Wednesday 31 December 2014

End of the Year... What's Next?

Well, I guess that I can no longer ignore the date that everybody - or so the press - seems to be talking about at the moment: today is the final day of the year. In case you thought that you'd misread the previous sentence, there is no doubt at all that we have reached New Year's Eve and are mere hours away from waving farewell to 2014. 

Just thinking about it is enough to knock me out cold because 2014 feels like it has gone on forever; a lot has happened over the space of the past twelve months that I'm not even sure whether I've come to terms with it yet, so who knows how I'll cope with getting used to a new year! Only kidding, though: in fact, I'm really looking forward to 2015, and am itching to start living it from midnight in seven or so hours' time. Why? Now that the greatest changes possible have taken place in my life (moving to the other side of the country, returning to school and hopefully sticking to my GCSE options, which I re-selected for the third time a month ago), 2015 will be the year when all things should remain stable and in place, where I really want them to be. Instead of focusing all my energy (which, from tomorrow, I vow will not be sourced from Lindt truffles or Lidi cookies) on swapping my old house in a densely populated town for one located in the countryside (translation: middle-of-nowhere), I'm determined to apply it to my studies and perform well in exams. By this time next year, I hope to be smiling proudly, having achieved plenty of success both in and outside of school. 

As valuable as success is, I've realised that happiness is the one thing on this planet that you cannot place a price on: unlike a bag of groceries, you cannot go to Asda and purchase it among your cartons of milk, loaves of bread and half-price bottles of nail polish (though that is probably what I'd spend my money on). Of course, money certainly contributes to happiness and has the power to boost your mood if you are craving for it, but it is impossible to completely rely on money for the sake of your mental well-being. Happiness can be anything like seeing the sun set on a warm June morning, falling in love with someone who likes you back and, as I discovered upon moving house in March, finding the place that you proudly call your home. Until Asda starts to sell any of those things, I will not change my view regarding the pricelessness of happiness!

All in all, I've had a good year and have gained a lot from it - with 365 days in the calender, I would expect myself to do so! Referring to only my memory for guidance (which hasn't been as sharp as usual since Christmas Day), below are several stats over the year:
  • Lived in two different houses (one small and boring; the other larger and more homely)
  • Attended two schools (the first for six months; the other since the beginning of this month)
  • Adopted two kittens in October - the extrovert tabby Teddy and people-loving George, who I lovingly call my 'black truffle' (who wouldn't look out of place in a box of Black Magic chocolates!)
  • Bought three albums in one go for Christmas - resurrected my previously deceased interest in Taylor Swift, could no longer resist spending another day without Foster the People's superb debut album and was drawn to Ariana Grande's My Everything by the definite single of the summer, Problem
  • Fell in love with one vampire-themed programme - The Vampire Diaries - whilst (temporarily) abandoning my original favourite, Buffy the Vampire Slayer 
  • Ate 90% of a dark chocolate bar with 90% cocoa solids; cannot bear to consider the amount of chocolate (both milk and dark) that I've consumed this year!
  • Travelled to Heaven four times this year when indulging on a slice of Oreo cheesecake at a nearby coffee shop - including once earlier this afternoon!
  • Purchased three handbags - one I no longer use, the other I started to carry the other day and another that I'll use at parties. Well, if I'm invited to one...
  • Slammed my bedroom door, um, many times, usually when escaping the peril that is my younger (but most definitely taller) brother
  • Hidden one box of Lindt Lindor Truffles in my wardrobe, acting on the fear of my brother and dad scoffing the lot (which would totally happen if I kept them downstairs in the kitchen, otherwise known as Gorging Heaven)
  • Exposed myself once whilst wearing a skort in P.E. for the first time (should have never pulled it up!)
  • Read more than I care to count and remember (finished The Vampire Diaries: Fury last night)
  • Published 160 posts on Life as a Modern Teen, which will then increase to 161 when I've uploaded this post - only several away from having 200 entries in total!
Obviously, I've done much more than that but, despite enjoying looking back on the past, I'm eager to create new memories and focus on the future. Although the future is always near us during the year, I am somewhat more conscious of it at New Year - it's no wonder because we are forever bombarded with it! Perhaps resolutions do have a place in society if they help us create a greater future, but I'm sticking to my belief that they are a bit silly. Within the first week of January, they are forgotten about, which makes the effort of creating them pretty pointless. Still, I feel slightly compelled to come up with a few, even though my heart isn't really in it. Here goes...

