I just graduated... What did you do today?!

Hiya Peeps!

Another University related post, I do apologise! I am trying to change things up a little bit by doing other posts for those of you who aren't interested in me constantly waffling on about Uni life and how much I miss it, so you can just skip over this one if you like! 

I thought I'd write a quick post about Graduation but I'm going to keep it short and sweet because Ill probably end up crying the whole way through! I'm going to chuck in a few photos as well, but don't laugh at me in a weird hat and my 127367202047 chins.

Graduation day was one of the best, yet hardest days of my life. It was so amazing getting to be back with all my friends and laughing & smiling and having a catch up with brilliant people. There was so much pride and love in the University on the morning of the ceremony and it made me feel so good about myself and everyone else. I still can't believe I actually got there and managed to complete three years and I was honoured and overwhelmed to be graduating with some of the incredible people I've met over the past 3 years. As much as I had the best day, it was also so difficult for me. As most of you know, I am EXTREMELY emotional and goodbyes are the hardest thing ever. The reality hit me quite soon after I arrived at the Uni that a lot of the people that I was sharing the day with, I probably wouldn't see for a really long time, if ever again. I've made some really good friends at Uni and some people that I honestly will never forget. The phrase of the day soon became 'it's not goobye, it's just a see you later' and I'm really going to try and hold on to that. 

^^ My amazing course friends / Exposure colleagues ^^

The ceremony was actually totally different to what I expected and I really enjoyed it. I got to sit next to one of the funniest guys on my module (he probably won't see this, so can someone else let Alex know haha) and he made me laugh the whole way through. I know it's not supposed to be an event that's funny, but you know when you get in one of those giggling fits in completely the wrong environment...? Well that happened to us quite a few times. 

^^ The beautiful Emily Sandall and I ^^

The hardest part of the day for me though, was all the photo taking after the ceremony. It was the seeing of everyone's families, the saying goodbyes, the chucking of the caps, the talking about the old times that threw me over the edge though. It really bought it back to me that the University chapter of my life was coming to an end, and I'm just not sure I'm ready.

 ^^ My best friends in the whole world. I couldn't have got through the past three years without them, I love them! Ellie & Emma ^^

I've had the most amazing support from so many people and I know I say it all the time, but honestly, thank you so much. I hope a lot of my friends will read this and they know who they are when I say it. I couldn't possibly list everyone here because I'm a forgetful chap and I wouldn't want to offend anyone. I'm just gonna add some photos from Graduation day so not everyone will be included (sorry) but fear not, I'm working on a 'University in Picutres' post so I'm sure you'll feature in there!

^^ The fantastic four, and the ones that I owe everything to. Thank you Emma, Ellie and Chris. You're amazing humans ^^

^^ Neech and I obviously found something hilar! Love this diamond ^^

^^ Best friends and Beverages! Sophie, Emily and Neech. ^^

^^ My favourite Irish woman, Jayne Tennyson <3 ^^

^^ I have the best friends I could ever ask for. Jayne, Sophia and Dan ^^

^^ Mr Saville and I looking exceptionally beautiful. I have slightly edited my face before anyone gets agg and calls me out on it. ^^

^^ Bestest boy in life. Chris Willsdon, you have been a gem! ^^

^^ Class of 2013, I love you ^^
Emily, Sophia, Gwyneth, Joe, Julie, Jack, Emma and Sophie

I love you all so much, thank you for everything.

Take care, stay beautiful and dream big! 

@amyjcollins

The 90's Tag!

Hiya Peeps,

First off, I just want to say a huge SORRY for not posting in what feels like forever. I’ve been suuuper busy the past few weeks what with my birthday and graduation that I just haven’t had time to write. I hope you can find it within your hearts to forgive me and will jump straight back on board!

So I saw some of my favvy YouTubers make a video called 'The 90's Tag' and being a 90's kid myself, I thought I'd give it a whirl. Obviously I appreciate this would be much more fun if it was a video, buttt I have a hideous face and don't make videos so I'm going to chuck it in a post. I like talking about my childhood and it just gives you more of an idea about what I like, and what I got up to as a child. 

I was born in 1992 so I am a 90's kid before anyone tries to challenge it. I grew up through the 1990's so therefore I count, woooo!

Here it goes.

1. Favourite Disney Movie?

Oooooh, this is a toughie. I know you're all going to hate me and tell me that my parents are sick and wrong but I never really watched Disney growing up. I was suuuuper obsessed with Toy Story though so I'd have to say that's my favourite Disney movie. 

I also love Parent Trap and my sister and I were and still are completely in love with it, so there you go. My favvy movie of all time, though, is Grease. (I know it's not Disney but I wanted to throw it in there anyway!)

2. Favourite Music Artist?

Another toughie. I was much more into music as a kid than I was TV or Films so I've got such a wide spectrum of music to choose from. There are the obvious ones that everyone loved like Britney Spears, Steps, Five, etc, but I have two favvys that really stick out for me. I was in LOVE with S Club 7. I wanted to be in S Club 7, especially when they started having their TV show and what not; that was huuuuge for me. 

