How many of you singletons are actively using dating apps? Well, it's more than likely you are if you've found yourself clicking onto this post, so this one is for you and I.

Tinder for me is a natural concept, but it can be daunting and weird to other people. Working from home means it's hard for me to meet people, so dating apps are really my only option right now. However, Tinder has changed a lot and it makes me sad that it's no longer the fun and exhilarating app that it once was.

Tinder was launched back in 2012 and I think I created my first ever profile in 2013. I have met a fair few men on it (I've honestly lost count and not ashamed to admit this), but here I am 4 years later back on it, but only opening it once a week for 5 minutes.


I try not to obsess over dating apps, because it can make you feel really crap as a single human. I would sometimes use it, have no matches or no conversations and end up wondering why no one wants me and why all my relationships seem to fail. I've had a handful of relationships from the app, a lot of "nearly-but-not-quite-official-relationships" and a few one night things. Again, something I am not ashamed to admit. You're only 21 once! However, I'm 24 now and don't feel the same way about dating apps as I once did.

The idea of Tinder is to swipe through people and base your yes or no on their limited selection of photos and carefully chosen cringy bio. In March 2017, it was said that an estimated 10 million people use Tinder day - with 1.4 billion swipes per day! That's a lot of people waking up to check if the girl from last night has replied to their cheesy chat up line. That's also way too many people checking their inbox during their lunch break at work and how many of us are guilty at losing sleep because we fancy a swipe way past 11pm? I know I am, whoops.

When I was introduced to a brand new dating app recently, it really got me thinking. You only have to type in 'dating app' on your smart phone's app store, and you'll be confronted with hundreds of different apps. These are ready for download at the touch of a button, but they are mostly all the same. Create a profile, upload some photos and get chatting. Quite boring if you ask me.

JigTalk is a one of a kind dating app and not something that I have ever seen done before, which is why I am super excited to be sharing it with all you singletons out there. If the arrogance and shallowness of apps like Tinder scare you, then by all means I don't blame you. However, JigTalk is an app that is about to take the dating world by storm.

Imagine being able to talk to someone, get to know their likes and dislikes and find there's an instant mutual attraction with both personalities. The catch? You can't see their face, but the more you talk, the more you'll get rewarded.

JigTalk works by covering your profile photo with a 16 pieces of a jigsaw. The longer you talk to someone, then a piece of the jigsaw is revealed.  The questions are provided to you and are common ice-breaker questions. However, you can begin to ask your own before you know it. The idea of the app is to get to know someone without judging them by looks and swiping to the next person.  Something that we are all guilty of doing.

I downloaded the app to test it out and got talking to someone within an hour of matching. We sent each other some icebreaker questions and it was fun getting to know him over the course of the day. By the time his photo was revealed, I was surprised that he seemed to be my type and I really enjoyed our conversation.


The app works seamlessly with no glitches and I've recommended it to my friends and family who are single and looking to date. I absolutely love the concept of JigTalk and think a lot more dating app users will start using it once they learn it's more about personality than looks.

JigTalk is the now. Available for free download on Apple and Android.

I honestly think I have outgrown the swiping lark and feel like I am ready to settle down soon, but I am in no rush. Most importantly though, I am enjoying having time to myself; as well as learning to love myself. I'm ready to get dolled up and get back out there on the dating scene. However, maybe I have met someone? My love life as you all know is usually unpredictable, so who knows.

Disclaimer: In collaboration with JigTalk. All opinions and words are my own.

I have thought about waffling on about different subjects all centred around the topic of BREAKUPS; but there's just too much to type out so I think I'll write about them all separately. There's a few topics in total I am going to cover so let's start with topic number one:

Actually becoming single. Again.

In all honesty; I have felt like I have been single for ages but I never lost that loyalty and commitment. Therefore, I am finding it quite easy to deal with and haven't cried about it as I'm SO past the stage of crying and eating ice-cream in big Bridget Jones knickers. I have nothing to cry about anymore. I am finally happy and free.

Of course there are days when I wish things could have been different but I don't regret anything at all. Everything happens for a reason, remember.


