Missing the saxophone

I never thought I would say this but I miss playing the saxophone so much. I started playing the saxophone when I was 12 years old and stopped playing aged 17 after I got rubbish results in my first year of sixth-form. I stopped playing the piano and the saxophone as well as all the sports that I was involved in to concentrate on my studies. It has thankfully paid off and my grades are much higher now thanks to the amount of time I put into them but I miss actually being good at something. I managed to reach a Grade 7 and I am absolutely gutted that I didn't carry on till I achieved Grade 8 as it's the highest grade you can achieve. The sad thing is that I highly doubt I will pick it up again, after not playing for so long you forget so much of what you have learnt that is hard to go back.

I was in the habit of playing the saxophone every single day and whenever I hear or see a saxophone I wish that I had never given it up. Playing the saxophone has lead to so many great things and through it I have made some of the best friends ever through being in certain bands and I've had the chance to travel to various countries. I mean, how many people can say that they have played around Europe and played the saxophone at the main concert stage in DisneyLand Paris?! ... I can, whoop whoop!

Before a 'Thriller' performance - one of my favourite pictures ever! 

In Holland with my old school's jazz band

50 Shades of Grey

This evening I ventured off to the Odeon cinema to go and watch the highly anticipated film 50 Shades Of Grey with one of my best friends Beth. I am one of the view people who had not read the book previously so I had no idea what to expect at all.

Before watching the film I had seen and heard varying reports of how good/bad it was, from both the media and friends who had seen it. For some people exceeded expectations but for others it seemed to fall short of what they had expected. But in my personal opinion I can honestly say it is one of the best films I have watched in a long long time. The film absolutely blew my mind, I take my hat off to Sam Taylor-Johnson who has done a fabulous job directing. The film was so intense and I was glued to the screen from start to finish. What I thought was going to be a 2 hours full of sex was actually portrayed as more of a love story which pleasantly surprised me. Yes of course there were still some very erotic scenes but not much at all compared to what there has been hyped to be.

In my eyes the characters were cast perfectly. Dakota Johnson played Anastasia with just the right about of curiosity and her innocence was portrayed so well and no one can fault Jamie Dornan, he is just perfection all wrapped up! The music was also selected so well, I only saw the film earlier on today but already the Crazy In Love remix has been on repeat, who knew it could be so sexy and spine-tingling?!

The only disappointing part of the film for me was the ending, it just seems to stop. However, where there are sequels then you always going to be left with a cliff-hanger ending and I'm never happy with cliff-hangers haha. It has however definitely made me want to read the books to find out what happens next.

The film gets a 10/10 for me without a doubt and everyone who is old enough to go and watch the film really should do, I highly recommend it. I've already planned to go and watch it again and you girls can thank me after you've seen Jamie Dornan in it... wow!

Hurry up Summer

Sunbathing with Rob 

There are many reasons that I adore summer: the sun, BBQs, ice cream, holidays, no school and late nights are just a few of them. When it comes to the summer time and there is no school, everyone is happier and more relaxed with nothing to do but just chill.

I'm currently on the countdown to summer - well it's actually a countdown until my exams have finished (17th June - 113 days) but they are the same thing in my eyes. As soon as my exams are done then summer can officially begin. It's probably going to the longest summer ever as I don't even start university until the middle of September and I really want to pack as much in as possible to make it worthwhile.

If my work was a bit more flexible so I could take more time off and if I had more money then I would definitely have gone travelling. There are a couple of people I know who have been on gap years this year and have been to loads of places and it has made me so so jealous. I
 will get round to it one day! However, that plan has been scrapped and instead I will be doing a few more days of work at Primark so I can save up some money for university. I am also lucky enough to be going away to a few places as well: Malta and Cornwall with Rob and then Barcelona with my mum and my sister. It will be great to get out of Preston for a bit and enjoy some 'proper' sun.

Me and my cousin canoeing last year <3

I've also got some inspiration from films as well. You know in films where groups of friends have a massive BBQ and sit around a little camp fire just chatting and being relaxed together as a group? I definitely want to do this in the summer ahead. Rob's also agreed to be in charge of the BBQ so that's a bonus and one step forward in arranging it (as long as we don't die from food poisoning hehe)

Fingers crossed it will be the best summer of my life and I am determined to make it this way!
Now all I need is to get these exams out of the way and I can enjoy myself to the max.

