LIFE UPDATE!

So, I haven't written a blog post in a while, and for that I apologise! I am going to be frank. I don't think I will be writing any blog posts for a while. Don't panic though, I am not quitting my blog at all. The main reason for not writing any posts for a while is because my A2 exams are coming up in a matter of weeks and I need to prepare and revise for these exams so much, and that means no blog posts. These exams are important as they determine whether I get into my first choice university and what direction my life takes (slight exaggeration!), so I don't really want to mess them up!

Source: authorlindsaypaige.blogspot.com

I will be resuming my blog after exams though and as I won't have anything else to do, this will be my main priority, so hopefully, I will have many more posts to write and will have much longer to take pictures, come up with new, fresh ideas and take my time writing them as well. My last exam is on the 17th June, so expect to see many more posts being uploaded then.

Apart from exams, I have lots of other bits planned for the summer so far, so I thought I would share them with you. Next week is my official last week of secondary school and I go on study leave. It is super scary to think that I will be leaving mainstream education after nearly my entire life has been the same routine of going to school. I will be leaving behind my school of 7 years, where I have had the most memories, met amazing friends (who hopefully will stay with me for a very long time!) but also has been very stressful at times as well. So, next week we get to dress up for two days with a dedicated theme. On Monday, the theme is 90s rave, but I am so undecided about what to wear, so if you have any suggestions, please leave them in the comments, and on Friday, the theme is cops and robbers. I still have to attend revision classes that may be put on and obviously my exams, but after that I am free.

I haven't mentioned this on my blog, but I have decided to take a gap year between A-Levels and University. This was an easy decision for me and I have made this choice for a very long time. Both of my elder brothers took gap years, one of them went travelling and the other worked, and so I wanted to do the same. I will most likely work during my gap year as university is so expensive and so I want to save as much money as possible, for rent, food, social life etc. This will also give me plenty of time to get myself together in terms of provisions for uni as well. I also wanted to take a gap year to give myself a breather from education for a year. I have been constantly going to school all my life virtually and this is the first time I get to relax and not have to study or write essays.

I have made a few plans for over the summer though which are making me very excited and makes me want exams to be over soon. This weekend is one of my friend's 18th so I am going to her house for a BBQ which will be really nice. Next Friday, it is also my best friend's joint 18th birthday party which is going to be so much fun and I am super excited for this. I haven't got anything planned for half term yet, which will probably be spent revising for these exams, which is so depressing, especially if it is nice weather in the UK.

Other plans consist of a wedding in July, more gatherings with friends over the summer for birthdays, a 5 day trip to Devon with my friends, my 18th birthday which will be spent on a plane flying to Turkey which will be a 11 day holiday with my family at the end of August. Finally, saying goodbye to some of my clostest friends who are going to uni and probably many visits throughout this year and next year visiting them.

So, lots to look forward to after exams. I hope you enjoyed a more relaxed post from me. I just thought I would fill you in on what is happening in my life and to warn you that there won't be anymore blog posts until after the 17th June.

So, farewell until June.

x

10 Things I Love About Autumn/Winter

My favourite season has got to be autumn and winter. I love it when the seasons change from summer into autumn as it means the nights draw in and become darker. I get to put away my shorts and sandals and bring out the jeans and boots and I get another excuse to drink more tea! 

I thought it would be a nice idea to share with you why I love autumn so much in 10 ways. Trust me, there are loads more but these are just a few. 

Let me know in the comments what your favourite season is and why you love that season in particular. 

Source - one-step-at-a-time-x.tumblr.com

1) Getting to cosy up in loads of blankets 

I love it the weather changes from being hot to really cold. I have always loved the cold nights and days of winter and if it snowed I was always out there making the most of it. One thing I love about autumn is getting really snug in the evenings and curling up on the sofa watching some trashy TV, with a blanket and a cup of tea, while it is really cold outside. Even if I am the perfect temperature I still love to grab a blanket to curl up with, just to make myself more cosy.

Source - www.tumblr.com

2) Reading a book 

Although you can read books in the summer (which I also love to do), I always prefer reading in the evenings. Before going to sleep, I always like to read another chapter of my book, before switching off the light. This always makes me more sleepy and tired, putting me into the perfect mood to go to sleep. I know you can read a book at any time, but during the summer if you want to read outside or on holiday I always find the sun gets in my eyes and I can never concentrate for long before I find something that distracts me. At the moment I am currently reading Insurgent and am loving every minute of it.

