Wallflower issue 02 by MagLab Cardiff

embrace your inner introvert

“

There’s more than

ONE WAY to be heard

”

Drawn together with

INTROVERT DOODLES

Enjoy some

SWEET

SUMMER

SOLITUDE

with our ‘ME’ TIME issue

#02 £4 SUMMER 2017

• things to make • stories to read • places to go

Welcome Welcome to the summer issue of Wallflower! As the days get longer and the sun remains high in the sky flirting with the flowers, it is time for some much needed Vitamin D. Summer has arrived. In this issue, we celebrate the joys of spending time on your own. Whether it be reading a book whilst sitting by the lake, swaying in a hammock in a hot country or burrowing in the comfort of your own home; we are here to help you recharge from your summer activities. Capture your summer memories in a Wallflower style photo album, Make one of our refreshing fruit smoothies, listen to our recommended podcasts and much, much more. At Wallflower, we are more than just a magazine. We are a community that will welcome you with open arms. Welcome to the sisterhood!

Team Wallflower xxx

Become a Wallflower, SUBSCRIBE TODAY! Join a sisterhood that celebrates introverts just like you. Find out everything you need to know from having the perfect night in to pushing yourself and stepping, ever so slowly, out of your comfort zone.

Become a part of the gang and follow us on social media:

facebook.com/wallflowermag instagram.com/wallflower_mag twitter.com/wallflower_mag

In this issue... 8

On the cover

Introvert Doodles

We spoke to Marzi, the girl behind the drawing board

to home 12 Letters Wallflower reader Siobhan creatively tackles homesickness solo Travelling alone? No problem! 14 Ridin’ corner 18 Creative How to craft your very own photo album

‘Me‘ time

Love your solitude

Being alone isn’t the same as being lonely

7 Are only children lonely children? 17 Thank pod for that Short story podcasts to fill your summer 30 Sorry, I’m busy

Easy ways to get out of pesky plans

In conversation

Do it yourself up girl Customise your clothes the 23 Pin Wallflower way

the bullet 26 Bite Your guide to the latest journaling trend down The best summer smoothies you’ll 33 Cool ever make

And everything else A (quiet) revolution

We’ll miss you a chocolot

Free the boob!

Hidden Figures

Ultimate introvert Susan Cain’s path to success

Not even our snacks are safe from Brexit

Wallflower reader Jade gives us a lesson in body confidence

The first female MP you’ve never heard of

‘Me’ Time

Love your solitude We were pleasantly surprised to find out how unlonely being alone can be and the benefits it has for the our brains and spirits

ost animals are social creatures: birds flock together, wolves roam in packs, lions live in prides and we humans are no different to our animal friends. We’ve always been a sociable lot, ever since we lived in caves. As time has moved on, social norms have changed drastically, to the point where spending time alone is something that is considered a bit odd by our peers. Eating out or going to the cinema on our own is sometimes thought of as us being sad or lonely, but what’s wrong with spending some quality time with ourselves? Thankfully, there is mounting evidence that suggests that solitude has many mental health benefits. Here are some of them:

Self-confidence

How many times have you been out for dinner with a group of friends and seen a person dining alone, then one of your extrovert friends makes a comment about how lonely that person must be? For our extroverted friends, the concept of dining alone, or doing any activity alone, seems terrifying because of the social stigma of loneliness that surrounds it. Spending time alone allows you to connect with yourself. By doing activities alone, we learn that we can go out by ourselves and enjoy the experience. We don’t need to be reliant on others and we can engage with the world on our own terms. This is a huge boost to our self-confidence and is a very liberating feeling.

Concentration

Reflection

The best way of disconnecting from social media is to unplug from it. Don’t just turn your wifi off, turn your device off. Allow some disconnect time for each day, even if it’s only 15-20 minutes. Use this time to reflect on just how much of your time you spend connected to a device. Or use it to start a new hobby: get into bullet journaling or cross-stitching. Studies have shown that by doing this regularly your overall concentration levels will increase and you will develope a sick new hobby, so win/win!

Have a chat with yourself out loud. Productivity isn’t always measured by how much we physically get done. Use this time for reflection. By doing this regularly, concentration levels increase, as do our creativity levels. It has even been proven to be beneficial to adolescents with depression. By knowing ourselves truly, we learn to engage with those around us differently. The talented and mindful poet Rumi once said, “A little while alone in your room will prove more valuable than anything else that could ever be given you.” Preach it, brother.

Let’s be real here: social media has become the procrastination tool of choice for most of us. We are always on it, whether on our commute to work, at work, or with friends and family. It even invades our precious solo time. It means we constantly have to be engaged with those around us, even when we’re alone in our own homes.

