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Beth Sandland

How I Created a Custom Instagram Filter & Edit Photos in Less Than 60 Seconds

01/16/2018 · BLOGGING TIPS, LIFESTYLE

 

If you’ve had a nosy on my Instagram over the last few days then you may have noticed that I have recently changed my custom filter. After a long time spent stressing over ‘themes’, wanting my feed to look like someone else’s and generally worrying about whether or not I was good enough, I finally felt like I’d found my style in September when I created a Preset on Lightroom. I was pretty happy with it when I was busy sunning myself in the south of France, but as the days got shorter and darker (boo you  Winter), making content harder to shoot, I found myself feeling a bit restless. Something about it wasn’t quite spot on; I had a clear vision in my head but I was unsure of how to actualise it in the form of a Preset. Then, this weekend, something a bit magical happened: I finally cracked it. And it wasn’t nearly as complicated as you may think…

 

 

Lightroom: is it worth your while?

There is no right or wrong way to edit your photos. You don’t have to be using an Adobe suite to be a professional, you don’t have to like VSCO filters and it’s totally cool if you just make use of the Instagram in-app options or even go totally bare #nofilter. I’ve used Lightroom for years for client photography, and at the end of last Summer I decided to start using it to edit my own photos as the VSCO method I was using at the time wasn’t really floating my boat anymore. 

I know how to navigate Lightroom pretty well and after some pretty time consuming fiddling, I was quite happy with the preset I’d created. However, really to have full control over your image you need to a) shoot in raw and b) use a desktop. A very tricky predicament for a gal who wants to take iPhone snaps and edit quickly on the go.

I figured out a work around and did manage to make my Preset usable within the Lightroom app, but anyone familiar with it will know that the controls are significantly reduced and it does make adapting it to the conditions of each image quite tricky. Nevertheless, it seemed a solid option.

When I realised something still wasn’t quite right, I tried to enlist the help of a few photographers who fancied having a play, and whilst one got very close I just knew that I wouldn’t hit the spot without editing on desktop with the ability to colour correct.

 

And along came ‘A Color Story’…

I’d heard a few people mention the app ‘A Color Story’ on Twitter but I’d never given it much thought. I knew VSCO wasn’t quite right for me, and I’m not a big fan of Snapseed so with some time to kill at the airport on Friday I downloaded it and gave it a little whirl. Well hellooooooooooo Color Story, you big babe you, where have you been all my life?!

The app is free, or you can download purchasable filters made by others, and you’ve got all the controls as in the Lightroom app but in a much more user friendly interface. I started having a fiddle and found that within less than half an hour I’d already come up with something that resembled the look I’ve had floating about in my head amongst Friends quotes and random items I always forget off of my shopping list for months. 

For me, the biggest downside is that you can’t edit multiple images at once the way you can in Lightroom, but through being able to save your edits as a custom filter and quickly apply it to image after image, it really isn’t too much of a drawback.

 

So, how do I edit my Instagram photos?

Well now, that would be telling. Only joking! I’m not going to run you through an absolute step-by-step mainly because that would be really boring, and because you’ll quickly find your style but these are the tools I find most helpful:

  • Clarity: with most photos I’ll bring the clarity up about 5 notches or so 
  • Brightness: I brighten my images ever so slightly (I know I’ll under-expose them later, so this helps to counteract that. You might want to whack it right up on yours if you’re after a really bright, light look!)
  • Saturation and Vibrance: I don’t have a hard and fast rule for either of these aspects of any image, I tend to look more at it case by case. Where the colours are a bit garish I’ll often up the vibrance quite a lot (bare with!) before reducing the saturation. This helps the image to retain its colour without looking either too bold or washed out.
  • Temperature: My look is very warm and I achieve this through increasing the temperature alongside adaptations to the highlights and shadows
  • Highlight and Shadow: I can’t really tell you how to use this tool as it will be very personal to each image, but the higher you lift the shadow for example, the less dark the image will be. A bit confusing, I know! Have a play! Getting the two in balance really helps to counteract dodgy lighting and create the tone you’re after.
  • Exposure: Personally, I always under-expose my images. I like my feed on the darker side but I usually shoot in natural light so it’s a good way for me to take control
  • Sharpen: Just like the clarity tool, I always sharpen my images a little, especially when they were taken on an iPhone and the quality is a little iffy
  • Grain: Adding grain to your image is very, very optional and a very stylised tool to use. I don’t use it on every post, but now and then I like to add a little to give the image a moodier, more 70’s vibe

 

Once you’re happy with your edit, you can then name and save it as a filter that you can apply to other images in the click of a button! You can also apply the changes you made to recent images under the ‘saved’ tab.

