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

Healthy Yet Delicious Breakfast Muffins!

Hey guys!

Here's a little recipe I put together; it's healthy, simple and incredibly yummy! I find they're great for a breakfast treat, or just snacking throughout the day!

Ingredients:

• 150g self-raising flour
• 200g porridge oats
• 1tsp nutmeg
• 100g brown sugar
• 2 medium free-range eggs
• 250ml milk
• 2tbsp sunflower oil
• 2 medium bananas, mashed
• a handful of blueberries (or any other ingredients)

1. Combine your flour, oats, sugar and nutmeg.
2. In a separate bowl, lightly whisk your eggs and add your milk and oil.
3. Pour your wet ingredients into your dry mixture and fold it together.
4. Stir in your mashed banana and blueberries (or any other ingredients you choose).
5. Turn your oven onto 180C (to avoid wasting energy by pre-heating it at the beginning).
6. Lay out 12 muffin cases in a muffin tray and separate your mixture into them evenly.
7. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
8. Leave them to cool.
9. Enjoy!

The Biology Lesson That Opened My Eyes

Hey guys! I hope you're all having a fab week so far.

This week's been different, to say the least! On Monday, I had a Biology lesson which really opened my eyes.

The lesson was on deforestation and the negative impacts it has on the environment, for example the destruction of natural habitats and preventing biodiversity. This really hit me, like, REALLY hit me. Some of the videos we saw during the lesson of trucks and diggers demolishing forests was just heart-breaking. Did you know that 200,000 acres of woodland is burned each day for human needs? It's even estimated that in 100 years time, there'll be no rainforests left. Just think of the animals being forced to find new homes, the tribes that are being made to flee. As well is this, a decrease in the amount of photosynthesis means an increase in global warming.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to guilt trip you into chaining yourselves to trees to fight against deforestation. There are numerous advantages to the process, for example creating more land for farming. I just wanted you to give you some context!

After this lesson, I was suddenly really motivated to do more to fight deforestation and help the environment. By this, I literally mean that I went around school all day telling everyone I spoke to to 'save the trees'. As you can probably imagine, people thought I was pretty mental. But, at the end of the day, it became a very important issue for me.

When I got home I started researching ways to help save the environment. Immediately, vegetarianism jumped right out at me. So, I got thinking, why not? As a Christian, I feel responsible to look after the beautiful world that God has created. Therefore, vegetarianism seemed like a logical place to start.

Some of the points that made me think were:

• 18% of the Earth's greenhouse gases are produced by the process of farming animals for food
• Land used to farm animals for their meat take up 30% of the Earth's land
• 70% of grain grown in the US alone is used to plump up animals for our food- think of how many humans this could feed.
• vegetarianism is a really healthy lifestyle to live!

So, after reading up on it, I decided to become a vegetarian!

Thanks for reading. I hope this challenges you to consider how we can can help the environment in our everyday lives.

See you next week!

20 Things I Miss About Being a Kid

Happy Wednesday, everyone! This post was really fun to write, and brought back so many memories! And yes, I know you're probably thinking 'Dude, you're 16, you're practically still a kid.', but I mean more like pre-secondary school -ish!

1. Making shapes out of the clouds
2. Walking down the street with your CD walkman like an absolute boss
3. Dressing up in your mum's clothes and high heels
4. Making up dances and performing them in front the crazy crowd consisting of your mum, your dad and your dog
5. Getting excited because your birthday is only 364 days away
6. Drawing pictures and sitting outside the front of your house with a plastic play till attempting to sell your works of art to passers-by
7. Playing in the street with your friends all afternoon and then getting called in for tea #thenostaliaisreal
8. Worrying that your eyes are really going to turn square shaped from watching too much TV
9. Believing that if you bit the top off of a cola bottle sweet you could suck real coca cola out of it
10. Creating a code with the kids next door that consisted of banging on the wall really loudly a certain amount of times
11. Grieving the kids who failed Raven
12. Shouting to your parents downstairs once you'd gone to bed to make sure they were still there and hadn't been abducted by flying space rhinos
13. Trying with all your might to get to sleep before 8pm to avoid a visit from Wee-Willie-Winkie
14. Believing that the sooner you get to sleep the sooner you wake up
15. The biggest responsibility in your life was feeding your Tamagotchi
16. 6am raves to High Five every morning on Cbeebies
17. Scented highlighters were your life
18. Strolling on into Blockbuster and hiring your fave movies on VHS
19. A minute of appreciation for the Gameboy...
20. Buying dolls and being disappointed because they never did half of the things they advertised

Hope you enjoyed the post! Have a fab week! 

