100 BLOGLOVIN' FOLLOWERS!

A couple of days ago I was lucky enough to reach 100 followers on Bloglovin' - yippee! If you read my previous blog post, you are probably aware that it was one of my goals to hit this number of followers by the start of November, so I am absolutely chuffed and kinda amazed that I actually did it! I have to give a massive thank you to Jen of Jennypurr for my newest readers who kindly chose to check out my blog after I was featured in her monthly sidebar roundup post, because you guys are the ones that helped me cross the three-digit mark. I feel like I always say this, but it doesn't make it any less true: I really am grateful to every single one of you that takes the time to read my posts. It's hard for me to imagine real people sitting behind laptops or desktop computers actually reading my blog, like it just seems so surreal! But yes, I am truly grateful to all of you, and I will try my very best to keep on posting content that you will (hopefully) enjoy reading :)

BLOGGING GOALS: LONG TERM & SHORT TERM.

Followers

In the short term, I'd really like to achieve 100 followers on Bloglovin'. I'm currently very close to achieving that, but up until recently the three-digit mark has felt like such a massive and almost unreachable hurdle, so I'd really love to achieve this by the end of October/start of November.

In the long term, I don't really have a specific follower count that I'd like. I'd prefer to just have a growing community of lovely readers that enjoy both my content and interacting with me on this blog.

Sponsorships

In the short term, I'd like to subscribe to the Sweetheart option on Passionfruit for $3 a month. I'm just dipping my feet into the world of advertising and sponsorships, so I'd just like to offer one paid ad spot in the near future.

A more long term plan would be to eventually convert to Passionfruit's Lover option. It's a bit more of a commitment at $9 a month, so I'd have to be confident that I'd be getting back the money that I put in in the first place! Nevertheless, this is definitely something I'd like to invest in when (or if?!) I have a larger following/influence as a blogger.

Other short term goals

Host my first giveaway.
Hold my first guest post.
Meet up with a fellow blogger in real life.

So, this post was a little different for me, but I just thought it would be interesting to share with you some of the goals and plans I have for this blog in the near future. I always like to know what other bloggers have in store concerning their blogs, so I thought, why not tell you all about mine as well?

TAG: 25 FACTS ABOUT ME.

I saw this tag on Yuen's blog back in August and I've been meaning to get round to answering the questions ever since. Now seemed as good a time as any - plus I thought it'd be a cool way for you guys to get to know me a little better - so here goes!

STREET PHOTOGRAPHY.

A few weeks ago, I joined the Photography Society at my university. I really wanted to get to know how to use my DSLR camera in different conditions and on different subjects, and this particular society just seemed perfect for developing these skills. The first theme we've been given is Street/Candid Photography, which involves taking photos of people out and about. The goal is to try and take the photos as inconspicuously as possible so as not to draw attention to the fact that you are taking someone's photograph. This way your subject remains unaware of you taking their photo, and you are then able to capture the real essence of that person. So here is a selection of my favourite images that I've taken. I also threw into the mix a few photos of objects I found on the streets as well.

ON MISSING HOME.

So, living away from home for the first time is a pretty strange feeling. Having spent the whole of the last month away from my own proper spring-filled bed and away from a pristine, pizza-box-and-alcohol-bottle-free kitchen, I actually don't feel quite as homesick anymore. I've got used to living without my brother and my parents, and providing for myself. I brought a couple of my favourite teddies, my guitar, as well as my extensive wardrobe and nail polish collection(!) so my new room definitely feels like a space that I feel comfortable and 'at home' in. The first few days, and weeks to be honest, were pretty scary and daunting and felt like they were going so slowly. Thoughts flew through my head like "How am I possibly going to be able to stay at university for the next three years?" "I feel completely out of my depth, I'm in totally new surroundings and there are so many new people around that all seem to be friends with each other already!" "I feel so lost." I decided to just give it time, and see how everything panned out. My course started after Freshers' Week and that gave me a terrifying but also really exciting thing to focus on. It's so important that I keep up-to-date with the work for my course, otherwise I will really start to fall behind. By really getting stuck into my studies, I discovered like-minded people on my course and over the past couple of weeks I've really started to form some great friendships with them. Making the effort to spend time with these people has definitely paid off, as we already have some great days and nights to look back on.

