Mia Joy

A personal blog. On a journey to find happiness, purpose and balance.

[mia-joy]

I've started putting on face masks in the morning when I'm WFH. Game changer! Today's mask is a Vitamin C sheet mask.

I can sit around before I start work or before my first meeting of the day and use them up. I was struggling to use them at nighttime because they take ages to absorb, and I hate laying on my pillow with a sticky face. If I have time, aka an early night by myself, then it works, but if it's BAU, I just don't have the time before sleeping lol. 😴

This way I'm getting through my project PAN stash of fave masks much quicker by using them twice a week. Boom.

[herfleur]

girl, your competition isn’t other people

it’s your bad habits ⋆ your distractions ⋆ your insecurities ⋆ your lack of discipline ⋆ your procrastination ⋆ your ego ⋆ your fears ⋆ your broken routine ⋆ your addictions ⋆ the person you don't want to be anymore

[mia-joy]

Honesty post to myself. TW binge eating.

Yesterday at work I ate:

Porridge for breakfast

Lentil and bacon soup

Babybell x2

Ready salted crisps

Salted caramel penguin bar

When I got home I was so tired, beyond exhausted so crashed a bit. Then I ate:

3 x crisps

Leftover ramen from last night ~100grams

Mars bar

5 heck sausages and some Ranch (didn't eat the rest of the meal because I'd felt guilty for the above)

F offered me an ice cream with some mochi's x 3, and then had a red bean mini bun.

WTF.

I must have a binge eating disorder.... like that is a crazy amount to eat. I dread how many kcals that added up to.

I know if I tracked my food religiously, I think it would kick me up the butt. But I struggle with keeping up consistency.

No wonder I've gained back the 50 pounds I lost. Food has always been a comfort for me. I need to break the habit.

Now my health is being impacted, I can't go on like this. I want sustainable change, not the same binge restrict cycle.

It's gotta be long term health improvements.

Going to start keeping a diary on here to log food. I might start a side blog as well.

[mia-joy]

The pile of clothes that was by the side of my bed for the past week has been put away. 🎉

[mia-joy]

Today's wishlist

🟣 Get my body moving - walk in the sunshine

🟣 Put laundry away and do a new wash load

🟣 Make a nice lunch using what we have in the fridge

🟣 Meal plan and make food shop list

🟣 Drop my work pass off

🟣 Family BBQ

🟣 Have a nice evening routine, bath, hair mask, skin care and read my book before bed

🟣 Try not to use my phone as much

[mia-joy]

Rest day today.

I felt tired in the morning, honestly could have slept for longer but my alarm went off for my meds.

I had a nice lay in this morning. Too much scrolling though.

I've rested and caught up on shows. Cooked a yummy roast dinner for us.

I know I've not been as productive as I should have been, but I'll take it as a healing day.

Tomorrow I'll work on getting my routine down and ticking things off the list, ready to start a new week on Monday.

[mia-joy]

In the office on a friday:

Pros:

⭐️ Can leave straight after work to meet a friend for Tapas

⭐️ I've got so much to do, it's keeping me accountable

⭐️ I've had compliments on my new top and eye makeup today

⭐️ free breakfast, free snacks and coffee

Cons:

⭐️ it's humid outside so won't take a lunch break, concentration is already fading

⭐️ I'm the only one in from my team - I miss the banter

⭐️ Existential dread, shoulder pain from sitting at a desk all day

⭐️ I'm tired from getting up so early last few days to get into the office.

[mia-joy]

In the UK we are having a heatwave. It's hot. Glad to have working air con in the office today. My house, however, is a sauna. Hopefully, it will cool down overnight.

Got a food shopping order delivered tonight. Thank you past me, I could not have done a food shop after work in this heat.

There's currently a massive lightning and thunderstorm happening outside. The lightening was so clear and bright it shocked me, not far from the house at all. I ran inside after taking the bins out lol. 🤣

WFH tomorrow. Looking forward to a later alarm. Can't wait for my morning coffee already 😋

[mia-joy]

We went to the beach today! It's been glorious weather.

We had breakfast at a local cafe right on the beach, along with some fab iced coffees.

We then has to hunt for some new swim gear for SD in the next town along, as all of her bits are at BMs house...🫠. So spent an hour or so looking for suitable bits and came back to the beach.

I drowned myself in sun lotion and still got burnt. My skin just hates the sun lol. 😅

I'm proud of myself for going in the sea for a swim. It was hella cold. I mean, Freeze your tit's off temperature even though it's hot outside.

Took me 30 mins to get all the way into the water lol.

I tried hard not to feel self-conscious today. I'm bigger, I have my lymph legs and I don't feel comfortable in my body generally, but it didn't stop me from enjoying my time! I swam, sunbathed, and didn't let anything take away the enjoyment of that, even my own mind. One step at a time.

[mia-joy]

We made it to the weekend guys!!

I love seeing everyone's day to day updates on here. It's real, unfiltered and just the best.

For me this week has been better in some respects - more productive at work, been back at the gym a couple of times, weather has been fab!

My mind is still a bit negative though. Had a fight with F yesterday 😫 I just find it so hard to communicate and give him space to answer in his own way. Like, I don't want the positives or solutions from him, I just want him to understand where I'm coming from and be proactive about things!! Annoying lol.

But woke up in a much better mood. And going to enjoy the bank holiday weekend!! Got to remember to enjoy the now, instead of worrying about the future!!

Did my skincare routine. Nice to have the time to do it properly. Suncream for sure today. It's 28°C today here!

Met a lovely friend for coffee this morning, we had a lot to catch up on.

Bought some cute cacti. Now back home for a late lunch. Bbq in the garden tonight!

[mia-joy]

The reason I've been so down and depressed after our trip is that I knew I could ignore my problems for a couple of weeks whilst I achieved my dream.