Source - amasai.tumblr.com

3) Wearing Boots 

I love wearing boots when the colder months come along. I am not a big lover of sandals or flip-flops, so when I get to change up my footwear and put away the open-toed shoes and dust off my winter boots, I get extremely excited.

Source - inntrending.com

4) Candles 

Another aspect of autumn/winter I love is getting to light your candles in the evening. I love the look a simple candle can give to a room and it automatically makes the house more homely and cosy to live in. As well as looking snug, a candle can give off the most amazing smells and scents making it even more enjoyable. My favourite types of scents are normally cinnamon and spice scents as they just remind me of Christmas, putting me in the festive spirit.

Source - www.lovethispic.com

5) A Cup Of Tea 

I absolutely love tea! I am constantly drinking it, and now that is is officially autumn, it gives me another excuse to drink more tea to keep warm! I love drinking tea when it is cold and wet outside and I'm snug in the warm with a blanket and a good book.

Source - www.lovethispic.com

6) Chunky Knits

I think every girl loves it when autumn and winter arrives, and we get to snuggle up in our big chunky jumpers and cardigans to keep us extra warm. I have done a blog post a couple of months ago on A/W Jumpers, and I picked out my favourite jumpers this season, so if you want to read that, then click here. 

Source - wheretoget.it

7) Movie Nights 

I know you can watch movies any time of the year, but when the nights draw in and it is horrible weather outside, you can snuggle up on the sofa, switch on a chick flick, grab a cup a tea, blanket and hoodie and watch a good old movie, to distract you from the rain and wind outside. I am also thinking about doing a blog post of my favourite chick flick/romantic comedy films, so let me know in the comments if you would like to see that.

Source - www.polyvore.com

8) Rainy Days 

Another thing I love about autumn/winter is the weather. This might sound so weird that I love horrible, wet and windy weather, but I am not a summer girl. I prefer to be cold than warm any day, so I especially love it when the temperatures drop and the sun goes away and the rain starts to fall. I think part of the reason I don't mind the weather being horrible is because in England, the weather is always raining so I am so used to it.

Source - www.flickr.com

9) Big Scarves

A massive plus for fall is the fact I can get my scarves out again. I am such a scarf wearer and I have so many of them, so when I have the chance to wear them again, I cannot wait. I love putting on a massive scarf or snood to wear when going outside, as they are so comfortable, cosy and warm, plus they make a great accessory.

Source - imgarcade.com

10) Winter Nights 

And finally.... Winter Nights. I love it when the clocks turn back and it becomes much darker, that way I know that autumn/winter has officially begun. The winter nights are always better when it becomes closer to Christmas as the lights and decorations start to arise and it puts everybody in the festive spirit.

Source- becuo.com

So, those are a couple of things that I love about autumn/winter. Hope you enjoyed this blog post. Let me know in the comments what you love about autumn/winter and what other posts you would like to see me write.

My 17th Birthday

I know this post is long overdue, but I really wanted to do it, so here it is.

On 19th August it was my 17th birthday. I have been waiting for this day for a long time, especially as I am one of the young ones in my year at school, so everybody is already 17 and learning how to drive and some already have cars, so I always felt like I missed out. But, I have finally reached that age when I can get onto the roads. As I am writing this post, I have booked my first driving lesson for next Tuesday, which I am so excited and nervous about at the same time.

Being 17 I feel so much older than being 16. I will start applying for universities in the autumn, deciding whether I want to go to a uni closer to home or move away from my parents and friends. I already know I want to take a gap year out as I need a little break from education for a bit but also to experience something different.

I really want to do some travelling during that time, but as most of my friends are not taking a gap year I don't really have anybody to go with. I also need to get a job for that year and I might also do some volunteering as this will really stand out on my CV. Also, it will be my final year at school, so it will be sad having to say goodbye to people that I have known for 7 years, but I personally think I am now ready to move on from secondary school and take the massive step into the world.

Anyway, for my birthday I went to Brighton for the day with my parents and my cousin, Hannah. I love Brighton so much, therefore it was a great place to spend my birthday.

A view from the pier

Once we arrived, we were all really hungry so we decided to have something to eat. I decided on fish & chips, because when you are by the beach, the old English delicacy is the way to go.