SEPTEMBER FAVOURITES: AMBER RUN.

Image Source

These guys are literally all I've been listening to this month. Amber Run are a five-piece band who go/went to the University of Nottingham (which is actually where my brother studies at, so I'm kinda a little bit jealous!). I'd describe the music that they play as indie or soft rock, similar to the likes of Kodaline and Bastille. Their music has a really chilled out vibe about it, with beautiful melodies and stunning lyrics. And the tone of the lead vocalist's voice is just sooo gorgeous.

I MADE IT TO UNIVERSITY!

I haven't actually sat down and properly written a blog post for about two and a half weeks now (The last couple of posts were scheduled a few days in advance). The reason for this is that I moved in to university earlier this month, so I've had to adjust to an entirely different city and being away from home with people I've never met before. I found it quite hard in the first week - I was missing home an awful lot, and I seriously didn't think I'd be able to carry on at university for another 12 weeks.

STEAL OF THE WEEK: £3 DRESS FROM PRIMARK!

This post is a little later than planned, but I couldn't not tell you all about this amaaazing bargain from Primark! Originally priced at £13, this adorable embroidered dress was reduced to £7 in the end-of-summer sale. It was the very last one of its style on the rack, and was thankfully in my size. Phew! I very gladly tried it on (just to be on the safe side), and found that it fit beautifully. I emerged from the changing rooms beaming and queued up to pay for my wonderful new dress. When I got to the till, the price was corrected even more and the dress came up as only £3! Bargain or what? I just love it when that happens!

What bargains did you pick up in the end-of-summer sales?

M&S HAUL: THE LAST EVER COMPANY MAGAZINE & OTHER GOODIES.

The other day, I had another adventure to M&S with my mum, as it would be our last shopping trip together for a while. We attended this cardholders event where you can go along and watch a style presentation, as well as picking up a glass of Cava and a few nibbles - no Cava for me though, I was the responsible driver! I did, however, manage to find a few surprises that I'd never have thought I could buy from Marks & Spencer - you learn something new every day I guess!

DISQUS FAIL + AUGUST/START OF SEPTEMBER RECAP.

Hey guys, just a quick one today. Since around about the middle of August, there has been a problem with the Disqus comment box on my posts not loading. This meant that any of you that actually wanted to comment on my posts weren't able to :( I'm really sorry about this - I didn't notice this issue until one of my lovely readers brought it to my attention in an email the other day. I've now reverted back to the Blogger comments system, as I just can't seem to get Disqus to work on my blog.

So, I was just writing this post to give you a recap of all the posts that none of you were able to comment on before, so if you have anything to say on any of the posts linked below, please, go ahead!

Steal of the week: jewellery from Matalan.

Results day + why I haven't blogged for a week.

DIY project: geometric animal wall art.

My blog is 1 year old today!

Steal of the week: sale items from H&M.

Songs I've been loving in August.

The British tag.

A bootiful buy.

Current top 5 apps for iPhones.

CURRENT TOP 5 APPS FOR iPHONES.

1. Spotify

I just love playing music from this app while I'm relaxing in bed just before I go to sleep. Also, it's great if you have Premium, as you can download playlists right to your phone to listen to on the go, even when you don't have an Internet connection.

2. Nationwide / Santander / any mobile banking app

Apps like these are really useful for just quickly checking the balance in your bank account, and for making emergency transactions right before a shopping trip!

3. Bloglovin'

I love scrolling through this app first thing when I wake up in the morning. It's a pretty clean design, which makes blog photos pop and really draw you in to read more.

4. Facebook

Recently, I've found myself using the Facebook app a heck of a lot, as it's been helping me find and chat to future flatmates and coursemates before I even start uni. Also, there's usually at least one hilarious video waiting for me on my feed every time I load up the app!

