#Photography: Barbican Strolling 🚶🏾💦

It’s the winter months, so every time I see sun. We don’t get much of it, so it’s basically similar to finding treasure LOL. It gives me the urge to go outside and take some more photographs. I took a trip to the Barbican centre, as they had a water feature in the middle. I didn’t know if I could get in because it’s Boxing Day, but I trusted my instincts and a way came (long story so I won’t get into it lol).

Anyways here’s a selected few of the pictures taken:

I hope you enjoy looking at the photos👁

Visuals and edited by Chanda Demi West 📸📸

A Light Morning Touch 😍🌬

Short poem inspired by the morning air breeze

Cold air brushing against the skin

The breeze could feel like a new thing

Light velvet feathering upon him

You leave the window open

That’s how the chill gets in

Laying on your stomach

A time for bedtime flexing

Falling asleep while the air gets work in

Chanda Demi West

Image Source:Google (all linked to the original source)

DIY Nails: Nail Extensions with Two Colour Design💜💛

Heyy, guess who’s back with another nail video!😍

I’d thought I’d share the finished product with you guys, because this is the first time I’ve added extension tips to my natural nail bed. The whole process was a little bit messy but I’m guessing that’s because I’m newly starting out. Hopefully as time goes on, it will get better and will improve.

As usual, I’ve used gel top coat finish with normal nail polish from the Rimmel London (Berries and Cream, which is the purple colour) and Gabrini collection (the Gold colour)

It’s good to experiment with shades and tones of one colour. I would positively reinforce using one or more, it works even better if you’re indecisive about which one to use. This means you have the comfort of knowing you can just use as many as you want.

If you’d like your nails to have length, add extension tips. It gives a larger surface area to work with, similar to when starting art on a blank canvas. Especially, being use to natural nails, sometimes you just wish to switch up your look; so why not start with your nails and the rest will follow..

I hope you enjoy the rest of your day☺️

#StayPolished 💅🏾🙌🏾

Chanda DemiWest

DIY Nail Video: Nail Art – Two Colour Theme ❤️💜

Heyyy, I’m back again with another nail video😍

Every female can agree getting your nails done, is one of the best feelings. It brings a certain cleanliness to know you have buff nails. It also a great sight to look at your finger or toe nails and notice a pleasant view in front you.

I thought I’d share another video of my latest nail colour choice. The act and process of painting nails is therapeutic, because you concentrate on trying to perfect each nail with the brush strokes.

I decided to go with red and purple from the Rimmel London 60 Second Dry collection. The colours are called Queen of Tarts and Midnight Rendezvous. They work well together, as they are subtle colours. It’s not too bright but contrasting enough to make a difference.

It’s still the festive season, so there’s more chance to get experimental. You can choose to use these colours for when attending house parties, get-to-together or low-key events. Sometimes you’re not feeling to just use one colour, so why not use two or three (if you’re feeling a bit daring😉). There’s no limit when it comes to nail designs/patterns.

That was it with today’s post, I hope you enjoyed it and have fun playing around with different colours ✌🏾

What colours will you be using this season? Feel free to comment below ☺️

The Thoughts Of The Source 📚

A day where everything ran on course

Try out something new

Give yourself a round of applause

Expressing gratitude above to the Lord

Conserving the funds to all you can afford

If it all went to plan

Reward yourself with an gold award

Staying alert may mean you never get bored

If it all gets messy, cut the cord

Book Pages With Interlock

CDW

Image source: Chanda Demi West Photography and Google

Nail Art: Festive Colours♥️💛

Helloo welcome to tonight’s post!

I thought I’d try something new this evening. It’s a short random one but it’s definitely a change from the usual. It’s okay to switch up your routine sometimes and give yourself a manicure/pedicure💅🏾 . It’s not like you can leave your home at this time to visit a nail shop LOL.

So here’s to the more lighthearted approach this late evening.. I enjoy painting nails. You can just mix & match colours on how you feel. Or you can think about which design you want. The concentration on the task at hand grounds you to remain present, because you dedicate time to each nail. I chose to go with gold and red this time. The colours are a great combination, which compliment each other well. Also, you tend to see those colours on Christmas decorations too. It is used to design festive-related items such as crackers, table cloths and jumpers.

Well here’s a video of the nail look I created today:

” ] #StayPolished 😍😍 –

What colours are you choosing to use this season?

Sunday December Calls 🎵

A poem inspired by the early morning awareness

Awake early doors

Time to wake up calls

Hearing the sound of the tap as it pours

Laying on your side

While it attacks your thoughts

Sounds of water breeds familiarity

The consistency brings similarity

Do you wake up ahead of all your family

Appreciate the silence that boosts clarity

Looking up at the colourless skies

Today is a new day to survive

The fragrance smell fills the room

Pleasant smells makes things a lot less gloom

Chanda D West

Happy Sunday❄️

All images sourced from Pinterest and Google, under the search terms (Winter mornings)

Curves and All The Edges🎶👙

I recently done a post a while ago talking about the The Media and how it can affect body image. I thought I’d do a follow up post to remind us all that our bodies are fine the way they are.

