Goodbye (for now!)

Hey, guys!

This is a sad one for me...

So, as some of you might know, and might be experiencing yourself, exam period is swiftly approaching; this means that I'll have to take a break from blogging until exams are over. 

As you know, I absolutely love blogging. It's such a great experience to just let out some creativity, as well as write something that others can enjoy too! However, I feel that it'll be a bit much as well as trying to survive the exam period. I'm really sorry to have to stop for a while, but I'll be back on Wednesday 24th of June with some fresh ideas for you all! 

Meanwhile, have a fab few weeks, and the best of wishes to all of you who are also doing exams! Please do comment or tweet me at @AishaElizabeth1 with any blog post requests that you'd like to see when I return!

Did You Get The Memo?

Life's full of adventures! How about your first day at school? Or the summer of your gap year? There are so many memories throughout life, and so many experiences that are worth remembering! But, if you're anything like me, it's impossible to store them in a way that you can look back on. It's all good buying postcards and taking photographs, but what are you going to do with them? Here are some fun and creative ideas to help you to store your memories:


Scrapbooks:
These are not only fab to look back on, but also so much fun to make! Whenever I go on holiday, I love to collect bits and pieces (like postcards, tickets, leaflets, maps, photos I've taken...) and put them all together into a scrapbook!


Wall Art:
This is one of my favourites! I've covered my wall in photos and postcards from places I've been to; it looks quirky and is also a fun way of keeping memories!




Wearable Memories:
This is perfect for when you're going to concerts. By the way, yes, I can sense you all silently judging me on my dreadful music taste...


Autographs:
Autographs are a fun way of remembering awesome people you've met! You could get an autograph from sports stars, authors, celebrities, or even just getting friends to sign your shirt on the last day of school!

Making The Most Of The Sun!

Yep, you heard me: sun! 

Spring certainly seems to have sprung, and the sun is beginning to make an appearance! Here are some of the ways I like to enjoy those sunny spring days:

Getting outside!
Whether reading a book, doing some revision or just relaxing, it's great to do it outside! Why not take a walk in the sun? After all, we should probably make the most of the sun before it disappears again...



Outdoor Sports
I just love to cycle, and as you probably know, winter isn't the best time to do it (unless you want to turn up to school with frozen fingers and looking like a drowned rat, which I frequently had to do). So, spring is a perfect opportunity to get out your bike and go for a ride! Spring's also a fab chance to pick up running again (after all, running on frosty winter mornings will probably lead to some sort of injury; trust me, I know...).

Spring Snaps
As you know, I'm a huge photography fanatic, and spring is a fab chance to capture some great snaps! Flowers, wildlife, fun days out; there are so many photo opportunities! 
Here are some of my spring snaps:

Ditching the Winter Woolies!
Finally! Say goodbye to the wooly jumpers and hello to those classic springtime dungarees! 

Days Out
After countless days spent playing board games by the fire, it's now time to take some fun day trips! My favourite spring activities have to be boat rides, going on picnics and having a family meals by the river!

Aisha and Jenny Take On The Best Friend Tag!

Hey!

This week I'm joined by the wonderful Jenny! She's basically just this human I found outside my house. Kidding, Jenny, don't kill me...

We thought we'd do The Best Friend Tag. Enjoy!

1) How and when did you meet?

Jenny: "School, probably in year nine."

Aisha: "Yep. Before then, we hardly knew each other!

2) What were your first impressions of each other?

Jenny: "I though she was really scary before I got to know her! But she's awesome underneath and has changed quite a bit."

Aisha: "Scary?! Okay, fair enough...I thought you seemed really friendly and mega clever."

3) What's your favourite memory together?

Jenny: "Probably our Starbucks chat yesterday, or the time we played chess on the way to the Harry Potter studios."

Aisha: "I think probably the day we went to the Harry Potter Studios together. That was kinda like the beginning of our friendship."

4) What's your dream job?

Jenny: "Probably a doctor or something."

Aisha: "Definitely a photographer."

5) What's your favourite inside joke?

