My Top 18 in 2018

How bloody quickly has 2018 whizzed by?! People would always say that time speeds up as you get older, but being a child and hearing that, you think it is utter nonsense. However, it's nothing but the truth. Time just ticks on by, and before you know it, it's the end of the day, week, month.. It's crazy. After reading through Caroline's blog post, on the "Top 18 in 2018", I felt inspired to write my own version and reflect on all the good that came from 2018. Thank-you Caroline, for the inspiration! 

1. Finishing University

2018 will forever and always be the year that I finished university. I met all the deadlines, finished all the exams, and deflected all the stress. It will definitely be an achievement that stands out for me regardless. 

2. Graduation

Essentially, the same as the first point, but I had the best graduation. It filled me with warmth to share the whole day with my favourite people, celebrating what I had achieved on my own accord. One of my happiest memories to date. 

3. New York

How could this trip not make the top 18?!? I had the most incredible time. It's a place that I absolutely adore, and Dad went over and beyond to make it such a special trip. 

4. The Lion King

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I love Disney films - nothing can beat a cosy, drizzly evening in, sat on the sofa, watching a Disney film. Finding Nemo, Up, Frozen - anything. They're some of the greatest feel good films in my opinion. Seeing The Lion King in theatre was amazing. The attention to details, the songs, the choreography and the cast were outstanding. Bring on the live action film next year!!

5. Edinburgh

I love the city of Edinburgh, and to see it in all it's glory at Christmas time was the best! 

6. Moving Home

A weird one, but let me explain. Leaving university and moving back home is a big step for anyone. It definitely takes some getting used too, in more ways than one. But I felt happy leaving Plymouth for home. In a bizarre way, it felt like a big chapter of my life was closing whilst another was only just opening. That, and leaving behind the weird flatmates!

7. Christmas

This has been the first Christmas in 3 years that I have spent the entirety of it being at home, without having to live out of a suitcase and dread the long trip back to uni. The whole festive season was such a happy time, and one of my favourite ever.

8. London

I have been lucky enough to have a handful of trips up to London this year. One for my birthday, and one to watch the fireworks and New Years. Both trips were filled to the brim with activities and sight seeing - my favourite.

9. 22nd Birthday

The only 22nd birthday I will have, and it was celebrated with my favourite people at the cutest of cocktail bars/restaurants! If any of you live in the Bristol area, or not, you must visit The Florist. The botanical theme is so pretty!

10. Car

Finally being able to have my little car has definitely been a highlight for me. Living in the middle of nowhere can be difficult at times, and it's so nice being able to fully rely on myself. 

11. Harry Potter Studios
Visiting the Harry Potter studios was such fun! It definitely makes the whole of Harry Potter, whether it be the books or the films feel more magical. It's even better that ITV2 are showing each Harry Potter film every evening this week, and last!

12. Friends
A lot of my close friends turned 21 this year (there were other birthdays as well of course), and it was lovely to be able to celebrate with them however they had planned too.

13. Music Concerts
Dad took me to see Journey and Def Lepard whilst we were in New York at Madison Square Gardens and it was incredible! I have attended a fair few other gigs with my Dad, and it's always a good night. I really do enjoy going to see live music, and last year, more gigs and concerts were booked for this year. Keep your eyes peeled!

14. Little Adventures
Visiting National Trust grounds, or just going for little walks was something that I did a lot of in 2018, and that's something I for sure want to carry on with this year.

15. Fitness Routine
2018 was a year that I 100% fully stuck to a routine in regards to eating better for myself (don't get me wrong, I was still eating pizza and ice cream when I fancied) and getting into a routine with running. Not only did it make me feel so much better - getting away from the desk studying, to having some fresh air, but I had so much energy! Something that I am super chuffed about was the routine that I created, and it's one I can't wait to get back into.

16. The Summer Ball 
This was the best way to celebrate the ending of university life. I love to get all dressed up and this was no exception! When everyone's looking and feeling their best, it's always bound to be a good night in my opinion.

