That Exam Life...

Hi There!

I hope everyone's exams are going extremely well!! If it's GCSE's you're probably already half way through or if it's AS' you've finished, or if it's A2's like me, well you're just getting started!!! I don't know about the rest of you, but it definitely seems like exam boards this year are trying to kill us. As far as I know, there hasn't been a decent exam at all so far! Do they not understand that these exams are impacting our futures!! It's like they are setting us up to fail! I can't be the only one that thinks this!!!! Even if these exams are pretty crappy, life still goes on.

So far this exam season, I have probably spent more time thinking about the summer and all my plans than I have actually revising, but I guess you need something to aim towards to get you through it. One thing that has however helped me through these exams, other than daydreaming, is the fact that all of my friends are sticking together. We have been helping each other through breakdowns, motivation, and when we just need a smile. We haven't seen each other a lot, but just sending a text or a funny picture really cheers us up! It's definitely something we all need to get through these exams. 

Other than exams, I have a holiday coming up in 2 weeks! Like OMG how is that even possible. How am I allowed to travel out of the country with my group of friends without supervision! That's just mental. This has therefore meant that a lot of my free time has been spent online shopping and I have discovered I have some weird obsessions. I mean, I'm going for 7 days, so I'm guessing 6 pairs of sunglasses and 5 pairs of shorts should be enough haha. I really need to try and get that under control. At the moment, thinking about lying in the sun and doing nothing for a whole week is what is getting me though my exams!! Get me to the sun!!!

I know this may seem like a pretty pointless blog post, but sometimes it's nice to just talk about pointless stuff. Sometimes people might actually listen and be interested. For anyone that reads this, STAY FUN! When it comes to exams, they can be pretty crappy, but look at what comes after the exams. Weeks and weeks of doing absolutely what YOU want to do and not what other people. Well as for me, I actually have plans for the summer, but for now, 

Girl Without a Plan, Making Plans

xoxo

A bit of a weird catchup...

Hi There!

Well I'm sorry to say it has been a while since I have posted, and if I'm honest a lot of stuff has happened since then. I guess it is time for me to let rip and have some therapy by talking about everything that has happened. 

I guess the biggest thing that has happened is that I have finally left sixth form. It hasn't properly hit me yet, so there haven't actually been that many tears, but I know it is all to come. I have to say though, we did pull off some amazing pranks though before we left. This may or may not have involved filling up a whole corridor with balloons, creating a flashmob during breaktime, and storming the staffroom at lunch. It was by far the weirdest, and probably best day of my school time and something that will make me smile every time I think of it. Not only that, same day we all ended up going to the pub with our teachers, and doing shots with teachers is definitely an experience I'm not going to lie. 

Another major thing that has happened, I say major, it's not really major, but it is something that has happened. Last week, someone very very close to me mentioned something about my weight. I'm not going to lie, I'm not exactly the skinniest girl in the world, but I'm definitely not the largest. I never really thought much about my weight, it has never really bothered me before. This comment however did actually make me really upset and self-conscious. This made me realise that I do have some secret insecurities, and I guess everyone else has them as well. This means people need to be careful about what they say to others because they do not know how it effects them or how deeply it may hurt them.

Not going to lie, in the past couple of weeks where I haven't posted anything, they have been the two key things that have happened. I clearly need a more interesting life if the two main things that have happened in about three weeks is me leaving school and being told to lose weight haha. But oh well, back to me lovely lay Sunday where I should be doing revision. 

I guess I shall try and be more interesting and post more often,

Girl Without A Plan, Making Plans

xoxo

Becoming an Adult

Hey There!

I can now officially say that I am 18. THAT MEANS I'M OFFICIALLY AN ADULT!!!! WOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! It has been an incredible 18 years, I've made so many friends, made so many memories, I cannot wait to see what the next 18 years of my life bring!

I have to say, I have been milking my birthday, like I am probably going to be celebrating it every day for the next month. The celebrations however started last weekend, when I went out for a meal with my family. I have an extremely small family (like there are literally about 14 of us!!!) and a majority of them came out for this meal. It was amazing to have the family all together because it is impossible for us all to meet as we are always so busy. It was nice though because as a family we are so relaxed and we can have a good laugh. The food was lovely as well so that made me really happy as well :) Even though I was 17 at the time, my nan still insisted that she buy me my first 'legal' drink as an adult (because obviously it's legal now) and I had myself a lovely vodka and coke. I did drink it extremely quickly though so it went to my head straight away haha. Overall though it was a really good day and I loved it. 