So we’ve set aside time in our busy schedule for some quality “Me Time.” We’ve turned off all devices. We’ve even put away our favourite book. What do we do now? Meditate? How exactly do we become at one with ourselves? First off, don’t force it: Rome wasn’t built in a day. Just sit with yourself and think. About anything. Anything at all.

Pics: Wallflower, freepix.com, pexels.com

“To me, being an introvert is power. I might not be th loudest, but my mind is ful of ideas that I’ll one day use to change the world”

Esther Egbeyemi, 24, summer cover girl from Essex

Express Yourself

Me Time

ummertime is slowly approaching! This means sunhats, sunscreen and staying indoors whenever possible for most of us introverts.

Sometimes we really don’t feel like going out in the searing heat and would much rather be indoors reading a book in our beds where there’s shade. But if you tell your extroverted friends this you’ll never live it down! It’s just the way we are, guys. Leave us alone! If you need a more convincing excuse for not stepping foot on a dirty beach, standing around at a crowded barbeque, or sharing your food with the ants at a picnic, we’ve got you covered.

“I’m suffering from severe

CHUB RUB

and if I walk anymore I will BURST into F L A M E S”

“I’m 90% ice cream right

now and can’t fit through the

d o o r”

Sorry, I’m busy...

(good) excuses for bailing out on friends

Your cut out ‘n’ keep guide!

SEAGULLS and I can’t go outside or

they’ll get me”

“I don’t want to get a tan, the VAMPIRE look is ‘in’ this year”

“I’m

Pic: Freepix.com

“I’m being hunted by

allergic to light”

“I’m still getting over last year’s SUN BURN” 7

iNTROVERT DOODLES

marzi

Pics: Wallfower

Maureen Wilson, aka Marzi, the multi-talented creator behind Introvert Doodles, tells us the inspiration behind her famous work and lets us in on her latest projects How long have you been doing Introvert Doodles? Introvert Doodles started about a year and a half ago. They were just doodles I posted along with my other artwork on my Instagram account. I was surprised when people connected with the message, and decided to create a separate account for them. Your doodles have really resonated with so many, and have also caught the attention of the media in a pretty big way. What’s your reaction to (ironically) being thrust into the spotlight? It’s been a wonderful surprise! It began as a journey of self-discovery, but has turned into something so much bigger. I’ve not only learned about myself, but also a great deal about introversion, mental health, and advocacy. I’ve also connected with an amazing community online. Luckily, I’ve still been able to stay rather anonymous throughout this... my Marzi character is the face of Introvert Doodles, so I’m not in the spotlight at all!

“I’m a quiet person, but there’s more than one way to be heard”

You also do a lot of DIY/crafting-related blogging. How did you get into doing that? I’ve always loved to create. I’m a rather quiet person, but there’s more than one way to be heard. Art has given me a voice. My MadeByMarzipan YouTube channel has a good-size following, but you’ll notice that I’m hardly ever in front of the camera. I prefer to be behind the scenes, and have the focus be on my projects. I think it’s important for girls who are quiet or shy to know that they can approach the world on their own terms and still be successful. I consider my introversion to be an asset, not a limitation. What are your plans going forward? Have you got any other projects in the works that you’d like to tell us about? For the past several years, hand lettering has been my passion. I’m looking forward to sharing some news about a lettering product line this spring! I’ve also started work on an illustrated book about living with anxiety. Although I’m an introvert who has anxiety, introversion and anxiety are two different things. I think anxiety is an important topic to discuss, and that it deserves its own book. A big thank you to Marzi for sharing some of her doodles with us! Check out more of her work here:

“My introversion is an

own terms

asset, not a limitation”

Success on her

introvertdoodles.com madebymarzipan.com

Pics: Introvert Doodles

Introvert Doodles

Wall of Letter to home

Anyone else miss their old house? Wallflower reader, Siobhan Donnelly sure does. Here she writes a letter to her first house.

Dear house,

Pics: Siobhan Donnelly, freepix.com

ou are the home I barely remember. The house I was brought into kicking and screaming, all wonky legged and underweight. Where I was laid out in a crib to be inspected by a gentle wolf, who took one look at me, swathed in blankets, one cautious sniff of the crib with his large hairy nose, and forlornly went and sat by the backdoor. A tender giant, afraid of being replaced. A gentleman of a hound, who quickly became my first friend. You were the small, worn, brick end of terrace, with the winding wooden staircase, where I learnt to crawl, walk, and fall. Stumbling, tripping, and

bashing my head. The back bedroom where I would spend mornings standing at the end of my cot, singing made up songs for my parents, dozing in the other room. My memories of you are often not real. Rather they are pre-loved, hand-me-down memories, passed on to me by those who were old enough to remember. The gaps filled in by stories and my own imagination. I only keep a few real recollections of you, flickers that I believe to be true. First, the shaft of light slicing across a room, the back room, my room. In the mornings, when my room was still dark, the blinds still drawn, when the sun hit the front of the house. A sliver of light would sneak through my partially opened door, illuminating the depths of darkness. Next, that same sunlight pouring through the window of the front bedroom. I can only recall blurs of that room, a fragment of the oak bed

