Little Things I'm Grateful For

                                                                             

Fluffy blankets.

Hot Chocolate with marshmallows.

My amazing friends.

Clean bed sheets.

Skinny vanilla lattes.

Stationary.

Netflix.

Fairy lights.

Online shopping.

Gym enthusiasm.

Cosy pyjamas and fluffy socks.

Being able to have a lie in later than usual.

Feeling truly and completely happy.

Creating a 'to-do' list and getting everything done.

Long, hot showers.

Finding a new TV series to binge watch.

Knowing that I have a great support system.

It's only a few weeks to go until Christmas.

~~~

What are you grateful for today?

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Lush 'Tisty Tosty' Bath Bomb

I've been a fan of Lush and their bath bombs for a good few years now, and to be quite honest, there isn't many bath bombs that I haven't tried. But earlier today, whilst having a quick look around my local Lush store, I found 'Tisty Tosty.' What drew me to me to it, though, was how pretty it was! It's a perfect white heart shape, with beautiful rosebuds embedded throughout. It also has a really pretty floral scent, which isn't something I would usually go for in a bath bomb as I tend to prefer the sweeter smells. 

I wasn't sure whether this one would explode or fizz around like Lush bath bombs usually do, so I was quite surprised when I popped it in my bath and it immediately started to dissolve. This one doesn't change the colour of your bath or do anything crazy, but instead, it releases seven little rosebuds that continuously float around you as you lay back. But my favourite thing about the Tisty Tosty bath bomb is the smell! It's infused with rose, geranium oil and jasmine, releasing the most blissful and relaxing scent. The rose oil really helps to soften the skin too, which is perfect after a long or stressful day.

According to the Lush website, the Tisty Tosty bath bomb was based on a medieval love potion. It is thought that the floral, rose infused scent will help to lift your spirits and soothe broken hearts. How creative is that? I love how much thought and effort Lush put into their products, and of course the fact that they're cruelty free. So that's my new favourite bath bomb! You should definitely give it a try next time you're shopping in Lush. 

Hey, before you go, are we friends on bloglovin yet? 

Twenty Five Things I Want To Do Before Turning 25

I've been thinking a lot recently about some of the things I want to accomplish in my lifetime. Those that know me well, know that I have absolutely no idea what career I see myself pursuing after I graduate from university. The thought of not knowing where my life is headed scares me quite a lot. But I do have a few goals I hope to accomplish over the next few years, so for this post I thought that I would write them down and tick them off as I achieve them.

1. Have a full time job

2. Be working in a career that I'm passionate about

3. Do as much travelling as possible, especially in the year after I graduate

4. Be body confident

5. Own a puppy

6. Graduate from university with a good degree, hopefully a 2:1 or higher

7. Be physically fit

8. Attend a masquerade ball

9. Do something big or challenging to raise money for charity

10. Own a designer handbag

11.  Visit New York City, hopefully around Christmas time
12. Be financially stable and no longer struggling for money
13. Go parasailing
14. Own my own car
15. Own a pair of Louboutin heels
16. Get a tattoo
17. Go to a festival
18. Road trip around America
19. Work or study in a different country
20. Rid my life of people that make me unhappy
21. Completely furnish my own flat
22. Develop my own sense of style
23. Volunteer for a charity
24. Own my own home
25. Hopefully be engaged

Thankfully I still have over 6 years to achieve some of these things. What are some of your goals that you hope to accomplish over the next few years?

10 Fun Date Ideas

Even after having been in a relationship for a while, I still get excited about going on dates together. I know that thinking of unique ideas for things to do together, whether it be your first date or your twentieth, can sometimes be a bit tricky. So here are some of the things that I think would be fun to do for a date:

1. Go for a picnic 

Now that we're finally into summer, a picnic would be the perfect way to spend a sunny day! You can spend the day together lying on a nice big blanket and eating a delicious spread of your favourite food and drinks. Of course, this doesn't have to be just the two of you. You could go with a group of friends, which might make you feel more at ease if you and your partner are still getting to know each other.

2. Go for breakfast

This is a bit different than just going for dinner. It's a lot more casual, and can also be a lot cheaper if you're on a bit of budget. I absolutely love going out for breakfast!

3. Explore somewhere new

I think this would be a really fun way to spend the entire day together. Is there somewhere you've always wanted to visit? Or why not just jump on a train and see where it takes you? You could go together and spend the day wandering around and exploring. You never know what you might find, and in a few years time, you can go back for a visit and remember what a nice time you had.

