That Scary Place Between Education & Career

While many people don't take the trip to university and go into work at the tender age of 18 or even younger, I certainly couldn't imagine being in full time work as soon as I had left Sixth Form - cue the comments about my immaturity. I can't even begin to image, having been at university for quite a while more than the majority of people about getting a proper full time job and thinking about paying rent and bills in any more sense than splitting them six ways in a crummy, cheap university house share. I have, however, come to the conclusion that it's not full time work that I should be afraid of, it's that gap between completing your university modules, or even the last few weeks that you're in high school if you're finishing you educational journey there, and finding a job that will let you afford to live comfortably for the rest of your life - and more importantly, find something that you're both good at and, importantly, enjoy.

Gloucester Quays Food & Drink Festival 2015

Having moved down from the cold climates of Leeds in West Yorkshire to the sweltering heat of the South, I wanted to try as many things as possible in my first few weeks living in a county that seemed to have completely different mannerisms and characteristics that the one I had just moved from - and what better was to see what fantastic local produce and vibe Gloucestershire has then to attend the annual Food & Drink Festival at Gloucester Quays, which took place this year on the 17th - 19th July.

USA --> UK; International Box Swap with Conk's Canister

Constance of Conk's Canister blog is one of the first bloggers I started speaking to when I first joined Twitter and the fabulous blogging world back in February and is one of the people who has always been there for a chat or to help with tips and advice when needed, so it was obvious when deciding to do an international box swap that she would be my first choice to swap with! We set a budget and got shopping for lots of lovely beauty and lifestyle things to send to one another, including a few special requests (Sephora makeup and Jolly Ranchers for me, and Tanya Burr lipgloss for Constance)...

Top Gift Days For Dads | PART 2

Welcome to Part 2 of Top Gift Days for Dads - if you missed Part 1, you can find it here!

Father's Day gifts, and to be fair, gifts for similar days have always been difficult for my to buy - mainly because my parents live in a cottage, and therefore have no space to fit anything with my Mum's antique auction hauding habits! So, I have, in recent years, turned to getting gift days and experience days as gifts instead, and have grown to love them as incredibly brilliant gifts, as they are all things you wouldn't normally experience on a day to day basis, and will definitely be remembered for a long time! Bring on the award for 'Best Daughter'! Prices shown are the current sale price!

I have been to my all time go-to site for gifts days, trying to find things that my Dad would like to do, and decided it would be good to put together a list of my favourites, including some that my family has experienced ourselves to help those of you out there either struggling for ideas for this year, or even looking for something a little different to buying some cologne and whiskey! I have picked out my Top Gift Days in low-end, mid-range and high-end prices, so there is something to suit every pocket...

Top Gift Days For Dads | PART 1

Father's Day gifts, and to be fair, gifts for similar days have always been difficult for my to buy - mainly because my parents live in a cottage, and therefore have no space to fit anything with my Mum's antique auction hauding habits! So, I have, in recent years, turned to getting gift days and experience days as gifts instead, and have grown to love them as incredibly brilliant gifts, as they are all things you wouldn't normally experience on a day to day basis, and will definitely be remembered for a long time! Bring on the award for 'Best Daughter'! Prices shown are the current sale price!

I have been to my all time go-to site for gifts days, trying to find things that my Dad would like to do, and decided it would be good to put together a list of my favourites, including some that my family has experienced ourselves to help those of you out there either struggling for ideas for this year, or even looking for something a little different to buying some cologne and whiskey! I have picked out my Top Gift Days in low-end, mid-range and high-end prices, so there is something to suit every pocket...

My Goals For 2015

I'm only a few months late for New Year's Resolutions! But, I have decided, as my blog is getting to the point where I feel like I've learnt the basics and have some scheduling and planning in motion, it's the best time to look to the future and set myself some goals of what I want to achieve over the next year. It's going to be quite a short post, but I'll update it over time as and when my goals are met, and add more goals to the mix if my original ones are looking like they are easier to achieve than I am currently anticipating (as of May 2015).

Plastic Surgery | Yay or Nay?

Plastic surgery and whether it's right or wrong has sparked up a massive amount of debate over the years, and is something that, with the more modern and image obsessed times, is becoming more common and discussed. I used to be under the opinion that plastic surgery was bad and a complete no, but in recent months I have actually been considering it myself.

But what do I mean by plastic surgery? Well, that's where things delve a little deeper and my opinions split. Plastic surgery coins two specialities in the medical field; one being cosmetic surgery where a person chooses to alter a part of their body not considered medically damaged or deformed in any way and reconstructive surgery, which, as it says, is to reconstruct a part of someone's body that is medically considered to have decreased functionality, with the asthetic element not being the primary function.

