“It’s so much better to promote what you love than to
bash what you hate”
(Jessica Alba)
This page has been set out to showcase what I love, use, cherish, admire (or yearn after) in my day-to-day life.
A lot has changed for me in the couple of years; being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 meant that I took a long hard look at my life and decided to make some HUGE changes. I had spent most of my life focusing on looking after others and making sure that everyone else was happy – and now it was my turn to make the most from what I could.
So little by little I started changing my lifestyle and habits – from what I did from waking up (more on that later), to what I ate, how I worked, what I cleaned with, my skincare regime, mental health, exercise – and everything in between. I’ve redefined myself and my lifestyle. You could say that I’m really into ‘Clean Living’ and you’d be right. So much so that I decided to launch a new Facebook page on that exact subject. One thing is for sure, I’ve learned a lot and I’ve enjoyed experimenting with what works for me.
So – here you have it ….my top recommendations, things that somehow help me in life – from the books I love, to the routines I keep and everything in between. Please be aware that some of my links are affiliates links; all this means is that if you like something I recommend, and use the link I’ve provided to buy it, I might get a few pennies for doing so. This has no bearing on the price for you – it’s the company’s way (and yours if you like) of thanking me for highlighting them.
But what I can promise is that whatever I list on this page has worked for me so far – and therefore I’m happy to recommend to friends, family and followers. If you give any of them a try yourself, I’d love to know what you thought.
Let’s dive straight in!
The routines I keep
In 2019 I was recommended a book by one of my clients called The Miracle Morning. And it changed the way my day starts. The basic premise is that you get up an hour earlier than you usually would to focus on yourself – your health, your dreams, your aspirations and daily goals. I talk about it more in this post, but I would highly recommend you give the MM a go – it will change the way your day starts – for the better.
I’m a big believer in productivity and (try to) master the use of my time wisely. I guess I feel like I’ve been given a second chance at life and I want to really make the most of it by trying new things. Staying organised helps me do this. In fact, over the Covid-19 lockdown, I read Marie Kondo’s ‘Magic of Tidying’ and it inspired me to declutter my home – and my mind.
Talking of books, my other ‘go-to’ recommended reads include:
- Happiness The Inside Job (Matt Pepper)
- Unlearn: 101 Simple Truths For A Better Life (Humble The Poet aka Kanwer Mahl)
- The 4-Hour Working Week (Timothy Ferris)
- 100 Things Successful People Do (Nigel Cumberland)
- Letter To My Younger Self (Jane Graham)
- Any of the ‘Chicken Soup For The Soul‘ books!
My other mantra in life is to try and challenge yourself. There’s a great quote in my 5 Minute Gratitude Journal (which I fill in every morning and night) that says… “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone” (Neale Donald Walsch)
And it’s true. I like to push the boat out every now and then and see where I get. One of my most recent accomplishments was learning all the capital cities of the world during lockdown. I recorded myself being tested (to make sure I didn’t cheat!) and I’m a big believer in “feeling the fear & doing it anyway!”
Businesses & watching the pennies
I’m a Tropic Ambassador and the reason I decided to become an ambassador is that I love the fact that it’s guilt-free beauty. There’s no testing on animals, no using chemicals, it’s vegan and non-toxic.
This is especially important for me as in 2019 I was told I had breast cancer. Getting cancer (and wondering if you’re going to make it) really puts life in perspective. People kept telling me to ‘fight it’ and ‘beat the cancer’ but I didn’t understand how – until I decided I was going to deal with it in my own way.
I wrote a blog post about it here – but to cut a long story short, I overhauled my life – from how I exercised and what I ate, to what I cleaned with and what I use on my body. In doing so I discovered Tropic Skincare; skincare and cosmetics that are made from 100% natural ingredients and are therefore safe to use on my skin – and I haven’t looked back since.
In fact, the skincare routine I follow (and you can take the test yourself here) works wonders for me – it has got rid of my rosacea and my skin has never looked better. And because I’m so passionate about it, I decided I need to spread the good word and tell others about it too.
It’s wonderful to hear friends say that using Tropic products have helped with all sorts of ailments -from eczema and psoriasis, to scars and minor burns. Interested in the products? You can visit my shop at https://bit.ly/laurettatropic or send me an email at laurettatropic@mail.com – and please feel free to sign up to my newsletter to find out more about the products and watch my mini videos. And if you fancy earning some money on the side by selling Tropic yourself, join my team where I’ll inspire you to earn whatever you set your mind to!
Along with being a Tropic Ambassador and selling some amazing skincare and cosmetics (and helping make the world a better place too!), I also own a videography business.
In fact, I started my new business during the first lockdown of 2019. I was inspired by a guy who made video tours of luxury yachts – and haven’t looked back since. The business has continued to go from strength to strength, and what I really love about it is that I get to create something that will ultimately help promote people’s business – and make them stand out from the crowd. And I feel that helping people is part of my life’s purpose. You can check out some of my videos (and reviews) on my Facebook Page.
For all my businesses, I absolutely LOVE Appsumo which is basically an an online platform that teams up with fab technology developers to offer some amazing deals on software downloads and programmes with between 50-90% off.
