A gorgeous girlies* guide to your 1st solo trip

I’m not quite sure when I decided that I wanted to do a solo trip. I think it’s one of those things that’s always bubbled beneath the surface. Can I? Should I? Shall I? I’ve followed packslight for a while and have made a few new mates in recent years who love a solo venture (Hannah & Ellen I’m looking at you!)

So 2 weeks ago I went on Ryanair, found £38 return flights to Bordeaux and in a spontaneous 10mins it was booked – c’est la vie! I made the grand announcement on my insta story – is it even real until social media knows? – and my DM’s were flooded with messages.

“I’m so jealous.” “I’ve always wanted to do this.” “You have to tell me how it goes.” Well, this one’s for you – the gorgeous girlies* who have a solo travel itch that you’re eager to scratch.

*Ah “gorgeous girlies”. I’ll admit that it’s one of those phrases that our friendship group started saying ironically which has subconsciously crept into our actual vocab. This blog is actually relevant to anyone wanting to solo travel, but I couldn’t resist the alliteration.

First things first – what’s holding you back?

Will I be safe?

Probably numero uno on the list of concerns and the thing that stopped me from solo travelling sooner. For a first trip, the destination is key. I opted for Bordeaux (which is worthy of a blog post of its own).

A safer, friendlier alternative to the capital, Bordeaux was the perfect place for me to live out my best ‘Emily in Paris’ fantasy. My GCSE French was a little rusty. But a “je voudrais” here & a “je ne comprende pas” there was enough to get by before locals took pity and switched to English.

Destination research goes a long way, but what’s equally important is accommodation. It depends on your levels of bougie-ness, but hostels get my vote! Filled with backpackers, solo travellers and people from all over the world, the hostel life made me feel safe. I went for somewhere really central and opted for a female-only dorm, a choice that was met with a sigh of relief from my family (and it was the cheapest option – wahoo!)

Nearest & dearest

People hear “solo trip” and start to worry – especially if you’re a young woman. On top of this, close friends & family can be confused and even feel rejected. It can be hard to articulate why you want to go alone. Especially for those fortunate enough to have a partner, mates and even your grandma (yes Grandma Janet asked for an invite) offering to come with.

My advice would be to ask them what level of contact will put their mind at ease while you’re away. The only reason people feel uncomfortable is because they care. Before you go, come to a mutual agreement on communication. Trust me, a “landed” WhatsApp or a daily selfie may be all it takes.

You can also upload your itinerary to a shared google doc. By keeping this updated whenever you have internet, people from home can follow your plans without needing to constantly check in.

Alone time

I’m writing this blog with pen and paper, sat on a bench looking out on the Bordeaux river *chefs kiss*.

I love reading. And brunch by myself. And taking time to stop and admire flowers. Seriously, how gorj are these flowers?! But, ultimately I’m a people person (no surprises there). So I was nervous about spending my entire trip alone…

However, this wasn’t the way my trip panned out. Thanks to the hostel’s happy hour and friendly roommates, I went on day trips, nights out and explored the city with new faces.

And yes, it’s nerve-wracking plucking up the courage to say “parlez-vous Anglais?” to a group drinking cocktails at the next table. But stepping out of your comfort zone is good for the soul.

The great thing about solo travel is finding a balance that works for you. Time alone, or meeting new people – you make the rules!

So now we’ve shaken off those initial worries, you’re ready to take the plunge…

Here are my 5 top tips for your 1st solo travel adventure:

1. Location & communication
Do a bit of destination research and decide the best way to communicate with people back home while you’re away.

2. Get your arrival plan locked-in
Having a safe, secure and organised start to the trip with make the whole thing less daunting, especially if you arrive in the middle of the night. Research your journey from the airport to your accommodation and know how much it will roughly cost. Ooh, and add the hostel details to your phone notes. There’s nothing worse than trying to get an address from an email with a bad wifi connection.

3. Pre-book day 1

The best thing I did was pre-book a cycling wine tour for my 1st day. I had to be at the pickup location at 9am – so it left me no time for self-doubt or uncertainty. Doing a tour meant I met people straight away and got some amazing recommendations from our local tour guide.

4. Know what to say when people ask if you’re on your own
With this one, I played it by ear. Most people at my hostel were travelling solo, so I felt safe sharing that I was too. But to taxi drivers, bartenders & whoever else felt necessary, I was on a girl’s trip and everyone was hungover/joining me soon. Not many people actually asked, but I felt comfort in having a pre-determined response.

5. You’ve gotta do you
I found this the hardest of all, but to get the most out of your trip, you’ve got to put yourself first. Fancy a stroll? Get those trainers on. Hungry? Go find a café. Spend 2 hours in a bookshop. Take a mid-day nap. Eat sorbet at 10am (my particular favourite). You get the gist.

You don’t need to be go-go-go or completely disconnect from society. Do your trip however you want to do it. Be selfishly spontaneous. Remember, no one’s solo trip will ever look quite like yours.

Until next time readers,

Lauren

*P.s. if you didn’t get the memo – this is your sign to go book a solo trip right now!

Expectations vs Reality, The Marriage Edition.

IT’S CHRISTMASSSSSSS …

… which can only mean one thing: “When are you getting married then?”

Tis’ the season where family members venture from far and wide to ask questions that – like low rise jeans – should’ve been left in the noughties. I’ve been in a relationship for 8 years (!!!), so marriage seems to be one of two questions on everyone’s lips (we’ll come onto babies another time as that’s worth a blog of its own).

