Honey, I'm Home

Wow, I've never felt this tired after a holiday than I do today but I think that it has something to do with the weird times that we flew. So yesterday, we spent the last day soaking up the Turkish sun before enjoying the time we had together before we were picked up. We were being picked up at 11PM and so it meant that none of us really had a chance to sleep. We then got to the airport at about 12:30, for our flight that was meant to be at 3:15 but ended up being delayed; like our flight on the way there (delayed 40 minutes). We didn't end up taking off until 4AM Turkish time and landing in London Gatwick at 6AM (Turkey was two hours ahead).

By that time, most of us had only slept around half an hour or an hour on the plane and that was uncomfortable. Then Mum picked us up from the airport, we went home but instead of going to sleep, I stayed up. Quite the mistake. But I couldn't not spend the day with my beautiful nephew whom I missed so much! Anyway, cutting a long story short, I had a quick nap from 5-6 and it was lovely. I fear that I will not wake up tomorrow morning from falling capture to my deliciously comfortable bed.

I had such a good time in Turkey and it lived up to my expectations and probably exceeded them. Whenever I spoke to people about Turkey, they always had mixed reviews and so I didn't have particularly high hopes for it. But it was lovely, the people were friendly and not too pushy in shops. It was brill.

Here are some of just a selection of some of the holiday snaps that we took:

On the plane going

Despite what this looks like, I do have a bikini on!

Unbeknown to this picture, I had *quite* the medical drama on this boat trip...
That's another story for another time!

On the last night!

It's good to be home but I will miss the lovely sunshine of Turkey. Such a good time!

Love you all

xxx

Last Day

This blog is pretty sad for two reasons:

1. Given that I am writing this before I've even gone on holiday, it's a little bit sad that I've already blogged about it and I haven't even gotten over the excitement of going yet... Oh the life of a daily blogger and the dedication to my blog!

2. It's home time tomorrow :( I never look forward to this moment of the holiday because although sometimes it feels like it is time to come home, the actual coming home is definitely not fun. I don't like leaving such a sunny and beautiful country for England so I won't think about it.

I shall make the most of my day and say I shall see you all soon with a real time blog update. How exciting for you guys to look forward to it?

BYEEEEEEEEEEEE! I'm not coming back yet ;)

xxx

Summary Sunday

Even though I'm not technically here writing a blog, I still wanna look back on what I was doing a whole year ago- I bet it's not as exciting as what I'm doing this year because let's face it, not much can rival a good old summer holiday, can it?!

Let's explore it anyway because I like to be all nostalgic of my past! Were you here reading my blogs a whole year ago? If not, here's your chance to take a cheeky look back at what I wrote about then!

21st July 2013: Sick As A Dog

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/sick-as-dog.html

22nd July 2013: Motivational Monday #14

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/motivational-monday-14.html

23rd July 2013: Top Tips On How To Stay Cool

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/top-tips-on-how-to-stay-cool.html

24th July 2013: Monster's University Review

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/monsters-university-review.html

25th July 2013: Throwback Thursday #9

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/throwback-thursday-9.html

26th July 2013: Always Remember

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/always-remember.html

27th July 2013: Confessions Of A Blogger Tag

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/confession-of-blogger-tag.html

AHHHHHH, life is going too quickly. This only seems like yesterday that I wrote these blogs and yet some of them I hardly remember. Why does getting older make you realise how quickly time flies? I want to be back to a children thinking that days lasted forever!

How in hindsight you never really appreciate how much you have until you realise it's gone!

xxx

Holiday Tradition

One of the main things that we have done every year for as long as I can remember is to book a boat trip to do for various times during the holiday. My sister always hates going on boats but my Mum and Dad insist that she had to go on one every year even though she would end up at the back of the boat hating every second. It sort of became our Ryan family holiday tradition and there hasn't been a year that we have not gone on a boat.

We've been on:

1. Normal boat

2. A catamaran 

3. A speedboat

4. Glass bottom boat

One of the main things that I wanted to do this holiday with my friends was to keep up my family tradition and go on a boat. Mainly because I like being on the water without getting wet and being out in the sunshine all day is the perfect way to get a good suntan with beautiful surroundings- it's something different to walking around or sunbathing all day around a pool.

I'll let you know if I go on a different type of boat when I get back!

