I decided to film a video in response, discussing where I hope to be in ten years. Enjoy! xx
Ten Years Time
Alfie Deyes (or PointlessBlog) recently uploaded this video discussing where he expects to be in ten years.
I decided to film a video in response, discussing where I hope to be in ten years. Enjoy! xx
I decided to film a video in response, discussing where I hope to be in ten years. Enjoy! xx
Recapping My Travels
Hello everyone! I'm officially back to St Andrews after an incredible week in Edinburgh and London. It was so hard telling my family and my favorite city goodbye, but I'm hoping to use this coming week productively...which means, lots of new content for you!
If you want to read more about what I did while on holiday, here are the links to specific posts on my travel blog:
Day One: Showing my family around St Andrews
Day Two: Seeing the former royal yacht Brittania in Edinburgh
Day Three: The Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh (good for Mary Queen of Scots fans!)
Day Four: Traveling to London and Les Miserables Stage Door
Day Five: Hanging out in Hamley's (this is also the day that we went to Primark; I just uploaded my haul video!)
Day Six: The Harry Potter Studios and Harrod's
Day Seven: Hampton Court Palace and Miss Saigon Stage Door (a must read for Henry VIII lovers!)
Day Eight: Our day in Brighton!
Day Nine: Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and saying goodbye
If you want to read more about what I did while on holiday, here are the links to specific posts on my travel blog:
Day One: Showing my family around St Andrews
Day Two: Seeing the former royal yacht Brittania in Edinburgh
Day Three: The Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle in Edinburgh (good for Mary Queen of Scots fans!)
Day Four: Traveling to London and Les Miserables Stage Door
Day Five: Hanging out in Hamley's (this is also the day that we went to Primark; I just uploaded my haul video!)
Day Six: The Harry Potter Studios and Harrod's
Day Seven: Hampton Court Palace and Miss Saigon Stage Door (a must read for Henry VIII lovers!)
Day Eight: Our day in Brighton!
Day Nine: Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, and saying goodbye
Primark Haul!
While in London last week, I finally got to take Hannah to a Primark! I picked up a few things so I wanted to share them with you. Excuse the strange lighting.
Friday Internet Finds
I am so excited for this weekend...my family is here visiting me for spring break and we are heading to London soon! If you want to read about my travels, check out my St Andrews blog.
1. I am always looking for ways to make leggings look put together enough for wearing out, so this article full of suggestions is my new favorite.
2. Have I ever loved a Buzzfeed quiz as much as I love this "Which Type of Tea Should You Drink?" one? #probablynot
3. I've been a fan of Alyssa Campanella's blog, Jumpers and Jasmine, for a while now. I'm so excited for her launch of her newly branded blog, The A-List. Go ahead and bookmark it now ahead of time!
4. I could definitely use some tips for Photoshop and this tutorial on how to make collages looks super helpful! Definitely saving it for when I'm back to Elon and computers that have the Adobe suite on them.
5. I know that last week's Friday Internet Finds had a Carrie Hope Fletcher video in it...so I told myself that this one wouldn't...but I lied to myself. Because Carrie uploaded her video of her trip to Disney World with Pete Bucknall and it's so cute, I cried watching it. I want to go to Disney, right now.
1. I am always looking for ways to make leggings look put together enough for wearing out, so this article full of suggestions is my new favorite.
2. Have I ever loved a Buzzfeed quiz as much as I love this "Which Type of Tea Should You Drink?" one? #probablynot
3. I've been a fan of Alyssa Campanella's blog, Jumpers and Jasmine, for a while now. I'm so excited for her launch of her newly branded blog, The A-List. Go ahead and bookmark it now ahead of time!
4. I could definitely use some tips for Photoshop and this tutorial on how to make collages looks super helpful! Definitely saving it for when I'm back to Elon and computers that have the Adobe suite on them.
5. I know that last week's Friday Internet Finds had a Carrie Hope Fletcher video in it...so I told myself that this one wouldn't...but I lied to myself. Because Carrie uploaded her video of her trip to Disney World with Pete Bucknall and it's so cute, I cried watching it. I want to go to Disney, right now.
