog – and here is the first one!

This week was another busy one for me. On Tuesday I visited Todholm Primary school in Paisley who were holding a Storytelling Festival. It’s a one of a kind festival where the children are read to by visitors, read books themselves and even read to the elderly within the community who are in care homes. It was so lovely to be a part of and it was so well organised. The playground was set up with colourful tents, chairs and rugs to create a festival atmosphere – and there were even Kirspy Kremes (a winner all round!)

You wouldn’t tell someone to put their burger down, so why tell me to eat one?

Why in 2017 are we still obsessed with people’s weight? The issue of ‘fat-shaming’ has had a lot of press recently, the idea of people being made to feel self-conscious, hurt and even depressed because of being overweight. Recently magazines have been filled with celebrities who have been ‘fat-shamed’ and bullied telling us to love ourselves for who we are, embrace our curves and be confident in our own skin – which of course, I am totally rooting for! But coming from the opposite end of the scale (literally)… why do we live in a society where ‘skinny-shaming’ is still ok, when ‘fat-shaming’ is frowned upon?

I think that the reason criticising ‘skinny’ people is not viewed as big of a deal as ‘fat-shaming’ is because being ‘skinny’ is seen as the ideal. But it does not give an excuse for humiliating people because of the weight they carry (or don’t carry) on them.

Not everyone loves Nutella (and it’s okay).

It’s hard to believe it, I know. The smooth, thick chocolate that spreads so easily over warm toast and melts into every corner, every hole in the bread and round the crusts. That special nutty, sweet, creamy flavour that makes my tastebuds excited just at the thought. Sometimes, I love Nutella so much that I just grab a spoon and fill it, or one of my fingers if I just can’t wait… And yet, with it’s addictively mouth-watering flavour, there are still people who just don’t like it. Because well, they just don’t.

Not everyone loves Nutella (and it’s okay).

So this isn’t really all about Nutella, but the reason I’m using it as an example is because it’s something – like all things in life – that some people like, and some people don’t. Like you. And like me. Some people like you, some people don’t. Some people like me, some people don’t. And you know what? That is okay. I’m going to tell you why.

How to love your life (or start appreciating it more)…

Let’s face it, in 2017 I bet you feel that there are so many things occupying your mind daily that sometimes it can be hard to feel like you are achieving, you are happy, content and completely in love with your life? I thought that too, until I found how to love my life by slowing down, living in the present moment and most importantly – how to be grateful. 

I get it; you have bills to pay, you have a car to run, you have kids to take care of, pets to look after, relatives who are unwell, your own body to nurture, food to buy, chores to do, unfinished work, new things you want to buy – it can be easy to weigh yourself down mentally with unhappy thoughts. It’s like dominos; one negative thought leads to another…and another…and another. It’s a pattern that can spiral out of control and leave you feeling gloomy, but you can control it and completely turn your life around (or at least make it easier) by having a PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) and by being grateful for what you have.

Let me share with you how practicing gratitude has changed and continues to change my life with every new day.

4 Simple Food Prep Breakfasts

Food prep. Two words that are associated with gym-goers and fitness fanatics, but in actual fact is a skill that we can all adopt and master to make our lives that little bit easier. Just think about it… you get up in the morning, your breakfast is already prepped and in the fridge, and all you have to do is lift your lunch from the shelf and pop it in your bag, snacks and all included! You get home for dinner, and the only task that needs done is to boil pasta or rice and warm up the rest. Surely that makes an easier life and gives you much more time for family, friends, hobbies and looking after your body and soul. Here are a few tips and basic food prep meals for beginners at breakfast;