How to: Memory Jar...

Okay right. First things first - yes I did make/take the photo above, yes I do realise it's pants but hey. I tried.
Second things...um...second, I have never done this sort of thing before, so if I miss something out, I am terribly sorry. Once again, I tried.
And third things third...ly...I realise I haven't done a blog post in a while - but a) I'm back now, b) I have a life that does not always revolve around this blog, c) There is this thing called Christmas, and Christmas tv which happened to have happened recently, and d) I have a cracker of a blog for you. So be excited.

Okay now that's covered, let us crack on!

As you may have now guessed, this is going to be a tutorial-y type of thing. I really enjoy making things, so I thought I'd make something and turn it into a post too! That is what I'd call a 'Creative-double-whammy'!.
In this particular creative-double-whammy, I'm showing you how you can have one of these marvellous creations called a 'memory jar' for yourself!
'What is a memory jar?' I hear you say - well, a memory jar, is a jar full of memories (they call me Sherlock).
Throughout the year (starting on the 1st of January) you write something good/a good memory that has happened on that day, on a slip of paper, and put it in the jar. You keep doing this throughout the course of the year, and on New Year's Eve, you open the jar, and read all of the nice things that happened that year - aaah, beautiful!
Now before you start calling me the Queen of good ideas - the overall idea...wasn't mine. Yep.
As you already know, I spend a lot of my time on tumblr, and that is where this idea came from. I'm not sure who first thought of this idea, but whoever you are - I bow to you *bows*. However, the little ideas of what you could make it out of/what you could decorate it with are, in fact my own:)

You may also be thinking 'why are you showing me how to make this when it's not even the New Year?' well, I shall tell you.
I decided to make this post now because, being the kind of child who always has/always is making things, I realise the frustration involved when trying to find a jar, if that is what the creation involves. Waiting 3 weeks for the jar of jam to be empty, and then coming home from school to find it's been thrown away is INFURIATING. So, I thought I would tell you about it in advance, so you have time to find/wait for a jar (or two if the first is thrown away...)
'Wow Elspeth, how considerate of you!'
'Thanks, I thought so!'

Things you'll need:

- An empty jar: could be a bottle (a wine bottle, even an old fashioned coke bottle!) a big sweetie jar, a jam jar etc
- Felt tip pens: or any kind of colourful/decorative pens, such as gel pens (if you do use those, use the smelly ones, not for any particular reason, just because I say so. I love them - especially pineapple flavour!)
- Sticky labels: Pretty or plain. It doesn't matter if you only have the plain kind, you can decorate them later.
- Chalk labels (optional): I found these and thought they'd make a nice alternative. If you desperately want to buy some, I got mine from Staples in the Martha Stewart range (all hail Martha Stewart. Goddess of mint coloured stationary)
- Braids/bracelets, ribbons, short scarves etc: Anything you can find, really, that would look nice tied around your jar.

Instructions:

1) Find a jar. Two weeks and a lot of jam and toast later, you will have an empty jar.
2) Wash the jar out (you never know what's been inside it, my jar had a label on it saying 'Pickled shallots - 2000' nice.) and dry it so that when you put the paper inside, it doesn't get ruined.
3) Wash any old labels off (if you can't get them off because it's leaving all the sticky bit behind - I hate that - run it under a hot tap and let it soak for about 5 minutes. When you come back to it, the label will be easy to pull off - clever eh?!)
4) Gather anything you can find that you could decorate the jar with. I've only given examples, you might think all mine are pants, if so scrap them and do whatever the heck you like!
5) Start with the label. Stick it onto the front of the jar. Take your time to make sure it's straight and doesn't have any creases in it.
6) Write something on the label with your decorative pens (don't forget what I said about that pineapple pen!) this could be just simple 'my memory jar 2014' or 'memories' or it could be something more imaginative:
- Song lyrics about memories?
-A quote about memories? Maybe from your favourite book or poem?
I wrote 'happiness' on mine, because that's what it is, really, happiness in a jar!
7) Decide on the ribbon/bracelet/scarf you want to tie around the top, or whatever other creative ideas you may have, and tie it on. At this point, I also found a tiny pair of keys that came from one of those lockable diaries you used to get in magazines! I thought it might be a nice addition, so tied them on too.
8) Find some small slips of paper (or just rip some apart - lined paper actually would look really nice) and, when the 1st of January comes, start writing your memories and fill it up!

So there you have it! I lovely addition to your room, and another thing you have to remember to do! Good luck!
Love
Elspeth x

Growing up beside you...

