One Year

Happy Birthday to Away with the fairies!! The secret window to my inner madness.

Okay so it's not quite a year yet, my first blog post was November 30th 2011 :) Friday will be a super special day as Away with the fairies shares it's big day with the number one guy in my life, my Dad (even if he is quite a bit older). I can't believe it's been an entire year since I entered the blogosphere. Looking back at all my posts, so much has happened to me this year; tears and smiles! It's been a tough time at the moment because I have a lot on my plate BUT taking a closer look has made me realise that I am so lucky and I have so much in life to be thankful for.

So, where do I want to be in another years time??

I will have spent the last few months on my first teaching post. Who knows where I end up but I know I will love it in any which way. Even when I am running on three hours sleep and cups of tea!

I will have read Harry Potter to my class. If I inspire one child to pick up the books instead of the film then I am doing an excellent job. Totally going to fill my reading corner with Harry Potter toys too, I already have a Hermione doll! 

My own place! Whether I rent or buy or whatever, I will be an actual grown up. I know I have moved out for Uni but it's not really the same living in a student house. I want something to call my own.

When I get my own place I can eventually decorate how I want to :) Each year I transform my Uni room into a little piece of me as best I can but I can't imagine having free reign over an entire house or flat. HOW EXCITING!!??

I can finally afford a car with my teacher's wage. I don't know too much about cars and I don't even know what would be practical for my lifestyle or anything, BUT I know I want one :) My first ever car!

I might have my very own furry companion. I love animals but I'm only a fan of little dogs as pets. I could get used to this little guy snuggling up to me on my weekends off. Failing that I can always get some tropical fish... awesome!!

When I move into my fabulous new abode, I might even have some amazing housemates or neighbours who instantly become my BFF's :) but maybe that's wishful thinking from watching too much TV hahaha.

I will have enough money to buy some lovely clothes!! When I was 16 I used to spend most my weekly wages on really nice clothes and I haven't been able to do it in soooooo long. Roll on the September payday!

I will have really long hair in time for Graduation in November! I still won't have dyed it or damaged it and I will be super proud of myself :) 

Fingers crossed I will still have time to be a culinary genius. I have to get my five a day and all my vitamins if I am going to be an outstanding NQT don't I? ;)

I am facing the fact that I am pretty much going to end up like Jess from New Girl. Those of you who watch it and know me well will fully see where I am coming from....

Well November 2013, I'll be seeing you sooner than I expect probably!

Come at me bro.

So assignment season is now in full flow. It seems as if most people have had a reading week this week to get all prepared or just have some time off in some cases... except the primary edders of course! We are such little troopers. Though I must admit that I have been enjoying the abundance of free computers in the quiet zone of the library :) See when you are faced with this sight everyday, you can't help but want to pull out your hair and cry inside just a little bit...

I'm usually quite calm and organised when it comes to Uni work but everything is starting to build up and the deadlines are looming. If you read last week's Sunday blog then you will have some idea of what I'm up against. I have already started having cranky moments! My inner monologue is literally like... Oh front door just SHUT pleeeeeeease.... if all you are going to do is giggle at your facebook in the library then GO HOME... Why do I never have any yummy food? ... This is the perfect week for a house inspection, NAAAAAAAT! ... I will go all Sheldon Cooper on your ass and try to melt your brain if you aren't careful...

So in between lectures, volunteer work, being confused about relationships, sleeping, eating, living in the library and generally not having a life, I have been having some me time and catching up on my favourite shows and watching funny videos to cheer myself up :) here are my favourite picks of the week..

THE cutest babies I have ever seen

One of my favourite moments of Big Bang Theory ever. Penny and Leonard <3

Adding to my Big Bang Theory love some more

Best Christmas advert of all time. So emotional! If all guys were like this snowman, the world would be an awesome place

And if assignment stress isn't bad enough, us poor girls get this combined with PMS. Sorry to any guys reading, look away from your screen now! When this occurs, it's probably best you throw a romantic comedy and some chocolate at us and then run in the opposite direction. Ironically, this weeks New Girl covers this feeling much more adequately then I ever could have...

Assignment time is bound to be tough but you just have to hold on to that light at the end of the tunnel (CHRISTMAS uhsfuewhfuewjdiwjxiwjiu) and what makes you happy, then just go for it! You know you can do it :) if funny videos and this rant of a blog isn't enough, then heres some inspirational Pinterest finds to round up this week!

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, he became a butterfly."

Good luck to all you assignment doers! xx

Quit yo Jibber-jabber!

So does anyone else think like they had just hit a brick wall? I'm halfway through my first semester and the motivation levels are totally slacking. Even thinking about writing my blog for this Sunday I am having serious writers block; I am sat in my pyjamas finishing off last minute before work which NEVER usually happens. Now this sounds pretty random but me and Nikki love the Snickers adverts with Mr T. When I was tempted by whingey territory last night, Mr T pops into my head and I have decided there is a bucket load of things I need to man-up and get doing!

Write my personal statement and get myself sorted for Durham Pools. If I actually want to get myself a job I really need to get myself organised. I am halfway there but I need to fight through the writers block and get into the zone with my standard blabbery flair.