Cosmetic surgery is the term which I have been considering, but then again, this can also be broken down into different terms. For example, if I said I was opposed to cosmetic surgery, that wouldn't be true, because I am opposed to some kinds of cosmetic surgery, and not others. And even then, we must delve deeper into the kinds of cosmetic surgery I'm opposed to to find another opinion of mine which is completely against one things and slightly favouring another. Have I confused you yet? Let me explain...

In terms of what I consider to be cosmetic surgery, it is the physical changing of the asthetic of your body, without the intent to improve functionality. Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with and support reconstructive surgery in all forms. Cosmetic surgery is where it gets complicated. Whilst cosmetic surgery as a term does include anything asthetic, it can also be medically improving something, not just improving the way it looks in the eyes of the person having the surgery. For example, the cosmetic surgery I have recently been considering is a breast reduction, due to the size and weight of my chest being to the point of causing me medical problems. Granted, I will probably like the way I look better if and when I ever had the surgery done, but the main functionality behind the surgery would be to help myself medically to stop the aches and pains in my back and chest.

Cosmetic surgery in this sense, to improve how a person feels, not in themselves as a person, but physically, is something I am strongly in agreement with. It is the surgeries which are purely for asthetics that I'm not a fan of. Women and men who feel that they need to make themselves look like something they aren't, which is a major issue in the fashion and celebrity worlds, I just can't understand. But then again, who am I to say that someone shouldn't get their nose made smaller if just the asthetic of that will make them feel for confident and happy within themselves, improving their psychological view of themselves. I can't be opposed to people making themselves feel better about themselves because I know what it's like to hate myself and want to change who I am in the past. This is where the debate gets complicated!

The cosmetic surgery I am opposed to is extreme cosmetic surgery - the women who get their breasts enlarged from a healthy size (one which won't cause them back pains or other health issues) to ridiculous proportions, and those who take cosmetic surgery to the extreme of not being 'natural' looking (and I'm not discussing anything other than cosmetic surgery here - tattoos and piercings are a whole other ball park!). But then again, who am I to say that this is the asthetic that they find pleasing and that makes them feel psychologically better about themselves. I's an incredibly complex debate, and something that I think I will never be able to give a straight answer to, as on one hand I am opposed to people messing with their bodies to the point of being stupid looking (but then again that's in my opinion) and on the other hand I will be pleased that they are psychologically feeling better in themselves and can relate to how not liking the way you look can have a massively detrimental affect on who you are as a person.

So, I guess this post was more of a rant than anything else, and hopefully one which will spark discussion and debate (you know we all love a healthy friendly debate). Let me know in the comments your views and opinions on plastic surgery (both cosmetic and reconstructive if you wish!) - play nice and respect others opinions.

#DoubleConfidence

I have recently seen averts knocking about for Estée Lauder's Double Wear Foundation, and after having such high compliments for the Perfectionist Youth foundation by them, I couldn't wait to try this new foundation. But the adverts also got me thinking about what makeup means to me and how it affects my confidence and personality, which I'd like to talk about to you guys!

Image from http://www.esteelauder.com

Makeup is one of those things that I was never really into when I was younger, going to an all girls school there didn't seem much point as there was nobody to impress. And that's what I thought until my mid teens, that makeup was shallow and something people wore to impress people. It wasn't until I tried makeup for the first time as a blemished teen that I looked at myself in the mirror and for the first time in a long while, kind of liked who I saw back. Makeup had done that. I know there are people out there who still see makeup as something that's shallow and slutty, but as with everything, there are so many different types of makeup and varieties of looks, not all of it can be lumped into one group of "models wear it to look fake, and girls wear it to look slutty". It's totally not true!

Makeup soon became one of those things for me after a few months that I started really becoming interested in, and it was about the same time that I started making new friends at school after feeling so isolated and un-included for over eighteen months. Creating new friendships and talking about makeup, despite being something I had only recently discovered, really boosted my confidence and I quickly started appreciating makeup not only for its ability to make me look better (or at least I perceived that it did), but also made me feel better within myself and more assured in my high school environment.