The start of this post makes me sound like a crank, but Christmas is actually my favourite time of year. From Nov 1st I warm up the vocals ready to belt that Mariah high note and start early on the festive films (including Netflix originals, the whole shebang). Being reunited with family members that we rarely get to see is the highlight of Christmas (especially after another year dictated by COVID-19)… but why do they have certain expectations when it comes to marriage?

We all know the Instagram vs Reality meme – a cute pic you’d post on Instagram vs what the moment was actually like in reality. If not, I’ve posted below for reference.

^{_{The closer you look at the faces, the funnier they get.}}

Well, this blog post is all about the expectations we set ourselves for our twenties, and how things are going in reality. Anddd just like the meme, for a lot of us, things aren’t picture-perfect as expected.

Throwback to 10 years ago. 17-year-old me thought I’d go to uni, get a ‘good’ job, be engaged by 26 and married by 28. Oh my Christ*! I’m literally sitting here chuckling at the thought of that right now (Mike, no need to panic I’m not expecting a ring). My reality couldn’t be further from younger me’s expectations. And of course, that’s completely fine. However, most twenty-somethings these days aren’t too worried about meeting their own expectations (we were young and naive right?), the struggle comes with managing the expectations of others – particularly family members.

*Pam is just iconic. If you didn’t get the reference, stop reading & go and watch the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special NOW!

Every single wedding I attend…
Spend 95% of the night on the dance floor – apart from when the cha cha slide comes on, because tbh it’s not the one. Other 5% is spent queuing for another round of the buffet or downing the red wine left un-touched on other tables (why people don’t like merlot at weddings baffles me but no complaints here). I’ll be minding my own business and out of nowhere it begins… “OOH it’ll be you next in the white dress” “Ay, has he put a ring on it yet?” “When are you going to seal the deal then?” Shhhh I just want to stuff my face with free food & have a laugh!

^{_{Obligatory last ones standing wedding selfie.}}

Of course, I love the fam and our family friends. But though these kinds of comments are said in jest, they can actually play on our minds and put unnecessary pressure on our relationships. Luckily I’m with someone who is completely on the same page as me, but it’s frustrating having to explain to your great-aunt Margaret why you just don’t want to get married right now, and may not ever want to.

It can make you seem like you’re anti-weddings/marriage, but that’s not the case at all. Three of my closest friends are getting married next year and I CANNOT WAIT for their special days. I’m planning hen do’s left, right & centre, and can’t be happier as getting married is what THEY want to do… but it doesn’t make me want it for myself. Equally, just because I don’t want a wedding right now, doesn’t mean I won’t ever. But in the same breath, I may not ever want to get married. Who knows what future me wants? She’s her own woman.

_{Just me on all 4’s twerking at Amy’s wedding. I hope future me is like this too.}

In The Roaring Twenties Podcast episode with Abbie, we spoke about comparing ourselves to others in their twenties who are doing completely different things. This is similar. Just because your cousin was happily married with kids by your age, it doesn’t mean you’re ‘behind’ or ‘strange’ for not wanting the same. Christmas can sometimes make you doubt yourself, especially when relatives are questioning your life decisions. But don’t be afraid to ask to change the subject. Yes, people may tease you for being ‘touchy’, a product of our ‘overly sensitive generation’ *eye roll*. But it’s your Christmas too, so don’t let anything ruin it – the festive season really is too short!

Anyways, enjoy the holidays and if marriage questions start to overwhelm you, remember you’re not alone! If all else fails, crack open the Baileys (or Aldi’s Ballycastle)…

Until next time readers,

Lauren

She back.

Oh don’t mind me just blog writing again after 9 MONTHS! And of course, Tayce is here to provide the perfect meme…

In all seriousness, SO MUCH HAS HAPPENED in the last 9 months. Since I’ve been gone* I made some monumental career decisions, turned 27, started volunteering at a refugee centre and had a passport mare (if you know, you know). So now that I have more time to write again, I’m giving this blog another go – cause you guys actually seem to enjoy it. Honestly, all the people who have messaged asking where I’ve been at – I love ya. And to those who haven’t, please refer to the Tayce quote above.

*Shoutout to Kelly Clarkson now playing rent-free in my head.

Before diving back in, here’s a mini re-intro to The Roaring Twenties to whet your appetite – and for me to get to grips with how to write again. I’ve had a while (9 months to be precise) to reflect on how I want this blog to look. Soooo going forward, I’m gonna split my topics into the following sections – cause who doesn’t love a bit of organisation?!

1. Tragic Tales
   Due to popular demand, I’m going to chat more about the hilariously tragic things that happen in my life. For a taster, check out my ‘tragic’ highlight on insta. From commuting chronicles to just general foolishness, these blogs will reassure anyone who feels like their life isn’t together.
2. 30 before 30
   As I tick off the 30 things on my list, I’ll share the deets on how each one goes (gotta keep myself accountable somehow!)
3. Small World
   I’ve spent my 20’s exploring the world. And even though COVID said “nope” to this for a little while, having a travel section in my blog was a non-negotiable.
4. Real talk
   The place where I’ll dive into difficult, honest and sometimes uncomfortable topics. These blogs will cover deep stuff, the conversations that are tough to have & the things we’re starting to unpick in our 20’s.

So there you have it – The Roaring Twenties 2.0.

Hands up who’s in?!

Until next time readers,

Lauren

New Year, New (opportunities to develop a further understanding of the world while becoming a more self-elevated version of), Me?

