November.

November had the perfect start - I went to see Bastille in Leeds First Direct Arena. Last time I saw them was when they supported Two Door Cinema Club in 2013 (and I bumped into Dan in Baa Bar next door, feeling pretty smug). The gig was awesome. For the encore, Dan miraculously appeared right next to us on the tier 2 balcony and sang Two Evils and we pretty much just died right then.

Dan & Will on the balcony during the encore.

The night after I went out with my housemates for a few drinks. As i'm sure a lot of students understand, a few drinks never usually stays "just a few drinks". I went into town around midnight to meet up with a few friends from school, and we went to Key Club for a few hours. I ended up bumping into my cousin who I spent the rest of the night with. We then wandered down to Stone Roses where we danced until around 6am (I was wearing heeled boots and my feet started to hurt so I took them off at this point. My feet were soaked with what I can only assume was a cocktail of drugs, alcohol and piss. Bit of advice: don't do that). Needless to say those socks went in the bin and it took me over a day to recover from that night.

Me and my cousin Harriet stumbling home at 6:30am, lipstick half gone.

I had also been editing the annual backstage video for Showgroup. I think it's a great way to showcase all of the hard work that goes into the shows and it's a nice way to thank all of the helpers for everything they do. If you want to give it a watch, here it is!

We also started rehearsals for our annual Christmas Show, in which i'm going to sing The Power Of Love (not technically a Christmas song but it was on a Christmas advert) and my sister is going to dance to it. I'm also choreographing a routine to 'Carol Of The Bells' by Metallica (bet you weren't expecting that), so i'm hoping it will be an excellent start to the holiday period.

Towards the end of November, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them was finally released, and of course, myself, Emma, Viv and Nathan went to see the midnight showing - we weren't going to wait any longer! The film was awesome and Eddie Redmayne was the perfect choice. 

Then on the Sunday, Emma finally got her 16th birthday present from me (11 months later), we went to the Harry Potter Warner Brothers Studio Tour in London. Although we had to get the Megabus at 6am, we had an amazing day and even got to squeeze in a quick visit to Madame Tussauds. I promised Emma i'd buy her a wand, so she chose Newt Scamander's from Fantastic Beasts, then we made the long journey back to Leeds.

Chilling on the Hogwarts bridge.

And of course, to finish the month off, there was lots of alcohol. I went out with my cousins for lots of shots and cocktails, then on the last night of November I went out for my housemates birthday, we had a great night but in true Annabel style I crashed and burned way too early.

Me and the cousins; Josh, Jordan, Sam, Chaz, Haz and Me.

Sian, Ellie and I in Canal Mills. I really need to get a longer lasting lipstick.

I wasn't going to write about this, but I always try to be honest when i'm writing my posts and one of the reasons I write this blog in the first place is for me to look back on everything in the years to come. Last week, I joined Slimming World, and to be honest, i've found it a lot easier than I thought it would be. it's a fantastic way to lose weight but still have little treats to enjoy! So after my first week weigh in, i've lost 4 and a half pounds and i'm on cloud 9 right now. Next month I may start a little weight loss counter on my round ups!

On a final note, it's Christmas in 24 days!

Annabel

Rambling post #2: Summer.

Without a doubt summer has always been my favourite season.
The hot, sunny weather seems to just bring good moods out of people and it just generally feels like such a happy time of year.
This summer in particular is a very exciting one. On the 6th August I will officially be a grown up - I turn 21! It's actually quite scary. I never wanted to turn 19 or 20 and now i'm going to be 21 it just feels like the years are going too fast.
I'm also going to Mallorca with my family and boyfriend yet again. We all absolutely love the villa we stay in and every year we go back it just feels like home. I'm so excited to go back.
Then in September (this isn't exciting for anyone else), I go back to University after my year placement. I'm actually missing it a lot and I can't wait to see all of my friends again.
I don't really know the point in this post. I'm just generally excited for summer as always. I think i'm actually craving heat and sunshine now.
Winter, do one.

𝕒𝕟𝕟𝕒𝕓𝕖𝕝

2014!

I want to try and explain 2014 in a few words to you.

But to be perfectly honest,

I can't.

The best way for me to explain how my 2014 was is to skip back a few years.

Summer 2012

I discovered that I hadn't got into University, which was something I have wanted to do since I was a titch. This was the day before my family went on holiday without me for the first time. At the time I was working at my first job. My boss was a typical hot headed Italian; very passionate about his work. This meant that if you did anything slightly wrong then he would let you know about it. On the day my family went away, I went to work. I was feeling so down I just kept making silly mistakes, resulting in me getting a good telling off.

