Current music favourites (1st July)

Hello everyone, 

I've only just realised that I haven't done a current music favourites post since May so I decided that it would be a great idea to do one now. I'll also be posting these about twice a month so keep your eye out. 

Send My Love (To Your New Lover) by Adele

Rating out of five: 5 out of 5.

Favourite lyric or lyrics: 'We gotta let go of all of our ghosts'.

Opinion: I found it no surprise that I liked this song as soon as I first heard it as I normally absolutely love most of Adele's songs. I found this one extremely catchy and the lyrics were easily relatable. 

Hotter Than Hell by Dua Lipa

Rating out of five:4 out of 5.

Favourite lyric or lyrics:'You probably still adore me with my hands around your neck'.

Opinion:This is the first song that I've heard by this artist and I must admit after hearing it a couple of times I've really began to like the song. The singer has a beautiful tone of voice and I find the song extremely catchy and appropriate for the summer. 

Roses by The Chainsmokers and ROZES

Rating out of five: 4 out of 5.

Favourite lyric or lyrics:'Well, I'll be your daydream, I'll be your favourite things'.

Opinion:Considering I'm quite keen on house/dance music at the moment, there's no surprise that I like this song. The beat of the song is very upbeat and the lyrics are memorable. 

i hate u, i love u by gnash and Olivia O'Brien

Rating out of five: 5 out of 5.

Favourite lyric or lyrics:'Fucked around and got attached to you, Friends can break your heart too'.

Opinion:I pretty must listen to this song multiple times every day. It's probably my favourite song at this moment in time.

I hope you've enjoyed this music related post!

-Natalie.

The Unpopular Book Opinions Tag.

Hello fellow bloggers;

I've seen this tag being carried out by many a booktuber so I thought that it would be interesting and fun to carry it out myself so here we go. ALSO I thought it would be best to state that these are just my own opinions. 

1. A popular book or series that you didn't like.

One certain book comes to mind when I think of my answer to this question and that is Looking For Alaska by John Green. Typically I've been very fond of anything that John Green has written however I didn't like this novel at all. Personally I found the whole progression of the novel very slow and tedious which wasn't aided by some of the unlikeable characters. I couldn't bring myself to like Alaska within it at all, and maybe that's the exact reason why I didn't like the book overall. 

2. A popular book or series that everyone else seems to hate but you love.

I'm not sure if this book is exactly classed as popular however from reading the reviews on Goodreads, it doesn't seem to receive the praise that it deserves and this is regards to Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone by Kat Rosenfield. Overall on the website it only has received an average of 3.39 out of 5 which seems quite low to me since I certainly enjoyed the mysteriousness and beauty of it. 

3. A love triangle where the main character ended up with the person you did not want them to end up with or an OTP that you don't like.

*Just a warning this does contain spoilers.* 

This one was very hard to decide however I could only think of one love triangle which I wasn't too happy about the outcome of and that was within the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I do love Peeta a great deal however I spent most of the trilogy hoping that Katniss would chose Gale instead. 

4. A popular book genre that you hardly reach for.

There aren't many book genres that I don't read however I'm not personally very keen on the Fantasy genre.

5. A popular or beloved character that you do not like.

This is where I go for Alaska yet again. 

6. A popular author that you can't seem to get into.

My answer to this has to be J.K. Rowling.

7. A popular book trope that you're tired of seeing. (examples: 'lost princess', corrupt ruler, love triangles).

I'm certainly tired of love triangles as I don't find them interesting at all. 

8. A popular series that you have no interest in reading.

I have no interest at all in getting into the Harry Potter series as I believe that it is something that isn't going to interest me a great deal thus linking with my lack of interest in the fantasy genre. 

9. The saying goes "the book adaption is always better than the movie", but what film or television show do you prefer more than the book?

I found the television version of The Vampire Diaries much better than the books. 

I hope you've enjoyed this book tag, and feel free to comment any opinions that you have.

Top tips for freshers.

Recently I finished my first year at university and I have been reflecting upon my experience. It's been a rollercoaster ride of an experience which can be easily expected as it's a big change however I wouldn't change any of it for the world. Yet I believe that if I was given a top tip guide the year at university may have went a lot smoother so I've decided to come up with one for you upcoming freshers. Don't take everyone of them too seriously as it's all a learning curve so let's get on with it. 

