Hey!

Happy slightly delayed New Year- it's been a gooden, sharing it with family, friends, party poppers you know the drill. And now we come to settling back into the swing of things, and that impending feeling of pressure begins to mount. We've all posted 'This year is my year', so now it's on, we've publicly stated we're moving forward and made ourselves accountable.

But didn't we all say that last year... the year before... oh... what if I have to say it again next year... Hello doubt. NO, STOP.

Why do we feel the need to make massive leaps and bounds and set unrealistic goals for ourselves only to doubt it and then beat ourselves up for not becoming a multi million pound writer or creative or the worlds strongest person over night. Then this makes us lose steam and figure it's okay.

Enough is enough (For me anyway). This year I am motivated, I am driven, and I am setting big goals, but I am focussing on one foot in front of the other, on the journey (Because after all 'the journey is the reward'). Yes, there will be slow times, yes there will be amazing feet off the ground times, but I'm going to take it as it comes, keep plodding forward in the direction I want to go and 'keep my eyes on my own paper'.

So my New Years Resolution is this: Be present, make decisions that take me in the direction I want to go and put one foot forward in front of the other- after all, isn't that how people climb Everest?

Let me know some of your resolutions!

Makenna x

So I got into the swing of things, made a killer dessert (From Chocolate covered Katies' blog linked HERE)- chocolate cookie dough brownies (Which can I add were INCREDIBLE) and midway through cooking I linked up my phone to my speakers and started having a good old jam.







Instead of thinking about the other things on my list, I danced.... like an idiot... then and there chocolate spoon in hand, brownies half made and I laughed out loud at myself.




I sang, and cooked and danced and got so carried away in that moment I loved it!



Dinner got made, everyone liked it, dessert went down a treat and I got my emails done and my to do list with no stressing and no time pressure.

Hey guys!




So for those of you who have managed to escape my website and actress Facebook page won't know that I've just got back from a month of filming in France, Germany Switzerland and Cameroon for TV pilot- 'Lifeline'.





 I also was then lucky enough to be back in the UK for one night and then fly to Vegas with my older brother for business conferences for our latest family journey (More on this will be revealed soon). But how cool is that? Flying to Vegas (Or Disneyland for adults) for work... you can tell I'm still buzzing from that!












Any way while I was away on set, I got back into my routines of meditating and exercising daily (If you haven't heard of it, the free 'Headspace' app is an incredible way to get into meditation without the frustrations!), and it did absolute wonders for me. My clarity and identity came back as I left the 'rat race' and stopped wearing a watch- at times I couldn't tell you what day it was- what complete and utter serenity and freedom?! Bliss!!








So in this moment, I decided that I had no blog identity... I kind of dipped into a bit of this and that, but no solid plan, you know?... If you don't know where this is going- I now have one!!



I aim to use this as a platform for the 4 main parts of my life, to share with you guys my experiences as an actress (on sets, auditioning, character prepping etc), my fitness journey (including any gluten free recipes, training regimes, or body image epiphanies), my inspirations  (so everything motivational and mindset orientated), and finally the social elements of my life (friends, family, and experiences). Each one will be written about in rotation, 1 per week- that's right you lucky people now get 4 blog posts of my ramblings per month. I'm going to trial this for a couple of months and see how it goes, so anything you want to hear or read about, let me know!


Chal for now lovely people,

Keep smiling :D

Makenna x

                                                                          Hey!




So I've been out of touch for a while- I tend to prefer blogs when people have something to say- you know?



Okay so I'm currently in the middle of shooting a TV pilot which means I'm between countries and amazing locations and life is pretty awesome.



Cue the point of this entry... So when I was younger I really struggled with body image and eating habits as I'm pretty sure the majority of our society does at some point. And from that I've learned that I have to let go of that when shooting or away as I can't control when or what I eat 100% of the time... still learning.

Everyone on set is amazing and bend over backwards to ensure that I have stuff I can eat (I also have a gluten intolerance). This post is more me expressing my journey to mental well being.



 I'm currently rereading a book (and plan to do so multiple more times for the rest of my life) that I've mentioned before in a blog post called 'Creating a bug free mind'. It basically teaches you to let go of our society taught pressures and worries and relearn to live in your now and your present.




