Back to school for me...

( If you are looking for a survival guide for your new school term, you can see my advice post; "Things to think about in the new school year"

I hope it helps! :3 )

Hey guys :) 
Today is the last day of the holidays (BOOOO!), so I thought I would write a blog post while I still have the time. 

It's not school in particular that I am loathing right now, it is just the small things, such as getting up at 7am and all that torture. I got up at 8:30 this morning as a kind of practise for this kind of thing, and I have been yawning all day. I definitely think that if school started at a later time then I would be more productive throughout the day.
Teenagers are always told "If you're really this tired, you should go to bed earlier!", but I really don't think it's as simple as that. Also, I personally find it very hard to sleep, and have done for all my life. I am such a light sleeper - the smallest of noises can wake me up in the night! The other night I involuntarily stayed up till around 2am because I thought I heard noises downstairs. It's not that I get scared of noises or anything, they just keep me really alert :(

Other things I will miss are listening to music all day and not being in a constant rush to go places - the holidays seem to have lulled me into this false sense of security with no responsibilities or deadlines. I am also not a subtle enough person to listen to music during class, I can barely chew gum in class without looking absolutely startlingly ridiculous! My friends always laugh at me if they give me gum and I try/fail to chew it without anyone noticing. It's a good thing that I've always been a goody-two-shoes, because I'd be terrible at trying to get away with disobeying the teachers... 

Despite these things, I do think that it is also good that I am finally going back to school. This is partly because if I didn't, I doubt I would socialise much. I always have a number of friends who I will try to meet up with during the holidays, but there are also quite a few friends who I haven't seen since last year, and I really want to see them!
The new school term will also give me the chance to test out my new ADVENTURE TIME BACKPACK!!! :D

I got it for Christmas, and I am extremely happy with it! :)

It is also reversible, so if you get tired of Jake's face, then you can switch it round to see Finn instead :3

My last bag was falling apart, and I was in serious need of a replacement. The destruction of my last school bag was quite upsetting, as it was my pride and joy when I got it around this time last year. It was a David&Goliath bag, with a Hipsterpotomas on it (click here to see it on Amazon - I really can't describe it clearly enough!). Of course, it now looks nothing like it did in January 2014 after a year of being battered about and scratched in the school corridors. I am hoping my new bag does not have a similar fate!

For those of you who are in school, what is your favourite and least favourite part of going back to school? 

My favourite part of going back is seeing my friends, and my least favourite part would definitely be getting up in the morning. Once I am in school, I tend to be fine, it's just the mornings!

Best wishes for the new term, 

Lucy x

YouTube Announcement!!!

Hey guys! :)

As I mentioned in my last blog post which was all about New Year's Resolutions, in 2015 I have decided to try new things to ease myself into new situations and environments. Another thing I mentioned was that I have tried out YouTube before and failed horrendously because all I could really do was freak out... 

So you can probably guess what I have done... 




If you guessed "started a YouTube channel" you could be right! :)
If you guessed anything else such as "climbed the Eiffel Tower" or "got on a roller-coaster", you would be wrong (trying new things doesn't mean literally scaring myself to death.

So yeah, I thought I would make a mini-video just for you guys to inform you about my YouTube channel. It's not great quality or anything, and I am still trying to sort out my voice in videos (it goes all murmur-y at the end of my sentences and I hate it), but it's something. 
No YouTuber is perfect the moment they turn their camera on the first time!

To all the readers of my blog!

Click this link to watch my unlisted YouTube video especially for you guys! :3

You can also watch my other YouTube video, 50 Facts About Me, but to be honest I don't really like it that much. Like I said, my voice goes weird at the end of my sentences - it kinda creeps me out to watch it. I don't do that in real life! I thought that starting a YouTube channel would be like giving a voice to my blog posts, but apparently I need to work on some things...

In the meantime, please subscribe to my channel! :)

Thanks for being awesome <3

Speak to you soon, 

Lucy x

New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year!!

Pinch, punch, first day of the month! 
(does anyone else do that?)

Woah, where the hell did 2015 come from? I certainly did not see it coming! I seriously cannot believe how close my 15th birthday is, it seems like I was 13 just yesterday. So much has changed in the past few years, it's crazy. This time last year I don't think I could have really anticipated my life being the way it is now. I am hardly different from my 13-year-old self, but at the same time I have changed somehow. 