Thought I would share a few snaps from last year's summer:

Enjoying the beach - one of my favourite things about summer

SWIMMING :D

In Salou about to go on Europe's highest rollercoaster yay!

Trying (and failing) to get a tan in my garden

Drunk people

I went on a night out last night with some friends from my sixth form and when looking round at other people in the nightclub I wondered: why do people get so drunk that they can't control themselves anymore? There were people doing the weirdest abnormal dances, standing in the middle of the floor by themselves in a whole different world, people falling over and people looking like they are going to throw up at any minute.

The idea of getting drunk has not once appealed to me, yes I have drunk alcohol before and got 'tipsy' but never got drunk enough to the extent that it has changed my personality or affected my control or judgment.

Last night I stuck to my usual lemonade (call me boring, I'm really not bothered) and I still had a lovely night and I have done at every party or night out without being under the influence of too much alcohol. I don't think you need alcohol at all to have a good time and I really do not understand people who just get drunk for the sake of being drunk. I honestly do not understand how not being yourself, falling over and making an absolute idiot of yourself appeals to anyone in the slightest.

I like being the sober one in a group and I am sure I always will do. I like being the one who can remember every single detail of the night out, knowing I will be able to get home safe and in one piece and knowing that the morning after I will be absolutely fine and totally hangover free.

Last night seeing people falling over, getting aggressive and violent, going home with randomers and being sick makes me realise how bad alcohol can actually be. I have nothing against people who drink to loosen up, gain a bit of confidence and have fun but why let it spoil your night throwing up and making decisions that you are instantly going to regret in the morning (that's if you can remember it of course).

So yeah, rant over, just stay safe guys because I love you all too much for anything to happen.

Moll xx

Exam countdown and Cumbria Uni

Oh help!

It was 3 months yesterday till my first exam of the year and I am bricking it. Knowing that these are my last exams and how well I do in these decides my whole future is terrifying. If I don't do well in these exams then I won't get into university and then it is much harder to be a teacher! HELP!

I have 7 exams to take this year: 3 in Business (1 is a resit from last year), 2 in Religious Studies and 2 in Psychology. I am only confident in one of my business papers and the rest I am rubbish at. However, my brain is finally getting itself into gear and getting motivated to do revision so that I can do well. I just wish I was one of those people that doesn't get distracted easily from schoolwork and can actually sit down at a desk all evening and do work or revision. My mind just wanders all the time and I find it so hard to concentrate so I have to take a lot of breaks so that my brain comes back re-focused.

I've made a resolution to use all but 1 of my free periods at school effectively. That one free lesson a week that I don't use effectively I want to just relax so I can work better for the rest of the time. My aim is by the end of the half term holiday to have drawn out a massive revision timetable and to stick to it properly up until my exams that start on the 18th May.

We have our second round of mock exams in 2 weeks and once these are over I will know where my weak points are and to make sure that I know which parts of the course I need to focus on most.

After a university applicant day yesterday at the University of Cumbria I am more determined than ever to do well. I got to go to my future uni (I hope, fingers crossed) for a day and have talks about what uni is like and what to expect. On top of that I got to go on a tour of the accommodation they have on offer as well as have a session led by lecturers which showed what the typical lecture/lesson would have been like for my course - Primary Education. And as well as that I got a free hoody too as I have already put it as my firm choice which was an added bonus!

I am so excited for university and I cannot wait for September to come at all. Now it's just time to get my head down and focus so that I ace these exams!

Surviving Indoor Skydiving!

