New Beginnings

Hello friends, it's been a while. A long while and for that I can only apologise.

It's summer break here in the UK and I've just started a new venture, a new blog. I hope my writing skills have somewhat improved and I better understand how to create a brand to really showcase who I am and what I do.

If that interests you, please head over to www.acosycupoftea.home.blog and have a gander. It's a bit bare right now but hang in there, I'm hoping to improve it and write lots more!

Have a lovely day,

Dottie x

Hello 2019

Goodness me, it's January 2019. When did that happen?! I'm honestly not quite sure. I wanted to take a few moments out to reflect on 2018 and share some hopes for the future. So let's do that, I suppose...?

I grew so much over the past twelve months. My confidence has been boosted, I've found more mental clarity, achieved a lot, and laughed an awful lot more! Overall, it's been a really good year. I'm feeling very blessed. 

Let's start with measurable progress. I started university, which for me was a big challenge. I'm still struggling with it but I think everyone finds it at least a little bit difficult, so that's okay. Next, I've progressed hugely in terms of my writing (or at least, I think I have!). I got sent to a festival as part of a press team, which was a dream come true! I wasn't paid for it, but it was wonderful to experience interviewing bands for the first time, as well as being in a different environment and adapting my writing style/format. Amazing. On top of this, I've had other ace writing opportunities which I never even dreamed of! Pretty darn great. 

I've also gotten braver - or at least better at pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I've been to so many gigs by myself since February and met some brilliant friends. Wonderful! I've also tried to drive to some different places and just generally push myself to get out if I want to (even if my anxious brain is saying "no") because I end up having a nice time. Baby steps still count towards progress! 

In terms of mental clarity, it's only recently that things feel much better, but it's been small steps over the past year and a half to build myself back up. I'm trying to remember that one bad moment does not make a bad day. Living, learning, and working in a new place is helping, I think. I'm no longer stuck in one place. 

I want this year to see an upward trend in my positive mental attitude. Baby steps, but (hopefully!) not backwards. I want to find joy in little things and do good for others with no expectation of getting anything out of it. 

I also want to read more! I read 14 books in 2018, and have set my GoodReads challenge to 15 this year, with the hopes of completing it! My link is here if anyone is a book person. 

Spread some love in 2019, and take care of yourselves. Laugh a lot. Things will be okay x

Close

things are feeling just a little bit weird at the moment; things lack a certain closeness that i've previously only found within my little family. 

there are laughs, giggles, and heart-to-hearts, everything happy and bubbly and yet... superficial. these people that i have chanced upon have similarities and the same wants, needs, and likes but there is something there, a barrier that prevents us being close. 

there's a physical need for comfort

for a hug

a hand to hold.

not romantically, as wonderful as that is. 

Comfort.

i long for those quiet intimate spaces

another person at the end of the phone

at 2am,

voices soft, laughter hushed. 

the quiet as you fall asleep

miles apart but feeling closer than ever before. 

I long for those miles to be reduced

to millimetres,

to hear those whispers

accompanied by your breath in my ear.

i want to be held

i want to be

close.

things fall
                   a
                     p
                       a
                         r
                           t.

and i feel like i'm constantly and consistently trying to piece myself back together

whilst everything is still falling

lost

i am lost

unsure of the things around me

weighed down under the colossal mass of things i cannot control

why does everything have to change

why does everything have to hurt and why, just why

do i feel everything and

nothing at all?

The Urge to Write/Ramble

Hello

It's been a while. It's weird typing on a new keyboard... I keep making typos.

I want to write. What I want to write, I couldn't tell you. I feel stuck in a rut, unable to explain myself properly or put things into words. Hell, I'm even forgetting words.

Maybe I'm not as cut out for this as I thought I was?

Big changes are happening. Big changes have been happening in all of the time I've been absent. I feel like I'm returning to a dusty room full of notes and memos and lists... That's what my blog, this place that I worked so hard to create, has become.

I haven't not been writing - just writing different things. Or trying, at least. I've been contributing to some music sites/blogs with some reviews and such. It's been a dream... But I don't feel entertaining, I don't feel my personality coming across and it just doesn't feel me... Or good, if I'm honest. Reading back the things I've written, they're average. Not great, not cutting edge.

Now I know we are our own worst critic/enemy/downfall but still... I literally just have a lack of words... So why do I call myself a "writer"? I don't do cool things, I don't put effort in... Or it doesn't feel like it in this second.

