June Goals

It's already halfway through 2020. Usually every time June rolls around, I think to myself where has the past 5 months gone? This year however is different. It feels like it should be Christmas by now. So much has happened, it's scary the rate at which this year has been changing. I didn't get a chance to do a New Year's resolution post and since this is my second post back from my blogging break, I thought a list of June goals would be the next best thing. Here are some things I'm hoping to achieve this month. 

1. Solve a Rubik's cube without help
This random skill is something that I've wanted to try my hand at for the longest time and I figured quarantine would be the best time to do just that. Funnily enough, it was only once I'd finished quarantine that I actually picked up the Rubik's cube for the first time. I found a really good YouTube video that took me through the process step by step as well as explaining the different algorithms to use. I still need to refer to the video from time to time but before the end of this month I'd really like to be able to finish the whole cube on my own. 

2. Get my full drivers licence 
I was quite nervous to get in the front of the steering wheel again after 4 months overseas. It was the longest time I'd spent without practicing my driving. Turns out I had nothing to worry about because as soon as I got in the car for my first drive since being away, muscle memory kicked in and everything came quite naturally. I decided to book my full drivers test for the end of this month, just to have something to work towards. Having an end goal in sight has definitely helped me stay motivated with my driving practice. 

3. Maintain a good workout schedule
During quarantine, I downloaded a workout app to ensure I was still exercising. Once lockdown in my country ended, gyms reopened and I was able to start attending physical classes again. Sometimes, especially now that's it's winter where I live, I don't feel like going into the gym so having the app gives me the option of a home workout which I really like. Having two different workout regimes has been a massive help with my fitness motivation and will hopefully make it easier for me to stick with the weekly timetable I've set myself.  

4. Sketch every single day
I used to not like putting too much pressure on myself to draw but recently I've been turning on Netflix or Youtube while I sketch and it's been a real game changer. For some reason, I feel more inclined to draw when something is playing on my laptop in the background. Since the start of June, I've managed to do at least a little bit of drawing practice each day and I've definitely noticed some small improvements. 

5. Finish 'Little Women' 
I downloaded a whole collection of classic novels on my iPad to read. I'm still a bit iffy towards ebooks but I will say the dictionary function is a really great advantage to this form of reading. It's so quick and easy to search a word definition up and make a note of it so you don't forget the next time you read it. I started Little Women almost a month and a half ago and I really want to get through it this month. I'm really enjoying the story but I think I'm still getting used to reading off my iPad and that's definitely slowed down my reading progress.

6. Get better at touch typing
This is one of those skills that can often slide under the radar. I took a touch typing elective in high school but from my typing today, you wouldn't think it. I remember where the keys are but I sometimes get lazy and just look at what I'm typing. Because I'm starting to get back into blogging, I want to make sure I'm touch typing as much as possible. The more I use my laptop, the better!

Q: What are your goals for this month?

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Living By Myself For a Week

This week has been an interesting one.

Two things happened on Monday. The first was that I started back at Uni. The second was that my family jetted off to Aussie leaving the house to me for a week. For five whole days, I got to experience what living on your own feels like. Because I'm so used to sharing my house with four other people, it was definitely a little disconcerting to come back from the airport to nothing but silence. I thought I'd hate how quiet the house was all the time but after a day, I found I didn't really miss the noise and chaos too much. 

I think there's definitely a difference between living alone and flatting. There's a lot of self discipline involved with having a place to yourself. It really keeps you on your toes. There's no one to remind you to throw away expired groceries or close all the lights before going to sleep. Since I flatted for a month last year, it was interesting to be able to compare my two experiences. 

Because it was still my childhood home, nothing was too unfamiliar to me. I could still go about my day to day routine like normal. The only thing that was different was the absence of my parents and brothers. Because I know my home like the back of my hand, this probably made it a less accurate representation of what living alone is actually like. Nonetheless, it was still a great learning experience for me. The main thing I realised was that I'm not as unprepared for moving out as I initially thought I was. I'm actually perfectly capable of managing and maintaining a place of my own. Moving out is always at the back of my mind and even though I don't know exactly how far into the future it's going to happen, it's nice to do things like this so I sort of know what to expect. 

Thanks for reading!
Q: Have you lived/do you live by yourself? 

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My Fear of Flying

As you may or may not know, I recently came back from an overseas holiday. I've been wanting to write a blog post on the topic of flying for the longest time now and since I've just been travelling, I figured this would be one of the best times to do it. 

Ever since I can remember, I've hated flying.  

The airplane itself is only half the problem. I dread the whole process beforehand as well. From checking in to security to waiting to board, all I can think about it the x hour flight awaiting me. The moment I set foot in an airport, it's like a switch goes off and I'm suddenly in full panic mode. Before I know it, I'm in the worst possible mindset and am having the most irrational thoughts about how the flight is going to go. 

