Finally Feb

Welcome February! My god am I pleased to see you! Is it just me, or did January seem to go on forever and ever and ever? But, the 1st is upon us! Pay day has happened (finally), I've done a load of washing, started my novel and am ready to kick some ass!

Hair Hair Hair

Long hair, short hair, long hair, short hair... you get the jist. Like almost everyone out there, I always wants what I haven't got when it comes to hair -which is fine when I'm craving short, but not so much when I want long. If you're like me and haven't got the money, or time for extensions, then you'll know how excruciatingly slow hair grows. By the time you're at the length you wanted so badly, you're bored so chop it all off and are back at square one!

Can it be summer yet?

I've always been a winter lover, preferring the colder months full of blankets, hot chocolates and boots! -but recently, I've felt myself craving the sun and summer. I jus have to see a flash of some sunny photos and I'm off dreaming of beaches, long nights, ice cream and hazy, lazy summer days. I feel like this summer is going to be the most exciting (and busiest) of my life so far, and that just makes me want it even more.

Here we go again

Hi everyone, hope you're well!
So, as hopefully you all know, tomorrow is the 20th of January -also known as the day a lot of uni students start back (myself included). Tomorrow will be the first day of my last EVER semester at University... how the hell did that happen?!

Welcome to 2020

Hello again and HAPPY NEW YEAR! -How the hell is it 2020?!

So this is a very scary/exciting year for me as LOTS is happening. I'm talking finishing uni, graduating, moving in with my boyfriend, turning 21, (hopefully) passing my driving test and last, but certainly not least, starting my PGCE. 

And I intended write about it all! 

Now, I know myself, and I know I have little spurts of wanting to write continuously to then not touching this blog for a couple of months. And I reallyyyyy want to get out of that bad habit! So if anyone has any tips or tricks to stay focused pleased pop them in the comments -it would be super helpful.

I'm going to keep this one short and sweet and I'm having one of my 'spurts' so want to get a few posts written and ready to go!

Hopefully see you all soon and happy New Year,

Hollie xx

Pumpkin Party

HALLOWEEN! It's spooky, it's scary and it comes with a hell of a lot of sweets! I love Halloween, with it probably being my favourite holiday very very closely followed by Christmas. I just adore all the scary films, the decorations, the costumes -basically it's utterly perfect in my eyes. So I have to do something to celebrate it!

What Uni has taught me

Now, I'm nearing the end of my university experience, going into my 3rd and final year of my degree. But, I know some of you will just be starting. It's scary, yes, but will honestly be some of the best years of your life. And in order to help a little, I've created a quick list of some of the things I've learnt over the years. (Learn through my mistakes and empty purse).

1. No matter how many surveys you complete, you will properly need a proper job. Most places are understanding of University timetables so get your CV out there as soon as you can- before everyone else gets in there first! 
2. When you spend money, put the receipt on 'Receipt Hog'. This handy app uses your receipts for surveys whilst you get 'coins' in return. The coins eventually add up and you can cash them in on Paypal. An extra £5 here and there never hurt anybody.
3. I know when you first move out, it can be very daunting that you have to cook for yourself. That being said, try not to have toooo many takeaways as it will absolutely drain your bank account! Save your money for takeaways with your new friends, rather than just having one all to yourself. (That way you get to split delivery as well!) 

Things are changing

Hiya guys,

So firstly I'm sorry for the lack of posts on this blog, I have been very very busy recently as I've been doing teaching work experience and also getting ready to MOVE FLAT! That's right! Goodbye mouldy room, showers that don't work properly and the decaying mouse Susan! 

I am soooo bloody excited -if you could't already guess.

We move out on the 30th of June and move into our new flat on the 1st of July -so just over a week to wait ahhh! It's been really busy though as our current agency has given us a cleaning list the size of my arm, then I've also got to pack and eventually move everything into a storage locker. 

S T R E S S

But it'll be worth it as the new flat is beautiful -be prepared for a full tour soon! It's a little bit out of the city centre but still in a really bustling part of Bristol, butttt it does mean I have to walk up a massive hill everyday which my body is NOT prepared for! Oh well, a gorgeous new flat and toned legs -can't be bad!

