We gon' party like its your birthday.

Birthday balloons x

So my 21st birthday was on the 7th of December and boy was it one to remember. I can't deny I was excited to be turning 21, its characterised as a 'special' birthday and that made me want to celebrate in the best way I could afford.

 It took me weeks of "umming" and "ahhing" to decide whether or not I should hire a venue and have a huge party. Once I'd finally decided that I did want a big hall to dance, drink and be surrounded by friends and family all celebrating my day, it was too late to get anywhere. Me being me hadn't thought about the fact that my birthday is close to Christmas and companies had already hired the venues for their work dos. Major fail on my part.

After all the rejections from places that would have been just perfect, the annoyance kicked in and I turned into a miserable sod. Planning birthdays can be so stressful at times, particularly once the gloominess of constant planning overrides the initial excitement. I didn't want to celebrate my 21st at all and my decision wasn't budging.

I won't lie to you, I'm a stubborn mare when I want to be. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate everything that is done for me and love my family, boyfriend and friends to death. However when I really want something to go my way and it doesn't, I'm not best amused to say the least.

Anyway enough off that. I soon realised that I needed to buck up my ideas and continue planning what could be the best birthday I'd ever had. Did it pay off? HELL YEAH. My Boyfriend and I had arranged to get a minibus to Bournemouth with a large group of my closest friends to party hard at 'V' club. I wanted to get out of Reading and celebrate in style, in an unusual town, somewhere different with new faces, a variety of music and of course, cheap alcohol.

Luckily I'd managed to book the weekend off of work so I had the whole day to prepare for my big night. I rose from my pit early and it was straight to the hairdressers to get my mop cut, layered and thinned. After my mane was perfected it was back home for a hot bath, a glass of archers and fake tanning. Girls you all know that this can be a long and time-costly process.

Rushing around like a mad-woman, I rapidly dried off and changed into everyday clothes before racing to pick my boyfriend up from work and driving straight to town for my makeup appointment. I was running late which made me panic. I still had to curl my hair, get dressed, pick people up and pre-drink. AAH.

My friend Olivia works for Clarins so I was lucky enough to have a sneaky free makeover. I have some good contacts I know, ha ha. I left her shop feeling like a new woman. My face was deeply cleansed and moisturised with the perfect coloured foundation, pale pink blush and smokey eyes looking just right. No orange tide marks, no eyeliner smudges...result!

Kirsty and I in Bournemouth x

 A couple of hours later I was fully ready to drink more than I should with people I can't live without. The pre drinking began at my house and continued on the minibus with pit stops for a quick ciggy and bladder releasing. Music was blaring through the speakers and everyone was eager to get to the club. The night continued to be amazing, I received a special shout out, many drinks and a brilliant time.


Jay and I in Bournemouth x

 Once the night was over and we drunkenly piled onto the minibus to slounge on the seats and be driven home, I realised my actual birthday was only 3 days away. I had planned a lunch with my family and an evening at a cocktail bar with my boyfriend that I was looking forward to. What I didn't know, however, was that there was surprises in store for me.

The morning of my birthday was lovely. I received some beautiful gifts including a Thomas Sabo bracelet and lots of charms along with perfume, trainers, a top, vans and many more gifts from my boyfriend. The next present came at lunchtime - my friend Abby, who lives in Australia, flew over to surprise me. I couldn't believe my eyes as I walked into the lounge and saw her sitting there on my sofa, I hadn't seen her for a year, my eyes welled up and I was already having the best birthday ever.


Table decorations!

The evening came around quickly and before I knew it, it was time to get
ready for an evening of cocktails at Mix Bar with Jay. Walking straight to the bar determined to get a birthday drink down me, I was oblivious to the bright pink VIP area. Seconds later, though, my ears were ringing at the squeaks of "SURPRISE!" coming from familiar voices. I couldn't believe it. Jay had arranged a surprise night with all of my friends, all of his time, money and effort had literally made me the happiest girl alive. The night was filled with drink, dancing, and laughs.

Becky, Rochelle and I at Mix Bar x











The champagne bottles were soon popped and everyone raised a glass to me turning the big 2-1. I had the best birthday ever!

xox



My cocktail.



Christmas xXx

I absolutely love Christmas. The coming together of friends and family, plates full of glorious food, litres of tasty drinks and of course the excitement that present opening brings. All of that along with good films and fun games, what more could you want?



My stocking :)



This Christmas was just as good as the younger days although very different in many aspects. Strangely, I didn't wake up until 10:30 am. I'm usually the first up in the house nagging at my brother to wake up so we can open our stockings together - it's a family tradition. This year, though, I slept in later and opened my stocking presents on my own whilst he was still asleep.



