Goodbye 2014, Hello 2015!

It's such a surreal feeling to say that another year has finished and we are now in 2015. I say this each and every year, that I can't believe how quickly the year has flown, but particularly this year as it was filled to the brim with amazing adventures I will never forget.

At the start of 2014, I was in my final year of Sixth Form. I was completing important coursework for my subjects and having fun with my friends. I was shy but happy as I have always been. It seems so long ago that I was sat in classrooms, libraries and at computers studying and working the hardest I possibly could. I put so much time and effort into my school work. I remember thinking I'd never complete my English coursework and the hours I spent editing my Media productions. 2014 was truly the year I believed in my abilities, both academically and personally. I was so pleased to receive the incredible grades I got, especially being the second person to achieve an A* in one of the subjects I had studied at my school. I got in to my first choice of University to study a course I love. I'm so lucky to be sat here looking back at all the hard work I put in and knowing it paid off. My next chapter academically starts this year in September, when my University life begins. I simply can not wait. 

Without making this sound cliché or cringe-worthy, I'd be lying if I said I haven't changed in 2014. I've always been on the shyer side. Surrounded by friends or family, I'm not scared to be my excitable and bubbly self but, surrounded by a group or new people, I tended to prefer to blend into the walls. I'd absolutely hate talking in front of people, whether it was a whole class or sometimes even a smaller group of 5 or 6. I hated it so much to the point where I genuinely feared it, almost as if I feared them, and would do what I could to avoid it. When I finished school and was looking for a job, the interview stage seemed like a nightmare. My Dad gave me the easiest bit of advice when the appointment for my first ever job interview landed in my email inbox. He simply told me that they were just another person like you or me, not there to test me or intimidate me, but simply to help me show who I was and why I should be the one they employ. My first interview was fantastic, they told me they were so impressed by my personality and attitude as well as my CV and I started my employment there not long after. Day after day, I talk to customers and make friends with the people I work with. After all, they are just people like me, going about their daily lives, and if I get the chance to make them smile, even for a second with a little chit-chat or wish of a great day for them, I know I'm doing something right. Of course, I'm still shy, I haven't turned into a public speaker overnight, but I'm making progress. Even the friends who have known me for years can see how much more confident I am in talking to and in front of people. Because they are just people. Not a jury. And I wish each shy person fearing to raise their hand in class in 2015, for the same reasons as I did, remembers this.

As well as becoming more confident in myself (which, trust me, is far less dramatic than I made it sound), so many other memories were made in 2014. Here are my favourites: I got on a plane for the first time and flew to New York City; I turned 18 and went out to clubs and pubs and had some of the best times with my friends; I went to some great and hilarious parties with my friends; I went on holiday with my best friend to the New Forest and did not stop laughing the whole time; I had an amazing time at a slip-and-slide BBQ, being massive kids and not even caring, with my friends; I saw more beautiful sunsets and sunrises that I can count, laid under the stars and saw animals, like deer and fox, that I had never before witnessed; I said goodbye to friends travelling around the country for University; I went on holiday with my family to a lovely tranquil part of country and relaxed for a whole week; I travelled, by myself, for 3 and a half hours by train to Cardiff to visit my boyfriend, Oli, for 5 days at University and we spent the most incredible time together; I met some new and lovely people; My Mum and I started baking, experimenting with new recipes more often and finally, I spent an amazing Christmas with my family and an exciting New Year with my friends! Even though I have done so much this year, it seems to have flown by in a flash. I just want to say a little thank you to every person who made my 2014 a wonderful year!

So here it is, 2015. I'm not usually one for the 'new year, new me' resolutions and I can see from the year just gone that you can't always plan for change. This year, I'm just going to embrace each second, live in the moment and stop worrying about the future. No amount of worry can change what will be, so why bother? I hope your year is even better than 2014. Thank you for reading this little old blog of mine over 2014, whether you've seen every post or just this one, I really do appreciate it and I hope you stick by me for 2015 too. Let's make this a good one!