1. I will not eat as much chocolate. Or ice cream, cakes, biscuits, muffins and crisps (rarely eat them anyway, but are the easiest things to give up for Lent). Honestly, the list would last forever if I bothered to carry on writing it...

2. I will be nicer towards others. Though an exception can be made for my brother - will he suddenly wake up tomorrow and decide to stop annoying me? Doubt it!

3. I will revise more often. However, that will mean that less time will be spent on blogging duties - unfair!

4. I will go to bed earlier. In other words, don't allow Little but Taller Brother to stand in your way of getting some precious beauty sleep whilst he is rampaging on the stairs at 11pm. 

5. I won't buy a Lottery ticket when I turn 16. Otherwise, my pocket money won't last beyond an hour!

6. I will stop buying things that I don't need (or even want). Like horrible coloured lipsticks, streaky liquid eyeliners, boring books, maybe half of the junk littered in my wardrobe...

And, finally of all, 

7. I will have the greatest time of my life as a sixteen year old. 

What more can I say than that? Goodbye 2014 and hello 2015 - I hope that you promise a spectacular time!

Happy New Year!

Tuesday 30 December 2014

The LikeATeen Beauty Awards 2014

Like most teenage girls, I have an undeniable passion for beauty products: one quick sneak peek in my toiletries trolley (with wheels and several drawers) would confirm that, as bottles of shampoo, cleansers and moisturisers are forever threatening to spill out onto the floor. In my world, make-up and skincare are treated with the same amount of respect as food - I need a dose of it every day. No question. If I don't coat my lips in a thick layer of lipstick or moisturising balm when I get up in the morning, I would shrivel up and look like a mess. Needless to say, a nightmare that I will never allow to happen!

Beauty becomes a main focus in your life upon hitting the teen years, when you are generally allowed to take on the responsibility of looking after yourself (which, depending on how you see it, can either be a blessing or a curse!) and experiment with your looks. On the whole, it is quite a thrilling time because you can pick up so many tips on how to take care of your skin, which may become a bit problematic as your hormones tend to go haywire during this time in your life!

If you're a complete novice to the world of beauty, I'm sure that finding what works for you is somewhat difficult because you may not know where to go. Once upon a time, I was that girl and I used to latch onto anything that looked like the product of paradise - had I gotten away with it, I probably would've bought the entire stock at Boots!

With some experience behind me, I'd like to introduce you to my must-have buys of the year, which have been tried and tested on me, so therefore have my seal of approval. As a semi-spotty person (mainly around my chin and mouth), I'm often torn between trying a so-called 'revolutionary' product and steering clear of it because I'm afraid of causing a reaction on my rather sensitive skin. If something works wonders on my skin, I cannot see why you shouldn't achieve similar effects on yours!

Before I unveil the lucky winners, all that I need to say is that, before embarking on your skincare/make-up journey, determine what type of skin you have. Is it dry as sandpaper, oilier than a deep fat fryer, greasy and normal on different parts of your skin or, to my envy, absolutely normal? Your skin can be defined as dry, oily/greasy, combination or normal: when purchasing cleansers, moisturisers or anything that you can apply to your face or body, look out for those highlighted words. Whether you like your skin's category or not, you must cater for its needs - who else will? And please, don't follow the crowd if a trend suddenly takes the world by storm unless there is absolutely no doubt that it is suitable for your skin and will have a positive effect; not only could it be a waste of time, but it could burn quite a big hole in your pocket!

So, could I have a drum roll please? There is nothing quite like the sound of anticipation...

Best Mascara - Maybelline Great Lash in Black, £4.99 at Boots

A long renowned classic, even I cannot disagree how brilliant this mascara is; effortlessly simple, you can alter your the length of your lashes within a flick! This is a must-have staple for school, which I wear all the time, because it isn't glaringly obvious, yet it quietly emphasises your eyes (and totally makes them look red carpet-perfect!). Sometimes, the simplest things are the best - and Great Lash mascara is definitely not an exception.
Runner Up: Bare Minerals Flawless Definition Mascara, £16.99, www.bareminerals.co.uk (very worthy of the winner gong - brush is longer and most of the ingredients are natural)

Best Lipstick - Maybelline Color Sensational in Rosewood Pearl, £7.19 at Boots

Otherwise known as my favourite lipstick EVER! A beautiful pearly nude with a hint of depth, Rosewood Pearl is a dream concealed in a glamourous packaging, which gives a bit of a clue as to what awaits inside. Unlike some lipsticks, this is very moisturising and feels as smooth as velvet: can you honestly blame me for showing off my pout in selfies? Plus, I've never been bowled over by nude lipsticks until I encountered this one because of my pale complexion; sure, it looks entirely natural, but I no longer resemble a ghost by wearing it. Pale babes, just get this lipstick - and that's an order!

