What I read in 2015

Last year I set myself the challenge of reading 30 books over the years which I tracked my progress on on goodreads. I'm absolutely gutted that I didn't achieve my goal of 30, especially because I was only 1 book off!! So I read a whopping 29 books which I'm still pretty impressed with. So, here's my 2015 book review

2016 Blogging Goals

After taking part in the BDIB chat on twitter on Monday night, I decided to write a whole post on my goals and aims for KTMY in the next 12 months. The whole chat was about blogging goals and a year in blogging which inspired me to set myself some targets numbers wise and also have some other aims for what I want to do this year with blogging. I decided that if I shared it with you all a) I'd be more likely to achieve it as it's written down, b) it's nice to share it with you all and c) I can look back this time next year and see how much the blog has grown. 

So numbers wise, here's what I hope to achieve in the next year: 

Twitter : 2000 followers

Facebook : 100 likes

Instagram : 1000 followers

Pinterest : 100 followers

Bloglovin' : 500 followers

Get to 75,000 page views (currently on 25,195)

I know that some of these are going to be tough, especially Pinterest, but I want to aim high so I've got something to work too. Some other goals I have for this year is:

Start a YouTube Channel

Go to (a few?!) blogger events

Meet up with some of the lovely bloggers I talk to all the time/have previously met 

So there's my 2016 blogging goals. Let me know in the comments below what some of your 2016 goals are and don't forget to take part in the 2015 reader survey!

2015 Sales Picks

I absolutely adore reading sales haul posts and as my 2014 one was quite popular, I thought I'd share with you some of the things I picked up this year. 

Lets start with what I bought online on christmas day first. These aren't pictured because I haven't actually got them yet because ya know, postal delivery is weird in the last week of the year. Anywho, I bought a gorgeous Poncho Top from Topshop and the Soap and Glory: The Whole She-Bang set which I'd wanted to get before Christmas but just never got around to it (FYI I just looked online to link it and can't find it so I'm assuming you can only get it in store now). But it looks so good and it's got all my faves in plus a few I haven't tried so I might do a post on it when it's been delivered. 

Now, onto the stuff I actually do have! I adore New Look sales; it's one of the only times I go in now as their sales are so good and have so many things I want. I managed to control myself and only got two things which were the burgundy/maroon t-shirt which was only £3 and then a gorgeous pinstriped shirt which has a slight dip hem. The t-shirt is very basic with a little pocket detail and I love wearing tops like this because they're really comfy and versatile. And I'm a sucker for anything with a stripe and anything which is a shirt so a striped shirt is the dream! It's super soft and the neck line is a bit different as it's not an actual collar which is different to my other shirts. 

Now, this jumper/sweatshirt/top thing I got from H&M I am actually in love with it! Overall, I was disappointed with H&Ms sale but when I saw this little gem, I picked it up straight away. A few weeks ago I bought a similar one which is blue with tigers on it (I wore it in this instagram photo) and can't stop wearing it. I love the geometric pattern of this top, and the fact that it's monochrome, and it's so comfy on; I'm actually wearing it right now. It's surprisingly really soft and quite warm too. 

My final pick is the Pineapple Gym Kit which has a really cool water bottle with some hair bobbles, body lotion and body wash. I found this in boots in store (I never saw it online) and I really wanted the water bottle as it was a really good size as it's actually quite big and will be perfect for doing fruit infused water too. I wasn't that fussed about the things inside but I tried the body lotion last night and it's actually really nice and it has quite a fresh smell. 

So that's some of my sales picks! Let me know in the comments below what some of your favourite sales pieces have been and don't forget to take part in the 2015 reader survey!

KTMY turns 1! + 2015 Reader Survey

Today KTMY turns 1! I can't believe it's been a whole year since I started on this little adventure and the whole experience has been so amazing. From the introduction post I wrote one whole year ago today to getting my first post to get 100 views and then really finding my blogging voice when I introduced my stoma. I've met so many great people along the way (you all know who you are, I hope!) and even got to attend my first blogging event this month (hopefully the first of many!.

I can't wait to see what the next year of blogging brings; hopefully it will be full of improved content, going to more events and getting to meet some of the amazing blogger friends I've made along the way!

To help me get an idea of it all, I've created a reader survey for you all and would be so grateful if you could take 5 minutes out of your day to fill it in

Here's to another year!

