Twenty Four Days of Treats & Tiny Reminders!

Warning: Spoilers Ahead!

I mean, if you've clicked on the link to come to this post, then that's likely what you're looking for, but still, I'm warning you again, just in case you've changed your mind & want to back out and keep the treats in your advent calendar a secret surprise to enjoy each day!

(Or in case you've stumbled across this post some other way - if you don't want to see the contents of this year's Leslieanne Made It advent calendar - click away NOW!)

...nope? You really wanna know what's inside each little package? Alright then, here we go! >>>

Opinions Aren't Facts! Five Tips to Politely Decline Unsolicited Advice...

"You should do it this way!"
"You're not really going to eat that, are you?!"
"You can't possibly believe that!"
...opinions eh?
Everybody's got 'em, and sometimes people just can't help but share!

Which is fine, we're all 100% entitled to our opinions (and 100% entitled to disagree with someone else's!), but when opinions cross the fine line into unsolicited advice territory, sometimes they need to be nipped in the bud.

Not a fan of confrontation? Me neither, so here are five top tips to politely, but firmly decline...

How to Forgive Yourself for Making Mistakes

"Mistakes are proof you're trying!"

...hands up if you've seen that little gem a million times on Pinterest? - I'm not disagreeing with the sentiment, at all, in fact I'm trying daily to embrace it, but it's hard isn't it?

However much you try to remind yourself that mistakes are part of life, that everyone makes them, it doesn't make it any easier in the aftermath of actually making one - especially if it's a great big clanger!

But here's the thing: Mistakes do happen. You will make them. And that's okay.

What's important, is how you deal with them.

As someone who has spent more hours than she'd care to admit berating herself for blunders she's made over the years, here are my own ways of trying to stop the cycle of doom!

How To Be Your Own Biggest Fan!

When did you last take time to congratulate yourself on a job well done? To give yourself a tiny cheer; or celebrate a victory, however small?

If you're struggling to remember, ask yourself this instead: when did you last give yourself a hard time for not doing a good enough job, for messing up or falling short?

It's an easy trap to fall into isn't it? It';s so much easier to be self critical - most of us are guilty at some point of being our own worst critic when really:

* * * We should be our own loudest cheerleader! * * *

Because let's be honest, who else is going to do it for you? You need to believe in yourself before you can expect anyone else to!

So, with that in mind, here are some ideas to help start tipping the balance in your favour, to get you on your way to being your own biggest fan!

It's not just them - YOU'RE amazing too!

I think one of the silliest things about human beings is that often, we can see so much good in other people, but struggle to find it in ourselves.

It's no problem to tell a friend that their outfit is amazing, their hair looks great, they're smashing it with their new job... but how often do we give ourselves the same boost?

On social media, we scroll through the highlights of other people's lives and assume that they're just wonderful at everything they turn their hand to, usually without stopping to acknowledge our own talents - talents that someone else is probably in awe of in the same way!

So, this tiny reminder is for anyone who needs to hear it: It's not just them, YOU are amazing too. Maybe you just need to remember to give yourself some more credit from time to time!

For more tiny reminders & doodles delivered to your inbox every Friday, get yourself on the mailing list here :)

Treat EVERY day like a special occasion!

Be honest - do you have things in your life that you hardly ever use becaise they're "too nice"?
Things that you're saving; maybe for "a special occasion"?

...I think we all do to be honest - the posh silverwear that only comes out at Christmas, the plush towels that are just for guests, the fancy frock that mostly lives in a corner of your wardrobe waiting for the once a year or so it gets to shine... it's silly really!

I think we all need to get over ourselves and start living in the moment!

Life is too short, and frankly so precious, that every day is special and should be cause for celebration!

So USE those beautiful things! - you deserve those little pockets of joy they bring - all of the time, not just when there's something "special" on the calendar!

Enjoy them & treat every day like a special occasion - and yourself like a VIP, because you are!

For more tiny reminders delivered to your inbox every Friday, join my VIP mailing list here :)

ANY Day Can be the Start of Something NEW!

Stop waiting for Monday, or the start of a new month, or a new year even! - Sure, those are all great times to embark on a new adventure, start a new project or throw yourself into a new way of thinking; but do you know what's an even better day to do any of those things?

TODAY!

Right here, right now.
So set your own schedule and get on with whatever it is that's going to make you smile :)

If you'd like a new tiny reminder critter in your inbox every Friday, get yourself on my mailing list here!

