The Power of 'No' | Why I'll be saying 'No' more in 2017

'No'

Two little letters with potential of mass proportions, and despite having seemingly negative connotations, 'no' can actually bring you more joy, help you attain richer life experiences and feel more relaxed than you ever have in your life. 'No' takes much more courage to say than yes, particularly when you belong to the generation where saying no even once can bring you down with a serious case of the FOMOs (fear of missing out..s) Fear that convinces you that saying no could mean skipping out on the adventure of a lifetime, missing out on the best night of your life, or simply waving goodbye to the boat of success entirely...

Which of course is ridiculous.

This is something that has dawned on me only recently, at the ripe old age of 23 having gone through a series of life changes over the last year and a half and learning just where real happiness comes from. And where is that? Has Granite City Girl unlocked the secret to lifelong happiness? Well it's different for everyone, so I guess the simple answer would be that happiness comes from within yourself and can be discovered by asking yourself a few simple questions. What matters to you most? What do you love? Who do you love? And finally what brings you most joy in life?

Well what does this mean for Granite City Girl?

It simply means that this year I won't be grabbing every opportunity flung my way. I won't be reviewing more restaurants just because I've been invited along, I won't saying yes to obscure brand deals that have nothing to do with my blog and do little to peak my interests, and I won't be wasting any more time living behind a screen when I could in fact be out there living life and writing about richer and more interesting experiences than what I ate for lunch that day.

Perhaps most importantly I won't find myself stretched for time, driven to madness by blank pages on a screen feeling mocked by a blinking cursor waiting on tender hooks for the latest and greatest blog post only for 10 other posts written about the same event or subject to pop up with the same inevitable conclusion.

This of course doesn't mean to say the end of Granite City Girl, I still very much love writing, sharing where I've been and what I've been up to, but as I'm about to enter a new and very exciting phase of life it just means something a little different and more of what I fancy and less of what I feel pressure from others to write about.

Thank you for having the patience to stick with me during my many and numerous breaks and of course to reading and sharing in my love of writing over these last few years, I look forward to continuing to share my life and passion as I move forward in life.

Until next time,

H.Elizabeth x

Brushing your teeth with powder? | Lush Ultrablast Tooth Powder Review

In the name of beauty I'll try pretty much anything. Contouring, strobing, oil pulling, coconut oil for every nook and cranny all huge yeses and things I have been happy enough to try. Tooth powder however, just seemed like a bit of a strange and foreign concept. I had seen toothy tabs, oil for your teeth, but never a sub for stable tooth paste! That is until Lush introduced me to my new daily obsession, Ultrablast powder!

Lush describe Ultrablast as, 'A galactically good blend of mint and wasabi takes your mouth to a different dimension. This potent mix of garden pea powder, peppermint and spearmint will leave your mouth as clean as a whistle.' Sounds minty fresh right? I was taken in more so by the blend of mint and wasabi, I love spicy foods and that fresh feeling that a chilli, mint or obviously wasabi dish will give you so incorporating that into a health and hygiene routine, yes please!

You use tooth powders by dipping your damp toothbrush lightly into the pot and then go to town on your teeth as usual. The texture is a bit difficult at first, I thought it would feel quite dry and bitty but instead it just lathers up into a very light foam, the hardest bit to get over for the one I ended up going for was the colour (green for those wondering, green!) but I will say was surprised at just how clean my teeth did feel afterwards, I'd even go as far as to say cleaner than using regular toothpaste. Since using this, twice daily over the last 4 weeks my teeth are looking a bit whiter than usual (not a quality they promote on their packaging) so I really do think the powder cleans better than a paste. The pot is really lightweight and pretty airtight when you put the lid back on correctly so it'll be great for when we are going off on holiday, or for packing in an overnight bag. These pots retail at £4.95 but I bought mine about 3 / 4 weeks ago and I'm not close to finished, suffice to say a little really does go a long, long way.

The only drawback I will say is that it can get pretty messy. Mine for example has congealed a bit in the pot just with water getting in from my tooth brush. You can still use it however it has turned parts of it into a pastey mess! And my towels are perpetually green and powdery and the corners of my mouth?! Let's just say if you're partial to doing your skin and foundation routine prior to brushing your teeth - that's going to be something you'll want to flip around.

Overall though I'm pretty pleased with my new oral routine and I'm definitely going to continue purchasing these in the future. I'm looking forward to trying their other flavours, for example their strawberry flavoured 'Tooth Fairy' powder and their cinnamon and clove aptly named 'Atomic' powder - perhaps one for the festive season! 

Have you ever tried a revolutionary tooth cleaning product? I'd love to hear what you thought or tried in the comments down below, come share your pastey experiences with me on Twitter or of course if you'd just like to keep up with me and my faces you can catch me on Instagram and the blog on bloglovin.

Until next time folks, aaaah powdery fresh (it's the future ladies and gentlemen don't fight it!)

H.Elizabeth x

We bought a house | Our New House Video Tour

Fun new game. Drink every time there is a jittery camera movement that makes you want to be sick! Okay, I'm not a videographer but this called for something a little more special than the standard 'little life update' posts that saturate lifestyle blogger websites, this called for a celebratory video (obviously, what else?)

So we bought a house, we're so excited, over the moon, spit in your eye, kick you in the crotch fantastically happy, or to put that more simply, we are chuffed and today I bring you our very informal house tour featuring my very own house elf (let's see if you can spot him!) 

I'm excited to now be a part of a whole new blogging community that congregates around telling you how you should be decorating and putting to shame any of you who don't feature any marble in the house (that's right...apparently as home owners we can do that now!) You guy have so much content to look forward to right here!

Until next time folks, decking oot ma hoose!

H.Elizabeth x

Vroom Vroom | We bought a car!

Checking in with you on this very special day to update you on yet another little Granite City life moment or perhaps more appropriately another little life milestone, which as you can undoubtedly tell from the title of this post involves the purchase of our very first motor vehicle!

For us this has been quite a long time coming, we have been relying on our parents to cart us out and about for our weekly shop and just day trips in general and as we are currently in the works of moving home, we really just thought it was time to make a commitment and take a plunge as it were and buy our very own form of vehicular transportation in the form of our wee Ford Fiesta.

