Back again

So it's been a while since I last posted on here, but I have managed to gain free time now since finishing university.
Yep I have finally finished university, who knew those 3 years would fly by so quickly. I felt like I needed to update as I kind of left my blog talking about my adventure in America (which was almost a year ago) but fast forward to 2016 and I have had many adventures and experiences that I wouldn't have dreamed of happening.

So a lot of huge things have happened this year:

I went to Amsterdam

In April I took a short trip to Amsterdam with a few friends and I'm still smiling about that experience now. Although the weather was really crappy, we still had a lot of fun and many laughs. We went the Anne Frank house, The Heineken Experience, took a canal cruise, walked along the red light district, ate at a pancake house, celebrated King's day and visited the windmills at Zaanse Schans. Another bonus part of my trip was getting the chance to meet my half-brother who lives near Amsterdam for the first time!! I also found out I'm an aunty to three children :O I've never felt such a mixture of emotions in my whole life, I was nervous and excited but in the end we got on really well and it didn't really feel like I was talking to a stranger. Amsterdam definitely lived up to my expectations and sparked my journey of self-discovery. 

I finished university 

Towards the end of April I handed all my assignments in including my dreaded dissertation. Initially I wasn't really happy about my dissertation topic (as we didn't get much of a choice on topics) and towards the end I decided it was an interesting area but definitely not my kind of thing. Anyway I must have done something right because I got a first in my dissertation (God knows how). After convincing myself that I would probably graduate with a 2:2, I shocked myself by achieving a 2:1 for my degree in Psychology! (Still hasn't sunk in yet) I don't think I ever shed tears of joy during my course but that was definitely the first. In May I attended my university graduation ball with a few friends, which was a nice end to our time at uni. The only downside is that I won't be officially graduating until November :(

I went to Cornwall

Around May I went to Cornwall with my mum and nanan for a week. We've always wanted to visit but just never had the time. We stopped in Bath first and took a stroll around the centre and ate our dinner near the river. Then we had a long drive to Cornwall and we stayed in a beautiful apartment on a farm, it even had a hot tub and sauna, which was beaut. We also celebrated my nanan's birthday, which she wasn't expecting :) Cornwall is a beautiful place full of lovely people and I would love to go back one day but maybe in a different area.

I went to Valencia

To celebrate our graduation, me and Lynette booked a holiday to Valencia in Spain. We had to fly from Gatwick airport, so we spent the day before in my second home (London!). Lynette introduced me to the Japanese Centre, which I immediately fell in love with and was surprised that I had never been before. The following day we headed to the airport for our 6am flight (urgh!) but it was all worth it when we saw how beautiful Valencia really was. Our hotel was lovely and the weather was a nice change from British 'Summer' weather. We had a few shopping centres and a Japanese restaurant pretty close by so that was convenient for us :D We visited the beach and ate seafood, went to the city centre and on our last night we went for a spa treatment in our hotel (just what we needed). This trip was certainly an experience as we came across many language barriers and watched TV in Spanish whilst adding our own English commentary, which made the trip all the more fun.

I went to Singapore

Every year I like to try and take at least one long distance holiday and Singapore was that holiday. This was my first time travelling to Asia ever after wanting to go for so long. My reason for going was to finally visit Lynette's home and meet her family. So I booked my flights 4 weeks before my visit (really last minute I know), packed my stuff and off I went on another very long solo flight. I spent a week in Singapore with Lynette and her family doing lots of shopping, eating lots of food, meeting her friends, visiting universal studios, going to the cinema and somehow she even got me to do karaoke and I actually enjoyed it. I'm currently going through post-holiday depression after recently getting back, I miss everything. Although the humidity I don't miss so much. Hopefully I'll write a post about this trip and show some of the stuff I bought. 

