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My Week In Photos

Tuesday 24 February 2015

Thought I would share with you guys some of the photos I took from last week. I saw the idea for this on another blog and felt like giving it a go:






As you can see there has been a lot of cake baking this week. You could say I was inspired by watching the comic relief bake off. The top cakes are starfish cakes (as some people at my work could not tell what they were supposed to be!) Then underneath are ones I baked with my friends on our girly evening on these we just went for random icing and made loads of different shapes.
I always find a girly evening is such a good way to relax and catch up with good friends. We spent the rest of the evening after baking watching Supernatural and have a good ole chinwag.
 Unfortunately for my bank account I also went up town this weekend and the picture above shows my haul. As it is not the most clear photo I brought:

- Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water and I brought the one for Combination/Sensitive Skin.

- Botanics All Bright Cleansing Wash

- Some Vitamin E Wipes (These are so refreshing on the skin! Don't think I will be able to return to normal wipes after these!)

- A choker with a flower pendant from Topshop.

- A small pink bag from Dorothy Perkins (I'm in love with this and there was even a discount of 20%) 


Overall I probably spent about 30 pound which I thought wasn't too bad considering what I got for that amount.


 I then had Sunday evening to myself and that means one thing - a little indulgence! Thus the urge to buy myself fancy hot chocolate and biscuits, to light a candle and to spend the rest of my evening watching Desperate Housewives (My Current TV addiction).

Finally above shows my reading for the week. It took me awhile to get into this book to be honest but after this I was hooked and it took me about 2 days to read. Such a good story here's the synopsis so you can get a feel for it:
It is the future. There is no war, no hunger, no pain. No one in the community wants for anything. Everything needed is provided. And at twelve years old, each member of the community has their profession carefully chosen for them by the Committee of Elders.
Twelve-year old Jonas has never thought there was anything wrong with his world. But from the moment he is selected as the Receiver of Memory, Jonas discovers that their community is not as perfect as it seems.
It is only with the help of the Giver, that Jonas can find what has been lost. And it is only through his personal courage that Jonas finds the strength to do what is right…

The book is surprisingly short but very well written.

Finally I want to share with you my music obsession of the week. The band is 'PVRIS' and the album is 'White Noise'. A friend introduced me to these and I am now hooked. Each song has a melodic sound to it and the lyrics are hauntingly beautiful. I'm a big fan of good lyrics and I definitely recommend that if you are reading this you should check this band out!

So that was my week last week in pictures. If any of you want to leave a comment could be with or without a picture describing your week I would be interested in reading it!

Tips For Anxiety

Tuesday 17 February 2015

I'm going to write about a subject that is very personal to me and that subject is Anxiety. When I first started having anxiety attacks I had no idea what was happening to me and no one else seemed to know what it was. I wanted to write a blog to share with you some of my tips from my own experience for dealing with this.

For those of you who may not know what anxiety is it feels like fear, everyone has some anxiety it's good for you keeps you alert and makes your body ready for action. 

This becomes a problem when the feelings become too strong and when they carry on even in situations when it is not needed.


You may then because of this experience so of the more unpleasant physical symptoms. For example, you might have:

- a fast heart rate, 
- a thumping heart (palpitations), 
- feeling sick,
- shaking, 
- sweating, 
- dry mouth,
- chest pain,
- headaches, 
- fast breathing.

Anxiety is something that can start at any age. It can be brought on by moments of extreme stress or can seem to occur for no apparent reason.


Every person experiences it differently, for everyone the trigger is different, for some people it can be crowds of people, others it can be confined spaces and for some it can happen for no apparent reason whatsoever.


For me my trigger seemed to be quiet situations and this was heightened even more when I knew I would be unable to leave the room/situation. One example for this being exams. 

It got to the point on where it was affecting my decisions so much so that I didn't want to do things that would involve me being away from home for even one night, and if I did do something that involved this I would feel this immense sense of dread before and during the situation.

Over time I have found some things that help me when I feel like I'm about to have an anxiety attack.


I'm hoping that by sharing them with you it may help you cope as well if you are suffering from this. (Please note these are just the ones that have worked for me personally from what I have read on the internet)


Tips:

1. Breathe - it seems like the simplest thing in the world but when you are panicking it feels incredibly hard to do. By taking deep breaths in and out and focusing on your breathing you are taking your mind off what you are worrying about thus helping to calm your body.