Why the hell do I think I'm going to survive getting a degree in journalism?! Wish me bloody luck there! I don't even know why I'm writing these thoughts down. I guess in the hopes that someone will find them? Who even knows? What I do know is that writing helps - it's the advice everyone gives me when I'm stuck in an emotionless rut so why not give it a go? Chuck a pretty picture alongside the forlorn words and call it art or something, why not?!

I'm not a journalist, I'm certainly no blogger... So what the hell am I, other than a lonely human searching for comfort and a release from these immobilising thoughts? How do we stop critiquing ourselves? If you find out... Let me know.

Rainy June Playlist

I woke up this morning to grey clouds, sodden grounds, and a lower temperature than I like. I never quite know how to be on rainy days; I want to fill my time with productive things, but at the same time I want to curl up with tea, a good book, or just watch the rain make puddles ripple. 

Today's weather is weird. It's so sunny, but the rain is threatening to fall. It's strange. So today, I've made some butterscotch biscuits, and a playlist to listen to on other future rainy days. I implore you to curl up next to a big window with some tea and some headphones and listen. Just listen and be for a little bit.

Some of the songs mean a lot to me, such as 'Machines' and 'God Only Knows'. Others I think are simply stunning. Each one tells a story and is just perfect for a relaxed, cosy day. 

So enjoy it here...

Happy New.... Something?

Goodness me, it's June. And 2018. And it's been a long while since I've done this. So here's what I'm up to now...

Right this second I'm listening to Biffy Clyro's MTV Unplugged album. Possibly a review coming on that? This week I have been reading lots, sleeping lots, and having a break from work. I've also seen Solo: A Star Wars Story twice. 

Now for life in general... I'm still working in a builders merchants. My hours fluctuate - sometimes I'm there full time, others I work twelve hours a week. This leads to all sorts of issues with routine and not feeling mentally brilliant but I'm trying to see friends and keep busy when I'm not working. 
I'm also writing for two music publications. It's all online, but it's a brilliant experience and some really awesome stuff has happened since September, including seeing The Wombats with a press pass, and being sent the new Snow Patrol album by a PR company! (Also related to this - I travelled 120 miles to see one of my favourite bands play their biggest ever headline show. Maybe more on that if you're interested?)

I'm going to be heading to university in September to study Journalism and Publishing. It's so exciting but terrifying at the same time. I'm definitely ready to learn some new things, meet some new people, and to start becoming much more independent. But at the same time, I really don't want to move away from all of my friends and family, and I'm dreading living with - and sharing a kitchen with!!! - nine other strangers. 

So there we are. That somewhat brings us to today, where I've been to town, cut myself while shaving, and watched The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt for hours. It's going well. 

I guess I have hopes of resurrecting this blog, and of becoming more productive and determined to create good habits and routines. I don't want to promise too much, because I do tend to drop it all when things get overwhelming but we'll see how it goes. 

Love to you all 

- Dottie x

BOOK REVIEW: Secrets for the Mad (Dodie)

"When I feel like I'm going mad I write.

A lot of my worst fears have come true; fears that felt so big I could barely hold them in my head. I was convinced when they happened the world would end.

But the world didn't end. In fact, it pushed on and demanded to keep spinning through all sorts of mayhem, and I got through it.And because I persisted, I learned lessons about how to be a stronger, kinder, better human - lessons you can only learn by going through these sorts of things.

This is for the people with minds that just don't stop; for those who feel everything a thousand times more than others around them.

Here are some words I wrote." 

Dodie, or doddleoddle is a musician, songwriter, YouTube personality, and she writes. 'Secrets for the Mad' is a beautiful book, a collection of thoughts and photos, lyrics and words, and some truly stunning artwork. 

So this book is split into a few sections - 'my bad brain', 'obsessions', 'confessions', and 'life lessons'. Now I'll be the first to admit that reading about mental health is hard, especially if it's something you struggle with. But Dodie has written about it in a hopeful way, which is tricky to do if you feel as though you're stuck at the bottom of a well. She's included her darkest moments, but also how she's gotten through them - with her list of small but important things, and her friends and family. As someone who sometimes struggles with getting lost in my own mind, the fact that I can do something small like writing a list of happy things that could really help is a wonderful bit of information. 