4. Go to your favourite bar/restaurant 

Do you know a bar that does really good cocktails? You could introduce your partner to some of your favourite places to eat or drink, and it will also help them get to know a little bit more about some of the things that you like. Going for a drink is also a good way to ease any first date nerves, however, I obviously don't recommend getting completely drunk if this is your first time meeting someone...

5. Go to the theatre

This one is a little bit different to the typical "dinner and a movie" date. A theatre show would be a good idea for a first or second date if you're still getting to know each other and you get a little bit nervous trying to make conversation. I would recommend seeing something lighthearted, like a musical or a comedy, but it would also give you plenty to talk about after the show.

6. Go to the zoo or aquarium

I would love to go on a date to the zoo! It would be so much fun wandering around, looking at all of the animals. A fun date like this would also give you lots to talk about if you're still getting to know each other.

7. Go to a concert

If you have any mutual interests in a particular band or type of music, it could be fun to go and see them in concert together. The feeling you get at a gig or concert when your favourite artist comes on stage is unlike any other, so it would be really special to share that moment together. 


8. Stargazing

You could go for a walk or climb a hill, and then once you get to the top, you can wait for the sun to set and watch the stars as they light up the sky! How romantic is that?

9. Go to the beach

If it's a nice sunny day, why not pack up your things and head to the beach for the day? You could go for ice cream, wander along the sea front, or even go for fish and chips! If only it was sunnier more often in Scotland, then I would absolutely love to do this.

10. Have your own movie night

If you're on a bit of tighter budget, or you just fancy a cosy night in together, then this is the one for you! You could put on your favourite film, grab some tasty snacks and cuddle under a blanket. This one can be as romantic as you please, but it can also be super chilled if you just want to relax and spend some together.

18 Things I've Learnt in 18 Years

Over the last few months, I feel like I've learnt quite a lot of valuable life lessons. It's been a tough few months, I'm not going to lie, but I've made my way through it and now I'm in a good place. So for this post, I thought I'd share just 18 things that I've learnt in my 18 years of life.

1. If people want to be in your life they will make the effort! Since moving to Stirling, it has been a common occurrence for people to say that they will come and visit me, yet they never do. It's always me that is expected to make the effort. It's taken me a while to realise that friendship works both ways, and that there has to be an equal effort from both sides for the friendship to work.

2. Manners and kindness cost nothing! This is a lesson that working in retail has definitely taught me. My parents always brought me up to be polite, but working in retail shows you just how rude some people can be.

3. Before you can let someone love you, you must first love yourself. If you hate everything about yourself, how you can allow someone else to be completely in love with you? You need to firstly accept who you are, and accept all of your flaws, before you can let someone else do that for you.

4. Always appreciate your parents and the things that they do for you! My Mum and Dad would do anything for me, no questions asked. They do everything they can to make sure that I am happy, and I truly appreciate what they do for me.

5. As annoying as it is, your parents are usually right

6. It's okay to want to help people, but always make time for yourself, too

7. Some people won't like you, but that's okay! This is one that I've had to learn the hard way, especially over the past few months. Of course, knowing that someone doesn't like you can make you feel bad about yourself, but at the end of the day, who really cares what they think.

8. Always do the things that you enjoy, regardless of what other people think

9. It's not selfish to put yourself first sometimes! I'm the type of person that would much rather do things for other people than for myself. I love seeing that the people I love are happy, but I often forget that sometimes, I need to be too.

10. Don't let people walk all over you and treat you like dirt

11. It's okay to change direction! I still have no idea what career what I want to pursue once I finish university, but that's okay. You don't need to have your entire life completely planned out, as you never know what might happen one day.

12. Don't be afraid to ask for help when you feel lost! I've always been quite independent and I like to do things by myself, but this can sometimes be to my detriment. If you need help, always ask for it. Don't struggle with something just because you're too proud to show your softer side.

13. Apologising is a strength, not a weakness

