Your Skin Does Not Define You / My Acne Story | Beauty

I want to talk about a sensitive subject. I want to share my story and have a general rant about something I have learnt to dealt with that many others can relate to.

On the 23rd of July 2014, this was the state of my skin. I had taken these pictures hoping that I would see some progress in the future but, I had never really thought about it until I found them on my computer a few weeks ago and decided to do a comparison. Looking at these pictures side by side makes me feel speechless. 

Yes, my skin wasn't terrible in the first place but I was 15/16 at the time and it depressed me and meant my confidence was at an all time low. I wouldn't do anything without makeup on or even have a lazy day in fear of someone seeing my face the way it was. The spots I had were mainly whiteheads that didn't want to shift. The majority of my acne was on the lower half of my face with the few pimples in between my brows. As helpful as it would have been, the quality of these photos means that the damage isn't clear. My skin was red and irritant and pretty much impossible to cover. Saying that, my friends who have seen this photo don't recall my skin ever looking this bad. I think that proves something. I think it shows you that no matter how bad you think your skin is, or anything else about you for that matter, the people who love and appreciate you will not notice it. Looking at the current photos I feel such a sense of accomplishment. Yes, the scars are visible. Yes, they take forever to fade. Yes, I still look terribly flared up in the mornings. But, that is absolutely nothing compared to the original photos. 

Acne is okay. It's okay to have little buddies all over your face. We need to accept that it's okay because under makeup and a showy personality we all have insecurities and flaws. I have accepted that I am flawed. Don't get me wrong, I'm not happy about it but I know there is little I can do to change all of those things that make me uncomfortable. Sure, you can take small steps but nothing happens over night. Dealing with acne or any skin problem is not a quick or particularly easy process. Everyone's skin is different. Your acne could be stress related, a result of your diet or lifestyle choices or hereditary. It could be a reaction to a product, teenage changes or medically stimulated. Either way, you need to accept that it will take time.

I cannot tell you how to clear your acne but I can tell you what I did. Remember everyone is different when it comes to things like this. Firstly, get some sun. It doesn't work for everyone but my holiday last summer definitely improved the way my skin looked. I'm not suggesting you book up a holiday in the hope of some skin miracle but after two weeks in Spanish sun, my skin was cleaner and looked a lot more radiant. This also certainly does not mean you should bake your face in mid-day heat especially without suncream/screen/block. The hours of 11-2 are very dangerous for the skin in hot countries and if your body is not used to it, there is dangers of burning and various skin conditions. Be safe. 

Secondly, talk to your doctor. If you're seriously worried about your acne, your doctor should help you. I knew from the beginning that I did not want to go on medication if there was another option especially seeing as I had to take medication anyway but again this is up to you. I was instead prescribed a soloution called 'Zineryt'. This was the real beginning of my skin clearance. 'Zineryt' contains two medicines, erythromycin and zinc acetate. The erythromycin stops the growth of bacteria associated with acne whilst zinc helps with healing. I applied this twice a day and after about a week I had begun to see results. After a month the change was more drastic. I kept using this for a few months until my skin settled down a little.

After this, I tried adding few non-medicated acne products but, I was sensible. If you try too hard and use too much you'll probably complicate things. Simple advice here. Don't overload your skin with products. They'll most likely counteract each other and clog your pores more. It's just likely to stimulate bacteria growth and create more spots. However, I kept it as simple as possible. Literally. I used 'Simple Kind To Skin Protecting Light Moisturiser' because it is natural and has few chemicals. I also tried a few 'Freederm' products and I saw effective results with the products in a short time period. However, I have not repurchased as I am now more aware of overloading my face with chemicals. I kept to my old faithful 'Neutrogena Pink Grapefruit' range because it smells incredible and does the job without being too harsh on the skin. Trying to keep it simple suddenly turned to expensive and I fell in love with 'La Roche-Possay Effaclar Duo' which literally was a miracle product. It seemed to help more with scaring than any other product I'd tried. (I am onto repurchasing this as I type). More recently though, I am attached to 'Garnier Pure 3in1 Wash Scrub & Mask' as it is impressively clarifying and mattifying. I think I use this nearly everyday and get through a tube so easily. I am in no way suggesting you try all or any of these products especially not all at the same time. Read blogs, read reviews, visit specialist websites, find what works for you. I also wrote about my favourite natural treatments such as home made face masks and tea tree oil here.

