Where has the time gone?! An appologetic, rambling post on what's going on.

For a while I had put this blog on hold. 

I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to take and whether I wanted to share some deeply personal things that had happened and caused me to take some time out and re evaluate. And then someone I know found this blog, and it scared me. I guess that's the risk of writing about people on the internet. Although I was usually very careful about what I published, I couldn't guarantee that every word I had written was not going to offend someone in some way or let slip some little detail that shouldn't be on the internet. 

I guess I was also embarrassed, Blogging was (and is?) my secret hobby, no one really knew the extent to which I blogged and the websites I have written content for. I'd hate for people who I dislike to know details they shouldn't know about or be interested in (and I do know someone people who would find the information and use it to make fun of me) but I guess that is the risk of writing about your life on the internet. 

I've had some time to think and I would love to start blogging again. I have some pretty exciting things coming up this year (getting married, graduating university and moving away!) but the stress of having to recreate stories and life events perfectly summed up in a short post was overwhelming and as a result I have missed documenting some important milestones in my life these past few years. 

For fun, I did an experiment where I created a whole new blog (complete with something new- a youtube channel!) in preparation for documenting my adventures this year, to see if without the pressure I still enjoyed blogging. While it was fun to start with, life soon caught me up and the style of blog I wanted to create was what I had already achieved with this one. I loved the name, I loved the layout, I loved everything. But the prospect of re evaluating every post I had already written, as well as the knowledge that some people I wish to keep out of my life already had this blog address was stopping me reclaiming my blog. 

I'm still not sure whether to just continue and take my blog in the direction I want to go (which means also vlogging my adventures) or continue with my experimental blog and just start from the beginning. 

So I'm reaching out to any readers out there, who may have some advice or some tips for me? 

Thank you if you've read to the end of this really long post. I'd also like to apologise to all of the lovely people who have left me comments which I haven't replied too. Previously I'd get a notification when someone left a comment so I could reply but for some reason I haven't been, so I assumed I didn't get any comments. Sorry again.

How to apply moisturiser (my first how-to video)

So yesterday I filmed my first how to video! It was on youtube for approximately 3 minutes before I took it down as I thought I could do a lot better. However I want to post it below so I have something to look back on when I cross vlogging off my things I want to do list. Plus with all the travelling I want to do all this vlogging will prepare me for having to document my journey. 

This weekend when I am at home for my mums birthday I will collect my tripod and rtrivr camera (you can read my review on it here) so then I can maybe be more adventurous with my background and not have to prop it up on my window sill!

Here it is...

Valentines day

For our 5th valentines day (even though I put 6th in Luke's card!) we had a whole day of l-o-v-e celebrations. After (my very tiring) back to back 4 hours of lectures and tutorials, I caught the bus in the pouring rain to meet Luke at the Travelodge. 

Sadly, the bus driver missed my stop due to traffic and me & Luke ended up walking straight past each other. We managed to finally meet outside of Morrison's and head to the hotel. Opening the door to room 310, I was greeted by the prettiest cookie jar, filled with homemade cookies and a single fake rose (our tradition). 

After exchanging presents and a quick change we were ready to go for a romantic meal for two at our favourite chain of restaurants, Flaming Grill while this one was called The Polite Vicar. The table was decorated with little love hearts and we had an amazing time. Luke chose the BBQ Porky Grill while I had The Mega Hotdog I'd been dreaming about. After finishing off the meal with chocolate cake (for Luke) and a chocolate sundae (for me) we slowly waddled back to our room, still in the pouring rain.

The next morning we headed out for breakfast at Sainsbury's and had the most filling fry up! (It's called a big breakfast if you want to try one- and you should). I then discovered it was so close to the house we have chosen to live in later this year, so of course I had to take Luke a little walk to see the house and I'm pretty sure he loved it. 

Back at uni, we challenged Caitlin and Rob to a game of pool. Luke was obviously the best, and he even said I was the best out of the girls. I doubt that! Despite this we lost. 4-5. I accidentally potted the black one time, lost another 2 times, and won 2.  They cheated and it obviously wasn't a fair win, especially as Luke appeared to throw some shots to show me "its okay not to win". Yeah, thanks Luke because now I'll never live it down. I do not appreciate you trying to teach me a lesson. 