Wallflower Reader

Flowers frame that moved house with us time and again, and the blurry memories of my parents, and that bright, almost blinding sunlight engulfing the room. Then later, when we had moved on further up the road to a bigger house with a bigger garden. It was summer, or at least that’s how I remember it. We, my mother and I, walking past you along the road to the newsagents. You were full of loud people, workmen, tearing out your insides and making you new. On the way back, a paper bag of penny sweets clutched in my hand, jelly snakes and white mice, we stopped outside you. It was warm, your doors and windows flung open, the fresh air passing straight through, making you feel alive. My mother struck up conversation with one of the workmen, no doubt telling him how we had once lived there, and he invited us in. As we stepped through the front door we could see all the way through to the back door and the garden beyond. The man spoke a while with my mother, showing her the changes they were making, the refitted kitchen, the updated living room, before leading us out into the garden. Long and narrow, it was like a jungle, overgrown and tangled. To my child’s eyes it seemed to go on forever, stretching far away and out of sight, the summer sun making everything glow warm orange. Bees buzzing around, as we stood enjoying the heat. As we age, memories fade, the mental equivalent of old photographs, losing colour and warmth. But no matter how much time passes, my memories of you are always of light and sunshine.

Sneak Peek Heres a quick look at Siobhan’s next letter. Find out more about Siobhan and read the whole thing on our website!

Dear House,

You are where my childhood memories begin.. The red brick house with its red tile kitchen,, that our foolish deerhound refused to walk across,, claws scrabbling across the floor.. The two gardens, one filled with trees,hedges,and the other a secret pathway... Want to see your work here? Head to...

Read M Go To ore

www . jome c. co.uk wallfl / ower

RIDIN’ SOLO

Wallflower Kim Kaveh shares her most memorable experiences from stepping out of her comfort zone and travelling alone in Vietnam

Pics: pexels.com, freepik.com and Wallflower

ith only a heavy backpack as my companion, I got off the stuffy bus to the smell of freshly baked buns and chargrilled meat in the early hours of the summer’s morning. I felt the cool breeze on my flustered cheeks. The 12-hour bus journey had finally come to an end as I made my way from Hanoi, the northern capital of Vietnam, to Sapa, a town with an old and unique culture located just a few mountains away from Southern China. Travelling with friends or family can be fun, but there was always something about travelling alone which had remained an ambition of mine. At the age of 23, I’d never been on a plane alone or been in a foreign country unaccompanied by close friends or relatives. But I’d had an itch, an itch I couldn’t get rid of, to travel around Southeast Asia, soak up some culture, taste rich Asian cuisine and, most importantly, experience the exhilarating rush of relying on me, and me alone. After spending the last six years of my life relying on friends to plan where to go and what to do on our annual summer blowout, I had decided it was finally time to establish some independence by travelling completely solo. So I told my family I was going to travel alone for two months. Then I had to convince my frightened mother that I wasn’t going to get killed or die from malaria. I’ll be honest: I’m an anxious

person in general and my nerves consumed me in ways I’d never experienced before. But I knew I wouldn’t ever find a better opportunity to embark on an empowering journey all on my own.

The beautiful Sapa Valley

My female tour guides had already arrived and welcomed me with warm smiles. I was deeply fascinated by their red and white trimmed costumes. Their trousers were intricately embroidered in red, yellow and green, along with some neon beaded fringe work which they had crafted by hand. They fed me and offered me a fresh brew to drink, before we embarked on a 19km trek through the green, terraced rice fields. As I walked, I felt a creative circuit in my brain triggering new ideas, as I heard stories from the inspirational tribal women who were guiding me through the hike to my home stay at Sapa’s highest peak. I admired their appreciation for the simple things in life: the nature that surrounded them, the food they harvested by hand to eat, and most of all their courage after being married off in their early teens and forced to bear children. I couldn’t quite believe how these small groups live in ways that were so different to anything I knew. They are isolated from the rest of the population in their own country. This unforgettable experience certainly gave me new perspectives that changed the way I see the world. It taught me that

“I felt a creative circuit in my brain triggering new ideas”

Kim’s Picks: What advice would you give to our Wallflowers who want to travel alone? not all relationships need to be permanent. My guides and I didn’t feel the need to exchange names, but our temporary relationship offered me a lifetime of memories to cherish, from insights to a lifestyle I had never even imagined. I also learned that alone time is healthy and can be empowering. It gave me an opportunity to experience complete freedom and face fears that had long consumed me. Before this trip, going abroad by myself seemed scary. Now I can hop on a plane by myself, explore new countries, soak up culture and meet new people without feeling too anxious. Facing your fears isn’t as scary as it seems. Of course, figuring everything out by yourself can be a little daunting, but this teaches you to be more self-reliant. And the best part is that no one can take that knowledge or independence away. My advice to you? The only way to travel alone is to buy a ticket and just go. Trust me, you’ll thank me later.

