Francesca Roberts @francescaroberts - Tumblr Blog

Fairytale love

On April 16th 1946 my Nan and Grandad got married. 70 years ago. They met at a little cinema in Liverpool. Apparently my granddad got bored one night and fancied a trip to the cinema, he went to one ‘picture house’ and it was too busy so he went to another. When he arrived he saw a friend of his stood with a girl he’d never met before, as he was on his own he decided he’d crash their girls night out and join them. When the usher announced there were 3 spaces available for a group of 3 to sit upstairs the 3 of them got to go in together. Once they got upstairs they were faced with the dilemma of only 2 seats being together. My Grandad being the gentleman he is pushed his friend out of the way and made sure he sat with my Nan. He said he cheekily held her hand during the entire film, and my Nan was too polite to tell him to get off. He walked her home that night and the rest is as they say history. I love everything about this story; I’m probably a little more partial to the idea of finding love at the cinema because I work in cinema exhibition, so it pulls on my heartstrings a little more.

It’s hard to believe that people can be together for 70 years. When you ask my Grandad about their love he will tell you it was special. That it’s the type of love you see in the movies.

My Nan and Grandad were and are lucky. They found their true love at a very young age. If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s that true love doesn’t have a timescale. You can be 16 or you can be 36 when you meet the person you should spend your live with. It can be your first love or it can be your 5th. You can be single or already in a relationship. It doesn’t matter. Love is love, and when it happens it happens. That’s kind of the beauty of it. You don’t get to decide, your heart decides for you.

Love is a funny thing. It’s an emotion, it’s a thought, it’s an action. It’s a laugh, it’s a test, it’s a tear. It’s complicated and its simple. It’s exciting and it’s terrifying. It’s clarity and it’s confusion. But it’s special nonetheless.

I’ve always been one for following your heart. I don’t like the idea of people settling or missing out on great love. I’ll always encourage the reckless drunken texts people send confessing feelings. I’ll encourage the horrible straightforward conversations baring all. I’ll encourage people to say and do the things that makes their heart beat fast and their legs shake, because I know how alive you can feel when you feel something so strongly for somebody else and i’d never want to deny that feeling.

My Nan and Grandad met on a twist of fate. They met at a cinema one night and fell in love. I believe that things happen for a reason and that you meet people for a reason. But I also believe that you have to take a chance. If it wasn’t for my Grandad feeling extra bold that night and making sure him and my Nan sat together they may never have fallen in love and we wouldn’t be celebrating such a momentous achievement with them tonight.

To my Nan and Grandad,

Thank you for being an inspiration to me. Thank you for showing me that you have to take a chance and tell people how you feel. And thank you for showing me that fairytale love does exist; you just have to be brave enough to find it.

Happy Anniversary!

Love

Francesca

xxx

I'd been toying with writing an end of year blog so much that I forgot to post one yesterday. Not to break tradition I've decided to do it today instead. It's hard to believe that it's 2016. In 2014 I'd been through a massive change both professionally and personally and I felt like the final 6 months of the year left me completely overwhelmed with no idea where I would end up. And although no major dramatical changes happened to me in 2015, I still had my fair share of ups and downs. Here are some of the things I learnt in 2015...

1 - If there's something you've always wanted to do, you should do it. When I moved to London I never had a plan. I just knew that that's where I wanted to be. I didn't move with a job already lined up or even with a career in mind. I just moved and somehow I ended up landing in a job that I love. A job where I genuinely look forward to Mondays. If I hadn't have followed my dream of moving, I wouldn't be working in an industry I adore. And I wouldn't be at the beginning of what I hope to be a great career.

2 - If you love someone, tell them! Whether you want to tell a family member, a friend or a love interest, just tell them. There's a quote on the Internet that I love and it reads 'She's got bite marks on her tongue from all the things she never said'. Don't live your life wishing you'd told someone how you really feel. They might be waiting and wishing to tell you how they feel too.

3 - Let people chase their dreams, even if their dreams are 4,000 miles away. My brother moved to America in August and the biggest part of me really didn't want him to go. Purely for selfish reasons of wanting him to be there every time I travelled home. My brother is my best friend. He knows all of my secrets and we're incredibly alike. I do wish he lived 4 miles away and not 4,000 miles away but I'm so happy that I get to watch him live a life that he's in control of building. I couldn’t be more proud of him.