I got accepted onto my Masters course

So next year I will be adding another milestone to my life as I have been accepted to study MSc mental health nursing at the University of Nottingham! I'm excited and calm at the moment but when the time comes I know I will probably be an emotional wreck as I will be moving out to study in Derby, which is only a half an hour train ride from where I live now, but still. This was my main uni choice after being realistic and putting aside my dream of studying in London due to expenses, however this course seemed the best option as I not only receive a nursing qualification but a masters on top of that. Luckily I get a longer break from studying as my course starts in January 2017, so until then I will be working, saving money and fitting in a few trips away if I can :)

So there is my update! Sorry for the lack of photos but I just wanted to start writing again and hopefully I will continue to write now that I have time.

Hope you are all doing well :)

x

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I survived Second Year

The title of this post says it all really. I got through my second year of university...how!?

Well I finished quite a few months ago but only just found out what I got, a lovely 2:1! Although my exams did bring it down, I worked my socks off in second semester and achieved the grade I wanted.

In comparison to first year, I have enjoyed second year A LOT more. I got out my comfort zone and met some great people through taking part in activities and events, I took on a work placement, I quit my job because it was making me feel miserable and stressed, having an affect my uni work. And the best thing is that it has helped me to decide on my next path after graduating, which is a relief because I feel like I can enjoy my course a bit more now.

At the beginning of this year I wasn't too hopeful about the future, but my views have definitely changed. I have some amazing plans for this year and next year, money is certainly going to be needed which is why I've taken on bank shifts at a residential care home & a nursery to help me gain experience and earn money for all the adventures I have planned.

So that means I only have one year left!!! Yes! I'm absolutely dreading third year but hopefully things will work out if I work just as hard. But for now I'm going to enjoy my Summer!

x x x

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Counselling and comfort zones

Not too long ago I had my last counselling session and I realised how much it has helped me over the year.

Going to my university health and wellbeing services was the best decision I've ever made, I was at a point in my life where I was really lost,  scared of everything and just consumed by anxiety. I'm so glad my GP encouraged me to go for it as I was really reluctant and thought propranolol alone would help me.

Counselling was new to me as it allowed me just to talk which I don't usually do, I'm pretty good at bottling up my thoughts and putting a mask over my feelings which can be tiresome and can cause you to snap at any moment. 

It was nice to get things off my chest and work on different areas of my life. Since starting my session I have dealt with so many issues and taken on things I never thought I could.

I've started visiting my Dad, taken on new opportunities, left opportunities that were stressing me out, took a driving test (even though I failed), decided what I want to do in the future and I'm taking a solo flight to america this year to travel with my friend. 

It made me realise that:

1. Life is to be enjoyed 

2. If you really want something only you can go out and make it happen

3. Stepping outside your comfort zone can actually reduce your anxiety a bit at a time

4. Your mental illness does not control you, it's up to you to control it to take back your life

5. Having a panic attack or just a bad day is not the end of the world! Be proud you got through it and start again tomorrow

6. Your illness doesn't define you

I've been going through a lack of self-belief and doubt lately, but I've got so much to look forward to that I shouldn't be feeling low. Anyway I will continue to tackle whatever life throws at me and I aim to try lots of new things this summer!

x x x

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A few updates!

So a lot has gone on in the past few weeks and I'm so glad everything is out of the way now...well most things.

Booked my driving test
I finally bit the bullet and booked my driving test because if I don't do it now then I never will. I am absolutely terrified but since I am an anxious person I am constantly worrying that I am not ready yet. I can only help this by doing extra practice and hoping for the best. I haven't told anyone when it's booked for but it is next month.

Visited my Dad
This was another thing that was on my bucket list for this year and it was also recommended by my counsellor and my mum, so I went to see my Dad. This is a long story but basically my mum and dad separated when I was young and I just never formed that bond with him as I grew up. Now that I am 21 years old, it's time to build that bond.
I spent a few hours on a Friday night with him and it was actually alright, it wasn't awkward because he had so much to tell me and he was happy to see me. I found out a lot about the past which was interesting and I plan to see him again soon.