IT'S SNOWING!!

IT'S SNOWING!!...

Looks like we picked the perfect day to have our shopping delivered, before the mad snow rush begins!

We've found our house!

So I think we've found our house! After ringing up to find that both of the houses we were interested  in have been taken, we were surprised to find out the people also owned another house and we went to see that today. It was the closest to perfect we were going to get. It has massive rooms, a curly staircase and enough room for a table! There was one downside and that is that one bedroom is only a 3/4 double compared to a full double, this is workable and makes the house irresistible! 

After seeing the house, we talked it over at KFC and unanimously agreed this was by far the best house we've seen. We will be getting the contract on Monday and the future lawyer in me can't wait to read over it. Is that sad? Look, isn't it beautiful? 

Future house

 I love that it has a nice big alley to grow vegetables and gives us loads of room to get in the house. 2 bathrooms and a mini utility room. 

Our future house

I really can't wait and also get a bus pass that gives me the freedom to go anywhere :)

"Jade" "Present"

Wow, has it been over a month already? In fact, its probably closer to 2. So what have I been up to? Well, after the exams had finished, all the stress I had somewhat gotten used to just melted away and I just didn't know what to do.

Imagine this, its 2 days away from my final exam and I had the brilliant idea to set up a law blog. I know!  Just like that! And I must say that so far its doing very well. Its called Lawyerano if you're interested. I thought it would be a good way to help me revise and also to keep all of the information I need (and other students may find useful) in one place. Kind of a one-stop shop for all things a law student must know. 

I enjoyed spending days just mindlessly searching things on the internet, watching law related youtube videos but then it dawned on me. I needed new content and I needed to make sure it was factually correct, that started my search for a part time blogger to help me (I'm still looking, so if you're interested please comment below). Its taking ages and I can feel my motivation leaving. 

So I did what all good procrastinators do and I started a business... from scratch! I'm still hashing out the details but I feel positive about this. After all the best time to start a business is while you're in university! I'll keep you updated with how that goes in a future post, hopefully it won't take two months for me to return this time!

Freshers 2013

I have purposely put off posting all of my nightly antics so I can recap them all in one big post... and here it is! Being a fresher has been one of the most strangest and weirdest weeks of my life. For example it is normal to start a conversation with a complete stranger with the lines of "Hi, where do you live?" Or "what are you studying?" Or one of the creepiest ways I've been picked up while out drinking was "You look like you're on the verge of having a bad night and a good night." I have no idea any of the words he said after that nor do I care but I immediately ran back to these people...

When he turned a handshake into a kiss on my hand. That picture is from the first night out, when almost everyone headed out. Sadly its now just down to one or two, but that doesn't make it anymore fun. Monday was Kids in Glass houses, Shy fx and Club MTV...

On wednesday it was the doritos Mariatchi band, where everyone dressed up...

And finally friday night was the freshers ball featuring Professor Green!!

and his supporting act... David Stewart

Overall it was a great week, I met loads of new people, tried loads of new things and drank a little bit too much. I experienced a 3 hour lecture with a hangover and got to sample uni life. I was so worried for nothing, at uni you're forced to make friends and it definitely helped that my flatmates are such nice people. I'm glad that every big event was followed by a smaller one (usually a quiz) so that I could get an early night and some decent sleep. Next week is proper lectures but if the rest of my 3 years are anything like the past week, then time will fly by. I definitely made the right choice in uni, and I love it here!

I've moved

So I've officially moved and now am a fully fledged Keelite. I'll admit the first few hours weren't the easiest and the first night on my own was a nightmare. I have barely had any sleep these past few days, but I think thats because I'm still getting used to living in Stoke-On-Trent. I've met some great people and become really good friends with my flatmates, but now its time to meet my coursemates! Here are some before & after pictures of my dorm room...

Before

During

After

And here are some pictures I took of Keele hall on the campus treasure hunt...

Keele hall

Now I'm off to finish my busiest day of the week and finally get my timetable so I can plan shopping trips and visits!