The beautiful rice fields in Sapa

“Keep a journal to reflect back on your trip and this encourages you to plan more solo adventures. I also recommend joining the ‘Travel Alone’ Facebook pages for advice and travel ideas from people who’ve experienced this sort of thing and they’re very friendly.”

What should they take with them?

“Make sure you take a good quality backpack, so it doesn’t rip when it’s manhandled... I got mine from Northface. Take a waterproof camera too, I highly recommend the GoPro. Sometimes you can get bored whilst travelling to your next destination, so take a few books.”

Would you travel alone again?

“Absolutely! I would love to travel South America next year. I can’t wait!”

What do your parents think of it?

“At first, they weren’t too keen about the idea. They’ve come around to the idea now and are proud of how independent I’ve become.”

Would you recommend Sapa?

“Totally. But be prepared for the long 19km trek through streams and soggy mud. Make sure you don’t wear brand new trainers, I made that mistake then had to throw them out!”

What didn’t you enjoy about travelling alone?

“I wished my family and friends could’ve shared the experience with me, but if they did I wouldn’t have learned as much as I did.”

“I’m an introvert. I like to express myself through my body art, makeup and hair” - Layarna Morris, 25, tattoo enthusiast from South Wales

EXPRESS YOURSELF

lonely children? Hayley (28)

Amy (23)

Hayley Smith, owner of Boxed Out PR, a podcast host, self-confessed #girlboss and total extrovert, shares her thoughts

Wallflower Amy is an only child and wonders whether this is the reason for her love of being in her own company

eing an only child has allowed me to be more independent and inquisitive. I am naturally curious and I have been brought up to be ambitious and ask questions, so it was natural for me to become an entrepreneur. However, I think it really depends on the individual. It’s more common for only children to be introverts, as we learn how to be alone and we aren’t used to fighting for attention. Sometimes, the isolation of being an only child can make it difficult to interact with others or make you socially shy. However, my personality type means I hate being alone, and I thrive in company and large groups. Though I can sometimes go into myself, I love nothing more than company and a good conversation.

I love nothing more than company and a good conversation

ayley’s points are valid - I completely agree that being an only child can make you more independent and give you a curiosity that you might not have developed otherwise, because you can’t rely on siblings to keep you occupied. I can also see how being alone can make you crave the company of others, but that’s the opposite of my experience. As I learned to entertain myself, I fell in love with books and reading and became highly creative to fill my time. I can’t imagine hating being alone, as that’s the time I spend doing the things I love most. I guess the lesson here is that when it comes to introversion, it’s not always obvious which side you’ll land on!

In conversation:

Nature or nurture? Wallflowers Amy Marsden and Hayley Smith swap notes to find out if being an only child makes you an introvert

Pics: Hayley Smith, Amy Marsden and pexels.com

“

Are only children

Me Time

It’s difficult for me to even imagine hating being alone 17

Do It Yourself

CREATIVE CORNER:

We get our craft on with Paperchase

Pics: Wallflower, freepix.com

Everyone loves a trip down memory lane - to make your own photo album, you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go wrong with a trip to Paperchase

Illustrations: freepik.com

Wallflower Partner

Move over humdrum photo albums. There’s a new trend in town! Wallf lower have created a cheap and simple way to display your memories on a budget. We teamed up with Paperchase to create the per fect photo album.

HOW

Make your own Step 4 Put your photos on the pages, write in it when you want, go crazy and get decorating!

