Post-University Blues

It has been a year since leaving University. Granted, I didn’t really like my course and most definitely didn’t have the typical, fabulous University experience that everyone hopes for. However, I did enjoy my University experience as a whole.

I love the City of Liverpool, it’s always been in my heart and moving there was always a dream come true for me. I met friends, I met my boyfriend, I got a law degree and I grew as a person more than I can ever imagine due to my time at LJMU. But I was definitely relieved for it to be over…. at the time.

Advice to any third years, if you’re considering a masters, I’d now tell you to just do it. I didn’t do one, as I had no interest in Law. However, I have sat here in the sheep-filled valleys of Wales and watched all of my old course mates post photos on Facebook and Instagram, in the library together, going for drinks, late night revision session, brunches and parties, it’s actually made me wish I stayed on for another year.

Since leaving, I searched for a job, filled in application forms, had interviews and eventually landed a brilliant little job as a teaching assistant in a primary school. I have enjoyed it so much, I’ve loved every minute of it, but it’s still not filling the hole, which I seem to have possessed. I don’t know what it is but I still feel like something is missing, I’m not happy.

I want to move back to Liverpool. Back to the City that changed me for the better. Living back in Wales cannot fulfil me anymore, now I know what it’s like to live high up in a studio flat overlooking the bustling, musical, cultural City that I have fallen in love with. Don’t get me wrong, where I live in Wales is indescribably beautiful, safe, lovely and I’d always love to retire here when I’m older but everyone who knows me, knows at this age, I’m a City kind of girl. I even believe that I could have got through and dealt with the painful, boring studying and revision you must undertake to achieve a Law Masters if it meant I could stay there that extra year. I will move back. Watch this space Liverpool, your gals coming back.

Ally xo

Oh, I do Like to be Beside the Seaside ♡

I often take where I live for granted. But sunny afternoons like these remind me to appreciate living so close to the seaside. I joined my parents on their evening walk, we walked down the promenade and along the pier. It was still very windy, but sunny and warm enough for me to wear my sunglasses!

Today, I was wearing a plain black vest top, some patent leather-look leggings from Primark and knee high heeled boots from Outfit. I finished the look with this lovely, lightweight, chiffon blouse from George and a chunky black choker.

Along the pier, there's always lots of fairground rides which I remember riding when I was younger. I decided to have a little photoshoot in front of this particular children's ride because I loved the bright colours of the seats. I always get a strange feeling when I visit things such as fairgrounds or carparks in the evening time when there's nobody around. 

I Googled it, apparently there's a word for it; Kenopsia.

 n. the eerie, forlorn atmosphere of a place that’s usually bustling with people but is now abandoned and quiet—a school hallway in the evening, an unlit office on a weekend, vacant fairground

When I was taking this photo, Zoltar suddenly shouted at me very loudly making me jump, he's a creepy guy that Zoltar. 

I've decided to end this blog post with a couple of outtakes, just to highlight how difficult it is to take a serious blog photo in this lovely wind!

 

Thanks for reading guys ♡

Ally xo

Mother Earth Will Make You Strong ♡

My Dad is so proud of his garden at the minute, when I mentioned photographing my outfit, he demanded I take some shots by his newly built, beloved "wildlife pond". He calls it this because he managed to attract a frog once, and ever since he's claimed it's a wildlife nirvana. 

The weather today has been dull, the wind would finally stop and it would begin to pour down. I just about managed to run out and take some photos before getting caught in the rain. At least my Dad's happy.."the garden needs some hydration, I'm ready for the flowers to thrive". 

I'm wearing a cute little black top with beautiful criss cross shoulders tucked into my high waisted leather look shorts from Primark. I threw on my Warehouse denim jacket and some over-the-knee boots to finish the look.  

My handbag was actually given to me last week by a colleague who was throwing it out, it's a gorgeous sky blue Topshop bag. I adore this bag and have used it daily since, it is big enough to fit all of my essentials in without it being too heavy and bulky on my shoulder. 

On my next blog post, I'll try and get out to somewhere slightly more exciting than my back garden but the lovely Welsh weather wasn't on my side today! 

