MY HAPPY PLACE & WHAT TO WEAR TO A FESTIVAL

Can you believe that we're seven months into 2017 already? I bloody can't! It seems only minutes ago that we were seeing in the New Year with our loved ones and vowing to boss this year like no other before it. 
To be honest, I feel so far thats exactly what I've done. I really feel that this year has been pretty damn smooth indeed, albeit with the occasional hiccup along the way. But all in all I'm thrilled with the progress I've made and more importantly, thrilled with my happiness levels.

Happiness is everything. It's my one true goal in life, to be happy. And I feel in the seven months we've had of 2017, I've really learnt who and what makes me happy the most. 

This year I've learnt that one of my happy places, is definitely the countryside... Who'd have thought it ey? I'm a city girl through and through and will be forever more, but one of the many things I love so much about living in Manchester is how quickly we can be in the oh so beautiful, picturesque and breathtaking countryside. Whether that be on the outskirts of Manchester, a 90 minute drive to Helmsley (read this post here) where George's folks live, or taking a short 20 minute train ride to West Yorkshire and visiting The Moors, it blows my mind that I can go from the hustle and bustle of a cosmopolitan city to greenery for as far as the eye can see with peaceful and sleepy towns such as Marsden. Being amongst the great outdoors, breathing in the fresh air and viewing some of the most beautiful scenery I've ever seen is a sure fired way to make me feel good, to clear my head and to inspire me once again. 

I've done a few posts already this year about the quality of digital detoxing and getting away for the weekend with your other half, but what both of those things have in common is the fact I was submerged by nature. I simply can't get enough of it and regularly pine for weekends that involve just that. 

Sometimes I love getting away purely just to clear my head, it's a sure fired way to leave me feeling empty, my troubles having drifted away with the wind (and boy is it windy up there)
Recently and as I've mentioned in this post a few weeks back, I've been struggling to keep up with the work load, struggling to know when to switch off and struggling to just let things be, something I've never dealt with before. I've always been a very laid back person when it comes to work, just letting things come and go as they do, with the whole "If it's meant to be" mentality, so it's been tricky trying to adjust to the new way in which my brain likes to work. I am currently busier than ever before and I am totally loving it and revelling in the fact that it won't be like this forever. In fact I'm sure it'll just be a few more months before things start to quieten down a little for that much needed countryside breather.
However, one thing I know my new wired brain likes is the great outdoors, so heading out to the countryside, to the hills, to the green for as far as the eye can see really calms me, allows me to revaluate everything and leave feeling much lighter, much happier and a heck load less stressed. 

I really wanted to shoot something up in The Moors to show and let you in on the worlds worst kept secret, the power of fresh air and the great outdoors. 
And for that I thought I'd don a festival inspired get-up to get you ready and geared up for the most exciting season of the year. 
With festival season having recently kicked off and with my festival listing's totting up rather nicely indeed, I am SO excited to be back amongst the fields listening to some of my favourite bands, cider in hand and wellington boots inevitably serving their purpose amongst the mud. 

EEE this time of year is truly the BEST! 

Being outdoors and listening to music with my pals is another happy place of mine, in fact, to me a festival is the absolute epitome of happy, care free times and I honestly CANNOT WAIT for it. 

A-line mini skirts, bright and bold tee's and knits with the all too obvious addition of waterproof coat (in a sassy pink shade OBVIOUSLY) and wellies has always been my go-to when it comes to festival styling. It's super simple, practical yet oh-so totally me with it's colourful palette and sixties inspired silhouettes.

The importance of happiness and clearing the mind is pivotal and is something I'm aiming to do a lot more of for the rest of the year... When things start to slow down a little might I add.
I'd love to hear where your happy place is. Is it out amongst the great outdoors like me? Or at a festival with your friends also like me? I'd love to hear em and would also love to hear your thoughts on these shots too, I think there some of the most beautiful snaps Sophie and I have ever taken, I mean, with a backdrop like that how could they be anything but?

x M

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SOPHIE TRAYNOR