The fact that I freak myself out before even boarding means that when I do finally get into my seat, I'm half-wanting to run out the cabin door and not look back. When I'm on the plane, nothing and no-one can distract me. I'm already too deep into my own thoughts. My family - who I travel with the most - are so supportive and understanding when I'm in this frame of mind. They know to leave me alone but won't hesitate to intervene if I start getting really worked up. Some of my worst flights I definitely wouldn't of been able to get through without them.  

I want to say that my relationship with flying is a lot better now but I really don't think that's the truth. I still have a massive fear of planes and airports and everything in between. The reason I wanted to share this post is because I think it's important to talk about these sort of things and let people, who may feel the same way, know that they're not alone. A couple of weeks ago, I spoke to an uncle who also has a fear of flying and a lot of the thoughts and feelings he experiences before flights are pretty much the exact same as me. While it didn't necessarily get rid of my fear, it made it seem a lot more normal and I think I really needed to know that. 

This is probably my most personal post to date but I'm so glad I'm putting it out there. 

Q: What's a fear (big or small) that you have?
Thanks for reading!

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A Very Special Blog Post

This post marks a very special moment in this blog's history. After 2 years of creating content for The AnnieChanie Blog, I have officially reached triple digits.

100 blog posts.

That's amazing.

When I first started blogging I dreamt of reaching this number, but with my wavering commitment and irregular posting I imagined it'd be a long time coming. 

Prior to The AnnieChanie Blog, I tried three different blogs at three different times. Not a single one made it past 10 posts. This is why 100 blog posts is such a big deal to me. None of my other blogs got a tenth of the posts I've written for this blog. It was definitely last year that pushed me over the edge. In 2018 I made it my mission to have a regular upload day, and I think it's thanks to that that I'm writing this post today. 

I've completed a lot of posts over the two year time period. Hauls, life hacks and even a DIY tutorial (it was one of my earlier posts...sadly not a very good one). There are posts that leave me scratching my head in confusion wondering what on earth I was trying to say, posts that I can't help but laugh at knowing what I know now, and posts that actually make me want to applaud my past self for. 

It's pretty cool what can change over the course of 100 blog posts. I think my writing has definitely seen an improvement. I feel a lot more confident transferring my thoughts to the screen, articulating my ideas and revealing more of my personality through my writing. I've also started to see my blog in a whole new light. Rather than being a place that only I can have a say/input towards, I've tried to involve my readers and fellow bloggers a lot more. My "Introducing..." series and monthly quizzes are just two of the ways I'm working towards a more collaborative webpage.  

It's so exciting to log into Blogger and see the little number beside "published" read 100. Perhaps in two more years, it'll say 200? Who knows! Anyway, I want to thank you all for reading and I'll see you all in my 101st post! 

Q: How many blog posts have you written so far?

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New Year's Resolutions - Progress Report #3

It's my first blog post of 2019 and I had initially wanted this post to be all about my 2019 resolutions. However since I was so focused on Christmassy posts during December and didn't get a chance to share my final progress report for my 2018 goals, I thought it'd be nice to dedicate this post to that instead. I'm treating this as a transitional post. This is my final salute to 2018. Bring on the new year! 

1. Drink More Water Throughout The Day
I can confidently say that this resolution was a huge success. I've been taking my drink bottle everywhere and you can ask any one of my friends for confirmation on that. It has become one of my handbag essentials. I've also been having to refill it regularly throughout the day which just goes to show how much water I've been consuming. 

2. Get my Restricted License
After Uni had finished for the year, my international friend asked if I could drive her car for her while she was back at home for the break. I was very quick to say yes to this! Because I've had her car to myself, I've been able to do a lot more driving. It's hard to believe that this time last year I wasn't even in the position to drive alone. It's amazing what can happen in a year. 

3. Commit to my Bullet Journal
This is another resolution I'm quite triumphant about. After a whole year in my Leuchtturm1917, I've filled up about two thirds of the book. At the start of last year, I had very little faith I'd make it to June, let alone December. I'm so stoked that my first year of bullet journalling went so smoothly. 

4. Learn How to Cook
I've decided to carry this resolution into 2019. I don't think I've made a proper meal since the mac and cheese I conjured up while flatting for a month. I definitely made progress last year but I still think there's a lot, and I mean A LOT, more work to be done. 

5. Time Manage my Blog Posts Better
Ever since I took my small blogging break, I've seen a slight improvement in my posting schedule. Nowadays, I'll usually have the post ready a day in advance which isn't that much of a change but is still better than typing it up an hour before I want it to go live. It's not the outcome I was hoping for but it's satisfactory enough. 

6. Be More Active on Social Media
This was probably the resolution that challenged me the most. At the start of last year, I very rarely commented on people's photos or tweets. I've definitely tried to be better at this but am still lacking consistency. On the plus side, I've been dedicating a lot more time to Pinterest and feel like my activity on there has been pretty good as of recently. 

Q: How did you go with your 2018 resolutions?
Thanks for reading!

