Goodbye 2012

So it's nearly the end of 2012 now and the cringey "new year, new me" statuses and tweets have already started to appear but I thought I'd follow my tradition and do an overview of the past year. I'd be lying if I said 2012 was the best year but it hasn't been half bad either, like most years it's had ups and downs (oh the cliches). One thing I can say however, is that this year has seemed to fly past so quickly and it's strange to think that this time next year I'll hopefully be at University. Although AS levels were hard work and A2's are even more work, sixthform has definitely been one of my favourite years of school and I reckon it will be worth it in the end. I've spoken to new people this year, gotten closer to some of my friends, drifted apart from others - but that's just how it is sometimes. Twenty twelve also brought the Olympics and Paralympics during the summer and personally I was hooked, when it was on I watched more sport on television than ever before I think haha! I also got the chance to go and watch some of the Paralympic athletics which was amazing and something I won't forget. This year I also got to see Coldplay live, oh so good, especially as it was a surprise. There's definitely been a lot of memorable moments and they make up for the not so good ones.

For the past couple of years now I've used an app to put together a selection of photos from the past year because I think it makes you remember some of the good times you may have forgotten about. It also reminds me just how lucky I am to have the friends I do...
(See below)

At the beginning of the year I wrote a list of a few things I wanted to do and I managed to do quite a few of them and I'm close to completing the others. Some that I did include: Keeping in contact with friends, seeing the Hunger Games movie, doing more charity work and trying to make my blog a bit better. Another one was 'learn how to drive' and although I haven't passed my actual test yet I've done my theory and I'm not far off booking my driving test, eeep - so I'm happy with that. 'Do well at my AS exams' and 'Decide what I want to do at Uni' where another couple which I've pretty much done. I wasn't one hundred perecent happy with my results from AS but I'm resitting a Biology module so I'm hoping that will push my grade up a bit. As for deciding what to do at Uni I definitely completed that, it was weird how I choose in the end because originally I was set on English single honours. However, as you can tell from my blog posts I'm quite into philosophical things and I eventually decided in the end and applied for English Literature and Philosophy joint honours. So far I have 4 out 5 offers - so it's all good and I'm just waiting on Nottingham with low expectations... Less than 20 places for my course there doesn't sound very promising, but we'll see. One thing that I definitely didn't complete was the 50 book challenge, I always start off well and then fail after a couple of months, I think I may save this one for when I start Uni? Haha.

Anyway, because this is becoming a very long dragged out post I hope you all have a great new year! It may not be a 'new start' or a 'new beginning' but regardless it's a chance to look back on the past year and then focus on the new one.

Happy New Year.

Best wishes,

Laura.

Also, thank you for everybody who has read my blog posts this year, I appreciate it!

Song: I'm Walking On Sunshine (Cover) by Greg Holden
 

The Last One | The 12 Days of Blogmas

Day 12

So here it is, the last day of Blogmas, yay. I know it's slightly delayed but I've been spending time with family the past couple of days so I have an excuse. It's another photo post I'm afraid because I haven't had much spare time to write things. I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and there will be a 2012 post up before the end of the year hopefully.

- Topshop nail vanish in 'Hidden Treasure'
- The Truth About Love by P!NK
- Resistance by Owen Sheers and Life of Pi by Yann Martel
- Soap and Glory products
- Maybelline Colour Tattoo 24hrs in 'Pink Gold'

Laura.

Song: Mr Brightside by The Killers

Happy Christmas | The 12 Days of Blogmas

Post 11

Happy Christmas Everyone!
I hope you all have a lovely Christmas with your families and get some nice presents too.

You may be thinking, 'I thought this was the twelve days of Blogmas..?' and yes, yes it is. But I'm going to make my last post some photos from today soooo that will be up later today or tomorrow.

Have a great day!

Laura.

Song: Merry Christmas Everyone by Slade

Christmas Lights | The 12 Days of Blogmas

Post 10
I haven't been feeling all that Christmasy in the build up to Christmas, but the one thing that's helped are the Christmas lights down my road. They're so pretty and they remind me of Christmas time as a child because we used to go in the car and look at all the lights around town. These photos don't really do them justice but yes!

"Still waiting for the snow to fall, it doesn't really feel like Christmas at all. Those Christmas lights light up the street, down where the sea and city meet. May all your troubles soon be gone. Oh, Christmas lights, keep shinin' on."

Laura.