Christmas morning x

Next was the exciting bit.... downstairs for the main presents! Despite being 21 I walked into the lounge, eyes closed and my body filled with excitement. With my eyes now open I could literally feel them widening as I scammed the room and saw my name flicker off of gift tags and wrapping paper, I had a huge pile of gifts to open.

Surrounded by my brother, his girlfriend, my mum, my step dad and my dog, the unwrapping began. The first present I unwrapped was a beautiful gift box filled with divine makeup. I wanted to reach to the sky and yell hallelujah. I've been skint for months and my face has definitely known about it. Usually I'd have a makeup bag full of goods but the past few months I've been using the last scrapes of the same foundation pot, or borrowing my friends' and my mums when I'm lucky enough. This was a brilliant gift; sending huge thanks to my aunty and uncle! A jet black mac mascara that never fails to elongate my already fairly long lashes and make them stand out from afar is always a gooden. But it didn't stop there. I got the lot. A jet black eyeliner, an eyeliner sharpener, an amazing navy blue glitter eyeliner, a beautiful gold nail polish, foundation and a gorgeous peach lip gloss. A-m-a-z-i-n-g.





Some of my gorgeous gifts x





The unwrapping of presents was paused while my Grandma and Uncle Matt popped over to see us. This year we were having dinner just the five of us, very different to the usual 'huge family' Christmas. However it was nice to spend the rest of the morning with them. We watched Miracle on 34th Street, ate salmon and cream cheese on toasted french bread and washed it all down with laughs and a cold glass of Schleur. Perfect morning, but it was back to the presents.

Watching my brother open his present from my boyfriend and I with a huge grin on his face made Christmas even more special. It's not always the receiving but the giving that counts. We brought him the Lost DVD box-set which he was overally happy about, if I lose sight of him in the next couple of weeks at least I'll know why. My step dad opened his bottle of Jack Daniels whilst my mum opened her beautiful black leather handbag, both were happy with their gifts from us - result.

The next thing I eagerly opened was a beautiful crystal 'R' charm for my Thomas Sabo bracelet that my mum bought me for my 21st birthday a couple of weeks back. The crystal caught the light as I opened the beautiful gift box and my heart melted at the scene. If there's a way to please a girl, it's got to be with crystals. I was in love. With each flicker of the light my beautiful charm sparkled as if to say 'here I am.'

Many more presents were opened between the five of us and happiness filled the room, after all 'tis the season to be jolly. The first part of the afternoon was spent lazing around and watching Christmas films with the smell of turkey, roast potatoes, honey roasted veg and stuffing filling the house. Christmas dinner went down a treat. Everybody went back for seconds and the desserts were just divine. All in all, wonderful food and glasses of Bucks Fizz were consumed in celebration.

Following tradition, the next thing to do was open our tree presents where I was showered with a beautiful large black diamante ring and a pale blue Cath Kidston phone case decorated with beautiful pale pink and white flowers.

Pleased with my gifts and in the general christmas spirit, I drove to my boyfriends mum's bearing gifts for his family. We had been so excited for this day having spoilt everyone rotten. Jay's nephew, 18 months old, received an awesome pirate ship ball pit, a divine pale blue Ralph Lauren polo top and another top from us. Jay's youngest sister, 6, was happy with her pile full of hello kitty goodies and her peppa pig earmuffs and his other sister, Sophie, 18, was over the moon with her beautiful turquoise shamballah. His parents were happy with their gifts and everybody enjoyed playing card games and having a good time.





Jays presents from me :)





Later that evening it was back to my house, this time with the boyfriend, for more present opening, too much chocolate and more champagne. I was amazed by my presents from my beautiful boyfriend. A brand spanking new Swarovski crystalised white Ice Watch and a gorgeous navy blue Barbour coat finished with a layer of fur around the hood. He loved his trainers, Ralph Lauren clothing, slippers, Gillette set and everything else: hurray! Watching Bridesmaids on DVD, which my brother had brought me, along with cuddles was the perfect way to end christmas.

Absolutely amazing festive season this year, bring on 2012!

Top five favourite songs of the year xox

Friends: Do we really know who they are?

I've heard the saying 'friends come and go' but I never really believed it. All of my friends had always been there whether it be for a shoulder to cry on, to celebrate my birthday or to fill me with laughs. Not one of them had let me down. Until now.
I know as you get older your lives change and you find yourself working constantly, settling down into a serious relationship, moving out and the rest of it. But does that really stop you from having time for your friends? I'm at university, in a completely different town from most of them during the week, yet I still have time to call and text them - check they're okay and let them know that I'm still there even when i'm not in sight.