Quit both of my jobs
I sound like I had a nervous breakdown but don't worry I thought about this choice very carefully and for a long time. I left my job at Waitrose and my STA travel ambassador job (both on good terms) last week for many reasons. Even though I'm probably going to be broke as I am relying on my student loan for financial aid but it's not all bad news.
I'm young and I've been working since I was 16, I needed a break! I live with my parents so I don't use money towards bills, just my phone bill so I'm grateful for that. I get my weekends back and can enjoy my life again and also I can start to focus more on my uni work as my final year is creeping up.
Right now I am searching for support worker and carer jobs with bank shifts to help me develop my career in mental health nursing.

Got through uni work and a presentation
After my work placement I had a lot of writing up to do and I've just about finished it after forcing myself to complete them. Just need to spend the next week tweaking a few things and then I can finally submit them and get rid of it all haha! I also had to do a compulsory presentation in front of 10 people which I hated as I was a nervous wreck but it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders now that it's done with.

Chose my dissertation projects
Choosing my final year projects at 12am when I was exhausted was probably not the best choice but the deadline was coming up so kind of had to hurry up and choose. I had to select 5 that I wanted (although I probably want 2 out of 5 of them) and then I will be assigned with one by next year. Scary stuff!

Booked a flight to America
I've got an exciting summer to look forward to this year but this one is a little different to the rest. As my bestie is doing Camp America this year, I'm flying out to America to travel with her. We still have to sort out a lot of other stuff like accommodation and transportation but we went ahead and booked our first destination to get the ball rolling.
Oh yeah did I mention this will be my first flight alone AND I have to get a connecting flight!! Naturally I'm nervous but so many of my friends have been through this experience and I can't let it hold me back.

Life has been a bit crazy but sort of calm at the same time and I've already planned my next few weekends starting with the Otley Run this weekend :)

Have you got any exciting or nerve-wracking plans coming up soon?
Leave me a comment below!
x x x

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Aerial Hoop!

Last night I tried something new...Aerial hoop!

You're probably wondering aerial what? 

Yep it's an actual thing where a hoop is suspended from the ceiling and you do lovely poses whilst inside the hoop. I really couldn't wait to try it because it was something new to get me out of my comfort zone, boost my confidence and another way of keeping fit. 

As soon as I walked in and saw the hoops I just wanted get straight into it. In the class there was me and one other girl who was really lovely and had no prior experience like me. 

Our teacher was great too! She started off with warm up and then afterwards she showed us ways to get into the hoop and dismount, we seemed to nail the hardest one called the straddle (my favourite). Next she showed us basic poses in the hoop where we learnt the stag pose, the birdie pose, the man in the moon pose and the side star pose. It was so fun but wow did my hands, arms and legs hurt!

At the end of the class she gave us a few exercises to do which were pretty difficult  for us first timers but we did it (yay!)

She praised us a lot for our strength and how graceful we looked, although I felt like an elephant on the hoop from the way it kept spinning haha! Also I cut my arm (apparently I'm the first to cut themselves in the first lesson). 

So I really enjoyed my first lesson and can't wait to do it again next week.

I woke up this morning and my whole body is aching, she warned us of the pain we would experience for the next few days and I'm definitely feeling it.

At the moment I'm completely overwhelmed by a few new experiences this month, but I'm learning to prioritise and taking part in activities to take my mind off things (yoga & meditation being another one). 

I'd love to know what activities you've recently taken up and activities you plan to take up.

x x x 

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Back again!

My exams and assignments are finally over! Well I have a few assignments due in a few months...but still it's nice to have a little break.

I'm actually over the moon. 

I kind of enjoy doing assignments, it's the exams that make me stressed. Even my mum was happy when it was all over, she actually said "I've finally got my Leah back" apparently I was on auto pilot and I didn't even realise.

Anyway I don't think I would have got through it all if it wasn't for my uni buddy, plus one & bezzie, Lynette! It's great to have someone to study/panic with. 

Now those are out of the way I have 2 weeks before I start my placement (which is to do with eating disorders) so I'm really happy and excited about that. These next 2 weeks I'm planning to relax and just simply take care of myself and make a start on achieving things that I didn't think I would ever do. 

And get better at blogging...