Okay so I've already covered the 'I'm growing up aah what am I doing with my life' thing in my previous post, and well and truly established that the fact that I am, indeed, growing up.

This blog post is not going to be a 'when I grow up I want to be...' one, as the title might suggest, but one of people I idolise/inspire me - not what you thought huh?!

Why that title then?

Well it struck me that seeing as I'm growing up, role models have become a big part of my life, and are an important part in anyone's teenage life. So I thought I would make a post about all of my role models (the 3 main ones and 2 little ones) and why they inspire me. 

I also thought it would be a slightly different/more interesting post to do, and I'll stick some youtubey bits in there too!

Here we gooo!:

Inspiration/Role model/Idol (whatever you want to call it) number 1:

Paloma Faith.

Paloma Faith is my favourite singer, and she inspires me everyday to basically not give two hoots what anyone thinks of you. She's one of the craziest, funniest people ever and people have mixed opinions on her - but as I said, she doesn't care!

I'm pretty crazy and, as I've said before, have a different taste in almost everything to pretty much all my friends, so I relate to Paloma. And quite often if I choose an outfit that I love, but other people might think is a bit odd, and don't know whether to wear it or not, I think 'What would Paloma do?' and then wear it. (I also think 'What if I see Paloma when I'm out and I look really boring?!' which is a fairly big worry of mine!)

She is the Queen of looking good, she wears the craziest/most incredible things and looks amazing all the time (I mean seriously she could wear a bin bag and still look amazing! What is her secret?!)

Reasons to love Paloma 1: She can blooming well sing! If you don't believe me, or disagree, if you would care to listen to this:
Love only leaves you lonely
Reasons to love Paloma 2: She always puts on the most amazing performances (I've seen her three times, and I consider all three to be three of the best nights of my life so far!)
I'd rather be an old man's sweetheart
Reasons to love Paloma 3: She dressed up as different people and interviewed herself!
Interview with herself
Reasons to love Paloma 4: She's hilarious!
Best moments
Best moments 2
Reasons to love Paloma 5: She has the most amazing house
Paloma Faith's Journey to the Brits

Inspiration/Role model/Idol (whatever you want to call it) number 2:

Jack and Finn (Jacksgap).
Jack and Finn are 20 year old identical twin brothers who are Youtubers (do videos for Youtube and get paid for it). They have a channel called 'Jacksgap' with 3 million subscribers, that was started off by Jack in his gap year (hence the name Jacksgap) but is now co-owned by Finn.
They are my favourite Youtubers, not only because they make amazing videos, but also because they really inspire me.
Reasons to love Jack and Finn number 1: They do so much for charity
The Rainbow Centre
South Africa Comic Relief
Using Social Media for Change
The Rickshaw Run
The Rickshaw Run - Trailer
Reasons to love Jack and Finn number 2: They're only 20, and have already been to so many places
Rome 2012
Ibiza
A Day in New York
My Bucket List
Reasons to love Jack and Finn number 3: They make me laugh
Twin Telepathy
Snail Mail 3
Inappropriate megaphoning
Meeting Daily Grace
Twin Cook Off
Reasons to love Jack and Finn number 4: They're really good at making films
Finn's Revenge
Reasons to love Jack and Finn number 5: They have already achieved 3 million subscribers! (this is their 2 million subs video because they haven't done a 3 million subs video yet grr!)
2 million subscribers

Inspiration/Role model/Idol (whatever you want to call it) number 3:

JK Rowling.
Author of my favourite book series, Harry Potter.
JK Rowling is a definite role model and inspiration to me, in many different ways. She is a truly incredible lady, and has been through her fair share of crap!
     Reasons to love JK Rowling number 1: She had depression, and got through it.
During writing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling was diagnosed with clinical depression. She wrote the first book of the series in cafes, with her baby daughter asleep next to her. At times she felt suicidal, and used these feelings for her inspiration for the characters of the Dementors (creatures which feed of human happiness, and suck it out of the wizard and/or muggle (non-wizard), along with it's soul. The only way to rid of a dementor is to cast it away with a happy memory).
You can read more about her battle with depression here:
JK Rowling interview

Reasons to love JK Rowling number 2: She set up a charity called Lumos, (see the video below explaining what it is) after experiencing something dreadful, personally.

Lumos video

Lumos Website

Reasons to love JK Rowling number 3: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was turned down by 12 publishers. Who are all probably constantly kicking themselves now. Good. They should be ashamed! One of the reasons was because they thought a woman would not be able to write such a story, hence why she is known as JK Rowling and not Joanne Kathleen Rowling, her full name The K (Kathleen) part was her grandma's name and was added in, because it sounds more like a man. Talk about sexist.