The Art of Packing
I have a love-hate relationship with packing. By which I mean: I love the idea of packing, but I hate actually having to pack my suitcase. Does anyone else have that problem?
Right now, I'm packing for going to Edinburgh and London next week with my family. Speaking of which, I might as well apologize now for the lack of posts next week. But posts will resume the next week as normal once my vacation is over!
My mother can tell you that my packing anxiety has gotten much better over the years. I used to end up crying or yelling when packing for long trips. Granted, packing for airplane travel will always be stressful because of the weight limits.
Packing for London this time is very different than every other time I have. Before, it's always been packing for a two week (or more!) trip overseas and planning out each outfit meticulously. The last time I packed for London was this past summer, because Stefanie and I spent a week there on our way home from Brighton. Therefore, we were simply stuffing all of our clothes (dirty and clean) into our suitcases in the easiest way possible and then disassembling them once we were at our hotel.
This time, oddly enough, I'm packing to go to London from within the UK for a quick trip. While I'll be using my huge suitcase (it's all I have!), I won't have nearly as much stuff as usual. I'll be able to have a bit more flexibility instead of planning out my outfits so carefully and take as many pairs of shoes as I like! It's very strange, packing for just a week's holiday that's only a short plan ride away, instead of a big overseas trip...
Do you like packing? Hate it? Let me know in the comments below. And don't forget to follow me on Instagram to see photos from my "holiday" (that's a word the British use for vacations!) next week. xx
Right now, I'm packing for going to Edinburgh and London next week with my family. Speaking of which, I might as well apologize now for the lack of posts next week. But posts will resume the next week as normal once my vacation is over!
My mother can tell you that my packing anxiety has gotten much better over the years. I used to end up crying or yelling when packing for long trips. Granted, packing for airplane travel will always be stressful because of the weight limits.
Packing for London this time is very different than every other time I have. Before, it's always been packing for a two week (or more!) trip overseas and planning out each outfit meticulously. The last time I packed for London was this past summer, because Stefanie and I spent a week there on our way home from Brighton. Therefore, we were simply stuffing all of our clothes (dirty and clean) into our suitcases in the easiest way possible and then disassembling them once we were at our hotel.
This time, oddly enough, I'm packing to go to London from within the UK for a quick trip. While I'll be using my huge suitcase (it's all I have!), I won't have nearly as much stuff as usual. I'll be able to have a bit more flexibility instead of planning out my outfits so carefully and take as many pairs of shoes as I like! It's very strange, packing for just a week's holiday that's only a short plan ride away, instead of a big overseas trip...
Do you like packing? Hate it? Let me know in the comments below. And don't forget to follow me on Instagram to see photos from my "holiday" (that's a word the British use for vacations!) next week. xx
Book Review: Billy and Me & You're the One That I Want
Recently I've been doing so much reading for my classes that whenever I have a bit of time to relax, the last thing I want to do is read. (Ah, the life of a university student.) There has, however, been one large exception to this rule: Giovanna Fletcher's novels.
I discovered Giovanna Fletcher through her sister-in-law, Carrie Hope Fletcher, who you all know is one of my favorite West End actresses and YouTubers. One of the first days I was here, in St Andrews, I decided to pick up Billy and Me at Waterstones.
When I started it, I finished it in about 48 hours. Once upon a time, long ago, this wouldn't have been an anomaly for me. But these days, it's incredibly rare.
Billy and Me is a charming book about a small town girl who falls in love with a famous actor. And no, I just don't love it because that sounds like my dream. Giovanna does an incredible job of creating complex characters that are impossible not to fall in love with. Billy and Me will thrill you, break your heart, and leave you feeling warm and cozy inside. Honestly, reading the book just made me want to curl up with a cup of tea under my duvet!
I made myself wait to buy Giovanna's other novel, because I knew that no course work would be accomplished while it was in my possession until it was read. But when Valentine's Day rolled around and I realized that a new novel was the only hope of having romance in my life, I caved. And again, I read this book within a few days! While I definitely prefer Billy and Me, I think that You're The One that I Want is the more thought-provoking of the two. It's about a girl who grows up with two male best friends and it traces their lives from when they meet as children to her marriage. I won't spoil anything, but the book centers around the main character's conflict of which man to choose....it was hard to put down!
