What I Hope to Achieve in 2018

I know this is a kinda generic post, but I really enjoy writing about this kind of thing so figured I might as well share it with you!

We're currently pretty much at the end of January (finally, right?), and I'm already super hyped about what this year is gonna bring me. With loads of plans already made, and more to be made in the near future, it's set to be amazing!

Firstly, I really want to become more confident. I say this every year, and every year I do make minor progress but I want to continue that. Anyone who knows me will know that I can be incredibly nervous and shy- especially when meeting new people. Some people have even thought I was rude when they first met me because I didn't speak much! But all of that is slowly changing so here's hoping that when it comes to reviewing my year in December, I'll come even further!

Secondly, I really want my summer to be a success. As some of you will already know, I'm spending it in the states with AmeriCamp! I was recently #plACed at Chestnut Lake Camp in Pennsylvania- but I will make sure to post regular updates on all of my social media channels! Anyway, it's something that I've been aiming towards for years so one of my main goals is for all of this to go smoothly!

Another goal is to pass my first year of university. This may seem like an obvious one, but I really struggle with writing essays so I'm really hoping to succeed in my work. As I'm writing this, I'm nervously awaiting my Semester 1 results- please keep everything crossed for me!

I also want to continue to build up my confidence in my jobs. I work for a hospitality agency, so having to adapt to new surroundings really quickly can sometimes be challenging, as can having to adapt to new roles. In December I threw myself in at the deep end and agreed to be a Team Leader for some shifts- and the experience honestly helped me so much! So I want to continue to develop with them which in turn will develop my confidence- it's an all round positive!

Finally, I aim to become more consistent with my blog. I say this far too often but I do genuinely want to make more effort with this. As a full time university student with 2 part time jobs, it's definitely far easier said than done. I have so many half finished posts that I really am going to try my best to get uploaded! However if you want to make sure you're seeing more of my posts, be sure to keep an eye on my AmeriCamp blog, as well as my social media channels as I've teamed up with Campus Living Villages to work with them on posts too!

I hope you enjoyed reading this post- like I said I know it's incredibly cliche and generic but it's one I genuinely wanted to share with you all. I genuinely will try my best to keep uploading here regularly, however if you want consistent posts make sure to check out my AmeriCamp blog! Feel free to make suggestions on what other posts you may like to see in the future :)

Let's Talk About | Mental Health

I've been planning these posts for a long time, and the reason it's taken me so long is simply because I wanted to be able to dedicate a significant amount of time and energy writing them, as I feel it's important to 'do it right'. I'm aiming to keep these posts frequent, hopefully every Sunday but I'm going to give a heads up now and say that sometimes they could be delayed as these are not the sort of posts I want to rush.

Secondly, I will likely be going into a significant amount of detail in this series, so if there's anything that you find upsetting or are struggling to read, please don't feel that you have to force yourself to read the whole post. I'm here if any of you EVER need someone to chat to don't hesitate to message me on Twitter- my username is @neverlandhan.

I'm going to start off with some statistics relating to mental health, in case there's anyone reading this who maybe doesn't fully understand the significance of these issues.

In a year, as many as 1 in 4 people will experience mental health problems. This means that pretty much everyone will either have experience these issues themselves or have a close friend or family member who does.

Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems- these account for around 80% of cases. At present, around 3 in every 100 people have depression.

In my opinion, one of the most frustrating and upsetting things about mental health today is the stigma surrounding each and every illness. 9 in 10 people with mental health problems have experienced stigma and discrimination. I firmly believe that mental health is equally as important as physical health, so these figures shock and upset me. Although times are slowly starting to change and people are beginning to talk about mental health a little more, it's still very much a 'taboo' subject.

The majority of people have little or no understanding of mental health. This prevents them from talking about it as much as they should, and it also means that those who are suffering are less likely to ask for help as they don't know that they can get help. Regardless of setting, good information and understanding about where to get effective help and treatment for mental health problems is invaluable when a crisis occurs.

That's why I've decided to write these posts- I'm not expecting them to go viral but I hope that the information I share in these posts will be shared to help as many people as possible- at the very least I want to try and raise more awareness and make mental health less of a taboo topic.

I know I'm not the best at keeping up with posts and for that I apologise but I will honestly be trying my best with this series. I start university next month so things are gonna be a little hectic but I've allocated a time slot each week to try and write and upload each post.

The Samaritans run a free 24 hour helpline offering confidential support for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair. Their number is 116 123.

'They're Not Just a Band'

Firstly, I'd just like to take a moment to pay tribute to the victims of the Manchester attack. 22 beautiful angels were taken far too soon- nobody should go to a concert to not return home.

