Life is Too Short

I know a lot of people have published posts about the tragic event in Manchester just weeks ago, (edit: and now many of the other terrible events that have yet followed) and I wasn't quite sure whether or not to post this, but it's still a valid point that I was only reminded of due to the events. Although this will continue to haunt a great number of people, I and many others who weren't directly affected (of course we're all affected but what I mean by that is those who weren't there/knew anyone there), will now have moved on and continued with our everyday lives. This post is simply a little reminder that although life goes on and we must continue to work and live, this has just proved once again how short life can be and how important it is to live the life we enjoy and are proud of.

It makes me think about the number of young children and people at different stages of their lives, not only through the recent attacks or the Grenfell Tower fire but through a whole number of other causes throughout the world who have lost their lives. And this is heart shuddering. I'm not saying I'm wasting my life and I'm not saying that we need to be happy or grateful every moment of every day, but just being thankful for living, is sometimes are very simple but necessary task.

To be thankful simply for the opportunity to experience today and likely tomorrow. To make the most of the time I have and to fulfill the life I would be proud of.

My Australia Bucketlist

So it's not actually that long until I make the all exciting trip to Australia!! EEEEPP!! Good Golly I can't bloody wait!

I'm first heading out in August with my family for a mini holiday as I'm heading off and travelling all on my lonesome and I'm slightly absolutely terrified of it! Being a slightly social but highly anxious and sometimes proper introvert, I'm very much nervous about heading off with no plans living and travelling round a country I've never been to that's on the complete opposite side of the world!

But you know, that's what you've got to do when you're young right! Make the most whacky and perhaps stupid decisions you can and then regret them later - however I'm quite sure there's no possible way you can 'regret' a trip to Australia.

Firstly I'm going to say, I have no definitive plans. There's things I would like to see and experience but as of yet I have not booked anything! Not even a flight home! I haven't booked flights around the country, hotels or hostels, or transport or anything! It's kind of freaking me out...

I would very much appreciate any tips from anyone who's been travelling - to tell me if that's completely reckless and stupid or if I've got nothing to worry about and I can literally get these on the door kind of thing??

I've now got myself my working holiday visa and am all set up and ready to go! I'm planning on heading up to Cairns to begin with, because it's warmer up there and August is Australia's winter! Then I'm gonna hop on the Greyhound bus (quick question from past travellers - is it a good idea to buy my bus ticket before I go?) and head on all the way down to Melbourne, obviously stopping off along the way!

Anyway enough of the ramble, here are a couple of the bits on my itinerary;

What You're Feeling is OK

Edit: I had other plans for today's post, but I came across this from last week and thought I'd share it.

So I'm sat here, home from my very last exam for my degree (it went shit, but I'm not bothered, it's finally over!!) and though I'm a little tipsy and pretty tired (after waking up at 6.30 and 5 glasses of Courtyard Pimm's) I'm not ecstatic. 

I'm lying in bed, eating cookies and banana bread my housemate baked, and anticipating tonight, and tomorrow. I'm thinking again about the fact that I should could have gone for a run yesterday, when it was nice weather and I had the chance. When I didn't have other plans/wasn't hungover. 

I'm thinking about the Pimm's I drunk today. The bacon and brie panini I had for lunch. The cookies and cake I'm currently eating. The Prosecco and alcohol I will drink tonight. The takeaway I'll probably have. The endless amount of carbs and sugar I will eat tomorrow, while lying in bed watching Netflix all day.

And what's on my mind isn't enjoyment or celebration. But bad calories. Fat. I'm feeling a bit lousy and squishy and unattractive and it's making me think that I won't enjoy myself tonight. And that's annoying, as it's the one and only time I'm ever going to finish a degree (believe me there's no chance I'm doing another one!) 

But the good thing, the thing that's different from how I used to be, is that these thoughts aren't controlling me. (In fact I'm continuing to eat more cookies)

These thoughts, though they're there, I can recognise as my ED, not me. It's not controlling me. I can rationalise, and not panic, like perhaps I used to.

I understand that these habits aren't 'healthy' if I do it all the time, but seriously a couple of days of celebration won't impact my body that much.

And what if it does? Putting on a few pounds doesn't make me a bad person. It doesn't mean I can't enjoy my night out and celebrations. And it doesn't make me any less beautiful!! 

So if you ever get these feelings, ED or not, just know that you're f****** gorgeous anyway! You are you, tall/short, big/small, big boobs/small boobs, blue eyes/brown eyes, you are beautiful.

So whether you're celebrating end of exams like I am, or celebrating anything, or even just celebrating another day done, do something tonight without worrying. Eat the cake and binge Netflix, Have another drink, another slice of pizza, whatever you want. Just enjoy it. 

Have Your Say

VOTE! BLOODY DO IT!

It's the day people! And this post is a final plea to get anyone who might read this to quickly take those 5/10 minutes out of their day to pop down to your local voting poll and fill out that form! Please! 

Now more than ever, we as a nation need to stand up and contribute to society! We are all responsible for this country and need to work together to pull it back together so that we can help the rest of the world!

Shit When's Father's Day!?*

So Father's, men in general (in my family anyway) are THE WORST to buy for! They just don't want anything! So I've had to up the anty and go looking for something different this Father's Day. 

Ok, not going to lie, I completely forgot about Father's Day - in my defense final year exams kind of took up most of my attention - until I got a lovely email from UncommonGoods telling me about their site. Upon checking it out I loved some of their ideas and thought some were perfect for those dads who are tough nuts to crack when it comes to finding the perfect gift! 

How to Study?

So I'm sure I'm not the only one who still finds it bewildering that I can somehow remember the entire 10 seasons script to F.R.I.E.N.D.S, yet can I remember anything to do with Lysosomal Storage Disorders? - Absolutely not!

3 Skincare Gems

Now I'm definitely not a beauty blogger! I know diddly squat about skin care and look a bit like I've been punched in the face any time I attempt to use eye shadow! But I have definitely been on the hunt over the last few years, trying many a different product, drinking loads of water etc etc to try and get rid of ma damn spots! Now I don't have acne as severe as many others - it's not a condition, I literally just think due to messing my poor hormones around over the last however many years, they're coming back kicking and screaming (oh and there's chocolate and alcohol which probably doesn't help) ... HOWEVER (ramble over) over the last few months I've been using these products below and I've noticed a mahooosive change! So much so that I haven't worn make-up - partly because I don't need to, partly because I care less - for over a month! And that may sound like nothing, I know an awful lot of lucky buggers who never wear makeup and get a spot perhaps every couple of months, but for me (and I'm sure I'm not alone) I usually had at least one - more likely a few - lovely white mountains somewhere quite clearly visible! And I was very conscious of them, so I'd wear a lot of foundation and powder to cover said lurkers up.