Title got you confused? Don’t worry, we’ll come on to that. Firstly, let’s take a moment to thank our lucky stars that “new year, new me” is a thing of the past. It’s 2021 and, though it’s long overdue, we’re all way more on board with the “new year, same me” vibe this year. It is refreshing to see people actively choosing not to feel pressured into becoming a shiny new version of themselves once the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Day. Well done everyone!

But when it comes to New Year’s resolutions, how beneficial are they? They don’t play into the whole “new year, same me” narrative, that’s for sure. Recently I’ve seen an influx of influencers emphasising negativity around setting resolutions. People on social media channels have spoken out about how resolutions are toxic, unrealistic and detrimental to those who make them. Quite frankly*, I disagree.

*Quite frankly is one of those phrases that makes me feel so clever. Like I’m writing a serious novel or am arguing a case in court or something.

Before the world turned upside down, New Year’s Eve 2019

I’ve never been keen on new years resolutions in the typical sense because it made me feel rubbish when I didn’t stick to them (yep, that’s a ‘when’, not ‘if’, because I never stuck to them). But for the last few years, I reckon I’ve cracked it. I’ve found a way to make New Year’s resolutions that allow me to embark on a self-developmental journey, without the toxic pressure from society conforming me to change – wahoo! I’m taking ownership of “New Year, New Me”* but with a twist… drumroll, please… I’m calling it “New Year, New (opportunities to develop a further understanding of the world while becoming a more self-elevated version of), Me”… it’ll catch on, right?

*I have no legal rights to this phrase, please don’t sue me.

Growing up, we went to my grandparent’s house each day before and after school (the joys of having a mum who is a teacher – getting up at the crack of dawn so she could get to school for 7 am was the norm). Each day after school grandma would give us a treat, usually, pizza fingers, jubbly ice lollies in the summer or 4 squares of chocolate wrapped up in kitchen roll. When I was 13, grandma made a comment about how I couldn’t live without my 4 squares of chocolate. I disagreed, naturally. And being my stubborn, teenage self I told her that I would prove it by giving up chocolate for a year. Once New Year’s Day rolled around, no matter how much she tried to tempt me, I gave up chocolate for a whole year.

Giving up chocolate was dramatic (though I am lactose intolerant so probably should consider giving it up again) but this year-long resolution was the start of a real journey for me.

Fast-forward to 2018 when, for the first time, I started to think about long-term saving and investing in my future. The one huge problem was that dealing with money and numbers is my worst nightmare. I got a B in GCSE Maths and almost cried with happiness (shoutout to Miss Carpenter who was the MVP when it came to teaching me). But since year 11, I have avoided numbers like the plague (or COVID – is it too soon for that joke?), so when it comes to budgeting, saving and mortgages, it goes over my head entirely. Yes, I could understand these things if I really set my mind to it, but I had zero motivation to face the challenge. There was no GCSE qualification at the end of the tunnel, and certainly no Miss Carpenter to help me along the way. So I set myself a resolution for 2019 – to become more financially literate.

My two Maths-loving friends & I, ready for the 2020 new year – ahh the irony.

By creating an open-ended resolution, it became something I worked on at various points throughout the year. Rather than manically trying to have something to show for my resolution in January, it gave me the freedom to take my time. Though I worked on it at my own pace, it was good to have that yearly time-frame as it helped me to focus and develop an understanding of something that otherwise would have taken a backseat. Eh voila! 2019 came to an end and I am a financial genius (lol if only, but it did help).

After the roaring success of 2019, I continued this yearly resolution idea. In 2020 I decided to become more sustainable. Again, a very open goal that could be achieved in numerous ways throughout the year. What I found with this resolution was that by working on it little and often, the sustainable alternatives that I adopted became habits.

Charity shops are now my fave places in the world.

Both my 2019 and 2020 resolutions are things that I will continue to work on throughout my life, they didn’t just stop when the year ended. So why did they have to be New Year’s resolutions? Simply put, they didn’t. But by focusing on one thing for a whole year, and aiming to have something to show for it by December, I committed to each resolution.

If you’re still reading and didn’t swerve this article at the beginning when I started rambling on about chocolate, here are a couple of examples of how I worked on my 2019 & 2020 resolutions:

2019 – to become more financially literate:

• Discovered Martin Lewis & read LISAs vs Help to Buy ISAs
• Opened a Skipton LISA
• Used Experian to understand credit scores
• Got a credit card and now use it frequently to improve my credit rating
• Read Rich Dad, Poor Dad and learnt about assets vs liabilities

2020 – to become more sustainable:

• Switched to reusable makeup remover pads (highly recommend getting black ones cause, yano, mascara stains!)
• Actively consumed less meat (this was an easy one as there are so many delish veggie recipes)
• Started shopping & donating old clothes to local charity shops 
• Reduced food waste by making stock from scraps of veg (check out Konoba‘s video on how to do this)
• Bought all Christmas presents from small, local businesses or charity shops

So what about 2021? My new year resolution this year is… *queue the fanfare*… to practice more self-care and self-love. As someone who enjoys doing things for other people, I never work on myself and often forget to look after numero uno. I’ll let you know how it goes throughout the year!

As much as I’m on board with the messaging behind “new year, same me”, I think it’s good to want to grow and continue learning. Whether you decide to tie this in with the new year, that’s up to you. But hopefully, I’ve inspired you to think about some open-ended resolutions that will help with your own “New Year, New (opportunities to develop further understanding of the world while becoming a more self-elevated version of), Me” … I swear, it will catch on.

Until next time readers,

Lauren

The ‘M’ Word.