14. People will always have their opinions, but you don't have to agree with them! But by the same token, other people do not have to agree with your opinions. Never push your ideas and opinions on to others.

15. When you have the chance to start over, always give it your all

16. Don't be afraid to be on your own! I love having some time to myself, but I sometimes have too much of it and I tend to get a bit lonely. But over the past few months I've realised that it's okay to go and get a coffee by yourself or to go and get something to eat.

17. People change

18. Losing someone that you love will be one of the hardest things you ever have to deal with

An Open Letter To My Grandma

On the 4th of February 2014, my Grandma sadly passed away. She was diagnosed with cancer just 11 months before, and those few short months were the quickest of my life. My Grandma was one of the most important people in my life, and her lack of presence in my life is something I still struggle with every day. Our relationship was truly special. My Grandma would've done absolutely anything for me, and she taught me so many valuable lessons about life. This post is particularly personal for me, and I debated about whether to publish it or not. But my Grandma was a wonderful lady, and my blog is a place where I express a lot about what's happening in my life, so that's why I'm choosing to upload this.

 -------------------------------------------

Dear Grandma,

It's been a couple of years now since the last time we were together. I can't believe it's been that long. It feels like only yesterday that I was by your side, holding your hand and wishing that things were different. A lot has happened over the last two years. If only you could see for yourself how much I've changed and grown up. Every day, something new happens that I want to call you up and tell you about. It breaks my heart not being able to do that, but I know that you're watching over me and helping me along the way.


As soon as I turned 17, I started learning to drive! I know that you were so excited for me to start my lessons. It was all thanks to you and Grandad for saving up all that money for me and buying my lessons for my birthday. I can't thank you enough for that! Less than 9 months later I passed my test and was on the road all by myself, if only you could've been here to see me.

I finished high school with pretty good grades and managed to get an unconditional offer for the University of Stirling. I got off to a bit of a rocky start at university, but now that I have changed my degree, I'm so much happier. You'd absolutely love the campus! There's so much wildlife and a beautiful loch that you would have loved to wander around. I've just finished my first year, and whilst it's been quite an eventful few months, I couldn't have done it without you and Grandad. I know that you had been saving for my tuition fees since I was only a baby, but since I don't need to pay for my fees in Scotland, it went towards my rent. In order to repay you, I will make sure that I do my very best and try as hard as I can to hopefully finish university with a first in my degree.

Christmases and birthdays aren't the same without you. I miss your Christmas dinners and the huge chocolate cake that you always used to make me for my birthday. My mum makes Christmas dinner now, and she does an amazing job, but I think we all miss your presence around the table. I wish you'd been here to celebrate my 18th birthday with me. It was a pretty big milestone in my life. We all went for dinner as a family though, Grandad too, and I had a great time. Everyone made it super special for me.

I think that's pretty much everything that I wanted to tell you. I miss you more and more every day, and it breaks my heart that you aren't here to witness all the amazing changes that have been happening in my life recently. Sometimes it hits me that you won't see me graduate or be at my wedding, and you won't get to meet my future children. That always makes me tear up when I think about things like that. My goal in life is just to make you proud, and I really hope that you are. There has been a huge gap in my life since you left. The relationship that you and I had was unlike any other. You were always there for me, and I felt like you truly understood me. You taught me how to be the best that I could be, and I value every moment and memory that we had together.

I love you with all of my heart.
Jade x

A Letter To My 14 Year Old Self

I've never been particularly confident about myself or my appearance, and throughout school I often felt like I didn't really fit in. I only had a small group of friends, but that was fine for me, as I preferred having a few close friends instead of many acquaintances. I was also a very nervous teenager. I struggled to order my own food in a restaurant, and I hated going up to the till in a shop for the fear of being judged. But I've changed a lot over the last four years, and I wish I could tell my fourteen year self just how happy she would be a few years down the line.

