A bucket list... The final installment.

I have decided to put the rest of my bucket list into one post to conclude this mini series of blog posts. This by no means completes my bucket list as I am sure as I gain more opportunities and experiences my bucket list is sure to grow. Especially due to my previously mentioned FOMO. Some of these things are a bit bigger or unique than others, but they are all equally important! 

One day I would love to work abroad for at least one year, I don't know where or what I would be doing. But, I just think it would be a great experience both personally and professionally. Maybe it will be somewhere completely random such as India (my Uncle did this!) or perhaps somewhere more like England such as America. 

Leading on from this, hopefully before this I aim to find my dream job or at least I job I completely enjoy. Though, I am now at University I don't completely know what I want to do with my life at this moment in time. On my bucket list, I hope to discover a job I would completely love, so that I don't consider it a chore to go to work every day. 

This one is pretty much a given that it will happen, however moving into my own flat or house is making my bucket list. Though I am not currently living at home, University is a different experience and I can't wait to actually have my own place to do what I want with. 

Moving on to the smaller aspects... I want one day to make a den and watch films in it all day. This seems simple, but sometimes the simple things in life are what makes us happy and I think this would be the cutest way to spend the day. Especially, if I shared it with someone I loved! 

The last thing on my list right now is to one day get a tattoo. When I say this lots of people ask why I don't just get one now. But, I struggle to make decisions/commitments this big. One day I hope I will just know what I want, but until then it is going to remain a bit of a dream. 

Like I say, I realise this is a bit of a small list currently. But, with time I have no doubt it'll grow. I just suppose I like to be sure of these things before I commit to them. 

Katie .xx

A bucket list... Music

Following my previous post, I have decided to continue my bucket list, this time concentrating on music and the concerts/festivals I would like to go to. Again, live music has already been a big part of my life thanks to my parents. Music has always been big in our household, despite our collective lack of musical ability, we have always been big music fans and made the most of any opportunity we have had to see live music. 

Source: google.co.uk/images

The main music themed thing I have on my bucket list is to see Coldplay live. Despite the many bands I have already seen and enjoyed, I am yet to see Coldplay and this is a major desire of mine. I imagine - and have heard countless times from my friends, who like to rub it in that they've seen them- that it would be one of the best shows I have ever seen. 

Another music related thing I would love to do is visit multiple festivals. This is the least specific thing on the list and so probably needs more thought. But, last summer I went to Glastonbury for the first time and had the best time ever. It made me want to go to a festival every year, even more than before. As line ups are starting to be announced, my ambition to visit every single one is growing! 

What about you, do you have any live music aspirations? Or have you previously been to a festival? 

Katie .xx

A bucket list... Travelling.

Recently, there seems to have been a lot of discussion among my friends, flatmates and family about growing up. I even wrote a blog post on it here. At 19, I don't exactly think (or at least hope) that I am running out of time or that I am in any way old. But, life can sometimes surprise us and not always in ways we want it to.

With this (ever so slightly morbid) thought in mind I decided that I would finally set myself the goal of writing a bucket list. When I originally started writing it I decided that I didn't want it to be a standard bucket list that everyone writes... however it may well have ended up this way.

I think I am going to split it into different sections starting with a travel section because this has always been a big dream of mine, so here goes. 

Source: google.co.uk/images

Like I said, I have wanted to travel the world for as long as I can remember. However, I wanted to be more specific and different to others bucket lists, so, I thought about where I wanted specifically wanted to travel to. I have been lucky enough to already travel quite a lot already with my parents, so I decided that I wanted to add to this by saying I would travel to all 6 continents. This means, I now have 2 more to go! But, this didn't seem enough... I took to social media to see what I could see and found the image below. I decided from there that I would aim to visit these 16 cities. 

Added to this, and probably top of the list I have always wanted to visit New York. Though, more specifically than this I want to go to New York in winter, around Christmas time. This is the one thing I desperately want to do. 

Do you have any travel plans or aims?