2. Take a step back from the situation and think about what is truly bothering you. By over thinking the situation you are making it seem worse than it truly is by thinking it through with a clear head you can see where the issue lies.


3. If you want to do something do it. Just say yes! You may worry about it for months beforehand and then go and wonder what you were even worrying about to begin with. I have had many situations like this some examples being going to download festival or even staying over a friends house. By saying yes you are not letting the anxiety control you and what you do.


4. Focus on where you are feeling your anxiety this could be anywhere for example your throat or your stomach and notice that while it may not be getting better it is not getting any worse.


5. There are many herbal remedies you can take to help you calm down. My firm favourites are Kalms tablets I used to have one before any exam and for me they would work. I always keep a stash of these just in case I get a bout of anxiety.


6. Allow yourself to feel your emotions. Holding them in and not expressing them is only going to make it worse. If you need to cry cry, if you need to laugh then laugh. It is far better to express too much emotion rather than expressing none at all.


7. Express yourself - I do this through writing down my feelings. However even something as simple as talking with someone about how you're feeling can help you express yourself and make you feel as though a weight has been lifted. (If it does get really bad don't be afraid to seek help from someone like a counsellor!)


8. Change your thought patterns - by choosing to think more positively your whole outlook on life will change and it will show through your actions.


9. Finally remember you are not alone. This is a common problem it's just that it's not one that is regularly talked about. Mainly because it is not understood fully. 


Now that my anxiety has lessened I am finding that more and more people I know seem to know someone suffering from this, and they are in the same boat that I was in to begin with. They don't know what they can do, the doctors are either unhelpful or they just give out antidepressants as if that is a cure and not just a prevention till a later date. 


It is something that can be overcome without drugs I used to have a fear of quiet spaces and now I work in a library which is quite possibly one of the quietest places you can visit.


I am hoping that a few people out there who are suffering and feel lost will read this and find that it gives them some comfort and may even help them on the path to overcoming their anxiety.


If anyone wants to leave comments be it about your own experience or just a general comment please feel free to do so.










Thankful

Sunday 15 February 2015

This week has been good considering I haven't really done that much.

Its been a week of catching up on TV shows and reading. The TV show in question being Desperate Housewives and the reading being Girl Online by Zoe Sugg.

I also went to the Sea Life Centre in Birmingham - haven't been there in years.
Had such a fab time it definitely brought out the inner child in me I think I was more excited than some of the children that were going round. - (there are some photos on my Instagram if anyone is interested @rebeccalaura02 )

When not having my catch up sesh I've spent most of this week with family and friends and its made me feel so grateful for the little things the ones that we all take for granted.

I think people always focus on what they don't have rather than what they do. So this week I'm going to think of three things that I'm thankful for each day.
Today my three things are:
1. Good friends and family
2. Duvet days
3. A good cup of tea - (the simple things)

So leave a comment below let me know the three things that you are grateful for or that makes you happy at the moment.



Valentines Creative Writing

Saturday 14 February 2015

A bit of valentines fiction for you all in honour of today:

It was all set!

The house was ready everything was perfect down to the last tiny detail.

The white roses were brought they were clean and pristine, the gifts were all wrapped with red shiny paper- white bows all tied symmetrically.

The candles- white of course were all lit illuminating the room with a golden glow. 

He stood in the doorway surveying his work, she was going to love it! 

It was valentines day and he had set up the perfect evening.
Drinks and a meal followed by a moonlit walk on the beach and then back to his apartment. It would be a night she would never forget.
Grinning to himself he straightened his white silk tie, put on his jacket and grabbed his keys to head out to the bar.

"The Green Tree" the perfect bar for a certain kind of class, only the attractive and wealthy went out here, it was the mist expensive bar in town. Decked out with chrome tables, green bar stools and chairs. Everything was sleek, smooth and most importantly clean.

He found his usual table it gave him a view of the whole bar, tonight would be the night - she was already here he was sure of it! He could already smell her rose scented perfume, see her golden blond hair bounce up and down as she laughed.

She was going to have the best night of her life - she just didn't know it yet.

Now all he had to do was introduce himself.

My Top Ten Books To Read

Saturday 7 February 2015

As today is National Libraries Day I thought I would do a blog dedicated to my Top 10 books to read.

