The Versatile Blogger Award | TAG

Recently I was nominated by the lovely Megan from Megan's World to do this TAG, so thank you very much to Megan for nominating me!

Here are a few rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award √

2. Include a link to their blog √

3. Nominate 15 blogs/bloggers that you have recently discovered or follow regularly for the award

4. Tell the person who nominated you 7 things about yourself

Ok, so now that they're noted, i'll get on to sharing a little about myself...

1. I am a qualified child practitioner!

2. My most used makeup product would have to be the L'Oreal True Match Foundation. It has a medium to full coverage, it's light and easy to blend but most importantly is the perfect match for my pale skin. A bottle lasts me ages but I've gone through a few! I also did a review on it a little while back, here.

3. I buy too many lip products and always end up using the same few. And I buy way too many dainty necklaces but rarely remember to put one on!

4. I'm currently on some sort of gap year deciding what I want to do with my life, cries!

5. I used to be obsessed with Olly Murs. I still am to a degree and will always support him by purchasing his singles, albums and books and by attending concerts when he comes anywhere near to where I live!

6. I consider 6 as my lucky number even though it never has been remotely lucky for me.

7. I watch a considerable amount of TV, though I never really get hooked on series. I shamefully love Eastenders and the not so shameful Gogglebox- it's bloody hilarious and me and my family seem to think we'd be good on there. Haha!

Again a big thank you to Megan for nominating me, make sure you go check out her blog! 

Now I nominate:

(Also, just a side note: I know it can be a little hectic to keep up with nominations and tags, i'd love to learn more about you guys but if not then thanks for stopping by!)

-Glitter Melody, 

-The Perks 0f Being Emily, 

-Thrifty Vintage Fashion, 

-Chloe Paigee,

-Geraldine's Wonderful World,

-Hannah Porter,

-Perks Of Being Nazia,

-Pink Smarties,

-What Caitie Did,

-Emily's Beauty Thoughts,

and I cannot think of five more so anybody else who'd like to do this, feel free!

If you made it this far, I hope you enjoyed this post and those facts weren't too boring! When asked on the spot it's really hard to think of interesting things to say about yourself! 

What else would you like to see from me?

♥   ♥   ♥

The Pressures of Growing Up | College, University and Finding a Job

Hello!
As it is my first Saturday off in a while, I thought I'd catch up on blogging although I should be doing some college work- sigh. Today I thought i'd touch on something relevant to me right now which is the pressures of growing up, in particular relating to education and work.

This time last year, I was told to start thinking about what I wanted to do once I had finished my college course. What?! I was so confused as I had only just started but the year whipped around quickly and now I understand why they said to think about it early. Come September this year I was supposed to know what I wanted to do in order to prepare for it, for example- going to uni meant I would have to be applying right now, the sooner the better.

I was set on not going to university seeing as I never wanted to go to college, with what felt like everyone around me applying to uni, I felt like I had to. I started to look into university courses but my heart wasn't in it, I wanted to please my parents, do them proud, improve my chances and simply just move out. Recently I've came to realise that's not the right attitude to have, so I've decided against even applying.
The only university I wanted to go to I visited, Norland College in Bath to study Early Years and eventually become a qualified Norland Nanny- I loved it there. But realistically it wouldn't agree with my family financially, I don't want to go knowing I will have very little money and probably be so unhappy as a result of this.

Once my decision was set on not going to uni, all I could think about was finding a job or applying to do another college course- one of which I probably wouldn't have enjoyed. I've looked at so many different paths including apprenticeships, a range of childcare related jobs and even a complete change- a makeup course.

I've come to the conclusion that I don't have to have everything worked out, I don't need to do something to please anybody else and I should do everything I want to do. Although I'm still unsure about what I'd like to do, I'm not worried about it- it was stressing me out but now i'm completely calm and think i'll take everything as it comes and do things at my own pace.

Source: here.

There are many different career paths and many different ways to get to where you want to be. I'm trying to remind myself that the key to success is happiness. Do what makes YOU happy and by all means, experiment to find your happiness.

Apologies if this post was all over the place, my blog is a place for me to share my thoughts. Hopefully you can either relate to this or take just something of what I've said on board.