4 - Good friendship means everything. I've learnt a lot this year about the importance of friendship. There is a massive difference between someone you gossip with and someone who will be there at 2am when you need someone to talk to. You need good friends to be able to tell you want you want to hear and to also tell you what you're afraid of hearing.

5 - Embrace who you are. I feel like I learnt a lot about myself last year. I know more about myself than I ever have. I know my biggest fears and my deepest wants. I enjoy spending time on my own and being independent form people. I'm ok with being upset and feeling different emotions. I'm ok with being silly, and sometimes annoying. And I'm ok with being the type of person who will do anything to make someone else happy.

6 - Life does not exist in a black and white world. It's messy and it's complicated. You might make some people happy and you might hurt others. You'll meet people who will make you feel things you've never felt before, and you'll find happiness and sadness in the same situation. You have to trust that people come into your life for a reason and that things happen for a reason. I do believe in fate. But I also believe we are only fated to do the things we'd choose anyway. Life is complicated and people are complicated, but more often than not, those complications are worth it.

6 - Risks and chances are there for the taking. I think the most apparent thing I learnt about myself last year is that I definitely wear my heart on my sleeve and if I feel strongly enough about something then I'm willing to risk it being broken. Sometimes you have to look at situations in life like a roll of a dice. You either win or you lose. But you have to take risks if you ever want something good to happen. Dust settles, people shouldn’t.

So as the first day of 2016 slowly draws to a close, I hope you feel excited about the year ahead. And I hope that when the clock struck midnight last night you made a wish. I know I definitely did.

My New Years wish for you is that your wish comes true.

Happy New Year!

- Francesca Xxx

A little hope.

Hope 1. A Feeling of expectations and desire for a particular thing to happen. 2. A Feeling of trust. 3. Want something to happen or be the case. This past week has been full of terribly sad news. On a personal and a national scale. On Monday night I found out that a girl who I grew up with, and one of my mothers best friends daughters, passed away with cancer. She was 28. And after undergoing operations and continuous treatment the disease finally caught up with her and she passed away. Aimee left behind two children, and a family who adored her, and endless amounts of friends. On the same night a close friend of mine also found out that a friend of his passed away by the same disease. He hadn’t been battling for long, but on Monday the disease had become too much for him and he too passed away, again leaving family and friends behind. Then on Friday night I sat and watched the news along with the rest of the world and saw the unfathomable. I watched people’s lives being taken from them for merely existing. I watched pure evil sweep the streets of Paris and play god. I will never be able to understand how someone can take someone else’s life, I will never know why a human thinks they have the right over someone else. I will never ever begin to comprehend the evil which exists within some peoples souls, and I will also never understand how some people can have such a terrible disease which takes their lives so cruelly. I haven’t written this blog to pass opinion of the devastating events of the past week, there are enough opinions flooding the internet, and I am nowhere near educated enough in war crime or disease to force my opinion on another. I’ve written it because in light of all the terrible things which have happened, it's apparent that hope exists. I used to think that hope wasn’t real. It was something our hearts conjured up so it didn’t have to face real pain. But I no longer think that’s true. Hope enables us to feel pain, and to look past it. It enables us to see a bigger picture. It allows us to stand together and to lean on others for support, no matter how small. It gives us another step towards recovery. From seeing the people from my home town gathering to remember Aimee, and support her family, to watching the world come together to stand against the evil that was forced upon the human race on Friday. As a person I tend to believe that good can overcome evil. I believe that true love will always prevail. And I believe that with a little hope and a little faith the right thing will happen. I know that life isn’t always fair, and I know that I am slightly naïve for believing good will always win, but I don’t think a little hope ever hurt anybody. And I think the only good thing that comes from devastation is knowing that the world is full of good people and its also full of hope. I hope that one day good does overcome, and I hope that the devastating things which have happened over the past couple of days puts life into perspective for you. Because if you still have the ability to hope, then you have a lot more than other people do. - Francesca xxx

See you soon!