Change seems to be a theme today, doesn't it? New Year's Day is always the perfect excuse for people to try to transform their lives (and then realising in March that they have completely failed to improve their lifestyle in any way!). Last year I remember my New Year's Resolution was to drink less Diet Coke (I was obviously aiming very high in my goals) and I managed that(not that it was at all difficult). 

This blog post, however, is not about giving up chocolate (as if!) or working out every day (like I have time for that kind of commitment), but about rethinking my decisions. Recently I have not been happy with my confidence, and how my social anxiety has been affecting my decisions. Earlier this year I was meaning to start a YouTube channel, but as soon as I turned on my camera, I froze and couldn't bring myself to say a word. It was horrible. 

So one of my goals for 2015 is to ease myself into situations I may not be completely comfortable with. That does not mean throwing myself into every opportunity that comes my way, I do need to know when to say when. I have also been kind of short of time recently, so even if I was that crazy, it would leave me with no time for schoolwork or anything. 

One thing that I would like to be able to do without freaking out is going to concerts. I am going to two different concerts this year, and I know for a fact that one of them is really crowded without any seats, and just loads and loads of people standing up. I'm not going to specify what concert or where the concert will be held due to privacy reasons, but when I imagine it in my head, I can just see myself stuck in the middle of this crowd, being pushed and shoved in a massive mob.
However, the concert is for an artist who I deeply adore, and even though the idea of being in this crowd scares me an unfathomable amount, I am extremely excited for going to the concert with one of my best friends! Before I thought the whole thing over, I really didn't think I would be comfortable and wasn't sure I wanted to put myself into a position that made me feel that vulnerable, but now I am sure that I will not regret this concert once I am there, and I will make the most of the day :)

One thing that has convinced me to have this as my New Year's Resolution is that recently there was an incident at my school (without naming any names) where someone was treated disrespectfully due to their panic disorder, and for once in my life, I stood up for that person (that person wasn't me, in case you were worrying, it was a friend of mine!).
I told the disrespectful person exactly what he/she needed to hear without losing the high ground/going into full-scale bitching (because bitching really isn't my style!), and although the whole experience took me out of my comfort zone and made me feel really exposed for actually opening my mouth to speak my mind for once in my life, it felt seriously amazing! It gave me a feeling of strength that I feel like I might have lost quite a while ago, and I am so glad I did it. I did feel panicky afterwards and had to have a sit down for a minute, but I think I did a great thing and my friend said I was really scary (I think that was a good thing!). 
Although I am hardly looking for any conflict or aggressive confrontation, I would definitely say what I said again, and I will definitely make sure to speak my mind in the future :)

I suppose this post is the return of my meaningful advice posts, so if you have the same kind of problem as I do, I recommend you to have a New Year's Resolution that is similar to mine - remember to try new things. You may find public situations and confrontations terrifying, but sometimes it is good to go out of your comfort zone. 
I hope you find this goal empowering, and if you are like me and choose this resolution, I hope it makes a positive impact on your life :)

What is your New Year's Resolution? Is it something like this, or are you just hoping to work off all the chocolate you ate over the holidays (I should really do that too, haha). 

Best wishes for the new year,
Lucy x

If you are not feeling empowered enough, here is "Something Big" by Shawn Mendes (it is one of my favourite songs right now!) :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Right now it is 11:11, and it is Christmas morning! 
Merry Christmas everyone!

I don't have time to write a proper blog post right now as I am about to leave to visit my grandparents, but I would just like to tell whoever reads this little blog of mine that - regardless of whether you celebrate Christmas or not - I really wish that you have a magnificent day, because you deserve it (not just because you read my blog, but because you are generally awesome as well!) :D

I don't know what my life will be like this time next year - I hope I am managing to take care of my blog at least! Here are pictures of Christmas 2013 vs now:

Wow, I look so young in the first one!! 

(I am also wearing no make-up in the first one, haha)

Maybe soon I will make a blog post on some of the Christmas presents I got. This morning I woke up at around 8:30 (which is early for me, by the way) and I am really happy with some of the awesome books I got :3

Best (Christmas) wishes, 
Lucy xx :)

Building up to Christmas!!!!!

As you may be able tell by the amount of exclamation marks included in the title of this blog post, I am quite hyped for Christmas around now - the title actually resembles a writing assessment I did in Year 6 in which I was told off for adding about 10 exclamation marks in one sentence (oops). 