Katie xo

Click here to fill out the 2015 Reader Survey

10 Favourite Festive Films

As christmas is nearly upon us, I thought I'd share with you my 10 favourite films to watch over the festive season.

My First Blogger Event | #LeedsXmasMeet

Well this is a long post coming! At the beginning of the month (December 5th to be exact) I put on my christmas jumper, hopped on a train to Leeds and headed to The Black Swan for a blogger christmas meet up organised by the lovely Rhianna.

Before heading to the event, I met up with Krystal and Kate at the station which was so nice because I was quite nervous and it was nice to head over to the event with some lovely people (and luckily they knew the way too!). Once we got to the event, we sat down on a table with some other bloggers and instantly got talking to Sophie and Bee and the whole atmosphere was so friendly and my nerves went instantly as I realised just how great everyone was. I also met the gorgeous Kariss who had the most amazing vintage style and christmas themed dress which was beautiful (there's a post on her blog all about the outfit!) and Lucy who actually came dressed as a christmas tree in a very stylish way, so stylish in fact that she one the best dressed competition! 

As I said before, the event was held at The Black Swan, a place I'd never been before but will definitely be going again! We were in the upstairs room and it was decorate so christmassy and it was a really nice, chilled atmosphere. There was a really cute cupcake decorating station however I sadly didn't have time to check it out and have a go because I was talking to so many people! 

One thing we were all looking forward too was the raffle. Rhianna had been telling us how good it was going to be and boy did she not disappoint! There were so many amazing prizes (alas I didn't win any) ranging from Moo beauty products to light up signs (which are on every bloggers want list) to stationary and even some hair straighteners! Seriously, there wasn't one prize which I didn't want! 

And the goodie bag we all received at the end was amazing as well. I've been using one of the Manuka Doctor face masks religiously since the event and it has left my skin feeling amazing an the Moo lip balm is really nice too; I might do a post in the future on reviewing some of the products too. 

All in all, my first blogger event was really fun and I can't wait to go to some more in the new year! Yes, I was really anxious but I got over it and it was definitely worth it because I got to meet so many new bloggers (and, as a result, now have even more blogs I like to read!) and just have a good time and made some new friends! 

#7daysofIBD | Booked in to see the dietitian

I love food. I always have and I always will. The only problem is that food doesn't always like me. For the past two and a half years I've lost weight from UC, gained weight from steroids, lost it again and now I'm slowly trying to gain the weight again.

I think a noticeable symptom of IBD is the weight loss; months before I was diagnosed my dance teacher actually asked if I was okay because she could notice that I'd lost that much weight. There's also the noticeable weight gain if you have prednisolone (or any steroid) and you get the munchies and the dreaded moon face. I would insert a picture of my said moon face however I still shudder slightly at some of the photos where I have a massive head but hardly any meat on me (prom photos, I'm looking at you!).

After a bad flare of over a month and two weeks in hospital, when I did finally come out I had lost so much weight (and a lot of muscle) and I was actually really freaked out at how thin my arms and legs were. Slowly but surely I've been putting the weight back on and thought nothing of it really, I like to think I'm looking a lot more healthy now, however last time I was at the hospital being weighed, I'd started to loose some weight again so I have finally been referred to the dietitian to have a look at my diet and try and gain some weight from it.

My first appointment is in two weeks so once I've been, I'll fill you in on what happened!


If you want more information, head over to the Crohn's and Colitis charity website, go and have a search of the #7daysofIBD and read about other peoples lives with IBD and get involved yourself in the hashtag and finally, donate to the charity by texting DAYS22 £3 to 70070.

Side note, sorry for not posting yesterday (hence why two posts today). My house has been very badly flooded with Storm Desmond so I was busy trying to get in touch with family and didn't have time to write the post as in the day I was at a blogging event (more on that later) but my family are safe now :)

#7daysofIBD | A Day in the Life with IBD

I have to say that if I'd done this last year when I had active colitis in my whole colon this Day in the life would've included a hell of a lot more toilet trips in it; instead, it's a lot more relaxed! I've based this of my day yesterday where I was having a very good day and did a lot so here we go...

4am - empty stoma bag

7.45am - wake up to a leak of my mucus fistula bag. Luckily I had to get up at eight anyways and it had only just leaked so it wasn't too bad. It tends to leak quite often as I've ran out of Coloplast Brava Strips (available from SecuriCare) and they're not coming till next week. The last but of my colon is still quite active with colitis so there is blood which comes into the bag along. So yeah, impromptu bag change

8am - breakfast which was some yoghurt with jam mixed in. Accompanied with a cup of tea, a bottle of water and listening to Chris Evans Breakfast show

8.45am - Another bag empty

9.15am  - Set off for uni.

