Why I'm Giving Up With Instagram

Instagram; it's the social media platform we all love to hate. 

With its ever-changing algorithms, swipe up features and instant stories it's no wonder that the average millennial spends over 60 minutes scrolling through the app every day. What started out as a place to share an instant snap, hence the name Instagram, has now become a career opportunity with some influencers using it as a main source of income.

I don't know about you, but I find that crazy.

I joined Instagram when it first launched in 2010. I was thirteen at the time and it was one of the first apps I downloaded on my iPod Touch (yep, I was one of the cool kids). I was obsessed with Justin Bieber and used Instagram to keep up to date with what he was doing, I even had an account dedicated to him - the world's biggest fangirl or what!?

Back then Instagram was all about the instant snap and nothing was staged. I'd share photos of my coffee, a selfie of me and my pals in big glasses holding up the peace sign or a snap of Justin Bieber with a caption expressing my love for him (and secretly hoping he'd choose me as his One Less Lonely Girl).

Spoiler: He never did. 

Every photo was of the worst quality, a little bit blurry and accompanied by the Nashville filter with the cute little border around the edge - as shown in my very first Instagram post. There was no pressure back then, every photo was good enough and it was a source of creativity and fun.

So,  why am I giving up with Instagram? 

In 2013, I made a brand new account. I felt like I'd outgrown my original Instagram and wanted to distance myself from my cringe-worthy posts and badly edited photos. I was sixteen at the time and it was then that I started to feel the pressures of Instagram. 

The blogging and YouTube industries were rapidly becoming popular and creators were getting more recognition for their work. Influencers were experimenting with editing techniques, photo quality was improving and consequently, Instagram became the most popular social media platform.

Instagram has consumed my life. 

As a small blogger, I feel a large amount of pressure to follow the latest trends, use a good quality camera, post content every single day and edit my photos to match a certain theme. It's more about statistics than enjoyment and that makes me really sad. If a certain photo doesn't reach a certain engagement, there's a feeling of failure that lingers. Why are we getting so upset over how many likes a photo has? It's madness. 

 I'm too busy watching other people live their lives to live my own. 

But seriously, what does it matter?

Anxiety and other mental health issues in young people are at an all-time high and I think that Instagram is a big contributing factor. 

The truth is, life isn't as perfect as it seems on Instagram. You see a snap of someone's day, literally ten seconds of what could be the worst day of their life, and you think everything is going brilliantly. Let's be honest, we only share the good bits and most of the photos we see haven't been taken on that day anyway.

Instagram is a fantasy land; almost everything is set up,  photoshopped within an inch of its life and therefore creating an inaccurate perception. I don't wake up looking great every morning, frankly, I look like I've been through ten rounds with Anthony Joshua (and that's on a good day).

Maybe it's time we stop sharing photos for the sake of engagement and actually post content that is inspiring, motivating and that we're proud of. We should be removing the pressures that we've unknowingly built up and actually get back to what Instagram was made for; the instant snap into everyday life; the good, the bad and the ugly.

So I'm going to stop

I don't want to deal with the pressures of Instagram anymore. I don't want it to be the first thing I check in the morning. I want to be able to go out with my friends without feeling like I need to document that. I want to stop comparing my life to others. And I know that only I can change that. 

Instagram can be the most toxic place if you allow it to consume you. 

From now on, I'll be posting what I want when I want. I'm done worrying about editing and themes and outfits. I just want to enjoy sharing my photography without trying to work out what day I should schedule the post for so that it matches my non-existent theme. 

If something I see online negatively affects me and I start to send myself in a downward spiral, I'll unfollow or mute. I want to fill my timeline with content that inspires and motivates me. That's what social media should be about. My mood shouldn't change so quickly just from scrolling through a few photos on an app and I'm so glad I'm realising this now. 

I just hope we can all go back to using Instagram for enjoyment and make it a place that's less about judgement and comparison and more about fun and creativity. 

Lots of Love,

Meg

xxx

2018 │The Highlights

Happy New Year Everyone! 

