Spring 2015

For the last few weeks, I've been taking photos of just cool flowers that I've seen on my way to Sixth Form as well as just out and about. Now here in the UK, it had been raining for what feels like forever and then all of a sudden, the sun APPEARED. The flowers bloomed, the temperature rose and everyone started acting so much more pleasant. I really appreciate the seasons just in general, especially since I've been writing this blog and dedicating certain posts over the years to wonderful beauty that is nature. As I've said, it takes me a few weeks to collect the photos and so doing this sort of confirms the fact that its time for the seasons to change.

    

 The photo on the left is genuinely one of my favourite photos I've taken for this post. I took it in one shot on my way home and I just thought it looked cool. The entire field I walk through in the right photo is absolutely filled with daisies and it made me think of my childhood. I spent so long making daisy chains with my friends during lunch time so now whenever I see the flower, I always just feel happy and sentimental about that particular time in my life.

 

I walk past these flowers every day and I've always thought they were so beautiful. It's not really captured well in these photos because they're hanging over someone's garden wall. I had to go on my tip-toes just to take the photos which is why they look a bit off. Anyway, I really like the bright pink so I thought I would show you guys.

     

 I literally have no idea what the yellow flowers are but they were as bright in real life as they are on here. The purple flowers in the middle are actually part of someone's tree in their front garden and I'm so glad I managed to get this photo when I did because they really look their best here. The flowers themselves have been drooping and fading in recent weeks which is actually annoying because they are so beautiful. They are also right across from a field where I tried to take a photo of the sheep in there because the quality of my camera (also known as my phone) is really REALLY bad.

I'm pretty sure these photos are from two separate blossom trees from around where I live. Now I think they are so beautiful and it really represents Spring to me because I used to have a blossom tree near my house and again it represents my childhood.
 

I thought I would save the photo below for the end because I just thought it was the MOST beautiful picture I've probably ever taken. I also thought that it should be on its own for this very reason; take a second to just appreciate it...

I did take a few photos from the other side so that you could see how large the tree is but again, the quality wasn't the best plus it was quite a cloudy day at the time so the photos didn't look great. That's why I'm so glad I have this one because it just looks amazing. I did also try to take a few photos from under the tree like I did with the white blossom tree but there was so many people looking at me, I just didn't have the courage to stop to take a photo because it would have been super obvious. Anyway, whenever I walk home and I see this tree, I cannot help but smile at how beautiful nature can be.

 

Feeling Overwhelmed

 
Tayla xx

 

PS. If anyone wants to read the other posts I have dedicated to the seasons, then the links are below so you can have a little read of them if you would like. Just a word of warning, the format of some of the posts were a bit rubbish BUT in my defence, I was just learning how to blog and I feel like I have improved a lot since I started so. Alright, now you can read them...

Autumn 

 
Summer

Autumn 2014



Feeling Overwhelmed

Yesterday, I did my driving theory test and surprise, surprise, I failed. Now, I wasn’t shocked that I failed because I hardly revised at all, not because I thought I was going to pass straight away but because I’ve been so busy this week trying to get as much work done as possible before the Easter holidays are over. This meant that while I was pretty confident on the hazard perception section, there was a hell of a lot of stuff from the multiple choice section that I didn’t know and so had to guess. Fortunately, I got 42 correct answers out of 50 which I think is pretty good for someone who basically started revising the day before, which I do not recommend by the way. Unfortunately, in order to pass you have to get 43 correct answers so I failed. By ONE point. This is really annoying because test centres where you do your driving theory are booked out weeks in advance and so if I was to re-take my test, it would be during my exams, which is the last thing I need.

