Life – Page 7

5th October 2016

Whats In My Bag – Library Edition.

I’m not going to lie to you – during my first year I avoided the library like the plague and only step foot inside to print off my assignments. However, I have since learnt what an actual godsend the library can be. I spent a good portion of my second year in the library, whether that was with a group or just on my own but I found that there was no where I worked better. So I thought I’d show you what I end up packing in my bag when I decide to have a little library sesh!

I almost always take my laptop with me because thats where I’ll have my assignments written and I prefer doing work on my laptop than the library computers because I can save everything on my laptop and take it home with me. Plus it’s always hard finding a free computer in the library unless you go at silly o’clock in the morning! But that brings me onto my next essential. CHARGERS! You wouldn’t believe that amount of times I’ve gone to the library and forgotten my chargers and ended up leaving because of a dead laptop and phone. So these are essentials! I always take my purse because, without fail, I will buy multiple hot drinks to help get me through long sessions. That being said I always try to take a snack with me for when I need to have a little break and a little boost. The anit-bacterial gel, lip balm, earphones, and tiny purse filled with my meds and other bits and bobs like hairbands and plasters are bits that I always carry with me.

Yes I know – thats a lot of pens. I may have a slight obsession. I always take a selection because I never know what mood I’m going to be in and I tend to use certain colours for certain sections or when I’m editing! I usually take an assortment of fine liners, felt-tips, highlighters and gel pens!

I always take the notebooks for the subject of work I’m going to be doing because I like to keep all my notes in the same place. Then I’ll take flash cards and post-its to mark important places in books as well as making summary notes. I also take some sticky tabs to help mark chapters that I have to read as well as some colourful tape to help highlight important notes!

Finally I’ll take my diary because I like to able to write down appointments, meetings and assignment dates as soon as I know about them so that I don’t forget about them. I’ll also write in there what reading I need to get done and when I need to get it done by as well as when I need to start working on assignments and work.
So that’s it, that’s everything I take with me when I go to the library. It seems like a lot but I tend to go to the library for a fair few hours at a time so I like to be covered for whatever I might need so that I can settle in for a long session.
Let me know what your library essentials are and whether you take as many pens as I do!

4th September 2016

How Being Diagnosed With A Chronic Illness Changed Who I Am.

