Hey guys,

Thinking of getting a tattoo? Or curious of them? Well so I was before my 18th birthday (donkeys ago I know) and that's when I got my first tattoo. I am many down the line now, 11 to be precise. Okay, so they are tiny ones compared to others who have huge ones but hey personal choice.

When I got my first tattoo I had so many questions going through my head and especially with the fact it's permanent. Will I still like it down the line?! What if I regret it?! I thought long and hard about my first tattoo and if I wanted the tattoo to represent something. Long story short, my Nan died when I was 3 years old so my Great-Nan became my first Nan - and when I was 17 I badly broke my ankle in which I had to go to appointments every Monday or every other Monday. After my appointment I would go to my Nan's for some lunch (I mean her sandwiches were devine) and watch Doctors and some ambulance programme. Unfortunately, she died a few months later. So when I turned 18 I decided my first tattoo would be a Feather (behind my ear). 

Feather's represent freedom, beauty and a gift from the sky. They always say that if a feather lands by you then someone who has passed is with you. Therefore, I decided I would get a feather so I always get that closeness with my family members that I have lost. I am 24 years old now and I still absolutely love this tattoo the most and if my mind ever wonders thinking of them I always find I am touching my feather. 

I'm not going to go into full detail about all my tattoos as we will be here forever haha but I will give you an overview:

1. Feather - As mentioned above.

2. Heart on my left wrist - I got this in University just because I wanted to haha but then I found out a few weeks later, when I had put the healed look on my Instagram, that my one of my older cousin's who I look up to when I was younger has the exact same tattoo in the same place. I promise I didn't know she had it haha. 

3. 'Belle âme' quote with a rose on one rib - This means beautiful soul in French. My name is French meaning Hope but so many people say that I have a 'beautiful soul' as I am kindhearted and always putting others first.

4. Unalome in the middle of my chest - To be honest, this was just because I thought it was pretty but then a year later my Mum noticed it and wanted the same so now its like a mother & daughter tattoo.

5. Dreamcatcher on the other rib - I used to get nightmares as a child so my mum bought me a dreamcatcher and I don't know whether its just a superstition but ever since I rarely get nightmares (I still do but not as many).   

6. Elephant on the left inner ankle - My favourite animal. Also the same as my Nan who passed away when I was 3 years old. 

7. Lotus flower on the left outer ankle - I got this with 2 of my close friends but it also means new beginnings and I was in a place where I needed to turn the page and start taking life a lot more seriously.

8. Anchor on the right inner ankle - I got this on holiday when I was 19. (Don't recommend as I was paranoid when I got back - luckily I was fine haha). When I was 18 my friends got me an Anchor charm for my Thomas Sabo bracelet so it's now like a little dedication for them. 

9. Wave on the right outer ankle - I'm a Pisces which means I'm a water girl. Plus, I've had so many highs and lows which reminds me like a wave. 

10. 'Pause' quote with a butterfly - I think this has becomeone of my favourites. I got this as a reminder that sometimes you need to pause & think about life and what you have to be grateful & thankful for. I got a butterfly slightly above it flying away from the quote to represent 'letting go'.

11. Moon & star on the outer left side of wrist - Just because I love nature haha. Funny fact though - I have recently just come back from Turkey and my tattoo is literally the Turkey flag minus the red haha and was wondering why the Turks kept trying to talk to me - probably though I love Turkey hell of a lot ahaha.

Tips:

1. Do your research - where hurts the most, the tattoo place you want to go to and its hygiene rating, the size you want the tattoo etc.

2. Do you want meaning?

3. I have always had the photo on my phone of what I want before I make the appointment to make sure I am 100%. 

4. Get people's opinions but also don't - If you love it go for it.

5. Eat and drink before your appointment.

6. Invest in some Bepanthen nappy cream for the after cream - Does wonders.

7. If you have a low pain threshold maybe invest in some numbing cream.

8. Don't drink the night before as this thins the blood and can lead to excess bleeding.

9. When they are stenciling it out be honest with them if you want it resizing or repositioning.

10. Tell the tattoo artist to stop if you need a break.

Hey guys,

As you may have seen from my previous post (click here) I passed my driving test before 2022. Woo finally. I thought I would share some pointers that helped me and some tips that I learnt on the way. Hopefully you find this useful.  

