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?