As many of you may already know I do not hold a drivers license but we are currently working on that, I have taken driving lessons a couple of years ago but due to university and work commitments I just couldn't find the time to squeeze in lessons and of course the financial strain back then with my part time job was a bit too much so unfortunately I had to stop. But I'm really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel in the next few months and as from now I'll be focusing most of my spare time and energy on swotting up for my theory test (which I had also past and has now expired - drats!)

All I want to say to end this very brief post is that we want to thank my Dad for carting us about for these last few years and your advice, without which we'd still be scratching our heads looking at Gumtree and of course  Neil from Arnold Clark in Aberdeen for his incredible patience and helping us in getting the best deal possible in our search.

Until next time folks, I'm being driven round the bend.

H.Elizabeth x

Hayfever Heroism with Kleenex | PR done right

Today I just wanted to share a little bit of summer awesome and a little bit of a win, which if you've been following me on Twitter recently you'll know I desperately needed, and though many of you will think this post is a little sad or sponsored (I can assure you it is not) really I just want you to think of this little bit of kindness in the wider context of the world wide web and applaud this specific company for listening to their Target market in a way companies just don't seem to anymore!

From the title you'll have guessed that said company in question are Kleenex and their #HayfeverHeroism campaign they have been branching across social media platforms with, specifically Twitter and targeting (obviously) hayfever sufferers, which if you read my recent post / rant here you'll know I am, with the view to provide the nation with a Hayfever summer survival kit, which after incessant whining, moaning and general complaints about my current state I was lucky enough to receive.

Incase you missed it my tweet went a little something like this and was in no way shape or form directed at Kleenex looking for free tissues if anything this was just a general musing and a 'why god why!' observation of my life, '@GCityGirl: Sick, sick, sick today hayever 1  Hannah 0 #hayfeverproblems #sickday' to which Kleenex responded, they would like to help and send me one of their sensitive care packs designed specifically with hayfever sufferers in mind. After a couple of emails I sent the company my home address and honestly and much to my own shame forgot all about it until of course the blessed day my nose was saved, hallelujah!

The pack itself has a cute little certificate that comes alongside your care pack, a large multipack of handy travel tissues and of course a coffee table box for when I'm hold up in my house hiding from pollinated air! And really instead of doing a review of the tissues and pack - which in all honesty would bore you to tears, I really just wanted to share this campaign with you all and how amazing a thing I think it is for a company in this day and age just to do something for their consumers for the sake of being nice (and of course getting brand recognition such as this) but really how often can you really say you get something for nothing and in such a lovely way? I thought the certificate was a particularly nice touch as the handwritten tweet goes to show it isn't just boxed and sent out to your address with no personal recognition.

And so to end today's post I really just want to say a big thank you and well done to Kleenex for bringing this campaign to tweeters and social media platforms across the UK and for of course keeping in mind we seasonal sufferers who really do go through a helluva lot of tissues in the summer (preach!) I'd love to hear if you have had any experience with companies like this and what your favourite social media campaign by a large corporation has been because I'll bet we're all hard pressed to think of anything this similar! Be sure to leave your comments below, come share your experiences with me on Twitter or of course if you'd like to continue to see me share the love come follow Granite City Girl on Bloglovin.

Until next time folks, blowing with sensitive care!

H.Elizabeth x

Granite City Wedding | What one year of marriage has taught me

Life, as you all know, is full of lessons. From seemingly teeny tiny things like learning how to wake up with your alarm for once (this one, many of us are still mastering) to much larger lessons like how to cope with the loss of a loved one (another sadly none of us will ever fully master) but today as my husband and I celebrate our first wedding anniversary I'd like to share with you a few little life lessons that our first year of marriage has taught me personally and hopefully uncover some of the myths that often surround life after 'I do'

Marriage changes the way other people see you, particularly if you're a woman
The inane pressure you have to settle down and make babies becomes far more apparent once that ring slides on your finger and it really shouldn't. People start cooing and awing any time they see you in any proximity of a small child or worse still a baby and cult like chants of 'you're next' become the norm, questions of when rather than if or do you want to dominate conversations, but marriage, as I'm sure the educated of you are aware doesn't equate to babies all of the time, and it's funny because my husband hasn't been subjected to such questions, quizzical looks and general torture to my knowledge.

The terms 'husband and 'wife' will never not make me squeak just a little

Not in the negative ugh I hate being someones wife or I hate having a husband, but in that it never sounds normal. Being introduced as 'my wife' or introducing my signo as 'my husband' sounds bizarre but in a very sweet, uncomfortable, odd way right? A little bit like I imagine Edward Scissorhands feels in his day to day life!

Marriage can mean anything you want it to mean, it is what you make it
Tradition dictates that marriage means a woman being under a mans thumb, the man being the sole provider and the wife acting as homemaker and quite often when people hear I am married this still conjures up images of a bored, sexless housewife, but I've got news for all you nay sayers, marriage can be anything you make it. Much as we have seen in celebrity news from Will and Jada Pinkett Smith it can be one thing for you and a something completely different to your neighbour. For us marriage means a partnership to share in lifes ups and downs and someone to have all of the experiences life can offer us together.

So guys I hope you have enjoyed this off beat anniversary post and I'd love to hear from all of you single or married how you feel about married life? Are you someone who doesn't believe in the 'institution' of marriage, I'd love to hear your thoughts, or like me are you someone who has faced bias and misconceptions about your own marriage it'd be interesting to hear your experiences. Be sure to leave your thoughts, comments and experiences below, come share your feelings with me on Twitter, or of course if you'd like to keep up with the latest Granite City Girl posts you can follow them on Bloglovin.

Until next time folks, remember kids marriage is what you make it.

H.Elizabeth.

Granite City Child | Childhood Quirks and Musings

One of my favourite programmes on television has got to be You've Been Framed particularly the cat and children segments because they do and say the funniest things, in fact it has quickly become one of my favourite past times to watch such videos on You Tube and I could literally waste hours laughing myself into a sleepy stupor with my iPad, and most nights I often do! But as you know, writing inspiration strikes in the damnest places and I thought it might be fun to share some of the sillier things I remember from my childhood that I used to think were true or real or just generally some silliness.

1) Before the age of 5 I used to call a dressing gown a 'gasshing goon' which now saying it out loud as an adult sounds like a wound or something quite disturbing to say the least. I'm not entirely sure why I thought this or said it like this but it just happened to be one of my earliest quirks.