Navigating your twenties is heavily dependent on the ‘M’ word. Nope, not mash potato (unfortunately), but money. Whether it’s travelling, buying a house, having children or doing whatever you want to do, it all comes down to dolla dolla bills yo! So why is it such a taboo topic? Wages and pay rises, bonuses and savings, even with our closest friends and family we can feel embarrassed to talk about money.

I’ve decided to share my own personal struggles and feelings about money, in the hope that other people in their 20’s can relate.

I run my tongue over my teeth and the incisor feels a bit wobbly. I fiddle around with it and out of nowhere my tooth cracks and falls out! As I wrap my brain around what just happened, I realise several more teeth are wobbly. They all start falling out one by one and my only thought is OMG I’m going to be a gummy, no teethed 26 year old. Andddd then I wake up.

So apparently these teeth falling out dreams (that I have all the time) can indicate money worries. In which case IT EXPLAINS A LOT.

Disclaimer: I’ve always been told that I’m rubbish with money.

Aside from the fact that I’ve still not mastered the art of having more than 50p in my bank account the day before payday, I’m often party to the phrase “you’re living outside of your means” (cheers grandma for the constant reminder). Even though I’ve never defaulted on a rent payment and have a good credit rating, I’ve never quite gotten to grips with my relationship with money. In short, I’m 26 and worry that I’m “not where I should be” financially.

As someone who lived as a student and backpacked around the world, I’m no stranger to living on a budget (I’d like to take a moment to thank all the crisp sandwiches that have got me through the tough times). But as I’ve shifted into my mid-twenties, I’ve felt for the first time that those around me aren’t on the same page. We’re no longer all skint students, happy to live off Aldi’s own chicken dippers and beans for tea. Now that the majority of my friends are in full-time employment, and opt to enjoy the luxury of £75 Charlotte Tilbury magic cream on a daily basis, I find myself in a weird limbo. It’s almost like I should be able to spend/save more money like my peers, but in reality, I don’t have the means to do so.

Me eating noodles with a wooden spoon as we had no cutlery.

On a personal level, I’m lucky to have a boyfriend who lives and breathes finance (stay tuned for his podcast episode later this week on investing) and a family who I can always turn to when things get really tight – shout out to my little brother for always offering to lend me money. But why is this safety net still something I need from time to time? Surely I can’t be the only one in their 20’s struggling financially?

I’m a huge advocate for following your own path and not comparing yourself to others. So it may seem hypocritical to admit that I often feel less accomplished than my friends due to income. For some background, I currently have a part-time job that I love – wahooo – working for Invisible Manchester where we train those affected by homelessness to become walking tour guides (for reference on the ‘wahooo’ check out my redundancy blog as being unemployed wasn’t fun). The type of work I’m passionate about is typically on the lower end of the wage spectrum, so the decision to prioritise job satisfaction over money is something I’ve had to come to terms with. I see people who were on my course at university eating at spenny restaurants on their lawyer wage and it can be tough. I often consider whether I made the right choice. But when I take a step back and look at my happiness, I know that I did.

Now of course there are many people who earn Bare P* (or are comfortable financially) AND love their jobs. Fair play if you fall into this category! But there are many people in their 20’s who aren’t so lucky. We 20-somethings need to do better in acknowledging that we’re not all earning the same amount of money. So if your mate is hesitant to book tickets to the third bottomless brunch in a month, why not suggest a COVID-compliant walk in the park instead? (BOJO would be proud of that suggestion from me). Let’s support each other and minimise the feelings of guilt and embarrassment that exist around money.

*Definition: Bare P – Lots of money

I guess I’m writing this post to assure us all that it’s okay to feel uncertain about the dreaded ‘m’ word. Our 20’s are the perfect time to figure out what we want to do in life and, while money is important, it’s not a bad thing if it’s not our driving factor. It can be tough when you want a lifestyle that’s as boujee as your friends but don’t be hard on yourself if you don’t have the dolla to live at that level right now. I’ve recently started looking into alternative ways to make money alongside my career. No, I’m not talking about Only Fans (although absolutely zero judgement from me, if that’s your vibe – go get em), but through freelance writing and potentially investing. This is worth a whole post of its own, but the moral of the story is we’ll get to where we want to be in the end… we may just have to take the long way round!

Until next time readers,

Lauren

Redundancy – Real Talk

My job role has been made redundant (cheers COVID).

When I started this blog, redundancy wasn’t something I imagined writing about. It’s one of those things I thought only happened to adulty-adults – not people in their 20’s who are new to the working world. But all it took was a global pandemic and here I am 15 days after my 26th birthday and 2 days away from my last pay-check.

Before I dive into the nitty-gritty I wanted to mention how much I loved working at Smaller Earth. As my first job after travelling, I couldn’t have asked for a better place to grow as a person and develop my career. Not only did I travel around the world and make friends for life, but I also embarked on a self-development journey that has helped me understand more about my personal purpose in life. Deep I know.

I’m now at the stage where I have no clue what’s next. COVID-19 has put a real spanner in the works. And while finding a new job during this pandemic is worth a whole blog of its own, I’ve decided to share the honest feelings I had when I was told my role no longer existed.

I’ve used my own self-reflection to help normalise the internal thoughts and feelings you may have if you’re made redundant in your 20’s. So if you’ve recently become unemployed, or are unsure of your job stability, this will remind you that you’re not alone!

Introducing… The 5 Stages of Redundancy.
(coined from my own redundancy experience)

1. False Hope

Look at this pic. Me, sat at my old desk, eating cheerios provided by work without a care in the world. Fast forward to April 2020. I was placed on the government furlough scheme and knew that my role was likely to be made redundant.

