2016...What a year!

I know everyone always says it, but I can't believe how quickly this year has gone. I honestly think this year has gone in a flash, probably because I have been SO busy with life, but that's just how I like it!

It has almost become a tradition of mine to write a Facebook post saying how much of a rollercoaster previous years have been and I'm actually glad I used to write them, because it reminded me of all the things I have achieved since last year. That's why I am writing this now; because I want something that I can look back on but with a bit more detail than I would write on Facebook.

2016 was definitely a rollercoaster year, but I think it is only natural for a year to have its ups and downs. I have definitely learnt some VERY valuable life lessons, some of which have been extremely hard to deal with.  I've lost but also gained people in my life, but I am a strong believer that everything happens for a reason.

My girls x

My bestest chum, Rob x

Me and Han x

Here we go...

I remember this time last year, my second article had appeared in the Grapevine magazine which is a local community magazine I write for. Now, a year later, I am proud to say I have met EVERY deadline so I have written about a different topic, each month, for a year. I still love writing my articles, thinking of a topic I am passionate about and writing a short piece. Not only that but because it gets posted through doors in my local area, I have neighbours, friends and family all saying how much they enjoy my articles and how it provided discussion points in their households, which makes it even more worthwhile for me. Not only am I  gaining fantastic writing experience but I am also able to engage with people too. One highlight of this year has to be when a complete stranger recognised me whilst I was doing some shopping with a friend in Beeston and she took the time out to come over to me to say how much she enjoyed reading my articles. I honestly couldn't believe it and it was a lovely thing for this lady to take the time out to speak to me, I think I nearly cried!!! Not only was my day made, but my year too!!

In January of this year, I began my radio training course at Erewash Sound. Having never really heard of the station until I started looking for some experience in radio, I managed to discover a little gem. The training I received at Erewash Sound was amazing and has set me up with some of the skills I need to go into professional radio. The best thing about Erewash is that I can do all my learning and ask all the questions I need, because Jeff (the Station Manager) is one of the most supportive and patient people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I ask him endless questions and constantly ask for feedback on how I am doing and he always has the time for not just me, but everyone at the station. He really is amazing. I now have my own weekly Wednesday afternoon show (which I still think is so cool!) and I can now cover the breakfast shows too. I also did my first ever interview with Vega Bay, a local band, the other day! I completed my training in June, but I would have finished it earlier had I not decided to focus on my AS levels. Speaking of AS levels, when I actually received my results, I was both shocked and over the moon because I knew I would be able to apply to any university I wanted to with the grades I achieved, so I now have the tricky decision of which offer I want to accept to study Journalism in September of this year...yes, this year! Scary stuff....

Presenting live on Erewash Sound.

My first ever live radio interview with Vega Bay.

My radio pal, Mark.

One of the biggest and most surprising things that happened in 2016 was my internship at Capital FM East Midlands. With the radio course at Erewash, I had planned that. This internship was not planned. I asked for work experience with Capital as I thought it would be an incredible opportunity, but then I was given the chance to intern on the Breakfast Show with Dino and Pete. Initially, I was so nervous but also extremely excited to start interning once a week (you should have seen me when I received the email, I basically jumped through the kitchen ceiling). Being able to work with the people I used to listen to before school each morning is still very strange but so amazing. I choose to get there at 6am because I want to see every minute of the show, from 6am-10am every Thursday morning. I have learnt so much and everyone has made me feel so welcome already. I could not be more grateful for this fantastic opportunity.

Thursday team

Me, Dino, Pete and Tyles.

All these experiences have meant that I have met some incredible people on the way, some of whom I have become really close friends with. As well as that, my family and friends are always so supportive especially when I have early morning starts- whether it be a radio show or my internship which sometimes means I have to turn down plans with my friends, but I try to make it up to them. My poor Mum and Dad also have to drive me everywhere because I haven't learnt to drive yet, something else I want to do in 2017 (I'm 18 and still haven't driven a real car, only a go-kart!)

My family x

I think one thing I need to do in 2017, is stop stressing and believe in myself a bit more (we all know that won't happen!!) I think the only reason I do get a little bit stressed is because I am a perfectionist and I put everything into anything I do, I've always been a hard worker! But I have shown myself that I can achieve anything with hard work, persistence and passion. I am so blessed for all the lovely people in my life who inspire me every day.

