Okay so the title of this post may be a little over dramatic, but I'm getting really fed up now.

This time last year I loved having dark brown hair, but not I just want it gone. It's boring. So I've been majorly patient and let it grown out, not dyed it and been really careful with it. About a month ago you will all know I stripped my hair, and the results were amazing. However little did I know that the colour could come back if not rinsed properly- this happened. So I was back to my dark brown with super light roots. SO a few weeks later (and the Monday just gone) I decided to re-strip it. I rinsed it for much longer this time however the opposite happened, it didn't seem to strip my hair hardly at all. It maybe lifted one shade but the darkest bits of my hair failed to budge. SO by this point I was/am getting rather frustrated.

 So I thought 'sod it' and went out and bought a permanent really light blonde from Nice N Easy. Now I've used these dyes for years, whether it be the permanents or semi permanent and I've always had fantastic results. So I thought at best it'd lift my hair a bit and turn it into a dark blonde/light brown maybe. WRONG. My roots went quite blonde, but the rest of my hair DIDN'T BUDGE! How is that possible? I knew it wouldn't go blonde but how did it not lift it a few shades, especially as it had ammonia and peroxide in.

SO I am at the end of my tether with my hair. I'm so careful of it and really don't want to damage it, but it's looking like going to the hairdressers and getting a full head of highlights will be my only option. Either that or relentlessly stripping it!

Anyway, rant over. Sometimes you just need to rant you know!! Let it all out. Sorry!

Has anyone else had these problems with their hair? If not, any funny stories?

So originally I was going to blog about Christmas, and I do still plan on doing that, but a recent thought has gotten me thinking and thus me wanting to write about it.

So, it's occurred to me lately just how much I think about others. And I'm not calling myself a saint, nor am I saying that by thinking of others I am never thinking about myself. Of course it is good to think of others- more people should do so. It's just sometimes, along the way, some of us get so caught up in other people's lives or problems or needs, that we forget to stop and take care of our own. Sometimes we run from the things we know we have to do by using other people's issues as diversions from our own.

I, myself, tend to focus greatly on what others are doing and how it effects me. Or planning my life around other people. This often includes waiting around for people, and listening out for answers from them. In the process of constantly waiting, I could have done several things- but because my mind is focused purely on them, I feel like I cannot possibly get on with my life, until they have arrived, or answered for example. Does this make sense?

So I thought about my own life. My goals, my ambitions and my feelings. And although I love thinking about others and putting their needs before my own, I rarely get time to think about myself and plan what I do. My life is constantly controlled by other people, whether they know it or not. My actions are always influenced my other people and when I am by myself I often find myself thinking about what others would think or how they perceive me, or even what they may be up to. And although it is a very tricky habit to shake, I think it is important sometimes to be a bit selfish- not in a nasty way, but by loving ourselves and giving ourselves attention, we should begin to feel more at peace with our lives.

We shouldn't have to worry or plan our lives solely on other people. Having people in our lives should be seen as a gift, not a burden on our lives. We should care for others for sure, but sometimes it is acceptable to put ourselves first. To be able to forget all our queries and worries or stresses about family or friends, even for just a few hours to focus on ourselves, would truly be refreshing. So many people spend their lives looking after others, when really they should be looking after themselves.

So from now on, always remember to take time to treat yourself, pamper, or spend some time just being you. And if you are the type of person who always seems to be being looked after- maybe take some time to think about the people looking after you and thank them for being so selfless and loving.

Sometimes we fill our lives with social plans and studies and work, that we forget about one very important thing- relaxation. We may feel like we have no time for it or that cramming lots of activities into small amounts of time is the same as relaxing as you are spending your 'free time'. However free time can be seen and used in different ways.

In my opinion, free time is what I call the time I spend alone relaxing by myself and doing the little things that I want to do- like watching my favourite show or playing my guitar. To others free time may be what they call their social life. Or they may be one of those people who HAS to be doing something social to be having a good time and feel relaxed.