Song: Christmas Lights by Coldplay

Procrastination | The 12 Days of Blogmas

Post 9

"It turns out we can't save people from themselves." - Scrubs

So instead of revising for the past couple of days I've been watching Scrubs and films instead. Oh well, it's Christmas right? I'll make up for it later.

Laura.

Song: Speed of Sound By Coldplay

December Playlist | The 12 Days of Blogmas

Post 8

Even though it's nearly Christmas I thought I'd be a little different and do my normal monthly playlist, which means not all of the songs are going to be Christmas related. I hope there's something for everyone, as usual I've linked all the songs - just click the numbers.

1.) Christmas Lights by Coldplay
2.) Run by Becky CJ
3.) All I Want For Christmas Is You by Mariah Carey
4.) I Knew You Were Trouble (Cover) by Alex Goot
5.) 42 by Coldplay
6.) Last Christmas by Wham!
7.) Impossible by James Arthur
8.) I Feel It In My Bones by The Killers
9.) Do They Know It's Christmas by Band Aid
10.) Christmas Is All Around - Love Actually

Laura.

Not long left now, oolala.

Christmas Decorations | The 12 Days of Blogmas

Post 7
Thought I'd take few photos of some of the Christmas decorations. 

 Laura.

Song: Promises

Presents | The 12 Days of Blogmas

Post 6

Choosing presents for friends and family is one of the best things, especially at Christmas. I also love wrapping them, just me? Okay. Now I'm older, I think I actually enjoy picking gifts for other people more than opening my own. I've taken a few photos of some presents I've wrapped already - I also love the wrapping paper I found this year! I apologise if this is an extremely boring post but oh well...

 

 

Update: Today was a good day; I passed my Theory Test, helped put the Christmas tree up (photos tomorrow) and watched films with some of my best friends + some Ben and Jerry's = happy days. I hope your Christmas shopping is going okay, not long left now! This year has gone so quick, eep.

Laura.

Song: Lost! by Coldplay

Christmas Films | The 12 Days of Blogmas

Post 5
Thought I'd just list a few of my favourite Christmas films today as I haven't got much time to be writing a decent blog post due to revision and coursework, yay.
Anyway, one of the best Christmas films has to be The Holiday. It's just a cute film and to be honest, I watch it regardless of the time of year because it's not strictly a Christmas film. It has lovely quotes and is definitely in my top five; love the casting. Next is Love Actually, I think nearly everybody has seen this film at least once and Hugh Grant acting as the PM dancing around 10 Downing Street makes me laugh every time - always a winner, clip 'here'. Thirdly is The Greatest Store in the World, this is less known one and not as popular as the others, but I still love it. It's a TV film and is about a mother and her children who sleep in a toy shop when they have nowhere else to go. Definitely watch it if you get the chance!
 
I love some of the other popular films such as Home Alone, Elf and The Muppet Christmas Carol, so they deserve a mention too. Hopefully I'll get a chance to see most of these before Christmas. Hope you're all doing well!

Laura.

Song: Christmas Is All Around from Love Actually

Things | The 12 Days of Blogmas

 

(Hot chocolate, Christmas films, Christmas candle, chocolate brownies, Love Actually, Alfie)

Post 4

Most of these photos were taken when Melissa, Sasha and I went round Nadine's house to watch some Christmas films and eat some amazing food. I think it was a good excuse to take a break from revising and sixthform work for an evening and lets be honest, you can't beat watching a good Christmas film with some friends.

 

Laura.

 

Song: Wherever You Will Go by The Calling

 



Love Actually | 12 Days of Blogmas

Post 2

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge, they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
- Love Actually

Laura.

Song: Opposites Attract by Becky CJ

Introduction | The 12 Days of Blogmas

It's the first of December which means it's only 24 days until Christmas however this also means that it's the beginning of Blogmas, yay. You may be thinking 'What the hell in Blogmas?!' if so, I'll give you a brief explanation. Basically me and a few of my friends have decided to do 'The 12 Days of Blogmas' - which means that we are all going to be blogging a few times each week leading up to Christmas Day. There will be 12 posts in total, as the title suggests, and they will all be Christmas related in some way or other. I take no credit for coming up with this as it's inspired from the idea of 'Vlogmas' on Youtube - which is practically the same thing but video blogging opposed to normal blogging.

ANYWAY...

I'm going to link some of the people that are also taking part, so check out their blogs if you're interested in seeing some Christmassy posts!
Nadine, Melissa, Amber, Becky, Andy and Alex


Post One

Laura.

Song: The Fear by Ben Howard