50 Reasons to Smile

Hey everyone!

On this cold, miserable, rainy day in England, I only thought it was right to do a blog post of 50 reasons to smile. Not only smile but to stay positive. Many of you may be starting school, starting, college, Uni or just returning to school. Me? I'm starting college and I feel that you may need a spark of encouragement and a cup of positivity to get you back into the spirit of school. So, without further ado here are my 50 reasons to smile.

Note: I got this idea from Sophie. Thank you for letting me to my own version :)

1) The moment when you first get into freshly washed sheets.

2) The sound of rain on my window.

3) Going on long walks in the countryside.

4) Netflix days.

5) The  feeling when you take your hair down after having it in a ponytail all day.

6) Late night chats with a friend.

7) Talking about something you love.

8) A nice, warm hot chocolate topped with marshmallows and whipped cream, on a cold Winter's day.

9) Decoding lyrics to a song and finding the true meaning.

10) Finding new music and listening to it on repeat.

11) Reading a good book.

12) Buying little things for my room.

13) Buying new clothes.

14) Bookshops.

15) Relating to a quote or song instantly.

16) Scented candles.

17) Buying new stationary.

18) Making someone smile.

19) Having a nice chat with a complete stranger.

20) Autumnal clothing.

21) Baking

22) Stumbling across cute little shops 

23) The Great British Bake Off.

24) Disney films.

25) Everything Christmas.

26) Cuddles with my cat.

27) Collages filled with photos of my friends and family.

28) Printing off photos.

29) Looking through old photos.

30) Reuniting with someone I haven't seen in ages.

31) The smell of freshly made bread.

32) Boxing

33) Freshly shaven legs.

34) Making someone laugh.

35) Film nights with the family.

36) Lists

37) Giving myself a challenge and meeting my goal.

38) Receiving a warm, lovely, friendly or caring hug when I'm feeling down.

39) Writing a letter.

40) Spending hours on YouTube, watching videos of your favorite You Tubers or finding new ones.

41) Making new memories.

42) Random acts of kindness from strangers.

43) My favorite song coming on the radio.

44) Receiving praise for something I've worked hard on.

45) Wrapping gifts/presents.

46) Exploring new places.

47) Watching The Sound of Music and singing along with it.

48) The smell of books.

49) Babies.

50) Blogging :)

So, there are my 50 things that make me smile. Be sure to comment below what makes you smile, I would love to know.

Emily xx

50 Facts About Me

So...I know I have done a blog post similar to this a while ago which was named '100 Facts About Me' (while I failed at). As this blog post was published a while ago, I feel I may have got some new viewers who may have not seen that previous blog post, they may not know as much about me as my earlier viewers do. So, I have decided to do a 50 Facts About Me video so you can all get to know me know closely. Note: Some of the facts may be new or have changed compared to my last 'Facts About Me' post so most of you will probably not no at least 5 of these probably (maybe more).

1) My full name is Emily Mae Holland.

2) My birthday is on May 20th 1999.

3) My favorite TV shows are Pretty Little Liars, Supernatural, Coronation Street and The Only Way Is Essex (TOWIE).

4) I honestly cannot go anywhere without my iPhone.

5) I cry very easily, meaning I cry at TV shows, movies, books, even seeing someone else crying makes me cry but for some reason I am unable to force myself to cry.

6) When I was 7 years old my house got struck by lightning and I appeared on the news and the radio etc.

7) I honestly adore the Irish accent, I think it's so sexy, haha. Sometimes I even wish I was Irish.

8) Even though I am only 16 I have a list of my favorite girls and boys names for when I have a child or children in the future.

9) Following on from the previous fact, my favorite boys names are Noah, Ezra and Caleb and my favorite girls names are Aria, Lydia Liesl, Madeleine, Madison and Talia.

10) I absolutely adore musicals, my favorites include The Sound Of Music, Les Miserables, Wicked, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and more.

11) If I could have one superpower it would be to be able to read peoples minds.

12) I have many, many fears/phobias but my main ones are spiders, small/enclosed spaces / being locked or trapped in a room, dolls, death, lifts/elevators and thunder and lightning (linked to fact 7).

13)  I have never been to a funeral.

14) When I was younger I had to go to a speech doctor as I could not pronounce words with a C or K in it, I used to pronounce these words with a T, for example, my brother is called Luke and I used to call him Lute.

15) Tango Ice Blasts are the best things about going to the cinema.