In 'obsessions', we learn of Dodie's struggle with food, with alcohol, and makeup, as well as more. I think for younger people to see how damaging the media and social networking sites can be - we're all encouraged to be happy, to be skinny and this chapter just perfectly highlights these issues. It can't have been easy to write about these things, and it was tough to read about them, but as I've already mentioned, it's important. 

'Confessions' speaks of love and heartbreak, abusive relationships and how to process and deal with these. It was insanely difficult for me to read about these, having just gone through a break-up myself, but it was helpful to see someone else's perspective of the emotions and confusion I've been feeling. Loving is a part of life and to open up about the things in this section must have been incredibly hard. But again, it's processing, it's healing and I really respect Dodie for doing this. 

And finally, 'life lessons', what would we do without them? Learn how to cook with Daniel J Layton, find out that why you should understand and embrace your sexuality, and how families can change and recover from what they once were. This is, in my opinion, the most important section of this book because it highlights just how much a person can grow and learn from everything in their life. For someone only just in their 20s, Dodie knows so much and while she still struggles with things sometimes, I think she's someone for younger girls to look up to - she's kind, she's caring and she understands what it is to grow up. 

So yes, if you want to be inside the head of someone who doesn't understand what they're thinking, definitely pick up this book. It's emotional, but you'll fall in love with it. 

- Dottie x

Autumn Hair and Skincare ♥

Hey all, 

With the colder months starting to creep up on us, it's about time to start switching up our hair and skincare routines to ensure we stay nice and soft and supple, hahah!
So, I'm going to divide this post up into a few sections: hair. face, and body. It basically makes it a bit easier for you to read and understand, and a lot easier for me to write! 

Hair

Shampoo and Conditioner: Sometimes with hair care products, I just use what my mum buys, so that can be anything from Herbal Essences to the (really nice!) Alberto Balsam range from Tesco. But, my favourites are as follows: 

Dove Intensive Repair shampoo and conditioner - great for heat-styled hair, it leaves your hair soft and shiny and smelling great.
Lush Daddy-O shampoo - smells amazing, again soft and shiny hair, and it also makes your blondes look blonder. Win-win!
Lush Fun - it's got a Play-Doh consistency, but it leaves a lovely sweet smell in your hair and leaves it so shiny! 

I also tend to use whatever shampoo and conditioner is on offer for just everyday, but the ones above are my favourites. I also heat style my hair a lot, so I use a VO5 heat protect serum which can be used on wet and dry hair, or the Superdrug heat protection spray if I've used a heavy conditioner or shampoo as I feel the VO5 one can weigh my hair down and it gets greasy quicker. Cool. 

Body

Shower Gel: I tend to use anything from the Sanex shower cream range for everyday, but my favourite treat-yourself shower gels are The Body Shop's Satsuma shower gel, or Lush's Plum Rain, as it smells amazing and leaves your skin really soft without moisturising. 

Moisturisers: I use a few, mostly on my arms and legs, and they are: Lush's charity pot (on my tattoo), Holland & Barrett's aloe vera gel, or Avon's family moisturiser. I have also recently started using a massage bar from Lush on my legs and it leaves them softer than anything else! (Pro tip: if you exfoliate after shaving your legs, and then moisturise too, your skin will be so soft, and it's a really nice self-care thing to do). 

Face

I'm trying to use up a lot of products that I purchased a while back, so I'm using a lot of products on my face right now. Here are my favourites...

Cleansers:

• Simple's Oil Balancing daily face wash
• Lush's Ocean Salt

Masks:

• Lush's Dark Angels (oil balancing)
• Lush's Mask of Magnaminty (gets rid of or reduces spots)

Moisturisers:

Simple's Light Hydrating Daily Moisturiser 
Simple's Oil Balancing Day Cream
Superdrug's Vitamin E Eye Cream
Aloe Vera Gel (good stuff this)
Nivea Soft Moisturising Cream
Nivea Creme

I use quite a few moisturisers because my skin gets really dry around my eyes, and really oily on my t-zone and cheeks, so I use the oil balancing one there, and the hydrating one in my dry zones. I use the Nivea ones at night, because even if you have oily skin, you do still need to hydrate it!

The last product that I have a lot of hype about is Lush's Tea Tree Toner Water. I use it after cleansing my face in the morning and after showering in the evening and it both removes any traces of cleanser left on my skin, and I feel that it's improved the appearance of my skin. Plus, the tea tree really helps with combating any spots which is a bonus! 

