Now that Christmas is over I miss it! Nostalgic I know. Didn’t want it to end. I got in to the festive spirit too late, it was the day before Christmas Eve that I finally started to feel it. This year Boxing Day wasn’t too bad in that it didn’t lose the festive feeling.

Christmas is more about the love and giving, making people feel special and part of a family. As well as cheering everyone up in the winter.

I was originally going to write a controversial comment stating the opinion that religion should be taken away from Christmas. However, a surprising thing happened this year, we had the carols on and I felt spiritual this year on Christmas Day. I have never really attended church or read the bible, but I started researching it, its quotes and its teachings about women.

I still like the idea that Christmas is accessible by any British citizen, regardless of their religion. The main focus in the present day is of decorations, being with family and the giving of presents. That’s not particularly religious. The focus should be on love, family, harmony and celebration.

The next topic is a hot one in my life at the moment. I think people need a reason to celebrate. I love having a reason to celebrate and be excited. It makes life worth living. Life is to be lived! I am posting this shortly before New Year’s Eve!

Also today is my Nan’s birthday, she is very important to me! It’s important to cherish and treasure the ones that you love. I hope I have helped her enjoy the day. We had steak and my Uncle got her some tartlets. The weather has been good today, lovely and sunny. That’s always nice on your birthday, I have been looking through photos on my laptop this evening and I found a photo I took on the seafront back in 2013 for Nan’s birthday. Again, it was lovely and sunny! It’s fairly late so I will be going downstairs shortly to see if she would like to watch anything. It’s nice to have the people you love round you on your special day, your birthday.

Have a good day and blessings.

Amy

It feels a bit past it now that we are in November, but I wanted to write a post about autumn. It is potentially my favourite time of the year. For some reason, I get all inspired. Especially for baking and Halloween.

I love the colours; gold, orange and brown. Warm. Glowing. There is a quote that says ‘Like the colours in autumn, so bright just before they lose it all’ on the song Red by Taylor Swift. The notion makes me think that autumn is not depressing. For some reason I quite like wrapping up warm. Blankets, hot chocolate and heating/fire. That’s what I think of when I imagine autumn. Beautiful leaves on the trees and on the ground, colouring as they go. You can just see the twigs of the trees before they look dead, barren; and seeing them silhouette in twilight or dawn.

I like the change in seasons, you can never quite get bored with one before it changes to the next. As I stated above, I like being warm. So summer is an obvious choice. Spring is so pleasant and beautiful, after the winter haul; it is something to look forward to.

Halloween and Christmas are my favourite times of the year. Maybe birthdays too. I get excited with both events. Excited for the costumes, decoration and food for Halloween, the general theme.

As always, I get overwhelmed as to what to dress up as for Halloween. This year I wanted to go as something different, that I hadn’t tried before. So, after many hours searching on Pinterest, I went as a werewolf. I found it quite difficult in terms of clothes, because, well what do werewolves actually wear? A werewolf has emphasis on the eyes and face, and on their character as a whole. I followed this idea, and basically used face paint, messy hair and fake blood. Well, my friend did anyway. I applied my makeup; the eyes and foundation. I opted for clothes with brown and cream colours, because of my natural colouring, if I were a wolf they would be my fur. To finish the outfit, my friend painted fake bloody scratch wounds near my collar bone.

This year the temperature hasn’t dropped too much yet, I haven’t noticed it being too cold. It’s nice to have warmer weather, but I’m wondering whether it’s not a good idea to get used to it, because a cold spell may hit us quite hard as we’re not used to it!

This blog has been quite a long one. I was yearning to write about a couple of topics, and never got round to it, hence the long post being a combination of at least two separate posts.

I have more ideas on what to write about, so. See you around!

Amy

On Saturday I hung out with my sister, we had a nice girly day. We started by getting our nails done at a local nail salon. I had a spontaneous inspiration of gold nails when I saw a nice polish colour. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get the polish bottle open, so I picked a nice colour in the shellacs. I went for what I thought was a dark gold, pinky colour. Maybe I am not remembering it correctly. It has shown itself in polish to be a bronze pink, with a coral shimmer in the light. Here is a photo below:

I find my I have stretched myself too much in terms of interests. I have so much I want to do and my university modules have now started. Last year I struggled to juggle all the elements of my life. The Science module was 60 points, which is half of a normal university year. I felt freedom in the summer and almost a sigh of relief because I could do the things that I couldn’t do during the school year.

