I'm back! | Figuring Out Where I'm Going in Life - The Next Chapter

Hiya Peeps!

I know it's been a super long time since I've been here, but please don't judge me, I've been super busy trying to figure a few things out and now I'm (hopefully) back for good. Setting myself a goal to post on a weekly basis on a certain day and time was obviously something that I wasn't going to be able to stick to, so I'm sorry for that also! 

As you may know, in July this year I graduated from The University of Glamorgan (now The University of South Wales) with a 2:1 in Media Production (I know, I still can't really believe it either!). Throughout the whole of my third year I didn't really think about what I was going to do after graduation, I guess I just focused on the work and holding onto the University lifestyle. I always knew that the time would come when it would all be over and I'd have to start looking for a job, but I tried to block it out. I'm one of those people who haven't figured out what I want to do yet, so actually getting my head down and applying for stuff scared the living wits out of me. 

Since I was able to get my hands on a computer with internet access, I've been a little bit addicted to Social Media. Don't laugh, I was even on Habbo Hotel and Neopets (and if you don't know what those are, I'm judging you!). During my third year at Uni, Social Media really became my thing, and I knew that it was what I wanted to do as a career. The whole Social Media movement excites me and watching how everything and everyone is moving online is fascinating. People use the internet so much in their every day lives and it's an industry that's moving so quickly, I can't see it ever being boring. When I finished Uni, I was lucky enough to land an internship with a Social and Mobile Media Agency in Newport and it completely changed my life. Being there, I learned so much and my passion for the business only grew more. I wanted to work in Community Managment and I wanted to spend all of my time online. 

 

I've since moved home to Essex, and finding a full time job is proving more difficult that I had hoped. Everyone told us it wasn't going to be easy, but I never ever anticipated that it could be this stressful. It's hard because everything you apply for asks for more experience than I have, but how am I ever supposed to get experience when no one will take a chance on me? I know my industry is a difficult one to get into and everyone is in the same boat, but I sometimes question where I'm going wrong. I have a part-time job which has been a lifesaver for me, but I can't help but look at where I am now and see that I'm in exactly the same spot I was in before I acquired my degree. It's really hard to be upbeat about the future when you literally have no clue where you're going in life, or really where you want to be. 

Last week I made the trip back to Cardiff where I studied to catch up with some of my friends and family, and my FMP lecturer from Uni. Going back was one of the strangest things I've ever experienced and being back in The Atrium was even weirder. I drove past where I lived, and went back to the place where I graduated and couldn't help but feel the huge lump in throat that it was all really over. I went back to my University to meet one of good friends who was also my FMP lecturer, Julie, and that was the strangest part. Being back in the building where I studied for three years didn't feel like home anymore. On one hand, I wouldn't have found it strange if my friends had walked in and we'd have gone to lectures, but on the other, I couldn't help but notice that it wasn't my life anymore. There were hundreds of people around me and not one of them knew who I was or that I'd even studied there before. Speaking to Julie, though, has made me feel a lot better about things. First, she gave me a kick up the backside about not blogging (probably why I'm back!) but she also helped me to feel okay about the fact that I'm not sure where I'm going yet. She reassured me that most people are in the same situation and as long as I have dreams and aspirations I'll get there one day soon. Seeing my best friends from Uni really brought it all home to me that most of us really are the same. We spent so long sharing all of our memories and I was so grateful to see them all again, but it was also so nice knowing that we all believe in each other. I think the Uni Glam Class of 2013 are the best yet! 

I've been thinking a lot recently about what the next step is for me. It's hard knowing that my University life is over, but that's not then end of my story. I've got so much more that I want to achieve and so many things that I want to see that I'm not giving up on. While a career is so extremely important to me, I've also decided that I might want to travel a bit. If you know me well, you'll know that I've always said I was born on the wrong side of the pond. My heart belongs to America, and even though I've only been there twice, I cannot wait to get back. I've decided that I NEED to go back. I want to spend part of next summer in Los Angeles, but that all depends on what I'm doing career wise at the point. I'm still applying for Social Media and PR & Marketing jobs every day in the hope that something will come along real soon. I guess I don't have a finalised goal of where I want to be. I don't know if I'll stay here in the UK or if I will make it to the US, who knows?! All I know is that I have great people around me, a degree that I'm proud of and the power to be whoever I want to be. I have no limits. I'm lucky enough to have the most supportive family and friends out there, and I know they'll be there for me whatever I do in life. 