Overall 2016 has taught me a lot and I can't wait to see what 2017 has in store!

So with all that being said, I wish you a very happy New Year and I hope that it is filled with happiness, health, love, kindness and success.

With love always,

Emma ♡ x

0

An updated Radio journey...

After having only been a Radio Presenter at Erewash Sound since June 2016, everything seems to have moved so quickly. I fell in love with radio and enjoy every minute of broadcasting live on air. I'll admit that I am a perfectionist and I definitely take what I do very seriously.

I can't actually believe that I have done something that I didn't think I would get for a very long time, if at all. Today, I managed to get an Internship at Capital FM. How? I don't really know. Hard work? Probably. But I still can't quite believe it.

If someone had said to me 3 years ago, or even a year ago, that I was going to be where I am now at 18, I would have laughed very hard and told them to stop being so ridiculous. I still have a long way to go but I honestly wouldn't be where I am today without my Mum and Dad's unconditional support, driving me to places at ridiculous times in the morning and basically being my taxi! I wouldn't be able to do what I do without them and of course my not-so-little sister who keeps me completely grounded haha! And of course to my Radio Manager at Erewash Sound but also my friend, Jeff, who answers my endless streams of questions and probably gets fed up with me asking him on how I can improve and what I can do to become a better presenter. I was on the phone to Jeff a few minutes ago, crying my eyes out because I feel so overwhelmed and unbelievably lucky to be doing the things that many people dream of. And all my friends, who put up with me asking them what they think to ideas or telling them to give me feedback on my shows, I love them all very much. I definitely don't take any opportunity for granted.

I will of course, be continuing my presenting at Erewash Sound, every Wednesday afternoon 1-4pm on 96.8FM. My little family at Erewash Sound are the most supportive and lovely bunch of people I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I love them all very much.

I hope that I can continue with these exciting opportunities and will be blogging my journey along the way.

Sorry for a very emotional and waffly post!

With love always,

Emma ♡ x

0

I haven't blogged in a while...

Life got busy!

I realise that the last time I blogged was around September! Those who know me will know that I have been up to my ears in work, my life schedule has become a very full one but I'm not complaining, because I love what I am doing at the moment and where life is taking me.

I think that for now, this blog is going to be more of a update/what I'm getting up to kind of thing with a more 'diary entry' approach. I will still be posting the odd review/advice post, but if you are after an article, check out my pieces every month in The Grapevine Magazine. 

This won't be updated every week, but I definitely will try to write on here more often!

With love always, 

Emma ♡ x

0

10 things I am thankful for

The other day I was feeling very reflective and realised that there are so many aspects of our lives, that we almost take for granted. So, I thought I would put together a post of 10 things I am thankful for.

1. Family

I also am such a family orientated person. I love my home comforts as much as I enjoy going out! But those that know me well, know that I am constantly busy, probably inadvertently putting pressure on myself through all the activities I insist on doing.  I don't spend as much time with my family as I used  to when I was younger, but this is definitely something I have recognised. I think it is natural to spend less time with your family, as you begin to get older. I am so thankful that I have such a supportive family, I know they will be there for me know matter what and support me through all of my decisions. For this, I am very grateful as I wouldn't have been able to do half the things I have done without their unconditional support and so I love them very, very much.

2. Friends

My friends are incredibly important to me. Growing up, I always had friends but never really settled with one group, my circle of friends constantly changed as I grew. But now, I have such a lovely circle, and if you are reading this, you know who you are! I have stayed within the same group now since I was about 16. Unfortunately, one friend moved away after my final year of secondary school, but I hope to see her very soon if she comes down to Nottingham! But my group also gained another friend, as she came from another school to join our college which was lovely. This year hasn't been easy with various aspects of all of our lives, but I am so thankful for how my friends have always been there for me, no matter what. I feel like this year in particular, other friendships have really flourished too. I have and continue to learn so much from all of my friends, as they all have their own little areas of knowledge and expertise. I'm really sad that some of my friends in the year above are going to be leaving to go to University, but I know we will stay in touch and I am so excited for them as they embark on the next chapter of their lives. But, I have so much love for every single one of my friends and they all mean an awful lot to me! (It's so typical of me to be all soppy, oops!)

