Thursday, 15 September 2016

Challenging Pre-Exam Fear

(Source: http://weheartit.com/entry/group/95921329)

Welcome to a new post!

This one is on more of a serious note, even if I am currently lying in my garden at 30° with my brand new baby aka laptop.

As you know I am soon to finish my driving license, if everything goes well, and I cannot even tell you how anxious that makes me feel. I've never been a big fan of exam etc where in the end I'll be either told by someone that I failed or did well, or I will let myself decide whether I did well or not. I hate this situation, and it always makes me feel quite anxious, thinking that someone is currently trying to test you. I feel like I am being judged, and I hate that feeling, even though in normal life I have learnt to deal quite a lot  better with it, especially in school. 

Before every driving lesson, especially when I had had a few hours without having to sit in school before it, I always get really stressy, panicky and I get a feeling in my tummy as if I'm about to become president of the United States or do bungee jumping. I literally have to force myself to  shut off, watch a calming video by the Michalaks and whilst I do that read through motivational quotes. If I wouldn't want it to be over so quickly, it would've literally taken me years to do it, as I would've blown off so many lessons because of it.

It's terrible, but I am pretty sure that I am not the only one that sometimes feels like this, which is kind of the reason why I am doing this post right now. I feel like we don't talk enough about pre-exam anxiety, or whatever you might want to call it.

What has definitely helped me, is writing myself a little note on a bright paper, with a few motivational sentences, and some smileys and hearts decorating it. I even did that the day before I went back to school to give myself some motivation to think positively about going back there in some way. In that way when I get up in the morning and I sit down to do my make-up, my first look goes onto that paper, and I tell myself to read it carefully and take it in, even though I know exactly what it's saying.

Quick 10 minute naps and meditation as well as yoga are another helpful factor. I don't do these ones as often, as I am  not always in the mood for them, but they are an amazing way to shut off for a few minutes, not care about what's going to happen and just relax.

Finding a little note from my mum when I come down for breakfast or when I open my lunch, were always things that gave me a little boost as well, before I did my theory exam for my driving license for example. Tell someone, a friend for example, about how anxious you feel about that situation, someone that will understand you, and not make you feel worse about yourself than you already are. I often have conversations with friends before the driving lessons that I feel pretty anxious and unmotivated about, and they always spam me with messages, trying to think positively, and getting me into a better mind set. I often remember and listen to their words in my head while I drive, to keep my confidence up.

This literally feels like a little therapy to my future self, who will try to pass her driving license this week. Let's hope I actually make it, but as of right now I am actually trying to think positively.

What I also think is quite helpful is having a little pamper session whilst watching a really nice film or series the night before, to stop myself from overthinking everything that could possibly go wrong, but also probably won't.

I also love being as prepared as possible, because in that way I know I did everything that I could, instead of leaving it up to higher powers. Even for my driving tests I wrote down a list on my computer including all the things that I wanted to make sure to quickly be able to go through again before I take my test. Especially for upcoming tests I am also spreading some lovely quotes throughout the paper, to get that motivational smile on that sad and anxious face.

As you can tell, I bloody love quotes, but I feel like they are just the best way to motivate yourself to do something and make you remember, that you aren't the only person that has these problems.

What all of us also need to remember is, that none of us is perfect. We hate failure, we all do, that's why we're human. But the thing is, life isn't always great, and sometimes we need a little failure before we can bloom again. There's a reason why my favourite quote is called

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

But the thing is, as long as you did your best, you need to remind yourself of that, even if you fail. You did your best not to do so, but life just got in the way, and wanted you to have this lesson and not be successfull this one time. Just because you MIGHT fail once, doesn't mean your whole life is a fail. There wouldn't be rainbows, without a little rain at first. Remember to think positively. If it goes wrong, you get another chance to make it better. If you are successfull, even better, you will be able to celebrate. Don't bring yourself down.

I keep saying that I definitely won't go to school afterwards, if I fail, even if I know I can do it. We need to stop making ourselves sound worse than we are, even us perfectionists.

Rewards are also a way to motivate yourself in my opinion. Set yourself a goal, and a reward if you achieve that goal. Keep that goal and reward in mind whenever you worry. I, for example, am going to go shopping and treat myself to some of the brand new NYX and Sleek products that only just arrived in German drugstores, and that I want to try and blog about quite badly.

