Sheffield: 100% Me

I always think of Sheffield as my 2nd hometown. And I only lived there for 1 year of my life.

And I think that's because when I moved to Sheffield. That's when I really became, me.

I like to think I'm a pretty outgoing person who's assured of who I am, and this isn't to say that I wasn't myself up until that point, I definitely was and have never to pretend I was anything else but me. But I just think, I didn't fully let out that every single 100% of me, just in case people didn't like it. So I kept a bit of that madness bottled up in a sparkly jar.

I've lived in the same place I grew up in all up until the point I left home and went to Uni.

When I left for Uni, I was absolutely terrified and scared as hell. My friends and family were all I knew, and the thought of not being around the same people that I'd been around for all my life, everyday as I had done, frankly scared the flower embroidered socks off of me.

I ended up depending and finding security in my boyfriend at the time, when I moved to Uni. He was familiar and comforting, and a person and an emotion that I knew. And to be honest, I didn't fully immerse myself in the whole uni life and experience in that time, because I was trying to hold on to THAT part of my life so much. Like a child who won't get off the swings.

Then when we broke up, I kind of did the same with my flatmates. I'd grown to know that and them, and they ended up being my new security blanket I guess.

So when I moved to Sheffield for my postgrad, it was all completely brand-spanking new. I was moving to a new city where I didn't know anyone. There was no-one I was emotionally attached to that I could depend on, and I was going to be moving into a flat with a bunch of strangers. 

And just like a kid who's scared of the 1st day of school, at 21 years old, I was getting ready for my 1st day, and worried I wasn't going to make any friends and have to eat lunch on my own everyday for a year, and hide in my room away from my flat full of people who didn't want to watch Friends with me. The horror.
I even took a ribbon bow out of my hair before I left the flat because I thought no-one would want to go talk to THAT girl.

A year later, it turns out that some people flipping love that girl.

Who'd have thunk it?

I ended up with a whole new bunch of friends who I know will be for life, lived with a bunch of people that went from going to weekly pub quizzes together, to chats until 2am in our kitchen, and met my kindred spirit of a best friend within the first 2 days.

I danced ridiculously at clubs. I let the cackle come out of my life.  I talked to people more honestly. And I was more honest with myself. There were some emotionally hiccups along the way, but by golly Miss.Molly, did they make me be more honest with myself when it came to my feelings when I came out the other side of the tunnel - if you're going to mess me around, then I sure as hell don't want to be around for you to mess with.

And when I watched Lousie from Sprinkle of Glitter talk about what Liverpool means to her, it's exactly the same.

When I think back at what I was like when I moved to Sheffield, to what I was like when I left, I wouldn't say I changed, but I just let more of myself come through. I came into 100% of myself.

And as my bestie said when I told her how much I love and miss Sheffield because of these reasons, she said:
"I think that city was just so suited to your personality, that you just shone."

I couldn't agree with her more.

Sheffield. I love you, you bonkers Northern beauty.
And you'll always have a special place in this equally as bonkers girl's heart.

Stay happy!

Until next time...

A.x

On Wednesdays, We Wear Pink

Unashamedly, one of my favourite colours is pink.

Yes it's stereotypically girly. Yes, it's mainly pink of the pastel varirety that you'll see me in. But I do love it oh so much. Even after all my years of tomboy-loving of navy blue and Addidas tracksuits.

So it's no surprise that my love of this sugary shade, goes hand-in-hand with my love with Mean Girls.

I quote Mean Girls nearly every day of my life. So to save the muscles in my mouth - I jabber on enough anynway! - what better way to fulfil my inner Cady Heron than with this extrmemly quotable t-shirt.

Complete with pink skirt and scarf, both in a knitted fashion, and a shearing lined denim jacket, I was ready to take on anything real world - or girl world - had to throw at me!

Oh, and the piece de resistance? This fantasticly fluffy bag.

Can someone say Cher Horowitz?

You know how magpies are attracted to sparkly and shiny things? That's me, but with fluffy things.

tshirt:Tee Island, skirt:ASOS,  jacket:Topshop, bag:Topshop, boots:Topshop

And this little fella is like my new bestie when it comes to fun frolics and adventures!

This alphabet scarf is also quite a little find. 

It's the softest thing that you would wrap yourself in to warm yourself up this Winter, and not only can you get a letter personalised to your name or initial, but also all the proceeds of it goes to charity - pretty pastels, cozy and charitable, what more do you need!

