As I've said in my previous posts, I've been so manic lately that I just have not had time to blog. Also, I've just not been feeling inspired lately. I've given myself some time to distance myself from blogging because I don't want to produce weak posts and not put 100% effort into running the site. I've spent the last few weeks working and at uni and actually spending time with the people I love. As much as this blog is important to me and my future career prospects, I've actually been neglecting the real world for some time.
I'm in a state of imbalance with the amount of work I do and the amount of social time I have. Let's be honest, when you've been at work since 9, sometimes the last thing you want to do is go out. I love just coming home and watching TV and having an early night. Luckily, my boyfriend and friends are so understanding and want me to prioritise uni before everything.
I'm taking a summer module currently at uni but it's only three weeks long so I'm hoping that I will have more free time after that. I just don't want to blog for the sake of it; I want to make sure my posts are to the best of my ability or else what's the point? I know most bloggers try to schedule posts and write a bulk of them in a day but I never have that amount of time. I'd rather write less posts but with a better quality. I'm not saying bloggers who post everyday choose quantity over quality but I think that will work better for me.
So I will try to blog more but I'm not going to do so if it means sacrificing a meal out with friends or a night at my boyfriends.
Showing posts with label Personal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Personal. Show all posts
Monday, 23 June 2014
Thursday, 19 June 2014
Bloglovin'
So I've re-branded. I've changed the name of the blog from Swiftly Style to Sweet Petite Who Tweets as I do tend to focus on things other than just style. Now it'd be great if you could follow my new blog on Bloglovin'!
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Follow my blog with Bloglovin
Friday, 13 June 2014
Long time no see!
I realise I've been inactive for a couple of weeks now. I've hit a bit of a blogging wall if I'm being honest. In fairness, I've been busy with revision for my uni exams and getting more hours at my new job so I've barely even been on the laptop but I've just been lacking a bit of inspiration to blog at the moment. I'm sure it will be over with soon but I apologise for my blogging hiatus! Once I've got my summer module at uni over and done with and I'm just working, I'll be back with more content than ever!
Thursday, 22 May 2014
Thursday Thoughts #4
There are many things I have an interest in: fashion, make-up, rugby league but most people don't know that I am very interested in politics. I wouldn't say I'm obsessed or know everything about it but I do regularly look at the news in regards to political policies and change. It's an interest that started when I was about 16 and I started college. I took Government and Politics as an AS-Level but didn't complete it for various reasons. Nevertheless, I always have a keen eye when it comes to politics, especially when there are elections nearing. As many of you will be aware of (and some probably won't), today is the European elections and some local council elections which are critical for the UK's future. However, whilst on Twitter this morning, I realised how many people weren't going to vote. I cannot stress enough how much you should exercise your right to vote, especially young people and females. In many developing countries, only men are allowed to vote and women are petitioning to get their voices heard. I know most people's reply to that will be 'Well my vote won't count'. I say to that, you and thousands more with that opinion should not be allowed to moan when you don't like the people elected. Yes, when you vote and the guy you voted for doesn't get elected, it's a pain but you live with it.
These European elections are causing a lot of talk amongst voters as the main issue is do you want to stay in Europe or not? The main parties are in favour of staying in the EU (as am I) but several smaller parties are against it. UKIP are the main party people are talking about and it's scary that a lot of people are choosing to vote for them. The problem is they haven't actually looked at their other policies. They do not support gay marriage, wants to cut public spending by £77bn and wants to get rid of any renewable energy source. I could go on but people are only seeing the 'out of the EU' policy and haven't actually researched anything else. Those people are playing a dangerous game because I'm scared that they will get seats in the European Parliament. They are just as bad as the BNP in the 'British jobs for British workers' aspects and their hatred of the EU. Foreign citizens mostly come to the UK for work and they do the jobs that British people won't like strawberry and potato picking. I've seen them gathered on street corners at 7am waiting to be picked up. They work long days for less than minimum wage. British people are expensive; they want a good wage, lots of benefits and breaks and only want to work when they want to. Foreign citizens have amazing work ethics and British people don't. At the end of the day, it's an issue that many people do not have the same viewpoint as I on this matter. I feel strongly about staying in the EU; people fail to realise that there are no trade barriers within the EU and the foreigners that come to work in the UK have just as much right to as we do if we want to go and work elsewhere in Europe. Also, if we pull out of the EU, the prices of goods will increase and there will be less jobs because companies will not invest money into their UK factories and will pull out altogether. For this reason alone, I think it's a good enough reason to stay with the EU.
Another issue about elections is the fact that very few young people vote. At the 2010 general elections, 44% of 18-24 year olds voted. However, with local and European elections, this percentage is always significantly lower. The fact that less than half of us vote is disturbing frankly. 16 and 17 year olds want the right to be able to vote too; I say as much as I'd love them to lower the voting age to 16, I think it means that this 44% figure will decrease even more with the inclusion of 16 and 17 year olds. Here are a few reasons as to why young people don't vote:
These European elections are causing a lot of talk amongst voters as the main issue is do you want to stay in Europe or not? The main parties are in favour of staying in the EU (as am I) but several smaller parties are against it. UKIP are the main party people are talking about and it's scary that a lot of people are choosing to vote for them. The problem is they haven't actually looked at their other policies. They do not support gay marriage, wants to cut public spending by £77bn and wants to get rid of any renewable energy source. I could go on but people are only seeing the 'out of the EU' policy and haven't actually researched anything else. Those people are playing a dangerous game because I'm scared that they will get seats in the European Parliament. They are just as bad as the BNP in the 'British jobs for British workers' aspects and their hatred of the EU. Foreign citizens mostly come to the UK for work and they do the jobs that British people won't like strawberry and potato picking. I've seen them gathered on street corners at 7am waiting to be picked up. They work long days for less than minimum wage. British people are expensive; they want a good wage, lots of benefits and breaks and only want to work when they want to. Foreign citizens have amazing work ethics and British people don't. At the end of the day, it's an issue that many people do not have the same viewpoint as I on this matter. I feel strongly about staying in the EU; people fail to realise that there are no trade barriers within the EU and the foreigners that come to work in the UK have just as much right to as we do if we want to go and work elsewhere in Europe. Also, if we pull out of the EU, the prices of goods will increase and there will be less jobs because companies will not invest money into their UK factories and will pull out altogether. For this reason alone, I think it's a good enough reason to stay with the EU.
Another issue about elections is the fact that very few young people vote. At the 2010 general elections, 44% of 18-24 year olds voted. However, with local and European elections, this percentage is always significantly lower. The fact that less than half of us vote is disturbing frankly. 16 and 17 year olds want the right to be able to vote too; I say as much as I'd love them to lower the voting age to 16, I think it means that this 44% figure will decrease even more with the inclusion of 16 and 17 year olds. Here are a few reasons as to why young people don't vote:
- not enough info available about parties, policies or how to vote
- don't think it affects them
- politicians don't listen to young people, don't think they have a voice
- politicians more interested in big businesses
- parents/family/friends don't vote
- when they do try and aim at young people, often condescending in their communications
- don't feel represented in Parliament: all middle-class, middle-aged men running the country
- don't feel a connection with any party
Now I understand these viewpoints, every single one of them I do, but every vote does matter. Today, UKIP is getting more support than ever so if the rest of the country don't vote against them, they'll win! In that case, your vote matters more than ever.
In order to get young people more involved in elections, they need more information. As soon as every person in the country turns 18 and has a voting card sent out to them, they should be sent out an election pack with information on the parities, the policies they stand for and how these policies will affect different types of people. I know each party sends out their own leaflets but let's face it, most of us don't read them because they're always biased. As well as this, there should be an online resource that is updated every election with the political parties' new policies. This way, it is quicker to access and won't cost the government as much. Another issue is the place to vote. Ballots are being trialled today in such places as hairdressers and launderettes in order to be more convenient. I've always thought supermarkets should have ballot boxes placed at the doors on election day as most shoppers will be in there either before or after work and wouldn't need to make an extra journey to the polling station. The polling stations are local and are open from 7am to 10pm so it shouldn't really be an issue but by having them in more convenient places, it might be able to gather more voters; those voters would probably make a huge decision to the overall results too.
As you can see, it's a subject that I feel very passionate about. I don't really have a favoured party but I feel like people should read all the policies of the parties involved before casting their vote. Your vote does count.
