Finishing Uni & Getting A Surgery Date

Hey there stranger!

Long time no speak! I'm sorry that I've been a bit awol the past month but there are reasons (aren't there always). The reason I haven't posted in a while is because I've had my final uni exams and I have now finished my degree!! It seems so surreal that I've completed three years of uni, it's gone so quickly but it's done. It's over. Now it's time to actually start being an adult (well I'm going back to uni so maybe not quite yet).

Since I've been away, lots of things have been happening which I need to fill you in with. The main thing is I HAVE A SURGERY DATE. On 31st May (yes, that soon) I'm going back under the knife to make my stoma permanent and even though I'm incredibly scared, I cannot wait to have it done and finally be rid of ulcerative colitis for good!

Another piece of news is that KTMY is having a big rebrand. I've wanted to do this since the new year when I started the blogger bootcamp and I've been doing bits and bobs behind the scenes and now I've finished uni I have to time to properly change everything up so keep your eyes peeled for the big relaunch (hopefully next month!)

So there's a little update for you and keep your eyes peeled for some new content soon! 

Katie x

The Striped Trouser | Ostomy Outfit of the Month

jacket: Levi's | top: H&M | trousers: Primark | glasses: Ray-ban | necklace: Joma Jewellery

Last year, I did a series of posts called ostomy outfit of the month and I loved writing them and I know a lot of you really loved reading them too! For some reason, I stopped writing them, why I'm not entirely sure, but I'm on holiday and have so many outfits I want to show you so I thought I would bring the series back! 

I'm currently on holiday in Spain (there will be some more posts on that soon but if you're curious, head over to my instagram!) and I have quite a few new outfits which I haven't worn before and have fallen in love with. A current favourite in my spring/summer wardrobe are these fab striped trousers from Primark! 

I've never really been a wide legged trouser person however I've been wanting to try new things and when I saw these in Primark I just had to get them. They're super comfy as well as being stylish and because they have an elasticated waist, these are perfect for ostomates, especially if you've just had surgery and don't want anything too tight and restrictive on your stomach. The striped pattern, along with the loose fit, mean that when your bag blows up or gets fuller it isn't noticeable at all.

I've teamed the trousers with a loose fitting black t-shirt from H&M and my favourite black denim jacket from Levis and some flip flops because it was really lovely weather when I wore the outfit.

There's nothing like having an outfit which not only is comfortable but also makes you feel really good and confident.

So that's this months ostomy outfit :)

What's you're favourite spring/summer trend for 2017?

Tips for dealing with ostomy odour

Let's be honest, bathroom odours are something we all worry about, whether you have an ostomy or not, but an advantage of having a stoma is that there are a few things you can do to deal with it and put your own mind at rest!

First, let me start my saying that ostomy bags don't smell - no one can actually smell it when you're out and about! I definitely think this is something I worried about at first, but honestly you can't smell it. Stoma bags are actually fitted with filters (I think they're charcoal) to deal with gas and odour so you never smell it (unless you have a bag leak and you can read my tips for them here!). However, the smell worries normally come into play when you're either emptying your bag or if you're doing a full bag change so here are my tips and tricks for dealing with ostomy odour!

Limone Ostomy Deodorant Spray

This spray is a must for anyone with a stoma. It is a simple little deodorant which you spray when you either empty your bag or change it and it completely removes the smell, leaving a fresh lemon sent. What's brilliant about this spray is how it actually does completely remove the smell, rather than covering it up for a while, and its compact size means you can easily keep it in your bag when you're out and about. The spray is available from SecuriCare and CliniMed and you can find out more by ringing SecuriCare (0800 585 125 (new customers) / 0800 318 965 (existing customers)) 

Look at what you're eating

Some foods cause more odour than others and if you are extremely concerned about odour, then you could look at what you're eating (however I don't think you should stop eating foods you like and/or are good for you purely because you're conscious about the smell as there are other options!). Foods which can cause more odour are; 

• Asparagus
• Baked Beans
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Cod liver oil
• Eggs
• Fish
• Garlic
• Onions
• Peanut butter
• Some vitamins
• Strong cheese

It's also key to note that food effects all ostomates differently and food might not effect your bag the same it effects someone else's! 

Peppermint Oil

Now I haven't actually tried this method myself, however I am quite tempted to try to see how it works. I have read many things about putting a few drops of peppermint oil at the bottom of your bag and it will neutralise the smell from your bag. If you've tried this, let me know how you found it! I'm going to try it soon so I will keep you all posted on how it goes! 