I’ve got everything from amazing online graphic design programmes, invoicing software and video to online libraries and more business management tools than you can shake a stick at. For example, I managed to buy 100 images from Depositphotos for £31 (normally £250!) Yes – it’s that good. Get in on the action yourself – and get $10 off your first deal by using this link. If you have your own business I really can’t recommend AppSumo highly enough.
For social media posting I’ve discovered Postoplan for automated scheduling. It means that I can plan ahead, lose the pressure of the need to post AND feel more in control of my life. It’s a great platform – and you can even link up stories on Facebook and Instagram to be posted!
I finally moved my website hosting (for all my businesses) to a company that cares – and the bonus is that they look after all my IT for free. When you call up you get amazing customer service, I’m secure in the knowledge that my sites are safe AND I’m not just some other customer to them (unlike the big host providers) – they go the extra step in holding my hand knowing that I’m a bit pants at this whole techie thing – even though I do try to give things a go. They’re called Wesh UK and you can find them here.
Money-savers
I’m the daughter of a northerner (a Yorkshire lass to be precise) – and if anyone can find a bargain, it’s my mum! And she’s taught me well…look after the pennies and the pounds will sort themselves out. So here are a couple of ways I look after the pennies…
I use an app called Storewards, where I upload my shopping receipts to get credits. These credits will eventually allow me to earn enough to get Amazon and Paypal vouchers. Want in on the action? Use my promo code bn52g and get 250 extra coins to spend in STOREWARDS to win some cool prizes prizes.
I also use something called JustPark, where I earn money by allowing people to park on my drive for a fraction of the price it would cost them to park on the street (again, it’s nice to be able to help others). As I live near a hospital, I also offer free parking for NHS staff.
The beauty about using JustPark is that it has members everywhere where you can think of to park -near stadiums, at the airport, in the high street, near hospitals… Better still, you can get £10 to spend on reservable parking by using my link.
My home (and purchases!)
I’m a big believer in shopping local and supporting local businesses. After all, I started a local business myself and I believe what you put out you receive. It’s nice feeling part of the community and I love that about where I live because it feels like a very supportive community.
However, there are times when I need to buy online, but being the daughter of a Yorkshire woman means that I’ll always try and get the best bang for my buck. So the first thing I do when I shop online is go through a cashback site – the two I use are Top Cashback and Quidco.
My home really is my castle. I love being indoors, surrounded by things I love (and they have to mean something) and I usually go for quirky finds – pieces that are conversation starters and have people asking where I found them.
Being a travel fan, I’ll always try and pick up unique homewares on my adventures, but I do have a few favourite go-to shops. Most of them are local or run by sole traders (eg The Happy Design Company and Department Store For The Mind), but here’s a few online shops that I frequently look at.
- Patch Plants for some gorgeous (and easy to care for) house plants. If you spend over £50 with them, you can get a free plant – just enter my name (Lauretta Wright) as a code when checking out!
- Fy
- Etsy
- Redbubble
- Wayfair
Blogs I enjoy reading
I’ve been fortunate to make a number of friends in the blogging world – all genuinely lovely people from all walks of life blogging for different reasons. I also love discovering new blogs and social media accounts, particularly if they involve (a) cake (b) unique interiors or (c) Down to earth travel tips, hacks and advice.
Some of my favourite bloggers and Instagrammers include…(in no particular order!)…
- TamTam1936
- What Kirsty Did Next
- Memories and Mayhem
- Cuddle Fairy
- Renovation Bay-Bee
- Kerry Life and Loves
- Living Pretty Happy
- Sidestreet Style
- Zena’s Suitcase
- Notes of Life
My bucket lists…
Travel
I could go on forever here but I’ve listed my top 10 ‘must do one day’ destinations….
- Japan
- Iceland
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Mexico
- Singapore
- Dubai
- Russia
- Gibraltar
- Sweden
Tech
I love tech – and gadgets….and anything that will entertain me or make my life easier. Here are just a few things I’m lusting after right now…
- The iPhone12 Pro
- A super cool drone for more filming options – like this one
The Home Edit
There are a few things that need updating in the home – from new wardrobes in the master bedroom and an integrated coffee machine that actually works, to an updated family bathroom (it’s never been updated!) and new flooring in the office – I’ll get there one day!
In the meantime, I’ve lusting after these bits for the home – I’ve already got places where they’ll live!
- A super cool grey chaise longue (this one is nice!)
- An iKettle – so I don’t have to wait around for the kettle to boil!
- A water softener – It’s such a pain living in a hard water area!
If you’ve enjoyed discovering what I love, use and cherish, then hop over to my online Amazon Shop which showcases things I love, have bought or I’m lusting after…!
Other bits worth a mention…
- Refocus bands – wear a band with a secret message to yourself inside. Here’s your £4 off link
Lauretta xx
ps If you’ve got a sweet tooth like me, then have a look at Simply Vegan Sweets – https://bit.ly/simplyvegansweets The range of sweets are vegan of course, but I love their ethos in recycling their delivery boxes and paper by shredding them and then using as protection for the sweet deliveries when in transit. This helps reduce the company’s waste and ensure the sweets arrive undamaged. I’ve managed to get a 5% discount for you – just use the code ‘LAURETTA’.
Disclaimer: Some of the products have an affiliate link to enable you to find out more information about them. If you purchase them through the link provide, I may receive a small percentage of the sale – think of it as a way of saying thanks for the recommendation – and of course, this doesn’t affect the price to you one bit.