Yesterday my 18 year old brother moved 4,229 miles away from home. He's moved to America to attend university there on a soccer scholarship. It's hard to believe that he's grown up enough to be able to even move out, let alone move to the other side of the world. This is probably going to be one of those posts where I completely embarrass my brother and I share way too many of my own feelings. But I'm ok with that, and hopefully Harrison is too, because I couldn't let something like this pass by without telling the world how proud I am of him. If you're lucky enough to know Harry you'll know that he's amazing. He is one of those kids that even at 2 years old, in his yellow Liverpool top walking around with a Rice Krispies bowl on his head, you knew he was special. I remember the day he was born, I was so excited about being a big sister the second I saw him I fell in love. Harry is very smart, incredibly talented and one of the funniest, bravest, silliest people I know. Sometimes I think we share the same brain, we laugh at the same ridiculous things, and we always know what each other is thinking. I share every part of my life with him. I know lots of people say that their siblings are their best friends but mine really are. As cheesy as this sounds, we call ourselves the 4 musketeers. We're inseparable. Harry is about to embark on what I can only imagine to be one of the best experiences of his life. No doubt he is currently filled with mixed emotions; scared, excited, apprehensive, maybe a little overwhelmed. It is a huge commitment to move so far away from home to follow your dreams. So many people have dreams and wishes and they talk about wanting to go after them, but the truth is, not that many people are brave enough to take a chance. And if there is one thing I truly admire Harrison for, it's his fearless approach to life. So Harrison, I just wanted to tell you that I am incredibly proud of you, more than you could ever imagine. I adore every single part of you, and I am going to miss you like crazy. It takes a special kind of person to do what you're doing, and I am completely in awe of the man you have become and the man you are no doubt going to become during this journey. I hope you're prepared for the relentless text messages, FaceTime calls and general stalking of all your social media accounts from me moving forward, because let's face it, it's going to happen. I hope that this journey is everything you ever dreamed, I hope all of your hard work pays off and I hope all of your wishes come true. See you in 117 days (yes I'm counting) and I'll see you on FaceTime everyday until then. I love you so much! - Frankie xxx

It doesnt have to be logical!

I've always been a very logical person. I like to work with facts. When somebody comes to me for advice I'm usually very opinionated and I paint it all in black and white. But in the past 12 months I've realised that not everything is that transparent.

Previously, before making any decisions I've always weighed up the pros and cons. I never liked to make any rash decisions, I'd try not to be too impulsive and I always liked to think I'd thought everything through. Whether this be about my career, about travelling, about money, about family or about love. I wanted to live in a world where grey didn't exist, but now I'm starting to wonder whether the best parts of life are the grey parts.

I've decided that I'm no longer going to look at my life with logics. I don't want to be a person who does things because they think they should be doing them. I spent years convincing myself not to move to london, because logically it didn't make sense, but it was the best decision of my life. You never really know what can happen, unless you take a chance.

I want to be someone who jumps when they're afraid to jump, and someone who acts on their feelings, even if there's a possibility that it won't always work out. I want to live my life like its been set on fire, I want to feel like I'm in too deep and be nowhere near a comfort zone.

Life is full of variables, you could waste so much time trying to find the right answers that an amazing opportunity could pass you by. I like the idea of being impulsive. I'm sure I'll make decisions which will backfire, and I'm sure I'll be judged for things along the way but who cares? Life is full of beautiful grey areas and no matter how hard you try, you really can't logic your way through everything, and honestly, why would you want to?

Francesca xxx

Just a girl...

I’ve always had this mentality of wanting to be strong. I’ve always wanted to be unbreakable. Someone who can take heartbreak with a pinch of salt, and put it down to fate. But I’ve realised that although I do have unbreakable qualities, I’m still just a girl. A girl who has feelings, and a girl who is afraid of not being what someone wants. Afraid of rejection, and I suppose, afraid of heartbreak.

As a person I always try to make other people happy. And at times, it has been at the cost of changing myself, and yourself is something you should never sacrifice.

You should be every inch of who you are at all times, and the people you surround yourself with should love that. They should even love the things they hate, because they’re a part of you.

When I look in the mirror I see a girl who puts other people first, despite the many times it backfires. A girl who wears her heart on her sleeve, regardless of the fact that she knows it’s not safe there. A girl who likes to be silly and playful. Who enjoys laughing and making other people laugh, who thinks she’s funnier than she probably is, actually no, I take that back, I’m funny. Someone who is probably far too sarcastic for her own good. Someone who can apparently be a little annoying at times. A girl who likes to put her music on and drift away into another world, who loves to read novels and watch films and tv shows to get her out of her head. Especially rom-com’s because she is in love with love. A girl who loves to get to know people, to understand what makes someone unique. A girl who loves to make others happy, and hates to be disliked. A girl who’s been known to sulk a little when things don’t go her way. A girl who gets a tiny bit moody when she’s hungry, cold or tired. A girl who doesn’t like to put her mood or problems on anybody else. A girl who dreams deeply, loves hopelessly, and is afraid of the unknown. I could list a thousand emotions, a thousand insecurities and a thousand characteristics which make me who I am, but at the end of it all, I’m still just a girl, and that girl very quickly becomes just like everyone else when you take away parts of who she is.