My skincare routine is something that I've been working on for a while, and these are just the products that work for me and my skin. Obviously everyone is different and what helps my skin might not help yours but it's definitely worth trying some different products and routines and finding what helps your skin. 

I hope this was an interesting read, I've linked all of the products that I use so you can check them out. 

Happy autumn loves ♥

Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (Gail Honeyman)

"Eleanor Oliphant leads a simple life.

She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. 

Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled life. Except, sometimes, everything.

One simple act of kindness is about to shatter the walls Eleanor has built around herself. Now she must learn to navigate the world everyone else seems to take for granted - while searching for the courage to face the dark corners she's avoided all her life." 

This book caught my eye when browsing in my local bookshop; there was just something about the white cover and the title that I found intriguing. By the title, I assumed it would be a typical mental health type teenager-y story, but I was pleasantly surprised. 

Everything about main character Eleanor Oliphant is perfectly just-so, and the way the book is written is suits the story and character so well. I didn't find this to be a sad novel, it was punctuated by funny parts, and heartwarming parts that just seemed to make the more negative parts a little more bearable. 

I must say that it took me a little while to get into this book, as it sometimes does when my head is stuck in another story, but once I reached a certain point (I won't give any spoilers!), I found it impossible to put down - I loved it that much! 

It's almost written in the same style as The Perks of Being a Wallflower or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, but with a much more grown-up feel to it (of course due to the age of the character). 

As you can (sort of) see from the sticker on the cover of my book, this novel was included in the BBC Radio 2 Book Club, and you can click here to download a free chapter to see if this is for you!

So anyway, this book was quite different to any other I've read, due to themes and the way of writing, the 'voice' of the character as it were. I did enjoy it, and would totally recommend it to my friends!

I Saw Suzanne Vega...

Yep, that's right folks, I saw the real Suzanne Vega! If you don't know who she is, she's a rather obscure 70s/80s singer-songwriter with a beautiful style of acoustic guitar. My music taste is partly something I've picked up off of my dad - Johnny Cash, Leonard Cohen, and Suzanne Vega, so it was incredible to get the opportunity to see her live.

She was touring because it's the 30th anniversary of her album Solitude Standing (which, for those of you who don't know, is my favourite of her albums), and the 25th anniversary of the album 99.9°F. So the evening was split into two, one half for one album, and the other for the second album, with a little break in between. 

The first song on Solitude Standing is 'Tom's Diner', which is sung without music, just a vocal. The whole room was deathly silent as this song was sung and it was incredible. This was more than just a gig, as I wrote on my Instagram after it finished - it was a performance, a celebration of music and it was wonderful. 

The special thing about this concert was that it was seated - something I've never experienced before. I meant that I could close my eyes and forget where I was and just let the music unfold around me. It was magical, and I didn't get hurt or pushed over or anyone dropped on my head! 

One thing I found absolutely staggering was the progression in just five years - the sound had changed and evolved and the music became more accessible. Suzanne Vega wasn't just an obscure guitarist singing of goddesses, she made it to the charts, and even got a single higher than Nine Inch Nails! 

I left the venue feeling so inspired to play guitar again, and to write and to learn and it was wonderful. Words cannot describe this experience but it was incredible. 

A Funny Old Time

5am.

A funny old time.

It feels as though the whole world is tucked up in bed asleep.

Even the sun is safely hidden away,

The morning cold.

Everything is quiet.

5am.

A funny old time

Halfway between awake and asleep

And here I am

Not halfway but all the way

100 per cent

Completely there

Awake.

Alone.

My Favourite Nail Polishes...

I like painting my nails, it makes me feel more put-together and stops me from biting my nails. Instead, I pick at the nail varnish but that's beside the point. I've been quite busy recently but I thought I'd share a few snaps of my favourite nail varnishes, all from Barry M. 

The 'Plumpy' top coat is honestly amazing, it really does make your nail varnish last a lot longer, and the 'Iron Mani' base coat has repaired my nails and made them much healthier!

♥ Five Happy Things ♥

I've seen so many bloggers writing posts like these (especially Jemma at Dorkface.co.uk), and I think it is a beautiful thing that can be so grounding and wonderful. So, here are five things that are making me happy right now...

1. I've finally decided on what to do at university, and now I just need to gather the motivation to go through the steps to apply. 