My Half-Term in Pictures!

Happy Wednesday, everyone!
Those of you who are still in school, I hope you had a fab half-term!
I thought I'd tell you guys about what I got up to over my break!

As expected, I did a lot of baking over the week- and when I say a lot, I mean a lot! My mum asked me to help her out with her university project, which involved baking a load of food, photographing it, and then eating it (of course). It took hours, and hours, and hours...but was really fun! Photography and baking are two of my favourite things to do, so that was time well spent!

A beautiful walk home from work

I also had my first shift at Cancer Research, which was great! I'm incredibly passionate about the charity, so I'm really glad to have the chance to be a part of what they do.




For a majority of the break, I was babysitting for a couple of my younger sisters. This meant trips to the park, visits to the cinema to see things like The Peppa Pig Movie (which was unbelievably lengthy...), and endless games of dolls houses. Nevertheless, it was great fun and I love those girls to bits!

On the Thursday, my mum, two of my sisters and I had a day out in London! It has to be one of my favourite places in the UK; the bustling streets, the endless rows of shops, the unique characters- all of it!

We got the coach there, which meant an early start! Once we'd arrived, we hopped on the underground (avoiding the classic Paddington Bear moment where he gets trapped by the barriers, which yes, has happened to me not long ago...) and arrived at Southbank!

First we got lunch (of course) from the Southbank centre cafe- butternut squash and feta salad and a chocolate cupcake; delicious! My mum had a lemon and thyme cupcake which, after hesitation, I tried and really liked! 




We then watched 'Charlie and Lola's Bestest Best Ever Play' at the Southbank Centre, which was incredibly cute and thoroughly entertaining! I'm a huge Lauren Child fan, so it was so much fun to see one of my favourite childhood stories made into a play!

We then had a quick walk around the comic festival at the Southbank, and of course couldn't leave without buying a few books!

Afterwards, we made our way to the London Eye. I hadn't been on it for a few years, so was really excited (scared, yes, but excited!). With my camera at hand and a packet of chocolate buttons, I was ready for the ride! It took about half an hour in total, and we had such a breathtaking view of London! When we got off, we headed home after an exhausting yet thoroughly enjoyable day. Here are a few more shots from the London Eye and of the gorgeous streets of London:

The next day, some friends and I had lunch at Pizza Express; I had half a pesto pizza, and half a goat's cheese and red onion pizza (my friend and I were stuck between the two, so had half each!). We then visited a modern art museum, which I had never been in before. It had a great exhibition on, and some of the pieces there were just breathtaking! We then did a spot of shopping (of course), before heading home.

Enjoying my last Starbucks before Lent!

On the Saturday, I met up with a friend from church, and we had a coffee and a catch up before heading to hers for lunch. Such a great day!

And there we go! You may have noticed that my week involved absolutely zero revision...terrible, right? That was my last revision-free week before exams; from now on, its full on work!

Thanks for reading! Have a great week!

Crazy Not-To-Be-Missed Holidays and Celebrations!

I'm one of those strange people who keeps up to date with crazy holidays and celebrations throughout the year (for example, Happy Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day)! Like, honestly, I feel sorry for some of my friends that receive random messages in the year with me telling them it's 'Chocolate Mousse Day'! So, I thought I'd update you guys on some of my favourite, not-to-be-missed celebrations!
Here's a list of my favourite day (or two) of each month:

January 22nd- Answer Your Cat's Questions Day
Let your curiosity get the better of you, and spend a day trying to figure out what your cat is trying to tell you! Whether or not you'll actually achieve anything, I don't know; it could be a total waste of your life. But, anyhow...give it a go!


February 17th- Random Acts of Kindness Day
Go kindness crazy! Give out flowers, randomly smile at strangers and make it your challenge to compliment everyone you see!

March 9th- False Teeth Day
Celebrate false teeth; where would we be without them? 