 

Now while my mom was driving me back from the test centre, I felt so disappointed with myself that I actually wanted to burst into tears. It was made worse by the fact that my mom wouldn’t stop asking me if I was okay which I know she was only doing to make me feel better but it just didn’t help. I’m the type of person that when I’m upset, I need to be completely alone. I need the time to just be sad without people constantly trying to reassure me and that’s exactly what I did once I got home. It’s kind of my attitude towards dealing with all emotions and I bet that’s incredibly unhealthy, but that’s just my thing. I’m actually very sensitive and yet there are many people, even my closest friends, who find that difficult to hear about me. Mainly because I am often the one who jokes about being 'emotionally neutral' as I like to say, but really that's only around them. When I'm on my own, if I'm feeling sad then you can bet that I'll be crying. And when I cry, I cry HARD. Yesterday was one of those days, and it wasn't just about failing the theory test, but a whole range of other stuff that I won't go into.

 

Anyway, I just started thinking about how busy my life is right now and how stressful it’s going to get in the next few months, and I suddenly started feeling incredibly overwhelmed. Now it just hit me. Completely out of the blue. And I started panicking. The whole reason I wanted to learn how to drive was so that I could drive to school during the exams so I wouldn’t be wasting an hour walking when I could be revising or something. Now that I failed my theory, I just felt like I’d wasted my time because I definitely won’t pass my practical driving test in time. I was just really upset and I still am, I guess. I know I’m overreacting but you have to understand that I do not cope with failure of any kind. The pressure that I put on myself is so insane and I know it is, but I genuinely cannot help it. I work myself up into such a state that I find it difficult to relax because I’m constantly worrying about everything.

 

I was talking to my friend earlier and she was quite surprised by how honest I was because like I said, I am a closed person. People never see me overwhelmed because I just hide it. It doesn’t matter how stressed I feel, I always deal with it on my own and I really shouldn’t. I was thinking about this which is why I wanted to write this blog post. I’m sort of surprised by how easy all of these words came out which is probably a bad thing. I should feel this free speaking to my real friends and family and yet I don’t. I feel more comfortable just writing about my emotions, when I’m alone, in the privacy of my own room.

 

It only really hit me how being overwhelmed is so underestimated as a valid emotion, especially for teenagers my age. I think we forget how much our lives change in such a short space of time. I feel like I’ve only just left my high school when in reality it was a year and a half ago. In just over a month, my exams will be starting and then in the summer, I'll find whether I've got the grades to go to university or not. Everything I’ve worked for comes down to one piece of paper which is HELLA SCARY. It makes me feel overwhelmed, it really does.

 

 

February Favourites 2015

 

Tayla xx

February Favourites 2015

Now I've had this list of things that I've been loving lately; they're not necessarily just from the month of February but from since around mid December. I guess you could say they are 'winter favourites' because a lot of them are actually products for my hair, skin and lips since they've been so dry recently. But there are also other things that I have genuinely been using so I thought I would share them. Anyway, let's get started!

 

Makeup Products:

 

Nivea Lip Essential Care: I'm always carrying a lip balm because my lips always need to be hydrated since they are so dry. I tend to put it on every day before my makeup but feel like I need to use it every now and then throughout the day. I find that Nivea do the best lip balms just because they're really cheap and do the job perfectly. I've actually used up the Nivea Lip Essential Care so right now I'm using the Nivea Hydro Care which is just incredible. It makes my lips feel really soft and luxurious which is all I really want from a lip balm. The best thing about the Nivea Lip Care line is that they have an SPF which although there isn't much sun in the UK, its good to know that my lips are protected regardless.

 

 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer: I only bought this a few weeks ago and to be honest, I absolutely LOVE it. I've never really been one for concealer and so I've only ever used a cheap one just to reduce some of the bagginess from under my eyes. Anyway, since that one ran out, my friend suggested that I buy the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer and I'm so glad I did. Not only does it take away the bags under my eyes, but it brightens my entire face. I used it around my nose, under my eyes, on any spots I have and sometimes under my brows, if I've plucked them before doing my makeup. I use the colour Warm Medium 3 which is perfect because its only a little bit lighter than my actual skin colour and so it doesn't look too bright on my face.

