My New Year Resolutions for 2018

Hey Guys!

This post is a bit late as it's already the 9th of January and normally I do publish my posts on Sundays at 6pm but I've just got back to Newcastle for my university final assessments before I start a new semester, so my schedule is all over the place at the moment. I'm trying to get back into my usual routine but I have four essays I need to complete in the next few weeks.

For my first post of 2018 I thought I would share my New Years Resolutions with you all. I want to be able to look back and see if I've achieved them by the end of 2018 and reflect. This year I've gone for some resolutions that are a little more easier to achieve and aren't so ambitious that I'll find it hard to complete. I want to be able to achieve my goals this year and feel that I've accomplished something that will benefit me in many ways. 

Meditate For 5 Minutes a Day

Over the summer I tried to meditate everyday for just 5 minutes using the mindfulness app Headspace. When I was really busy and just took 5 minutes to sit and relax it helped me stay focused. I loved doing it in the morning after breakfast, I'd sit with a cup of tea, relax, and then afterwards I would feel so motivated to carry on with what I needed to do that day. If I didn't manage to do it in the morning I would make sure to do it before I went to sleep to help me wind down. Therefore, this year I want to try and do it everyday, keep a streak going so that I can see some improvements over the year such as my motivation, focus and mindfulness. 

Read 6-7 books

I've got back into reading again recently so I wanted to challenge myself to read six or seven books over the year. I've got a pile of books I've been meaning to go through for ages so I want this year to be the year I go through them all. When I was younger I was constantly reading and it was always Jacqueline Wilson, so I'm reigniting the love again! Let me know if there are any books your recommend. 

Start Reading Self Help Books

There are so many great positive self help books out there that I want to read like; Body Positive Power: How to stop dieting, make peace with your body and live and A Beautiful Mind, a Beautiful Life: The Bubz Guide to Being Unstoppable. These two books focus on mindfulness and remaining positive, which are books that reach out to me, as I try and be as optimistic as possible. If there are any great self help books you recommend let me know in the comments!

Become an Organ Donor 

I've actually already achieved this one. On Saturday I joined the register to be an organ donor. I've wanted to register for ages but I wanted to make sure to speak to my family first so that they knew about my decision. I want to be cremated when I die so I thought I might as well donate my organs and save lives. I'd rather someone else continue to live their lives and be healthy than my organs go with me. 

Yoga Once a Week

I normally do a New Year resolution related to working out and becoming more fit and toned but this year I wanted to give myself a resolution that I could stick to and would help me relax more when the semester at uni gets stressful, so I decided on yoga. It's relaxing, it will help my awful posture and a lot of people recommend yoga when you want to stay active but not do strenuous exercise, therefore I want to give it a go! 

Give Blood

At the moment I actually can't give blood as I am slightly under the desired weight they would prefer, therefore it is suggested that I don't sign up to give blood. So, I hope by the end of this year I will have gained a little bit of weight so that I can at least once donate blood for a good cause and help someone.

Hopefully by the end of 2018 I'll be able to review and reflect on my New Year Resolutions. What are your New Year Resolutions? Let me know in the comments below ♡ 

See you on Sunday my lovelies!

Amy xx

Recent Movies I've Been Obsessing Over | Part 2

Hey Guys!

On Sunday I shared a post with you about films that I had watched over summer that I was obsessing over and loving! And instead of making it a really long and boring post I split them into two parts, so here is part two ❤ 

Let's go! 

The Legend of Tarzan

I actually thought this was a live action version by Disney but it turns out it isn't, it isn't linked to them at all, but obviously Tarzan isn't just a story created by Disney. Many other production companies have created films and stories about the fictional character.