Katie .xx

#UseYourAnd

I recently saw Tanya Burr discussing this Venus campaign in one of her video's seen here and thought it sounded like a great idea. After further research I found the campaign video explaining the actual purpose.

The basic idea is that we are all made up of more than one factor. None of us can be defined by one thing. Yet, we often find ourselves saying we are. For example, when I am asked about myself, the first thing I will say is that I am a student. But, in reality I am much more than that. The campaign video focuses on the idea that you are a child again; the idea that you can be whatever you want to be. 

Though the Venus campaign focuses on women (due to the nature of their business), I think its important for everyone to consider. No one is one thing and everyone needs to consider what they can achieve, without the labels or other people's perceptions to get in the way.

 So, consider yourself. I have spent time doing this today and yes I am a student. But I am also more than that. I am a good friend, sister, daughter and girlfriend. I like going shopping with my Mum AND I like going to the football with my Dad. I like going out every now and again AND I like to have a quiet night in. I like to study AND I like to have fun. I like to be away from home AND I like to be at home. I like to be myself. 

Take time to consider your 'AND' and maybe even join the #UseYourAnd. But remember your 'and' is always growing- you should never be defined by one thing because you are made up of many things. 

Katie .xx

Online shopping

So this is more of a rant than a content filled post because for some reason I cannot resist the urge to online shop. I am a student. I do not have the money to splurge online on clothes that are not necessities. But, the constant emails and notifications from my favourite companies is just too hard to resist. Especially on days like today where it is overcast and they're offering me the latest Spring/Summer 15 looks. Its almost like they know I am dreaming of those summer evenings and that I want the clothes to wear for them.

Dreams of summer evenings + New clothes on offer= The ultimate test of my will power! 

Sorry for the lack of content in this post. I needed to write something down to avoid actually buying anything!! 

Katie .xx

Those down days

This week I had a couple of those days where you just feel down. You don't know why or if there even is a reason. But, for whatever reason it is you feel sad and just generally down in the dumps. Maybe this is just a thing girls get? However, it inspired this post all about what I do to cheer myself up on these days. I had some inspiration from other bloggers and YouTubers, but have now finalised this list.

1. Just chill out. Don't attempt any of the work you have, unless it is desperate. You won't be concentrating on it properly and it'll only be done to half your usual standard because it is reflective of your mood. 

2. Alternatively, you may want to consider work. Maybe it will take your mind off things? I spent a lot of this week thinking about my future. What did I want from life? Do I want a specific job? How can I get there? Though its not strictly work it puts you on track for the following day when you have gotten over this phase. 

3. Speak to someone you love. Maybe this is face-to-face, or maybe this is over the phone. Either way, someone you love it guaranteed to make you feel better, even if you don't specifically have anything making you sad, those that love have a way of cheering us up. 

4. Do something you enjoy. Watch your favourite film, TV programme or YouTuber. Read your favourite book, or listen to your favourite band. Anything that requires minimal effort and make sure it is something you know will cheer you up.

5. Make your favourite hot drink. I made myself some great hot chocolates this week and this doesn't happen often. They sure made me feel all warm inside! 

6. Eat anything that makes you happy. Yes, it may be that you are trying to be healthier. But eat whatever you fancy. There is no need to make yourself sadder because you really fancy something specific to eat but are depriving yourself of it. 

7. Do some exercise. It might be the last thing you feel like doing, but my flatmates dragged me to the gym and I actually felt 10 times better for it afterwards. Having done some research online it seems this is due to the hormones you release when you exercise, making you feel less stressed. 

8. Make some exciting plans/think about something you have planned. Looking forward means you get out of the negative frame of mind you find yourself in and therefore may find it makes you happier/excited. 

9. Similarly, look back. I really enjoyed looking back at some photos from previous exciting events or happy times. The memories make you smile and therefore lift you out of your sad mood. 

10. Finally. It's okay to cry. Even though the above are generally there to help you cheer up it might actually help to cry. Whilst you may feel a bit silly crying when you don't even know why you're sad, it can actually help. 

Lets be honest we all have those days, so I hope maybe what I do will help you out?

Katie .xx