I guess this is really a post for anyone who's in the same position as me, or for someone at Uni or someone who's thinking about going. It's a post for my family and friends, but it's also a post for me. It's good to talk about what you're going through and hopefully this way I'll find even more people that can relate to my experience. 

I know this is kind of a serious post but I do also want to keep this blog light-hearted and fun to be a part of. I'm going to keep blogging about life after University, but I also want to keep the Beauty and Tag theme around. What do you want to see me talk about next time? Pleaseee give me suggestions because they're really helpful at moments of severe writers block, but I also want to write stuff that you want to read! Just tweet me @amyjcollins or comment any ideas that you have! There are plenty of other Social Media sites where you can grab me as well, links are all in the sidebar. I hope you're still enjoying my blog and I'll see you very soon! 

Thanks so much for stopping by, all the love in the world,

Take care, stay beautiful and dream big!

@amyjcollins

xox

August Favourites - Oopsie, it's the middle of September!

Hiya Peeps! 

Happy Sunday! I'm back with another post, finally! I know it's a little late but I'm going with my August favourites.

I've actually had quite a few favourites last month but I'm still loving a lot of stuff from July. I apologise in advance for the poor images. I'm taking the photos at the moment on my iPhone and they're not brilliantly edited or great quality, but hey ho!

Maybelline Baby Lips

I'm sure that these have been released in the US for quite a long time but they came to the UK last month. I was sooo excited to try them because there was so much hype around them and they definitely didn't disappoint. I have them in two colours (Peach Kiss and Cherry Me) and I really like them both. The red colour is super pigmented for a lip balm so you can really see it on my lips. I love the Peach shade for when I'm going for a more natural look or if I'm wearing really simple make-up. I would definitely recommend these for younger girls who are experimenting with make-up as they're a cheap alternative to a lipstick and aren't as heavy.

Kate Moss Rimmel Lipsticks

 
Like I said in my July favourites, I've never been a real wearer of lipstick. I've been experimenting more and recently tried the Kate Moss range from Rimmel. I bought one colour from each of her ranges and actually wear them both an awful lot. I have shade 1 from the Lasting Finish range which is a gorgeous bright red colour. This is something I NEVER thought I'd wear, but I really love it. It works so well for evening make-up, but I really like wearing it in the day for a burst of colour when I've gone for really simple make-up. The second I have is from the matte collection is called Soft Pink (no 16?) and is a great colour for everyday wear. A definite must have in your collection.

Natural Collection Blush -Dusky Pink

I tried this blush just by chance and was so impressed because it was super cheap! It was only like £1.99 and it's super pigmented. This shade is so great for everyday wear and gives my cheeks the very slight, pink blush that I need to look healthy.

Wearing My Hair Tied Up
 I know this really won't apply to any of you, and this isn't really something you can try off the back off my recommendation, but all throughout August, I loved wearing my hair up. During some parts of the month it was just sooo hot and virtually impossible to wear my hair down and I eventually really started liking the way my hair looked when it was up. But yeah, just wanted to put this in. It's not really relevant to you guys but yeah haha.

Hoodie Allen
 
All through August I was completely obsessed by this man. For those of you who don't know who Hoodie is, he's an American rapper. If you're not familiar with his music, you should definitely check his music out. All of his EP's are available for free download on his website so go get them! I was lucky enough to see him in London at the start of September and it's been one of my favourite shows to date. Yeah, just go check him out.

Slimming World
Now, as some of you will know from previous posts of mine, I've been trying to lose some of the many extra pounds I've got hanging around. I decided to give Slimming World a go with my nan (woooo!) and I'm actually really impressed with the results. I've actually lost a stone and 4lbs now, and I know I've still got a long way to go, but I'm happy with how it's going so far. The diet itself doesn't make sense and I still don't really understand how it actually works, but it does! I'm really trying to keep it up because I'm finally starting to see results. If you're looking for a way of losing a bit of weight, I really would recommend Slimming World. It's a lot easier than it looks and it really does work.