• Make a big effort to get on with your new flatmates. If you ask me this is honestly one of the most important tips that I could give you because you're going to spending a whole year with these people. It's certainly a good idea to make as much effort as you can to get to know everyone because these are the first and most easiest friendships that you can make when you start. These are the people that are going to be there for you when you need a shoulder to cry on or if you just want someone to go out with so try your best!
• Enjoy freshers week and go out as much as possible. When I started university I didn't really drink so I used that as an excuse not to have to go out and socialize however now I really regret that. Since I go out often now I really wish that I had taken advantage of the fun of freshers especially since you normally meet the best people when you are drunk.
• Say yes to anything that gives you a chance to be sociable. It's so much easier to make new friends through social events especially if you join a sports team or a society. So definitely look into what societies are offered at your university.
• Don't miss seminars or lectures because you're hungover or just can't be bothered.
• Try your best to keep up to date with your reading list. Considering I personally study English Literature my reading lists have certainly always been very busy and I've always struggled to keep up with it. However it makes your university life much more easier if you manage to keep up to date especially if you have seminars on the texts.  
• Don't leave assignments to the last minute (especially if they are worth 60/80% of your grade). For many people first year won't count towards your final year at university however don't use this an excuse to leave everything to the last minute like I did. Give yourself plenty of time to get your assignments done so you don't have to stress about them at the last minute.
• Budget your student loan wisely. I feel like a hypocrite for including this one because it isn't something that I did or do myself but it's honestly the best thing to do. You need to make your money last as long as possible.
• Keep in touch with your family and friends at home. Now this is an important one for me because without both my family and friends I probably wouldn't have completed my first year. It's best to keep in touch with these people as they will always be there for you when you need support.
• Consider who you would like to live with in second year. Even though this is probably one of the last things you'd think you need to consider it's important that you do because you don't want to make the wrong decision. Many people put a deposit down on their house for next year in the December/January of the first year so you should get thinking about it early.
• Don't be scared to be yourself. University itself and the independence you gain from it should help you gain confidence it who you are as a person. Yes you are going to meet many people who are very different to you but you are also going to meet people who have similar interests so don't change for anyone. 
• Most importantly have FUN. You only get one chance to be a fresher so enjoy the experience and have as much fun as possible.

I hope this is helpful to some of you, and I hope you all have a great first year at university.

-Natalie. 

Horror film recommendations.

Horror has always been my favourite genre when it comes to films, even though that may sound odd as not everyone is keen on them. However these are the types of films that I have spent a great deal of time watching while growing up thus why I have decided to recommend some to you.

House Of Wax (2005)

House Of Wax is one of those films that you either instantly hate or love, and this is one that I certainly did love. I found the whole premise of the film rather uncanny which is what made it so good. Not only was the plot hooking but the acting was also up to standards even though Paris Hilton was also within the film. However I wouldn't completely class this as a horror as it isn't very scary or gory. 

Freddy Vs. Jason (2003)

It's rather crazy to think that this film came out over a decade ago now, yet I still can remember it pretty well. What more could you ask for from a horror film than a slasher showdown? I think the whole concept of two of the most well known slasher icons from horror films having a showdown was what made me love the film so much. 

The Strangers (2008)

When I first watched this film I wasn't that keen on it because I found it slightly slow however after watching it a few times I have begun to rather like it. I found the plot rather interesting and believable which is rare when it comes to horror films. This is certainly one you should go into watching with an open mind. 

The Breed (2006)

This film is rather different from some of the stereotypical horror movies as it offers an enemy/killer which is quite realistic. Without spoiling much of the plot this film is about a breed of dogs which are interested in killing humans. As this was different from the normal horror films I've watched I rather enjoyed it. 

The Ring (2002)

Similar to The Grudge, The Ring offers a scary and creepy young girl killer which also seems to be rare within the genre. Based upon a Japanese novel, the film offers a creative and unique story line which keeps you gripped to the very end. 

-Natalie. 

The Goodreads Tag.

As someone who reads quite often especially both for university and for fun, I use Goodreads a great deal. I use the website often to store my opinions on books that I have read and to search for any possible future reads. Hence why I have decided to do 'The Goodreads Tag'. 

1. What was the last book you marked as 'read'?

Trumpet by Jackie Kay.

This is one of the novels that I finished most recently however this was one that I was required to read for my university course. Kay's novel tells the story of the death of one of the main characters who is revealed to have been living a lie all of his life(I'm not going to give any spoilers). Now reflecting back, I honestly did enjoy this book and loved exploring the theme of gender within it. 

2. What was the last book you marked as 'to read'?

Boys Of Summer by Jessica Brody

I added this to my 'to read' list as just from looking at the cover it looked like an idea book to read within the summer. Not only does the cover look promising but so does the blurb. 

