Hello September! Welcome to third year!

Sep 1, 2015Aug 31, 2015Leave a comment

I’ve made it! I’m slightly slower than I was last year but I can’t believe that this month I will be starting the third and final year of my undergraduate degree! It’s absolutely crazy that I’m at the last chapter already, people used to tell me it would fly by and I rarely believed them, but I should have. I’m excited and terrified to be getting back to uni at the end of the month, but that’s not the only reason I should be excited that it’s finally September, oh no! This month is going to be incredible and I’m almost climbing the walls that so many positive things are starting this month such as –

I’m going to Amsterdam in 5 days! Yes I’m finally getting to do my little bit of travelling with Amy and Dani as my birthday treat to myself. I’m going to be a dork and go to a load of museums and galleries as well as the Anne Frank House, which is what I wanted to visit since I was a little girl!

I’m running my own Freshers Fair stall. This year I won’t be aimlessly walking around finding something to sign up to, I’ll be trying to make sure people join the horse riding society! Although I probably won’t be able to ride for the whole of the academic year it’ll be great to help others enjoy the sport.

Not as exciting but I’ll get to see a Neurosurgeon this month to have a spine check up and hopefully some good news

It’s soon going to be my FAVOURITE season, Autumn, bring on the hats, scarves and Hot Chocolate!

I’m playing Freshers! Yes! This week we were asked to play a show at The Fighting Cocks in Kingston during freshers week, hopefully it’ll be super busy and a great night to play!

I finally get some kind of routine back! It’s been quite difficult this summer without a routine, so I’m hoping that my mood will go back up again once I’m around people and have a schedule.

Oh and just to mention IT’S MY 21ST BIRTHDAY THIS MONTH!!!! I’m so excited to finally be hitting 21 and have some great things planned as well as a night out with some of my best friends 🙂

I finally get to go back to uni. After having 6 months off of lectures I am 100% ready to get back to studying, I’ve actually kind of missed it over the summer and I’ll be applying for my masters soon, Eek!

It’s the Rugby World Cup ❤

As you can all see September is going to be an absolute blast! I’m so excited that it’s finally here and I’m going to be enjoying every minute of it! I want to take the chance to say thank you to you all for reading alongside my time at uni and assure you that just because I’m in my last year of undergrad does not mean the blog will be finishing!! I have a lot of great ideas ahead!

Other people can make all the difference

Aug 21, 2015Leave a comment

Today started off as a day of stress and anxiety and ended with that warm feeling with my belly (and no, that’s not the alcohol talking). People can change everything, they can make your day lousy but they can also make your day great, today has been the second option.

I woke up this morning pretty stressed, tired and in a fair bit of pain from my spine. I was dreading going to work, felt anxious about meeting and was dreading physio. It turns out only one of those was right. Work made my day, knowing I was part of a team that I really felt could make a difference. I realised that my role is important and I’m actually a respected member of staff, something I’ve never felt before. I spent today in meetings and talking to the rest of the team, I can finally be something of an expert in my field and I can finally start trying to make a difference with disabled students. If that doesn’t brighten someone’s day I don’t know what will.

Physio wasn’t that magical, it was painful, very painful. The problem with my kind of injury is that it take a long time to heal, a long time to come off medication and a lot of pain with no gain. After being told I’ve stopped ‘looking like a granny when I walk’ I suppose I should be grateful but I’ll be honest I was just pretty sore during and after and glad to treat myself to some books in the charity shop after.

This evening others did it again after being a grumpy little so and so after physio, Ali, Phil, Lizzie, Dan and Alex managed to put a smile on my face at the pub. I got slightly drunk and now I’m writing to you all (I’m sorry if there are missing words or just intoxicated sentences) in my little mermaid PJs after my back made me give in. Sometimes it’s days like today that make me realise I need others just as much to beat the feelings of anxiety.

