emathegoat

So the festival season is pretty much over, yes, however I have just got back from my first music festival which was Reading Festival 2015 and it was incredible! (a whole post about my experience will be posted shortly) and I thought to make a list of all the essential things that were really useful or that I should have taken to avoid spending more money than needed just as a guideline for next time. Hopefully this will help you too.

1) Wellies
I was that stupid person that thought I wouldn't need them just because there was a little bit of rain, so I just wore my Doc Marten boots, and oh my God was that a HUGE mistake! There were HUGE puddles of just pure mud that we had to walk through and I got mud even inside my boots which took forever to clean. Then the next morning I ran to the supermarket so I could buy some wellies.

2) Phone/Camera

3) Money
Food and everything else is ridiculously overpriced, so you would need quite a bit of cash to just feed yourself.

4) Toilet Paper
The toilets were so much worse than I expected, so if you get the chance to purchase luxury toilet passes or whatever, do it!

5) Wet wipes
Some showers can be absolutely disgusting, so wet wipes will become your new best friend.

6) Dry Shampoo
As some showers can be disgusting, you will need to think alternative ways to make your hair look fresh.

7) Flip-flops
If you do use the showers, you really don't want to be standing there barefoot. Some girls even wore their wellies. Also a swimming costume or a bikini will be handy as showers tend to be communal.

8) Portable Charger

9) Ear plugs or headphones
It was pretty much noisy 24/7 so if you're trying to get some sleep, you will need something to block out the sound.

10) Plenty of socks 
What's more uncomfortable than having to wear wet socks?

11) Outfits for every type of weather
You can never accurately predict the weather. The weekend that we went it was meant to be just rain, but it was quite sunny and warm for the most part, so a variety of outfits will be beneficial.

12) A small bag to take to the arena
Don't be that person that takes a huge backpack into the arena which then ends up hitting other people. Take a small bag which can fit your phone and some money and you're set.

13) Torch

14) Blanket
I took a blanket as well as a sleeping bag and I was so glad that I did because it was very chilly at night.

15) Pillow
Unless you're comfortable sleeping on the floor, a pillow is very handy to prevent various neck-aches in the morning. Whether that's an inflatable pillow, or just a pillowcase stuffed with clothes, it comes in handy.

We all just want to be happy in life, right? And I believe that it's the little things in life that can make you the most happiest. So this is just a list of 20 little things that make me the most happy in life.

1) Spending time with a loved one

2) Not being able to sleep because you're too excited about something

3) The smell of coffee

4) Strangers smiling at you

5) Long phone calls with a friend

6) Having a solo dance party in my room by myself 

7) The smell of grass after it has just been cut

8) Waking up in the middle of the night and realising it's only 3:11am and you can go back to sleep

9) When cats purr

10) Reconnecting with old friends

11) Looking back through old photos

12) Spontaneous last minute plans with someone

13) Looking at the stars at night

14) Long car journeys

15) A cold shower on a hot day

16) Falling asleep to the sound of rain

17) Sunsets

18) Having someone you can depend on

19) Not having to set an alarm for the morning

20) Listening to music

These are just a few. Creating this list just made me realise how you don't need a big fancy car or a mansion to just be happy in life. It's the little things that count the most. As long as you surround yourself with the right people, anything is possible.
What is something that makes you happy?

So I'm aware it's already July, but summer is finally here and it's never to late to set little goals for yourself - so here are mine:

1. There's going to be a boy that gets away, it will hurt - a lot, but eventually it's going to be OK.

2. Experiences are worth more than possessions.

3. Taking a nap may seem like a good idea until you wake up and feel confused about what day or month it is.

4. Do not get involved with guys that just want to 'come over' instead of taking you out.

5. Always go with your gut feeling. Your intuition speaks louder than anyone's words.

6. It's not too late to turn your life around.


7. Take photos of everything and anything. It's fun to look back and remember.

8. However don't spend every second trying to capture a moment that you should be experiencing.

9. You're going to have toxic friends, just try to distance yourself from them.

10. It's perfectly fine to be alone sometimes.

11. When you miss someone, you're only going to remember the good times and not how they mistreated you. Be careful before going back.

