Getting Reflective!

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So, I have pretty much finished my AS exams (with the exception of drama, which I don't really view as an exam because it's so fun!) meaning that my first year of sixth form is almost over! Hooray! 
As a result of this, I decided to get a little reflective (see the photo above isn't completely random!) and look back at how I was this time last year...

To put it into context, this time last year I had finished year 11 (study leave) and was only popping back into school to take those dreaded GCSEs (I now realise how much of a walk in the park they were compared to A levels!) But looking back I realised just how little confidence I had. I mean I'd never been one of those people that could effortlessly talk to new people or easily speak up about their opinions, but I literally never ever contributed in class, I'd actively avoid looking at my teacher in the hope that they wouldn't pick on me! I would find it really difficult to talk to someone on the phone, and would hate having to go to a checkout in case the person behind the till tried to make small talk! I'd also let my friends talk to new people whilst I'd just stand there, wanting to join in, but having this sort of shield I'd put around myself that I couldn't seem to break through...I just never knew what to say and didn't feel like I could actually join in the conversation!

Writing all that now actually seems crazy, I probably missed out on so much by being to scared to join in! This year I have gained so much confidence, and I have to say that's all down to sixth form! With the smaller classes you HAVE to speak, there is literally no other option!! Even in the larger classes, I now actively volunteer my answers, especially as in my English Language class NO-ONE ever wants to answer, and neither me or one of my close friends can bare to sit in the painful silence that follows a question! It's funny how a year ago, I'd have quite happily sat in silence, forcing someone else to answer a question I actually knew the answer to! In some of my lessons I have the exact same teachers as last year but I somehow feel way more confident and able to contribute in their lessons...maybe it's because I'm more comfortable and confident in myself?
As for answering the phone, I have to do this on a weekly basis at work, I mean, I still don't really like doing it and yes the first few times I was incredibly panicky when the phone rang! But, it's easier and I'm getting used to it!
Paying at a checkout no longer scares me! I'm still not particularly good at small talk (ah, I can't believe it's raining again, typical weather, blah blah blah) but I get along just fine now!
As for meeting new people, I have improved greatly at this! I realised the trick is to just pretend you already know the person and just start a conversation as you would do with a friend! To be honest, I think drama is the reason for my improved social skills when it comes to meeting new people, having to go to a different school for a lesson where you don't actually know anyone is a surprising catalyst for the slight loss of social awkwardness! I've made loads of new friends this year simply because I've actually spoken to people...I mean what have you got to lose? If the person thinks you're a a complete and utter weirdo then you're probably not going to see them again are you?!
I hate thinking that if I'd have gone to college I would probably still be in the same place as last year, I am unbelievably glad I chose to stay at sixth form, and I honestly love the way our whole year is so close (we literally all cram around one table even though there aren't enough chairs!)

I hope this post was somewhat enjoyable, it's a little different to my past few posts and was probably slightly more for my benefit than yours...I guess I'm still trying to find my blogging feet! I should have a few hauls coming up soon as I've been shopping for various bits and bobs this month so keep an eye out for those if you'd like!

Oh and do let me know in the comments if you feel that you're in a completely different place to where you were this time last year! Even if you don't, I'd still love to hear your thoughts!

Until Next Time, Cheerio! 

xx

 

Exams don't matter...

Exams don't matter...BUT they do open doors.

Edited from here

I see so many people nowadays stressing over exams, and I have to admit, I myself am one of those people! To those people I see crying because they feel overwhelmed with revision, I just want to say, exams don't matter...Contrary to popular belief, exams aren't the be all and end all! You're not going to 'fail' at life simply because you didn't quite get the grades you needed! There are so many other ways of getting jobs and gaining life experience that you don't actually require GCSE or A Level grades for! For example, I'm pretty sure that if you showed enough enthusiasm and were determined enough you could get volunteer work for a few weeks / months which could end up leading to a permanent job if you prove yourself to those around you! Internships are another great way of getting experience without any actual qualifications! There are so many other things you can do that don't require exam grades...you could travel and meet some amazing people that completely change the path your life takes! I guess what I'm trying to say is that we all place unnecessary pressure on ourselves when it comes to exams, they sure as hell do help with your path for the future, and yes a certain amount of pressure is helpful in motivating ourselves; but they're not going to determine the way your entire life plans out! As long as you do your best, the outcome doesn't matter, and if you don't get the grades you hoped for just remember there are so many other options out there waiting for you!