Best Nail Polish - L'Oreal Color Riche in Beige Countess, £4.99 at Superdrug

Tragically, 2014 hasn't been a brilliant year for nail polish: due to moving house and starting school, I haven't had many opportunities to paint my nails, a fact that saddens me very much. Since switching a school which is renowned for having a stricter dress code, I've been wary of painting my nails in case I got in trouble... until I remembered picking up this bottle several months ago. Resembling a tub of chocolate ice cream, it's no wonder that I was attracted by this shade, which looks so yummy that I'm tempted to eat it (but the horrible smell put my curious kittens and I off the idea)! Since putting it on two days ago, my nails look great with a splash of colour which, from a distance, don't appear to be wearing any polish. Who knows, I might be able to get away with wearing this at school if I stick to one coat (as of yesterday, I've applied two) because it is a very natural colour! So far, my nails have hardly chipped and are irresistibly glossy - if they stay this way, I'll be tempted to buy more from L'Oreal!
Runner Up: Rimmel London Salon Pro with Lycra in White Orchid, £4.98 at Asda (a pearly pale pink that promises to last up to ten days; used to wear it as a kid and is literally transparent, so perfect for school. Yay!)

Best Skin Cleanser - The Body Shop Tea Tree Facial Wash, £5 for 250ml
Click for enlarged view
If one word had to sum up this facial wash, gentle would definitely be it. Whenever my face flares up (for hormonal, menstrual or emotion-related reasons), I believe that this wash prevents my skin from worsening - a spotty patch may not completely clear up, but it stabilises its condition, which other cleansers have failed to do for me in the past. Tea tree has always worked well on my skin (and is the loveliest, cleanest smell that your nose could ever get a whiff of), which is reflected in this beauty from The Body Shop, whose entire range of Tea Tree products are worth giving a go. Make-up (e.g. foundation, concealer, slight traces of mascara) come off easily when you massage the skin with the facial wash, which leaves your face ready to be treated with whatever you like (the Night Lotion from the range is another beauty staple of mine). If you want to keep things simple, try this - your skin will thank you for it.
Runner Up: Australian Bodycare Skin Wash, £26.50 for 1 litre, qvcuk.com (seriously recommended for washing your body - has drastically improved a breakout of spots on my back without drying my skin out - and even your hair)

Best Spot Zapper - Australian Bodycare Tea Tree Oil 30ml Duo, £22.50 at www.qvcuk.com
Australia Bodycare Tea Tree Oil 30ml Duo
When it comes to tackling spots, the more natural the better your skin will be. Tea tree oil is sourced from Australia and is in its element when fighting against acne - it cleanses the spot whilst bringing it out, which you truly notice if you use a bit the night before. Not only does it work, but I love the smell, which apparently flies and bugs hate. Even more of a reason why you ought to celebrate this oil and treat it like your BFF - it won't let you down!
Runner Up: Witch Stick, £2.50, available in most supermarkets (if you don't have tea tree oil, pick up one of these sticks and dab onto any spotty areas on your face - it has the same 'bring-it-out' effect)

Best Hand Cream - Lemon Flutter Cuticle Butter, £6.75 for 50ml at www.lush.com

Oh. My. Gosh. Is it creamy or what? A cross between a tub of clotted cream and jar of lemon curd, this cuticle butter is absolute heaven: my day is never complete without rubbing some onto my hands before going to sleep each night, giving me one last thrill when I sniff the delicious lemon scent. On many occasions, my hands have been saved from cracked and bleeding skin from applying a slight amount of this. Therefore, I worship Lemon Flutter and long may it reign!