3. What book do you plan to read next?

Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

I've been intending to get around to reading this novel ever since it first came out but sadly never got round to it. Hence through rereading the premise I've decided that this certainly will be the book that I read next. 

4. Do you use the star rating?

Once I've finished a book, I always use the star rating upon the website. I find it a nice method for helping fellow readers to decide whether they want to read the book or not. 

5. Are you doing a 2016 reading challenge?

I'm actually not this year as I haven't been expecting to read much as I've been super busy at university however I definitely shall be doing one next year. 

6. Do you have a wishlist?

I don't actually, as I also don't have one on Amazon either. 

7. What book do you plan to buy next?

Caspar Lee by Caspar Lee and Emily Riordan Lee

I'm actually rather excited to get my hands on this book as I absolutely love Caspar so I'm definitely going to purchase this soon.

8. Do you have any favourite quotes, would you like to share a few?

"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther...And one fine morning- So we beat on , boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past" - F. Scott Fitzgerald. 

9. Who are your favourite authors?

Here is a short list of some of my favourite authors: F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Green, Cassandra Clare and Abbi Glines. 

10. Have you joined any groups?

I actually haven't joined any groups. 

11. How many shelves do you have on Goodreads?

I only have one shelf on the website. 

-Natalie. 

Favourite Youtubers.

While growing up Youtube has played a very important part in my life. I have spent many, many hours over the years watching Youtube video after video and I can honestly say I don't regret one minute of it. Therefore I've decided to write this blog post to share some of my favourite youtubers with you. 

Will Darbyshire (579,000 subscribers)

I've been subscribed to Will's channel for awhile now and have always been amazed by the quality of his videos. Each video that he has uploaded is very aesthetically pleasing and the topic of each video is often interesting. Some of my personal favourites are: Depression , Feeling Lost and A Letter To My Future Wife. 

Joe Weller (3.2 million subscribers)

I was firstly introduced to Joe and his channel through Alfie Deyes who did a video about youtubers he would recommend and Joe was one of them. After watching just one of Joe's videos I was hooked especially because of his sarcastic humour. Videos I would recommend: Prank Calling Youtubers, Do Your Parents Do This? and Proof I'm An Internet Melt. 

ThatcherJoe (6.7 million subscribers)

I have been subscribed to Joe's channel since when he first started which wasn't long after I had watched him do the Sibling Tag on Zoe's channel. Joe's videos are often very humorous as many contain him playing pranks on people especially on Caspar. Thus his videos are the perfect remedy for if you are feeling down. Videos that I'd definitely recommend watching: Singing Impressions With Conor Maynard,Prank Calls With My Sister  and ThatcherJoe Does That 'Candy' Video.  

Zoella (10.4 million subscribers)

Till this very day, I'm still very proud of how far Zoe has came. The first video of hers that I actually remember watching was the 'Sibling Tag' in which she also introduced us to Joe Sugg (Thatcher Joe). I'm always going to be a massive fan of Zoe and will forever support her through her journey. Videos I would recommend: Boyfriend VS Brother, Vlogging At 11 Years Old, and The Suggs Christmas Past.

 Sprinkleofglitter (2.48 million subscribers)

My love for Louise is also very similar to the love that I have for Zoe. I find that since Louise is an extremely likable person who is very down to earth and funny, that her videos have became a joy to watch. I love her friendships that she has with many of the other Youtubers such as Zoe, Marcus and Alfie. Videos I would recommend: Louise or Zoe, and Giving Zoe Her Christmas Presents. 

-Natalie. 

My recently most played songs.

Recently I've been listening to a few new songs so I thought I'd write a blog post to recommend them to you.

Hair by Little Mix & Sean Paul

As usual Little Mix have released yet another catchy pop song which you struggle to get out of your head. This song has definitely became one of my favourites, and I must admit I do listen to it every day. 

All My Friends by Snakehips (& Tinashe and Chance The Rapper)

Now this song has often been played during pres lately so it is now a song which I associate with good times and being very drunk. 

Work From Home by Fifth Harmony

Personally I feel as if this song is very similar to Rihanna's Work but it doesn't make me love the song any less.

Cheap Thrills by Sia & Sean Paul

I'm guessing it's no surprise that Sia features somewhere on this list as every song that she brings out is always very popular. I find this song very catchy and love the fact that Sean Paul actually features on the track. 

Sex by Cheat Codes x Kriss Kross

At this very moment in time I'd possibly say that this is my favourite song at the moment. The house yet also summer vibe to the song makes it very catchy and memorable.

