THINGS TO WATCH IN ISOLATION!

I am so thankful for all the amazing talents in the world who contribute to the Entertainment industry. If not for the many projects available via Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+, YouTube, (including IGTV) and the rest, there would be little in the way of positive distractions at this time.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to watch almost everything on my watch list and wanted to share with you some of the ones I've loved! Be sure to click on each title for more info. In no order of significance…

DISNEY+

Ruby Bridges (factual, historical and empowering)

NETFLIX

Self-Made (based on true events, funny, inspiring)
Coffee and Kareem (super talented cast, great movie)

The Town (emotional rollercoaster fusing love and crime)

Money Heist (a fast, intense political thrill set in Spain!)

The Sun Is Also a Star (a teen romance with some thought-provoking narration and a brilliant soundtrack)
Miracle in Cell No. 7 (one that will tug at the heartstrings. It literally brought me to tears; actual weeping!)
Extraction (starring 'Mr Too Hot' aka Chris Hemsworth, this action-thriller is a mix of adventure, comedy and a lot of gore and I LOVED it!!)

T.V.

Made in Chelsea (my not so guilty 'reality tv' pleasure since 2011 - it follows the lives of wealthy individuals in their 20s and early 30s who live in West London and travel to the most beautiful locations around the world). Noughts + Crosses (a well-performed story about a young couple who fight to be together while living in a state divided by colour. It's very powerful!)

In all honesty, I rarely watch television. I occasionally watch Good Morning Britain just to keep up to date with important world events, but, apart from the titles mentioned, I don't watch much else. I find T.V. quite boring these days.

AMAZON PRIME

Hidden Figures (true story, powerful performances, motivational movie)

An Angel Has Fallen (following on from London Has Fallen (2016) and Olympus Has Fallen (2013) this is another gripping action movie!)

YOUTUBE

The Michalaks - mini-films produced by the head of the household, Stefan, which strike an amazing balance between capturing everyday shenanigans and cinematic scenes that serve to stir up the emotions of each viewer in the best possible way. This family is beyond endearing. I have such a soft spot for them and have been a subscriber to their channel for years before the couple had children! Their content is stunning and often insightful, real talk!

Which movies, programmes, projects, music artists, or youtube channels are you currently loving?

Stay home, keep safe. A better version of life (but still as we know it) is just around the corner!

Charley x

AN HONEST LETTER TO MY YOUNGER SELF

Dear Beautiful, Fierce, Confident, Inquisitive, Multi-talented, Young Charley,

These are some things you ought to know and understand before you enter adulthood...

Fall in love with yourself first.

Health should be your number 1 priority.
Achieving long-term happiness is a goal worth having!
People, everywhere, will treat you how you allow them to.
Racism and discrimination may be an ongoing challenge. Stay dignified.
Many employers/senior staff members will abuse their power simply because they can!!!!
Not every Landlord or council will do right by you even though you are a responsible, reliable tenant.

Have solo adventures.
Not all who tell you they are your friend will be true.
Speak your mind, but, think before you open your mouth!
Apply logic - illogical action is often the taking of risks not worth taking.
You are naturally funny which is a good thing – everybody likes to laugh.

You are SO deserving of success.

Your worth and value combined are infinite.
To achieve you must commit and be consistent.
Pay close attention to that speech by President Obama in 2014!
Negative opinions are mostly born from insecurity and ignorance.
If you're seen as a competitor you may be socially excluded and kept out of the 'opportunities' loop.

Family is not limited to those on the bloodline to which you were born.
Live in the present moment for nothing else beyond that is guaranteed!
Being a woman doesn't necessarily mean becoming a mother and catering to a man!!
Try to learn and apply (sooner than later) the lessons gained from every experience you have.

Listen to your mum - she really does know best!
You'll always be better off staying true to who you are at your core. 
If you choose to change, make sure you do so for yourself not others.
There is nothing wrong with (secretly) wishing you were an only child.
Look for the positives in every negative - perspective can be everything.
Fight for what you believe in - fight with your heart; instinctively, but also listen to your mind.

Your body, your terms. Always!!
See failure as a redirection; a learning curve and the chance to grow.
Anxiety is going to be something you will battle with but, eventually, you will win.
It's important to be educated, but formal education is not everything you'll be told it is.
Any confusion about who you are, or who you are to become, is natural and normal. Be patient.
Remember: you are loved, you are wanted, you are appreciated and you are gorgeous. Head to toe!

Yours wholeheartedly,
Adult Charley x x

P.s. God truly is love!

LOCKDOWN GLOW UP!

While essential, self-care isn't just about pampering yourself with face masks, a body scrub, a fresh set of nails, or a new haircut, having a social media detox, a solo adventure, etc. It also involves working on your mental and emotional health. To do that, some choose to meditate, to practise yoga or indulge in motivational podcasts, and then there are those who create music (their own therapy and light relief) to empower others. One such person is the remarkably talented songwriter and singer, Eve-Yasmine Saoud-Easton.

Eve-Yasmine happens to be a very dear friend of mine whom I have known for roughly 10 years and I am definitely one who is forever inspired and moved by her courageous grind (her solo trip to L.A. comes to mind) in pursuit of her career and life goals. She truly is a wonderful person and I love her so much!

Her recent lyrical inspiration is titled Glow Up and she certainly has! You've got to watch her lay down her glowy sass in her video (link below) which offers a visual stimulus to the audience. Colourful, fun, quirky and edgy all at the same time.

