Life Update

First time I've ever done one of these, but I feel it is necessary and I really do want to start posting on this blog again as I actually quite enjoyed it. Sadly, A-levels is not the appropriate time to write blog posts -which sucks, but THEY'RE FINISHED!

I have no idea how well I've done in my exams and right now I don't want to think about it, as the traditional British weather has taken a turn for the better and the sun is out! This means that I won't get back into blogging until around September time, but I will do the odd post when I'm bored or if I can be bothered to.

SooooOOOoooooo...

I have ditched my Garden Centre job as a Till Operator, and honestly it's been a long time coming; I'm utterly chuffed to have left that place, and even better news: I now work in a night club! And it's awesome! 

So my new job occupation now is barmaid/bartender/bar staff - and it's a lot of hard work but I enjoy it so much! I'm paid less than the GC simply because I have less hours as I only work Saturday nights, but it's amazing and I genuinely never knew how much better I worked at night than in the day!

My hours are 11:30pm until 4:30am, which at first was like :O!!! But now I'm used to it and it means a gert lush lay in on the Sunday, as well as a cheeky mcdons breakfast in the mornings before I head off home and rest my sleepy head. 

So that's the job situation, which I'm extremely pleased about at the moment! 

I'm still planning my year off as I go along really - obviously being a barmaid isn't the most steady income in the world (especially if you want to save up to travel!) thus I will have to add an addition to that on weekdays, although I'm not too sure what I want to go into yet. I want my year off before uni to be special and not wasted, but right now it's summer and I don't want to work this beautiful weather away just yet!

Once I finally do get my 'dream job' or my 'dream job for now', I will be putting as much money as I can aside for travelling, which I'm hoping to do sometime in the February of 2016; I'm not sure where yet, hopefully the great land of Oz as my mum's cousin offered me to go over when I want to travel. After that, I'm hoping I will then be heading off to university, my choices being Exeter or Plymouth atm, but that could all change as I want to change the choice of subject to something else. I guess that's what most of this year off is going to be about: the cliché finding myself and what I actually want to do with my life!

Now ever since I've left sixth form, I was worried about exercising as walking to and there everyday was my main source of fitness. Without that, I may as well just become a sloth already. However, I've found an alternative that spells joy which is riding my bicycle; sometimes, it's real nice just to slip in your headphones, pack a bottle of water and a jacket just in case, and plan your journey while cycling. There's something almost therapeutic about it and for me it's really helpful when I'm feeling low or down about myself. It helps me clear my head and enhances my self esteem due to the exercise it's giving me. So my advice is whenever you feel low, whack out your bike!

So aside from getting embarrassingly drunk yet surprisingly happy, that's about it for now! After A-levels I thought I would sink into some deep down-phase and live forever in the walls of my tiny bedroom - but life's taken an unexpected turn and I'm actually feeling optimistic about the future!

Let me know what you guys are doing on your year's off or what you did on your years off, or what you're doing instead!

Katherine by Anya Seton - A Short Book Review

I'm a sucker for period dramas and this one really does put Philippa Gregory's best-seller 'The White Queen' to shame - and that's saying something!

Set in 14th-Century England in the rein of Edward III, Katherine de Rout comes to court (as her sister is lady-in-waiting to Queen Philippa - also fiancée to the legendary poet Geoffrey Chauncer) with the role of damsel in distress - due to turning many heads at court. She catches the legendary John of Gaunt, however he is married and she is betrothed to Hugh Swynford. When Hugh falls ill and mysteriously dies, Katherine becomes the Prince's mistress, alongside official governess of the Duke's two other children from his first marriage.

I'm sorry but I was in love with this romanticized story of the Duke and the ordinary, almost peasant-like girl; Seton just tells the story wonderfully and this gripping tale with all of it's realistic, lively characters really brings history to life. Trust me, you will struggle to put this down, whether history's your thing or isn't! Katherine's emotions and feelings really do come to life, and it's surprising how a once hated Duke can really make you swoon, even by today's standards! The gravitational pull between these two characters is passionate and addictive. Seton really succeeds with the art of repainting one of history's most infatuated love stories.