Here’s the link to the post – The Media & Body Image

On a daily basis, we are being bombarded with images that do not resemble what people look like in real life. Everything is constructed in a matter to drive sales, so people can be constantly chasing things that are unattainable naturally. In reference to the female body, there will be imperfections and flaws but in society, it may be harder to accept them without social media and the internet constantly making us believe there is one ‘ideal’ body frame. We’ve all got curves and edges, some more than others but we still have them. It doesn’t make you any less of a person, you are still valid.

However, focus on the reasons for your change and analyse which methods would suit you best to re-construct a positive change in your self image. Whether it’s going gym (maybe ask a personal trainer for advice/assistance) , watching what you eat, following accounts that encourage you to feel great about yourself. Write down what you like about yourself or stand in the mirror and feel your body, which you can the chance. Just allow your hands to flow all over and see that is all of you. It could even be picking out clothes that you feel comfortable in or that allows you to appreciate your body in a good way. I’m not here to promote excessive self-love but rather to aid a healthier self image to balance all other areas of your life.

I was chubby growing up, I didn’t even mind so much but you get to a stage where you become much more aware of yourself and it might make you become self-conscious thinking you need to change. I think this time comes during your teen to late teens. I know I’ll never be stick thin but I’ve learnt to manage and maintain my weight as it is.

It is about letting yourself be and knowing you already have pre-determined bone structure. Look into the different body types and identify with your shape. You could be big boned, smaller boned, but everyone is different. For example, depending on your bone structure, that will affect how muscle and fat is disposed around your body. There is much more to it than what meets the eye🙇🏾‍♀️👁

Body Types

A concept of thought..💡💬 The post isn’t directed at celebrities but I’d like to use them as an example in this paragraph. I’ve come across many articles that celebrities complain about their weight or the way they are spoken about in magazine. Later, reinforced on social media on various accounts. I understand they’ve put themselves in a position to be in front of the public eye, but that doesn’t excuse the fact they aren’t normal human beings who should be treated with respect like anyone else.

We’ve come to a time, where it’s very easy to criticise something or someone from behind a phone or computer screen. People are seen doing this through comments or tweets on social media. They are unable to feel the consequences of their actions, which impacts someone else. It’s clearly ignorant behaviour, which shouldn’t be tolerated. There are tough decisions to be made by you either ignore such comments or letting it affect you on a deeper level.

I know it’s not easy because negative comments stick more than positive ones. It is less likely to bother you as much, when you start to accept your body for what it is and understand how to make reasonable improvements in your life. This helps your self-acceptance which will hopefully increase well-rounded health. Sometimes it is the image or goal we have in our heads that disconnect us from what we can do or is going on now.

One other point to think about: Do you think men have face similar issues about ‘ideals’ towards their body shape/weight?

I hope you can walk away from this post with a better and clearer view of yourself and not a medialised version. Concentrate on the now and your stepping stones from today. You never know where you could be in a years’ time..

Note: baby steps, baby steps, small steps amount to bigger steps. All images source from Google.

Let, Live, Go 🦋🕊

Image Source: http://www.topdesktopwallpapers.net/preview/preview.php?paper_id=129&size=1920×1200

Let, Live, Go..

The topic of today’s post is PTSD. I’m going to explain the basics and provide you guys with the relevant information for further insight.

PTSD stands for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which can induced by a traumatic event. It’s most commonly acknowledge for soldiers who experience it from going to war. Also, it can occur in other cases where the person has been shaken up following a life-changing event, an intense encounter or attack.

It is something you live with 24/7 and is difficult to switch off. For example, you live in your own house, you just can’t evict your self. You have to wait for new tenants to buy the property. Similar to PTSD, it sits with you until you’ve figured out how to start surviving functionally again. This requires you to consciously work on it, as you re-wire your internal dialogue back to health.

(Each day is a new day, so you take it as it comes)

The condition can last many years, depending on the individual once triggered and you can learn how to manage it using the appropriate tools and exercises to help ground you. Once you have established what works for you, then the effect it has on you starts reducing. This is because you’re learning how to balance and level yourself, so your mind and body becomes one. Rather than being two separate entities. The mind, body and soul is one . Eventually, your body will learn to relax so you live more efficiently. It’s not an overnight growth. It may take weeks, months or years , but remember you’re basically like a caterpillar growing into a butterfly. So, make sure you’re not too hard on yourself.