(hehe yes I say this a lot)

Thanks for reading

Have a lovely weekend!

x x x

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2015 Goals!

Its's currently 7am right now and I'm wide awake so I thought why not be productive and write a blog post!

It's 2015 and like every one else I have decided on a few goals that I have set for myself which I want to accomplish by the end of this year. This year I'm not aiming for the generic 'New Year, New me' I simply want to enhance my life this year to experience a happier version of myself.

1. Travel (Ireland, Florida, Valencia, USA, Mediterranean cruise)

2. Take my driving test in February 

3. Rekindle a relationship with my Dad

4. Go on a date 

5. Focus on my work placement 

6. Work on my anxiety with counselling 

7. Save up my money

8. Travel with friends (Leeds fest, Download, Manchester)

9. Move out

10. DIY projects 

11. Relax more 

12. See more shows (Lion King, Charlie and the chocolate factory, Shrek)

13. Take up yoga

14. Start exercising again

15. Take up guitar lessons 

16. Learn French and Chinese (mandarin)

17. Go on long bike rides 

18. Change things that I am not happy with about myself

19. Take each day as it comes along

20. Have a lot more girly nights in

21. Celebrate New Year's Eve in London 

There were plenty more that needed adding to this list but I'll probably just keep those to myself and eventually work on them.

Wish me luck!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

x

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December already?

This year is going way too fast, where did November even go?
I've been so busy doing things, getting stuck into my assignments and panicking over everything haha! No wonder it felt like such a whirlwind.
I thought I would share all the photos I took in November to show what I have been up to in the past month.

*We went to see Disney on Ice in a moment of spontaneity and it was AMAZING! As soon as we entered the arena the smell of sweetness just hit me from all the popcorn and sweets, you definitely knew it was Disney. I couldn't help myself smiling all the way through it like I was a giddy 5 years old again! I treated myself to some flashing minnie mouse ears too. We agreed that we would definitely see Frozen on Ice next year*

*I've been to a few Christmas markets but not in my hometown, Manchester and Leeds. I took my mum to the Manchester one as she'd never been to one before. We had such a good time and the only thing I bought was a soap filled sponge, yeah it's really weird at first but I absolutely love mine! I went to the Leeds one with my friend and it was much different from Manchester's which was spread across the centre, I found this one so cute as it reminded me of a little village. We supped on Baileys hot chocolate and I got myself a crepe with Nutella.*

*Lynette celebrated her 21st birthday which was Frozen themed (no surprise there) but it was so nicely set out, had a lovely meal at Fancie and then sang happy birthday to her as the cake was brought out (I didn't get a photo so I stole hers hehe). Afterwards we continued celebrating in town where my friend Georgina was also celebrating her 21st! Lots of dancing and drinking cocktails! Thank god I'm no longer the old one anymore*

*We celebrated the one year anniversary of my Grandad's death by visiting his grave and laying some lovely flowers down. We then went for a quick bite to eat and drink at a lovely place (forgotten the name though). Truly emotional day.*

*We recently had a new couple move onto our street and they put on a lovely housewarming party, every one baked and brought things to eat, ah it was so cute! Plus I got to meet some people on my road that I'd never seen or spoken too. We're even thinking of having a street party next summer, actually can't wait*

*Had a nice birthday lunch with Lynette before our seminar, had a meal at a lovely Italian which we will definitely being going back too. I've been craving Italian food a lot lately. She also gave me some presents from Paris and Japan* 

*Some good news! I received my psychology placement for next semester at...The South Yorkshire Eating Disorder Association, which I'm so pleased about because I really wanted to work in this area. I'm a little nervous but so excited at the same time*

*Just gonna throw in that I've finally got my hair highlighted again and now it looks all autumnal and brown, yaaay!*

*The last event of November was a lovely wedding party. My friend from Japanese class recently married and a few of us were invited to her wedding party which was held in a cottage hidden away (never actually knew it existed). It was a French/English wedding and she looked so beautiful. My love for the French language has definitely grown and I'm determined to learn it now*

Let's see what December has in store...

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