Then on Sunday, I went up London with my friends and we went to go and see the Lion King in the theatre. Let me just get it out there, it was INCREDIBLE. There is no other word I can use to describe it. Within the first 20 seconds of them singing the Circle of Life I was already nearly in tears. It was so moving and the way everyone was dressed as animals just made it so good!! If you haven't seen it, there aren't enough words I can use to try and persuade you to go, it won't disappoint (I pinky swear). Another highlight was that again, even though I wasn't 18, I still managed to get my alcohol and got another vodka and coke, while my friends got cocktails (I'm not an alcoholic by the way, but if the opportunity is there I will be having that vodka!!!) At some point I will actually buy a drink legally haha. After that we went out for a nice meal and we hung around London for a while going to all the sites and taking lots of pictures. It will definitely be a day that I remember. 

And then finally, yesterday, when it actually was my birthday, even though I was in school, I got to spend a lot of time with my friends (even if they did make it awkward for me by getting me balloons and a massive Millie's cookie!!). I just love spending time with them, we are always laughing or having fun, it's amazing. And when I finally made it home I had a lovely curry with my parents while having a nice relaxing day. They gave me amazing presents which I am extremely thankful for, and it has definitely been a good birthday!

Overall, becoming an adult has been a good experience. I finally got to vote, I can buy alcohol legally, and I can finally go and see Fifty Shades of Grey!! I have to say though, as great as it feels to be an adult, I don't want to grow up. I love being called a kid, where people can treat you to things and do things for you. Now I'm older, I have to try and become more independent. That will definitely be a challenge. It has always been me, my mum and my dad, so now becoming independent means I can't rely on them to do everything for me. But oh well, these things happen.One day everyone becomes an adult and it's an exciting experience I have to say. I hope all your birthdays are as good as mine!!!

Girl Without a Plan, Making Plans

xoxo

Closing a Chapter

Hi There!

Now I don't mean for this post to go to deep, but it probably will. For me, it will also probably be emotional, but for you it probably won't. You never know, this might actually relate to you.

School, Sixth Form, it's all coming to an end. From today, I only have 21 days left at my Sixth Form. I will be going back for exams, but there will officially be no more lessons. The thought of even writing that down actually really makes me sad. Many people are so glad to leave and move on from school, but me, not so much. The school that I'm at, I've been there for 7 years! I've grown up there! And I can't believe I am leaving. Now I'm not saying that my years there have been easy because believe me, there have definitely been a lot of up and down moments, but there have also been a lot of good memories made. I have met some of the best people in my life there, and the fact that soon I'm not going to see them everyday devastates me.

I went into my secondary school with a solid group of friends. We had been friends for a while, and we were mostly sorted into the same form. I have to admit, I probably spent the last week of that summer holiday crying because I didn't want to change schools and I wanted everything to stay the same. But after the first week, secondary school seemed like the best thing in the world. I got to spend so much more time with my friends as the days were longer and we got to spend more time together between lessons. I felt like I knew everything about them! And then as the years went by, this friendship grew and grew, and I felt as a group we would never be separated. We managed to survive so many years without a proper argument it was amazing. GCSE's came around and we were all stressed out. But you know what got me through them, these friends. We managed to somehow keep each of us calm, and we somehow laughed our way through our GCSE's. I think you need this solid group of friends. If you aren't the most sociable one, find someone who is just as awkward as you and try and start a conversation with them. Normally they are the most interesting people :)

But then that was the end of it. The friendship, failed. There was no big argument, no massive fallout, not a lot of gossip, but as a group, we wanted different things. Some people wanted to have more a laugh, start living a life, do unplanned things. While others wanted to knuckle down and focus on school and work and the future. Our group split. This was one of the lowest points. I felt like I shared so much with this group, and I shared so many personal things with them, and it pretty much means nothing now. Honestly, I felt I wouldn't be able to adjust to sixth form. We all ended up going to the same sixth form, but we didn't talk. And for 2 years, we still haven't. In a way I don't really mind because I now have a new group of friends, but spending so many years with the same people and just about managing to say 'Hello!' to them when you see them in the corridor is hard. 

Even though this happened, as I have said, it has happened for a reason. That reason is I have now formed the closest bond with my friendship group now, we are inseparable. My group of friends now, we all have the same goal. We want to live every day as children. We don't want to grow up and act like adults. We want to be able to act stupid, and have a laugh, and not care what everyone else thinks. And that is exactly what we do. I don't think I have ever laughed so much than I have over the past 2 years. And that is why it breaks my heart that by September, we are all going our separate ways. We are all going across the country, spreading ourselves around for uni (but not me because honestly, how would my parents survive without me!!). I don't want to not see my friends everyday. Some people in that group I have been friends with since I was 4, and being separated for months on end, that just seems like hell. They've seen the best and worst of me. Others haven't seen that, I don't think I want anyone else to. 