Apparently, though, some of them can't do the same. This society that we live in today secludes girls and boys from being friends, according to the people of today you can't have a friend of the opposite sex without wanting to get jiggy. What.A.Joke.

It has never been like that with me and my 'boy' friends. Of course I care for them but as brothers. Is that really so wrong? Apparently so.

Mine and Josie's TV package for our group project :)

Christmas time, mistletoe and wine...

THE HOLIDAYS are here and I can't bloody wait for five well deserved weeks off of uni.

Work, work, work and more work. That's all I've been hearing about and doing since September. Bored much? The answer is yes indeed! From an assignment on the History of the BBC with special regards to their 'very British' style of broadcasting to group projects based on motorsport, I have been snowed under by books and paper. But hey ho, all assignments are handed in for first term which can only mean one thing... ITS CHRISTMAS!

Girls and boys open your advent calendars and hang up your stockings, Santa is preparing our gifts and will be on his way to us in a matter of days! Merry Christmas! Have a food and alcohol filled day with family, friends and thoughtful gifts...ENJOY

xoxo

http://www.santasgrotto.info/

Life ❤

I need these beauts in my life ♥

Kurt Geiger Precious Sequin; this is the way to melt my heart! xox

Student crushed to death in nightclub.

TRIBUTES have been paid to 22-year-old University of Northampton student who was crushed to death in a local nightclub.
   Third year leisure and tourism student, Nabila Nanfuka, of Neasden, North London, had been attending the Wickedest Skank RnB and hip hop night at Lava and Ignite, St.Peters Way.
   According to witnesses, the DJ wrapped up the end of the event with a speech on the mic reporting: "coaches are leaving its the end of the night guys." From here it is said that the already over-crowded club capacity rushed to the doors, falling over each other, where Nabila fell and was trampled on by others trying to force their way down the stairs.
 Unfortunately, Nabila died before she was seen at the hospital. The nightclub tragedy has also left two others in intensive care whilst six students were treated for minor injuries.
 Being a University of Northampton student myself, I am aware that our whole society has been deeply saddened by the heart-breaking news of someone described as a "lovely character." My heart goes out to Nabila, her family and her friends at this traumatic time.

    

Third year of university begins...

The BBC provides a very British style of broadcasting for radio.

So the long summer break has ended and I find myself back in a lecture theatre at 9am on a Monday morning, surrounded by course friends, ready for two hours of radio.
        Mixed feelings of happiness, fear and uncertainty fill my body whilst I digest important information regarding my huge work load for the third and final year of my journalism degree.
       Although I try my hardest to listen enthusiastically, radio is and always will be my least favourite module and so the fire in my heart starts to die as the lecture continues. History of radio, radio clips from the 1920's and the distinctive nature of the BBC, although exciting for some, leaves me bewildered and lacking motivation. However, I've never been a loser and giving up is just not on my itinerary. I will fight for as long and as hard as I have to in order to receive a good grade for each and every module this year, radio included.
      After a negative and rather dull start to the year, I make my way to my Advanced Writing lecture which turns out to be much more useful than I had anticipated. Steering away from the module guidelines itself, Jon Mackley - the course tutor, concentrates solely on the dreaded dissertation filling the room with interesting potential topics, dissertation questions and helpful resources in terms of research. So here it is, a highly important year for my future career and life in general. The hard work begins now....sigh!

Articles written for Reading Chronicle newspaper.

Berkshire-based picture framer Tony Frankland has successfully qualified as a Guild Commended Framer. 

    The professional qualification awarded to him by the Fine Art Trade Guild, an international trade association for the industry, appoints only the highest qualified and experienced independent examiners to oversee the examination by which the GCF award is granted to 1,000 framers in the UK.

    Following redundancy after working as a project manager for 16 years at a local high-tech company, Tony quickly chose to build a new occupation in framing. Although it seems like a daring and abnormal transition of career choice, Tony said: "I used my project management skills to research the idea, identify and invest in training with well established professional framers and source the equipment I needed for a huge venture."

   Tony spent several months last year converting an unused building into a fully equipped framing workshop at his home in Woodley, Berkshire, where he now runs his business, Loddon Framing. He believes the GCF qualification will help to achieve high ambitions for himself and for his company.