3. Healthcare

I think we all often forget how lucky we are to live in the UK, where we have access to free healthcare. I think more often than not, we take for granted that we can make an appointment at a doctor's surgery or in extremely bad cases, we can go to the hospital and be treated by the most amazing doctors and nurses. They work incredibly hard to provide an excellent health service and I am aware that unfortunately, more often than not, the doctors and nurses that work in our surgeries and hospitals do not get enough recognition. Without them going above and beyond and being so incredibly hardworking, we wouldn't have such an excellent and free health care service. I have used the NHS more times than I can remember, as have many of my family and friends. For this, I am extremely grateful.

4. Freedom of speech

I am so thankful that we live in a democracy. I have briefly mentioned this before in one of my articles, but I honestly think that living in a democratic society is such a wonderful thing, that so many people take for granted. We can essentially say what we like, within reason obviously! To be able to vote in referendums, such as the EU referendum, was such an incredible honour for those that can vote. Sadly, I was too young to take part in this referendum. However, recently when I attended an event where MPs debated whether we should vote remain or vote to leave, this really made me realise how incredible it is that we are all entitled to our own opinion which can help grow and hopefully change society for the better.

5. Education

I have undoubtedly hated some days of my education, but I think we all have those days, for various reasons! Having said that, I did enjoy my school years immensely. All in all, we are all entitled to have an education. I think this again, is something a lot of us take for granted. In countries within Africa, some children would do anything for an education, and we are almost handed it to us on a plate. I have tried to make the most of my school and college life, as have many other people I know. It is so important, as I know for a fact that I have learnt so many skills, particularly this year during my first year of college. My writing has developed considerably which is just one of the many valuable skills I have learnt, and my education also presented me with some amazing opportunities, which brings me on to my next point...

6. Opportunities

I am so grateful for all the opportunities I have been presented with throughout my life. I try to make the most of every opportunity thrown my way, as I know that everything we take part in will impact on our lives in one way or another, whether this is a learning curve or just something incredible we can experience. The first opportunity I am thankful for was to be Head Girl in my final year of school. Not only did I learn some amazing transferable skills, but my organisation and presenting skills flourished. This opportunity not only resulted in the career pathway I would like to go down emerging, but I also gained a friend who I really believe will be a friend for life, as we worked so closely together and have remained the best of friends ever since. I am also incredibly grateful for being given opportunities to write in a local magazine, as well as being a presenter on a local radio station. One thing leads to another, and I am a strong believer of grabbing every opportunity and making the most out of every situation.

7. Music

A little bit of a strange one, but music is such a huge part of my life! I literally listen to music every day. I think a lot of people take for granted the power of it. We have access to such a wide variety of music and there is always a track to suit every mood! It may sound odd, but music whether this be listening to it or even writing music has saved so many people, all over the world. Music unites people, as many people meet through music due to sharing similar tastes. My love for music has definitely come from my Dad and I am particularly grateful to him for introducing me to such a variety and teaching me to appreciate both old and new music.

8. Kindness

Again, it may be a strange one. I'll keep this one as brief as I can as this post is getting rather long. It's a shame that on the news we are unfortunately seeing more and more terrible stories of awful terrorist attacks. I think it is uplifting when people carry out random acts of kindness, or support each other in achievements when there is unfortunately so much negativity in the world at the moment.

9.  Food

When I was thinking of different things I am thankful for, I realised that in this day and age, we have more choice of food than ever, thanks to globalisation. We can choose to be vegetarians if we don't agree with eating meat, or become a vegan due to the fantastic range of food available to us. I think this is incredible.

10. Social Media 

I know I have portrayed social media in a little bit of a negative light but there are huge benefits that come with the usage of social media. Being a writer, I can reach such a wide audience through promoting my work through the likes of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. When I upload a blog post, I can share it on all social media platforms meaning that I can reach hundreds of people. Social media is great to let people have an insight into what you are getting up to. If used correctly, social media is excellent.

Thank you for reading this post, I didn't expect it to be this long, so thank you if you stuck it out until the end! Hopefully this post will have made you realise all the things we often take for granted.

With love always,

Emma ♡ x

0

A well needed break.