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Living at Home For Uni

Since the start of this year, I've had very mixed feelings about living at home. Sometimes, I feel regretful, other times I feel relieved. Regret because I may have lost the best opportunity to move out, relief because I just love my childhood home so much. Starting Uni was definitely a time of change. It took a lot of adjusting and getting used to. In a way, deciding to not move out was just one less thing I had to learn to familiarise myself with. Since I really did struggle getting comfortable at Uni, I do feel quite grateful in that sense. In saying that though, there is a seed of doubt in my mind that wonders whether it would have been better to just deal with both transitions at once. Then I wouldn't be having these confusing thoughts in the first place. 

I can completely understand why people decide to leave home alongside starting Uni. I definitely think it's the most logical time to move out. The main reason I decided to stay at home was because there was no real reason I shouldn't. Not only was I already living in the same city as my chosen Uni, it is literally a 30 min walk away from my house. Location-wise, I had absolutely nothing to complain about. The only other purpose I could think of for moving out was gaining more of my independence. At home, under the same roof as my parents, I almost feel stuck. I'm struggling to grow as a person. I look at the friends who are either flatting or living at Uni accommodation and they seem so much wiser and mature than me. They're living like proper adults whereas I'm still having to text my parents if I'm coming home late from somewhere. I guess I'm not necessarily moving backwards but I'm not moving forwards either and I think that's the thing that scares me the most. 

Living at home definitely has its advantages and disadvantages. I try to see it through a positive lens as much as possible however I can't deny there are moments where I wish I followed in the footsteps of a majority of my friends. This post is a little bit all of over the place which represents my thoughts on the topic perfectly. I'd love to hear what you think about leaving home? Did you do it straight before Uni? Or did you wait a little while first? Let me know in the comment section below!  

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New Year's Resolutions - Progress Report #2

We're about two thirds of the way through the year which means it's time for progress report #2! I found it extremely beneficial reflecting on the first four months of having my 2018 goals so I didn't see why a second one shouldn't be just as useful. If you'd like to check out my first progress report, you can click this link here. I'm wondering whether I've continued moving forward with some of these goals or maybe taken a few steps back. This is what makes these update posts so interesting. You're able to monitor your progress so carefully. I'm looking forward to writing my final one at the end of this year. Hopefully everything is where it should be by then!

1. Drink More Water Throughout The Day
I've definitely recognised an improvement in this resolution. My drink bottle, which used to be still 3/4 full at the end of the day, is now completely empty by mid-day/the afternoon! I've really made a habit of bringing out my drink bottle as much as possible and now I can see that my efforts are paying off. 

2. Get my Restricted License
I've been driving quite a bit since I got my restricted. For some reason, I was a little hesitant to get back on the road after completing my test however my parents really encouraged me to keep up with my driving. And that's what I've been doing. Now I feel completely comfortable driving alone. It's a really great feeling to have. 


3. Commit to my Bullet Journal
This resolution has been going pretty well, like it was in progress report #1. As predicted, I've been able to stick with it all this time and on those rare occasions that I do miss a day or two, it doesn't take too long for me to get everything up to date again. 

4. Learn How to Cook
A little while ago, I had the opportunity to flat for a month with my friend. During this time, I learnt a lot about cooking/preparing meals. Each night, one of us would make something for the two of us. While my friend's meals were fairly advanced, I stuck with the basic pasta and rice dishes. For dinner one time, I found a mac and cheese recipe online and whipped it together in just under an hour. I was really proud of how it turned out. I feel like this resolution is definitely getting somewhere, for sure!

5. Time Manage my Blog Posts Better
In my last progress report, this resolution hadn't really been working out for me and I'm sad to say that the results haven't changed one bit. Here I am again, writing this post on the day it's supposed to be up. I feel like it's definitely starting to take a toll on the way I feel about blogging. If anyone has advice on how to time manage blog posts effectively, please leave it in the comment section below! It'd be much appreciated!  

6. Be More Active on Social Media
These past few weeks, I've been so busy with Uni that I haven't been as present on social media as I usually am. I still make a point of sharing my blog posts on Twitter and Instagram however checking these platforms is definitely not much of a priority these days. I think that once the mid semester break comes around, this resolution will be back on track once more.
  
Thanks for reading!

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8 Blog Posts That Are Special to me

I've written just over 70 blog posts since starting The AnnieChanie Blog and as much as I love each and every post I've published, there are just 8 out of the 73 that really stand out to me. 

1. My Favourite Pastel Coloured Fashion Items
I was really happy with the overall aesthetic of this post. All the colours and images came out just the way I wanted them to. My extreme love for pastels really shone through and there's no other blog post that showcases this more. 

2. Starting University 
This blog post was quite hard for me to publish. There were some things I didn't even realise I was feeling until I'd finished writing this post. I didn't need to put it out into the open but I'm still really proud of myself for doing so and the support and uplifting messages from readers made me value my decision even more. 

