12 Things I'd tell my 16 year old self

12 Things I'd tell my 16 year old self

I've been reading a book called 'Dear Me: A letter to my 16 year old self'. It is filled with celebrities letters, some funny others very heartfelt and emotional. The book inspired me to create my own little list. Enjoy! x

1. Don't spend so much time worrying what people think about you. Everyone has their opinions, you will never please everyone. Life is too short.

2. Don't waste time on people who don't make the effort with you. It will only result in you getting hurt and disappointed.

3. Stand up for yourself at work and leave for somewhere that appreciates you.

4. Stop trying to be up to date and a follower, do your own thing and be you!

5. You're not stupid. You just have more particular strengths then others.

6. Help your mum out more, she needs it!

7. Do more singing!

8. Stop being a people pleaser, be a little selfish.

9. You don't have to be the loudest, coolest person in the room. Somebody is noticing you!

10. Don't take advantage of the time you have with your sister, one day it won't be so easy to spend so much time together!

11. Be brave. Stop dismissing opportunities because you don't think you're good enough. Go for it and you could be surprised.

12. Don't ever let anyone hold you back.


What would you tell your 16 year old self? I'd love to know!

Comments welcome as always!

Whose side are you on anyway?

It's happened to all of us, we've bumped into a friend's ex we used to hang out with and not known how to act. Or perhaps two people in your group have fallen out and you don't know what to do.

The question is, should we be taking sides at all? Should we stick with the friend who has stuck by us through our own hard times/the friend who we've known since we were teeny tiny or stay neutral and sit on the fence?

This happened to me only yesterday, as a friend's ex boarded the train I was on. I tried to stay away but we made eye contact as we were leaving the train, and there was no turning back, I had to say something!
I should add that it was a pretty messy break up, but I didn't want to be rude and made general small talk without talking about the mentioned ex, and all was well.

Image courtesy of searchquotes.com

To me taking sides seems a bit childish, although sometimes maybe it's acceptable (I'm thinking the Millie/Louise/Spencer scenario in Made In Chelsea here!). In a case of a friend's ex, steering clear when the break up is still a sore subject is probably your best bet - getting chummy with her ex while she's still in the practicing 'All by myself' Bridget Jones Style and eat my body weight in chocolate phrase might not be a good idea. But when they have both moved on and there's no awkwardness, simple small talk will stop you from being rude and anti social.

If it's a friend scenario, staying neutral will help to make sure you don't lose any friends. Just make sure a nasty friend doesn't start on you, or that you become the go between finding out what they're both saying about each other behind their backs. Also taking a side could come back to bite you in the future, if they make up and questions are raised as to why you stuck with one friend and not the other.

Valentines Day Rant

Valentines day...you either love it or hate it...right?

I have to say I'm undecided. I loathe the dreaded search for a decent card, trawling through all the mushy sayings and pet names, I feel physically sick. A card saying 'You'll do' is all I need to say.

The truth is this will be the 3rd Valentines day I've celebrated and yes, it's a nice way to celebrate being together, but shouldn't you be doing that everyday? Isn't Valentines day just a day for card shops to make more money in between christmas and mother's day?

I'm not entirely cynical, promise. Last year my boyfriend asked me to meet me in town, where he'd made me a treasure hunt of clues and gifts etc. all dotted around in places that were significant to us as a couple. There was the cinema we went to for our first date, a quiet place we'd often sit and talk, the first expensive restaurant he took me to and the church we attend together.

I love how it gives you an excuse to do something together, to make the effort to go out for dinner instead of arguing who cooks, but how do you feel when you're single? Why is there no day to celebrate being single? Or even to celebrate being yourself, loving yourself? For singletons, Valentines day could decrease confidence and make you feel damn right crap about yourself..(I'm thinking a Bridget Jones type rendition of 'All by Myself' here.) Valentines day seems to mke out you're sad if you're single, which could not be further from the truth. Really Valentines should be about celebrating having love in our lives from our family and friends.

Beyonce at the super bowl!

After her shock lip synching at Obama's inauguration, Beyonce seems to have...at the Super Bowl.