So there are some of my tips for dealing with ostomy odour. Let me know what you think of the post and leave your own tips in the comments below because I'd love to know how you all combat it! 

Solita's, Manchester

I love finding new places to go and eat in Manchester and when there's an occasion to go out and have a meal (which is basically all the time) so when it was my flatmates birthday we headed to Solita's in the Northern Quarter and had a bit of a feast.

First, let's start with the decor of the place because it is super instagrammable. We were sat in a big booth which had some awesome graffiti style artwork on the walls and then the coolest light sign saying "don't grow up, it's a trap" which is one of my favourite quotes so when I saw it, I got very excited!

Now, on to the food. I had been told that the food here was good however good does not do it justice! The selection of burgers they had was phenomenal, it was so hard to choose, and they had some really interesting starters which were amazing.

We got a selection of starters to go with our mains so there was a lot of food. For starters, we got halloumi bites because halloumi is life and you can never go wrong with it. We also got bacon popcorn (which I didn't eat because I didn't realise it would be actual popcorn but it got a mixed response from the table!) and hamburger spring rolls which are my new favourite thing. They're basically burgers wrapped in spring roll pastry rather than bread and they were one of the best things I've ever had - they were a firm favourite of the group!

For my meal, I ordered the Catalan burger with pizza fries. Lets start with pizza fries because they sounded amazing however I was slightly disappointed with them. They're chips with tomato, cheese and pepperoni however I didn't like the pepperoni on them which was a shame! However, the burger was amazing. The burger had a burger, chorizo, smoky cheese, aioli, grilled red pepper and then a padron pepper on top and it was beautiful; it reminded me of being on holiday in Spain as it was like a load of tapas on a burger and anyone who knows me knows how much I love tapas!

We had such a lovely meal and we all really enjoyed our meals - I genuinely cannot wait to head there again soon and try some more of the food because everything sounded amazing!

Have you headed to Solita's before? If you have, let me know what you thought of it! And don't forget to leave your favourite Manchester restaurants in the comments. 

High fibre foods & Stomas

I always remember the first few days of having my stoma I was absolutely terrified of eating anything except from soup and ice cream because I was worried about causing blockages and making myself really ill. I had no clue how my stoma would react to food and after being so ill with my Ulcerative Colitis, the thought of eating food which once caused me to flare was equally as terrifying. 

Slowly, I realised that my stoma actually did work and I could eat lots of different foods which I couldn't before - it was just a case of trial and error which still scares me but I now do more and more regularly. 

One of the foods I never thought I'd be able to eat was salad; raw veg used to make me flare badly and I'd read a lot about how many people can't eat it with stomas. For well over a year, I daren't try anything raw incase I got a blockage, especially after I did once eat raw carrot and get a blockage! However recently I started being a bit more adventurous with what I was eating and now I'm ordering salads as an actual meal (which is something I never ever thought I'd do!) 

Tips for eating harder to digest foods

I feel like I should say first that maybe don't try raw veg and high fibre foods straight after surgery because your body is still getting used to this new way of working and your stoma is more prone to blockages as it is still swollen and healing from surgery. 

Chew your food well I am now known for being a very slow eater but I've gotten quite used to it! I make sure I chew all of my food incredibly well so it's easier to digest. Yes, it means you eat longer but it's worth it! 

Drink plenty whilst eating/once you've finished I always make sure I drink water after I've eaten a meal as I'm certain I read somewhere that it helps with digestion. If I've eaten something which is harder to digest, or I'm worried I haven't chewed as well as I should, I'll sometimes have a coke as well as it works wonders for small blockages

Try not to talk too much when eating now this is much easier said than done - anyone who knows me knows I can be a bit of a chatterbox but the downside to this is that you can end up with a lot of trapped wind around your stoma which can take the pleasure out of eating a bit. 

It's really important to note that everyone with stomas, be it colostomies or ileostomies, reacts different to different foods. Some people can't eat raw foods whereas others can eat just about anything. I know that I can't eat whole nuts, mushrooms and sweetcorn and raw carrot however I know some people who can eat all of those! 

If you are going to try and introduce more high fibre foods into your diet, try first in small portions or even just a few mouthfuls and slowly build it up - don't go and order masses of salad or big pieces of meat as a first go. If you are worried, it might be worth talking and getting some advice from your stoma nurses. 

Leave your tips for eating high fibre foods in the comments below! 