2) When I was much younger my family rented the animated version of Charlotte's Web in which at the end (spoilers) Charlottes' babies (spiders in case you didn't know) fly away on little parachutes leaving Wilbur alone with only 1 baby spider left (who can't fly)... and I literally thought baby spiders were born with little webbed parachutes attached to them. The fact they didn't in fact fly away when they hatch was only brought to my attention 2 years ago, needless to say my reality was shattered and I was also slightly relieved!

3) I used to think that when I hit the age of 16 that I would magically become tanned with long blonde hair just like Barbie because that's what most girls were in the movies and of course that's what Barbie and Britney had! (This is a sad state of affairs for beauty standards in children!)

4) As a kid I used to think you could get sucked down the drain when you took the plug out of a bath - this is due to a very poorly constructed episode of Sesame Street (or the Muppets) in which the baby is sucked down the drain.

5) Whenever I was getting something taken off over my head for example a vest or jumper I used to scream, and I don't just mean a little, I mean blue murder! Again I'm not sure what I thought was going to happen, but I still do this if I get stuck in a dress in New Look or somewhere the clothes are ridiculously small... (true story)

Well guys I hope my little life musings have cheered you up today, my reminiscing has cheered me up no end and I have to say that these little quirks and musings are what I'm looking forward to seeing when I have my own kids some day, you know as long as the quirks aren't loud or disgusting...

 

 

As always if you have enjoyed this post be sure to leave your comments below, I would love to hear if you had any childhood quirks or just plain stupid things you used to say or do as they make me smile, or of course if you'd just like to keep up with me and the latest Granite City Girl posts you can catch me on the Twittersphere or the blog in Bloglovin'

Until next time folks, I'll be chilling in my gasshing goon (which thankfully does not go over my head!)

H.Elizabeth x

Social Media | Posting about Exercise and Weight Loss

I have never been one to document every detail of my private life on social media, god knows there are plenty of ladies and gents out there who over share and it has just never appealed to me to become one of them. Honestly who cares what I had for lunch or what kind of underwear my mothers cats aunt wears? However, having said recently I have become a bit more of a social sharer online when it comes to my health and fitness endeavours and I thought I would share an explanation as to why I find this helpful, productive and generally a great thing despite potentially annoying others in the social arena.

Throughout my life I have struggled with my health particularly when it comes to weight loss and healthy eating after adopting excuse upon excuse, and trust me I have used them all from 'I'm too busy' and 'I'm too tired' and even sometimes 'It just isn't practical for my lifestyle' and it wasn't until I reached a near 13 stone that I decided something had to be done and finally take my health a bit more seriously. So through a combination of a healthier eating plan and (VERY) regular trips to the gym I have successfully lost 3 stone and finally feel a bit more comfortable within my size 12 clothes and most importantly within myself, but today's post isn't about my entire weight loss journey, instead I want to share something that may seem so small and insignificant to outsiders looking in but that played a role in my own determination and drive in bettering my life and that is the use of Twitter and social platforms to keep me motivated.



 

Prior to my own experience I used to think people posting certain aspects of their lives on social media was obnoxious. My eyes would roll into the back of my head whenever I saw someone share a post workout selfie or document their salad choices via social media, that is until I became one of them. Everyday without fail I will probably note which physical activity I'll be doing that day, or perhaps a goal I have for the week (most recently that was an endeavour to cut caffeine down gradually) and I'm sure my posts, tweets and general musings about my new lifestyle have induced some eye rolls too and I don't blame them I found it annoying too. However social media might just be my greatest weight loss tool and motivator. Think about it, by posting your goals on social media you're not just making a pledge to yourself but you're putting it out to the world for all to see, so if you give up it isn't just you who sees it, the world does (don't worry I don't think 'the world' read my tweets but you get my drift) you set certain expectations for yourself and being able to go back in your Twitter history and see whether or not you met those expectations is a great thing.

In a mere 140 characters I was able to find and harness the support network and motivation I needed to keep going, not only do my followers and even strangers cheer me on but I am able to connect with like minded people who share the struggles I have faced in recent years and share tips, recipes and ideas on weight loss and fitness with them and if you are any of those people I have mentioned above I would here like to extent my thanks and gratitude. And of course if you're on the other side of the coin, those whose eyes are sick of rolling well, 'haters gonna hate hate hate hate hate'

Once again guys I hope you have enjoyed having a gander at today's post and I would love to hear your opinions on these sort of Tweets and social media posts, which side of the coin are you on? Perhaps you've found an even better way to keep yourself motivated to get up and go to the gym? As always I love to hear from you, be sure to leave your comments below come share your thoughts with my on Twitter or of course if you'd like to keep up with the latest Granite City posts be sure to follow me on Bloglovin.

 

 

Until next time folks, I'm just gonna shake shake shake shake shake...

H.Elizabeth x

Is public debate dead?

Hello everyone, I apologise in advance (once again) for this rather lengthy and specific rant I may be about to embark on however I feel a few of you will probably have experienced something similar to this in the past or perhaps you deal with things like this on a daily basis (dear lord I hope not!) but I'd like to share something that made me really angry, disheartened me a little bit and generally ticked me off surrounding a local issue and public debate (which after this encounter I can assure you is well and truly dead!) Don't worry I'm not going to go into excruciating detail about this particular encounter but it really did get me thinking about the way in which we, as a public, interact with one another when we come up against conflicting ideas, opinions and general newsy type information that is flung our way on a day to day basis.

For me this revelation really started with Scotland's independence campaign, living in Scotland the divide between the Yes and No camps was far more obvious than people outwith the country but my issue really began with the campaign strategies. I think and I just found the way in which Yes and No debates were hosted and managed was a disgrace, inside the political parties and outwith. Now, no, I am no politician, but in my opinion the way in which our current politicians do conduct themselves is a bit crazy, normalizing name calling on television, dirty fighting in campaigns and debates only creates the impression that yes, this is how professional debate is supposed to go - how is this any different from 'plebgate'?

My own experience of course was quite small, I commented on an article online for one of the local newspapers and was swiftly bombarded with abuse, vile comments and general rudeness, which needless to say I was flabbergasted at. Is this democratic public debate? I don't think so. How can we be expected for our views to be heard and our opinions to be taken seriously, if we can't even have a mature discussion about important issues within our community. Just to put this into a bit of perspective I demonstrated my support for a local build and stated it would give people a place to go as opposed to loitering in the streets, the response from one woman was to call me a German stereotype dating back to WWII.... yes I'm afraid that is the extent of public debate I have witnessed.