3. Room Tour 2018
I've always been an avid watcher of room tour videos on YouTube so being able to share one of my own was really special. My room means a lot to me so I found it really cool that I was able to dedicate an entire blog post to it. 

4. What I Bought on Holiday (Australia)
I've been really happy with my blog photos from the past month but my favourite still stands. The main flat lay from this haul post turned out so different to what I intended it to look. I think that's why I loved it so much. It was so unlike any other flat lay I'd ever taken and there's still no other photo of mine quite like it. 

5. Blog Anniversary Post (1 Year of Blogging)
I couldn't write a list of special blog posts without including my 1 year anniversary post. It was such an amazing thing to be able to say I'd been blogging for 12 months. I was really glad I was able to mark this milestone with a blog post. 

6. (Graceful Avenue) Mishka Mail Review
This review was my first ever collaboration with a brand/company. When I got the email about this post, I danced around my room for a solid 2 minutes. I'll never forget the euphoria I felt on that day. From working with the lovely Naira to actually receiving her personalised package in the mail, everything that went on behind the scenes was what made this blog post so very memorable. 

7. What Type of Blogger Are You - Quiz
This was my first ever monthly quiz and I had no idea how reader's would react to it. I had nothing to worry about though because, as always, the blogging community was very encouraging and positive. I was so grateful to everyone that took part.  

8. My Blog Journey so Far
I got my first ever blog comment on this post. I had no idea a stranger's words could mean so much to me. But Elizabeth's comment did. And what she wrote on my blog that day will stay with me forever. 

Thanks for reading! Do you have a blog post that's special to you? Let me know down below! 

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(Printiki) Why I Love Memory Keeping

In my room is a large box that holds all my treasured mementoes; old diaries from my primary school days, handmade gifts from family and friends and lots of other little things with special backstories or memories attached to them. I know that whatever I keep, my future self will be thankful for. Preserving my memories is a big deal to me which is why that memory box is the most precious thing in my entire room. If I had to evacuate my room in a hurry, you can bet my memory box would be the first thing I grab. 



Photographs play a huge role in my love for memory keeping. As a very visual person, I love having a photo to remember a special moment or occasion by. Photos are like little time machines. You can relive your favourite memories through them. Because of my love for memory keeping, physical copies are a must. I'm constantly paranoid about my phone or laptop crashing and losing all my photos in the process. This would destroy someone like me, who feels so passionately about items that carry sentimental value. I feel like photo printing isn't as common nowadays especially since photos are more easily shared online. Even though photo printing isn't as favoured as it used to be, I still think there's a magic to printed photos that you can't really get through a screen. Being able to physically hold a memory in your hand is a really amazing thing and I think we should all really take advantage of that.  

Netherlands company Printiki also believe in the concept of bringing your photos to life. With their online photo printing tool, I was able to print out some of my favourite moments from the year so far. I was really happy with the way my prints turned out. While I'm hoping to put a majority on display in my room, the rest will no doubt be put into my memory box for safe keeping. 

If you were wanting to print your photos, use the code 4CPSSSZN for free shipping on your order. Also be sure to check out Printiki's Instagram is you're unsure on what to do with your printed photos. Their feed is full of inspiration! 

Thanks for reading! Do you have a memory box? Do you like printing your photos? Let me know down below! 




* These prints were gifted to me. All opinions are 100% my own. *

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Reflecting on my First Semester at Uni

Today I finished my first semester of Uni. I decided to read over my Starting Uni blog post and even though it's been less than three months since I wrote it, I feel like so much has changed. If you read that post, you'd know that my transition from high school to Uni wasn't the smoothest of changeovers. Everything felt so foreign and strange to me and it really made me question the whole idea of Uni and all the decisions I'd made leading up to starting. The way I was feeling was completely normal for someone who tends to get really comfortable doing things a certain way. I'm someone who takes a little longer to adapt to new and different situations however when I do, I forget all about my initial doubts and uncertainties.  

Overall, I really liked my classes this semester. There was one paper that I didn't find as enjoyable as the rest of my classes but I could definitely see the benefits of its teachings. The weeks after writing my blog post, everything started falling into place. I was settling into a weekly routine and this really helped me feel more comfortable in my classes. Throughout the semester, I found the workload pretty manageable. I found that work outside of class was almost just as important as work during class. Self discipline and studying without the teacher's aid was something that I felt pretty okay doing. However, I feel like you're more likely to get in a creative rut when studying alone. Which is where study groups came into play. Arranging study sessions with classmates was a great way to not only bounce ideas off one another but also get to know them better in a more casual and relaxed environment. I think the best friendships I made this semester were created through my study sessions with them. At the start of the year I was definitely worried about getting to know people but all it took was time and a couple of study sessions to rid myself of that fear. 