But I guess that's what happens. We are still all going to be a friendship group. No matter what the distance, we are still the same people, and we will still have this close bond that we probably won't be able to make with anyone else. Personally, I don't really want to close this chapter and start a new one. I like where I'm at now, I'm comfortable. But I guess comfortable isn't good, it's safe. University is a new chapter, and it will be just as good as the old one. It will be completely different and unexpected, but that's what makes it interesting. I have no idea how the next 3 years of my life are going to plan out, but hey, I don't know what the next couple of days are going to bring. But I know what I want to do. I want to make sure that I live everyday like it's my last, and make sure that I am making memories everyday. I'm not going to be 17 for long (18 in a couple of days!) I will officially be an adult. But that doesn't mean that I have to act like one, and neither do you. People need to live a little.

That wasn't as deep as I thought! That could have gone a heck of a lot worse. There are so many more things that I want to write about with my time at secondary school, but I guess that is living in the past, and I don't want to do that. I know a lot of this probably won't help any of you, and it's more of like a closure thing for me. But at some point if you haven't gone through this chapter yet, you will. And you will know how it feels. My advice, don't wish your childhood away because you only get one. When people say the school years are the best years of your life, I totally agree with them (and that's not because I don't know anything other than school) I actually have had the best 7 years of my life. 

You want to know a quote that I feel everyone should go by,

"You don't stop laughing when you grow old, you grow old when you stop laughing."

Maybe everyone needs a little laughter in their life, and one wish for all of you, don't wish your life away. Make as many memories as you can while you are at school as they will remain with you for the rest of your life. Life is like a book. You do have a beginning, a middle, and an end. I'm just about starting the middle of my book and I can't wait for what it has to come. 

Girl Without A Plan, Making Plans

xoxo

God can exams be over!!!!

Hi there!

I guess it's that time of year where exams are coming up, and people between the ages of 15-18 are completely breaking down. And yes I am one of them. I have laughed, cried, punched my way through things. I don't know if your parents are like mine, but I don't think mine understand how much pressure our generation is under. If you don't get a certain grade, you won't get into the uni/college that you want, the less options there are for you, the more you are called dumb or stupid. Yes, grades are important because they give you more options, but overall, they are not the be all and end all. I'm not saying that getting good grades isn't important (I don't think parents will like me for that haha!!), but I'm saying if you do get a bad grade, maybe it just wasn't meant to be. If you did all the revision you could, there is no way you could do better. 'It's fate you know!' Yeah, I've heard that, and I also know these words have no impact on you because I've read them all before and they meant absolutely nothing to me. But now I'm in the final year of exams at sixth form, I feel like if I don't get the grades to get into university, maybe I wasn't meant to university in the first place. 

Now I know you're thinking, "why are you writing about stress and work and revision and not actually doing any now, and instead you're writing a stupid blogpost that not many people are going to read." Well let me tell you why. I'm going to try and help you people. Yes, the people that actually read this blog. I want to give you advice on how to cope and what is the best way to revise. I'm not one of those adults who did exams millions of years ago, mine are coming up in 3 weeks. So I'm in the same position as some of you. So you want some advice? Here it is...

1) Use Colours When Writing Notes

Now I know this sounds stupid, but colours really do help you to revise. It's better for the paper to look interesting than to look boring with just black pen on sheets of paper that you are probably never going to read. Use colours to make headings stand out, use a different colour to make key points, and use a different colour to draw some diagrams. Having a different colour for reach different section should help you revise as you should be able to associate certain colours with certain things. Bright colours always make everything better!!

2) Plan Your Time Effectively

I don't necessarily mean have a revision timetable. Sometimes these timetables can stress you out even more because you miss a study period, or you rush to try and get something completed before your time is up. I mean get homework finished first and then focus on revision. Instead of setting a specific amount of time to revise a particular subject, revise for as long as you can so that the information stays in your mind. Once information has stopped going in, stop your revision. I know you may want to stop after 10 minutes, believe me, I know, but you should keep going! Even if t is just for 20 minutes, power through the boredness!!!

3) Don't Just Revise One Subject

If you are doing A Levels like me, it means that you will be revising for 3 different subjects. For all you GCSE students out there laughing that we have very few subjects, honestly, don't! Having fewer subjects does not mean that it is easier to revise, and you will be likely to get higher grades. A Levels are hard. I mean GOD WHY DID NO-ONE WARN ME?!?!? But the way I have dealt with this, vary the revision. Don't just spend an evening doing just psychology revision or just English. Spice it up and do a bit of both. This means you are less likely to get bored when doing the revision because you will be learning about two different things.

