At the End of the Day

This is a follow-up to last week's Stress Vent. Just a reminder:

Nothing lasts forever

That's it; your stress won't last; the things that are upsetting you now, you'll look back and wonder what you were worrying about; people who annoy you now, in ten years, they probably won't be around unless you want them to be.

At the end of the day, nothing is permanent. 

In the heat of the moment, it can feel like everything's surrounding you, but the moments pass and you can grow. In geography today, we learnt that the word 'advance', in terms of glaciers, means to grow. For glaciers, it's in size, but for us, we can advance in so many ways; our knowledge, our personality, our understanding of the world.

To relate this to me, this time last week, I was writing about being stressed over a geography assessment and chemistry homework. Today I learned I got A's in both, which I am so happy about, and that's my wake up the the span of things. I've been worrying about those for a week, hoping I got a good grade so that my tears weren't for naught, and now I know they weren't, I feel kind of stupid, but not completely ridiculous, because you don't cry for nothing. 

You cry because you're impassioned.

You cry because you're angry, or you're sad, or scared, or even happy (though I can't say I've cried out of joy much before). Never underestimate your emotions, because, confusing as they are, they are the windows into you and your feelings, and they explain a lot more than your mouth can.

At the end of the day, these things, they're gone, over and done with; they can't be changed, only improved upon.

Please remember that,

I'm always here to message if needed, remember that too.

Have a nice weekend everybody,

Eve <3

Writing Wednesday #3 ~ Sand

Back on schedule! I actually have two different Writing Wednesdays for this prompt. When I thought I would be posting #3 last week, as I mentioned in last week's Writing Wednesday, I actually incorporated the prompt into my English homework. I already had something written for today, so I've just rounded that off quickly, and am also adding my English homework to the end, which I ended up extending for my EBI, so you can have that paragraph too.

* * * * *

Three days and she was sick of it. Sand as far as the eye could see with no way to escape the stuff.
'I'm a survivor' she had to make herself think, but that only brought her to the conclusion that she'd survived hell only to be sent to Purgatory.
She had tried to escape, yet all that led to was defeat. Her weakened arms would fail her, the cramp in her feet would draw her to a halt, the salt water in her lungs would leave her gasping for respite, and she would return to the sand, beaten once again.
Would she ever escape? Or would she, the last survivor, be defeated?

* * * * *

Always running, but never moving forward

You walk away, footprints in the sand serving as a reminder of just how far away you already are. How did we end up like this? Tears fall into the waves, milling with the salty waters as they recede. Reaching for you, I wonder why I bother; we've been here before. My feet won't move, the only part of  my body that doesn't want to be near you. Why is it, we're always running, but never moving forward.
My knees hit the sand, waves lapping around me; they go about their natural process whilst mine crumbles into the saltwater. Perhaps the waves can carry me away from this, away from him. "I'm done with this!" His agitated voice had filled the beach, and now it fills my head, repeating itself until i overpowers me, sending me backwards into the waters. Seaweed tangles in my hair, like hands trying to keep me there. Thrashing against them, I look to the sky, fighting to be back in the world above, no matter how miserable it may be.

* * * * *

I do love doing creative writing in English! I didn't say, but the actual task for homework was to take  a six word story  like Ernest Hemingway did, and write a paragraph about it. My six word story came from my friend Jam, and if you hadn't guessed, it's up there ^!

I don't know what I'll be writing on Saturday. Push comes to shove, you may end up with more of my English work! Have a nice week everybody,

Eve <3

Liebster Award 2.0 times 2

So, I have been nominated for the Liebster Award once again by Georgia of This Teenage Blogger.

To go over the rules again, they are as follows:

- Thank and link the person who nominated you

- Answers the questions given to you by said nominator

- Nominate 11 other bloggers (who have less than 200 followers) and link them (oh God)

- Create 11 new questions for your nominees to answer

- Notify all nominees via social media/their blogs!

So, my questions from Georgia are:

1. Do you have a favourite T-shirt, if so, what's it like?

    Errrrrrrm, probably my plain red shirt from Sainsbury's, cause I'm cool!

2. Do you have a certain drink you order when you go out?

    J2O Apple and Mango, or Orange and Passionfruit :)

3. Pugs or Labradors?

    Labradors!!! (chocolate/black)

4. Do you have any pets, what are they?

    I have my 13-year-old border collie, Tip, who decided 5 o'clock this morning was a great time to play 'I can't get comfy' by clacking around the laminate floor of my bedroom. *sigh*

5. Favourite music artist?

    MUMFORD & SONS!!! I kind of sat at the weekend and made a whole playlist of every single song, from every album and every EP. Click here to be enlightened! 

