Let's have a little chat...

Welcome to a new post!

- Little message from future me: I wrote this post in a total blur and didn't reread it for any mistakes or additions. This is all the plain stuff that tumbled right out of my head, so I'm sorry if it is a little messy.-

I had planned this one to be a really nice lifestyle post, and it was already meant to go up like two weeks ago. You might have noticed that there's been a little lack of posts every few post days for the past few weeks.

I'm actually quite annoyed at myself for that, because I know that I won't be able to post reguarly during exam season either, which is soon coming up. I thought I would make this one a little catch up instead, so you can understand how I am feeling and why there isn't actual regular content on here at the moment.

I am so passioned about blogging, and I hate that currently whenever it is time to write a blogpost for another posting day, I just get so bored of it and can't be bothered to actually sit down and do it. I keep catching myself, finding excuses why I ain't got time to write a post. Sometimes it actually is that case, as school work isn't always tiny, but that actually wouldn't happen that often either, if I just sat down and didn't leave them till last minute.

It's not that I don't  have any inspiration for blogposts. I actually have got plenty of ideas written down for future blogposts, that I am actually quite exited about posting. I don't know what it is, I guess I'm just in kind of a writing slump maybe. Writing slumps have been happening to me quite a lot more often than I would have liked in the past like two years, and I am not 100% sure why. Is it because I have been stressing myself about school all the time, or is it because of something else?

I know I am quite a stressy person and I'm definitely a perfectionist in quite a few cases. I love that about myself sometimes, but other times I hate myself for it, because it makes me feel so down very easily. I had planned to do so many posts this spring before exam season, and pre-write tons and tons of posts, so you won't miss out on any. But whenever I had had the time for that the past few weeks, I started working on something else instead, just because I didn't feel inspired enough to actually write something. I always feel like the posts take so long to write, but then I actually sit down, and a normal lengthed post usually doesn't take more than an hour, depending on how much I write or how many pictures I have got to edit.

To be fair, saying that I am quite a stressy person, I bascially plan out every minute of my day in some kind of way. Like I am currently getting stressy because I don't know wether I'll have to be ready in one a half hours to go to the gym with my friend or longer, and if so, how much I'll have to run around once I am backto be ready to go out for dinner and how I am going to get back home in time, what the exact amount of time is that I need to leave that, so that I have enough time to get ready. It is so annoying sometimes, and I just sometimes keep finding myself thinking that I won't be able to put in the time to write a post, since I have got so 'many' things left to do before I am going out, even though I have still got like four hours before I am getting picked up. It's just another way of finding an excuse not having to sit down in front of my computer and do it.

Which is actually quite weird for me as well, as I am always doing something at least slightly productive, like I basically never completely shut off. Even when I am on my iPod strolling through Social Media, I find myself thinking about what I am going to have for breakfast in school the next morning or creating a To-Do List for the rest of the night or the next few days.

I am rambling on so much right now about how bad my life is, when I should actually be quite grateful for the amazing life I have got. I guess why I wanted to make this post is, because it always helps to write stuff like that off of your chest, and I also felt like you deserved to know, why my blogposts aren't really that regular at the moment. I know I don't need to apologize for being human, but anyway. There are always times when life's a little shit, and I guess I'm just in a little bit of a blog slump right now, but I promise that I will try my best to not maintain that for too long.

If there's a day in the next few days or weeks that I am feeling quite inspired on, I guess I'll just have to actually sit my butt down in front of a computer, and write till I ain't get any other words to sprinkle out of my head. I am very sorry if I have actually bored the hell out of you with this post, but if you've made it till here - congratulations, 50 dancing points to you.
I guess I have got to go back to reality now and get a little stressy about making it to the bus to go to the gym. I want to end this post on a little bit more of a positive note, so here's my favourite quote, which you might recognize. Have a lovely day, and keep your head up princes and princesses. Life will take a better turn out of this soon!

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning how to dance in the rain." - Unknown

 ♥♥♥

Love, Jacqueline Xx 

12 Things To Do This Spring

 Welcome to a new post!

Spring has finally arrived, and with it my favourite season of the whole year! Even though we didn't have a deep winter over here in Germany, it is so refreshing to finally go outside with a thinner coat, the sun shining in your face, the cold breeze following it, the birds singing, all the bright colours suddenly coming on again...I am so ready for this Spring!

Sometimes though, we all don't really know what to do with our free time, and now that it's getting slightly warmer and we are all still snuggled into big black warm clothes with hot chocolate and tea, there's a lack of things to do.

Since you all seemed to absolutely love my post about Things To Do During Winter Break, I thought I might as well have to another similar post about things to do this Spring, to give you some more inspiration for this season!

