Today I wanted to do a different type of post called '5 ways blogging has changed my life'. I thought it would be a fun post to do to be able to reflect on how blogging has changed me as a person. Fellow bloggers...have a go- list your 5 things! Go on!

CREDIT: source

This may be a tad odd, but becoming a blogger has made me feel like I have a real place in this world and as if I'm putting something positive into the world. Becoming a blogger has inspired me to voice my opinions (in a fair and respectful way) and to share my life experiences (so far) with my readers. Before blogging all my opinions would be heard by family and friends, but now I have a way to share my thoughts and feelings with people over the world.
I appreciate little things a lot more. Since becoming a blogger I have started to notice and appreciate life's little things. Receiving one comment on a blog post has the potential to add so much positivity to my day.

It has hugely improved my writing and photography. I have so much more confidence now, so writing has become a heck of a lot easier. Reading others' blogs has tremendously inspired my writing and photograph taking too.

I think about blogging every day. I am always thinking about post ideas and ways to improve my blog's layout etc. It is a regular conversation in my house now: 'How many followers do you have now Eve?' and 'I saw you feature that on your blog!'

It has helped me meet so many wonderful people. Before writing my blog there was always a part of me that felt lonely, but now I feel so lucky and grateful to be able to communicate with fellow bloggers and readers all over the world. It feels as if I've known some of these people for years and years! 

HELLO EVERYONE!

Today's post is a little announcement about a challenge I have set myself for this year. I have been considering doing this for months now and am so excited to get started training.
I am going to be doing a sponsored hula hooping 'thing'. All rules/conditions of my little 'challenge' will be put in a future post!

Why?
I always like to push myself fitness wise and love to hula hoop, but I only ever hoop for 3 sets of about 2 minutes during a fitness class. It may not sound like a lot, but spinning a weighted hoop for a long period will require a lot of energy. I wanted to do something to raise money for Macmillan Cancer (see their website here: http://www.macmillan.org.uk ) as I've seen lots of people I know being affected by cancer and want to help out whether it be a small contribution.  

I still have to organise where I will be doing it and an exact date, but the aim is August. I will keep you posted on Fit4Friday on how training is going (I'm starting training mid June) and if I decide to increase the time I hope to hula hoop for (depending on how easy I find it)
As well as updating my blog, I am aiming to start a new YouTube channel where I will be able to show myself completing my little challenge (and I'll also be making other videos on there too). 

Perhaps I am being dramatic calling it a 'challenge', but for me it will be a little challenge. I can't wait to start training for it! Let me know if you're doing some sort of personal challenge. 

Keep coming back to Haia Eve every Friday for possible updates! 

Hello everyone!

I am so thrilled to see this weekend as I have had the longest week of 7 exams! I am not sure how they have gone - some have gone okay, some not so okay! We'll see! Only 9 out of the initial 21 to go!

Today I thought I'd do a quick little post on how my exams have impacted on my healthy lifestyle as I know that many people struggle with staying healthy when life/work takes over.

I have been struggling. I think I've gained a little bit of weight, but honestly it feels to be the least of my worries. I have enjoyed eating a chocolate bar after revision as a little boost as, let's be real a little bit of chocolate can do the world of good! I do find myself picking up the packet and thinking 'be healthy' and yet I still eat it. I think this is because priorities take over and honestly, I'd prefer to have a little bit more food here and there during these times to keep my mood up than not because I want to keep a slim figure.

The moral of this little story is...eat chocolate! Joking! I think it's okay sometimes to not feel guilty if you're not sticking to your diet, but make sure that you don't over indulge or binge.

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Today I thought it would be fun to share my everyday (or most days) beauty essentials. These are some of my all time favourite products...

1. 2000 Calorie mascara (Max Factor) - This is my absolute favourite mascara! It adds so much volume to your lashes!

2. Wake Me Up concealer (Rimmel London) - I love using this to cover my dark under eye circles!

3. Milk & Honey lip balm (Nivea) - I love all Nivea lip products to prevent chapped lips.

4. Nose Pore Strips (T-Zone) - These are a saint went it comes to getting rid of the pesky blackheads on my nose!

5. Compressed Anti-perspirant (Sure Women) - I exercise a lot, so deodorant is an essential!

6. 3-in-1 Micellar Cleansing Water (Nivea) - see my blog post: here I use this for make up removal and cleansing.

