One Lovely Blog Award

(note: to see my Liebster Award from last month, click here :3)

Maya from ohemgeeitsmaya nominated me for One Lovely Award (whoop whoop!), so yeah, here I am. Thank you Maya! :)

Rules

1. Thank the person who nominated you and include a link to their      blog.

2. List the rules and display the award.

3. Add 7 facts about yourself.

4. Nominate 15 other bloggers. 

5. Follow on Blogger the person who nominated you. 

7 Facts About Me

• I am really bad at talking about myself because I just confuse myself sometimes and most of my life is composed of embarrassing moments that are too awful to share on the internet or with people I don't fully know.

• Most of the time, my best friends call me Luaj (along with plenty of other absurd names) based on an awkward moment in Year 7 in which my book fell on the floor, my teacher picked it up and read my name out terribly wrong in front of the entire class. *cringe* Thanks to my wonderful friends, I have not been able to get over that moment since!

• My surname is really weird and you wouldn't be able to read it if I wrote it down for you. I am incredibly happy when people say it right, because most of the time people just call me "Macaroni" or just some other weird version of my name. 

• My favourite subjects in school are English and Drama, and one day I would like to become a writer or an actress (or, if possible, both!). 

• My goldfish is called Sheila, but I don't know whether he/she is a boy or a girl. I have tried googling "how to tell if your goldfish is a boy or a girl" many times, but I am still not sure. If Sheila was a boy I would still probably call him/her Sheila simply because I like the name, so I've stopped trying to investigate. 

• My favourite smell in the world would be vanilla or a perfume called Wonderstruck Enchanted by Taylor Swift - I have two bottles of it (that's not weird, right..?)!!

• I am half English and half Irish, although sometimes people tell me I sound really English - or, more often, they tell me I sound really posh (in the words of Dan Howell: I'm not posh, I'm articulate). Also I am really bad at doing an Irish accent unless I am saying the words "Irish", "leprechaun" or "three". 

This is the part where I struggle to think of people to tag. I definitely won't reach 15! If I have nominated you and you don't want to do it for whatever reason, that's fine. I just think it's a fun thing to do :)

Here it goes.... 

The nominees are (sorry if you have done this before!):

• LoveTaraBabii♡
• Brunette Wavez
• Cloudy Dreams
• hello, Cathy
• Kimchi Cakes

I would have more, but I always forget to follow blogs I like after I discover them so I cannot really think of any, and many of the blogs I do follow have already been recently tagged. I also kind of feel like I am bothering people if I tag them and do not know them very well, so there a few I was kind of shy to tag in this.

Sorry for the limited amount of blogs tagged, I am kind of 10 blogs short!! :/

So that gives you an insight to my life :) 

Those of you who have been tagged can leave the link to their blog post in the comments!

Speak to you soon,

Lucy x

BUSY life update (ft. plaits and shopping)

Happy holidays! :)

*hides so that no one will have a go at me for not posting in 8 DAYS*

Actually, to be honest, I don't really expect anyone to really take notice of how often I post blog entries - I just really hate it when I get into the habit of simply not posting. But, as you can tell from the title of this blog post, I have been very occupied for the past week, mostly by coursework that I have been catching up on and stuff. I really hate falling behind with work as it makes me feel really powerless and trapped in an awful cycle of having-too-much-to-do-and-not-enough-time-to-do-it. In the end, I decided to bring some work to do over the holidays, which is hardly ideal, but I really have no other option. I don't really mind though, as it is only Media Studies, a subject that I find very interesting, and not anything particularly tedious.

Apart from that, starting from Friday evening, I have just been enjoying the freedom of the holidays. Friday evening was spent in my Pikachu onesie, watching a kiddy movie with my brother and eating (probably a bit too many) Haribos. I then spent most of Saturday sleeping before staying the night at my friend's house, along with another one of of my friends who was also staying the night. There's not really much to talk about as we didn't really get up to much (apart from eating and just talking - we do a lot of talking!). One thing that I do want to share with you though is the AWESOME Elsa-from-Frozen type plait my friend did on me. Take a look for yourself:

The pictures aren't fantastic because a) they were taken a long time after my friend actually plaited my hair and b) I took them myself!

The only problem with people doing hairstyles like this on me is that I REALLY like them and then make the frustrating discovery that I cannot do them on myself.

Oh well, at least I managed to take a few pictures before it all falls apart! I already had to fix it once and I doubt I could do it again. 

Another thing that happened at my friend's house is that we played Rock Band on her XBox. The result of this was me failing disastrously to sing "That's What You Get" by Paramore, which was an awful idea because I was on microphone and although I definitely knew all of the words, I definitely cannot sing to pop punk music - I feel like writing a personal apology to Hayley Williams for ruining the band's song... My drumming certainly wasn't any better, though I will not even try to describe my flailing mess to you.

Having spent a week not posting, I have come to the conclusion that I would like to write more advice-style blog posts. I'm not sure exactly what to write yet, but I have a few ideas that I could try to put together for a blog post. 