2018 has been a complete whirlwind. It's been a year full of success, a lot of celebrations and a few life lessons along the way. Unlike recent years, the high points have definitely outweighed the low points and I can truly say that 2018 has been one of the best years of my life. 

This year saw me achieve things I never thought possible. I graduated, went back to Disneyland Paris and finally walked along the cobbles of Coronation Street. I've seen myself blossom with a new found confidence and learned a lot about self-acceptance, especially when it comes to my skin. I also learned a lot about love; how I deserve/want to be treated and that I shouldn't settle for anything less. 2018 has also seen me reunite with old friends, put past arguments behind us and experience one too many crazy nights out. It really has been the best year and I feel so lucky to have met some of the most beautiful people, especially in this last few months. 

Tonight I'll be welcoming in the New Year the only way I know how, with a glass of gin and surrounded by the people I love. This time next year I hope I'll be telling you about 12 months full of love, more success and exciting travels but until then, I'm going to share my *many* highlights of 2018. 

Theatre

I started the year in theatre as I went to see three of my favourite shows in the first three months. As I've said, January to March was a complete blur so going to the theatre was literally the only break I got from the Library. In January, I went to see my all-time favourite musical Jersey Boys. It was so good that I went to see it twice in two days and was lucky enough to meet Michael Watson after one of the shows. 

In February, I took my Grandma to see the Rat Pack live from LasVegas which was such a fun evening. We saw Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr and I don't know who loved it more. Then finally in March Mum and I went to see Wicked. It was my fifth time seeing the show but I could watch it over and over again. Along with Jersey Boys, it's definitely one of my favourites. 

Emmerdale Studio Tour

Fast forward to April and I'd finally submitted my last ever Uni assignment. As I had a lot of free time on my hands, Mum and I jumped on a train to Leeds and went to see the Emmerdale Studios. We love the soaps and Emmerdale is one of our favourites so to be able to see some of the famous sets, pull a pint in the Woolpack and watch how they bring the village to life was so much fun. Sadly, we didn't see Ross or Cain. 

Graduation Ball

In May, we had our Graduation Ball. It was a night full of love, laughter and a lot of prosecco. Not only did I finally go to the stunning Oh Me Oh My in Liverpool, but to be able to stand on the rooftop garden, overlooking the docks and celebrate the most amazing three years with the people who meant the most to me was the best way to end my University experience. I should also mention that I only got in at 4am and somehow managed to be in work early the next morning, still in last nights make up...lovely. 

This kicked off the best Summer of my life. 

I Got Published

Each year InTheRed, a Liverpool magazine for writers, release a copy filled with short stories and poems from Liverpool's best writers. I've been trying to get published by them for the past three years and this year, it finally happened. My short story 'The Date With St Clair' was published in the 2018 edition of the magazine and I feel so honoured that my work is there alongside some of the most talented writers. If you'd like to have a read, you can find the magazine online here. 

My 21st Birthday

My birthday was one of my favourite days of the year. From the moment I woke up, I was treated like a Princess. I've never been one to make a MASSIVE fuss on birthdays but my parents went above and beyond to make the day so special. The day was full of surprises, we went for afternoon tea, had a meal with the family and then they whisked me off for a special holiday to...

Cornwall

The day after my 21st, my parents and the dog took me down to Newquay for the week. Cornwall holds a special place in my heart and it's the place I've called my second home for the past ten years. To be able to celebrate my birthday there was the best gift I could've received. The sun was blazing, we chilled on the beach and drank cider on rooftop bars. I don't think I've ever felt more content. 

What a way to start 21! 

Coronation Street Tour

In July, a childhood dream came true as I got to walk down the famous cobbles of Coronation Street. This was another treat from my mum for my 21st and we had one of the best days. It's surreal watching it on the telly, knowing that you've walked down that exact street and knocked on all the doors. We also had fun exploring Media City and Salford Quays. I wrote a blog post all about it if you fancy a read. 