When I turned fourteen, I started taking a particular medication that made me pile on a lot of weight. I went on a family holiday to Majorca, and it wasn't until I got home and saw the pictures that had been taken that I realised how much weight I'd put on. I was quite a slim child growing up, so my weight gain was extremely noticeable. I was so embarrassed. This completely shattered my confidence. From then on, any time I went on holiday I would be worrying that people were looking at me and judging me, and I refused to have my photo taken.

This carried on into my school life. I was always worried that people thought I was fat or ugly, and because of this I really struggled to socialise. I remember sitting in classrooms praying that the teacher wouldn't ask me to do anything, as I hated the attention being on me. I stayed pretty quiet unless I was with my group of friends, and I never did anything out of my comfort zone. I also struggled massively when it came to boys. I physically could not talk to them. I was so worried about being judged, that I wouldn't even order coffee in Starbucks if it was a male behind the counter. That sounds ridiculous to me now.

I would say that my home life also suffered. I had a lot of built up anger and emotions that I frequently took out on my parents. I also have a little brother who was only 3 at the time. He always needed a lot of attention, and I often felt a lot of jealously towards him. Being 14, there were times when I needed my parents attention too, but because my brother was so young, I didn't really get it as often as I probably needed. This caused a lot of resentment on my part. Looking back, I regret this a lot. I've always been extremely close to my parents, but between the ages of 13 and 15, my relationship with them involved a lot of arguing and shouting. 

My worries about my weight and appearance are still something that I struggle with today. I've lost over a stone since then, but even after having weekly sessions with a dietician and a psychologist, I still have days, or even weeks, where I look in the mirror and feel horrendous. But I now know that if the only bad thing someone can say about me is that I'm fat or ugly, then I must be a pretty decent person on the inside. That's all that really matters in the long run. 

There are so many things that I would like to tell my 14 year old self if I could: You are so special and loved. You are smart and caring and everyone around you loves you exactly that way that you are. Things do get better, and in a few years time, you'll be so much happier than you are right now. Stop liking that boy who has no interest in you, he turns into a bit of idiot and you'll wonder what you ever saw in him. You'll have a huge argument with your best friend, but don't worry, you make up a few months later. Just don't be stupid on social media. You'll lose someone extremely close to you, and you'll be sad for a while. But you'll get through it and you'll be stronger than ever. You'll go to university and study something that you love and you'll be closer than ever with your family. You also fall head over heels in love with a boy that loves you exactly the way that you are.

My life is definitely not perfect, but I'm in a good place right now and I'm happy. I still have days when I feel down or self conscious, but compared to how I was at 14, I'm so much happier. I'm excited to see what the future has in store for me, but it's also nice to look back and be thankful for everything that has made me who I am today. 

11 Things My First Year of University Has Taught Me

Today is the day that I officially finished my first year of university. I honestly can't quite believe how fast these past 8 months have gone by. It's been such an amazing experience, but I've definitely had some ups and downs. Moving to Stirling for university was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I know its cliché, but I really do feel like I've completely grown up over the past few months. Don't get me wrong, I can still be awfully childish, but I can now say with confidence that I know how to look after myself properly. I've learnt a lot over these last eight months, both academically and personally, so I thought I'd share some of them with you!


1. You don't have to live up to the stereotype

This is probably the biggest thing I've learnt this year! Before coming to university, when I thought of the "typical student lifestyle," I thought of constant nights out, messy kitchens and eating pot noodles for breakfast. Don't get me wrong, for a lot of people, that really is the case. My kitchen in halls is always a mess, and a lot of people that I know go out at least 3 nights a week. But I've realised that I'm not your typical student, and I'm okay with that.

2. It's okay to change direction

During my first semester, I was studying history, sociology and professional education. Throughout my sixth year at school, I was so sure that this was the right degree for me and that one day I would become a history teacher. However, once I got to university that quickly changed. I realised that history wasn't for me, and I didn't want to spend the next four years studying something that I didn't like. Now I'm doing my degree in sociology and criminology, and so far, I'm loving it. I find it so much more interesting, and even though I've absolutely no idea what career I see myself doing five years from now, I'm still so glad that I changed my degree path.