 

 

Hair Products:

TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Deep Treatment Masque: I've had this for absolutely ages and yet I've only starting using it recently. As you know, I use the TRESemmé shampoo and conditioner and have been LOVING that for as long as I've been using it, but it never occurred to me to try this Treatment Masque. Its always just been sat in my bathroom doing nothing until about a month ago, when I just tried it out of the blue. It gave my hair a very silky shiny texture which I thought was so good. I've been trying to treat my hair recently because it has been so dry and using the masque does actually help. I don't know how long its supposed to be on your hair for, I just leave it on for about 5 or 10 minutes which seems to do the job well.

 
 

Skin Products:

 

Garnier Oil Beauty Nourishing Scrub: This is probably the BEST thing I've discovered recently. I always been a big fan of an exfoliator but I've never been able to find one that its harsh on my skin. This one is absolutely incredible in that the grains of sand are the perfect size which sounds ridiculous but you know what I mean. This one also creates a thin layer on your skin which I thought was going to be an oil but its actually not. I can't use anything with oil because my skin is naturally oily so this product is just amazing. It makes your skin feel soft and supple, plus it has this incredible smell that always reminds me of honey but its actually Argan, Macadamia, Almond and Rose oil.

 

Nivea Body Lotion Express Hydration: This is my next BEST discover after the Nourishing Scrub because again, it has made my skin feel beautiful. I have no idea where I got it, probably from some sort of set from Christmas or my birthday or something. Anyway, its kind of incredible because not only does it sink in to your skin really quickly, its noticeably hydrating your skin at the same time. It says on the bottle that its an improved formula which I kind of agree with because I've never used anything like this before. It literally feels like your skin is drinking it up which means I would definitely recommend it for anyone whose skin is particular dry or even if its not. Its just really good and again, its from Nivea which I think has such a nice skin care range.

 

 

Music:

 

Sledgehammer by Fifth Harmony: I've known of the band Fifth Harmony for so long and yet I've never been inclined to listen to their music. I don't really venture out of my own range of music, especially recently, but I heard them on The Ellen Show and I really LOVED the song. Its such a classic pop song yet you can tell its well-written and well-produced which is all I ask for in a song. I really hate songs that have no production value at all just because it makes the song sound completely trashy. This one on the other hand is just a feel good song and I LOVE it.

 

Style by Taylor Swift: As you know, I've liked this song for a long time and I actually wrote a review on it which you can read HERE. I think its a good song and Taylor Swift has gotten better and better recently, as seen through pretty much all her songs on her album '1989'. One of things that I love most about this song is that it has an amazing chorus, its the best part of the song but doesn't overshadow the brilliance of the verses. The entire song is incredibly written and you can really relate to the lyrics. I think that's one of the reasons why Taylor Swift is so successful because all her songs are exactly like that, just absolutely perfect.

 

 

REVIEW: 'Style' by Taylor Swift

 

Love, Tayla xx

REVIEW: 'Style' by Taylor Swift

I have to start by saying that 'Style' is my absolute favourite song from Taylor Swift's latest album '1989' and so I have been looking forward to the music video for MONTHS. It's only been out for a week and I thought I would write a review of it to get me back into the swing of blogging again. I went through a whole phase when the album came out of literally just playing Style and Blank Space back and forth over and over again (I do that with a lot of music, it's just a sign of me LOVING it which I have been).

The music video is quite different to what I thought it was going to be but in a good way. I mean, you can tell it's incredibly well directed because the concepts are very artistic and it uses a lot of light to fade into different scenes. The video very much reminds me of a lot of the Polaroid style photos that Taylor released alongside '1989' which I thought was really cool and beautiful. I also think as well it was very smart of her to not really a story line with the video, especially since that featured very heavily in 'Blank Space', her previous music video.
Like I've said before, I don't really watch music videos mainly because I'm always busy doing something while I listen. However, I do make sure to watch a video at least once in order to review it and as you've noticed, I only review music videos I like and Taylor Swift has just had some really good ones recently. I've always liked her music but I feel like in the last year or so, she has been absolutely INCREDIBLE. I've seen a few of her performances online and I just feel like she's owning the music industry right now.

