I can't believe that we've reached the end of what has been an amazing and exciting year! 2017 really has flown by and although I'm sad to see it go, I can't wait to see what the new year brings. This time last year, I said that I really wanted to make 2017 my year and to have a good time, and I definitely feel as though I achieved that with a lot of new experiences and exciting opportunities. I thought that it'd be nice to round off the year by going through each month and talking about a few of my highlights and most cherished memories, so I hope you enjoy this post!


2017 got off to a slow start as I was ill at the very start of the month, and then when I was back in college I had mock exams and so a lot of revision to do. However, the hard work paid off as I got A's in all of my mocks, which I was very pleased with considering I was trying to revise whilst in bed sick.

The end of the month was my 17th birthday, which coincidentally fell on the same day as the Johnson and Johnson Blog Awards, which I was nominated for! I decided to attend the awards evening and so my family and I travelled down to London on my birthday for 2 days, and it was great being back in London and taking in all of the sites, as well as the Johnson and Johnson Awards being a phenomenal and surreal experience.


January blog posts:




February was the month that I started a new dance school, alongside attending Lipa, that my old dance teacher set up. Although I'm no longer there due to being too busy with college, I really enjoyed these classes and dancing more during the week, as well as seeing friends that I didn't get to otherwise.

Whenever I think of February, I always think of the Primark haul blog post that I did and how much I enjoyed putting it together. This was by far the hardest I had ever worked on a blog post, as well as pushing myself out of my comfort zone with all of the photos, but I loved the finished product and it's since remained one of my most popular blog posts, so I'm presuming that you guys liked it as well.



February blog posts:





March was very work-based and it was one of those months where I felt like I had never-ending homework to do. However, there were some enjoyable moments, such as being invited to spend the evening with The Body Shop for their Mother's Day blogger event. I loved being able to try out all of their new launches, and the Liverpool staff are so lovely, always putting on amazing events.


March blog posts:




This month was practically consumed by my EPQ, as the deadline at the end of the month meant that I spent pretty much all of my time ensuring that my essay, logbook and powerpoint were completed. Although it was extremely difficult and I considered dropping it at times, there was nothing better than the feeling of clicking print on those 101 pages and finally handing it in - all my hard work was definitely worth it.


I was also lucky enough to be featured in Top of the Pops magazine in April, which is a very surreal thing to say considering that I used to love this type of magazine when I was younger, and now I'm in one of the issues. I'll always be grateful for all of the wonderful opportunities like this that I get from blogging!


April blog posts:





This was the start of feeling summery and the beginning of some of my favourite months of college. I was obviously excited by the start of the new Twin Peaks series, and the gorgeous weather meant that a lot of this month was spent relaxing on the field with my friends, albeit getting slightly burnt. I have such fond memories of this time, with dance competitions, parties and lots of enjoyable summer moments that I loved.


May blog posts:




This was by far one of my busiest months, yet the nice weather persisted and left me with lots of enjoyable memories. I moved house at the start of the month, which was hectic to say the least and I was kinda apprehensive to begin with, but I'm honestly in love with the house now and definitely feel at home. I also had a lot of college work and revision to be doing on top of this, right before finishing for summer, so I was crazy busy throughout the month.

However, there was still plenty of time to spend with my friends, and also making new friends as I signed up to be a college ambassador. Despite us getting completely submerged in the lake while raft-building on the training day, I made some new friendships that I really cherish and met people that I get on incredibly well with. I'll always remember us singing inspirational songs and clinging to the broken raft in our hoodies and trainers as one of the funniest days I've ever had.



June blog posts:




One of my favourite parts of the year is the Lipa show, and this year's production of Annie was perhaps one of our best ones yet. We all work incredibly hard throughout the year perfecting our songs, dances and scenes to deliver an amazing performance, and I think everyone agreed that this year was a huge success. I was cast as Grace, which was an honour to play such an important role and I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the icing on the cake was being given the first 'Student of the Year' award, which I still can't quite believe and I'm incredibly thankful for.