BOAT LOVERRRRR

xxx

Holiday With Friends

When we were 18, my friends and I went on a holiday before we all went our separate ways for University but we didn't go abroad and so this will officially be my first holiday out of the country without my parents. I absolutely loved my holiday back then, it was a lot of fun and so this holiday is going to be just as fun, I think!

For this blog, I wanted to share some of things that I'm excited about and potentially scared about for going on my first holiday abroad with my friends.

Excited for:

1. Being in the airport by myself:

This is a little weird one because I never like flying but there's something fun about being in an airport and being responsible for yourself. I probably checked for my passport about thousand times before, during and after going on the flight. I like the responsibility and I think at the airport, it'll really be one of those moments when I get so excited to be with my friends.

2. Getting drunk:

I definitely am going to be trying the different cocktails and with my parents on holiday, it's always low key nights in the hotel with a couple of drinks but with my friends, I have a feeling it's going to be so much more exciting and I definitely think I'll be drinking a bit more than I normally do. With all inclusive, you've got to take advantage of it!

3. Making the decisions:

Because I've always gone on holiday with my parents, they have always paid (thankfully) and made the decisions about where we've gone, where we've stayed and what we've done there. I have had some input but from the get go, this holiday has been completely our decisions and I've had an active part to play in choosing the destination and choosing the hotel. I also get to choose what trips we do, which is exciting. It's all about being able to have the responsibility!

4. The freedom:

Doesn't need much explaining..

Scared for:

1. Flying:

I don't like flying that much but whenever I've gone on holiday, I've always managed to be pushed on and encouraged by my family who are always very understanding. I am a little scared about going on a plane by myself without them. However morbid this is, I've always be fairly happy to get on a plane and risk it crashing when I was with my family because I knew we were together and if something happened, it would happen to us all and we wouldn't be left behind but when you're on a plane by yourself, there's a possibility that you might crash and die alone.... Just saying, these are some of my fears. It's a bit pathetic but I don't mind.

2. Too much responsibility:

As much as I like taking control and having the responsibility to make choices and be a grown up, this also scares me a little too. If something were to happen, I don't know what I would do if it was out of my expertise to handle. Having your parents there if anything is to go wrong makes you feel a little more secure. Nothing bad will happen but just the prospect of something terrible happening and being solely responsible for it.

I think the excitement of a holiday abroad without my parents far outweigh the potential fears that I have and I'm sure there's nothing that can go wrong so my scared feelings are redundant.

Have you done the holiday abroad without your parents? Most people probably have already before they are 22 but it's a big step for me this year. I'm going to have a blast.

xxx

Turkey Facts

If you're hoping for a blog all about the bird, Turkey, then you will be in for a big disappointment. I'm not even sure if there would be anyone that wants to know that much about turkeys... They're not exactly the most exciting or prettiest bird of the bunch! But this is going to give you a little fact file about Turkey, the country, seeing as that is where I am currently sunning it up!

• Turkey sits in two continents Europe and Asia but 97% of its land is on the Asian side.
• Just over 80 million people live in Turkey as of July 2013.
• The currency that Turkey uses is called the Turkish Lira.
• The total land area of Turkey is slightly larger than the state of Texas.
• Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey but it is not the capital. The capital of Turkey is in fact called Ankara.
• Turkey is responsible for 80% of the whole world's hazelnut exports.
• Santa Claus was born in Patara, Turkey.
• "Cekoslavakyalilastiramadiklarimizdanmissiniz" is the longest word in Turkish but I have no idea what it means.
• The Turkish flag looks like:
  

I've never been to Turkey before and so I'm pretty sure this is going to be one of the best experiences of my life and I'm either going to hate it or love it. But at least I can tick it off my list of places that I've been. How exciting!

xxx

Goodbye England

Today is the day that I get to fly away to the land of Turkey- not the food thankfully, but the land of sunshine and all inclusive cocktails and food. I can't wait!

Unfortunately for us, our flight is late evening with us flying at 8PM and so I have to wait all day with this sick feeling and the dread of flying. As many of you know, I hate flying because I do not like the take off. I don't like the first feeling of weightlessness that the plane has when you definitely know that the plane is somehow in the air without touching the ground. It makes me feel so nervous just talking about this and when I get nervous, it makes me feel like I'm going to physically puke!

I'm not going to think about it until I absolutely have to... Not yet!!

Anyway, I am all packed, Hollie and I *should* have gone to get a pedicure this morning but I have no idea because I am being cheeky and pre-writing this blog before it is Monday. I have to pre-write my blogs because otherwise I leave it to the last minute, don't have any ideas and then I end up not blogging at all. This is meant to be the month that I successfully blog everyday again. I can do it!