My mum got me and Rob some tickets to try indoor skydiving as a Christmas present and I have to be honest I have been terrified from the moment I opened the envelope with the tickets inside. But yesterday the day finally arrived and off we headed to Airkik in Manchester. Indoor skydiving is something I have never shown an interest in or even wanted to do in my life, but my darling mother decided it would be a perfect present... hmmmm

After being so scared and nervous for 2 months I actually thoroughly enjoyed myself. Being lifted off your feet by 90mph winds and having no control over what your body was doing was actually surprisingly fun and I would definitely recommend it to anyone! (You're in completely safe hands I must add)

When actually flying you are given a 50 second flight time each, now this sounds like absolutely nothing but believe me time went so slowly and it felt like I was in the wind tunnel for ages. When I was in the wind tunnel all the nerves went and I had a lot of fun. An instructor is with you at all times to make sure that you are controlled and know what to do which put my mind at rest a lot. After me and Rob had each had our separate flights then we got to go in the wind tunnel together which was the best part. I had an amazing time even if I did look like an idiot in a jumpsuit, goggles and weird shaped helmet. I would thoroughly recommend to anyone, it's safe for anyone above 4 and is such a fantastic experience and I would definitely go again. Thank you to Airkik and our instructor Luca for the best time! And thank you to my mum for a present that I will never forget! 

Valentines Day weekend

For Valentine's Day this year Rob and I ventured off to a place called Grasmere in the Lake District for a weekend away and luckily for us both I had the Saturday off work so that we could spend longer there together. The hotel that we stayed in was absolutely beautiful and was called the Daffodil Hotel and Spa. The staff were absolutely lovely and the views from our room were insane!

Some of the views of the Lakes were amazing

We arrived mid-afternoon on Saturday and we spent the rest of the day just exploring the local area and getting our bearings. We also exchanged Valentine's present yet Rob refused to wear his t-shirt out :( The hotel restaurant was fully booked for tea as it was Valentine's Day so we went for a pub-meal in the neighboring village Ambleside.

His Valentine's present off me hahaha!!

Sunday we went into the centre of Grasmere in the morning and had a little look around the village.However, as it was winter and also a Sunday there wasn't much there but we went on a lovely walk around the lake and just chatted and relaxed. The weather was so nice and you wouldn't have thought that it was only February. It was lovely going in winter as it is much quieter and we could enjoy the walk more.

Rob on our walk around the Lake

The rest of Sunday was spent in a town called Windermere and we enjoyed a coffee break, a fish and chip dinner and a look around the shops. To finish Sunday off we went out for tea again at a pizza restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious but you know when there are certain people at a restaurant who just won't shut up and you can hear their voice constantly? ... we had one of those people sat right next to us and it was so annoying. It didn't spoil our meal or our evening though, we just laughed about it afterwards.

Monday was the day to go home :( But before we did that we decided to treat ourselves to a spa day at the hotel we stayed in. We bought some day passes to the spa and spent the morning relaxing in the pool and the sauna. The pool had jet machines which blasted water out and it was so nice to just sit and relax after a stressful term at school.

Spa time! 

Me and Rob have been on trips away before but they have always been so busy as we have been in cities with loads of things to do and we never really got much time to just relax. But going to the Lake District was perfect to just get some 'us time' and have a proper break from the stress at home.

Such as brill weekend <3

 2 months, 10 days and counting till our next weekend away, I can't wait!! :D

Moll xx

Down days

It appears I've got the January blues.. but in February.

You know when you just have those generally bad days and feel down without any real reason? Well that's been me these last couple of days. No matter how much I try to cheer myself up or distract myself, this sense of sadness just hasn't disappeared. Things that usually make me happy just aren't doing the same this week and I don't understand why, even Olly Murs hasn't managed to cheer me up so I know that I'm down.

I'm used to being the person that tries to make other people feel better when they are feeling down and it just feels weird being in their shoes :( I don't know what's caused it all recently, whether it's lack of sleep, the pressures of school, my mum being out of the house more and me being alone or my supposedly best friend seeming to ignore me 100% of the time for no apparent reason at all. Lets just hope that whatever it is, it sorts itself out and makes me happy again.

I have the best group of friends in the whole entire world, but I can't help but feel alone and worthless. It's really messing with my head and I can't concentrate in lessons and I feel my mind wandering. I'm just hoping I'm feeling a bit better at the weekend so I can just relax and enjoy the half term holiday.