3. My family mean everything to me

Moving to Stirling was a huge step for me. Although I'd been looking forward to moving out and having a sense of independence, I didn't realise how much I would actually miss my parents. I love having my own space, but I really miss being able to see my parents everyday. My mum is definitely my best friend, and I never would have gotten through this year without her help. She's been a massive shoulder to cry on. My dad has also been a huge support system for me. Growing up, we really did argue with one another like cat and dog, but now that I've grown up, we get on better than ever and I really do value his advice. He always knows the right thing to say, and I know that he would do absolutely anything to help me. I can't thank my parents enough for all the help and support that they give me.

4. It's okay to hate nightclubs

Nightclubs make me so nervous, especially when you can hardly move because they're so busy. I like going for a dance with friends, but after a while, I just get anxious and want to leave.

5. I like beer more than wine

I should probably thank my boyfriend for this. I agree it's not the most ladylike beverage, but for some reason, I really quite like the taste.

6. Having a job whilst studying gives you a true appreciation for money 

Back in September, I started working at my current job and I absolutely love it. The job itself really interests me, and I also have the nicest manager alive. But working alongside my studies really has given me a true appreciation for money. I'm much more careful about what I spend my money on, and I've been trying really hard to save as much of it as I can. Also, if it wasn't for my job, I probably would never have met Sophie! She is one of the kindest, funniest girls that I've ever met, and I really do value her friendship.

7. You won't always get on with everyone 

I can't stress this one enough. At university, you meet so many new people that you just want to be friends with. But there will always be people that for some reason, just don't seem to like you. I've spent a lot of time over the last few months feeling upset because of things people have said or done, but it has also taught me how to have a thicker skin. I have friends that I love and adore, and I don't need people in my life who are going to constantly put me down or make me feel excluded.

8. You can survive on a diet of pasta

I can't even come to comprehend how much pasta I have eaten this year. Being a student, I live for anything quick and easy, and pasta is usually the answer. Jordan always makes fun of me because I eat so much of it.

9. Moving into university accommodation was the best idea

There have plenty of times over the past year when I have cursed living in halls, but overall, I definitely wouldn't have done things any differently. First year is the time to meet new people and have new experiences, and I definitely don't think any of that would've been the same if I'd stayed at home and travelled in every day. Of course, everyone is different, but I would definitely encourage anyone in the future to move into halls if they can.

10. Relationships can still be successful 

Jordan and I have been together for almost a year now, but before coming to university, I was nervous that being apart for long periods of time would put a strain on our relationship. But thankfully, it hasn't at all. We've been able to see each other much more often than we thought we would, it just takes effort from both sides. I think the distance has actually made us a lot stronger, as we truly value every single moment that we have together.

11. People who want to be in your life will make the effort

Of course this works both ways, but it's become apparent to me this year how much effort I put in to other people, and how little I so often get back. It's been so common for people to ask when they'll next be seeing me or when I'm next coming home, but a lot of the time, it would be just as easy for people to make the effort to come and see me. This year has 100% shown me who my true friends, and I couldn't be more grateful to have them in my life.

The past eight months have been such a whirlwind of different emotions and experiences, but I've had such an amazing time and I've absolutely loved it. I'm excited to go home now though for a few months to just relax, spend time with my friends and family, and prepare myself for next year.

When I Went To Paris

A few days ago, I was reading someone's blogpost about their trip to Paris, and it reminded me that I've never actually uploaded any of my photos from when my friend and I went last Summer. I realise that it's now quite a few months later, but I'd like to do this post so that in the future I can look back at it and remember how much I loved it. The whole point of me starting my blog was because I love travelling and I wanted somewhere that I could document all of my past, and hopefully future, trips.