16) I suffer from anxiety, in school this make me very vulnerable and makes people think they can say whatever they want to me, as I don't talk much because I am shy, even around my friends. Honestly, I hate it and I wish I don't have to live this way but when people think they can say whatever they want to me because they know I won't fight back, I just bottle up my anger and it makes my anxiety worse.

17) You can often find me reading a book of some sort.

18) I pretty live in comfy PJ bottoms or jogger bottoms. If I don't need to be anywhere I don't see why I have to get dressed.

19) Afterlife and death terrify me.

20) I have no allergies.

21) My favorite school subjects are English and Art.

22) I would much rather be too cold than too hot.

23) Whenever it's Friday the 13th I am always superstitious and paranoid that something bad will happen.

24) I am incredibly indecisive.

25) I absolutely despise mushrooms.

26) My favorite sports are Boxing, Swimming and Badminton.

27) I suffer from exzema, if you didn't know it's when you skin is really dry, red, patchy and sometimes itchy. I'm lucky that I only have it on my hands but recently a little on my face too.

28) My favorite color is Teal.

29) I play no instruments, but I would absolutely love to learn to play piano. It would be a dream to play River Flows In You on piano. 

30) I did karate for a year and a half.

31) I hate tea and coffee.

32) I have a very wide music taste. Meaning I like a lot of different genres, such as Pop, Rock, Rap, Country, Classical, Opera and I love musicals but I guess that's not really a genre.  

33) My favorite time of year is Christmas. I just really get into it, the music, decorations, family time, just everything.

34) I was born in Portsmouth.

35) I love making lists, which means I always have a notebook on me.

36) I am always singing, even though I am not the best singer.

37) Whenever I am really nervous, my hands shake, or I tap, I talk a lot and really fast.

38) I am terrified of public speaking, even just talking to like 5 people I will go bright red and it's horrible.

39) I only really drink water, I usually drink about 3 liters a day.

40) My favorite breakfast is always Greek yogurt and fruit (usually with strawberries and raspberries.

41) I love the feeling of being scared when watching horror films.

42) But during horror films I always predict what going to happen (as most horror films are very predictable, which is annoying).

43) I always listen to music when reading a book and a lot of people find that weird.

44) I love Photography and I really wish I took it as a GCSE.

45) I have always grown up with cats but when I'm older I really want a pug.

46) I hate to say it but I am more of a morning person than a night owl.

47) I have been wearing contact lenses since I was 11 years old.

48) When I'm home I always have to be wearing a pair of fluffy socks as my feet are always cold.

49) I have a massive girl crushes on Ruby Rose, Shay Mitchell, Janel Parrish and Ashley Benson

50) I love baking but I honestly cannot cook at all.

There we go, I actually completed the 50 Facts About Me. I hope this allowed you to get to know me a lot better. I would love to get to know my viewers more so, feel free to leave facts about you in the comments.

Hope you enjoyed it.

Emily xx

Hello May

Well...I failed my last blog challenge I set myself. I now know not to promise anything on my blog as I probably will not stick to it...sorry.

Anyway, today is May 1st. This year is going so fast already I can't keep up. Right now, as I am writing this it is dark, miserable and wet outside, I thought May was for warmth and pretty flowers, it supposed to be Spring but obviously it isn't. May is going to be scary. I have a few big things going on. The main one on May 12th I start my exams...yes the exams that pretty much determine how your whole life is going to turn out and yes I am terrified. Technically, my exams have already started because on Monday and Tuesday I had a 10 hour art exam. But that was done in the classroom so, May 12 is when my proper exams that take place in the hall start. This is the reason I have been behind on my blog, basically revising and working on my art book the whole time ( art in school takes up a lot of your time if you didn't know). Once all these exams are over I have an 11 week Summer and a 2 week family holiday to Florida to look forward to. Anyway, this year May is also the month I turn 16, yes 16, when I am finally legal and finally becoming an adult. I'm not too sure if I'm doing anything for my birthday on the 20th but I will have to see.

This whole year is a big one for me. Turning 16, stress, revising, exams, holiday and at the of it all...college. I am truly terrified. What if I get lost? What if I get on the wrong bus? What if I hate my teachers, classes? All these questions flooding my mine. Everyone keeps saying to me you'll be fine, but I won't. They're just trying to make me feel better, the first day of college is always daunting for everyone, you cannot lie, I know it is, you cannot tell me it isn't. 

What is your May looking like?

Got anything scary happening in your life?