‘Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, when one only remembers to turn on the light’ – Dumbledore
When you’re diagnosed with a chronic illness, it doesn’t come with a guide. I had no one in my life that I could talk to that really got what I was going through. So I turned to online friends. There is an abundance of people online who are ready and willing to talk and help as much as they can. So I thought I’d share a little ramble about how being diagnosed with a chronic illness has impacted my life in ways I didn’t even think were possible. I hope that it might help someone who has questions or is worried they are the only ones who feel like they don’t have a clue what is going on. I promise you, you’re doing an amazing job!
Sudden body & mentality changes
Being on steroids for 8 weeks meant that I put on a lot of weight, I suddenly had terrible skin and my hair started to fall out. And even after being off the steroids for over two months, I’m still struggling with my skin, trying to maintain my weight and trying, with not much success, to stop the hair loss. The mood swings I experienced on certain medications were horrific. One minute I’d be happy-go-lucky and seconds later I felt like I could break down in tears. It was a huge shock to my system and I hated feeling like I wasn’t in control of the way I felt anymore. Luckily I’m now on meds which help control that and I have more good days than bad but it’s hard knowing that sometimes you’re not in control of the way you feel and there’s nothing you can do to change that.
Makes me question everything I do
Simple things, like popping to the shop, unfortunately aren’t that simple for me anymore. It can take all of my energy just to get dressed and some days I can’t stray too far from my bathroom so the idea of leaving the house becomes laughable. Going out for the day means I have to think about how long I’ll realistically be able to sit in a car, when and where I’m going to be able to eat and whether I’ll even have the energy to last the whole day without a nap. The first thing I do now whenever I go anywhere, is to make a mental note of where all the toilets and places to eat are. Things that I never had to really think about or question before have suddenly become my number one priority and sometimes its super hard to explain that to people.
Become aware of how different things affect me
Sometimes eating or drinking something that doesn’t agree with me can mean that I end up suffering for a few days or even a few weeks. I have brand new limitations and I’m still coming to terms with that. I can’t walk as far or for as long as I used to, I can get tired from just walking down the stairs, my body aches in a way I never thought possible, I sometimes struggle to stay focused and on really bad days I have huge mental blocks and struggle to even talk to people. I’ve never experienced anything like this before, and it’s even harder to deal with when people just assume if you’ll take your meds you’ll be fine. It’s never that simple.
Changed who I am
I have such a different mentality to that of a year ago and that’s had a huge impact on my life. I see everything differently now, everything comes with some form of an obstacle. I’ve had to learn to respect my limits and not push them and sometimes I’m not the upbeat, outgoing person I used to be. It’s frustrating knowing that something like an illness can change almost everything about you.
However, and I know this might be hard to believe, I have found some positives in this dark place we call chronic illness. When I look back over the last 6 months I notice glimmers of light and hope all of the place, it really is amazing to see how much can change, especially for the better, in such a short amount of time.
Appreciate time with family & friends
On super crappy days where I literally cannot get out of bed, I end up having to cancel plans that I’ve sometimes had for weeks. This means it can be hard to stay in touch with my close friends and family. However, because of this, I appreciate the time I do spend with them so much more. I have some of the most amazing friends, even though they live miles away and I won’t see any of them for another month, that have been so so supportive and just make me even more excited and much less nervous about going back to university. Every moment I get to spend with my family I am so thankful for, because they have been my rock through all of this and they have been nothing but supportive. Sure on the bad days I have to explain that they are going to have to be patient with me because I’m having a slow day, but they always are. They always listen to what I need and always try to help in any way they can, and most of the time the only thing I need is for them to be there waiting for me to have a good day.
Learnt how important it is to be open and honest
I’ve always been the sort of person who kept how they felt to themselves or put others first. The last few months this has had to change. Every day I have to consider how I’m feeling both physically and mentally. Sometimes something as little as popping to the shops could be the difference between me getting home and showering or going straight to bed. People don’t understand that sometimes even getting into the shower and washing my hair can feel like a mammoth task. But I’m learning how to tell people how I’m feeling and if I need something in particular. It’s mostly small things like letting people know that I’m having a bit of a slow day so if I’m quiet or seem to be a bit out of it, I’m not being rude, it’s because I’m having a rough day and there isn’t much I can do or asking people to slow down if they are walking too fast because I physically can’t keep up. Being able to be this open with people has been amazing and has helped me to no end. I’ve realised that unless you’re honest with people about if you’re struggling or having a particularly bad day there is no way for them to help you.
Made me realise how strong I am
There have been a fair few days over the last few months where I’ve woken up and wanted nothing more than to stay in bed and cry myself back to sleep. But I don’t because that wouldn’t help me. Don’t get me wrong if I’m having a bad day then I’ll let myself just chill and won’t pressure myself to get anything done. But I make sure that I still get up and shower, I make sure I eat, talk to my friends and watch my favourite movies. While I’m not doing anything that will make me feel worn out or feel any worse, I’m still engaging and doing things that make me happy. Now I know that I’m stronger than my bad days, this is my life now so I have to do everything I can to make the adjustments I need to make my life feel normal again and try to get back to the place and the person I was before all this happened.
Changed who I am
Yes, I know I’ve already said this but hear me out. Yes it has changed who I am and in many ways it doesn’t feel like its been a great thing but there are moments when I feel like its been one of the best things. I see things so differently now and I know that I’m going to have to work a bit harder to get the things I want in life, but I’m ready for that, I’m willing to put in that bit of extra fight because this disease in no way dictates who I am or how I’m going to live my life. I refuse to let this disease control me because I control it. It has made me strive harder to reach my goals and made me more determined to do the things I want to do. Its made me so much more compassionate to people because I understand now how something like being ill can effect you both mentally and physically. I see every day as a new challenge, and sometimes I’m not up to the challenge and that’s okay but some days I smash even my own expectations and that’s an absolutely awesome feeling. I amaze myself daily by overcoming tiny milestones on this new journey and that makes me so proud. So in some ways I’m thankful for everything that’s happened to me over the last few months because I’m the happiest I’ve been in the longest time and that is definitely not something to cry about.
Feature Image – Twitter

4th September 2016

Top 10 Favourite Shows.