5. ASOS

Anything ASOS has to offer, I will most probably love. Having this app means I can keep my saved items list up-to-date, wherever I am. Plus, I can really easily track where my copious orders are up to and when to expect them through my very welcoming letterbox!

What apps have you been loving recently?

A BOOTIFUL BUY.

My parents accompanied me into town the other day, as we were out gathering the last few bits and pieces that I needed for university. My mum said that she'd buy me a new pair of boots as the weather further up north will be even more rainy than it is where we live, and she wanted me to wear something other than my trusty-but-unfortunately-now-falling-apart-and-not-to-mention-pretty-grubby white converse-style pumps.

THE BRITISH TAG.

I was tagged by the lovely Ashley of Opaque Moonlight to do the British Tag. I'd seen this tag floating around on the internet recently and was planning on doing it anyway (what with being British and all!), but I've actually been personally tagged - yippee for the blogging community! Now, on to the questions…

SONGS I'VE BEEN LOVING IN AUGUST.

Somebody To You - The Vamps ft. Demi Lovato
Keep Holding On - Avril Lavigne
Handshake - Two Door Cinema Club
I Think I Like You - Siren
Skinny Genes - Eliza Doolittle
Let's Get Started - Dylan Gardner
Blush - Wolf Alice
Right Where I Belong - Alex Goot
Of The Night - Bastille
New Shoes - Paolo Nutini
Find You - Alex Goot ft. Against The Current
Rockstar - Glee Cast

What songs have you been addicted to this August?

STEAL OF THE WEEK: SALE ITEMS FROM H&M.

The weather's cooling down in England at the moment, so I thought I'd tell you about some amazing bargains I found in the sales, which are perfect for autumn. I paid a visit to H&M and they had this crazy deal on: 2 for 1 on all sale items! I found this lovely dark green/teal jumper for £7 almost immediately, and I kept searching - I had to find something else to get for free, of course! I'd almost given up when I caught sight of this beautiful bodycon monochrome snakeskin-style print skirt. It was only £5 and I fell in love with it instantly, but was unsure whether I could pull off such a bold print. I tried it on and was pleasantly surprised with how it looked. It's a very flattering fit and it comes down to a modest length, especially on shorter ladies like moi!

What have you picked up in the sales recently?

MY BLOG IS 1 YEAR OLD TODAY!

Today I'm celebrating the one year anniversary of my first ever blog post - I've now officially been blogging around these parts for 365 days! I cannot by any means, however, claim to be an experienced blogger just because I have a year under my belt, but I can without doubt say that I am a better blogger today than I was 12 months ago (I mean, just look at the awful blog photos from my first few posts *cringe*)! I definitely feel as if my blogging skills have improved since the very beginning, and I hope to be able to look back on this coming year as a year of vast improvement too!

Thanks for sticking with me guys, I really appreciate every single one of you :)

DIY PROJECT: GEOMETRIC ANIMAL WALL ART.

This project was very much inspired by Meg Allan Cole's fantastic DIY Geometric Bear video tutorial on HGTV Handmade. I have been in luuurve with this particular Youtube Channel for a fair few months now, and when I saw this little project appear in my subscriptions feed, I just had to have a go myself!

RESULTS DAY + WHY I HAVEN'T BLOGGED FOR A WEEK.

So… it's been a while. Well, eight days to be precise. In the time that I've been away from this little here blog, I received my A Level results, which informed me that I do in fact have my place at my chosen university for definite! I wasn't overly concerned about not getting the grades for my uni, as for the Animation course I'm doing there's more emphasis on the portfolio, which meant the entry requirements were significantly lower than for a standard Medicine course, for example. Nevertheless, I found myself getting pretty nervous the night before I was set to go into school for the very last time to collect THE envelope. I think this was because I didn't want to fall short of my predicted grades, because that would mean falling short of my teachers' and, more importantly, my own expectations of myself. Luckily, I did the best I could have possibly hoped for, so all that hard work was definitely worth it!

Since that day, I've been pretty occupied with applying for a student bank account, sending off information for my first year's university accommodation, and finding flatmates and coursemates via social media. I've also started planning and collecting together some of the things I'm gonna need to take with me to uni, and I feel like a massive trip to IKEA is definitely on the horizon!