Thursday, 15 May 2014
Thursday Thoughts #3
So my plan to blog every day went right out of the window! I've been either working or revising so I've not had time for anything. Now I've got a week off work but still tonnes of revision to do. Which leads me to this week's Thursday Thoughts- university.
Currently, I am coming to the end of my second year at Hull Uni and I still don't really like it. I want the degree but I don't really like everything else that goes with it. Before I go into that, I'll explain a little about my university path.
Since I was about 13, I dreamed of becoming a journalist. I love writing. It only became a proper career thought when I started college. I started one college because my friends were all going there and hated it so quit after 4 months. After working for the next few months, I decided to start afresh and go to the college I originally planned on going to. It was during my two years here that I really thought it would be a career I would love. I even got to do a journalism piece for my English Language coursework and got 39 out of 40 marks. So during my second year, I applied for uni and chose Salford as my first choice. On results day, I was in tears because I got 3 C's and I needed 3 B's to get into Salford but after checking UCAS, I was thrilled to see I'd been accepted! The next couple of months consisted of me buying anything and everything for uni; I was so excited to move away and start a new and meet new people. The problem was when I got there.
It turned out I was in a flat with 5 third years, most of who knew each other. When I first got there, only 2 of them were there. One girl never left her room but the other one had a massive party on the first night in the kitchen. Having the room right near both the kitchen and front door was not fun. It was loud and I got no sleep. The following morning, I woke up to find the kitchen in a right state. I'm not saying everyone is a clean freak like me but if you're sharing a kitchen, clean up after yourself. The second night, my friend from Hull finally arrived (we were both going to the same uni but he was in a different flat) and we ended up drinking with one of my new housemates. Then it seemed like everyone had invited someone. At first there were about six of us, then it went to about sixty. At this point, I was feeling very claustrophobic and anxious so went into my room and refused to come out. My parents had gone home that afternoon so I was feeling pretty down. It was at that point I knew I had to go home. A lot of people said I should have stuck it out but I was unhappy and would have come home eventually. So off I went home and have never been back since.
Luckily, because of clearing, I managed to get a place at Hull Uni studying Business. I knew I didn't really want to be there as I still wanted to pursue a career in journalism but it was that or full-time work until I decided what to do. Two years later, I'm now studying Marketing and nearing the end of my second year. I'm pretty unmotivated when it comes to uni nowadays because I know exactly what I'm doing when I graduate. Move to Manchester, do my journalism course, try to find a job. My Marketing degree should help here too. I changed from Business because I was only getting 2:2s on the Business modules and 1sts on the Marketing ones!
In terms of the course, I do like it; I find it interesting and helpful for my future career. I just don't like everything else to do with uni. I hate socialising. I don't drink anymore so I come across as boring and don't really want to go and make new friends. I have all the people I need in my life. To overcome this, I joined the Performing Arts society but because of my recent back injury, it's left me more depressed than I was before.
I just want the next year to go by as quickly as possible so I can get properly on track for my planned future.
Currently, I am coming to the end of my second year at Hull Uni and I still don't really like it. I want the degree but I don't really like everything else that goes with it. Before I go into that, I'll explain a little about my university path.
Since I was about 13, I dreamed of becoming a journalist. I love writing. It only became a proper career thought when I started college. I started one college because my friends were all going there and hated it so quit after 4 months. After working for the next few months, I decided to start afresh and go to the college I originally planned on going to. It was during my two years here that I really thought it would be a career I would love. I even got to do a journalism piece for my English Language coursework and got 39 out of 40 marks. So during my second year, I applied for uni and chose Salford as my first choice. On results day, I was in tears because I got 3 C's and I needed 3 B's to get into Salford but after checking UCAS, I was thrilled to see I'd been accepted! The next couple of months consisted of me buying anything and everything for uni; I was so excited to move away and start a new and meet new people. The problem was when I got there.
It turned out I was in a flat with 5 third years, most of who knew each other. When I first got there, only 2 of them were there. One girl never left her room but the other one had a massive party on the first night in the kitchen. Having the room right near both the kitchen and front door was not fun. It was loud and I got no sleep. The following morning, I woke up to find the kitchen in a right state. I'm not saying everyone is a clean freak like me but if you're sharing a kitchen, clean up after yourself. The second night, my friend from Hull finally arrived (we were both going to the same uni but he was in a different flat) and we ended up drinking with one of my new housemates. Then it seemed like everyone had invited someone. At first there were about six of us, then it went to about sixty. At this point, I was feeling very claustrophobic and anxious so went into my room and refused to come out. My parents had gone home that afternoon so I was feeling pretty down. It was at that point I knew I had to go home. A lot of people said I should have stuck it out but I was unhappy and would have come home eventually. So off I went home and have never been back since.
Luckily, because of clearing, I managed to get a place at Hull Uni studying Business. I knew I didn't really want to be there as I still wanted to pursue a career in journalism but it was that or full-time work until I decided what to do. Two years later, I'm now studying Marketing and nearing the end of my second year. I'm pretty unmotivated when it comes to uni nowadays because I know exactly what I'm doing when I graduate. Move to Manchester, do my journalism course, try to find a job. My Marketing degree should help here too. I changed from Business because I was only getting 2:2s on the Business modules and 1sts on the Marketing ones!
In terms of the course, I do like it; I find it interesting and helpful for my future career. I just don't like everything else to do with uni. I hate socialising. I don't drink anymore so I come across as boring and don't really want to go and make new friends. I have all the people I need in my life. To overcome this, I joined the Performing Arts society but because of my recent back injury, it's left me more depressed than I was before.
I just want the next year to go by as quickly as possible so I can get properly on track for my planned future.
Sunday, 11 May 2014
Snapshot Sunday #1
I didn't do a Month in Photos post for April so I'll add those photos to this post. I've had a busy last few weeks so my photos are lacking!
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| 1. Outfit #1 for the day. 2. Outfit #2 on the same day. 3. Outfit #3 on the same day. 4. Different day this time! This is the only bit of animal print I own. |
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| 5. Starbucks fix before a cleaning shift at my old work. 6. New ballet shoes! 7. Easter meant lots of rugby. 8. Easter also meant lots of chocolate. I don't get eggs. |
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| 9. These two are my favourite rugby players, George and Tom Burgess who turned 22 last month! 10. Easter Monday pub meal in Liverpool with my gorgeous boyfriend and his parents. 11. The day after, we visited Anfield. This image is something I'll never forget seeing. 12. On Thursday night, I went to watch my HUPAS family's showcase (I've got a slipped disc in my back so was unable to take part). The show was amazing! :) |
Thursday, 8 May 2014
Thursday Thoughts #2
I've got money on my mind right now. I've been at my new job about 3 weeks now so at the end of the month I'll have more money. I'm doing more hours as well so my payslip should be healthy. My problem is overspending. I intended to put my student loans into my savings account and treat myself with the grant part. In my first year, I did that amazingly. In my second year, the first bulk went into savings and the second lot went to H&M and New Look. This time, I've transferred more money that I intended to this time just so I didn't overspend. As soon as payday comes along though, I know I'll spend a lot of the money.
Online shopping is a nightmare for me. My main issue is that I end up buying things and sending them back. I struggle to find clothes that fit perfectly which means I often have to pay that little bit more so that they do. I'm a materialistic person. I know I should be ashamed to say that but I'm not. I like things. I earn my own money so I don't see why it's a problem. I like having lots of things (mostly clothes, shoes and bags of course) but I work hard to be able to afford them. It's not often my family just give me money to spend unless it's Christmas or my birthday.
I tend to spend the majority of my money on clothes. I like having an overflowing wardrobe but I still want more. I'm thinking about setting up an eBay shop to make a bit of money.
Am I the only one who likes spending? I feel like Kim Kardashian in that episode where they get a specialist in to deal with her shopping addiction!
Thursday, 1 May 2014
Thursday Thoughts #1
My first Thursday Thoughts is going to be about staying organised. I like to think I'm really organised (I have several diaries and ideas about how to keep on track of things) but I constantly feel like I'm behind on things. Right now I'm trying to balance uni, exams, work, rehearsals, spending time with family, friends and my boyfriend as well as having some time to myself. Here are my top tips:
1. Buy a diary- Seriously, I have no idea how people live without them. Everything I have to do goes into mine. I have a day-a-page diary that I pretty much take everywhere with me and a week-a-page diary that sits on my desk.