Remember, there isn’t necessarily a one size fits all. I made a custom filter for Chelsea on the app using the same method and created multiple versions to suit the various scenarios she often shoots in: the filter for her portraits didn’t work on her interior shots, and vice versa! Personally I’m quite lucky in that the style I’m after gives me more flexibility to use the same look over and over, with minor adjustments for each.

 

A little look inside the app…

 

Clarity

How I Edit My Instagram Photos, A Color Story Tutorial, How to Create a Lightroom Preset, How to Make your own Instagram filter

 

Brightness

How I Edit My Instagram Photos, A Color Story Tutorial, How to Create a Lightroom Preset, How to Make your own Instagram filter

 

Vibrance

How I Edit My Instagram Photos, A Color Story Tutorial, How to Create a Lightroom Preset, How to Make your own Instagram filter

 

Temperature

How I Edit My Instagram Photos, A Color Story Tutorial, How to Create a Lightroom Preset, How to Make your own Instagram filter

 

Exposure

How I Edit My Instagram Photos, A Color Story Tutorial, How to Create a Lightroom Preset, How to Make your own Instagram filter

 

Sharpen

How I Edit My Instagram Photos, A Color Story Tutorial, How to Create a Lightroom Preset, How to Make your own Instagram filter

 

Grain

How I Edit My Instagram Photos, A Color Story Tutorial, How to Create a Lightroom Preset, How to Make your own Instagram filter

 

Saving your filter

 

How I Edit My Instagram Photos, A Color Story Tutorial, How to Create a Lightroom Preset, How to Make your own Instagram filter 

Hint: name it something useful such as ‘ for portraits’ 

 

How I Edit My Instagram Photos, A Color Story Tutorial, How to Create a Lightroom Preset, How to Make your own Instagram filter

 

Et, Voila!

 

How I Edit My Instagram Photos, A Color Story Tutorial, How to Create a Lightroom Preset, How to Make your own Instagram filter

 

Applying to other images

 

How I Edit My Instagram Photos, A Color Story Tutorial, How to Create a Lightroom Preset, How to Make your own Instagram filter

 

You may also find these posts useful:

  • How I (used to) Edit my Instagram Photos on VSCO
  • 4 Apps to Up Your Instagram Game 

Posted In: BLOGGING TIPS, LIFESTYLE

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Comments

  1. Abby says

    01/16/2018 at 19:49

    Yes!! I started using a color story this past summer when I was in Greece and I absolutely love it!! So easy to use and my photos always look fab

    Reply
  2. Naomi says

    01/16/2018 at 21:15

    I’ve been loving A Color Story lately, and I may have accidentally purchased more filters to play with, oops! I do also love VSCO for editing landscape and architecture shots, but for beauty and fashion, A Color Story is right up there as my top app. Love your saturation and vibrance tip! Never thought to do that!

    Fab post, your Instagram feed is looking beaut xoxo

    Reply
  3. Sharni says

    01/17/2018 at 00:35

    Beth this is so clever & helpful! I’ve had Colorstory on my iPhone for MONTHS but haven’t used it as I wasn’t sure how. This post is everything I need & more!

    Reply
  4. Lisa says

    01/17/2018 at 19:14

    I’ve heard so many good things about this app, I think it might finally be time to give it a go! I haven’t found the perfect editing app for me yet, so maybe this is it! 😀 xx

    Reply
  5. Liv says

    01/18/2018 at 08:39

    Gonna give it a go! Thanks for the tip!