65th Wedding Anniversary

July also saw my Grandma and Grandad celebrate 65 years of marriage. They got married on the 4th July 1953 when my Grandma was only 20 years old and my Grandad 21. Here they are with their special letter from the Queen congratulating them on their Diamond Wedding Anniversary. They love each other more today than they ever could and to me, they're proof that true love really does exist. 

Graduation

I couldn't talk about 2018 without mentioning the fact that I GRADUATED!!

Three years of hard work, a lot of stress and a sprinkle of imagination saw me graduate from Liverpool John Moores University as a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing. I remember writing my 2017 highlights a year ago and thinking, 'this time next year, I wonder if I'll have actually graduated.' Well, guess what girl. YOU DID IT! 

I'll be honest, it hasn't sunken in that I'm not going back to University ever again and I miss all of my friends so much. However, the 13th July 2018 will forever hold a special place in my heart. 

The proudest day of my life. 

Lytham Festival

The Graduation celebrations continued with a trip to Lytham Festival to see Nile Rodgers and Chic. This was one of my favourite nights of the year as we didn't stop dancing for the entire night. I've always wanted to see Nile Rodgers and Chic at a festival so this was the perfect way to end what had been my favourite month so far. 

Meeting My Favourite Authors

In August, I went to my first ever authors event and met three of my writing inspirations; Giovanna Fletcher, Lindsey Kelk and Paige Toon. I've been reading their books since I was fifteen years old and they've inspired me endlessly throughout my studies. To be able to meet them, chat with them and listen to them talk about their passion for the genre they write in was so refreshing and completely restored my faith and motivation in what I do. 

Liverpool

September saw me reunite with old friends and spend a lot of my time in Liverpool. I've taken more time for myself this year and spent a lot of this month at the Docks, in Costa reading a book. If anything, I've realised the importance of taking time out for yourself to do the things that you want to do. I also realise how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful city. 

Halloween

Halloween was so much fun this year. I spent it with my work family and it was such a laugh. I'm so lucky to be able to work for people who I get on so well with. Apart from that, October was a quiet month, I like to think it was a time for me to relax and recharge for the busy months ahead. 

Heather's & London

In November, I was reunited with my lovely friend Jade. We took a trip to London to see Heathers the Musical (starring Carrie Fletcher) and it's up there with one of my favourite days of the year. Heathers was absolutely amazing. I purposely didn't listen to the soundtrack because I wanted it to be a surprise and it completely exceeded my expectations. Carrie was the perfect Veronica! After the show Jade and I explored London, taking in the sights of Oxford Street, Carnaby Street and she finally convinced me to go on the tube! 

Christmas In Disneyland Paris

And finally December, the month I returned home to Disneyland Paris.

In September Chloe and I decided that after two years, we were long overdue a trip to Disney and what better time to go than Christmas. It was a holiday full of pure magic from the moment we stepped off the Eurostar to the moment we said goodbye to Main Street. I'll never be able to explain how much this place means to me, the only thing I can say is that I'm incredibly thankful to have ended the year there. Also, being able to spend the holiday with my favourite roomie was even better. Chloe and I are literally the same people and we didn't stop laughing for the entire trip. 

Rugby With Dad

2018 saw me actually take an interest in a sport for once. 

Dad and I have spent the majority of our Friday nights at the Totally Wicked Stadium cheering on the Saints and it's been absolutely brilliant. Being able to spend time with my Dad doing something we both love has been a pleasure and I can't wait for the new season to start. 

Ohana

I don't know how I would've done this year without my family. They've been so supportive and so loving throughout and I can only hope that I've made them proud. I don't thank them enough for everything that they do; my Mum for bringing me coffee on those all-nighters doing uni work, my Dad for distracting me with the rugby, my Grandma and Grandad for consistently making me laugh and my little Buster for being there with a cuddle.  I'm so lucky to have them.

Friendship

I've learned a lot about friendship this year; it's not about the size of your social circle but the people in it. My Uni gang have been my personal cheerleaders since we met in our first year and being able to graduate together was the best feeling. Thank you for putting up with my many breakdowns and telling me I could do it when I was so close to giving up. Laughter is so important and the laughs I've had this year have kept me going, from our crazy nights out to riding bikes around Liverpool at 3am. I'm so bloody thankful to have had such beautiful people be a part of my year. 