Anyway, back on topic...
CHRISTMAS IS NEARLY HERE! We broke up from school two days ago and I am really feeling the freedom. For once, I might actually have a week without any assessments in.
I have been working on an English assessment for quite a while and finally I have finished - it was hard work, but I think it will be worth it (or I hope it will at least!). I think in the end I wrote about 12 pages, and I have quite small handwriting. It's not the most anyone in the class had written, but I know I put quite a lot of thought into mine. Comparing poems isn't exactly my forte (I prefer story writing), so I doubt I will get anywhere near the score I got on the short story I wrote last term, but I can always hope. 

Today has been a particularly festive day for me, as I have decided to put up my mini Christmas tree that lives in my room every December-February (I am never bothered to take it down, it may as well be a permanent feature). I think I should just keep the tree up all year round and style it differently every season - for instance, I could have Easter chicks on it in spring and cauldrons and sweets on it in Halloween... it would be a lot easier than taking off all the baubles and packing it back into the box at the end of December, anyway.
Here is a picture of my marvelous creation:

I rather stupidly didn't realise before I finished the tree that it looks like Michael Clifford is trying to eat the baubles... I regret nothing.

I don't actually have a fairy or star to hang on top of the tree, so this year I am using a cute wooden key-ring I got from Evolution :)

I'm trying to think up of a name for her, but I haven't got one just yet.

I always seem to run out of places to hang baubles because I have so many, so this time I decided to take advantage of the extras...

I think this is a massive improvement on my 5SOS poster.

Judging by their faces, I am guessing that this is probably the most beautiful Michael and Luke have ever felt!

I didn't expect this blog post to have two 5SOS appearances, but there you go!

Today was a relaxing day, which was great, as I feel like I haven't had one of those in ages. After school on Friday, I went out with some friends for a meal and got back at 9:15, as we ended up surrounded by tipsy teenagers who were about to go clubbing. Security actually asked for an I.D, as apparently we were not allowed to enter a certain part of the building to find the toilets (what). 

Y'know, maybe I have been wrong all along - maybe I shouldn't be allowed to pee until I'm 18(!!).

So yeah, that was weird. At least I'll know next time not to hang around the building for too long!

(Calling the people we saw on Friday "tipsy teenagers" now feels incredibly odd considering I am a teenager, and I cannot imagine myself in that state! Oh well, I suppose I'll get used to that)

Yesterday was also a busy day, as I went to my grandparents' house for a mini-Christmas dinner before the real one - today I just really needed a lie-in! I am one of those people who stays up late and then sleeps until lunch, annoyingly enough. I really wish I was a morning person!!

What are you most looking forward to in the holidays? I just need sleep and time for me to write - those are my priorities :)

Best wishes, 

Lucy x

Christmas jumpers and The Maze Runner

Hey guys :)

So Christmas is in 2 weeks (WHAT??!) and I'm trying to get into the festive mood (although I am not sure it is socially acceptable for me to hand out Christmas cards yet!!). 
Unfortunately, anyone who knows me will understand how bad I am with Christmas presents - I hardly ever know what to get my family, and I usually just get my friends chocolate. This year is no different, despite the fact that one of my friends told me not to buy her chocolate this year, due to the fact that I bombarded her with Hersheys on her birthday (she loved it really). I'm also quite bad at shopping, as I get sidetracked incredibly easily (this doesn't just go for shopping, but for just about any situation in which I can lose focus!).

However, one achievement I have made recently is that I have bought my VERY FIRST CHRISTMAS JUMPER

*gasp*

Seriously. I have gone 14 years (nearly 15) without ever getting a Christmas jumper, even though I absolutely love both festivity and jumpers... One of the main reasons the idea really came to mind this year is because on Friday, our school have a Christmas jumper day to raise money for charity and I kind of wanted to dress for the occasion. 

Another thing that I've been thinking about recently is The Maze Runner series, which is a really cool apocalyptic style book, which (inevitably) has The Hunger Games mentioned on the cover, because all adventure fiction/apocalyptic style books have that on the cover these days. I can't really complain though - I always end up falling in love with the books anyway!

I saw the film adaptation a while back in the cinema (twice) and I remember it being awesome, though I have to say, the book is so much better! It's not that the movie is bad or anything (it also had Thomas Sangster in it, which is always a good thing!), I just feel like the ending is rushed and so much is left unexplained about the entire plot - the book really answered some questions for me. 

My favourite characters so far are probably Teresa, Thomas and Newt - Teresa for her guts and wits, Thomas for his bravery and impulsiveness, Newt for the sass. Newt always seems to have the answer to every stupid question asked by the other characters, is gloriously sarcastic and often seems to be the only one who's able to think straight. 

