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...

 Hey guys!!

Omg!! What an amazing experience! We went to Harry Potter Warner Bro's Studio in Watford for one of my friend's birthday and I literally felt I was a child again. As we went on Tuesday 2nd November it was still Halloween themed with the Death Eaters and pumpkins hanging from the main hall. I honestly don't even think this post will do it justice. When Harry Potter came out I went with my Uncle to the cinema to see each one and I would be hyped for weeks spoiling the film for everyone.

We booked our tickets for 3:30pm so we set off from Liverpool to Crewe at 10am and then one of our friend's picked us up from Crewe and drove. She even made us all little goody bag with all treats ready for the car. Bless her.  One of my other friend's made cupcakes with different icing inside so whatever cake we got determined what house we was in. I was Gryfinndor. Then another one of my friend's bought Harry Potter cookie cutters but used them for our sandwiches. We got there for half 2 so we had our food and then headed on over took some pictures outside and then the fun began. I do recommend going for an earlier time slot as the place shuts at 8pm and we were literally finishing up at the same time (luckily).

First stage of the Tour includes:

• The Great Hall
• The Yule Ball - Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire
• Gryffindor Dorm & Common Room
• Wands
• Slytherin Common Room
• The Mirror of Erised - Harry Potter & the Philospher's Stone
• Dumbledore's Office
• Snape's Potions Classroom
• Hagrid's Hut
• Green Screen - Flying a broom whilst playing Quidditch 
• Weasley's Kitchen
• Voldemort's Table - Death Eaters would gather to plan their evil crimes
• The Ministry of Magic
• Umbridge's Office - So pink & pretty - and her locket...
• The Dark Forest
• Platform 9 3/4 with Hogwarts Express featuring another Green screen (of riding on the train)

Second stage of the Tour includes: (Also some of it is outdoors) 

The outside Section:

• 4 Privet Drive
• Knight Bus - Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban
• Hogwarts Bridge - Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban
• The flying car 

The indoors Section:

• Gringotts bank 
• Bellatrix Lestrange's vault - Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows (Part 2)
  
• Gringotts being destroyed by the dragon - Omg this was insane watching the dragon in 4D destroy the bank with special effects fire and smoke

Special Effects:

• This section includes masks, makeup effects, wigs and dummies they used during filming to bring it to life. There was the werewolves, Voldemort, Dobby, Hedwig, goblins, the spiders, the trolls etc. 
• A sewing machine with a fashion board with the goblin outfits
• Makeup with the makeup tables
• There was also an office with a desk with drawn out models of sets, endless books for the inspiration

• Diagon Alley - Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, the broomsticks shop, the shops to buy the owls etc
• And finally (but not lastly) Hogwarts model 

Verdict:

I absolutely LOVED it. I wouldn't class myself as a Harry Potter nerd - more Star Wars and Avengers haha but what an experience. From the clothes, to the sets, to the props - the details were insane. They even has a section whey showed you the makeup effects, the wigs, the sewing machine (with a fashion board) and an office with desks and a chair with models of the sets drawn out, endless books and screens. Every room I would go into topped the previous room. In the first film, do you remember when the letters to Harry comes flying in? They hung them up on the thinnest string and honestly... From the Great Hall to the Knight Bus, to Privet Drive to The Bank with the amazing chandeliers and then to Hogwarts Castle. To be honest, I did think Hogwarts Castle was gonna be its own castle...like Wales haha. But one of the girls in work had been before and warned me it's not actually a castle so I wasn't expecting anything major. But omg it was still huge. It was amazing to see how they had done a little model and then into the huge model which was used in films. You can actually go to 'Hogwarts' Castle' in Northumberland, which is where Harry Potter learnt to play quidditch and you can have a go at Broomstick training. Definitely on my list next...

Tips:

• Try the Butterbeer - It's not the best drink but you can't go to Harry Potter and not try it 
• Try the Butterbeer Ice Cream - I didn't unfortunately and I do regret it as so many people said it's unreal, the sweetness and the amount of ice cream you get is worth it
• Bring snacks
• Take as many photos as you can - Definitely when you get to Platform 9 3/4 - There are 2 (I think) green screens where you can't take photos but the rest you can
• Enjoy the experience!!

Hey guys,

Happy Halloween! (Well for last week ahaha) Hope you's all had fun trick or treating or your night out or whatever plans you had. How did yous spend Halloween? I spent it with my Niece and Nephew having a Harry Potter Marathon keeping warm with lots of cuppas, hot water bottle and lots of chocolate. When it came to actually going outside to trick or treat I let my sister take her children whilst I answered the door to treaters. I ran out of sweets after an hour so yes I turned the lights off and had a nice hot bath with a cuppa, face mask and candles lit. All in silence haha.  

So at the beginning of October I wrote a Bucket List of what I wanted to complete this Fall. This included:

• Blackpool Illuminations     - tick
• Try Pumpkin Spiced Latte     - tick
• Pumpkin picking     - half tick as we decided to buy pumpkins & bury in the garden
• Decorate for fall     - tick
• Burn fall candles     - tick
• Apple bobbing 
• Make smores     - tick
• Collect pinecones
• Carve pumpkins     - tick
• Jump in a pile of leaves     - tick
• Have a campfire     - tick
• Go bowling     - tick
• Make Halloween treats
• Harry Potter Marathon - ready for...     - tick
• Go Harry Potter World     - tick  (click here to here about my Harry Potter Experience) 
• Make my own chocolate/toffee apples
• River of Light in Liverpool     - tick
• Go to a Funfair    - tick
• Go to watch a Firework Display     - tick
• Go for a walk when it's sunrise & sunset     - tick 

I have actually been quite productive this Autumn. If I am completely honest, I haven't had the best mindset since the beginning of September in which I came off Social Media for a while. But that actually made worse because on Instagram I follow more Positivity, Anti-anxiety pages; therefore I secluded myself too much. Snapchat I only speak to a handful. And Facebook I hardly use. I did take myself off Whatsapp as I have many different groups and it was making me overwhelmed with the notifications from them all when I was trying to focus on myself. Even though it has helped it has also made me feel guilty because I don't know what's going on in my friends' lives, missed out on some of the times they have met up and I feel that they might think I'm being rude or silly for doing it. I haven't got it back yet as it is giving me major anxiety of the amount of unread messages I probably have. But I am going to bite the bullet...soon.