❤

My baby sister

Jul 19, 2015Jul 20, 2015Leave a comment

14 years ago I woke up to the news I had a baby sister. I danced around my Nanna’s kitchen, so excited. She’s puked on my face, I’ve change her nappies and helped her walk. I learnt how to do her harness and then cheered her on when she started to walk. I walked her first day of primary school and home from her last. She was too cool for me to take her on her first day of secondary school. Now she’s getting all grown up with better fashion sense and make up tips than me. I’m so lucky to have such a beautiful sister and best friend in my life, happy birthday Summer-Rose. ❤

21 Things to know about my Mum

Jun 8, 20152 Comments

Today is my amazing Mum’s birthday!! I don’t need to tell you again how much I love her and how much she does for me on a daily basis (including having to push me around town on her birthday, sorry Mum!). So my Mum is eternally 21 or younger in her head so I thought I’d share 21 things instead of the age she actually is today *cough 42, cough*.

1. My Mum couldn’t drink on her 21st birthday because she was growing me and stuff.

2. Her first school shoes were purple heels, the rebellion begins.

3. She likes Marmite…that’s gross.

4. She has smaller feet than me…

5. …oh and she’s tiny, even shorter than me!

6. Pink is Mums colour, always, always pink.

7. She could drink almost all of my friends under the table.

8. For a long time she called Instagram, Instragram…oh Mum

9. She wanted to be a mechanic while she was growing up

10. Disney is her favourite place, in the world, ever.

11. She has the strange ability to get any animal to misbehave

12. My Mum is the reason I love live music! She’s been taking me to concerts since I was 4! Actually the first was while I was still in her belly.

13. She was a slight demon child to her siblings, my aunt has the proof

14. My Mum’s a FIGHTER! She’ll kick your butt

15. Madonna, everything Madonna.

16. She’s more than a little bit in love with David Beckham

17. Oh and Johnny Depp

18. But she’s been with my Dad for 22 years ( I think)

19. My love of red lipstick comes from my Mum

20. You always hear my Mum coming down the road in the car because of the music blasting from it.

21. She’s the most incredible woman you’ll ever meet and I’m so lucky she’s mine ❤

6 things about my amazing Nanna

Apr 20, 2015Apr 21, 20151 Comment

Mum and Nanna last christmas

As much as I wanted a charmingly embarrassing picture of me and my Nanna from when I was little, I think they’re all been hidden, she’s pretty glam my Nan. So today is her 65th birthday and I could write pages and pages about this lovely lady I wanted to do one for the 6 and a half decades she’s been on this planet.

1. I don’t know anyone who loves pink more!

If in doubt, go with pink. That’s just Nanna’s way.

2. She was able to put up with The Jungle Book and 101 Dalmations on repeat. every.single.day.

So after I was born my Mum and I lived with my grandparents until I was almost 3 years old, while my Mum had to go to work I’d stay with Nanna. She must have watched those two films so many times and half memorised them that along with Tots TV, Come Outside, Noddy and so many more. Oh and there were farm trips too 😀

3. When I was younger she could make me fall asleep within 5 minutes

Stroking my face and giving me a cuddle and I was out like a light…could still work now to be fair.

4. She’s a great peace maker

Every time I needed new school shoes, Nanna had to come because we NEVER agreed. While me and Mum would almost start world war 3 in the Clarks kids section, Nanna somehow smoothed it over before coffee and cake after.

5. She knows me a lot better than most people

I’m not girly unlike my Mum, Aunt, Sister and Cousins but that doesn’t mean that Nanna doesn’t know what I’ll like. We might not agree on clothes (in fact we rarely do) but Micheal Kors handbags and designer watches? Nanna knows me all over!

6. She’s the best Nanna you could ever ask for

And I mean that too, there is absolutely no one else like my Nanna. She’s there, always, she can damn stand up for herself, she’s strong, she’s kind and I’m sorry guys but she’s mine.

Happy Birthday, I love you so much xx

The end of birthday week

Sep 21, 2014Sep 23, 2014Leave a comment

I am writing this feeling more than slightly worse for wear. Last night was…well actually very cheap because everyone bought me drinks. That said though I also consumed them and, well it’s only your birthday once a year. This years birthday has been incredible, a whole week of friends, family, celebrations, beautiful gifts and amazing messages from people that I love so, so much. If this week has taught me anything it is just how lucky I am right now and how happy I can be. I’ve had a week without slip ups or major lows. Obviously it can’t be my birthday every week but hopefully these memories will help me when I’m feeling a little down.