On the flip side I see so many people that just don't care about exams and already think they don't matter. To those people I just want to say that yes, exams don't matter...but they DO open doors. Having qualifications can help you have more experiences throughout your life! Say you want to go to uni, but you don't care about your A Levels...how are you going to have that life changing experience of university if you don't quite get the grades to get you there? Of course, as I said before, it's not the end of the world, but being more highly qualified than the people you're going up against for THAT job can only help, right? Exams give you the best possible chance of doing the things you really want to do with your life, they can be a gateway to new experiences and open you up to an array of possibilities you had never imagined...all because you have a few qualifications. The exams you take don't matter, but they do open doors.

The idea for a post like this came when I was on my way back from sixth form and I was discussing exams with my dad; the whole sixth form had just had an assembly on exams, not stressing and how failure wasn't really failure (a teacher used the example of Steve Jobs being fired from Apple and going on to create Pixar)! My dad completely agreed and said 'exams don't matter, but they do open doors.' 
It got me thinking about the way there are three kinds of people when it comes to exams:

•  The ones who stress beyond belief
• The ones who either don't care or can't be bothered
• And the ones who have a nice balance of the two

I now thankfully only have one written exam remaining (history paper 2) and two drama practical exams! I'm incredibly lucky that I only have 4 written exams in total, some of my friends have 9! I think they've all gone well so far, which I suppose puts me in an okay position while I await my results in August!

 Let me know how you're getting on with your exams, I wish you all the best of luck!

Oooo also let me know if you agreed/disagreed with me on any of the points I made in this post! 
I like to see other peoples' thoughts and opinions!

Until next time, Cheerio! 
xx

Home Alone...

So this weekend I decided to stay at home whilst my family went off in the caravan for a little break over the bank holiday, mainly because doing revision is hard enough at the best of times and I knew that being stuck in a caravan would not make me want to pick up my history revision guide and start making mind maps on the holocaust! Now, I don't really understand why some people don't like staying home alone...I mean what could possibly be better than getting to watch whatever you want on TV and eating whatever and whenever you like? 

However being home alone can be a little boring what with having no one around to communicate with in person so I've created a list of my top (mostly cringe-worthy) ways to keep entertained and fill the empty silences in your house when home alone for a few evenings!

1. Sing your heart out! Oh yes, we all love to pretend we're some international superstar like, I don't know, say Beyonce? (What do you mean I can't sing?) So when is there a better time to completely belt out some cracking songs? The answer is never! I find this works best if you find some super cringey pop songs to sing along to...no one's around! 
2. Dance like crazy! Pretend you've 'got them moves like Jagger'!  What's better than dancing your way around your house to some cheesy songs and pretending you've got the best moves? Nothing!      (Hint: Think Hugh Grant in Love Actually! - If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, check it out HERE!)
3. Eat like a pig! No one's around to moan at you for eating two bars of chocolate to yourself, so why not? You want to eat a whole packet of biscuits or an entire tube of pringles, go for it!
4. Watch endless movies! Whatever is your guilty pleasure, stick it on! Horrors may not actually be the best idea though...! I opted for Pretty Woman (having never seen it before) followed by White Chicks (oh how I love that film!)
5. Mess around with makeup! Okay so this might sound weird but being home alone is a great time to experiment with your makeup, especially as there's no one around to see it if it goes wrong/looks awful! I decided I'd try drawing on thick, dark eyebrows one evening...it's safe to say I definitely won't be going outside like that anytime soon!
6. Selfies! It seems that everyone is super obsessed with taking selfies right now! So having the house to yourself means you can take a tonne of selfies without hiding from your family! It passes time...I don't know, maybe upload a few to instagram?