April 5th- Read a Road Map Day
Exactly what it says on the tin; ditch the GPS and appreciate good old road maps!

May 9th- Lost Sock Memorial Day
This is an emotional one, guys...
I feel like this could've perhaps been invented by Dobby! I could be wrong, but...

June 15th- Smile Power Day
Here's your challenge: don't stop smiling!

July:
13th- Embrace Your Geekness Day
Do exactly that- embrace your geekness! Throw a geek party, dress up, play Dungeons and Dragons; don't be afraid!
The Second Friday of July- Cow Appreciation Day
Eat ice-cream, dress up in cow print and appreciate cows!





August 9th- Book Lovers Day
Take this as a great excuse to sit back with a good book and read for the day!





September:
The Second Friday of September- Stand Up to Cancer Day
If we unite, we will beat cancer sooner.
29th September- International Coffee Day
I literally love coffee. I don't think anything else needs to be said on the matter...

August 4th- Taco Day
Time to appreciate the best food on Earth!

November 22nd- Go For A Ride Day
Get out of the house and see the world! Or just your street, at least...

December 8th- Pretend To Be A Time Traveller Day
Do exactly that! Go all out with a costume, and spend the day acting confused about what year it is, sneering at modern technology and confusing strangers with your craziness!

I hope you've enjoyed finding out about these weird and wacky days as much as I did!
See you soon!

Five Things I'm Looking Forward To for the Year Ahead!

Happy Wednesday!

Now, I know we're already well into the year (February, how crazy is that?!), but I wanted to post about some of the things I'm looking forward to this year!

1) Go Set a Watchman

As you might know, To Kill a Mockingbird is my all-time favourite novel EVER, so when I heard about the sequel that's coming out in July, I literally died! I can't explain how excited I am! I preordered mine yesterday to arrive on the release date. Yes, I'm aware it comes out in July. Yes, I'm aware that's in five month time. Let's not dwell on how sad I am...

2) Goodbye GCSEs, Hello A-Levels!

For me, 2015 means exams, and lots of them (nineteen, nearly half of which are sciences!). However, finishing GCSEs is an incredibly exciting prospect, as I'm really, really looking forward to sixth form! Being able to study four subjects that I'm really passionate about is going to be great! Stressful, yes, but still exciting! I'm hoping to study Physics, Philosophy and Ethics and English Literature and the Extended Project, all of which sounds super fun!

3) Moving House

My family and I are moving in the late Spring, which I'm really looking forward to! The new house is in a really cute area, where pretty much everyone knows each other! In all honesty, it slightly reminds me of Emmerdale...

Also, a new house means a new bedroom and a whole lot of decorating! For my fellow decor and homeware geeks, I'll be sure to keep you updated on it; watch this space...

4) Summer!

Yes, I love winter, but the thought of summer has me completely buzzing! Warm weather, holidays, fun with friends and family; I'm just so excited! Our family holiday this year is to the gorgeous island of Mallorca, where we went a couple of years ago, immediately falling in love with the beautiful scenery, amazing food and lovely people. Mallorca is also the place where I started reading Harry Potter for the first time; oh, the memories! Don't get me started...

I usually go on a Christian camp each summer, too, which is always the absolute highlight of my break! However, the time has come when I'm too old for the one I usually go to; sad times!

5) Learning to Drive

Guys, watch out, as come November, I can learn to drive! I'm not gonna lie, I'm slightly nervous, but still really looking forward to it! Really, though, I'd stay safe inside and keep clear of the roads if I were you, as I'm really not sure how driving's gonna go for me...

Comic Relief: What They Do and How to Get Involved!

Hey guys!

This week I'm going to talk about something really important, not just for me, but for you too. As you may know, Red Nose Day is coming up on the 13th March.  This is a day when, across the UK, people wear red noses and get sponsored to do crazy and comical things, for example sponsored silences, danceathons and fancy dress! These things can be super fun, but more importantly, it's a chance to raise money for a truly fantastic cause.

Comic Relief is a charity that specialises in tackling poverty and social injustice across the world. To do this, they hold two main events: Red Nose Day and Sport Relief. However, as well as raising millions of pounds each year, these events also help raise awareness of issues that need addressing throughout the world. Examples from recent years are rights for the disabled, the importance of education for young people, and tackling widespread diseases such as Malaria and HIV. 