Monday 29 December 2014

Let's Talk About... Nail Polish

Once upon a time, there was a young girl. To be more specific, an eleven year old preteen ('little girl' or 'kid' would seriously drive her around the bend, putting her erratic hormones into action) who discovered a beautiful thing one day. Despite her hatred of scientific experiments, this girl nonetheless adored experimenting with her clothes, make up (which her mother used to apply onto her face - therefore avoiding a cakey application of Bare Minerals foundation) - and nail polish. 

Whenever her nails were painted, this girl was reliving The Wizard of Oz on constant repeat: within a layer of foul-smelling paint, her world had been transformed into one of tantalising technicolour! She would forever gaze happily at her gleaming fingernails, painted in all colours of the rainbow: ruby reds, pale pinks, princely purples. And, thanks to her mother's many years of experience in the paint application sector (and numerous sets by OPI), her nails were on a par with those you'd gush at on the catwalks - despite her tender years, she was very conscious of the fashion scene, and dreamt of becoming part of it. 

Nearly half a decade has passed since the girl made a life-changing discovery whilst wandering around Superdrug on a late spring morning, yet that magic has never been lost on her: in fact, it is more alive than ever. 

Seriously, once bitten by the nail polish bug, how can you ever return to a life before it was introduced to you? I certainly haven't and have no desire to do so anytime soon!

So, having now slipped out of storyteller mode, I am the girl who used to spend her weekly pocket money (which was at a much lower rate when I was eleven that it is nowadays) on bottles of nail polish from the supermarket, dazzled by the amazing colours swimming in an elegant bottle. With a budget that rarely went beyond the realms of New Look, I craved to have a piece of glamour portrayed in the fashion magazines that I used to read - if £2,000 coats were out of question, why deny myself a splash of high class nail colour? Like a bar of Lindt chocolate, I treated nail polish as a treat: a dose of indulgence that satisfied my need for style. 

As age has taught me, we are easily influenced by trends when we are younger and, instead of falling in love with the members of a then-popular boy band, I directed my addictive passion towards nail polish which, to this day, I still believe gave me more happiness than a mop-haired singer (if he even can) could ever offer. Personally, I think that it was a healthy interest because it promoted the ethos to take care of my nails which, as a nail-biting youngster (yes, even I wasn't immune from such a dirty and disgusting habit - I will never understand my seven year old self), I failed to do. Wearing nail polish instilled a sense of responsibility to look after not only my nails, but also my whole body. And, if I feel million times better for doing so, then I'm glad that I developed a fetish for painting my nails!

All in all, nail polish is great in many ways, including my pride in being a girl: it instantly makes me feel more feminine and confident in myself, although I doubt that everyone walking past me on a busy street will be staring at my fingers! I'm passionate in my belief that there is a positive about nail polish for everyone (even boys don't have to be left out on the phenomenon, though I think that girls wear pink better!), as long as you follow some guidance beforehand. My rules get straight to the point, believe me...

How to Have Happy Nails

1. Pay a bit more for a decent nail polish

Regrettably, I wasted a lot of hard-earned pocket money on nail polish when I started wearing it years ago which, despite time passing, is a wound that I'm still struggling to heal (losing money is one of my definite pet hates in life). The reason why? The nail polishes that I used to buy were cheap - and certainly lived up to their miniscule value. Within hours, my manicure would transform into a chipped mess, making me wish that I'd never bothered to paint my nails at all. And the result? I would end up throwing the bottle of nail polish - sometimes up to the value of £5 - in the bin. Not exactly a great way of spending money, I should let you know. 

After finally listening to my mother - who has been a life-long fan of OPI, perhaps the world's most well-known and best-loved nail polish brands - I've since upgraded to better known brands who have good reputations. Definitely not the types to be marred with the title of 'cheap and nasty'! Aside from OPI (whose red-coloured shades look juicier than an apple), my favourite nail polish brands are the London-based Nails Inc, Rimmel Pro Lycra (who produce nude shades that are perfect for wearing at school) and L'Oreal, whose Beige Countess shade I'm currently wearing. 

Stick with the pros - you won't regret it!

2. Buff and shine

One of the most joyous things of flaunting a fabulous colour on your nails is the shine that gleams if caught in the sunshine, which is created via buffing before applying a coat. Buffer blocks cost very little, yet perform an important job which makes your nails look their very best - and prevents them from lacking a special shine.