Wallflower suggests:

Pics: freepix.com

Craft flowers - £1 Felt tip markers - £5

Wallflower Partner

Here’s how to make it Step 1 Grab as many craft cards as you wish. Fold them individually and then piece them together like a book

Wallflower suggests: A ten pack of craft card - £2

TO:

Watch the vi ww onl deo w.j ine om a t e c.c wa o. llflo we uk/ r

photo album Step 3 Glue pieces of coloured card on the front cover and decorate as you wish

Step 2 Hole punch the middle of the folded card and weave ribbon through both holes

Wallflower suggests: Five-pack of glitter cards - £1 Coloured card - £1 Gold alphabet letters - £2

Express Yourself

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The best way to achieve genuine success is to embrace who you are naturally and use that to your advantageâ&#x20AC;? Kirsten Rees, 34, entrepreneur from Glasgow

Do It Yourself

Cartoon Pins

Pin up Girl Fancy adding colour and style to your most precious items? Here’s our top picks to quirk up your wardrobe

hether you want to spice up your tired wardrobe or pimp your possessions, we found the perfect pins, badges and stickers to jazz up your style without dipping into your monthly savings. Here are the coolest items we could find:

1.Cartoon Pins

Add some colour to your clothes with these quirky pins from Tiger. From just £2 a pop you can get crafty with your favourite top or jacket, without standing out too much.

Historical Badges

2.Historical badges

We don’t usually associate Poundland with top quality products. But with these super-fashionable badges, it’s easy to make that plain white top look cute and quirky.

3.Funky stickers

Funky stickers

Looking for the right words to perfectly match your personality? Well look no further: with these cute and cheerful stickers from Redbubble, you can can add a personal touch to your most loved items for £1.69. Oh, and there’s 50% discount on 6+ stickers!

4.Iron-on patches

Finding the bag your grandma got you last Christmas a little dull? At just £4.50, you can iron on this cute, homemade embroidered patch from Punky Pins to add some individuality to your stuff, rather than throwing them out.

Iron on patches

5.Stay at home Club badges

There’s nothing better than a night in watching Netflix with your favourite furry friends. Join the club with this sweet little lapel pin from Urban Outfitters, for just £8.19.

Club badges

Talking â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bout a (quiet)

revolution

From Wall Street lawyer to public speaker, Susan Cain has become a beacon for the introvert community

Pics: clipartkid.com, commons.wikimedia.org

ince her revolutionary TED talk in 2012, Susan Cain has taken the world by quiet storm. Her success has shone a light on the unique skills and talents we introverts can offer the world. As a result of her efforts, employers are starting to appreciate our more subdued ways and are finally listening to us. She has become the public face of the introvert community, which is ironic, but we’ll let her make that sacrifice. Susan grew up in a family of introverts, for whom reading was a group activity. In her TED talk, she describes this as a normal pastime for them that was just a different way of being social. “You had the animal warmth of your family sitting right next to you, but you were also free to go roaming around the adventure land inside your own mind,” she says. Susan recalls a childhood anecdote from when her mother packed her off to summer camp with a suitcase full of books. She found this perfectly normal — until she realised that at this camp, extroversion was not just encouraged, but somewhat forced. She left her bag of books under her bed for the duration of her time there, something which made her feel “guilty” for neglecting the books. Boy, do we know that feeling!

She left the world of negotiation consultation to write her book Quiet: The Power of Introverts Who Can’t Stop Talking. Released in 2012, Quiet came screeching into the world and in a loud, (but quiet!) voice demanded that introverts be seen and our abilities appreciated. In an interview for Australian television with writer Jon Ronson, Susan says she was overcome with a zeal to put right what she considered wrong: that introverts were treated as second class citizens and their untapped potential ignored. Quiet was such a revelation to the world and a welcome trumpet for our community, that Susan has spun it into a whole movement, The Quiet Revolution. Designed to “unlock the power of the introvert for the benefit of us all”, the organisation aims to make institutions, companies and schools more engaging for introverts. Considering we make up about half the population, this sounds like a dream. Imagine your office having a space designed specifically to get the most out of you — bliss! Unfortunately, Susan has yet to bring the Quiet Revolution to these shores, but knowing that it’s out there and gaining momentum makes us hopeful that its pro-introvert message will soon spread to UK employers.

Like many of us in our younger years, Susan followed this pack mentality of extroversion. She went to raucous bars when it felt It’s wonderful to have more natural to go to dinner a public advocate, with a group of friends (how especially when she’s familiar does that sound?). one of us. Susan had The introvert’s ambassador: Susan Cain She even went as far as to overcome a fear becoming a lawyer on Wall Street, because that was of public speaking to deliver her TED talk. She puts what society viewed as being successful. herself on stage regularly to tell the world to appreciate and celebrate what we bring to the table. It’s a tough task and is appreciated by introverts the world over. Her work has instilled in us a sense of pride for who we are, and we wear it publicly as a badge of honour.

“ I was free to go roaming around the adventure land inside my own mind”

According to studies, we are born introvert. In a society that for so long has valued extroversion, we have had to battle our brains to fit into this mould. Now we are finally given the vocabulary and freedom to unapologetically be who we are. “Go to the wilderness and have your own revelations,” encourages Susan at the end of her TED talk. Disconnect from the world and go into your own head for a little while.