I am here to express the importance of relaxation. Which I'm sure you all already know, but as I sit snuggled up in my duvet at 5pm on a Tuesday, I have decided that I want to stress how wonderful it is to 'chill' and relax. It's just so cosy and warm and makes all the little things and problems go away for a while. I'm not suggesting you run away from problems but sometimes you want to just curl up and that's okay!


I believe it is important to spend time by yourself, whether it be napping, shopping, jogging etc whatever it is you like doing. This is because sometimes we spend so much time helping others or listening to others that we forget to listen to ourselves. We need time alone in order to catch up with ourselves and think about what it is that we want, and how we feel. You need time to gather your thoughts and organise your time so that stress is gradually eliminated.

So next time you have a few hours free, instead of planning outings or social events, take some time to be by yourself and enjoy your own company. You'll feel more refreshed and calm and happier about your routine and life. Time alone sometimes can be good for you! :)

Fresher's week is always a much awaited time for students to-be. For a lot of students, it offers a chance to be wild and free, and a perfect way to celebrate living away from Mum and Dad. It's hard to know what to expect before experiencing it as it is not the same as going on a one off night out. Here are some things you can expect from 'Fresher's week'- or in some Universities' case 'Fresher's Fortnight':


1.) Fresher's flu is NOT a myth. You WILL get ill during your first few weeks. This is because there are so many people, all in a new environment, and it is easy to spread germs and illnesses.

2.) You will be handed flyers everywhere you go and you will end up with a room full of them by the end of the week.

3.) Foam parties can be dangerous if you're not overly tall!

4.)Your halls will look worse for wear when you wake up every morning.

5.) Queues will be massive and you will wonder, when you finally get in, if your first year is already over because you've been standing in the queue for that long.

6.) Everyone is overly friendly. Be careful.

7.)You'll eat a lot of fast food.

8.)You'll get sick of your 'Fresher's Week' wristband getting soaked every time you shower, wash your hands or wash up, and staying wet for the rest of the day.

9.)Flat/House parties will probably end up being better than the events.

10.) You may not make it into all of your University lectures. Or if you do, it's probably because you have just stayed awake from the night before.

11.) Fresher's Fayre will make you feel like you are a herd of cattle, and you'll feel as though someone will 'moo' at any given moment.

12.) You'll have been persuaded to enter an empty night club, just because you were all too polite to walk away.

13.) Even if you haven't gone out, you won't sleep due to all the racket going on outside- both from club music and people having arguments in the courtyards at 4am.

14.) All your shoes will be sticky from people spilling their drinks down you whilst you try to squeeze past them to go to the toilet when in night clubs.

15.) And finally, you'll realise you've spent too much money, and you'll try to make a plan where you live off £5 a week- which only one day later won't work out as you've bought another kebab to 'save on washing up', when we all know it's because you're too lazy to cook.

So a few years ago I used to bleach my hair. It was almost white, and I kept bleaching it when my roots came through. I really didn't know that much about hair and hair care, and soon enough I started to notice my hair seemed to be getting shorter. 'How could this happen?' I'd question. I didn't realise that hair could break off or fall out due to damage from hair dying and bleach. My parents told me I was probably imagining it, but after a while we knew I wasn't. My hair was so badly damaged that it would just snap off at the ends and wouldn't get any longer- not good considering it was already short and I was aiming to grow it.


I knew that no amount of hair care would help this, so I took the huge decision to have a big hair cut. I had to have it all cut off into a short bob in order to get rid of all the split ends. Before that I had stopped bleaching and the roots were much healthier. I had a full head of highlights to cover up the roots along with my hair cut ( to neaten everything up). I really hated having to have my hair cut off, but luckily the hairdresser did an excellent job and I liked my new do. However I still had aimed to grow it. So from here I rarely ever used heat i.e straighteners or hair dryers. I'd only ever dyed the roots using semi permanent colours and soon enough I started to notice a different in my hair. Not using bleach and having my split ends chopped off had made a huge difference to the condition of my hair. After a while I realised that dying my hair light was too hard to maintain, so a few years later I decided to dye my hair brown.