As always, my yearly holiday to Spain with my grandparents and brother was the perfect opportunity to wind down and relax after an incredibly challenging year of college. I definitely took this opportunity to soak up the sun, read to my heart's content and enjoy myself in one of my favourite places.


July blog posts:




I came back from my holiday in August and straight into a very busy blogging month, and I loved being able to focus more on my blog now that I didn't have college work to worry about. I collaborated with Seventeen on my bloggers relay post, which I put a lot of effort into and thoroughly enjoyed, and I also attended events with The Body Shop and Clarins that I loved, and it was great meeting new people whilst seeing other familiar faces.


I also found out on results day that I got an A* and full marks for my EPQ, which was unbelievable news as all of my hard work earlier in the year had definitely paid off and I was made up with this result, especially after being so close to dropping it.

August blog posts:




If I'm honest, I don't really have much to say about September, as it was another busy college month with mock exams, coursework and a mountain of homework to get through. However, being predicted 3 A*s in my A Levels was definitely the motivation I needed, and I still can't quite believe that I'd be predicted these grades.


September blog posts:




I look back at October as a really enjoyable month, and I definitely had some happy memories and great times that I'll cherish. It was also the month that I finished battling with the 4000 characters of my personal statement and sent off my UCAS, only to receive an offer from Leeds University a week later! October, you definitely were a good one.


October blog posts:





November started with sitting the ELAT, which is the Cambridge admissions exam for English, and after a lot of hard work and practice for this, I can honestly say that I did my best. I'm not going to lie, November was really hard. I was really busy with what felt like never-ending work to do, a lot of stress about interviews, as well as other things going on that made it feel like an almost impossible month.

However, every cloud has a silver lining, and November is the month that I found out that I'd been offered an interview for Cambridge University - which is something that I've dreamed of and I can't wrap my head around the fact that I was given such an opportunity.

November also proved to me how lucky I am to have my friends, and if I didn't realise it before then I definitely know now just how fortunate I am and how much they mean to me. Also, a trip to the Christmas markets with some of my friends from ambassadors was the festive pick-me-up I needed and was such an enjoyable evening.


November blog posts:




Since my Cambridge interview was on the 11th, the first half of December was predominantly spent preparing for this and doing mock interviews. I'm not going to lie - it was very intense, and I'm so glad that the days of no breaks between 9am and 4pm are over, due to giving up my lunch for a mock interview.

However, it definitely paid off as I went into my interviews with confidence, and despite still waiting to hear back as to whether I have an offer or not, I know that I did the best I possibly could. It also felt magical travelling down to Cambridge in the snow, and I really fell in love with it there after exploring the streets and seeing the beautiful sights.



December was also the month that I got Bastille tickets, which I'm honestly chuffed about as I've waited for ages for them to announce another tour. I'm pretty sure you all know by now that they're my favourite band, and I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to get tickets in time as I had a lesson, but everything thankfully worked out.

December blog posts:

Wow, I seriously can't believe that 2017 is almost over - it honestly feels like just a couple of months ago when the year started. I thought that now was the perfect time to do a round-up of all of my favourites from the year, including makeup products, books, music and much more. It's been a jam-packed year of trying new things and I've definitely discovered a lot of new products and items that are now firm favourites, so to find out what then keep reading!

I think I finally discovered my holy-grail foundation in 2017 - the Rimmel Lasting Finish Breathable Foundation has seriously changed how I apply my makeup, and although it's a bold statement to make, I think it's the best foundation I've ever tried. The coverage is really good, it blends incredibly well and stays in place all day - what more could you want from a foundation? In terms of base makeup, the Catrice Liquid Camouflage Concealer has been a returning favourite in 2017, as I've seriously never tried a concealer that is as pigmented and covers my blemishes incredibly well. I've done in-depth reviews of both of these, so click the links to read more about this foundation and this concealer.