Something that's really cool about design school is that everyone has a creative passion or hobby that they specialise in, whether that be painting, typography, clothes making or digital art. During the last half of the semester, I really started to feel at home amongst all these creatives. I wasn't used to being surrounded by people who thought so similarly to me. At high school, you're interacting with a range of people with very different interests and thought processes. At design school, everyone is unified by the same goal. And that's to create. This realisation made me appreciate the institute I chose even more. Looking back at my Starting Uni blog post, it's nice to see how I've progressed over the course of 2 and a bit months. Even though the start of the semester got off to a bit of a shaky start, I'm glad things played out the way they did. It's been a real learning experience for both my design and personal life. I can't wait to see what the next semester holds! 

Thanks for reading! Feel free to let me know your thoughts in the comment section below!

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New Year's Resolutions - Progress Report #1

Putting my goals to paper are an essential part of my goal setting process. If I don't write or type them out somewhere for me to see, there's little to no chance of me completing them. At the start of 2018, I posted my New Year's Resolutions on the blog. You can find them here. I then copied them out into my bullet journal so that I'd have a physical copy of them as well. Since we're pretty much a third of the way into the year, I thought I'd do a little update post on how I've been progressing with my goals. Let me know how you guys are going with your New Year's resolutions in the comment section below! 

1. Drink More Water Throughout The Day

I'm not going to lie, this resolution has been a lot harder than I had initially thought it would be. I've been drinking from my drink bottle a lot more but somedays I still struggle to get through the whole thing. I'll probably have to take a different approach to getting the recommended amount of water each day.

2. Get my Restricted Licence 

Yesterday was a very exciting day for me. After a total of four lessons, two unsuccessful attempts and six months of procrastinating, I was finally able to get my restricted! Achieving this resolution felt like a huge weight off my shoulders. For anyone else preparing to sit their driving test sometime soon, good luck and I believe in you! It may take a little more practice than you anticipated, like it did with me, but I promise you'll get there in the right way and at the right time.  

3. Commit to my Bullet Journal

Writing in my bullet journal has become a part of my daily routine. I record everything in it! So far, I've been having no issues with this resolution and I'm feeling pretty confident that I'll be able to maintain this consistency for the rest of this year. 

4. Learn How to Cook

I think I've made a pretty good start on this resolution. I can't make a full meal yet but I've been trying to master a couple of side dishes. My wedges, in particular, have been a favourite in the household. I've made them so many times, I've even memorised the recipe. I still have a little while to go with this one but I'm definitely making progress.  

5. Time Manage my Blog Posts Better

The fact that I'm writing this post the day I'm supposed to be uploading is a pretty good indication of how I've been going with this resolution. After a year and a half of blogging, I still have yet to use the schedule tool on Blogger. Having that time pressure at the end of the week almost takes the fun out of blogging. I'm hoping to make more of an effort on this one just because it's starting to really affect the way I feel towards writing my posts. 

6. Be More Active on Social Media

I'm pretty happy with how I've been going about this resolution. Since Uni started up, these accounts have definitely been harder to maintain but I'm still checking them daily and keeping up to date with what's going on in the blogging community. I've also been getting a lot more enjoyment out of these social media platforms so that's definitely a plus as well. 

Thanks for reading! 

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How I Clean my Bedroom

As strange as this may sound, I actually really enjoy tidying my room. I find it almost therapeutic. It not only puts me in a positive headspace for the rest of the day but the end result is always so worthwhile. Once or twice a month, I like to do a thorough tidy of my bedroom space. In today's post I thought I'd share what this process involves. Here's how I like to clean my bedroom. 

Change The Sheets And Make The Bed

When it comes to cleaning my room, this step is a must. There's something really revitalising about new sheets. They just make my room feel instantly fresher. I like to make my bed every morning, just to start the day off right, however it's usually only a quick straightening of the covers and plumping of the pillows. When I have one of my major cleans, I like to set it up as though it's part of a store showroom. I'll arrange the throw pillows nicely and drape a fluffy blanket off one corner. I know that it can only look this way temporarily, but I find the whole process really enjoyable so I don't mind as much.

Wipe Down Any Surfaces

The next thing I like to do is take a dry cloth and dust off all the hard surfaces in my room. This includes my desk, windowsill, bedside table and vanity. There are certain corners and hideaways, like at the back of my drawers and shelves that are quite dust prone which is why I not only have to wipe down the visible surfaces but the less noticeable ones as well. Sometimes there are areas you wouldn't expect to collect dust but upon further inspection, are in fact need of a clean. For example, the row of books of my shelf, the tops of them tend to get quite dusty. Also the lids of my candles usually require a good wipe down. The last things I'll use the cloth for are my windows and vanity mirror. I'll also bring out the spray bottle for this part. 