I love the story of Tarzan, I think its a great tale and the relationship he has with all the animals is so enchanting! As a child I always wanted to have an elephant and monkey for a friend and obviously as I grew up that little dream became very hard to achieve haha! But I still loved watching the Disney animation. So, when I came across the 2016 'Legend of Tarzan' film I was very intrigued to how the story would be portrayed differently and if anything was adapted or changed, and to my surprise it was very similar to the Disney fictional film but was based after Tarzan had met Jane and wasn't about being discovered by man but more about how he has adapted into society and having to go back to Africa to protect his ape family. It is a very action packed film, with lots of fighting and conflict between different parties but it isn't all about the fighting and the selfishness of the enemy, its also about family and the connections he still has with the animals even after moving away. 

I think the movie is a great new story for the fictional character Tarzan and how his life progresses. It is even better being live action as I got to see it in a completely new light. It is very heartwarming and Margot Robbie and Alexander Skarsgård are perfect for the casting!

If you were a fan of the Disney animation Tarzan than check out this version! 

Spirited Away

I'm actually in love with this movie! I remember it was on the television one of the days when I was younger but at the time I never got the chance to see it, and I can't believe I never saw it until now! It is such a cute movie ❤  I'm really into Asian dramas and anime so this movie was perfect! It is such a happy feel good movie that is sweet, innocent and is the type of film where you can just sit back and enjoy it without having to think too much! Each of the characters have such lovable characteristics and some of the story is just so wacky and unrealistic, its so fun! The main character Chihiro is adorable and the way every character tries to help her is so sweet!

Considering it is dubbed in English as the original voice over is in Japanese you wouldn't be able to tell, it could be as if spoken originally in English! 

I feel like Spirited Away is a classic that everyone should watch! Especially if you aren't into anime as it might shine a new light to that genre of television ❤ 

Footloose (2011)

This version of Footloose is the remake from 2011, as I wasn't sure about watching the original Footloose as I don't really like Kevin Bacon and watching a two hour film with him as the main character is not really my idea of fun haha! He just annoys me, especially after the EE advert! Anyway, the 2011 remake is so good, they updated all the tracks to more recent songs except from the original movie track 'Footloose'. The soundtrack is so good - definetley fits the film perfectly!

I love the story line for Footloose and the protagonist Ren is the cutest! His character is so sweet and all his friends are so funny, especially Willard, his personality is hilarious haha! Seeing all the traditional line dancing and classic dance moves was so amusing :)

I love that the film is just so chill, light-hearted and the soundtrack definitely makes it more fun, a little like Guardians of The Galaxy! I find a lot of soundtracks made the films so much better ❤ They made them more enjoyable! I actually liked it so much I downloaded it on to my phone and get ready to it in the morning haha!

When it comes to movies with great songs I always get a bit carried away and end up listening to the songs all the time and learning them off my heart haha! Especially films like Mamma Mia, Funny Girl and Disney movies ❤ 

The Godfather Trilogy

Me and my mum have sat and watched the Godfather trilogy over the past two weeks and damn they are long! A three hour film is tough to watch in the evening when you have been busy all day and have to concentrate to what is going on! But it is such a great trilogy of films! I love gangster, mob type mafia films as they are so packed with action and I love the way Italian families are so close and look after each other as it is how my family are so I can relate ❤ I think the first movie is my favourite as I love Don Vito Corleone as the head of the family, I like that he is feared and respected by a lot of people but will help any of his friends and family in need, he is a loyal man! In the first movie I like that Michael has just returned and that all his family are still in it like all his brothers and mother. I actually can't believe its taken me this long to actually watch the movies as my cousins have always recommended them to me! 

The second movie is great too as it obviously moves on to when Michael becomes the head of the family and takes control of all the businesses and has his own children, but I miss Vito Corleone and it isn't the same with him not being in it anymore but obviously it moves through the times! I also think when they flashback to when Vito moves to New York and his origins before becoming the Godfather is great! The second movie is very dramatic and I do love a bit of drama so its the perfect set of films for me haha! 