Well there's just a few ideas for filling the silences when home alone!

Do you have any more silly ways of keeping entertained?

I might not be blogging for the next few weeks as I'll be revising for and then sitting my AS exams...Ooo scary! Where has this year gone?

They are obviously my priority meaning blogging will simply have to take a backseat!

Until next time, Cheerio!

xx

Primark Haul!

So, a couple of days ago I took a trip into town, and being on a budget I of course took a trip to Primark to see if I could find anything for spring/summer as my wardrobe is in serious need of an overhaul! I managed to pick up a few basics I think will serve me well for casual days out this summer!

3 pairs of ankle socks for only £2!

Okay so the first thing I picked up were some adorable frilly socks, I already own a few pairs and I just love them! I think they make any outfit look cute and girly, making them a must have in my wardrobe! I picked these up in white as they'll go with pretty much anything, and a pale pink colour with cream frills; these were both £1.50 each! I also picked up a set of five ankle socks with frills for only £2! These are in the colours cream, lilac and turquoise, all with white lace trim! They're pretty much all identical to the Topshop ones but are considerably cheaper!

Only £1.50 each!

The second item I picked up was a basic floaty black cami as you can throw it on with anything and just add a chunky necklace to have a casual look or you can dress it up with a midi-skirt and heels for the evening! (I was actually in desperate need of one as I have a tartan midi-skirt that is a little too big around the waist so this will be perfect for either layering over the top or tucking in!) However it is quite thin - perfect for hot weather YES! Not so good for showing off your bra...so I think a bandeau will be needed underneath!

I picked this up for only £3 making it an absolute bargain!

The next thing I dropped into my basket was a casual speckled vest top in a sort of mint green/duck egg colour which I think will serve me well throughout the summer! The colour was the main reason I picked it up if I'm honest as I don't think I currently own anything in it!

This was also £3!

Now, as soon as I saw this t-shirt I knew I simply had to buy it! Firstly the colour is gorgeous! And secondly I adore anything with a collar! I think it's bordering on an obsession! I just think that collars make an outfit more girly and cute! You can't really tell from the picture but it's a sort of lilac/grey-ish colour!

I love the lace detailing!

I also bought two pairs of what I guess you could call capri pants? They're sort of checked cropped leggings and they remind me of the style in the fifties! I have quite a few pairs of leggings but they're either black, disco pant material or velvet which aren't exactly summery, so I thought I'd invest in these lovely ones! They're so comfy and as I do drama at sixth form I always need things I can move around in, and I hope these will also look pretty fab! 
Also for £5 each you can't really go wrong!

I'm loving midi rings at the moment!

Oooo and I also took a little trip to Topshop with my friends Emily and Laura (none of us can resist walking past!) I tried on some clothes and there was a really pretty skort and coral scalloped crop top which I fell in love with...however I decided it was too much money to spend at the time, but I'm tempted to go back and pick them up as a treat once exams are over! I did however pick up this super cute midi ring with a frog on it in the sale for only £2 (I may or may not have used my friends student discount on an already discounted ring)!
 

That's all from my little trip to town! I'm hoping to get some more summery clothes so I can completely overhaul my wardrobe this season! I'm especially loving pastels at the moment! 

Another thing I'm in desperate need of is shoes/sandals as the only summery-ish shoes I own are a pair of tan brogues! If you can recommend some sandals I'd be incredibly grateful!

I hope this was entertaining, I always love having a nosey at what other people have been buying!

Oh and I also apologize for the awful quality of some of these photos! (I'm currently using my phone's camera which is unfortunately not the best quality!)

I'm looking into buying a camera as I've been after one for ages!
 I'm not really sure which makes/models I should be looking at though so if any of you have any suggestions I would be super grateful!

Until next time, Cheerio!

xx

April Loves and Loathes!

