Birthday Reflections & Life Lessons

Today, October 4th, is my birthday (I don't care what Cosmo says, I'm a Libra through and through) and I'm 23 years old. I'm not exactly old but there's no denying I'm an actual adult now, someone who is supposed to responsible and know what the f they're doing (lol). I'm getting further and further away from being a teenager and there are lots of things I've learnt over the past few years and like Kylie Jenner, I've been realising stuff and realising things as I've gotten older, some of which you may be able to relate to.


Firstly though, this outfit is another one from Madeira, a birthday trip Karl booked for me before he started university. We stayed in Funchal and my oh my it was glorious - I wish that I could take all of my blog photos in those pretty little streets with the beautiful coloured backdrops! This dress is an oldie but a goldie and I actually forgot I had it until a few months ago (bad, I know). I love the simplicity of it, the high neck and the side tab making it just a little bit more interesting than your average navy dress and teamed with some oversized sunnies and my trusty Converse, this was the perfect laid-back look for exploring the Portuguese island.

NAVY SIDE TAB DRESS: GLAMOROUS (similar) / *WHITE CONVERSE TRAINERS / *FIORELLI BACKPACK / 

SCHOOL IS NOT THE BEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE. I've said this so many times before but I know most people will be able to relate. School is absolutely not the best time of your life. Everything gets better once you leave school with the exception of having to pay for your own lunch.

YOU ARE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK. As a teenager I thought I was weak and in a way, I was. I had my own will and didn't succumb to peer pressure easily (e.g. I have never smoked in my life apart from trying it a couple of times) and as I've gotten older I've realised that I'm so much stronger than I ever thought I could be. You are stronger than you give yourself credit for.

SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST TOXIC. We all know a few right? The people who just love to cause a rift, the ones who stir the pot and bring trouble with them, the people who you can't trust as far as you can throw them. Sadly, people don't stop behaving like this when you leave school and you've got to realise when to distance yourself, whether you're 16 or you're 40. You don't have to put up with toxic people.

YOU ARE NOT DEFINED BY HOW MANY PEOPLE FANCY YOU. When you're a teenager, you think that your worth is defined by how many times you make it into the lad's "Top Tens" or how many Bebo loves you received. These days for young girls especially, it's about how many guys are all up in your inbox or how many likes your photos gets. Your worth is not defined by these people and you are beautiful and strong without the likes or the messages from guys who have boyfriends. Recognise your own worth.

NO ONE LOVES YOU LIKE YOUR DOG. There's no feeling like coming in from holiday and seeing how crazy your dogs go when they see you for the first time in a week amiright? 

IF YOU WOULDN'T SAY IT TO SOMEONE'S FACE, DON'T SAY IT BEHIND THEIR BACK. I'm no gossip and try to live by this philosophy. As much as you'd like to, you can't trust everyone and there's no worse feeling than being called out for being bitchy, even if you didn't intend to be. 

YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY WITH YOUR HAIR. Never. If you cut it off you'll want it long. If you have it long you'll want to cut it off. 

DEATHS OF FICTIONAL CHARACTERS NEVER GET ANY EASIER. Dobby. Dumbledore. Ned Stark. Snape. Nemo's mum. Bambi's mum. MUFASA. I can't go on. 

PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE ANYTHING THAT'S WRITTEN ON FACEBOOK. It's true. I have a strong belief that when you're on Facebook you become five hundred times more gullible versus when you're not using it. 

CONTRACEPTIVES ARE THE WORST. It's 2016 ffs, can we not come up with a contraceptive that doesn't make you feel crap or isn't ridiculously unpleasant?! 

EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE TO WORK IN RETAIL, FAST FOOD OR HOSPITALITY TO FIND OUT HOW THEY SHOULD TREAT STAFF. Never trust anyone who is rude to a waiter. Having worked as a waitress and in a fast food restaurant for many years now, let me tell you there isn't much that is more infuriating than customers who think they can speak to you like a piece of shit because you're behind a till. Newsflash: you are no better than me. 

SOME PEOPLE HAVE SOME REALLY SHITTY VIEWS. With social media being so dominant these days, people are sharing their shitty and problematic views more than ever and barely a day goes by where I'm not foaming at a sexist, racist, homophonic, ableist, xenophobic, bigoted view posted on the internet. Not. A. Day.

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER. The old saying is definitely true. We will always want what we can't have and once we get it, it's never as good as we thought it was going to be. 

NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SHIT TOGETHER. When I was younger I imagined 23 year olds to be actually old, have their own houses, lots of money, jobs that they would stay in forever. All I can say to that is a big fat LOL. 

NO MATTER HOW MANY DANDELION CLOCKS YOU WISH ON, YOU WILL NEVER BE BUBBLES FROM THE POWERPUFF GIRLS. Yes, I really did used to wish this as a child. 

What life lessons have you learnt so far?

Amy x