I'm currently all packed up apart from a few clothes, so my room feels very very bare right now. 

Here is what it did look like,

Thank you for reading (even though it's only been short and an update -sorry),

Hollie xx

Inspiration grows with inspirational people

So work at the moment is a very inspirational place, not because of the job, but because of the incredible people. I've always been the kind of gal who believes in the whole 'follow your dreams' type of thing. I mean, I'm studying drama for gods sake! That was me following my dream which nooooobody wanted me to! But everyone at work reaching for the stars and really acing it -so I'm going to do a really cheesy 'appreciating my friends and all their greatness' kind of post!

Helen~ So recently Helen created her very own business called Savour. An online bakery where you can order the most incredible macarons and cookies (trust me, I've tried them!). All her sweet treats come in the cutest packaging and you even get free postage! How perfect is that for a present? -especially if you don't live close. 

I couldn't resist and bought myself a box of her mixed cookies to munch on whilst I blogged and they definitely did not disappoint! My favourite is her 'The Spicy One' cookie and 'Luna' her passionfruit macaron. I think it's amazing that she's gone and done this, and just shows that if you work hard you can achieve anything! 

Her website is Savour Online Bakery and you should definitely treat yourself! I mean look how yummy! (All photos are from Savours Instagram).

Hannah~ Recently Han started her very own Graphic Design Instagram account to showcase her illustrations! They're all so quirky and beautiful so I'd definitely suggest you go and check them out at @ididathingstudio. It's incredible watching someone's creativity flow as they make the most gorgeous things. I know she has quite a few plans so watch her space! (All photos are from ididathingstudio Instagram).

George~ Now, George is the upsetting one as she's moving away... But it's super exciting as she's moving down to the seaside where her boyfriend lives! I think this is really inspirational as she's following her heart and going where she knows she'll be happy -even if it is a little scary moving away. Geoge also has her own Instagram account where she makes delicious cocktails that look stunning and taste even better! So check her out at @ginspectorgeorge. (All photos are from ginspectorgeorge Instagram).

Thank you for letting me share some of my amazing friends with you,

Who are you finding inspirational at the moment?

Hollie xx

Honesty.

I'm going to be completely and utterly honest right now, I hate the way I look at the moment. Absolutely hate it. I feel disgusted at myself whenever I see my reflection and feel so uncomfortable whenever my clothes aren't lose and baggy. I hate it. I hate my stomach, my arms, my legs, my back, my face and so, so much more. I feel trapped in my own skin.

Which is why I'm determined to change.

I look back at photos of myself and wish for the body I once had, I look at the dresses in my wardrobe and know too well that they won't fit. But, they once did -and I once had the body I now so desperately crave. I can do it because I've done it before. I just need determination and commitment.

I find it so difficult at Uni as the ease of buying a takeaway or a ready meal is just so tempting. It's so easy to do nothing and spend a day where I don't do any kind of exercise or even movement. It's so easy to be lazy, and I'm already a very lazy person. I know what I should be doing, and what I should be eating, but the temptation is always too much and then I feel so guilty and disappointed in myself. It would be fine if I had control, for instance only having one chocolate in work instead of losing count, but I just can't seem to stop. I need a personal hand-slapper that just gives me a whack whenever my hand goes wandering to sweet treats.

I've tried to help myself in the past, joining Slimming World and sticking religiously to plan. But it just got too much -I wasn't going out with friends as I was so scared to go over my syn value and would just skip group if I felt I hadn't lost enough (therefore racking up a bill). I wouldn't eat the day of weigh-in, and then I'd just binge as much food as I could stomach after I'd been weighed as I was so so hungry. Slimming World worked for a while, but then as my losses started to become less and less as my body got used to the plan, I became more and more discouraged and disheartened. I eventually gave up, joined again, gave up, joined again and then gave up!

I had problems with eating when I was younger, throwing away my school lunches and just making the appropriate sounds at breakfast so my Mum thought I was making a bowl of cereal. I woke up every morning super early so I could do a workout before school, and then I'd just drink lemon water all day until dinner (which was the only meal I couldn't get out of). I know I wasn't healthy then, and I know I was underweight for my height -but that was the only time in my life where people commented on my weight, saying I looked slim and nice in clothes. I look back at that time and want to shake myself and just shout eat, but then I look at myself now and just want to shout stop.