This is one meme I found last year and I saved it to my Notes section on my phone

1. Instructor - Find one that is right for you and you feel comfortable with, ask around and get reviews on different instructors. Would you prefer a female or a male instructor?. At first my instructor was my mum's cousin and as he was just starting he didn't really have the best patience. I moved to another instructor about 2-3 years later (after a big break) who has such a great personality, the patience of a god send and was just so lovely. Unfortunately, he ended up with some health issues and had to take a step back and with the pandemic all the instructors had a backlog. Luckily, my mum's cousin took me back and had developed the patience and we could have a laugh and it felt a lot more chilled as we was talking about the family and how everyone was.
2. It's okay to change instructors - At the end of the day, it's how you feel and it's you whos got to pass
3. Lessons take time - Driving is a huge life skill that you don't want to rush your lessons with. They'll be some aspects of driving that you'll be amazing at and some that you'll be less good at. But, practice makes perfect. And to be honest, everyone says that driving lessons don't stop after you've passed your test. 
4. You'll have at least one bad lesson -  Heck I had a few, I bumped the kerb on my own road - would think I would know my own road by now. My mum has been driving for 25+ years and the other day she was messing with her gears, wasn't prepared for the traffic lights so ended up stalling and then rolling backwards haha. You definitely need concentration and to always keep your eyes on the road. Don't get distracted. It's okay to panic sometimes. Definitely talk to your instructor as they are there to help and try and resolve your problems. It always works itself out in the end.
5. Everyone learns at different paces but you'll eventually get there. 
6. Don't book if your instructor doesn't think your ready - Tests are a lot of money, especially if you fail. Keep in contact with your instructor and always have full honesty between yous both. My instructor was telling me that one of his pupils thought she was ready for her test, he said she wasn't and she went on to do the test anyways and failed within 5 minutes of the test. Your instructor does know best (majority of the time haha).
7. It's okay to not pass first time - Nerves and anxiety definitely play a key factor. My  leg wouldn't stop shaking - especially as my instructor had been a male but then the examiner was a female who had the complete opposite personality. Plus, failing the first time at least you know what to expect for the next time around. The examiner gives you a good understanding as to why and what you failed on. This helps give your instructor a good understanding of what they need to focus the next lesson on ready for the next test.
8. Buy lessons in bulk - Make sure you can afford to keep on top of your lessons 
9. Time slot/day - Luckily as I don't work Tuesday's I found this was a perfect day to focus on my lessons. Prior to this, I used to work a 0 hour contract and quite a lot of them hours were night shifts so I found I was cancelling all the time and losing so much money.
10. Theory test - Make sure you have passed your theory test in plenty of time. Theory tests run out after 2 years so if you haven't passed your test there could be a chance that you may have to redo your Theory test. This means more money and more stress. Due to the pandemic I know in my area that there is currently a backlog of people waiting to take their tests. 

I hope you enjoyed reading this and found some of these tips useful. If you have any other tips please leave them below :) 

Hey guys,

As I am approaching 25 years old in the next few weeks I received my Smear Test letter a few months ago. This is a must do task!! If you are reading this and haven't had yours yet - book it in. 

What is it?

This cervical screening checks the health of the cervix which is basically the opening to your womb. It is a bit awkward as obviously they have to observe down there but if you want children you'll get used to it or if you have had children then your more likely not bothered. I definitely want children when I'm older but I have also got the IUD so I have already been through that awkwardness. Plus, I always think if you can let a guy see down there why can't you let a professional nurse? This test is to to gather some cells from the cervix which are then sent off to a lab to check for Human Papillomarvirus (HPV). If they find these cells they will then check to see if there are any changes. If there are you will get sent for further tests but if they don't spot any changes they recommend you go back in 3 months time just for a little check up. However, if the cells aren't present you don't have to go for another test for 3 years. Luckily, if they do spot the cells they can usually be treated before they get a chance to turn into cervical cancer. You usually find out your results by letter 2 weeks later (maybe slightly later due to a backlog in tests with this pandemic).

**Side note - HPV is actually quite common and my Nurse was saying at some point majority of people do get cells as there are numerous factors such as - sex (any type) , sharing sex toys, and skin to skin contact of the genital area.

What happens at the appointment?

The test usually takes about 5-10 minutes by a female nurse or doctor. Unfortunately, (if it wasn't awkward enough), as I have the coil the nurse had to check the coil was in place but she couldn't find the threads as they had tucked themselves away. Luckily, the coil was still in place though. But this meant she was back and forth using 2 different length tube-shaped tools (speculum) to make sure she was getting the cells from the right place. 

Before starting, the nurse explains what will happen during the test and answers any questions you may have. The nurse showed me a diagram of the cervix and what tool they use. You'll need to undress from the waist down and there is a extra sheet on the bed for you to put over yourself. The nurse will ask you to lie back on the bed, with your legs bent, feet together and knees apart. On the ceiling, my nurse had this funny poster of a cat and it was such a good distraction. The nurse will then gently put the speculum into your vagina. Don't worry they will use a small amount of lubricant so it shouldn't hurt. They will then open the speculum so they can see your cervix and then using a soft brush, they take a small sample of cells from your cervix. Once the sample is taken the nurse will remove the speculum and leave you to get dressed. (There are a few non-graphic videos on the NHS website if you want more detail). 