Another incredible Vamps tour has just ended and the past few days have really seen me reflecting on the impact that the band have had on my life. After over 4 years downloading and promoting new music, going to shows and meeting the boys, I've made countless memories that will no doubt last a lifetime.

It's amazing how many times I've answered the question 'But why do you go to so many of their shows, aren't they all the same?'. You could argue that this is true in that the same set list will be played for a whole tour- but every experience is different.Each show is spent with different friends, often in a different venue and in a different area. This means that so many amazing and unique memories are made at each show and they last forever. Even if every experience was identical and spent with the same people, what's to say I won't still make more amazing memories at each and every show? Because to me, The Vamps aren't just a band, they're a fundamental source of happiness.

To me, going to a Vamps show isn't about seeing a group of attractive boys performing. It's not about being able to post a billion photos and videos of the show online to brag about my experience. It's not even about the music. It's about being able to make wonderful memories with some of my best friends in the world- whilst being at my absolute happiest.

The past few years have been an emotional roller-coaster for me- there's been a heck of a lot of ups where I've made happy memories, but there's also been a lot of downs, where I've struggled to pull through and see the positives. But thanks to this band, things have grown so much clearer for me. The feeling of total happiness and freedom that I feel at the shows is so powerful it'd be impossible to put it into words. Months of saving and planning all culminate when tour time comes around, and the boys never disappoint.

For this years 'Middle of the Night' tour, I was lucky enough to visit 5 cities and travel 1,800 miles for the band who had such a significant impact on my life. Since 2015, I've been to at least 3 dates of each tour, and I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. I genuinely don't think I could just go to one Vamps show at tour- as soon as the lights go down and the curtain drops the adrenaline takes over and I catch the 'bug'. The boys set may only last about an hour and a half, but the excitement lasts all day. Starting with waking up in the morning (cheesy pun not intended), and carrying right on through until going to bed that night it's pretty safe to say that I'm in my element at tour time.

I don't just support The Vamps because I like meeting them, but those experiences truly are magical. I've met the band quite a few times now and I cannot do enough to express how grateful I am for that. The few short seconds spent with the boys are filled with such overwhelming happiness that I genuinely don't think I can explain, but if you've met your favourite people before then I'm sure you can relate to what I'm trying to express. (If not, I promise you will meet them soon!).

I'm no medical expert but I know for certain that going to these shows has genuine health benefits for me. Aside from the 47,248 calories burned by jumping around and going crazy, it's been proven that being at your happiest works wonders for your health- and Vamps concerts certainly make me feel that way.

Don't just take my word for all of this. I asked on Twitter why people went to concerts, and here are a few of the responses:

"Because they're the only place I feel safe and happy. Gigs are the actual most magical thing in the world, music is the only reason I'm still going and hearing music live is just magic".

"Concerts will never not be my safe haven. I can always rely on my favourite band to help me see the positives in my life and pull me through the darkest of times".

"I go to concerts because music is a very big part of my life and it's like an escape for me when I'm feeling stressed or angry. I love to go and see my favourite artists do what they love and see them on stage in front of arenas full of people. I love how at a concert you can forget all the worries and stresses in your life even if it's just for a couple of hours and become united with people who love the same type of music as you".

Concerts are sort of like a 'light at the end of the tunnel'. What I mean is it's something to look forward to no matter how tough times are, no matter how much negativity I'm surrounded by. They're something I can focus on and they help give me a clearer mindset when everything else around me is out of focus.

Being at these shows gives me a really strong sense of belonging- I often struggle to mix with people and feel at home. In 'ordinary' scenarios, I really need to psych myself up in order to go out and interact with my peers- but concerts are the opposite. I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel any stress in the lead up to tour- but it's genuinely nice to be worrying about 'normal' things like 'Help what should I wear?' and 'Why is public transport in Britain so bloody expensive?'. I also get a sense of belonging on Twitter- recent hashtags have included #ConfidentForTheVamps which saw so many amazing and positive comments shared among fans, and it seriously boosted my confidence.

I'm sorry if this post has been a bit repetitive but I just wanted to try and get everything I feel onto this black and white post to share my feelings with anyone reading this! I do hope you enjoyed reading- if you did, or if you share the same feelings and want to have a little chat, feel free to drop a comment or send me a message over on Twitter- my username is @neverlandhan!

Review: Wellington Coffee Edinburgh

Hello! I've neglected my blog soo much lately and I figured the best way to get back into it would be a quick little review of a really lovely coffee shop I recently visited in Edinburgh.