Hello there! So I know that a lot of people do monthly 'favourites' blog post and vlogs and I really enjoy reading them all! But I thought I might try something a little bit different, instead of making a monthly favourites post, I've decided to term it 'loves and loathes' because while I think it's great to see what products people have been loving I also think it's fun and helpful to see what people aren't loving at the moment too! Now, I don't know if this is already a thing, other people might be doing this but I haven't seen any so here we go...!

Loves:

1. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in the colour 'Charm'

£7.99

I'm loving this at the moment, I think the colour is really nice for summer and it doesn't dry my lips out like I was expecting it too! I've read other reviews of this products that said it was drying, but I haven't found that when using it! It gives a really nice coral colour and lasts for the entire day!

 (The colour is also buildable!)

2. Rimmel Stay Matte pressed powder, in the shade 001 Transparent

£3.99

I am a huge fan of this powder and use it every single day! It gives your make up a nice matte finish and doesn't feel heavy or cakey! This also lasts for a pretty good amount of time, although I do sometimes top it up in areas that have a tendency to become a little more shiny throughout the day like my nose!

3. Kate Moss Lasting Finish Lipstick in the colour 107

£.5.49

I absolutely love this lipstick! The colour is great, especially if you're going out in an evening! It lasts all day, even after eating and drinking (it's a miracle, I know!) 

This is a must have in my makeup bag!

4. Rimmel Lasting Finish Mono Blush in the colour 050 Live Pink

£3.99

This blush is quite possibly my top favourite of this month! I love the colour and think it makes me look a lot healthier! I was a little frightened of the colour to begin with as I'd never had a blusher that was quite as pink, but once it's blended it gives a lovely glow and even makes me cheek bones stand out more (which is always a good thing!)

5. Superdrug Pro Blush Brush

£4.99

This had to be in my favourites as it, quite obviously, goes with the blusher! This brush is just so soft and works so well with applying blush! It's actually incredible for the price!

6. Easter Chocolate!

Well what can I say? Who doesn't love chocolate?! Especially at Easter with all of the creme eggs and chocolate bunnies!

Loathes:

1. Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer

£5.49

Sadly, I have to say that although I do really like the way this concealer feels on your skin (well it's more that you can't actually feel it!) and I also love the way it literally does wake your skin; I don't think it is making my skin very happy meaning it has to go into the loathes section!

2. Superdrug Pro Dual Ended Foundation and Concealer Brush

£2.50

I am so disappointed in this brush! I wasn't expecting great things as it did only cost me £2.50 (there was an offer) however I was expecting to be able to actually blend my foundation with it! The brush is stiff and offers no movement at all making blending practically impossible! The bristles are also hard against your face which is not a nice feature. I 100% recommend you steer clear of this brush! It's useless!

I hope you enjoyed this kind of post!

Do let me know in the comments if you have any loves and loathes of this month!

Until next time, Cheerio!

xx

I Love Drugstore Makeup - Tag

So I haven't really had time to sit and blog properly this week, what with exams looming over me and revision taking over every waking moment! I didn't want to completely abandon my blog though and have decided to do the 'I love Drugstore Makeup' tag. I've seen a few bloggers doing this recently and, no I haven't been tagged, but I figured it would fill the void whilst all this other stuff is going off! 

The posts pre-exams may not be of the best quality but I hope you'll bare with me and things will get back to normal soon!

Here we go...

1. What is your favourite drugstore makeup brand overall?

I would probably have to go with Rimmel, simply because the majority of makeup I own is from their collection and it's all really good!

2. What are your favourite face, cheek and lip products?

Face: I swear by the Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer, it gives great coverage and is super cheap! I also love the Rimmel Match Perfection foundation as I find that it blends really well and gives a nice medium coverage and isn't cakey! Ooo and I simply cannot forget the Rimmel Stay Matte Powder, it is an absolute must have in my makeup bag! (You see why I said Rimmel for the previous answer...?!)

Cheeks: I used to use an Avon blusher, the name/shade of the product had long since faded and I have no idea what it was called! But now I'm quite liking the Rimmel lasting finish soft powder blush in the colour 050 Live Pink as it gives a nice glow for the spring time!