I am pretty much a reading addict and I work in a library so narrowing this down is going to be HARD!

10. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire - JK Rowling

'When the Quidditch World Cup is disrupted by Voldemort's rampaging supporters and the terrifying Dark Mark is resurrected, it is obvious to Harry that, far from failing, Voldemort is getting stronger. The ultimate symbol to the magic world of the evil Lord's return would be if the one and only survivor of his death curse, Harry Potter, could finally be beaten. So when Harry is entered for the Triwizard Tournament - a competition between three wizarding schools to find the ultimate magician - he knows that rather than win it, he just has to get through the trials alive.'

Out of all the Harry Potter series this one was my favourite having action right from the start. I found seeing how they were all going to get through the challenge and the different challenges themselves interesting. I also enjoyed that they introduced characters from different schools in the magical world. If you haven't read any of the Harry Potter books where have you been? They are must reads!

9. The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic - Sophie Kinsella

'Meet Rebecca Bloomwood.
She's a journalist. She spends her working life telling others how to manage their money.
She spends her leisure time ... shopping.
Retail therapy is the answer to all her problems. She knows she should stop, but she can't. She tries Cutting Back, she tries Making More Money. But neither seems to work. The stories she concocts become more and more fantastic as she tries to untangle her increasingly dire financial difficulties. Her only comfort is to buy herself something - just a little something...
Can Becky ever escape from this dream world, find true love, and regain the use of her Switch card?
Confessions of a Shopaholic... the perfect pick me up for when it's all hanging in the (bank) balance.'

This is the perfect girly rom-com book! If you're a girl you will definitely relate to this book. The main character gets into so many awkward situations and is really relatable. Feeling down? This book is definitely a great pick me up.


8. Catching Fire - Suzanne Collins

'After winning the brutal Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen returns to her district, hoping for a peaceful future. But Katniss starts to hear rumours of a deadly rebellion against the Capitol. A rebellion that she and Peeta have helped to create. As Katniss and Peeta are forced to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. Unless Katniss and Peeta can convince the world that they are still lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying\. The terrifying sequel to The Hunger Games.'

The second book in The Hunger Games Series. Out of all three of them this is my favourite, purely as we get to meet all the other champions and I feel that they bring more elements of humour to the story. Again The Hunger Games Series is a must read!

7. Alphabet Weekends - Elizabeth Noble


'Love lessons from A - Z
A is for Affection - between childhood best friends ; between their parents; between brothers and sisters.
B is for Brokenhearted - Natalie when the boyfriend who was meant to propose dumps her just before Christmas. Her mother when she realises what her life has come to. Lucy, as she thinks of ending one relationship, and maybe beginning another.
C is for Chemistry - Could Natalie and Tom have it (and what does it actually mean, anyway)?'
I feel like this book is a twist in the typical romance novels its such a different yet creative idea. Every chapter begins with a letter from the alphabet describing the activity they would be choosing on the dates. Waiting to see what they would choose for each letter kept me captivated.

6. Carrie - Stephen King
Carrie White is no ordinary girl.
'Carrie White has the gift of telekinesis.
To be invited to Prom Night by Tommy Ross is a dream come true for Carrie - the first step towards social acceptance by her high school colleagues.
But events will take a decidedly macabre turn on that horrifying and endless night as she is forced to exercise her terrible gift on the town that mocks and loathes her . . .'

What reading list doesn't have a good horror book? Stephen King is most definitely the master of horror and Carrie is but one of my favourites by him, it hits on all the typical teen issues with a supernatural twist. 


5. Looking For Alaska - John Green
“In the dark beside me, she smelled of sweat and sunshine and vanilla and on that thin-mooned night I could see little more than her silhouette, but even in the dark, I could see her eyes – fierce emeralds. And not just beautiful, but hot too.”
BEFORE. Miles Halter’s whole life has been one big non-event until he starts at anything-but-boring Culver Creek Boarding School and meets Alaska Young. Gorgeous, clever, funny, sexy, screwed up and utterly fascinating she pulls Miles into her world, launches him into a new life, and steals his heart. But when tragedy strikes, and Miles comes face-to-face with death he discovers the value of living and loving unconditionally.
AFTER: Nothing will ever be the same.'
I love all of John Green's books just his writing style really keeps me captivated! This one in particular I could not out down the whole story was just poignant and heart wrenching. 