9.30am -10.30am - Business Law lecture. Big bottle of water necessary to keep hydrated as I'm always really thirsty in the morning from not having a drink in the night

11am - Went to Costa Coffee with one of my friends. I've been trying a few of the christmas drinks but this year I'm really not feeling them! I think I'll stick to my normal decaf latte

12pm -2pm - Christmas Shopping!! I decided to get really organised and I bought some presents and all the wrapping. I had a water with me and some breakfast biscuits to keep me going and not get too hungry/thirsty whilst I'm out and to stop my stoma from gurgling too much!

2pm-3pm - Back at the flat, I had a lunch of a Greggs sausage roll! Before surgery, that would have left me in so much pain and on the toilet for the rest of the day so now that I can eat them, I like to treat myself to one every now and them. I caught up with the latest episode of Once Upon A Time and had some Lucozade sport as well as I still felt a bit dehydrated and lucozade sport does really help with rehydration.

3pm-5pm - Back out into town to do some more christmas shopping! I feel quite accomplished actually as I've only got one person left to buy for!

5pm - 6pm - I had a rest. A nice cup of tea and watched some videos on YouTube. I'm not going to lie, my back was hurting quite a bit from been stood up and walking for quite a bit so it was nice to have a proper sit down and chill

6pm - bag empty. Note to anyone with an ostomy, always empty your bag before you eat because you never feel like doing it afterwards

6pm-7pm - TEA TIME!! I cooked pasta with a tomato sauce (including peas, a yellow pepper, onions, garlic with some oregano and basil) with salmon in and garlic bread and it actually tasted really nice.

7pm onwards - I wrapped up all the presents I bought whilst watching the soaps, TFI Friday and I'm A Celeb and wrote this blog post. My joints were starting to ache quite a bit so I used this heat lamp  thing which help with joint pain  and put my feet up!

10pm - PJs are on with a nice cup of tea and tucked up in bed. Wild Friday night, I know but I've had quite a long, full day and I've got a very busy day tomorrow (today for you) as I'm going to Leeds for a blogger event and I want to be awake and ready for a fun filled day!

10.20pm - Another mucus fistula bag change...luckily I saw it had come off a bit before it started to leak!

11pm - Last bag empty of the day and time for bed

If you want more information, head over to the Crohn's and Colitis charity website, go and have a search of the #7daysofIBD and read about other peoples lives with IBD and get involved yourself in the hashtag and finally, donate to the charity by texting DAYS22 £3 to 70070.

#7daysofIBD | 5 things I've learnt from having IBD

It's very easy to look at the bad side of having a chronic illness however it probably doesn't do you much good to dwell on that side of things because having IBD has actually taught me a lot of good things too.

1. How to time manage effectively having IBD means that you never know when you're going to have a bad day or a good day. Because of this, I got into a pretty good work ethic of doing work when I get it rather than leaving it to the last minute to try and make sure I don't get behind on work. Also, by doing work early it can reduce your stress levels which can help relieve IBD symptoms (stress always made my flares 10 times worse)

2. Appreciate the good days like I said, you never know when the good days are coming and when they do, you really do appreciate them. However, you do have to balance getting everything you want to do in a good day but not make yourself so tired that you have a bad day the next (if that makes sense!)

3. How the digestive system actually works I feel like I know how the digestive system works incredibly well now! I know which foods are good, which are bad, which foods are anti inflammatory...if you ever need to know something about the digestive system, I'm your gal!

4. How to relax/ binge watch tv Arguably I'm not the best at this all the time but I've got a lot better at just sitting down and watching tv/films or actually going to have a nap when I need one. Admittedly, I still do run about like a mad woman and refuse to let the tiredness win which inevitably leaves me absolutely shattered (this happened today!) but I am working on it

5. How amazing my friends/family they are always there to help me and cheer me up. So thank you :)

 If you want more information, head over to the Crohn's and Colitis charity website, go and have a search of the #7daysofIBD and read about other peoples lives with IBD and get involved yourself in the hashtag and finally, donate to the charity by texting DAYS22 £3 to 70070.