These last few weeks shooting have really honed that for me, I'm currently learning to let go of the guilt I usually feel when I have missed countless gym sessions and eaten odd foods at odd times because of the basic fact that I'm working and doing something that I really truly love to do which means that at times I may be working odd hours and my usual go to foods can't come with me on the flight. Hey, that's okay (See? learning ;) )

My point is I almost let myself become overwhelmed with my food control and body image and almost completely missed this incredible filming experience that I strived for and worked for that is happening right under my nose!!!


So today's message is (in my Mum's very wise words), be kind to you. Don't miss your now because you're stressing about things you 'should' be doing. Have a lay in every once in a while, sit and watch the world go by or pick up your hobby for a bit. Remember we work to live, don't live to work- treat yourself and stop to smell the roses. Be on your side and don't beat yourself up- from personal experience it's much better when you are your own side...



                                                                      Stay happy :)

                                                                       Makenna x

...what I'm doing.     

Okay.... hands up who can say this?

Now hands up who's slightly afraid to admit this?

*Cue 'Mean Girls' moment where pretty much everyone puts their hands up both times and awkwardly laughs about it*



I'm just reminding you all that it's okay!

I'm a massive perfectionist (like most of us), and always struggled with the idea of doing something 'wrong' or looking stupid because I don't know what I'm doing. As an actress I learnt pretty quickly that there's no room for that awkward 'I don't want to look stupid' dance that we all seem to do. Wanting feedback but don't want to do things 'wrong'? How can you improve if you don't show off those flaws to someone to get that feedback to change it? Madness. Reality check- no one knows what they're doing 100% of the time all the time *Slight nod to Anchorman quote there*

And if they did, imagine how boring that would be? Imagine you could do everything, ever, always... You'd lose that sense of progress, achievement, determination to get better- and reaching that goal. What would you strive for? What would be your goals? How would you find motivation to do stuff if it all came so easy to you?

Sometimes we (well I know I used to), get caught up in wanting to be at our goal, wanting to be perfect at everything, not wanting to make mistakes, and today I'm asking you why? Isn't life so much more fun when you can live and learn and laugh at your mistakes?

Makenna x

Hey! Long time no blog... Sometimes I feel like I have no epiphanys for you or wise words or ramblings... Sometimes I just write and see what I end up with... Like today... so hey!

New year! Yay! Always such a good time- new bursts of motivation, decisions being made, directions being taken- I love it! My blog post today is a little late I guess but I feel it's a lesson we could use always- Limits... why do we have them?

We grow up and suddenly hit a point where we find our confidence knocked, we struggle with self doubt and the big wide world tells us things are not 'probable' or maybe not even possible. Well screw it. The only person who can limit you is you. I think we forget what we're capable of in every sense of the meaning- we forget that our body can adapt, our mid can grow and we can push ourselves out of our comfort zones and live!

So this is another little nudge from me to you (And me to myself)- do things in 2015, push yourself- If you don't do anything new, in 5 years time your life will still be the same!

Just a reminder- you're awesome and we've got this!



Makenna x

So life is what you make of it. Do you know that if there is a number of crabs in a bucket and one attempts to climb out, the others will pull them back in? Dog eat dog, every man for himself, it's all a negative hole, almost training us to isolate ourselves to 'win'.

I've posted before about seeing life as a competition, so I won't fall down that route again... Instead today is about your support networks. Friends, family, work collegues, they all count. So surrounding yourself with people that bring you up is key.

I am so grateful for the people I have in my life. Some I see on a daily basis, some I see a bit less, and some dip in and out of contact, but when we meet up it's like no time has passed. Sometimes I forget how lucky I am to have these people around me- I know that when I have a crap day I can vent to a number of people and it's all okay, then they know they can do the same :)

Bascially, I'm rambling on, but I think we have a tendency to shut ourselves off sometimes (guilty!) and especally around the holidays, if you look, you'll see the amount of positive people you do actually have around you :)

Surround yourself with positivity and that'll be reflected in your life- how can it not? Smiles are contagious after all....

Okay so this is the second time writing this post- SUCH an old laptop, it decides when it wants to switch off and apprently not autosave!! (Technology is great until it doesn't work!)

Anyway, I've been nominated for the Liebster award!! How cool is that??

It's basically a badge of honour among bloggers- to me it's an acknowledgment that someone reads what I have to say and enjoys it- So humbling!!!!