Gossip Girl

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I think this may have been one of the first ‘girly’ TV series’ that I fell in love with. I remember buying the first season on DVD and watching it all within a matter of days and then I stopped watching it. It’s the sort of series that I went through fits and farts with, I would binge watch a few seasons on Netflix and then not watch another episode for months. So it took me a super long time to finish the whole series, but it was so worth it. It has everything you could ever want; drama, love, scandals and clothes. Oh lord the clothes!
Friends

I will watch this series until the day I die. I laugh every single time I watch it even though I’ve watched through the whole thing at least a dozen times. Whenever I’m having a rough day or I just need some easy viewing, I will always put Comedy Central on and guaranteed this is on. I love that you can pretty much start anywhere in the series and it will still make sense. Chandler is my spirit animal for sure, I wish I was as fashionable as Rachel but I know that I’m probably as annoying and obsessive as Monica.
The Vampire Diaries/The Originals

Damon-Salvatore-Eternal-Stud — *weheartit*

tumblr_mvfml6FAv61r4qhd2o1_500 — *rebloggy*

I have a love/hate relationship with this show. I loved the first season of The Vampire Diaries but the second one? To me was a bit blah, and I kind of gave up on it. Then I found the books and I adored them! I think I managed to get through the first 4 books within a few weeks. So I decided to give it another try, I powered through and ended up realising it wasn’t too bad. I was sort of over the soppy love story between Elena and Stefan, I really disliked Bonnie and most of the story lines were very slow burners. However, the longer I stuck with it, there was more I ended up liking. I loved the relationship between Elena and Damon, Bonnie in season 4 and 5 is pretty amazing and I really found myself rooting for Caroline and Stefan.
Then we come to the Originals, which I adore. I think it’s a lot darker than TVD and its definitely bold in the moves it makes. We follow the ‘original’ vampires when they try and reclaim the city of New Orleans. I love the story in this, there isn’t a character I dislike and every single season finale has had me blubbering like a baby. The writing is beautiful and, while we are lead to dislike him as the villain in TVD, we learn why Klaus is as dark and twisted as he is and I found myself hoping he’d win every single time. And just a quick mention of Elijah, who may be my favourite person because he is super charming and dashingly handsome and even though he has been betrayed by his family so many times, will stop at absolutely nothing to defend them and keep them safe.
Hells Kitchen

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I love Gordon Ramsay. I admire him and respect him and I love everything he’s ever done. I’ve watched every show he’s ever done and loved all of them, but Hell’s Kitchen is by far my favourite. You can really see how dedicated he is to finding and moulding the best chef. Also, he has some amazing one liners that absolutely make my day!
Will & Grace

Okay, so, confession time. I have not completed this series yet. I know! I’m a terrible person. The show ended years ago, so you’d think I’d have caught up by now. But the only time I really watch it, is in the early hours of the morning when it’s on Channel 4. I love everything about this show, the characters, the relationships they have and the humour is so on point, even now! Karen has me in stitches every time I watch this and is easily my favourite character!
Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds is something I’ll watch religiously and then suddenly not watch for years and then suddenly have to marathon to catch up. It is so clever and the story lines are fantastic. While I haven’t always enjoyed the characters they have introduced, the majority of them are a win for me. Spencer is by far my favourite, because he’s so clever and nerdy and sometimes I just want to hug him and make all the pain go away. (Yes, I’m aware he’s fictional, thank you very much.) I remember buying the box set of the first five seasons and watching them religiously and then I stopped. Then a few years later I caught up with the season I’d missed and then I stopped. And then last summer I sat down to catch up and realised somehow I was 4 seasons behind and the new season started that October. But somehow I pushed through and managed to catch up in time. It’s not a series I would recommend doing as I did and leaving long gaps between watching because sometimes the story lines are so in depth and intricate that I would forget what had happened before. But for something super witty and so superbly and cleverly written, this is the one I typically turn to.
Ugly Betty

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Oh Ugly Betty. This was the sort of series that everyone at school would talk about. I used to watch it with my mum every week and would freak out about if I missed an episode. It’s such an empowering show with such a great message for young girls. You don’t have to change who you are to make friends or do well. If you have a dream you can reach it, if only just by believing you can, because sometimes the only person who believes in you, is you. Sometimes I like to pick the series up again because it makes me chuckle and the characters are fantastic. Heres hoping that one day they’ll let us know what Betty’s up to.
Grey’s Anatomy

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Yes yes yes. I have been a fan of this show for years now. I can’t even remember when I started watching it, but I have converted many people into fans over the years. I love every single person who is on it, although sometimes it takes a re-watch for them to really grow on me, I’m looking at you Addison. But there is so much heart in this show and you very quickly get invested into the characters and their stories. Although, be warned, there are a fair few deaths in this show so be warned there will also be many tears while watching it.
Chuck

