OMG WE'RE GOING TO DISNEYLAND!

Ok...so I might be 23 years of age but I cannot contain my excitement right now because in April we are going to Disneyland Paris!!

Disneyland's target market might be children and not young couples but I'm going on this holiday for more reasons than just to hang out with Mickey and his friends. 

My anxiety has held me back from so much so far through my life, especially with new experiences and travelling abroad. I have been out of the UK twice (to Spain) but I was young and I don't really remember the experience. My negative thinking and anxieties made the thought of travelling on a plane to a country where English might not be the language and where I would have no idea where anything was TERRIFIED me (especially now I'm a "grown-up" lol!). I became far too settled within my home comforts and was content only visiting Cornwall for our annual holiday. All I could think of was the negatives - typical me. 

I'm not entirely sure what has happened but something has changed towards the end of 2015 and I feel like I'm really starting to show my anxiety who's boss. I'm feeling the most positive I've ever felt and I don't want to be held back anymore. I want to experience new experiences and push myself out of my comfort zone.

Booking a holiday abroad might not be a big deal for some but I'm proud of myself for finally stepping out of my comfort zone and I cannot wait to visit a new country to make new memories. 

I have no idea what to expect from Disneyland Paris (other than what I've seen on the website and from friends pictures) so I would love it if you could leave your experiences and links to blog posts in the comments! 

Let the countdown commence!!! :D :D :D 

D.I.Y Phone Case

When shopping in Paperchase a while ago I saw a phone case but I was begrudged to pay £12 for it. When at the till, I saw some stickers which were the same design as the pattern on the case... It was then that I had this simple but bright idea! 

For £1.50 I bought the stickers and later went on eBay and purchased a clear iPhone case for a couple of quid. 

From there it was simple, stick the stickers onto the case in any order, put case onto phone and VOILA!

My very own, one of a kind, phone case made for less than a fiver! 

Paperchase sell so many different stickers, the possibilities are endless! I'm amazed at how well they last too! So far, none have come unstuck and I'm the sort of person who will drop her phone at any given moment! 

I also made a Christmas case and I LOVE IT!! 

What do you guys think? Let me know in the comments below! 

Emma 

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Happy New Year!

New year, new me? Not this time. I've decided that I don't want to change who I am and I don't think I should have too. I don't think anyone should have to. I'm me for a reason! 

Every year, I make resolutions but I never keep them and I have certainly never change myself drastically from them. This year I have decided to make some resolutions but I don't see them as massive changes; just adaptions to my life that will make me healthier, fitter and happier. 

Here's my resolutions:

Exercise - even if it's just once a week, I need to get some form of exercise into my life. 

Have more dates - in 2016 I want to make more time for me & Joe to enjoy each other's company WITHOUT mobile phones! 

I feel like these are quite achievable! I have also decided to set myself one goal to achieve during 2016. I haven't been on a plane since I was 10 and as I don't remember the experience, I want to fly on a short distance flight to Ireland or Scotland. These are two places I've never visited and feel like that sort of fight would be nice to "break me in" as I'm dying to visit America (I don't fancy jumping right in the deep end and doing a 10+ hour flight)! 

Around now, everyone starts to reflect on how their year went and how they hope the next year will turn out. Obviously everyone hopes to have the best year yet but I've been thinking and I've decided to take a more realistic approach to the next year of my life. During 2016 there will be ups and downs, highs and lows, good and bad days. From my new way of thinking, I feel quite prepared to tackle whatever 2016 throws at me! 

I'm really excited for 2016 as we have lots planned for the next chapter in our lives and relationship! I'm  feeling the most positive I have ever felt and I'm proud of how much I've changed with regards to my anxiety. I can't wait to spend another year making new memories with my family and friends! 

I hope you all have an amazing time celebrating the New Year, let me know what your resolutions/goals are, and I hope you're also ready to handle whatever 2016 has got to offer you! 

Emma 

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Life Updates! I'm back...

I am writing this post to explain my absence and share a few updates that have happened in my life since I last posted. I can't promise it will be overly exciting! Lol!