Overall, it really has been the best year ever. I think the only thing that could've topped it off would've been if England won the world cup. 2018 has been my year. I'm thankful that I'm still healthy and that my family are too. I feel extremely lucky to have had so many life changing experiences and to have met some of the most amazing people who I hope will continue to brighten my life in 2019. I've got a feeling that 2019 is going to be a quiet one, but I'm ready to make it another good one. 

I hope you have a fantastic New Year and that 2019 is filled with love, happiness and a little sprinkle of pixie dust! 

Lots of Love,

Meg

xxx

How To Get Over The Guy You Never Dated

I think we can all agree that catching feelings is messy business, especially for someone who doesn't feel the same. As much as we make ourselves promise that we won't get attached, it's inevitably going to happen but just how do you get over that one person you couldn't call your own? 

 Personally, it's a situation I find myself in time and time again. I either go on a few dates and get ghosted or admire from afar and realise that the guy is completely out of my league. Regardless of the situation, that dreaded feeling lingers. A web of 'what if?' and endless amounts of wondering why I wasn't good enough. 

In recent months, ghosting has been a common occurrence in my dating life and it SUCKS!

I've been on dates with guys and things have gone really well. We've had a second/third date and then they just disappear. They delete from all social media, ignore messages and leave me with a bunch of feelings that I can't shake off. It frustrates me that people think that they can mess with other's feelings because they're unsure about their own.

When it comes to love and dating, I try to protect myself as much as possible. I don't like allowing myself to be vulnerable or taken for a fool but I'll admit, being ghosted is embarrassing. It hurts to know that you weren't on the same page; you thought they felt the same way with all the compliments, flirty banter and the good morning texts but it meant nothing to them. You feel like you were 'almost' good enough and wonder what you did to let them down. 

If this rings any bells then rest assured that you're not alone. After talking to a few of my girlfriends, I've realised it's a common thing for guys to do, yet it feels stupid to have all these feelings for a boy who you never made it official with. I like to refer to this kind of relationship as an 'almost relationship' and sometimes, I think they're the hardest to get over. 

So without anymore waffling from me, here are some things that might help you get over that guy. 

Remember that you're entitled to your feelings

Never feel like you shouldn't be sad because the relationship wasn't official. It's okay to cry and feel emotional, in fact, I guarantee that you'll feel better after a little rant to your girlfriends. 

Practice self-love

Remember that you are the most important person in this situation. Treat yourself how you deserve to be treated. Watch all the romantic comedies and Disney movies that your heart desires - it's nice to see romance go right even if your love life isn't working out. 

There's nothing wrong with you

Even though you might think that everything is your fault, it's really not. The fact that someone has messed with your feelings because they're unsure of their own says more about them than it does about you. Keep reminding yourself that you don't need them - you coped without them before and you can cope without them now. 

Switch Playlists

Make a playlist of all the songs that make you feel fierce. I'm talking Beyonce, Ariana, Whitney and Little Mix. There's nothing like a strong female playlist to make you feel like you can take on the world. 

Keep yourself busy

Channel your energy into something creative and occupy your mind. It'll defer from the temptation to check their social media every hour and sinking into the black hole of wondering why things didn't work out the way you wanted them to. 

Delete them from social media

Following on nicely from my last point, deleting the guy from social media always helps. I'm constantly doing this, so take it from someone who knows that checking their Instagram to see if they're in a relationship does not help matters. You need to be rid of them in order to move on. 

Your friends are your lifesavers

Guarantee, they'll be there to pick you up when you feel at your lowest and reassure you that the guy was punching anyway. You can do so much better, trust us! 

Treat Yourself

Knowing that you weren't right for the person that you wanted can really knock your confidence, especially when you don't know the reasoning behind their actions. My advice? Browse ASOS, treat yourself to that dress you've always wanted, go out with the girls and forget that he even existed. 

The final thing is to have faith.