The more I used makeup, the more I fell in love, until I got into my late teens, where looks started to matter to people a lot more. As my friends started going out to town dressed up, I wanted to be included, however, as a lot of you will know, people can be very nasty at that age, While my friends got ready in their fitted dresses and did their makeup beautifully, using a natural look to enhance their features, I felt like the odd one out, and felt like I couldn't go out with my friends as I didn't like the way I looked in dresses (at least those that seemed acceptable for the nightclub scene) and I would feel incredibly uncomfortable going on nights out after hearing a number of people, in their drunken states, taking the piss out of how I looked and saying I shouldn't be in a club if I couldn't fit through the doors - yes, a comment that I actually got told by a girl in the bathroom of our towns Oceana - something which I'm sure her brain was never able to appreciate that it made no sense as I was already in the building!

I started using makeup more and more, and it became something of a distraction. I became obsessed with using makeup to the point of caking it on to cover as much of my features as possible to be able to recreate my face in a way that I liked. I thought that if I wore extreme amounts of makeup, people would focus on my face and not my large thighs. Eventually, I came to the realisation that makeup didn't distract people from this, and I had to accept myself for who I am.

Now, I am slowly increasing my confidence in my self-confidence and my self-image, thanks in a major way to all you lovely people who read my blog and connect with me on social media and treat me like a human being, despite my size. I have also been greatly inspired by a number of fellow plus size bloggers, in particular Louise Pentland (Sprinkle of Glitter) and Georgina Grogan (She Might Be Loved) who showed me through the power of their words and presence that it doesn't matter what you look like, it's who you are and how you grip people with your personality and passion that's important.

Makeup, at this point, became more of a thing that I loved again, rather than an essential tool to making myself look like a different person. I learned how to contour and what colour schemes and shades suited my face tone and eye colour, and learned how to enhance my natural features, which gave me more confidence that caking on makeup ever did. I can now appreciate makeup as a tool for self-confidence and to make yourself feel better, but also keeping yourself true to you.

I apologise for the sentimental feel to this post, I hope I've inspired you all rather than make you all sad. You can search for the Estee Lauder campaign by following #DoubleConfidence on Twitter, or visit their website here. This is not a paid promotion, it's just something I thought would be good to discuss as it's a large part of my life and my experiences that have brought me to actually blogging, and therefore talking to you today!

Let me know in the comments below your experiences with makeup and how you think it has changed your view of yourself and your confidence.

Boyfriend Birthday Presents | Contains Adult Content

PLEASE BE WARY: THIS POST CONTAINS ADULT CONTENT

I've got to that point in my relationship when I have brought every graphic novel, Minecraft memorabilia item and power tool I can to please my boyfriend for presents. Also, does anyone else find buying for a twenty-six year old male incredibly difficult? I have resorted, therefore, to buying a mass of present which each have their own disgusting, humorous and parental warning needed as I could.

And what better way to say I love you to a twenty-something male than with Peppa Pip wrapping paper!

  

What did I get?

All of the present I got were from Men Kind.

I will pre-warm you - these present ideas are for my boyfriend who is incredibly childish when it comes to what entertains him, and like every twenty-something male (at least the ones I know) is fascinated with puzzles and poo - so please be warned:

THIS BLOG POST WILL BE A LOT MORE GRAPHIC THAN MY OTHERS AND MAY CONTAIN NUTS!

Cube Words | Puzzle Game

The Cube Words puzzle game I got because it satisfied my boyfriends fascination with puzzles and brain teasers. Like a traditional Rubix cube, you have to turn the cube until parts, only in this game your aim is to make real nine letter words on each side of the cube.

Little Willy Condoms

As all wonderful and fabulous girlfriends, I have taken it upon myself to mock the generosity of my boyfriend endowments, and like any god girlfriend, I got him a present that would come in practical in our relationship... 

Plop Trumps | Card Game

Very similar, and played the same as the popular Top Trumps game, this game appealed to my boyfriends immature side, combining one of his favourite games to play when he was a child with a disgusting element - in this case, different types of animal poo, compared on their frequency, smelliness and hardness. Not a game my mother wanted to play with us!

Impossipuzzle | Jigsaw Puzzle

Less disgusting, but still mind stimulating. I got this impossipuzzle because when I got a Mensa jigsaw from the charity shop, my boyfriend was fascinated by it. Always one to want to prove his intelligence, I thought this would be both appropriate and frustrating for him, and therefore let me have some 'me time' at home.

Caution Cone

Possibly the present my boyfriend found the most amusing, and I'm sure something that any female living with males would appreciate in their home. I have to say I got this for me more than him, as I am sick and tired of unsuspectingly walking into our bathroom only to be greeted by what I can only describe as a sewerage smell - therefore, this sign is so I know when to avoid that situation, thus protecting my little nose.