But, for these things to happen, they need help from you and I!
By raising money, a real difference can be made.

Here are ten fun and effective ideas for getting involved and raising money:

1) Buy a red nose!

2) Organise fancy dress

3) Hold your own Great British Bake Off

4) Sponsored Silence

5) Host a Red Nose Day quiz

6) Host a talent show

8) Car washing/dog walking

9) Give something up e.g. chocolate

10) Sports challenges

Don't forget to donate the money you've made to Comic Relief.

Leave your fundraising ideas in the comments!

Photography Tips: Aperture, Shutter Speed and ISO

Happy Wednesday!
This week I thought I'd do a photography-themed post on some of the main photography jargon: aperture, shutter-speed and ISO. With these three things, you can produce some amazing photographs. After you've read this, why not go out and experiment with your camera?

Aperture

The amount of light let through a hole within the lens which travels into the camera body. It also controls the depth of field, which is the proportion of the photograph that is in focus.

Low aperture

High aperture

Light is a key element in a photograph, and luckily, the amount you let in is easily controllable using aperture. It's measured in f-stops, and every time the f-stop value halves, the amount of light let in it quadrupled. This means that the lower the f-stop value, the more light is let it. Aperture ranges from f/1.0 to anything around f/32.
Also, using aperture, you can control how much of your photograph is in focus (depth of field); the lower the f-stop value, the lower the proportion of the photo that is in focus.

Shutter Speed

The length of time the camera shutter is open to expose the camera sensor to light coming through the lens.

Fast shutter speed

Shutter speed is probably the most straightforward concept of the three; the faster the shutter speed, the less time the sensor is exposed to light, and therefore the sharper your image. It's measured simply in seconds, and ranges from as fast as 1/4000 seconds to 30+ seconds.
Your desired shutter speed depends on the kind of shot you're going for. For a more sharp, crisp shot, for example of sport of wildlife, you'll require a fast shutter speed to avoid blur. However, a slight blur is sometimes a desired effect by photographers; you may have seen the classic shots of cars zooming through New York at night, leaving a long, dazzling stream of red and yellow lights. It all depends on what type of photograph you're going for!

High ISO

ISO

The camera's level of sensitivity to available light.
Unlike aperture and shutter speed, you generally want the smallest ISO possible, as a higher ISO dramatically increases image noise (causing a grainy look, which is sometimes desired). Therefore, the ISO is really only increased if your required aperture and shutter speed aren't obtainable otherwise. Generally, ISO ranges from 100-800.



How do they work together?
To produce the best image possible, aperture, shutter speed and ISO need to work together. Imagine this- it's a bright, sunny day, so you use a hight aperture (a smaller hole for the light to get through) in order to block of some of the light. This means that the camera sensor needs longer to collect the light, so  a higher shutter speed is essential. Alternatively, if you've got a low aperture (a larger hole for the light to get through), a lot of light is hitting the sensor, so you'd need a lot shorted time for the image to become properly exposed. 

Putting it into practice:
Landscape: high aperture, slow shutter speed
Portrait: low aperture, fast shutter speed
Macro: low aperture, fast shutter speed, higher ISO
Action: low aperture, fast shutter speed
Panning (sharp subject in front of blurred background that show movement): slow shutter speed of around 1/20 to 1/60 and follow subject with focal point

Thanks for reading! Now, what are you waiting for? Grab your camera!

Books for 2015

Hey, guys!

Can we all just take a minute to appreciate the fact that it's only 337 days 'til Christmas?!

Nope...okay then...

For this week's post, I thought I'd give you a list of some of my favourite books that could probably last you the rest of the year! I absolutely love books, like literally, I probably read too much, if that's possible... 

I thought I'd give you a book for each genre; check them out!