After what was possibly one of the most challenging academic years of my entire life, I have really been looking forward to the summer holidays; to spend time with my friends and family. My blog kind of became a little neglected, because quite frankly, I had various deadlines to meet and my radio shows to organise, all while maintaining a social life and going away with my family. I feel like finally, I have managed to be on top of everything! So now, I can do things I have been wanting to do for a while, but just not had enough time for.

 

Sometimes, you just need a break. After going away for a week with my family in July and then again in August, I felt refreshed and energised, ready to tackle things I had been putting off for a while and it gave me that little bit of motivation I needed. To be able to not have to do any writing, or plan for a radio show, was actually really nice (as much as I love it!!!). But now I am back to reality; writing, planning radio shows (my next one is this coming Wednesday, 24th August 2016, 1-4pm on Erewash Sound 96.8FM). I absolutely love being on the radio and I am always very grateful for anyone who listens in to my shows, it really means a lot so thank you if you do! Also, feel free to get in contact when I am on air, as it makes my shows more exciting and filling when people do.

 

It's also been really lovely to catch up with my friends as well, especially those who are off to University in September, or those I don't see very often, as well as my friends who I usually spend every day with at college. I'm looking forward to seeing more of my friends this summer too, before our lives get waaaay too busy again. I'm definitely trying to make the most of the rest of the summer!

 

So there's a little update on what I have been getting up to recently. I do plan to blog weekly if I can, but I don't want to put too much pressure on myself, when this is an important time to recharge my batteries before I return to college in September.

 

Thank you for reading this very random post, there should be another one shortly.

 

With love always

 

 Emma ♡ x 

0

I did it...

I managed to get through my first live one hour radio show, just! It was a little stressful but I enjoyed it so much. I was so worried I would press the wrong button and go off air, but I didn't! Woo! Again, I appreciate how supportive everyone has been and I have received the loveliest messages of support too as well as positive feedback, so thank you!

I am super excited to have been asked to do a 3 hour show on my own, this Wednesday which is tomorrow (22nd June) 1-4pm. I wasn't entirely sure how I am going to manage to fill 3 hours, but I have been working on it yesterday so hopefully it will be engaging for anyone that would like to listen. You definitely have to be creative, whether it be writing articles or thinking of content for a radio show. I will keep my eyes peeled for future topics I can talk about, but if anyone does have any ideas, please do let me know!! Once I have got a little more comfortable with doing my shows, I would love to do some interviews with various people on different topics and also interview local bands and play their content. I think that would be pretty exciting!

I just thought this would be a good place to keep you all updated with my little 'radio journey', but it is also something I can look back on in the future.

Anyway, if you do fancy listening to me tomorrow (Wednesday) 1-4pm, you can find the station in the following ways:

• Tune in the old fashioned way on your radio, on 96.8FM
• Download the 'Tune In' app from the App Store or google play and then type in 'Erewash Sound'.
• You can also listen through the website if you click here: http://www.erewashsound.com

Again, I appreciate anyone who tunes in to my show! It made me so happy last week to know that even just a handful of people enjoyed my content in my first live hour. So thank you! Hopefully I can continue to do so.

With love always,

 Emma ♡ x

0

I'm going to have my own radio show...

So, this was not the post I had planned to upload tonight. But, I can tell you I am extremely excited as I am writing this, sat in the radio studio. As some of you may know, it is my dream to become a radio or television broadcaster. This week, I have been working with Erewash Sound (96.8FM) which is a fantastic local station.

I have just been told that my demos are good enough for me to have my 'debut' if you like, tomorrow on the station live at 3pm-4pm. I cannot even begin to explain how excited I am, and of course, I am very nervous too. If you are unsure, a radio demo is basically me doing a show but it is recorded rather than going out live on air. This way, I was able to get feedback.

Although I have been on the radio live a few times, it has mainly been chipping in or co-hosting with another presenter and this week I read the traffic and travel news, which was pretty scary as well as co-hosting. Tomorrow, I will be doing an hour show, full of (hopefully) exciting content. The thing that scares me most is that it will be live, so if I make a mistake, there is no going back!

Radio is much harder than I ever imagined, but I didn't realise how much I was going to love it. A combination of talking, music and people; 3 of my favourite things!

This is possibly one of the most exciting achievements of my life so far, I can only continue to work hard and hopefully work my way up the media ladder, so to speak.