In life, you learn that not everyone is going to like you, people can be horrible and not everyone treats people how they'd like to be treated but the right person will come along. Why waste time crying over a guy when you can be living the single life to the fullest? You'll also learn not to catch feelings when going on dates - if you don't expect things to go right, it'll be a nice surprise when you finally found the guy you've been waiting for.

I'd love to hear if anyone else has found themselves in this situation and what you do to deal with it!

Lots of Love,

Meg

xxx

{Photo by Emma}

Weekly Update │ Zoo, Manchester & YouTube

30/04/2016 - 06/05/2016

This week has been one of the best weeks of the year; the weather has been beautiful, I've been more daring with my fashion choices and I've been able to meet a wonderful new friend whom I know is a friend I'll have for a very very long time. 

│Loving│
This week I've been loving quite a lot. Of course I've been loving the abnormally beautiful weather we've been having here in the UK, but I've also been loving spending time with my friends and getting to meet new people. One of my loves this week has been penguins; I'm officially obsessed, they're just so cute and fluffy. I really loved taking a trip to the Zoo with my friends, I wrote a blog post about it here. This week also saw the start of a big adventure for me; YouTube. My best friend and I have started a YouTube channel, and of course it's nowhere near an amazing standard but we're working on it, and it'd mean the world if you could go and check it out, maybe even give it a little subscribe if you're feeling kind. I'll leave a link to it here. I really love editing the videos, it's so fun!

│Hating│

I've not really been hating a lot this week, apart from the fact that I haven't been too well. The whole thing of warm weather hasn't really been agreeing with me. Also, people on trains. This is a very broad thing to hate, but I just can't be coping with drunk people on trains who think it's okay to keep burping in my face. I don't want your alcoholic burps being the only thing I can smell. Also, why do people try and talk to you when you clearly have headphones in? I'm not being rude, I just genuinely cannot hear a word you're saying. 

│Listening│

I've been mentioning this guy soooo much lately, but I am loving listening to Zak Abel at the moment. If you haven't heard of him yet, either go and look him up on Spotify or YouTube because honestly that guy is amazing! 

│Wearing│

I spoke previously about my daring fashion choices, and I'll be honest with you, they're not really that daring. I bought some bandanas to try out for the Summer and honestly I think I love them. They just look super cute and they're perfect to add into your hair to jazz up a ponytail or something. I'll definitely be buying some more! 

│Eating│

This week, I was very lucky enough to be able to meet a new friend. Jade (from jadeoutsidethetower) and I met up on Friday in Manchester to have a day of shopping, laughs and Wagamama. It was both of our first times eating in Wagamama and we didn't really have a clue what we were doing. We both ordered the curry, and oh wow it was so yummy! I can't believe I've never tried Wagamama before, what is going on with me?!

│Moment│

The highlight of the week for me has definitely been going to the Zoo and also visiting Jade in Manchester. I can't believe that we got on so well, and I can't wait to meet up with her very soon so that we can do the whole day again (and hopefully not get lost this time!). 

Have a great week!

Lots of Love,
Meg

xox

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Weekly Update │ Travels, Pizza and Open Mic Nights

02/04/2016 - 08/04/2016

So, I thought it would be really fun to add something new on my blog. I post a lot about Disney, books and my favourite beauty products, but I think my favourite thing to blog about is what I've been up too, what I've been loving and what I've been hating. To rectify this, every Friday, I'm going to be uploading a 'Weekly Updates' Post. I hope you enjoy!

I had a very lovely start to the week this week, being re-united with my four best friends whom I spent 4 years doing drama with. We used to see each other every single day, but since we've all moved to Uni we don't get to be together as much and it's really sad. So, on Saturday, we all plodded down to Kathryn's for a Pizza night. I just love spending time with the drama girls, because honestly, we do nothing but laugh. It makes my week every time I get to see them. We watched the Saturday Night Takeaway finale with our dominoes pizza, singing along to mysterious girl with Peter Andre. I mean what more could you want to do on a Saturday night really?