Beyonce admitted to miming her songs at the inauguration on the grounds that she 'Is a perfectionist' and did not have enough time to practice, she wanted to make Obama and the country proud, and felt her only option was to mime.

I absolutely love Beyonce, but I have to admit I was disappointed when I heard she'd mimed. On one hand I kind of see her point, as a singer myself I know how difficult it is to sing with little practice! But it is her full time (ish) job and with the amazing voice she has, I'm sure her 'worst' performance would still be amazing to us! What's worse - a bad performance or to be remembered as obviously miming?

Beyonce is such an inspiration to so many, certainly me! I love her independence, her body and style, not to mention her voice and songs! But I do feel she may have let a few fans down by miming, especially as she is usually so professional and amazing!

However, she certainly restored fan's faith in her success in her Super Bowl performance. In an admittedly small and revealing garment, Beyonce still managed to look stunning. She performed 'Love on Top' and 'Halo' as well as 'Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)' with the help of former bandmates Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams.

Everyone makes mistakes, and I doubt Beyonce's fans will have been put off by that one performance. Beyonce is and always will be a true professional; churning out albums, doing more showstopping performances whilst still maintaining her to die for figure, even a year after having her baby, Blue Ivy.

Over and out,

Number one Beyonce fan.(Always)

My First Semester at Uni

Thinking back to the whole scary process of deciding what to do next after sixth form, applying to uni, nervously awaiting offers and attending interviews, I always doubted that I would be sitting here today.

I'm the kind of person that most things don't come easily to, it's not that I'm stupid, (as mum always says!) just that some things take me longer than they might others.

I always loved reading and writing, I actually get stressed if I can't write!

After a love of reading and writing throughout primary school, in year 6 I made a magazine out of paper with my felt tip pens. I showed it to my mum and she seemed really impressed! She kept showing other members of our family and that encouraged me to keep making more.

I'm a tad obsessed with magazines, my room is plastered with them! So this course choice seemed very appropriate for me.

So in preparation for uni, I was so excited! The day to arrive at my halls finally came around, and all too soon I was left alone in my room, after my sobbing family left me. Then I felt alone and a bit scared - I didn't know what to do... go and say hello to flatmates? Sit in the kitchen (on my own..)? Start unpacking straight away? Doubting questions hit me; What if no one liked me? What if I hated my course? What if I couldn't do it?

I needn't have worried! I'm now into my 2nd term, and I am so happy! I love my course and uni even more than I thought I would - I have such a passion that hasn't gone away, I learn new things each day, I am given lots of opportunities, I am able to get involved in lots of different and exciting projects, along with having a lot of fun and laughter along the way!

I really feel my first semester at uni has been such a learning curve! I feel as though I've found something I can do well at and be passionate about (When friends back home ask how uni is, my response is always: 'Amazing! I love it!'). I also feel like I have been able to make friends in different groups, who encourage me, support me and make the whole journey a lot more exciting!

I'm so excited for the next few years, but right now I don't feel like I'll ever want to leave!

First Reviews!

My first reviews! I did these as part of a uni asssignment, I really enjoyed writing them so I am going to be writing more! Watch this space :)

Boots Cucumber 3 minute mask

Tired of spending extortionate amounts on branded products that have no guarantee of working? This product succeeds all expectations, with its simple packaging and cheap as chips price (£2.00), Boots 3 minute clay mask clearly speaks for itself. Included alongside a range of wipes, cleansing lotion, moisturiser and eye gel, the cucumber range is affordable and benefits not only your purse, but your skin as well!

I was not expecting an obvious change in my skin from the first use of the cucumber 3 minute mask, with such a low price and not being branded, how could I? Fortunately I was wrong, I applied the mask after cleansing my face in the shower, covering my face in the lush smelling stuff. After 3 minutes I washed the mask off with warm water and cotton wool as instructed, before patting dry with a clean towel. Instantly my skin appeared brighter and appeared a lot less dull. My skin looked much clearer. After suffering with blackheads on and around my nose, and trying endless different expensive products with no success at improving them, I didn’t hold out much hope for the cucumber set. However, my nose appeared much clearer and cleaner, and my blackheads looked a lot less obvious!