    Reply
  6. Catherine says

    01/18/2018 at 20:09

    You have such dreamy photos! I already have the Color Story app but got out of the habit of using it – def trying it out again now! x
    http://www.cocoamay.co.uk

    Reply
  7. Kelly says

    01/18/2018 at 20:42

    Hi Beth. Love your content!
    I just wondered if you edit your blog photos on your phone or is this done differently?
    Love the way you style your photos x

    Reply
    • Beth Sandland says

      01/19/2018 at 10:53

      Usually it’s just the same photos! Xx

      Reply
  8. Claire says

    01/18/2018 at 21:36

    Great post im now ‘a color story’ fan. Thanks for the tips 😀

    Reply
  9. Ashlynn says

    01/24/2018 at 20:36

    So brilliant and so very useful! I love this share and your photos as well. Very stunning!

    Ashlynn | http://thecrimsoncardigan.com

    Reply
  10. Mereh. says

    01/25/2018 at 23:48

    Im kinda used of VSCO but OMG I’ll definitely give A color story a try, it looks really good!

    Reply
  11. Brianna says

    01/26/2018 at 20:42

    This is very helpful! I use Lightroom for my blog photography but uploading photos to edit for my Instagram is too much of a hassle. And I don’t really like VSCO filters, so now I have a new app to try! Thank you so much!

    Reply
  12. Andie says

    02/01/2018 at 21:04

    Such a great post! Thank you for sharing <3 I have been testing sooo many apps to try and preset a new filter to have a coherent color story for IG and this works perfectly! I'm off to download and start testing!!

    XO Andie

    Reply
  13. Megan Atkinson says

    02/18/2018 at 13:32

    The sharpen and grain tool are absolute life savers!! Gave this app a go and loved it, thanks for the recommendation x

    meganatkinsonslife.org

    Reply
  14. Hannah says

    02/19/2018 at 23:43

    I love this post, your images always look fab so thank you for posting this!
    I’m sure you probably would have said in the post but I was just wondering if you used any of the filters in the app or you literally just edit your images?

    Thank you xxx

    Reply
  15. Shane McDonald says

    02/26/2018 at 15:19

    Interesting tool, I love Instagram so I must try this

    Reply
  16. Saira says

    03/04/2018 at 21:45

    Firstly – you are the biggest babe ever ! That photo of you is stunning. Also – I will have to give this app a go ! Can’t believe I’ve never heard of it .. I use Lightroom & photo express most of the time, but I like the ‘preset’ feature ! Will have to check it out. Thanks for the suggestion lovely xxx
    Saira
    sairasays.co.uk xx

    Reply
  17. siri says

    12/19/2018 at 17:44

    Thanks so much for the great tutorial… i am shooting my images raw and editing in color story via iPad… i have found however that my images are coming out much small than your once edited. I wonder if you might now why that is the case :). thanks! Beautiful pics !

    Reply
    • Beth Sandland says

      12/22/2018 at 09:08

      If you’re shooting in raw, a color story might be a bit of a waste! Try editing on Lightroom instead. Or shoot in JPEG! Raw files are huge. x

      Reply

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I am a multi-award winning blogger, photographer and writer from London. I’ve travelled to over 38 countries, lived out of a backpack for a year and love to scuba dive! This site is a destination for all things travel, lifestyle and my successful online book club.