The Soup System | Soup Bowl and Plate

This was one of the more thoughtful present I got, as my boyfriend is quite a soup connoisseur (or at least he eats a lot of soup) - so I thought having something nice to eat it out of would be good for him.

Robot Mug

Another nice, thoughtful present from yours truly. If you could see the amount of coffee we get through in our house, you would think there was enough for a family of five to drink - and I only have about three cups of coffee a week! My boyfriend needs at least three in the morning to be able to function properly throughout the day. And, as he is a mechanical technician, I thought a robot would be appropriate - plus he is soooo cute! - the robot, not the boyfriend...

JoeSeph's Whiskey Popcorn

My boyfriend is a whiskey drinker, and he appreciates good whiskey, so I thought why not bring the two things he loves, whiskey and food, into one gift. Plus, whiskey flavoured popcorn was too interesting to pass up, and tastes surprisingly nice!

I did also consider going down the technology route, as my boyfriend is a little bit of a geek! Using this idea, I guest posted on The British Gent - which you can find by following the link above (due to go live on Wednesday 6th April 2015)! Le me know in the comments below what you think of these gifts, or what your male counter-parts think of these gifts!

11 Interview Tips For Success

As I inevitably (and finally) near the end of my university studies, it has recently dawned on me that I will have to actually get a proper job, which can only mean one thing. No, not going on a fabulous shopping trip for some smart clothing and accessories - preparing for and undertaking job interviews with potential employers. Needless to say, I've had my fair share of jobs, and whilst I'm not claiming to be an expert, I like to think I have, over time, picked up some useful tips and tricks for interview success.

1 // Arrive On Time

Arriving on time gives an employer a real feel for how on time and reliable you will be as an employee. Turning up late to the interview isn't going to give them a very good impression of you as a worker. Some jobs also have back to back interviews scheduled, so if you're late you could miss your interview all together. First impressions certainly count, and being late is a sure way of making a long lasting bad impression. 

Give yourself plenty of time when getting ready for an interview, keep up to date with any traffic or public transport delays and always plan to get there at least half an hour before your interview time. It's much more positive to spend a few minutes brushing up on your interview questions than being flustered when you get there. 

2 // Dress Appropriately

Employers, like most people, judge you on your appearance, however much we say we shouldn't, we can't help it as human beings when making a first time assumption about someone. You don't have to go to every job interview in a suit or office wear dress, the key is to dress appropriately for the specific job role you are going for. For example, if you are interviewing for a job working in retail, be professional looking but bring your personality through in fashion; if applying for a job working with children, look responsible but bring some colour in to give you a fun edge. 

3 // Research The Company & Position You've Applied For

It's ways reassuring, and sure to make sure you're remembered, if you know about the company you are working for. Knowing little bits about your employer will not only impress but will also help you in the working environment. It makes life much easier for your employer and you if you know what to expect. Researching the position you are applying for is also very important. 

There's no worse feeling than turning up for a job interview after spending so long preparing yourself to realise that either the job role is something you aren't suited to and you have wasted the employers time or it's something you aren't qualified for or you don't want and have wasted your own time. Whilst interview practice is never a bad thing, there are better ways.

4 // Mention Your Strengths

Your strengths are what are going to get you a job in the first place...and drawing attention away from your weaknesses is by no means a bad thing. By reinforcing your strengths to an interviewer, it's more likely that they will remember them, and you - for the right reasons!

Strengths don't have to be qualifications or fancy things you own, they can be simple things like being a good listener or being logical. Before going into an interview, think of three or four personality traits you hold that could see you progress in the job you're interviewing for. Making your skills and strengths personal to the career, for example if you are working with customers face to face, saying that you are patient and adding that you find this an amicable quality for a customer faced environment will get your interviewer thinking that and thinking more positively about you as an employee. 

5 // Ask Questions, Show Interest

The worst thing, other than being intolerably rude in an interview, is being uninterested in what you are applying for. Interviewers and employers want to see passion and enthusiasm from their employees, which can be shown in two ways in an interview process. 

Show an interest in what you are applying for by tailoring your answers to include suggestions of what you would do in the career you are interviewing for - show initiative. 

Asking questions about the workplace and beyond your employment title can show the employers that you are interested in progressing in their company and this will tell them you will be dedicated to your job role and possibly do more for them and their business. There is a down side to asking too many questions however, it just asking how much more money you will get or how few hours you can get away with doing. Be respectful in your questions and choose them wisely. 