It doesn't sound that bad to anyone else, but for me, this was definitely the lowest point in my life so far. I felt like a failure for not getting into University then because I felt like I couldn't function without my family, I felt like even more of a failure.

And the cherry on top of the cake: I had just had my braces put on.

2013

My braces come off. My boyfriend, James and I go to Mexico. I go see my absolute number ones at Manchester Arena: ARCTIC MONKEYS. I also decide that this year I will rejoin my family on holiday to Mallorca.

I had re applied to University and had only recieved one offer from Leeds Metropolitan University for Events Management. However, the course requirements were 300 UCAS points.

I had 200.

'Here we go again' I thought. 'Another failed and wasted year'. 

I left it. And eventually forgot all about University and carried on working at the restaurant.

On results day, the day before I went to Mallorca, I see everyone's happy statuses on Facebook about going to University. So I logged on to UCAS to get the closure that I wouldn't be getting in yet again, and I see;

'Congratulations! Your application to study Events Management at Leeds Metropolitan University has been accepted!'

WHAT.

I hadn't done my student finance application. I hadn't planned for this in anyway whatsoever.

So naturally, I ran upstairs to my mum (who was still asleep as it was only 8am) and practically screamed in her face.

I suddenly felt so proud of myself and so incredibly happy. Like I had finally achieved something.

So after stressing about my student finance and getting my head around it all, we jetted off to sunny Mallorca the next day and when I came back, started a whole new adventure.

2014

I finish first year with a 2:1 overall. I go see my most favourite comedian, Lee Evans perform live. 12 year old me buzzes with excitement as I also go to see McBusted live. I land myself my first retail job where I meet some of my most favourite people in the world. Northern School of Contemporary Dance hire me as their Events and Marketing Intern for my placement year. I go to Salou, and I also go on my family holiday to Mallorca again - but this time James comes with us. I get drunk so many times and make an absolute fool of myself in the process as I celebrate so many different things and meet so many new people on the way, 2012 is completely forgotten.

All in all, I know this post is a bit lengthy just to tell you how good 2014 was, but it just goes to show what a difference a year can make. Summer 2013 is when everything kicked off for me and it just keeps getting better. I'm excited to see what 2015 brings - I wonder where I'm at this time next year!

Officially old.

It's official, I am no longer a teenager!
Despite leaving my teenage years behind and having to cope with the social expectation of becoming more mature (pfft) my birthday is still my favourite day of the year.
To kick start my 20th birthday and 21st year on this planet, my sister and I made buns for me to take into work the next day.
My Dad's a Postman, which means he doesn't get back from work until about 1pm. So I waited til he got back before I opened anything.

I love the way Mum wraps presents. So pretty.

BEFORE

AFTER

DVD's, Pandora charms, TV, a cup with Squirt on from Finding Nemo, jewellery, sweets and choc, LOTS OF WINE and other bits an bobs.

And of course, lots of lovely cards. Here is a compilation of my favourite;

My younger cousin made the LEGO one (because I just got a job there), I got the Simple Simon one off my best friend, my auntie and uncle gave me the Wine Flu card, obviously the Disney Princess one is from Mum and Dad (it came with princess cut outs and stickers inside OMG), and the belated card is from another best friend.

So all in all, a very lucky girl.

After opening my prezzies, we then went to Franco's; a restaurant that one of my Uncles owns and where I had my first job. It's always lovely to see everyone again and they always make a fuss which is nice. We had a few drinks with my Auntie Yats and cousins Harriet and Tom, and then my Uncle (the one that owns the restaurant), Auntie and cousins came to give me some prezzies! They then left and it was just me, Mum, Dad, Emma, Auntie Yats, Harriet and Tom that went through to the restaurant for our food. As always, I had Bruschetta Duck to start, and went for a chicken pizza (it had some other stuff on it but I can't remember what they were called!)

Family selfie!

We then went to Hollywood Bowl and picked up my boyfriend on the way. I'm very competitive, so I was determined to win.
This did not happen.
We had 2 lanes booked; 1 for girls and 1 for the boys. Here's  the score of the girls in the first game.

(At least I beat my Mum).

And as for the night out, I went to my other ex place of work - Propaganda! I love going back to see everyone. Plus I got free entry and 2 bottles of champagne that went down very quickly. The DJ played my birthday song (Not Nineteen Forever by The Courteeners), which made my night. I also caught a t-shirt that they were throwing out. Another girl caught it but I was showing no mercy.

Me and my friend Kelsey in Propaganda.

So all in all, as depressing as turning 20 is, I had a brilliant birthday and spent it with the best people. Despite the 2 day hangover!