What a surprise, it’s something that features Zachary Levi. I watched this show when I was going through a bit of a rough patch during my first year of university. It is funny and nerdy and witty and the characters are all extremely loveable. I love the love story in it, because it isn’t shoved in your face during every episode. I really hope that one day we’re told how Chuck and Sarah are doing, heres hoping for a movie!
Supernatural

THIS! I fangirled so so hard over this show. (Okay, I still do.) Sam and Dean are quite possibly my favourite characters from any show ever. I know that’s a pretty hefty claim, but there is so much to love about them, Sam’s a huge closet nerd, Dean is hilarious and there is so so much heart behind the show. Don’t get me wrong, there have been some later seasons that, in my opinion, weren’t as good as the first few seasons, but with the new season that heart is definitely back and the bond between the two brothers is stronger than ever. I promise if you start to watch it and stick it out until the end, you will not regret it.
Featured Image – tv.com

1st September 2016

My TBR List – September.

I have so so so many books that I need to get to reading! I definitely have what most people would probably call an addiction to buying books. However, this month I have set myself the task of trying to actually get through some of the books that have been on my TBR (To Be Read) pile for far too long.
A Court of Thorns & Roses – Sarah J. Maas
‘Don’t feel bad for one moment about doing what brings you joy.’

This is about a huntress called Feyre who, after killing a wolf in the woods, gets a visit from a beast-like creature who demands retribution. She is then taken to a land only spoken of in legends and knows she is in trouble. She lives in this land with a lethal, immortal faerie, one of whom once ruled over her world. I haven’t gotten far enough into this story to really comment on it, but I do really enjoy the writing style. I really like the character of Feyre who is fearless and would do anything to protect her family, having promised her mother before her death. I will be interested to see how the rest of this story plays out, especially because one of the main reasons I bought it was because of the comparisons to the fairy-tale Beauty and the Beast. I look forward to seeing if this is true and, if so, how the friendship between Feyre and the faerie she live with develops.
Illuminae – Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
‘I am frequently underestimated. I think it’s because I’m short.’

Okay, so I bought this book because of how it’s written and laid out. It’s written in a series of emails and mission report and I love things like this. Because of how it’s written, when I do pick it up I do get through it fairly quickly, so I think if I sat down one afternoon I would probably finish it very easily. We follow Kady and Ezra, who have recently broken up, just before their planet is invaded. They both board separate ships so communicate through emails. From what I’ve heard there’s also a plague that’s broken out and lots of lies. It also includes hacked documents like schematics, military files, medical reports and interviews. The reason I put it down was because I found it difficult to connect with the characters and I think this is mostly to do with the writing style, but I’m going to try and push through and finish it this month.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through he Looking-Glass – Lewis Carroll
‘”Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”
“That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.”
“I don’t much care where – “
“Then it doesn’t matter which way you go.”‘

We all surely know the story of Alice in Wonderland. I’ve made quite a big effort to try and read more classics because that was the genre I’ve always fallen short with. I started this book about a month ago and for some reason, just decided to put it down and not finish it. I definitely think that this is the sort of book I could easily finish in one sitting so hopefully this will be one of the first ones I finish this month. Plus, how pretty is this edition?
Landline – Rainbow Rowell
‘I love you more than I hate everything else.’

I love Rainbow Rowell. I finished all of her other books within days of starting them because I just couldn’t put them down. I got this book when it first came out and I made it through a few chapters and put it down because it didn’t grab me like her other books had. It’s about a marriage in trouble and follows Georgie’s inner turmoil as she decides not to go on a family Christmas trip and feels like she has finally pushed her marriage past breaking point. Then she finds a way to communicate with Neal in the past, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage. I think this is going to be a hard one for me to finish because I still remember feeling quite disappointed with it when I first picked it up, but I’m hoping it gets better as it gets further into the story because I absolutely love everything that’s come from Rainbow Rowell before.
Carry On – Rainbow Rowell
‘You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can’t carry on at all.’

I was so excited about this book. I still am. For anyone who has read Rowell’s other book Fan Girl, they will also have been excited. In Fan Girl, we follow the main character and her obsession with a fictional book series called Simon Snow. The book included excerpts of the books as well as excerpts of fan fiction written for the series. And then the amazing announcement came that Rowell was actually going to write a book from the Simon Snow series that had featured in Fan Girl. It’s a book series about magic and ghosts and vampires, it had me hooked from the beginning. Unfortunately, I bought this book around the time I hit my reading slump, so very quickly after picking it up, it was put back down again. But I remember enjoying what I did read, so hopefully this won’t be such a hard one for me to pick up again.