You can get your very own one here. All profits go to Alder Hey Children's Hospital Charity. 

During the weekend excursion to the country that this outfit accompanied me to, I enlisted the help of my good ol' friend Hannah. She lives half and hour from the Big Smoke, and that meant only 30 minutes until rolling hills - Yes!

As much as I love London and all it's fun, food and places to frolic, the country-loving girl in me does miss seeing green grass, stepping in muddy grounds and not constantly having bright lights shining.

And you definitely wouldn't come across a group of deers in the capital!

We went to Woburn Abbey and Gardens, where we stumbled over a secret rainforest garden...

She took me to Woburn - and was top tour guide may I add - which was beyond adorable (eveb the post boxes are precious!)

We wondered around muddy fields aimlessly, chatted over warm cups of tea, ate in a cozy pub with a roaring fire, and even had a mug of festive winter Pimms to tie it all up (trust me, it's a winner!)

Although we both work in London now, we never have time to see one another. And it was just so lovely to spend some downtime doing pretty much nothing.

Literally, the only word I can use to desicrbe that day, is lovely.

And just the much needed escape that I needed.

Stay happy!

Until next time...

A.x

Make friends, make friends - Never, ever, break friends!

Last weekend, 2 of my old uni friends and housemates came up to, what they consider 'The North', to come visit me.

And it made me wish I was living in the ridiculous house with the carpet peeling away, birds trapped in the roof and kitchen cupboards always open, all over again.

I was a top tour guide and showed them around the sites, although, they've been here so many times, there's not much else thrilling left to show them...

We went for afternoon tea, made friends with a delightful doggy called Mary, pottered about some shops, reminisced about uni days (which resulted in us crying of laughter), watched posh prats being privileged in 'Riot Club' (which is a fantastic and engaging film - you should definitely check it out) on Saturday, before chatting in our PJs just like old times.

The next morning, I whipped us up some pancakes to make sure we were topped up with energy before we set out for the day. 

One of the things I want to do more, is visit more places in the UK. I've lived here all my life, but have visited so little of it - and there's so much to see! So we went to see some beautiful gardens at a National Trust, and it's amazing how many little gems there are hidden even so close by. 

We went to Biddulph Grange Garden, and the sun even came along for the journey!

We leisurely strolled along, getting lost along the way....that's what happens when you've grown up with sat-nav! - I should have my Map Reader badge stripped off my Cub Scouts jumper!

      

We came across Egypt, and after a lot of hunting, we found China too - it was hiding away, the cheeky lil scamp!

It's amazing to think that all of this amazing greenery and beautiful sites, were once someone's garden. (I don't think I'd be green-fingered enough to take care of all this...)

Fitting in with the outdoors, I wore a floral crop top, my trusty high-waisted Levis, and slipped on my new favourite kimono over it, which has animals and plants scattered all over it - my fave is the lil Bambi hiding.

top:Topshop, shorts:Levis, kimono:Topshop, hat:Topshop, shoes:Topshop, bag:Mulberry

Before we knew it, it was time to say goodbye again, and we're already planning the next time we meet. 

Friendship is such a weird thing if you think about it. You go along in life, and basically pick up people along the way that you decide, "Yeah, I like you, I want you to be part of my life!" Whether you see them everyday, or speak 3 times a year, you share you life with these people. Whether it's because you share the same interests, same views, same opinions, same sense of humour or same hobbies.

And I think a friendship is one of the hardest things to keep. They're not like relationships, as in you don't have to be loyal and exclusive, and it's not like family where you're bonded by genes. There's nothing that ties you together really, but you decide to make a conscious effort to keep these people in your life, and I think they're one of the strongest bonds you can have with someone.

I've said this before, and I'll say it again (WARNING: extreme, cringey cheese coming your way.)

But, I don't know how I managed to have so many amazing, beautiful, hilarious, caring and talented people to share friendships with, at every single stage at my life. I'm a very lucky girl!

(10 points if you get the reference to this classic tune!)

I'm already excited for future plans with these 2 (the words 'Harry Potter tour' have been uttered!), I've been sharing lots of lovely times with my friends from school recently as I've been back home (who I realised, I've been friends with for nearly a decade now!), and next week, I'll be reunited with my partner-in-crime, ready to cause havoc in the Big Smoke! 

I hope you all had a brilliant weekend with your friends - make sure you tell them how much you love them!

Stay sassy & stay happy!

Until next time...

A.x