Needless to say this entire experience has put me off of getting involved in 'public debate' and specifically local 'public debate' for a good long while at least until there are some sort of guidelines, screening process or at least something put in place to ensure a real debate, specific to genuine, valid opinions about the topic at hand without cyber bullying, name calling and rudeness can take place, do you see that happening any time soon? Nope nor do I.

Has something like this ever happened to you that sparked a political revelation? I would love to hear your thoughts, comments and experiences (keep it clean!) be sure to share them in the comments below, come share them with me on Twitter or of course if you'd like to keep up with the latest Granite City Girl posts you can follow me on Bloglovin.

Until next time folks, having a clean and rational debate with myself.

H.Elizabeth x 

Aberdeen Events | Aberdeen Art Gallery Extreme Makeover

 

 

 

Hello everyone, I'm back today with a special Aberdeen post about an event that I will be attending in the Granite City tomorrow evening that I'm pretty excited about and that is the 'Extreme Makeover' of Aberdeen Art Gallery. As some of you may already know the Aberdeen Art Gallery is due to formally close down for 2 and a half years in order to undergo a major redevelopment and giant makeover as part of some revamps taking part in Aberdeen City in the next few years (all of which are very exciting and I'm happy to be part of) so to celebrate the Art Gallery are having one last hoorah and shebang to celebrate art and culture in the Granite City and of course these exciting new developments.

 

The event itself takes place tomorrow evening (27th March, 6pm) and is a free non ticketed event (but is set to be extremely busy) There are a whole host of activites due to take place throughout the evening including a dress up masquerade competition, a tour with a twist, which I'm super excited for, sketch classes, construction activites and the opportunitiy to make you mark on the gallery, literally! For a full list of what will be going on be sure to check out this link.

 

Throughout my life I have paid numerous visits to the Art Gallery and witnessed the weird and wonderful, for example I remember a couple of years ago one of the exhibitions featured solely on David Beckhams sleeping face, one that I really really enjoyed was the Annie Lenox exhbition and most recently I attended an after hours event surrounding the world wars. So in all honesty I am both sad and excited to see these new developments as it has played such a role in Aberdeen's culture but I am of course looking forward to giving the current design the proper hoorah and send off it deserves!

 

I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures (if allowed) and I will of course keep you filled in and updated on the evenings activites, or better yet if you're in Aberdeen be sure to come along on the evening and say hello if you see us skulking around. As always I welcome any and all comments or Tweets and of course if you just want to keep up to date with the latests be sure to follow me on Bloglovin.

 

Until next time folks, giving the gallery one last hoorah.

 

H.Elizabeth x

Nose Piercing | Process, Pain and Aftercare

In case any of you haven't noticed, I have a nose piercing it is relatively new I've had it for about 7 months so I wouldn't blame you if you hadn't seen it but today I wanted to chat to you a little bit about it for those of you who are perhaps thinking about getting a nose piercing and you're not sure what to expect or perhaps you're just a little bit nosy (ha!) and want to know a bit about 'how much it hurt' or 'how can I blow my nose' or silly little things like that which I find a bit funny (but are in fact serious considerations!)

When I decided to get my nose pierced I went back and forth a great deal, I asked my family what they thought, of course they thought it was silly to put another hole in my nose, I asked my husband who as ever was so forward with his opinions and said, 'whatever you think' or 'do what you like you'll look fine either way' In fact when I was thinking about it I got outside the piercing studio about 2 or 3 times then decided against it. I googled and pinterested and instagrammed pictures of people with nose piercings to get an idea of how it would look but I didn't actually see anything that was particularly informative about aftercare or pain or anything really - which I was disheartened and a bit scared about, so I thought I would be a good little pioneer and give a full overview today. Step one I would say is to think about it long and hard - it's a bit like getting a pet I suppose - are you responsible, will you clean and look after it as you know you should and will you be patient enough for it to adjust to your face?

Choosing a piercer

Choosing a piercer for me was very easy, when I was 16 I had my lip pierced by what then was Retro Rebels (a Gothic clothing store and piercing studio on Aberdeen's George Street) then had a micro-dermal on my chest a couple of years ago (which was painful and fell out due to no fault of the piercer) and given they have been made over into Rebel Ink and in recent years have become one of the most reputable piercers and tattoo studios in the Granite City, I was confident they were the way to go. But when you are choosing a piercer yourself there is nothing better than word of mouth, speak to others who have been there, look at reviews online and of course go in and have a chat to the actual piercer to answer any and all questions you may have, and if they're not very nice or appear to brush you off, don't go there, they obviously aren't interested in the well being of their customers.

Getting your nose pierced

I still remember the day I went to get the deed done, I wasn't nervous as I am quite good with pain and I have been to the studio a few times to have tattoos done so I had already spoken to the piercer a few times previously and he is super friendly. All of the equipment used should be sterile and having been there before I had no worries (plus is just smells so clean which I love!) Unfortunately the day I went they didn't have the colour or style of stud I was going for but I was advised by my piercer which would look best (listen to yours, they are almost always right and I still have my red stud!)

The way in which the piercing is done is your piercer will draw a dot on your nostril where they think the best position for the piercing is which you will then have a look at to see if you are comfortable. They will then put a thin, hollow metal tube inside your nose to get the position of the needle on the dot and this is where it will go through.The pain itself only lasts a few seconds but I'm not going to lie, it does hurt, I would say more than a lip piercing but less than a tattoo but of course they are two very different types of pain and everybody is different but this is just my experience. There was a little bit of blood, but of course you have just had a needle go through your skin of course there is going to be a bit of blood. Needless to say I was chuffed with my new piercing and if anybody is interested it cost me £15 (for which I had a birthday voucher)

Nose Piercing Aftercare

Upon leaving the studio I was given a pamphlet about general piercing aftercare and the thing I love about a nose piercing is that it is a pretty low maintenance piercing to care for (a bit like a cat) but of course with anything you do need to be vigilant about looking after it otherwise it could become infected. Straight after having it done it did feel strange and I got worried for a while I would never be able to blow my nose in a satisfying way again, but this passes and as the swelling goes down it just feels like a part of your face and in fact I don't even notice that it is there most of the time!