I went to Paris for four days at the end of August 2015. It was supposed to be a really nice trip for my friend and I before we both left for university. We both had a really great time exploring the city and its landmarks. We did a whole lot of sightseeing and tried to see as much of the city as we possibly could.

On our first day there, we headed straight for the Eiffel Tower. I'd always wanted to see it in person, and it was so much more beautiful than I'd imagined it would be. We bought our tickets and headed straight to the summit! The view from the top was amazing. We could literally see for miles all across the city. Once it started to get dark outside, we waited to see what the Tower would look like all lit up, and it certainly didn't disappoint.

Over the next few days, we set out trying to see as much of the city as we could. We started off by heading to Pont des Arts, as we wanted to attach padlocks to the famous bridge. It was crazy to see how many people had been there before us, and it was so lovely to see how many loved up couples had also attached locks to the bridge. I also wanted to try and find Kourtney Kardashian's and Scott Disick's lock, but once I got there, I realised it would've been impossible!

After that, we went to visit the Louvre. Unfortunately it was closed that day so we couldn't go inside, but we still took plenty of pictures. It was such a beautiful structure and I was really gutted that it was closed.

On our third day, we went to visit the Arc de Triomphe. I couldn't believe how huge it actually was! It was really busy around the Arc, and it took us a while to realise that we had to go through an underpass to get to it. We really wanted to walk to the top, but because neither of us were 18 at the time, we unfortunately weren't allowed. Instead, we spent a while walking beneath it and looking at all of the intricacies that had been carved into its sides. The rest of that day was just spent shopping and sightseeing. 

We decided to do a Segway tour of the city that day as well, which was honestly one of the best things I've ever done. It was such a unique way to get around the city, and we were able to see so many sights in such a short space of time. I did end up falling off in the end, but I'm trying to forget about that...

I absolutely loved visiting Paris, and I definitely want to go back in the future. Even though we spent our entire week sightseeing, we still didn't manage everything, so there's still a few sights I need to go back to visit. I really hope you enjoyed reading this post. I know that it's particularly outdated, but I didn't have my blog at the time, and I wanted to write it so that I could look back at it in the future and reminisce about how much fun it was. I absolutely love travelling and I can't wait to do more in the future.

50 Things That Make Me Happy

In today's society, it seems common for people to focus on the negatives in life. Although I am guilty of doing this myself, I feel like we should be focusing more on what makes us happy and what we enjoy about life. As the cliché saying goes, "You Only Live Once", so we need to start living life to the fullest and appreciating all that we have. Whilst reading Thirteen Thoughts' blog, I stumbled across the "50 Things that make me happy" tag and wanted to give it a go. I hope you enjoy reading my 50 things, and that it maybe inspires you to also take a step back every now and then, and just take a moment to appreciate all the good things in life.

1. My family. Especially my mum as she is also my best friend.

2. My boyfriend. He has helped me become the person that I am today, and I am so grateful that he is a huge part of my life. He has the biggest heart of anyone that I've ever met. Every time that he looks at me, I wonder how I ever got so lucky. I love him with all of my heart.

3. Puppies. I don't have one (yet), but every time I see one, I get the overwhelming urge to want to play with it.

4. Travelling

5. Crisps (I think I might be addicted...)

6. Going to the cinema

7. Having a tidy bedroom

8. Sunny weather 

9. New makeup

10. Having an early night

11. Sunbathing on holiday

12. Driving 

13. Summer

14. Spending some time alone

15. The feeling of satisfaction when an assignment is finished

16. Seeing the squirrels running around campus

17. My laptop

18. Green tea (especially with honey)

19. Pay day

20. My Grandma and Grandad. Remembering the things we used to do together when I was younger always brings a smile to my face. I miss my Grandma more and more everyday.

21. Christmas

22. Ben and Jerry's "Phish Food" ice cream

23. Nachos at the cinema 

24. Long summer evenings spent with family and friends

25. Laughing uncontrollably

26. Walking along the beach as the sunsets

27. Hot chocolate with marshmallows

28. Jewellery - I blame this on working in a jewellers

29. Lush bath bombs

30. Looking back at old photos

31. Knowing that I've done something to make other people happy

32. Cosy nights in just cuddling and watching films with my boyfriend

33. Rom-coms

34. Catching up with friends

35. Getting my nails done

36. The smell of my mum's fresh laundry

37. My phone

38. Nights at home with my family

39. Visiting new places

40. Airports 