I knew when I got back the reality of life would be waiting here for me.... my lymph diagnosis, my diet, my lack of self-confidence, the work situation.

It's a lot. Going from having amazing quality time with F everyday on holiday, vs being back to our work routines has thrown me off as well. I loved being in our bubble.

I really loathe my appearance at the moment and feel deeply sad about the weight gain. I have to do something about it, especially after my diagnosis.

Also it's the anniversary of both my parent's passing this month, so grief has been coming in waves again. I've been comfort eating 😫

I'm also stressing about finances, I don't see how we will ever retire or pay off our mortgage. I need to sort out a savings plan and paying off the house debt. I need to come up with some sort of investment plan for the future. I know these things are what F and I should be doing together, so just need time to sit and talk about it. I hate money.

My birthday is coming up and I'm dreading it. I'm getting older, ticking clock and all that is also on my mind for question that most people in their 30s have...whether or not I want to become a parent.

Omg. My mind is not in a great place.

I know I can make it better by tidying the house and getting myself to the gym on my break.

[mia-joy]

Project PAN update!

I sorted out all the products I need to use up:

1. Teeth whitening products.

The strips need using this month. Going to aim to do these consistently for the next few days.

The hi smile product I really like, just forget to use it. Will try using it once a week.

2. Clinque moisturiser.

I like this a lot, going to use it in my morning routine from now on. I got two new beauty of Joseon moisturisers for Christmas so this one needs to be used first.

3. Inkey products - mask and retinol

I used the mask this morning, actually really nice! Going to use that 2 times a week when working from home. The retinol, I'll aim to use once a week since my skin is sensitive.

4. Essential oils

I would like to use these up. I have the diffuser somewhere...?

5. Face masks

Will use these 2 up this week. But I have 10 more in an unopened packet. Eek.

6. Eye cream

I have a few of these testers to use up.

7. Cereve body moisturiser

I don't actually love this product. It's too greasy and doesn't absorb well. So will save this for my weekend bath routine when I can sit in moisturiser for an obscene amount of time - starting tonight!

8. Other moisturiser testers and minis.

I have around 5 of these to use up, from various gift sets.

Not in photo:

9. Rosemary hair oil

10. Leave in conditioner

11. Purple shampoo and conditioner (I don't like it all, buy don't want to waste it, so will use up)

12. Exfoliating mask

13. Handcreams

I want to use up some makeup items as well. But I need more time to sort through those.

I'm ready to get into a better routine for skincare etc. I'll check back periodically to see how many products I've used up!

I am looking forward to becoming more minimalist.

[mia-joy]

Update on Project PAN.

May 2026 - Out of the products in the image, I've used up quite a few! Only 5 left in the photo that I'm still using up as it stands. ⬇️

I'm need to get back on the retinol again. Don't use it every week, but I'll try to remember to use it at least once a week from now on. There is probably only 20% of the bottle left to use up.

The mask is actually really nice on my skin. I tend to use it after a shower when I'm not rushing around for work.

The pink moisturiser is great, almost finished to be honest. It dries really quickly so a good choice for morning make up routine.

The teeth whitener - I keep forgetting to use this!! Think I need to incorporate in to my wfh routine a couple days during the weekend. I'll use tomorrow!

Once I've used all the products up in the photo, I'll do a new photo as have bought some new products since!

[mia-joy]

What is with this weather?

Sunny when we got back on Saturday. Since then it's been windy, cloudy and cold. Now it's suddenly hailing. WTF.

Still so tired. Is this jet lag, or something else? How long does jet lag last for usually??

My skin is so dry, my forehead is especially dry, but also oily at the same time. Trying to put some more effort into skincare to see if that helps. I'm breaking out a bit, think it's because of the travelling and coming back home to hard water again.

Got my lymph appointment tomorrow. I'm scared, but let's see what they say is the best course of action.

[mia-joy]

First day back at work completed. Work drama is still ongoing, so it's not great, but at this point, I'm actively trying not to care 🤣

After the trip we've just had, it's put work into perspective. Work is just providing the money to pay for my life. Who knows how long I'll be on this planet for, so kinda want to live a bit more while we have wages coming in. Money comes and goes as they say.

Still adjusting with the jet lag. So tired. Tomorrow will be interesting in the office. Hopefully can stay awake lol 😆

[mia-joy]

We are back from our trip to South Korea. 19 years of dreaming to go, finally happened and I feel incredible. It's one of those moments where you think, I have actually done that, for me. So proud of myself. F was amazing on the trip, I couldn't have done it without him. Honestly the best time.

It makes you reflect. 2 weeks off work for the first time ever was bloody wonderful, I don't want to go back on Monday.

I wish I could have all the time and money to travel more. We said our next trip would be to Japan, and we'd take SD with us. But that will probably be in a couple of years time so we can start saving again.

I'm so tired and jet lagged. Had a danger nap this afternoon, bad mistake. Trying to get used to our time zone again is so hard.

So much laundry to do.

Need to get back to healthy eating again after the holiday. Sort my health out once and for all.

[mia-joy]

We made it to Jeju island! Our morning flights were cancelled due to bad weather, but we were incredibly lucky to get the last 2 seats on a later flight the same day.

Jeju island has an much more relaxed, topical vibe. More countryside and slow pace. We've has such an amazing time these last 2 days, coastal trail walks, time in the swimming pool and jacuzzi, hiked Hallasan mountain and had fantastic local food. We are flying back to Seoul tomorrow for the last 2 days of our trip.

What a dream. We've met some awesome locals who gave us some great recommendations. So lucky.

[mia-joy]

Had the BEST korean barbecue tonight, it was probably the most delicious meal I've ever eaten in my life.

11/10

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

💯

So happy right now.