Let me know in the comments.

Emily xx

Things That Annoy Me

Okay...it's safe to stay that I haven't done a blog post in quite a while. I apologize for that. But now I'm back, lets get straight back into the swing of things. Since I have been gone for quite a while I am going to attempt to write a post every week day for only this week. I know I do these sort of 'getting to know me' posts quite a lot. But I feel that some of the things I write about can help out a lot of people, for example my anxiety and bullying blog posts a while ago.

Now, get ready for this week because some of them may be quite deep...

Anyway, lets start of easy, something you can relate to, something we have at least one of...

Little specific things that annoy me...

1) People who boast. Boast meaning when someone talk excessively about their achievements, possessions or abilities. Rubbing it in someones face that your better than them making them feel down about themselves. Just no need for it.

2) When someone interrupts me or ignores me when I'm talking. If I'm talking it's because I have something to tell, I want people to listen. I just feel interrupting someone is just plain rude. This happens to me a lot of the time as I am very shy, when I'm talking other people don't hear me, ignore me or interrupt me because I'm not loud enough.

3) People chewing with their mouth open. I know that this is something a lot of people hate. When your eating you don't want to see the food that the other person just consumed being chewed up in their mouth, also that horrible chamming noise that comes with this. Just rude and disgusting honestly.

4) Attention seekers. I'm at school still so I see a lot of this. Girls that play dumb just to get boys attention, wearing crop tops, short tight shorts that basically expose their arse cheek, people who pretend to be funny or pretend to be someone else just so people like them, making out that they are amazing, have a massive house, loads of money, spoilt rotten to get people to think they are perfect. I experience others doing this daily at school.

5) Racists, homophobes and just ignorant people should not exist. Just horrible, cannot stand these sorts of people.

6) When you have an itch that you can't reach 

7) When people tell me what to do/boss me around like I'm some 5 year old kid

8) The sun, heat, sweat, can't cool down, feeling stick because of sweat, being burnt. Hate it. Summer is probably my worst season (sorry to Summer lovers out there but it's just not for me)

9) People leaving my door open 

10) When people talk about me behind my back and I know but they can't admit it if I confront them about it

11) When someone stares, whether it's someone staring at me, leading to awkward eye contact and you don't know where to look or whether I'm with someone and they star are someone or something else

12) Just generally I annoy myself. My shyness especially. This causes me to feel socially awkward when I'm with a group or friends, I don't want to say the wrong thing, I don't want them to laugh at or judge me. It makes me feel invisible. My anxiety I hate, also makes this situation much worse, anxiety can spring on at any time.

Okay, 12 things that annoy me. Leave in the comments the top 3 things that annoy you. Do you agree with any of mine? 

Leave it in the comments

Emily xx

2014 Flashback

Today, marks the last day of 2014!

Wow, 2014 what a year!

It's only when you sit down and truly think whether the past year was the best or worst year of your life. For me, it's both. It may be hard to think how a year can be the best and worst year of your life, but it truly was. 2014 defiantly had it's ups and downs, but I won't bore you with going through my year month by month. I have chosen to just pick out my highlights.

Firstly, lets start off with Alton Towers. At the beginning of April my family and I chose to go on a family day out at Alton Towers. I feel this was such an enjoyable day filled with laughs and lots of roller coasters. It may not sound like that much to you but it was probably the best family day out that I have had in a long time and I'm glad that I can now say that I have been on The Smiler. 

And you can find out more about that day here

By far, the biggest highlight of 2014 was my cousin Michelle's wedding. This happened on the 4th of May and the wedding took place at the Marwell Hotel. I had the amazing honour of being one of her bridesmaids  The day was filled with giggles, glam, champagne, tears and smiles but the night on the other hand was a completely different story. It was filled with loud music, dancing, food, vodka, more champagne and more laughs. It was truly a night to remember. My biggest highlight of the night was seeing my 17 year old drunk brother on the dance floor, dancing all over the place and coming out with hilarious one-liners. I think the wedding was truly a highlight of 2014 for everyone in my family

And you can see pictures of this highlight here

Those were probably my two main highlights of the year, I know not much. But now as you know not every year is perfect. I did have some tough spots within the year...