41. Reading a really good book on holiday

42. Going out for dinner

43. My pandora bracelet that my boyfriend bought me for my 18th birthday

44. Berkley (a stuffed dog toy also bought for me by my boyfriend).

45. City breaks

46. Buying new perfume

47. Finding the perfect gift for someone's birthday

48. Skinny vanilla latté's from Starbucks (Costa's aren't as good unfortunately)

49. Getting hooked on a really good TV series

50. My blog

Confidence

As an 18 year old teenage girl, confidence is something I have battled with for many years now. In today's society, we are pressured in to looking a certain way, being a certain weight and liking certain things. For example, being a size 8 is considered acceptable, however, being a size 20 is somehow not. To me, this is ludicrous. But it is only recently that I have realised how much pressure we are put under by the media and our peers. This post is very personal for me, however I feel that by writing it, it will show me just how far I have come over the years.

In 2011, I turned 14 and entered the dreaded age of puberty. I piled on the weight and, as a result, became a completely different person. During my childhood I was extremely bubbly and loved socialising and trying new things. I still do enjoy those things, however, I went through a period of being completely anti-social and was stuck in denial. During the summer of 2012, I went on holiday with my extended family. At this point, I was still my old self. However, when we returned and I saw our many holiday pictures, I realised that I had put on around a stone and a half in weight. This shattered my confidence, and I immediately untagged myself from every single one of them on FaceBook. From then on, I became obsessed with my weight. I started noticing the way other girls looked, comparing myself to all of my friends. This made me feel terrible, and I started taking it out on my family. I stopped going out with friends and became a complete introvert. My low self esteem got so bad, that I was scared to even look at someone of the opposite sex for fear that they would judge me. I wouldn't even go into a shop or a coffee shop if it involved speaking to someone at the till.

Over the next two years, this continued. I was extremely shy and only had three friends. I was obsessed with counting calories and dieting. I tried countless diets, each and every one of them complete rubbish. You name it, I probably did it. I even went though a phase where I only ate fruit. Breakfast, lunch and dinner was fruit after fruit after fruit. It all sounds very stupid now, but at the time I would do anything if I thought it would help me lose weight.

During the summer of 2014, I realised I'd had enough. I knew that I had a problem and I needed help for it. I wouldn't say that I had an eating disorder, however, my relationship with food was definitely an issue that needed sorted. I booked an appointment with my GP and off I went to get help. However, during my appointment, I completely broke down in front of my doctor, and it wasn't until then that I realised I had a genuine problem. My doctor referred me to a specialist, and two months later we had set up a meeting. I only had two meetings with this specialist as I didn't really feel like they helped me. I was then referred to a dietician who then referred me to a psychologist. I was finally getting the help that I needed. Over the following 12 weeks I had a weekly meeting every Friday at 3pm. Not only did she help with my relationship regarding food, but she also made me realise that my main problem was my confidence. Every week she worked with me on improving my confidence and teaching me how to love myself. At the end of my sessions, I felt so much better.

Almost a year later I am completely different to the person that I was. I no longer count calories and I'm back to my old bubbly, outgoing self. I'm not going to lie, I still get nervous sometimes that people will judge me, but I no longer care as much as I did. I now have a boyfriend, I moved out and am now living in a completely new city all by myself at university. Something that I thought would never happen. I've come so far, and I love how much I've improved. Whenever I feel low nowadays, which I still do sometimes, I just take some time to think. My boyfriend loves me exactly as I am, and so do my friends and family. So why care what strangers on the street think? Live is too short to care what other people think about you. Just do what you love and wear what you want. My main point here is that in order to truly enjoy life and be the best version of yourself, you need to love yourself. You need to look at yourself in the mirror and realise how amazing you are. You are so unique, and instead of hating that, you should love it! So ignore what the tabloids and social media tell us is "perfect", and instead, realise that you are perfect as you are. Because if we were all the same, life would be extremely boring. It took me a long time to realise all of this, but I can assure you that it's true. I'm so much happier now than I was 5 years ago, and it's all because I started to love myself. Confidence is definitely the key to your happiness.