1) Go on a photography adventure

In nowadays societey we spend way too much time on our smartphones, laptops etc. I am not telling you to not do that anymore, but I think we should all take some time off from time to time. Grab a camera and your coat, maybe a friend, your family or your pet and go for a walk. Go somewhere calm but nice to spend some time and take as many pictures as you can. It's a way of disconnecting from your digital life, spending some proper quality time in the nature, and that is definetely what I am going to do as well. You will thank yourself afterwards, because promise me, you will have enjoyed it!

2) Buy some flowers

Flowers are something that I have always loved, since my mum has always had some at home due to her job, hence why it's pretty ironic why every real flower I put in my room dies quicker than it should :D. But go get yourself some nice bright flowers. It will not only make your room appear more spring like, but also puts you into a better mood. It's one of those little things, that can really brighten up a day.

3) Reorganize your wardrobe

I know this sounds pretty boring, but we all have to do it from time to time in order not to go completely mad at some point because we can't find a certain dress, for example. Especially in Autumn and Winter we tend to wear a lot more dark and muddy colours, but now that everything is finally brightening up again and it's getting warmer, why shouldn't our wardrobes do that as well? It might take you a few hours but it will be completely worth it, and you will thank yourself afterwards for an organized wardrobe.

 4) Start something new

This is the point where you can get pretty creative. Starting something new could be a new notebook or a new book, but it could also be starting a certain sport or starting to raise money for a charity close to your heart or starting to train for a marathon, for example. There is plenty of things that you could do! Try to mix it up this Spring, and start something new and exiting, and it might end up being your new favourite thing!

5) Plant something

It's that time of the year where the flowers are finally showing up again, brightening the grass and nature all together, but you could also plant something yourself. I am not saying that you should go and start a huge flower bed in your garden, but you could start with simple things like herbs, for example. You can get seeds and pots in every supplies store, some home stores even sell little pots for you to start with. Planting herbs will also freshen up your kitchen and food a little bit!

6) Picnic in the park

Yes, that's the name of one of Tanya Burr's lipglosses, but it's actually a pretty nice idea for a spring activity! Me and my family used to do this a lot during spring and summer, though not in the park, but all you need for a picnic is a little patch of green, a blanket and tons of food. If you don't want to go to a park, you can always do it in your own garden! It tastes just as nice, but you are on your own, and if you've forgotten something you can easily run back. I don't really know what makes picnics so fascinating and magical, but they are such a nice thing to do, and to be honest they also make great pictures for your Instagram feed :D.

7) Ride a bike

In Spring I seem to be all about exploring the nature I guess, but riding a bike is another lovely thing to do to spend some time outside and away from your phone, playstation and computer. Go look up some nice ice cream places or restaurants in your area for example and drive there! We love doing a trip to an ice cream place near us, which is around 11 kilometers there and back, which sounds so much, but it's so refreshing, and also good for your health (apart from the ice cream, but okay let's not talk about that :D)!

8) Redecorate your room

Spring is the time to add colour to your life again, as I already mentioned, so you could always do that with your room as well. Buy some flowers, add some new bright pictures, put down your christmas decoration :P, and get some new and brightening things. It will brighten your mood as well, whenever you go inside.

9) Bake something fresh and fruity

The weather is getting slightly warmer, but it's still a little fresh, so why not bake something just as fresh and fruity as spring! There is plenty of cakes or cookies or whatever you want to make out there for you to bake and enjoy. If you don't have any idea, ask your mum or nanny, or simply scroll through Pinterest the whole day and find yourself something. It will look nice, and taste amazing, and isn't that worth the work?

10) Exercise

Yees I know this one is a stereotype and not everyone is a sporty person or is able to get themselves out of bed for it, but you could always try something new. Exercising is really healthy for your body, and just a small little workout each day or each few days can already make a huge difference. Try the Blogilates workouts on Youtube. They are pretty quick but not to easy, and if you want to start having a proper workout plan, you can always download one if you subscribe to the newsletter. There's even beginner workouts, and it's a way of using your freetime and also doing something for your body, maybe even outside in the fresh sun!

11) Do a digital detox

We all know how hard it is to leave our phones and other electronics alone for a few hours at some points, but it can actually be quite a relief to not focus on it at all. I actually did an iPod detox the day I started writing this blogpost, and I absolutely enjoyed it. I am so focused on my iPod some days since I mainly use my phone for WhatsApp, that I tend to forget to do other things that I truly enjoy. So I turned it off for a Sunday until a few minutes before I went to go to sleep, and I still had a great time doing things like baking, reading an pre-writing some blogposts. Think about doing it, because it really is really relieving, and I want to do it more often as well now. It will really make you think a bit more about turning your consume down.