Photo Credit: Google Images

Tips:

• Be as relaxed as you can
• Don't be alarmed if you have some spotting or cramps afterwards - or in my experience, if your next period is slightly delayed
• Wear something you can leave on during the test - a long jumper or a skirt
• Before the pandemic you could bring someone along with you for support - hopefully this will be allowed again soon
• Breathing exercises - My nurse was doing this with me to keep reminding me haha
• Ask if it's an option to lie in a different position if you don't feel comfortable - As my appointment was a bit longer than usual my back was starting to hurt so the nurse suggested making fists and putting them underneath my hips; this actually helped us both
• You can ask them to stop at any time
• Bring something to listen to - My nurse had a little white noise machine which is the best thing - I understand why babies love them too
• Talk to your nurse to distract you - Mine was talking to me about my job, hobbies, what my plans were for the weekend etc
• It is best to get an appointment a week after your period has ended

Hey guys,

As Valentines Day is less than a week away (but I'm a single pringle haha) I thought I would share my favourite romantic films that I love to watch. I am such a big fan of rom-coms and I can't help but be a sucker to films I have already watched. I end up being obsessed with the guy in the films haha. Even though I'm single, I am such a sucker for romance and do love to believe that films are portrayed from real life scenario's - don't ruin the dream please haha.

Photo Credit: Google

1. P.S I Love You - Who doesn't love Gerard Butler?! I think it is so romantic that before he died (sorry for the spoiler) that he put his wife first by making sure she would be ok once he had passed. The letters and how they were given to her was so beautiful. 
2. 10 Things I Hate About You - RIP Heath Ledger. What an amazing actor. If you have not seen - go watch it. 
3. 50 First Dates - Adam Sandler is a classic. Him and Drew Barrymore work so well together (as does Adam and Jennifer Aniston). I love the fact he has so much patience and dedication.
4. Ghost of Girlfriend's Past - First love will always be the best. Amazing cast. It is about how a guy who is scared to commit (ring a bell to reality?!) and is always running away but it catches up to him. 
5. The Notebook - Who doesn't love the Notebook?! Growing old together and the love being constant. 
6. Sweet Home Alabama - I actually watched this for the first time at the start of the pandemic. I had heard the song but never the film and omg it became a fast favourite. No matter how hard you try to leave your past behind it will always catch you up, but hey it may be for the better. This features Reese Witherspoon and Josh Lucas - Josh Lucas is in the film 'The Secret' on Netflix - another must watch. 
7. The Proposal - Ryan Reynolds omg... Sandra Bullock is also an insane actress. This is about a business arrangement to help keep her visa. But of course, the feelings develop. 
8. Falling Inn Love - This a Netflix film and features Adam Demos (Sex/Life you know you know) aswell as Christina Milian. It's about a girl who wins an Inn in a competition. She decides as a break from being so busy she is going to the Inn to find its old and not stable. Therefore, she decides to renovate and sell it. 
9. The Ugly Truth - Again Gerard Butler... This just a cute easy film to watch. Both complete opposites who have to work with each other and start to learn from each other. 
10. Can You Keep a Secret - The main guy is the current Superman (in the series) and I absolutely love him. It's about a girl (Alexandra Daddario - San Andreas, newest Baywatch etc) who is on a flight which suffers turbulence which sets her into panic mode. This leads to her telling the guy sitting next to her all of her secrets. Turns out he is the owner of the company she works for. 

Photo Credit: Google

 Hey guys,

So I can finally and proudly say after so many years of being on and off with driving lessons and so many hurdles, I have finally passed my driving test!! 3rd time lucky... Well I actually passed 23rd November 2021 but I have been so busy, oops. Make sure you have a cuppa (maybe a teapot haha) ready as this is going to be a long post haha.

When I was around 16 years old (btw I'm 24 now) I was telling my parents about how I was wanting money so I could start my driving lessons when I turn 17 (in the March). But in the February my brother and I were messing around near the stairs and he thought giving me a little shove wouldn't do any harm. Anyway, I ended up with 3 broken bones and many months back and forth with hospital appointments in plaster, having scans, an operation and around a year having physio. So there goes my driving plans. I then got a job in Subway which was a zero hour contract with many, many night shifts so it was difficult to book driving lessons. Then uni came about with the biggest student life. See...no time for driving lessons. - I mean I could have done my lessons but you only get your student life once really.