Reasons to love Joanne Kathleen Rowling number 4: She was pretty much completely penniless before  the first book was released, struggling to support both her and her daughter. To go from that to a millionaire is pretty incredible if you ask me!

Reasons to love Joanne Kathleen Rowling number 5: She temporarily lost her billionaire status, because of donating so much money to charity.

Besides these three main ones, I also have two mini ones who are:

Evanna Lynch (who plays Luna Lovegood in Harry Potter): because before she was in Harry Potter she was a massive Potterhead (absolutely loves Harry Potter). When Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix book came out, Evanna was planning on going to the book release, however was rushed to hospital due to her anorexia. She dreamed of being in Harry Potter, but never thought she would. 

However she overcame her anorexia, and was in Harry Potter - so you know, anything is possible (well besides turning into a unicorn but you get my drift).

Louise Pentland (SprinkleofGlitter): who's a Youtuber. She inspires me and, I know, definitely one of my friends hugely, because she basically just says to be yourself and not care what anyone else says about your size, personality etc. She's mainly a 'beauty guru' on Youtube, but she also does a lot of slightly 'deeper' videos such as:

So I go to Church

Being body confident

Self Harm

Curvy Summer Lookbook

Having Hope

Curvy Autumn Lookbook

Being Happy

and she's also flipping hilarious and super pretty!

She has also just started a series with her best friend Zoe (Zoella - also a Youtuber) called Chummy Chatter, where they talk about some very serious topics. They are pretty inspiring videos (probably for slightly older teenagers) but they are worth a look.

So there you have it! My role models/inspirations/idols/whatever you want to call them, the people I am growing up beside.

I hope this was a slightly more interesting blog post than normal, sorry it took so long! Putting all the videos in took a while haha!:)

Love
Elspeth x

'Always look on the bright side of life...'

'Put things into perspective.'

Something I'm quite often having to/being told to do. 

I am a worrier. There's no doubt about it. 

I worry about everything and anything.

Most of the time it's work, and at my age (15 for any of you who couldn't be bothered to read my about me!), there's quite a lot of it.

My school (don't ask me why) decided that their students would start building up to their GCSEs in year nine. It's the only school in the area (as far as I know) who have done this, so many of my friends outside of school started them a year later than me... even though they're still in the same year as me (stay with it, it's confusing, I know! Think how I feel.) 

In year eight, my year chose our options, and in year nine, we begun studying them, and dropped all the other non-core subjects. I'm now in year ten, so GCSEs are well and truly upon us (as our teachers seem to love frequently mentioning, and terrifying us with). 

The advantages to having started our choices in year 9 are that we've had an extra year to prepare for our exams, and that in some subjects (if they think we're ready) we can take them in year 10 (a year early).

The disadvantage, however, was that we were only in year 8 when we chose them, and I don't know about anyone else, but back then, I still really wasn't all that sure on what I was wanting to do with my life, so had to pick a few subjects which I thought, whichever job I know I'll probably choose, I'll have a GCSE in. 

I realise I have now gone off on a bit of a tangent, but there is a reason for this:

The subjects I chose were art, dance, geography and drama, which just so happened to be possibly the most practical subjects out of most people in my year, which mean't extra individual work, which probably didn't help with the whole 'worrying about work' thing.

Now before any of you start thinking anything, I don't care whether or not you think I've made silly choices, believe me I've had the 'oh she'll never get into University with those subjects' look many times before, so shut it. 

The reason I chose these subjects is not because I'm not very academic, because actually I was offered a more academic pathway, and offered triple science... so there! 

It was because I just feel like I'm better at the more 'arty' subjects, and knew I wanted to do something to do with that when I left.

 So to any of you are thinking 'stupid girl, should have chosen a language! She'll never get a place at uni!':

a) I don't want to go to University - yes I said it - I want to go to stay on for Sixth form, then go to art collage - shoot me.

b) I would've thought art GCSE is more important to get into art collage than french or spanish wouldn't you? I mean, if you think about it:

Collage interviewer - Hi! So what did you get in GCSE art?

Me - Oh I didn't do it, but I did do french GCSE!

Collage interviewer - Oh nevermind, you're in, even if you're rubbish at art, which you very well may be because we haven't seen any of your work, you've still got a GCSE in french, and that's great!

Isn't very likely to happen now is it?

c) I hate french. It's the worst subject - in my opinion.

d) I'm not going to start a whole new language (i.e: spanish) just because I don't like french.

Anyway.

Okay so basically I worry. 