I've also been doing a lot of shopping this week, we went to the most beautiful arcade in Southport where I picked up a few more items of clothing including a gorgeous striped crop top from Topshop. I just love getting my student loan paid in so I can go and buy loads of crap that I don't actually need.

Then, before I knew it, I was on my way back to the city of dreams, well, Liverpool. Not really the city of dreams as such but still pretty awesome. It's lovely to go home and spend a few weeks with the family, but I miss being here; my friends, the nightlife and of course spending every waking hour in the library. Which, is what I seem to have been doing since I've been back here. Deadline week is creeping forever closer, and I probably should be doing some work now, but here I am, writing a blog post. Priorities guys, priorities.

Looking happy, but you're dying inside because deadline week is next week!!!! 

One of the best parts of the week was being able to attend the final 'In The Red' which is an open mic night hosted by the Uni for all of the creative writing students, and pretty much anyone who wants to share their work with people. I didn't read out this time; I just can't pluck up the courage to read out some of my work to people. I'll do it next year though; I promise. It was a really great night, and seeing all the third years get emotional because they knew they were leaving made quite a big impact on me. I can't begin to tell you how quick my first year at Uni has gone, so to know that it'll be me graduating in two years is CRAZY!

I've been listening to The 1975 new album this week, and I just can't put into words how much I love it. I feel like, every time I listen to it, I just love it even more; if that's even possible. I'm also going to see The Vamps next week, which I'm soooooo looking forward too, so be expecting a blog post on that sometime next week! I've got a lot of fun stuff coming up and I can't wait to write about it and share it with everyone.

People have been annoying me this week; especially people who can't take constructive criticism. If someone asks me to look over their work, and give them feedback on how they can improve, do not go off on one when I tell you that something's not working and could do with being changed. I just hate people like that; don't ask for criticism if you can't take it!! I've also been hating teeth this week. Toothache sucks. I've been buying loads of new tooth products to try and combat it. I'm yet to go and see the dentist, because I think we all know I hate them more than anything.

Overall, I really just want to get this whole deadline thing over with. My final deadline is 22nd April, so after that I'm free! There's so much stress, and I constantly seem to be taking naps instead of actually working so I need to get myself out of that habit. Uni's so stressful, like you'd expect but I guess it'll all be worth it when you throw your cap in the air at your graduation ceremony? right?

Lots of Love
Meg
xox

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Chinese New Year Celebrations

Firstly, I'm going to start by saying Happy Lunar New Year!
We've just entered into the year of the Monkey, and although I'm not too sure what the whole thing means, it's pretty darn cool! Chinese New Year has slowly become an event to be celebrated in most cities around the world, and I think it's the one thing I actually love about the start of each year.

When I was a little girl, my Mum and Dad always used to take me to Liverpool for the Chinese New Year Celebrations. It became a tradition; we'd get all wrapped up in our coats, boots and woolly hats and make our way to Liverpool to watch and take part in the celebrations. I've always been fascinated with the dragons, they're so beautiful. Then, after watching what was going on, we'd head home and get some chinese food, to obviously fit the theme of the whole day. Then, one year, we just stopped going. I can't remember when we stopped going, but I know I haven't been there in a very very long time. I think we just got lazy, and it's not a nice thing to say. It's always been celebrated in our household, well when I say celebrated, I mean we'd order in a Chinese takeaway and then end up with a food baby. But there was just something missing about Chinese new year for me, something that just wasn't the same, and this year I found out what it was.

I always seem to say this, but moving here to Liverpool was one of the best things I ever did. And, on Sunday, I went to re-live my childhood. My Mum & Dad surprised me by getting the train down to come and see me, and we headed over to Chinatown to go and see the celebrations. The streets were packed full of people, you couldn't really move. The fire crackers were exploding all over the place, my mum was particularly scared of them; they were so loud! We walked further down the street, and saw some beautiful girls dressed in traditional Chinese dress with little parasols; they looked amazing. The markets were always one of my favourite parts of going to Chinese New Year in Liverpool, I remember one year I got this really cool book mark with my name written on it in Chinese lettering; I still have it to this day. I don't actually think I've used it yet, and I've had it for about nine or ten years; but I just don't want to damage it.