12) Dance in the rain

Since my blog name obviously is DANCINGINTHERAIN23 I had to include this point. It's not only about the actual message behind those words, but in this case it's about the actual words. It once started raining on a summer day when I was on the trampoline with my friends, and we stayed on it and jumped and danced around on it in the rain. I still remember it so well, because I had the time of my life at that moment. It was so magical. Try it. Go out in the rain and dance, forget your worries and enjoy your life! (Don't forget that you can easily catch a cold 'n stuff like that if you do it for too long, so please limit your time and get yourself into some new clothes and into the warm house!).



Make sure to leave me some inspiration below and tell me what you are looking forward to the most this spring. :) 

Have a great day! ♥


Love, Jacqueline Xx

My Dream Fulfilling Jar

 Welcome to a new post!

When I first saw this jar in the home store, I knew I wanted it straight away. It was just the thing I had always been looking for to decorate my room with. It is literally a tumblr jar, and I think it's the cutest thing ever. It's probably one of my most favourite things on my shelves.

There a few things printed on the jar, that are examples for things that you could do with the stuff inside of it, or already have done. You are even able to tick the boxes if any of the things on it are what is is for.

I personally don't only want to use this so it looks pretty when people come around my house, but to save some money as well.

You always think about buying less and saving more, but to be honest you don't think about it as much as when you have it right in front of you. I am obviously not telling you to put 100€ note into a jar that everyone can open and grab it when they are over.

Personally I am putting in all the money that I am not using or I put in some, if I feel like it. That's the small pieces in particular.

I want to use this jar to treat myself to something nice when it is full. I've got no idea how much it's going to turn out to be, but even if it's just a few euros - it doesn't matter. But in that way I am at least saving it for something I will actually love. Maybe I will get myself a lipstick from it, or maybe I am going to use it for going on holiday somewhere nice and pretty. I haven't got a plan yet, but I do want to fulfill a little dream with it, which is why I call it my dream fulfilling jar.

Have you ever thought of getting one, or do you own one? I hope I was maybe able to give you some inspiration. You can do so many things with them. You could put in tickets and bills from places you went and want to memorize for example, or simply save some money, and get yourself something nice from it.

If you can't find a similar one, you can always get a plain jar and design it yourself with a marker. :) You can also find similar ones on Etsy.

(Mine is from a German store named Depot, if you are wondering, but I don't think they are selling it anymore.)

If you want me to write another post when I bought myself something from the money inside of the jar, let me know, and I will. :)

Have a good day. ♥

Love, Jacqueline Xx

Sticking to Your Fitness Goals

 Welcome to a new post!

I knew I wanted to make a fitness related post, but I didn't want it to be the typical post where I tell you how you get slim and healthy in three seconds or something like that. I ended up with the idea of telling you my tips on sticking to your fitness goals. I have tried my best not to come up with the ones that everyone has already told you tons of times on other blogs, youtube or whatever.

Sticking to your fitness goals doesn't sound quite as hard once you've come up with that idea, but then you find yourself snuggled up in bed again with cookies, crisps, fries or whatever, thinking about working out, but not ending up doing anything. I know there are a lot of people who have that problem, especially after New Years when they made it their goal to finally work out.

I have personally had that struggle, but finally found a way to overcome it somehow, and now I have been sticking to a proper schedule for a year, which is quite good for me. I tried sticking to it twice, and once completely failed after doing a 7 minute workout every day for four months, and once after doing it for 1 and a half months, but then picked it up again.

So here is what I find helpful, to now stop working out.

1) SPICE AND CHANGE IT UP

If you keep doing the same moves all of the time, you will immediately get bored of it and not feel motivated anymore to actually work out. Change it up from time to time, don't focus on doing the same things all the time. Make it harder, the further you get with your workouts. Try new workout guides, videos, routines, courses - basically everything that comes up to your mind. Don't wait until all your motivation is lost, if you feel getting bored of the moves, find something new.

I personally find the Blogilates calendars quite amazing, as the workout videos you have to do change every day and every month. Kayla Itsines's workouts are a bit pricey, but they are really hard and work pretty well, which might make you see your goals a bit faster than with Blogilates. Also the Nike + app is really cool, as there are quite a few different workouts for different fitness levels and goals, and it's also for free.

2) WRITE IT DOWN

Print your routine out or write it down. Keeping it in front of your face will remind you of the things that you have set as your goal. That way you keep it on your mind a little bit longer than just thinking about it.

Try it out, especially when you are just starting out. I did it, and now I don't even need to do it anymore, as it has become a complete part of my routine, which I always keep in mind, no matter what I plan.