The black diary is my day-a-page one and the blue one is my week-a-page diary. I'd say I use the black one more, purely because it's with me constantly.
2. Colour-coordinate your schedule- Having a diary is one thing but using it properly is the best way to get the best out of it.
This is a page from my black diary. I use pink for lectures, green for seminars and tutorials, red for reading and work that needs to be done and black for anything else. At the start of the semester, I get all of my module handbooks printed off for uni and read them thoroughly to see where I need to be on what day and what I need to read to be prepared. As you can see here, I have this Friday morning free. I try to get work done in times like this so I have nights free for family/dates/friends.
This is a photo from my blue diary. It's less detailed than my black one but still includes lectures and tutorials as well as the rugby fixtures for the week. Because rugby is an important thing in my life, I highlight which games are on TV as well as all Hull FC and South Sydney games. I try to fit my plans around these as I try to watch as many games as I can.
3. Breaks are important- I try to do all of my uni work during weekdays so I can spend my nights with my boyfriend. Obviously it doesn't always go to plan but I try to see him at least once during the week and once at weekends. Also, because I work all day Saturday and Sunday now, the last thing I want to do on a weekend night is come home and do work. It's crucial that I do my work during the week but if needs be, I use Sunday nights to catch up. Having a social life is vital. I've been studying so hard in the past couple of months that I've barely had time to see anyone. Thank god the semester ends soon or else I'd be going insane. Now I'm starting to realise that I need to have some free time. Whether I use this time to catch up with friends, go to my boyfriend's house, watch TV or blog, it doesn't matter. It means I can just relax for a bit without thinking about everything I have to do.
4. Don't try to do too much at once- I'm a hypocrite here because I always take on more than I can handle. Then I end up getting stressed and doing nothing. However, especially when studying, make sure you don't set your sights too high. There's no chance that you'll read a full textbook in a day. Read a chapter, take a break. That's how I do it. A break can be anything from grabbing something to eat, going for a walk, ringing my boyfriend, doing some yoga, literally anything. But don't take too long or you'll never go back to it. The other way I do it is say I'm going to revise for two hours and don't take a break. Sometimes if my schedule is so packed, I have to work this way. If I've got a whole free day, I'll use the first way I suggested. Something I've just found that might help me this exam season is this weekly planner from Paperchase.
1. Buy a diary- Seriously, I have no idea how people live without them. Everything I have to do goes into mine. I have a day-a-page diary that I pretty much take everywhere with me and a week-a-page diary that sits on my desk.
The black diary is my day-a-page one and the blue one is my week-a-page diary. I'd say I use the black one more, purely because it's with me constantly.
2. Colour-coordinate your schedule- Having a diary is one thing but using it properly is the best way to get the best out of it.
This is a page from my black diary. I use pink for lectures, green for seminars and tutorials, red for reading and work that needs to be done and black for anything else. At the start of the semester, I get all of my module handbooks printed off for uni and read them thoroughly to see where I need to be on what day and what I need to read to be prepared. As you can see here, I have this Friday morning free. I try to get work done in times like this so I have nights free for family/dates/friends.
This is a photo from my blue diary. It's less detailed than my black one but still includes lectures and tutorials as well as the rugby fixtures for the week. Because rugby is an important thing in my life, I highlight which games are on TV as well as all Hull FC and South Sydney games. I try to fit my plans around these as I try to watch as many games as I can.
3. Breaks are important- I try to do all of my uni work during weekdays so I can spend my nights with my boyfriend. Obviously it doesn't always go to plan but I try to see him at least once during the week and once at weekends. Also, because I work all day Saturday and Sunday now, the last thing I want to do on a weekend night is come home and do work. It's crucial that I do my work during the week but if needs be, I use Sunday nights to catch up. Having a social life is vital. I've been studying so hard in the past couple of months that I've barely had time to see anyone. Thank god the semester ends soon or else I'd be going insane. Now I'm starting to realise that I need to have some free time. Whether I use this time to catch up with friends, go to my boyfriend's house, watch TV or blog, it doesn't matter. It means I can just relax for a bit without thinking about everything I have to do.
4. Don't try to do too much at once- I'm a hypocrite here because I always take on more than I can handle. Then I end up getting stressed and doing nothing. However, especially when studying, make sure you don't set your sights too high. There's no chance that you'll read a full textbook in a day. Read a chapter, take a break. That's how I do it. A break can be anything from grabbing something to eat, going for a walk, ringing my boyfriend, doing some yoga, literally anything. But don't take too long or you'll never go back to it. The other way I do it is say I'm going to revise for two hours and don't take a break. Sometimes if my schedule is so packed, I have to work this way. If I've got a whole free day, I'll use the first way I suggested. Something I've just found that might help me this exam season is this weekly planner from Paperchase.
I plan to write which topics I need to cover and their relevant chapters. Granted, this won't work for everyone but it does for me. Plus the pad looks super cute!
5. Don't forget to eat and drink- I always have a bottle of water with me anyway but it's so important to keep hydrated when studying. I often have a bowl of crisps or sweets on my desk too but I do try to cut back on them. Because I don't eat healthily at all, I'm just trying to cut back on junk food!
6. Make sure you do revise- Easier said than done. Even when you're sat at your desk, it's easy to get distracted by computers and phones. I prefer to read textbooks for revision rather than use my laptop so I never have that issue. I do always have my phone by my side so that is more difficult. When I'm seriously revising, I leave my phone downstairs and revise upstairs. This worked last year so I plan on doing that again. If you can't bear to part with your beloved technology, set yourself a goal. For example, revise for 50 minutes, have a social media break for 10. I'm lucky that my boyfriend is so supportive despite him not being in uni. When I'm studying, he'll stop texting me and just tell me to text him when I'm on a break or finished.
7. Don't leave everything until the last minute- This tip is for every student out there. How people can still be manically revising the day before an exam, I have no idea. I start my revision at least a month early (I don't have an exam until the 20th May but I started my revision at the start of April). I know it works for some people but not for me. The day before an exam, I just read all of my notes again. If it's not in my brain by then, I doubt it will stay in after that point.
At the end of the day, you choose the best strategy for you. These are just some tips that I've learnt over the past few years through college and university that work for me. What are your tips for revising and staying organised?
Monday, 28 April 2014
Manic Monday #1
So today is my first day back at uni even though I don't have a lecture until tomorrow! I've started my new job but my next two weeks are hectic! I have exams to revise for and society rehearsals but I am going to try and schedule in some blogging. So I'm thinking of having a theme for every day so I keep on track!
Mondays- Manic Monday. Because I'm revising so much, I'll be doing a shorter post, sort of like an update on all things.
Tuesdays- Shoesday Tuesday. I love shoes, fact. I'll either show you the shoes I'm wearing and maybe style a couple of outfits around them or find a pair I love online.
Wednesdays- Wednesday Wishlist. It's a regular feature on most blogs and I've done a couple so far but I'm interested in looking at some lesser-known websites and seeing what they have to offer.
Thursdays- Thursday Thoughts. I like to take some time out mid-week to have a think about things and I'll share these thoughts with you.
Friday- Fashion Fridays. I'll recap my outfits from the past week or other fashion related posts.
Saturdays/Sundays- Snapshots or Spotlights. Because I work all weekend long, I'll alternate between a review of Instagram and the things I've been loving in the past fortnight.
What do you guys think? Are there any other themes I could have? I came up with these pretty quickly so I'd welcome any thoughts!
Mondays- Manic Monday. Because I'm revising so much, I'll be doing a shorter post, sort of like an update on all things.
Tuesdays- Shoesday Tuesday. I love shoes, fact. I'll either show you the shoes I'm wearing and maybe style a couple of outfits around them or find a pair I love online.
Wednesdays- Wednesday Wishlist. It's a regular feature on most blogs and I've done a couple so far but I'm interested in looking at some lesser-known websites and seeing what they have to offer.
Thursdays- Thursday Thoughts. I like to take some time out mid-week to have a think about things and I'll share these thoughts with you.
Friday- Fashion Fridays. I'll recap my outfits from the past week or other fashion related posts.
Saturdays/Sundays- Snapshots or Spotlights. Because I work all weekend long, I'll alternate between a review of Instagram and the things I've been loving in the past fortnight.
What do you guys think? Are there any other themes I could have? I came up with these pretty quickly so I'd welcome any thoughts!