I hope you're all well!

♥   ♥   ♥

Stationary Haul | Back to School

Hello!
I've always loved stationary so there's no surprise that when shopping for 'Back to School' I got a little excited. Usually I would go a little crazy and purchase stationary that I didn't necessarily need but thought was cute so in the basket it went, but not this time! This time I picked up bits i'm almost certain i'll use, although I may need to go back for a few more bits as i'm not entirely sure what and how many files i'll need for the different areas within my course. So here's what I picked up...

I popped into Wilko as they usually have a good range of stationary, the basics and pretty ones at affordable prices. I wasn't overly impressed by the range of 'pretty' stationary as it just wasn't to my taste but I did pick up the basics which i'm more than delighted with the prices!

HERE

First up is this dark pink ring binder file, which i'm sure i'll use or it's just handy to have in case you may need a file when you least expect it. They had this file in a few colours, pink, white, black and I think blue, so will pretty much suit anybodies taste and at 50p you can't go wrong can you? This is the only file I purchased as I said, I'm not sure how many i'll need but i'll definitely be picking up some more of these. 

HERE

I'm almost sure you can't go supplies shopping without picking up paper, unless your school provides it of course! So into my basket went this Wilko A5 Project Notebook, with 3 dividers for different subjects or areas of your work. I picked up this as it was a bargain at £1.85 and was handy to have to take down my own personal notes in college of what I think may help me, rather than what I've been asked to take down.

HERE

Now this wasn't from Wilko as I couldn't find it in there, but I bought an nu: Craze A4 Notebook from B&M bargains at £1.99. I picked this notebook in particular as it has good quality paper to write on. Does anyone else feel like they write better when the paper is of a better quality? Yeah, I definitely fit into that category of people! This will be used to take down the notes I am asked to that will go into one of my files or portfolio's. 

HERE

That pen though...

Of course, you need something to write with! So yes, I have a favourite pen that were on offer when I went stationary shopping, score! These Zebra Z-Grip Ballpoint pens were sold in a pack of 5 for only £1.25, they're so nice to write with and are comfortable too when making lengthy notes as they have the cushion grip, so at £1.25 into my basket they went! Also they're black, my preferred colour to write in.

HERE

The last item from Wilko is this rubber, yes it has a little dog on it- haha! I didn't pick this up for the dog, I was in need of a rubber for my pencil case and this was the cheapest at 35p and one of the biggest there. I must admit they had another one with a floral design which I would have preferred but this was cheaper so why not?

Last but not least were from a small shop that pretty much sold everything! Just a packet of 5x highlighters for £1, very affordable and perfect for highlighting important notes taken, i'm just hoping they won't run out too quickly but for only £1, I can't complain.

That's it for my stationary haul, like I said I didn't go as crazy as I usually would so here are just the essentials that I think are a need for anybody in the last years of secondary school or starting college. I'm sure that i'll be popping back to Wilko or a local supermarket when I have a full list of stationary that I actually do need once I start back at college. Like I said in my previous Back to School post, here- I hope all of you have a great start to the year whether you're starting high school, GCSE years, college or uni and enjoy what you're doing!

Until next time,

Amy X

Thoughts and Opinions | Back to School

Hello!

As much as I love Autumn, I think the very beginning is the worst time of the year, back to school.

It's that time of year again, that i'm sure the majority of students dread. Just like I am! With September just around the corner I thought i'd get up a couple of 'Back to School' related posts, here's the first on my thoughts on going back to college.

Here in the UK, well mostly England and Wales tend to go back during the first week of September- I go back on a Friday, what!? This will be for induction day. I'm slightly confused as to why being in my second year of college on the same course I have to have an induction, but i'm sure they've got their reasons. 

If you're starting college this year and are unsure what to expect from your induction day, i'm sure most colleges or sixth forms tend to do similar things including, meeting your tutor or lecturers for the subject or course you have chosen, meeting your course members which usually contains a 'get to know you' session. If this sounds very daunting(like it did to me) then believe me it will be absolutely fine, the majority of your class members will be in the same situation, not really knowing anybody and thinking what the blinkers can I say about myself!? Just be yourself, state your interests or something that you've done that has stood out in your life, believe you me, you can't do any worse than I did. I admitted to my class meeting Olly Murs twice and sounded like the ultimate stalker.. damn it! Although it didn't seem to affect people interacting with me, so don't worry! 