Out of all makeup products, I think bronzer is my essential and I couldn't go without using it to warm up my skin and add an injection of colour to my otherwise pale complexion. The Max Factor Baked Bronzer is perfect for adding a radiant, luminous glow to the skin, providing a natural, sunkissed sheen that replaces my lack of tan in winter, which is definitely an essential.

I haven't worn eyeshadow that frequently in 2017, as honestly, I'd rather have the extra minutes in bed before college than getting up earlier, but whenever I have worn eyeshadow it's often been from the Seventeen Easy on the Eyes Palette. This has the most gorgeous nude and rosy shades that really make my eyes pop, and they're all incredibly blendable, so application is easy and effortless.

2017 has definitely been a year of rocking a nude lipstick, and the one that I find myself reaching for constantly is the Makeup Revolution Rose Gold Lipstick in Chauffeur, which is the perfect 'your lips but better' shade that looks lovely with any makeup look. It's comfortable to wear and doesn't accentuate any dryness on my lips, making it a lipstick that I've been loving applying.



Sadly due to being so busy with college, I haven't had a lot of time for reading for pleasure in 2017. However, in summer I did manage to read Crown of Midnight by Sarah J Maas, which I fell in love with. I was obsessed with Throne of Glass last summer when I read it, so I knew that I would enjoy the sequel, and I was definitely right as this was such an intense yet delightful read. I also raced through The Giver by Lois Lowry, and if the fact that I finished this book in 3 hours isn't proof that I loved it then I don't know what is - it's seriously a must-read modern classic.

Due to studying English literature as one of my A Levels, I've definitely had the chance to read more classics this year and broaden my horizons of literature. I thoroughly enjoyed Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen the first time that I read it, so much so that I decided to use it for my coursework, and it's definitely a classic that you need to give a read. I also read King Lear by Shakespeare to include on my personal statement and I never thought I'd say this but I actually really enjoyed it, despite it being a challenging and hefty piece of 17th-century literature.

My hygge book has also been a firm favourite this year and I've been referencing this often, especially in the colder months. If you're looking to implement this into your life, then The Little Book of Hygge, The Danish Way to Live Well by Meik Wiking must be your first port of call. If you'd like to read my Hygge inspired blog post for some further inspiration and ideas, then you can check that out here.



2017 was the year that I discovered Twin Peaks and progressed to binge-watching all of the episodes followed by the new series which premiered at the end of May. Although a 90s supernatural mystery isn't what I'd expect to like, I fell in love with it and seriously became addicted, and from episode one I was hooked and wanted to find out who killed Laura Palmer. I'd seriously recommend watching this if you haven't, especially since there's also the new series now.

Although I've only just started watching The Man in the High Castle, it's seriously good enough to make the list of favourites from the year. As I'm writing this I'm at the start of season 2 but will have probably finished it in a matter of days, as it's such an addictive and gripping tv show that I've become invested in. Not only is the premise of life were Germany and Japan won the war really interesting to watch play out, but the show is also full of twists and turns that'll keep you on the edge of your seat.


I'm sure it won't surprise anyone to hear that Bastille has yet again been my favourite band of the year, and I listen to their music non-stop. I also got tickets to their Reorchestrated tour in April which I really can't wait for! I've also been loving Amber Run's For A Moment I Was Lost, Banks' The Altar and Lorde's Melodrama, which I've been playing on repeat all year, as well as everything by Charlie Barnes. On Spotify, I've also been listening to quite a few songs by Dean Lewis and Dermot Kennedy and loving them a lot, which I'm sure will carry me into 2018.

Podcasts really have become an obsession of mine in 2017, and I went from never having listened to one to it becoming a daily occurrence. I've tried out quite a lot and so definitely have a number of recommendations, which you can check out in this blog post, but some of my favourites have definitely been Twin Peaks Unwrapped and At Home With..., which are completely different but equally as enjoyable.



