Reflecting on 2014, and looking forward to the next 12 months

My first blog post of 2015 was supposed to be my current skin care routine - but seeing as I'm currently laid in bed, off work and ill, I decided I would reflect on the past year. It's been a strange one; the past 12 months have been dominated by some of the most amazing moments of my life, and for me personally it's been a successful one.

University

After three years hard graft, lots of partying and a whole host of fun, I somehow managed to graduate with a first class honours degree in journalism. Looking back to my first year, I never imagined I'd get a first. I completed both my first years with a 2:1, and I was always set to get that grade. But somehow towards the end I managed to pull it out of the bag and get the highest mark possible. I couldn't be happier with what I achieved at university.

Work

It's still hard for me to believe I'm a real life reporter. I see my byline in the paper almost everyday and it's still crazy. I can't believe that I got my dream job before I'd even graduated. I go to sleep excited to go to work. It's stressful, it's hard and it's long hours, but I wouldn't change a thing. I could talk about my job all day long - but I don't want to bore you. However if you are thinking about going down the journalism route and would like a post on tips, let me know.

Friends

When you grow older you learn that it isn't about the amount of friends you have - it's the quality. I'd say I have four best friends: my sister, her best friend, and two of my friends from university. Although I don't get to see them as often as I like, I know they're always going to be there for me and I can't thank them enough. Staying in touch is hard when you all work full time, but if it's something you manage to do, and you make time for them, you know they're keepers. When I was going through my break up my two friends from university couldn't physically be there for me, but despite that they still had a massive presence in my life at that time. 

Myself

I ended this year happy and content with myself. Since being a teenager my confidence seems to have plummeted an awful lot, year by year. I actually think being cheated on was one of the best things to happen to me. It wasn't nice at the time, but it put things into perspective and I'm a very strong and independent person because of it. It made me learn a lot about myself, and I finally feel comfortable with who I am.

I ended 2014 in the best way possible. I wasn't partying away and I wasn't getting hammered. In fact I was drinking Coca Cola and eating a korma with someone quite special. And I hope the happiness I'm feeling right now continues on in the next year. So, Happy New Year Bamboozle Beauty readers. This year will be my fifth year as a blogger, so let's make it a good one. 

How was your 2014?
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My experience with bad skin

I've just finished watching the Dying For Clear Skin programme that was BBC Three. When I saw the documentary being advertised, I knew it was something that I had to watch. However, I didn't know how much it would affect me. So much so that I felt the need to write a blog post about "bad skin." I don't know where this post is going or how it's going to span out. It's probably just going to be a random thought blog but it's something that I need to type somewhere.

It's no secret that I've suffered with bad skin for a really long time now. I can't remember the exact day or even year when I started getting spots but I do remember how they affected me. For years I struggled leaving the house. I didn't want to go to school when I had a spot flare up as I didn't want people to see me. Throughout primary school, I had always been very confident and even in my first year of secondary school, I'd go up and talk to random people and be very outgoing and "out-there." But when I started to suffer with acne, that all changed. I started to quite frankly, hate myself and the way that I looked. It got so bad that sometimes, I'd hate getting out of bed and even facing my family. Not people I didn't know. Not my friends at school. But my own family. It affected me in many different ways and even to this day, I know it has had an impact on me that I believe will stay with me forever. While I don't get spots as often as I used to... in fact, I don't get them that often at all, I do still have really bad scarring that I was told by a Harley Street dermatologist will never go. Still to this day, I find it hard to give eye contact to not only new people that I'm meeting but people that I've known pretty much all of my life. It is something that I don't enjoy doing and it's because I believe that if I'm not looking at them, they're not looking at my bad skin. So not only have I been left with a physical scar, I've been left with a mental scar as well. When I was younger and my acne was really bad, me and mum used to go to the doctors all the time and I'd always pretty much beg them to do something but they never actually did. They'd always dismiss me because for some reason, they don't seem to think it's a real problem. Maybe that's not the same for every doctor but it was for my doctors. And it's a shame because there are so many psychological effects that acne has as well as the physical ones.

 I don't think it's something that is taken as seriously as it should be and I know a lot of people were bullied because of their skin and this is something that isn't acceptable. I really hope that this programme has opened up not only the general public's eyes but doctors eyes as well. I hope that people realise that it's not just a "phase" that will disappear once you're out of your teenage years. For a lot of people, it's something that stays with them for the rest of their life. Whilst acne isn't technically a disease, it should be treated like one.

This was my skin in April, this was my skin in June, this was my skin in July and this was my skin last week. I did try to find a picture of my skin when it was really, really bad a few years ago but I pretty much stayed away from cameras and therefore I actually couldn't find one. But as you can see, it's getting better and although I do still get the random flare up, it's nowhere near as bad as it used to be. Suffering with bad skin is awful and if you're like me, it will probably have some affect on the rest of your life but you shouldn't feel down about it. It does get better. I can promise you that.

xxx

Freshers Photos

Although my blog focuses heavily on beauty, I personally love finding out more about the people behind the blog. So I thought I'd post a few of my personal photos from Freshers Week. I hope you like them and if you end up doing a post like this, make sure you link me too it! I'd love to see :)

If you're wondering where the outfits that I got are from then you can find out here. The leopard print dress isn't featured in that post though but it's from Primark and it cost me just £10.