After eating, me and Hannah went off shopping while my parents headed to the pier. We walked all the way up to the high street shops and had a quick look in Urban Outfitters (my favourite shop ever!), H&M and New Look.

I bought myself a gold statement necklace from H&M and some skinny tight trousers with a burgundy, black and white checked design on them, which are so comfortable and lovely.

Afterwards, we really wanted to find the Lanes, as I had never been to them before so it was new for me as well. We found this little knick-knacky shop where I bought a little stand to put on the wall to hang my necklaces on.

We were both really tired after all the shopping so we went back to the pier to find my parents and had a rest. Then, we went on some rides and played some games in the arcade.

It was a really great day and feels weird being 17 at last.

My feet on the pier with my tanned legs. 

Me sitting on the pier

 Hope you enjoyed this post!                                          

The British Tag!

I have arrived back from my holiday in Turkey today. I have not slept since 11 last night as my flight was at 2.30am and did not really sleep on the plane. As a result, I am shattered but am too overtired to sleep, so I thought I would do a simple and easy blog post today. Sorry I haven't put the last part of my bikini summer guide up yet, but don't worry I will try and get round to that very soon.

As my holiday is unfortunately over, I now need to try and get back into the swing of things. My A2 school work needs to be completed (now, that I have my results!), my 17th birthday is coming up, which has been a long time coming, and I am so excited to finally learn how to drive! I need to come up with a regular schedule for my blog and make a list of some ideas for future posts. (If you have any ideas, don't hesitate to leave a comment, I would love to hear what you would like me to post). So, over the next couple of weeks I will be organising myself and my life.

However, today is going to be a lazy day as I cannot concentrate for too long before my eyelids start to slowly shut down. Therefore, this post is going to be quick and easy!

Recently, I have seen many YouTubers and bloggers posting "The British Tag!" and as a fellow Brit myself, I thought I would join in the trend. I have also down a TMI Tag which you can see here if you would like to learn more about me.

1) How many cups of tea do you have a day and how many sugars?

I have one cup of tea every morning to wake me up and prepare me for the rest of the day. I can get very grumpy if I don't have my morning cuppa! Another cup around late morning. One at lunch. One at late afternoon and one in the evening after my dinner. In total, I have five cups of tea. However, this can vary depending on the seasons as I will have more tea during the winter in order to warm myself up and less in the summer. Also, I drink a lot of tea to get me through exam season and revision. I do not have any sugars in my tea as I think it tastes disgusting.

2) Favourite part of your roast?

My favourite part of my roast dinner are the roast potatoes (crispy, of course!), gravy (mmmmmmm!!!) and Yorkshire Pudding (yum!).

3) Favourite dunking biscuit?

I tend to go through different stages of eating biscuits with my tea. But, my favourite dunking biscuit would probably have to be a Custard Cream.

4) Favourite quintessentially British pastime?

My favourite British pastime is going down to Swanage with my family. Sitting on the beach, hearing the waves, smelling the sea salt, eating fish & chips (obvious, that is the most British thing!) Also, Swanage do the best fish & chips ever. Then, finishing the day off with wasting my money in the arcade on stupid 2p machines and eating proper vanilla ice cream.

5) Favourite word?

I really like the word "giggle" for some reason, I have no idea why, but I just like the sound of it. I also really like the word "mango", even though I don't eat mangoes. Weird.

6) Cockney slang rhyme?

I actually don't know any except "up the apples and pears" which is stairs, but I think everybody knows that one.

7) Favourite sweet?

My favourite sweet by far has to be Cherry Drops. I absolutely love them! They are the best sweets ever! But, they don't sell them in most shops, so when I do eventually find them I end up buying quite a few packets. Other sweets I like are the Haribo Fangtastics, Flying Saucers, Lips & Teeth, Strawberry Laces etc.

8) What would your pub be called?

Ummm... that's tough. The Flying Saucer. I have no idea why, it was the first thing that came into my head. Probably because of the previous question.

9) No. 1 British person?

I have no idea. Probably, Prince Harry because he is a bit of bad boy but is also adorable at the same time.

10) Favourite shop or restuarant?