And the subjects I've chosen probably haven't aided that, as I have tonnes of extra work I should be/need to be doing. It's not just a case of,

'Oh I've done my French essay homework, I'll just chill, and then do a bit of revision in a couple of hours.'

more

'OH MY GOODNESS WHAT AM I DOING SAT AROUND HERE I SHOULD BE SKETCHING, PRACTISING MY SOLO COMPOSITION, LOOKING AT MY MONOLOGUE, DOING MY GEOGRAPHY PROJECT I'M WASTING MY LIFE I SHOULD BE DOING SOMETHING GAAAAAHHHHHH!'

See what I mean.

If I was older, and had already been through my GCSEs I would now probably go onto saying something like:

'Oh don't worry, you'll be fine, don't worry about work too much, just enjoy being a teenager!'

But I'm not. And I am worrying.

So what's the point in this blog post?

Basically just to say that it's not just you stressing about exams and the rest of your life, which I'm guessing, if you're my age you probably are. Everyone else is too.

And yes, like me, you may be watching tv, looking at all these people older at you, and shouting

'IT'S ALRIGHT FOR YOU. YOU HAVE A JOB. YOU'VE DONE YOUR GCSES',  at them, eventhough they can't hear you, feeling sorry for yourself, then going:

'Crap. I should be doing some work.'

and running upstairs questioning why it is you even bother in life, and briefly thinking working in McDonalds might not be all that bad.

But you're not alone in these thoughts.

At some point, yes, you will be not able to go out because of the heaps of revision you've got to do.

At some point, yes, you will have to do ten million controlled assessments, and heaps of coursework.

At some point, yes, you will be sat in that exam hall taking your maths GCSE.

But at some point, it will be all over, and you'll be thankful that you gave up going to see that film one time, because it gave you that extra bit of revision that got you that grade you desperately needed.

And at some point, you will have a job that you're happy with, if you just stick with it and get the work done.

Okay so I'm aware now that some of you are probably now violently throwing up because of that incredibly cringey/cheesy last paragraph.

But eventhough I'm still at the yelling-at-the-tv-stage, I do keep telling myself all of this, and it does help, me think:

'You know what? I'm not going to be here forever, and I will survive!'

And if all else fails, just say to yourself;

'At least I'm not in the Hunger Games.'

Love 

Elspeth x

'Sugar and spice, and everything bitchy'...

When you were younger, it didn't matter who you hung around with, or why you hung around with them.
You never had arguments, just teeny squabbles about who gets to use the least chewed green crayon for their drawing of a butterfly.
No fake rumours.
No back-stabbing.
No bitching.
And best of all? You could be friends with as many boys as you wanted, without anyone accusing you of flirting.

But once you get to high school? BAM. That's gone.

 I've always got along with boys. I've always been good friends with them, most of my boy-friends (friends that are boys) are still my friends from Infant School (11 years ago!). Of course I have friends that are girls too, and I talk and hang around with them a lot, and they're brilliant friends, but boys are just so much less drama!
Let me paint you a picture...

Girls: Person a to person b) 'Oh I hate *person c* I never talk to them. But they really get on my nerves. I hate her so much. I'm going to start spreading rumours about her, even though she's done nothing wrong, and nothing directly to me. And I'm telling you all of this even though you're her best friend, and are probably going to tell her, but I don't care.'
*Person c tells person b*) 'Person a hates you!'
*Person b*) 'I'm going to tell her I hate her too, but I'm going to ask you to do it, instead of saying it to her face because I want this to drag out for the longest amount of time possible, and blow this way out of proportion.'
*Person b tells person a*) 'Person C hates you too.'
*Person a*) 'I'm now going to spread a completely untrue, and unbelievable rumour around the whole school.'
*Whole school hears about it* Boys: I don't even care, it's stupid, lets go chuck someone's bag in a bin.
 Girls: I care. I'm going to get involved even though none of this concerns me. Then we'll all take sides, leaving the people who are friends with both in an annoying situation, claim we're going to fight eachother, pull eachothers hair, then make up, and then be best friends forever.'
The End

Boys: Person a to person b) 'I hate person C'
Person b) 'So do I'
Person a) 'Cool'
The End

It's not just drama though - oh no! It's how irritating they can be.

For example, if girl asks you what's wrong they either:
-Only want to know so they can get the gossip (70%)
-Actually want to know because they're worried about you (10%)
-Will keep pestering you until you tell them what's wrong, even if you say 'go away... just to get the gossip (20%)

But if a boy asks you what's wrong they either:
-Actually care (90%)
-Leave you alone because you don't look in the best of moods (5%)
-Ask you once, and if you ask them to 'go away' they actually do (5%)

Can you now see where I'm coming from?!