Peach Sprite

 This is more of just a side note really as I've only actually had this once during August. I met up with my friend Ben (@Ben_Tarrant) in London and we went for lunch at Five Guys. If you haven't been there and you like burgers, just go. You won't regret it. But yeah, in there they have these immense drinks machines where you can basically put any flavour into any soft drink and it's craaaazy! I went with peach Sprite and it was b-e-a-utiful. I know that it's not something that's readily available in the UK, but what about in the US or the other countries that you're reading from. If you have peach flavoured Sprite in your country, please let me know!

But that's pretty much it. There are quite a few things that I've already fallen in love with in the month of September, so you have next month's favourites to look forward to, and they're coming a lot sooner than this one did.

For next week, I kind of want to sign my post over to you guys. If you've got anything that you'd like me to talk about please let me know in the comments below or drop me a tweet @amyjcollins and I'll do my best to give it a try! I also really want to do a review week real soon where people ask me to review products / things and I give my honest opinion on a different thing each day. Again, let me know if you have any ideas.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by.
Take care, stay beautiful and dream big!
All the love in the world,
amyjcollins
xox

Terrible Excuse for a Blogger! - 10 Different Ways to Apologise

Hiya Peeps!

So, as you can see by today's title, I am accepting that I have been a terrible human being. I made a pact with myself and you guys that I'd upload regularly (on a Sunday) and since I made that official, I haven't really stuck to it. It was all well and good me making the commitment to post on that day, but I'm a super busy human being and apparently also quite a lazy one. So this is me apologising without a real excuse, but hey, at least I'm trying! 

Today's post is kind of a filler ahead of Sunday's, and I thought I'd stick with something kind of topical. As I'm saying sorry, I thought why not give you '10 Different Ways to Apologise'. I've spent quite a while (at least an hour) trying to think of creative things to put here, so here it goes.

1. Hug them

Sometimes just simply giving someone a cuddle can do all the talking.

(Me and my best friend not apologising to each other, but it's a nice huggy photo. Sorry, Chris!)

2. Send them a video

More often than not, knowing what to say in person is really difficult. Whether you make a video (like the one above) or send someone their favourite video to cheer them up, it can sometimes be a good apology.

(I borrowed this video from YouTube! All credit to the person who made it.)

3. Write a song / poem

This is for all the lyrical folk among us. If words just aren't enough, or you can't say them in the right way, sing them! When things rhyme, they sound a lot cuter.

4. Buy a gift 

It doesn't have to be an expensive gift; in fact, it doesn't need to have cost anything at all. Gifts, like hugs, can sometimes speak the words you don't know how to say. Flowers are always a winner, as are chocolates (in my eyes).  For the arty and crafty people, there's always a handmade gift and if you're rolling in the money, your friend will almost always appreciate a car!

5. Write a letter

A letter is a really great way to say sorry. If you're not ready or able to be face to face with who you're apologising to, a letter works really well. It allows some space between people and gives them time to think. It also shows that you're sincere and you've taken time and effort to write it.

6. Dress up funny and pay them a visit

This is more for those of us who are really awkward with confrontation and have real panic when it comes to apologising (me!). It adds a bit of comedic value to the situation and nothing says sorry like me dressed up as a really pathetic looking mouse! 

(This wasn't an actual apology, this is me and my friend on Halloween but it's the best picture of me dressed up that I could find. Sorry, Jack!)

7. Cook something 

This would never work for me as I'm a terrible excuse for a chef, but for some of you it will. Baking a cute cake or someone's favourite meal could be the perfect way to cheer them up. Just make sure everything is cooked properly before serving it; you don't want to make someone ill as well as mad at you.

8. Public apology

When I use the term 'public apology', I'm actually being quite vague. In my eyes, this can vary from anything to saying a big sorry in a restaurant full of people to posting an apology tweet or blog post (hey, isn't that exactly what this is?!). Basically, it's public in the sense that other people will see it and see how sorry you are, and hopefully that way, so will the other person. (Please don't go with a cringey Facebook status, though. That really bugs me!)

9. Apologise through somebody else

Sometimes saying 'sorry' to someone's face is really difficult, especially if you're shy or uncomfortable with confrontation. If writing a letter isn't something that would work for you, why not talk to someone else about how sorry you feel. That way they may share how you feel, and it can sometimes be really sincere. If the person you've upset hears how sorry you are, maybe they'll accept your (sort of) apology.