Saturday was off to see Wicked for Amy’s birthday surprise it has been so, so hard not to tell you all because I’ve been SO excited! The show was great (as always) and is one of my favourites. I used to perform songs from it back when I did musical theatre and last saw it 5 or 6 years ago with my school. Now I’m older I appreciate just how, well, dark the plot really is. I won’t spoil it but the ending is my favourite part. We then went over to Wagamamas (my first) before racing to Waterloo to get back to Kingston for my birthday drinks.

Outside the theatre

I got to the drinks later than I thought but more people turned up than I realised. We all crammed around a table in Wetherspoons and let the drinks, selfies and chat begin. The best part?! JEN IS BACK!!!! WAHOOOO Jen being away was really hard for me and I missed her really badly. Ben is also back too and surprised me with chocolate. I drank a lot, laughed a lot and ended up going home earlier than I intended *cough, cough* accompanied by my friend Lex who came from Central to see me.

More than anything I’m just so grateful and that’s how I want to end this post, to anyone and everyone who wished me a happy birthday, made time to see me, came out with me, sent me something, everyone. I love you all and thank you so much *raises glass* here’s to being 20.

Birthday presents from Jen, my girl knows me well!

How today ended up, nothing like a McDonalds to get you over a hangover.

Kicking off birthday week.

Sep 15, 2014Sep 17, 2014Leave a comment

So, birthday week has kicked off! With yesterdays cupcake class done (and me shopping on amazon for pieces to buy so I can make more) and I headed into work for a reasonably normal day and ended up finishing earlier than planned, result! Which meant going off to meet Joe for a surprise present…I’d heard a bit about it but had no idea.

So off to Spoons (as usual) to talk about all manner of things, some you should talk about loudly in a pub, others you probably shouldn’t haha. Joe had handed me something on the way it was light and he’s decorated it in pretty pink paper…thanks dude!

The result was something that took my breath away a hand drawn portrait of Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter. Something that had taken so much time, effort and careful consideration. Apparently it had a few emergency’s as well…it shows how loved I am. No, not in that way he’s my best friend and there is no attraction between us, that’s laughable.

I’ve left a close up below so you can all appreciate how outstanding it is and what an incredibly talented artist Joe is (he was turned down for an art course believe it or not…no I can’t see how either). I can’t believe how much work has gone into this. It now has pride of place on my bedroom wall, as it should do.

Cupcake Queen!

Sep 14, 2014Leave a comment

Ahead of an incredibly busy week I started cake decorating! Thanks to the wonderful Kate from Sugar Town Cupcakes (check them out on Facebook, absolutely amazing) I can now add amateur cake decorator to my CV, ok I’m not that good yet. These classes take place in our local library from time to time. One one of my earlier blogs I learnt how to make loads of flowers, today it was birthday cupcakes and I was chuffed with how they came out!

It seems like a perfect way to start birthday week (yes a week, if the Queen get’s two birthdays why can’t I have a birthday week?!) I have so much planned, tomorrow I’m seeing Joe for my mystery present, Tuesday I have band practice and a concert, Wednesday work, Thursday my family are coming to see me, Friday a birthday meal and Saturday a big surprise for a friend and then an evening out!

I have my plan for the week, I’m feeling better and well who wouldn’t smile after being taught how to make these beauties!

Getting ready for the year of the twenty something.

Aug 17, 2014Leave a comment

In a few short hours I will end the last month of my teenage years and then in a few weeks embrace the title of 20 something for the next decade… Ask me a few months ago and I would have told you I am point blank refusing to enter my twenties, I will have my 18th birthday again and never grow up. Now it’s a different story. This month has been an odd one but I feel like it’s changed me so much already. It’s no secret that my teenage years were pretty rough, school was hell and it was in my teens that I experienced some of my deepest lows, a place I never want to go again. Now I’ve been able to put that behind me, it feels so freeing. My god I sound like a hippy. I’m still your straight up rock chick, the amount of Jack Daniels I managed to knock back last night pretty much certifies that, as does the long list of tickets that I’ve already bought for this year…oops. So I’ve written a list about some of the things I’m most proud of, this is only the start.