And then there are friendship groups...

When you get to high school, you pretty much have a different 'friendship group' every year. By friendship group I mean the people you spend every break and lunch with, most probably walk home with and/or to school with, and talk to the most.
I know I've had a lot of different ones each year, and it can be very hard at first, because for a long time you don't really know where you 'belong' or who your real friends are.
I'm friends with basically everyone in my year, and will talk to almost all of them, but they doesn't mean they do too, so most of the main people I talk to are in completely different 'friendship groups', which can make it hard to decide which one you're in.
You swap around each break and lunch, deciding who to go with that day, which can actually be fine with you, but they can get annoyed, because they don't know who you're 'with'.

I think it's all part of growing up, and I was very unsure, up until recently, who my friendship group was going to be with.
But I've now 'found' one, and out of all of them in our year, it is the most varied in gender and personality, I'd say, or at least one of them. Which brings me back to my original point.
Boys make the best friends.
Not necessarily for everyone.
But for me, yes.
And guess what?
No amount of bitchy comments about supposed flirting are going to make me change my mind on that, so you may as well give up now!

If you're thinking that this blog post was completely pointless - it was and it wasn't.
I wrote it,
a) Because I needed to rant about it, because it's something that really irritates me
b) Because I felt some people needed to understand it
and c) Because I needed something to write a blog post about...
 

So I really hope that when you were reading this, you were either thinking,
'Yes! Oh my gosh yes! I understand all of this! Finally, someone who gets me!'
or
'Oh. I'm one of those people who accuses people of flirting/cause a load of unnecessary drama, maybe i should stop.'

If you were thinking either one of these, thankyou. I have now done something a tiny bit more worthwhile than watching Youtube.

Love,
Elspeth x

'I don't read'...

A phrase, unfortunately, that I often hear.
When I ask the question: 'What's your favourite book?' or 'What are you reading at the moment?' and I am answered with 'Oh I don't read', it makes me want to smack them round the head... with a book (just to be ironically annoying!).
Now you may be thinking:
'This girl, who is she? Why's she telling me I should be reading?'
I'm not.
I understand, more than most, the importance of opinions and certain tastes, and understand that reading is not for everyone. If you have genuinely tried reading and gone into it positively, thinking: 'I'm going to like this book'. Rather than thinking: 'I know i'm going to hate this.' Chosen a book you think you'll like and genuinely not enjoyed it, that is absolutely fine.
But if you've not even tried. If you've picked up any random book, even if you know it's not going to be for you, or even just gone on the book you've studied in english (and I mean come on, even I'll admit, they choose pretty crappy books) read a page, and thought: 'meh, can't be bothered.' Then sorry, but no. *Teacher voice* That's not good enough!
Also, the phrase: 'I don't read'?! I've heard you. You can read. So that's just lying.

So! What is the point in this blog post? Well, I shall tell you! It is to give you five simple ways of finding a good book, and getting lost in it. If you are reading this, not having read much, but want to, then this is for you. If you are reading this, and you normally say: 'I don't read' this is for you. If you are reading this, and have tried reading, but don't like it... this isn't for you... sorry... maybe another blog post eh?
Anyway:
5 simple ways of finding a good book!:

1) Go to a nice bookshop. This might sound odd, but if you go to a horrible one, you'll feel less inclined to stay and find a book. Finding a good book takes time, especially if you're not used to it, so you want to go somewhere that's welcoming, and not like school. (that's another thing, school libraries are nothing like bookshops, so don't let the librarian that eats you if you're book is 42seconds overdue scare you away from proper bookshops!).

2) Go to the section aimed at your age. Normally there are signs that say ages, so if you're 13, go to the 11-13 section, if you're a teenager go to the teenage section, and if you're a toddler, you're on the wrong website, and were probably looking for Peppa Pig.
This may sound like an obvious step, but reading something that is too old or young for you, can put you off a book, because it'll be either boring and predictable, or boring and 'what does that mean?!'. Also, the older books handle some slightly more advanced themes, I think if I went home with a book called 'The Vampire that got ripped to pieces in it's sleep', when I was 12, my mum probably would've taken it back.

3) Think about what sort of genre you like. If you're not used to reading, and don't know, think about the types of films you normally go for. For example if your favourite film is 'Transformers' you'll want to look in the sci-fi/adventure section.  You don't want to be reading a book about an exploding toilet, if you love Doctor Who, is what I'm saying.
Another good thing to think about is what person you like to read in. For example, I like to read books in first person, so I tend to go for diary type books, or auto-biographies. Auto-biographies, believe it or not, are classed as books *gasps* I know! So if you love Cheryl Cole, read her auto-biography!
Lastly, think about a film you love, that came from a book, such as The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter. If you love the film version, chances are, you'll love the book, which will also be the original, and have scenes in it that weren't in the film, sort of like bonus features but better!