  Tony's next challenge is to establish and develop his range of customers, which he says "took a step forward"  when local artist Sally Castle asked him to frame her Lino cut prints for the upcoming whiteknights studio trail on June 18 and 19. In addition to this he is keen to promote the importance of conservation framing, a technique that uses materials to help protect the artwork from colour fading caused by natural occuring acids and other environmental hazards such as damp, light and insects.

Finito.

SECOND year is over.

                  I can hardly believe it, it only feels like yesterday that I was at home packing my life up for the big move to University. Then I blinked. I've spent two whole years at Northampton and two good years at that. From Fresher's fortnight, meeting new people, drunken nights and a lot of hard work, I have really enjoyed my time as a student. 

                 I have just broken up for the summer holidays, something that couldn't have come soon enough. The hell of the last two weeks at University was something I never want to experience again. From confusion over changed deadlines to a lack of communication from the lecturers, MB5 (our study room) was chaos. I had peers holding the assignment box open for me ten minutes after the deadline, with other friends of mine still printing and burning their work onto disc. Crazy!

               The law and government exam, on the other hand, went fairly well. Everything I revised popped up in the paper so I couldn't have asked for better questions. I guess we'll just have to wait for results now...

Roll on the summer!

x

SKINT!

Money, money, money... that is all I ever hear.

Everything in this world is concerned with those crisp pieces of paper and loose change that 'major' people like The Royal Family and celebrities don't think twice about. 

Think of Katie Price for example - she will fly all the way to America just to have her hair extensions glued in - obsessed much? Whereas I don't even have hair extensions and my friends that do just clip them in themselves, pretty simple if you ask me. It really doesn't take a flight to America and thousands of pounds to be beautiful but apparently money can buy beauty and happiness nowadays. 

I often compare myself, a twenty year old student with lets face it - not a lot of money, against those famous and 'beautiful' women such as Victoria Beckham. They have everything I don't have and many girls my age aspire to be like them. Who wouldn't? Beautiful, perfect nails, freshly cut, blow dried and straightened hair and yet they haven't done anything themselves except marry a famous footballer or something of the sort. Don't get me wrong, many of the WAGS are beginning to make something of themselves, from singing to having their own fashion line but who really made them famous? A man who runs around a football pitch and is often accused of sleeping with someone else other than his wife in a hotel room. 

I think it's time that the media stopped paying such close attention to celebrities and focussed more on major, life threatening events that are occurring in the world. Our society is turning into one which is ruled by money. Every young girl wants to be like the models we see on our TV screens, read about in magazines and hear about on the radio however all anyone should really wish for is a successful career in something they love to do with aims of being the best they can be - beauty can come without a price!

How does sex education affect teenage pregnancy rates in the UK?

TEENAGE pregnancy rates have always been prominent in the media, it is already widely known that the UK has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Europe and that sexually transmitted infections are also more prevalent than before, particularly in people aged 16-19.

THE UK shocks Europe with 41,325 girls under the age of 18 falling pregnant in 2008 in England and Wales alone.

Despite the appalling figure in 2008, data from the Office for National Statistics indicate that 2008 teenage pregnancy rates in Britain experienced a decline of 3.9% from 2007, while the number of pregnancies among the under 16’s fell 7.6% to 7,577.

Although there is improvement, the decline is still far short of the government’s pledge to halve teenage pregnancies (15-17year olds) by the end of 2010.  Today’s figures show a rate of 40.4 per 1,000 girls in 2008 – a drop of just over 13% in comparison to the baseline figure.

So why are teenage pregnancy rates in Britain so high? Many people believe that sex education in schools is nothing like what it should be.

The issue of Sex and Relationships Education (SRE) in schools is and has been of concern to the UK Youth Parliament’s knowledge for at least seven years. In England and Wales, Sex Education is not compulsory and parents can refuse to let their children be a part of what little education they may receive. Members of the Youth Parliament are adamant that the Sex Education that teenagers receive in school is “too little, too late, too biological and doesn’t provide enough (if any) information on relationships.”

Nationally, 40% of young people between the ages of 11 and 18 thought that their Sex Education was extremely poor, whilst a further 33% said theirs were average.  These results alone clearly show that drastic measures need to be put forward to ensure that teenagers have a good understanding of Sex Education upon leaving school. 

The majority of the public are strongly recommending that schools should employ more trained staff to teach Sex Education rather than relying on normal Science teachers to educate these young girls.

Hopefully, the government will eventually make Sex Education in England and Wales compulsory in an attempt to lower these awful pregnancy rates. With better education on sex and relationships, teenage girls of 13-18 will become more aware of all types of contraception and both pregnancy and abortion rates will continue to decline.

Big, Bold and Bizarre!