It's so difficult and I feel so under pressure right now as I go abroad in 5 weeks, and I know that it'll be too hot to wear lots of clothes. It was when I went to Spain last year that I decided to join Slimming World as I hated all the photos that were taken of me. One year later and I'm exactly the same weight and still super unhappy. I know that I can't go on holiday looking the way I am, as I'll just get so upset and won't enjoy being away. I know I need to do something and fast.

I have a plan, and fingers crossed it works. 

In the past, I've been able to lose over a Stone in 4 weeks when sticking to the Slimming World plan, therefore I know it works for my body. However, this time I'm not going to join a group which means I'll miss out the pressures which I've had previously. I also know that if I have a fun way to exercise then I'll do more of it, bring on sassy YouTube dance videos such as Fitness Army. 

The main things that break my weight loss are takeaways and sugar -therefore no more ordering out, and telling my boyfriend to stop me if I get close, and also being super careful at work not to nibble on chocolates and telling the girls to stop me if I do! Combine all that with copious cups of green tea, reaching at least 10,000 steps a day and also doing various 30-day fitness challenges, this should hopefully work.

I know that no matter how much I do, I'm not going to be happy with the way I look this year on holiday, but I'll kick myself if I don't at least try.

Sorry for the rambling offload, just needed to get it all out.

If anyone has any tips or tricks that would help me in any way, please comment them down below.

Thank you for reading,

Hollie xx

Saying goodbye in style

Smoke sizzled off the steaks, rising in swirling and whirling patterns, enveloping the low hanging lights in a hazy embrace. The meat, smothered in butter, bubbled on the hot stone releasing delicious smells that danced into our noses.

Last night I went to the best steakhouse I've ever been to. Think butters, sauces and the most perfect, melt-in-your-mouth steak. It was my managers leaving-do, and after being with the company for 6 years, we knew it had to be something special. We ended up going to Mugshot in Bristol, a classic restaurant with velvet walls, stone flooring and 1920s music. Mugshot does 'Hotstone dining' which is where your steak arrives blue with a smouldering hot stone. You then cut off small pieces of meat and cook it on the stone, in various butters, until it's absolutely perfect. I had a sirloin steak with honey butter (AMAZING!), garlic butter and a wild mushroom sauce. I can honestly say it was the most delicious steak I've ever had, and what's better is it was served with triple cooked chips and a small side salad!

I am already planning my next trip back, and if you're in Bristol I highly recommend you check it out!

Thank you for reading,

Hollie xx

A breath of fresh air

Birds fly high, ducking and diving through a sea of glistening blue sky. They fight for the lead in their chorus, singing louder and higher, welcoming the morning with a beautiful song. The trees rustle, being stroked one by one by the winds gentle hand. Their leaves grow green and radiant in the early summer sun, the golden beams lighting them in a glowing spotlight. 

There's nothing quite like country air -it's light and fresh, carrying the scent of blooming flowers and lush pine needles. Inhale deeply and exhale all stress and worries. 

So I've been home for a week and it's been absolutely lovely! I really felt like I need a little break from the city, just to de-stress and zone back into myself. It's been amazing seeing my dog, and having some lovely country walks -as well as countless gins! But most excitingly, I did a week of teacher training at a local secondary school. It was so helpful seeing behind the scenes of teaching, as well as seeing how different year groups get taught. I have definitely decided I want to be a teacher now, which is super nerve-racking as I have to apply for my post-grad in just a few months! It's incredible how quick life is moving at the moment, it seems only a second ago since I started uni and how I'm thinking about a post-grad. Mad. 

I hope you're all having a lovely week,

and thank you for reading this quick little post,

Love,

Hollie xx

A Perfect Day

So because of exams and work, my boyfriend and I haven't actually had a day together in months! When we first started dating we invented our 'date days' where we'd dedicate a whole day to us, having fun, and staying off our phones (besides to take photos of course). So it only seemed appropriate that due to all our free time, we'd have a date day!