With best wishes and good luck for the New Year,

Becca xx

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My Wonderful Christmas

Christmas traditions have been the same in my house for as long as I can remember. Opening stockings, running downstairs to see the presents flooding the bottom of the tree, excitement to give and receive the thoughtful gifts. I woke up this Christmas morning with the same happiness, excitement and gratitude as each year before.   

I had been working full time for almost all the festive period. Seeing customers come and go each day, pleased and excited with their purchases for Christmas, telling me all about who their gifts were for, would brighten even the busiest days. Most people uttered their desire for Christmas to be over as soon as possible but my feelings couldn't be further from that. As busy as it has been, as stressful and tiring, working the festive season kept me buzzing and I'm sure many of you working in retail will admit this too!

My Christmas Day was spent with my Parents, Brother and Nana who came over for Christmas lunch and an afternoon of relaxing. We sat down at the decorated table with colourful paper hats and hungry stomachs to fill with delicious food. My Mum and Dad prepared their first Christmas roast together this year, normally we would visit my Grandparents' houses so it was nice to enjoy it in our dining room for a change. From turkey to roast potatoes, carrots to Yorkshires, it was the perfect meal to fit the festive fever everyone was feeling on this special day. I'm sure you will all agree that nothing beats a Christmas roast!

I have been so lucky this festive period, filled with the love of friends and family. I just wanted to write this little blog post to share the small aspects of the big day that make me so grateful to have such a wonderful family and everything that I enjoyed this Christmas. 

I hope each and every one of you shared an amazing Christmas with your loved ones, took the break you deserved and received presents that made you smile. Merry Christmas! 

- Becca x

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A Snowy New York City

Back in February, I was lucky enough to have the chance to visit one of the most amazing cities on the planet - New York City. After enough persuasion, my Media Studies teacher sorted everything out for a lucky few of us to travel over to the Big Apple for an experience of a lifetime. As one of the most memorable trips I will probably ever have, I wanted to share a few of my favourite moments and memories and the pictures that captured them all. I hope you enjoy!

The Rockefeller Centre

Having just got off a 7 hour flight and attempted to eat dinner, we made our way to the top of the Rockefeller Centre to see the beautiful city lit up before us. The view was absolutely incredible, the lights continued for miles and miles, the true size of New York so overwhelming in the best way possible - I couldn't believe I was seeing it with my own eyes! From left to right, skyscrapers rose to cover the night sky, the roads below laced with tiny cars. It's one of those experiences that can't even be described! Just standing and looking across the city was the perfect way to start the trip and sparked my excitement to explore each and every part possible in the few days I was able to.

Central Park

A snowy Central Park is another memory that will always stay with me. I was so excited to be able to visit somewhere I've seen in so many movies (as corny as it sounds). We walked through the park, laughing as we slipped on the icy paths, stunned at the beauty of the snowfall. Perfect blankets of snow covered the grass and painted the branches and lampposts. How wonderful it must be walk through there each and everyday. We watched those skating on the ice rink and the children playing in the snow with their families. It was so comforting to explore the natural beauty amongst the skyscrapers and roads. A calm amongst the busy city and a familiarity amongst the unknown. I can imagine Central Park is as great as it was all year round, but the snow-covered grounds just made it even more magical. I couldn't have asked for a better morning, enjoying a different side to the New York I had met at the top of the Rockefeller.  

 Times Square

The first time we visited Time Square, we had managed to get a bit lost and had to walk absolutely ages before we could say we were close. We studied our map, desperate to tell us we were close when we turned the corner to see that right in front of us was the Times Square we had been searching for. We stood in a row, our mouths gaped open, in shock at the amazing sight. Another tourist offered to take a picture for us (far right), saying we looked so excited to be there. He was right! The rows of shops, covered in bright lights and flashing screens. The busy atmosphere of happy shoppers and excited tourists. We didn't know where to start! We looked in all the different American shops, some that we can't get here in the UK and some just because it was Times Square, like M&M World. We walked up the steps to get a full view of the place and couldn't believe our eyes. 'We are actually in Times Square in New York City' I thought to myself over and over again. To be somewhere you hear so much about, see so much on TV and know you'd do anything to visit, to finally be there was one of the best things in the world and us girls shopped to our hearts content and loved each and every second we spent there.