NORTHAMPTON Museum and Arts gallery are currently holding a ‘Big, Bold and Bizarre’ exhibition that will end on February 27^th.

Sporting an array of oil paintings and sculptures from various artists, including international artists Michael Derek Jarman and Sir Frank Brangwyn, the work immediately screams out ‘talent’ when entering the exhibition. The ability portrayed really allows you to be open minded about the paintings and opens your imagination to the hidden meanings buried beneath the beauty of the art.

The title of the exhibition links perfectly with the art on display. Their visual impact is incredible – some are big, some are bold and some are simply bizarre. The combination of bold and colourful paintings mixed with the weird and abstract act as a visual feast for all of the visitors, this is most definitely an exhibition I would recommend to others.

Although some pieces of work may not be everybody’s cup of tea each painting and sculpture stands out in its own, unique way. Acting as a niche, one of my personal favourites has to be John Bratby’s ‘Sunflowers and Sun -Crossed Sky in the Summer of 1968.’ Bratby’s choice of bold colours, ranging from bright yellow to bright green, allows the idea of life and nature to shine through the painting literally emphasising the precise strokes of the brush with each gallant tint. Some would say that the iconic sunflowers painted by Bratby were influenced by Vincent Van Gough’s ‘Sunflowers.’

Moreover, ‘Lock 1977’ painted by Ben Johnson in my opinion stands out for its intricate detail and sheer size. Johnson’s painting is by far the biggest addition to the exhibition portraying a fantastic amount of detail that can only be seen up close. Clearly Johnson spent a lot of time on this painting and his talent should be displayed and congratulated for years to come.

After having observed the ‘big and the bold,’ next on the list was the ‘bizarre.’ ‘Avebury Series No.4’ by Michael Derek Jarman certainly fits into the bizarre category. To the untrained eye like my own, the painting looks like a yellow canvas, with red and blue lines and dark circles to represent stones in the Wiltshire area. In my opinion, this painting was particularly tedious and lacked imagination. Another bizarre piece was Sully Sheinman’s ‘Sacred Vessel 46,’ that simply looked like a young child had sketched it at school. I feel these two pieces should not have been part of the collection however everybody interprets art in their own ways and some may find a hidden and beautiful meaning behind the simple piece of work.

That aside the exhibition as a whole was interesting and inspiring in many ways. I would recommend ‘Big, Bold and Bizarre’ as it’s a chance to open your mind and really see the beauty of life portrayed as a work of art through the eyes of somebody else.

Money is the root of all evil.

WHEN the words 'loan' and 'overdraft' appeared in my email inbox last week, my heart leaped into my mouth - something it tends to do if anything vaguely financially orientated makes it through the sand and into my consciousness.

According to a recent survey, one in ten people in the UK, like me, are always in debt, with more than 38 percent dipping into the red at least once. Would I like to talk about my debts? With more of us than ever in the red I guess now is the right time to come clean.

I struggle to sleep with constant reminders of the dreaded minus figures that rule my Natwest student bank account. The bold statistics stare at me as I type in my four-digit pin, something that I rarely do. I have become sick of checking my account. All I get from it is a feeling of depression and anxiety. Will I ever be out of the red?

As shocking as it may sound, I have become so used to being in debt, I now see my £1,000 overdraft facility as 'my money.' Phone bills, rent, food shopping and car insurance reach the top of my worries. I wake up in the same way in which I fall asleep, repeating the 'minus nine hundred and eighty pounds' bank balance that I currently have. With only twenty pathetic pounds left, how am I supposed to even pay my phone bill? Let alone the rent, insurance, food shopping...

A survey of University of Central England undergraduates has shown that many students believe that financial problems are having an adverse effect on their academic performance. As a second year student, I completely agree. Those one in ten of us who live in the red - and our nerves exist in a chaotic world where every move, every thought is ruled by how close you are to that magic number: your agreed limit - will understand the way I'm currently feeling.

Even the slightest sound of a letter being forced through my front door leaves me in a state. Who ever came up with 'another day, another dollar?' In my case it's another day, another bill. My relationship with my overdraft has become the most important relationship in my life. The constant nagging in the back of my mind that I need to pay my pone bill or that I need to make do with ends meet for the month is like a weight hanging around my neck and tying me down.

Lectures are often a daze. They come and they go, just like money. I try to concentrate but as per usual figures, furious reminders and a red light that indicates the bloody red of my overdraft take over my mind. I have a part-time job as a bartender but that barely covers a week's worth of meals. The trouble is, when you have more money it still isn't enough. As they say, "money is the root of all evil."