It made a huge difference as once I had the colour I only ever needed to use semi permanent hair dye and have done to this day. I never use straighteners and rarely blow dry my hair and my hair is now quite long. However recently I started to notice my hair was in bad shape again, it seemed to be falling out in strands like there was no tomorrow. I started to worry, what was damaging my hair? I knew I needed something drastic to help my hair before I ever did any hair dying or styling again.

So now, I put warm olive oil in my hair once a week- this gives natural oils back to your hair which makes it glossy and strong. I also use a Tresemme deep conditioning mask every other day and leave it in my hair for about 10 minutes. The results have been fantastic, my hair is no longer dry or brittle but feels nourished and healthy and strong. I also use Tresemme's split end remedy when I need to and an Elvive product for my roots.

My advice for anyone who is planning to dye their hair, before you do so spend a few weeks prepping your hair. Make sure you hair is healthy enough that dying you hair won't further damage it too much. I now know that the next time I dye my hair, it'll be ready!

I know people love a good ol' 'How To' blog post, myself including, so I thought it was about time I did another. I don't know how helpful it will be but I suppose we shall fathom that at the end. So recently I been a little down and I sat at my desk all alone, feeling sorry for myself, and it got me pondering happiness.
Sure, we all feel down and sometimes we feel really down and we think that happiness is so far out of reach or for some is an impossible task. But I soon realised it wasn't. Sometimes when we're down, we see happiness as something enormous and difficult to get, which then only makes us feel worse. We sometimes feel as though we are never going to be perfectly happy. So whilst pondering, I thought I would list down some steps as to being happy. Now of course I'm not saying these will definitely work or that they are scientifically proved, but they have helped me.


1.) Realisation- Sometimes even WE don't know why we are sad, we just are. And not knowing can make things worse, which is why I feel it is best to ask yourself and really dig deep, 'Why am I sad? What is causing my sadness?' Now it will take time, and there are days when we are literally down for no reason, but usually there will be a reason, and once you've figured out what it is, you'll be able to understand your emotions and perhaps overcome it.

2.) Acceptance- Accept the situations, accept your life and accept yourself. This is tricky. I won't sit here and act like it'll be easy. I still have a lot of work to do on this step. I find it hard to accept things in life, things that aren't fair and make me ask 'why me?'. But getting wound up about something won't necessarily change it. Unfortunately in life, things aren't always fair, and they do suck! But it is how we react and go about them that will result in a happier self. We sometimes have to just ACCEPT that there will be bad times, and some days we will be sad. But that's okay, we're only human.

3.) Talk to people- bottling up emotions is never good. Hell, I've tried, and I'm sure you all have too. So maybe you feel most comfortable with a friend or maybe your sibling or your mother, who ever you feel is the right person to talk to, talk to them. Even if they have no opinion on the matter, just having someone to listening will feel great. And once you've ranted and gotten everything off you chest, a huge weight will be lifted. Will the problem be solved, no probably not, but you'll feel happier for sharing. And besides that's what your friends and family are for.

4.) Don't be angry- We all get angry from time to time, I get angry a lot. But what does anger really solve- nothing. So it's a whole lot of wasted energy resulting in nothing. It's so much better to just brush it off your shoulder and let it go. Need I sing Frozen's 'Let It Go' here? I know we all want to get angry sometimes, not that its a nice feeling but in some ways I feel as though because it is one of the stronger emotions we feel more certain and powerful, which can often give us a rush of adrenaline. But wouldn't you rather have a happy adrenaline rush. If you face things positively they are much more likely to be resolved. So don't be angry, just stay calm and distract yourself with something that will make you laugh.