4. The Babysitter - R L Stine
'Jenny's worst nightmare is coming true! The crazed baby-sitting attacker is out to get her, and he wants her dead!' 
The Point Horror series were basically my childhood they were the Stephen King books for young adults basically. I've managed to collect pretty much all of them and this one in particular remains a firm favourite. 

3. The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
'Opens at Nightfall
Closes at Dawn
As the sun disappears beyond the horizon, all over the tents small lights begin to flicker, as though the entirety of the circus is covered in particularly bright fireflies. When the tents are all aglow, sparkling against the night sky, the sign appears.
Le Cirque des Rêves
The Circus of Dreams.
Now the circus is open.
Now you may enter.'

To begin with I found this book hard to get into, but once I did I was so enthralled the imagery described in the book itself is just beautiful, and the story so different to anything else I've ever read.


2. Glass Houses - Rachel Caine

'College freshman Claire Danvers has had enough of her nightmarish dorm situation, where the popular girls never let her forget just where she ranks in the school's social scene: somewhere less than zero. When Claire heads off-campus, the imposing old house where she finds a room may not be much better. Her new roommates don't show many signs of life, but they come out fighting when the town's deepest secrets come crawling out, hungry for fresh blood...'

So I couldn't complete this list without adding in at least one vampire book. It seems that most of the teenage books being released these days are relating to vampires. Rachel Caine's Morganville series is my favourite out of all of them, there's just more depth to them and the four main characters are all so likeable. 

1. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

"I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, then all at once."
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.'
Probably an obvious choice for the top spot but more than deserved. This story is just a raw way of describing living with cancer with lots of dark humour thrown in. The love story between the two main characters is just so beautifully written and there is definitely a reason this book was THE book to have last year.

So those are my top ten reads I found that incredibly hard to narrow down!

Leave a comment below and share with me some of your favourite books and the reasons why you love them!

More Creative Writing

Wednesday 4 February 2015

Had this idea rolling about in my head today. Wrote this quickly so it is a bit rushed. Feedback would be greatly appreciated:

Short story:


Everybody loved Kit Bowman.
From his striking good looks to his even more striking personality. It is not often someone so beautiful and popular could be so nice.
His piercing blue eyes and his dazzlingly white smile made even the harshest of people admirers.
Everything came easy for Kit: girlfriends, friends, jobs. Everything he went after he got.
He was the towns golden boy and not just because of his shining hair.

Then the accident happened.

From then on everybody feared Kit Bowman.
His good looks so striking they seemed almost unnatural. His blue eyes so piercing just a look made you go cold, his smile so wide, his teeth so sinister and sharp.
Now nothing came easy for Kit Bowman except loosing everything he'd built.
No longer the towns golden boy, his hair no longer shined.
Now the town feared him.

After all once you are dead you shouldn't wake up

A Moment Of Creative Writing

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Hi Readers,

I'm going to be lazy on this blog post! Instead of writing a completely new post from scratch I thought I would share some of my creative writing. I did this for a course awhile ago and it had to be kept to 250 words hence the shortness of it. Depending on the feedback this might persuade me to start doing more creative writing again as I procrastinate ALOT.

Here it is:

The door creaked as he slowly pushed against it the room was empty except for a single chair. Jake turned to Doctor Coleman. ‘What am I supposed to do?’

He pointed at the chair ‘Just sit and do as we discussed all will be revealed in the duration of the experiment’ the door shut behind him and the lock slid into place. The room was now draped in darkness the only light coming from a single bulb that just about illuminated the chair.

24 hours that’s what the ad had said just you and your worst fear.

Jake wasn’t exactly sure how this would work, how could you face a fear when you didn’t even know what it was?

This is why he was here sat in this confined space which judging by the barely visible scratches that were etched up the door and on the walls, was probably once used as some sort of confinement cell.

He did as they had discussed he thought about his nightmare. The never ending running always away from someone or something. He couldn’t stop he had to get away.
He thought about it until the fear of it was too overwhelming. He opened his eyes.

The room was as it had been but now another chair was in front of him and it was occupied. The man had the same green eyes, the same messy brown haircut. It was almost as if he was looking in a mirror.


Jake was staring at himself.
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