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Weekend plans right here! Popped some extra essent Weekend plans right here! Popped some extra essentials - paperbacks and a creme egg (okay, a 10 pack) - in the trolley today. Have you read any of these titles? Homemade pizza, 0% beer and ‘Cardinal’, a scandi-noir esque detective drama set in Canada (iPlayer), is how our Friday night is shaping up. What about you? 📚 @bethsbookclub_ #BethsBookClub
In this moment, I know you better than anyone else In this moment, I know you better than anyone else possibly can. That might not always be the case; you’ll have adventures that are far bigger than me. You’ll meet people who literally change your life. You’ll walk paths that I haven’t trodden and you will be your very own unique individual. Soon we will be two separate people, but for now, we are one. My world revolves around you and for you, for now, I am your world. 🤍✨
Ad: WARMING GINGER, CHILLI & LEMONGRASS CHICKEN NO Ad: WARMING GINGER, CHILLI & LEMONGRASS CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP RECIPE 🍜💓🥰 
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A hug in a bowl from the inside out, this steaming bowl of sweet and sour broth is the perfect warmer for a moody January day. Taking care of yourself - here in a winter lockdown - is more important now than ever. It’s healthy, fresh and ultra comforting and all the ingredients are easily picked up at @waitroseandpartners during your weekly shop.
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Serves: 4
🌶: Medium heat (warm rather than hot) - add more or less chilli oil to taste!
🥬: Vegan version: skip the chicken, make the broth as is then add peeled and chopped veggies of your choosing instead of the shredded poached chicken.
⏰: 10 mins prep, 90 mins cook time
👩🏻‍🍳: Ease level: foolproof!
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Hit the SAVE button for later! Who’s going to give it a go? #AtHomeWithWaitrose
Tuesday shelfie! About as exciting a caption as we Tuesday shelfie! About as exciting a caption as we’re gonna manage today, on what feels like day 72 of January. If you’re feeling a little spruce up there are 35 neutral homeware pieces for under £30 in a new blog post - link in bio! 🤍
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Everything tagged! Paint is Farrow & Ball Setting Plaster. Shelves are Funky Chunky Furniture. And that’s my lovely dried wedding bouquet 🥰
Nursery pending 👶🏼🌈🎨 I’ve hated this Nursery pending 👶🏼🌈🎨 I’ve hated this room for the last year. After our first loss it completely taunted me and I couldn’t bring myself to do anything with it other than use it as a giant Monica cupboard. It’s been called so many things - ‘the middle room’, ‘the spare room’, it even stayed as ‘Emily’s room’ for a long time after our lodger moved out - but now we finally call it the baby’s room 🥰🤍 #week28 #thirdtrimester #nurserydecoration #pregnancyafterloss
Week 27: extra hormonal, everything is stretching, Week 27: extra hormonal, everything is stretching, bub is the size of a cauliflower in this bizarre compare babies to fruit & veg game...👶🏼🥦🌈
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😭 Hormonal wreck: I haven’t really had mood swings at all throughout pregnancy but oh my goodness have the hormones got me good this week. There have been tears. And hysterical sobbing. Sorry husband.
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🏀 Basketball belly: the stretch is real! My uterus is now firmly up under my ribs and I swear I can feel them slowly pulling apart. I cried when I sneezed - “it’s like someone STABBED me” (see point 1). Everything feels very round and my old belly piercing scar is not thrilled about life...
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👈🏼 Still an innie: ....just. It’s more like a saucer where it was once a cereal bowl.
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🦒 All the cute things: we’ve decided on a neutral safari themed nursery. Says the person who hates themes.
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💸 “But they’re so small...😭”: I’m officially on a tiny clothes shopping ban. I’ve rinsed eBay and some lovely small brands (and the Zara sale) and I get an eye roll every time I smuggle a new parcel into the nursery.
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🥴 Tasting everything 6 times over: Hi reflux.
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📖 Reading: Your Baby, Your Birth by Hollie de Cruz is next on my bedside table.
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#27weekspregnant #pregnancyafterloss #rainbowbaby #secondtrimester 
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Two things in life that you just can’t have too Two things in life that you just can’t have too much of: books and tea. My survival tools! ☕️📖💫
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Here are 3 titles I’ve read recently (and rated 5/5 - I’m a harsh critic) that are perfect if you need a pick me up or some escapism...
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1. The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley: an old man leaves a notebook in a cafe for a stranger to find telling his ‘truth’ and challenging them to do the same. The catalyst for a web of unusual friendships and genuine, warm characters...
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2. Educated by Tara Westover: a memoir that reads a little like a fiction depicting Tara’s life growing up in a strict Mormon family in Idaho with a survivalist father who is battling undiagnosed mental illness. They don’t believe in formal education or medicine and any form of governance is the work of the Illuminati. Covers some heavy themes (tw: abuse) and is extremely interesting and engaging.