With my theory test I kept booking and re-scheduling because I get anxious so quickly, unconfident and felt under-prepped. I have always struggled when it comes to tests and revision. It goes in one ear and out the other. I then felt ready for the test and this global pandemic happened. As soon as the theory test centres opened I was just like yanno what I'm just gonna do it. To make myself less nervous I went for a 7pm appointment so when I got to the centre it was just me, the staff and 2 other girls who were already half way through their tests. Anyway...I passed. 

I had to stop and start (again) thanks to the 3 lockdowns but I never lost the mojo. One time I was so ready for my test but then lockdown made me change it. And again. Then the 3rd time I booked my test my Driving Instructor, Mike, had some unfortunate health issues to where he was having to stop being an instructor to focus on his health. Therefore, I went back to my old instructor, Stephen, from years ago. I only actually managed about 5 lessons from him years ago before all the night shifts kicked in. Therefore, I was so nervous incase he brought up about the fact I just left him and then years later moved to another instructor. Thankfully he was understanding and was positive in getting me passed. 

The first driving test actually went so good. I had a guy called Dave, and he was so lovely. My show me, tell me questions were 'Tell me where you'd find the information for the recommended tyre pressures for this car & how tyre pressures should be checked' and 'When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you wash & clean the rear windscreen?'. The test was using a sat-nav and then following the examiner's instructions aswell as a front bay park. I was coming back to the test centre as a pass with 4 minors but unfortunately with 5 minutes to go I got a serious fault. I was coming out of a road taking a right and a van was coming into the road I was leaving, and he hadn't fully got into my road before I pulled out. My instructor was more like it was a what if, how did I know there wasn't a vehicle behind the van. Completely understandable but I was so gutted. My instructor took me back to that spot and he explained that it was quite harsh as the road was a long stretch so it was easy to see if there was vehicles or not. But nonetheless I felt quite positive for my second test.

The second test was shambles. I had a woman (I'm sorry I cant remember her name - can you tell I have tried to forget this test). She treated it like test conditions, was no conversation at all. My left leg was shaking madly so I was quite heavy on the clutch. I was entering the busiest (and probably the most awful) roundabout by mine where I accidentally stalled. But because of where I stalled I thought I just need to go, where I shouldn't. So back to the test centre it was. I was so disheartened, it was completely different to my first test. TI honestly felt like I wanted to give up and told my driving instructor that I wanted a break from lessons as I had lost my confidence and just need to get my focus and mindset back. I then re-booked my test for January. 

However, my instructor (luckily) wasn't listening to me. He had hold of my Driving reference and Provisional ID so he could keep an eye for cancellations but I said I didn't mind if there wasn't any cancellations. Anyway, I got a text message on 21st October saying I needed to check my emails. He had found a cancellation for the 23rd November at 1:15pm. I went into panic mode as I was only able to do Tuesday's but I had Harry Potter one Tuesday, he was away for another Tuesday so I was only going to be able to manage 2 lessons before the test. 

Now for the 3rd (and final) test. I turned up and was in the mindset of like I really can't be bothered, I've already failed because I've only managed 2 lessons and my confidence still hadn't fully come back. I had another woman called Sue. Because of my past experience on the 2nd test, I was a bit disheartened to have another woman and she was trying to get me to read the vehicle reg from a further distance than everyone else. I admitted that I couldn't make out the reg and she laughed and said she couldn't either. I thought brilliant. My tell me question was 'Tell me how you switch your headlight from dipped to main beam and explain how you'd know the main beam is on.' My show me question was 'When it's safe to do so, can you show me how you'd de-mist the front windscreen.' My manoeuvre was pull up on the right hand side and reverse 2 car lengths. The test was using a sat-nav and then following the examiner's instructions. Again, I was so nervous and was trying to make conversation in which I did get a little bit more out of her compared to my previous test. I had a no entry road which I completely passed, a few hills and an angled start. But one or 2 times I did roll back to where I thought 'oh my god' but managed to save them. And with the no entry road you come out an up hill and the road was so busy it took ages to be able to pull out so I put the handbrake on and I felt my palms sweating and anxiety starting to kick in but I was completely fine, I did talk to myself sometimes haha. But hey it helped. I noticed we had got to the test centre earlier than expected and then she asked me to pull into any convenient space. I was convinced I had failed again so I literally threw the car in and wasn't in any of the white lines and was like 'Oh sorry I haven't got the car in between the lines.' She was like 'Don't worry dear do you want your instructor present?'. I remember feeling so disheartened when saying yes and was shaking my head at my instructor as if to say I've failed again and I give up. But instead she said the words 'I'm glad to say Nadine you have passed with only 3 minors'. Omg I was completely shook, my hands were shaking, I got so teary and was like omg really. It was finally over and now it's onto the next chapter...