Contemplation

We Heart It

Today I've been thinking a lot about how the past can be good for us.

"The past is like looking in a rearview mirror. It's good to look back and see how far you've come, but look too long and you'll miss whats right in front of you."

I know the past can be full of difficult memories and awkward experiences which none of us ever want to experience again, but sometimes revisitng those memories which make us ultimately cringed out or sad and emotional can be the best ones to motivate us.

Sometimes these memories can help to make us feel glad or proud of how far we've come.

Looking back is like a drug to solve the unmotivated mood which leads us to lie in bed all day thinking that nothing is ever going to happen for us (trust me, I've done it!)

But nothing is ever going to happen if we just sit there and don't try, is it?

My message to you, the internet, is that the past can show us how much we are capable of, and how much further we can get if we want to. 

I might not have a very big insight on the past as a sixteen year old, but I can tell the world  that I can be proud of my past because it shows me that I have achieved so much and want to achieve more, but I'm not going to dwell on the bad things which will make me forget to try.

YOU are amazing.

In memory of my Grandad, who died a year ago today. You motivate me to make you proud.

25 Facts About Me!

Dear Bloggers,
Today I thought I'd do a short 25 facts about me post so people who may want to follow me can get to know me a bit better!
I'm going to try and give you the basics, so sorry if its a bit boring, but please read it all and comment some facts about you if you're feeling sociable!
1. I'm 16
2. I live in Britain on the South Coast
3. I'm taking my GCSE's at the moment (eeeek!)
4. I LOVE to shop (Topshop Addict!)
5. I really want to be a journalist when I advance to my career, and work in the editing of magazines, because I love writing.
6. I started this blog a week ago (I think!) because I wanted to have more practise in the type of writing I want to do when I go into journalism!
7. I love to read
8. I fangirl quite a lot (fandom's below)
9. THG, Divergent, TFIOS, The Host, TMI etc.
10. I also have an obsession with: One Direction, Lilygreen and Maguire, Josh Hutcherson, Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hensworth, Jake Abel, Max Irons, Saoirse Ronan, Elle Fanning and Dance Moms!
11. I am in love with any type of dancing, singing and acting
12. I perform with my local youth theatre
13. I'm going to college next year (English school years) and still don't know what I'm studying
14. I'm quite small, around 5'4 and am generally petite
15. I've always been small
16. I have brownish mousey blondey gingery hair (don't ask aha)
17. My eyes are hazel/green
18. I'm in love with cities
19. I've been to London and New York
20. I LOVE NEW YORK
21. I love all makeup products and love trying new ones!
22. I've always been naturally shy towards new people!
23. I have a large group of bestfriends (you can see from my VLOG channel, link below)
24. I love to laugh
25. I can't wait to begin my career!

Well thats it!
Just to let you guys know, I have added a new followers button to my blog so you can easily follow me with one click!
Thankyou for reading, please comment below some facts about you so I can get to know the people who actually read what I do!

My Vlog channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/FandomDaysBlog

Lauren
xx

Positivity

So today I thought I'd write about some thoughts I've been having on positivity.
Last year I went through some hard times with personal family problems, and I just remember everything getting on top of me and feeling like the world was out to get me.
I guess that everyone feels like that sometimes, when nothing goes right and everything is going wrong you can feel like nothing will ever get better and there is nothing which will ever help you. But you're wrong.

From We Heart It

The problem is that it is very hard to climb out of that bad place and find the place in your mind to motivate the dark feelings away. And I can tell you that for many people that is a struggle.

I'm not trying to claim that I was in a bad state, I was nowhere near what some people struggle with daily, and I salute them for carrying on no matter what life throws at them. But I was feeling the kind of mood where every piece of news I got was bad, and when you're there its kind of hard to think when anything is ever going to get better.

But no kind of negativity can be permanent.
There is always something in your future which will be better, and those thoughts are the ones which need to motivate you to bring yourself out of that bad place.

Sometimes the best thing to do is cry. I know to some people it feels weak, like your giving in to whatever is upsetting you, but I can tell you that it helped me. Its like your life is a building, and the negativity in your life is like a wrecking ball; once the wrecking ball has knocked a part of the building down sometimes its best to just knock it down and start again. Admit to what you're feeling, its nothing to be ashamed of to sometimes admit that life has got the better of you: its the recovery which proves who you are as a person.

There is always something better to look forward to. Maybe not right now, whilst that source of negativity still lingers over you, but later, far in the future, something will be good, and thats what can help.

I've never got so upset to be depressed, but having an account on the social network site 'Instagram' I have seen people get depressed and have thoughts of suicide or begin to self harm.

The key quote is:

"Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem"

Think of the brighter things which are to come.

My Brighton Adventure

Today I took a trip with 6 other friends to Brighton to shop.
It was freezing and windy, but there is something about Brighton which attracts you; so many people, so many shops.
I bought a couple of things which I thought I might talk about on here.
Firstly, I bought a dress from Miss Selfridge.

£42 Miss Selfridge

At first I thought it was a bit expensive at £42, but I fell in love with the dress as soon as I tried it on.
Miss Selfridge is one of my favourite shops simply because of the array of styles which they sell.
There are lace dresses, jeans, cosy jumpers, print t-shirts, any style.
The dress is made of a denim material, with the flowers embroidered with white thread.
The quality is high; the fabric is thick and the stitching is secure, something I would hope for considering the price.
But overall, I am happy with this buy and would recommend it for anyone looking for an easy wear, summery dress.

We also visited the lanes in Brighton after we'd hit the main shopping centre. The lanes are such a nice place to visit, because the shops are all so quirky and you'll never be sure what you're going to find.

The Lanes

Overall I had a good day, with the dress and a few other make-up items bought.

We also vlogged the day. Once we have edited the clip, it will be posted on a joint account that me and my best friend manage, please subscribe and watch our other videos whilst you're there!

Our Channel Link

Blog No. 1

So today I decided to start blogging.

Hi.
My name is Lauren Geall, a 16 year old from Sussex, on the South Coast of the United Kingdom.
Today I decided to start blogging.
I've been putting it off for a while now, skimming tumblr and other blog sites to gain experience, and finally I took the leap to create my own.

Me on my trip to New York 2012.

This blog is what I would call a multi-use page.
Firstly, I am going to be writing about my experiences as I complete them, giving images, videos and information about my life.
I am also an avid reader, and plan to write reviews and recommendations for the new books I read.
I also love beauty and fashion.
Inspired by bloggers such as 'zoella', I would like to blog about my beauty experiences and fashion finds inspired by my many shopping trips.

I'm also a rather dedicated fangirl, so obviously thats going to be slipping in a bit.

Please follow and add me to your reading list, I promise to be interesting in some way.