Keep Being Kind

...because kindness is cool & you are the coolest :)

Seriously though, do.
Keep being kind.
Even when other people aren't.
Even to grumpy people, because they probably need it more than most ;)

Be Kind was the first tiny reminder enamel pin I made & it's still one of my favourites, simply because I believe that kindness is a super power, that lets any ordinary person change the world, one tiny action at a time, and I think that's pretty magical, don't you? :)

Remember, there's lots more tiny reminders over on my Patreon page if you fancy a peek!

Stay on YOUR path to SUCCESS!

How many times have you looked at someone else & thought "I wish I was doing as well as them"? ...don't worry, you're not alone!

It's a natural human reaction to measure ourselves up against our peers, BUT! It's also a totally pointless exercise.

Someone else's success is NOT your failure.
THEY are working on their dream, YOU should be working on yours.

Okay maybe your goal is to achieve something similar to what they already have, that's fine - but don't get caught up in comparing where you are to where they are.You have no idea how long they've been at it, how hard they've worked... and most importantly - just because they've already got whatever it is you want, doesn't mean YOU can't have it too! Use their success as motivation & inspiration to show up, do the work & crack on with making YOUR dreams come true.

Keep Going!


If you'd like a postcard or sticker of this tiny reminder to keep, have a look at my Crush Comparison Collection - - - If you'd like to see more tiny reminders, check out my Instagram and/or add yourself to my email list :) - - - If you'd like to support my work, I'd be delighted to have you over on Patreon!

How to AVOID the Comparison Trap!

The comparison trap is an easy one to fall into - even if you're deliberately trying NOT to!

You start out harmlessly scrolling your social media feed of choice, and before you know it, you're wishing you coulf drop a dress size, upscale your house & book a lavish holiday.

S T O P ! ! !

Remember: 99% of what you see on social media is NOT real life. It's a curated feed of perfectly styled snapshots of tiny moments in time.

T A K E . A . M O M E NT ! ! !

...be grateful for everything YOU have & remind yourself that that stuff, is REAL! So don't go letting what you wish you had cast a shadow on what you've already got.

D E C L U T T E R

If there are accounts on your socials that constantly make you feel like you're not enough, or that your life's not photogenic enough, or just bring you down in any way... DITCH THEM! Delete, unfollow, block. You don't need that sort of negativity in your life!
(You can always re-follow when you're in a happier headspace.)

In the meantime, fill your feed with what DOES make you smile, what makes you feel empowered, content, and HAPPY with who you are & what you've got going on.

Above all else, remember that comparing YOUR fully rounded, messy, complicated, access all areas version of REAL life to someone elses carefully styled & curated highlights reel just doesn't make sense.  Comparison is the thief of joy; and when you're not even comparing like for like, it's definitely a recipe for disaster!


If you'd like a postcard or sticker of this tiny reminder to keep, have a look at my Crush Comparison Collection - - - If you'd like to see more tiny reminders, check out my Instagram and/or add yourself to my email list :) - - - If you'd like to support my work, I'd be delighted to have you over on Patreon!

Be your OWN biggest Fan!

...because you're pretty great :)

It's okay to NOT do it all.

...it really is.

It's okay to say no when someone asks a favour - even if it's a good friend - if you're too busy, overwhelmed, or just not into it, that's YOUR call.

It's okay to turn down an opportunity if it doesn't feel like a good fit, or if you're just plain too busy with other things to spin another plate.

It's okay to ignore the FOMO & turn down an invite if all you really want to do is stay home & catch up on sleep.
(Or bingewatch a netflix show with snacks.)

Sometimes, "No." is a full sentence, and that's okay too.

It's OKAY to have a rest!

...so you didn't exactly smash your to do lis today?

NO WORRIES!!

Cut yourself some slack, get some rest, and go back to it fresh tomorrow :)

Think Happy Thoughts!

...never underestimate the power of a good brain dump!
Get aaalllll your thoughts out & down on paper, then filter through & ditch the ones that are doing you no good!
I chatted about my way of doing it in this letter but whatever works for you, DO IT!

Negative thoughts take up WAY too much room.
(You can grab a handy negative thoughts eraser here too!)

Happiness isn't ONE BIG THING...

...those little things? Kind of a big deal!

Make the time to notice & appreciate them & see what sort of effect it has on your mood ;)

This is another little pal from my Happiness Collection - he's also available as an instant download if you'd like to print a reminder :)

Let Yourself Be Happy In Advance!

...because you never know what good stuff is waiting around the corner!

This little guy is available as a postcard & a sticker as part of my Happiness Collection here, and you can also download him an instant here :)

Mindset is Everything & YOU are in charge of YOURS!

True Story!

So next time you feel a negative thought clouding up your brain, remind yourself that you don't have to pay attention to it & carry on being wonderful!