These are only a few of the songs that I find myself listening to a great deal to at the moment but I thought that I'd recommend them to you. 

-Natalie x 

Favourite Radio 1 Covers.

Since I've previously written a blog post of music, I thought that I might make this a regular thing as I listen to a lot of music and it means a lot to me so I thought it would be a good idea. Lately I've been listening to many covers on Radio One so I thought that it would be a good idea to show you some of my favourites, so that you can get an insight into the music that I like. I hope you enjoy and the covers that I recommend are not in any specific order as I love them all equally no matter how cringy that sounds. 

Craig David covering Justin Bieber's Love Yourself

This cover is personally one of my favourites especially with the amount of times that I've listened to it. Craig David's voice works perfectly with this upbeat Bieber song and even adds a new twist to it. 

 Taylor Swift covering Vance Joy's Riptide

When Riptide came out as a single it honestly became one of my favourite songs and I honestly had high hopes that Taylor was going to give it justice and that was exactly what she did. She covered the song perfectly and kept it pretty close to the original. 

Miley Cyrus covering Lana Del Rey's Summertime Sadness

When I first heard this cover I honestly wasn't expecting much as I knew that it was certainly going to be hard for anyone to cover a song by Lana Del Rey. However Miley's cover definitely did succeed my expectations and I enjoyed it quite a bit. 

Bastille covering Miley Cyrus' We Can't Stop

Now Bastille have always been one of my favourite bands and even to this day they are up there. I really loved their cover of this song and found their incorporation of Billy Rae Cryus' song with it too greatly amusing. 

Rizzle Kicks covering Lana Del Rey's Summertime Sadness

This is the second time a cover of this song has appeared within the list however I absolutely love this cover as Rizzle Kicks certainly make the song sound a lot more upbeat.

Sigala & Craig David covering See You Again

Oddly I wasn't too sure whether I was going to like this cover or not even though Craig David featured on it yet after listening to it I must admit I really liked it. This previously melancholy song had been given an upbeat summer vibe which was perfect. It also included a cheeky cover of Little Mix's Black Magic which worked really well with it.  

-Natalie. 

Insecurities.

Ever since I turned 11(seems like many years ago now) I started becoming very insecure about how I looked especially when I started secondary school. Before then I didn't have to worry about how my appearance looked 24/7 or if I fit within society's expectations of what was considered 'good-looking' or 'beautiful'. I miss being that innocent, naive child who hadn't been destroyed by society's expectations. Secondary school changed everything for me and I'm not too sure whether I'm grateful for that or not. 

When I first started secondary school, I never expected the girls to be so bitchy about everyone else's appearances and I'm not just picking girls out for doing this because I know that boys do it too but in my case I witnessed mostly girls. Many of the 'popular' girls within my year often tore everyone else apart if they didn't live up to their expectations of how everyone should look and this happened to me. This is quite personal but for many years at secondary school I was a victim to bullying because of how I looked and this honestly destroyed me apart. I spent every day wondering how I could change myself so that I could fit in more. Their thoughts and opinions caused me to change how I looked and dressed throughout my time there and they made me recognize how important your appearance actually is to the outside world. 

During my younger teenage years up to the age of about 18, I'd honestly say that I was a bit of an 'ugly-duckling' as I didn't meet society's expectations of what was classed as pretty or beautiful. However as I begun to alter my appearance through losing a little bit of weight, and changing my taste in clothes I felt a lot more happy with my appearance. This was when I begun to take a lot more selfies and put them all over social media as it was a way for me to gain more confidence with how I looked. It's actually quite sad that many of us feel the need that we want the approval of everyone that we have on social media on how we look but that's how we've grown up. 

Even now that I'm at university I still care about my appearance quite a lot however I'm never going to be that girl that uses make up to alter her appearance because that just isn't me. I make sure that I attempt to attend university looking nice even if I'm a tiny bit hungover, and on nights out I go all out to make sure that I look decent. On the outside I attempt to make it look like I have no insecurities and that I'm happy with how I look but on the inside I'm still that insecure girl at the age of 11 who had only just begun hating herself. Even to this day there's many things I'm very insecure about appearance wise but I do my best not to let them affect me because honestly it isn't worth it. You should never let someone else's expectations and thoughts on appearance affect you as beauty is objective and what you don't find as beautiful someone else might. So make use of what you've got and be happy being you because you're the only version of yourself out there! Self love is greatly important. 

-Natalie.

Music during pres.