I suppose the point of me listing all these things about myself, is that they’re what make me, me. And it’s important to always be true to yourself.

Take a look at the people you surround yourself with. Do they bring out the best in you? Are you your favourite you? I really hope you are. Because it would be a crying shame to be less of a person just to make another feel more whole.

Love, Frankie Xxx

Perfection is perception.

There has been an awful lot of talk around a certain campaign 'fat shaming' women recently. And whilst I too agree that this campaign leads to a very insecure perception of what people refer to as 'beautiful women', I also think that the issue starts way before the pictures are published. It starts with our own perception of what perfection should be.

I agree that plastering an image of a certain woman and asking the world if they're 'beach body ready', meaning do you look like this woman, because if you don't, then you're not beautiful, is wrong. But it is what it is. Society is always going to promote a certain body Image because it enables the world to buy into whatever is currently on sale. Whether that is the current diet, the new gym equipment, or the endless amount of creams we slather on ourselves hoping it will make us look younger etc. I really do applaud the messages which have been included under this campaign, my favourite being, 'if my body is on a beach, then it is ready', it's clever and true, but lashing out at a campaign only promotes and highlights the campaign further, and realistically, it also diminishes the woman in the picture. In your moment of outrage at the way she looks, you're actually saying she herself cannot be considered perfect. When she is. She is perfect to what she wants to be. As are you.

This also works both ways. There are currently songs on the radio with the words 'skinny bitches', and 'boys like a little more booty to hold at night', those lyrics are for curvier women, they tell the world that you also have to be a certain size to be considered beautiful, but what about the women who aren't curvy? Are they no longer desirable?

I hate the word perfection, mainly because I think it's a made up word that indicates we should all be reaching for the same thing. Perfection is very narrow-minded. It puts everyone in the world into one tiny box, and says 'this is what you need to be', and I don't like that.

I think perfection is about perception. Perfection sits within the eye of the beholder. If we all looked the same, and we all desired the same thing, the world would be a very dull place.

I can't put a stop to these campaigns, and I can't stop people feeling insecure about their bodies, believe me, i wish i could. But I can do is, i can stop comparing myself to others, I can stop changing myself for someone else, and I can stop scrutinising what I see when I look in the mirror. I can learn to love my flaws, and I can be happy with who I am and what I bring. And you can too.

Next time you look in the mirror, be happy with what you see.

Be your own kind of beautiful!

- Francesca xxx

May we know them, may we be them, may we raise them!

Today is international women's day. A day for female empowerment. A day to honour the women who have built greatness. The only downside to days like today is that we automatically project our appreciation toward women of fame or towards the women who have been acknowledged throughout history. And whilst we have so much to thank those women for, they have paved the way for our generation to do so many at things; to vote, to be business women, to have a voice worth listening to, we often forget to thank the women we know on a personal level. I wanted to take a moment to thank the women in my life. To my nan who is currently battling dementia, you have taught me how to be kind, how to be honest, how to love unconditionally. For all of your years you have never passed judgement and you have welcomed strangers with open arms. I hope no matter how much of yourself you may lose, you always know you are an inspiration. To my nan who currently still wears 4 inch heels and doesn't leave the house unless her hair is perfect. You have lost two incredible loves and yet you are still so very fearless. You're a powerful woman who knows her own mind and that is a quality every woman should have. To my mum, I am thankful for the way you pull things together during difficult times and the way you care for people. The way you love your parents and your siblings. To my sister. You are like magic to me. You have shown me that no matter how hard life may get, with you by my side, I am unbreakable. You have shown me that ambition and hard work really does pay off and without seeing that growing up I don't think I'd be half the woman I am today. To my friends, I love you. For your lack of judgement and for your endless moments of laughter. You keep me sane and drive me insane in the best kind of ways. To my aunties, cousins, family friends and all the other women in my life. I hope you know that you are an inspiration to me. If you know a woman who you think is incredible, even for the most minor thing, make sure you tell them. And whilst we are at it, if you know a man who is equally as incredible, make sure you tell them too. After all, equality isn't about just empowering women, It's about empowering everyone to find their own greatness. I admire strong women. I admire a woman who can speak her mind, who isn't afraid to laugh and isn't afraid to love, and wear her heart on her sleeve. A woman who follows her instincts, feels the fear and does it anyway. Because she wants to. I hope that's the type of woman others will see me as, because that's the type I'd like to be. Happy international women's day! Be fearless, be passionate, and be whatever you want to be. Just make sure that whatever you are, you are happy. Because that's all that really matters. Francesca xx