Anyway, onto the rest of what induction days tend to consist of, receiving your time table, going through the basics of the course including what to expect and what will be expected from you(e.g. the stationary and time you'll have to provide for yourself) and finally if you're new to the place of learning, a tour- the excitement of finding out where the fire exits and toilets are! I was thrilled by this, not..

There's one thing I should definitely point out to you, don't feel disheartened if you're first day doesn't go great or it's not what you expected- stick it out and things will get better through out the following weeks when you're more familiar with the course, the area and your class mates. This comes from experience as after the first day I was adamant I was not going back and in fact nearly left on the break, though I stuck it out as I knew it could only get better and I didn't want to disappoint myself or my parents. And that I was right, it did get better!

As I've mentioned, i'll be entering my second and may even be last year of college or education!? This is definitely more daunting than starting college for me as it means i'll have to really think seriously about what I want to do next. I am constantly questioning myself, do I really want to work with children? Should I try something different? Should I go to Uni and do I actually want to go to Uni? What about a gap year? Yet none of these have answers, just possibilities..
I'm constantly battling with 'going to Uni to improve my opportunities in the area of work I think I want to go into', 'Am I cut out for Uni, Intellectually, Emotionally and Physically(probably not)', 'Being stuck in a 9-5 or worse job for whats considered poor pay?' I really do not know. 

I am not going to turn this post into a rant, i'm just trying to get across that you should always give something a try, never give up, enjoy what you're doing and most importantly make sensible decisions, whether they're right or wrong just remember that they felt right at the time!

I'm sorry if this post got cut a little short, I was just unsure what to say without turning this into a rant or with no real direction of where I was going with this.

Anyway, enjoy(well as much as you can) your first day back at school, college, uni whatever! And Good Luck to those who are starting somewhere new in their education!

That's all for now,

Amy X

Source: here

The Sunday Edit #5

Hello!
Here I am again, continuing with The Sunday Edit, like I said I would be! In all honesty I haven't been up to a lot this week, and this week I mean it I feel like I've done nothing so I wont be going through this Sunday Edit daily- just giving you a short low-down on what I've been doing and where I've been. 

Please excuse the use of language- haha! I couldn't believe how accurate this was so had to share it!

If i'm quite honest I cant even remember what I got up to at the beginning of the week, must of been super exciting eh? Usually i'd start the week of with doing some blogging but I haven't this week as I've been feeling really uninspired and just not really in the blogging mood, although I did manage to get a scheduled post up on what i'm doing to protect myself from the sun so please give that a look!
I think the reason for me not blogging is the fact I was feeling a little nervy and anxious as my exam results came back this week on Wednesday, thank the lord I passed with a C grade that averaged out to an A with my assignments, the highest I could of gotten- eek!
If you don't know already but i'm in such a knot with whether I want to go straight into work after my Childcare course and earn little or whether to improve my opportunities for work by going to uni. I was toying between visiting a few uni's over the summer to see how I feel after, but after seeing a program on Thursday, my decision was made! It was called 'Britain's Poshest Nannies' and they studied at a college called Norland in Bath, everything about the course appealed to me apart from the hefty cost which may hold me back- but needless to say I was sold, I ordered a prospectus soon after and booked a place at the Open Day in September, yay!

The weathers been pretty nice towards the end of the week, although I haven't been out in it as its been so warm- throughout the nights especially it has been so warm! I don't really have appropriate clothes for the weather at the moment and it was Pay Day on Friday so I started to order more summer appropriate clothes- a lovely kimono from MissPap.co.uk so i'm sure you'll see that very soon as I've made and will be making a few more orders!

Again my weekend has been finished off with lie ins and working evenings which is the typical weekend for me at the moment, until I change jobs hopefully soon!
That's all for now as I haven't been doing a hell of a lot like I mentioned, so until next time..

Amy X