Topshop. Every time I step into Topshop there is always something I can find. If I could only shop at one shop it would have to be Topshop. I really like Bill's Restaurant which is quite expensive but the food is so yummy that it is worth the money. Also Ed's Diner, which is like a old American diner, with red booths, black and white checked floor, and on each table is a little juke box machine which you can put money in and play old songs. Plus, there burgers and milkshakes are really good.

11) What British song pops into your head?

"Never Forget" - Take That

12) Marmite?

No way! I hate the smell and the taste of it so much.

Hope you enjoyed this blog post, it was a little bit different from previous posts, but I do like to mix it up once in a while. Let me know if you like these type of posts and if you would like to see more. 

Savvy School Supplies

As an A-Level student, I have to be super prepared when I return to school. After having a few weeks off after my exams in May, I have returned to school, and found myself needing new school materials such as pens, highlighters, notepads etc. Although most of you are approaching the end of the academic year and are not in need of new school supplies, however, come September, we will all be rushing to Staples or Ryman to get our new necessities.

From first-hand experience, going back to school/college is not the most exciting time in the world, especially after a long break off. However, it is something we all have to deal with and maybe we are able to make this ordeal more bearable with the help of some new back-to-school items (plus, it gives you another excuse to go on a shopping trip!) Personally, I love getting new supplies for school (I know this sounds a bit nerdy!), I just think there is nothing better than opening a fresh, new notebook on the first day back and writing with a brand new pen.

So, I decided to design a blog post to show you cool, unique and original school items, so that when you return back to school/college, you are almost excited to try out your new purchases.

                                                                                       retrowunderland.tumblr.com

1) Pencil Cases 

Everybody needs a pencil case, in order to keep all of their pens, pencils, rulers, rubbers etc in place. So, what better way to start the new school year than with a cute, fresh case. Remember: this will probably last you the whole year, so make sure to pick one you really love. 

Sunflower Pencil Case - Urban Outfitters - £10.00

                                               www.urbanoutfitters.com

 

Woodland Multi Pencil Case - Paperchase - £2.75

www.pinterest.com

Belle and Boo Pencil Case - John Lewis - £8.00

www.johnlewis.com

The Belle and Boo pencil case is my favourite by far, I love the fact it has a little story on the pencil case and is so adorable and original.

2) School Bag

Summersville Satchel - Paperchase - £30.00

www.pinterest.com

Aztec Backpack- Accessorize - £35.00 

uk.accessorize.com

Tile Print Saffiano Tote Bag- Topshop - £28.00

www.styloko.com

3) Notebooks/Pads 

I am always getting through so many notebooks when at school, although I tend to get the cheap refill pads, instead of splashing out on an expensive pad. Below are some options for notebooks/pads that you could use for school, work, college, university, a gift for a friend or even if you want to treat yourself, here are some options for you:

3D Orange Kitten Notebook- Urban Outfitters - £6.00

I am in love with cats and so when I found this kitten notebook, I had to upload it on here for you guys.

www.urbanoutfitters.com

Dragonfly Applique Journal- Paperchase -  NOW £4.50 WAS £9.00 

www.pinterest.com

Art File Birds A5 Notebook- John Lewis -  £8.50

www.johnlewis.com

4) Stationary (Pens, Pencils, Ruler, Rubber, Highlighters etc)

As this is a big section of the back to school post, I am only going to put  one idea for each piece of stationary mentioned. Otherwise, it could get really long and tedious.

Yummy Scented Pen Set- Urban Outfitters -  £10.00 

wanelo.com

Bear Highlighters Pack of 5- Paperchase  -  £3.00 

                                 wanelo.com

All Change Ball Pen Set - 1 Black and 1 Red Pen - Paperchase -  £1.25

                                                           www.pinterest.com

Iwako Shaped Erasers- Blott.com -  Ranging in prices 

Biege Biscuit Eraser £1.10

Purple Cat £1.00 

Toothbrush £0.30

  www.blottshop.com

These rubbers are so adorable and unique as well. There are so many different shapes and colours to choose from. Including animals, food, objects, vehicles and so many more. I highly recommend looking out for this shop on the high street and having a look for yourself as it is stationary heaven and you can pick up some great original bargains.

30cm Ruler in Green- Blott.com -  £1.00

www.blottshop.com

Animals 6 Pencil Set Tin - Blott.com -  £3.00  

www.blottshop.com

So, there are my back-to-school buys and I hope you found this blog post helpful.

All pictures in this blog post are from websites that I have hyperlinked