If you have any recommendations for videos that I should write about then leave a comment underneath.

UPDATE JANUARY 2015

Love, Tayla xx 

UPDATE JANUARY 2015

As I mentioned in my last blog post (which was over three weeks ago GOSH DARN IT) I set myself a few goals for the year and I wanted to check in on how I'm achieving them so far.

 

My first main one was to become a better student and I feel like I'm slowly getting there. I've been doing work as soon as I get given it because it gives me more free time to do whatever I wanted. I used to watch TV or listen to music while doing work which is okay for most people, but I get distracted so easily that I end up never doing anything. I would spend an entire day writing one essay which I should've been able to do in 30 minutes. Lately though, I've been trying to utilise my 'Free' Lessons in school (time we're given to do any homework) to the best of my ability by just getting the work DONE. Sometimes its really difficult because I just want to talk to my friend but I'm really really trying.

Another one that's sort of school related is that I've been trying to talk to the Year 12's in my tutor more whenever they ask for my help about the Sixth Form, exams etc. Last year when I was in Year 12, the Year 13's in my tutor were not very helpful in answering any questions I had because they were either never there or just couldn't be bothered. It was one of reasons why I really struggled to fit in at the start because things were so new to me, I was constantly surprised by everything. If you know my personality, you know that I thrive off consistency (ironic since I hardly post on this blog anymore lol) and therefore find it difficult when I'm not sure what's going to happen. This year, I don't feel like that anymore because I'm very much settled and know what to expect when it comes to the rest of the year. I think its my responsibility to make sure the Year 12's feel comfortable with any surprises that come their way in order to ease their first year at Sixth Form.

 

One of my other goals was to start eating better foods and I feel like I am doing really well. I used to go the shop at least twice a week and buy myself a little treat which was so incredibly unhealthy, let alone expensive. This is officially my 26th day of not buying absolute rubbish and I'm so proud. I LOVE all forms of chocolate, sweets, crisps etc, and I thought it would be harder than it has been to cut them out of my life. I haven't been going 'cold turkey' as they say but I've just been reducing the amount I eat for both my body's and bank account's benefit. Anyway, I'll probably write about that more in another post but just know that I'm doing well and plan to continue on with it.

 

That's all I have to say about this month and I know I usually make promises about blogging but I'm not going to today. I have so much work on plate right now, its better to just write whenever I feel like it or else it becomes a task rather than something I love doing. And I still do. I absolutely love it and it kills me that I don't have enough time to do it in the way I want but my grades have to come first at the moment (boo!) I do have some specific things I want to write about but I don't know when they're coming so you'll just have to keep checking in right!

 

Welcome to 2015, let's do BETTER

 

Tayla xx

Welcome to 2015, let's do BETTER

I just wanted to start off this year with a really quick blog post about my New Year's Resolutions. Now, I never normally think that they are a good idea because if you want to save money or quit smoking or spend more time with your family, which are all good in theory, you don't need to wait until the 1st of January to put it into practice. You can do any of them at ANY time of the year. However, this time I decided to make one which I feel I can and will do to the best of my ability. This is just to strive to be BETTER.

 

In my case, I feel like I should be aiming to be a better student; I want to work as hard as possible and use my time to the best of my ability which I felt like I perhaps tried to last year but didn't necessarily do it. This year, I want to go that extra mile to ensure my A-Level results are exactly what I feel that I can get because I know for a fact that if I don't get what I want, I will cry. Like seriously. Especially since I have worked hard for it. Now the only way I can guarantee this is to put more effort into my education; I have to write optional essays and do practice exam papers as well as revising whenever I get the chance to.