Soo... I have kinda been neglecting my blog for numerous reasons. I have been in a bit of a slump about blogging as my anxieties got the better of me and knocked my confidence. I'm the sort of person who worries about what people think of her ALL THE TIME. I have had a few ideas about blog posts to create but I kept letting my thoughts get the better of me. I thought no one would be interested in what I had to blog about and convinced myself that people would think I was strange for wanting to write about my favourite beauty products etc. But as I enjoy reading blogs and watching Youtube to find out about the lastest products and other people's beauty regimes etc, there must be someone who might enjoy what I have to share. 

As well as this, I have started my second year of my foundation degree. I found the first year very stressful so I wasn't looking forward to going back. I need to get back into the swing of writing assignments and organising my time efficiently, which is why my blog ended up on the back burner. 

Last month, I discovered Bella Coco. I first watched a Youtube video on the Mum's Eye View channel, starring Sarah-Jayne and this led me to her channel, Bella Coco. She posts videos and blogs about lifestyle, beauty and crafts. Lots of her videos are about crocheting and tutorials. I have been wanting to learn to crochet for a few years now and with great thanks to Sarah-Jayne and her amazing tutorial, I have finally accomplished my 2013 New Year resolution and it is safe to say I LOVE my new hobby!!! The Bella Coco Instagram feed is beautiful and I have been inspired to make so many different things (I just need to find the time)!!

Yesterday (6th October 2015), I went into hospital to have my 4 wisdom teeth removed. As I am a very anxious person and I am also very pessimistic, it is safe to say I was nervous. I can be a complete baby about being in pain or feeling unwell and the thought of being put to sleep was comforting but also worried me. However, I am very proud of myself as I kept calm for the days leading up to the 6th and for the 4 hours I was in the waiting room. It wasn't until the nurse took me down and asked how I was feeling, that I burst into tears and all my anxiety that I'd been keeping at bay came flooding out. Thankfully, my Mum was with me and I'm so glad she was as even though I'm 22 years old, I don't think I could've done it without her. 45 minutes later, I was woken up and greeted by my partner Joe. Everything went well and I am now sat at home recovering with a swollen face. Recovery was something I was anxious about as I assumed that I would be in a lot of pain and very hungry. However, it has been nothing like I'd imagined and really quite bareable! I'm resting up and enjoying my time off work because it means I can crack on with my assignments, crocheting and catch up on daytime TV! :D 

I can't promise that I will upload regularly but I do want to use my blog as a space for me to share my crafts and thoughts and feelings about products etc. 

Love Emma

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Back to School: Study Tips

I have spent pretty much my whole life so far in education. I completed school and attended college for 4 years doing various courses.

In 2014, I signed up to a university course and I am now half way through so I thought I would share my study tips.

NOTES

Take lots of notes. Your future self will seriously thank you later!

You can note take in lots of different formats. Choose a style that suits you best. You can mind map, draw pictures, create your own shorthand code etc. Last year one of my lectures gave us the idea of using our phones/tablets to take pictures of notes from the boards or book covers we might want to refer to later. Following on from this, our class created a Facebook group page where we could all share pictures & notes. It's a great way of feeling supported and quickly getting help when you're stuck at home, ready to give up. 

DEADLINES

 As soon as you know your deadline, write it down. This is where I use my diary & sticky labels. You can then work out how many weeks you have to complete the task and use your time wisely – easier said than done, I know!

PAPERWORK 

My first day at uni was very overwhelming. We were handed 3 different project briefs, a course handbook which was about 200 loose pages thick and lots of other pieces of information. By putting this all into a folder, with dividers, it helped to prevent me loosing pages and I knew where everything was. This takes away a little bit of stress for me personally.

 SAVING ASSIGNMENTS

When you eventually begin writing assignments or creating projects, it is vital to save your work in numerous places. I will save my work to my laptop, a memory stick and to my One Drive/Cloud storage.