I used good quality cotton pads and a saline solution every day for the first couple of weeks to keep mine clean but I did run into a couple of problems, for example sometimes you can develop something called a keloid - which is a small bump right next to the piercing and if it isn't give the proper attention can become a permanent part of your face. Thankfully mine was relatively small and with continuous cleaning it disappeared within a week but I would advise keeping make up and heavy products away from this area while it is healing (something I didn't really do!)

Today I have no issues or cleaning problems with my piercing and continue to love it just as much as when I first had it done, I can blow my nose, wash my face and do everything a regular person without a piercing can the only difference? I have some lovely bling on my face! This post has been much more long winded than I thought it would be, but honestly I just wanted to be as helpful and informative as possible when it comes to this kind of thing because it is important and I don't feel as if I could have left anything out in explaining the process and aftercare. Be sure to leave me a comment below if you have any questions, if perhaps you are thinking of getting a piercing or maybe you already have one and just wanted to add something, post it below, come share it with me on Twitter or of course if you'd like to keep up with the latest Granite City Girl posts be sure to follow me on Bloglovin'

Until next time folks, blowing my nose like a regular person.

H.Elizabeth x

Pure Gym | What to expect from your first Kettlebell Class

It has been 24 hours since my first ever kettlebell class as I type this, my muscles are sore... very sore and walking to work today was not a piece of cake as it usually is (perhaps that was an inappropriate comparison) my legs are stiff, my shoulders are stiff, in fact today I am sore in places I didn't think could possibly be sore, and I have my new Kettlebell class to thank, but you know I don't regret a minute of it! So today I thought I would share my experience of my first ever Kettlebell class at my local Pure Gym just for those of you who might be curious, fancy giving it a go or have been a bit scared at the prospect of attending class alone.

If you are a member of Pure Gym you will already be aware of the benefits. Use of quality work out equipment on a budget, convenient city centre locations and not to mention a plethora of classes you can take part in for free, which is something I have only just been brave enough to try out. One thing I will say is that if you are going to book in for a class you are going to need to download the app, these classes fill up like nothing on Earth and if you're not fast (you can book classes up to 8 days in advance) then they'll be gone before you know it and at my gym, kettlebell classes are the first to be snapped up so be fast!

Honestly I was quite nervous about starting this class and now that it's over I'm not altogether sure why, I think it was partly down to feeling like 'the new kid' in class and thinking everyone would be watching how weak I was - not the case whatsoever. The class accepts all ability levels so you don't need to worry about being able to lift something that is realistically far too heavy, for example I started off on an 8kg kettlebell (you can get a 4kg one though so no worries) and you will never feel like the new kid in the class because there will always be somebody who is just joining that week too.

There will be sweat, my gosh there will be sweat, the classes are run as a kind of circuit and you take part in one minute of really going for it and 30 seconds of active rest. My class began with standard weighted squats (you will be sick of squats by the end of this trust me) and progressed to jumping squats. From the outside looking in, as I often did before I started classes, it looked like a piece of cake (these inappropriate cake references are probably trying to tell me something) especially when you add in the swinging of your kettlebell up to head height and above your head, but after a few minutes of doing this you are going to want to throw your kettlebell away! After the class I seriously thought I would never go back again but alas and lo and behold I have already booked in for the same class again next week (the feeling and results are just that good!)

What I found really great about this class is, not only are you getting a fantastic all over body workout but the instructor helps you out with your breathing techniques (which is something I tend to overthink or get panicky about) and you really are getting the full package. Going to this class has given me the confidence when I go to the gym outwith classes to be able to pick up a kettlebell and know what I can do with it to get the greatest all over body benefits that I can.

If you are considering booking in for a weighted Pure Gym class I would really recommend this one for a beginner, you're able to pick the size of weights you feel comfortable with (get there quick for the good 'uns) and as opposed to simply working out your arms or your legs you're 'engaging your core' and getting an all over workout. Please share your own experiences of Pure Gym classes or kettlebell classes in the comments below, or come share them with me on Twitter, I would love to hear how you get on! As always if you'd like to see more from Granite City Girl be sure to follow me on Bloglovin.

Until next time folks, I'm pumping iron (sort of)

H.Elizabeth x

Being Female | Getting Measured For A Bra

Ah the joys of being a woman, not only do we get to deal with the misogynistic realities of the working world (and world in general) get paid a joyful visit from aunt flow every month and feel compelled to wage war on our weight, faces and general appearances day to day but now we have to worry about the migrating state of our 'nunga nungas'. Not that this is exactly news to the female population it's just the sad state of affairs that come hand in hand with womanhood, but a recent bra fitting in my good old local British Home Stores has given me (and my boobs) 'the fear' and today I would like to share why.

Recently I noticed a gap, more specifically, quite a large gap between my actual chest and my bra (a size which has suited me just fine since I was 18 years old) and I got a shock. Given that I have been working my bottom off in the gym I suppose I should have expected this, but being the curvy lady I am never expected to lose all of my weight from my chest first. For the first time in 4 years I was clueless (and bra-less) and after seeing a sign in BHS for a bra fitting service, something I have never ever had done before, I leapt at the opportunity for a bra revamp!

The girl who measured me was so helpful and informative and because some of you, like me, may not know how a bra is measured I'll just go over that quickly. First you are measured under your bust to get the circumference which helps workout the banded part of your bra for example I was shown to be between 36 and 38 (typical!) Then you will be measured at the fullest part of your bust to get the cup size (I believe that your band measurement is subtracted from your bust measurement and that gives the cup size) The results revealed to me that I was wearing a bra that was miles too big for me, and I mean by something like 3 or 4 sizes too big, which in turn got me thinking of the repercussions of wearing the wrong size of bra and what it really means for my general health, well-being and my 'nunga nungas'  

Wearing the wrong size of bra doesn't just effect how they look or the way in which your clothes hang (poorly if anyone was wondering) as I found there are a multitude of problems that can occur from wearing the wrong size of bra and the world has to know:

• Stretched boobs; wearing the wrong size can cause your tissue and skin to stretch resulting in, you guessed it, saggy boobs!
• Back pain; a bra that is too big doesn't offer you the support you need and you'll find yourself more hunched over with poor posture resulting in back pain.
• Back fat; yes the dreaded back fat which I thought was just a disgusting thing I had and therefore had to live with - nope bra is too tight!
• Bra gap; if you have a gap your boobs will just straight up fall out of there - thigh gap - yes please, bra gap - no thank you!
• Indigestion; strange one but I have heard that if your band is too tight it will dig into your ribs and upper stomach and can cause indigestion.