I'm so grateful I gave Giovanna Fletcher's books a try, because it's been quite some time since I read something that I was so addicted to. I'm so excited to see what her next book will be and I can't wait to lend the books to my friend, Stefanie, once I'm back in the States.
Want to find out more about what I'm reading? Let's be friends on GoodReads.
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| This book was my happy companion for two days |
When I started it, I finished it in about 48 hours. Once upon a time, long ago, this wouldn't have been an anomaly for me. But these days, it's incredibly rare.
Billy and Me is a charming book about a small town girl who falls in love with a famous actor. And no, I just don't love it because that sounds like my dream. Giovanna does an incredible job of creating complex characters that are impossible not to fall in love with. Billy and Me will thrill you, break your heart, and leave you feeling warm and cozy inside. Honestly, reading the book just made me want to curl up with a cup of tea under my duvet!
I made myself wait to buy Giovanna's other novel, because I knew that no course work would be accomplished while it was in my possession until it was read. But when Valentine's Day rolled around and I realized that a new novel was the only hope of having romance in my life, I caved. And again, I read this book within a few days! While I definitely prefer Billy and Me, I think that You're The One that I Want is the more thought-provoking of the two. It's about a girl who grows up with two male best friends and it traces their lives from when they meet as children to her marriage. I won't spoil anything, but the book centers around the main character's conflict of which man to choose....it was hard to put down!
I'm so grateful I gave Giovanna Fletcher's books a try, because it's been quite some time since I read something that I was so addicted to. I'm so excited to see what her next book will be and I can't wait to lend the books to my friend, Stefanie, once I'm back in the States.
Want to find out more about what I'm reading? Let's be friends on GoodReads.
Friday Internet Finds
Happy Friday everyone! I'm quite excited for this weekend as I have a lot to accomplish and it's always nice to have two completely free days...but first, this evening I'm attending an a cappella competition! What're you looking forward to this weekend?
1. Who else is incredibly excited about the casting news for the upcoming live action Beauty and the Beast film? Emma Watson as Belle was enough to guarantee that I'll go see it (probably multiple times, plus buying the DVD as soon as it comes out) but Dan Stevens as the Beast and Luke Evans as Gaston? It's already my favorite movie and it doesn't even have a release date.
2. It's so good to find out that I'm not the only person annoyed with the new trend claiming that asking women "Who are you wearing?" is sexist. This article perfectly explains why it's not: while actresses should obviously be asked other questions as well, the red carpet is the place for a designer to shine.
3. I'm loving this Buzzfeed quiz called "How Classy Are You Actually?" Turns out, I'm "classy and I own it." #blairwaldorfstatus
4. Feeling like I'm not doing enough is a problem that I always have. So this article recommending "5 Things To Remind Yourself When in the Midst of a Quarter-Life Crisis" is very important for me. Can any of y'all relate?
5. Obviously, I love Carrie Hope Fletcher. But her latest video, giving advice on broken hearts, might just be my favorite one yet.
1. Who else is incredibly excited about the casting news for the upcoming live action Beauty and the Beast film? Emma Watson as Belle was enough to guarantee that I'll go see it (probably multiple times, plus buying the DVD as soon as it comes out) but Dan Stevens as the Beast and Luke Evans as Gaston? It's already my favorite movie and it doesn't even have a release date.
2. It's so good to find out that I'm not the only person annoyed with the new trend claiming that asking women "Who are you wearing?" is sexist. This article perfectly explains why it's not: while actresses should obviously be asked other questions as well, the red carpet is the place for a designer to shine.
3. I'm loving this Buzzfeed quiz called "How Classy Are You Actually?" Turns out, I'm "classy and I own it." #blairwaldorfstatus
4. Feeling like I'm not doing enough is a problem that I always have. So this article recommending "5 Things To Remind Yourself When in the Midst of a Quarter-Life Crisis" is very important for me. Can any of y'all relate?