Jenny: "We call each other 'Susan' and 'Comrade'. I have no idea why, but it's funny!"

Aisha: "Definitely finding those weird pig's heads in the market; we laughed for ages and have joked about it ever since!"

6) Describe each other in one word.

Jenny: "Arghhhh, I don't know..."

Aisha: "That's four! For you I'd probably say 'Jenny'".

7) Favourite season?

Jenny: "Definitely autumn."

Aisha: "Summer, summer, summer, summer." (High school musical reference!)

8) Which Harry Potter house are you in?

Jenny: "We're both in Hufflepuff!"

Aisha: "AKA the best house..."

9) Favourite song?

Jenny: "Summer Paradise by Simple Plan."

Aisha: "Never Forget by Take That."

10) If you could travel anywhere together, where would it be?

Jenny: "An American road-trip!"

Aisha: "Yes! Let's go now. Bye guys!"

11) What's one that that annoys you about the other person?

Jenny: "You're indecisiveness, haha! You just can't make decisions!"

Aisha: "It's true! Hmm, probably the fact that you've never read Harry Potter. *cough cough*"

12) What's one thing you love about the other person?

Jenny: "Everything!"

Aisha: "Aw! I'd say the same about you!"

13) Favourite movie?

Jenny: "Anappolis."

Aisha: "The Cat in the Hat!"

14) Do you have anything that matches?

Jenny: "I have no idea. Do we?"

Aisha: "Swag. Definitely swag."

15) Who takes longer to get ready in the morning?

Jenny: "Aisha. It takes me like fifteen minutes!"

Aisha: "Okay fine, although it only take me half an hour. Or an hour..."

16) Comedy, horror or chick flick?

Jenny: "I love chick flicks."

Aisha: "Comedy for the win!"

17) Favourite book?

Jenny: "I have toooooo many!"

Aisha: "This is so hard! I'd probably have to say 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee."

18) How similar are you?

Jenny: "We're similar in some ways but very different in others."

Aisha: "Yeah, I'd have to agree there."

19) What's the strangest thing the other person's ever done?
Jenny: *This answer has been removed in order to save Aisha from public embarrassment* 

Aisha: "I really don't know! You're not really a particularly strange person!"

20) What fictional character reminds you of each other?

Jenny: "Hermione Granger from Harry Potter. Enough said!"

Aisha: "Haha! Dobby, of course!"

Film Review: Home

I may be sixteen, but I still adore a good family movie. Last week I watched a movie called 'Home', which has probably become one of my favourite movies ever. It'll have you from being in floods of tears to fits of giggles in only a matter of seconds!

In a nutshell, the movie basically follows Oh, a clumsy yet lovable alien (voiced by Jim Parsons- Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory!), who's species has taken over Earth in order to hide from the ghastly gorgs. Whilst on the run from his own people, he meets Tip (voiced by Rihanna), a sassy and entertaining character. However, like Oh, she's never really fit in. So, when these two unlikely character's meet, they realise how alike they really are. The movie follows both characters on quests of their own, with laughs, tears and suspense along the way!

As well as being full of bizarre and hilarious moments, the storyline had me crying my eyes out towards the end (you'll know why when you watch it!). As well as having a fantastic storyline, the cast is full of talented, well-known actors; Matt Jones, Jennifer Lopez, Rihanna, and of course the one and only Jim Pearson- what else could you want from a movie? As if it couldn't get any better, the soundtrack is absolutely AMAZING. It features some great artists, like Charlie XCX, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez. Overall, every element of this movie was just perfect!

I literally have to criticism for this film! Unpredictable, entertaining and wonderfully put together; it's sure to take utter control of your emotions!

Let me know what you think!

The Fix Up Team: Aim a Little Higher

Happy Wednesday, guys!

This week, our year group (year eleven) had a visit from a group called 'The Fix Up Team'. I'll be honest with you- after hearing that we were having a motivating speaker come in to school, I was far from excited. I was definitely not prepared for another 'you can do anything you dream of if you simply believe in yourself' speech. However, what we got was totally unexpected.