I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Turkey, here I come.

"Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away,

If you can use some exotic booze,

There's a bar in far Bombay,

Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly awayyyyyy!"

Cheerio, from now on you'll be reading my pre-written blogs but I'll be there in heart and soul, I'll see you in a week!

xxx

Summary Sunday

I've spent all day packing and trying to sort myself out before my holiday tomorrow. The trouble is: my disabled aunt saw me packing and so spent the rest of the day crying because she thought we were all leaving her. She didn't understand that it was just me and I would be back after a week, bless her!!

Yesterday, I spent the day with my friend at her wedding and I have to say, it was beautiful. The ceremony and the reception were amazing. She did such a good job and she did it all whilst completing our PGCE- absolutely mental. I can't believe she pulled it altogether. She looked sensational and was so happy that I could help but smile the whole time. This is a little picture of us all!

And now for our usual Summary Sunday. I have a feeling that the blogs from last year were quite exciting ones as I graduated from Cardiff this week last year. How exciting: Let's review it again!

14th July 2013: Santonica

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/santonica.html

15th July 2013: Motivational Monday #13

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/motivational-monday-13.html

16th July 2013: Two Years

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/two-years.html

17th July 2013: Graduation Day

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/graduation-day.html

18th July 2013: So Long Cardiff

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/so-long-cardiff.html

19th July 2013: Graduation Pictures

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/graduation-pictures.html

20th July 2013: Just In Time

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/just-in-time.html

Make sure you look out for the blogs that will post across the week that I am away and then wait for the very special blog the day or the day after I'm back where I tell you all what it was like and share some pictures!!

Love you all.

I'm gonna miss you guys

xxx

Sad

I have no words for today...

I miss you, Nan. Three years seems ages since I've had a hug with you. Love you always 

xxx

Meeting Class For First Time

To say that I'm nervous is a massive understatement. I have worked hard all year for this moment- the moment when I've got a job, I've proved I can do it and am stood in front of my very first class as a teacher but now I'm not quite sure I'm ready for it...

The truth is, I'm really scared that I won't be able to do it. But I know that this fear will drive me to always try my best. It'll be fine and I'll have been worrying for nothing. But worrying is one of the only things I'm good.

Also, not only am I meeting my class for the first time, I am meeting and talking to their parents too. Eek! I hope they're nice.

In the very words of my last mentor:

I can do this!

xxxx

Motivational Monday #53

Sorry this one is a little later than normal... I have been spending the day shopping with my sisters, playing with my little nephew and generally trying to get a good tan. Sunbathing is so much fun!!

For today, in light of the fact that the sun is shinning, life is good and happy at the moment, I wanted to banish anyone's negative thoughts with themselves or other people. Not only is life good at the moment but my Nan's anniversary of her death is coming up this week and it always makes me realise how precious life is and how much we need to cherish it. We need to make sure that we make the most of our short time on this Earth.

Things happen and friends fall out but even if at the end of the day, you don't figure things out and go your separate ways, don't hate that person. Don't hate people for mistakes they make because none of us are human. It sounds cliche but if you can give the people who wrong you your forgiveness, it makes you a lot happier of a person. Hating someone slowly manifests into something ugly and negative in your life. Change that and make it positive!!

"BECAUSE I'M HAPPY, CLAP ALONG IF YOU FEEL LIKE A ROOM WITHOUT A ROOF!"

Just don't waste time on anything negative in your life...

Love you all

xxx

Summary Sunday

Did you guess that this would be the blog for today?! Predictability is repetition and repetition is the death of magic...

MOOOOOVING ON! Let's get straight to it, shall we?!

7th July 2013: Murray Final
http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/murray-final.html

8th July 2013: Motivational Monday #12
http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/motivational-monday-12.html

9th July 2013: Graduation Dress Success
http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/graduation-dress-success.html

10th July 2013: Airdroid Review
http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/airdroid-review.html

11th July 2013: Throwback Thursday #8
http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/throwback-thursday-8.html

12th July 2013: Sun, Glorious, Sun

http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/sun-glorious-sun.html

13th July 2013: New Addiction
http://nicolespearlsofwisdom.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/new-addiction.html

Short and sweet- just the way I like my blogs

xxx

So Proud

I can't even begin to tell you about how proud of my friend I am. She has gone above and beyond what anyone could have done and I truly do feel so amazed by her transformation.