But I still held out hope that some form of divine intervention was going to save my job and that this wouldn’t be the last time I watched the sunrise from my desk.
**single tear rolls down cheek**

When my redundancy was confirmed, I was annoyed at myself for allowing this false hope. I felt that I’d wasted time by not being realistic with my expectations. If you have similar feels*, don’t let yourself get too caught up on it. On reflection, I realised that no one knew how much of an impact the pandemic would have, or how many people would become unemployed. So beating yourself up about not being “realistic” is ridiculous as there is no sense of what is “real” during this unprecedented situation.

*Feels definition: A wave of emotion that isn’t easy to explain.

2. Frustration

At your company. At the pandemic. At 2020 as a whole. Our logical side tells us that being made redundant isn’t our employer’s fault. But when you think of how much hard work and energy you put into a company, it’s frustrating to know that, through no fault of your own, it has all been taken away. My advice? Let yourself be frustrated for a little while. This may seem a little strange and, when you think about the wider implications COVID-19 has had on people’s lives, you may even feel guilty or selfish for being frustrated over losing your job. But allowing yourself time to be frustrated doesn’t make you a bad person. It definitely helped me to move forward and effectively “get over” being made redundant.

3. Self-doubt

This 100% ties in with the imposter syndrome.

Has anyone else spent time thinking about all the effort you put into your work and how it still “wasn’t good enough” to prevent your redundancy? And no matter how many people tell you differently, you still feel like you’ve failed? (I’m pretty sure it can’t just be me)! I even began comparing myself to the people in my company who weren’t made redundant, wishing I could be more like them and considering ways to change myself to do better next time. If you can relate – STOP RIGHT THERE! Those kinds of thoughts need to get in the bin. Everyone brings their own unique qualities to a company and businesses are doing everything they can at the moment to keep themselves afloat. It may feel personal but remember that you are good enough – you’ve got this!

4. Anxiousness

“How’s the job hunt going?” If I had a pound for every time someone said that to me I’d never need to work again. I know people mean well, but having the constant reminder that you no longer have a job can make you feel like every second of your day should be filled with applying for jobs. I’ve definitely become more anxious as my last pay-check date draws closer, but luckily I have a good support network of friends and family to help me through these difficult times.

If you’re feeling anxious about what comes next, try taking it one day at a time. Getting worried and stressed while applying for jobs is counterproductive, so why not set yourself mini-goals for each day? I spend a couple of solid hours in the morning doing applications, then move onto something else, giving myself enough down-time to recharge.

5. Acceptance/Opportunity

I started writing this at the beginning of July, just days after hearing about my redundancy. It’s only now that I felt ready to finish it, after taking the time to process so many different emotions. I’m now firmly in the acceptance stage and, though I am yet to find another job* I am genuinely excited to see what comes next. This strange period in our lives is bizarre but has opened the door to a world of opportunity. A few weeks ago I was jumping between stages 2 – 4 and couldn’t even register the idea that redundancy could be a good thing. But now I’ve had time to think about what I actually want to do and am taking the steps to achieve it.

*If anyone knows of any Manchester-based jobs going, hit ya girl up!

It’s important to mention that these 5 stages aren’t set in stone and definitely aren’t in any particular order. I’ve flitted in between them numerous times and I’m sure feelings of self-doubt and anxiousness will continue to creep in from time to time. The important thing to remember is that you’re not alone. It doesn’t make you a bitter or bad person for having conflicting emotions and it’s A-OKAY to take time to process them.

In a year’s time, we’re all going to look back and think wow – as if that actually happened. And in 10 years time, this redundancy may be the best thing that ever happened to us in terms of our career. Everything happens for a reason and as long as we’re all safe and well, remember that “things can only get better” (like that D:ream song).

Until next time readers,

Lauren

Introducing… The 30 Before 30 Bucket List.

Ever since I can remember, I wanted to travel to Australia. When I was younger, my grandparents went to Sydney for a family wedding and came back with stories of kangaroos, the outback & Uluru (Ayers Rock). They told tales, shared photographs and kept in close contact with the Pragnells – our family who emigrated over there. I couldn’t wait to explore the country for myself.

So in 2017, after spending a full year living the dream in the land of Aus, I returned home and thought…what next?

I’ve always been someone who is constantly excited for the next adventure, holiday or event. But for the first time, I didn’t have a clue what to do next. So I sat down at my kitchen table and wrote down all the things that I wanted to achieve in my twenties. And, just like that, my list was born…

30 before 30 – Thirty things that I want to achieve before my thirtieth birthday.

So now, as my 26th birthday rapidly approaches – yikes! – I thought I’d share my list with the world (or whoever reads this blog). My plan is to write a blog for each of the 30 things once I complete them. Why? Well, not only will it keep me accountable for completing all 30 things, but I thought it’d be kinda cool to have something to look back on once I hit the big three-o.

So here it goes – this is my 30 before 30 list.

As I started to finalise my list, I could see that each goal naturally fitted into one of 6 sections: adventure, events, fitness, health & wellbeing, travel, creativity and charity. Obviously, this is super personal to me (eating vegan for 30 days may not be everyone’s cup of tea) but I’d advise anyone reading this blog to give it a go for yourselves, even if it isn’t as structured as this. It can really open your eyes to what you genuinely like doing & just how much you could achieve in your twenties!