The Statue of Liberty 

We managed to take a little trip on a boat to see The Statue of Liberty in all her glory. We never actually planned to do this so it was a little extra that was so much fun. It was amazing to see such a famous landmark in the flesh and hear and see all the excited people around me, pointing and gasping with excitement. We had so much fun on that little boat too, holding each other to mimic the scene in Titanic and laughing as we took pictures against the stunning canvas. One of the best things about the trip was the atmosphere. Being with a group of people all so excited to see the sights of New York City completed the already incredible memories.

I'd love to go back to New York City, I'm certain one day I will. Everything that made up the trip was perfect, we even got to visit a little diner for breakfast to complete the whole experience. My trip to New York made me realise to never push something out of mind. I've dreamed of going to New York and now I have! It would have been easy to let a fear of flying or visiting a different country put me off, but when would I get this chance again? If you ever get the chance to visit this beautiful city, don't say no! Thank you New York for being such an amazing host and leaving me with memories to last a lifetime. 

- Becca x

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Current Fave Five

I have been very absent from here recently, my time occupied predominately by work, and I really have missed writing on here! The whole reason I set this blog up was to continue my passion for writing and I really hope I can find more time at such a busy time to write a lot more than I have been! Due to the lack of posts, especially the Fave Five posts which I would normally write monthly, I have chosen to do a more generic version today, updating you on five things I am currently loving. Do read on and share with me what you have loved over the last few months!

Classic Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm

A constant battle of mine is against dry and chapped lips. I have tried so many different products and brands to combat this, from Vaseline to Nivea, yet nothing I have ever used compares to this product. My Mum purchased the Carmex Moisturising Lip Balm for me about a month ago, the '#1 Pharmacist Recommended Lip Balm' standing out to her on the packaging. I had heard of it, but having tried the Cherry flavour before, wasn't really sold. I must admit the flavour of the Classic Carmex isn't something worth raving about, but the soothing and healing nature of the lip balm is incredible! It tingles your lips to let you know the product is working (something I did have to Google when first applying!) and it leaves my lips hydrated for hours before I have to reapply it. I, personally, would recommend this product to anyone who struggles with chapped lips like me. It used to cause me so much pain and I'd hate applying lip balm so often. They also have different flavours, so if you really can't tolerate the odd flavour of this (which, I guess, I have grown to like!), why not choose the cherry or even strawberry flavour! 

VO5 Nourish My Shine Miracle Mist

This next product I used to adore and was an absolute staple in my haircare routine. I strayed away from it a few years ago, but on a recent shopping spree, believed it a good idea to revisit it. The VO5 Miracle Mist is a life-saver for my frizz-prone hair. Just spraying a little on frizzy hair can immediately make your hair look more tamed and sleek and when used before blow-drying can make a real difference to the general appearance of your hair. Most products claim to work wonders but often require to be teamed up with lots of other products to make a great deal of difference. It doesn't matter what shampoo or conditioner you use, a little spray on dry hair is a quick and easy fix for frizz and flyaways. I don't know why I ever let this slip from my collection! This is a got-to, handbag product that does exactly what it says on the bottle and what's more, it smells gorgeous too! 

Poppy Shearing Trim Lace Up Ankle Boot in Tan

My third favourite is a fashion fave rather than the beauty products that normally control these posts. I recently saw these adorable little boots on Boohoo.com and completely fell in love. These boots are laced with a soft and cosy fury inside that flaps over the edge, complimented with little buckles. These are the perfect winter boots, keeping my feet nice and warm against the British weather and looking lovely with all my winter outfits. I think the tan brown is a shade that fits with any jeans, leggings or tights and I have already worn these boots with pretty much every outfit since I bought them! 