3. Let each coat dry

I tend to find that lighter shades (or the 'see-through' ones) usually require a second coat, so it is essential that you allow your first coat to dry for a while before applying another one. Although this means that you can't really come into too much contact with anything (unless you've mastered the skill of typing on a keyboard with your elbows, which hurts!), it is worth it because the paint on your nails will have selected and have therefore created a flat surface that is patiently awaiting its second coating. Using your elbows as replacement fingers does not last forever, I can assure you!

4. Choose an appropriate shade

Unfortunately for some workers and the majority of schoolgirls, nail polish can be viewed as a 'no-no' which, as much as I'm against the rule, I have no choice other than to except. So, what is a red-fingered teenager to do? Luckily, the nail polish industry doesn't just revolve around eccentric prints, glitter and sheer black shades: nudes rule supreme!

Long before I established myself as a nail polish addict, my actual first nail polish was a pearly pink nude by Rimmel Pro Lycra that was bought for me when I was seven years old: when applied, I could hardly tell that I was wearing it (even the pretty shine didn't give the truth away), and would wear it for weeks on end. Somehow, I lost the bottle a while ago, so bought a shade identical to it (called White Orchid) earlier today from the same brand. I almost cried with happiness when I saw it - gone are my days of going nude (literally, though only on my nails) at school!

Earlier, I mentioned a shade called Beige Countess by L'Oreal, a light taupey colour that, if worn with one coat, could very possibly be gotten away with at school. I'm wearing it with a second coat, but it doesn't look very noticeable from a distance, so I believe. Still, I'm short-sighted and often forget that some people see better than me - I just hope that my teachers are looking at things more important than my nails!

5. Remove it well

When it comes to waving farewell with what I hope is a long-lasting manicure, make sure that you use a decent nail polish remover. My personal favourite is one made by Sally Hansen (who also sell an awesome range of nail polishes) which, along with removing the polish efficiently, moisturises your nails instead of drying them out. Ugh, a dried out nail is not a sight that you'd ever want to see - especially if they are your own!

Simply use several cotton wool pads (the Lacura ones sold in Aldi are brilliant for eye make-up, let alone nail polish removal) and soak a bit of the remover before scrubbing around the nails. Wash your hands in warm soapy water before patting dry. Personally, I don't recommend applying nail polish for around a day in order for the nail to settle; mine always look pretty pale when the paint is taken off, so I prefer to leave it a while before doing anything with them.

Saturday 27 December 2014

Easing into and out of Christmas

After devoting the past two days to indulging on as much turkey and roast potatoes as a hungry teenager could ask for, I'm exhausted. Believe me, I honestly feel like I've climbed up a mountain and am now paying the price for it - by making a vow to never repeat this cycle ever again.

Of course, I utter these words under my breath every Christmas, my whispers more ferocious than the year before, yet it has become a pattern almost as recognisable as waking up at the crack of dawn on Christmas Day - this guilt traps me in a cage at around this time after most of the leftovers have been devoured, and are not leaving a trace of the pleasure with which they filled me when I ate them days before.

Although I hardly went to the extremes that some people would go to at Christmas - such as raiding the cupboard while everybody else is watching Frozen in bed (which, if it wasn't for my laptop not picking up Wifi yesterday, I would have totally seen by now) - it seems so out of the ordinary to have access to countless pigs in blankets and sausage rolls when they are rarely around during the year.

Part of me likes change because it promises excitement - a thrill that I'm always keen to get a hit of - but I lose my taste for it if it rules my entire world which, since Christmas Day, has dominated everything that I've thought of and I've done.

Too much of a good thing - and of course unhealthy treats - can lead to hatred if not reined in: before reaching the edge of losing it completely, now I feel ready to ease my consumption on not only food, but other things as well. To be fully honest with you, I don't do relaxation. As wacky as it most definitely sounds, I sometimes struggle to know how to relax which, when you take the time to consider it, is literally what Christmas is billed to be. I'm at my best when I have something to occupy myself with - reading one of the many new books I've just received, taking some regular (indoor - now is not the time to walk on the slippery ice outside) exercise and making cupcakes after burning some calories off - yet I somewhat fall to pieces if no tasks need to be completed.