Classic: To Kill a Mockingbird
Author: Harper Lee
Summary: To Kill a Mockingbird is a beautifully written and moving novel set during the Great Depression, following Scout Finch as her father, a lawyer, defends an innocent black man accused of raping a white woman. In this work of pure genius, Lee explores the themes of racial equality, love and a determination for freedom, all through a young girl's eyes.
Rating out of 10: 10

Historical Fiction: The Kite Runner (for older readers)
Author: Khaled Hosseini
Summary: Set in Afghanistan, 1975, Hosseini tells the tragically moving story of Amir Khan, a man with a secret. With this secret comes guilt, grief and a burning desire to fix what he did. However, when an opportunity comes for him to do this, it brings with it a mystifying journey filled with tears, joy and suspense. An utterly amazing read, written by a true literary genius.
Rating out of 10: 9

Mystery: The Parter
Author: John Grisham
Summary: This thrilling novel follows Patrick Lanigan, a supposedly dead man suspected of stealing a large sum of money- after he died. As the case is uncovered, the story of what really happened is revealed. Shocking, humorous and fantastically written; this definitely has my recommendation!
Rating out of 10: 8

Romance: The Last Song
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Summary: Love, loss, heartbreak and joy; this magnificent story will stay with you forever. In this novel, Sparks tells the story of Ronnie, a teenage girl whose life has been turned upside down after moving halfway across the country to live with her father. We follow her as she fixes her long-broken relationship with her father, rediscovers her passion for music and, inevitably, falls in love. However, weaved within the novel are lies, tragedies and heartbreak. A beautifully written and unforgettable novel.
Rating out of 10: 7

Screenplay: An Inspector Calls
Author: J.B Priestly
Summary: All is well in the Birling household- until the inspector arrives. A young girl has commit suicide, and it seems that every member of the Birling family has a connection to her death. As the mystery is uncovered, Priestly wonderfully explores the themes of social change, generational division, responsibility and class.
Rating out of 10: 9

Thanks for reading! Please let me know in the comments if you've read/enjoyed any of these books, or if you have any good book recommendations!

Seven Steps to a Super Winter!

Christmas may be over, and the January blues may be lingering; but it's still winter! This has to be one of my favourite times of the year for some many reasons; the gorgeous frosty scenery, warm jumpers and, of course, an excuse to drink excessive amounts of coffee to keep warm! So, I thought I'd share with you guys some of my favourite things to do in the winter!

1) Take tons of wintery photographs!
As I've probably mentioned a ridiculous amount of times, I adore photography, and winter has to be one of the best times of the year to take photos! So, take some time to go for a walk with your camera, whether it's cloudy, frosty, or snowing; it's worth it!





2) Start a scrapbook
Winter means cold days, which means staying indoors, which means lots and lots of time to fill! So, a perfect way to make the most of it is to start a scrapbook! This could be of photographs you've taken, recipes you love, fun days out you've had; there's so much to choose from!

3) Take up an indoor sport or activity

If you're anything like me, the cold weather is enough to put you off going for a run or playing any outdoor sports. But hey, there are tons of fun sports that can be done inside, like badminton, swimming, trampolining, the list goes on! Or, if you're not the sporty type, try a new hobby, like knitting, DIY, or anything you find interesting! For a fun DIY project, try this one!



4) Bake, cook, and bake some more!
I love baking, and there are so many great recipes that are perfect for this time of the year. You could try a wintery soup, or my faves- apple and cinnamon muffins!

5) Movie and pizza nights
These are so much fun! Just invite some friends over, order pizza and watch your favourite movies! This is great fun, super chilled out, and a perfect way to stay out of the cold...

6) Read a good book!
Winter is a great time to grab a book and spend some time curled up on the sofa reading! I'm thinking of posting a 2015 book list kind of thing, so stay tuned!








7) Start planning for summer!
Okay, this may seem a little premature, but the best way to get rid of the January blues is to look ahead to summer! Maybe plan some fun outings with friends; there's nothing wrong with being a little too organised!

The Liebster Award!

Happy New Year, guys!

As you've probably realised, my blog now looks incredibly different! I thought it needed a bit of a makeover, but I ended up completely changing it up! I’m still not too sure about it, so I’d love to know if you guys prefer it like this, or how it was before. (please let me know in the comments!)

So, last week I got a really lovely surprise; I was nominated for the Liebster Award! I'm not going to lie, at first I had completely no idea what it was! So, after taking to Google, I found that it's basically an award to celebrate smaller blogs (under 200 followers) and to get to know other bloggers that are into the same kind of things as you!

A huge thank you to Gee for the nomination! Check out her amazing blog here.