For the majority of the day, I was trying to convince my dad that it was a really good idea to go on some of the rides, but it was just too cold. The wind was icy cold, so we didn't want to stay out too long.  I was particularly fascinated by the Chinese Dragons parading around the streets, they were so beautiful; I was mesmerised by them. They were very cheeky, and I got to touch one of them, which is traditionally good luck, so hopefully I'll have some luck in this lunar year!

I loved going to Chinese New Year this year, but there was something about it that wasn't as great as when I used to go when I was younger. Has that ever happened to you? When you used to love something so much when you were younger, but now it's just not the same and you don't know why. Anyway, it was such a fun day regardless, and I'll definitely be going again next year (I just hope it's not as icy cold!)

Lots of Love,
Meg
xox

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Adventure Is Out There!

Is it just me, or does no one ever seem to go out these days? I mean, of course we all go on the odd night out, get very drunk and then regret everything we've ever done in life, but what I mean is that people don't seem to adventure any more. 

Admit it, most of the time, you'd much rather sit in with your laptop, netflix and not have to move from your bedroom. Trust me, I'm like that sometimes too. But, I think we need to stop this now, we need to get rid of the whole 'fear of missing out' and motivate ourselves to go out more! Everyone knows by now that I love a good adventure, and I love to write on here about what I get up too. I think people really enjoy reading things like that, but instead of living it through a blog on your laptop screen, go out and make adventures for yourselves! I've got a lot of fun things coming up in the next few months, which I will obviously be blogging about of course, and I wanted to share with you what's getting me very excited for the year ahead! 

At the end of the week, my friend and I are going to see 'Rocky Horror Show' at our local theatre. We absolutely love going to the theatre, and it's a show we've both never seen so I'm really looking forward too it. I love that feeling when you come out of the theatre and you just feel so good about yourself, it just transports you away from reality for a little while and I think that's why I love it so much. We're going all out, dressing up as the characters, taking all our props! I'm so excited! I've also been having some withdrawal symptoms from Jersey Boys. I loved just spontaneously booking to go down to London and watch a show; it was such an adventure and I loved every second of it. I think that's something we'll definitely be doing again at some point this year. 

I don't leave Liverpool enough. I feel like I'm constantly here, I've got links to every city in the UK and I just never leave. So, I'm going to go on some adventures of my own to visit my friends around the country at their Universities. I love going and seeing new places, so I'm really excited to go and explore! I've already been down to Birmingham this year, and I'm planning another trip there very soon, but I'm also planning trips to Bangor, Dublin, Coventry and Glasgow! There may also be another cheeky little trip to Disneyland Paris in talks for later on in the year! 

Concerts are one of my favourite things. I just love the adrenalin rush you get when your favourite artist comes bounding onto the stage as you scream their lyrics to them and hope they'll notice your face in an arena of around 3,000 people. I'm attending quite a few concerts this year; The Vamps, The 1975 and whoever will be headlining the Boardmasters Festival this year. I love just switching my phone off at festivals and living an adventure through my own eyes, not through a camera. 

Speaking of the Boardmasters...Cornwall!! This is where I will be returning this year, as always, and I am very excited to be back by the sea and surfing again. I truly can't wait to just switch my phone off and spend some quality time with my family. Also, my friends and I will be going camping again this year, which I'm really looking forward too as it was such a laugh last time we did it! 

So, those are just some of my plans for 2016. Instead of just cooping yourself up in your little nest, get out there, you've got a whole world to explore! Even if it's just some local events you go too, get out of the house. Lose the fear of missing out and get out more!

If you've got an event you'd like to promote or even just want to find out what's going on in your local area, I recommend Eventbrite. It's such a useful site for selling tickets online, I really would suggest that you check them out!

What are your plans for the year ahead?

Lots of Love

Meg

xox

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University Life

Hello Everyone!