Now this is slightly different than my usual blog posts however I personally thought that it would be nice to give some recommendations. This post contains some recommendations on what me and my flat mates listen to during pres, and they are honestly songs that we have all come to love a great deal. Each song on this list is either there just because we have a great deal of love for it or due to it having memories related to it. 

Intoxicated by Martin Solveig

"Song of Freshers 2015"

Chunky by Format:B

Delirious (Boneless) by Steve Aoki

The Renegade by Friend Within

Levels by Avicii

Show Me Love (EDX Remix) by Sam Feldt

These are only a few of the many songs that we sit through during pres but they are perfect examples of the many songs that we get great enjoyment out of. Even though we spend most of pres having a laugh and creating moments that we are never going to forget. 

Change.

The above quote honestly has a great deal of meaning to me lately, and only as my first year of university begins to draw to a close have I had time to reflect on everything that has happened. Ever since starting university I personally believe and stand by the fact that as a person I've certainly changed and I know this sounds very cliché but I'm proud of who I've became. It's taken a great deal of experiences whether good or bad, socializing with new and different people and taking that big step into adulthood and independence for this to happen but it's perfectly molded me into who I am today. This is why I thought that this would be the perfect chance to reflect upon this change because I know that as university goes on, I'm going to continue to change and grow as a person.

When starting university in September, I was a shy, awkward and quiet person who never used to drink and hated social situations. Who I was back then perfectly helps me understand why I struggled a great deal with settling in when I first started, even to the extent of wanting to drop out straight away. During this time I was pretty homesick and honestly didn't live freshers up as much as I now wish I did (second chance for that in September though) however I managed to pull through this with the help of my super supportive flat mates and friends back at home.

As time went by, I begun to enjoy myself much more and even participated more with the social aspects especially drinking. I must admit my first experience being drunk is not one I'm going to forget as it was pretty funny. The socializing helped me become more outgoing as a person and made me more willing to make new friends (which I certainly have done luckily). Here's a top tip too: It's always much easier to make new friends when you are drunk, I know this from experience! From about October I begun to go out on nights out much more regularly and through this I did begin to realize that I was changing from who I was originally however I just wasn't too sure if this was a change for the better or not. Yet I'd personally say that this helped me become more confident and I know that seems silly just from going out a lot but it honestly brought me out of my comfort zone. 

Not only did going out help change me as a person but also the people that I have been luckily enough to be surrounded by every day. When I first when to university I was so worried that I wasn't actually going to get along with the people that they had chose for me to live with however luckily I got along with them really well and still do. I honestly don't know what I would do without certain people that I live with especially since we've had so many amazing experiences and memories with each other. 

Becoming independent was also an important factor in my change, as it has helped me become my own person. Growing up I had been quite lucky with my parents as they often treated me like a pampered only child and still do to this day however this didn't exactly help when I had to fend for myself at uni. It's took me many attempts at managing my finances and not wasting it all on pointless things, cooking for myself even though I've still managed to burn many a microwaveable meal, and just looking after myself in general. Yet this independence that I have gained as helped me grow into an adult even though it's a hard life! 

Therefore over the last year I have changed a great deal but I'm rather happy and proud of how far I've managed to come especially with everything else going on at the same time. It's easy to forget how much we actually change because we don't get much chance to reflect upon it, but honestly you should and actually congratulate yourself for it. 

Change can be both negative and positive but it is what you learn from it is what matters. 

  

Introduction

I thought an introduction through an Adele lyric quote would be the perfect method of greeting anyone who stumbles onto my blog. Also I probably should admit that I do rather like that song, and find it quite fitting sometimes. 

Now less of my rambling and onto my introduction. I'm Natalie and I'm from Birmingham however I happen to attend university in York. My university life and experiences are what have encouraged and inspired me to start writing a blog again. I thought writing this blog would give me a perfect platform to be able to look back on my three years at university in the future, and it would allow me to see how much I've managed to change and grow as a person. Thus that is the whole reasoning behind this blog. Each of my entries are going to be reflections or memories of experiences that I have happened due/or with the aid of university. I'm feeling many of these entries are going to contain many a life lesson as so far at uni I have learned many a thing about being an 'independent' person within the real world. Especially when it comes to the likes of going out to night clubs, managing my student loan, my many uncompleted reading lists, and having to cook for myself. However each of these lessons have helped me grow as a person (even though I only started in September I have changed massively as a person since then) and I don't regret a single one of them. 

Therefore I hope you enjoy reading about my adventures at university and join me on the journey yourselves, it's definitely going to be a rollercoaster ride so hold on. 

Until next time, 

Natalie.