31st August 2016

August Favourites.

Carte Noire Latte Macchiato Caramel

Okay, so I may be slightly obsessed with my Tassimo coffee maker but I used to just have hot chocolate or the bog standard Costa Americano. Then I realised they offered more ‘speciality’ coffees. My absolute favourite is the Costa Caramel Latte but they’ve been sold out absolutely everywhere. So I thought I’d give the Carte Noire version a go and I have to say that I’m fairly impressed. While Costa will always be my absolute fave, for this month and until Morrisons decides to get more in stock, these are my go-to coffee at the moment!
Hand in Hand – Lindsay Mendez

Now I am a huge fan of musicals and I often to listening to soundtracks from musicals on repeat. I recently found the Kerrigan-Lowdermilk Live album and it has been stuck on repeat all month, I’ve even found my brother humming along to some of tunes. My favourite is by far this one! It has THE catchiest tune ever and I always find myself singing along.
Crazy Ex Girlfriend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAaRQezoIAg
This! How did I not just on this before. It has everything! Relatable characters, a ton of funnies and musical numbers throughout! The show follows Rebecca who moves from New York to West Corvina after bumping into her old ex from summer camp and everything that comes along with that. The cast is made up of broadway stars so they can all hold a tune and the songs are hilarious. The theme song in itself is super catchy. This is my new favourite show to binge watch and I cannot wait for the new season.
Kiehl’s Ultimate Strength Hand Salve

I have got the driest hand in the world! (Exaggeration? Maybe.) I’ve never really had dry hands before, and no matter what I’ve tried they just seemed to get even drier and horrible and gross. I then found this at the bottom of my make up drawer and decided to give it a go. And it is fantastic. My hands are so soft and are no longer dry, I really like the slight minty smell it has although my mum said it reminded her of toothpaste! If you’ve got super dry hands, I would definitely recommend this, I literally carry it everywhere now!
Family and friends

This has been a big month in terms of reconnecting with my family and friends. I had a family day out with my two nephews which may have been the best day I’ve had in a very long time and it was lovely to connect with my family in a way I haven’t in a very long time and I’ve realised just how much I’ve missed it and need that in my life. Then one of my best friends came down form Leicester for a visit and after not seeing each other for a few months it was lovely to catch up and just spend some quality time together and just chill. I’ve realised how important it is to keep the people you care about close to you because they help me appreciate every day and they are always there when I need someone to lean on and I couldn’t be more thankful for that.

28th August 2016

My Month In Music.

She Sets the City on Fire – Gavin DeGraw

I love love LOVE everything that Gavin DeGraw has ever done, so I was super hyped to find out that he was releasing a new single and I was not disappointed! This is super catchy and I loved everything about this. Now, admittedly I prefer when he does things that are perhaps a little bit more raw and slow, like ‘Solider’ or ‘Dancing Shoes’ but for a summer tune this is great!
Can’t Stop The Feeling – Justin Timberlake

Talking of summer tunes, is this not just the perfect summer song. It’s so upbeat and happy and just makes me want to dance every time I hear it. Plus, I love Justin Timberlake so to have some new music from him is great.
The Left Side of the Moon – Zachary Levi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REJm1jvtHR0
We all know how obsessed I am with everything that Zachary Levi does and this is no exception. I love finding new recordings of things he’s done and I happened to stumble across this gem this month. Its got a lovely jazzy, bluesy feel to it which I absolutely love. This is what I call easy listening music and I would love for him to release a whole jazz album. An idea for you, Mr Levi, perhaps?
Sun Don’t Let Me Down – Keith Urban

I’ve been a fan of Keith Urban for as long as I can remember. I can easily spend days on end listening to his albums on repeat and I wouldn’t get sick of it ever. And this is no exception. It’s very chilled and has a beat that makes me dance in my chair as I type this. While at first I thought it was a bit odd that it featured Pitbull, but after a few listens it really grew on me and I love it.

Chainsaw – Nick Jonas

Nick Jonas has always been a firm favourite in my playlists, whether as Jonas Brothers, Nick Jonas And The Administration or on his own. This is one of my favourites from his new solo album. I like that he’s done a more mellow slow song in the midst of all his very poppy dancey music. It reminds me of all the great old school Jonas stuff.
Jeremy Jordan & Andy Mientus – If I Had You

I kid you not, I have listened to this everyday for the whole month. I love Jeremy Jordan and when I found this video I instantly fell in love. It’s catchy and features the smooth voice of Jeremy Jordan and Andy Mientus. (Both of whom feature in superhero shows which means I’m immediately a fan!) After I’ve listened to this I find myself singing it for the rest of the day and then getting sucked into watching as many videos of the two of them singing and before I know it, it’s five hours later and I’ve not done anything productive!