Monday, 14 April 2014
An Update
I realise that I don't blog much right now; I'm just so bogged down with uni and work. But some new things have happened in my life recently.
Firstly, I've got a new job! Finally I can escape my current one and have something more routine. That means my weekends are purely for work.
Secondly, I've changed my course at uni. I was doing Business but since I've realised I get better results on my marketing modules than the business ones this year, I'm switching to Marketing. I want that first godammit!
Thirdly, this time next week, I'll be on my first trip away with my boyfriend. We're going to Liverpool for a couple of days with his parents and I'm super excited!
Fourthly, last weekend, my boyfriend finally met my parents and the meal actually went quite well. Tom (my boyfriend) was very polite but didn't talk much. In fairness, I didn't really give him much space to say anything!
Finally, my blog has reached 200 followers on Bloglovin'! I'm so excited! :)
Next week after Liverpool, I start my new job but once I'm back at uni on the 28th, I'll be in a routine so will be able to fit in more blogging so more will come soon! Watch this space, eh?
Firstly, I've got a new job! Finally I can escape my current one and have something more routine. That means my weekends are purely for work.
Secondly, I've changed my course at uni. I was doing Business but since I've realised I get better results on my marketing modules than the business ones this year, I'm switching to Marketing. I want that first godammit!
Thirdly, this time next week, I'll be on my first trip away with my boyfriend. We're going to Liverpool for a couple of days with his parents and I'm super excited!
Fourthly, last weekend, my boyfriend finally met my parents and the meal actually went quite well. Tom (my boyfriend) was very polite but didn't talk much. In fairness, I didn't really give him much space to say anything!
Finally, my blog has reached 200 followers on Bloglovin'! I'm so excited! :)
Next week after Liverpool, I start my new job but once I'm back at uni on the 28th, I'll be in a routine so will be able to fit in more blogging so more will come soon! Watch this space, eh?
Monday, 7 April 2014
The TMI Tag
So I've not had chance to get on any sort of laptop/tablet/computer device because I've had a busy weekend. This morning, I decided to read my Bloglovin feed (I have nearly 1000 blog posts to read now!) and came across Jenny's TMI Tag post. She'd tagged anyone reading it so I thought I'd give it a go!
1. What are you wearing?
Well I've had a lazy morning as I have to get ready for work soon so I'm still in my PJs, dressing gown and slippers!
2. Have you ever been in love?
I thought I'd been in love 3 times but it turns out the first two were more lust. Currently I am in love with my amazing boyfriend :)
3. Have you ever had a terrible break up?
I've had my heart broken by text more times than I can count. Boys can be so callous sometimes!
4. How tall are you?
I'm only tiny, a mere 5"2!
5. How much do you weigh?
I don't really like this question. I'm tiny and slim so don't weigh that much but as long as you're healthy, it shouldn't matter!
6. Any tattoos?
Nope, I've been thinking about getting one for a couple of years but I'm such a chicken! My dad hates tattoos so that's probably why but my boyfriend and I have talked about getting matching tattoos some time in the future.
7. Any piercings?
No, I must have a fear of pain!
8. Your OTP? (one true pairing)
Has to be Blair and Chuck from Gossip Girl. Never have two people been so suited to each other! And of course, I'd throw my boyfriend and I into the mix there :)
9. Your favourite show?
The OC, One Tree Hill or Gossip Girl. How am I meant to pick one?
10. Favourite band?
I have such a varied music taste but my favourite two bands have to be The Beatles and McFly. My dad got me listening to The Beatles from a young age and I've been a McFly fan since day 1.
11. Something you miss?
I miss dancing a lot; also since I started uni, I've lost contact with a lot of friends I used to be close to, just because I'm always so busy.
12. Favourite song?
That's really tough! I'd say Shooting Star by Air Traffic. It's not a well known song but I love the lyrics.
13. How old are you?
21 :)
14. What zodiac sign are you?
Capricorn, ambitious and responsible. True dat!
15. Qualities you look for in a partner?
Kindness, a big heart, humour, romantic, has to be a fan of sports and athletic.
16. Favourite quote?
My two favourite quotes are from films. The first one, "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game" is from A Cinderella Story and the second one, "Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?", is from What A Girl Wants.
17. Favourite actor?
I could say someone really credible with loads of accolades but that would be a lie. Channing Tatum or Zac Efron. Purely for their acting skills of course.
18. Favourite colour?
Red.
19. Loud music or soft?
Depends on my mood. If I need cheering up, I'll put on my rock playlist or childhood playlist and have a singalong but if I'm ready for bed, my chilled playlist gets a listen.
20. Where do you go when you're sad?
My room or my boyfriend's arms.
21. How long does it take you to shower?
If I'm washing my hair, about 30 minutes. If I'm not, about 5.
22. How long does it take you to get ready in a morning?
Anything from 10 minutes to an hour. Depends where I'm going and who I'll be seeing!
23. Ever been in a physical fight?
I've been caught in the middle of two people fighting and ended up being pushed down a flight of spiral stairs. Not fun at all. Make love not war, kids.
24. Turn on?
My boyfriend in a shirt and tie.
25. Turn off?
Lack of manners.
26. The reason you started blogging?
I thought it would help me with my career aspirations of working in journalism or marketing plus I love writing.
27. Fears?
Not being good enough, pineapples and butterflies. Actually any insect.
28. Last thing that made you cry?
I had a bit of a cry with my boyfriend the other night, no need for details.
29. Last time you said you loved someone?
At 7.17am, just before my boyfriend started work, I text him that. In person, it was Saturday night.
30. Meaning behind your blog name?
I have an obsession with Taylor Swift and clothes, hence Swiftly Style.
31. Last book you read?
Probably I Heart Christmas by Lindsey Kelk (it's my favourite book series).
32. The book you're currently reading?
Well I do an English free elective module at uni so I should say a book I need to read for that but last night I started reading The Fault In Our Stars by John Green to see what the hype was about.
33. Last show you watched?
E! News. I love it!
34. Last person you talked to?
My dad, just before he left for work this morning. We chatted about rugby, quelle surprise.
35. The relationship between you and the last person you texted?
He's my boyfriend. We've only been an official couple for just over two months but I can't imagine life without him.
36. Favourite food?
I should be good and say something healthy but I just love pizza too much! Seeing as it's Easter, Mini Eggs are the food of the moment for me.
37. Places you want to visit?
I'm really interested in seeing the rest of the UK more but the ultimate is of course New York. Oh and Australia, mmmmm surfers ;)
38. Last place you were?
Well currently I'm in my living room and was in my bedroom before that. I guess outside of my house, it was work. I literally came straight home from work, put my PJs on and had a night in front of the telly.
39. Do you have a crush?
My boyfriend, duh.
40. Last time you kissed someone?
My boyfriend met my parents for the first time on Saturday night so it was a goodbye kiss on my doorstep when he left. Cute :)
41. Last time you were insulted?
My dad and I are always taking the mick out of each other on a daily basis but I can't even remember the last time someone said something malicious to me and meant it.
42. Favourite flavour of sweet?
Strawberry, always.
43. What instruments do you play?
My friend taught me to play the piano when I was about 7 or 8 and I played the violin from the same age up until I was 11. And of course, I learnt the recorder in primary school, who didn't?
44. Favourite piece of jewellery?
I have a ring that my nanna bought me a couple of years ago that I wear religiously; it's just a plain silver ring with a tiny diamond on it. Also, my boyfriend bought me a necklace for my 21st; it's a silver key to show that I have the key to his heart :)
45. Last sport you played?
I don't participate, I spectate. I workout when I can but actual sport, I haven't played since school!
46. Last song you sang?
Dancing Queen by Abba. I'm part of the Performing Arts society at uni and this is part of a Mamma Mia medley that I'm performing in.
47. Favourite chat up line?
I love cheesy chat-up lines. It's funniest when guys think they will actually work. I love them all!
48. Have you ever used it?
I would only use them jokingly to make my boyfriend smile.
49. Last time you hung out with someone?
I don't think work counts so Saturday night with my boyfriend and parents.
50. Who should answer this tag?
Anyone of my lovely followers reading this! :)
1. What are you wearing?
Well I've had a lazy morning as I have to get ready for work soon so I'm still in my PJs, dressing gown and slippers!
