Update

It's been a long time since I've posted properly so thought I'd do a quick update

• I have finished my second year at University with a 2:1 and I am currently enjoying the long Summer break

• I have become a volunteer at First Steps Derbyshire which is an eating disorder group/charity. My role is an 'Online Befriender'. The title sounds a little odd but it basically means I give one to one support for service users by emailing them twice a week.

• I have passed my driving test finally! After a few attempts I finally got there and I am so happy and relieved. I can't wait to get my own little car in September (if I have managed to save enough). No more having to walk or wait around in the cold!

• I am a dance leader for children's dance classes (basically like a teaching assistant for my dance teacher because she is getting older). I love doing this because it has given me great experience and increased my confidence loads.

• I still work part time at Matalan on the mens department. It's not the most exciting of jobs but it's money and have made some lovely friends there.

I think that's about it for updates! I feel like quite a bit has changed since the New Year and I can't believe it is July already! Where has the time gone? I hope the rest of 2015 is just as good and productive as the first half!

Thanks for reading ♥

(An updated photo of me... I think I can finally say that I have LONG hair! Its only taken about a year haha!)

Room Tour

After getting my bedroom completely redecorated back in October/November I have been meaning to do room tour but I never going round to it... until today! I decided it would probably be best to do it in the form of a YouTube video so please go and take a look (and maybe give it a thumbs up or subscribe to my channel while you're there).

Thanks so much and sorry again for the delay ♥

January Wish List

So Christmas has been and gone (far too quickly for my liking) and it is now mid January, and even though I'm not personally experiencing the January blues, my bank balance certainly is! I am trying to save money at the moment so here are the current things that are on my wish list that will be remaining there until further notice (or until next pay day).

Tanya Burr Lip Gloss "Aphrodite" £6.99

Topshop Daisy Print Jeans £40

Amazon iPad Air Smart Case & Accessories  £3.97

Black Converse ASOS £45

Papillon leotard (Porselli Dancewear) £18.95

Newlook Floral Print Watch £12.99

Newlook Floral Print Sandals £17.99

H&M Yoga tights £14.99

Improving flexibility

For years I have been wanting to be able to get my splits and I have never succeeded. But I really want this year to be different! After Christmas all my leg muscles were so tight and stiff but luckily I have found a really helpful 12 minute stretching workout in YouTube that I have been doing for the past 5 days and already I can see a difference! When doing it for the first time I was dreading waking up the next morning in agony but for once I actually haven't (touch wood) because I have been trying really hard to warm up my muscles before stretching and it really helps.

Anyway I thought I would share this video with any of you who really want to improve your leg flexibility to be able to get your splits!

Move It 2015

Yes, that's right, for once I'm finally going to be attending Move It! Every single year I always say that I should go but never do, but this year I am and I'm so excited. For anyone that doesn't know what Move It is, it's the biggest dance event in the UK and takes place every year in London for three days. There's lots to do and see such as different workshops, shopping, special guests and professional performances etc. 

This year it is taking place 13th-15th February at London Olympia. I will be travelling down on the train with 3 other people on the Saturday straight after leading a dance class. We are all then staying in a hotel close to the venue and then attending on the Sunday and catching the train home Sunday evening. An adult day ticket is £15 with each workshop costing £4.50. I have booked onto four different workshops; a Musical Theatre Thriller inspired dance class, Commercial Funk, Boadicea and Adult Ballet. Quite a mix of styles that's for sure haha! 

Overall it has become quite an expensive trip but I think it will be totally worth it! However, if you live closer to London than I do then I can assure you that it would probably half the price I am paying because my train alone will be costing £60! But at the end of the day I have always wanted to go and as previously stated in my other recent blog post, this year I really want to get more involved with dance and take part in more experiences.

Let me know in the comments if you will be attending Move It this year and what classes you'll be attending. For more information visit http://www.moveitdance.co.uk

Maybe I'll see you there! :D

Back to dance

A new year and a new term at dance class! For years I have never known for certain what I want to do as a career. I am now 20 years old and half way through my degree at uni, and I still don't know (what I do know is that I am starting to panic)! 