7. Tangle Teezer - This is the only hair brush I use. I love it!

Today I wanted to a Fit4Friday post all to do with stress. It may seem a bit odd that I'm incorporating a post on stress into this series, but I feel that it is relevant as mental health is just as important as physical health. If you didn't know, a week ago today I started my exams. I have by now completed 5 and have 16 to go. The thought of having to complete 7 next week in 5 days makes me want to crawl under my duvet and not come out for a month...I am exhausted and completely overwhelmed with the expectations from others and from myself.
So far, I have come out of every exam and haven't felt great about any one of them, truthfully I feel as if the most of them have gone terrible. I will admit, sometimes I think things have gone terrible when they have gone fine and I do regret wasting so much energy dwelling on it after, but I constantly think about silly mistakes that I've made like mixing up the name of something or forgetting an experiment or not finishing a sentence and it drives me absolutely crazy! This week I sat two Chemistry exams. I love Chemistry and I really studied for it before hand, the first paper went okay (on reflection I know I've made a few mistakes), but the second paper didn't go that well (didn't feel as if it has gone well), I am terrible because no matter how hard I try I can't help but be annoyed with myself for losing marks in things I normally would be able to answer. I think they key is: don't worry. It's so easy for someone to tell you not to worry and it's so hard to stop worrying, but put in in perspective:

• You don't know how much you've got.
• You haven't read the marking schemes.
• Even if you've got a few questions wrong there are still things you've done right.
• Worrying won't change what you've got, but I think that worry is a personal way of preparing for disappointment.
• If worse comes to worse, you can re-sit!

Remember: in the situation you did your best. It is natural to forget things in the heat of the moment, but you did your very best at the time. It is important that you focus on other things rather than analysing every question/answer in the paper because it won't do you any good.

So, if you're doing exams/course work/assignments etc at the minute I hope this post was useful. It was definitely helpful to put all my current feelings into a post.
Sorry for not posting on Wednesday, I have been so busy!

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Everyone these days has heard of Zoella (Zoe Sugg): she's a massively famous blogger/youtuber. Last year, Zoe Sugg released her very own beauty line: see my post about Zoella beauty and it has been quite a success.

I had thoroughly enjoyed using some of her other products, so I wanted to give the 'FIZZ BAR' a go! Thank you to my friend who bought this as a prezzie for me:).

I love a good bath so was extremely excited to be able to use this product after hearing lots of good stuff about it.
My impressions of the product: I love the packaging; it's extremely dainty and cute. The actual product looked pretty cool too, shaped as a chocolate bar.
Using the product - I used two squares of the product and thought that it was enough considering the amount of bath water I was using. The product did smell really good, but it wasn't a very clear smell (you couldn't really smell it once it was in the bath), it did the job and fizzed, but I didn't feel there was anything spectacular about it. That being said, I love that it's a product that doesn't have to be used all at once. I do like the scent, it's the same as all the other products in the line; a very fresh, floral smelling scent. My skin did feel fresh and clean afterwards too.

I didn't think it was anything to compare with a bath bomb you'd pick up at Lush, but for the money it's a good product (200g for £5.00 at Superdrug). Perhaps if I were to use more squares next time it would work better for me.

Overall, I would award the product 6/10. It's very simple and is good if you want a quick 'freshening up' bath.

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I have to apologize that this weeks Fit4Friday is going to be a quick one - I haven't had time to pre-write due to my exams (which began today:(). I thought it would be nice to share a fitness motivation quote now and again in order to give you all a little inspiration!

Today's quote: 'strive for progress not perfection' is something that I think we should all keep it mind when we are trying to make a change. A lot of people believe that they'll completely change in a matter of weeks when in reality progress takes time, so look at progression rather than the final result.

The blogging world is one huge, happy (for the most part) community. It is wonderful to be able to speak with people from all over the world, of different ages and to have one thing in common: blogging. Today I wanted to do a post dedicated to some of my all time favourite blogs out there, this week due to my exams starting on Friday is going to be a hard one, so I thought writing a positive post like this would do me good! 

Of course, I'm sure I will have missed out so many wonderful blogs (perhaps yours?) so make sure you link your favourites along with your own in the comments so that I and fellow comment writers/readers can have a cheeky browse.

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE: google images

I know that a huge amount of you will have heard about Carly Rowena. She is the queen (in my opinion) of fitness and healthy lifestyle as far as the internet world in concerned. Her clear passion in leading a healthy life makes it so much more exciting to get involved with her fitness challenges. Her blog is full of colour, personality and great advice. If you are a in need of a beautiful 'fitspiration' this is where to turn. Carly seems an absolutely lovely girl and deserves all the views she gets.

Visit her blog: www.carlyrowena.com


There is so much to love about this blog. The layout, the photography and the awesome personality expressed by Abbie in her words. At the moment my favourite of her posts are her pregnancy ones (congratulations Abbie!) , but I do love a good read of her beauty reviews. Gather around beauty lovers and future mothers this blog is a good one!

Visit her blog: www.abeautifuldelight.co.uk


Firstly, may I say how lovely Annabel is. I have been fortunate to exchange a few tweets here and there with her in the past and she is absolutely lovely. Her blog is stunning. Her photography is gorgeous and she is a brilliantly engaging writer! Go have a look...

Visit her blog: mascara-and-maltesers.blogspot.co.uk


An absolutely lovely girl. I adore her blog because it is full of everything. My favourite series of hers being her 'motivational Monday' posts which add an ounce of positivity to the start of  a week. If you love various different posts have a look...