I would definitely recommend this product, I now use it religiously! It is so easy to use, and I use twice a week when my skin needs a boost or the night before a big party or event. The price is also brilliant, particularly for a student budget! The one downside is that the mask is only produced in a 50ml tube, so at 1-2 uses a week it can run out quite quickly and easily! The Boots Cucumber 3 Minute Mask is perfect for those on a tight budget or wanting to save money, or those with skin problems and little time to spend on their skin. I would give this product a definite 4.5/5.

Example ‘Evolution of man’ album

Besides from making great music, he’s mates with Calvin Harris and Ed Sheeran and loves nando’s, so what’s not to love about Example? With memorable tunes from previous albums such as holiday romance classic ‘Watch the sun come up’ and club classic ‘Kickstarts’ from the ‘Won’t go quietly’ album, to top 10 hit ‘Changed the way you kissed me’ in ‘Playing in the Shadows’, Example clearly has a lot to live up to.

‘Evolution of man’ certainly lives up to these expectations, including a collaboration with Calvin Harris in ‘We’ll be coming back’ and latest singles ‘say nothing and ‘close enemies’. The album contains Examples classic quirky lyrics; ‘She was a girl on film Duran Duran…She called me her ape man orang-utan - Me Tarzan, she Jane’ in latest single ‘Close enemies’. ‘Close Enemies’ appears one of the most memorable lyrics on the album, compared to others which have more significant beats and bass lines.

‘We’ll be coming back’, ‘Say Nothing’ and ‘Queen of your dreams’ are my favourites. ‘Queen of your dreams’ appears to comment on a girl who deserved better, guess we’ve all experienced that! Example writes and raps about issues close to the heart and does in a light hearted manner, with heavy beats and backing tracks, ‘Evolution of Man’ is a recipe for success.

Compared to his other albums, ‘The Evolution of Man’ could take a few more listens to get into. It is clear Example has tried hard to make sure ‘Evolution of Man’ is different from his previous collections, but this album is definitely a grower. I would give this album a 4.5/5, with the potential of a 5/5 after a few listens.

Celebrity Juice

Another creation from Leigh Francis, Keith Lemon presents this TV show full of fun and rudeness. The game show includes team captains Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby, with two different celebrity contestants each week, compete for the highest score at the end of the round.

If you can put aside Keith Lemon’s rude ‘sense of humour’ and the way he constantly talks about Holly Willoughby’s chest, or takes the mick out of poor Fearne Cotton, this show can be quite enjoyable.

The show begins with Keith Lemon introducing this week’s contestants, often plugging their latest album/book/film and asking; ‘What’s the message?’, to which the contestants usually have a dumbfounded response. The latest episode of ‘Celebrity Juice’ featured Ashley Banjo and Mel C on Fearne’s team, and Dougie and Tom from Mcfly and Chris Moyles on Holly’s. What’s not to love with Keith’s outrageous behaviour, flirting and matching outfits? Highlights include ‘The Joey Essex Quiz’ in which the popular reality show star is asked different general knowledge questions, such as; ‘In which country does Danish Bacon come from?’ to which the star replied ‘Germany’. American Pie star Jason Biggs was also chosen to recreate the iconic Film scene, by putting his fingers into different pies and guessing what flavours they were.

I do enjoy watching ‘Celebrity Juice’, although Keith’s behaviour can become a little tiresome, you can’t help but feel sorry for Fearne Cotton for what he says to her. You definitely have to have a certain humour to be able to stand Keith Lemon. However the games played are so ridiculous and imaginative that you can’t help but smile at the celebrities looking like idiots! As the show is only half an hour it is great for a quick little pick me up if you want something different from the usual Corrie or X Factor entertainment. Make sure you know what you are getting yourself into before watching Celebrity Juice, you could either be crying with laughter, cringing at Keith Lemon’s crude personality, or shouting at the TV in annoyance! Celebrity Juice is certainly not for the light hearted or innocent! I would give Celebrity Juice a 3.5/5 – watch it if you can handle it!

What do you think? Agree or disagee? Love it or loathe it? Get in touch and let me know!