12. Time goes past ridiculously fast, so make the most of it.

13. Do things for yourself, do not expect anyone else to do it for you.

14. There will always be people that don't like you, get over it.

15. Last minute spontaneous plans usually turn out to be the best ones.

16. Do not change yourself for anyone else but you.

17. Take a risk. It will make one hell of a story.

 18. Life is too short to be unhappy.

So as I was playing it safe with food I ordered the Burger Maison (Translation: House Burger. Who says high school French isn't useful?) which was pretty damn good! It was cooked perfectly and had huge slices of pickles which I love!! The fries were also super delicious and they looked quite crispy but they were really soft and yummy. As for the salad, I'm a huge lover of all salad apart from one type and that is rocket salad, and this contained a whole bunch of rockets but I still ate it, the burger took away the bitter taste. So apart from the rockets, everything else was absolutely lovely.

For dessert I had the Chocolate Tart (It was as actually called something fancy in French but I forgot) with raspberry coulis. It was really good!
Whenever I hear raspberry coulis It always reminds me of that episode of Friends when Joey orders a cheesecake and then questions the waiter about it "There seems to be some sort of red crap on my cheesecake" which always has me in hysterics - Anyway I hope you know what I'm talking about.
But yes, we had pretty nice lunch and definitely better than my last time having French Food, snails are not that nice believe it or not and they do not taste like mushrooms! As many people like to say. I am definitely visiting Pierre again.

What is your favourite cuisine?

It is already the middle of April which means I have approximately twenty-two days until my exams start. I am currently doing my second year of A-Levels and these grades will determine whether or not I can get into university. I am taking Economics, Media Studies and Applied Business and I have got to do 7 exams in the next two month and I am nowhere close to being prepared.

Now if you're expecting this to be an inspirational post, I'm afraid I'm gonna disappoint you, however, what I can give you advise about what not to do and you tell you to learn from my mistakes.

I was always one of those people that found everything quite simple and school work always came really easy to me, I never studied outside of school when I was taking my GCSE's and I managed to pass those with pretty good grades. When it came to Sixth Form I kinda assumed the same thing and did not revise for my first AS exams and boy was that a BIG mistake. I am not sure if any of you are familiar with the UK grading system, but to go from GCSE's to A-Level's is a HUGE step and if you struggle to keep up at the start, chances are (in my case anyway) you're gonna struggle all year. Anyway I tried my best when it came to exams even though I did the minimal amount of revision and I'm not going to lie to you, I was pretty damn disappointed when it came to results day whilst everyone was celebrating their high grades. I unfortunately did not pass Maths Statistics (which I had taken last year) which had meant that I could not continue with the course, which was completely fine as you're meant to drop a subject at A2, but this had meant that I had to continue studying Business, which I hate! I mean as a subject I think it's great and I think it would be quite useful to have as a degree later down in life, however I really do not like the way it is taught at my school and the approach that the teachers take here. This time last year I was winging my way through all my business essays thinking that I would not continue with the subject this year, but life has a cruel sense of humour and it had meant that I had to continue with the subject. Me being me I kinda just sucked it up and powered through with it.

Since I dislike the subject I felt extremely demotivated when it came to coursework and obviously I had left it until the very last minute. So for the last four days I could not go to sleep before three in the morning because I was trying my best to finish and hand it in on time. There were so many times where I contemplated dropping the subject and even dropping out of school, but my friends gave me a reality check each time. So this moment in time I still have a couple of units outstanding which are due next week, but with the amount that I have been working I have no doubt that I will get it done.

It's funny because the reason that I did not do it before is because I had no motivation what so ever! And I mean zero! And I knew what it would mean to fail and I knew that the stakes were high but somehow I found myself not caring and I could not change the way I was feeling. All it took for me to get motivated is one of my teachers being nice to me after I handed in unfinished work. That just made me feel bad that I wasted her time and made me want to succeed, I honestly can't explain it because if she would have been annoyed I would have been like whatever I don't care but this way I somehow did. And because I really want to go to uni and do a year abroad in my second year, that kinda motivated me also.

Anyway, so once coursework is completely out of the way, I'm hoping after next week - I will seriously focus on my exams because I do not want to feel the way I did on the last results day. I am stressing like crazy but I kinda think I can do it? I don't even know.

Now I am literally the most unmotivated person ever, but if I can find a little bit of motivation no matter where it comes from - anyone can! Honestly if you're still reading this, I'm telling if I can overcome severe procrastination and finish my work (even if it is last minute) I honestly feel like anyone can! Just have the right intentions and it will come to you. So if you have exams coming up, please just revise, at least a little bit - you have nothing left to lose and Youtube videos will always be here after your exams.
Make your years at school count for something by achieving those grades and do what you want with your life.