Fluffy American style pancakes on my new George Foreman Grill and Griddle

I was so excited when the postwoman rang the doorbell today, she stood there with a box as high as her waist and when all of the signing was done, left me to haul the massive box into the hallway on my own. And it wasn't long before I was cooking everyone pancakes on my George Foreman grill and griddle!

It looks massive (and the box certainly was) but really its perfect size- even though it says it can cook 10 portions for entertaining!

You can find the recipe for the pancakes here. 

After making breakfast, dinner and tea on the George Foreman, it was time to burn my old school papers. All 3 bags full of them! Me and Luke had a great time roasting marshmellows and melting chocolate by the fire, it was actually kind of therapeutic knowing I'll never need to know or look at that stuff again. And it means more room for other things in my wardrobe. 

My arm is still aching from the Nexplanon being inserted, but its worth it and I know that. The nurses were so nice, even if it was a bit of a struggle to get the implant out of my arm to start with. 

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I'm officially packed with one week to go

This time next week the car will be loaded to the brim and I'll be on the way to my new home for the next 9 months. Can you believe it? I can't either. I wouldn't say I'm excited anymore (except for when the Avicii song comes on and it makes me wish I was already there- drunk and dancing) I'm waaaay more nervous. 

What if I don't like my floormates? 

Or even worse...

What if they don't like me?

What if I turn up to all these events designed to help you make friends on my own and I'm too scared to talk to a single person? Will someone else start the conversation first because they want to be my friend? And I can't just quit and move back home because everyone is saying that I'll be back and home sick within 3 weeks, so I'm determined to last a month at least! Even if I wanted to come back I wouldn't be able too because I've already helped Luke to maleise my room. AND I forgot to take pictures of it before so I can't even imagine it without the huge DCFC flag hanging on my wall.

Sadly these aren't my only worries today. I also get to go and get my Implanon replaced- what fun! Then get my poor feeling-sorry-for-myself ass back on the bus home... alone, while Luke goes to see a boxing match with his Dad. 

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Clothes > Textbooks

I've just spent £38 on some new clothing but how come I refuse to spend the same amount on university textbooks that I'll definitely need? But because I did a m-a-s-s-i-v-e cleanout of my wardrobe the other day, I think I need to restock. Seriously I cleared 3 binbags full, 4 if you include my shoes. This shopping for uni habit is really starting to get out of control, I've not only got back-up supplies of things like soap, I've even reached the point of having back-up back up things! I'm also now forcefully escorted out of the home and stationary isles of every shop we enter by either Mum or Kiera. Luke usually just sighs and asks if I can't wait till I get there to get the cutlery holder, well because by then Lukey it will be too late. 

Some really great clothes at everything5pounds.com!

Last night I ordered 100 photos for Nan for only the postage (like £3) and so obviously had to get some for myself, which is when I discovered a) I needed another photo album and b) me and Luke only have 44 photos taken together. 44 from 4 years of togetherness is ridiculous, I mean I take that many just photographing an outfit or on a day out. Its like taking one photo every month! (Well, 33 days). It's now my mission to drag him out into the garden with the rtrivr for some photos before I leave. Did anyone get a rtrivr? If so, how's it going?

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Still in holiday mode

I'm finally back! I did write a few posts while I was away but the wifi was so bad sadly none of them got published. But I did day dream about my blog... a lot. I was sad I had to miss an alphabet challenge and on a great week as well but I needed a break, hopefully I'll have the post up in time to participate in this weeks. 

The full travel story and recap will be up within the week, especially as I have a new laptop coming tomorrow! I can't tell you how excited I am- the laptop I have had since I was 14 has had the blue screen of death for well over a year now which basically means it shuts down every so often and results in a lot of errors. Blogging with a max of 2 tabs open is such a nightmare that the hall computer has been my savior. I'm so glad that it will all be over tomorrow.

Yesterday we visited the Chatsworth show, which only comes once every 4 ish years, so more pictures will be up soon. Today we headed to crystal peaks so I can have a play on the laptop and then we managed to tick the final few things off of my need for uni list. It's now less than a month till I officially move into halls and I just bought the freshers pass this morning! I am ready to see the Doritos band, Kids in glass houses, Professor Green and many more. Then I headed up to Nans to drop off some perfume and a photo of all of the children on our holiday in a tunisian photo frame. It was lovely in Tunisia, except a few minor things and so I would definitely love to go again. 