Having Bloggers Block

You might have noticed that recently there has been a lack of regular blog posts appearing on KTMY and it's for a number of reasons, the main one being I've had serious bloggers block. All the ideas I've had for content didn't seem exciting and I had a serious lack of motivation mixed with a tonne of uni work (namely writing my dissertation) which has left the blog feeling quite neglected.

I started the year off with high hopes and attended the Blogger Bootcamp where I met lots of lovely bloggers and learnt so much about social media, branding and content creation and I was so excited to implement it and then I got into this blogging funk where I wasn't happy at all with how my blog looked and felt.

I took a little break from my blog and you might have noticed on social media, mainly Twitter, I haven't been quite as active as normal and it was just what I needed to get back some of my love and motivation for blogging. The only downside is that my views and engagement have suffered majorly (I know, it's not about the numbers but still) however I'm hoping with this new lease of life things are going to change!

In the next few months, I'm planning on changing KTMY quite a lot, and I'm really excited with what's to come because I love my little blog so much and can't wait to show you what's to come!

Have you ever suffered from bloggers block? What are your tips for overcoming it? 

Having a Pamper night with the new Body Shop Almond Milk & Honey range

I always used to find that when I'm an IBD flare, when I'm just feeling a tired, and after I came out of hospital I needed to relax. I also felt that it was important to treat myself when my body clearly was not so I love having little pamper nights where I properly exfoliate and moisturise and do a full skincare routine. As well as making myself feel good, it also often meant that I would sleep better as well (normally because I'd tired myself out!).

The Body Shop have recently released a new almond milk and honey range and I was lucky enough to go to one of their events the other week at the Trafford Centre store with two of my blogging friends Meg and Melissa where we got to hear about the range and get to try some of the new products.

The range is for dry and sensitive skin and is their first to be dermatologically tested. My skin can be quite sensitive sometimes and the product which I loved the most was the exfoliator because I really struggle to find one which doesn't react with my skin. I actually bought it after having a hand massage with it and I am amazed by it because it's so gentle on my skin whilst still exfoliating well (and it smells amazing!)

Back when I was on a lot of medication for my colitis my skin could often be quite dry, especially after I came out of hospital and had had a lot of steroids and morphine. I really wish I'd had this range then to help with my dry skin!

My other favourite from the range is the hand cream which I now always carry with me because it's so good! My hands go through weird stages and they can sometimes be incredibly dry however I haven't had this at all in the two weeks I've used it. The whole range smells incredible as well, which is always a bonus, and has made my skin feel really soft and hydrated.

Have you tried the new range from the Body Shop? What are you're pamper night essentials? Let me know in the comments below! 

3 ways I like to relax & destress

It's getting to that time of the year where I have deadlines and exams coming up and it's fair to say I am feeling pretty stressed right now! If you follow me on instagram you'll be seeing my almost daily posts about writing my dissertation (which I can now say I have a full first draft of!!). Because of the sheer amount of work I've had to do, and most of that I use my mac for, I've been trying to relax by not looking at a screen as much and give my eyes and brain a well earned rest.

Here are my favourite three ways to destress and relax away from a screen... 

Reading - I absolutely adore reading and I haven't done anywhere near as much as I would like to this year so far. There's nothing I love more than curling up with a book and a cup of tea and getting lost in the book for who knows how long! I'm currently reading We Were on a Break and I absolutely love it! Keep your eyes peeled for a review soon on it. 

Drawing & Painting - I used to love drawing and all things art when I was younger until GCSE art where my art teacher basically ruined the whole experience for me. However, recently I've really got back into drawing and watercolours and I'm so excited to keep exploring this love I have because I really enjoy the whole experience. 

Listening to music, podcasts & Talking books - Sometimes, there's nothing I love more than just sitting down and listening to music but sometimes I just not in the mood and when I'm like that, I love listening to talking books or podcasts or some of the plays on Radio 4. There are some really interesting podcasts out there which I'm really enjoying right now, especially on my train journey's! 

How do you like to relax and destress? Leave your recommendations, and your favourite podcasts, in the comments below :) 

10 reasons why I love my stoma

Happy Valentines Day everyone! 

Instead of doing you're normal valentines themed post, I thought I'd share with you some reasons as to why I love my stoma. It's very easy to see your stoma in a negative life and let it get you down, and it's totally normal to feel that way at times, but there are so many reasons why you should celebrate and be happy about your stoma too and that's what today's post is focusing on!