It was in this environment that Susan observed how her colleagues who were quieter were being ignored based on their introverted natures.

Susan has co-written a second book, Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts, aimed at parents and educators to help children and teenagers who are introverted, and continues to gently shake the world to wake up to our talents. Introverts unite!

Do It Yourself

ullet journaling is the latest trend sweeping our Instagram feeds. Just check #BuJo and an unlimited number of planner porn pictures pop up, each perfectly drawn and curated. But what the heck is bullet journaling and why should you do it?

Here’s how to get started The main principle of bullet journalling works off a simple adaptable key, which you can modify however you

Bite the bullet

like. For example, you can use a plain circle for tasks, a square box for events, a star for notes, and so on.

Organisation doesn’t always have to be the last thing on your‘ mind with this beautiful trend

The fun part comes when you realise your pages start off blank, and you have total free rein with them. Want to see your whole week on one page? Fine! Or if you’d prefer bigger spaces, that’s fine too. Get creative with different coloured tapes, patterned

Once you’ve completed a task, put a tick or a

cross on top of your symbol. Or if it’s something you didn’t get around to, put an arrow next to it and re-write the task on the following day’s list. That’s all there is to it!

paper, coloured pens, fancy fonts, stickers, stencils – you name it, someone has put it in a bullet journal. Etsy even has whole shops dedicated to them. Just Google ‘bullet journal’ and there are thousands of resources at your fingertips.

For th ose

of us w ith way b rains it ’s the pe r fect w a keep a y to ll your plans in one place floata

Head to these Instagrams for inspiration @simplicitybujo @nolfavrel @noukkaplans @themilocollection @wyattwonders

The BIG Sleepover

WALLFLOWER HAVE partnered with waterstones to bring you our 2nd BIG SLEEPOVER event For just £12,

you will get a goody bag full of summery surprises, a Waterstones voucher and unlimited amounts of your favourite snacks to enjoy whilst hanging out with your fellow Wallflowers.

June 17 - don’t miss out!

We’ll miss you a CHOCOLOT Chocolate brands say prices will rise if the UK doesn’t get a good deal on Brexit

Pics: pixabay.com, maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com, Wallflower

othing beats a Saturday night in with chocolate bars, chocolate ice-cream, chocolate truffles — anything chocolate, really. Unfortunately for us chocoholics, we may now have to pay the price for Brexit, which has pushed up the cost of some of our favourites by up to 15%.

Compared to this time last year, prices for bars such as Wispa, Bounty and Snickers, have increased 6p, or about 11%. If you’re a hardcore chocoholic, this is bad enough, but the brands that make them say they’ll probably have to raise their prices even more, especially if Brexit negotiations don’t go well.

People in the UK eat a lot of chocolate. According to the Statista worldwide stats site, the British are number four worldwide in the amount of chocolate we eat per person – nearly seven kilos each during a year. Whoa, that’s a lot of chocolate! But now, UK news outlets are blaming the fall in the pound since the EU referendum for putting up the cost of chocolate’s main ingredients: cocoa beans and sugar.

One of the price rises that has outraged British chocolate lovers the most is the massive 5p hike for Cadbury’s Freddo. Mondelez International, who now own Cadbury, have announced that they’ll have to put up the price for the Freddo to 30p, which is shocking considering they were half that price only a few short years ago.

It’s hard enough being a woman, seeing as we have to pay a luxury tax on our sanitary products (because nothing makes you feel more like a queen than when curled into a ball, feeling like The Red Wedding was based on your monthly cycle). A lot of us crave chocolate around our time of the month too, so with this sneaky rise in chocolate prices, it’s kinda hard not to feel like our wallets are being attacked on both sides. If Brexit negotiations fail, some of our favourite chocolates could be affected, including Galaxy, Snickers, Bounty and Twix. In a speech to the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU, Fiona Dawson, the global president of Mars chocolate, warned that if a trade deal isn’t reached with EU member states 30% tariffs would be imposed on confectionary imports.

As bad as the news is that our periods are literally going to be painfully expensive, there may be an upside. Seven kilos a year is a lot of chocolate for one person to eat. Maybe we could use this as an incentive to cut down on our chocolate intake, and save a few quid? Put your monthly savings aside and at the end of, say, six months, go out and treat yourself to something that will truly make you feel like a queen.

Freddo Frustrations Ciara Knight, a journalist for Joe.co.uk, is on a one-woman mission to reduce the price of Freddos. We spoke to her about how Brexit might affect the already scandalously overpriced chocolate frog.