Something that I started in 2017 and want to continue in the new year is making a bit more of an effort with things like jewellery. It's no secret I've been obsessed with chokers this entire year, and they definitely add to an outfit and are the perfect way of accessorising, and I've also been recently loving wearing statement belts, as they can really change an outfit. I've also been experimenting with more fragrances, and the Primark Private Collection Perfumes have been a firm favourite that I've reached for frequently.

I'm not going to say that I've been really healthy in 2017, cause that would be a complete lie, but I have been making a few steps towards being a tiny bit healthier in my daily routine. I've formed a new obsession with protein bars and any other fruit and nut bars, having one of these for my breakfast pretty much every day while walking to college. I've also been drinking a lot of peppermint tea (which I feel like I mention in a lot of blog posts) but it's quickly become one of my favourite drinks and one that I find myself reaching for a lot while working.

In terms of activities, my favourite by far this year has been playing keyboard, which I do pretty much every evening. I've been able to play for 10 years now and when I was younger I used to sit for hours practising songs, and this love of playing keyboard has been revived over the past year or so. I've been progressing through all of my favourite songs so that I can sing and play to my heart's content, and I've definitely been doing this a lot in 2017.

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I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post and hearing what my favourites have been, and I'd love to know yours down in the comments, or alternatively link me to your blog post if you write one similar to this. I'll be back this time next week with my 2017 memories blog post, which is something that I've done every year for the past few years and loved seeing an overview of the various achievements and events of the year, so make sure you come back for that! Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas!

Love from Daisy x

Christmas is officially a week away, but I didn't want it to pass without sharing this adorable DIY that I did. If you're looking to add some festive touches to your home or fancy an afternoon of making some decorations, then this idea is perfect for you. My mum and I made this gorgeous bauble wreath a few weeks ago after seeing it on Pinterest, and I honestly love the finished result so much, as it definitely looks unique and classy. If you'd like to know how to make it then make sure you keep reading!

To start you'll need a pool noodle, which will form the basis of your wreath. These are usually sold in the pound shops for an affordable price, but if not then you can easily pick one up off Amazon. It doesn't matter what colour you get, as it will be fully covered later. Using a hot glue gun, you want to glue the ends together and hold it in place for a couple of minutes until it feels fully set and sturdy.

Once it was glued, we decided to stick some duct tape around the join to ensure that it was secure and not at risk of breaking apart. We then continued to wrap the tape the entire way around the pool noodle to disguise the green colour, as well as ensuring that it was sturdy. Make sure that you're happy with the shape before you do this and that it's as circular as you can make it, as it's a lot harder to manipulate the shape once you've taped it.


For decorating your wreath, select a variety of baubles in whatever colours you like. We decided to go for a rosegold theme, with a few pinks and champagnes thrown in, and to accent this we used some metallic grey and silver baubles. This combination looks gorgeous and they really compliment eachother nicely, but you can choose whatever colours you like and match the rest of your decorations.

After carefully pinching the top off each bauble, you want to use the hot glue gun again to stick them on one at a time, starting on the inside and working your way around, making sure you don't stick any on the back surface. Put a generous amount of hot glue on each bauble and press it into the pool noodle until it feels secure. Make sure that you alternate the baubles so that you don't end up with lots of one colour all in the same place, and I also found that adding some smaller baubles are great for filling gaps as well as acting as details and accents to the wreath.

For the finishing touches, we added some rose gold lights, which look gorgeous and really make the wreath stand out in the dark. Also, we tied some grey, festive printed ribbon to the top so that the wreath could be hung up, and then we placed it on the front door for all to see.




I genuinely think that this wreath looks stunning, and it definitely catches your eye as soon as you see our house. We also decorated the Christmas tree outside our front door with matching baubles and I honestly love the look that this creates. It was also very easy to make, so I'd highly encourage you to give it a go!

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post and remember that I upload every Sunday, so I'll be back next week with another new one!

Love from Daisy x