2. Have you ever been in love?
I thought I'd been in love 3 times but it turns out the first two were more lust. Currently I am in love with my amazing boyfriend :)
3. Have you ever had a terrible break up?
I've had my heart broken by text more times than I can count. Boys can be so callous sometimes!
4. How tall are you?
I'm only tiny, a mere 5"2!
5. How much do you weigh?
I don't really like this question. I'm tiny and slim so don't weigh that much but as long as you're healthy, it shouldn't matter!
6. Any tattoos?
Nope, I've been thinking about getting one for a couple of years but I'm such a chicken! My dad hates tattoos so that's probably why but my boyfriend and I have talked about getting matching tattoos some time in the future.
7. Any piercings?
No, I must have a fear of pain!
8. Your OTP? (one true pairing)
Has to be Blair and Chuck from Gossip Girl. Never have two people been so suited to each other! And of course, I'd throw my boyfriend and I into the mix there :)
9. Your favourite show?
The OC, One Tree Hill or Gossip Girl. How am I meant to pick one?
10. Favourite band?
I have such a varied music taste but my favourite two bands have to be The Beatles and McFly. My dad got me listening to The Beatles from a young age and I've been a McFly fan since day 1.
11. Something you miss?
I miss dancing a lot; also since I started uni, I've lost contact with a lot of friends I used to be close to, just because I'm always so busy.
12. Favourite song?
That's really tough! I'd say Shooting Star by Air Traffic. It's not a well known song but I love the lyrics.
13. How old are you?
21 :)
14. What zodiac sign are you?
Capricorn, ambitious and responsible. True dat!
15. Qualities you look for in a partner?
Kindness, a big heart, humour, romantic, has to be a fan of sports and athletic.
16. Favourite quote?
My two favourite quotes are from films. The first one, "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game" is from A Cinderella Story and the second one, "Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you were born to stand out?", is from What A Girl Wants.
17. Favourite actor?
I could say someone really credible with loads of accolades but that would be a lie. Channing Tatum or Zac Efron. Purely for their acting skills of course.
18. Favourite colour?
Red.
19. Loud music or soft?
Depends on my mood. If I need cheering up, I'll put on my rock playlist or childhood playlist and have a singalong but if I'm ready for bed, my chilled playlist gets a listen.
20. Where do you go when you're sad?
My room or my boyfriend's arms.
21. How long does it take you to shower?
If I'm washing my hair, about 30 minutes. If I'm not, about 5.
22. How long does it take you to get ready in a morning?
Anything from 10 minutes to an hour. Depends where I'm going and who I'll be seeing!
23. Ever been in a physical fight?
I've been caught in the middle of two people fighting and ended up being pushed down a flight of spiral stairs. Not fun at all. Make love not war, kids.
24. Turn on?
My boyfriend in a shirt and tie.
25. Turn off?
Lack of manners.
26. The reason you started blogging?
I thought it would help me with my career aspirations of working in journalism or marketing plus I love writing.
27. Fears?
Not being good enough, pineapples and butterflies. Actually any insect.
28. Last thing that made you cry?
I had a bit of a cry with my boyfriend the other night, no need for details.
29. Last time you said you loved someone?
At 7.17am, just before my boyfriend started work, I text him that. In person, it was Saturday night.
30. Meaning behind your blog name?
I have an obsession with Taylor Swift and clothes, hence Swiftly Style.
31. Last book you read?
Probably I Heart Christmas by Lindsey Kelk (it's my favourite book series).
32. The book you're currently reading?
Well I do an English free elective module at uni so I should say a book I need to read for that but last night I started reading The Fault In Our Stars by John Green to see what the hype was about.
33. Last show you watched?
E! News. I love it!
34. Last person you talked to?
My dad, just before he left for work this morning. We chatted about rugby, quelle surprise.
35. The relationship between you and the last person you texted?
He's my boyfriend. We've only been an official couple for just over two months but I can't imagine life without him.
36. Favourite food?
I should be good and say something healthy but I just love pizza too much! Seeing as it's Easter, Mini Eggs are the food of the moment for me.
37. Places you want to visit?
I'm really interested in seeing the rest of the UK more but the ultimate is of course New York. Oh and Australia, mmmmm surfers ;)
38. Last place you were?
Well currently I'm in my living room and was in my bedroom before that. I guess outside of my house, it was work. I literally came straight home from work, put my PJs on and had a night in front of the telly.
39. Do you have a crush?
My boyfriend, duh.
40. Last time you kissed someone?
My boyfriend met my parents for the first time on Saturday night so it was a goodbye kiss on my doorstep when he left. Cute :)
41. Last time you were insulted?
My dad and I are always taking the mick out of each other on a daily basis but I can't even remember the last time someone said something malicious to me and meant it.
42. Favourite flavour of sweet?
Strawberry, always.
43. What instruments do you play?
My friend taught me to play the piano when I was about 7 or 8 and I played the violin from the same age up until I was 11. And of course, I learnt the recorder in primary school, who didn't?
44. Favourite piece of jewellery?
I have a ring that my nanna bought me a couple of years ago that I wear religiously; it's just a plain silver ring with a tiny diamond on it. Also, my boyfriend bought me a necklace for my 21st; it's a silver key to show that I have the key to his heart :)
45. Last sport you played?
I don't participate, I spectate. I workout when I can but actual sport, I haven't played since school!
46. Last song you sang?
Dancing Queen by Abba. I'm part of the Performing Arts society at uni and this is part of a Mamma Mia medley that I'm performing in.
47. Favourite chat up line?
I love cheesy chat-up lines. It's funniest when guys think they will actually work. I love them all!
48. Have you ever used it?
I would only use them jokingly to make my boyfriend smile.
49. Last time you hung out with someone?
I don't think work counts so Saturday night with my boyfriend and parents.
50. Who should answer this tag?
Anyone of my lovely followers reading this! :)
Tuesday, 1 April 2014
My March In Pictures
So March has been a bit of an average month. All I've done is uni work, worked out and spent all my spare time with my boyfriend. It might seem boring but it's my routine right now and I like it!
I'm so excited for April. This is my last week of uni before breaking up for Easter and I get three weeks off! I've got a couple of essays to do and exams to revise for but if I do a bit every day, I'll get to spend as much time with my boyfriend as possible! We're also going on our first trip away together: Liverpool with his parents. We're both super excited for that!
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| 1. My love of tartan continues. 2. When I'm not reading textbooks, I read proper literature like these. 3. My new £2 slippers! |
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| 4. When I wear colour, that's how I wear it. 5. I've had these shoes for a couple of years and I've only just got round to wearing them! 6. One of my workout outfits. |
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| 7. Sunday night= PJs. 8. The same night, I spent it reading and eating brownies. 9. I've been doing this shred this month and it's way too hard. |
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| 10. I baked cupcakes for the first time in ages and they actually tasted nice! 11. My mini shopping haul- see here 12. I love gummy sweets so much. |
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| 13. Date night with my boyfriend. We love bowling so much, that's where we had our first date :) 14. Another workout outfit! 15. On the 28th, my dad and I travelled to Leeds Arena to see Manic Street Preachers and this was our view! |
Tuesday, 25 March 2014
Today's Shopping Haul
I believe this is my first post of this time, which is strange because I'm always shopping! However, I tend to just buy a couple of things rather than a lot but today I had a bit of a haul. Mine seems like nothing compared to some bloggers' hauls! In fact they look like they've spent hundreds of pounds and I only spent £46.11!
As you can see, there's a bit of a range of items. Clothes, accessories, a few beauty products and of course some chocolate!
These Johnson's Face Wipes are usually around £3-4 for a pack of 25; I bought a twin pack so 50 wipes for £3! Because of my sensitive skin and eczema, I am unable to use a lot of skincare products because they react with my skin. I have been using these wipes for about a year now and refuse to use anything else now! The new face cloth/flannel is to match my new set of pink towels, how girly of me! I needed to stock up on make-up sponges as I'm running out and I thought it was time for a new comb. These fine-tooth combs can be quite difficult to find near me so 2 for £1 is such a godsend!
Finally, I decided to buy a couple of nail polishes. I have so many as it is but I thought I'd buy a couple more pastel colours. Both of these were £1; I don't see the point in buying top-of-the-range expensive nail polishes because I tend to apply 2-3 coats of them anyway. The first one is a grey colour and from Primark; the second is mint green and from Bodycare.