I miss reading. I don’t know how people can read for leisure alongside studying, especially with modules that require lots of reading. I guess I crave it more now that I am about to lose most of my free time.

I did a little baking over the summer. I love baking, I’d like to bake more often. The idea of making something from scratch (or almost) and knowing exactly what is it is appealing. I’m not fond of processed foods, they worry me. I tend to go for experimental or unique flavours, my parents aren’t always enthused!

Also I made some cards, it is a season renowned for lots of birthdays after all. I like posting them on here. It’s a good way to record things. I have mostly made birthday cards. I recently made my first Thank You card for my great aunty and uncle for my birthday voucher. I want to start making Thank You cards, I guess I will start with my normal designs before broaching out.

I use my hands in my work a lot more now, and I do more washing up than I used to. The consequence of this is that nail varnish comes off a lot quicker so mostly it doesn’t work out to be worth the time painting them, sadly.

In December last year, my sister and I got our nails painted with shellac polish at a nail salon. They surprisingly did last a lot longer than ordinary nail polish. However, due to the use of my hands they only lasted a couple of weeks, which is a bit early. Also when I got the polish removed in January, my nails weren’t in very good condition. They became dry and brittle. I have a chronic problem with weak and brittle nails. You know when you catch a nail and it bends back, it hurts so much! I have invested in Vaseline hand and nail cream, it says it can strengthen nails. I don’t know if it works yet. I don’t apply it regularly.

I watched Harry Potter about a month ago, I felt inspired when Harry used a quill to write. Since then I have been on a mission to start writing with a fountain pen. Whilst I was struggling with a pen I had at home, my lovely boyfriend got me a fountain pen! This is the photo below, it think it’s so cute. Pink is my trend at the moment. I am currently the only female at work, so it’s an on-going joke and banter.

I like calligraphy, but I don’t think my handwriting is neat enough. I barely write a page without making an error. I was at a museum in Oxford fairly recently, in their shop they had lovely quills. I imagined myself writing with one.

I don’t know why I have this slight melancholy. I enjoy studying, I wouldn’t continue otherwise; but I also want the freedom to do what I want when I want too. I guess you’d think studying part time would allow me to indulge in my hobbies.

Signing out for now, I have more to write about soon.

Amy x

Hello,

It has been a year since my last post! Thought I’d check in, I miss personalisation.

My life has changed so much in the last three years since I first started this blog. I am now a student with the Open University, starting my second year kind of. It’s a bit complicated with part time studying, I can start the second year even though I am technically finishing the first year for this degree.

I also switched degrees over the summer. June was my first exam since A Levels, quite a stressful experience. A new subject that I hadn’t studied or taken an exam in since school, and not being able to finish on time even though the mock took half as long as the allocated time.

I quit my job in the summer too, just before my exam. I think it was a good thing. Both for building character and making sure I had the necessary time so as not to screw up the exam! I wish they told kids at school that the whole process of school and education doesn’t really matter, because people don’t always keep in the profession they aim for. Life is funny that way. Like meeting someone you never dreamed of meeting, and everything falling in to place!

When I started this blog, I was all about daydreams. Since then, I have seen daydreams fade away and the harsh reality of life come in to focus. I had a couple of car accidents and have had issues with my health. As well as not really getting along with a few people. I think that is one of the hardest things, staying cheerful and de-stressed, not being bitter with the world.

There are ways to channel those feelings, or just to de-stress. I have new interests. Like watching flames, chemistry, physics, a bit of biology, rockets, space, cosmetics, nutrition, comedy TV shows, parrots/pet birds and Pinterest! I may start martial arts. I have also got back in to reading! I finished the Hunger Games, and a book called Rocket Girl; promised myself I would finish The Hobbit and to buy the Lord of the Rings audio books. I have recently watched The Hobbit, Lord of The Rings (last film) and Harry Potter series. I am likely to watch the Twilight series next!

I haven’t just travelled with my mind, but have been to two new countries, one new continent, as well as two countries in the United Kingdom (which just leaves Ireland!).

I am now a quarter of a century, I spent my birthday in Oxford for an afternoon tea. It was so lovely, I was accompanied by lovely people! I received a beautiful copy of a painting by an artist I like the work of (I’m not really into art), given to me by a thoughtful, wonderful person in my life. Whom I love very much.

This past week I have been playing a lot of Halo, both multiplayer and the campaign of Reach.

Signing off as a more mature and seasoned daydreamer on Cloud Nine.

Amy x