Anyway, sorry for the depressing post, just wanted to get it off my chest a bit, feel a bit better now for just writing this. I will try a much happier post next time I blog!

Moll xx

Thoughts on Valentines Day

It's coming up to my 3rd Valentine's Day being with Rob and I still don't know what I think of it. I think that it is nice to remind someone how much they mean to you and how much you appreciate them being around. However, I think the whole concept of Valentine's Day is completely commercialized and is now just a way of getting money out of people. Just spending the day with each other is good enough for me and I feel that Valentine's Day shouldn't be about going overboard with presents etc. 

Before I was with Rob I used to use Valentine's Day as an excuse to meet up with a few other single friends and just a fun night watching romantic-comedy films and eating pizza. Valentine's Day shouldn't just be about a partner but it should be for all people you love including your friends and family and letting them know how much you love them and appreciate them.

The first Valentine's Day me and Rob were together we didn't get each other anything, we'd been together just a couple of weeks and neither of us though anything of it. The second year I got him a t-shirt with 'I love Molly' on it as a joke present, nothing serious, and he got me a CD. We were on holiday with each other in Edinburgh at the time and that was the main thing that I loved. This year I have got Rob an equally small and not-serious gift (obviously not going to say what as he may read this post haha) as just a token present and we will be away in the Lake District which is what I am looking forward to most. 

My present to Rob last year hahaha!!!

So whether you're single or in a relationship this Valentine's Day, the whole concept of the day is just a money making scheme and I personally think it should be scrapped. I know that Rob, friends and family are important to me every single day of the year and not just on the 14th February so it isn't a big deal to me at all. So just spread the love this Valentine's Day with all those that you care most about. 

xx

19th Birthday Weekend

Wow, 19 seems old!

It's weird how each year I get older and older but I still feel like a little kid without a care in the world. I need to start realising that I have exams in a few months (3 months and 8 days till my first one, not like I am counting or anything) and then I will be heading off to university fingers crossed. The grown-up world is scary!

Out in town with my work mates :)

Firstly, I want to say thank you so much for every single person who was involved in my birthday: those who wished me happy birthday, those who came to see me on the day and to those who came to my party. It was honestly one of the best weekends that I have ever had and I am so grateful to all of you.

To be honest with you, I really wasn't looking forward to my birthday, they seem less special as I get older and plus it was the first birthday without my dad being around and I still miss him tons. But in the end, it was perfect.

Saturday night I hired out a function room in a pub in the town centre and this was followed by going out around town in Preston city centre. I was joined by friends from sixth form, work and a few people I know from other various things too as well as Rob or course. It was great that so many people came out and celebrated with me, and I didn't get drunk at all (stuck to my lemonade all night) so I can still remember everything which is an added bonus.

A massive thank you to all my sixth form friends who clubbed together to get me some gorgeous heels, bag, Lush bath bombs and a special Olly Murs mug, I cannot thank you enough, you are all perfect!

On my actual birthday I had a nice relaxing day, it started with going out with breakfast followed by a short trip into town for a coffee. I then had my Granny come round for the afternoon and then went out to Pizza Express for tea - their pizzas are to die for. It was lovely day to end a fantastic weekend.

To think that by my next birthday I will have done all my exams, have had an amazing summer full of holidays and have started university is such a scary thought but I am so excited for everything and what the next year will bring.

'My Little Box' review

For Christmas my Gran got me a subscription for a surprise through my postbox every month. When I first received the present I was a little bit skeptical, all my other cousins had got something to open there and then and I just had a voucher with no idea what to expect, but wow it's amazing.
The service is called 'My Little Box' and they are delivered to your door each month with various different things inside. You have no idea when in the month your parcel will arrive which is an added bonus as it is a complete surprise when you get home.

I thought I would share with you my January box entitled 'energy box' as I absolutely love it and it's brilliant. The presentation is wonderful with each thing inside decorated in a bag or ribbon adding a bit more sparkle to the gift.

Inside the box the first thing that I found was a magazine entitled 'my little world' with interview, hair tutorials, recipes etc. inside. I also got given a small exercise calender/journal so I can record what I have fitness-wise each day.