And if I fail, I'll get myself some funny One Direction videos on my laptop whilst drinking a hot chocolate, eating Sour Cream & Onion flavoured peanuts and being all cozy in my big hoodie in bed - maybe reading a few thousand quotes more. By the way, especially We Heart It is incredible for bloody lovely pictures and quotes! ( I might have mentioned that quite a few times on my blog so far, but oh well. )

This post definitely didn't turn out to be as long as I would have wanted to, but that's alright. As Hannah Montana once sang - "Nobody's perfect". At least I got my thoughts of my chest, that little stone trying to tear me down into a sad bowl  of worries, and that was all I wanted and needed.

I really hope this post wasn't just bloody boring, but actually helped some of you as well, as it really came from the bottom of my heart. This is the kind of post, I would always tell anyone to blog about. When you feel like you need to  get something off of your chest, but you don't want to talk about it, or instead you prefer writing about it - write it down, click publish without editing it, and let people feel with you and help inspire them as well at the same time.

Sorry if this was all a little blurred, contains thousands of mistakes and isn't in any correct order, but oh well that's life and a speaking heart (wow why so poetic today?)

I'm not going to bother you with questions right now, instead I would like you to just sit down quietly and in peace for a few minutes, and remember what I just said, and why you are able to achieve anything, if you want to.



I hope you have a wonderful day ♥


Love, Jacqueline Xx



(P.S. I do not claim any copyright for the picture. All rights go to its owner. I am not using this picture to gain money, but for inspiration and fun purely.)

Sunday, 11 September 2016

Zoella Lifestyle - A Story of a Soon to Be Crying Bank Account


Welcome to a new post!

This is a bit of a weird one, and I am not 100% sure why I am doing it, but I have been so buzzing ever since I have heard about it a few days ago, and I couldn't resist the urge. The ones that are as obsessed with Zoe Sugg aka Zoella, will very likely know what I am talking about (and probably also be the only ones that care about and read this blogpost).

When I heard about the Zoella apartment and the fact that some new products were going to be coming soon, I was expecting pretty much the same products as usual, only with a new scent. Turns out they fooled me, and probably a lot of other people as well, as it deffo aren't the same products with a new scent.

Instead, Zoella Lifestyle is happening! *-* It's pretty much a perfect range, consisting of some home bits and some stationary bits, which is very Zoe and very much adored by a lot of people like me. The colour scheme is so pretty, including a little bit of copper, marble and a really nice neon orange. Definitely nothing I would have expected, but it's so so lovely!


The range consists of:

- cute pencils with little notes on them in the orange shade

- a marble to-go coffee jar, with a light orange lid

- two really cute pots with writing on them, usable for either plants or pencils, for example

- a really pretty marble book with sticky notes etc in it

- a really pretty marble notebook with quotes thrown around it

- a key ring that says 'inspire'

- 5 differently smelling candles called

Daisy Picking
Lazy Days
Seaside Stroll
My Eden
            Gingerbread Village            

    - 6 differently smelling room diffusers called

Homemade Treats
Daisy Picking
Lazy Days
Seaside Stroll
My Eden
Gingerbread Village

- a cushion that says 'naps fix everything'

- the Lazy Days set including a Lazy Days candle and socks

- the Warm Hands Warm Heart gift set including the mug and gloves

- the My Eden set consisting of the candle and room diffuser


I don't know about you, but I literally want everything, which is basically why I am doing this post, because I am so exited about it, and I felt the need to share it with you. I'm definitely not getting paid for this though haha that would be way too lovely. As the title says, my bank account is going to be crying as soon as I can get my hands on this stuff. I don't even think I can pick a favourite.

Zoe keeps on smashing it with the designs and basically everything she is publishing, it's incredible. Everytime again, it's amazing how much thought is put into to the products, and each time there'll be something new in it. They are definitely worth the price as well, even if you just get them for display, because they look so freaking pretty. We need a whole Zoella homeware range coming as soon as possible please, because that would literally be the best thing in the world!

The exitement is real!

The bits will be going into Boots online and in store from the 19th of September, it will be online on Superdrug from the 19th of September and in stores from the 21st. Also, the Gingerbread Scent is exclusive to Superdrug! A selection of the products will also be going into Debenhams on the 3rd of October and also into Waterstones from the 1st of November.