10. Just say 'Sorry' (and mean it).

But finally, when it comes down to it, sometimes the best way to apologise is to just say 'sorry'. A face to face apology is probably the most heartfelt and sincere of apologies and it usually means the most. If you really mean it, it'll come across in your face and body language, and with a bit of luck, all will be fixed!

So there you have it, peeps. I truly am sorry! If I could write a song for you all or pay you all a visit dressed a chicken, I would. I hope this helps you if you have something to apologise for / someone to apologise to. If you liked this post, please let me know on Twitter @amyjcollins. Follow me, and I'll follow back and we can chat. Please follow (bloglovin') and share this post where you can. It really means the world to me!

Thank you so much for sticking around and being patient with me,

Take care, stay beautiful and DREAM BIG!

All the love in the world, 

amyjcollins

xox

Midweek Misery and The Big Brother Final.

Hiya Peeps!

Don't worry, midweek posting isn't going to be a regular thing. You can calm down, I won't be forever bombarding you with my constant chatter. 

I just really wanted to have a moan; I'm feeling a little sorry for myself today and blogging lets me get some things off my chest. I'm feeling poopey because even though I've been doing quite well with the whole weight loss thing (if I do say so myself), I bought a couple of casual dresses online and they just look horrific on me. I thought after losing almost a stone, I might start feeling a little better about my body and that clothes might start to look a little better, but I'm just not getting that yet. I know it's going to take time, but a stone is a lot to lose and I thought I'd be seeing some results by now. It's just frustrating because I really like the dresses and I know they'd look good on most other people. So basically, that's it. Sorry for my little rant. 

In happier, and slightly more exciting news, however, last night I went to the Big Brother Final. I've been to a lot of pre-recorded and live TV shows before, so I wasn't expecting this one to be all that different, but it was on another level. The production was of such a high standard and there were so many crew. It's not like being in a small TV studio with a crew of 30 and an audience of 200, there were so many people! The whole 'live' atmosphere is such a buzz and it just adds to the excitement of being at a TV recording. It really was so much fun, and we had a great spot right next to the stairs where the housemates come out. That being said, we were also right opposite where the media were, meaning that we're in the back of quite a lot of the press shots. It was hilarious coming out to messages / tweets from friends saying they'd just seen me on TV! 

 (Emma Willis' cue cards. Such a fangirl! Given to me by Floor Manager.)

But more than anything else, being back in the television environment has really given me a buzz for the industry again. I always knew I was passionate about TV production, but this has just confirmed it all the more. Being away from the TV production environment and coming back to it has made me want it so much more. Watching the Floor Manager work was so inspiring for me, and I even managed to grab a few words with him at the end which was awesome. He gave me some really good advice and really got me passionate for the business again.

Something that I kept a real close eye on over the course of the night was the fashion and the outfits that the contestants decided to wear for the final. I've decided that Sunday's post will possibly be a reflection of that. I might discuss what I thought of the whole event and focus mainly on what everyone looked like, and what my opinions were. What do you think? Let me know if you think this is a horrid idea and I'll come up with something else, but I think it could be quite fun. It's not like anything I've ever done before and it might be nice to get my opinions across. Tweet me @amyjcollins or let me know in the comments below what you think my next post should be about. 

Again, I'm sorry for posting midweek when I said I wouldn't, I just really wanted to let you know about my Big Brother experience and have a little whinge about my body. I also don't blame you if you haven't read down this far.

Thanks for stopping by, all the love in the world,

Take care, stay beautiful and dream big, people!

@amyjcollins

xox

Poopey Week - 11 Personal Questions

Hiya Peeps! 

So this isn't what I had planned for today's post, but I've had a pretty horrendous week. I've been quite busy at work, as well as attempting to overcome two illnesses, and to make things worse, the ear infection I had last week has come back, so I feel more poopey.

But despite feeling like death warmed up, I am here for you! I found this tag on Anna Saccone's blog and thought I'd give it a go. It gives you a chance to find out some more info about me, and is an easy one for me to do on the go.

1. What do you order at Starbucks?
Well, I'm not a regular customer at Starbucks because there isn't one close to me and I don't actually like coffee (sorry!). Occasionally, though, I will go to Starbucks and if I do, I usually order a Skinny Caramel Creme Frappachino, no whipped cream.
 