6 // Review The Information On Your CV

 Employers will more often than not want to double check things and information on your CV. it's incredibly important that your CV is true and up to date. Making sure that your information isn't only up to date but that you can answer questions such as filling in any unemployment gaps will give the interviewer an impression of how honest, reliable and focused you are as an employee. If you're not willing to make the effort to double check your CV and it's information, why should they expect you to do any more in the job role you're interviewing for?

7 // Be Concise

Interviewers like to keep a record of what you have said, and waffling and going on endless rants will just mean that they will skip writing stuff down which could potentially be something which could help you get the job. By making your answers concise and to the point, this will show your potential employer that you are able to communicate effectively as well. 

8 // Use Positive Body Language

Another one for the first impressions books. Using hostile or body language which makes you seem closed off or bored can dramatically affect the mood of your interviewer, and could mean a lasting bad impression. Body language such as folding your arms or leaning forward can be considered hostile or as though you don't want to share information. Be inviting and talk with confidence. 

9 // Be Honest

Lying either on your CV or in an interview will only come back to bite you on the arse. Employers are more than capable, and likely will, contact your referees and check your past educational achievements before hiring you. There's. I point in lying to a potential employer, because as soon as you are labelled a liar it will be one hundred times more difficult to seek employment with them. Lying doesn't achieve anything and could have devastating affects later on when you are found out. 

10 // Make Sure You Understand What They Are Asking

There's nothing wrong with asking an interviewer to repeat the question or phrase it differently. An employer would much rather have an employee that asked for information and gained as much knowledge as possible than one who gave a completely off topic answer in their interview, that could be something they will repeat in employment, which could reflect badly on the company. 

Don't be scared to ask questions or ask for a rephrased question - it doesn't make you look stupid, it makes you look like you want to know as much as possible and get things right the first time. Plus it will stop you from giving a completely off topic questions, for example explaining your skills in computing when you have been asked about in-employment relationships!

11 // Be Prepared

Possibly the most important point on the list. Knowing what you are going to say and having knowledge of what you need to say, as well as being there in time and appropriately behaved and dressed, preparation is the key. 

There are plenty of online assessment facilities available to help with interview preparation and websites that give example questions. You could even try printing some of the questions off and doing a mock interview with a friend - it will definitely calm your nerves for the real thing!

I hope these tips and tricks are things which will help you get a job in the future, or at least help to prepare you for future job interviews you may take. All these things are things that have helped me, and things friends and employers have recommended to me. Let me know if any of them do work, or if you have any other tips that work for you in the comments below.

#InstaLove | My Favourite Instagram Accounts

Instagram has quickly become one of my favourite past times, and I have managed to be introduced to some incredible and creative people who produce some amazingly beautiful photographs and stories with their images. I love looking at so many different peoples Instagram profiles, but I, like everyone, have my favourites, who I check up on regularly and whose images always make me smile as I catch a glimpse of their day to day lives and experiences. I'd like to share my favourite eight with you guys...

Thank you to Aisling, who I got the inspiration for this post from, for letting me steal this post idea! You can check out Aisling's Instagram Favourites here or check out her blog, Aisling's Beauty Bytes, or follow her on Twitter @aislingsbbytes.

Sophie Rose | Sophie Rose Blogs

Sophie's Instagram account always manages to make me wish I was a more creative photographer. Like her blog, her images on Instagram are really beautiful and use light, tone and props really interestingly. It's a fantastic Instagram to follow if you love pretty images and interesting compositions, especially if you are a fan of beauty and fashion.

Hannah Bailey-Churcher | Hannah Bee

Following Instagram profiles and blogs from other countries, especially those who have scenery and cultures very different to your own is really interesting to me. Hannah, who is based in Australia, has some fantastic images of beaches, sunshine and food that I can only image here in England. I love her compositions and amazing vibrant colours in all her images - it's like an escape from the dreary weather of the UK.

Aisling | Aisling's Beauty Bytes

Aisling's blog and Instagram account are filled with all the things I love - beauty, fashion and Lush! Aisling is a great inspiration to me for both beauty and fashion ideas and her Instagram feels as though you are chatting to a friend about your favourite things.

Sophie Wood | Slogger

Sophie is a lovely person and a fabulous blogger, and he Instagram is no different. I love the variety you can expect from her Instagram, as some days it will be an artistic photograph, other days it will be a beauty or fashion post and some days it will be an every day picture telling a story. I especially love Sophie's fashion pictures and images of her charity work, which she has done incredibly on.