Next up are the new snoods I bought. I never used to wear scarves but since I've got loads of spring jackets to wear and it's a bit chilly, I thought I'd buy some more scarves. I've got plenty of knit ones but the only cotton one I have is black. I thought both of these would go perfectly with all of my leather jackets.
I just want to point out the gorgeous colours of them both. The pastel pink one is of course on-trend and the other is a light cream colour with grey and pink accents. Both are perfect for spring/summer and only cost me a total of £7 for them both!
I've been lusting after this skirt from H&M (similar style here) for a couple of months but thought I'd wait and see if I could find another one elsewhere. I failed miserably. Luckily, they had my size! I love the zip detail as well as the fact that it is quilted. Of course it's not real leather but it's only a fashion piece and for £14.99, you really can't go wrong!
I believe I put this on my H&M Wishlist post (see the post here) and I loved this cardigan even more in the store. It will be perfect for summer layered over a vest and shorts. I did find that my usual size was quite tight on the arms so I got the next size up. I was planning on getting it in a couple of colours but this was the only one I could find!
In yesterday's post, I mentioned how much I love Easter because of the chocolate. These are my second favourite Easter chocolate (behind Mini Eggs, of course); when I first saw them in the shops the other year, I didn't know what they would be like. Delicious is what they are!
Last but certainly not least are my new socks. I am addicted to buying socks. Since I've started working out more, I tend to wear trainer socks with my trainers (duh!) and thought it was time for some new ones. I genuinely love all 10 pairs of these. Often when you buy socks in a pack, there's a dud pair (i.e. plain) but all of these are patterned and lovely!
As you can see, there's a bit of a range of items. Clothes, accessories, a few beauty products and of course some chocolate!
These Johnson's Face Wipes are usually around £3-4 for a pack of 25; I bought a twin pack so 50 wipes for £3! Because of my sensitive skin and eczema, I am unable to use a lot of skincare products because they react with my skin. I have been using these wipes for about a year now and refuse to use anything else now! The new face cloth/flannel is to match my new set of pink towels, how girly of me! I needed to stock up on make-up sponges as I'm running out and I thought it was time for a new comb. These fine-tooth combs can be quite difficult to find near me so 2 for £1 is such a godsend!
Finally, I decided to buy a couple of nail polishes. I have so many as it is but I thought I'd buy a couple more pastel colours. Both of these were £1; I don't see the point in buying top-of-the-range expensive nail polishes because I tend to apply 2-3 coats of them anyway. The first one is a grey colour and from Primark; the second is mint green and from Bodycare.
Next up are the new snoods I bought. I never used to wear scarves but since I've got loads of spring jackets to wear and it's a bit chilly, I thought I'd buy some more scarves. I've got plenty of knit ones but the only cotton one I have is black. I thought both of these would go perfectly with all of my leather jackets.
I just want to point out the gorgeous colours of them both. The pastel pink one is of course on-trend and the other is a light cream colour with grey and pink accents. Both are perfect for spring/summer and only cost me a total of £7 for them both!
I've been lusting after this skirt from H&M (similar style here) for a couple of months but thought I'd wait and see if I could find another one elsewhere. I failed miserably. Luckily, they had my size! I love the zip detail as well as the fact that it is quilted. Of course it's not real leather but it's only a fashion piece and for £14.99, you really can't go wrong!
I believe I put this on my H&M Wishlist post (see the post here) and I loved this cardigan even more in the store. It will be perfect for summer layered over a vest and shorts. I did find that my usual size was quite tight on the arms so I got the next size up. I was planning on getting it in a couple of colours but this was the only one I could find!
In yesterday's post, I mentioned how much I love Easter because of the chocolate. These are my second favourite Easter chocolate (behind Mini Eggs, of course); when I first saw them in the shops the other year, I didn't know what they would be like. Delicious is what they are!
Last but certainly not least are my new socks. I am addicted to buying socks. Since I've started working out more, I tend to wear trainer socks with my trainers (duh!) and thought it was time for some new ones. I genuinely love all 10 pairs of these. Often when you buy socks in a pack, there's a dud pair (i.e. plain) but all of these are patterned and lovely!
Monday, 24 March 2014
Things I'm Loving Right Now
1. Bloglovin'
I'm loving finding all these new bloggers right now! I tend to find new bloggers by seeing what posts the bloggers I follow have liked. It's an easy way to see all my favourite blogger's posts and I have no idea what I'd do without this website!
2. Love Lenore
Jacy is my favourite blogger. I love how simple yet stylish all of her outfits are. The main reason I love her blog, apart from how pretty she is, is because she actually wears items more than once! Some bloggers I've noticed never seem to wear an item more than once which I find ridiculous but Jacy find pieces she loves and works them into her wardrobe. My favourite posts of hers are the remix posts in which she picks one item she loves and she styles it with three different outfits.
3. Mini Eggs
Easter is my favourite celebration because of the chocolate, duh! Now I love most types of milk chocolate but only at Easter do these bad boys come out. I buy these in bulk usually because I am that obsessed with them!
4. Boyfriend Jeans
I realllllllly want a pair of boyfriend jeans. A girl at work was saying how much I'd suit a pair but the last time I had them a couple of years ago, they just ended up making me look frumpy and laddish. These jeans are from H&M and I like the look of them because they're a skinny fit.
5. My Boyfriend
The picture quality is rubbish I know but this guy means everything to me. I've only known Tom since November but now I couldn't imagine life without him. Never did I ever think someone would understand me so well but he really does. He puts up with a lot of my crap and is so supportive of me and I'm so incredibly lucky to have such an amazing boyfriend. He's the first guy I've ever felt fully comfortable with and I know we're going to have a long and happy future together.
Thursday, 20 March 2014
My New Obsession: Dance Moms
If you've never seen this show and you have a dance background or just a love of dance, I suggest you give it a watch. Now I love dance, I used to live to dance. I'll give you a bit of information of my background in dance before I go into details on the TV show.
From the age of 2, my mum took me to a local dance school where I would go every Saturday for ballet, tap and modern lessons. As I got older, I started going more nights after school. At the age of 11, I switched dance schools so I could try more styles of dance (contemporary, street) as well as musical theatre. It was at this age that I discovered that I loved tap dance the most; that was the main reason for moving dance schools. For a couple of years, I loved going to dance class every night after school. I was good too. Not to brag or anything but I was always in the top class, I frequently won medals at competitions, I was always on the front line in shows. But at the age of 11, I realised that I was never going to be a dancer. In fairness, I didn't really want to be a dancer; a dancer's career is so short-lived and with very little pay too but I enjoyed dance, it was my passion. Age 11 is definitely the age where it gets a whole lot more serious; you audition for dance schools and are expected to go to rehearsals for three hours every night straight from school. If you do ballet, that's the age you start to go on pointe and I absolutely hated it. When I got to 13, I decided enough was enough; I realised that I was smarter at school than I was a good dancer. That's the age I stopped going to most classes, I dropped every type of dance apart from tap and street but after a year, it just wasn't fun anymore. I needed to concentrate on my GCSEs and fortunately my dance teacher understood my decision. All of my friends from dance disowned me because they felt I was choosing between school and dance and I was. As much as I loved a childhood in dance, I also missed out on a lot of things. Birthdays, I had no time to hang out with my friends, I was always missing school so I could perform in shows. Dance was my life. I'd go to school, go to dance and then go to bed.
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| 1. My first ever dance show where we did a Swan Lake number. I still have that costume! 2. The year I was one of the seven dwarves in panto. 3. A winning group number. 4. My first ever dance show again and this was the tap number. |
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| 5. My favourite ballet group number ever; we were schoolchildren going on a trip to the zoo. 6. A Bug's Life. 7. I won my first solo in ballet at the age of 6. 8. No ida what this number was but I know it's at Middleton Hall at Hull Uni where I currently study! 9. Doll On A Music Box from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. |
To start with, the mothers in it are awful sometimes. They shout at each other, they argue with the teacher, they sit in on rehearsals, the show is all about them. At my dance school, the parents just used to drop the kids off and come back later. Yes, they had to take care of costumes for competitions and shows if we were doing solos but they never had to make them. They just had to fund our dancing.
Secondly, Abby Lee Miller, the dance teacher, is vicious. The way that she treats the kids is bordering on child abuse. Yes it is fair to give critique but she does it in such a demeaning way. My dance teacher was always fair. She's tell you if you were doing something wrong but never would she verbally abuse you in front of your peers.