Organise my Wardrobe

Out of my entire room, my wardrobe is probably the area I find hardest to keep tidy. Alongside my clothes and shoes, it's also where I keep random things like my Christmas room decor and my old exercise books from my primary school days. I like to keep my wardrobe door closed throughout the day just because I find it really detracts from the rest of the room. I know there's that concept of "out of sight, out of mind" but I always find myself coming back to this space whenever I do a big clean up. I won't necessarily remove anything, I'll just shuffle things around in attempt to make the space look neater somehow. I have yet to discover my perfect arrangement. This is probably why it's still a step in my bedroom cleaning process. 

Vacuum And Mop The Floor

My bedroom has wooden floorboards which I find quite hard to maintain at times. Cleaning the floor in my bedroom is a two step process. First I'll vacuum to get rid of any surface dust lying around, then I'll use the mop to remove any residue that may be left and get into all the tight spots the vacuum can't reach. I always save this step for last because the mopping requires drying time. 

Thanks for reading for about my bedroom cleaning process! Do you enjoy tidying your room? Let me know in the comments below! 

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Starting University

Three weeks ago, I officially started Uni. I was planning on writing this post after my first week of classes but since I was feeling a little uncertain about things, thought I'd give myself a few more weeks to find my feet. For just a little bit of context, I'm staying at home for my first year, studying at a design school in the city and hoping to major in graphic design. I'm really enjoying my classes and the work involved however this is only a newfound feeling. When I first started out, I didn't feel the least bit optimistic about design school. In fact, I even doubted whether Uni was right for me. 

Looking back I think that had to do with the fact that I felt quite alone during that first week of classes. Going into Uni, I didn't really know anyone. All my high school friends had either moved away or taken a year off to work or study abroad. I'm really happy with the institute that I'm at but during that first week of classes, I felt so out of place. After spending five years at high school, I was so used to getting assignments where the teachers were very clear on what they wanted and how they wanted it. I was used to being surrounded by the same group of people six hours a day, five days a week. Uni is very different. I expected this much but that doesn't mean that it still didn't throw me off a little bit. There's so much freedom and artistic license at design school. You're encouraged to interpret the assessments in your own unique way. As well as this, getting fully accustomed with every person in your class is almost impossible. There are so many people and when you're only seeing them once or twice a week, that doesn't leave much time to properly get to know them. Everything was just so overwhelmingly unfamiliar and the fact that I didn't know anyone prior to starting Uni made me feel even more lost and confused. I now know that many of my fellow classmates were in a similar situation to me however during those first few days where I had little to no interaction with anyone, it felt like I was the only one feeling this way. 

Three weeks in, I'd say I'm in a much more positive headspace now. I know the hardest part of the transition from high school to uni is over and I've begun to look forward to the rest of year and what's to come. I almost feel silly for ever thinking I was alone in feeling alone. I've been able to connect with a couple of people from my classes and instead of focusing on getting to know everyone, I'm going to work on getting to know a few people really well instead. Did you feel a similar way during your first few weeks of Uni? How long did it take you to get settled? I know that's everybody's different so I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Thanks for reading!

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My 2018 New Year's Resolutions

Happy New Year! I know it's nearly a week in but I really wanted my first post of 2018 to start the year off right. So I decided on a resolution post! I love the idea of goal setting, especially at the start of a fresh set of 12 months. There's always so much hype around the New Year and I feel like that's what makes these kind of resolutions so special. Amongst the fireworks and the much anticipated countdown, resolutions are just another tradition that make the New Year the celebration that it is. Here are my resolutions for 2018! Let me know if you have any similar! 

1. Drink More Water Throughout The Day
I'm terrible at this. I think the recommended amount is eight glasses a day. I struggle to get through two. I'm trying to keep more hydrated by making sure I have my water bottle with me for every meal but it's definitely something I have to try really hard to remember to do. Water is so important and I know that if I start drinking more daily, I'd really benefit from it.  

2. Get my Restricted Licence
Last year, I went for my restricted twice and didn't pass both. I was so disheartened the second time, I put off driving for weeks after. When I finally got back on the road, I felt like I was just starting out again. I suddenly had that same fear I felt when first learning to drive. Since I've managed to overcome that, I'm intent on getting my restricted sometime this year. I'm also hoping to get a couple of lessons so I can really refine my driving ability. 

3. Commit to my Bullet Journal
At the end of 2017, I bought a Leuchtturm1917 journal and since the first of this month, I've been using it constantly. This is my first proper bullet journal and while I'm very invested in it at this moment in time, I'm worried I'll lose some of that consistency later on. My aim for the end of this year is to have a full and thorough journal to look back on 2018 with. 

4. Learn How to Cook
I'm ashamed to say it, but I've never cooked a proper meal before. Which also means that I don't know how to cook. I've helped my Mum in the kitchen but I've never actually conjured something up myself. Most people my age have already mastered this skill therefore I'm determined to perfect a couple of recipes by the end of this year. 

5. Time Manage my Blog Posts Better
I've never used the schedule tool on Blogger because I've never written a post in advance. I always write my posts the day of or the day before publishing. The same goes with taking my photos. I really want to be more organised with my posts so I'm not so pressed for time at the end of every week. 