So really what began as a simple days shopping turned into a real learning experience for me and I'll be damned if I wear the wrong sized bra ever again. I feel much better in myself knowing I won't have any of the above problems (for a good while at least) and that I'm doing something small to actively benefit my own health as well as of course reaping the benefits of my clothes hanging better and generally feeling more comfortable day to day, ladies you never know the true joy of a well fitted bra until you have been measured properly, so I urge, if you do one thing in these next couple of weeks take 10 minutes to go and get yourself professionally fitted!

I hope you have enjoyed this rather school teachery, PSE esque post and at least come away knowing something you perhaps didn't know before. As always I appreciate any and all comments so be sure to leave yours below, come share your thoughts with me on Twitter, or if you'd like to stick around and see more Granite City Girl posts you can follow me on Bloglovin.

Until next time folks, holding up my 'nunga nungas'

H.Elizabeth x

Aberdeen Art and Culture | Albyn Gallery

It isn't often that I am let out of my cage enough to sample the local culture (it is a habit I am trying to break out of believe me) so when I was contacted by the PR for a local up and coming gallery in Aberdeen's West End with a unique twist to come along I practically leapt at the opportunity.
 

The Albyn Gallery, as I was to learn, plays host to over 100 pieces of unique, mostly modern, art pieces and has everything from Pino's romanticism, Disney Illustrations by Allison Lefcort (which yes is as exciting as it sounds for Disney lovers) and a plethora of works by Bill Mack, who is famed for painting classic film stars from the 1920s to the 1970s on pieces of the original Hollywood sign. The gallery is owned by the Douglas family who began collecting art a few years ago and are keen to share their love and passion for art with the public, Keith Douglas, the owner of the gallery has said, “As a family, we love art and have amassed a fantastic collection. I believe that art collections should move and evolve and, aside from some particularly sentimental pieces, I look forward to sharing my collection with others and continuing to develop what we enjoy in our home.”

But before you brush Albyn off as ' just another art gallery' let me just shed some light on how unique this collection and experience at the gallery truly is. First of all the Douglas family's passion for their collection is unrivaled, which you can tell from the way in which Keith imparts his knowledge of art, their collection and the art world in general (something I'm sure you are aware you cannot get at your run of the mill gallery) Secondly I just want to take a moment to mention some of the more unique pieces of art that really drew me in for example the Hollywood works by Bill Mack with some interesting surprises, the unique use of media by Martiros Manoukian and the wonderfully upbeat works of Dorit Levi. But for those who aren't very into art or are perhaps amateurs (like myself), don't worry the history of each piece will  be enough to satisfy your culture buds, so there really is something for everyone.

In short I thoroughly enjoyed my evening at the gallery and to be shown around by someone as passionate about art as Keith was nothing short of a delight. When you visit Albyn you'll be given nothing short of a truly unique experience that you simply don't get at your run of the mill gallery and you'll definitely come away with more nuggets of information than you'll know what to do with, and let's face it for those of us in Aberdeen such places are few and far between and we ought to grab these opportunities when we can!

 

I hope you've enjoyed this little glimpse into Aberdeen and Granite City Culture, it was lovely to be shown around the Douglas family's art gallery and I do hope you get the opportunity to book in a visit, be sure to head over to their website for a taste of what they have on offer. As always I love to hear from you so be sure to leave a comment below and if you do get a chance to go along to Albyn Art Gallery I'd love to hear about your experiences on here or on Twitter. Of course if you'd just like to see more from me and the Granite City be sure to follow me on Bloglovin.
 

Until next time folks, I'm feeling cultured and artsy.

 

H.Elizabeth x

Wishlist | Fitness Fashion

It has been some time since I have done a wishlist post, in fact I think it may be coming on to 2 or 3 months since I last did one of these, and this is mainly because I have been on a rather dire spending ban and you know avoiding temptation is the best way to keep your word. Of course this didn't stop me from fantastically obliterating my bank balance within one week of payday last month, but today I bring you a different kind of wishlist, a wishlist that I myself deem as far more practical and of use to me than the aesthetic wants and needs I usually face and that my friends is a fitness wish list.

 

It's no secret that in the recent weeks I have stepped up my gym game, attending some classes, gymming it 3 times a week and walking at every given opportunity (I have successfully only taken the bus 3 or 4 times this year!) but of course with this upsurge in activity I have found myself seriously lacking in appropriate attire (I literally have 2 vests, 2 pairs of exercise trousers, 2 sports bras and 1 pair of trainers- isn't that just a bit sad?) so today I thought I would share my latest wants and honestly needs from the world of fitness, fashion and sports.

BooHoo Jazzy Panelled Leggings
I've been on the hunt for some jazzier leggings for working out for a little while now, I keep seeing people in the gym with all of these fabulous printed sports trousers and leggings and I'm so jealous! So I resolve, now that I have lost a bit more weight I'm no longer going to hide away on the corner treadmill with the same old black workout trousers instead I'm getting jazzy with it!

Sweaty Betty Seamless Pants
Now really, what are these if not practical? I always worry when I'm in the gym that everybody is going to see my pants because of a lot of impractical choices on my part admittedly for my undergarments, but now I have found a solution! I think.

Invisibobbles
These may be the greatest thing since sliced bread. I first discovered the invisibobble when it came with one of my Glamour Beauty Boxes last year and I loved wearing them, they didn't pull on my hair, rip anything from my head and they gave me kink free styles which was a bonus! Of course being the klutz that I so well and truly am I have already lost ALL of my invisibobbles and can definitely be doing with some for the gym!

Resistance Bands
As a self confessed slave to trend, seeing these around my gym has made me want one! They seem so versatile and I think they could help me in a variety of ways (especially if I get scared off the weights again!) and given that I'm feeling incredibly bored of cardio at the moment a resistance band may be a nice change of pace in terms of weight and strength training.