#7daysofIBD | Why I'm Grateful for my Stoma

Having IBD is draining and when you get told you have to have surgery for it, you start to wonder how you ended up the way you are but I have to say I am very grateful for my stoma (even though I do complain about it sometimes) and I feel like the last 24 hours I realised how much better I am than I was last year.

It's been a whirlwind of 24 hours as I did a flying visit home to go and see Diversity. Rushing to the train station, I took the hour and a half train journey home. It's so nice to be able to get on the train and not have to worry about going to the toilet umpteen times.

Then me and my mum went to pizza express for tea and it's great to be able to eat a meal and not worry about how it's going to effect my tummy and the impending doom of whether I was going to be in pain or not after eating. So I got the Carbonara pizza and let me tell you, it was gorgeous! And I wasn't in pain afterwards!! Katie 1 - UC 0

And then it was show time. I still find it amazing that I can sit through two hour long shows and not have to worry about where the toilet is and running to it half way through the show and missing half of it. It's great been able to sit comfortably.

Diversity were so amazing and their routines were so inspiring. There was a great mix of music, dance, humour and inspiration and I loved their mantra of Dream, Believe, Achieve. If you ever have the opportunity to go and see them live, do because it is breathtaking!

So that was my Wednesday and now I'm back at uni and having a rest catching up on last nights I'm a Celeb because it's important to get your rest people!

 If you want more information, head over to the Crohn's and Colitis charity website, go and have a search of the #7daysofIBD and read about other peoples lives with IBD and get involved yourself in the hashtag and finally, donate to the charity by texting DAYS22 £3 to 70070.

#7daysofIBD | Anaemia

Most people who have any form of IBD will at some point in their life suffer from anaemia whether it's due to not absorbing iron well and/or from blood loss due to inflammation of the bowel which inevitably leads to bleeding.

Anaemia is now probably the most noticeable symptom which I suffer from now and it affects my life every day. No matter how much I sleep, I still feel tired and lethargic (FYI as I'm writing this I legit feel like I'm about to fall asleep and it's 2:00pm!) but I try not to let it stop me doing things too much but I have to make sure I get a good nights sleep every night, take things slowly and take a nap when I really need it (and to be honest I feel like I should have one now!).

I'm meant to take three of these tablets a day but they've been making me a bit sick recently so I'm actually just waiting for my IBD nurse to ring me back for my blood tests and if I'm still anaemic I'll hopefully get booked in for an iron infusion. Now, I know you might be thinking why I'm saying hopefully but I hate taking iron tablets, especially three a day, and I'd much rather go to hospital for half an hour, have a fifteen minute iron infusion and go home because last time it lasted me a good three months before they put me back on the tablets!

Something I try to do (and really need to try more lately) is adding more iron to my diet. Some really good iron rich foods I like to include are spinach (however not so much now as I get scared that it'll block my stoma), fish and chicken (both rich in iron) and broccoli. I have also cut out caffeine from my diet because it stops you from absorbing iron apparently!

 If you want more information, head over to the Crohn's and Colitis charity website, go and have a search of the #7daysofIBD and read about other peoples lives with IBD and get involved yourself in the hashtag and finally, donate to the charity by texting DAYS22 £3 to 70070.

#7daysofIBD | Crohn's and Colitis Awareness Week

So today marks the start of Crohn's and Colitis awareness week so I thought I'd do a little introduction post for you. If you've been following this blog a while, you're probably already aware of what Crohn's and Colitis is but if you've just stumped across my little blog for the first time, I'll do a recap for you! 

Crohn's disease and Ulcerative Colitis (UC) are two forms of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) which is an autoimmune disease which causes inflammation and ulceration of the colon if you have UC and the whole digestive track if you have crohn's. And yes, it is as painful as it sounds. 

IBD doesn't just attack your bowel/digestive track though; it comes which umpteen other things such as joint pains which can be so bad you can hardly move, mouth ulcers which suck and weight loss which is just to name a few and something I'm quickly learning is that even which the majority of your colon gone, ulcerative colitis can still affect you in so many ways! 

Over the next 7 days, I'm going to share with you different aspects of how IBD affects my life and hopefully give people a better understanding of what the disease is actually like. If you want more information, head over to the Crohn's and Colitis charity website, go and have a search of the #7daysofIBD and read about other peoples lives with IBD and get involved yourself in the hashtag and finally, donate to the charity by texting DAYS22 £3 to 70070.