Chocolate, Brexit and introverts Did the Brexit vote depend on your introversion or extroversion? Here’s what science says Chocolate is the great uniter. No matter if you identify as an introvert or extrovert, or whether you voted Remain or Leave, a love of chocolate is the common denominator. But could your referendum vote have been determined by whether you see yourself as more of an introvert or extrovert? Previous research by political psychologist Gian Vittorio Caprara indicates that centre-right voters scored higher on extroversion (in terms of dominance, competitiveness and activity) and conscientiousness. On the other side, talent assessment company Quintax reports that it’s found centre-left voters scored higher on agreeableness and openness. However, Cardiff University PhD psychology student Ash Vajiti, who regularly conducts research on action based on personality types, suggests there’s no way of telling whether or not voters being an introvert or extrovert influenced their choice in the referendum. Ash says, “I guess with statistics we could get an indication as to whether people who voted in/out were introvert/extrovert, but there’s no way we could generalise this information.” She adds that many factors influenced Brexit voters which had nothing to do with personality traits, and that any other research would be too generalised.

1.W hat spurred you to launch your ‘reduce the price of a Freddo’ campaign? Given that there are many grave injustices in the world today, I wanted to shed light on a matter that was fairly under-represented in the media at the time. Although often a go-to joke by some to demonstrate the harsh realities of inflation, I take the price of Freddos very seriously. One day, I noticed that both regular and caramel Freddos had decreased in size but increased in price. I was angry, so I took to the Internet. 2. How much is too much to pay for a Freddo, or any chocolate bar? Anything over 20p is too much for a Freddo. If you’re heading towards more luxurious chocolate, then anything up to £1 is probably fair enough. 3. Are you concerned that they will get even more expensive with this Brexit news? Extremely. Given that they’ve already gone from 25p to 30p and Brexit hasn’t fully come into effect yet, it’s likely they’re going to increase in price again. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re closer to 50p in the next few years (if my mission to rectify the price fails). 4. Is there any other chocolate bar you might start including in your campaign? My heart lies with Freddos and it wouldn’t feel right to move my efforts elsewhere until I have successfully instigated a permanent price freeze on them.

Thank Pod for... 3 short-story podcasts reviewed

Whether you’re laying on a sunny beach or slogging through a hot sticky commute home from work, short stories make for perfect summertime listening. Our Wallflower team have searched far and wide for the best podcast collection that brings the best short stories to life. We reckon these picks will get your brain racing and even send a shiver down your spine. Enjoy and then thank us later! All podcasts are available via iTunes and Stitcher

Selected Shorts

This podcast takes stories from both new and established authors and performs them live on stage using some of the best acting talent around. Recent readers have included BD Wong (Mr Robot), Kirsten Vangsness (Criminal Minds), and Cynthia Nixon (Sex & the City). Constantly surprising and always entertaining, subscribe or listen online for a unique storytelling experience. selectedshorts.org

No Extra Words

If you’re listening time is limited, No Extra Words is ideal for you. Each story presented is flash fiction of under 2,000 words. They’re based in New Zealand and accept English language contributions from all over the world, so if you’re an aspiring writer then make sure to send a piece in! noextrawords.wordpress.com

No Sleep Podcast

If your tastes run to the macabre, you’ll adore this pocast. Approaching its sixth anniversary, No Sleep arose from the Reddit forum of the same name which was set up to give aspiring horror writers a showcase for their talents. The No Sleep team chooses the best of these stories and interprets them using top voice talent to produce tales that will chill you to the bone, even under the scorching summer sun. thenosleeppodcast.com

Our favourite No Extra Words They have a wide variety of stories so you’ll always find something you can relate to.

Me Time

Pic: flowerbattblog.tumblr.com

“As a model, I’ve learnt that being myself is enough” Samantha Lloyd, 23, model from London

Express Yourself

FREE the

BOOB!

Wallflower Jade Watson explains why saggy breasts should be loved

aggy boobs. Why don’t we talk about them more? They’re natural, aren’t they? I don’t think I’ll ever understand why society says you need perky boobs. I developed boobs early but never thought anything of it. I remember the days I would wish for big boobs but never really thought of the consequences. Through secondary school, I slowly got bigger and bigger, finally reaching a comfortable D. I was content with them at the time. As a young girl, you’re bullied into thinking that boys won’t like you because your boobs aren’t as big as your friend’s. So there’s always that thought in the back of your mind that they need to be bigger. Skip forward to when I moved away and, even though I didn’t have much money spare, I ate very well. My boobs suddenly jumped up at least three sizes! I finally got measured. I popped into Boux Avenue, one woman took one look at me and went to find a bra in my size. She asked me to try it on to see if it was comfortable and when she came back in to check, I asked her what cup size it was… FF. Are you kidding me? I was happy to finally know exactly what size to be looking for, but at the same time I was devastated because it was mostly down to putting on weight.