As I said, currently I'm just keeping it simple and am using less damaging products. I've started using 'Zineryt' again to see if it helps my scarring and still use tea tree oil everyday. I'm also trialing 'Lush Grease Lightning' and 'The Body Shop Vitamin E Moisture Serum' but in moderation and both products are pretty great. I won't stop trying products no matter how bad I know it is. Make sure you give your skin time to adjust before you throw away a half full bottle of product that 'doesn't work'. Just don't create more problems in the long run. Don't squeeze a spot, don't plaster it in toothpaste, stop touching it, don't pick at it. I drink more water now too, that definitely helps. I also have quite a few makeup less days to give my skin a break and now that I feel more content with my face, I've even realised I don't need to go to school or be around my friends with a face full of makeup. I enjoy using and experimenting with makeup, I like the idea of enhancing beauty. But, I've stopped hiding behind it.

In all honesty and I can say this with absolute certainty, acne does not make you a bad person. Some have it worse than others, sure. I still find myself muttering under my breath when a friend complains about the odd spot however, you need to remember that everyone's skin is different. Looking at the change and pictures, I am more confident. I still get the occasional breakout (binge eating and too much makeup) and the predictable hormonal spots in the least subtle of places but that's all expected. You need to stop caring about something so simple. I know it will eventually get better and there is always simple ways to cover/heal it. Make yourself feel good. So what if all these disgusting bumps pop up on your face? They just want to be part of the action and awesomeness of you. Embrace it. It's normal, it's totally normal. It's a unique part of you. Do not be embarrassed to pop to the shops bare faced or to spend the day makeup free. It might get gradually better but if it doesn't, it doesn't have to ruin your life. I'm happy and proud at how far I've come. I have further to go and a lot of scarring to fade but in the end your skin is just your skin. It doesn't matter if it's acne, scars, birth marks, eczema, freckles, blemishes or anything else you consider irregular. That's who you are. And your skin does not define you.

#KylieJennerChallenge ???

The Kardashian/ Jenner family are just always in the spotlight and this week I wanted to talk about a certain craze which the gorgeous Kylie Jenner has inspired. It's probably not the most ideal and safe trend but it has been taking over...

Kylie Jenner's beautiful (fake) lips have created quite the trend this week as thousands of people have taken part in the new trend which has been titled the #KylieJennerChallenge. It is sweeping across all social media sites rapidly as people of all types have been trying to get a fuller lip look. It involves sucking on a lid or glass of some description for a few seconds. However it has caused huge bruising on some people and has turned out to be quite unsuccessful and potentially dangerous. 

Kylie has reacted to the trend on Twitter stating: 'I'm not here to try & encourage people/young girls to look like me or to think this is the way they should look' and added 'I want to encourage people/young girls like me to be YOURSELF & not be afraid to experiment w your look.' 

I haven't done this challenge myself but I don't recommend anyone does haha.

Jaffa Cakes!- Baking

JAFFA CAKES!

So earlier this week I was sat in lesson struggling to think of what to make for this weeks post when I turned to see Charlotte, a fellow member of Almost1998, scoffing her face with Jaffa cakes. As I result of this, I thought why not have a go at making my own Jaffa cakes and they turned out tasting brilliant (not too brilliant on the presentation however!)

 

Method;

So firstly you will need to pre heat the oven to 190 degrees C. Then you will need:



• 4 eggs
• 125g sugar
• 125g self raising flour
• 50g melted butter
• 1 zest of an orange

Firstly, crack the eggs into the bowl and add the orange zest and sugar, then start whisking! You will need an electric mixer for this otherwise its going to take you forever to whisk it all up! Keep whisking on a high speed for about 10 minutes or until the mixture has doubled in size and gone pale and thick enough for it to leave streaks in the mixture. Then with a spoon, very gently fold in the melted butter and the flour. You have to mix this in extremely gently as you do not want to force any air out. At first it may seem like the flour is never going to mix in, but keep going and you'll get there! Then pour this into a greased square tin and bake in the oven for 18 minutes.