It saved my life

It's likely that if you have had ostomy surgery, it's probably because you were pretty ill - they don't just do it for the sake of it. When I'm feeling down about my stoma, I always remind myself that if I didn't have it I probably wouldn't be sat there feeling sorry for myself. Not only did it save my life, it also gave me back my life (because sitting in bed watching films in pain gets pretty old pretty quickly!) and for that, I will always be thankful for my stoma

I can eat just about everything

Before I had my ileostomy, I couldn't eat a lot of things. McDonalds? nope. Fish & Chips? no way. Salad? not if you don't want to be in pain for days. Every time I went out for food, or was just cooking for myself, I had to think about what effect it would have, whether I had much on in the next few days and whether or not the short term enjoyment of the food was worth the pain and toilet trips for the foreseeable future. With my stoma, the only food I don't eat is popcorn (which I don't like anyways!), whole nuts (which I hate) and mushrooms (which I am sad that I can't eat!). I have to be careful with raw fruit and vegetables and make sure I chew properly but apart from that, I don't have to worry and it's great! I've always loved food and I love that I can actually enjoy it now. 

I can go out and not panic about where the nearest toilet is 

I always used to get so paranoid about where the nearest toilets were. I also used to get stressed if I was with a group of people, or at school, and having to go to the toilet because I knew I could be a long time and that used to stress me out. It's so nice to go out and not have to even think about where toilets are or how far away from one I am - I can actually enjoy my time in places now! (although I do now have a sixth sense about where toilets are!)


It helps show you how amazing your friends are
When you've got a chronic illness, you quickly realise who your real friends are and I am so grateful for my stoma because I really saw who my true friends were. The ones who came to visit me and sent me well wishes and continue to this day to support me through everything! That's what you need in life in general and having a stoma really helps you cherish the good friends and weed out the one's who weren't there for you

You can drink without getting a hangover (and, you know, actually drink!) 
I'm not a big drinker but one of the great things about my stoma is that I can now actually drink alcohol and I don't get a hangover because it goes straight to the bag! The only downside is that it can make you really dehydrated but it's easily solved with these tips for keeping hydrated

I'm not on medication
Since having my stoma, I'm not on any regular medication - in fact I went a year and a half with none whatsoever. I was recently put on to a 10 day course of steroid suppositories but compared to the 17 tablets I used to take daily, it's nothing really!

You can travel 
I remember the last holiday I had before my ostomy surgery mainly because I came home on the monday and was admitted on the thursday. It was pretty horrid - I was hardly eating and didn't want to go anywhere in case there wasn't a toilet and don't even get me started on the journey home - I have no clue how I coped! Since having my stoma, I've been on quite a few holidays and had such a great time exploring new places and trying new food - if anything, having a stoma has made me more willing to try new things!

You always have an excuse for having snacks and eating
I use this all the time! I nearly always have snacks with me, just in case the bag needs it! I've even sorted it that I can take snacks into exams with me, because you never know when that bag is going to start demanding to be fed!

I'm not in pain anymore
I still find it weird to not have that constant stomach pain and cramp - I still get phantom bowel from time to time but nothing compared to the agony I was sometimes in!

It helped sort my mental health out
This isn't something I've talked about much on the blog, but I do plan on doing a post on it soon. Before my surgery I suffered with anxiety quite badly (since before I was ill!) and as I was getting sicker I was starting to become more depressed. Being on steroids didn't help either and after having my surgery , my depression and anxiety got worse. However, my parents and doctors all became more aware of my mental health and as a result, I actually went and saw a CBT therapist and I can honestly say it was one of the best things I did because now I am probably at my most healthiest, mentally and physically and it's great!

So there are 10 reasons why I love my stoma. Let me know in the comments below what you love about your stoma/chronic illness/life  <3

5 ways to keep hydrated easier

Something which I have really been struggling with recently is keeping well hydrated. When it's summer, I'm totally fine and can keep on top of it but for some reason I really struggle in the colder months because, lets be honest, when it's -1 outside you don't want to be drinking a tonne of cold water.

Keeping well hydrated when you have a stoma, especially when  is so important because you don't absorb as much water so it is recommended that you drink about 10 glasses of water a day. However, if you are feeling dehydrated or drinking a lot of water, you have to make sure you have enough salt in your diet too to stay hydrated.

Here are 5 tips to help you stop getting hydrated...