Radox Herbal Bath Soak Relax

Thanks to the chill in the air at this time of the year, I have been treating myself to more and more baths, the perfect way to relax after a busy day. The Radox Bath Soak in Relax is such a soft and gentle scent of Lavender and Waterlily and has been my favourite product to bubble my bath up with. I chose this over some of the other scents because it isn't floral or overpowering. Of course a scented bath is wonderful, but when all you can smell is a strong and powerful scent, it can be a little too overwhelming and distract from the bath you're trying to enjoy. Radox have formulated this particular bath soak to help relax your mind and ease stress, something I can very much agree with. Lavender can be a difficult scent to get right but I love this fragrance and how at ease it makes me feel, so, if you're feeling the stress at this time of the year, this would definitely be something I would recommend you give a go to treat yourself and enjoy a little pamper!

Finally, I couldn't write this without mentioning CHRISTMAS SHOPPING! Christmas is one of the best and most exciting times of the year and the fun begins with shopping for all your friends and family. I absolutely love choosing presents for all my loved ones. As a very sentimental person, I try to put a lot of thought and effort into my presents. I very often don't plan my shopping adventures and just stumble upon the perfect gifts, seeing something and thinking 'they would love that!'. With just a month until the big day, I am so pleased with all my gifts so far and can't wait to keep on shopping!

I hope you've enjoyed reading my current favourites and I'll try my hardest to keep on top of the blogging! 

- Becca x 

Classic Carmex Lip Balm Tube - RRP £2.69

VO5 Nourish My Shine Miracle Mist - RRP £4.39 (for 150ml)
Poppy Shearing Trim Lace Up Ankle Boot in Tan - £20 from Boohoo.com
Radox Herbal Bath Soak Relax - RRP £2.00 (for 500ml)

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A Day at Weymouth Sea Life Centre

On a recent holiday with my family to the lovely area of Dorset in the South of England, we spent a visit to the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, home to a range of aquatic animals. I must confess I am a huge animal lover and was more than excited to take a trip here, not only to enjoy the fascinating behaviour of each animal but also to admire the hard work the staff put in to help with the conservation of some species which the world could soon be saying 'goodbye' to.

From otters to eels, sharks to penguins, Weymouth's Sea Life Centre lets you get up close and personal with so many creatures and animals in fun and exciting ways. I had been here before but I was much younger and on my second arrival couldn't really remember any features. What's more, we'd chosen to go during term time which meant we didn't have to push through waves of people to get a glimpse of our favourite animals.

The underwater tunnel is something I had faded memories of and one of the best parts of the whole day. The tunnel allows you to walk underneath a giant tank full of swift sharks, beautiful and colourful fish and gracious sea turtles. It was such an incredible experience to be surrounded by the hundreds of different creatures - it almost felt as if you were in the tank too! Everywhere you looked, there was something interesting to watch. The way the sea turtles bob in the water with such grace or the the way the clusters of fish shimmer in the spotlights. I found it such a calming experience to lose myself in the creatures around me.

Another part of the day that I personally loved was our visit to the penguin habitat. Anyone who knows me knows I'm mad about penguins so I had to restrain from squealing upon arrival. This visit was different to any I had experienced in any zoo though, and in the best way too! The penguins were perched on the rocks right by where we were stood. This meant I could see every tiny detail all over their little faces and bodies. It was also adorable how the Centre had specified which couples were together, referencing the coloured armbands they wore to match them up. I feel like this added a cute and exciting feature to the experience and I could see all the other children matching up the penguins as they watched.

The one thing I can't appreciate enough is all the work that the members of staff at the Sea Life Centre do for the animals in terms of conservation and protection. It's no secret that more and more sea life creatures are becoming endangered due to fishing, poaching and pollution. The ways the staff recognise this and tell visitors of their breeding programmes and conservation schemes boasts the importance of supporting and understanding why and how these are so important. The visit was not only fun and enjoyable, but educational. I learnt surprising facts that definitely changed my perception on the protection and conservation of endangered species. Did you know that less that 10 people are killed by sharks each year, but 100 million sharks are killed by humans each year? Shocking facts like this really made me appreciate the wildlife around me and feel proud to be supporting such a great cause through my visit.