Beautiful You.

When you look in the mirror do you like what you see? Are you happy with your skin, with your eyes, with the way you wear your hair. Or do you scrutinise your reflection?

Do you scroll through the internet or through pages of magazines comparing your body to everyone else's? Do you wish you looked like someone else? Do you wish you could change something about yourself?

If you do, then I wish you wouldn’t. I wish you’d see yourself how I see you, or how the people who love you see you.

You are so much more than your insecurities, and the imperfections you think you have. You’re more than the things that eat you up every time you don’t like something about yourself. You are your smile, your most honest laugh, the way your cheeks blush when you’re embarrassed, the way you love, your quick whit and your incredible thirst for more.

You don’t need to try and be like someone else to be beautiful, you just have to be you. Because that will always be enough.

Francesca xx

Lessons learnt

So here it is the last day of 2014. Feels weird saying that because my final blog of 2013 doesn't feel that long ago. The past year has been a bit of a whirlwind for me, especially the last 6 months. To honour my whirlwind of a year, I've decided that for my final post of 2014 I'm going to reflect, and speak about the things I've learnt this year. About myself and about others. So here goes... 1) I think the main thing I've learnt this year is that change is good. And although at times the thought of change can be scary, it's actually not that big of a deal. The fear of change is so much bigger than the change its self. If you know deep down that the change needs to happen then do it. Have faith that things will work out, because they always do in the end. 2) People are not always who they say they are. No matter how long you've known someone, one day they can be a completely different person to who you thought you knew. A lot of people wear a mask, and at times an incredibly beautiful, endearing, attractive mask, which is the most annoying part. How can something so beautiful to us be so deceiving? People portray an idea of themselves to others, because they know that's what someone else wants to see, but it's not always who they really are, and once it's been removed, and you've seen someone's true self, that mask can never be put back on. The most important piece of advice I have received around this subject is that 'when someone is showing you who they really are, make sure you pay attention', because it might be the only opportunity you get to get away from the monster in the mask. 3) Don't put people on a pedestal, and don't judge people. Don't expect more from a person than they are capable of giving. Don't have expectations of someone so high that the only place for them to go is down. Don't judge someone for their actions, just because you can't identify with them. People do what feels right to them and you have no grounds to judge that. We're all just the same, just people taking chances, following our instincts, trying to find our way. 4) Listen to your head, your heart, and your gut instinct. Sometimes they contradict each other but most of the time if you listen close enough, they're saying the same thing. If you want to do something then do it. Follow your body's instinct, there is a reason why you want to do things, don't deny yourself, and watch something great pass by. 5) love is amazing, but settling for anything less than incredible love is a waste of your time and everyone else's. 6) People come into your life for a reason. Be thankful for them. They may be in your life to teach you something about yourself, to test you or to help you grow. And sometimes you meet some people and you know instantly, that they're about to make your world spin in the best way possible. Whatever the reason you'll be glad you met them. There are people I have in my life who have been there for so long and I am so grateful for them and I have also met some people in the past 6 months who I honestly don't think I'd be as happy as I am today without. Friendships are important. Don't neglect them. 7) And finally i've learnt that not everything can be explained. We don't know why we do things, or why things happen, or what we're meant to do next. We can't explain why we feel things, we just do. We could spend a lifetime over thinking and over analysing a situation but what's the point. The best things in life can't be explained. Sometimes you just have to follow the path, and follow what feels natural to you and trust that it's meant to happen that way. I have had a weirdly incredible year. I didn't think my year would end how it has, I didn't think I would be doing the things I'm doing and feeling the things I feel. But I'm happy. This year I've learnt that I am a strong, caring, passionate, (sometimes wild), unbreakable woman. And I'm excited to go into 2015 as someone who isn't afraid to follow her instincts and her heart. Someone who no longer feels lost, or trapped in someone else's story. My New Years wish for you is to embrace whatever 2015 brings, even if it scares you. Actually, especially if It scares you. It may be the greatest thing you've ever done. After all, nothing incredible ever blossomed from the safety of a comfort zone. Happy new year xx - Francesca xoxo

A change for the better.