Once a keen and refreshingly unique T.V. and stage presenter, Eve-Yasmine (Eve) has always wanted to uplift and encourage everybody around her to pursue their dreams and succeed in whatever they choose to do. So, it makes me super happy to see her achieving her own through consistency, determination, diligence, tenacity, courage, a big heart and always with a smile in a bid to inspire others. This fierce work ethic and drive is no doubt the reason why in March 2020, Eve was blessed with her biggest career opportunity to date - her debut headline gig at London's 02 in Islington!

Before a packed audience of fans and loved ones, she graced the stage to deliver her easy-listening vocals to the backing of feel-good beats courtesy of her amazing live band and assisted by two beautiful backing vocalists (her lovely best friend, Andriah and Eve's stunning sister, Mia). A delightful treat of positive vibes and motivation with every song, but, especially the aptly penned Glow Up which served a hearty and timely dose of inspiration.

Even throughout this surreal time, Eve continues to seek out opportunities to help her maintain an optimistic focus and earlier this month she featured on Roc Nation's Instagram Live with their senior A&R! Singing with ease and that beaming smile of hers, Eve wowed and entertained all who tuned in. It was epic!!

You would be wise to follow Eve-Yasmine's career and can do so via the links below.

Eve-Yasmine on Instagram

Tweet Eve-Yasmine

Subscribe to Eve-Yasmine's YouTube

Follow Eve-Yasmine on Facebook

Stream music by Eve-Yasmine on Spotify

Thank God for the talented musicians/artists in this world, for where would we be without music?

Charley x

7 WAYS TO BE PRODUCTIVE AT HOME

Get your place in order! 
When was the last time you cleared out your cupboards, especially your kitchen drawers? I did mine and it felt SO good to have thrown out the mess I didn't even realise I had. It's always a good idea to do a spring clean and now, unless you're working from home and are swamped with work (although you can still factor in some time for housework), is as good a time as any.

What's happening with that DIY project?

I had some framed quotes to put up on the walls and a build-up of mould in a pocket area of my home which I knew I'd be able to tackle myself, but, I kept putting it off with the excuse being that I was tired after long days at work or too busy doing other things. Not anymore! Quarantine got me indoors with nothing BUT time, so, I dealt with the frames and the mould like a specialist and am very happy with the results. I also know of a relative who is finally upgrading their garden and I saw on Instagram that positive influence couple Louise Thompson and Ryan Libbey was doing some painting and rearranging their home which is super encouraging. Get your DIY project done too, and share your achievements to inspire others.

That New Gig

What have you wanted to do or start for the longest time, which, with the world of excuses, you continue to put off? A podcast? An online business? A support group? A community endeavour? Learn a new language? Teach yourself how to Tye-dye? Whatever it may be, it makes sense to invest in yourself today, right now. Plan, research and draft a clear outline of the steps then, if possible (subject to self-isolation protocol), get started. It's always worth having a try than wondering if you would have ever succeeded. Go on, you've got this; I believe in you!

Pause, Reflect and Write

I've kept a gratitude jar for years, as you will already know if you've followed my blog or social media accounts for a while and recently I decided to keep a Positive Notes Journal which I update every evening before bed. I use it to note all the good that has happened during the day, to write a prayer for the week and to set myself a minimum of one goal to be completed between Monday and Friday. So far, I'm doing well and whenever I experience a challenging day, it's my journal that helps me to focus only on the positives (even if they are the same each day) and that sets my vibe quite nicely for the following morning.

There is SO much to gain from reading

You should know by now how much I love a good book. I have read tons and will only read those that are funny, inspiring, educational, positively encouraging or will have me learn something about myself. At the time of publishing this blog post, I am currently reading Unfiltered by the actress Lily Collins and it's such an easy read. Packed with uplifting accounts of significant moments in her life, Lily expressively shares her ups and downs all in the name of helping you to realise your own greatness. If you don't like to read books, try searching online for empowering quotes and maybe create a collection of them that you can save and refer to should you need a motivational boost.

Health and Fitness Overhaul 

This is a goal for most, if not all - physical and internal self-improvement. It was in 2016 that I began to take my own lifestyle more seriously. I looked at what I was consuming on a daily basis and how it was affecting me - the people around me, my place of work, my home life, the literature I was reading, my online activity, events I was attending, the food I was eating and what I was either doing too much or too little of. Although I continue to regularly assess everything, I have done well to overhaul my lifestyle. Your wellbeing should always be your top priority! This global pandemic we're currently facing is an opportunity to focus on improving the quality of your life.

One of the YouTube channels I sometimes go-to for workout videos is Pop Sugar Fitness - I find that they are really effective and can be done quite easily at home!

Complete that Registration, mate!

The online course you've been considering has your name all over it and if for whatever reason it is no longer available, that's okay, there's another one that has your spot reserved. Whether you want to learn how to cook/bake, refresh your sewing ability, take a job-specific development programme or write for stage and screen, the time is NOW, especially if the course is FREE - GET ON IT!! Stay busy by adding to your core skills and strengthening your employment prospects.

For the good of your mental and emotional wellbeing, it's better to remain active, productive, to keep a routine and to maintain a balance between being proactive and resting.

No pressure, just give it your best shot - do right by yourself, always.
Charley x

Are you self-isolating? Do you have a routine? What does it consist of? Is it beneficial to you?