I have been lucky enough to always be slim throughout my life and have never really felt like I've tried hard to stay slim. But, I've heard so many stories about how dedicated you need to be to lose weight and reach your goal weight and then stay at it. I'm so proud!!

She posted this picture today and without sounding like I'm in love with her, she looks banging! Her body is so amazing and I definitely feel a little jealous of her body at the moment. She looks amazing and as I've said a thousand times before, I'm an incredibly proud friend and know that she is one of the strongest people out there to maintain a diet and follow her dream.

Just amazing!

Well done Hollie. You're brilliant.

xxx

Friday Fun

This blog is going to be a mixture of my babblings about my Friday thoughts and pictures from my Friday... I've had quite an eventful day. Although, some bloggers are really good at taking pictures of everything that they do in the day and I do for the beginning of the day but then I forget to even get my phone out. Now, this is bad for my blog but pretty good in terms of forgetting to get my phone out because it means I'm not one of those people that is constantly on their phone in social situations- I hate those people!

Today I went to get my Dad's car serviced at the Volkswagen dealership but the problem was that we were waiting for the car to be done, which was 2 hours + and there is absolutely nothing around the dealership to hold your attention. There were a couple of shops and cafes but nothing that you could spend 2 hours doing and so we walked around a lot of I took a lot of pictures:

I found this car at the dealership that I really want! I want it so much. It's a Volkswagen Polo and I love the colour. It was labelled as £11,000 so the chances of me ever getting this is zero to none but I worked out that if I saved 1,000 a month of my wage, it would only take me around a year to save up for the car... I just want it. So if any of  you beautiful readers want to buy me it, I won't say no!!

 

So, after I found the car of my dreams, we went off shopping for different things looking around and trying to waste time, generally. And I came across this little pet shop that I wanted to know if they had any fish or birds to look at. To my surprise they had these adorable little kittens and I swear to God, if my Dad had said I was allowed to get one, I wouldn't have even thought about taking the little bundle home. Whenever I put my hand out, it rubbed itself against the bars for a stroke and I fell in love.

You can only imagine my disappointment when I could neither get the car NOR the kittens. I was absolutely devastated. Life just isn't fair. Why can't you get everything that you want, all the time? 

I also used to have a little cockatiel called Lucky and I found his replica in the pet shop too, which made me a little sad. He died last Christmas and I cried my heart out when he did. I miss his chirping, even if it was a tad annoying!

The grey one looks exactly like my little Lucky!

We then went for a good old tea and my Dad chose to also have a bacon sandwich. I chose not to because I'm trying to be healthy but then ate a double chocolate chip cookie after and so it cancelled out any healthy thoughts I had before. I should have just had a bacon sandwich as well. Rookie mistake saying no, next time I will just agree and have one too! YUMMY!

Anddddd I wrote a schedule for my blogs. If any of you are really intrigued about what might be coming soon on my blog, take a little look at my schedule but if not, keep it a surprise. I have managed to pre-write 6 out of the 8 blogs that I need to post during the time that I am on holiday that means for once, I am somewhat on the ball. Crazy, right?!

ANYWAYYYYYYYYYY, these pictures haven't been that exciting but I wanted to share with you my day in a different way. It's been quite the eventful one especially considering after all that, I went for a late lunch with my Mum, Dad and sisters... Too much Friday Fun, I think!

Cheerio and love you!

xxx

Walking On Sunshine Film Review

Now, if you know me, you know that I pretty much like any film and give all types of film/TV show a chance. If it looks like it will be cheesy, romantic and full of fun (especially with music), I'd totally love it and I definitely thought this was going to be the case when I saw the new musical film Walking On Sunshine. When I saw the trailer, I thought it would be a Mamma Mia/Hairspray love child where the results would be amazing. It claimed to have classic 80s music and it did have that but the way they put them in was just awful. I love 80s music and the thought of being able to sing along really made me want to go and see it. I convinced two of my other friends to come and see it with me (my third friend was totally up for seeing it without needing any coercing from me!) 

My verdict is never normally this negative but I can't help but give this film a bad review. The film had so much potential and I think if they took another year or so to relook at their casting and ideas, it could have been fantastic. The whole premise of the film was brilliant, the storyline was compelling and it kept your attention but the execution just wasn't quite there. First and foremost, the first song Holiday was plonked in the middle in such an awkward way that I couldn't help but laugh so hard when the first line was sung. The thing that made Mamma Mia so brilliant was how embedded the songs were- there was a flow from the acting and the singing, which made it amazing. The film definitely needed to look up subtle in the dictionary. Normally I like in your face cheese but this was in your face cheese with a sprinkling of bad acting.