However grand this story may be, it did lack some depth to a certain degree due to the very few facts there were of Katherine Swynford's life. Although Seton did make up for this and did an inspiring job about bringing the characters alive with the little knowledge she could obtain!

Honestly, I could go on forever, but I'd end up spoiling the story! Read it for yourself and bring this story to life once more.

Rating: *****

5 tips to keep you smiling!

It's that time of year where exams are almost upon us, emotions are running high and everybody is getting their knickers in a twist over the most petty of things. Yes, it is a stressful-suppose-to-be-revising-instead-of-blogging month, however there are some things to look forward to after exams - like the summer! You know, I read a very interesting article on facebook that apparently the UK is going to be hit with a mega 3-month-lasting heatwave - and it was on Facebook so that has to be reliable! 

1. Time to yourself is key
If there's one valuable thing I can take away from two pointless years of Spiritual Journey, it's that many people do not have enough alone time - and this doesn't mean time to be lonely sat in your room, bored. The definition of alone time is having time to yourself to recap and think, to organise your thoughts and ideas and even your revision schedule. You can do this by not sitting in your room, staring at a blank wall (this will more than likely get you even more down in the dumps!) but perhaps taking a long walk with your headphones in, go some place new and explore. For those of you lucky enough to drive, journey somewhere out of town - my favourite places are Yate and Weston, but unfortunately for me, I haven't had the money to learn how to drive (nor the desire) so I bus it. Time on your own gives you time to reflect and even understand yourself a little more than you once did. I used to be an all-time worrier, and still can be, but taking time to relax and ponder makes me realise why I retaliated to some situations the way I did and actually gives my god-forsaken worrying mind time to relax and just - chill.  

2. Do something you enjoy and takes your mind off things

Don't be shy - this can be anything: from your guilty pleasure to your achievements. Personally, I enjoy picking up a book I haven't read in a while, playing on my 3DS (Zelda really does calm me down!) or plan some sort of mastermind story (that I never get round to finishing, let alone even writing!). Doing something you enjoy once in a while will boost your mood by a whopping 70% (I'm kidding - that statistic is made up, but doing something you enjoy does relax you an awful lot, I find!) If you find coursework is making your head throb, there isn't any harm in taking time out and doing something to reward yourself. It'll probe you to keep going and give you a new way of looking at your work - just don't enjoy yourself for so long that the textbook is sort of left there half-forgotten, or that bit of coursework that should have been in a long time ago left on your desk...I really shouldn't be doing this blog post, should I? *Dies a little inside*

3. Exercise!!!!!!

In the last two paragraphs, I have mentioned walking - and that's because walking is one of my de-stressers. Honestly, I don't have an obsession over it, but after a long walk I feel refreshed and I even feel a lot better about my body image. It doesn't have to be walking: some people benefit more from cycling, playing a game of football (urgh) or even hula hooping - Yes, that's a thing!! 
You don't have to join a gym to have to get fitter, there are plenty of ways of doing it and doing it daily will really boost your self esteem, in turn making you feel a whole lot happier!

4. Don't be a hermit

Go out! Have fun! When was the last time you actually went on a daytrip with your best friend? Or enjoyed a pizza with the squad?? Humans are very sociable beings - much like guinea pigs (if you don't believe me, click here and look at tip two!) and if we're on our own for too long, we can go insane. And that's not even me making this up - ever feel a little extra crazy after two days in on the weekend? 

Socialising with people will make you realise that people do have an interest in your opinions, your hobbies and may even share your interests. If you feel your friends aren't making you happier, then it's time to shop for some new ones. The whole point of the word friendship is someone who enhances you and makes you feel good about yourself. We've all had some really utterly rubbish friends at some point, but the way to get past it is to hang out with someone else for a while. How about that nice girl you sit by in English who shares the same interest in Harry Potter as you? 