My family and friends, have been so so supportive and for that, I am eternally grateful! Also, a huge thank you to everyone at the station who have given me excellent advice, especially Jeff who has been so very patient and supportive of me, so thank you for making this happen Jeff, if you're reading!

I would really appreciate it if you could tune in tomorrow to hear me do my debut show, 3-4pm. Here is how you can listen:

•  Tune in the old fashioned way on your radio, on 96.8FM

• Download the 'Tune In' app from the App Store or google play and then type in 'Erewash Sound'.
• You can also listen through the website if you click here: http://www.erewashsound.com

Bye for now, I'm off to co-present a show with a presenter called Laura. 4pm-7pm tonight, feel free to tune in to that if you fancy, I know it is going to be very fun! It's all go go go for me this week!

With love always, 

 Emma ♡ x

0

Choosing what to do after Year 11...

Hello again! I promised myself that I was going to upload a blog post every Wednesday. Unfortunately, I have already failed! On Wednesday, I had my final English exam and after writing two essays, I really wasn't feeling up to writing again so instead, I went to chill out with my friends as a little bit of a celebration, which was lovely. Then yesterday, I was out and about getting my nails done, going for food with my friends and then I went to a gig to support some more of my pals in a band called Dear Victor, who were incredible as always! So I have only just managed to sit down now and write this post.

I wasn't too sure what to blog about this week, but this time last year I was thinking about what I was going to do after my final year of secondary school. I know I would have found it particularly useful if I had a little more information when choosing what to do after finishing my final year. After all, it is quite a daunting process! Seeing as a lot of people will have to make this decision fairly soon, I thought at least one person may find this post useful. So after this long winded opening, lets get into it...

Choosing what to do is never going to be easy.

Throughout our school lives, we don't really have too many big decisions to make in terms of our education. You just work your way through each year. But after completing your GCSEs, one of the hardest decisions has to be made; where to go and what to do next. Do you want to go to a sixth form attached to a school? Or do you want to go to a college? Or opt for an apprenticeship? You may even want to find a full time job. All of these options are great, you just need to choose what is right for you.

So, how do you choose the right option?

You may not know what the 'right' option is, even throughout your first year in the pathway you choose, you may still wonder 'was this the right choice for me?' I certainly thought this very frequently. If you can, you need to think what future careers appeal to you. Then, you may be able to research different options. If you have no idea which career path you would like to take, try and keep your options fairly open by choosing a broad range of subjects at AS level. My advice would be to attend different open days to get a feel of different environments, but also to talk to the students and teachers. In my opinion, the best information will be obtained from students; they are the ones studying the courses and will know what the college/apprenticeship entails and you will be able to gain a wide range of opinions on what the subjects are like too. On top of this, try to make your own decision. Listen to advice from parents and teachers, but don't let them pressurise you into taking certain subjects or going to a particular college. At the end of the day, this is your education and your future. You need to do what is right for you.

How I chose what I wanted to do:

By the end of Year 11, I knew that the career path I was most interested in was journalism/broadcasting. I then looked at George Spencer Sixth Form and Bilborough College. I preferred the sixth form environment, as it is a much closer community and I knew that I would already know the majority of the teachers, having gone to school there for 5 years. Plus, I only live a 10 minute walk away so it was convenient. After talking to friends in the year above me, I decided that sixth form was going to be the best option, to hopefully achieve good A levels to help me apply to University. I do wish however, that I had looked into the subjects a little more. I chose English Language, Media Studies, Geography and Psychology. I absolutely loved English and Media from the moment I started the courses and I liked Geography a lot too. I found the majority of the Psychology course interesting, I just wish I had spoken to more students in the year above about what exactly the course entailed; as it wasn't all I thought it would be. So, I would 100% recommend talking to as many people as you can and also checking out the syllabi to your desired courses online.

Hopefully, this post will have helped a few people on what to do after Year 11 . If you do have any questions, please feel free to find me on social media using the links on my homepage and send me a message! The more advice you can get, the better.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you are leaving your final year of secondary school, good luck for the future! I have listed a few links below which may be of some use, so check these out if you are interested.

Emma ♡ x

Apprenticeships in technology, media, accountancy, business admin, web and social media, and much more: https://3aaa.co.uk/

Information on choosing between college and sixth form: http://www.careersadviceforparents.org/2014/12/choosing-between-sixth-form-and-college.html

This website is particularly useful for choosing a career pathway but also whether to choose an apprenticeship, college or sixth form: https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/youngpeople/Pages/Youngpeople.aspx

0

My top tips for Prom...