4) Bring Snacks

Now I know this may seem like common sense, but you will be surprised at how interesting the inside of your fridge may be while you are doing revision. Bring snacks and water to the table with you, don't stop in the middle of your revision to get snacks. If you leave that table, it means you have made a huge mistake because getting back to that table is the same as trying to climb to the top of Mount Everest. It just isn't easy. If you bring the snacks to you, you can have the break while sitting at the table. You can go on your phone for a while, sit back, and eat your chocolate bar. This will be a nice break, and it shouldn't be as hard to get back into the revision as you haven't really had to move.

Now this last tip will DEFINITELY not be for everyone, and parents will definitely want to shoot me, but for me, it definitely works.

5) Have the TV on while you Revise

Yes yes, I know this may not be the best idea, but honestly, it works for me. While I'm revising, I will have a TV show on like CSI or Vampire Diaries. But I will have old episodes on. This means that I do not have to properly focus on the TV as I would have already seen the episodes and I will know what has happened. I'll have them on anyway though in the background as background noise. It can be even more boring trying to revise in silence, and revising with music, pur-lease, I will go all Mariah Carey on you all and sign my heart out. Having TV on means I can listen to voices but not really process what it going on. It actually makes revision more interesting because if I need a quick 30 second break I can have a sneak peak at the episode and see what is going on. Just please, don't get too distracted by the TV. It won't help you, and if you know this tips won't help you, DON'T TURN THE TV ON! I don't want people blaming me if your revision doesn't work. 

Now those are my 5 tips for revision. I know they may not be for everybody, but for me they work (at least I think they do). Remember though, I'm struggling like the rest of you. I think I've lost count of the amount of times I've cried because of my education. It kills me to say this, but in a way, I will be glad to leave school. Now, share any tips you have in the comments. Help your brothers and sisters out who are also trying to stay afloat in this awful time of year. But that's it from me.

Girl Without A Plan, Making Plans

xoxo

25 Facts about Me...

Hi There! 

I've been blogging for a while now (even if there aren't that many posts), so I guess as it's the start of a new year and I'm going to be blogging more frequently, I guess you should know some things about me, so here it goes. 

1. What is my middle name? Well as I'm remaining anonymous (I know, SHOCKER!), I'm not going to tell you that one. 

2. What was your favourite subject at school? I guess maths or business.

3. What is your favourite drink? Non-alcoholic: Milk. Alcoholic: Vodka and Coke.

4. What is your favourite song at the moment? I can't help but dance along to Sax by Fleur East, but my favourite song changes hourly!

5. What is your favourite food? Onion rings, nomnomnomnomnom

6. What is the last thing you bought? Ummm bras, a bikini top, jeans, and food (obviously)

7. Favourite book of all time? 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. If you haven't read this book, it will definitely change the way you think about life!!

8. Favourite colour? Blue, but like sky blue

9. Do you have any pets? Fish and a cat (who is my baby)

10. Favourite Perfume? Rihanna - Rebelle

11. Favourite Holiday? Portugal, when I was 17 and stayed in a villa with mine and my friends family.

12. Are you married? At 18!! NO WAY!! Got to find a boyfriend first ;)

13. Have you ever been out of the country, if so how many times? Yes, and 9 times (I think)

14. Do you speak any other language? I did GCSE French, so I know how to say "I play football" and "I have brown eyes."

15. How many siblings do you have? Zero, my parents just have me to put up with. 

16. What is your favourite shop? Oh I love a bit of Lush me, can't have too many bath bombs.

17. Favourite restuarant? This is so hard because I basically eat anywhere, but Prezzos caramelised onion garlic bread is pretty amazing

18. When was the last time you cried? I was watching a Christmas film a couple of weeks ago and someone died, definitely a weeper.

19. Favourite blog? To be fair I don't really have one, I kind of just read random ones as I go along, and if I find a post a like I'll read the whole thing aha 

20. Favourite movie? Oh I'm too much of a movie buff for this question. Probably either, Divergent, Harry Potter (pretty much any one), Wild Child, Bring it On, Beauty and the Beast, White House Down. OMG JUST NEARLY EVERY FILM!

21. Favourite TV Show? Either Pretty Little Liars, The 100, or The Walking Dead.

22. PC or Mac? PC

23. What phone do you have? iPhone 5S

24. How tall are you? About 5ft 7 or 8 (I feel like a giant!!)

25. Can you cook? Give me oven food, I can time it just right. Anything else, probably not so much. But I have been told I bake a good marble cake. 

How about you have a go at answering these questions! I'd love to find out more about you!!!

Girl Without a Plan, Making Plans

xoxo