1. Carry a water bottle with you everywhere so you always have something to drink with you. My current favourite at the moment is this CORKCIRCLE canteen which keeps your drinks ice cold (you can actually put ice cubes in!!) for up to 25 hours and warm for 12 which is so handy because I hate it when my water goes warm and I can put my tea in it when I get the train and have a nice warm cuppa! It is also vacuum sealed which means that you don't have to worry about it leaking in your bag (which is a constant fear I have) and its lead and BPA free so there's no harmful toxins going into your drink! 
2. Add fruit to your water if you're getting fed up with the taste of water. One of my big things is that I've been getting really bored of drinking water when it's cold so I've started drinking fruit infused water. My go to is lemon water which has lots of health benefits as well as tasting really nice. Strawberries are another really good fruit to try it with which gives it a really refreshing taste! 
3. Drink a Lucozade Sport and have a packet of crisps if you're feeling really dehydrated.  I do this a lot if I've been to the gym or done some exercise or if I can't seem to quench my thirst because it balances out your salts really well (as well as being a great excuse to eat crisps!) 
4. Switch to decaffeinated drinks. I switched to decaf about four years ago as it used to make my IBD flare and I've kept off the caffeine as it can really dehydrate you. I'm trying to cut down on how much coca cola I drink too because when I've been drinking it, I've been feeling super dehydrated and pretty shit
5. Try drinking rehydration sachets they may taste bad but they don't half work! I get Boot's own and they work an absolute dream. I always have them if I've been drinking alcohol and take them on holiday with me too as they're super easy to put in your suitcase

Let me know in the comments how you stay hydrated! 

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Current Netflix Picks

I feel like recently Netflix has really upped it's game and there are some brilliant shows and films on there (not that there hasn't always been!). I'm one of this people who seems to be constantly watching shows on here, whether it's when I'm getting ready in the morning, having my lunch or having a proper sit down binge session and because of that I seem to get though quite a few shows! So here are 5 shows and films I've been loving on Netflix recently...

The Good Wife
I am 100% obsessed with this show and I'm constantly watching it. I decided to watch it purely because Logan from Gilmore Girls was in it and I was in a post Gilmore Girls slump. I had no clue what the show was about but I've been blown away with how good it is. The show is set in a law firm (which means I can totally count it as revision!) and is about the wife of a politician who is at the forefront of a scandal and she goes back to work in a law firm and it's so good and full of drama! 

Shadow Hunters
This isn't the first time I've featured Shadow Hunters in one of my netflix picks posts but the new season is currently coming out and I'm so hooked! The show is based on the Mortal Instruments books and is basically about Shadow Hunters who fight demons and keep the world safe.

Riverdale
Riverdale has just started coming out and I'm kind of hooked on it - I really wish that it came out in one block rather than weekly! It's been dubbed as a cross between Pretty Little Liars and Gossip Girl and I can totally see that. It's one of those shows where you're not sure what's going to happen next and it really keeps you on your toes!

London Has Fallen
I'm aware I'm a bit late to the party on this film but I was so surprised at how much I enjoyed it because it's totally not my type of film! It's a full on action packed gun type film about terrorists taking over London/the world and is basically a whirlwind of a film!

Fresh Prince of Bel Air
I never really got in to Fresh Prince but when I saw it was on Netflix I thought why not properly watch it and see what all the fuss is about. It's such a funny show and perfect for putting in the background whilst I'm doing work or taking blog photos and stuff.

What are your current favourites on Netflix? 

#StomaChat | Who are SecuriCare?

For the past year and a half, the SecuriCare & CliniMed logo have been in my side bar and I've mentioned them in many posts however I've never actually explained who they are! 

SecuriCare are the company which delivers my stoma bags and accessories as well as providing my local stoma nurses. Since a few days before my ostomy surgery, SecuriCare have been there and supported me; all the information packs I got in hospital were from them and so was all the bags I needed in a handy travel bag (I literally woke up and it was just there!).

SecuriCare are also a delivery company of all things stoma, so all my bags, sprays, LBF wipes and cotton swap things come from them. They can supply all of the brands so it makes it super easy. You either use the online form to order, ring up or email them (shout out to Damien who often emails me to remind me to order 'cause I'm pretty useless at it!). I've used both online ways and they're both really reliable.

Something which I really love about SecuriCare, which you may have seen me tweet about before, is their fantastic phone service. If you have any problems, want to make changes to your order or just have a question, you can ring them up and have a chat and they're so helpful and informative and make you feel really at ease asking the questions.

If you're interested in finding out more about SecuriCare, you can go to their website here or ring them up on 0800 585 125 (new customers) / 0800 318 965 (existing customers).

Let me know in the comments whether you've ever used SecuriCare before & what you think :) 

Ostomy section of KTMY is sponsored by SecuriCare & CliniMed

The Weekly Edit | #12

Happy Sunday Chums!