2. I've finally decided to quit my job, because it's making me stressed and anxious, and I feel as though the nine months I've been there are enough - I need a change, something closer to home. I wrote a little more about this in my most recent post on 18 Going on Eighty.

3. Once I get home from work tomorrow at 12:30, I've got all day to relax. Four-hour shifts are both a blessing and a cure, but I'm really looking forward to my relaxing afternoon/evening tomorrow. I might bake some yummy cookies and curl up with a book.

4. I've got so many lovely Lush products to use up, and I love that! You may scoff and tell me how expensive they are, but I believe in treating yourself and Lush does that well!

5. A good cup of tea makes everything a little brighter. I don't know what it is about the magical healing properties of tea, but it works. You can't beat a good book and a nice hot cup of tea. 

A Cinema Under the Stars...

Some friends and I headed to our local park (well, kinda) on Friday 1st September to head to Hogwarts with the Alfresco Film Company! We went to see Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone played on an outdoor screen, under the stars and it was magical! 

We loaded up with flasks, blankets, camping chairs, warm layers, chocolate, biscuits, and popcorn and found a place to camp out with a good view of the screen. It was actually surprisingly busy, I guess because some of the films were filmed locally, a lot of people would be interested. 

So, as the sun was setting, we all put on lots of layers (I had a strappy top, a long sleeved top, a t-shirt, a jumper, a hoodie, a denim jacket, a raincoat and a blanket and I was still freezing cold by the time the film ended!) and watched the bats flying around our heads as we waited for the darkness and for the movie to start. 

I have to say that despite the cold and the numbness of my toes and hands, it was a great experience. Watching a film outdoors isn't something that I would usually think of doing, because y'know, outside but it was fun, it was a laugh and I loved watching the clouds drift over the moon and looking up at the stars! I'm waiting for the next Harry Potter movie to be played outdoors! (I may also go see The Lost Boys since I've not actually seen it all the way through. I'll be taking a hot water bottle though). 

So yes, if you ever get the chance to go to an outdoor cinema, I say just do it because it's fun and you'll be with friends eating yummy food watching a good movie and looking at the stars and what more would you ever need?!

- Dottie x

Tea, Early Mornings, and Things to Look Forward To...

Hello there... If any of you have stuck around and read my blog for a while, you'd know that I am not going to university like most 18-year-olds are. Instead, I'm working, and trying to blog, and planning university open days and hopefully actually applying for uni because hey, I think I know what I want to do now. 

My job sometimes requires me to start at 6:30 in the morning, and yes it is a horrible thought but there's something wonderful about being up at 5am and watching the world wake up. Like the middle of the night, the early hours of the morning are perfect and untouched and beautiful. 
Early starts allow me to have the rest of the day to do nothing, or everything depending on how I'm feeling and I like that. There's no anxiety just waiting around to go to work, I just get up and go and have a day to do what I really want to. 

Usually, what I really want to do after working is curl up with a mug of tea and a book. I'm really enjoying writing book reviews and reading books, and with a to-be-read pile almost as tall as me, hopefully I'll be doing more of both of those during the next year of my life!

I've got more than books to look forward to, though! I'm hopefully going to be writing for Noizze, a site that publishes music reviews, which is something I'm really looking forward to, since I've not done any proper music reviews in such a long time and I do really enjoy it. 

So yes, this post is just a little update to let you all know what's happening in my life. I'm excited! 

- Dottie x

BOOK REVIEW: The Art of Being Normal - Lisa Williamson

"Two outsiders. Two secrets. 

David longs to be a girl.

Leo wants to be invisible.

When Leo stands up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship forms. But things are about to get messy. Because at Eden Park School secrets have a funny habit of not staying secret for long..." 

I picked up The Art of Being Normal recently from the Amazon book store (the best place to get books in my opinion), alongside Matt Haig's The Humans. I'd seen it around in a few Instagram posts and was curious to read it.
While I'm currently struggling to get into Haig's book (sorry, Matt!), I devoured The Art of Being Normal in under 24 hours. 

The story is gripping and so intriguing, switching between main characters David and Leo's perspectives. I became emotionally invested in this book, it made me smile, and it almost made me cry. For someone who hasn't experienced what character David has, it's definitely a good read because it opens your eyes to what it's like to be living in the wrong body, and Williamson wrote with empathy and knowledge of the issues covered in this novel, and she wrote so well. 