I also think that Teresa gets a chance to develop as a character throughout the first book in a way that she doesn't in the film, which is sad, but I suppose the movie did have to be cut to a certain length.

I completely love James Dashner's style of writing - the language is sophisticated, yet casual enough for the teenagers to seem believable.

I am currently starting The Scorch Trials; book 2 in the series, so I'll let you know how I get on with that. 

Also, braces update: I think I might be getting mine off soon(ish). I am not sure how far away "soon" is, because no one ever seems to be able to guarantee anything when it comes to my braces, but I hope to have them off before my birthday (I don't know, I just think that would be cool). I am kinda tired of not being able to smile in photos now! :/

What do you guys usually go for when it comes to Christmas presents? Is there any alternative to chocolate? (is there ever?!)

Speak to you soon, 

Lucy x

Winter Changes

*dusts cobwebs off blog*

Hey guys! 

It's been a while, but I finally have to time to write a blog post. The thing I am post scared of recently is that I will unintentionally give up blogging for a really long time, and I really don't want that to happen.
I am really looking forward to the Christmas holidays, hopefully I will have more time then!

...seriously though, what is it with Christmas recently? It is slowly creeping up on me and I am seriously unprepared! This seems to happen every year, rather annoyingly. 

Another thing that seems to creeping up on me is my 15th birthday - I am not even really sure I want to turn 15 right now, the number seems really daunting to me! Sometimes (and by "sometimes" I mean "most of the time") I still feel like a 10 year old... a freakishly tall 10 year old!

Nevertheless, now we have hit the month of December (once again, why is this all creeping up on me?!) loads of my friends are turning 15. Another thing that creeps me out about being 15 is Taylor Swift's song "15", in which she discovers relationships and betrayal and heartbreak and ALL THAT STUFF. 

Like, seriously, why couldn't the song have been called 16? 
Can't it wait?! 

I can't pretend that I don't have friends who haven't been through relationships and all that stuff... the concept just seems really new to me (even if it shouldn't really!).
Oh well, at least I will be able to (now legally) watch 15 rated movies in the cinema and all that stuff :D

Enough moaning - despite the fact that it is making my skin go CRAZY, I am really looking forward to winter this year. It always gives me the brilliant excuse to bundle up in tons of layers and wear awesomely fluffy jumpers :)

(sidenote: I really DON'T UNDERSTAND people who are walking around this time of year in t-shirts!! What is wrong with them?! They have the perfect excuse to wear jumpers and they don't even take it...) 

Also... ADVENT CALENDARS! They are definitely one of the best parts of the build-up to Christmas -  although you can't really beat decorating the Christmas tree, right? I have a slight obsession with tinsel and sparkly decorations.
I know people who put up their Christmas trees on the 1st of December, but I think that kind of feels like cheating - what happens when Christmas is just around the corner and you have nothing festive to do...?

The same goes for Christmas adverts - why are they on already?
Though the one advert that I do make a special advert to tolerate every year though is the John Lewis advert - they may be really long and, yes, really soppy, but they are also kind of cute. I especially loved Lilly Allen's song in the advert last year! 
One thing that does make me laugh is how people claim to have burst into tears the first time they watched the advert this year - it makes me wonder whether or not that is what the John Lewis staff intended whilst brainstorming for the plot. 
Like, the advert is definitely heart-warming, but it is hardly an emotional roller-coaster, haha!

One thing that has really made me feel all winter-y recently is that on Saturday I went ice-skating with my friends, something I equally love and loathe each year!

Love; because slipping around on the ice is so surreal and I just get to laugh at myself (though I don't need to go ice-skating to do that!).
Loathe; because I simply can't do it and I am kind of worried that the fancy, annoyingly professional skaters will take a break from their graceful leaps and twirls to laugh at me!

This year I went with my roller-blading, athletic friend (who totally didn't make me look terrible at all) and my slightly clumsy friend who had never been ice-skating before... the experience was intriguing to say the least. 
Probably the best part of it all was when my inexperienced friend almost fell over, then grabbed a (vaguely attractive) adolescent-male-stranger's hand to steady herself... *cringe*
Also (as if the whole scenario wasn't bad enough), he then turned to her a gave her a teasing look before skating away... *DOUBLE CRINGE*
We certainly won't be letting her forget about that any time soon!

What is your favourite part of winter? Mine are definitely the tree, the chocolate and the jumpers! 

(yes, I know that's three parts, but I can't pick one, in case you haven't already noticed!)

Speak to you soon (hopefully),

Lucy x