4) Once you've found your book, read the first page, before buying it. If it's got you hooked already, it'll be for you! But if you're not so sure, put it back and find another one.

5) Buy the book. Once you've bought it, go home, grab a drink and a biscuit find a quiet, comfy place (lying on your bed maybe?), and read it. If you love it, and the author's written more, buy them. If it's a series, read the rest.
However, if you didn't like it. Maybe you did choose the wrong book, in which case, don't worry! Just find another one! Or, maybe reading really isn't for you, it's okay, it happens, at least you've tried (unlike some people).

Happy Reading!

Love Elspeth x

About me...

Okay so I've found some questions from the internet and tried to make them as interesting and different as possible, some of them could be a bit weird (this is the internet don't forget) but I'll have a go:

1) Age: 15

2) Where am I from?: Near London (sorry to all you stalkers out there, but that's as much as I'm going to tell you!)

3) Where would I like to live?: Scotland or Cuba (Yes I do realise these are both incredibly different/random places)

4) Favourite food: I don't really have a favourite, but I do like cake... lots of it!

5) Favourite meal: Either macaroni cheese, spaghetti carbonara, or roast dinner. (I'm really bad with choosing one favourite okay?!)

6) Religion: Christian

7) Favourite book: Well obviously Harry Potter, but besides that, probably The Amazing Story of Adolphus Tips by Michael Morpurgo  (which I can't even remember because I read it ages ago, and refuse to read it again incase I ruin it...)

8) Eye colour: Blue/grey

9) Favourite film: Harry Potter (of course), but apart from that, Big Fish (a Tim Burton film) or School of Rock (you can't beat Jack Black!)

11) Favourite Harry Potter film (okay I added this one in... it's an important question!): It changes all the time, but probably The Half-Blood Prince or The Deathly Hallows (both) or The Prisoner of Azkaban

10) Favourite TV show: Robin Hood (when it was on) Miranda and Even Stevens (when it was on)

11) Favourite band: Coldplay

12) Favourite singer: Paloma Faith

13) Random fact about me: I have so many posters in my room, I'm going to need to start putting them on the ceiling! I once had an Italian exchange student to stay, and I've been and extra on TV (In BBC's 'What Remains')

14) Book or film first: Book! Definitely. No question about it.

15) Favourite day of the year: Christmas eve or Victorian evening (if you don't have this, it's basically an event in the evening near Christmas in the town, where everyone goes and there's food and little rides like Fun Houses and Carousels etc)

16) Favourite colour: Coral, orange or mustard yellow.

17) Do I have any pets, what are their names?: Yes. I have a bird (a canary). It used to be my Grandma's and she kind of forgot what gender it was. So we just call it 'Bird'. I'm sorry, please don't hurt me!

18) What am I listening to write now?: My itunes is on shuffle, with a mix of Coldplay, Eliza Doolittle, Harry Potter soundtracks, The Andrews Sisters, Elbow, and Paloma Faith. But at this very moment, I'm listening to 'Yes' by Coldplay.

19) Favourite genre of music: I listen to all sorts. But one of my definite favourites is big band (jazz) and soundtracks

20) Last film I watched: Surprisingly, not Harry Potter! The last film I watched was Tangled, with my sister.

21) What's my ringtone?: Never tear us apart, the cover by Paloma Faith

22) Favourite male character from a film: It has to be from Harry Potter, so Neville Longbottom.

23) Favourite female character from a film: Also from Harry Potter, Luna Lovegood or Bellatrix Lestrange

24) What my name means: I just looked it up, and it said:
The meaning of the name Elspeth is God is my oath.
The origin of the name Elspeth is Scottish
Notes: Form of Elizabeth
So there you go.

25) Favourite superhero/heroes: The Fantastic Four

26) My nationality: British, but I am half Scottish.

27) Celebrity crush: Matt Lewis (who plays Neville in Harry Potter) and Jack and Finn Harries (youtubers)

28) What colour would you dye your hair: Candyfloss Pink (which I am going to do some day!)

29) How often am I late?: Not that often. I'm pretty laid back, so I never really mind about things like that. But I am quite often a couple of minutes late for dance on a Saturday morning (can you blame me?!)

30) What was the worst punishment you received at school?: A break time detention (because I'm so badman.)

