Every Day Things

Hello one and all,

It wasn't until recently I was convinced by Katie to start looking after myself a bit more. To put this in context last year I was doing something I didn't really enjoy and I was working long hours and not really enjoying life to much. But that's a story for another day. 

On a daily basis we all have things we do in the morning. I shower and have breakfast then get ready is my standard routine. So this weeks blog is about what I use on a daily basis, because to me it seems like men looking after there skin and hair is still a bit 50/50. I don't talk to my mates about what I put in my hair or moisturise with, it just seems a bit of a weird topic to bring up. 

I've only just let go of the long sweeping hair stage (hey don't judge we all did it!!). Now I have short hair I normally do a small quiff because its so easy to do.  I use Got2b spiking glue and occasionally when its raining I use the 'blasting freeze spray'. I love this products because as you all know I do a lot of exercise and this stuff just holds my hair in the same way all day long! I think that's a key thing when it comes to choosing hair product. I've used so many different products to try get my hair to stay and nothing works as well as Got2b.

Because I ride a lot I get wind burn and really dry skin occasionally, I use Nivea Sensitive Moisturiser. I just think this is the best moisturiser  out there if you have sensitive skin. I use this on my face and hands every day. It doesn't have an over powering smell like other moisturisers I've used before. The only criticism I have is it only comes in a 75ml bottle and that just isn't enough. If any of you know if you can get it any bigger let me know!

Another downside to be a cyclist is drying lips, I don't think there has been a day this winter I haven't used Nivea hyrdo care. I'm convinced it has magic powers, it really helps with just being comfortable because dry and broken lips is one the most annoying things. Every time I set off on the bike or for a run I just put a little bit on and it seems to be working. 

Now shampoo is definitely a new thing for me, I thought they all did the same thing... ow how wrong I was. I don't really suffer from dandruff or anything like that but like I said before I do have quite sensitive skin, so the Head and Shoulders classic is just really soothing and its actually nicer to use than any random shampoo. A disclaimer on first comment I did use shampoo I just didn't know did different things.

I am a man... no really I am 18 that makes me a man. This means I do have to shave and the older I get the more I have to do it. My favorite after shave at the moment is ' Next Code Eau de Toilette' My French isn't very good but that title doesn't sound inviting. But it smells really good!! 

There we are then talking about Men's skincare and daily routine wasn't to hard, I wonder if it will get easier for everyone. 

Thanks for reading this weeks post, Have an amazing week!

Sam :)

The internet and it's tribes

Hello lovely people of the Internet :)

This weeks blog could probably be classed as a rant but I just wanted to explore this thing we call the Internet. I don't know if any of you heard about the virus that spread around the Internet this week but it got me thinking about the websites and apps I use regularly. So here is this weeks blog I hope you enjoy...

The Internet its been around for a few years but for a while it has always been for 'young people' to be part of, now older generations are beginning to come round to the idea that billions of people are using the Internet to communicate with each other and start these tiny communities. 

I always joke with my parents that Facebook is for old people, but it sort of is it is the most simple social network to use. You search for friends and things you like and then you spend hours scrolling through being nosey, its like when your mum or dad would pick you up from primary school they would all gossip about what had happened that day. That is what Facebook is, its a site to be nosey. 

Then there is twitter, which doesn't actually know what it wants to be, personally I love twitter I spend hours and hours scrolling through my feed. I just find the novelty of saying whats on your mind in a 140 characters is brilliant and it cuts down on stupid 4 page status updates about how someone had a lovely meal out. But my main love with twitter is how easy it is but still people don't bombard  you with things, it's ok to tweet 3 times in 5 minutes because of how small the tweets are and its a brilliant way to keep in touch with whats happening in the world. I used to work away a lot last year and spend hours away from a radio or TV so twitter was my only real link to the outside world. 

Blogger and Bloglovin are two sites I'm relatively new too, but I'm getting my head around them and your probably using one of the two right now. I think blogs are one of the best things on the internet (apart from funny animal videos on Youtube.) Blogging is just an online journal really ok so its probably not as in depth as a journal, that all depends on how detailed the blog is I suppose. But I like the fact on a Sunday afternoon after I've been out training I come back and write my thoughts of that fay or week down, then you guys can read them. 

What Strava looks like

Now what would a blog by me be without a link to cycling. Strava is my favourite app and community online. Its for cyclists and runners... well anyone that does exercise and want to track what speed and route they do. Its brilliant I never meet anyone that is on Strava in my local area and yet we 'compete' with each other on the various hills and long straights in my local area. On Wednesday night my brother and I went on a training ride and I set the 4th fastest time up a local climb, which made me feel so good!! The best bit is I can go anywhere in the world and Strava will record my ride, yes it can drain your battery but if your only out riding you don't need your phone for anything else. Its that competitive aspect though, the first thing I do when I get off the bike is compare my stats against whoever I ride with. 

I just think the Internet has so many platforms and communities of like minded people. It gives everyone a place to meet and talk about their hobbies or just to keep up with friends. In my opinion the Internet is the best invention ever!!

What are you favourite apps and social media? 

Thanks for reading, have an amazing week!

Sam :)

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@sammmrobertss

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Goals and achievements

We all have goals and things we want to achieve but the hard part is actually doing them.

Today I've been sat in a field watching Katie's cousins play rugby. And it got me thinking that in the next few weeks I'll be taking on my first sportive and that has taken a lot of planning. And it won't be easy. I have to do the obvious training and then the research into how much food I need to take on board and the fluids.

As part of my training I went on a ride around my local area, I ended up doing 40 miles. On this ride I ended up in Meriden which according to some is the centre of the country, more importantly to me it has a memorial to all the cyclist that lost their lives in the two world wars. To ride that 40 miles was a big achievement for myself and my brother.

But on the opposite end of the scale I have friends that are planning on achieving their a levels in a few weeks time and that has taken years of work and achieving GCSE's.

I'll be the first to admit that I do go over the top with planning, I try and get everything down to a fine detail. It annoys Katie but I always think if you know everything you need to do you'll end up doing what you set out to do.

What are your goals for next few months? And are you an over planner or just go with the flow sort of person?

Have a great week, thanks for reading
Sam :)

Midweek Positives: Number 1

Hello internet friends,

Well mid week blog is here again, I'm starting to like this little feature. And as you can see from the title I'm thinking of just writing down at least 1 positive thing that have happened to me or are going to or just share some positive love. 

I don't know about you but when I hit Wednesday, I'm usually feeling a bit down and still day dreaming about the previous weekends memories and then trying to fill up my diary for the weekend coming up. Luckily for me my best mate is popping over tonight to have some bike time and I may buy him a coke at the pub (were both trying to be healthier and not drink as much). Bike time is my first positive for the week! Sim and I usually just sit around tinkering with our bikes and then when we've finished we normally go for a blast. Now if you ask either of our girlfriends and they will say we are not ones for talking about feelings but you put us on bikes and we'll just talk about the things getting us down. I really do think exercising with a friend is the best stress release. Anyway Sim coming over is a bonus to my week! 

I had a pretty bad day yesterday I spent hours in the doctors surgery which is always a depressing affair. So I came out saw it was a glorious day, I put the lycra on and went out for a 12 mile ride. Summer is properly on its way now, this fact cheered me up massively. And as I write this I'm listening to my favorite playlist and just smiling and playing a bit of air guitar. 

I always say that having a positive out look on life is a really hard thing to do, what with the constant pressures of sixth form and college work and getting a job. But it does make a difference, and it always feels like more opportunities happen because of it. So what do you guys do to stay positive? 

Thanks for reading 


Sam :) 

Follow me on twitter  @SammmRobertss