Now the reason I’m explaining all of this is because it’s good to know that your boobs can jump from size to size at any point. After a long time of resenting them and thinking I was disgusting, I’ve finally accepted them. Yes, they have stretch marks and yes, they aren’t perky anymore. Why should that make me any less of a woman? There are days that I can’t wear a bra because of the pain and hassle that boobs unfortunately bring with them. When your boobs sag it can put a lot of strain on your shoulders, chest and back, which is what has happened to me. I mean, my boobs aren’t as big as some others’, but they still cause me a lot of pain. I remember the days that I’d put a bra on just to get money out from the cash point or pop to the shop for milk. Nowadays, I’ve just accepted them for what they are and I embrace them! You have every right to feel sexy and feminine. Why let society tell you otherwise? The whole point of this is to let you girls know that you’re beautiful no matter what shape you are. Saggy boobs should be embraced and they should be loved! You can wear that low cut top you love. You don’t need to tape your boobs together. You don’t need to wear a special kind of bra. Let them free! Free the boob!

“Society says you need perky boobs”

Pics: Jade Watson, freepix.com and Wallflower

CONFESSIONS OF A WALLFLOWER

Wallflower Reader

If you have a cool and quirky story to tell, please share with us and head to www.jomec. co.uk/wallflower

Do It Yourself

Cool down this summer

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Avoid in

Pics: Wallflower, freepix.com

ummer is upon us once again and that means one thing: fruit. We don’t know what it is about summer that makes us crave fruit in every way, shape and form, but we love getting creative in the kitchen. For some reason, fruit is so much more refreshing to eat in in the summertime. However, eating it in its original form can get a bit boring and, can sometimes be a bit unappetising. Enter smoothies. Smoothies are the best way to pack a healthy punch to your gut while refreshing your system in the summer sun. The best thing about smoothies is that they let you get crazy in the kitchen without dirtying all the cutlery. You can combine so many different ingredients together — some you would gawk at if they were presented to you individually; but blend them altogether and BAM — instant tickling taste bud tantalisers! Here at Wallflower, we’ve put together a spectrum of colourful smoothies that are both nutritious and delightfully tasty. Whatever mood you find yourself in, these recipes are sure to satisfy your cravings.

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Hidden Figures: Countess Markievicz

The first woman elected to UK parliament was the ultimate rebel with a cause

ountess Constance Markievicz was a certifiable badass that we really need to pay attention to. Born into wealth, she joined the suffragette movement, became an Irish revolutionary and used all of her wealth to help the poor. Hers was a life of historical firsts in the UK and Ireland, and she is a bit of a Robin Hood figure in Ireland with her dedication to the downtrodden. A constant rebel was our Constance.

The fresh princess of Eire

In West Ireland, not born but raised, in the beautiful gardens, she spent most of her days. Born in sunny London, Constance was one of the wealthy Gore-Booths, a landlord family in Sligo, Ireland. Her father, Sir Henry, inspired her to fight for marginalised people through the kindness he showed his tenants, providing them with food during the 1879 famine.

Pics: Pixabay

“Dress suitably in short skirts” After a stint in London where she became a suffragette supporter, Constance moved to Dublin and joined the fight for Irish freedom. She encouraged women to take part, advising, “Dress suitably in short skirts and sitting boots, leave your jewels and gold wands in the bank, and buy a revolver.” Words to live by, Wallflowers.

In 1913, she sold her prized possessions to feed and care for the poor and co-founded a private army to stick it to the man.

Riot grrl!

Constance fought in the week-long Easter Rising of 1916, the turning point in Ireland’s fight for independence from Great Britain. When the rebels surrendered to the British army, Constance was taken to jail. As one of the leaders, she was sentenced to death by firing squad. However, due to her sex, her sentence was commuted to prison time. “I do wish your lot would shoot me,” she sassed them. Women won the vote in 1918, and Constance became the UK’s first female MP for the newly-formed Sinn Féin. Due to party policy, she refused to take her seat, instead joining Ireland’s first parliament where she quickly landed herself back in prison for speaking out against British rule. Then the following year, she was elected Minister of Labour for the Irish government, becoming the first woman elected to the Irish cabinet and only the second elected to a government in the whole of Europe. Constance died at the age of 59, having given away the last of her wealth. She sadly passed away due to some complications from appendicitis, in a public ward of a hospital, surrounded by the downtrodden she had spent her whole life fighting for.

Wallflower ˈwɔːlflaʊə/ noun

1. A free-spirited individual who marches to the beat of her own drum. She is full of vitality, thinks deeply and celebrates her differences in every way possible. 2. Informal A freakin’ boss.