Elise Rose | Elise Rose

Although Elise doesn't have a massive amount of images on her Instagram, I love the variety and accessibility of her blog. It's just like looking through a friends photo album and you feel connected to the things she loves and has been doing. Elise is really good at knowing what filters best fit the mood of her images.

Ally Allen

Ally is one of my oldest and best friends, who I couldn't mention my favourite Instagram accounts without following. Whilst some of the images are personal and won't speak to everyone, they speak to me and I love finding out what my friends are up to. Everyone has that Instagram they follow to keep up with what their friends who don't live close by are up to. Pictures really do say a thousand words and I love keeping up with the homey feeling images of our friends and her kitten, Hugo!

Emmie-Hope Newitt | Carpe Diem Emmie

Emmie has some beautiful images on her Instagram. I especially love looking at her images from events and of nature, with an interesting use of filters which makes her Instagram have a vintage feel to it. There is always something different to look at.

Kirsty Ralph | Kirsty Ralph

Kirsty is a fantastic friend and blogger and I love following her Instagram for the places she has visited to share in the memories. I especially love her images of food, as she is a great food blogger. I love the way she displays her image using a split screen design. It always makes me hungry looking at Kirsty's Instagram, as well as happy to follow a friends experiences.

Let me know in the comments below if you follow any of these beautiful people on Instagram, and let me know your favourite people to follow! You can add me on Instagram also and let me know your links in the comments.

Featured Photographer | Paul McKenzie

I wanted to do something different on my blog, and start a series. Photography is something I'm passionate about, and something that I unfortunately don't have the time to pursue as much as I would like to. I get this creative pre-set from my Dad, it seems, as he too is fascinated by photography and is very good at photoshop and composition, so what better photographer to feature on a post than my Dad, Paul McKenzie.

Paul McKenzie has been taking photographs in a more professional sense for the past two years or so, joining the Tettenhall Wood Photographic Club two seasons ago. He has shown massive improvement in his photographs, and recently created an outstanding portfolio of photographs from his travels around India. 

I love my Dad's photographs, not just because he is my Dad! I love the use of HDR and the shading, making each image look as though it is in a high definition alternate world where colours are more beautiful. Each image, unlike some photographers, tells a story, and has a different feeling radiating from it, whether it's of people or nature alike.

Paul McKenzie Photography | Favourite Images

"A Woman's Work Is Never Done" // India

"Dungarees Boat Blue" // Dungeness 

"Hindu Priest" // India

"Rhododendron Dream" // Scotland

Please leave in the comments below your opinions of this photography (don't hold back just because he is my Dad!). I'm hoping to continue this series every few weeks, so let me know in the comments also whether you want to see more of this kind of series?

All photographs are property of Paul McKenzie, and can be found at http://www.twpc.org.uk

5 April Favourites | Bloggers

As part of my procrastination whilst writing my dissertation, I read a lot more blog posts that I usually have time for in the day. I've visited my favourite go to blogs and discovered some new ones along the way, so, follow me on a journey through my favourite five blogs of the now for April.

Hopefully these bloggers won't mind me mentioning their blogs and URLs! If you do, let me know and I'll take you off the list! ❤️️

Reading blogs has been a staple part of my days for the past few years, but finally getting the confidence to start my own blog has meant that I have discovered so many more people through social media apps like Twitter and Bloglovin' and been introduced to so many more amazing blogs and wonderful bloggers! Whilst I'm no literary genius and probably couldn't tell you the difference between a Shakespeare play and a Lord Byron poem, I like to think that I have some skills in recognising humour and skill in other people writing (#ifoundauseformyGCSEs).

The reasons why I love each of these blogs fall under similar categories from fantastic photography to unique posts to variety and gripping writing styles! I would strongly suggest checking out all of these blogs, even if you don't end up reading any of them, they are fantastic examples of blogs which tick all of the boxes (for me, as a reader, anyway!)

My Top 5 Blogs of April

Petals of Perfection | Sophie Edwards
@PetalsofPerfect // http://www.petalsofperfection.blogspot.co.uk

Kirsty Ralph
@KirstyRalph11 // www.kirstyralph.co.uk

Conk's Canister | Constance Cleveland
@conkscanister // www.conkscasister.blogspot.com

Rock. Paper. Glam | Ellese Launer
@elleselauner // www.rockpaperglam.com

She Might Be Loved | Georgina Grogan
@GeorginaGrogan_ // www.shemightbeloved.com

Some of these you may have heard of, some of them you may have not - but that's the beauty of the blogging community, there are so many people out there with so many fantastic and unique ideas and opinions! Hopefully with this post I have shared the things that have made me happy, especially in my dissertation writing frenzy week, and have helped you either find something new to love or rekindled a love you lost! Let me know your favourite bloggers in the comments below ❤️️