I hope you've all had a good week - even though it's been cold the weather in Manchester has been really nice (although this weekend it's been wet and cold) and I always feel so productive when the suns out and the sky is blue - even if it is -1 outside! I'm really proud of the effort I'm putting in on my instagram this past two weeks, I love doing more personal micro-blogging on there and I feel that my engagement and following have really gone up! I'm also really pleased with the sort of theme I have going on over there, which is all part of the rebranding which I'm planning!

So, here's what I've been up to this week! 

• I had some blood tests this week (if you read this post, you'll understand a bit more!) and I've started taking liquid iron for my anaemia so I'm hoping that I'm going to feel a lot better soon! 
• I had a really productive day at one of my favourite cafe's, HOME, and managed to get a lot of my Medical coursework done - I'd been worrying about it a lot and to sit down and actually get my head around it was great
• I went to see La La Land yesterday and OH MY GOODNESS I am in LOVE with it! The whole style of the film was brilliant and I am 100% certain that I will be listening to the soundtrack for months! 

How has your week been? Let me know in the comments below :) 

A Little Health Update

Over the past two weeks or so I haven't been so great. If you follow me on instagram, you might have seen a post where I explained a bit more about why I've been MIA on the blog but I thought it kind of deserved it's own blog post.

My colitis has flared up.

For the first time since having my operation, my colitis has flared up badly and left me feeling a little bit like I did two years ago.

I still have a bit of my large bowl left and it's been bleeding badly and giving me quite a bit of pain around the mucus fiscula (which is where they've bought the bowl to he surface so it won't make me really ill).

Since it started flaring badly, I've felt really bad not just physical health wise but also mentally; I haven't been properly ill like this for about a year and a half coming on two years and I'd totally forgotten what it was like and how draining it could be. I spent a day ringing all sorts of people just to try and sort out medication and getting a blood test to see what my iron levels are like and it absolutely knackered me.

Suddenly I was back to having "tummy ache", feeling drained and going to bed at 9.30pm and still been tired when I wake up in the morning.

What really got me down though was the fact I've had to start some of my medication again, steroids to be precise. I hated been on them because I would struggle with some of the side effects (most notably the steroid moon face, constant hunger and depression) but I'm hoping that because I'm only taking a short course and they're not tablets (I'm using suppositories to target the inflammation better) the side effects may not happen!

So there's a little health update for you all and a bit behind why the blog has been quiet lately. I'm hoping the steroids will kick in in the next few days and I'll start feeling a bit better. In the mean time, I've started micro-blogging on instagram so head over there for daily updates!

The Weekly Edit | #11

Happy Sunday Everyone!

It seems like ages since I've sat down and written a weekly edit post, or any blog post to be honest. I had such good plans for 2017 on the blog but the past two weeks has seen me take 100000 steps backwards (at least that's what if feels like!). Over the past two weeks I've had a colitis flare which has left me feeling pretty shit, to say the least. I'm back on my steroids and I have some blood tests to see what my iron levels are but I'd forgotten what it was like to be ill like this (it's been nearly 2 years!) and it's got to me a bit...especially the tiredness - I went to bed at 9:30 the other night!! Mind you, despite the whole being ill thing I've actually had some really good things happen this week so I thought I would share them with you!

• I GOT HAMILTON TICKETS!!!!! The priority booking went on sale on Monday and I actually got tickets!! I thought it was going to be like getting (or not getting in my case) Harry Potter tickets however I somehow managed to get my hands on tickets for December and I'm so excited. Anyone who knows me, or follows me on Twitter, will know just how obsessed I've been for the past year or so and I can't believe I'm actually going to see it! 
• One of my best friends from home came to stay for the night which meant I got to be a bit or a tourist in Manchester and it was such good fun. We went to this cool place called Ziferblat (I'm going to do a post soon all about here!), had a night of bowling and went to my favourite tea shop, teacup kitchen. It was so nice to catch up with her and show her some of the great sights of Manchester
• I got a first in my coursework!! I had been so worried about this piece of coursework because I did it in a day and had that dreaded feeling of doubt but to get it back and find out I got 80% was amazing because it means whatever happens in the exam, I've passed that unit! If this can happen in all my coursework's, I'd be very grateful! 
• I attended the first #BLOGGERBOOTCAMP session which was super fun. It's a 4 week course all about improving elements of your blog and I came away super inspired from the first branding talk. I have some great ideas for how KTMY is going to grow over the next few months so watch this space! 
• One of the presents my brother got me and my parents was to go to Bradford and watch Peter Pan at The Alhambra. I've only ever been to our local pantomime so it was great to see a big production and Peter Pan is one of my favourites. I haven't laughed as much as I did yesterday in a while - it was the kind of laughing where your stomach hurts! 

