ezzlepopz...: December 2013

*Start singing that song from The Sound Of Music*

Like every year, 2013 has had its ups and its downs (...happy to say a lot more ups this year!), but I thought I'd share some of my favourite things from this year before it ends...so here goes!

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I'm not much of a reader but I have discovered a love for John Green's books (...slowly making my way through them all!). So far I have read: 'Paper Towns', 'Looking For Alaska' and my favourite one, 'The Fault In Our Stars' (can not wait till the film comes out in 2014!)

Another book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading was 'Billy and Me' by Giovanna Fletcher...if anyone asks me for a suggestion of something to read, this will be the one I recommend!

(If you would like to know more about either of these books or anything else I have enjoyed reading, I might write a post about them)

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I have become obsessed with Yo! Sushi. When one first came to where I live I was put off because I didn't like raw fish but after going once, it is now one of my favourite places to go for lunch!

I picked these up when I went to France in the summer...and I will be bringing a lot back home we we go again next summer! I would have used my own photo but to be frank...they were gone before I thought to take a picture!

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In 2013 I was lucky enough to go to a number of gigs, these included Plan B and The X Factor Live Tour.

As a member of Girl Guiding, I also went to the Tartan Gig which is a gig held every two years in Glasgow for Girl Guides and members of Senior Section. In the past the line up has consisted the likes of The Wanted, Scouting For Girls, Alesha Dixon and Pixie Lott...this year there was: The LUMINITES (from Britain's Got Talent) , Gabrielle Aplin, Amy MacDonald, Rewind (an up and coming Scottish boyband), Stooshe, Conor Maynard and Little Mix headlined. Conor Maynard got everyone jumping around (and I mean everyone...including the slightly older leaders that were there) and the Little Mix girls just stole the show! I was also really excited to see what the were wearing as I love that styles of all the Little Mix girls...even though we weren't front row, I still saw Perrie's ring!!

(Paige's photo taken on a Coolpix L810 digital camera)

Another gig I was lucky to go to was Jessie J: Alive. I was supposed to see her in March but she postponed it to October so I saw her with my nest friend the day after my 16th birthday. She is such an inspirational woman and such a positive role model for so many people, after the experience of seeing her live and listening to what she has to say to all her fans; it's made me try t learn to be positive in all situations and believe in my self.

(Photo from Jessie J's website)

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My most expensive make-up purchase was Benefit's 'They're Real' mascara...trust me, it was worth it!

Another product I fell in love with was Barry M's Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint' in Lychee. I've heard a few people say they dislike this product whereas I adore it! (and I can get away with it at school!!)

I hardly ever wear bracelets, but this year I invested in a charm bracelet and now I wear it whenever I can (apart from at school...stupid rules)

This is the link to the one I bought.

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I started watching more youtuber's videos, which made me get an account on Bloglovin' so I could read Zoe (Zoella), Louise (Sprinkle of Glitter) and Tanya (Tanya Burr)'s blogs. And it was because of Louise that I got an account on Pinterest (at first I didn't really understand it...but now I'm obsessed!). As I got an Iphone for my 16th birthday, I could finally get Instagram!

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Last summer my family and I went to the South of France, we went to a few markets but mainly stayed by the pool at our villa. We we're lucky enough to be there the week 'Le Tour de France' passed through!

(My photo)

Another place I was lucky to go to was Morocco on a school trip. My school took 24 pupils away to the North West coast of Africa for a weeks surfing in a place called Taghazout. It was an amazing experience...but I still can't surf and I got ill on the last day and missed out jumping off rocks in a valley (you better feel sorry for me ;P)

(Collection of my photos)

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What have been your favourite things about 2013?

(all photos are from Google unless stated otherwise)

I know this is quite a serious and personal issue to talk about but I though it was relevant as I've read so many stories and know a handful of people who have suffered from self-harm. It is an issue that needs to be addressed as more people turn to it as an escape.

(Note: All of the information was found online, I have not quoted anyone's personal experiences as that would be out of order and unfair to them)

So what is self-harm exactly? Self harm is the process of harming you body or mind on purpose. It is a way of expressing feelings and distress, a way of coping with life. It can be describes as the ‘inner scream’ because it’s something that can’t be put into words or thoughts, a source of communication, a cry for help.

It isn't attention seeking or a joke. Anything can trigger someone to hurt themselves; stress, struggle, traumas, abuse, anger, depression, isolation, loneliness, neglect or thoughts and feeling like not being good enough or having low-self esteem. Although many people don’t know the exact reasoning for their self harm or why the start, they just know it’s their way of coping with the pain they’re suffering.

Today, 3 in 4 teenagers don’t know where to turn to talk about their problem, so they keep self-harm a secret from everyone; teachers, family, friends, everyone because they’re scared and worried of what others will think of them.

It’s shown that girls are more likely to self harm, but this doesn't means that boys don’t, as the years pass the numbers of boys beginning to harm themselves are doubling.

And as the numbers are increasing more and more people are trying to do things about it, to open up to those who self-harm by creating support pages on social media sites and creating projects such as The Butterfly Project.

Other ways of supporting people who self-harm involve writing things like ‘Love’, ‘Keep Fighting’ and ‘Stay Strong’ on your wrists, American star Demi Lovato recently admitting her struggles with self-harm and now has a tattoo to remind herself to stay strong and keep fighting because things do get better.

Another clever project I discovered whilst researching, is The Semicolon Project. Drawing a semicolon on the wrist because a semicolon represents that the author could have ended the sentence but didn’t. The author is the self-harmer and the sentence is their life.