I think I've changed a lot in the past couple of months, I've opened my eyes to different worlds, and the world which I was living in. I used to live my life in such a small, sheltered Groundhog Day routine. Everyday I would do the same things, drive down the same roads, hear the same opinions, and smile sweetly thinking it was everything I ever wanted. Nothing ever changed. Nothing about my world was opened up. Nothing about it made me feel things I'd never felt before. I thought I was living the life I wanted to live, with the people I wanted to live it with, but I wasn't. I loved everyone in it deeply but I was just living an easy life. A life that was actually making me unhappy in so many ways. I've realised in the past few months that life isn't about being in a routine that doesn't fulfil you, it's not about questioning whether the person you're with is the right one for you, because it's easier to stay. It's about meeting new people, it's about taking chances, it's about following the feelings inside you and doing what you want to do and not questioning why you want to do it. It's about not settling. One of my favourite quotes is 'we accept the love we think we deserve' by Stephen Chbosky. I relate to it because that's what I've been doing my entire life. When really I know I deserve a love that makes me feel like It's been set on fire. If you're currently sitting in a life that you know deep down doesn't fulfil you, and it doesn't excite you, then get up and go and find it. You can't regret doing something that feels right to you, you can only regret not doing it. - Francesca xoxo

Through your eyes

Do you ever wonder what you look like through someone else's eyes? Do they notice your imperfections. Can they see all the things you see. The things you obsess about. The things you'd change if you had the chance. Or do they see us differently? Do they see us for how we really look? For who we really are? Do we only see a distorted reflection based upon our own ideas of perfection? Our own idea of what we think we should be striving for. Do we view ourselves based upon what we think someone else will desire? For me the way someone looks is a reflection of how they act, the type of person they are. The way they carry themselves and the way they treat me. If someone is kind and someone is funny, they'll always appear more attractive to me. Is that the same for others? Maybe we should stop dwelling on our imperfections, maybe we should forget how we feel when we look in the mirror, because maybe we're actually unable to see the real us. Sometimes I wish I could see myself through your eyes. And sometimes I wish you could see yourself through mine. - Francesca xoxo

Time is invaluable

November 10th marked the 10 year anniversary of my Grandad passing. 10 years. How time has flown by without me even realising. I often think about my grandad. What would he say about the woman I have become. Would he be proud of me? Would he be happy for me? Would he tell me off for some of the choices I've made? Would he think I'm a fighter, maybe he'd think I'm too soft. I suppose I'll never know. When my grandad passed I didn't know him like other members of my family did. I hadn't spent as much time with him. I don't have as many memories, and I think that's what hurts the most. I didn't get to know him as much as I could whilst I still could. Not through any fault of my own, just through circumstances and choices made at that time. When I found out he was really poorly I spent every night with him for 6 weeks. I would finish school at 3.00pm and go straight to the Marie curie cancer care hospital where he was staying. I remember sitting and doing my homework on the floor next to his bed and him trying to tell me the answer to every piece of my work was the value of pi. I'd spend my entire weekends with him at the hospital, nothing else mattered to me at that time but being there with him. Even though most of the time he was sleeping, I felt like being there made up for all the years which I'd lost out on. It's hard to know that our closeness came from such sad circumstances, but I will always cherish knowing I had a chance to know him as a man. Since I was little my grandad always called me Audrey because he thought I looked like Audrey Hepburn, and to this day my nan still calls me it and when I hear it I feel like he's still here. I may not have all the memories which some of my family members have, and I may not have as many pictures with him growing up like they do. Sometimes I stay quiet when everyone is discussing the times they shared with him because I didn't share them too, which is upsetting. But I do have them 6 weeks where he called me Audrey everyday, I still got to have a conversation with him before he died where he told me he loved me and told me I was beautiful and he was proud of me. And that's all that matters. I got to have a relationship with him, I got to know him and he got to know me. And for that I am forever thankful. My point is that if you're lucky enough to still have family members or friends then spend time with them. Get to know them. Listen to their stories, laugh and Learn from them because one day you won't be able to spend time with them and you'll wish you had. You never know what may happen, tell the people you love that you love them. Get out of your busy schedule of working too hard or being too wrapped up in your own life and go and spend time with people and if circumstances mean you can't physically spend time with them, then pick up the phone and ask them about their day. Trust me, you'll be so glad you did in the long run. The most invaluable thing you can give someone is your time, because time waits for no one. And remember to always love fiercely, laugh loudly and never live a mediocre life, your loved ones past and present would want nothing less for you. - Francesca xoxo