Residing at 33A George Street, Wellington Coffee is incredibly easy to miss if you don't know it's there- but if you do happen to be in the area, I can't recommend it enough!

As you can see, it's really small and cosy so if you visit with hopes of sitting in, I'd advise against going at rush hour. But don't let this deter you- the lack of seating only adds to how delightfully quaint this coffee shop is.

Established in 2008, the coffee shop appears to have built up quite the reputation with coffee enthusiasts and business people alike. Once inside, it's not hard to see why. Seating just 17 people inside and out, the popularity of this small coffee shop far outstretches its capacity.

Even the lights are unique, giving Wellington an even stronger sense of unique character.  Despite the small menu, all of the classic coffee shop offerings are available. I'm ever so slightly obsessed with 'bits and bobs', so as you can probably imagine I was in my element in a place like this. 

Latte

Hot Chocolate

All in all, I genuinely cannot fault this place. So if you're ever in the area, whatever you're after; a place to work, a place to watch the world go by or simply somewhere to grab a really good cup of coffee, try Wellington.

Jamberry Nail Wraps | 7 Day Challenge

So I was recently sent some nail wraps by the lovely Jamberry Glitter Sparkles. I don't often get the chance to sit and have a little pamper and do my nails, But, I needed a little 'me time' so couldn't resist! They do such a wide range of designs(I'm not kidding, some of them actually glow in the dark!), I can 110% guarantee you'll fall in love with at least 10 and there's a design for every occasion- take a look here.

I took part in their 7 Day Challenge, and it was so incredible that they actually lasted two weeks. I can't emphasize enough how good these are- so here are some photos from the challenge!

As you can see, I wore the wraps on my ring fingers. I really like this as it draws the attention to a feature nail and highlights the really pretty pattern. The nail polish I used to accompany them was Urban Decay's 'Superfreak'.

I find nail wraps in general pretty great because your nails look like you've had a really fancy manicure, yet it costs a fraction of the price (and in all honesty, it probably lasts longer).

If you're ever considering purchasing some new nail products I'd highly recommend this company- I know I'm very keen to!

I was also sent a sample sheet of wraps, and post regarding those will be up in the not too distant future!

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this post!

Top Tips for Getting a Job!

I've recently managed to get myself a part time job (a total miracle, I know). So, I've decided to share some advice for any of you who may be trying to earn a bit of cash, or just a way to spend your free time!

Step 1- Find Available Jobs-

-Firstly, try sites such as Indeed and Reed. Many organisations will list positions here as its quick and easy to do. You may need to register and submit a CV through the site, or it may link to an online application- or give an email address for you to send your CV to. Either way, make sure to research the job first and make sure it's right for you!

-Check in stores/restaurants. They may not always advertise, or there's a chance that a role may be coming up soon. If so, you could have a chance of getting a job without having to fight off competition!

Put Yourself Forward as a Suitable Candidate-

-Have an up-to-date, relevant CV. There's no point in telling an Italian restaurant that you were part of a litter picking committee in the middle of primary school. List anything that may interest your potential employer, alongside any important qualifications- for example English. You may also wish to mention any previous employment, detailing your responsibilities from that role.

-If you're going into a store to enquire about available positions, or to hand in a CV, remember that you don't get a second chance to make a first impression! It's best to keep a formal look so that you make a good impact on the potential employer.


Be Prepared for an Interview-

-Research the sort of questions that you may be asked. A really common one is 'Why do you want to work for us?'. You can be ready for this by doing a little bit of research prior to the interview. Find out a couple of basic facts about the company- this will really impress the interviewer and immediately set you above others.


And Most Importantly-

-Have self confidence. Again, this will stand out to potential employers. Not only this but having a positive outlook and believing in yourself is the key to living a happy and healthy lifestyle!


I really hope you found these tips helpful. Remember, having a job is not the be all and end all- always focus on long term things like education. But if like me you just need a little bit extra cash, or are hoping to work full time- I wish you all the luck in the world!

Higher Photography | My Final Images

After months of literal blood sweat and tears, back in May I finally completed my Higher Photography portfolio. I'd seen the standard of some of some of the portfolios that had previously failed, they were incredible! So, as I'm sure you can imagine, I was beyond stressed about how I'd get on.

But it turns out that all my worry was for nothing, as last Tuesday (9th August) I got my results! I got a B in Higher Photography! So I've decided to share my photos with you- my theme was Travel and I really hope you enjoy this post!

These photos were taken at a variety of locations, including Newcastle, Edinburgh and my hometown of Hawick. Again, I hope you enjoyed this post- if you're keen on photography and are considering taking it as a course at any level- do it! I picked up so many new skills and tips from this, so don't hesitate!