Eco Yoga Mat
In short, I have been a cheap skate in the last year. I picked up my yoga mat in a sale at TK Maxx about a year ago just because I fancied one, but little did I know at the time it would become a weekly fitness staple, a staple I might add that has been getting on my wick. As you're of course meant to, during yoga or floor exercises I sweat quite a bit and as a recent experience of downward facing dog almost turned into a trip to A & E  due to a rather spectacular face plant I decided it was time to retire my old mat and search for something bigger and better (preferably slip proof and sturdier!)

I hope you've enjoyed this very rare wishlist today I hope this has inspired you in some small healthy, fitness related way and really I apologise as I have been so selfish trying to give myself a little bit more of a kick up the backside. Of course leave your comments below I would love to know what is on your wishlist or if you think there is something I should add to mine let me know! As always catch me on Twitter for a wee chat or if you'd like to keep up with the latest Granite City posts be sure to follow me on Bloglovin.

Until next time folks, feeling fit!

H.Elizabeth x

Worst Dressed Lists | Harmless fun or a backstep for feminism?

As we wave goodbye to another awards season you'll, like me, have been over saturated of late with the latest and greatest fashion has to offer, with best dressed lists appearing in magazines, online and of course on fashion blogs all over the world, but today I want to talk about the flip side of our best dressed idols, today I take a stand and make a case against the worst dressed lists of the world.

Since the dawn of fashion we have had an ranking system of fabulous and faux pas and throughout the years I will hold my hands up and admit they have been my guilty pleasure. Spare 5 minutes on a lunch break I'm flicking through a magazine looking at the latest and greatest of the fashion industry but I'm also looking at the supposedly shoddy statements the fashion and particularly celebrity world has to offer, and this year I feel the internet in particular has been rife with negativity surrounding this subject recently and I just want to say today, it's not okay!

Put yourself in their position for a moment if you will, you're off for a night on the town to celebrate a year of hard work and dedication to your craft (I suppose it's much like our office Christmas parties minus the pressure) You've had a look on your mind for some time now, your hair, make up and outfit have undoubtedly been a year in the making, you put on your glad rags feeling like a million bucks and you're off for a night of fun, frolics and glamour. Except you're not and that is never made more evident than when looking online, in the newspapers and in magazines of the coming months. instead what you're really in for is an evening of being picked apart by strangers, cameras flashed in your face when you least expect it and god forbid, what if you need to scratch your nose when you're there?! But I digress, you flick open the pages of your favourite magazine and lo and behold there you are shamed and slated for the very outfit you have been planning for months, heartbreaking is the only way that can be described.

In a world where feminism now reigns supreme. in magazines, online and in day to day life, how can it be justified for one woman to so publicly name and shame another for their appearance, dress sense or style? Surely this is a counterproductive method of sharing in girl and lady power alike, and not to mention in poor taste! Are we scraping the barrel so much so in the journalism and writing world that all we have left to talk about are the fashion faux pas of the rich and famous surely not!? As a suggestion (which I highly doubt anybody will heed but it must be said) why not simply celebrate the diversity in fashion and celebrity culture we have today? And if you dislike a look just don't include it, this appears to me to be a basic pre schooler lesson, 'If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all,'

But of course as some of you will be screaming out at me through your screens we are reaching somewhat of a turning point in the fashion world, with journalists (good ones anyway) ranking actors and actresses in particular on their craft and talent over  'who they're wearing' or 'how long it took to get styled' and with campaigns such as 'Ask her more' reigning supreme on our television screens, and of course the imminent descent of shows such as Fashion Police I feel we are only paving the way for bigger and better things in both the fashion world and world of film, music and celebrity.

Style for me, much like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder and with personal tastes as varied as ever I think this is a time where we can learn from one another as opposed to criticizing each others choices. Let me know what your guys opinions of the 'Worst Dressed' lists circulating the internet are, do you perhaps agree with them? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments box below or come Tweet them at me and as always if you'd like to keep up with the latest Granite City Girl posts you can follow me on Bloglovin'

Until next time folks, I'm going to rock my 'worst dressed' frock.

H.Elizabeth x

Aberdeen Events | Colour Me Rad 5K

Hello everyone, I'm back with another Aberdeen event announcement that I am pleased to report I will be attending and taking part in with one of my nearest and dearests and that is the Colour Me Rad 5K Run.
 

As I understnad Colour Me Rad have been around for quite a while now, taking their events all over the UK and inspiring similar events all over the world but we have never had one take place in Aberdeen until this year and I am super excited to be a part of it (although due to popular demand I almost wasn't!) The basic premise behind the run is a celebration of colour, positivity and fitness, unlike other 5K runs, Colour Me Rad fire off blazes of colour canons, colour bombs and mortar at intervals throughout, decorating your city (as well as your clothes, hair, face and everything else) with all the colours of the rainbow.

 

Registration cost £20 and with that you get a tshirt, a pair of 'rad' sunglasses, a temporary tattoo and a colour bomb (received at the end of the run) to throw at your friends and family to spread some colour and joy (although if someone cuts me off or is rude they may get this in the fizog) A portion of the proceeds go to a local charity in each location and in Aberdeen's case this is Northsound's Cash For Kids. This years race takes part on the 6th of June at the Beach Boulevard, and if this sounds like something you're interested in attending be sure to book your place ASAP as spaces are selling fast!

 

In the past I have taken part  in many runs, races and 10K runs but none like this, and I am really looking forward to it on the day if it isn't raining of course then it's just like that sad bit in Mary Poppin's where Bert's chalk drawings wash away! For more information and dates for Colour Me Rad visit their website.
 

Until next time folks, colouring myself rad!
 

H.Elizabeth x

Mothers Day Gift Idea | Cakes By Post with Baker Days

If you, like me, have been struggling a little bit in the gift ideas department for Mothers Day then this revolutionary new service (for people wit a sweet tooth anyway) may just be what you have been looking for. A few weeks ago I was approached by Baker Days, an online cake delivery service who specialize in personalized cakes and cupcakes for any and all occasions (and I mean all occassions - they have a Ryan Gosling cake for goodness sake, yummy in more than one way I suppose!) and they asked me if I would be interested in giving my own mum the gift of a letter box cake in celebration of mothers day, which of course as an avid cake lover I jumped at!