31) Do you ever wash your car?: Seeing as I don't have a car no. But I've washed my parents car before for some money, and did my back in hoovering the whole bloody thing ready for us to go on holiday. Where we crashed it on the way there.

32) What was your most embarrassing moment?: I don't really have any, mostly just things like tripping over stuff. Although, one of my boy-friends (friends that's a boy, just to clarify) did find my 'lady products' and everyone else knew, except me. Until they told me.

33) What can you see that's blue right now?: My duvet cover has a blue, Chinese type pattern on it.

34) What have you eaten today?: Nothing, I'm still in bed. But I always have a massive breakfast, so that soon!

35) What is your least favourite colour?: I really don't have one. But probably really bright fluorescent lime/yellow.

36) What colour shoes did you last wear?: Burgundy

37) Who made you laugh the hardest this week?: My friends when I was out with them for one of their birthday's.

38) Who is your favourite comedian?: Miranda Hart and Peter Kay

39) What is your favourite scent?: Any kind of incense stick, and the smell of blown out candles

40) What is your favourite season?: Summer

41) Can you handstand or cartwheel?: I used to be able to do both, until I did a handstand in my Great Aunt's sloped garden, and bent over backwards, and was to scared to do it anymore, and I just can't cartwheel anymore.

42) What colour are your nails?: It's almost all come off, but peachy/nudey/pink

43) If you had to have a tattoo on your face to save your life, what would it be?: Something that says: 'I had to have this tattoo on my face, otherwise I would've died.'

44) Describe your bedroom: There's a bed in it and it's a room... okay but seriously, it'll take ages! Okay, you asked for it... there are two built in wardrobes (one is my sister's because her room is so small, it doesn't have any room for a wardrobe) with a dressing table inbetween, two big old fashioned windows, that you push up to open. A barre underneath my windows to practise ballet. A corner that I call my 'Harry Potter corner' with posters, drawings, merchandise, and a shelf with all my Harry Potter books on, and a beanbag, with cushions around it underneath. A brick chimney breast that would work, if I put a fire underneath it... but I don't. A white desk with a white board on it. Two book shelves, one with four shelves on it, and books on top of it, and one with two (I have way too many books). An alcovey thing where part of the roof is lower (because of the staircase above it, going up to my parent's room) with a globe and a glitter ball hanging down, and glow in the dark stars stuck to it. The wall underneath the lower ceiling thing has a collage of random stuff I've cut out on it. A wall filled with photos of me and my friends I got printed out at Boots. My bed, which has a flowery duvet cover on, most of the time, and a load of stuffed frogs and cushions, my dressing table, and a whole load of posters, including a Beatles one, a couple of drawings my mum did, a Queen (the band) print my dad did, a Coldplay Viva La Vida one, and loads of ballet ones. My room has white walls, and floorboards.
Wow. Told you it would take ages! My ipod, where I've written all my questions, has now locked. Great.

45) On average how many hours a day do you spend on your laptop?: Too many.

46) Are you happy?: Apart from stressing about the fact that I have GCSEs coming up next year. I'm brill.

47) Dogs or cats?: Tortoises.

48) Do you prefer museums, night clubs, forests, or libraries?: Any of them but night clubs. The thought of a dark, smelly place, playing awful music, with drunk weirdos, and a sticky floor. No.

49) What is your style?: I don't really have one. I have lots of different ones. But different. For example: uggs and jegginings, send a shiver down my spine.

50) If you could be doing anything right now, what would it be?: I'd be at The Harry Potter Studio tours, on holiday, or going to a concert.

51) Which celebrity do you want to be friends with?: Paloma Faith, and all the Youtubers (eventhough Youtubers are Youtubers, not celebrities)

52) How did you spend last Halloween?: With my friend, answering the door to trick or treaters, and pretending to be amazed at a five year old boy's coin trick.

53) Were you ever in a school play?: Yes. Infant school, I was a Christmas cracker, an angel and a choir singer. Primary school, I was the main character (a toy angel) go me! One of the 1001 dreams in the Arabian nights play we did, the person who holds up the 'boo' and 'yay' cards (not one of my greatest moments) and one of the Narrators in 'Joseph and the amazing technicolour dreamcoat' (my favourite musical). And in secondary school, a dancer and a cowgirl in 'Footloose'.

54) My favourite albums?: Viva la Vida (Coldplay), Fall to Grace (Paloma Faith), The Seldom Seen Kid (Elbow) and both the Deathly Hallows soundtracks (Alexandre Desplat)

55) If you were to invent a new ice cream flavour, what would it be?: Pavlova

56) What is too serious to be joked about?/What do you feel most strongly about?: Men treating women as objects

57) Who is a famous person you've been compared to?: Amy Whinehouse (I do winged eyeliner, not drugs... don't worry!) and Zoella (Zoe Sugg) the Youtuber

58) Three things that annoy you about girls: They only want to know what's wrong so they can get the gossip, they back-stab and spread rumors.

