Hogwarts Adventure

I wouldn't exactly call myself a die-hard Harry Potter fan however that did not stop me from visiting the Warner Brothers Studio Tour for a second time and still be amazed as I was the first time. Even if you have never read the books or watched any of the films, you will definitely be impressed by what the studio tour has to offer!

I recommend booking your tickets online (here you will be asked to choose a time slot for the tour) and in advance as it is such a popular attraction - this just means you have a better chance at securing a place at a time that is convenient for you.

The tour lasts for approximately three to four hours which gives you enough time to explore, eat and shop!

WHAT TO EXPECT: 

• "Behind-the-scenes" access to see how the Harry Potter films were made.
• Detailed props and sets.
• Interactive opportunities in the green screen rooms.

INSIDE THE GREAT HALL - THE START OF THE TOUR

THE BACKLOT - THE MIDDLE OF THE TOUR:

After visiting Platform 9 and ¾'s, you will be lead to what's known as the "backlot". This area allows you to purchase refreshments (personally, I would bring a packed lunch as there are limited food choices on offer and is fairly expensive), enjoy Butterbeer (again overpriced, tastes just like Cream Soda - if you're into that, but also part of the experience) and gently guides you to Privet Drive.

THE MODEL OF HOGWARTS - THE FINAL PART OF THE TOUR:

The model of Hogwarts is 100% the showstopper of the entire tour - no more needs to be said about this! 

WHAT ELSE IS ON OFFER?

THE STUDIO SHOP: has a range of merchandise, it's every Potter heads dream - from notebooks to chocolate wands, you will want everything! HOWEVER, you may want to take out a small loan if you do wish to buy something because it is not cheap!!! 

Apart from this, if you're looking for a fun day out then I would wholeheartedly encourage you to visit!

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Going insane?

As the title of this post suggests, I literally felt like I was going insane at the start of the year. I found life pretty overwhelming, I didn't know what I was doing and (now I know) that is okay, it is totally normal to feel this way!

Without going into too much detail, I was diagnosed with a mental health condition; an anxiety disorder to be exact which provided me with a logical explanation as to why I was I finding daily activities so exhausting - more on this can be found here.

Having an anxiety disorder affects everything, your social life, your circle of friends and for me, finding the motivation to do the littlest of things like going to uni everyday was an absolute challenge. I can happily say now that I have managed to complete the second year of my degree after many hours of crying and stressing myself out - I did it, I survived!

It has taken a couple of months to feel like me again but slow progress is better than none. I can now concentrate and focus my time on things I have neglected; like my blog 😬.  This is my first post since January but I am excited to get back into writing 😌.

I have learnt that life is all about balance - it is important to take breaks for your own sanity.

One of my favourite quotes is "comparison is the thief of joy" and this could not be more true! I would spend hours on my phone scrolling through social media constantly wondering why my life was not like everyone else's but now I have realised social media is just an illusion - people obviously only post the best parts of their life and what they want people to see, it's not their real day-to-day life. Every so often, I have a "digital detox" and it is one of the best things I have ever done - it really helps to clear the mind - the less time I spend on my phone, the better I feel!

I don't really know where I am going with this but I am so proud of how far I have come despite everything.

The present situation is not the final destination.

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How Skin Accumax Changed My Life

The title of my post seems a bit dramatic but it's true. I've mentioned my acne problem countless times on this blog purely because it's the one area of my life that I thought I couldn't change...until one day I discovered Skin Accumax (thanks to a family friend - *ily so much for this*) 🙌!

My skin was relatively clear as a child but as soon as I hit my late teens (16 onwards) my spots became the bane of my life. I can guarantee you I've tried every spot treatment in Boots and Superdrug and when that didn't work I decided to consult my doctor who prescribed with some tablets that did absolutely NOTHING to help the situation.

I'm not someone who has a problem with the way they look but my acne was definitely doing a good job of making me feel self-conscious. 😒

August 2015.

Within the space of a year was looking the worse I'd ever seen it. I was breaking out mostly along my t-zone as well as my cheeks, my pigmentation was becoming more visible and the pain was pretty much intolerable. Going out without makeup on definitely not an option either.

August 2016.

By chance, a family friend recommended Skin Accumax from the Advanced Nutrition Programme. In all honesty, I'd never even heard of the company and knew nothing about them but by this time I was becoming so desperate that I was willing to do anything. At first, I was sceptical about trying another treatment due to the lack of results I was getting but I was easily persuaded after hearing that the product was a supplement containing natural ingredients.  

The iiaa is a distributer of the Advanced Nutrition Programme Skin Supplements, Environ Skin Care  and Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup. Their simple philosophy of "Feed, Fortify and Finish" works in conjunction with iiaa brands to improve the appearance of acne and maintain healthy looking skin.

I started off by using the 60 capsule Skin Accumax pack twice a day (retailing at £39.95) and gradually moved onto the Starter pack containing 120 capsules (£69.95). It's now been six months and I am still continuing my Skin Accumax journey by taking the 180 capsule Supersize pack priced at £89.95. More on the range of products can be found here!

Obviously, Skin Accumax isn't the most budget friendly but it's a small price to pay for the result it gives! I have never been happier! I wasn't expecting my skin to change overnight but within a week there was clearly a difference. I wasn't breaking out daily and my skin was beginning to look and feel a lot smoother. Skin Accumax has boosted my self esteem to the point where I can actually confidently leave the house without makeup and I no longer use 30590504 filters before uploading a selfie on social media!

The last few selfies on my Instagram have not been altered or blurred at all - (I use VSCO to edit my images cos you know, I try to upkeep a theme) 😁.

This is what my skin looks like from November 2016 - January 2017.

DISCLAIMER: I am in no way a skin care expert but Skin Accumax genuinely gives better results and actually works unlike prescribed medication from the doctors. The proof is in the photo! X

2017

We're almost three weeks into January 2017 and it's been pretty much a month since I last wrote a blog post. The last couple of weeks have been crazy, I can't even describe it! Uni deadlines, Christmas and New Year's - it's been a blur.

It's probably a bit late to talk about my New Year's resolutions but I have one that I have already completed and two that I think I can achieve by the end of the year!

1. PASS MY DRIVING TEST - I'm very happy to announce that on the 11th of January 2017, I FINALLY passed my driving test after 3 failed attempts! I cannot even count the amount of times that I wanted to quit but I am so glad I kept going with it! Looking back now, I am certain that the times I failed was a sign that I just wasn't ready!

*so far so good* 👍

2. BE HAPPY - it sounds stupid but I am one of those people that overthinks absolutely everything😩. 2016 was such a busy year and I want 2017 to be the year where I focus on me - self-care is a priority.

3. SAY YES TO MORE THINGS - that includes social events, seeing my friends more often and learning to step out of my comfort zone!

2016 taught me that it is better to live life with more *ooops* moments than "what if's".

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