#PlusSizeDebate

I have seen recently on Twitter the #PlusSizeDebate. In light of this debate, I wanted to share my experience being a plus size woman throughout most of my life, from childhood, through teens and now in adulthood. Plus Size is something which, until recently was pretty much considered Taboo, however, it is now something which can be seen all over the world - and it's not necessarily something to be embraced. Yes I look at my legs and feel like they are horribly elephant like and yes I look at my chin and wish I had a heart shaped face but I'm healthy and I have just built up the confidence to show that I love me for me and my size, as long as I'm not hurting myself, is irrelevant to who I am as a perso - and surely that's what should count. Ask yourselves if you talked to someone on the web without seeing a picture of them and you really liked them and had lots in common and great conversations would that make them any less of a person if you later found out they were overweight? Sadly although a lot of people won't admit it, they would think less of them. And that's society gone mad!

I have always strongly believed that people should be happy with who they are, and that I am happy being a Plus Size woman. However, being overweight has caused me many problems, both physically and mentally over the years. So, whilst I can promote self-confidence and plus size beauty all I want, I must recognise the health risks and implications physically and mentally as well.

Childhood | When I was younger, I never considered weight to be a thing that would ever be something I was judged for. In primary school I was incredibly happy and had plenty of friends and the relationships I had with my peers were no different from those any child experienced. I was healthy, happy and full of life. I was only slightly overweight when I was in my childhood years, and it didn't affect my health or how I felt about myself.

Teenage Years | As soon as I reached my teenage years, things related to my weight started to matter. My peers started to think that my weight defined me as a person, and I was severely bullied to the point of becoming depressed and withdrawn from my friends and my studies. I didn't have any health problems, and I found doing gym class no more difficult than any of my friends - I was even a member of my schools tennis and javelin team for a short time. It wasn't until I got to my late teens that I started to notice myself more in a sense of becoming more interested in make up and fashion, and started writing about things I loved and making scrap books of outfits and beauty looks I liked and wanted to try. The only problem I had was my image - I couldn't fit into a lot of the clothes I wanted to try, and those I could fit in I never felt comfortable in or thought I looked good in as I was too large for them. I would see my friends wearing skinny jeans and strapped tops and looking beautiful, and all I could focus on when I wore such clothes was how much of my love handles would be noticeable and how much my arm fat would be judged when I went outside. I felt, looking at the world and the media that I wasn't good enough for the world and if I wasn't a size eight, I wouldn't be accepted.

Adulthood | Despite all the information that was received about the health issues of being overweight and the unacceptability in media, plus size seemed to be becoming a much more acceptable to a larger population. Whilst I have been fortunate to not have any health issues from my weight, apart from some mild issues at one point where my weight ballooned to a size 22 after some personal issues, I am aware that there is incredible evidence that weight influences and causes a lot of health issues. I'm in no way condoning gaining weight as healthy, but for some people it's not about being skinny or healthy - some people in the world (not me) are happy and want to be overweight as they feel it makes them more attractive. This, unfortunately is not the way I see it. I am in no way happy with the way I look, and I have some days that I stare in the mirror and hate the way I look and wish I was thinner and, in my opinion, prettier.

The Debate | The modelling and fashion world is one of the ones which is most centred in this debate or whether plus size should be shown. Some people believe that plus size women should be celebrated, and others think that anyone over a size eight shouldn't be shown as role model figures in magazines etc. Personally, I don't think, and this is coming from my plus sized mouth, that plus size models, at least those over a size fourteen, should be portrayed on the catwalk. Being a size sixteen to eighteen myself, I know I'm not perfect, and I know I need to loose weight. I'm not happy being overweight and unhappy, and I'm slowly doing something about it. But, I also don't believe that plus size should mean anyone over a size ten! People who are role models should be people who are happy and productive, despite the way they look, how they dress and how much they weigh. It's all about a middle ground, and whilst size fourteen or sixteen may not be thin, why should they not be allowed to feel good about themselves? Why should they be ridiculed because of this fact. One of the major assumptions of why people are overweight are so is because they are lazy, in some cases it isn't the case. I exercise as much as I can and I try and eat right, but no matter how much I try, I always feel, on every diet I have done that I get to a certain point and my weight loss stops, no matter what I do. Some people are just built bigger than others. It doesn't affect their personality and it doesn't affect who they are as a person.