If I’ve inspired you in any way to create your own list, here are a few things that I learnt along the way:

1. You may have more than 30 things.

I ended up writing about 50 goals at first but managed to get it down by thinking – do I ACTUALLY want to do all of these? Like do I really want to run a marathon – absolutely not – so that got KB’d. My advice would be to go crazy with a pen and paper, jotting down all sorts of ideas, but then take a step back to consider whether you actually want to do them & if they’re actually all achievable.

2. Find a way to document your achievements.

Now in true Lauren Rosegreen style, I’ve created a scrapbook for all of the photos and memorable items (show tickets etc) that I collect while completing my list. Oh, and I’m writing these blogs. But whatever way you want to document it, It’ll 100% be worth the effort so that you can look back in years time on how unreal your 20’s were.

3. Have fun with it!

It’s not supposed to be a school assignment, more a way of putting things into perspective and giving you things to look forward to it. At the end of the day, we’ll never get to live out 20’s again – so why not spend these years doing all the things you really want to do?

I can’t wait to share my 30 before 30 journey with you all & look forward to hearing from those of you who create your own lists too!

Until next time readers,
Lauren

5 Reasons Why You Should Go on an Australian WHV in Your 20’s.

G’day cobber!
Anyone who knows me will agree that I never stop going on about Australia. The country has my heart, what can I say? But being in lockdown has made me realise, more than ever, just how important travel is. So I’m going to attempt to convey in words why everyone should go on a WHV while they’re in their 20’s.

Disclaimer- I am the worst surfer in the history of surfing.

Definition(s):

WHV = Working Holiday Visa.
A Visa that allows you to work and travel in Australia for 1 year.

Cobber.
Aussie slang for mate/friend.

1. The East Coast Trip.

Me jumping out of a plane at 15,000 feet – cause East Coast Trip life yano.

This list is starting strong with what I think is the best way to see what Australia has to offer. The East Coast trip which deserves – and will rightly get – a blog of it’s own, is something everyone should see in their lives. Most people make their own way between Melbourne & Cairns, visiting wherever suits them along the way.

Here’s where we went:

Sydney – Byron Bay – Surfers Paradise – Noosa – Brisbane – Fraser Island – Whitsundays – Magnetic Island – Mission Beach – Cairns (flew to Melbourne to settle).

Those of you who haven’t been to Aus yet are likely to have skim read that list, eager to get to the next exciting bit of reading (slight presumption that my blog’s are exciting, but I’ve gotta back myself right?) But for me and so many others who strapped on a backpack and conquered the East Coast, each place conjures up a memory of someone we met, a stunning view we saw or a delicious meal from a local place we ate in. The East Coast trip is the perfect way to get a snippet of what ‘Straya has to offer and I honestly think it should be on everyones bucket list.

2. The Weather.

So you know these past few weeks in England where it’s been really sunny and everyone is in a better mood? Well Australia is like that the whole year round. Okay, so maybe not in Melbourne, where you can get all 4 seasons in a day, but generally speaking, good weather is pretty reliable.

Now you may be thinking, so what? I can pop to Barca on a cheap RyanAir flight and get my fix of sun, so why should I spend my money travelling to the other side of the world?

The answer is simple.

Living somewhere with sunny weather for a whole year changed my entire outlook on life. Our generation want more from life than to live for the weekends, and the working holiday visa is all about having a work life balance (the title ‘working holiday’ kinda gives that away I guess). For me, the WHV reaffirmed that the mundane routine of a 9-5 job, going straight home, watching TV & heading to bed exhausted, isn’t where I see my life going. With longer days and better weather, I’d finish work and head straight to the beach to meet my friends or the park to read in the sun. As much as I love a cheap trip to Barca, it just doesn’t compare to the way Australia opened my eyes to how I want to live my life.

3. The Wildlife.

Hands up who reads the word Australia and instantly thinks of man-eating spiders and venomous snakes?!

I’m gonna let you in on a little secret here, it’s unlikely that you’ll come across wildlife like this in the popular Australian cities, which is where you’re likely to settle on your WHV. With over 7,000 mammals that are native and only exist in Australia (don’t @ me on accurate figures, this is what Google told me), there’s so much more than the spiders you see on those mad YouTube vids. From the penguins in St Kilda, Melbourne, to kangaroos which you’ll find pretty much anywhere in the suburbs, you’ll guaranteed to fall in love with Australian wildlife.

I’ve never really been much of an animal person, but seeing a duck-billed platypus with my own eyes was unreal! My favourite spot for wildlife was Magnetic Island, where koalas roam the trees and you can get up close and personal with wild wallabies.

As you’ll know from the news, Australia had horrific wildfires at the start of the year that devastated the bush and killed thousands of animals. Many people who have been on a WHV in the past came together to support and donate towards restoration efforts. Why? I believe it’s because Australia does everything possible to protect its own species and once you’ve witnessed how incredible these animals are, you’ll do everything you can to help preserve it for others.

4. Coffee & Brunch Spots.

Once you’ve read this and instantly apply for an Australian WHV – because why on earth wouldn’t you – you’ll probably look into where you could live. Obviously the country is absolutely massive, but generally, most people on a WHV make the decision to settle in Sydney or Melbourne.

I’m going to be real with you here. You’re either one or the other. No floating in the middle. I’ve always said that that Sydney is like London, and Melbourne more like Manchester. So without a doubt I was (and will always be) a Melbourne gal.

Now all of the Sydney fanatics will argue against what I’m about to say but – Melbourne has the best brunch and coffee places in not only Australia, but the world. It’s a big statement, I know. But when you get there & head to your local café, you’ll know I’m not wrong.