Be impulsive

We spend a lot of our time not doing the things we want to because we're afraid. We don't take chances or risks incase they don't work out. We tell ourselves it's better to chug along in our normal routines, smiling and pretending that it's everything we want because it's just easier that way. We sit and question why we feel the way we feel and never actually do anything about it. Should we act on our feelings? Should we do the things which our instincts are telling us to do? Or should we stay safe? Should we smile sweetly and hope that the safety of what we're doing right now is the best option for us? One thing I know is that I don't want to just be safe. I don't want to do things because theoretically they're the smartest and most secure option for me. I want to do the things my heart wants me to do. I want to listen to my instincts and follow them. If that means doing something I've never done before and taking a risk then so be it. I believe in listening to yourself. Listening to your instincts. I don't think we are impulsive enough in our lives. Go and do the things which your heart and mind are telling you to do without fear of the repercussions. Let's face it, If you want to do things differently to what you're doing right now, it's because what you're doing right now isn't right for you. Leave the job you hate, change your career path, tell that person you like them or travel the world with your best friends. If you want to do it just do it. Get out of your comfort zone and be who you really are. Don't let what could be the smartest risk of your life pass by all because you're afraid. - Francesca xx

Be unbreakable.

Sometimes in life we find ourselves in difficult situations. Battling between what's right and what's wrong. We struggle with making decisions because we can see things from both sides. How we feel and what we think we know sometimes cross over and things become a little bleary, which is ok. Nobody ever said that things were easy. Nobody ever said that you had to know what to do and be ok all the time. It's ok to be sad if something makes you sad, it's ok to be happy if something makes you feel like smiling, and it's also ok to not have a clue how you feel. But it's important to know that if you want to, you can be unbreakable. You can be your own superhero. Don't be afraid to be who you are. Don't be afraid to be strong. Don't be afraid to find happiness and to laugh. Life is hard and at times incredibly shit. But it doesn't have to always be like that. Pay attention to yourself. Listen to your head and your heart. if you feel or think something, it's usually because it's true. Just always remember that you are stronger, smarter, funnier, braver and more beautiful than you'll ever know. - Francesca xoxo

Cosmo Blog Awards

Earlier in the week I had the pleasure of attending the cosmo blog awards. I was nominated for the lifestyle award. I found out on the night that my little blog was shortlisted out of 47,000 blogs and although I didn't win it was a huge honour to even be considered. I never thought anyone would read my blog, or care about what I have to say, let alone find guidance from it. I can't thank everyone enough who took the time to vote for me, and I hope I can continue to grow and write posts which you relate to. Love always, Francesca xoxo

You're never too old to dream

What do you want to be when you grow up? I ask people this question all the time, no matter their age. What do you want to be when you grow up? Some people tell me, some people laugh and say they'll never be what they dreamed of as a child, some people say they're already grown so it's too late for them to be what they always wanted. Maybe in some cases it is but in most it's never to late to be what you always dreamed of.

I know life gets in the way sometimes and we make choices which mean we have to take a step back and focus on something else for a while, leaving us frustrated and feeling like dreams are unobtainable. But you don't have to give up on your dreams, you just have to put them on hold until the timing is right.

If you can dream it. You can do it.

If you really want something then never lose focus of who and what you want to be. People will try and deter you away from your journey, they'll tell you it's out of reach, and at times you'll tell yourself the same. But if your heart is strong, and your courage to try is stronger, then don't give up! If you truly want something then go and get it,believe in yourself more than you ever have before. Because in the end the only person standing in the way of your dreams is you.

- Francesca xoxo

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