So considering I've been ill this week, I've actually had a pretty good week in some other aspects! 

What has the highlight of your week been? 

Looking after your smile with Sensodyne ProNamel

It has taken me a long time to be fully happy with my teeth. I had braces for about 5 or 6 years to sort them out and having that much work has taken it out of my teeth a bit. Mixed with taking steroids for my ulcerative colitis for about 2 years, I really suffered with sensitive teeth.

Since getting my braces off, I feel so much less conscious about smiling (braces were a bugger for getting food stuck in) and it's now pretty hard to find a picture of me not grinning for the camera!

It was my dentist who actually first told me to use Sensodyne tooth paste, after having to get an appointment for really bad toothache, which turned out to be just sensitivity. Part of the reason for my sensitivity was medication and the glue from my braces however it was also being caused by the food in general.

Sensodyne ProNamel helps to prevent further enamel from dissolving and has been specially designed for people at risk of Acid Wear. I've been using Sensodyne for about four years now and since using it, had hardly any problems with sensitivity so if this is something you do struggle with, it might be worth giving it a try!

Have you ever tried Sensodyne ProNamel? 

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The Shadow Switch Dry Brush Cleaner

We've all been there, trying to create the perfect eye shadow look but failing because the colours you've been using keep blending on the brush and either your eye, or your hand when your attempting to change colours, ends up looking like some weird bruise on your hand.

My favourite eye shadow palettes are the moment is this Kiko colour fever quad in the shade 101 and this little Ted Baker palette which is in the most beautiful rose gold packaging which is perfect for day and night looks but switching from those dark colours to lighter ones isn't that easy - you can see how my hand ends up looking like a bruise!

The Shadow Switch Dry Brush Cleaner is a genius little contraption which picks up any left over eyeshadow when you roll it over letting you quickly switch from one colour to the other. 

I was quite confused about what the product was until it came - it's a small tin with a wire sponge type thing in it which you roll the brush over in a clockwise motion - it's super simple and has made my makeup routine so much easier and means my eyeshadow brushes are kept a little bit cleaner between brush cleaning sessions! 

What's your favourite eyeshadow at the moment? 

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The Weekly Edit | #10

How's the first week of the year treated you lovely lot? 

This has been my last full week off (I start back at uni on Tuesday) and it's quite a busy and hectic week - I can't believe that my three weeks off has gone so quickly! I feel like I've done hardly anything but at the same time I also feel like I haven't been in Manchester in ages and I'm happy to be back (even though I do like been at home too!) 

So here's what I've been up to this week...

• I spent the whole of Monday sat in front of my laptop writing my equity coursework. How I've managed to write 3000 words on the topic will always be a complete mystery but I felt so much better one it was done, even if it did mean locking myself in my room for 10 hours (note, I do not recommend doing this on a regular basis!)
• With the start of the new year, I've been feeling really inspired with my blog and have a few things in the pipeline, including starting my #StomaChat series again! 
• I went for a lovely pub meal with two of my best friends before we all go back to uni this weekend. It seems to be coming a yearly tradition to go for a meal in the new year and it's always so nice! 
• I'm back in Manchester! Mum brought me back down yesterday and I'm so excited for what the new year will bring :) 

What have your highlights been this week? 

Time to DeFrazzle

One of my 2017 goals is to become healthier, mentally as well as physically. One of the ways which I've decided to become healthier mentally is to make sure I'm practicing mindfulness on a regular basis and trying to defrazzle my brain a bit.

I was really excited when Penguin Books sent me Ruby Wax's A Mindfulness Guide to the Frazzled because I'd actually seen Ruby talking about the book earlier in the year. This book is actually really good at explaining the science behind mindfulness as well as practical advice on how to practice mindfulness and then Ruby's life experiences of using mindfulness and what led her to starting. Of course, as a comedian, there are some very funny bits in the book as well.

We now live in a world where it is incredibly hard to switch off and get away from everything. Reading the book gave me the idea to write a list of the things which make me feel calmer and less frazzled and I've decided to do at least one of these things a week, if not more often!