Peach and Avocado bruschetta, I mean come on – how unreal does that look?

Chapel Street is one of my favourite places in Melbourne. A long row of independent cafes bars and brunch spots, you can walk into any one and not be disappointed. Speakeasy was a particular favourite of mine as the coffee, wine and mac & cheese were to die for (yeah I’m lactose intolerant but I’m only human).

One thing I will say, is that Melbourne coffee will ruin coffee for you. Once you’ve tasted it there, it’s no where near as good anywhere else.

5. The People.

Though the phrase “you’ll make friends for life” is so cliche that it makes me cringe from every part of my body, it couldn’t be more true.

WHV’s are popular and easily granted to people from most European countries, so you’ll meet loads of like-minded people on your trip. Whether boozy bingo at Base hostel is your thing, or you’d prefer to go for a 5am hike to watch the sunrise, you’ll find loads of people who wanna do similar things to you on their WHV.

One piece of advice I’d give is to meet some Aussies! One of my best mates Madi – who I’m still close to now – is Australian, and she introduced me to loads of local food spots & places to get great wine. Brits are great and all, but don’t get stuck in one place for the whole year where the only people you meet are from your own country (yes that was aimed at you St Kilda).

Madi & I meeting up in New York a year later (on the Met steps of course).

That was actually so hard narrowing it down to just 5 things. Nightlife, wine, beaches the list could go on! But don’t you worry, this isn’t my last blog about ‘Straya. I can promise you that much.

If you ever want to know more about WHV’s, hit me up! I am always keen to chat about my favourite place in the world.

Until next time readers,
Lauren

The BLM Movement from the Perspective of a Mixed-race Female.

Out of all of my posts so far, this has been the most difficult to write – which is precisely why it needed to be written. As a mixed-race female living in the UK, yesterday was incredibly poignant. I started this honest blog to address EVERYTHING that happens in your 20s. So with #BlackoutTuesday sparking inter-generational conversations around race inequality, it’s time that we twenty-somethings harnessed this energy and utilised the tools out there to finally move forward.

The recent influx of support for the Black Lives Matter movement has made me address my own understanding of the inherent racism in our society. This blog is by no means an attempt to shift the attention away from the movement, but to provide an insight into my personal journey so that we can all continue to educate, digest and learn from each other.

For some context, here is a snippet of my own personal experiences of racism.

I’ve been called the N word, nicknamed “poo face”, and the boy I fancied in year 6 said that I’d be pretty if I didn’t have “black-people hair”. In school, we watched Roots – a mini-series about black slavery in America – and kids started calling me and my mixed-race friend, Kunta Kinte (the main black character who was sold into slavery). They’d tell us daily to “get back on the boat” and, because they were our friends, we laughed along with the joke. I went to a white school, in a white area and was usually the only non-white person in my class. That being said, I’ve only been continuously bullied by one individual due to the colour of my skin, and 8 years later he apologised to me via social media. On the whole, I had plenty of friends, loved school and enjoyed my childhood.

So even though I’ve experienced racism first-hand, why do I feel so apprehensive about creating #blacklivesmatter content?

Yesterday’s #BlackoutTuesday gave black people the voice to educate others, pioneering the movement as others stopped and listened. While many of my white friends and colleagues committed to becoming better allies by learning from resources created by black people, I felt awkward. Guiltily stuck in the middle.

Of course, I want to educate others, especially as the majority of my following are white and look to me to convey honest messaging. But I felt overwhelmed by social media and the countless stories from black people. Their newly amplified voices opened my eyes to a range of perspectives I’d never considered. ‘Privilege’ was a concept mentioned numerous times and, once I started to read more, it made me question my own understanding of society’s narrative. For the first time, I acknowledged my own partial access to white privilege. I realised that I still have much to learn myself.

You may not understand why I feel this way – I’ve experienced personal racism and I’m brown, so of course, I can educate others, right? But though I have experienced isolated racist encounters in the past – I still can’t begin to understand the extent to which black people feel marginalised every single day.

Please take a moment to let the weight of that sit with you.

“Well, you’re pretty much white” and “you’re not really black” are things white friends have said to me throughout my life. I’m ashamed that I’m only now questioning how much would have been different if I was completely black. Yes, my skin colour is brown, but how much of my ‘white’ privilege has protected me and limited my understanding of societal racism? It is these difficult questions that I am starting to ask myself. I hope that in reading this, others will begin to feel as uncomfortable as I am by questioning their own privilege.

So where do we begin? What happens when the hashtags are no longer trending? And how can we 20-something year-olds change our behaviour, mould the societal structure and bring about an equal future? Well, it’s not going to happen overnight. But if we all pledge to speak up, challenge ourselves and actively try to unlearn prejudices, we will get there together!

I read an interesting article about privilege that suggested the exercise of listing my own. I’ve included race in both categories, as compared to white people, I lack privilege but compared to black people I have it.

My privileges
Mixed-Race
Cis-gendered
Heterosexual
Non-disabled
Neurotypical
UK residing

Where I lack privilege
Mixed-Race
Female
Lower-middle class
Publicly educated

By reflecting on your own privilege, you begin to understand how systems benefit or marginalise you. So as a starting point, why not write out your own list? Remember that this isn’t about white guilt or shame about not doing something sooner. The uncomfortable feelings I have unearthed since yesterday are part of the process, we all have to start somewhere.