Here are two links to a more detailed explanation, with one providing an additional worksheet:

Mind.org.uk – PTSD

PTSD – Printable Help Sheet

Here are some of the 4 ways to lessen the symptoms of PTSD:

  • Triggers – Learn what your triggers are and find a way to counteract them for having full effect on you. You still maybe triggered, but as you practise, gradually the force of it will decrease. You can note them down or monitor your progress in a book.
  • Exercise (light and/or that makes you pay attention to what’s going on in your body such as Yoga or weights. These type of exercise make you focus on different parts of your body and the impact it’s having on it by loosing you up.
  • Mediatition/Prayers– sitting with your own thoughts, without distractions – let, live, let it go. Pay attention to the sensations and breathing in your body. Write in a diary or notebook.
  • Grounding techniques – participate in activities that activate all five senses, through observation, using objects or scents that help you to not disassociate from the now.
renatures.com-winter-sky-sunset-snow-peaceful-german-serenity-sun-fields-wonderful-desktop-pictures-scenes
Winter is nearly here.. Image Source: http://renatures.com/sun-serenity-wonderful-peaceful-snow-fields-sunset-winter-german-sky-free-themed-desktop-wallpaper/

Thanks for reading this post, feel free to share it or show it to someone who may benefit from it.

Scented Galore😍 : Relaxation Time

img_5699
Vanilla and Honey Ice Cream Source: https://pin.it/qkagxye4lrryhr

Hi welcome, unfortunately I won’t be talking about ice cream even though they are so nice to eat😍 but however, this post is for those who like scented products or are interested in trying them soon..

Scented products can really bring you into the moment, especially when you can smell the flavour of the item. Some people use them for decoration, other use it for its benefits. It has the potential to bring the environment to life with its beautiful scent. It also puts you in the present, as you become aware of the smell so therefore your mind stays in the now. You’re not going to wander off thinking about other unnecessary things because you’re concentrating on enjoying it. To add to the atmosphere, play music in the background for a well – rounded experience or preferably, in silent room just to ease your thoughts. Let it give you that feel good feeling, remain open-minded and let go all the possibilities that occur in your mind💬💡

In this post, I’ll be focussing more closely on scented candles, with a brief touch of air fresheners.. 

The link below provides a detailed explanation of benefits found for the use of scented candles:

Scented Candle Benefits (Aromatherapy)

I’ve been trying them out for a while now, because I like nice smells and it creates an intimate environment. However, since starting my experience with them, I’ve come to find that not all of them do their required job. Sometimes it’s hard to find a product which actually does what it says on the packaging. Rather, it merely just produces non-existent fumes. You can test out many different brands to finally figure out the right one. That’s when you get the “YES FINALLY”moment!💆🏾😍.

Yankee candles (£10-20, depending on what retailer you get it from) are a popular brand that sells scented candles, but what I’ve found is Tesco produce good quality ones (I could be being biased but I can only speak from a trial and error testing). They cost around £3.50 and burn for 50 hours. It is not always the expensive products that provide the best outcome. You have to mix and match to see which ones are good. Experiment with different brands and see what caters to your taste. For example, Tesco’s Vanilla and Honey candle has subtle but there’s a strong warmth to it, it’s very easy on the nose. I tend to get excited to be in its presence for the pleasant joy it brings. As, it will relax you after coming home from a long day, to help you unwind for the evening before bed. It’s not all the time you can do exciting things to activate your senses, so this way provides an alternative method for a better calming effect. It makes your room smell like a candy shop. Also, as it burns, the oil gathers together reinforcing the strength of the scent.🍯🍯

img_5701
Relaxation time is important Source: http://www.getholistichealth.com/4617/the-health-benefits-of-relaxation/

Another source of aromatherapy is automatic air fresheners. They are usually battery-powered or you have to plug them into socket, depending on your preference. They also give you x amount of settings to evenly spread out the sprays each day for more effect. It can be startling if you don’t expect it to go off, but nevertheless the fragrance makes up for the shock effect. (You can hear it being pressed out of the container, this can catch you off guard if you weren’t aware of it coming) It gives that “ahhh mmm” moment in your head as you soak it in. One product recommended for use is the battery-powered AirWicks automatic freshener. It follows the routine I described above and you are able to buy refills of different fragrances. You can put it on a desk, window sills or anywhere that works for you, it’s only little so you can slot it somewhere🌸🌺🌷.

img_5700
Let go and trust God (or your higher power) Source: passionpassport on Instagram

Feel free to share your experiences and/or your relaxation routine below in the comments!

For Christians, here says what the Bible says about rest and it’s importance – Rest and Relaxation – The Bible

Thank you for taking time to read this post and enjoy the rest of your day 💃🏾

Chanda Demi West