6. Be More Active on Social Media
Since starting my blog I've chatted to so many different bloggers. And it's all thanks to social media. In saying this though, I still don't think I take complete advantage of this online connectivity and I go through periods of completely neglecting these social accounts. I really want to be more consistent with my shares and posts and make more of an effort to be present online. 

Thanks for reading! 

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Blog Anniversary Post (1 Year of Blogging)

Today, December 3rd, is my blog anniversary. Which means just one year ago, The AnnieChanie Blog consisted of only a header and a sidebar. I can't believe my little blog is one year old. To me, this is such an exciting milestone. Over the course of 365 days, I've refined my skills in digital illustration, mastered the art of flat lay photography, had two positive experiences with two different companies and most of all, connected/interacted with a lot of incredible bloggers from around the world. 

I'm really proud of what I've accomplished so far. On my blog, I've published 44 (45 now) posts in total, which on average is around 3.67 posts per month. Rounding it up, that's pretty much a post a week. When I first published on The AnnieChanie Blog, I made a promise to myself that I'd be consistent with posting. And a part from two slip ups, I've managed to uphold this goal. Even though I'm very happy with my little corner of the internet, there are still things I'm hoping to improve on for the upcoming year. For one, I really want to have a set day that I post. At the moment, I aim to have them up by Sunday but if I finish writing Friday/Saturday, I feel the need to post it straight away. For some reason, I really don't like have completed posts in my draft box. This is something I definitely need to work around for 2018. I also want to post more of my design work online. I've been thinking of doing a "design-a-day" type series where I share my digital illustrations everyday for a month. I'm also hoping to set up a portfolio/gallery page sometime in the near future. This will probably require a bit of experimenting with code but I'm definitely up for the challenge!

To finish off this momentous post, I'd like to thank every one who reads/comments on my posts. It makes me so happy to be able to share my writing online and when you take time out of your day to check my page out, it makes everything just the more worthwhile. I'm so glad 2016 me decided to take the leap and give blogging a go. These past 12 months have been such a learning experience for me and I'm so excited to see what the next 12 months have in store! 

As always, thanks so much for reading! 

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Leaving High School

A couple of days ago I wore my school uniform for the last time. I can't believe I've finished high school. Since I've left, I've had a bit of time to reminisce about the last five years. The memories I will be taking away are primarily my happiest and proudest moments however that doesn't mean I didn't experience sadness or disappointment during my high school years. Even though I prefer to remember the positives, I can't pretend like the negative times never happened as the challenges I faced in high school play a very important part in this five year journey. Even though I'm prepared to continue on the next chapter of my life, I can't say I'm not grateful for the things high school has given me. Not only am I leaving with new knowledge, memories and friendships, I'm also leaving with a confidence my Year Nine self didn't enter the school with. I know that what I have to say has value, as do my strengths and abilities. I'm no longer that shy 13 year old who was to afraid to speak up or put myself out there. I've grown so much as a person during the five year timespan and I'm so thankful to be leaving the school as a wiser, bolder version of myself.

I'd always imagined what my final day would look like. Tuesday definitely didn't pan out the way I expected it to. To be honest, it felt like any other school day. Final assignments were due and since I was so busy trying to complete them, it felt like my typical Tuesday. The only thing that made it special was the fact that we opened our time capsules from Year Nine. In our first year of high school, we were told to write a letter to our future selves. These were to be opened in our last year. When I was finally reunited with my letter I was surprised to see that my handwriting hadn't changed one bit. Anyone could easily mistake the letter as something I wrote recently. In my letter, I talked about my form class as well as my favourite things at the time. At the end of my letter I had written "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." Am I sad to be leaving high school? Of course, but a part of me is definitely ready to move on. And since I've finally settled on what I want to do next year, I'm excited to see what's to come.

How did you feel after graduating high school OR how do you feel about graduating high school? Let me know down below! Thanks for reading!

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Skills You Gain Through Blogging

Deciding to start a blog was one of the best decisions I've ever made. Since starting my own website, I've learnt so much about myself and what I'm capable of. Blogging has definitely had a positive influence on my life and I would recommend this hobby to anyone and everyone. No matter how long you maintain your blog for, whether that be a month or two years, you're guaranteed to take something really valuable away from it. Today, I'll be writing about the skills I have acquired through keeping a blog. Let me know if you're skill set is similar to mine! 

Self-discipline
Everything to do with your blog relies on you and your commitment to the hobby. Time management is so important. Not only must you be able to set deadlines for yourself, they must be realistic enough in order for you to see them through. In terms of time pressure, there is definitely quite a bit of flexibility with blogging. When managing your own website, no one is telling you what to do or when it's due. It's all up to you. Because of my blog, I have a much stronger work ethic and a better sense of responsibility. 