Rather than a dull, cliche speaker droning on and on about success, Kamal (the speaker) was engaging, funny and genuinely really seemed to understand the stress year elevens were under! He was able to relate to us really well, which made all the difference.

Here are a few of the points I got out of it:

1) Aim Higher
The biggest thing that stood out to me was the idea of aiming higher. I think it's true to say that you're never going to achieve more than what you're aiming for. For example, take two people of equally high academic standards, one of which is aiming for an A* and the other aiming for an E. Though they could both achieve that top grade, the second person wouldn't be motivated to reach it. They'd probably just achieve their E and get on with their life, not considering that if they'd have aimed higher, they could've got that A*. This just shows that aiming higher makes all that difference! Now, don't get me wrong, I'm 100% guilty of not doing this. Take maths, for example. It's my worst subject, and I've pretty much accepted that I'm not gonna get an A. But, this talk made me realise that if I aim higher, I have much more chance of achieving a higher grade. This does mean being a bit harsher on yourself, but at the end of the day, it helps to secure that higher grade.

2) Be willing to sacrifice things in order to achieve 
Do you find it harder to concentrate when you're revising with friends? Are group activities at school more social than educational when you're with friends? For me, I know I'd answer yes to both of those! But, this talk made me realise that education comes first. This might mean moving seats in class in order to concentrate harder and get more done, but after all, it's only for two more months! 

3) It's not too late to start!
I know that when I heard this talk, my immediate response was 'why didn't I get told this four months ago?!'. But, the speaker ended by saying that it's really not too late to start. This may seem as though it's easier said than done, but I found it helpful to hear about the speaker's story, who managed to raise his grades hugely in the final two months. It can be done!

So, I'll end by saying a HUGE thank you to The Fix Up Team; you guys really helped us out!

See you all next week!

21 Quotes To Make You Smile

“If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.” -Winnie-the-Pooh

"You may have weaknesses, but God has strength. You may have sin, but God has grace. You may fail, but God remains faithful." -Jarrid Wilson

“That moment when you finish a book, look around, and realize that everyone is just carrying on with their lives as though you didn't just experience emotional trauma at the hands of a paperback.” -Jamie Craig

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter." -Ansel Adams

"When I'm 80 years old and sitting in my rocking chair, I'll be reading Harry Potter. And my family will say to me, 'After all this time?' And I will say, 'Always.'" -Alan Rickman

“Some people care too much. I think it's called love.” -Winnie-the-Pooh

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you" -Psalm 55:22

“Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!” -Bilbo Baggins

"I walk. I look. I see. I stop. I photograph." -Leon Levinstein

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living, it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope. Which is what I do, and that enables you to laugh at life's realities." -Dr Seuss

“There is something beautiful about a billion stars held steady by a God who knows what He is doing. They hang there, the stars, like notes on a page of music, free-form verse, silent mysteries swirling in the blue like jazz. And as I lay there, it occurred to me that God is up there somewhere. Of course, I had always known He was, but this time I felt it, I realized it, the way a person realizes they are hungry or thirsty. The knowledge of God seeped out of my brain and into my heart. I imagined Him looking down on this earth, half angry because His beloved mankind had cheated on Him, had committed adultery, and yet hopelessly in love with her, drunk with love for her.” -Donald Miller

"I like coffee because it gives me the illusion that I might be awake." -Lewis Black

"My soul is painted like the wings of butterflies, fairy tales of yesterday will grow but never die. I can fly my friends" -Queen

“There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask "What if I fall?"
Oh but my darling,
What if you fly?” -Erin Hanson

"You're mad. Bonkers. Off your head...But I'll tell you a secret...All the best people are." -Alice in Wonderland

"...but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

"Some people are worth melting for" -Olaf

“Logic will get you from A to Z; imagination will get you everywhere.” -Albert Einstein

"As far as east in from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us" -Psalm 103:12

"You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me." -C.S Lewis

"Let it be." -The Beatles