Also, if you want to get a better look at all the stuff, Zoe did a whole 35 minute vlog on the whole apartment that showed up all the new bits she's bringing out this month! There's a talky tour bit and also a bit where she's going through everything a bit more quickly. It's really nicely done for a vlog, so give it a watch HERE if you want. :)


Please, please tell me about your favourite thing of the range - if you are able to pick one! Are you going to get anything? Is there anything you really want Zoe to bring out? Let's have a looooooong or a short chat below :))!

Have an incredible day! ♥


Love, Jacqueline Xx



P.S. I do not claim any copyright for these pictures. All pictures have been screenshoted from the @zoellalifestyle Instagram account and Zoe's own official snapchat. All rights go to their owners! I don't use these pictures for any gain of money, I use them for fun and inspiration only!

Sunday, 4 September 2016

August Chats 2016


Welcome to a new post!

I can't believe it's September already - how the hell did that happen? :o Christmas and my 18th are only 3 months away, yet the weather doesn't seem to want to transfer to Autumn that soon - it's currently 27 degrees outside while I'm writing this. I always say I hate Autumn as it's so rainy and drowsy, yet I am way too exited for hot chocolates, fuzzy socks and big comfy sweaters 'n scarfs. But however, this one is about August. Hopefully we will have had a little Autumn the next time I'll upload this kind of post. :)


City Getaway: Berlin

Yaaas, it was finally time for our three/four day trip to Berlin in the middle of August. We went there by train, and had a really lovely time. We walked so many kilometers, I still feel like my legs hurt from it - not that they do cause that would be kind of weird I guess but still :D. We saw a lot in so little days, yet I definitely didn't see everything I wanted to see. But I guess, you've gotta go there for a whole lot longer than just a few days to see everything you want to. I really liked having some time to explore somewhere new, even if it'll never become my favourite city (London for the win wohoooo!). If you want to see the tons and tons of pictures that I took, I've got Day 1 already up for you to see HERE, including a few tips I would've found helpful when planning a trip to go to Berlin :).



Blog re-design

If you hadn't noticed yet, I redesigned my whole blog this month! I'm really exited about it, even if I am still not 100% happy with it, but I guess I'll never be. I felt like the old layout was a little to boring and very very easy. It's still very easy, as I don't really get this whole web design etc thingy yet, but it's definitely quite a step forward, making it look a little more mature and pretty. I've added few new features to the side bar for example, edited my pages etc. I did a whole blogpost about this as well, explaining a bit more about my thoughts and what's new. HERE is the link for that :)



Books I read

I read three books only this month, which I think is quite sad, but Game of Thrones is such a long series, it's taking me quite a while to read, especially as I already know a lot of what is going to happen. I finished the first book of the series just about a week ago, which I am really happy about, and I also read the new Harry Potter, which I also reviewed without spoilers HERE. Lastly I also read To Kill a Mockingbird. I liked all three, but to be honest I am getting kind of bored of GoT books right now, I'll definitely have to take a little break and read something different soon to get myself back in the reading mode. Tell me some of your recommendations, I would really like some new inspiration! :)


(Source: https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=hey+violet+brand+new+moves&view=detailv2&&id=3209EEF909007A3A
791566136FCB332131823EDB&selectedIndex=89&ccid=wl4gV0CH&simid=6080161616289
49097&thid=OIP.Mc25e2057408729c7c129dbdd1e015cd2o0)
Music Loves

Hey Violet recently released a new EP, called Brand New Moves I think. It's a little different to their last EP, but I am bloody loving the songs! Especially Brand New Moves and Fuqboi (lol) are amazing in my opinion! If you like more of a rocky toned music, try listening to their stuff, I personally think they make really good music!


Fitness & Health Update

Especially towards the second half of the month, I've been on such a fitness loving spree again. I mean I still worked out before that, but I just had had quite a few breaks as I had kind of grown a little bored. However, this month was also my last on at the gym. It was definitely a motivation to go there a bit more often to make use of all the money that I put into it. I liked it, but as of right now, I feel like it's a better choice for me to work out from home. And nearly at the end of my contract I finally went to one of their classes, doing yoga. I knew I would regret not going to them earlier, but I don't really like doing these things on my own for some reason. But now I am fully back to working out from home, and I am also quite exited for that. I've also really been loving kiwis this month for some reason. I don't even know what it is, I just felt like eating kiwis, and now I just want them all the time *crosses fingers mum bought a whole new load*. I also got a yoga mat, and I am planning on investing in a few more bits like weights etc soon. Going back to school, it's also time to get out wraps and veggies again, as I still won't be eating any meat there, so hopefully that'll go well. What's your favourite food to take with you on the go or to school? Let us know :)x