21st August 2016

My Top 10 Movies.

Singing in the Rain

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I absolutely love old films. Even more so if they happen to be musicals. This was the first ‘old’ musical I watched and I immediately fell in love with it. Everyone must know the title song – but there are actually so many other amazing songs that feature, including ‘Good Morning’ and ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’. In my opinion any film that has Gene Kelly in is bound to be a winner and this definitely is!
High Society

tumblr_mwvjz153iT1smc36fo1_500 — *moviefancentral*

So we’ve established that I love old musicals and this is another that is definitely at the top of my favourites list. High society features a star studded cast including Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong. It shows how amazing jazz music can be while telling the simple story of a guy trying to get the love of his life back. I can watch it over and over again and still find myself smiling the whole way through. The music is also so so incredible with songs like ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ and ‘Well, Did You Evah?’, all of which were written by Cole Porter.
The Holiday

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Okay I’m just gonna come out and say it now, Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year. So it should come as no surprise that there is at least one Christmas movie on this list. The Holiday is by far my favourite, it isn’t christmas until I’ve watched this at least once. It is the perfect rom-com to settle down to with a mug of hot chocolate and get into the spirit of christmas.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Yes – another Christmas film. This is just a classic and I feel like it needs no justification. Based on the book of the same name by Dr Seuss, featuring Jim Carey and a butt tonne of Christmas cheer it is the absolute best. Plus there is the most adorable dog called Max and I’m a sucker for anything that features a dog.
The Bourne Series

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Okay is this cheating? This is technically 4 different films but if I class them as one franchise does that make it okay? Anyway, I love all the Bourne films! I’m a huge fan of Matt Damon, I’ve loved most of everything he’s been in and I think he’s an absolutely fantastic actor, but these films really are my favourite! Filled with a butt load of action and a tiny bit of a love story, its the perfect combo for me. At times the storyline can get a bit complicated and you do have to watch them in order to really understand it but it is so worth it and I would marathon these films everyday without any complaints.
What Happens in Vegas

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So, I went through a phase a few years ago where the only movies I would watch were rom-coms. I couldn’t get enough and probably watched near enough every one under the sun but this was the best. I found myself laughing throughout it the first time and honestly, during every viewing after. I have trouble finding movies funny the second time around but this film just tickles me in so many ways that every single time I laugh.
The Nightmare Before Christmas

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I watch this film every single halloween without film. Its the perfect transitional film from Halloween to Christmas! The score is amazing and the animation is fantastic. I feel like its often overlooked but it is definitely worth the watch!!
Tangled

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Okay, this films features the voice of Zachary Levi as if I wasn’t going to be a big fan! The soundtrack was phenomenal and Zachary Levi is an angel. I love the story and it is so funny, I cannot wait for the TV series to come on! Also Pascal the chameleon is super adorable!
Meet the Robinson’s

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This film is so underrated! Its such a great story and the message it sends is amazing! Its funny and has a great soundtrack! (Hello Jamie Cullum!) If you’ve never heard of it, give it a watch, I promise you wont be disappointed.
Anastasia

anya-anastasia-30211384-500-211 — *fanpop*

This is the film I always put on whenever I’m not feeling well. Whether I’m just having an off day or I’m full of cold, this always makes me feel better. I love the story and the animation and the music, everything about it is perfect. If you haven’t seen it, I definitely recommend it, everyone I’ve ~~forced~~ convinced to watch it has ended up enjoying it!
Featured Image – disneyparkwallpapers

18th August 2016

10 Things I've Learnt Since Starting Uni.

Independance is a good thing.
So this may well be the first time you’re going to be living on your own. Well, at least in halls with a bunch of strangers. It can be really daunting knowing you’re not going to have your family just downstairs or home cooked meals from your mum, but its also a great thing. You learn so much when you move out, you learn how to really fend for yourself. Its exciting and so much fun and you should really cherish every moment!
Making new friends is hard but you will definitely meet the BEST people.