A list of things which make me feel less frazzled; 

• Going on walks
• Reading a book 
• Yoga/meditation
• Exersize in general 
• Drawing 
• Writing

By doing some of these things every day/week and unplugging myself from the internet and screens, I'm hoping it will make me feel calmer. I already have a plan to do more exercise and yoga but by introducing daily meditation, which is something I'm really looking forward to doing, and creative things, my mental health is going to be grateful for it! 

How do you relax and defrazzle? 

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Introducing #StomaChat

Happy Wednesday & Happy Stoma Chat day everyone!! 

If you've been a fan of the blog for a while, you may remember that a few months ago I started doing  #stomachat videos on my YouTube channel. Then uni came and work got in the way of filming and editing videos. 

With the new year happening, I've decided to bring back #StomaChat as a weekly blog series with a monthly video :) Each week, I'll be discussing a different things about having a stoma and IBD and you'll be able to join in on Twitter where there will be a weekly poll all about the weeks blog post. 

All this will be happening on Wednesdays and I'm so excited for you all to get involved! This week I wanted to use the post as a way to introduce the series and let you know what's happening. 

If you have any topics you'd like to discuss, comment below or tweet me using the hashtag! 

See you next week for the first proper  #StomaChat post! 

2017 Goals

I think goals are a good thing. Too many people seem to disregard new year resolutions and are quick to bring them down, and the people who make them. I've seen so many posts, especially on Facebook, bringing down the whole New Year, New Me cliche and whilst I don't think there's any need to completely reinvent yourself, I think it's great to see the new year as a fresh slate and really ask yourself what do I want to achieve this year? and Was I happy last year?. I'm really excited about my 2017 goals, I've decided this year to give myself little actions to do to achieve my goals to make them more attainable. 

So here are my 2017 goals...

Get Healthier

Yeah, I know, the most cliche new years resolution you can get but I want to get fitter so I'm putting it on. I'm having my surgery in the summer and I'm determined to be at my healthiest when it comes round. I've set myself the goal of going to the gym at least twice a week and doing yoga once a week. I'm also going to start eating better too, trying new recipes (I've got lots of new cook books which I can't wait to use!) and cutting down on my sugar intake. I'm  going to work on my mental health too, because it's just as important, and try and do meditation daily and work more on mindfulness.

Save Money

I spend waaaaay too much money and half the time I'm wondering what I've actually spent it on. I've decided that for the whole of January, I'm not going to go shopping (except for food because a girls gotta eat!) to try and get me into the habit of not needing to buy everything I see on instagram! I'm also going to try and save £10.00 a week, I know it's not a lot but it's all I can probably save right now.

Read More

I love reading however I only really get to read on holiday now so I'm going to take some time out every day and read. I have a bad habit of watching Netflix before I go to bed so instead of spending half an hour/an hour watching TV, instead I'll be reading a book. Not only does this mean I'll get to read more, it will also hopefully improve my sleep

Be more involved in the blogging community 

I feel really disengaged from the blogging community at the moment. It's been months since I took part in a twitter chat and I've hardly read any blogs. I'm going to actively read more blogs, go on commenting sprees and take part in blogger chats. I'm also going to try and be more active instagram and make my Facebook page less link dumpy and have one other things on there too. 

I'm really excited to get on to these resolutions and hopefully see an actual change!

What are your 2017 goals?? 

The Weekly Edit | #9

Happy New Year Chums! 

Welcome to 2017 - I think we're all quite happy to see the back of 2016 and start the new year. I have quite a few New Year Resolutions (keep an eye out tomorrow for that post!) which I've been so excited to start and I just love the feeling of starting the new year; it's like having a fresh start and clean slate. 

Instead of doing my normal weekly edit, this is going to be more of a reflective/chatty post mainly because a lot of this week has consisted of me eating way too much food and a lot of sitting watching christmas specials. 

I did go to Leeds for the day yesterday and finally got to go to Victoria Gate which is the most beautiful building with some great shops - I was particularly excited by anthropology and T2 as well as John Lewis. 

I had the best New Years Eve to see in 2017; there was great food, brilliant company and plenty of Moet...what else could you want to say goodbye to the year that was 2016 and bring in a hopefully much better 2017! 

I've been feeling quite reflective these past few days and feeling very optimistic/excited for the new year. I'm putting more effort in to the things I want to/love doing and cutting out the things I don't want to do. I've signed up to the Bloggers BootCamp in Manchester and I can't wait to hear about ways I can grow my blog! 

So there's a little ramble for you all and I'll see you all tomorrow when normal service is resumed on the blog!