 My other ultimate favourite was Aaron Carter. He wasn't really hugely popular in the UK but I was in loooove with him. He had his first single when he was like super young, but I loved it that we were similar ages, I think. I used to run around homework club singing his songs pretending they were mine. I believed he'd come and pick me up and take me back to America and do duets with me. It didn't happen. Sob. 

 ^^ This album was my prized possession as a kid! Massive thanks to my nan's neighbour who gave it to me as a present! ^^

I also loved Take That all throughout the 90's. I was so little when they split up and I used to cry at the realisation all the time. I used to sit and watch their videos all the time and I've still got them all somewhere, they were my favourite. I also had a Mark Owen doll growing up, but you can read a little more about that in my '50 Facts' post!
My first piece of music that I ever bought though, was Peter Andre - Mysterious Girl on cassette. Fantastic.

3. Favourite Candy / Sweeties?

Hands down - Freddo Frogs! I still love them, and I will always love them, even if they have gone up in price and smaller in size. Also, who remembers 'Taz' bars?! They were sick, I loved those. 

 I also had this freaky obsession with Candy Sticks. I have to steer well clear of them now or I'd just eat them ALWAYS! Also, Cola Cubes, just because.

4. Favourite Game? (Board Game / School Game)

My sister and I always had these really random board games as kids; we just weren't normal. We had this Popstars (like the TV show) game where you had to move around the board and up into the Top 10 and then you had to do karaoke. It was weird, but sooo fun. We also had this weird Eastenders game where you had to move around the board, kind of like Monopoloy. I think we still have it somewhere, I'll hunt it down and we can play it one day. 

I loved playing 'Heads Down, Thumbs Up' in school. I don't know if any of you guys have it, but we always used to play it when we had supply teachers or wet-playtimes. 

Oh, hahahah! I almost forgot to mention this. Whenever Lucy and I went swimming with our friends to Broxbourne Lido (which has since been demolished, sob) we used to play this weird game on the floats. We used to pretend to be Sabrina the Teenage Witch and her Cat, Salem. It was so odd.

5. Favourite McDonalds Happy Meal toy?

No question, it was when they did the TY Beenie Babies. We never ate McDonalds that much as kids so it was really hard for us to get the toys, but our next door neighbour used to get them for us ALL THE TIME. We loved her so much for that hah! 

6. Favourite Book?

Oh man, this is so funny! There is one book that stands out to me over all of the rest. My mum used to read to us all the time before we went to sleep but there's one book that I got from school that has always and will always stick out to me. I don't know if any of you have read it, but it's called 'The Pig is in the Pond'. Oh my god, I just loved it! They read it to us one time in class and I made my mother go on a massive shopping search for it just so I could have this book. I hope I've still got it somewhere because I loved it! 

I also still love the Biff and Chip books we used to have to read at school. They were so funny and I feel all nostalgic when I see my little little sister reading them!

7. Favourite Clothing store?

Definitely Tammy Girl. Going into Tammy was like going into heaven, no joke! If you got your clothes from there you were sooooo cool! I will always remember they used to play music videos in the changing rooms which was awesome (especially if you didn't have cable TV at home like us). They also had this whole separate area for like accessories and socks and they had this little photo booth in there and every week I'd go to town with my friends and spend all my pocket money on little photo stickers and funky socks! 

8. Favourite TV Show?

We only had Cable TV at my Dad's house as children so it was like a holiday getting to go around his and watch all the trashy American TV on Nickelodeon and Disney. I loved Saved by the Bell and I thought that's what high school was going to be like. It wasn't and it isn't. Sorry! I loved all the classics, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Sister Sister, Keenen & Kel, but there was one TV show that I absolutely adored. 

I don't actually know if it was 90's or not, but meh. TAINA! Does anyone else remember this?! I was bloody obsessed with it, and knew all the words to all the episodes and I just loved it. They should never have stopped it. 

^^ This episode with 'Blue Mascara' (3LW) was my favourite episode as a kid! I loved it soooo much! I wanted to include a picture but it just didn't do it justice so I found a clip and chucked it on, ENJOYYY!

As kids we used to love the little game shows like 50-50, Get Your Own Back, Jungle Run etc. They were super fun! There were just so many, I can't even think! 

Well, there you have it. I hope you've enjoyed this. I've loved going through my childhood and talking to my sister about being little and what we used to do. Please let me know if you like any of the same things as me or if you think I've forgotten anything. Tweet me @amyjcollins or just leave a comment on this post and I'll definitely get back to you. If you can, please follow the blog or subscribe with your email address so I can be aware of what you like / don't like.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Take care, stay beautiful and DREAM BIG!

I love youuuuu.

@amyjcollins

xoxo