2. What's one thing in your closet that you can't live without?
 It's going to sound really boring, but the one thing in my closet that I can't live without is leggings. I think they're a staple item in any closet, and I think you can make them work with pretty much anything. Dress them up with a shirt and heels, or dress them down with a baggy tee and Vans. Simple, but a necessity.

3. What's one thing that most people don't know about you?
 A lot of people don't know that I can play the steel drums. I actually used to be in a steel band and we played gigs quite often in my town. We even played at the local MP's birthday party which was pretty cool.

4. What's one thing you want to do before you die?
I really, really, really want to live in the US. I'm so desperate to go back to New York and I really want to visit California, but my ultimate dream is to live somewhere in America at some point in my life for a period of time. I don't mind if it's not on a permanent basis (even though that's the ultimate dream), but I just want it to happen.

5. What's one food you can't live without?
I think I'd have to say chicken. I know a lot of people will turn their noses up at that, but I really do love it. It's such a staple part of my diet and can be cooked and served in so many different ways.

6. What's one quote that you live your life by?
'Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game'. It's a quote from the movie, 'A Cinderella Story'. I'm not sure where the quote came from before that, but I really do like it. It keeps me inspired.

7. What's your no1 song on your iPod/iTunes?
Well if you're asking me for my most played song on iTunes, it's Neckbreaker by Blizzard. But if you're asking me for my favourite song on my iTunes, at the moment, it's probably No Interuption (Acoustic) by Hoodie Allen. The Americoustic EP that he released last week is amaaaazing! I cannot wait to see him in September. 

8. What kind of style would you describe yourself as having?
Average. Painfully, painfully average. I don't really have a style, I just wear baggy tee's, leggings and trainers most of the time!

9. Favourite Number?
 3.

10. Two Hobbies?
 I love Reading. Since I've finished University I've had more time for casual reading and it's been really good for me. As well as keeping my brain active, it's my escape. Is it sad to say that my other hobby is just the internet? I love writing blogs, reading blogs, watching vlogs and social networking. I can't keep off the internet most of the time!

11. Two Pet Peeves?
I really cannot stand when people click their joints, that's my biggest pet peeve EVER! I also really hate being ignored. It really annoys me. If I text you, at least have the decency to text me back. It doesn't take a second to send a text saying you're busy. Don't be sat in a group of friends and ignore my question three times, and then answer to someone else straight away. 

There we go, guys. I hope you've learned some more random stuff about me and I'm sorry it's not the exciting post some of you might have been expecting. I've got a lot of good things planned, as well as hopefully doing a review week really soon. What do you want to me see me talk about? Let me know in the comments, or tweet me @amyjcollins.

Thanks for stopping by; all the love in the world.
Take care, stay beautiful and DREAM BIG!
amyjcollins
xox

Very Quick Update

Hiya Peeps!

Hope you're all enjoying yesterday's post, and are reading back over all the other stuff I like to waffle on about. I have nothing major to report, sorry (!), but I just wanted to give you a quick update on where I'm going with life at the mo.

I've recently started taking this blog really seriously. It's something I'm really enjoying doing and something I can definitely see myself doing for quite some time. The more people that click on my blog, the more I want to put into it and the more I love writing it. It makes me so happy to know that people actually open this page, so thank you very much! 

I also want to try and make things a bit more regular around here. Since I started this blog, I've sort of just been uploading as and when it suits me or when I panic that I haven't posted in a while. That's a terrible way to do things and I won't be sticking to it! I've decided that I'm going to put out new posts every Sunday so keep your eyes peeled for that. It'll give us all something to look forward to at the end of the week.

Currently, I'm still doing the job hunting thing which is really sucky and not fun at all. I love finding jobs that I'd love to do and think I'd really suit doing, but when I apply & I hear nothing back, that isn't a whole lot of fun. As most of you know I love Social Media, and writing this blog has only made me want to do it more. Imagine if someone wanted to pay me to write a blog / tweet / spend hours on pinterest and tumblr... Stop dreaming Amy. But on a serious note, having a degree but no job sucks.