When the cake is cooked, leave in the tin to cool down completely and then find a round cookie cutter in the size you would like your cakes to be.

 I cut out 9 pieces and then cut them in half so I had 18 cakes in total










To make these quick and easy, instead of making the jelly, I decided to buy the little pots and use that for the filling. To do this all I did was chop the jelly up into thin circles and pop them on top of the cakes.



                                        


Now for my favourite part- the chocolate! I didn't put it in the microwave in large chunks straight away though! If you heat it too much the particles in the cocoa butter over heat and break and therefore do not reform again which means that your chocolate will not set. To reduce this you are meant to grate the chocolate so that it takes less heat to melt it however I am not patient enough to grate 2 bars of chocolate and so I used a smoothie mixer and that worked just fine!
Then you can go ahead and melt the chocolate and then pop it in a piping bag and pipe over the jelly and cake! Once everything is assembled, make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy!

Stereotypes: Life, Advice and Rants

You guys reading this right now most certainly cannot say you have never used a stereotype to define people you met for the first time. Though we may not say it out loud, in our minds we have created a general view of the person from ideas we have been introduced to our whole lives. People often view stereotyping as a negative thing as it judges a 'book by its cover' whereas it can be helpful when creating a first opinion of someone when you know not a lot about them. I just wanted to investigate the differences between using stereotypes negatively and positively.

From a young age we are told about what we should do based on our gender, race, religion and many more. We are told boys play sports and work whereas girls cook and care for children. We are told black people are more prone to being criminals than white people. We are told Muslims are extremists not Christians. Though these seem past views when stereotyping was far more extreme they still relate to thoughts we have now. Stereotypes can effect a child immensely, boys feel like they can't show emotion or cry because its not 'manly' or shows them to be weak. Young girls are discouraged to do subjects such as science, math or engineering because they believe they aren't good enough for it. Racial stereotypes can make kids of a race minority perform poorly in school. These stereotypes shape our views, beliefs and life because we are taught that is what we should do.

Many however deify these stereotypes by breaking away and doing what they want to do for themselves. Kelly Smith is one of the most recognised names in English women's football and my personal idol. Though she announced her retirement from her international duties for the Lionesses, she holds the record goal tally for the England woman's team however even more impressive is she is ranked 4th in all time top goal scorers for England! She inspired so many girls, such as myself, to get their football boots on and break tradition that football is the 'mans game'. 

So if you want to play the sport not associated to your gender you go out there and you do it. You wear your hijab with pride because you are happy of what your religion does for you.To remove stereotypes from our lives we need to stand up and show we are more than the picture others have created in their mind the moment you say hello. Stereotypes lose their power when the world is found to be more complex than the stereotype suggests. When we learn that individuals do not fit the group stereotype, then it begins to fall apart.

The Round Up: Exam Season

As most people from the age of 15-18 well know, exam season is soon upon us. Us girls here on Almost1998 will all be sitting exams in the dreaded month of May. With my exams starting in less than three weeks, I wanted to focus on how to cope with exams as although some have commended me for my work ethic, it is not easy. I'm aware this has already been done on our Life, Advice and Rants section but I thought a little reminder wouldn't go a miss. 

1. Revision is key 

If you were not gifted with a photographic memory or a Sheldon Cooper size brain, without revision you will struggle. Learn what is the best environment for you to revise in whether that be sat on the sofa with the TV on or locked away at a desk, although it has been found that revising in a similar environment to what you will be tested in will help to remember your revision. Attempt different types of revision such as flash cards or poems (a personal favourite is mind maps).

2. Self motivation 

May seem impossible but only you can put your butt into gear to get the revision done. I've found this to be the back bone of success, it is up to you as an indvidual to get your mind focused and be the steering wheel of your revision. 

3. Test yourself 

Look at past papers and questions, even if you have your notes to one side of you, you are still learning how to structure exam answers and key information. I always chose the oldest ones first as those questions are more likely to come up than the more recent ones. 

4. List what you have to do 

Writing a list of the revision you will do that week and how you will do it, cross it off once you have done it to gain a sense of achievement. That will help improve work ethic if you feel as though you've been getting stuff done. 