Whilst I agree with the #PlusSizeDebate from the perspective that we shouldn't be promoting plus size above a healthy limit, for example, saying that being overweight to the point that it will in fact affect your health in a bad way, is right, I cannot accept promoting the ideal that being skinny and beautiful with perfect hair, makeup and clothes makes you better as a person. A person is not made from what they put on themselves, it's whats on the inside. Just because someone is a size eight and wears Prada, doesn't make them any happier, nicer, kinder, genuine and generous as someone who is size sixteen and wears Primark.

Let me know in the comments below what your opinions are on the #PlusSizeDebate - controversy is something that happens in life, everyones opinion is welcome, but please don't judge anyone for their opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own and it's not something they should be judged badly on. Not everyone thinks the same, so any comments deliberately spreading hate or considered bullying will be reported and deleted. Stay kind, thank you! :)

Exam Survival | Apps

I am one of the worst people when it comes to exams - I procrastinate, I highlight everything rather than the essentials, I never follow a revision plan...I could go on and on through the list of things I do which I know are not the best actions to take. Recently, my university sent around an email to the student body on tips and tricks for bettering our exam preparation of our exam period starting in May. This got me thinking...in this modern age of technology, are the old tricks like making a revision timetable and highlighting bullet points of your work outdated? Could there be more high tech alternatives in the form of phone apps which could help with exam preparation in a more modern way?

Gojimo | Exam Practice Testing

Why I love this app:

❤️️ it has a range of subjects and qualification types from a variety of different countries

❤️️ there is loads of random tests available to test yourself on a wide variety of subject areas

❤️️ it isn't a fantastic app if you have something very specific to learn, however, for general topping up it's brilliant

❤️️ it provides you with a progress report of your improvement

❤️️ this app is something to use year out to refresh your memory and keep yourself prepped for exam time

RefME | Book Citation and Referencing

Why I love this app:

❤️️ it's not specifically for exam preparation, but as a psychology student, it's an important part of a lot of courses, especially when doing essays and writing assignments

❤️️ it's a really easy way to get an accurate reference for any book or paper - referencing is something I find difficult and irritating to remember what order things go in, especially with punctuation

❤️️ it's very helpful if the book doesn't contain the full information you need

❤️️ it covers books, journals, websites and has the ability to search for as well as scan references, which is fantastic if you have forgotten to write down the information for or scan the book, journal or website you are using before closing or returning it to the library

TED | Video Conference Viewer

❤️️ it's great for learning in a new way, watching people talk about subjects rather than reading it off a page, which is great if you find it easier to learn by hearing rather than reading

❤️️ it has a massive amount of videos and subject matters for all areas and grades of study

❤️️ it covers subjects which aren't academic, which can also help you to relax and prepare for study

❤️️ the discover tool allows you to find new things, related to your subject or not, and there is an option to select a time limit on the videos you want to watch and create playlists around this which is great if you are trying to fit in a learning session in between classes or on the bus!

StudyBlue | Communication and Planning

❤️️ this is one of my favourite apps, as it allows you to search for your school or university, and covers a number of countries

❤️️ it allows you to create your own timetable by subject area for your exam revision

❤️️ it allows you to connect to your course leaders and other people on your course who have the app as well and communicate and plan exam revision with them

❤️️ the message boards allow for easy communicated by subject

MyStudyPlan | Planning

❤️️ this app allows you to effectively plan your revision timetable and has a notification option

❤️️ it allows you to input specific things that you are studying, as well as indicating how long you would like to spend studying each subject

❤️️ it has a progress report option which allows you to see how accurately you are sticking to your plan

❤️️ it links exam preparation and resource apps to allow for better studying

❤️️ it allows you to prioritise each subject by day and closeness to your exam

Morning Worm | Alarm Clock

❤️️ learning aside, actually getting up in the morning to study is an issue for me, which this app manages to tackle, especially if you are a person who uses the snooze button all too often

❤️️ it allows you to choose a trigger puzzle to tackle to stop your alarm, which gets your brain cells going

❤️️ it allows you to select a music option, which plays a song of your choice from your phone at full volume until you have completed the puzzle

❤️️ the music will continue playing after the puzzle is solved if you choose to do so to help you wake up as you get ready

All the apps features are for the iPhone, but may be available on other devices, so please check your app store before trying to download them. These apps have helped me dramatically over my exams, recently and in previous years (either these or similar apps), and if you are like me and hate revision, I would strongly suggest getting these apps! Hopefully they help those of you who have exams - which I wish you much luck for!