I'm sorry I haven't posted a lot this week, I hope you haven't missed me too much...only kidding! I do have a very valid reason though; as I write this blog post for you now, I am sat in a completely different environment, with a different desk and different people around me. Instead of being cuddled up with my little dog like normal, I'm with three girls who I have never met before in my life. As I look out of the window, I can see the sun beginning to set, the sky has turned a pastel pink with little hints of yellow beaming through. I'm not complaining, it's a beautiful thing to look at. In the distance, I can see the hustle and bustle of the City, I just can't help but wonder what everyone is doing. I didn't realise this place had so many buildings. Have you guessed where I am yet?

Today, as I write this blog post, I am sat in my new University flat. I've finally left home, and truthfully, I don't really know how I feel about it. The process of moving my things from home wasn't as stressful as I first thought it would be, we moved things down little by little and now my room is all cosy with little reminders I've brought with me from my bedroom. I'll do a little room tour on here in the coming weeks so that you can see how cute it looks. I love my new room, I've got the most gorgeous view of the city and every morning I get to watch the sun rise over Liverpool. Sometimes, I think if I couldn't see the Radio City Tower, that I could be anywhere in the world. It truly is the most beautiful city.

The hardest part for me, was when my parents left. As I head the door to my room shut, and then the door to the flat, I was overcome with loneliness. I was officially on my own, I had no one to depend on, and no one to speak too. In my normal way of coping with things like this, I locked myself away in my room for half an hour and cried for a while. I feel like every student goes through this at some point. All I wanted to do when they left was run down the stairs, hug them and tell them that they could stay. Either that or I would have been in the car with them and back on my way home to see my little dog.

The weekend was really fun. After getting over the fact that my parents had left me and that I was on my own, I really got to know my flat mates, and as the days have gone on, we've become really close with one another which is lovely. Freshers has been quite boring here in Liverpool, there hasn't really been much to do. Well, okay that's a little bit of a lie, there has been things to do, but the majority of them have either been very empty, very boring or very expensive. My student loan has been paid in which means my student diet and my student life starts now.  There is no more of this expensive, luxury stuff, from this moment forward, I am living in Aldi and Primark (not literally but you know what I mean).

This week has been really fun. On Monday, I enrolled at University which means that I am now officially a student. I've got a really cool student card with a little badge, I probably look like a complete idiot walking around with it on my neck, but I feel like it makes me look older, and I feel really professional. I'm hoping this phase goes away soon, I feel like it's something I'm going to look back on and be like "Oh for goodness sake Megan, why did you ever do that?". This week, I've also been to the little Freshers event hosted by my university. It was only very small, but I got fed grapes and came out with two bags full of free things which I'd picked up along the way. This included a stress ball, some tictacs, a pot noodle and 6 pens (you can never have too many pens).

Then induction week started. It's been really fun and beneficial to meet new people on my course, especially because I know that we all share the same interests. However, part of me is thinking right now that I haven't chosen the right course for me. I know I want to continue to write, but I'm not too sure that I want to continue to act. I don't think people realise how much it upsets me to hear myself say that, but at this moment in time, I really don't feel like I belong. Have you ever had that feeling when you're in a room and you know that you just don't fit in, and you feel like everyone is so much better than you? Well, that's me.

I don't really know why I feel like this. I think it's because I've been out of education for four months, and I've just been thrown back in in the deep end. But I also think it's because I had the same drama teacher, and the same people in my class for around five years. I'd become so comfortable with them and now that this bond has been broken, I'm not too sure that I can cope with it. Being a very shy person doesn't really help matters.

Another thing that's hard for me is that homesickness is hitting me. I really miss my local pub, I miss taking my dog for a walk around the park, but most of all, I miss my family. I'm only half an hour away from them, but not being able to see them, especially on days when you're feeling down, is one of the hardest things possible. I can't describe pain like wanting a cuddle from your mum and knowing that she's not there to hug you and tell you that everything is going to be okay. Of course there's the phone but it's not really the same is it?

Overall though, I'm really loving Uni up to now. It's such a new but exciting experience. Of course it has it's challenges, and that is never going to change, but I can't wait for the new things ahead.

Lots of Love

Meg

xox

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