Making friends was one of the things I was most worried about when I came to uni. And because of these it meant that I spent most of my first year hidden away and not really going out with anyone besides the people in my flat and a few people on my course. Now there’s definitely nothing wrong with that, but I really urge you to try and talk to as many people as you can, whether they are from the same living block as you, someone you met on a night out or just someone on your course. Surrounding yourself with people who are just as nervous and excited as you are makes things seem a little less scary!
The library really is one of the best things you could ask for.
Don’t laugh, I’m being serious! I was allergic to the library during first year except for when I needed to print assignments off. But during second year, I was in there a whole lot more. It’s literally such a great resource thats been built specifically to help you and you should take full advantage of that. I know you might not want to spend your afternoon in the library when everyone else is in the pub but honestly it helps so much. Just remember that towards the end of term it gets super mobbed so I’d suggest either going early in the morning or a little bit later in the afternoon to get a table!
Joining a society is so important.

I joined about 4 different societies during my first year and I didn’t do anything with any of them. When you walk around the Societies fair during Freshers Week, its so easy to be tempted to put your name down for absolutely everything, but try not to. Really think about what you’re interested in and try to find something that will keep you interested all year. I loved writing so during my second year I joined an online student blog and absolutely loved it and found some of my best friends there. I also joined the student-run campus magazine, ‘The Demon’ and despite having never met a more rowdy and mad bunch of people, I have never felt so welcomed by a group of people in my life.
You will almost always feel a little bit behind with your course work.
And thats fine! Trust me. During first year everyone feels a little bit out of their depth. I do a Creative Writing and English course and I remember during my first week, majority of the tutors told us to forget everything we’d ever learnt about English and writing, which is scary. It does take a while but you will find your feet and no matter how much work you do, you will always ALWAYS find yourself feeling a little bit behind. But I promise, if you do all the reading, go to all the lectures and work hard on your assignments you’re going to be okay!
At some point your sleeping pattern will get screwed up.
There’s just no getting away from it. Whether its from too many late nights out or too many all-nighters, there will come a time where you’re suddenly sleeping the day away and are bright eyed when the moon comes up. Don’t worry. As soon as you go home and start living by every one else’s routines, yours will hopefully go back to normal.
It may be hard to keep in touch with your old friends but it’s so worth it.

With everyone moving to different parts of the country it can be very hard to stay in touch. But you should at least try too. I’ve had the same group of friends through most of secondary school and sixth form so we’ve been together for a fair few years and had the best times together. So if you don’t find the time to keep in touch while you’re at uni, at the very least try to catch up with them when you’re home. These people have been in your life for a long time and for a very good reason, try not to lose that.
Putting yourself out there is super hard but also super rewarding.
I am not a confident person. I’m well aware of this, and after knowing me for a while, my friends become aware of this too. However, just sitting in your room on your own is going to get you no where, trust me. So offer to have a study session at yours, or a trip to the library, hell organise a visit to the pub so you can all moan about that one tutor everyone hates. Sometimes you have to be the one to make the first move, which is super scary but can be so so rewarding, you’ll find that you get along with these people and before you know it, you’ll have found your new best friends.
Asking for help is always going to be hard.
There’s no getting around this one. Asking anyone for help is hard whether its your tutors, your friends or you parents. But you shouldn’t suffer in silence. If you don’t understand the assignment, go and see your tutor and they’ll happily explain it and help you through it. I promise they aren’t as scary as they seem and they genuinely want to see you do well, so they are always happy to help. Asking your friends for help is hard but oftentimes can bring you closer and you’ll find out who your real friends are. If you need to ask your parents for some extra cash for your food shop, just ask. I can guarantee your parents do not want you to starve but they can’t help if they don’t know you need it.
You will, at some point, miss home.

I’ve never been one to get homesick and for a good few months after I started uni, I didn’t feel homesick at all. But the closer it got to the end of the first term, I realised just how much I couldn’t wait to get home and see everyone. This is completely normal. I still feel like this now, I invite my family to come up and stay with me as much as I can and speak to them on the phone at least a few times a week. There’s nothing wrong with feeling homesick and its completely normal, but you’ll adjust and soon you’ll be having so much fun you won’t have the time to be homesick but you’ll always find the time to call home.

6th August 2016

The Podcasts I've Been Loving.