Another thing I have also been meaning to post is the results of the shopping trip I went on last week with my friend and my sister. Sooo yeah, voilà:

My new jumper (H&M) which I think is awesome and actually makes me feel a lot like Tris Prior when she is wearing Tobias's jumper in Divergent (it is darker in real life than in the picture)

And, of course, Baby Lips... seriously, I think I am developing an addiction!! (ft. awkward desk lamp lighting)

The green Baby Lips may look really odd, but is doesn't actually show up as green and is actually clear and smells amazingly of mint. I think it is one of my favourites (obviously I cannot pick one favourite, there are just TOO MANY). 

This is what I have been reduced to, people. Seriously.

Tomorrow is my mum's birthday and, randomly enough, the release date for Taylor Swift's new album, 1989 (totally pre-ordered it).

I find it so odd that people have been going mad over the whole "IF YOU LEAK 1989 YOU ARE NOT A TRUE SWIFTIE" thing. Can't people just wait a few days for the album to be released?? I understand the temptation to listen to the album before anyone else (I SERIOUSLY DO), but really? I don't understand people sometimes.

So that is my life at the moment :) Hopefully I will bring a more structured blog entry to you soon (again, I really hope it is an advice post!).

Speak to you soon, 

Lucy x

Planning for Halloween and stuff

I haven't posted in a while, and that's because I have been SO BUSY. I have had next to no time to do anything these days, and the free time I have is spent with my friends - because as Charlie from the Perks Of Being a Wallflower would say "I have been trying to participate". Also, some stuff has been going on in school which has been stressing me out as it is probably the most anyone from school has talked about me EVER, and I kind of feel like I was dragged into the situation. Luckily, the holidays are coming soon, and by the time everyone goes back to school they will have (hopefully) forgotten all about it. 

I'm really looking forward to the holidays as I have not really had any free time in ages. I was off sick for two days last week, but there's not really anything you can do while you're off sick apart from watching movies and writing. For now though, I will have to settle for the weekend - which is not entirely a bad thing. 

I am going shopping today to get a few things that I will probably make a post about tomorrow, including some of the Zoella Beauty range, though I'm not sure what to buy yet. One of my friends bought some of her stuff and I remember it smelling really nice - it's going to be so hard to choose! I would also like to add to my Halloween outfit...

Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you what I am being for Halloween! Halloween is my favourite holiday EVER and I always get really excited for it - I don't think I will ever grow out of it!
I am being... *drumroll*
A VAMPIRE CHEERLEADER!!
I thought I may as well use my cheerleader outfit from an American high-school themed drama performance I did last year, and I think it would be a really original costume to create. It was either going to be a vampire or a zombie, but one of my friends is already being a zombie, so I think I will stick to a vampire. I will definitely make sure to do a Halloween blog post soon :) 
Some things I still need to buy for my costume are dark red lipstick and maybe some pale make-up, as well as anything else that catches my eye that I think would look cool. 
I didn't bother with Halloween last year, which only makes me more excited for this year. The year before that I went to a Halloween party as a werewolf with a creepy mask, ripped jeans and fake blood, which was fun to create. 

What are you being for Halloween? Tell me in the comments :)

Speak to you soon, 
Lucy x

Putting YouTube on hold, #DontPanicButton and... um... stuff!

Today has kind of been an uneventful day, but I think I have enough to talk about (because I just generally have a lot to talk about anyway). 

I have decided to put YouTube on hold because (as I stated in my last blog entry) I am finding it really hard and it is stressing me out a bit. The feeling of sitting there in front of a camera seems really unnatural and daunting to me, like when I have to do public speaking or something. I have shot videos before, but I rarely feel like this. I am hoping that this feeling will fade sooner or later, hopefully when I feel I have enough time for such a time-consuming hobby in my life. 
Until then, I am going to carry on with blogging as I have really grown to love it over the past few months and it is something that I feel comes naturally to me :)

Another thing that has caught my attention over the last few days is Zoella (a blogger/YouTuber) and her #DontPanicButton campaign (part of her role as an ambassador of Mind, a mental health charity). The aim is that as many people as possible wear a red button on them in some form (e.g. a badge or bracelet) to show support for those who suffer from anxiety and/or panic attacks.

 

In case you have not been reading my blog recently, I have talked a bit about suffering from social anxiety, although I have not yet mentioned that I also suffer occasionally suffer from panic attacks too (it is something that I do not particularly want to describe in depth). I am planning to take part in the #DontPanicButton campaign, but I sadly cannot get hold of any red buttons at the moment (doh!). I'll make a post out of it when I can find some! :)
I have always admired Zoe's ease when it comes to talking about anxiety and panic attacks both on her blog and in her videos, as it takes bravery to discuss in depth your own mental health disorder - mainly because it is quite a personal (and therefore scary) thing to talk about and also because it is so taboo. This is partly due to the fact that others can be quite disrespectful towards those who are open about mental health disorders - some people even see it as attention seeking!!

Due to this, Zoe tweeted (about some comments on a few of her vlogs):
Doesn’t make me want to share it. Saying that my anxiety is an excuse to be lazy? Urgh. I’d had this for TEN YEARS! Over and out.

and

Comments like those are the exact reason i’m choosing to work with a mental health charity. Ignorance is very ugly.