6. Where do you see yourself in the future?

    Five years into the future,I see myself in uni studying journalism, or on a gap year. In ten years, I see myself holding a steady job, living maybe in a city, or even abroad, with maybe a boyfriend on the cards.

7. What are you most proud of?

    Achievements-wise, I couldn't tell you. But, I'm proud to say that my friends know they can come to me whenever they need me; I'm proud to say that I know, rain or shine, I'll be there.

8. What is your favourite colour?

    Blue/Purple

9. If you could interview anyone, alive or dead, who would it be and why?

    I'd maybe like to interview someone like Abraham Lincoln, or Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, just to see what they'd think of the world today, because somehow in all this technology and chaos, we haven't changed.

10. What's your favourite song?

       Evil question! Probably -aaargh- I want to say Dust Bowl Dance, but then I think Sigh No More, or Awake My Soul, or even Below My Feet - all Mumford & Sons, by the way. Can you tell I listened to them way too much this last weekend?

11. If you could be any celebrity in the world, who would it be?

      WHY ARE THESE QUESTIONS SO DIFFICULT? Um, um, um, THATCHER JOE! Because I want to see Caspar Lee's face when he sees his tin foil room.

Whilst in the midst of writing this post, Maya decided to finish hers quicker than me and tag me again! So, because I'm a lazy arse, I'm going to mix the two together

1. What's your all time favourite item of clothing?

    My plaid top from Marks and Spencer! I've literally worn it twice and I've fallen in love!

If I could crop it, I would, but have an awkward webcam picture of me on a Sunday afternoon :)

2. Name your top 3 favourite people.

    1. Maya

    2. Sarah

    3. ME! Joking, joking, probably Jack :)

3. Name your top 3 favourite celebrities.

    1. EMMA WATSON

    2. Emma Watson

    3. Emma Watson

Joking, 2 and 3 are Peter Capaldi and Colin Morgan

4. First memory?

    I'll have to say either complaining to my mum and dad about child vaccines, or getting a play jeep for Christmas one year.

5. When was the last time you laughed the hardest?

    Have you met my friends? Every-bloody-day!

6. Favourite book?

    Maya why? Probably the Maze Runner at the moment (I was halfway through the Scorch Trials last time I picked them up)

7. Favourite movie?

    Can I take favourite out of my vocabulary, because I obviously don't know the meaning, otherwise this wouldn't be so difficult. I got Maleficent for Christmas, that's a pretty cool film. I like things that put spins on the norm that everybody knows.

8. Favourite band?

    See above ^

9. Are you left or right handed?

    Righty :)

10. Favourite song?

      See above ^ :)

11. Look behind you. Which shoulder do you look over?

      Right!

So, those are my two Liebster Awards I was nominated for! Now to turn the tables!

Nominees I choose you!

* Ohemgeeistmaya (payback time!)

*This Teenage Blogger

Oh God, why do I follow so many people?

* A Bundle of Contradictions

* Open Letters

* Bean's Beauty Blog

* Confessions of a Teenage Writer

* Glitter and Carousels

* Hairychimp123

* Keller Can Talk

* Laylatheawesome

* music and more (Jack)

* xBeYOUtifulx

My questions for you are:

* If you could learn any language, what would it be?

* If you were to go back to school (or repick your options) what would you study?

* If you had a one-way trip to anywhere, and a spare ticket for someone else, where would you go, and who would you take?

* If you could rewrite the ending of any book, what's the book and what would you change?

* If you were stuck on an island, what three things would you want with you?

* If you could share a house with any 5 people (dead or alive), who would you share a house with?

* If you could take charge of your country for a day, what would you do/change?

* If you could collect anything, what would you collect?

* If you were to set yourself a reminder that popped up everyday for the rest of your life, what would it say?

* If you were to travel back to any historical period, which would you visit?

* Fire or Ice?

Those are my Liebster Awards, now I have to go mess around with my layout to fit the two badges on! Yay!

See you Wednesday for another Pen and Key Writing Wednesday :)

Eve <3

Take a Break

If you're in any type of schooling, you're probably a little bit stressed, unless you're 11 or under. Do me a favour and enjoy it! And sometimes things can pile on top of you, and it starts to bend you, like a pencil, and that pencil can snap.

That happened to me last night

With a chemistry presentation to complete for Friday, as well as a Geography test to revise for, an RE mock exam in two weeks, a Spanish controlled assessment in three, I snapped. Whilst talking to Maya (complaining really), I broke. There were tears, despair, and the inherent need for my mum. I didn't want to hide from her, not when I was struggling.

She ended up telling me that I would shower, then have another ten minutes to do some more chemistry, and geography, if I didn't have it in my head already, I'd have to make do. The test was just an end-of-unit, which just gives a grade, but doesn't impact my GCSE. Then I'd go to sleep, because my parents are sure that I can't run on 6 hours of sleep forever, which I suppose I can't, but it's just a manageable time for me, just like 6:30 is for waking up, and 7:00 is for making my tea on a night.