It definitely doesn't feel like a year ago since my friends and I were preparing for our Year 11 Prom. For us, this was a huge milestone to reach, as it marked the end of an era. Surviving 5 years of Secondary school was a huge deal and a very exciting (but expensive) day for everyone involved.

We had an eventful night from the moment my friends and their families arrived at my house. I hosted a little pre-prom party in my garden. It was such a lovely way to start the evening, I have a family friend called Chris who kindly took a beautiful selection of photos for us. I'm not too sure how my dress managed to survive the entire night, because I fell over on my lawn as my friends were arriving (I obviously got way too excited). Then, to top things off, I spilt champagne down the front of my dress before we even got to the venue. To my surprise and delight, it dried without a stain! Miracles do happen...

Seeing as Prom season is quickly approaching, here are a selection of tips to help you have a (hopefully) successful prom:

1. Choose how you are having your hair after you have purchased your dress, but way before the day of Prom

A month before Prom, you should hopefully have found your dream dress/suit. By choosing your hair style in advance, you can find a hair stylist or contact your current hairdresser and talk it through with them. They will be able to talk you through the style and see if it will work depending on the length of your hair. Alternatively, you could do it yourself or get a friend/family member to help you if you are opting for a simpler style.



2. Have a trial run with a make-up artist or practice the look yourself

For my Prom, I opted to do my makeup myself. The reason I decided to do this was because at the time, I was still suffering quite badly with my acne, and I knew the best ways to cover my scaring and remaining spots. I felt as though I could avoid the embarrassment of showing my bare face to a make-up artist. I'm sure this was me just over-thinking the whole process and I am sure there are fantastic make-up artists out there, who will do an amazing job of making you look beautiful no matter what state your skin is in. Having said this, by doing your make-up yourself, you should look like you, and not like a completely different person. You know what colours and products work well on you, and it also saves you money. Prom definitely isn't cheap! (Sorry Mum and Dad!!)

 3. If you choose to get your nails done, get them done the day before 

This way, if you do chose to have acrylic nails you have a day to get used to having them long, if your nails just do not grow and are usually short like mine. You can also make sure the colour matches your dress or accessories, and if not then you could change the colour using a acetone free nail polish remover. However, I would recommend getting the colour right in the first place!

4. Try and leave the entire day free to prepare for Prom

It may sound ridiculous to leave the entire day to prepare, but if you are hosting the pre-Prom party like I did, then you definitely do need the entire day. Not only did I have to get myself ready, but also help my Mum, Dad and Sister with the preparation of our garden. Don't be fooled  into thinking that it will only take 10 minutes!! My Dad decided to mow the lawn, and My Mum decided to put bunting and fairy lights in every available space in my garden. It did look very pretty in the photos though! Another tip is to make sure you have enough bunting to cover your garden. I had to call one of my friends, Frankie, and get her Mum to go and get us some more bunting, which was super kind of her! Another friend, Hannah, leant us some beautiful fairy lights and fake candles (I didn't want to light real ones, we all know how clumsy I am!) And so the garden really did look beautiful. We also had a selection of nibbles and champagne, which was a really nice idea for all the guests to snack on, as me and my friends weren't feeling that hungry. Pre-prom nerves do exist, apparently!



Just a selection of the bunting in my garden!

The selection of nibbles.

5. Take some makeup in your clutch bag, to top up if you need to

This was a mistake I made. I had used a beautiful new foundation, which was the Double Wear Estée Lauder in the shade 'Shell' and this was the perfect colour for my extremely pale complexion. But I did find, like with a lot of foundations, that my face did become a little shiny by the end of the night. It wasn't too bad, but I could have done with some powder. As well as this, I had smiled and laughed a lot and so much of my winged eyeliner did smudge slightly too therefore I could have done with taking that with me. But with limited space in a clutch bag, I prioritised the space with my phone and camera to capture all the moments from the evening.

6. Ensure your phone/camera is fully charged with plenty of storage available

You will really regret it if you don't take plenty of photos with your friends at the venue. Some of them may go their separate ways to different colleges, so you will want to keep a selection of photos with the people who hopefully, made your school years some of the best you will ever experience.