TIMETABLES 

Create a routine and stick to it – again easier said than done, I know. Use your time wisely but sensibly. Sometimes spending the whole day working can lead to you becoming unmotivated so try to do a couple of hours work daily then treat yourself to some time out watching Netflix or hanging out with friends. For me, it always feels better to know I've done some work rather than putting it all off to cram in one day, last minute. Little and often is so much more beneficial.

FEEDBACK

Once I got my first assignment back, I read the feedback and took the criticism really hard. I was really disappointed with myself when really I didn't need to be. It was my first assignment, my first time writing at degree/university level and I'd passed! I just didn't enjoy the examiners picking faults in me. After that I ignored all feedback and just looked to see what grade I achieved. Going into my second year I am definitely going to start reading my feedback because it can be so helpful for improving my next assignments. It might be hard at first but try to see the positive in the criticism and use it to your advantage.

HYDRATE

More often than not, I find myself switching off during lectures and trying my hardest to stay awake. This is why I always have my water bottle with me in class. I love my BRITA filter water bottle as it means I can fill it up from anywhere but still drink fresh water.

I was absolutely dreading returning to uni but this year as I know what to expect, I'm going to give it my all. It will (probably) be my last year in education too. I'm also hoping, if I stick to these tips, I’ll still get the time to blog alongside studying!

I hope these tips have been helpful! I'd love to hear any of your tips in the comments below!

Emma

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Back to School Essentials

Summer is almost over which means it is that time of year where school/college/university begins again! 

In September, I will be heading back to university to complete my second year of my Foundation Degree in Support for Learning. Rather than attending an actual university campus, I attend my local college once a week to have lectures and classes.

I have already started getting things ready as I like to be organised so I thought I'd share with you what to take to/use during my time at uni. 

Pens, pencil, highlighters - these are basic essentials however I love to have different coloured pens to help make notes stand out. 

Pencil case - I have decided to use this Helix pencil case that has ring holes so you can clip it into your ring binder. I feel like this is probably going to save space in my bag and stop me from forgetting to pick my pens/pencil case up when I leave the house.

Academic diary - I use this to record my deadlines and appointments. You could use your phones calendar for that but I like to be old school ;) 

Sticky labels - these are amazing to use with my diary. I like to use them like bookmarks point out where my deadlines or important notes are.

Ring binder folder and dividers - I always get handed 101 different pieces of papers during my 3 different lessons so this is a must to keep it all safe and organised.

Notebooks - obviously you will need somewhere to record your notes from lessons. Again, you could use your ipad/tablet or laptop for this. 

Laptop/tablet and memory stick - I use these when it comes to actually writing assignment or researching.

Water bottle - I love my BRITA filter water bottle as it means I can fill it up from anywhere and still be drinking fresh water.

Rucksack - this floral backpack is from TK Maxx and I love it!

What are you essentials for going back to school/college/uni?!

Emma
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Summer Holiday 2015: Cornwall

I've been visiting Cornwall now for over 5 years with my other half, Joe. He has been holidaying in Cornwall for pretty much his whole life as his parents have a caravan based in North Cornwall that they used regularly. I fell in love with the county when I started to join Joe on his holidays and I always look forward to returning every year.

 We travelled down from Wiltshire on the 8^th of August and I feel incredibly proud of myself as I drove half the journey for the first time. I have been driving for almost 4 years but my anxiety has caused me to have a serious lack of confidence when it comes to motorway driving. With thanks to Joe, his support and numerous trips to Bristol to help me practice, I have finally found that confidence to replace the anxiety. I really pleased that I can finally share the driving with Joe as it can be a very long journey.

 This year we decided to take our push bikes with us. As we have been visiting Cornwall for so long, we have seen and done almost all the attractions so felt it would be good to explore the Cornish sights whilst getting some exercise!

When in Cornwall, we stay close to Porthcothan Bay. When I first visited the beach at Porthcothan, I fell in love and it has been my favourite ever since - I've even debated getting married there! 