There is a quote that always sticks in my mind when thinking about my future which is: 

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life" - Confucius.

To me, that couldn't be more true. I am currently studying Psychology at uni and although I do enjoy learning about the mind and mental health issues, I feel as though I am not as passionate as I should be if I am going to have a career in this particular area. 

Recently I have been thinking more and more about dance and how that is the one thing that I truly love. It is the one thing that never ever fails to cheer me up, whether its going to classes, being in shows or even just watching routines on YouTube. Although I only take classes for an hour a week it is something that I think about everyday. In the past few months I have also been attending extra classes where I help to lead younger children and take care of them which often meant getting up early on Saturday mornings or not getting home until late on Monday nights. To most this might have seemed like a chore but to me I loved it and it really got me thinking; to get a job in dance would be literally like a dream come true. I can't ever imagine my life without dance and why should I have to stop something I love? 

It is impossible for me to listen to music without choreographing routines in my head and I often think about how I would run my own dance school and what sort of uniforms I would have. To run my own dance school is my dream but whether that's a realistic ambition or not I don't know. However what I do plan to do this term is to try my absolute hardest to improve! I feel like my dancing has improved so much over the years and now I want to push even harder to get even better. One of my new years resolutions is to get fitter and more flexible and I am so determined. When I have spare time I am even going to start writing down routines to songs to see if I can actually turn my crazy ideas into well structured dances. This year WILL be productive and it WILL be full of dance,

To anyone else that loves to dance, do not give up, do not let anyone knock you down and definitely do not give up on your dreams! 

A look back on 2014

I really can't put into words how crazy this year has been but I'm going to attempt for the purpose of this blog post. To put it bluntly, 2014 has been the best year of my life so far! 

After having such a horrible year in 2013 I told myself that this year was going to be different. Instead of the usual New Years resolutions (eg, lose weight, eat better blah blah blah) I set myself a new goal and it was simply to just be happy. Well, I can safely say that resolution was achieved! I have gone out of my comfort zone so many times this year and achieved so many things that I didn't even think were possible for me. I look back at how I used to be and can't even recognise myself, I have changed so much in the space of a year. There have been months where I have been none stop but I don't regret all the lack of sleep from late nights and early starts because every minute has been worth it! 

⭐️ A summary of 2014:

- a weekend away with a lot of the family for dads 50th

- dance presentation awards evening

- my cousins wedding

- meeting up with long distance friends

- passing my first year of uni with a 2:1

- travelling to Croatia for the fourth time

- going to my friends house party

- STARTING MY DRIVING LESSONS!!!!!

- spending the Summer with my amazing best friends

- getting one hell of a great tan

- lot of dance displays and show rehearsals

- starting my second year of uni

- having my bedroom redecorated

- getting a temporary paid dance job at Screamfest for Halloween

- DANCE SHOW AT THE BREWHOUSE

- helping out with little kids dance lessons

- becoming a dance leader at my friends dance school

- leading all the children at my friends Christmas dance show

- getting through 2 speaking presentations at uni

- handing in all my assignments on time and finishing the first semester of the second year

- having an amazing and relaxing Christmas with all my family!

As you can see it has been a crazy and busy year but I am so proud of myself for what I have achieved! I'm not to sure how 2015 can top this year but I am going to enter it with positive thoughts and determination!

⭐️ Goals for 2015:

- pass my theory

- pass my driving test 

- buy a car/insurance

- become more flexible (eg, get my splits finally)

- dance at Screamfest again if asked

- get at least a 2:1 overall for my second year at uni

- continue to be happy

I hope everyone that reads this has enjoyed 2014 as much as I have and if you have then I hope 2015 is better for you! I went from 2013 being the worst year of my life to 2014 to being the best so anything is possible if you try hard enough! 

Happy New Year!!! 🎉