Upon looking a bit more into their services I found that Baker Days are no one trick ponies, with services ranging from letter box cakes to large personalized cakes, photo cakes and even cupcakes, with next working day delivery if ordered before 2pm and not to mention they are incredibly delicious I think this is a service that is certainly due to take off in 2015! There is something a little bit more satisfying about not having to move from the comfort of your own home for a cake (the former fat kind in me beams at the thought!) all you need to do is choose your design, size, sponge flavour (they also do fruit cakes, dairy free and gluten free so something for everyone!), give them your address and you're good to go.

The letter box cakes come in a white box which is well packaged and I was very pleased to find that the postal service hadn't damaged the box or contents (I have not had the best relations with the postal services!) Here is what the cake itself comes in, a beautiful little tin that you can keep after you've demolished the innards along with a little card, pamphlet about Baker Days and a small pack of love heart sweets. Even before we got the tin open we could smell the cake, it was all butter-creamy and mouthwatering, the tin was incredibly difficult to open although given it has to go through postal to arrive this can only be a good thing. The design I chose doesn't look exactly like the design on the website  it is a bit blurry but nothing was majorly out of place. Now I hear you scream, 'but how did it taste?' well we were able to get four portions out of the cake and it tasted delicious, and it makes me squeamish too but as it was a mothers day cake I had to get the lady of the hours verdict, summed up by one word, 'moist' and when it comes to cake that's really all you need (the Mary Berry in me coming out!)

Given that the cake went down an absolute treat with my mum, dad and my hubby I would say Baker Days have it nailed for Mothers Day, Fathers Day, birthdays and all manner of occasions (and I'm not kidding when I say they have something for everyone!) and they've definitely struck a chord with me! If you know anyone who would love to receive not only a personalised card (which we are incredibly saturated with in the UK) but a personalised cake they could actually enjoy head over to Baker Days just now and have a browse of their amazing range! If you'd like to share a similar service with me of course I'm all ears, drop me a comment below, come Tweet at me or if you'd like to keep up with the latest Granite Cit Girl antics, adventures and reviews be sure to follow me on Bloglovin!

Until next time folks, drooling over a new kind of Ryan Gosling!

H.Elizabeth x

Domestic Goddess | Chilli chicken and chorizo potato skins

Hello again, back today with yet another domestic goddess themed post, what can I say I feel I am on a culinary roll at the moment, and I thought since I always seem to share sweet snacks (which admittedly I am obsessed with) I'm going to change it up and offer a savoury in the form of my sweet chilli chicken and chorizo potato skins (anybody have a quippier name for them? all ears!)

I was inspired to make these by Pinterest (although their recipe revolved around sour cream, cheese and bacon) as well as an odd combination of ingredients that were left in my fridge at the end of a busy week, and as it turns out it was honestly the best thing I ate the entire week and has quickly become one of our favourite dinner dishes to make after work. These are super quick to make, require very little skill and are delicious!



Equipment

Bowl

Microwave

Microwavable Plate

Sharp Knife

Frying pan

Spoon (for scooping)

Ingredients

5 Baking Potatoes

Extra Virgin Olive Oil (or any oil really)

Ready to eat sweet chilli chicken (2 packs)

Philadelphia Sweet Chilli Spread
Diced Chorizo
Cheese (grated to sprinkle)

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 200°C. Wash your potatoes well and dry with a clean dishtowel.
2. Coat the potatoes lightly in your olive oil and place on your microwavable plate. Microwave the potatoes (5 mins per potato so for 5 you will need 25 minutes) so they are soft and easy to cut.
3. In the final 10 minutes of your potatoes cooking in the microwave heat up your chicken in the frying pan then add the sweet chilli spread. Make sure you coat all the chicken in the sauce which should now go a bit runny having been warmed up.
4. Remove potatoes from the microwave and leave to cool for 5 minutes until you can comfortably handle them (or dive right in if you're impatient like me!) Cut them in half and then spoon out the potato inside (leave a little bit in so they aren't just skin and fall to bits!)
5. Once you have your 10 skins, scoop in your sweet chilli chicken mixture, add your diced chorizo to the top and sprinkle with a bit of cheese (optional)
6. Put these in the oven for about 15 minutes until the skins are slightly burnt (that's how I like 'em)
7. Leave to cool for another 5 minutes and then tuck in and enjoy.

Serving suggestion:

Use the mash that you had taken out of the potatoes as a side to your skins or you can put it back on top to make a nice lid for your skins.

 

These are really lovely to have as leftovers too, I often find myself making slightly more just so I can take them to work the next day and let me tell you they are often the envy of my colleagues.These are so versatile and can  be swapped and switched around for different things, for example you can put chilli in your skins and if you're feeling particularly health conscious you can even swap your potato for a pepper (obviously you don't need to microwave the pepper though!) Please do let me know if you give these a go or if you have your own spin on these, of course you don't have to follow this to the letter you can mix it up and have any filling you like, I am actually tempted to try a fajita mix in my next ones. Leave any comments or suggestions for new recipes to try below, come share them with me on Twitter or of course if you'd like to see more recipes, reviews and recommendations you can follow Granite City Girl on Bloglovin!

Until next time folks, mashin' tatties.

H.Elizabeth x

Aberdeen Events | Shoes and Sparkle with Union Square

Hello everyone, I just thought I would take this opportunity to tell you about an event that I will be attending in the Granite City next week that I am super excited about that features food, fashion, frolics, and to boot (pun very much intended) it is in my favourite shopping centre, Union Square.

The event is called 'Shoes and Sparkle' and will be held on the 5th of March from 5pm in the stylish setting of Valeries Brasserie Cafe. The event is free to attend and hosts brands such as Dune, Clarks, Sole Trader and Deichmann who will be showcasing their SS15 collections with an informal showing and a bit of background surrounding the inspiration behind the designs and trends of the season. Plus I hear there is going to be quite a nice little discount for shoes purchased on the evening!

A representative of Union Square has said it is set to be the 'ultimate celebration of all things shoes' now if that isn't enough to get shoe-a-holics hearts racing then I don't know what is. I'm really looking forward to going along on the evening to see the collections they have in store, and  of course potentially meeting some other fashion, beauty and shopping enthusiasts and bloggers (not sure what this is going to do to my bank balance though!)

As the saying goes 'Give a girl the right pair of shoes and she will conquer the world'

Until next time folks, I'm looking out my gladrags.

H.Elizabeth xx