Buy and eat many more mince pies & get myself an advent calendar sorted. Oxfam are selling some really cute Christmas goodies in store and online, so I will probably be a good volunteer and snag myself one of these fair trade chocolate lovelies before they are all gone.

Stop eating out so much and actually start cooking myself some decent food. Five a day is becoming a distant friend. If I'm going to become Wonderwoman in the next month then I should probably eat some more greens. Remember the days when I used to be a self-proclaimed culinary genius and post all my delicious grub on my blog? 

Start saving so that in the distant future I can afford to buy myself some new Ugg boots. I keep pining over the lovely classic short chestnut boots because I imagine they will keep my tooties nice and toasty (without flapping all over the place like my bailey button ones).

Stop ordering domino's pizza just because it's two for Tuesdays. Especially as I am not supposed to be eating dairy! It just tastes so darn good when it's coupled with a potterthon. No more pizza and no more potter unless I've read a few textbooks and written some amazing academic stuff!

Think more about my values as a teacher; I am quite enjoying this module at Uni to be honest, I like to get all philosophical :) My values metaphor is below, yeah it looks easy, but when you have 625 words to talk about your values as a teacher it turns into a massive stress-fest.

Plan a trip to Rome, got that wanderlust feeling after my Parisian adventures. Buongiorno endless plates of Spaghetti Bolognese. I have also put this fabulous book from Urban Outfitters on my Christmas list so I can plan some more future endeavors. 

Exercise a little more. The days of fresh sunny bike rides are over so I'm finding myself slipping further and further into hibernation mode. I need to whack out some of my yoga moves.. cobra, downward facing dog or frost sun salutation anybody?

Buy some Christmas presents! Surprisingly my Mum and Dad are sorted for this year but I still have a list of people for whom I have diddly squat. At least I have loads of wrapping paper left over from last year because I got very over-excited.

I should probably practice my Français. I'm never going to work my way out of low ability otherwise!

Take somebody to Wildes Wine Bar. Emma took me here to celebrate her passing her QTS exams (well done Gakkey!) and it really is a hidden gem so I will be passing on her little secret.

I will rekindle my love for Mcfly and listen to this song over and over while I do my assignments. Any band that has a pink ukulele and Dougie Poynter will always be AMAZING. I also need to catch up on Celebrity Juice as I hear Mr Poynter was a guest, woooo!

Remember to look after my hair and skin. Man I really have got lazy lately! I must promise to make regular use of my St Ives Scrub and Lee Stafford Hair treatment. You know what they say, look good, feel great, write great assignments. Well here's to hoping! :)

Winter Warmers

Greetings from the Merry Midlands! Aye, I am indeed home for a long weekend to save my parents from their own insanity. Not that I am really much help with the acting 'normal' expertise. I guess this weekend has been reserved for flying catch ups, 21st Birthday organising and Birthday/Christmas shopping. Yes I said Christmas shopping. I usually get quite a lot of clothes for my Birthday and Christmas so my Mum likes to take the opportunity to shop whenever I am home. It was a bonus yesterday when she had me AND Nikki in Chester for the day :)

How nice is it that Momma D let me have my hat and glove mittens early? They were meant to be a Christmas Present but she knows how chilly it gets up in York.

Hat - Dorothy Perkins £12

Mitten Gloves - New Look £6.99

I have been on the hunt for a checkered guys shirt for a while. I have a thin summery one from River Island that I've had for years but now I really wanted a thick lumberjack-esque shirt. This beauty (the shirt, not the guy) was the first Christmas pressie we picked up; it will be perfect to layer up and wear with leggings and boots through the colder months. It's such a good shirt that my Dad bought the EXACT SAME ONE when we were in Chester yesterday!

Shirt - Marks & Spencers £32.50

Office were doing an online promotion, which unfortunately ended on Thursday night, where you could get 20% off as well as free delivery. Perfect chance to add these cosy looking shearling Converse to my Christmas haul!

Converse - Office £67.99

Now what else have I got my eye on??

Socks! Who doesn't like socks? Last year my Mum bought me some amazing Fair-Isle print socks that were fur lined.. absolutely immense :) Here are a few Christmassy themed socks that you can pick up from Topshop now. Yes I know elephants are not festive but I just love them all year round. Primark are doing some amazingly festive, fur lined socks for just £4 too.

Socks - Topshop 3 for £8

BEEP BEEP BEEP, hypocrite alert! I have aaaaalways been put off Jack Wills, purely because of how popular it is and I'm not really one to follow a label trend. However I couldn't help but fall in love with their Sherpa lined hoody and these fabulous printed leggings. YES PLEASE SANTA <3

Hoody - Jack Wills £89.50

Leggings - Jack Wills £29.50

A warm and snuggly elephant that can share my bed on winter nights. If only it made a good brew it would be Jenny heaven.

Elephant Hottie - Boots £19.99

And of course, who doesn't just love a new jumper??

One, Two, Three

Keep your choices cosy this Christmas guys ;) 

xx