Yet again, this is a curse of establishing a routine - like a sofa, I snuggle into it and refer to it when I need comfort. If I had to sum up Christmas, it is about breaking away from tradition and letting your hair down: fun is all that you should be thinking about, not whether you've completed your homework! Don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore Christmas and often find myself wishing for its return halfway through June, dreaming of snow (which fell overnight) and trees while I sweat buckets during a boiling heatwave, but it does have a tendency to take you by surprise when it finally arrives, doesn't it? Months of planning couldn't even prepare me for Christmas Day, which I still regard as dreamlike and perfect event, but a few days are all that I need to settle into my comfort zone before celebrating the next biggest party - New Year's Eve.

There are some things that I'm easing into yet, at the same time, I'm prepared to ease out of. Tucking into a turkey leg after polishing off a mountain-sized portion of bubble and squeak last night proved to me that enough was enough - in that respect, I've had my fun and really enjoyed it, but have no intentions of overdoing it. If I did, would I look forward to this time of year as much next Christmas, or would I still be suffering from nightmares of the horrors I endured? Greed brings no pleasure for anybody: I'd be a fool to play into its hands!

From today, my plan is to go easy on chocolate, turkey and other things that, in respective, I honestly don't need. Instead, I'll find other ways of relaxing - Christmas is only once a year, so I better make the most of it!

Ooh, perhaps some online shopping will keep me entertained for the day...




Friday 26 December 2014

You Know It's Christmas When...

1. You are trapped between a fluffy cushion and your sleeping cat on the sofa, your head in a sleep-induced daze as you (fail to) burn off Christmas lunch - and the only thing which wakes you up is the prospect of going on a 10 mile run to burn just that second helping of roast potatoes, let alone everything else you gorged on!

2. After polishing off that glorious annual feast, the bathroom suddenly becomes your very best friend - who creates horrific memories that will scar you until the following Christmas. 

3. The road that you live in which is typically peaceful (as expected in a tiny, in-the-middle-of-nowhere village) is even quieter than usual at Christmas, making you wonder whether an apocalypse has gone down without your realizing it. Hence why 28 Days Later makes a brilliant film to watch at Christmas...

4. Lights of all kinds - the Christmas tree, rows upon rows of Yankee Candles (many of which you bought for your scent-obsessed mum) and even cigarette lighters - brighten your house in literally every corner, bringing the warm glow that defines outdoor shopping centres at this time of year. If you're missing out on some Boxing Day bargains, at least you can feel like you're in a shopping centre environment - without stepping outside!

5. Your determination to abstain from any sugary treats and fat-laden snacks is shaken when a plate piled with food as high as Mount Everest is placed in front of you, leading you to make a promise to start a new health regime in January. Although, judging by the many leftovers from the turkey, you aren't entirely sure whether you'll be able to start so early...

6 (for dark chocolate lovers - a.k.a. me - only). Despite complaining all year about the horrible flavour found in cheap and overly sweet chocolate, you are the very first to dive into a box of Roses (which, as soon as you bite into it, you immediately dislike with a passion) and decapitate Santa's head from Lindt's classic milk chocolate range on Christmas Day. Your anti-milk chocolate beliefs are quickly forgotten once a chunk of Lindt lands on your taste buds - which only Christmas has the power to influence!

7. Your heart is broken at the thought of Christmas Day ending, so you stay up for as long as possible before the clock strikes midnight on Boxing Day, trying your hardest to make your parents forget about the late hour (and force you to go to bed).

8. Um... when is bed time? 

9. Anything homemade is required to be gobbled down throughout the Christmas period - like attending school, it is a duty that you must maintain. Still, who in their right mind would complain about scoffing spicy sausage rolls, warming gingerbread (which my greedy brother loved a little too much) and oh-so-addictive mince pies? Not even Scrooge could bring himself to do so!

10. Films become the centre of your evenings - action, thrillers, romances, animations and classics hit the spot every time, giving you a temporary distraction from the festivities. After spending an entire day on feasting and being as lazy as you like, a film provides the perfect finale. And, if you're lucky to have Sky like me, you are spoilt for choice at this time of year - Frozen, anybody?

11. Music warms your heart, as does a heated mince pie. Having received three yesterday, I've been listening to Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande and Foster the People non-stop - the ultimate boredom buster. In between having fun, you are often seeking to enjoy something relaxing, which music completely lives up to. 

12. People are nicer towards each other, pushing problems aside and embracing the calming atmosphere that defines the festive season. In my family, this means that no jokes about football team rivalry are made over the dinner table which, as I'm often placed next to my Chelsea-supporting sibling, is quite a relief. Or perhaps it may be the good-feeling hormones from the turkey, who knows?