I couldn't tell you why it took me two hours to do that one chemistry presentation (this did include a 20 minute fanfiction break, but whatever). I ended up finishing it in the 10 minute time limit I gave myself. 7 slides of random chemical stuff that barely made sense to me, that took two hours. The reaason I've been able to figure out is that, I got a D last term, and I don't want to keep that. No way. Unfortunately, I'm not my sister, who did an A Level in chemistry, and even went on to university to study it. Chemistry is probably my worst science, followed by physics, then biology is definitely my favourite. Covalent bonds don't interest me; clinical trials and heart dissection does.

But I wasn't writing this to talk about my personal struggles, I want to help you if you're feeling stressed. We all have different methods for relieving ourselves of stress, but here are a few that help me out when I'm feeling overwhelmed.

1. Take a step back

When you're stressed, it's a counterproductive to be near the thing that's causing you grief. Take a walk, go make a drink, or just close the window on your computer and go do something else.

2. Take a shower

Clear your mind, take the time to get yourself clean and just away from whatever's stressing you out.

3. Read a book (or do whatever relaxes you)

Relieving your own stress lies in relaxing yourself, for me at least. Get out a book, listen to some music, whatever makes you happy, do it.

4.Punch a pillow

I would say 'punch something', but I don't know how literally people will take that, and I don't really want to pay damages if someone punches through a wall or something, so punch a pillow; think of it as one way to plump it :)

5.Talk to someone

Whether it's your mum downstairs, your friend you're in a chat with, or just a silly little blog (ayyy), get your feelings out. For some reason, that helps me get over it quicker.

6. Sleep on it

As I said, my mum's initial suggestion was, after I'd had my shower and done the ten minutes of chemistry, was to go to bed, setting an earlier alarm so I could get my morning routine out of the way and use the extra time to finish my work. Luckily, I finished it before I went to bed, so I got the extra time to do some revision for Geography.

7. Let it out

If you feel like crying, then cry. Don't be ashamed of your tears. Tears actually contain antibodies that fight pathogens (thank you biology). So cry, it's human. Take hours if that's what you need;
if the end product is the same, who cares about the middle? You don't have to be strong all the time, which is something I need to remind myself. I'll be leaving reminders everywhere for myself that I'm not indestructible, and I don't need to pretend I am.

So, that was my Thursday night. Hopefully this can be motivation to become a more put-together, organised person (says the person who hasn't done any homework when she has two pieces due on Monday)
Have a nice weekend, Eve <3
PS. I forgot, but I would like to give a shoutout to the beautiful Maya, for being supportive when I was feeling rough, making sure I was okay in the morning, and being a brilliant friend in general. Love oo, Maya x

Writing Wednesday ~ The One with the Mad English Lesson

I know, I keep steering away from the 100 writing prompts, but I must document today's English lesson, which featured an angsty sock and a sexual starburst (ha! alliteration)
So, if you want to learn what I wrote in English, read on!
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Our first task was to describe where missing socks go when they disappear mysteriously in the washing machine. Accidentally, I actually started writing the extension task about how the sock itself feels (I was writing about the sock that's left behind as well!) So, here is my personified sock!

* * * * *

Imagine your soulmate, your best friend, the other side of your coin. You were made together, crafted in the same moments, packaged side by side. Imagine that one person who keeps you separate, but still keeping you together. After each separation, you are cleaned and then put back together. Imagine, though, you are cleaned, and when you emerge, you aren't brought together once gain; you look for them, your soulmate, your best friend, the one who completes you, but they aren't there. You are thrown into the pile of 'unpaireds' and wonder where you went wrong, how you lost a friend.

* * * * *

Don't ask me what happened, or what I was on, I honestly have no clue. Wait until you read about the sexual starburst!

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So, I'll explain the sexual starburst. Basically, we were focusing today on the senses. We were each given a starburst (a fruity sweet) and given a different task every few minutes to write about. First, there was sight, then touch (with wrapper), touch (without wrapper), smell, taste (without chewing), taste (with chewing).

I couldn't tell you if it's my teacher who's mad, or me for making a confectionery sweet sound sexual. You decide!

* * * * *

Small and inconsequential, it sits temptingly before me. In my palm, its wrapping crackles, the sound begging me to unfold the paper, to release it from its paper cage. Malleable yet firm, it breaks beneath my nail. The citrus hits my nose, surrounding me in a fragrant aroma that reminds me of foreign soul. Lemon and lime bursts against my tongue, sticking to the roof of my mouth against my will. As I chew, I suddenly remember my braces being tightened yesterday, my teeth grinding around the starburst igniting the pain that flares in my gums. Stupidly, I only now remember that I shouldn't eat such chewy delights, as it wraps itself around my braces, sending my tongue to release my braces from its citrus hold.