5.) Always make time for family- I know when you get to a certain age, all you want to do is hang out with your friends. And whilst friends are extremely important, nothing goes deeper than family. I know that I feel at my happiest when I am with my family. And if you are lucky enough to have a good family, then there is just so much unconditional support, comfort and love there waiting for you. Whenever I feel down, I think of my family and how crazy we are. It gives me strength . When you're with family, you can completely relax and be you.

6.) Do fun things- Sounds and obvious one but it can be the simplest of things. Such as going for a coffee with an old friend and catching up, or booking cinema tickets to a funny movie. Even a little stroll through the park with your partner, will be enough to make you feel like you did something productive with your day. I went for a 10 minute walk through the park with my boyfriend the other day- so simple- and it made me ridiculously happy! Or if these aren't your things, then whatever is, you should do them. Having something to look forward to or maybe something spontaneous, are really great, easy ways to stay positive and happy.

7.) Listening to happy music- Music can have such a strong impact on our emotions and mood. If I listen to a sad song, I feel sad. It goes without saying. So listen to a happy song in the car or whilst getting ready in the morning, it does a world of good!

8.) Stay cool- Whenever I get hot and bothered I feel angry and stressed. Whenever I'm walking somewhere, because I am a fast walker, I get hot very easily. So if you're like me, then plan extra time to walk, so you don't have to walk so fast, don't get out of breath, and you'll have more time to enjoy the walk. This sounds like a silly step, but like I said, sometimes it's the little things, that will determine anger/happiness.

9.) Treat yourself- I know some of us aren't exactly rich, so this one may be a little difficult. But I'm not suggesting you spend heaps of money all the time. Just every now and again or when you're feeling down, treat yourself. It could even be free, for example a relaxing evening away from work/study, with a face pack and a movie. I treated myself to a Domino's pizza the other night- totally worth it!

10.) Relax- It's so easy to get stressed these days. So why not try sleeping to some relaxing music. When I did that for a week, my sleeping was so much better and I felt a lot better for doing it. It can really help stress levels. Or if you're not in to that then meditation could work- although a little hard if you're a fidget like me! Whatever it is that you find relaxing, a bubble bath maybe, it'll help you wind down from the day and you'll see that anger wash away!

Now I hope these little tips have helped. Of course these aren't the only steps, but these were some I had thought of and wanted to share with you all! X

Have you ever felt like you have so much to give, yet you can't seem to give it? I know I have, and that's why I felt it was important to write about becoming the better you. We all have a version of ourselves that we like more, you know, the kind who always has an answer or come back? Well unfortunately most of the time we spend our days worrying and stressing about that person we want to be, that we forget about the real person who is dying to come out. So here are my 5 steps to becoming a better you....


Step 1.) Find out what it is that makes you happy.
It is extremely important that we feel comfortable doing what we do, and that usually comes with happiness. I know that I find my confidence when I am doing something I enjoy and feel comfortable with- I feel a lot happier about the way I am also. Doing the things that make us happy, will all round make us feel better about ourselves. It will allow us to forget about what others think of us and start enjoying the freedom away from our thoughts. Once you start enjoying yourself, those worries suddenly fade and you realise you stop thinking about them so much.

Step 2.) Take opportunities.
Don't pass up opportunities to do things. They may just be your big break, or chance to meet some wacky new people, or even try new foods. I know sometimes we feel nervous about taking opportunities, but once you take them, your confidence will rise and make you glad you did it. Also, if opportunities don't come to you, why not go to them. There is no harm in being bold and going for it, and putting yourself out there. For example, in business terms, instead of waiting for them to request you, email them and let them know who you are. Being bold and confident and pushy sometimes gets you further than you'd think. Don't hold back, just go for it! What have you got to lose?


Step 3.) Talk to people.
I used to always feel nervous talking to people, and worry about what I said or how I was perceived. Once you get over that barrier, you will be able to have good conversations without worrying. So stop and chat to people you know on the street. Ask about them and don't feel shy about telling them all about what you've been doing. Walking away from that conversation will make you feel happy, confident and in control- as if you handled the situation well. It sounds silly but trust me it works. So say hello to people and don't be afraid to ask questions and start discussions.