 I'm also giving that whole 'weight loss' thing a go. I've been feeling pretty crappy recently what with finishing Uni and having to kiss goodbye to some of my closest friends. When you feel bad, you eat bad and I've ended up looking like a baby whale, so I'm doing something about it. I've just started doing Slimming World (review coming in due course, it's bloody brilliant!) and in three weeks I've lost a whopping 9 & 1/2lbs which I'm pretty blooming proud of. I'm also trying hard to work out when I can, which normally consists of me jogging around like a freak listening to One Direction for inspiration. Harry Styles will never love me while I'm fat.

In other news, I bought a new handbag. I like buying new handbags but I'm super fussy and it usually takes me forever to find one that's right for me and all of my useless handbag crap (and my laptop). I was just shopping in town the other day and happened to go into H&M. I never really shop in there so was surprised to find a bag that I loved straight away. At £14.99 it was an absolute steal and it fits my laptop in it (WIN) so I am bloody laughing! SUCCESS.

So, that's it. I'm sorry to do this so soon after publishing my last post, but I wanted to make you aware of the changes going on over here. Oh, I've also added an 'About' page up there ^^^ so check it out to find out a bit more about me. My social media links are on the top right hand side of your screen so come chat to me! Don't forget to follow/subscribe where you can! 

That's all from me,

Thanks for stopping by, all the love in the world.

Take care, stay beautiful and DREAM BIG!

@amyjcollins

My First Time

Hiya Peeps!

If any of you are familiar with the blogging / vlogging community, you will have probably already seen this tag floating around the interwebs. I'm terribly sorry to disappoint but this is not a post about my first sexual experience. This is merely a post about me experiencing things for the first time. But it's a cheeky title, isn't it?! ;)

 First Pet - My first pet was the cutest rabbit in the whole wide world (this is a fact) and she was called Jasmine. My aunt bought my sister and I a rabbit each for Easter, which was actually the coolest Easter present EVER! Originally I wanted to name them Jasper and Horris (like 101 Dalmations) but the vet then told me that mine was a girl so I went with Jasmine. Lucy called hers Barney and we had them for about 7 years.

First Kiss - Oooooooh, cringe! I'm not going to name names in case by some chance he ends up reading this but my first proper kiss was with a guy I went to secondary school with. I think I was like 12/13 and I went round his house after school and we kissed... A LOT. From what I remember, my first kiss experience wasn't a terrible one... Probably because he'd kissed hundreds of people before me but that's all we'll say on that.

First CD / Piece of Music - The first piece of music I ever bought was actually a cassette tape and it was Peter Andre - Mysterious Girl. I remember my mom used to give me like £3 a week pocket money and I'd always spend mine in Virgin Megastores hah! The first CD I ever bought was Lionel Richie - Tender Heart and I still completely ADORE it! That wasn't the first CD I ever owned though; I was given DJ Luck and MC Neat - With a Little Bit of Luck for my birthday by my next door neighbours and that's still one of my favourite songs ever!

First Concert - The first concert I ever attended was the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party. I think it was in 2001 but I'm not entirely sure. It was at the ExCeL centre in London and I saw Blue, Westlife, Steps and S Club 7 as well as many others. We got told off a few times for standing on the chairs, but I don't think we cared too much!

First Job - Well my first job was a paper round and I hated it! It was horrifically boring and I'm very lazy meaning I never wanted to walk around delivering newspapers. When I was 16, I got my first 'proper' job working in a health and beauty shop and I've been there ever since!

First Tweet - My first tweet was 'is getting ready for work :|'. It was way back in April 2009 so I can't scroll back that far to take a screen shot, so you'll just have to trust me!

First Best Friend - My first best friend was a girl called Leanne. I'm lucky enough that she's still one of my best friends because she knows everything about me and we've been through so much with each other. We're actually born only ten days apart and our parents knew each other before we entered the world, so it was destined for us to be close really! We went all through primary and secondary school together and maintained our friendship despite going to different sixth forms and me going away to University. Love you, Lea, my little XXi p3N1.


So that's it. I'm sorry this post has been quite text heavy, but a lot of these things happened earlier in my life and I don't have photos of them. I hope you enjoy these kinds of posts / tags and if you do, please let me know! All of my social media links will be below; come talk to me, I'm really nice and would love to hear from you all.

Thanks so much for stopping by, all the love in the world,
Take care, stay beautiful and dream big!
@amyjcollins