The plot twist(s) in this book are great, it leads you to believe one thing, and then does a complete U-turn (for me, anyway. you might figure it out!). Each character develops and has their own little things about them that you learn, and I adore the ending of this novel. 

I'd recommend this for anyone struggling with gender identity, or anyone who doesn't understand it. It really opened my eyes, and it will do the same for you. Otherwise, if you're a fan of John Green, Matt Haig, etc. and are just looking for something good to read, then pick this up. You'll love it as much as me!

(If you'd like to read my book review of Matt Haig's How to Stop Time, head over to my other blog, 18 Going on Eighty here).  - Dottie x

Stuck in a Rut...

I know it feels as though I write these posts all of the time, about how much I love blogging and how terrible I am at it because I have no time, or no inspiration, or whatever my usual excuse it. But this time, I don't have an excuse. I am just stuck. I feel stagnant, like I'm stood in one place unable to move forward whilst everyone else is rushing past making amazing progress, making amazing things and I'm just a little puddle, a little mess. 

I've been trying desperately to find words to create something I could be proud of, but instead the only word that comes to mind is 'stagnant', which I guess is what I'm feeling... I've tried to fill my days with lovely things, lovely people, and adventures. For the most part however, I've wanted to stay in bed. I have so much free time to enjoy and I'm not enjoying it. I don't know what to do, and I hate it. I just want to sleep, to waste my days playing games on my phone or mindlessly scrolling through social media. I've tried to read, but I cannot concentrate. I've tried to see people but I end up exhausted. I feel as though I have no purpose. 

I want to get better, and this is my way of trying. Please be patient with my while I figure out life. 

Reasons To Stay Alive - Matt Haig

This book will make you cry. It made me cry, and if it did that to me, it'll do it to you. This book, for me, hit home, and it hit home hard. It's about the real-life struggle of recovering from depression and anxiety; it's raw and harsh and brutally honest. But it gets better, it's not all tough reading. It makes you feel better for having read it and having reached the happy ending. 

While this was definitely one of the most difficult books I've read in terms of context, I'm glad that I forced myself though it because it's made me see things a little differently. There's an interesting thought from Matt Haig about running and how it helps him to manage anxiety; he says that running gives the same feeling as a panic attack - racing heart, ragged breathing, etc. - but it isn't one. (this has kinda made me want to go running now? I'll keep you updated on that). 

The way that Haig has approached writing this book is absolutely perfect for the content. It's brutally honest, which is exactly what we need to break the stigma surrounding mental health, it's funny in all of the right places, and yet it manages to be sensitive. It covers everything from mental health stigma, to statistics, to how to cope, and it even tells you what celebrities have depression/anxiety, which I personally feel is brilliant to include because it made me feel so much more normal, and less alone. 

I want to say so much about this book, but I've only read it once (I'm working my way up to reading it again, I really loved it!), and I haven't planned what exactly I want to say. 
But, the world needed this book. The world still needs this book. I want everyone to read it, and understand perhaps not what it's like, but how common things like depression, and like anxiety are. This book lets the world know that no two struggles, no two battles are the same, but each one is valid. It also gives others the chance to get their voice heard, and to share their reasons to stay alive. 

I guess since I'm writing, or rather babbling, about this book, I'll give you my reasons to stay alive...

♥ a cup of tea on a cold and rainy morning 

♥ spontaneous visits from friends

♥ laughter - it's always there somewhere

♥ fairy lights and candles and cosy blankets - those things feel safe. 

I have quite a few others but I don't want those to take away from what I'm trying to say about this book. 

Read it. Read it again, and again because like with any book, you'll notice something new. Highlight the important quotes, things you want to remember. Make it your own. 

Make your own reasons to stay alive. 

- Dottie ♥

Teenage Ramblings...

Hello all! Some wonderful buddies and I have decided to set up a group blog, sharing thoughts, photos, art, poetry and just everyday ramblings about life. If that sounds like something you'd be interested in, click right here to check it out! It was only created a matter of hours ago, so there's not much content there just yet, but it's going to be a pretty fun place to hang out once it's up and running. 

I'll be writing in a somewhat similar format to this blog over here, but it's a whole new adventure, growing a new audience, etc. etc. I'm very excited for this chance to learn more about blogging and writing in general. (Any tips would be much appreciated!) 

Anyway, I need to go and take off my makeup and go to bed as I am super tired! Here's to having more time for writing, blogging, photography, and fun!

- Dottie x