(Source: https://www.bing.com/images/search?q=quantico&view=detailv2&&id=066CD52C7CA796C6F01ECF8A253F444E00E7
D0AA&selectedIndex=16&ccid=PmtTfPnl&simid=607992612333750366&thid=OIP.M3e6b537cf9e5953
373cc7c00ad81851co1)
TV Series Newbies

Recently German tv has been showing a series called Quantico every Wednesday, which I've been loving. I love this kind of crime solving stuff that doesn't include worms crawling out of bodies etc. It's bascially about Alex and a whole group of FBI trainees. She gets blamed for blowing up something huge, making it the second 9/11 and is trying to prevent new bombs going up and finding out who the hell is doing this and why they are blaming it on her. It changes from her trainee time to the time of her being a victim throughout the whole series. It's a really nice storyline, so if you like that kind of stuff, deffo give it a goo! :)



Back To School

Yeah, I guess I can't just leave that part of the month out, as much as I would like to. Holidays went by so fast, and we're already going back into our second week of school. To be honest, I was slightly exited to meet some new people as we were put into new courses, depending on our advanced courses. There are some really lovely people in it, but I still haven't had a chat to everyone yet. I sadly had to give up Chemistry, even though that deffo wasn't the plan. I love Chemistry, even if you might think that's crazy, but I just think it's quite interesting. I guess I'll just read myself into the stuff that I want to learn about, so it'll be alright. :) Not that exited for staying at school from 8 till 6 once a week either - y - a -y :D. But on a more happier note - I've now got 5 lessons of English each week yaaaaas.


18th planning

My parents are already trying to make me plan my birthday even though it's still like over three months away, but literally all I'm doing is browsing Pinterest all day and looking for decoration. I'm way too exited about decorating the place than the actual party. I'm going to do a little more in depth blogpost about it as soon as we're closer to the day I think, when I got some stuff planned etc. :) At least that's what I've got planned so far. Trips to all of the decoration shops are already planned out, and I CANNOT WAIT! What would your most perfect birthday party look like? :)


Driving Lessons

Ew, still going. But it's soon hopefully going to be over if everything goes well when I have my driving test going on, and I am soooo exited for that. Driving lessons are starting to really annoy me, as I just want to drive where I want to drive to and not have to worry about a freaking test. I'm so exited to get that freaking license, I am so desperate that I am also so freaking scared I'm going to fail first time. I really need to believe more in myself, but whatever - I should get it at some point in the next two months hopefully. How do you or did you like your driving lessons?



Writing Research 'n Plotting

I'm not quite sure whether I had mentioned that I am currently working on a new writing project, that I recently had an idea for. I've not been coming that far, but I've been doing some plotting and doing research over the past few weeks, also trying to find out what the protagonist's character is like and writing a few first scenes from the first few chapters I think. It's not going as well as I would like to, but I'm still quite exited about it, as I feel like it could become a really really good story if I make it work. If you write yourself, what's your favourite way to find more inspiration for the plot etc? I really want to know :)x


Youtube Loves

Apart from my usual YouTube favourites, I really had a love for two other channels this month, which I've been enjoying quite a lot. The first one are Carlos and Alexa PenaVega. You will probably know Carlos from Big Time Rush if you are at some point around my age. He and his pregnant wife are currently vlogging quite a lot, like a hell of a lot. It's really nice to see what they get up to, as they are not the usual job youtubers or however you might want to describe that. Another one, are the Michalaks. I might have talked about them before, but they are like my favourite thing ever, especially when I want to relax or I need to calm down before I start a driving lesson. Their vlogs are so well made, so much work and thought put into them, and SO FREAKING RELAXING. I really love how they are so different to anyone else's vlogs, and I just absolutely love their style of videos. You need to check them out, especially if you love a good filmed shot or lovely photography!



How was your August? What did you do? Did you go anywhere nice? What was your most favourite and least favourite moment of it? Sorry for all the questions, I just love asking some haha :). Let's hope there'll be a big blogpost writing motivation going on soon so you'll have a lot more posts going up before exam season starts again ;)

Have an amazing week ♥


Love, Jacqueline Xx




P.S. I do not claim any copyright for the pictures that I don't own. All rights go to their owners. I do not use these pictures to gain money, I use them purely for fun and inspiration!)