Step 4.) Get organised and be productive.
There is nothing worse that clutter and disorganisation. So tidy and clean and file etc. Make you work, or house, or even you blog look organised. Once you have you'll feel a weight has lifted and feel much more relaxed. Once you have relaxed you'll feel happier and productive. And more so, you will have more time on your hands to do things- such as arranging to go out with friends, or read, or shop!

Step 5.) Get in touch with who you really are.
Ask yourself 'Am I really the person who my head creates or is that just a fictitious character I have developed?'. Sounds complicated but let me argue my case. I always used to see myself in my head- an alter ego shall we say. And I always compared myself to her, and felt as though she was the real me. She was cooler, prettier and funnier and much more confident than I was. And it used to get me down just thinking about 'when will the outer me start acting like the inner me?'. So I asked myself, 'Is she really me? Am I capable of being her?' And the answer was mostly no.  And do not be disheartened by this, I'm sure there are plenty of her/his qualities that you can learn from and alter to your heart's content. But do not rely on this alter ego. Be who you are and work on that. Be confident and do not hold back. Be proud of who you are and how you are.

I hope these 5 steps have helped. If you would like more tips and advice then please leave a comment!

So, many students are probably in the same boat- not having enough money for things they need even with a student loan. A lot of people think students have it easy, but it is untrue when you don't have enough money to buy food...
So I thought It'd be funny to write about the 20 signs that you are poor.

1.) Your cupboards and fridges are full of Everyday Value items from Tesco! And if not then your cupboards are empty!

2.) You spend a lot of time drinking Tea, gazing out of the window, watching other people have fun- because you have no money yourself to go out an do things.

3.) Primark becomes you place of worship. 

4.) Lambrini is your answer to every night out because it seems like the only alcohol that is under £3.

5.) You spend way too much time looking for coupons and vouchers online. My friend actually typed 'Free Stuff' into Google the other night... no luck. Poor us. Apparently the Internet doesn't like to give out free stuff.... who knew right?

6.) You actually get excited buying healthy food, because it's been so long since you've been able to afford any.

7.) A new microwave miraculously appearing in the kitchen is the height of your week's excitement and entertainment.

8.) You continue to eat food that you made the night before and forgot to put in the fridge and has just been sitting there.... Mmm.

9.) You online shop a lot. And when I say online shop I mean online window shop, because you can't afford that kind of luxury.

10.) You are constantly running out of underwear and socks, and are forced to hand wash them, because the washing machines and tumble dryers are out of your price range and budget.

11.) You buy vitamins, because the food you can afford is no good for your health and is probably slowly making your insides rot. 

12.) You walk everywhere, even if it means miles just to get a carton of milk. If transport isn't free, you're not on it.

13.) You go to any event that has 'free food' in the description. Even if you don't want to go to the event.

14.) Pre drinks are more fun than nights out because they are free- usually!

15.) Going to the pub to see friends but ordering a tap water or splashing out and buying a 20p lime cordial.

16.) Bulk buying takeaway so you can save it for future meals.

17.) Buying a house for second year that is practically on Lidl's doorstep, so to avoid the queues!

18.) Watching a Seagull, on it's nest because it kind of feels like watching the nature channel, and let's face it you couldn't afford that!

19.) Joining countless online survey sites in the chance you might earn £5 or a voucher for some unheard of shop.

20.) The only money you have a lot of is 2ps, which is brilliant for 2p machines at the arcade. If you win something... well that's just the best part of your week.

Okay so there you have it. I'm sure there are so many more. So please let me know what you have all experienced, whether as students or not.

Step 1: Eye contact- it's extremely important to NEVER make any eye contact... with anyone. Only look at them at really bad moments, pause for a minute and then panic and look away. This is a really popular technique.

Is it just me, or do the little things irritate you the most? No, not just me? Good. Glad we've cleared that up!!