Making 2016 the BEST year!!

Hello There,

For years I have just seemed to float through life not really making it exciting for myself or having plans.  This year I have decided to change that! This year will be the year I do more and make memories I'll want to remember and do things I've always wanted to do. So on the 17th January what do I have planned to make this year the best one?

1) I had my hair dyed yesterday, just the bottom, but I love it! I've been putting it off because I was scared that I would hate it but I am so happy and proud of myself for having it done.

2) I am going to see 5SOS.  I've wanted to see these on their own tour for 2 years so why not just go?

3) I'm going to see The Vamps.  I'll be honest I have seen these already and I absolutely love them live but I really want to see one of their support acts and that's the main reason I booked the tickets.

4) I'm 21 this year! And I have promised myself that I will make it the best birthday yet surrounded by friends and family.

5) I am finally after about 5 years going to meet Ameerah, one of my best friends.  I can not wait to meet her and I know I'll probably get all emotional!

6) London!! I'm finally going to explore London and do all the things I've wanted to do.  Exciting times.

So far I think that's all that I have planned but who knows where this year can take us? I'm hoping that at the beginning of 2017 I can look back on this year and think yeah that was a great year.

Leigh x

Looking back on 2015

Hello There,

As someone who cherishes memories and tries to capture them constantly, through pictures, a diary even Facebook posts or tweets I have a lot of memories and sometimes for me they all get jumbled and I can’t remember what year this pictures from or what year this happened.  So I thought that why not review 2015? I have tons of photos and memories of the year so why don’t I just put all of them into a blog post to look back to in years to come? A lot happened in 2015 so these are not in any way going to be in order.

First of all my oldest cousin had his first little boy! I have plenty of pictures of little Oscar but just don’t feel right sharing pictures of him.  I am no longer the official baby of the family! It’s only taken 20 years!

My sister got her puppy! It feels like he’s been around for ages when in actual fact it hasn’t even been a year yet! So here’s Bailey, my new four legged friend.

 

It was both my Nan and Grandads 80^th birthdays this year and we had loads of fun at each! I turned party planner for my Grandads and organised the whole party, including a book so everyone could write him a message (something he can keep forever) I also used this book to stick in photos so that my Grandad can see the faces that wrote the messages.  For me it was so important to keep as many memories as possible from this as my Grandad has Alzheimer’s and often struggles with remembering the more recent things in life.  My Nans birthday was a lot less stressful for me as I didn’t have to turn party planner my Auntie did that and she did a great job my nan really enjoyed going out for a meal with all the people closest too her and really loved the photo album that I made of pictures from the night.

On the subject of special birthdays it was also my Aunties 50^th birthday in 2015. There wasn’t so much as a party more a gathering at her house.  It was great fun and we all stuffed ourselves with Chinese until it was no longer possible to carry on eating.

Concerts:

I had 7 concerts this year a slight downsize to the 12 in 2014 but what a great 7 concerts they were.

First was The scripts no sound without silence tour, to say I got off to a rocky start that day would be an understatement my anxiety was all over the place and I felt absolutely terrible, I apparently looked it too because my mum thought we would have to come home.  I persevered though and once we got into the arena and into our seats I was fine and absolutely enjoyed the show. It was my first time seeing the script and I would without a shadow of a doubt go and see them again.

 

Next up was Olly Murs’s never been better tour.  Again the first time seeing Olly and the first time going to a concert with my cousin.  It was brilliant I always knew Olly was a proper showman and seeing him live just made that even more evident I would quite happily go and see him again tomorrow.

Next is the vamps world tour, I wrote a blog post on this one so won’t go on for ages.  It was an amazing show and I fell in love with the support act Hometown.  It was also my first time going to Scarborough open air theatre and it was beautiful.

 

Hallam FM summer live is next and what a concert that one was.  I’d been the previous year and absolutely loved it and 2015 didn’t disappoint there were so many great artists on the bill and almost all of them were great (sorry Dappy you were rubbish.) I especially enjoyed watching Nathan Sykes and even teared up during his performance (I loved The Wanted ok?)