I thoroughly enjoyed my day here and would definitely recommend a visit to anyone and everyone. Whether you're an adult, child, grandparent or family, the experience at the Weymouth Sea Life Centre was so enjoyable and even now I desperately want to go back! There are Sea Life Centres dotted all over the country including London, Blackpool and Brighton so, even if Weymouth is particularly out of reach for you, I'm sure a local Sea Life Centre would be happy to have you. For more details visit: http://www.visitsealife.com/

I took lots of little videos throughout the day and have edited them into a short and sweet video to show some of my favourite parts of the day! Take a look below!

Thank you for reading and maybe I've even encouraged you to visit!

- Becca x

P.S My blogging hat is most definitely back on again! Due to work and the holiday I had away without my laptop, my blog has desperately lacked in posts. I have some exciting ones on the way and am excited to be able to start writing again!

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The Best Summer with The Best People

From picnics to parties, time with family and time with friends (captured in my little edit above!), my summer was packed full of good times and great memories. It's sad to think the majority of my friends are now packing their bags, ready to set off to University; a lot of them are already there too. It didn't quite kick in until our goodbye drinks last Thursday that the next year will be so very different to any before. I definitely welled up giving the final hugs 'goodbye' to friends I wouldn't see for at least a couple of months. I'll try my hardest to visit them all but with my new jobs and busy times approaching, it'll be difficult to squeeze it all in.

I'm feeling quite bitter-sweet. As happy as I am with my summer and as excited as I am for all my friends to start this new chapter in their lives, I feel like I'll miss them even more. Because my life is staying the same, I feel like I'll notice their absence even more. I couldn't possibly ask for a better group of friends though and have made some memories for life over this summer.  

Some of my favourite moments were my Camping Holiday with my best friend Hannah in the New Forest (I've written a blog post all about that here!). It was so nice to escape and have a little adventure with just the two of us, something I really hope to do again soon. I also had so much fun at a 'slip and slide' BBQ with everyone. We covered my friend's trampoline in washing up liquid and water (see the picture at the top left!) and spent an afternoon sliding around and into each other. I completely underestimated how difficult it would be to stand up! What I loved especially about that day was how carefree we were. No thinking about Uni. No thinking about the future. All we did was mess about and have fun, enjoying each others' company and laughing until our stomachs hurt. 

I want to wish all my friends the best of luck at Uni. It'll be crazy and it'll be stressful, but it's all part of life. I can't wait to hear all their stories and, maybe, I'll even have a few of my own to tell them when they get back. Until then, thanks for the best summer guys and here's to the next! 

- Becca x

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Fave Five: August 2014

I did quite a bit of shopping this month and bought some new things that I have absolutely loved. This is quite a beauty-heavy Fave Five as I've discovered/re-discovered some gems this month! So, let's get started!

I have had quite a few big changes in my life recently. I have begun not 1, but 2 part-time jobs to raise funds to support my university life and studies. This has meant my weeks have become far busier and are moving along much quicker than I thought. This has been quite overwhelming and stressful at times but also enjoyable at others and it's exciting to think I'm now starting a completely new chapter of my life.

Superdrug Face Masks

The first product to feature in this month's Fave Five is something I have not used for a while but I am so happy to have re-discovered over the current period where 'me time' isn't exactly abundant. Face masks are one of the best ways to pamper yourself and relax while also making your skin look and feel great. I picked up a selection of the Superdrug face mask packets like the two pictured above. These are cheap and easy to apply and have left my skin soothed, as well as given me a chance to take a break and relax. You can find different masks that seek to achieve different goals, such as de-stressing or even anti-ageing. Each are packed with vitamins and extracts to help you put your feet up for a bit and give your skin the pampering it deserves! If I ever need a little break, I will definitely reach for these again and, even better, check Superdrug for these are always on little offers!