I was going to write about every day but I don't want this post to go on forever, so here are a few of the things we got up too…

Holly dogs! She is a lurcher :)

Tuesday 11^th:

Today we took our bikes to Padstow to ride the Camel Trail. We rode 5 miles, all the way to Wadebridge. Amazingly, I rode the whole way and didn't feel the need to stop once(my stamina is rubbish usually), go me! . We stopped for a pasty and had a look around the local shops. I instantly headed for the shop that stocked jewellery and crystals and ended up treating myself to this beautiful silver moonstone ring (after spending ages choosing between all the other beautiful pieces). I've not taken it off since! We had to ride another 5 miles back to Padstow and this time I did stop but only to get these pictures... It was a really good bike ride and it felt really good to get all that exercise.

We’d left Holly back in the caravan so it was only fair that we took her for a walk on the beach when we got back. After a quick paddle we headed back to get ready for dinner. 

 

OOTD:

Shorts: h&m. Top: Primark. Cardigan: Internatiocal. Sunglasses: Polaroid/TK Maxx.

Wednesday 12^th:

We decided to make the most of the weather today and all went back to Padstow; but this time we caught the ferry over to Rock. There isn't much at Rock but the beach was quiet enough to let Holly off the lead for a good run and play. The sea was calm so I went for a paddle. I wish I'd been wearing my swimming costume as it was calm enough to swim. I love these pictures that Joe captured of Holly running through the sea.

We headed back on the ferry to Padstow where we stopped for lunch from the chip shop. After we had a look around the local shops and had an ice cream. These ice creams were far from 99p like they used to be!

 Later on, we took Holly for a walk over the cliffs and stopped off at the pub for a drink. The views from the Tredrea Inn of Porthcothan Bay  are amazing! I was counting down the minutes until sunset as I really wanted to go to the beach to watch it. Unfortunately the clouds were not helpful and ruined my plans. However, from the caravan we witnessed the sky turn a beautiful shade of pink and purple whilst the sun went down. It was amazing!

Thursday 13^th:

Heavy rain fell all night and all day today. We took this as an opportunity to go for a train ride at the Bodmin & Wenford railway. This is an annual ritual for us as Joe volunteers for the Swindon & Cricklade Railway so steam engines feature heavily in our lives. I don't mind joining him for a train ride as we have a deal, I go to the railway, he joins me shopping. Good balance I think. Unfortunately, because of the weather, everyone else seemed to have the same idea as us and the railway was incredibly busy! After the journey we headed for Newquay. Another annual ritual when we go to Cornwall, is to visit the cinema and have a meal at Frankie & Benny’s – especially if the weather is bad. We were both looking forward to watching Inside Out but it was sold out so we booked tickets for PIXELS instead. After a three course meal and a very wet walk through Newquay, we were not disappointed by the film! It was brill!! It was a typical ‘save the world and get the girl’ story line but it was so different to other films. Adam Sandler did good!

Friday 14^th:

The rain had gone but it was still overcast so we all decided to go on another walk with the dog. We went on the Camel Trail again, but this time from Bodmin. 

We walked 3.8 miles this time and stopped halfway for a cream tea. It was yummy!

 When heading back to the car, Joe got another chance to see the steam engine from Bodmin & Wenford as it had arrived at the station.

Again, I was hoping to catch the sunset at the beach. We did catch it this time but again, the clouds were in the way! It was also incredibly windy so we didn't stay for long!

Saturday 15^th:

Today we headed over to St Austell to visit the Cornish Market World. I wanted to go as last year I bought lots of gemstone beads from a little craft stall; this year however, wasn't as great. As we’d gone a fair distance we decided to make the most of South East Cornwall and visited Mevagissey. Walking round the harbour, I enjoyed browsing the quirky little gifts shops. When visiting Mevagissey previously, the sea seems so different, so dark and I assumed this was because the weather was quite miserable. Today the weather was lovely, the sun was shining but the sea still looked so dark and eery, which was strange yet beautiful. It was also  incredibly calm!

The rest of the holiday involved more dog walks over the cliffs and time to chill out and recharge our batteries. I so needed to get away but I can't help but miss my furry babies still at home being looked after by my amazing nan!

This post has been vey long but I hope you enjoyed reading it!?

Have you visited Cornwall? Do you recommend anything to do or see whilst there?

Emma

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