Then, the third film is obviously the conclusion to the trilogy when the head of the family changes again to Vincent, and I think the film was so action packed that I had to keep reminding myself what had happened in the beginning as three hours is a long time for a lot of action and complicated drama to happen haha! I had to keep asking my mum a lot of questions as she has seen all the films before :) 

If you like organised crime movies like Goodfellas and Oscar, where there is loads of conflict, drama and action you'll love the Godfather trilogy! But you can't just watch the first one you need to watch all three otherwise you'll be missing out on some great scenes! 

If there are any really good movies that I haven't mentioned comment below and I'll add them to my film list ❤ 

What is your favourite movie of all time?

See you on Wednesday my lovelies!

Amy xx 

Keeping Positive | My Method

Hey Guys!

Sorry there was no post on Wednesday! Late on Tuesday night I flew back from Brussels and got back home from the airport really late and Wednesday I basically slept all day recovering from the hectic four days I travelled around Brussels, so unfortunately I didn't have a post scheduled or arranged for you guys! But I'm back now with a positivity post for you guys!

I like to think I’m a very positive person and that I see the good in every situation but no matter how positive you are there will still be times where things get you down and you get yourself into a rut which you find hard to get out of no matter how hard you try!

There have been several times in the past 8 months where things have got really hard, whether its family or stress related and you find it impossible to be happy or think positively! For ages you think you are going to be stuck in this downward spiral and don’t know how you are ever going to think positive again, and believe me I had been in this situation many times and so have many other people ♡  So to help myself I came up with something so simple and easy to keep my mind clear and encourage myself to be positive. If I do get into a rut or downer mood I have this method to bring me out of it :)

For my birthday my best friend brought me this beautiful journal/notebook from Paperchase and seeing how colourful and vibrant it is I wanted to use it for something special. Thus, I came up with the idea of using it to reflect on myself and my daily life. By reflecting on my daily life and how at least one positive thing would have happened throughout the day it lightens my mood! 

This is my method:

In this journal I write down the date and anything else significant and then I will write 3 things I’m grateful for, something that I have recognised and realised that day to be something special and something I should be thankful for. By writing these three things I'm focusing purely on something positive and it then helps me realise how lucky I am and how I’m more fortunate than other people around the world. I shouldn’t take that for granted therefore, making me happy with what I have been gifted with ♡ I like to use different colours as well throughout the journal to keep it colourful inside and fun! 

Underneath the things I’m grateful for I write a quote for the day that is something I can live by and relate to. By writing these quotes I can fully reflect on why I should be happy and focusing on the great things I have and not what I don’t have! A lot of people focus on what they don't have and not what they do have, so to make myself happier I now try and focus on the great things that are going on in my life :)

This won't work for everybody as everyone will have different ways of staying positive and reflecting on the positive aspects of life but this is the method that works for me! By purely thinking about the things I should be thankful for and reflecting on it puts me in such a great mood and can really help when you are just focusing on the bad things that are surrounding you. Look on the bright side! (slowly starts singing Mr. Brightside haha!)

I hope this helps, even just for one person! ♡ 

See you on Wednesday my lovelies!

Amy xx 

Travel Essentials | Brussels 2017

Hey Guys!

On Saturday I'll  be flying out to Brussels for a trip with the Media Society, so I thought I would share my travel essentials with you all ❤  The flight is only around one hour and 25 minutes so I won't need a lot of essentials for the flight and seeing as I'm only in Brussels for 4 days I'll only need a few items! Carry on reading to find out what travel essentials I'll be taking with me :)

Passport & Passport Holder

Of course the most important thing I'll need to travel is my passport and passport holder. Without my passport I won't even be getting on the plane haha! My passport holder is from Paperchase and helps keep my passport safe and stops it from getting damaged while it is sat in my bag. I love this passport holder as its colourful and bright, so when I'm looking in my bag for it I can instantly recognise it and won't lose it easily in my bag, which is a bonus!