Revlon Lash Potion Waterproof Mascara by Grow Luscious

My second favourite I have actually already reviewed in a blog post on it's own, and that is the Revlon Lash Potion Waterproof Mascara by Grow Luscious. It, of course, deserved a mention in this Fave Five for there has probably only been collectively 4 days in the entire month when I haven't actually used it! I used my previous mascara the other day as I was in a rush and the difference is so incredible, it made me love it even more. My lashes are not only long and fluttery but also look so much fuller than before. I think I probably spend the most time out of all my make-up on my lashes as they can add so much to an eye look. This mascara effortlessly lengthens and thickens my lashes - very noticeably as well as I've received many compliments! What's more, thanks to the waterproof formula that I picked up (it is also available as standard, non-waterproof mascara), it stays all day, not smudging below my eyes or losing it's amazing look. I would really recommend this to anyone who is searching for that perfect mascara to primarily lengthen their lashes but also add a touch of volume for a price not too over-budget for the great quality!

Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balms

Next is another product by Revlon and one that I didn't intend on buying but, am so glad I have now! My mum was on the search for some new lipsticks and we stumbled upon the Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm. Like a pen, these lip colours are easy to apply and have a wide variety of vivid and beautiful colours. The effect is much deeper and vibrant compared to the Colorburst Lip Butters which I also own and are perfect for a quick and easy bright lip look that lasts well. I first wore this on a night out with my friends and was surprised to see how well it stayed put the whole night. The two colours I picked up were Flirtatious, a bright and deep red, and Whimsical, a glittery purple. Both shades are glamorous and glittery, although I find the glitter a lot more prominent in the purple shade. I adore the richness of both the colours and, now that I am adventuring into different lip colours rather than staying in the comfort zone of my lip balms and nude lip glosses, I am so excited to continue wearing both these gorgeous lipsticks. Another bonus is the balm aspect makes sure my lips don't become dry over the course of the day!

Collection 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner

Some of you might be surprised to read that, although I am a self-confessed beauty and make-up fanatic, I have always stayed clear of liquid eye liner. On an everyday basis, I sport khol pencil liner and have been too scared to attempt liquid eye liner. Constant complaints of the difficulty is what essentially put me off liquid eye liner, as I didn't want to spend hours trying to get both 'wings' to match. When on holiday, however, I didn't take any make-up apart from mascara and pressed powder and so, borrowed the eye liner that Hannah had brought. She had been using the Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner. I was surprised at how quickly I got the hang of applying this liner that is basically a felt tip pen, and the similarity to my familiar pencil liner. I purchased it myself when we got back and, even though I wasn't too adventurous on holiday, I have attempted a few different looks over this past month and have actually really enjoyed using it (something I never thought I would say about a liquid eye liner!). I haven't myself worn it for 24 hours to test that aspect of it, but it does stay put all day and looks really nice on the eye. I would definitely recommend this to rookies like myself and one of the best parts is the price at only £2.99!

Finally is a music feature and something I'm sure most of you are already aware of! I have been a fan of Ed Sheeran for absolutely ages and am in love with his voice and style of music. I was so excited to hear his new album X and must admit it has been constantly playing over the past month. I just love the feel good and happy vibes his music has given to my summer and how his wonderful songs have accompanied the good times I've spent with friends. My favourite songs are Don't, Thinking Out Loud and Bloodstream but, every single track is amazing and truly boasts the talent of Ed Sheeran. If you haven't given his album a listen, it's a definite must and you might end up obsessing like I have been the last month!

That's all this month! What have you loved through August? I hope you all had a wonderful and memorable summer!

- Becca x

Superdrug Face Masks - RRP 99p (For 15ml Packet)
Revlon Lash Potion Waterproof Mascara by Grow Luscious - RRP £9.99
Revlon Colorburst Lacquer Balm - RRP £7.99
Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner - RRP £2.99 
X By Ed Sheeran - RRP £8.99/£10.99 (For Deluxe Edition) on iTunes or RRP £8.99/£12.99 (For Deluxe Edition) as Physical Copy

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