 

It's funny as well because despite already being pretty motivated when it comes down to things like this, I can get pretty lazy. I sometimes, okay ALWAYS, get stuck in a rut of watching a whole series of a TV show in half a day which is completely pointless and a waste of my time. I need to be constantly productive this year so that when I do actually relax, I don't feel guilty doing it because I know I've been working hard.

 

I also want to make an active effort to spend more time with my friends, perhaps because this is our last real year together before we all our separate ways. Don't get me wrong, I'm incredibly excited to start my new life at university but I will always miss the people I'm leaving behind. They were, and still are, the most fantastically brilliant group of very different individuals but I know for a fact, that we will still find some way to hang out whenever we can.

 

Last but not least, my final resolution is to start eating healthier because I realised that I eat a hell of a lot of chocolate. This is the one thing that everyone tries to do but I feel like I really can do it because like I said before, I'm trying to DO BETTER. I want to be a better student and friend and daughter and ultimately a better person. One of the reasons why I feel like this is because of the fact that I turn 18 this August which means I will be an official and legal adult. I feel like in order to properly contribute to society in the best way possible is to focus on yourself as an individual first as cliché as that sounds, and as a sociology student, it really really does. Anyway, this is the only way that I will improve my entire being, whether that's socially, physically, academically or emotionally: I want to be BETTER.

 

I feel like everyone should have this goal because there is no such thing as a perfect person, we can all be better and I think it's time we try to be.

 

YouTube Rewind: Turn Down For 2014

 

Tayla xx

YouTube Rewind: Turn Down for 2014

As you guys know, I've been watching channels on YouTube for about three years now so its always a big thing at the end of the year when the YouTube Rewind video comes out. I've watched every one that they've made but I only watched the 2013 one and this years one in real time, meaning in like the week it came out. I had to go back and watch the others because I never even knew it existed before.

The best part about the YouTube Rewind videos is that they include so many YouTubers that I recognised and watch myself. I felt strangely proud because it makes me realise how popular they've become to be included in things like this. I know it sounds weird but its true; you feel like you've had a helping hand in their success through consistently watching videos all year long, as well as buying any products or projects that they've released.

 

YouTube has become one of the best platforms for creators because it opens up so many doors and allows viewers to delve into the worlds of real, genuine people. Like I said, I feel so happy watching them that its become very much a part of my everyday life. The YouTube Rewind 2014 video just confirmed that. I'll leave a link to all the channels I can remember, that were included in this years Rewind video so you can all enjoy them yourselves.

 

PewDiePie, danisnotonfire, AmazingPhil, Grace Helbig, Smosh, Epic Rap Battles, The Fine Bros, PrankvsPrank, Brittani Louise Taylor, Michelle Phan, Bart Baker, Jenna Marbles, Tyler Oakley, Hannah Hart, Troye Sivan, Bethany Mota, missglamorazzi, ijustine, Connor Franta

 

Tayla xx


Christmas Countdown

Christmas Countdown

Can I just start off by saying that its December which means it's almost CHRISTMAS. For some reason this year, I've really got into the spirit of it; I think its because it's my last Christmas before I go off to university so I'm almost desperate to make it a good'un. 

Now this will only be a really quick post because I just wanted to announce that I will be posting every single day of the last week before Christmas, so the 18th to the 25th of December. I want to do this not only for you guys, but for myself. I feel like if I can accomplish this, then it gives me more incentive to get into the excitement of the holidays as well as do some cool festive activities.

 

I'm in the process of planning what I'm going to be blogging about for the week but to warn you, it will all be Christmas themed obviously. I would love to hear any suggestions about what I should write about in case you want to see anything specifically but generally I am going to go ALL OUT (or as much as I can at least). I'm talking my favourite Christmas songs, gift ideas as well as a few cheeky surprises if all goes to plan.

 

If you would like to follow my blog then you can and I will leave last week's post below if you want to have a little read of it.