Another point that annoys me is how Abby denies that she has a favourite but she does. My dance teacher had a favourite group of around 7 or 8 in each class purely because they were more talented. Lucky for me, I was in this group but every person had a preferred style of dance and she appreciated that. My strong suits were tap and ballet but I was not the best at modern as I'm not the most flexible of dancers. Yet she never pitted us against each other deliberately.
The costumes are so inappropriate too. They dance around in "costumes" that barely cover their bodies. Bear in mind the kids on the show are about 7-13 in the main competition group. I never once felt uncomfortable in a costume. If it was for a solo, I got input into the design; if it was a group number, my dance teachers would never put us in anything revealing. In Dance Moms, Abby is in charge of all costumes and if the mums find them inappropriate, she never listens. Sometimes the costumes are that bad, they get disqualified from the competitions because the judges feel that the dance and costumes sexualise the children.
Finally, the competition aspect of the show is my biggest pet peeve. They do a different competition anywhere in the country every weekend so the dancers and their mums have to travel the country competing. Let's not forget that the US is much bigger than the UK so travelling could be a 7 hour coach ride. The furthest I ever went was Scunthorpe and that was always during the holidays. In fact all competitions were during school holidays. I also used to go to a Saturday morning ballet class in York that I had to initially audition for. Out of about 100 girls that auditioned, only 5 of us got in. I quit after a few months because it was exhausting. It cost my parents a fortune for costumes and entry money for competitions yet it seems nothing compared to the amount they must pay on the show!
Maybe American dance schools are like that but the ones I've competed against in the UK are nothing like that. I feel that people who watch the show will think that the world of dance is an awful world to be in. I guarantee it is not; competition can be healthy and you learn valuable lessons such as teamwork as well as the dance skills. As much as I would've loved a normal childhood, I wouldn't give up my dance background for anything. It was only at the very end that I stopped enjoying it. Now I am part of the performing arts society at uni, I'm found my love of dance again. I think I love dance because I know it's something that I'm good at. I just feel bad for my parents because they invested so much money into it and nothing came of it in the end.
Monday, 17 March 2014
Love Is All You Need
So lately I realise I've been pretty quiet on the blogging front but I have had such a busy past few days. Along with uni and work, I made a big step in my personal life. I met my boyfriend's parents for the first time last weekend. Now I may be 21 but I've never actually met a guy's parents before so it was a huge deal to me. I don't think I've ever been so nervous before! My boyfriend, Tom, was trying to reassure me that it would all be fine but I couldn't help but want to impress them. First impressions are so important in society nowadays so I just wanted for them to approve of me. In the end, I had absolutely no idea why I was so nervous! They were so chilled out and lovely and made me feel so at home that I've stayed there for the past 2 weekends now. All we do is just sit and chat and stuff our faces with pizza but it's such a lovely time. But one thing that Tom's mum said really stuck in my mind. She'd been chatting to her work friends about meeting me (one of which happens to be a distant relative) and she told them that we were perfectly matched. Genuinely, that made me smile so much. Yes, of course I think that my boyfriend and I are a perfect match but to hear someone else say it, it really did make my day. It felt so good for someone outside of our relationship to say we suit each other so well and the fact that it was his mum was the first one to say it meant a lot. We're very happy together and now the next step is Tom meeting my parents but it seems that they don't really care too much (I'm mad at them for not showing much of an interest!). Hopefully that will iron out soon.
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| Tom and I |
Monday, 3 March 2014
My February in Pictures
So February was an exciting month for me. I got a new boyfriend at the end of January so I've been trying to see him as much as possible, I started semester two at uni and went to see my favourite singer ever, Taylor Swift!
As you can see, my month has pretty much consisted of uni, dates and working out. In regards to dates, I'm really happy with my boyfriend; it's early days but we're very serious about each other but still having lots of fun together! My workouts have slowed down a bit; at the start of the month, I was working out for about an hour 3-5 times a week. However, the last week of the month, I had a lot going on so I had to just maintain a small workout every day. These are the two workouts I've been doing:
They don't require too much time; I tend to do them in a morning when I've just woken up. When I get chance, I try and fit in a longer workout but at least this way, I'm doing something small every day. I also try to walk as much as possible and have been cutting down on junk food.
How was your February? Did any of you go to see Taylor Swift? Does anyone have any workout tips for me?
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| 1. The doorbell range in B&Q. Who would've ever thought that you could pick so many sounds? Our doorbell is now the sound of a dog barking. 2. My super cute new PJ top. Primark PJs are the best! 3. I really tried to start working out more at the beginning of the month. This is one of my new sports bras. 4. Valentine's week was a big one for me! Lots to do! 5. More new workout gear from Forever 21. |
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| 6. On the 10th, we left Hull. 7. The O2 in London. 8. Inside the O2 getting ready to see Taylor Swift! 9. Sporting my Keds, Taylor would be proud. 10. Just before Taylor came on the stage for the RED tour! |
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| 11. The night before Valentine's Day, my boyfriend and I went to a pub for curry club for a low-key date for our first Valentine's together and this was my outfit. Red of course ;-) 12. On actual Valentine's, we went to see our favourite rugby team, Hull FC, play their first game of the Super League season! The boy did good, right? 13. My new t-shirt is the best. 14. After London, I had an awful cold for about 2 weeks so my little spoon has been my water bottle. 15. This outfit was perfect to wear to uni and then on a coffee date afterwards. |
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| 16. Dance rehearsals at uni mean I need to wear something practical that I can dance in! 17. The world's smallest hot chocolate that cost £1.60. What a rip off, Hull Uni Business School! 18. My favourite album right now is Daughtry's Baptized. 19. Twister ice lollies are my fave but these are made with real fruit juices. Does this mean that it's one of my five-a-day? 20. Finally my body is getting back into shape. |
They don't require too much time; I tend to do them in a morning when I've just woken up. When I get chance, I try and fit in a longer workout but at least this way, I'm doing something small every day. I also try to walk as much as possible and have been cutting down on junk food.
How was your February? Did any of you go to see Taylor Swift? Does anyone have any workout tips for me?
Tuesday, 18 February 2014
Being Overwhelmed
Right now, I should feel like the happiest girl in the world. I have a new boyfriend, I'm at uni, I've got a job, I have money yet something's just not sitting right with me. I feel tired and moody and emotional most of the time. I have no motivation to get out of bed most mornings. I'm skipping uni, I barely see my friends, I'm barely eating properly. What's wrong with me? I have no idea. Yes I've had a really bad cold for the past two weeks but I shouldn't feel this bad.
I sit and cry quite a lot for no apparent reason like just now. Like just the littlest things will set me off. I argue with my mum, that will make me cry. I gain a couple of pounds in weight, I'll cry. I'm so stressed out about everything that I just don't want to do anything. The problem being is I know I'll get even more stressed out if I leave everything until last minute but I never learn. I've been balancing lectures, uni work, actual work, my boyfriend, my friends, my family, my Performing Arts society at uni, exercise and god knows what else for so long now that it's all gotten too much. But even now that I only work weekends or that I barely exercise or that I never see my friends, it still feels like too much. I schedule every day and still have no time. That's when I just curl up in a ball and cry.
I'm such an organised person yet I feel so disorganised all of the time. My diary is planned perfectly every day, I know where I have to be at what time. Nowadays I feel like the only time I get to myself is when I see my boyfriend. I have to make time for him because it's new and I'll lose him if I don't. The only time when I'm truly happy is when I'm with him. He helps me forget about my busy life for a couple of hours and helps me relax and just really be in the moment and I love him for that. He puts up with a lot of my shitty moods yet loves me unconditionally for all of my flaws.
I really just need to find some motivation from somewhere. University is the main issue. The issue is I hate it. I just hate it. I find the modules interesting, I just hate going to uni. I don't think it helps that I know exactly what I want to do when I leave and it's over a year and a half away. But I'm paying £9000 a year so I can't quit now. I won't quit. I make a to-do list every week of what work I need to do and just never have the energy to complete everything. This semester I promised myself I'd be organised and get my work done and my essays started early yet I haven't, at all.