7. Try and go to an after Prom party!

This was another mistake my friends and I made, no one had arranged an after Prom party in our group. This was kind of sad, as the evening could have lasted even longer. You need to make the most of the evening! This being said, we definitely made up for this over the extended summer we had before we endeavoured on the next chapter of our lives at college.

8. Set up a Dropbox to share all of your photos with your family and friends

Setting up a Dropbox was something I hadn't thought of, until the photographer suggested the idea to us. Since Prom, I have used Dropbox on a few occasions as it is really great to allow people who were at the event to view them, without having to set up Facebook group chats which we all know, annoy a lot of people!! Dropbox is so easy to download, you can either download it onto your laptop/computer, or alternatively download the app onto your phone or tablet. This was amazing as all of my friends and family could access all the photos from the night in one area. So I would definitely recommend this, especially as it is free!

 

Most importantly, make sure you enjoy not just Prom itself, but the preparation for the evening too. Getting ready is super exciting, and seeing your friends looking all grown up and beautiful in their dresses is really special.

If you are attending a Prom in the upcoming months, I hope you enjoy it! And if you aren't going to a Prom, I hope you enjoyed reading this anyway.

Emma ♡ x

0

Products I have been loving...

Recently, I went to Boots to purchase a few bits and bobs, so I wanted to share some of my favourites with you.

First up is a perfume which I discovered back in around December. I had used a fragrance which I loved (Fame, by Lady Gaga) for a few years, but felt like I needed a change. So I purchased 'Ghost Eclipse' which I did wear for a while, but I wasn't fully enjoying the scent. Then I discovered 'Rose by Paul Smith'. Initially, I was drawn to the name of the perfume, seeing as roses are my favourite flower, both scent wise and appearance wise. So this perfume appeared perfect for me, as well as Paul Smith being a Nottingham designer too. I recently used up the entire 100ml bottle, which retails for around £57.00, but I usually try to purchase perfumes when they are on offer, which this was in Boots for £25.00. What I love about this scent is that it is fairly strong, but fresh at the same time meaning that it does last all day. It doesn't run out as quickly as some other fragrances and you don't have to keep topping it up. People often compliment me on this scent too, so I would definitely recommend it.

Next up is the Real Techniques Stippling brush by Sam & Nic. I am a huge fan of their YouTube channel 'Pixiwoo', but they also have their own range of Make-Up brushes which are of extremely high quality. I already have the Powder Brush and the Blush Brush, which I love because they apply powders really well. I also like how easy they are to clean, which is great for me as I try to clean my brushes as regularly as I can due to having acne prone skin. The brush hairs don't fall out either! I ordered a Stippling Brush from Amazon, which was super cheap, around the £3 mark. This was a huge mistake, as obviously I got the quality which I paid for. The brush hairs were falling out everywhere. So I decided to purchase a brush I knew was going to be of high quality which was the Real Techniques Stippling brush, which applies my foundation flawlessly, allowing for a full coverage to fully mask my acne scaring. Well done Real Techniques, once again I am a happy customer.

I have really enjoyed using the Garnier Ultimate Blends The Sleek Restorer Shampoo and Conditioner. Since having my hair cut into a 'Lob' around a month ago, I have found I am using much more heat on my hair than when it was longer. I love my hair this length, but if left natural, it does tend to go a little crazy. Therefore I had noticed my hair looking a little dull and not very hydrated. But after using this shampoo and conditioner, even after the first wash, my hair was much more hydrated and softer. I would definitely recommend this if you have dry/frizzy hair!

Finally is the Soap and Glory Hand Food. This is another re-purchase because I love it so much. I suffer from dry hands all year round, but with this product my hands are always super soft. I apply it religiously every night before bed, to keep my hands soft and moisturised. What I love about this formula is that it absorbs really well into your hands, and unlike other hand creams I have used, it doesn't leave that horrible oily feeling which everyone hates.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this little blog post on some of the products I have been loving and hopefully you can give them a try and love them as much as I do.