Glasses

My eye sight has been getting so bad recently to the point I'm having to wear them all the time and I can't really read much without them, so for travelling and exploring around Brussels I think it is pretty essential that I take them with me. I know if I don't take them I'll really need them, so it's best I have them on me in case :)

Camera | Panasonic Lumix DMC- LZ20

I've never been to Brussels before and seeing as we are exploring the city a lot I think it is essential to take my camera with me to get some good shots and also get pictures for my blog to share with you guys! I love travelling and taking great photos to look back on, it is one of my favourite things! Hopefully its not too big to fit in my carry on bag :)

Sunglasses

I don't actually know if its going to be sunny in Brussels while we are there but just in case I thought I would pack a pair, you never know when there could be a random sunny day and I'd rather be prepared than not at all :) These sunglasses are only the cheap ones from Primark and aren't that comfortable but I'd rather take these ones in case I end up losing them or breaking them haha.

Vaseline

When flying I get really dry lips and in general my lips tend to peel quite a lot, so by taking Vaseline with me I'll be able to reduce the chance of getting chapped lips and them cracking. It's also an essential item in my make up routine so it works for both travelling and getting ready!

Book | Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

On the plane and when we have spare time in the hostel I'll probably spend some time reading the book I've been enjoying recently! I've read the first two Harry Potter books so I've now moved on to the third one. Seeing as I want to get through the Harry Potter collection taking it away with me to read in my spare time is a good idea :) If you haven't read the Harry Potter books yet I recommend you do, they are so good!

Notebook | Paperchase

By best friend Sam brought me a really cute notebook from Paperchase for my birthday and I've fallen in love with the colours and pattern ❤ In this notebook I don't just wrote notes in here I use it to reflect on what I'm grateful for and any quotes that I like to live by and want to read to keep me going. Its a reflection of positivity! So, I'd like to take it to Brussels so that I can reflect on the trip and write down the moments of the trip I loved! I love writing passages like these because later on I can see what I was loving at the time and if I feel down I can pick myself back up again ♡

What are your travel essentials when you are travelling? Let me know in the comments below ♡ 

On Wednesday I'll be sharing another travelling post so look out for that! 

See you on Wednesday my lovelies! ❤ 

Amy xx

5 Things I'm Grateful For

Hey Guys!

Recently my family and I lost a loved one who was very close to our hearts, and as we were processing this sad news it made me think about how all of us are grateful for something and should be posiitve about what we do have and not what we don't have. So, I thought I would share with you guys what I'm grateful for :) 

#1 I'm grateful for my family. I honestly couldn't ask for a better family, we are all so close and I've grown up seeing them every day or on a weekly basis, so being apart from them at univeristy is very hard! But we are still as close as ever! And I love being so close to my parents. I'm an only child so I grew up being very close to them and had their undivided attention. My parents have done a lot for me and I wouldn't be who I am today without them :) my family are the greatest people I know and I wouldn't change them for the world!

  #2 Having such great friends! Whether its my friends back home or my new friends here in Newcastle they are all amazing! I couldn't ask for better people to be in my life and I've been lucky to be able to find such great people :) My best friend has always been there for 8 years and I'm so grateful for having her in my life - we may be in different cities but we are still just as close!

  #3 I'm grateful for warm clothes :p Its so cold up here in Newcastle! I'm not the best person for dealing with cold conditions and I hate the winter more than anything so I'm very grateful for woolly jumpers, fluffy socks and bobble hats :)

#4 Being able to travel abroad at Christmas. Every year in December my family travel to Lanzarote and we spend a week there celebrating and having a mini holiday. So instead of sitting at home watching Christmas movies and eating Christmas pudding I'll be sunbathing by the pool feeling stuffed from eating all my Christmas dinner on the terrace haha :P I'm very lucky to be able to go away at Christmas and have a vacation with my family!

#5 Having the opportunity to go to University. I've been very lucky to be able to go to Newcastle University and have the money and support that I have. Some people in other parts of the world aren't as lucky and can't even get the basic education so I'm very grateful for the fact that I can go to univeristy and in such a great city as well :)

What are you grateful for? Let me know in the comments below!

See you soon lovelies!

Amy xx