Lips: The Rimmel Kate Moss lasting finish matte lipsticks give great colour and last for ages (even after eating and drinking)!

 My favourite at the moment is probably the dark red 107 shade!

3. Least favourite product?

Do brushes count as a product? I'm going to say they do! I hated the Superdrug pro dual ended foundation and concealer brush! I know it's cheap, BUT I still expected to be able to blend my foundation with it! The brush is rock solid and has no movement whatsoever making it near impossible to use!

4. What is the best makeup bargain?

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection concealer (as mentioned before!) I cannot recommend this product enough!

5. What is your favourite underdog product? (Something you love that often gets overlooked?)

I don't know if this is really an 'underdog' product but...the Collection 2000 Fast Stroke eyeliner, it's a bargain at only £2.99 and lasts all days, doesn't smudge and is really black!
I also love the Revlon Just Bitten Kissable lip stains! Especially the shade charm!

6. A drugstore product that is overpriced?

In all honesty, I think that a lot of makeup brushes are overpriced! Mascaras too!

7. Show your best drugstore dupe(s)!!

I haven't actually found any as of yet but Kal at Cluttered Closet seems to have found a pretty good dupe for MAC Heroine (you can read her post here)!

8. Drugstore product that isn’t worth the hype?

So far I'm not really loving the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer...I think it's because it's very light and I find that you have to use a fair amount to get good coverage!

Do let me know if you agree or disagree with any of these points!
Oh and I tag all of you to do this, either on your blog or in the comments! 
If you do, please let me know, I'd love to know what you love and loathe about drugstore makeup!

Until next time, Cheerio!
xx

How to Survive Stress (Exams)

Edited from original source

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh I've got work and exams and revision and coursework and friends and holidays and absolutely no way of getting everything done!!!!

Woah woah woah, let's stop right there.

Take a deep breath and...

Stress is something I'm pretty sure everyone feels at some point or another, whether it's exam pressure or friend issues or something else entirely! Different people become stressed by different things and it affects people in all kinds of ways. Some people become incredibly stressed and it takes over their entire life while others only get stressed a little bit! My point is that everyone gets stressed over different things and in different ways and it's all completely okay; but with exam season coming up for many of us (myself included, yikes!) I thought I'd share with you some of my tips for de-stressing!

1. Breathe!
Okay I know this sounds obvious but I mean really breathe; take a moment to just stop what you're doing and take a few deep breaths until you feel calm again. I find this really helps to clear your mind and focus your attention on what you need to do. When I get stressed I tend to stress over a particular thing (say revision or coursework) and this stressing basically stops me from being able to do anything productive. It's at that point that I just sit back and take a moment to breathe! It's simple enough really isn't it?

2. Distractions!
Believe it or not, it's good to do something other than focus on the reason you're stressing! Get out of the house, go and see friends, even just watch TV for half an hour. This might help take your mind of the reason you're stressing and you'll feel much better afterwards!

3. Time! 
Allow yourself a set amount of time to work in, don't spend an entire day focusing on revision! Let's be honest, it's boring and you probably won't remember half of it if you're doing it continually! Doing a few hours each day will probably be much more productive and you'll feel better because you haven't solidly worked for 8 hours (trust me 8 hours of revision is no fun, I gave it a go and almost died it was so much!)

4. Sleep! ZZZZzzzzzz.......
Make sure you get enough sleep, believe it or not you probably can't survive off 5 hours sleep! Sleep allows your body to recharge meaning you'll be more awake and able to deal with the problem causing you stress the next day. Before you go to bed make sure you haven't focused on the issue causing your stress. For example I'll stop doing revision at least an hour before going to bed so that my brain has time to unload all of the information I've been cramming it full of for the past few hours! If you keep doing the thing that's making you stressed right up until you get into bed, you probably won't sleep very well as your brain will still be focused on the issue! Your brain needs time to wind down and chill...just like the rest of your body does!

I hope this helped in some way!

Leave me a comment letting me know if you have any ways of de-stressing,

 or if any of these methods work for you!

Until next time, Cheerio!

xx