Then there a little bag underneath with some beauty products in it:
Firstly, there was some nail varnish from Nailsinc which is a beautiful deep red (tate colour) which is great as I have a bright red nail varnish but something a bit darker is great as we are still in winter and I am not yet ready to make the transition into bright nail colours all the time at the moment.
Also, there was some Talika Photo-Hydra Day lotion which has worked wonders for the skin on my face, in this winter weather I usually find my skin goes really dry but this lotion is so hydrating and feels so soft and the effect lasts a long time.
The final product in the bag was an energising mist from My Little Beauty themselves. I have used this for just over a week now just after I have woken up and it smells beautiful and gets me ready for the day ahead and leaves my skin with a nice glow (that sounds really cheesy but it's true).

Then the final thing that was in my little box was a gym bag which will come in so handy for my gym trips instead of just taking an old shopping bag with stuff crammed into it.

beauty products

calender and magazine

gym bag

I thoroughly recommend the 'My Little Box' subscription to anyone, whether for yourself or as a gift to someone. I know what as soon as my subscription runs out I will be renewing my subscription myself as I love the little surprise through the door and I cannot wait for my February box to be delivered any day now :D

http://www.mylittlebox.co.uk/home

Another nomination..

I've been nominated for another blog post and this time it is courtesy of Georgina so thank you very much, visit her blog here, it's amazing!
So this nomination is for the Liebster Award and I was asked 11 questions which I will attempt to answer now! :D

1) Who is the most inspirational person in your life?
For me this is simple and it has to be my mum, I admire everything about her. How no matter what life throws at here she still tries to remain optimistic and still puts her daughters first.

2) If you were an animal, what would you be?
Now this is one which got me thinking as I honestly haven't got a clue. I think I'd like to be a fish as I love the water and swimming but I am not entirely sure.

3) If you could go back in time what would you tell your younger self?
I think the most important thing I would say was to just be myself. There have been so many times throughout life that I have pretended to be someone that I am not just to please other people. But at the end of the day, the main thing is to be happy and comfortable as yourself as the majority of people don't stick around anyway.

4) Biggest fear?
This one is simple, just losing the ones that I love the most. I cannot imagine a life without them.

5) If you could be anyone for a day past or present who would it be?
I think I would be Victoria Beckham. I'd get to wear fabulous clothes, be waited on and I'd get to spend the day with David Beckham which is obviously an added bonus

6) Where do you see yourself in 50 years time?
Wow, 50 years! I'll probably be retired from a job that I have loved with grown children and grandchildren (hopefully) just enjoying relaxing.

7) Do you have a motto or quote that you live by?
There isn't one that I live by but the most inspirational quote that I think of when I am having one of those pessimistic days is "All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them" by Walt Disney.

8) Why did you start your blog?
One of my friends started blogging and I thought that it looked fun, so here I am now! You can thank her for my blog over here - TinkerTaylor haha!

9) Dogs or Cats?
Easy, easy, easy.. dogs all the way, especially my little munchkin Charlie

10) Describe your perfect day
I would have a really really long lie in with pancakes for breakfast and then go on a nice walk in the morning with my boyfriend followed by a pub tea and then an afternoon cuddled up watching films. I'm not that easy to please to be honest haha!

11) I can't leave the house without.. 
My phone! It is a really bad habit of mine that I take my phone everywhere, even if I don't need it I will take it regardless and I think it's really bad that our generation is so addicted to technology and social media but yes, I can definitely not leave the house without my phone!

So thank you Georgina for the lovely nomination, I am so grateful.

My 11 questions for people to answer are:
1) what is the weirdest dream you have ever had?
2) what are your plans for this summer?
3) what has been your highlight of 2015 so far?
4) if you could have have a meal with any 3 people (past or present) who would it be?
5) what is one thing you will make sure your kids know about you?
6) is there a song that describes your life?
7) if you could have any superpower what would it be?
8) what is one thing you look for most in a partner?
9) do you prefer winter or summer?
10) favourite clothing store/brand?
11) one thing you aim to have done by the end of the year?

I'm leaving the questions open for anybody to answer, either mentally or written down. Good luck guys xx