13. Overnight, the entire population morphs into bargain-mad creatures, scouring the high streets and online shops like an Ofsted inspector inspecting a school. Shops are suddenly filled with thousands of people from the moment they are reopened on Boxing Day, who are desperate to get their hands on whatever is in sight. As if I want to be the prey in a zoo, er, shopping centre...

14. Every single Christmas song is played every hour, every day and every week - before, during and after Christmas. Boring doesn't even begin to define how I feel when I hear All I Want for Christmas is You for the one hundredth and twenty sixth time on Christmas Eve!

15. You lose track of all the dates, only somehow managing to remember the day on which Christmas falls. 

16. All your cats (or, in my case, four of them) line up when you are carving the turkey, meowing sadly if none of it is given to them. Thank goodness it is only an annual occurrence... 

17. Like a bottle of champagne, you are bubbly and happy, feeling as though nothing apart from a sudden weight gain can touch you. If only such an euphoric feeling was felt so strongly through the year!

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday 24 December 2014

The Height of Anticipation

There is something very special about Christmas Eve. Although it never manages to top the excitement enjoyed by all the following day, Christmas Eve nonetheless maintains a unique magic which injects glimmers of elation long before we wake up at the crack of dawn less than twenty four hours later. The reason why? Months of planning and anticipation finally reaches its peak - a height from which I often prefer to stay at.

As my fingers type on the keyboard, tingles shiver throughout my body, feeling as electric as sparks dancing from a wand. In a few hours' time, night will fall upon us - and, when we finally see daylight once again, Christmas will have arrived. Writing these very words unlock a manic craving to open my window and scream my joy to the entire village - how it is possible to contain myself for a little while longer? Overnight, it seems that I've reverted to my childlike self, which is the key to my uncovering the joys of this festive season. 

This morning, my dad repeated how 'fantastic' my surprise present is, though didn't give me any hints as to what it could be. Instantly, I fell into a trap of questioning my still-asleep brain, curiosity getting the better of me at such an early hour. The only lead that I have is that the present cost a bit more than what I'd set aside for my budget, yet it opens so many doors and trails leading to what the present could potentially be. As frustrating as my failure to uncover the present is, I secretly love it because it adds to the anticipation that is bubbling like a just-opened bottle of champagne. 

For as long as I can remember, I've always had a fondness for surprises. To this day, I really can't (and don't particularly want to) understand why some people dislike them, instead believing that they are untouched by the giddiness surrounding the gift. As I've gotten used to buying things myself over the years, I can't begin to describe how refreshing it is to receive something that I haven't personally selected - needless to say, it gives my inner shopper a break! 

Anyway, I've never been disappointed with the surprise presents that I've been given by my parents in past Christmases (a set of coloured pearl teardrop earrings were a particular favourite which I'm still wearing) and, unlike some things, I never discover what they are until I open them on Christmas Day. In fact, I'm often reeling with shock several hours after opening them because they were the very last thing that I'd expected - or, in this year's case, I don't have the slightest clue as to what I should expect! 

This year, I'm expecting a beautiful scene: my family and I will be celebrating our first Christmas in our new home, which marks a happy chapter in our lives. We've undergone massive changes within the space of a year, yet we have come out stronger on the other side. I appreciate Christmas more than ever now because it symbolizes hope and gratitude for what you have, a message which we shouldn't forget whilst being submerged in pools of wrapping paper.

So, my vegetable-preparing duties are now calling me and, as much as I'd love to get nostalgic over past Christmases, peeling carrots are obviously a greater priority.

I wish everyone a happy and safe Christmas: let's enjoy every second of it!

Monday 22 December 2014

A Guide to What to Not Buy a Fussy Teen

Firstly, there is something very important that I need to tell you. It is of such importance that, on an evening when I could be snuggling into my bed with an episode of The Vampire Diaries playing on my laptop, I feel that it is of extreme urgence to relieve myself of the weight I'm carrying on my chest. 

Oh well, here goes - therefore welcoming the cycle of shame that typically accompanies one to WeightWatcher meetings after the indulgent Christmas period. I'm a fussy person. Wait, let me redefine the adjective fussy: I am a very difficult person to cater for. My type of personality cannot be defined by gift guides and present suggestions on Amazon which, as Christmas gets nearer and nearer, is nothing short of a pain for those seeking to buy a present for me. From clothing to the percentage of cocoa in chocolate bars (as of Friday, 90% by Lindt is my new found love), it is unpredictable as to what I will like - and dislike with a major passion. 