Thanks for reading ♡

Ally xo

Surprise Book Unboxing

I gave my Dad £30 and my Goodreads wishlist and told him to order me some books but not to tell me which ones he's chosen.

I absolutely loved filming this video and the whole process, it was so exciting knowing I was opening new books but not knowing which ones to expect!

I loved most of them but there was one I was hoping to receive, but i guess that's all part of the fun! 

The books I received were:

Illuminae - Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Cinder - Marissa Meyer
Looking for Alaska - John Green

November 9 - Colleen Hoover

The Casual Vacancy - JK Rowling

The Kite Runner -Khaled Hosseini

 

I made a video opening them on my YouTube channel, if you'd like to watch it and see my reactions to each package... here is the link to my channel: www.youtube.com/allyelouise

The Boy with the Cuckoo Clock Heart

Mathias Malzieu

2/5

My Grandma bought me this book quite a while ago, I never actually got round to reading it until this month. I think she purchased it wholly for the cover if I’m being honest. Just look at the illustrations, they’re beautiful. I however didn’t really enjoy the actual book. It was generally a good idea for a storyline but I didn’t feel like the language or writing style flowed nicely. From what I have discovered, this book was translated from French into English and this may be why the writing didn’t progress smoothly throughout. 

I was fond of the different characters and was able to imagine what each of them looked like and create a picture in my mind from the descriptions. I felt like aspects of the story were too farfetched even for a fairy-tale at times and most definitely didn’t enjoy the ending. I disappointingly felt like it had a slightly rushed finish. All in all, I wouldn’t highly recommend this book personally, although people who prefer more of a darker, twisted fairy-tale genre may feel differently.

Dublin

This post is going up a bit late BUT I did go to Dublin for a few days with some of my friends recently. I'd been once already prior to this trip but I was so young that I thought that dipping my finger in the foam on top of my Grandad's Guinness to see what it tasted like was an  extremely rebellious act. 

We stayed in the loveliest little hostel in a great location not far from most of the main attractions. It was called Generator Hostel and was full of young travellers. The room was small but cute and had all of the necessities, the place was clean and they even served Pizza in the bar downstairs. We also stayed in one night for a pub quiz which was a lot of fun!

We had heard some rumours that the main typically "Irish" area was called Temple Bar and it was a must to visit however very pricey. This was true, the drinks were expensive, but saying that nearly every part of the trip was expensive. Two of us actually ran out of Euros in the mere 3-4 days we were there for. Temple Bar area on the other hand was worth the money, there was traditional Irish music playing at all times and we really enjoyed drinking there. 

The highlight of the whole trip for me, was the Leprechaun Museum! We really enjoyed hearing all of the folk stories and tales about the origins of Leprechauns. It even had some giant furniture in the museum in order for us to have a taste of being as small as a Leprechaun. 

All in all, Dublin was so nice, luckily for us it was very sunny so we had a nice time sitting out in the street listening to buskers and people watching. Many things we visited and places we ate or drank in were definitely overpriced but I would still highly recommend a visit there to experience the City. 

Graduation!

So, I can finally say I’m a law GRADUATE! After three painful, boring years of studying law, I finally graduated last week!

The day of Graduation, I expected to be extremely stressful, but it actually went smoothly and relatively stress-free. (probably because I did everything so, so early). I was up at half 5 in the morning getting ready and had already pre-booked my taxi to the robe fitting building and everything was pre planned.

My parents were so proud when I walked out in my cap and gown and it was such a relief to finally know I had succeeded getting this degree I never believed I’d achieve.

For the day, I decided to go very girly. I wore a lovely floral dress from Boohoo for a mere £18! I decided to stick to nude/light pink accessories as to not take too much attention away from the dress. I got my nude heels from New Look for a reduced price of  £12.99, my glittery clutch bag I also got from New Look for just £10.  Finally, for the first time ever I got acrylic nails (also in nude). I got them done in a lovely nail salon in Llandudno called Studio K for £25.

 

Altogether, I had an amazing graduation. It was a lovely way to conclude my three years at Liverpool John Moores University. But I must say, I’m not sad to say goodbye to studying law!

A tip for any girls graduating this month, take bobby pins for your hat and safety pins for your gown!!

Thanks for reading, see you next time!!