According to my phone report, usage has been down and it's been over 10 weeks since I deleted the Instagram app.
Has the earth moved? Do I feel a different person being social media free? Has cutting out my Instagram habit made my life infinitely better?
In summary: Not really.
What my Instagram abstinence has shown, is that for me, it's actually a point of connection. I get a window into my friends lives who I don't have the benefit of living in the same town as. The people I 'follow' are deliberately curated to be positive, uplifting and inspiring, whether it's a witch in Cornwall, a mindful hippie chick in Australia or a retro cowgirl in Derby, the people I follow are on my feed because they bring me a little sunshine.
What this detox has shown me is that the problem is actually my phone usage, and a lack of clear boundaries around that, not the apps themselves.
Going forward I'm going to log back onto Instagram again but it's armed with the knowledge that I need to put some infrastructure around it to continue to have it as a point of connection and positivity.
So here are my top tips to be social media savvy:
1. Take regular breaks, it doesn't have to be three months like I did, but a week or two away from it, can help you recalibrate and not get pulled into a comparison vortex.
2. Curate an inspiration feed, not an aspirational one. I've made a conscious choice to have people who are ethical, inspiring, motivational and uplifting on my feed. When I'm scrolling I want to feel good, or be made to think. It's so easy to have a feed cluttered with perfect bodies, filtered texture free skin or plasticky happiness, I'm here for the real, the positive and the mood enhancing!
3. Have boundaries. For me the boundaries I think I'm going to erect around social media is to not use it in front of my kids, (or at least be mindful of how many times I'm picking up my phone to scroll) and after 8 o'clock to put my phone away so I can decompress after my day. One of my friends has a no Instagram during the week policy, but happily scrolls on weekend. Find your personal boundaries and stick to them!
Okay so onto what's been happening the last week and a bit:
Our local town is absolutely gorgeous in this summer sunshine, all of a sudden walls and walkways are bursting with colour and scent. Me and the littles can't help but stop and smell the roses here!
As you can see from my hair length (that's if you're a regular, if you're new hello there), this is a slightly older photo I forgot to post. I've found an amazing Indian street food vendor in the city I work in and have been absolutely loving their samosa and chai combos for a cheeky mid week lunch!
I've been trying my hardest to embrace this new short hair but it's been a labour of love if I'm honest. This photo wasn't supposed to be on the blog, it was actually me just trying to check out the back. I'm looking forward to growing it a little more so I can get it permed. I don't feel quite myself without big curls but I'm trying to embrace this new look. Please excuse the clutter in the corner of this shot, we've had to upgrade the babies crib so that's happily been stored away now! I can't bear clutter in my house.
As I think my hair gives slightly more '90s' vibes than my preferred '70s chic' I've been selecting more 90's style outfits out of my wardrobe. This vintage dress is an £8 charity shopped number I got from my local Sue Ryder charity shop. I've had such lovely comments wearing it, so it's definitely one I'm absorbing into my wardrobe (I had planned to sell)!
You might be asking yourself why am I looking at a boring beige sofa...well this my friends is what compromise looks like. My partner is a very neutral, minimalist kind of guy whereas I'm more a maximalist boho vibe. As the living room is his personal sanctuary, I've embraced plain walls and have tried to incorporate boho that's more neutral and natural looking. I'm pretty chuffed with our macramé and Moroccan themed cushions. In my wildest dreams I'd love to own an original 1970s Don Freedman tapestry, they sell anywhere from £100-£600 so fairly 'cheap' in art terms, but definitely aspirational for my current wage packet! Here's some examples of his amazing work. I think his work would look stellar on the plain walls and would really accentuate the boho, mid century modern theme I'm going for.
(This lady is Laura Caldwell from Left Coast Revivals, she's got a YouTube channel I love... I'd be as happy as her if I'd scored a Don Freedman for £20 in a thrift store too)!!
Speaking of vintage, as my hair is short enough to do a 60's bubble gum flick I decided to back comb like my life depended on it and give it a go for a recent night out with friends. We went to a pottery café to have mezze style food and do some painting whilst we caught up. I wore my vintage 70's dress I bought years ago in Birmingham city and a thrifted New Look belt.
I can't even remember this day (below), I'm so sleep deprived thanks to a teething baby but here's a cute outfit I curated for errands (I think).
You'll notice I'm really digging dramatic 60's eye liner at the moment, I think it's me trying to embrace my 60s style hair!
Please excuse my utterly gross mirror, the toddler had been at it moments before!
I can assure you that little bump you can see in this picture is period bloat hahaha! I told you I'm not here to post, perfect, curated photos. Here's my messy garden, my bloated belly and a really happy Sophia holding a plate of pizza! I'm wearing my All about Audrey kimono which I adore (but always slightly worry that I look like I'm wearing a dressing gown!
Possibly the most BORING photo I've ever posted, but I wanted to show off my hard work cleaning the pantry. We have a very old, inbuilt cupboard in our 70s kitchen and let me tell you how utterly gross it was from winter mould that had accumulated thanks to no ventilation in a damp cottage. It looks so much better now!
My next outfit was my go to patchwork skirt (that's literally falling apart)! I bought it in a charity shop two years ago and it's very much a summer staple. I team it with a Dolly Parton t-shirt for that hippie, cowgirl aesthetic I love!
I don't know about you guys but I'm living off iced coffee at the moment. I make mine with soya milk and decaf coffee filter coffee which is delicious.
Speaking of delicious here's my very special vegan pesto recipe.
Ingredients
2 cups of spinach
2/4 cup of pistachio nuts
1/2 cup of olive oil
salt to taste
garlic powder to taste (I got for one teaspoon or you could do 1/2 cloves)
1/2 cup of basil leaves
Bag of pasta
Feta cheese (or vegan alternative)
1. In a blender add, spinach, pistachio nuts, olive oil, salt, garlic powder and basil leaves. Blend until desired texture reached (I like mine crunchy and chunky). Leave to one side.
2. Meanwhile boil in a saucepan pasta in salted water cook and chop tomatoes.
3. Once the pasta is cooked (follow packet instructions), mix in the tomatoes and the pesto, top with feta cheese (or alternative) and voila!
Can you see Rosa the blackbird? She's my daily mindfulness, I get every day looking out my back window. She visits often and usually brings along Tobias her mate. She's so friendly and even closes her eyes when you talk to her. She's honestly brightened up some tough days recently!
Last but not least, check out my latest endeavour - tea cocktails! I'm hosting a get together this weekend and wanted an excuse to get my vintage teacups out. Your looking at an Earl Grey gin which is as delicious as it sounds. To make this tea that serves roughly six:
Ingredients
6 Earl Grey Tea bags
200ml boiled water
300ml cold water
3 tbsp sugar
200ml of Gin
1 1/2 lemon juice (freshly squeezed).
1. Boil water and add 200ml to a jug of 6 Earl Grey tea bags allow to seep for 4 minutes. Add 300ml of cold water plus sugar and put in the fridge to cool for at least an hour, longer if possible.
2. Add to the jug, the gin, lemon juice and ice cubes. You may want to add more sugar depending on your preferences.
3. Serve with ice in tea cups and voila, a cheeky tea!
I'm going to make a Jasmine Tea with champagne on Saturday so I'll give you the recipe for that next time.
Until then, have a lovely rest of then week.
Happy Summer Solstice!
Love Sophia xx
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