Firstly, my anxiety. As you know from a few blog posts I suffer from anxiety and yes, this year was very tough. I struggled massively from anxiety and panic attacks this year from exams, to speaking in front of the class, to feeling anxious just sat on my bed or walking to school. I had panic attacks from a lot of different things. I have realized that it is getting worse.  But this year I opened up a bit about it. Firstly, my friend Hannah, she told me that she had her first panic attack this year and that's when I chose to open up too and now whenever she feels anxious or has had a panic attack recently she talks to me in science class. Since then, I have opened up to a few of my other friends too but I don't know if they understand it as well as Hannah does. However, I still haven't told my mum but honestly I will soon.

Now that my anxiety ramble is out the way. A few weeks a go a had a bit of bad news. My cat, Tommy is 12, and my family and I noticed that on the side on his neck he seemed to have a visible bump from the outside. We gave it a few days but it only got bigger. So, my mum booked an appointment to the vets and took him. On that Friday after school my mum sat me and my brother down and told us that Tommy has cancer, he has a tumor in his mouth and doesn't have that long left to live. We have to make a decision as a family when to put him down. Today it is December 31st and we haven't put him down yet, he doesn't seem to be showing any pain so we haven't done it yet. Recently, that has made me extremely upset. Not many people know how close a pet can be to you.

Anyway, 2014 has had it's ups and downs. But 2015 is just round the corner and I have a bigger year ahead of me so, I am determined to make it the best yet.

How has 2014 been for you?

Happy New Years!

Emily xx 

A Few Of My Favourite Things TAG

As I haven't posted for a while, I thought I need to get back on track and start back with a tag that YouTuber Emma Frow (Inthefrow on YouTube) came up with.

The idea being that you talk about a few of your favourite things in different categories, a few meaning 3 (as it's generally known. So you have to answer 3 of your favourite things in each category 

So, lets begin...

Products: 

My iPhone 

My green apple scented DKNY perfume

Batiste dry shampoo

Food:

 Pasta

Pizza

Fish Fingers 

Places:

Brighton

Florida 

Alton Towers

Things you'd miss: 

My Phone

My Mum

My Nan

Things you do when you're bored:

Watch YouTube videos

Draw

Talk to a friend/family member

Things you like to do when it's sunny:

Have a BBQ

Drink something cold

Sit out in my garden 

Films:

Les Miserables

Zombieland

Lion King

Songs: (I'm choosing to say my all time favourite songs)

Man who can't be moved - The Script 

Carry on my Wayward Son - Kansas

Mr Bright-side - The Killers 

Brands:

Apple

MAC.

Estee Lauder

Outdoor things that you like:

The country side

The color of the leaves in Autumn

Going on walks

Events:

Christmas

My birthday

New years

Cartoons:

Finding Nemo

Up

Frozen

Buildings:

My family home

The Mayflower Theater

The Empire State Building

Anything in everyday life:

Family

Shopping

Friends

Traits in a person:

Sense of humor

Loyal

Caring

Influences:

My Mum 

My Nan

Many YouTubers such as Zoella

Drinks:

Water (boring I know)

Hot Chocolate

Lemonade 

Experiences:

All my family holidays

Going to a haunted on Halloween 2014

My first time seeing Wicked live at The Mayflower Theater

Things to watch:

Supernatural

The only way is Essex

I'm a Celebrity Get me Out of Here!

Youtubers:

Zoella

PointlessBlog

ThatcherJoe

OK, that's it. I hope you enjoyed that and helped you learn a little bit more about me. Feel free to do this tag yourself and send me the link in the comments if you do.

Emily xx

Autumn

I do not own these photos by the way!

It is finally October and do you know what that means?...

AUTUMN IS ON IT'S WAY!!

Personally, it's my favorite season

The leaves will soon be making their transition from green to the dazzling yellows, oranges and reds and the chill in the air during some of the most recent mornings makes it clear that autumn is finally on its way.

Here are the things I really love about Autumn that I'm looking forward to:

Cold weather

Cosy socks

Oversized jumpers

Wearing more onesies

Hot chocolates

Getting the fire going

Halloween

Horror movie marathons

The feeling that Christmas is approaching

Listening to Christmas songs the moment it turns November

More baths in the evenings

Autumn leaves

Warm tones (in leaves, in clothes, everywhere)

Candles, candles and more candles!

Scarves, Boots and Coats

 Evenings get darker

Rainy days under the duvet, watching films

Fluffy PJ's

Christmas stuff appearing in the shops

TV programs (American Horror Story-new series, X Factor, I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!)

Forest walks through the golden leaves

...I think that's about it, haha. 

Let me know your favorite things about Autumn (Fall) in the comments

Emilyxx