 

REVIEW: 'Blank Space' by Taylor Swift

 

Tayla xx

REVIEW: 'Blank Space' by Taylor Swift

I feel like I haven't done a music review in absolutely ages but I thought I would do this one in particular because I genuinely love it. I was listening to a podcast that recommended 'Blank Space' by Taylor Swift and so I searched it on YouTube; ever since, I have been obsessed, constantly playing it on repeat (like right now as I'm writing this). I just checked the views on VEVO and to date, it has over 73 million views and it wasn't even released two weeks ago. That is absolutely insane. Its from her new albumn '1989' which I've heard a few other songs of and I love as well. I would definitely recommend buying it on iTunes because its just so good.

 

 

The entire song sounds so well made; I also think Taylor's voice has improved so much over the last few years which you can definitely hear in Blank Space. I think the music video was such a perfect choice as well and I never usually say that because I don't watch the video at all. Most times when I listen to music, I'll use the lyrics verson because I get frustrated with the official music video. However in this one, I think Taylor excelled herself.

The plot of the video is about a fictional verson of Taylor, who is a serial dater and falls very hard for a certain man. They enjoy this blissful life in a big country house, doing traditional activities like horse-riding together, painting his portrait and carving his name into a tree. She then finds out that he has been talking to another woman and the jealous (and slightly mad) Taylor comes out. She destroys his car, his painting and his phone in frustration, only to break down crying. She quickly moves onto the next man for it to start all over again.

One of the reasons why I really like it is because Taylor said that she wrote the song as a sort of reaction towards all the negative press she gets about dating. I think that was such a good move on her part because she is constantly criticised by the media for doing things that everyone else is doing. They also always say that she only writes about her boyfriends in songs but surely that's the point of being a songwriter? To write about personal experiences in order to make music that is honest and real? For example, Adele admitted that a lot of her songs were about ex boyfriends and she didn't get any negative attention for it? So why is Taylor being targeted for it? Just something to think about.

Autumn 2014

Tayla xx

Autumn 2014

Over the last two months or so, I've been taking some photos for this one blog post in particular. I did this last year so I will leave a link HERE; its so cool because I've taken a lot of pictures of the same trees which is really weird thinking that its been a whole year since then. I've taken more than I did last year but I did still want to include more, but time sort of ran out. Its been very gloomy and rainy in the last few weeks so I definitely think winter is on its way. I'm really happy with the ones that I did manage to get though so let's have a little look.

I started taking photos at the start of September when the leaves were just starting to turn yellow and now, they are a very orange/brown colour which I think looks so beautiful in photos. The photos above are from a wall that has been covered with leaves; I walk past it everyday for school but it was only on this specific day that I noticed the redness of certain leaves, so I thought I would document its beauty.

The pictures above are probably my favourite ones I've taken because they just came out looking so good. Another thing is that they symbolise where I live; I've walked past those trees thousands of times and never really thought how pretty they actually are until I took the photos.

I think Autumn is so underrated as a season, it really is. The colours are just so incredibly beautiful and I love taking pictures of the trees and the leaves. I'm actually really happy that I took the photos over a few months because I just think it makes the photos have more of a range I guess.

Like I said, I was going to take more but within the last few weeks, the weather has suddenly changed from being slightly chilly to just plain cold. It's also been very windy and miserable looking outside which I doubt would have made good photos. I was very picky about what condition I wanted to have pictures from (it had to be sunny or at least not pouring down with rain). Now, its always so cloudy that any photos I would have wanted just wouldn't look good so I decided to just remain with the photos I had already taken.

 

 

Well that's about it for me this time, I am trying to write more, I PROMISE. I have a million ideas for my blog but I just don't the time to actually do it. If I'm not doing Sixth Form work, I'm doing UCAS things, or searching for a job or looking after my cousins, there's a 99% chance I'm sleeping. Sorry about that, folks. Anyway, if you want to follow my blog, you can. You can read my last post by clicking the link below:

Happy Halloween!!!

Tayla xx