Obviously, breakups suck. I wouldn't have got into a relationship if I knew this one would last a year and then that be it. I don't believe in temporary relationships or friendships. If I commit myself to you then that's it. You get all of me and I'll stay committed always.

However, this relationship was completely different. I wouldn't exactly say a year is long-term at all but there was sadly no future for "us". 6 breakups and 123456 arguments squished into a year is an awful lot of issues for any one person to deal with. Therefore, I could never see myself getting married or having children in the future with him. Those thoughts just never entered my mind because I knew one day it would end for good and I was right.

It was my choice to walk away for good and it was 100% the right thing to do. I could no longer go on feeling unhappy every day, crying with frustration every day and wondering if things would ever get better every day. I no longer felt in control of my life and felt like I was letting someone else control my feelings and happiness.


Sadly (and I honestly mean, sadly); there was no option what so ever for us to end things and be friends or even end on good terms. My decision wasn't understood or agreed by him and I knew I had hurt him by finally walking away for good. However, if something is starting to affect your health and other personal relationships (in this case - my family); I had to make a split decision there and then and stick to it. It was a hard decision to make but one of the easiest I have ever made too. I didn't ever once question my decision or wonder if I had done the right thing. I was given no reason to believe it was the wrong decision.

I would have liked things to end on good terms as there was never any need to be nasty about things. However, things are now bitter and twisted. I ended the relationship officially a long time ago and stuck with my decision every day for weeks. To others, it looked like I was stringing him along and being unfair but I wasn't. I stopped seeing him and barely even spoke to him; at least not in the same way. Nobody knows what went on behind closed doors other than me and him. We know the facts.

I have nothing bad to say about him this time round. However, he did make a few mistakes throughout the relationship which I have never gone into detail about and it doesn't need to be discussed. We basically just wasn't right for each other and things should have ended for good a long, long time ago. However, I guess when you love someone you never want to give up on them.

All I ever wanted was a best friend. I have never had that kind of relationship with someone since I was 17. I just wanted to go out and adventure the world with that one person. If you have read my blog since day one, you will know I like to see new things, photograph cool stuff and travel to new places. I was never able to do these things with the one person I wanted to do them all with.

I saw a quote the over day that read "true love never has an ending". I guess one day I'll find the person I am supposed to be with and it will work out perfectly. I hope there is a happy ending soon for the both of us.


So, how am I doing?

I am fine and concentrating on myself for myself. I started to spend time again with someone who meant a lot to me once upon a time. I was happy going places with him and finally laughing about life again; not once thinking about everything going on. Driving around London late at night and not having a care in the world about what time it was. However, that recently never worked out either and even though it sucked at the time; I can once see again how we just wasn't compatible with one another either. Let's just call that one a personality clash. I will never allow another man to control me or try to make me feel bad for having feelings and a heart.


As for now, I am far too busy with my life at the moment to worry about men, dating and relationships. I have started to re-build my life and am starting to really feel like my old self again. I really lost myself a few months ago and didn't know who I was anymore but I now feel like Ashleigh Dougherty is back and she will be ready to get out there and back on the dating scene one day soon.

It feels great right now not to be involved with anyone. I don't have to worry about texting anyone back to keep them interested. There's no pressure to get an outfit perfect ready for dinner at the weekend. A single life is a care-free and worry-free life. It's grand and I've missed being alone in this sense.

So, that's it. Another breakup documented and archived which I can look back on and laugh about when I'm married to Tom Hardy. If only...

As for now? Tonight will consist of a pizza for one, Netflix (and chill) alone and maybe even a few swipes to the left and right... if ya know what I mean.

Hello ladies, and boys ;)

I thought I would put together a little check list of things you should know before you date me. You are either a wonderful female blog reader who can understand exactly where I am coming from and are all for supporting women and the general shit we have to read and experience from guys... or you are actually a guy who I am maybe about to date or maybe someone who's just generally interested.

Let's go!

01) I am fine without you.
I'm a career focused and motivated woman who has everything she could ever need in life. I have a degree, a successful blog and I am technically self employed at just 22 years old. Everything I have I have created. Everything I own I have bought myself. Don't get me wrong, us girls would all love a tall, strapping man to look after us but really we are doing fine without you.