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This last week, I've noticed that whilst my real life has been really exciting, my attitude towards this blog has been kind of meh. I've felt kind of detached from it a little bit, because I think it's finally dawned on me that I'm not going to be able to post as often as I'd like to once I start uni - I'm gonna have a degree to work for after all! And I really want to make the most of my time at uni, because I'll only get three years of it. I'd love to be able to post every other day, like I was doing throughout July, however, realistically, once I start uni (in just three weeks - eeeep!) I don't really expect to be able to post more than once a week. So, I just wanted to take this opportunity to say that for the time being, there won't be any kind of schedule for blog posts, they'll basically just appear whenever I have time. The reason for this is that I don't just want to inundate you all with a load of filler posts just because I don't have the time to sit down and write proper ones - I'd much rather have posts on my blog that I personally am proud of. Plus, I don't want to put the added pressure of a rigid schedule on myself, because I just really want to enjoy this particular period of my life - I just know it's gonna be a good 'un.

Thanks for reading, guys :)

STEAL OF THE WEEK: JEWELLERY FROM MATALAN.

A few weeks ago, my parents said they were going shopping to Matalan for some last minute stuff for our holiday, so I tagged along as well, thinking I could find a couple nice things in the sale section too. Browsing through the clothes and shoes, nothing really jumped out at me, but when I hit the accessories section, I went a bit crazy!

5 FASHION ITEMS I COULDN'T HAVE LIVED WITHOUT ON HOLIDAY.

As you've probably guessed, I have indeed returned from my holiday to Spain. I spent a week with my family in one of Spain's most popular cities, Barcelona. It was pretty hot there with temperatures reaching 30 degrees Celsius, although on a couple of occasions we were caught out by rainstorms! Despite that, it was all in all a very enjoyable trip and a lovely way to spend some time with family before I head off to university in a month. There were a few specific fashion items that I seriously couldn't have done without during the week, so I thought I'd share these with you in today's post :)

1. A floppy sun hat. Although I had to make sure mine didn't fly off at some points in the summer breeze, it was great for keeping my head cool and providing a little bit of shade and protection from the sun.

2. Floaty patterned trousers. These are really useful when you need to cover up to go inside a religious building or cathedral, as well as being cool and airy. An added bonus is that you don't have to shave your legs on the day you wear them!

3. Birkenstock-style sandals. A last minute purchase from Primark but totally worth it for me, as this kind of sandal is super comfy and surprisingly mine didn't come off at all. I wore these pretty much every day in Barcelona - they were great for walking around the city in.

4. Kimono. These are cute, breezy and really good for protection from the sun. My shoulders are the bit of my body that are most likely to get burnt, so I just slung my kimono over them from time to time to give them a break from the sun's rays.

5. Maxi skirt. These have the same purpose as the patterned trousers. Also, they're pretty versatile fashion-wise - you can dress them up or down, both of which I did during my trip.

What are your fashion essentials for a summer holiday in the sun?

LIEBSTER AWARD.

It was a complete surprise when I refreshed my emails one afternoon to find that I had been nominated for the Liebster Award! Thank you so much to the lovely ladies who did in fact nominate me: Jess of Jessica's Journal, and Emily of Through The Looking Glass.

DAY TRIP TO BLACKPOOL.

I visited Blackpool with my parents and some relatives last week. We went up the tower, (walked across yet another glass floor) and then wandered along the beach and one of the piers. I'd never actually been to Blackpool during the day before - previously I'd only ever been at night when the Illuminations are on around October - and I have to say, the whole experience seemed a bit tacky to me, what with all the pink-maned donkeys trotting up and down the promenade, and every other shop using Comic Sans to promote "the best fish and chips in Blackpool" in their windows. Nevertheless, the sun was shining, kids were having a blast splashing about in the sea, and my dad bought me a raspberry slushie, so overall the day was reasonably pleasant. I took a few photos of the things that caught my eye (in a good way!) and I thought I'd share them here with you all :)



Have you ever been to Blackpool?