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3. Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams: sometimes laugh out loud funny, sometimes poignantly sad, Queenie is a vivacious twenty-something growing up as a black woman in an ever gentrifying south London. A crap boyfriend, covert racism and a battle with anxiety paint a backdrop whilst she navigates daily life. It’s excellent!
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Hit save for later or tag someone who needs some reading inspo 📚 What’s the best book you’ve read recently?
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Join/follow: @bethsbookclub_ 🥰
Love a good wedding-stalk? In it for the pics? Wha Love a good wedding-stalk? In it for the pics? What to know *exactly* what a teeny tiny BIG day of just 4 guests might actually look like? Link in bio 👰🏻💓
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Photos:  @victoriasomersethowphotography 
Hair: @whiteman.soho 
Make up: Keeley Wilson MUA
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Plant mom 🌿✌🏼 ⠀ Monty the monstera is go Plant mom 🌿✌🏼
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Monty the monstera is going to start eating dentists soon. My top tips for a super healthy swiss cheese plant -
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🌱 A lovely bright spot away from direct sun (not a problem in winter) and radiators.
🌱 Intuitive watering: stick your finger in and water when the top 2” of the soil are dry, rather than to a set schedule. The amount needed depends on your plant (I use around 700ml approx every 10 days) but make sure you’ve got good drainage!
🌱 Every now and again I like to put it in the garden when it’s raining (in the spring/summer) or under the shower. Rain is best if possible as hard tap water can cause mineral build up on the soil.
🌱 Moss pole! Train it to grow upwards with a strong pole and ties.
🌱 Wipe dust off the leaves (shower also does this) and use a spritz bottle regularly.
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If it’s looking sad it’s probably an issue with water or light! #urbanjungle #monsteramonday
26 weeks: mini diary 🤍 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ 26 weeks: mini diary 🤍
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With less than 2 weeks until the final trimester I thought I’d try and document weekly, as much for me to look back on. This photo is already a week old and I seem to be growing by the day!
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What’s the crack this week?...
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😴 Sleepy AF: A new wave of exhaustion has hit. It makes sense - babies generally double their weight between 24-28 wks. I’ve started going to bed earlier/falling asleep at 9pm in front of Bridgerton.
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🤧 Pelvic floor: Sneezing brings ALL the fear!
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🐙 Movement: I saw my belly move from the outside like a scene from Alien for the first time. At bed time it feels like a small octopus is doing the Macarena in my uterus. It’s still the most magical feeling in the world.
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👶🏼 Prep: The pram arrived this week! We ordered it in a brilliant Silver Cross sale. I was feeling a bit flat about the loss of that ‘pram shopping with my bump’ experience due to lockdown but putting it together made me happy - it’s so beautiful! And so surreal - we own a pram!
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📖 Reading: The Positive Birth Book by @milli.hill. It puts across all options in a clear, non-judgey, humorous way and has made me think of things I’d never heard of. It’s also the first time I’ve understood what a birth plan might physically look/read like.
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🧘🏼‍♀️ Hypnobirthing: I’ve started to feel more nervous about the birth (not the actual act or the pain, rather fears I won’t share as don’t want to project) but we’re starting hypnobirthing online next week which I’m looking forward to!
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👯‍♀️ Following: @birth_ed, @takingcarababies, @mixing.up.motherhood are accounts that are bringing joy/invaluable info.
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#26weeks #rainbowbaby🌈 #secondtrimester #pregnancyafterloss
I loved being a pregnant bride. Often a baby is a I loved being a pregnant bride. Often a baby is a reason to delay or speed up a wedding (lots assumed that was the case for us, but it wasn’t!) and is generally seen as perhaps spoiling things a little. It’s totally fine if you do feel that way, but for us it made it extra magical. It felt totally right to have our little bub between us as we exchanged vows and I was happy to embrace the bump in my dress. I still chose exactly the look and fit I wanted and wore the sparkly heels and in a way, I found trying dresses on much lower pressure as I wasn’t worrying about my figure. Perhaps the biggest difference was staying sober and the fact that we had a tiny wedding with a fancy lunch rather than a party probably made this a lot easier. I raised a toast with our four guests but beyond that, I didn’t have any inclination to drink anyway. Bonus - a great nights sleep and no hangover! 🥂👰🏻
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Photographer: @victoriasomersethowphotography
Dress: ASOS