Moving in with Ali wasn’t the only thing to change me, but it’s helped. It’s nice having someone to share dinner with and waking up next to him in the morning, it’s nice to know that when I go back to uni I’ll come back to smiles rather than my little room in halls. If I’m on a low it’s generally easier to handle, not all the time though (I’m still working that part out). I feel so happy and content and this is something I’ve waited for. We’ve made the right decision now this is our first little home together 🙂

I’m going out with friends Freshers was a bit tough for me, I wasn’t in the right mindset with all the changes to go out and party and I didn’t know what I wanted. I’ve been to club night twice now and had a girls night in London, something I wondered if I’d ever actually do. After my night out with Jen last night I’m planning another, this is a BIG deal for me and I’m really proud of myself for being able to do it and not letting my illness get the better of me. 🙂

Jen and I last night on her 19th Birthday

Sorting out my mental health I’m going back to mentoring tomorrow after having to leave because I only get a certain amount of funding for each year. Honestly I’ve struggled this summer for a lot of different reasons. Ali and my Mum have helped a lot but it was hard being away from friends I’d made, missing the life I’m used to in Kingston. I want to focus this year on my strategies for lows. I know they may never completely go but at least with some help they’ll be more manageable.

I love my job I’m in a job that I love. Student Ambassador doesn’t sound gruelling but it gives me so many opportunities. I got out and talk to kids who remind me of myself, I share my love for my uni and my subject. Now I get to write professionally, be a content editor and help with the media and marketing stuff. I learnt so much by just being in the office for a week and it’s cemented my passion for digital media. I love my job so much and after having more than one that I didn’t enjoy growing up it’s so refreshing to feel good at what I do!

I don’t feel under pressure by the future. Who says when I should and shouldn’t do something? I’m not in a normal relationship, I’ve spent over a quarter of my life with Ali and I’m only 19. We’re not getting married any time soon because we both want to have careers, which we’re both getting on with. I’m going for internships and continuing to write (work experience in now 100% confirmed for April 2015!!!!) and he’s getting work experience in his field as well as both of us throwing ourselves into the band. I’d be lying if I felt completely free, a lot of people I know are getting married and having children or have their ideal engagement rings in their head…I don’t think about all that too much. The only thing, which is slightly pressured is having children but that’s biological. Ali and I are happy and well, I think we’ve done one of the hardest bits by living together, now we’re just going to plod along and see what happens after we graduate.

In short I’m ready to say goodbye to my teenage years and hello to my twenties. That said I will not be stopping eating Turkey Dinosaurs, ice lollies or raiding the sweet shop…ever.

My teenage sister, Happy Birthday!

Jul 19, 2014Leave a comment

There are certain people in your life that it’s hard to put into words how much you love and care for them. My sister is one of these people. I remember the day I was told she was coming, I remember the day that she was born and every birthday and Christmas that I’ve loved spoiling her. This year was no different after 10 presents from me and god knows how many from everyone else, I can say she was thoroughly spoilt this year.

Summer-Rose turned 13 today and that feels really weird, she’s still a baby in my eyes and I think she always will be. I absolutely love our age gap because even though she doesn’t think I’m cool, I can look after her and we just have this really special relationship, again it’s hard to explain. She’s beautiful, she’s hilarious and I wish I had been more like her when I was her age. My sister kicks arse and I couldn’t be more proud. Before I embarrass her any more than she thinks I am I wanted to wish my gorgeous sister and best friend a happy 13th birthday, I’m so excited about all there is to come for you and I love you so,so much even if you have awful music tastes!

Here are some pictures to celebrate a special teenagers birthday ❤

Here’s where the fun begins.