59) Two things that annoy you about boys: It's apparently classed as 'flirting' if you're friends with them, that I'm not one, and they don't understand how hard it is being a girl!

60) Would you rather be stranded on a desert island for a month with someone you hate, or for ten years with someone you love?: A month with someone I hate, because I don't really hate anyone, so it wouldn't be top unbearable!

61) How long was your longest relationship?: Well I've had my laptop for about a year now...

62) Are you currently in love?: Like I said, I've been with my laptop for a year now. So I'd say we're in love yes.

63) Why did your last relationship end?: I ended it with the main computer in our house, because I got a laptop

64) Have you ever cheated on someone?: I wouldn't dream of cheating on my apple laptop with a windows!

65) Would you rather live in a castle or a space ship?: Hogwarts

66) What jewellery do you wear everyday?: Earrings, at the weekend I wear gold/silver hoops, at school I wear gold 'E's. I wear about fifty million bracelets (braided ones and WWJD ones etc) and I wear a cross ring on my middle finger on my right hand, and midi ring on my left index finger and on my little finger.

67) Are you left of right handed?: Left, and proud to be!

68) When was the last time you cried and why?: Listening to 'The Prince's Tale' music called 'Severus and Lily'. Fellow Potterheads will understand the pain.

69) What is something you should be doing right now?: Drama work.

70) Do you sleep with your wardrobe doors open or closed?: Closed. Who sleeps with them open?!

71) Blondest moment?: My friend told me one of our teachers dyed the end of their hair clear, so you can't see it... and I believed her...

72) What is something you really want but can't have?: Glasses. I want them so badly!

73) Do you have any siblings?: Yes, I have a 19, soon to be 20, year old sister.

WELL! That's it! I now have an aching back, and probably need glasses (Yay!) from staring at my laptop  for too long.
To those of you who read all the way to the end. Well done. I expect you were very bored...

Love Elspeth x

Hello...

Hello there! I'm Elspeth *waves* and this, I guess, is my weekly blog!
Not going to lie, I'm kind of scared, but it should be fun, and get me off of tumblr for a bit!

So!
This is my blog. It's not really a certain type of blog, more just a bit of everything, and anything I feel like talking (most probably ranting!) about. This could be music, fashion, thoughts, beauty, or just a very good meal I've had out!

So why now?
Well, I was out with my parents, having a coffee (well they had a coffee, I had a cake!) and we were talking about how there aren't really any good magazines for girls my age (15), and that they're either not very serious/a bit young for me, or a bit too old/a bit boring! So my parents said I should start a blog, to fill this 'hole in the market' as my mum put it.
So here I am!
(If you were expecting some kind of inspirational story of how it came to me in a dream, or how I feel this is the reason I was put on this earth...sorry...but that's it!)

Who even are you?
Okay so I realise that if you have stumbled across this blog (how I don't know, because it's probably on the very last page of Google, which is where no-one goes, unless they are desperately trying to find research for their homework) you will have absolutely no clue who I am, and are probably going
'who even is this girl?!'
If this is so, I suggest you go and look at the 'About me' blog-post that I will do soon, for a more detailed idea of me. But for this blog post, my first blog post, I will write five facts about me (mostly because I need something to fill up the space, so it's not a really short, crappy little 'blog post'.
So:
1) I love Harry Potter, I am, in fact, a Potterhead. People who know me, probably never want to hear the H or the P word again because they have heard it enough from me. Everyday. All day. Non-stop.
2) I have blue/grey eyes, and dirty-blonde hair. And I hate it. Well not hate it, I'd just rather have brighter blue eyes, or green eyes, and light blonde hair. But hey ho, that's the way things go!
3) I love anything and everything in the world of vintage. Proper vintage things. Not shabby-chic. I'm going to make that very clear. (this will most probably be a blog-post sometime!)
4) Most of my friends have never heard of any of the music I listen to. And, to be honest, I like it that way. (This will also probably be a blog post sometime too!)
5) I love having both boys and girls as friends. Quite often I think that boys actually make better friends than girls. (This will also be a blog-post sometime  let's just presume, for now, that everything will most probably be a blog-post sometime!)

So that's it.
I hope my one reader (this is how many people I'm guessing are reading my blog) enjoy it, and that I can be bothered to make this a weekly thing.

Love Elspeth x