Emma ♡ x 

0

Coping with the pressure of exams both before and after

Exam season is nearly over for me, but for many it is still an on-going process. My family and friends, especially those at college (sorry guys!!) know I am a huge sufferer of exam stress. During Year 10, when I was 15, was probably the worst I had suffered. I think this was because I had no idea what to expect, because it was of the fear of the unknown. Year 11 wasn't as bad, but then the stress this year towards the end of Year 12 when exams were looming was similar to what I had experienced when I was 15. Thankfully, I had learnt how to deal with it a little more. Never the less, it was still tough.

The thing about stress is that it can do one of two things; drive you to succeed or make you crumble under the pressure. For me, I thrive on stress as it impels me to achieve, but it does have its drawbacks. Being a complete workaholic does take its toll and being a perfectionist has its problems too. The stress of trying to do something to the best of my ability, and then not completing it to how I want it to be, can often cause huge amounts of stress and can result in complete exhaustion. Quite frankly, I just put too much pressure on myself!

During my Year 10 GCSEs, I had worked incredibly hard and thankfully, this was reflected in the grades I achieved. But, about a week after my exams, I fell ill. I originally thought it was just a normal virus and that it would pass within a few days. How wrong was I? This lasted for the entire 6 week holidays, and my Doctor told me I had caught a nasty bug. I had overworked myself and stopped suddenly, so my body just went into shutdown mode. I had swollen glands in my stomach, meaning I had to eat bland food, which resulted in a diet of fish fingers and mashed potato for almost 6 weeks. My Dad does make the best mashed potato so it wasn't too bad! However, my weight plummeted which was concerning.

So how did I avoid this happening the following years? Here are some of my tips to avoid post exam anxiety (if that is a thing!?):

1. Work hard in the first place, but take regular breaks.
2. Don't isolate yourself; go out occasionally with friends or family. Breaks are SO important.
3. Make a timetable to ensure you don't leave revision to the very last minute. This will minimise emotional breakdowns!
4. Eat healthily- fruit and veg- to stop you catching a horrible virus and keep your immune system strong and ready to fight those nasty germs.
5. After your exams have finished, stop slowly. Keep yourself busy doing things you enjoy, why not go out with family and friends?
6. Try not to worry about results day, it's done now and there is nothing you can do to change the outcome, but this is definitely easier said than done.
7. Get a summer job! This way you can pay for going out with your friends and save a little bit of money for the upcoming year, as well as keeping yourself occupied.

No matter what happens, everything happens for a reason. Pathways may open up, or close and take you in a new direction. One of my closest friends constantly reminded me through exam season  that 'Grades are just a letter on a page, don't let them define you' which is so true. There is so much more to a person than grades.

 

If you want to read more about how to deal with exam stress, read my article on pages 28 and 29 in The Grapevine linked here:
https://issuu.com/beechpublications-ng10/docs/grapevine_in_wollaton_1__may_2016_m

If you are sitting upcoming exams, good luck!

 

Emma ♡ x

0

I've started a blog!

Hello!

Now, I am completely new to this whole blogging thing, but seeing as my AS level exams are pretty much done, (apart from one) I thought that it would be something I can do to keep myself occupied. Hopefully I can keep it up! It's a little challenge for myself.

If you are reading this but don't know me very well, I'm really interested in a future career in the media; whether it be journalism or broadcasting. TV and Radio is ideally the path I'd like to take, but you never know what else could crop up along the way!  I've nearly finished a radio presenter training course and you can find my articles in the Grapevine, a local magazine distributed around the local area. Quite frankly, I love writing and anything to do with presenting.

I hope to have some regular readers of this blog, and I'd be very grateful if people return to read it. I haven't decided specific topics to write about, but I think it will mainly be lifestyle and a more chatty version of my articles. Having my articles published is a great privilege and I enjoy coming up with ideas to write about. It makes me feel all fuzzy inside when people come up to me saying I made them think differently about a situation or phoning my Nan saying how much they enjoyed my piece. This will be a little space where I can write more frequently. I've been wanting to write a blog for a while, but just haven't really had the time!

 

So I guess we will see where this blog leads! It might be a little random while I find my feet, but I'd really appreciate it if you could give my blog a follow to see what I am getting up to. I have written 3 posts including this one before I made my blog live, so that there is some content available to read!
 

Emma ♡ x

Also, a huge Thank You to Steph who was incredibly helpful when I was setting up my blog. Go and check out her beautiful blog here: http://lovestephx.blogspot.co.uk/

3