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Today was a calm day

It's officially 5 days until I'm off on holiday, so I've been working to make sure I have enough scheduled and drafted posts to fill the days when I'm too busy soaking up the sun to hide inside on the computer. There are some great posts coming up so make sure you don't miss them!

We started off the day by snacking on the humongous cake Luke and I made last night. 1 hour, 2 lots of icing and 6 eggs later it was complete... and delicious!

 After finishing the equivalent of half a cake between us, we jumped in the car to walk off some of the excess sugar. Bringing Maddie was a mistake, she cried in the car all the way there and was so shattered on the way back that no where was comfy enough so spent the car ride home scratching her mat to make herself comfy but we all really enjoyed the much needed fresh air- even Maddie. Before retiring on the settee, watching movies until it was bedtime.
It's nice to know that now I have nothing to worry about until the end of September but it also means that at any time after our holiday Luke could be called away to basic training. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle being away from my bestest friend and starting a new life away from home. Hopefully he'll be finished with whatever he needs to do by the time I'm in my second year and we can share a student house together. But for now its just taking each day as it comes and I can't wait to go snorkeling with him!
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I passed my driving test, got into university and celebrated 4 years with Luke!

This week has probably been one of the most stressful weeks of my life! It started off great with mine & Luke's 4 year anniversary but then got progressively worse as I had my driving test on Tuesday 13th and then my a level results came out yesterday (15th). I cried. A lot. And I never want to experience anything like that week ever again. I felt like it would never end! But here I am out of the otherside. 

I had a great anniversary weekend with Luke. We headed to Derby as a mini holiday before my driving test and it was a-m-a-z-i-n-g! We stayed at the Ramada Encore through Last minute's Top Secret Hotels. Although that link doesn't show you the secret hotel as that would spoil the surprise! I spent all night figuring out which hotel it was and it turns out it a usual night there costs £85! To say we only spent £30 for the 2 of us, we were ecstatic. After getting there by train (literally a 5 minute walk) we headed straight out to the Westfield shopping Centre for some sweets and drinks. Since it was a sunday we couldn't spend long there and had a slow and scenic walk back to the hotel. Before jumping into our swimming costumes and into the sauna! And before we knew it it was teatime so over the road to Harvester we went. Filling up with bread made the long wait for tea more bearable. It was the only time Luke didn't get asked for ID (I preferred the unlimited coke). The next day we wandered over to Pride Park stadium where Derby County Football Club plays (Luke's favourite team) and had subway for breakfast before heading onto the train back home so I could have more driving practice. 

Every year for our anniversary we try to go somewhere with the same letter of the alphabet:
A- When Luke asked me out I was abroad.
 B- For our one year anniversary we spent the day in Blackpool before Luke went on holiday the very next day, needless to say I cried on the train home. 
C- For our second anniversary we headed to Chatsworth country park and had a lovely picnic in the woods (it rained a lot).
D- We stayed at home this year. Our whole anniversary just us in Derbyshire.
E- This year we stayed at the Ramada Encore (we got an amazing deal on this) in Derby, England. Luke also thinks the hotels name counts 'Ramada Encore'. 

I passed my driving test with 4 minors and ever since have been driving around in Mum's car. Mainly to the tip and back but that's beside the point. I'm only insured for one month so I have to make the most of it while I can. Unfortunately that means I won't be able to drive myself to move into university in september, which brings me to my next exciting news...

 I got into university! My first choice university. My heart was pounding as I logged onto ucas, my hands were shaking uncontrollably and the internet was painfully slow. But I did it! The hard work paid off. Although my results were very slightly below the conditional offer I'm still so glad they accepted me, even if I did spend a little time thinking I didn't deserve to get in. So now my days are filled with organising things I'd like to take, (even though I started packing in December!) and making sure I have everything I want  need in my little green book. I'll be doing a university related post soon so if you know anyone who's heading there in September be sure to pass it on to them. 

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