To accept the award, you must upload a blog post including:
1) a link to your nominator
2) the answers to the questions given to you by your nominator
3) nominate 11 other bloggers with less than 200 followers
4) write 11 questions for your nominees to answer
5) notify all nominees via social media or their blog

So, here it goes!

1) What are your favourite things to blog about?
I'm a huge photography fanatic (hence all of the random pictures on my blog background!), so a lot of my post are focused on photography! I also love posting about places I've been to, recipes, reviews and tags.

2) How long have you blogged for?
I began my first blog (which I tend not to talk about much and is well and truly deleted off of the face of the internet!) in early 2014, but I started afresh around three months ago.

3) What are your hobbies?
-photography
-reading
-creative writing
-music
-running
-baking/cooking
-hanging out with friends
-making up terrible puns that just aren't really all that funny

4) Why did you choose your blog name?
I chose my blog name (LoveLife) because my blog is literally just showing you the reasons to, well, love life and be happy! I wanted to create a place where people could come and read about fun, positive things that make people happy.

5) Who inspires you?
Now that's an easy one. I may get deep here, so just bear with me...
My has always been someone I can look to for help in pretty much any situation! She's bright, caring, and makes countless sacrifices for those she loves. She's such a blessing in life, and I honestly can't thank God enough for giving me such an amazing, loving mum.

6) Who's your style inspiration?
Okay, now thats tricky. I don't really have a particular style, at least I don't think I do! I just, well, wear stuff. That's about it, really.

7) Where is your favourite place to be?
America has to be my favourite place on Earth! From the busy, buzzing city streets to the gorgeous, serene lakes, I just love every inch of it (not that I've visited the entire country...)
I just love the breathtaking beauty of the country, and the kindness of all the people in it!

8) Where would you like to visit?
In my gap year, I'd love to travel; just me and my camera!
I'll hopefully be travelling America, stopping at New Jersey, New York, Florida, Texas, Arizona and Chicago.

However, I'd also one day love to visit Thailand; I've heard it's one of the most beautiful countries in the world, with fantastic food, gorgeous scenery and a wonderful culture.

9) What's your favourite film and song?
This isn't going to be easy just to pick one, but I'll give it a go! Beside the obvious Disney movies, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the list goes on (sorry, this is probably cheating)...I guess it'd have to be The Cat in The Hat. Honestly, a couple of years a go, I spent my entire summer watching it every evening. And I mean every evening! It's hilarious, wacky and frankly just one of the greatest movies around- give it a watch if you haven't!
Hmm...my favourite song...again, this is going to tricky! I kind of go through phases, and when I like a song, I'll literally have it on repeat for the next week! Recent examples are U2's newest album 'Songs of Innocence', 'The Heat of the Moment' by Noel Gallager and the High Flying Birds, Taylor Swift's 'Blank Space'; the list goes on! My fave song of the moment has to be 'Oceans' by Hillsong- check it out! Amazing lyrics!

10) What are your five favourite blogs?
-Looking Through Pixels
-Shenanigans Central
-Bored Panda
-Jim Chapman
-Everyday Reading

11) Why do you enjoy blogging?
I honestly love blogging so much for so many reasons, but the main one would have to be that I just love being part of the blogging community; this means writing for you guys, as well as reading blogs too. I just love having somewhere where I can just put a bunch of things that I love, and that you can enjoy!

My nominations:
http://theshenaniganscentral.blogspot.co.uk
http://miabartonhogan.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.1stplacevb.com/blog/index.php
http://juicywoocybeauty.blogspot.ie
http://shedoesfashion.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.jessicaarr.blogspot.co.uk
http://rachelhow-arth-you.blogspot.com
http://www.millie-loves.blogspot.co.uk
http://www.shewearsseashells.co.uk
http://lattesnlips.blogspot.co.uk
http://booquepress.com

My questions:
1) What do you blog about?
2) What's the best thing about blogging?
3) What advice would you give to new bloggers?
4) What are your hobbies?
5) If you were shipwrecked on an island and could only take three things, what would they be and why?
6) If you could visit anywhere, where would you go?
7) What's your favourite song?
8) What's your favourite movie?
9) What's the strangest food you've ever eaten?
10) If you could visit any fictional world, where would you choose and why?
11) What are your five favourite blogs?