This was my second freshers week and it was amazing. It was great not having to worry about making friends or worrying about where was the best place to go etc. I'm sad that I only have one more left though. Especially because my first year went so quickly. If you've had/have your freshers week then I hope you have/had a wonderful time :)

xxx

RANDOM: University

Yesterday, I officially moved out of what I like to call my home. My university flat. Although I've only lived there since September, I've created a lot of memories there that will stay with me for the rest of my life. There's nothing like being a fresher and although I heard the saying 'university will bring you the best time of your life' many times, I never actually believed it.

But it did. Walking out of my flat for the last time brought back so many wonderful memories that me and my now friends for life have shared over this past year and I ended up shedding a tear. It's not the end of my university journey - far from it - but it is the end of freshers. I never quite thought that I'd enjoy university as much as I have done. Yes, the education and the course is very important as after all, that's what you're there for but the change in life and the people that you meet is what makes university the best experience. It's completely different from home life. For the first time in your life, you're living on your own. You're away from your parents and you're free to do pretty much whatever you want to do. If you want to stay up until 7am chatting away in the living room with your friends, you can do. If you fancy going to Sainsbury's at 3am to get more alcohol then you can do it. It brings individuality and it allows you to grow up.

I'm not saying that university hasn't been hard. It has. The course is hard. It's quite a big step up from a-levels and school as you're no longer relying on your teachers but instead, you're relying on yourself. You have to do a lot of self directed learning and teach yourself quite a bit (which I found especially during exam times). You don't get to hand in hundreds of drafts and lots of times to correct your work - you just have to go for it. But the end result, the day you get your result and you see that you have done well, is all worth it.

This is a very random post I know but university has become a big part of my life and I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you have the chance to go. Go. Not just for the education or for the degree but for the life experience that you're getting out of it. The people that you're going to meet. You spend literally every waking moment with those people around you and quickly they become your not only your flat mates/your friends but your best friends and your family.

xxx

Random Revision Day Post - Britney on X Factor

Today is a day filled with revision so this is just a quick post to show how much of a proud fan I am. Yesterday Britney was announced as the new XFactor USA judge (along with Demi Lovato, Simon Cowell and LA Reid). She looked absolutely beautiful, her body was perfect but most of her, that smile and glow that she'd been missing for a while was back. It's been 4 years since she was taken away to hospital in an ambulance and I'm proud of how far she's come. 

Since then, she's had 2 number one album, 2 sell-out world tours, won hundreds of awards, regained custody of her children, gotten engaged and gotten her life back on track. No one thought she'd do it, but she has. And I couldn't be more proud of her right now.

Rant over. I better get back to revision! Don't forget to enter my giveaway if you haven't done already.

xxx

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Tumblr.

xxx

Procrastination.

Quickly edited on paint as a way of procrastination. 

xxx

Mini Break!

Hello my lovely followers!

It's nice to see that I've gained so many new followers over these past few weeks so I'd first of all like to say a big hello to you all. It's great to have you along and I hope that you enjoy reading my blog.

However, unfortunately for me I have a lot of university work at the moment and for the next few days, I really need to focus on it. I didn't just want to leave you all wondering where I was so I thought I'd just give you a little heads up. Expect some posts late next week - possibly Thursday/Friday/Saturday time. So not too far away but far enough away I guess. I'll miss blogging but for once, I need to put my work first!

Have a good week and remember if you need me, tweet me!

xxx

My Most Memorable Present

After reading Daisy's blog post, I decided I'd share my most memorable Christmas Present with you. Although this Christmas present is new (only happened this year) it's definitely the one I'll always remember. It's the present that I've always hoped for and it truly made my dreams come true.

Earlier this year, Britney announced that she was going on a worldwide tour. So of course, I rang up my grandad and asked him for my Christmas money early. (I always do this as usually, I buy concert tickets). He said yes and I went ahead and purchased a Britney ticket as soon as they were released.

Skip a few months and me and my sister were on our way to see her in Birmingham. I was going, she wasn't so she was dressed in a Family Guy t-shirt - classy! I'd entered countless amounts of competitions in order to dance onstage with her but I'd been unsuccessful in all of them. Anyway, on my way there, my friend text me and told me there was another competition and sent me the details. I entered and basically begged for them to choose me. And in the end, I won. I'd won two tickets to see Britney and also two tickets to dance with her onstage. I asked my sister to join me and gave my other ticket to my mum. 

You can read my entire write-up here. But this was definitely my most memorable (and favourite) Christmas present ever. It's something that I'll always remember. Not only because I saw Britney (I'd already seen her) but because I was inches away from her, she smiled and me, she acknowledged me, I met her team and she tweeted me. She knows who I am. And that to me, is the greatest feeling in the world.

What's your most memorable present? And don't forget to check out Daisy's blog.

xxx

Congratulations Britney and Jason!

It's the moment I've been waiting for; my beautiful girl Britney is engaged to the lovely Jason Trawick.

I couldn't be happier for them both! Britney deserves all the happiness in the world.

xxx