3)  GO TO CLASSES

Have a look at your local gym and see what kind of classes they teach. I think basically every gym does it, and there is something for everyone to do. Even when you aren't feeling motivated, going to a class will motivate you when you see all those other people working out next to you and with you. Try it. If you don't want to go alone, go grab a friend, and it will be even more fun.

4) HAVE A ROUTINE

Come up with a routine, to be sure to stick to working out. It doesn't have to be planned out from the first second, but setting certain days and a certain time where you want to start makes it easier for you to plan your day and still find time for working out.

Don't forget rest days either! Have at least one a week for your body to rest, which it really will need after days and days of hard work.

5) BUY NEW GYM CLOTHES

Buying new gym clothes and looking at all of them in shop can really motivate you to actually do something. I mean who doesn't like a new set of clothes and gets exited to wear them, let's be honest! So try that with gym clothes, and it might work a hell of a lot than many other things.

6) GET INSPIRED

Read, watch, shop, everything that comes to your mind. Getting inspiration online, especially on WeHeartIt and Youtube, is personally something that really helps me a lot. By seeing other people succeeding in the things you want to achieve and do can really put you into a better mood, especially when you feel like working out, but don't. It doesn't mean that you should compare yourself to others, not at all, but taking it as a motivation to actually get your bum up is quite a nice thing to do.

7) TAKE PICTURES

Looking at before and after pictures is probably the best thing ever. You don't notice the difference as much when you are looking at your body from day to day, but when you actually see a difference in pictures, it really gives you the feeling that you have actually achieved something, and it will make you want to work even harder. 

8) DON'T LEAVE BUSY DAYS OUT

Of course you need to prioritize, but just because you feel like you have so many things to do, doesn't mean you should always leave out your workout. Actually, I find working out on stressy days quite relaxing, as it lets my mind concentrate on something else for a little while at least. Try to do a little workout at least, even if it's just ten minutes. A workout is a workout. 

I really hope these tips where at least a tiny bit helpful, even if they weren't the most original ones. I personally find these points quite important for myself to maintain my routine and stick to my goals to achieve them. Seeing results is the most motivating thing ever, and I really hope that you are able to stick to your goals and keep working out.

Let me know what you do to keep working out down below. :)

Have a good day and week. :)

Love, Jacqueline Xx

Chatting: Following Your Own Path at School

Welcome to a new post!

Yesterday we were sat down in our school's gathering place to talk about the second half of year 11. It is quite an important one as you have to make your decisions for your A Levels and your marks at the end of it will decide wether you'll make it to the next phase and year on the way towards your A levels.

I've been thinking about which subjects to take for my exams and higher courses for quite a while, years even, and I still am not sure what I am going to decide on. I have to choose two, and since I love English that is already settled, but what will be my other choice, and what else will I have to write an exam about.

I feel like many people at this point decide to choose a subject that most of their friends choose out of confidence, not really out of their own choice. Some even choose certain subjects because they feel like they are not good anything, which they say is the reason why they choose a subject that a lot of their friends do.
But guys, let's be honest - it is not going to work that way, not always at least. Yes that subject might end up as the best choice you could've ever made, but if you've chosen it, there's no going back if you are absolutely hating it after a few weeks. It is important to have a good working background, but what people tend to forget is that you have to think about what you personally want to do, not what would be the easiest choice. Sure, your friends might be able to help you if you struggle in that subject, but in the end it's you that has to write the exams and raise your hand to say something, not them.

You have to work for yourself, so you also have to think about yourself when you make an important choice like that. That doesn't even have to be in school, it could even be about other things like going out or doing a certain thing for someone's birthday.

Be special, be different, and do what YOU want to do, not what others tell you to. It's your life and your choices, not theirs, so you are the one that gets to decide where your path will lead.

I personally am currently deciding wether I will take German, Chemistry, History or maybe even Biology as my second higher course. I like things about all of these subjects but I also hate quite a few parts in each on of them, and in neither of them I am a genius, but they are still what I have in mind to study further.

Some people have told me to not choose German because 'You will have to write an exam in it anyway, it doesn't make sense.'. But to be honest, that isn't true. It does make sense, even if I will have to write an exam in that subject anyway. If I like German, I will choose German, that is my own choice to make, not someone else's. I think you should always be open for advice, but don't let anyone tell what you have to do. Maybe you want to be challanged a bit, and maybe that will actually help you and make you happier. Maybe these people that have told you those things will end up coming to you, telling you they wish they would have chosen that subject.