Then came the concert that part of me had been dreading, One Directions on the road again tour.  I love one directions music and knew once I was there that I’d have a good time but I could help but fret over where we were sat what doors we were going in, if my cousin had got the tickets.  I am a complete control freak on these things so not being the one to book the tickets really did get my anxiety peaking.  It turns out the seats were amazing! So I had worried for nothing! The concert was brilliant and I really enjoyed myself, I did however have my first panic attack in the arena something I don’t want to be doing again in a hurry!

For me this was a concert but of a smaller scale.  It was a charity night in memory of a much loved man who died in 2014 there was two acts on a local band and a local guy. They were both amazing and the atmosphere was great I literally knew about 90% of the people in that room.

 

And last but not least completing my concerts if 2015 is Diversity’s up close and personal tour.  I wrote a post on that so I won’t put much here all I will say is that it was bloody amazing.

Holidays!

I was very lucky this year and managed to have 3 holidays! 2 weekends away and then a week in Devon.  I did blog about two of those trips so will just summarise the week away.  It was amazing! I absolutely love the place that we went and have done since I was a kid.  Saying this it was rather boring the places we went to when I was younger talk half a day rather than a full day and nothing seemed as magical and exciting as it once had.  We still had a great time though but have decided that we won’t be going there again.

 

I did the race for life this year! For me this was something that I have always wanted to do but never had the guts to do it and finally I did it! Ok I only raised £50 and my group were the last walking people back (we did have a 2 year old with us) but it was amazing.  The atmosphere was great and I got my medal to say that I did it!

In the snow in January I made a pretty awesome snowman! I’ll be completely honest and I had forgotten it even snowed in January!

We went to a very interesting night do for a wedding where we were literally in what was like a field on the back of a pub sat on hay bales.  It was very strange but an awesome night.

 

CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas was great this year! It was the first time I had ever been to a works Christmas do and absolutely loved it! It was great to socialise with all my colleagues without being at work.  It was a fun night and I even managed to stay until the time that we were being picked up (go me!)

 

Christmas day itself was brilliant we had my Nan and grandad and my sister, her boyfriend and dog around and found out some great news my sister was engaged! I got all the presents I’d asked for and more and everyone seemed to like the presents that I had given (few) Christmas dinner was brilliant and we had a really nice time.

Looking at 2015 like this is amazing! It’s quite possibly been one of the best years of my 20 years existence.  Here’s to 2016 being even better!

Leigh x

 

 

A new year

Hello There,

First of all Happy New Year! 2016 already time just flies by!

As with a new year you get the people going new year new me and then they never change and it was a complete waste of time. I myself have never been one to do the whole new me thing choosing more realistic resolutions like last years read more (and still I don't succeed as much as I would like) but this year I've decided that yes in a way it will be new me. Here are my 5 resolutions that I hope I can follow to make 2016 the best year yet!

1) Do more of what makes me happy- for years I have always worried about everyone else and just followed if you will, seeing the films I don't want to see because I was too afraid to say no, constantly trying to reconnect with 'friends' who couldn't care less because I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings. But 2016 is the year I'm going to put myself first and think about my own feelings.

2) Drink more- self explanatory I never drink enough water in a day and always seem to have a headache because of it so I need to drink more.

3) Get fitter- this is one I have every year and fail on. I'm extremely unfit and really want to change that this year, fingers crossed I can keep to it!

4) Pass my driving test- not really a resolution more of a goal but I am determined that by the end of this year I will have passed!

5) Enjoy life- I've always been the person to shy away from social outings always too afraid to go, this comes from having anxiety but I don't want to let it rule me anymore. I need to start saying yes!

So that's my 5 who knows by the end of the year I might be writing a blog post on how well all of these have gone and then again I could be writing on on how bad they've gone. What are your New Years resolutions?

Leigh x

Girl Online On Tour: A review

Hello there,

So as the title to this blog post suggests I've just read girl online. Not only did I read the book I read it all in a day. As I write this I have literally just put the book down after refusing to do so for a fair few hours of my day. For me that shows me that a book is good. If I am that into the book for me not to put it down it must be great!

There's something about Zoe's books that do this to me, I read Girl online in one day last year and absolutely loved it. I don't quite know what it is about these books but they must have some magical powers because it's been a very long time since I've been this into a book series. I just want more!