The main actress, although she was very good looking and fit the part with her looks, wasn't a very good actress. Now I don't know whether she wasn't a good actress for this single film occasion or whether the script wasn't that great to work with but it was quite terrible how bad her acting was, and most of the cast if I'm being honest. Add bad acting, bad dancing and annoying habits into the mix with those badly placed songs, the film was a bit of a flop with no charisma. And I hate to give it such a harsh review because I really wanted to love it.

There were however some benefits to seeing the film and that mainly came in the form of the main actor, Giulio Berruti. He is the definition of a man God, and I couldn't take my eyes off of him. He is absolutely gorgeous and if I had known before how rubbish the film was, I still would have paid the £5 just to be able to watch him for an hour and a half. I seriously want him to be mine. Yum! 

There were some scenes which I loved and the songs when sung correctly and placed seamlessly were brilliant:

1. The tomato scene- they sung Walking on Sunshine and I loved that. It was so much fun and it now makes me want to chuck tomatoes at a really hot guy and fall in love. Especially if it is with Giulio- give me him anyday!

2. It must have been love song- this was one of my favourite scenes because if the film had been like that the whole way through, it would have been amazing. It didn't try too hard in that moment at all, it was perfect. The emotions for the song matched the emotions of the moment and the acting was stellar. It was really good acting for the scene and it made me fall in love with the love story.

3. If I could turn back time song- now, this was hilarious at the beginning when it was deathly silent in the cinema- I couldn't help but laugh at the beginning of the song but it was one of the last songs and once they got into it, like the second scene noted, it really did have some emotion that I loved.

I hate to admit it but I didn't really like this film much and as a consequence, I totally wouldn't recommend it to anyone. It was badly made, badly acted and fell flat on its face, in my opinion.

Oh, I was so mad that it didn't live up to my expectations. So disappointed.

Never mind, there's always Mamma Mia to fall back on!

Have you seen the film? Did you like it? Did you not? Give me the reasons below why you did or didn't and let me know your opinion. I'd love to hear someone explain to me why they did like it just to see the flip side. Leave a comment below.

Love you all,

If anyone has any films to recommend me, please let me know!!

xxx

July Favourites

My, my, you guys are in for a treat tomorrow when I review the film Walking on Sunshine. Wow is all I can say.

I thought for today, I would do a little 'share my favourite things of this month!' I've never done this before and I don't have any niche such as a beauty favourites, I'm just doing an all over the place, every single thing I've loved so far.

1. My Samsung Galaxy Tab 3

I absolutely love this with my whole life. It makes everything so much easier and it's fab! I can do everything on here without the fuss of getting my laptop and starting it up. My poor laptop is not very fast anymore and the tablet is so portable and easy to use, it's perfect.

2. Pantene Pro V Body and Volume Shampoo and Conditioner

My hair is very thin in nature. It goes frizzy if I blowdry and leave it and when I straighten it to remove this, my hair goes so flat, it looks ridiculous. Using this shamooo and conditioner gives my hair such a new lease of life. It gives it so much body and volume that I love it. Obviously my natural thin, flat hair does lose its volume after a while but at the start, it's like my hair is different. I definitely keep using this product and see myself using it for a long while.

3. CSI: Hidden Crimes game

Now, call me a loser if you like but this game is a bit like Cluedo mixed with a hidden objects game. It has the clue building and murder guessing from Cluedo but you have to find the clues and get enough stars to interrogate and investigate the murder weapon and suspects. I love this game so much but there are a couple of things that annoy me. You need lightning  bolts to play a hidden object scene and the maximum bolts you can have is 80... It takes 15 bolts each time and you need to do each hidden object scene about 4 times to get a star. So, if you're looking for a game that is quick and constant, this probably isn't the game for you. It does take time for the bolts to replenish but I do love it!!!

4. The sunshine

Now, I know the sun has been a bit tempremental recently but just the sight of the sun makes me happy. The sun makes everything so much better and it's nice to relax in the sun!!

I'm sure I've loved a lot more things but they've totally escaped my mind.

Have a wonderful Wednesday evening.

Lots of love,
Nicole
xxx