New Stars Shine

Hello again! Christmas Lights in Brighton! (Duke Street) With the build up to Christmas it only seems necessary to dedicate one post to the 'Three Phases' of Christmas in my eyes, so I will be discussing how to organise your crimbo, from decorations to the gifts. I started getting prepared for the holidays the same way the retail world does, once halloween was over! It is my favourite time of the year. I love the spirit it brings, adore the giving nature of others, and the whole season is filled with jumpers, hot cocoa and cuddles! Phase One: Prep! Mulled wine goodness! The best way to begin your holidays is to make a list, one with the people you will be purchasing for, and a list of items you want this year for Christmas. If you've been following my previous articles, this year I've decided to ask for donations to my Justgiving cause 'Help the Refugees'. (Link below for those interested!) However in terms of my fellow friends and family I...

Goooood day everyone! The equivalent to my purse! So my post today relates to everybody who works a job and also can't budget! Where is gets so close to payday yet it just isn't there, so you end up pulling apart the sofa for that 20p you lost when you were rich! The worst part of monthly pay is that you keep working and you think you'll be rich, then by the time rent and bills and direct debits go out...well...you are left with enough to buy a big bag of pasta and the cycle starts again. Since I've lived in Brighton I have had these 'financial blues', and have also come up with ways to budget your money so you still have some left for the holiday fund. My little treat yesterday! I love pretty things, more than this I LOVE expensive things! My biggest shop-a-holic store is Anthropologie. Expensive...very expensive. Not to mention I love Waitrose for my food shop, and can only purchase organic, free-ranged items. I love socialising, going for drinks...

Hello everyone! Air strikes in Syria. I hope all is well with you all and are diving into the festive spirit, before I begin with my blog post this week, I wanted to mention something that cannot be ignored; the air strike plans on Syria. I hope you can agree with me saying that David Cameron, for those who don't know is our UK Priminister, gave the go ahead on us to start bombing Syria, so joining in on what have killed so many. Despite the fact that weeks earlier the same man discussed how bombing Syria would only 'increase terrorism'. So this is ridiculous! I am sure you can agree, this is clearly a bad idea, a horrific idea. We have already spent so much time and money investing in the refugees to come to the UK, to help them, and what do we do to help more? Just go ahead and bomb the place. It's disgusting. Some days I wish I had my say in parliament, or more so, I wish young people did. We are the forefront to the future so why are we letting upper class sno...

Yes it is that time of year! The weather gets colder, coats appear, the John Lewis advert comes on TV and everyone is excited about what advent calendar to get for December. I'm aware it's still November but I believe that because there aren't any holidays in November that gives us justice to start Christmas early! If it wasn't for Halloween we would probably start Christmas when the first leaf falls off a tree! I love Christmas. I love the decor, I love having special bedsheets, I love a reason for comfort food, I ADORE wearing more clothes, the leggings, jumper and Timberland boots make another appearance this year. I love getting people gifts more than anything else! I like November as my month to save up money before I go crazy with gifts in December. That has to be my favourite part of Christmas-the giving. I don't mind as such not receiving anything, but the look on someone's face when they open something they've always wanted brings enough joy fo...

On the farm with my siblings! Since I was young I never strayed far from the tree, always been close to my family, grew up with the same faces around me. When I was sixteen I moved next door to my parents, at 18 I moved opposite my parents. So never been far! A month ago I moved south, way south, to the big beautiful city of Brighton! I couldn't be more of a country girl, fields and dog walking were more of my thing than cars and clubbing. Yet I needed a change, I'm twenty and it was time to see what else there is! So I packed up my life and moved into an incredibly small, incredibly expensive two bedroom flat overlooking the sea. Modern and stunning this south facing flat was everything I wanted. I did originally have a plan: 1. Move in to the perfect flat 2. Create the perfect bedroom 3. Regain a form of social life 4. Following 3. find a way to put a cap on your social anxiety. 5. Find a job I can enjoy 6. Apply to University 7. Go on a real date! First da...

When I joined ICS last June I never thought how far it could take me. I assumed 3 months in Africa would be a chance to volunteer and really help those in need. However it was so much more than that, which you know from my previous blogs. However- What have I learnt? A little girl in Zambia when she found a pair of shoes! I have learnt to accept myself, I may not be skinny, I may not have the perfect complexion, I haven't even got good fashion sense or home style! Yet I am happy with my morals. I know now that my life, a life, is incredibly valuable. And you only have 1, so why not make the most out of it? I'm Okay! An underfed dog roaming the pits of Keembe, Zambia  Compared to the lives of people, who struggle to get water, or have to sacrifice an education to help their families. People that don't have a choice in their life, whether that's with their sexuality, or who they marry! My decisions I can make myself, and whilst I was in Zambia I realised j...

The most beautiful smile of them all from a five year old with nothing. I am only 19 bear in mind. NINETEEN! Yet anyone who has been in a rural tribal village for 12 weeks can agree that their lives change in enormous ways. Before August I spent two years at college studying English and Performing Arts, a LOT of fun but I never felt it was for me. I also spent three years in my free time volunteering for the National Citizen Service, I learnt so many skills and met so many fantastic people I knew that helping people was my choice. So I took the challenge and spent three months in Africa. A stunning sunset It was incredible. Imagine waking up every morning to the sound of children singing their ABC, looking out at the fantastic sunrise and knowing that every single waking moment you are trying your very hardest to do good for the community. Every morning it was a quick trip to the water pump just so you can bath, drink and eat. It sounds difficult and displeasing, it was when...

Everyone should begin a blog with a beauts British sunset. I am one of those people who decide they need to start a blog, then don't for months. However it has finally come to a stage in my life, as everyone faces, where you have finished school, don't know where to go next, have a part time job and totally confused at where your life is heading. There is nothing better than sitting on your bed in the early hours and deciding this will be a safe haven to write; about home, life, travel, hopes, ambitions and everything in between. The whole group at NCS in July 2012. I love my life, and dislike it. 3 years ago my life began to change, I went from being a lonely bullied kid with no real dreams, to a woman with ambition! And since that point my life has been a total whirlwind. It all started in the summer of 2012, when I decided to sign up for NCS, the National Citizen Service, for those who don't know, this was a 3 week programme designed by the government t...