I think it's the story lines how a ordinary girl like 'penny' can be completely in love with rockstar 'Noah' and for him to feel the exact same. It's what we dream of. I think as well for me the books help, in a way. At the end of last year I was told that I had IBS triggered by anxiety and I thought it was total rubbish. This year however I have come to the realisation that actuall the anxiety isn't rubbish and yes I may feel completely sick to my stomach I can't let it stop me from living my life. And well Zoe's books (and well her general person) proves that you can keep going and you can achieve your dreams, ones you might not have even realised was possible.

I think I'll leave it there or this blog post will be stupidly long and I'll start rambling.

Leigh x

Up Close and Personal Tour (Diversity)

Hello there,

Diversity what can I say? A bunch of amazingly talented inspirational people who leave me stuck for words each time I see them.

Having seen them for twice before tonight I thought I'd seen everything and that nothing could surprise me. But man was I wrong. Not only was this years show personal and told us the boys stories it made me think about my own life. How a bit like Perri I was the shy, quiet kid at school who was bullied and who has finally started to find her voice because of the job she does and loves.

I was surprised at myself when I teared up and even cried at a couple of the dances the boys did, I never thought in my wildest dreams that watching someone dance could move me so much. But then again I never thought that dance could tell a story and the Limitless tour proved that one wrong.

The whole show was entertaining and powerful. You could really tell how much work has been put into making the show a reality and it was amazing! That's the only word I have to describe it because even now writing this two hours later I'm still stuck for words on how I could possibly describe what they do. It's simply stunning.

So now I'm going to sleep with a smile on my face knowing that I've seen the people who make me aspire to be better and to achieve my dreams. Because as their motto says 'Dream, Believe, Achieve' and I can't wait to book tickets for the 2017 tour!

Night Leigh x

Advent Calander

Hello there,

As a project to keep my self busy and to try and be at some level creative I decided that this year I would create my own advent Calander. In the past I've always had a chocolate shop baught one but as I'm not supposed to eat chocolate I thought for this year I can make my own! I can choose what it looks like, what's inside and how many days it's goes for (I loved the ones that gave you a big chcocolate on Christmas).

I did quite a bit of research into different approaches and then decided to do it my own way because the tutorials looked very confusing. I was going to use toilet roll tubes squashed to make pouches (one of the many online ideas) but then as I began looking for decorations for the pouches I found something better! Little envelops just big enough to fit a little gift to myself in, and only £1 for 12 (I do love the works) so I ordered them as well as decorations and began decorating.

I found it so fun to decorate the pouches and tried to make each one different.  I decorated them all before getting out my sharpies (28 pack from Tesco £7 bargin!) and putting numbers on each.

The hardest part I have found is choosing what to pu in my 'days' so far I have a collection of sweets, which is brilliant, but with the 1st of December looming I still have 9 empty pockets that I need to fill and no idea what to fill them with!

I do however have my number 25 which was really an excuse to get a present from myself to myself and that is Sprinkle of Glitters 2016 diary. I adore Louise and really wanted it and we'll at just under £4 why not? 

I can't wait to start opening my little pockets and enjoying the Christmas spirit that is sure to flood everywhere even more at the beginning of December.

What about you... Are you like Buddy the Elf or Scrooge?

Leigh x

A Boring Day

Hello There,

What an exciting day I've had... The sarcasm in that sentence is overpowering.

As Christmas is approaching money is needed to buy the copious amounts of presents required, not only is there the usual suspects of parents and siblings, grandparents and friends I now have two secret Santa gifts to buy, a 2 year olds Christmas and birthday present, a baby's first Christmas present and of course I can't forget my sisters puppy now can I? 

So here I am working away everyday that I can at wherever will have me. 4 days at nursery and then my day off like today busy working with my mum at an accountants. It's thrilling work... Not!

I absolutely hate it there's not much that I can actually do as I'm not qualified and my maths isn't that brilliant, I mean a B at GCSE is pretty good but not the standard to work here, so I spend my days filing and cleaning all the stuff the other people don't have time to do and the only redeeming feature? The £5.20 and hour I get for doing it. But in the words of Tesco every little helps especially at this time of year! 

Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?

Leigh x