I never thought that I would be a podcast person. I never really saw the point in listening to them unless you were going to just sit there and not do anything for an hour but listen. I’m one of those people who, when doing something like working or cleaning, tend to end up not really taking in whatever I’m listening to whether thats music or a TV show. So I never really thought podcasts would be the one because I assumed I would just end up tuning them out and that, in my mind, defeated the point!
However one of my good friends really found she enjoyed them and found it odd that I hadn’t got into the earlier. That coupled with the fact that so many of my favourite people now have podcasts I gave in a decided to try it! I use an app called Podcast Addict as I have an android, and of all the podcast apps I’ve tried I really like this one. Its simple and easy to use, lets you subscribe to podcasts and will inform you when they release a new episode, as well as letting you download episodes to listen to when you’re offline.
Black List Table Reads

20151119_003842_7486_775523 (1) — *blacklist.wolfpop*

I was so intrigued by this. Basically its a movie for your ears. They have people read out movie scripts that have been rejected from production. It is amazing. Now, they are quite long, obviously the average length of a movie, so I found when I was listening to them in bed that it would take a few nights for me to finish one production. But it was worth it. They are so well done and you could really imagine them as movies. My favourite ‘movie’ is probably ‘The Hitch’ which all about Alfred Hitchcock being accused of murder on his visit to LA in 1927 and his strive to prove his own innocence. Here’s a link to where you can listen to it!
Picking Favourites

Now I just wanna make everyone aware that I am a huge Zachary Levi fan! Like HUGE! So when I found out he was a part of a podcast, which would mean that I could listen to his voice uninterrupted for hours at a time, I was sold. This is a podcast where good ol’ Zac and some of his friends sit around and talk about all their favourite things. From comics and films, to cars and smells. Its hysterical and they have some really good guests, it’s definitely what I class as easy listening, you don’t have to pay too much attention to it, I can easily have it on in the background while I’m working and find myself laughing majority of the time. My two favourite episodes are with guests Rob Liefeld and the amazing Yvonne Strahovski.
Nerdist

InboxKYImprov18messages2unread — *standuplive*

Okay so I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this one. But my friend said that I should definitely check it out and I’m glad I did. It may be my favourite ‘sit-down-and-have-a-chat-about-whatever’ podcast. I was amazed by how many people they’ve interviewed. I’ve listened to so many of these over the last few weeks, my favourites include Zachary Levi (obvs), Aisha Tyler, Hannah Hart and Felicia Day.
There are loads of others on my list to listen to including; Ladies Who Lunch, Truth and Iliza and LadyGang. I’ll update you if they become new favourites. If there are any podcasts you love and think that I should give a go, leave a comment and let me know!

2nd August 2016

July Favourites

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil – Tortola

I absolutely love this!! It came in June’s Cohorted Beauty Box and was by far my favourite item in the box. At first I wasn’t sure it would be the one for me. When I swatched it, it was a scary brown, not a colour I would typically reach for. However, it looks amazing on the lips, its definitely a nude-brown but isn’t as scary as I originally thought. It goes on the lip incredibly smoothly and is super pigmented, one swipe and you’ve got a beautiful colour. Even though it’s matte, it doesn’t dry my lips out to which I thank the heavens above. It also stands the test of time, I can quite happily wear this all day, including when I’m eating and drinking, and it would require very few touch ups. This is definitely the lip product I have been reaching for all month and can see myself to continue to throughout August.
A Court of Thorns and Roses – Sarah J. Maas

I’m not going to lie to you, I’ve been stuck in a bit of a reading slump the last few months that I have tried incredibly hard to get out of and I think this book may have helped me do just that! I’ve heard many many good things about Maas, and actually own a few of her books but had yet to delve into them. Now I’m only about 100 pages in, but I absolutely love it! Its filled with magic and fantasy plus the cover is gorgeous, I can hardly put it down!
The Flash

Yes I’m late to the party I know! I’m sorry! I did actually start watching this series when it first came out but for some reason I just sort of stopped and then it got to the point where I was too far behind to catch up. But where I’ve not been well I’ve had the perfect excuse to finally watch it. I’ve slowly been chipping away at it, watching a few episodes here and there and I’ve just started Season 2. Grant Gustin is absolutely adorable and I’m a massive Barry-Iris shipper. If you want something filled with superhero’s, humour and a bit of romance, this is definitely the one.
M&S Iced Buns

Okay so I may or may not have gone into M&S specifically to get these. They are one of my favourite indulgences. I love the fact they have raspberry jam in the middle, they are incredible! If you can get your hands on them, I definitely suggest giving them a try.
Gavin DeGraw – She Sets The City On Fire

I love love love LOVE Gavin DeGraw, he may just be one of my favourite artists ever. I’ve seen him live and he is absolutely incredible and when I heard that he was releasing a new single, I was ecstatic. This song is the perfect summer song, its upbeat and catchy. I’ve been playing it non-stop since it released and even my brother sings along now!