I definitely think we need more people like Zoella to help people set the record straight when it comes to what these mental health disorders really are. Once society does begin to understand them in more depth, hopefully anxiety and panic attacks (as well as many other mental health disorders) will no longer be taboo. 

In other news, today I managed to hoover up a certain family member's underwear (by accident). I experience of having to admit this to my family member was quite surreal, and I was laughing quite hysterically (even if that family member wasn't)... This is why I should never be given the opportunity to live alone. Ever. I worry for my future-self sometimes!
After watching The Maze Runner with my friend yesterday, I have started reading the first book, and it is quite cool so far :) I may or may not update you on that when I am further on in the story.

Speak to you later,
Lucy x

The Maze Runner (and sucking at YouTube)

Today I went to see The Maze Runner with my friend (partly because it is recommended for Hunger Games fans and partly because it just generally looks awesome) and can I just say that it is amazing. 

I loved it so much! The cast was magnificent, and Dylan O'Brien was an excellent choice for Thomas! As soon as the film started and he came on screen panicking, I was super impressed. I turned to my friend and said "That is good acting!" - he was so believable! 
My friend also enjoyed Thomas Sangster's performance as Newt (we did, however, call him "Nanny McPhee kid" at the time, as we didn't remember his name)... 

The only thing I am disappointed about is the fact that I prefer to read the book before I watch the movie, which I could not do in The Maze Runner's case as I didn't have time. I am reading it now though, and I am enjoying it so far :) I would definitely recommend it for any action adventure fans who aren't scared of a bit of gore (yes, that does include Hunger Games fans!). 
I would just like to point out that yes, it does bare some resemblance to The Hunger Games and Divergent, though no two stories are exactly the same, so that does not mean that there are no unexpected twists and turns in the storyline or that there are no original, exciting or intriguing characters! 

Although I felt extremely sorry for all the characters in the story, I did feel particularly sympathetic for Teresa, due to the lack of leading females in the story. I think I would be quite intimidated in her position!

Another thing I have been trying to do today is filming my first YouTube video, but it is so difficult. I know exactly what I'm going to say and how I'm going to say it, but then I turn the camera on and I just freeze on the spot and I literally cannot speak. 
When I communicate with people about how shy I am and how I am never like this while performing on stage, they always say "Just pretend you're acting as yourself".
...but I just CAN'T. No matter how hard I try, I feel terrified and stupid. I might try again tomorrow, but I'm not sure yet. 

So that is my weekend so far. I know it's not much, but there it is...

Speak to you later,
Lucy x

The Joy of Illness.... PART 2

Yeah... I'm still ill (dammit). I've been trying to do a few things for my blog and YouTube. I still need to figure out whether or not I'm gonna go ahead with the whole YouTube thing, but I can't really experiment with it yet because I sound (and feel) like I've swallowed a toad and I am just generally gross. 
I am, however, wearing make-up today, so I might take a picture for my channel and blog header later. 

I don't care whether I sound nerdy or not (I am quite nerdy anyway) - I really want to be in school today. Wednesday is my favourite day of the week, and I am missing quite a few subjects that I enjoy and will need to catch up on later. I also take pride in my attendance record, and I got 100% last year - it was literally the only thing that got me into the end-of-year award ceremonies... that was quite depressing! Oh well, at least if I get nominated for an award this year then I know I will have done something good other than stayed healthy.
Also, I really want to see my friends! It is highly likely that when I return to school I will have no idea what anyone is talking about.

Like yesterday, I will probably just spend my day being an internet hobo. This basically means that I will be sorting out my blog and my YouTube while having Zoella, Sprinkleofglitter, danisnotonfire and AmazingPhil marathons... 
My life is so exciting. 

What do you guys do to entertain yourselves when you are ill? I seriously need the help. Yesterday I tried going on our trampoline to cheer me up (and finally get some fresh air), which resulted in a SPLITTING HEADACHE. I need ideas!

Speak to you soon,
Lucy x

The Joy of Illness

The title will explain for you why it is that I am writing a blog post for you guys at 10:13am on a Tuesday - I am sick. 
I'm not really LITERALLY sick (thankfully!), though I am super snuffly, my throat hurts and I am just generally vile. 

I don't really understand why people are expected to ENJOY sick-days. It's not like when you are sick you go on wonderful adventures and meet amazing new friends with whom you have life changing experiences. 
In reality, you just sit at the computer for a while until you do a bit of homework and then maybe doze off in tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie (all this and you are not able to breathe out of your nose!). 

Maybe later I will do some stuff for my blog and possibly my YouTube. Earlier I set up my twitter, so you can now follow me at @openletters instead of following my personal twitter (which is where I post fandom stuff - and I understand that not all of you will just want to read my tweets about just how excited I am for 1989!!). 

So that's the latest in the roller-coaster that is my life right now... I think I'm going to take a nap now. 

(sorry, I know I am probably overreacting right now but I feel rubbish)

Best wishes (please give me your sympathy), 
Lucy x