17. New Year
I've never really been one to celebrate the passing of the year we've just had, and celebrating the start of the new one upon us. Whether there was a house party that someone from school held was about as far as the celebrations went for me. But this year, New Year was spent in London, to watch the fireworks. Definitely something that I think everyone who has the opportunity to do, must do. It was incredible! After not having seen any fireworks on Bonfire Night this year, the fireworks in London truly made up for that.

18. Carnival
Where I am from, carnival takes place around the end of October until the beginning of November. All the carnival clubs spend the whole year preparing a 'carnival float' that is based on a theme; whatever they choose it to be. When the time for Carnival arrives, each club parade through different streets of different places, showing off their creations with a song on repeat and the people on the float performing their routines. My Dad happens to be a part of one of the local carnival clubs, and so it was nice to see his contributions to the float and to see it at it's final stage. Dad's club came second overall, out of all the entries. Well done Dad!

I'm more than sure there are many more memories and happy moments of 2018, but these are the ones that stand out for me. 2018 was a great year, full of ups and downs. But it was a year of learning that's for sure. So long 2018. 

What was your favourite memory from 2018?

Amber X

December Favourites

December is over. I know that the festive season is the most enjoyable time of year for so many people - and now we all have to wait another 12 months until it comes back round again... Saying that, I hope that each and every one of you, had the best Christmas. January has never been a favourite of mine but I don't really have a real reason for that. The month in itself seems to drag in my opinion. Before we all start thinking about having a fresh start as another year begins, here are the things that I have loved in the last month of 2017.

Nivea Makeup Wipes
I am a massive fan of makeup wipes, purely for the reason that they are quick, handy and no fuss when it comes to removing makeup. There are so many different brands and types of makeup wipes that I have used over the years, but these Nivea ones stand out from the rest. Most wipes don't tend to keep moisture very well, and leave the rest feeling dry once one wipe has been removed from the pack. These don't - yay! They're super gentle on the skin, and remove eye makeup easily without having to tug and rub at the eye area. Amazing.

Making Memories With Printiki*
Now that Christmas is over, slowly taking down all the festive decorations has left my surroundings feeling naked. I've been frantically looking for some kind of decoration to take their place. Ever since my childhood, I have loved having photos of friends, family and happy memories on my wall. It's such a great way to remember times that have been spent. The lovely people at Printiki recently got in contact with me and asked if I wanted some prints - the perfect filler for my bare surroundings! Printiki made editing and selecting images super easy. You can upload photos to be printed from any platform - Instagram, Facebook, even your phone, laptop or tablet. There are numerous filters, frames, and sizes of photo prints to choose from. You can zoom in on certain aspects of your photos, rotate them, add captions, and even change the colour and shape of the photo's borders. You can even chose whether you want the prints to have a glossy or a matte finish. All the tools you need to make your perfect prints!

If you wanted to treat yourself to some prints like the ones above, use the code "F6UGCXQ8" for free shipping/postage on your order. For some inspiration on how to display your prints, check out Printiki's Instagram here. They have some great designs, DIY's and arrangement ideas. I want to thank Printiki for sending me these photo prints - my room is no longer bare!

Rimmel Scandal Eyes Reloaded Mascara

Another new beauty product that I tried in December, was this one. I'm still on the hunt for a mascara that gives me the volume that I want in my lashes. The wand is everything when it comes to mascara, and I'm a huge fan of this one. It allows you to build your lashes to how you want them to be, without getting majorly clumpy. Just what I want!

Bryson Tiller

At the beginning of the month, I saw Bryson Tiller at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. Bryson released his first album, 'Trap Soul' back in 2015 - the year that I started my first year of University. The songs from this album takes me back to living in halls, overplaying this album, and having so many new experiences. He was so amazing! Never have I ever seen an artist so genuine, down to earth and appreciative of all the people who made the effort to go and see him perform. His concert definitely stands out for the month of December. It was such a lovely birthday present.

What's been your favourite thing about the month of December? 

Amber X

*Please note that  prints were sent to me for consideration, but this hasn't in anyway changed my view or opinion*