5. Do not compare yourself to others

This is the biggest deflater everrrrrrr and we all do it! Why do we do it to ourselves? Why do we compare our bodies, our general appearance, our personality to others? I do it an awful lot, and one of my best friend's Abi hates it. When loads of people notice someone around you, it is really hard not to feel a hint of envy towards them, but don't turn bitter; there's plenty you strive in that they don't and to be honest - that's just life. In the wise words of my History bud Ginny: 'People are going to be prettier and better than you, you're just going to have to get over it.' Wise words Ginerva, wise words. 

What is Achievement?

My pet hate is when people say that if you don't go to University, then you've achieved nothing and you're going to be stuck in a dead-end job that you'll forever hate and you'll just hate life in general. This is bollocks. I'm not saying don't go to uni, you may aswell get a job after school/college etc but for those of you who feel pressured to go to uni to impress your parents - don't.

I understand mum & dad's p.o.v: I mean sure, you want your children to achieve, climb the ladder and earn cash like there's no tomorrow...but will they be happy?

 

Around the start of Autumn my mum and I religiously watch The Real Housewives of Beverley Hills. These people are loaded, and they're certainlly not afraid to show it. However, although they're fortunate in the 'never having to work again' principle, they seem poor in other areas: for example, their friendship with "friends" are as fake as Katie Price's knockers. Maybe it's a little cliche to say this, but I value friends a lot more than money; I feel like what is the actual point in having so much dolla if you have no friends to share it with? I know of people who are so unhappy and yet they're the most spoilt people out of the lot, who never have to worry about money and yet still struggle to sleep at night or who suffer from other issues. Then there's the complete opposite end of the spectrum; when you watch documentaries of people living in Third-World areas and yet they still have a genuine smile on their face. This just proves to me that money isn't everything.

Achievement to me is short and simple: to have those around me who love & care for me, people who are there when I need them and to have enough money to live on and have a good time. With really really good friends, you don't need an awful lot of money to have a good time with; a simple walk with Leanne and Zoe, or a little cry with Steph and Abi at some disney movie, even just a drive round with Danielle and Emma makes my day. I just feel like people put so much effort into how much money they have that they almost make themselves ill, and forget what it's really like having little or no money.

Therefore, achievement isn't nessicarily passing college with flying colours, going to University, having so much money that you don't know what to buy first - but something which you enjoy and makes you happy - just whatever you plan on doing, make sure you're doing it for you.







Favorite Summer Photos - 2014

*Sigh* Oh how I miss the summer. All that's getting me through my last year of college is the fact that after all exams, the hot weather will meet us and there's no priorities for 3 months, yay! (for me, anyway!) 

Steph's party was fabulous - from left to right: Steph, me, Abi - April 2014

Myself & Jack: Start of April - when we all went to the Bath Fair! Really fun day out

Me @ Bristol Balloon Fiesta - August 2014

Bristol Balloon Fiesta again - left to right: Leanne, Jack, Grace, Jamie, Me

Went on a hugeee bike ride back in June 2014 - Whitchurch to Chew Valley Lake! 16 miles

Jack's party, good night! - June 2014

Spending summer on the field at Sixth Form was adorable - have a lot of lovely memories from there! May 2014

There was a time when myself & Steph had an obsession with going to town like every day

Really really really bad quality photo - but this sunset was so beautiful - so many beautiful summer times spent in Yate

Review: Toni&Guy Glamour 3D Volumiser

Birthday & Christmas is always a time for me to explore new products that I haven't used before. I had heard many people rant and rave about Toni&Guy, although sadly I never have enough money to go wild and try out new hair products. However, I was super excited when I unwrapped one of my gifts and it was the Toni&Guy 3D Volumiser (sad, right?) and couldn't wait to give it a try!

I was not disappointed; after washing my hair with a volumising shampoo, I wait for it to dry until it's damp and then I just lift sections of my hair and spray this into the roots. The spray really enhanced my very fine hair and made it look not only fuller and thicker, but also vibrant and full of life! Unlike using mousse, which I find can sometimes make my hair sticky or greasy, this 3D Volumising spray worked a treat by feeling light when sprayed into my roots and massaged in.