5. Obviously, I love Carrie Hope Fletcher. But her latest video, giving advice on broken hearts, might just be my favorite one yet.
Letters to St Andrews || Part 3
Finally, here's the third installation of Letters to St Andrews, this time about friends As always, remember to like the video and subscribe to my YouTube channel.
February Favourites
Since today is the second day of March (how did that happen???), I thought it might be nice to do a February favorites video. I did a favourites post at the beginning of February and I'm continuing to love all of those items, but I wanted to share my end of the month favourites too.
Fashion & Beauty
I've already raved about how much I love red lipstick on the blog, but I just had to talk about this one. It's the Rimmel London Shade 170 (Alarm) and it's just gorgeous. It's the perfect color for my skin tone and it stays on so long. I've been wearing it all month long.
Food
I'm in the UK, so it's only right that I'm loving fish and chips. But Cromars' fried haddock is by far the best fish and chips I've ever eaten. Love, love, love.
Film & TV
You're all aware of how much I've been loving The Last Five Years movie. I've probably watched it 4-5 times already and I listen to the soundtrack constantly. Definitely a February Favourite.
As far as TV goes, I've been struggling a bit. UK Netflix doesn't have The Borgias (what I was watching at home) or Vikings (what I was planning on watching next). I've been trying to finish up Gossip Girl because I'm on the last season, but I've not been enjoying it at all. Then I remembered The Tudors, which I had abandoned in favor of The Borgias earlier this year. I've been watching quite a bit of it: it's historically very inaccurate and sometimes I question what the costume designers were thinking (you might think it's hypocritical of someone who loves Reign to say that, but the producers of Reign freely admit that it's a "historical fantasy"), but the actors on the show are quite good. Who doesn't love Natalie Dormer?
What did you love in the month of February? xx
Fashion & Beauty
I've already raved about how much I love red lipstick on the blog, but I just had to talk about this one. It's the Rimmel London Shade 170 (Alarm) and it's just gorgeous. It's the perfect color for my skin tone and it stays on so long. I've been wearing it all month long.
I've had this American Eagle flower crown for a while, but I recently discovered a new way to wear it that I've been loving. I tuck the hair from the very front of my head on either side into the crown at the back. It keeps it out of my face and also looks quite pretty, I think. It might be winter, but I definitely wore this flower crown a lot this month!
I love mint green and I love rose gold so this new Primark purse is just amazing. It was only 8 pounds and it's surprisingly roomy inside. I love that I can use the shoulder strap or carry it by the handle. It's basically the perfect bag for me: ladylike, but not stuffy.
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| Sorry this picture is so horrid! |
Food
I'm in the UK, so it's only right that I'm loving fish and chips. But Cromars' fried haddock is by far the best fish and chips I've ever eaten. Love, love, love.
I could rave about Battenberg cake in general for hours, but I've recently been loving these little mini ones especially. They're the perfect serving size (which is great, because I tend to eat way too much of the normal sized Battenberg cake!) and such a yummy little treat.
Film & TV
You're all aware of how much I've been loving The Last Five Years movie. I've probably watched it 4-5 times already and I listen to the soundtrack constantly. Definitely a February Favourite.
As far as TV goes, I've been struggling a bit. UK Netflix doesn't have The Borgias (what I was watching at home) or Vikings (what I was planning on watching next). I've been trying to finish up Gossip Girl because I'm on the last season, but I've not been enjoying it at all. Then I remembered The Tudors, which I had abandoned in favor of The Borgias earlier this year. I've been watching quite a bit of it: it's historically very inaccurate and sometimes I question what the costume designers were thinking (you might think it's hypocritical of someone who loves Reign to say that, but the producers of Reign freely admit that it's a "historical fantasy"), but the actors on the show are quite good. Who doesn't love Natalie Dormer?
What did you love in the month of February? xx
Nicole Goes to a Rugby Match
Yesterday, I went to the 6 Nations Scotland vs Italy rugby match and actually quite enjoyed it. I took just a little bit of video that I compiled so that you can see! If you want to find out more about my rugby experience, you can read the post on my St Andrews blog.
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