So to finish up (for now), I’ve recognised that I have a platform to share my views from a unique perspective. Saying “I’m not racist” is not enough anymore. Just like it’s not enough to stay silent because “I know how it feels” to be affected by racism. I’m going to start by acknowledging the moments in my life where I could’ve done better. When I laughed when kids told me to get back on the boat, why was that? At the moment, I’m not sure. But I pledge to continue to question my own actions, share my findings and play an active part in helping the BLM movement.

Please engage and challenge my thoughts. This is an educational journey for all of us that should continue long after the black box disappears from our Instagram feed.

Until next time readers,
Lauren

Bonus Content (June 2021)

It’s been a year. 

I’ve read a lot, I’ve learnt a lot. I had one particularly difficult conversation with my Grandma when she told me not to get too tanned on holiday because I’m “less like me” when I’m darker-skinned. But I’m committed to dismantling racism in society, so my journey continues.

Off the back of multiple conversations with you readers (honestly, I love our chats!) I’ve added my top 3 reads from the past year:

• Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race – Reni Eddo-Lodge (Non-fiction)
• Such a Fun Age – Kiley Reid (fiction)
• Girl, Woman, Other – Bernardine Evaristo (fiction)

Please continue to share your experiences with me and let’s keep the conversation alive!

Until next time readers,

Lauren

The Commuting Chronicles #2.

The Wardrobe Malfunction

So I’m throwing it back to some time last year. It was one of those rare weeks in the summer when the sun is consistently hot for 7 days and Brits tend to fall into one of two categories:

1. Those who insist that they’re melting, complain that “it’s a bit too hot this” and breathe a sigh of relief when they enter an air-conned room.

2. Those who walk down the road with their arms extended out, attempting to soak in as much sun as possible, wearing clothes that allow for optimum tanning.

It’s safe to say that I’m a category 2 kinda gal (though no judgement on all you group 1-ers out there). So I decided to wear a cute floaty dress to tan the legs on my way to work, coupled with a denim jacket to combat the office air con.

Just found this pic on my phone and it’s the exact outfit. Even though this was taken in Boston, you get the vibe. (Yes we have a casual dress code in our office, which I’m very much on board with).

Now bear with me here. According to google maps, walking from The Albert Docks (where I work) to Liverpool Lime Street (where I catch my train home) takes 21minutes. I finish work at 16.00 and my train leaves at 16.24. As tedious as this info sounds, this time-frame plays a critical role in today’s story.

So, I’m going to transport us back to a particularly hot day on this rare sunny week in the UK. I finished work, went to fill up my water bottle in the kitchen and shock-horror it was overflowing with glasses, mugs and chocolate covered plates (from the Colin the caterpillar cake we’d all devoured earlier for someone’s birthday). Why people in offices can’t wash their own dishes is another story entirely, but because I was in a good mood from the sun I stayed to clean everything up.

As I stack the last glass onto the dish rack, I glanced down at my watch. Oh crap! It’s 16.12 and I have 12 minutes to make it to the station. I head down in the lift to the bottom floor and John from reception attempts to start a conversation with me – but there’s no time for chit chat. By the time I get to the big Tesco on Hanover Street, I realise I’m going to have to run. I hate running. But, do you know what I hate more? Having to pay for another train ticket.

3…2..1.. GO! If I run for 30 counts in my head, then I can walk for a little bit again when I get to Maccies. Why am I so unfit? Wow, I nearly took out an old lady waiting at the bus stop with my backpack. Why on earth does today have to be so hot?! At least my dress is breezy.

I finally make it to the station and I have 2 minutes to spare. The TransPennine Express lady on the platform smiles at me as I get through the ticket barriers and squeeze myself onto the train. I’ve made it! Absolutely sweating but £8.25 better off for it. I wriggle past people on the train before collapsing down in my seat with a smug smile on my face.

“EXCUSE ME!” “EXCUSSSE ME!” I look up and the train lady from the platform – whose Yorkshire accented voice resembles that of a foghorn – is smiling down at me.

“Your dress is tucked into your underwear lovie. The whole platform got a right eye-full when you were running, bless you. I just thought you should know, girl code and all.”

Now I’m not even exaggerating here, she YELLED that to me. I reckon my colleagues back at the Docks heard her, she said it that loud. If I wasn’t already boiling hot from running, I definitely turned a bright shade of red from pure embarrassment. I just remember thinking, did that really just happen? She probably meant well, but in what world does girl code involve sharing my wardrobe malfunction with the entire train? Worse, how do I now stand up, knowing everyone on the train carriage heard, & subtly untuck my dress out of my knicks?

There was only one way to cope with the situation and keep hold of my dignity – I replied “happy Wednesday everybody” and burst out laughing. The whole scenario was so ridiculous that I could feel the woman in the suit next to me laughing along too, and when I got up for my stop she muttered “don’t forget… girl code and all” with a sarcastic eye roll that made me instantly want to be her friend.

So, the moral of this chronicle is that even when you get your knickers in a twist (literally) and you want to curl up in a ball and disappear, sometimes the only remedy is to laugh at yourself. What’s that quote “laugh and the world laughs with you”? I can tell you this much, everyone on my carriage was well and truly laughing with me (or maybe at me but a girl can pretend).

Orrrrr maybe the real moral is WASH YOUR OWN OFFICE DISHES so people like me don’t have to run for trains!

So yes, life in your 20s can bring about those Bridget Jones moments. But even though most commuters wear suits and look intimidating, I’m sure they have the occasional wardrobe malfunctions on their journeys to work too.

Surely? They must do? I can’t be the only one right?

Until next time readers,
Lauren