If you already know what area you want to work in after your school time, but aren't sure what subjects to decide on, go and do some research on the subjects that could maybe help you in that job. Please don't think that you aren't good at anything, just because you aren't writing straight A*'s in every subject. There is always something you are good at, you only have to aknowledge it.

I suggest you make a list of all of your subjects, and write down all of the marks that you have gotten in this year so far. And then think about which subjects you enjoyed. Write down all of the themes that you enjoyed talking about, and that you enjoy in your freetime as well. Take some time to think, and you will find something.

I personally made this myself, only in a version that is only on my mind, but I still have it. I do enjoy Maths, but only when I get the topic, and if I end up writing a good mark for my level in that subject. But since that doesn't happen as often, I had crossed that out from the very beginning (I miss the times when you were able to stop studying maths before your A levels *sigh*). 

However I do quite enjoy History, especially the French Revolution and the World Wars. I have always been interested in certain topics, even though I don't find everything interesting that you talk about. But I still enjoy it, and I might actually end up deciding on it, even if that means I will have to learn pages and pages of dates. I love a challenge, so maybe I will end up choosing it - who knows. Or maybe I will end up choosing Chemistry, German, Biology or I will suprise myself and choose Physics or something like that. 

Don't cross out everything, only because you aren't able to get A*s on the tests in that subject. Do something that you genuenly enjoy and would enjoy talking more about. Don't let others tell you what you are supposed to do, and not only in school. Just because a higher Maths course might look quite nice on your certificate, that is no reason to choose it. If you have a bad mark because you did not enjoy it at all, it isn't going to make it better. I can't stress this enough - do things that make you happy, not because it is going to make someone else happy! It is your life, so you get to decide where the path will guide you.

If you need advice - go and ask for it. Let the opinion influence you and make you think. Do some research on Google or by asking other people that were in the same position before. But then decide what you want to do, something you are going to enjoy talking and thinking about.
Your friends might all end up doing Chemistry, but you hate that and you would rather enjoy Sports, but also don't want to let them down and be 'alone' in that new course. Don't let that influence your decision. FOMO is not something you should think about in this moment. Sure they might make amazing expierences together without you and make new friends, but you will too! Don't put pressure on yourself because of your friends, I beg you! It might be harder to start in a completely new course with new people, but as long as you are open and nice to them, and don't isolate yourself from them, you will soon make new friends that you can spend time with, when your other friends aren't around. There is not much to worry about. Don't put yourself under too much pressure. 

I'm sorry this has been all about A levels and choosing subjects mainly, but it is a situation that me and my classmates and friends are currently dealing with, and I felt like I had to spit this out, because we won't be the only ones expierencing something like that.

There always new decisions to make in life. From throwing away an old and very loved lipstick or not, to the decision of wether you are going to marry that person or not, and so on. We all have to remember to think about other people when we make decisions, but we also have to remember to think of ourselves. These decisions might follow you forever, and will even sometimes throw your life around completely. They have to made, wether you want to or not, so make sure to choose wisely.

I hope I didn't bore the hell our of you with this post. Let me know your thoughts about this topic down below, if you feel like it. 

Have a good day.

Love, Jacqueline Xx

December in Pictures

 HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

 Welcome to a new year, with new chances, new expierences, and new blogposts, just like this one here! I hope this year will be amazing for all of us! :)

During the first few days of December I came up with the idea of showing you what I'm up to in December in pictures. It's like a monthly vlog in the written version, I feel like, and since I love photography, I thought it was the perfect opportunity!

Due to exams I sometimes forgot to take pictures, so I had to take them late at night, but I hope you'll still find it nice to look at all the pics I took.

I thought it was something to mix all the make-up and beauty stuff a bit up. 

The Voice of Germany on telly :)

Almonds from the Christmas market

Watching Christmas films ♥

Last 1D performance for at least 18 months :(

Visiting Cologne with school, visiting the Dom and going shopping, as well as 'enjoying' a veggie burger at McDonalds and walking around the Christmas markets :)

Working on Christmas presents.

Receiving my first present :)

Pamper night for my birthday and Christmas :)

Festive nails ♥

MY 17TH BIRTHDAY! ♥

Dream A Little Dream by Giovanna Fletcher - AMAZING BOOK *-*

Putting up the Christmas tree

New baby ♥

Film night ♥

Reading my favourite blogs :)

Going for drinks ♥

Walks before the New Year :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR! ♥

I hope you liked this new type of blogpost, and that you enjoyed my photography, even though it might not have been my best pictures. If so, I will keep doing these from time to time, whenever I feel like it.

 I hope you had an amazing start of 2016, and that your year will be absolutely amazing and filled with happiness and amazing expierences. :)


Love, Jacqueline Xx