So thank you to the lovely Hannah Earnshaw for nominating me- You can check out her blog here. She covers anything and everything interesting and always in such a pretty way!

So back to the rules:

1. Add the logo to your blog either as an image or as a widget
2. You should write 11 random facts about yourself
3. You must answer the questions given to you by your nominator
4. Then set your own questions for your nominees
5. choose 5 nominees
6. Once you have nominated you should then notify them.

So, here goes!!!...

My 11 random facts

1. I initially wanted to be a dancer when I was younger, and then moved onto singing for 2 weeks, and then finally fell to acting

2. My favourite place to be is in a forest

3.  I'm not actually 100% sure what my eye colour is- I'm convinced it changes... despite science telling me that's impossible

4. I could eat almond butter all day everyday... I kind of do

5. I'm a massive geek and proud!!!

6. I wear my reading glasses when I'm tired just as a comfort thing

7. I could not live without my tangle teezer... I once got asked if I was trying to get dreadlocks from how matted my hair was!! :S

8. I don't like wearing boots and socks- sandals all the way!

9. I once put a garden fork into my foot whilst helping my dad with the gardening (It was punishment for rocking the white socks and sparkly sandals I'm sure!)

10. The smell of freshly cut grass, christmas trees and cake <3

11. I want at least 3 dogs one day- big dogs... big big dogs

Okay so now to my Q & A from Hannah:

1. What literary or film character do you love but really shouldn’t?

   Slightly biased with this question- I love all the baddies- I think they're so much fun to play (from an acting perspective) so it's hard to pick just one... Bane from 'The dark knight rises' is in my top 5- just the way he asserts his position of power without ever raising his voice.
   

2. What was the last film that made you cry?

    I'm such a crier with films- it'd be easier to ask the last film I didn't cry at! I watched 'Beaches' last night... may have shed a tear or two :)

3. What would be your utopia?

   I'd happily live near a lake up in the mountains with surrounding trees... as long as there was coffee and chocolate!

4. What era would you most like to live in?

    I love the 20's- the flapper dresses, the dancing, the fun!

5. Who is the most famous person you’ve met?

   I once met David Walliams in a lift on my way to a voiceover job, who was on his way to film for comic relief- such a gent he held the door for me :)
    

6. What kick starts your day?

   I have a list of moments in my life that I'm thankful for which I add to constantly. I start my day by just reading a couple- puts me into a position of feeling grateful and flips my mindset :D
   And coffee...
    

7. What is your favourite feel good song?

   This changes daily! Today it was 'Lovers on the Sun' by David Guetta
    

8. Coffee or tea?

   I've mentioned coffee twice already- tea barely gets a look in... unless it's green!
   

    

9. What is your guilty pleasure?

   Dates and almond butter- the most amazing combination!!
    

10. What is your favourite word?

    Squish- It's just so much fun to say!
     

11. What would be your ideal superpower?

    Got to be flying!
    
    

    Nominations

    Okay! So now to pass the baton! My 5 nominations:
    
    1. The Purple Muse
    2. Health Fitness Boss
    3. Lost In Knit
    4. Cerys
    5. Miss Sunshine and Sparkle
    
    

    My questions :)

    1. What's your earliest memory?
    2. Favourite food?
    3. How did you meet your longest friend?
    4. If you could be anyone for a day- who would you be?
    5. What's your ideal day?
    6. Savoury or sweet?
    7. Who's your biggest inspiration?
    8. Favourite film?
    9. What's your best blogging tip?
    10. If you could tell your 10 year old self something- what would it be?
    11. Favourite season?
    
    
    Happy blogging ladies! <3

So already, only a matter of weeks back from my incredible red carpet walk in LA, I've found myself falling back into a slump. Surviving, not living and letting life just tick over and go on. NO MORE! :)

It got till today, a normal day, an actual day off and I'm laying there picking apart how tired I am and hungry and bla bla bla. Cue lightbulb. I've felt like this before, I've done this to myself before, and I'm not conciously going to do it again.

A while ago I found an amazing book 'Creating a bug free mind'. No plugging here for it, or forcing it upon you, but this book has literally dragged me out of this slump before, so I picked it up again. Rereading it, even just a chapter completely flipped my attitude, my mindset and so my mood!