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These are completely unedited, though I really wanted to. What was I on for that hour? Maybe it was just exhaustion from writing so much in history the lesson before.

Next week, I will hopefully be continuing with the 100 writing prompts challenge, which will also be my english homework, due tomorrow, so I need to go do that :)

Eve <3

One Year Blogiversary ~ The Year of Me

Just a post to celebrate that, a year ago today, I made a blog post.

That's it, that's all I'm commemorating. One little blog post, on a little blog.

A year on, I want to make my blog better. I realise that, in the beginning, I was a crap blogger. I'm proud to say that in the last few months, I've become at least a little bit better, and I hope to improve on that even more. 

Improving aside, I'd like to talk about my true new year's resolution. 

Not a resolution as such, but a promise, to myself; I'm not giving something up, or starting something new. I'm focussing...

This year, I'll be focussing on me.

Not in a vain way, I hope, but I want to do more things, not in the name of progress, not in the name of my future, but to benefit me, in the here and the now.

I want to tidy out my wardrobe, so I'm not sifting through five pairs of jeans, only to revert back to one of the three that fits me.

I want to write more; I feel I haven't written properly in so long, but it felt so right even to work on a six word story in English.

I want to watch more shows for my own enjoyment; my list is so long, it might take me the whole year, but if it's a good show, I'm sure it'll be worth it.

On the other side, I want to better myself in school. My grades, although good most of the time, could be better. My handwriting, it could be neater. My notes could be more in-depth. To be honest, sitting and copying out my history notes is actually a nice down-time for me. If it helps me out later, I might as well do it now.

I want to take myself out of stressful situations. I honestly can't be done with them now, not when I have other things to spend my time on.

So that's it. I want to focus on me, and I'm bloody happy with it!

All my love and luck for 2015, Eve <3

It Doesn't Seem So Long

In light of the New Year, I can't help but think on events of previous years, on moments and memories, and think, 'it can't be that long ago.' But it is, and I want to take the time now to think on times gone past, and maybe give you a bit more insight into me.
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It doesn't seem so long since I was holding my nephew for the first time

But it is. It's four years nearly, since he was a newborn baby in my hands; my 11 year old hands barely knew how to support a baby, now I can sit him on my hips without a thought (thankfully he can support his own head now). My headphones were looped through the sleeve of my jumper up to the neck, and my sister's partner told me he wanted to hear my heartbeat, not the beat of my music.

It doesn't seem so long since I started secondary school with the goal of making a particular girl my friend

When I was first inducted into my new secondary school in June of year 6, I had mixed feelings about the kids in my form class to be. I'd already developed a crush on one of the lads (who later went on to call me a mong), and had stuck to the girls from my primary when it came to socialising. However, if there was one person I was determined to be friends with, it was the girl who shared exactly the same interests as me. Four years later, she's now my best friend, and I wouldn't know what to do without her. Love you, Maya!

It doesn't seem so long since I was making seriously life-changing decisions based on my future CV

So, in year 8, we had to pick four subjects that we wished to continue (or start) studying for the next 3 years, which we would be taking exams on at the end of year 11. I myself chose History, Geography, ICT, and Spanish. I'll admit, I've been told they're boring - I even describe them as boring - but I know they're going to get me somewhere. That seems to be a crap excuse to put myself through three years of a subject that isn't even interesting to me, but I'd honestly rather have a worthwhile GCSE that can open doors than a GCSE that isn't all that good for my future, no matter how much I enjoyed it.

Ed Sheeran - The A Team

It doesn't seem so long since I was recording these two videos (I'm on the left)

When I'm Gone

I only realised the other day, but these videos are 18 months old. It doesn't feel like that long since we were in Maya's attic, with Sarah behind the camera conducting me through the Ed Sheeran cover, because I couldn't get the beat right. I want to re-record these. At the time of recording, I'd only been taking singing lessons for six months; now I have two years of experience, and I want to see how that has changed my voice and my performance.

It doesn't seem so long since I joined my choir

In reality, I've been a member of the choir for four years, and in that time, I've performed in a town hall, a cathedral, 3 churches (I think), two shopping centres, two castles, a music centre, and I've loved every venue. Yes, there are the complications - the in-choir bitching, the days of bad throats and low self-esteem - but those days aside, I've had some brilliant moments with the choir. I've made friends in pretty much every year group I've come across (apart from the current year seven), and I've improved so much!

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That's pretty much all I can think of right now. What's happened that's surprised you over the years? What seems like such a recent thing when really you're five years down the line from it? Let me know, and Happy New Year everyone, all the best for the next 361 days ahead :)