Communication Skills
Your blog is a reflection of you and your personality therefore it's natural for your own personal values and beliefs to come through in your writing. Blogging is a way for me to arrange my thoughts, making it easier for me to articulate these in real life. Through creating content every week, I've been able to really refine my writing style and written ability. 

Online Confidence
Blogging has really opened my eyes to the world of coding and web design. Not only that, it has opened my eyes to the tools and platforms I had little to no association with before starting a blog; these being Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, Twitter and Bloglovin'. Having a regular online presence and knowing how to promote yourself on social media not only proves helpful to blogging but to any other passion as well which is why I'm glad I've been able to really develop this skill through my blog. 

Perseverance
When it comes to maintaining a blog, everyone has their moments of self doubt. Blogging has definitely tested my determination and resilience but I'm thankful for this because it has helped me to grow as a person. I like to give my blog a little moment of attention each day, whether that be sharing my link on social media or planning my next post. Every little bit counts and I know that each time I tend to my blog, whether it's for 2 minutes or 2 hours, I'm putting myself one step closer to where I want to be. 

Thanks for reading! 

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Pursuing a Creative Career

When you're young, it's your likes that determine what you want to be when you're older. If you enjoy being around animals, you want to be a vet. If you like food and baking, you want to be a chef. For me, I loved painting and because of this, I wanted nothing more than to spend my adult years in front of a easel, exercising my imagination with a brush and canvas. As you get older your mindset towards jobs definitely changes. Instead of focusing purely on interest, I began to take other factors into account such as income and pay, the chances of getting the career, and the length of training required for the role. What I liked and most enjoyed kept getting pushed further and further to the back of my mind, becoming less and less of a priority. Instead of thinking about what I wanted to pursue, I kept thinking about what I had to pursue in order to live a somewhat comfortable life.

As I grew up, I slowly drifted away from the idea of pursuing a creative career and before I knew it, I had my heart set on becoming a doctor. Thinking back, I can't really remember what set off this change in career paths. I was still extremely passionate about art but for the some reason, I didn't think becoming an artist was a realistic job prospect to have. Math and science weren't  - and still aren't -  my strongest subjects yet with a career in medicine in mind, I persisted through and through. The fact that I didn't enjoy either of these subjects should of indicated to me that my true career lied elsewhere. This, and the fact that whenever I tried to imagine my doctor self, I really struggled to conjure up that image. I began to realise that if I couldn't even visualise myself as a doctor, there was no way that I wanted the job enough nor would be willing to do everything it took to fulfil the role. I didn't try to make myself like the idea of becoming a doctor. That was where I drew the line. If the burning desire wasn't then I there was nothing else I could do for it.

As a kid,  being an artist was the only creative job I thought existed. At 5 years old, graphic designers, animators, illustrators and bloggers were completely unheard of. Nowadays, these are the careers I care more than anything about. One of my favourite sayings is, "Do what you you love and the rest will follow." For me, I really enjoy being creative, thinking outside the box and working with my hands. These are what make me most happy and I will remember these three things as the boxes I need ticked off when looking into potential job/occupations. Essentially, I've become my younger self again. I know what I like, my hobbies and my interests and I trust in these to help me find the career of my dreams.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Let me know what you think in the comments!

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It's Okay to Say No

For me, no is the one of the hardest words to say. Declining people is a personal weakness of mine. If someone were to ask me to join them in an after school club or activity, I'd accept their invitation without stopping to consider whether or not it was something I had an actual interest in. I'm a people pleaser. I feel like I have to say yes to everyone and everything. I don't like drama and I don't confrontation so I'll give the response I know people want to hear, sometimes sacrificing my own happiness in the process. I thought that saying yes was the only way to avoid disappointing my family and friends and for a long time, I was so focused on pleasing the people around me that I began to feel out of touch with what made me most happy.

Learning to decline someone's offer was tough. If it was my insecurities holding me back, it didn't seem like a legitimate excuse. I had to be genuinely unavailable and if I wasn't, then no other explanation mattered. What I've learnt is that saying no is a right and if something doesn't sit right with you then that's reason enough not to do it. Every time I used yes when I really wanted to say no, I was putting other people's feelings before my own and that's fine to do from time to time but if you're constantly committing yourself to things you don't feel okay about doing, you can begin to lose sense of what you really enjoy and are most passionate about.

I've definitely gotten better at saying no now that I know the people who truly care about me will respect whatever choice I make. If I had continued to take part in everything my friends and family members had asked of me, my life would have revolved around their interests and values instead of being shaped by the things I liked and believed in. Saying yes to things without taking yourself and your feelings into consideration leads to a very negative way of living. I had no idea how much control that simple, three letter word had over me. Knowing how to say no is an important life skill that most will be able to do with ease, however for those who struggle like me, just remember that your happiness and wellbeing matter so if you're not enjoying something, stop doing it. If you know you're not going to like something, don't sign up for it. It's okay to say no.

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