Box fresh kicks ready to explore [from the bedroom Box fresh kicks ready to explore [from the bedroom to the kitchen, to the loo...aaand repeat]...at least they’ll stay clean 🥴☕️
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Type into browser: https://rstyle.me/cz-n/ewjdwzcbq2x (junior size 🤑 if under a UK 5.5)
AD: Pregnancy has given me a lot of time to reflec AD: Pregnancy has given me a lot of time to reflect on my relationship with alcohol over the last year. 🍸 I flitted between giving it up when pregnant or for fertility purposes, then using it as an emotional crutch in loss which made me more anxious and restless. This time - now 6 months pregnant - I haven’t had a drink since August and have been really pleasantly surprised by how little I’ve missed it, even over the festive season. I’m not into vilifying booze; I enjoy a couple of drinks and even the feeling of lowered inhibitions and being tipsy. But I know that even post-pregnancy and the other-side of the hazy newborn/breastfeeding days, I’ll try and maintain a far more positive relationship with alcohol which for me, looks like indulging lightly and occasionally.
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Having access to brilliant alcohol-free alternatives makes this significantly easier. My favourite gin distillers, Salcombe Gin, are behind the @NewLondonLight; a 0% spirit that doesn’t compromise on taste. So whether you’re pregnant, doing Dry January or simply attempting to live lighter, you can still enjoy a Sunday evening tipple. How do you feel about the alcohol free movement?
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Get 20% off with code ‘NLL20Beth’ 🍊 #NewLondonLight #LiveLightNLL #NLL
Top 5 Books I read in 2020 ☕️ ~
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Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens: totally captivating, unusual and enchanting. I literally devoured this one!
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Queenie, Candice Carty-Williams: as well as being laugh out loud funny, Queenie is also an education. A must read on what it’s like to be a young black woman growing up in London. Also tackles mental health really well!
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The Flatshare, Beth O’Leary: I recommend this to anyone who just really needs a hug from a genuinely enjoyable book. It’s warm and lovely but offers depth well beyond your usual chick lit too.
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Homegoing, Yaa Gyasi: this novel is such a triumph! Spanning over 300 years from pre-colonial Ghana to present day USA, each chapter follows a new character in the lineage of two sisters. One sold to slavery, the other married to an English coloniser. It’s sweepingly powerful and incredibly well written. I could’ve read an entire book on each character!
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A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman: Ove was the very first book I read in 2020 and it stuck with me throughout the year. At its most basic, it’s the story of a cantankerous old man. Delve a little deeper and it’s funny, heartbreaking and incredibly heartwarming. I just love Ove!
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Hit the ‘save’ button to come back to this list when you’re in need of a good read! What were your books of the year? 📚
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PS. If more reading, less scrolling is one of your 2021 goals too then don’t forget you can come and join us at @bethsbookclub_ 😎
2 0 2 1: the year of you 🕊🤍
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Happy new year saucepots! We had an ultra rock n’ roll night (read our books in bed then watched the midnight fireworks - that was a nice surprise! - on a phone before falling promptly to sleep...) and today is all about a long walk, a longer bath, books and tea. And obviously starting a new diary because isn’t fresh stationary the best thing about a new year?!
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Are you setting New Years’ resolutions? I prefer a bit of reflection and mindset shifting. This year it’s all about setting firm positive boundaries, protecting my energy and saying no to things/people that don’t serve that. I like the new year, not for the ‘new me’ noise but rather as a chance to let go and embrace a fresh beginning again. ⚡️☕️
As far as NYE outfits go, I’m not mad about this As far as NYE outfits go, I’m not mad about this one...🐻🥂 I hope you’re all well and excited to bid farewell to 2020. I know the clock striking midnight doesn’t fundamentally change anything but I’m hopeful that we can look forward with more optimism. I always find the turn of the year really emotionally complex. I’m not even going to attempt to unpack this last one other than to rejoice that even amongst the lowest of lows there have been highs. My beloved Nan won’t see the new year, which is hard to contemplate. I also married my best friend. This time last year I was miserable on the sofa, a day after surgery for our first miscarriage and wishing I could press pause on life. Tonight I’m still on the sofa, but full and at peace rather than empty and grieving, looking forward. For us, 2021 will see the birth of our little cub so it’s one that I’m welcoming with open arms. So much can change in a year and I hope you can seek comfort in that. However you’re feeling tonight, I’ll raise my alco-free bubbles to you because you did it: you made it through one of the toughest years in history. Brighter days are coming ☀️💓
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