If your hair falls limp and dull and you're sick of trying out different hair products which don't seem to have a lasting affect on your hair then look no further! I couldn't imagine my life without this little handy spray bottle now and I will definitely buy this product again as it is well worth the money!

*Tip: To increase the volume in your hair after using this spray, use a back-combing brush (I bought mine from Boots, but other pharmacies will also sell them) and back brush at the root of the hair; hairspray to keep in place after you've brushed the back brush out so you don't look like you've been dragged through a bush backwards!

How To Feel Confident Without Makeup

I know too many people who would never go out makeup free and this fact worries me. Why should people feel that their natural face needs to be covered in order to look good? 

I was this girl once. I wore makeup everyday to school because people told me I looked better with it, and this really did have an effect on my confidence. It has taken me a long time to accept my face without it, and realize that there are other ways of looking good without having to wear a face full of makeup.
So with that, here are some tips that I use rather than wearing makeup, which make me feel better. I hope you find them useful! 

1. Stay hygienic and cleanse
This is the key to making your skin glow and stand out! Now in my time I've used a hell of a lot of face washes until I suffered with minor acne. After a trip to the doctors to pick up some Duac cream, I asked my doctor about face washes and he assured me that actually, face wash is no different from ordinary soaps. As long as you don't use perfumed soaps, your skin won't react badly and it's equivalent to using a face wash. So as long as you wash your face as well as your body daily with a good organic soap (I use Simple personally) your ready to go!

2. Moisturise! 
...Or are you ready to go? Not so fast! I know a lot of you oily skin types out there who skip this step - I used to be the same, trust me! But actually not using a moisture cream can increase oil as your skins dried out and your body wants to keep it moist. This can also increase acne and spots, from my understanding. The best Moisturiser by far is again the Simple Kind To Skin Light Moisturiser, which for those of you who have oily skin (like me) will find really refreshing and dries into your skin within minutes! For my skin in general I use lots of different moisturising creams, which are: 

Nivea Body Moisturiser Rich Nurishing 
Made With Love
Ghost The Fragrance
Baylis & Harding Skin Spa
Champneys Spa Indulgence Distant Shores Body Butter
(P.S. Some of these moisurisers I had in a set for Christmas so I'm not sure if they can be sold separately!)

 So moisturising is a must guys in order to freshen your skin and keep that shimmering glow from your cleansing! 

3. Wear something which flatters your figure
This is where a lot of people go wrong and I blame fashion; I know of people who literally buy things because they're "the in thing" which I'm not saying isn't fine but come on people...have some originality! Don't buy something for the sake of it, buy something you feel comfortable in and feel confident in. Honestly, when you feel confident in an outfit and comfortable it's so much more noticeable that if you wear something because everyone has it. For example, I would say my build is slim & curvy, so for example, I tend to wear a lot of play suits in the summer as they outline that I do have a waist so I don't feel frumpy. You will add to that inner glow if you feel confident guys, trust me!


4. Vaseline!
Oh Vaseline, you have been my savoir many a time.  I feel like Vaseline is like a mother; never fails to make us look or feel better (Is that what a mother does?). What I tend to do is rub a little bit of Vaseline onto my eyelashes and my eyebrows, then wait 2 minutes for it to dry in a little bit. I then use my £1 eyelash curlers from Primark (and they've lasted me years!) and curl my eyelashes for about 5 secs on each eye, then smooth out my brows either with my fingers or with an eyebrow brush. I find this really makes the eye area stand out without using mascara or any other makeup for that matter. And, you can itch your eye without the fear of having panda eyes, bonus!

I hope this post helped people out there who feel unworthy without makeup. I am not slating makeup at all, I wear it on a night out but I do not wear it as a regular, daily thing, but that's me. I think as long as you feel happy in your skin then why let others judge who you are?