Still, I realize how fortunate I am to have parents who, like the entire lyrics on Taylor Swift's Fearless album, know me inside out, so can usually determine what will go down a treat with me, especially when it comes to Christmas. Fifteen years - or, if I count the presents opened the Christmas before I was born and made the world a more fabulous place to live in - of buying gifts for a daughter who sometimes doesn't even know which colour lipstick to wear, let alone what to get for Christmas, teaches you how to search high and low for that 'ultimate' gift - hopefully I'll master that skill when I have children one day, otherwise I may never survive birthdays and the like! 

However, the rest of the world is unlikely to choose gifts as successfully as your nearest and dearest who, depending on each case, can categorised as family or even friends. As awful as the memories may be, everybody has been the deeply unlucky recipient of an atrocious present at least once in their lifetime - remember ripping open a package excitedly and having your world turned down by the sight of a ghastly pair of socks? Unless you are a member of the Royal Family or have handed out a gift list beforehand, I seriously doubt that avoiding the Gift from Hell is possible, though there are several people (whom I greatly envy) who get through their lives without being burdened with a 1000 piece jigsaw or skin scrub which is guaranteed to irritate your acne-prone skin. 

For some of us, our Christmases can be defined by bad presents and, like the numerous bags of satsumas that go uneaten throughout the festive period, are treated as an annual tradition. If I bothered to calculate the value (if any) of the crummy presents I've received over the years, I could have earned enough money to splash out on something that I would really want - perhaps a designer necklace or a fresh wardrobe of on-trend clothes? Of course, I may never discover the true figure, but nonetheless questions like these make me wonder whether that Vivienne Westwood necklace could have ever been claimed as my own. 

So, this question leads to this: what does a teenager not want to be presented with on Christmas Day? Speaking for fellow teens and maybe those possessing basic common sense, you should be able to suss out what a teenager wouldn't dream of receiving - with an exception of myself, a copy of Frozen definitely won't spare a 'cool' teen any blushes! Still, it is never a bad idea to go unprepared when entering the world of teen presents; and, whatever you do, do not rely on the long-deceased trends that were alive during your teenage years. Just don't. Please. 

A shaver
A gift or a dig at the hairy stubble on your legs? Not one for the wishing-to-impress boyfriends!
For an occasion like Christmas, I'm sure that you can think of something more pleasing than a shaver which, in a woman's mind, is received as a secret message, declaring that all of those hairs which you spent three hours to destroy on Christmas Eve still need to be destroyed - and are more obvious than ever. No woman wishes to be reminded of her body hair which, in a culture like ours, we are pressurised to get rid of, despite men having the freedom to be as hairy and shaved as they wish. A shaver is a personal purchase that only the user should buy - without feeling the pressure of relations who truly reside on the Planet Clueless instead of the more sane Earth.

A revision guide
Are you a killjoy or what for not allowing your precious child to have a revision-free holiday at Christmas? 
As much as I love learning, the very last thing that I want at Christmas is being reminded of what sometimes seems to be my main purpose in life - spending hours in books filled with words that are as meaningless as the lyrics in a One Direction song. Of course, teenagers should be encouraged to revise, but why heap even more pressure onto their already stressed selves by giving a revision guide as their main present? 

Board games
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Ever wondered what the true meaning of 'board' was? Its pronunciation says it all for you - the dull expression on a teenager's face, who are so bored to sleep that they cannot even be bothered to put on an extravagant smile to whoever has given Monopoly to them. For the 13th time. 

Gift cards

The ultimate bugbear for fussy teens everywhere, gift cards can both be a blessing and disaster in disguise. On a positive note, you could be able to spend tons of money at a particular store - but you have no say in which it will be, so you may only be restricted to a shop which is as exciting as watching paint dry (such an over-used and, um, boring expression to use, you know). If I were to be given a gift card, one for Amazon or H&M would go down a treat - as for anything else, my face would be a picture of disappointment because I would have to spend money at shops whose products I really dislike. Hence why I think that, if you are going to give someone money, you should hand over a cheque instead of trapping them with a gift card - which saves plenty of hassle all round.