So firstly we watched Jane the Virgin in bed which is my favourite tv show that I've got James to love as well! I used to watch it whilst he gamed but then slowly he crept over to me and started watching it too because it sounded 'interesting'. Honestly one of the best shows ever and the perfect start to a morning.

Then we headed over to You&Meow, Bristols very own cat cafe. It's the most relaxing place, with calming music and cats everywhere. James and I like to go whenever we need to destress -which seemed very appropriate after finished all our exams. It's lovely to just chat, have some nice food and drinks, and play with adorable cats.

Then, being a super soppy couple, we headed over to the lock bridge to put our very own lock on. We've had this engraved lock for months, but there's never been a nice sunny day when we've been both off -until now. After putting it on the bridge, we threw one of the keys into the water and have saved the other one to throw in Spain when we go on holiday.

We then headed into town and had a little wander around, I got an ice-cream from work for us to share, which was lush (work perks!) and James helped me pick out a few teachery clothes for when I do my work experience in a few weeks.

We then headed home and chilled with our flatmates for a little while, everyone got Chinese and we watched more weird ass videos...

Later, I headed off to a friends house for girls night. We had an American themed dinner, with the biggest pizza I've ever seen, cheesy Nachos and Cheesecake Factory cheesecake! My god, it was good! I love just hanging out with the girls, gossiping, and having a good old laugh!

So yeah, a perfect day spent with some perfect people.
Let me know if you guys have had any perfect days recently,
Thank you for reading,

Hollie xx

Finishing 2nd year and moving forwards

So bring out the party poppers and celebrate because I've finished my second year of Uni! Whoop whoop!  I can happily report that my performances went well and I did not mess up my lines, and that I also submitted both my written pieces in EARLY! Who even am I?!

So now that Uni's over with I can relax and spend more time on this lovely site until September, when it starts all over again. 

I've got some exciting things planned this summer, so I'm really excited for the sun to come out (seriously, what is with British weather right now?), and get cracking! Obviously, I'll be writing about it all on here so if you like rambly posts about random things, then this is the blog for you!

On a slightly serious note, I'm also extremely nervous for this year to be over. I now have only one more year to go and then it's off into the big wide world. It's scary to think that I need to start thinking about flats and careers... Where has all my time at uni gone?

To anyone who hasn't finished their exams yet, I wish you all the luck in the world! We'll be here with the party poppers when you're done.

Thanks for reading this short and random post,

Hollie xx

Uni stresses

It's no secret that right now I am stressed. I have a performance exam in 3 weeks, a play to finish writing as well as a long-ass essay. As 2nd year finally comes to an end, I can honestly say that I'm not sad to see it go. Don't get me wrong, I have enjoyed this year -but it's just been different.

When I started Uni, I had this perfect dream in my head of becoming an actress. I left 6th form loving everything to do with acting and knew 100% that was what I wanted to do. 

Now I'm not too sure.

I always imagined that Uni would just expand my passion and give me the tools to actually achieve the dream which I so carefully planned. But after 2 years, I feel like that passion has just shrunk in size. I still enjoy acting, don't get me wrong, but it's not as fun anymore. I don't get the rush of excitement like I used to. 

Luckily, however, my mind has wandered onto other things. I'm really loving writing at the moment -something which fizzled out when I was younger. I love the idea of writing something which could change the way someone sees something, or bring to life something which isn't even thought about. I also have an interesting in teaching- which is something I never thought I'd say. I still love everything to do with the theatre and the way it works, the ideas and practitioners which go behind -so what better than to teach and talk about it every day. Just because I don't want to act anymore doesn't mean I want to cut ties with the theatre world entirely. 

So as 2nd year ends a new year of adventures begin, which eventually leads to being out in the big wide world. Am I allowed to say that I'm scared? Because I really, really am. As someone who follows lists and plans religiously, the fact that I don't have a solid plan for my future is freaking me out! I'm even thinking of having a year out to travel because I'm so lost. Who knows, maybe I could 'find myself' halfway across the globe.

Sorry for the ramble, I just had to get my thoughts down somewhere.

If you have any words of wisdom please let me know 

Hollie xx