Visit her blog: www.jesstastics.com


Kirstie can have me laughing within seconds of me starting to read her new post, she is full of humour and is incredibly bubbly. Her posts are very individual. Her blog layout is cute and attractive, and quickly gives an idea of what her blog is all about.

Visit her blog: www.ayellowbrickblog.com


I really, really like this blog. The photos are lovely and she is a very good writer. This blog definitely deserves some more followers!

Visit her blog: jess-inretrospect.blogspot.co.uk


This blog has grown very quickly within a matter of months and it is clear why. The blog looks absolutely stunning and is filled with very interesting posts. Lauren is lovely and a great writer.

Visit her blog: www.cautivar.com


This blog is extremely pretty and is a blog I really enjoy reading. Olivia seems such a great person and always tries to express positivity amongst bloggers. Her blog is definitely one I am glad I discovered.

Visit her blog: www.dungarees-and-donuts.co.uk


One of the first blogs I ever read. Jessie has a clear talent when expressing herself in her posts, evidently a great writer. I adore her new layout and her good quality photography very much compliments it. Jessie is very funny and extremely kind.

Visit her blog: allthingsbeautiful-x.blogspot.co.uk


I really love all of her different posts. Her layout is so pretty (I adore the pink and blue!) She has a wonderful blog and her personality is lovely.

Visit her blog: www.beckybedbug.com

I have done a few skin care posts in the past raving about different cleansers, but I don't think I've ever found one I love as much as this one.

The Nivea daily essentials sensitive 3 in 1 micellar cleansing water is every lazy girl's dream. The product works as a cleanser, make up remover and moisturiser all in one. Brilliant.
The product helps to protect against the signs on sensitive skin: dryness, redness and tightness.

I have been using this product for a little while now and have found that it is so easy and care free to use. Personally, I don't like to do anything hugely spectacular with my skin care routine so this product is wonderful; not only does it clean any excess dirt on the surface of my skin, but also removes any makeup I have on. I have been able to use the product around my eye area without any irritation at all. After use of product my skin feels cleaner and smoother.

To apply: I apply a small amount to a cotton wool pad and with eyes closed rub gently around my face, paying extra attention to my T-Zone area.

The product usually sells at Boots for £3.69, but is currently discounted to £1.84 - bargain! I cannot rave about this product enough and would highly recommend you giving it a go! Product link: boots.com

Obviously, if you are someone who prefers to buy products from the high end market then this product may not be for you (try it just in case! hehe!) but, if you're looking for an affordable, good quality cleanser/makeup remover/moisturiser then this is perfect to add to your collection.

Fit 4 Friday is a series that I created in order to inspire readers to keep themselves healthy. If I was to ask people what they thought be healthy mean they'd respond; 'exercising' or 'eating healthily', when in fact good health and well being lies under four main factors: Physical, Intellectual, Emotional and Social health. Therefore, when considering whether you are a healthy being you must look into what role these four factors play on your health.

Today I wanted to discuss having a healthier mind set, this means keeping your mind healthy and happy. A huge factor on mind set is how you view things and how you approach things. Some people would see a tree has collapsed in the middle of road and would cry/give up, others would find an alternative route. I know there have been times where I've been the first person, but I do believe for the majority I am the second.

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Today, in order to help you to re-evaluate your views or just to improve your mind set (for the better) in some way, I thought I'd list a few of my top tips. Keep in mind I have my down days, but these are some things that help me keep a positive, clear head.

1 - Have time to yourself - Sometimes when the world all gets a little too overwhelming I like to take time to myself, away from people to do things that relax me. This could be blogging, reading, listening to music or just sitting quietly and still.

2 - Stay active - For me, keeping fit really boosts my mood and leaves me feeling a lot more positive.

3 - Take a step back - If something is stressing you out or worrying you, step back from the situation and evaluate methods to overcome the situation.

4 - People - Surround yourself with people who make you feel good about yourself.

5 - 'It could be a lot worse' - You have to remember (as hard as it is sometimes) that there is someone in the world going through something a lot worse.

6 - It's not the end of the world - Don't dwell on things that haven't gone your way, as most of the time you'll have another opportunity to redeem yourself.

7 - Set realistic goals - If you set a goal that is sustainable, you'll feel happy when you've achieved it. Setting goals that aren't achievable will leave you feeling disappointed and upset with yourself.

8 - Smile and laugh - Laughing and smiling with people you care for is often the best medicine and it doesn't cost a penny.

9 - Look back - Not looking back at regrets, but looking back at all the good memories you have had in your life and all the times you have achieved something you are proud of.

10 - Treasure the little things - 'little things mean a lot'. When someone takes time out of their day to chat to me it gives me a huge boost for the whole day or when I have a lovely lunch it makes me feel good, little things like that can add a lot of substance to your day.