The fact that I hate my job isn't helping either. Well I don't hate my job, I hate some of the people there who talk down to me as if I'm about 12. If I was the youngest there, I could understand but I'm not. I've been there since April last year so nearly a year now, and they still treat me like a newbie as if I don't know how to do my job. Certain people there make me feel so small and irrelevant and unwanted that I would love to just pack the whole thing in but I need the money.
I've started arguing with my mum on a daily basis now. We used to be very close but right now, every single little thing is annoying me. Even my dad is at breaking point. It doesn't help that we plan on putting our house up for sale soon so there are a million and one little jobs that need doing and my mum has been no help whatsoever even though she's the one who moans that nothing ever gets done.
I know I will get through this funk eventually, I just hope it's sooner rather than later. And also to those who are thinking about going to uni, really think about it and consider your options. If I'd have really researched my future career and found the course I want to do after uni before I'd applied for uni, I would've chosen that or got a full-time job somewhere. Obviously some careers require a degree but quite a lot don't. They require drive and passion and dedication, those aren't things you can learn on a degree programme. Uni is 3+ years for most people, it's a lot of money so it's one of the biggest decisions you'll ever have to make.
This post is a way of releasing all the stress that has been built up inside me for a while and maybe this will allow me to relax more. And don't mistake me having a rant for me being ungrateful. I am so blessed to have such an amazing family and friends and boyfriend who stick by me no matter what. I love them all dearly, I just distance myself from people when I'm not in a good place so I don't bring them down with me. And if anyone has any tips about de-stressing or anything, please let me know!
I sit and cry quite a lot for no apparent reason like just now. Like just the littlest things will set me off. I argue with my mum, that will make me cry. I gain a couple of pounds in weight, I'll cry. I'm so stressed out about everything that I just don't want to do anything. The problem being is I know I'll get even more stressed out if I leave everything until last minute but I never learn. I've been balancing lectures, uni work, actual work, my boyfriend, my friends, my family, my Performing Arts society at uni, exercise and god knows what else for so long now that it's all gotten too much. But even now that I only work weekends or that I barely exercise or that I never see my friends, it still feels like too much. I schedule every day and still have no time. That's when I just curl up in a ball and cry.
I'm such an organised person yet I feel so disorganised all of the time. My diary is planned perfectly every day, I know where I have to be at what time. Nowadays I feel like the only time I get to myself is when I see my boyfriend. I have to make time for him because it's new and I'll lose him if I don't. The only time when I'm truly happy is when I'm with him. He helps me forget about my busy life for a couple of hours and helps me relax and just really be in the moment and I love him for that. He puts up with a lot of my shitty moods yet loves me unconditionally for all of my flaws.
I really just need to find some motivation from somewhere. University is the main issue. The issue is I hate it. I just hate it. I find the modules interesting, I just hate going to uni. I don't think it helps that I know exactly what I want to do when I leave and it's over a year and a half away. But I'm paying £9000 a year so I can't quit now. I won't quit. I make a to-do list every week of what work I need to do and just never have the energy to complete everything. This semester I promised myself I'd be organised and get my work done and my essays started early yet I haven't, at all.
The fact that I hate my job isn't helping either. Well I don't hate my job, I hate some of the people there who talk down to me as if I'm about 12. If I was the youngest there, I could understand but I'm not. I've been there since April last year so nearly a year now, and they still treat me like a newbie as if I don't know how to do my job. Certain people there make me feel so small and irrelevant and unwanted that I would love to just pack the whole thing in but I need the money.
I've started arguing with my mum on a daily basis now. We used to be very close but right now, every single little thing is annoying me. Even my dad is at breaking point. It doesn't help that we plan on putting our house up for sale soon so there are a million and one little jobs that need doing and my mum has been no help whatsoever even though she's the one who moans that nothing ever gets done.
I know I will get through this funk eventually, I just hope it's sooner rather than later. And also to those who are thinking about going to uni, really think about it and consider your options. If I'd have really researched my future career and found the course I want to do after uni before I'd applied for uni, I would've chosen that or got a full-time job somewhere. Obviously some careers require a degree but quite a lot don't. They require drive and passion and dedication, those aren't things you can learn on a degree programme. Uni is 3+ years for most people, it's a lot of money so it's one of the biggest decisions you'll ever have to make.
This post is a way of releasing all the stress that has been built up inside me for a while and maybe this will allow me to relax more. And don't mistake me having a rant for me being ungrateful. I am so blessed to have such an amazing family and friends and boyfriend who stick by me no matter what. I love them all dearly, I just distance myself from people when I'm not in a good place so I don't bring them down with me. And if anyone has any tips about de-stressing or anything, please let me know!
Friday, 14 February 2014
Today's Outfit 13/02/2014
So last night was my first Valentine's date. Because we're a new couple, we decided to keep it low-key and just went for Curry Club so we could watch the rugby match too. Yes it was a cheap date but I don't need flowers and teddies. We both decided to make a bit of effort to dress up and I did have a dress and heels but I twisted my ankle walking down the stairs before I left the house so I had to put on a pair of trust flats instead!
I'm not the biggest fan of Valentine's Day; I believe that there are 364 other days to show someone you love them (which my boyfriend is so good at) but it felt good to dress up for the night. I don't drink anymore so I have a load of dresses that need wearing because I don't go on nights out! I know the picture quality is a bit rubbish but I am wearing a burgundy dress. It's got a tulip skirt and cut-outs at the side and it gives me some shape. Because it is so ruddin' cold right now, I had to wear it with black tights; otherwise I would've frozen to death! My boyfriend approved of my dress which is a good sign (he's a VERY smart dresser!).
I'm not the biggest fan of Valentine's Day; I believe that there are 364 other days to show someone you love them (which my boyfriend is so good at) but it felt good to dress up for the night. I don't drink anymore so I have a load of dresses that need wearing because I don't go on nights out! I know the picture quality is a bit rubbish but I am wearing a burgundy dress. It's got a tulip skirt and cut-outs at the side and it gives me some shape. Because it is so ruddin' cold right now, I had to wear it with black tights; otherwise I would've frozen to death! My boyfriend approved of my dress which is a good sign (he's a VERY smart dresser!).
Friday, 31 January 2014
My January in Pictures
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| 1. New year, new calendar. I still love Tom Daley. 2. & 3. I've got really into fitness again, trying to workout 3-4 times a week but in order to feel good about myself, I have to have cute workout gear. I like a splash of colour in my outfit! 4. I'm obsessed with the Kardashians and own Season 1-5. Seasons 6 and 7 were going cheap on Amazon so I just had to buy them. |
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| 5. My ex-friend bought this box instead of a gift bag one birthday and I just love it. It's been empty for ages but I've been having a spring clean in my room. I thought it was the perfect size to fit all my nail varnishes in. 6. I had an evening off revision and this is how I spent it: reading Cosmo and Company and listening to Lady Antebellum. Bliss. 7. I'm such a hoarder and found a load of old magazines. Sadly now these have all gone away to recycling heaven. 8. I'm a huge Canterbury fan (seen them live 3 times) and they have a new album out. I have a signed copy because I'm a super fan. |
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| 9. & 10. This was outfit one of birthday week. I wore this grey cropped top with my pleather skirt to go for a Chinese meal with my two best friends. 11. Outfit number two. I wore this New Look dress for a meal with my extended family. I thought it would look super cute with red heels. 12. My actual birthday day. I wore this for a meal with my parents. Burgundy shirt, leather mini and bright blue ankle boots. 13. Last meal of birthday week. I wore this for a visit to the pub with my now-boyfriend. Long-sleeved blue top, my favourite skirt and navy loafers. |
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| 14. My amazing birthday cake my auntie made for me. 15. I went into town with my mum on my birthday and treated myself to some new sneakers. 16. This is the gorgeous necklace my boyfriend got me for my birthday. I have the key to his heart now. 17. At the end of birthday week, my best friend Ellie and I went to watch a ballet at our local theatre. I wore my grey stripey top, black skater skirt and cute ankle boots. The ballet was crap FYI. |
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| 18. Revision was nearly the death of me. 19. Workout month continues! 20. I love little surprises in the mail like the latest Asos magazine! 21. I love this top, so comfy. |
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| 22. Seem to be my favourite shoes to wear right now despite the crappy weather. 23. I've started wearing a lot of cozy sweaters lately. Jumper, jeans, boots is my new style I think! 24. My dad just got me this top the other night. If you didn't already know, I love sport. And speedway is one of my favourites. |
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