You learn that your emotions are your choice. I have currently chosen the slump, chosen to run the 'rat race', and chosen to focus on all the parts of my life that I see as unsuccessful currently. Well no more. I've decided to once again wake myself from my 'walking sleep', living my life on automatic, and actually take back control, drive on, and create the movements towards my goals.

So, this is a letter to me- published nice and publicly so I have no excuse to do it again :)

After mentally flipping myself back onto realising how much I've achieved and how much I have to grateful for in my life I'm now full of energy, raring to go, smiling, and relaxed... after one afternoon. People may call it 'placebo' or short term or forced, but in myself I know that this time I'm sorted. I know where I'm mentally meant to be and between this book and my own drive I know I'll keep it there just to enjoy these moments, the lulls, to live and not just to survive, and to not waste days waiting.

A friend once said to me it's sad that all we ever really have is time, and we're constantly losing it.

If that doesn't give us a kick up the butt, I don't know what will.... :)

If you fancy a look the link to the first 10 chapters heres the link to download them for free
It's helped me so much- who knows who else it could help :)

Okay so after bombarding you all with vlogs & blogs galore (I will not fall behind again, honest!!) I've taken a reflective, 'breathe' approach to todays blog.

LA is so superficial. I'm not judging, I'm not disliking it, it's merely an observation. If you've managed to avoid my vlogs you won't know that I went to 'Melrose Avenue' today and had a little look around some shops and tried on some clothes (come on, show me a girl who wouldn't?). Suddenly, getting caught up in the LA lifestyle, I'm in a $600 dress that I'd probably never wear through fear of ruining it, justifying me buying it. Whoaaaaaa, slow down.

I realised just how easy it is to jump on the bandwagon here, pick up designer labels, and feel a need to be a part of it all. Don't get me wrong it was a gorgeous dress, and I really liked it, but knowing me I'd never wear it as I'd be pulling at it constantly, looking awkward and self concious. It just wasn't me.

So this post is short and sweet, be true to you- I'm happy strolling into designer shops in my Topshop maxi dress with my hair all scruffy with my primark sandals on because that's me. That's when I'm at my happiest, without the pressure to always look coordinated (Hats off to those who can do this effortlessly & always look incredible- know so many of these people and it's just not a talent I posess).

One of my favourite quotes is 'I'm unique... just like everyone else'. Just remember you can't please all of the people all of the time, and sometimes not even some of the people some of the time, just do your thing & be you :)

Okay so LA is awesome, and crazy hot! Shops are literally keeping their doors closed to keep the heat out & the air con in- really makes me laugh because we're the complete opposite in England- slightest bit of sun and we're all out trying to soak it up.

Even in just the day I've been here exploring I've found so many differences between England and LA, but the biggest one I've noticed? Man, they love to talk here.

At home, on the tube or even just walking around we avoid eye contact, close off our body language, and live alongside each other without acknowledging one another. A friend of mine laughed at me recently because I told him I smile at people on the tube- he said 'you are that one crazy person on the train'... I'm only smiling!!! It's not like I'm violating someone's personal space, or asking insanely personal questions- I'm merely acknowledging that we made eye contact- and the majority seem to get really bothered by it! Most of the time people just stare back at me, or look away as quickly as humanly possible whilst giving me odd sidewards glances to check if I'm still looking at them (The fact I know that suggests that I am.... maybe I am a bit strange?), but sometimes, rarely, I get a smile back. That is hard work guys- all of that emotional 'what if they think I'm weird' for the sake of a smile- brightening up someone's day.

Whereas here in LA, if you stand still for a couple of seconds, people are asking if you're okay, asking where you're from because of your accent, eager to know more about England. A man in a queue started talking to us about Stonehenge, asking us what it was like and actually took a genuine interest. It's so lovely! See I'm personally a talker, once I start on something it's just a constant trail of thought falling out of my head in some conversational way and I feel like I'm now experiencing what it's like when you first meet me!

Why have we got to the point that it's odd to start a conversation with a stranger? Why is there something that stops us from just saying 'Hi' and makes us walk along with our heads down, ignoring passers by? I'm not saying on your commute from London make friends with everyone, but maybe when you catch someones' eye on the tube give them a smile- happiness is contagious, what better gift could you give someone?