5. Have breaks 

This is my downfall, I feel the need to get everything done and feel anxious when I don't. Breaks are important to let your mind relax and take in all the information in, too much and you'll exhaust yourself (flash back to my exams of 2013). However, just remember that doing 20 minutes of revision does not entitle you to 3 hours break, 5 minutes every half an hour to have a cup of tea will be beneficial. 

I hope this helps as we approach the most scary time of the year. Just remember that you are the only thing standing between you achieving the grades you desire, focus and remain calm. You will only get what you are willing to put in. Good luck! 

Pronouns: The Serious Stuff

(Follow up from last weeks post - Gender)

Pronouns, we all use them, we learn them from a very basic age in school, I have used five in this sentence. Pronouns are much more important than you think, and can have disastrous effects when used incorrectly. We all know the basic ones: you, us, they, he, she and etcetera. But what about the lesser known pronouns?

There are genders that exist outside of the binary of male and female, so what pronouns should they use? Some people prefer to be called ‘ze’ or ‘xe’ instead of ‘he’ or ‘she’, but it’s also understood that new pronouns are hard to understand, and thus most people who aren't male or female use ‘they’. 

Yes I know ‘they’ is also used to describe a group of multiple people, but it’s the only gender neutral personal pronoun there is, and therefore the only option for gender neutral people. Even if you don't really understand, or find it hard to separate the plural ‘they’ from the singular ‘they’, it’s important to respect someone's pronouns and use them correctly.

Correct pronouns are not what some people deserve for being nice, they are a basic human right. Using incorrect pronouns is incredibly transphobic and can trigger extreme dysphoric reactions. If you do it accidentally, apologise and correct yourself. Breezing over it will make it seem like you're ignoring the problem, and making a big deal out of it will attract attention to you, the trans person, and the situation. Simply say ‘oops, sorry I meant [insert proper pronoun here]’, and move on.

So who uses different pronouns? Is it wrong to assume pronouns? Should I ask everyone their preferred pronouns when I meet them?

People who use different pronouns will hopefully understand if you misgender them on the first try. Assuming gender isn't too bad unless you stick to your first assumptions when they correct you, but just remember not everyone is either male or female. If you are confused or unsure, ask. It’s better to ask than to assume incorrectly.

A brief list of some genders and their (usual) pronouns:

• Male = he
• Female = she
• Genderfluid = they
• Agender = they
• Demi-boy = he/they
• Demi-girl = she/they
• Bigender = they

Please note, this is subjective to a few people I know. Whatever someone requests as their pronouns, you use.

Using incorrect pronouns, even as a joke, is a terrible thing to do. Trans people are told from a young age that they are supposed to be something they're not, and using incorrect pronouns affirms that belief. It sounds like you're telling them they're wrong, and just rejecting their personality as a whole. It takes a lot of effort to come out as trans, even more when it’s a gender that you know most of your friends have never heard of, or don't believe in.

Please respect pronouns, and use them properly.

Also remember that this blog post is coming from a cisgender persons point of view. For more information and opinions from actual trans teens on pronouns, check out this page:

https://minus18.org.au/index.php/resource-packs/pronouns

COACHELLA 2015: CELEBRITY CULTURE

Coachella is a music and arts festival that takes place annually in the Colorado Desert in California. It consists of loud music of a whole array of genres, extreme partying and countless celebs! 

Weekend 1 has just passed and took place on April 10-12. The line-up consisted of the legends AC/DC, Drake and Jack White who were all headliners and rocked the stage. However other performances were made by Florence and the Machine, The Weeknd, Alesso and alt-J. It is safe to say I am so very jealous of everyone that went because the atmosphere looked amazing and the line up was faultless! It also seems to be the centre of attention for all celebrities as people like Justin Bieber, Kylie and Kendall Jenner, Brooklyn Beckham, Fergie and an endless amount of others turned up as guests. Of course there was controversy again with Bieber as he was kicked out of one of the parties and when Madonna kissed Drake...

But...the fun, music and partying doesn't stop there as weekend 2 starts today April 17-19. AC/DC, Drake and Jack White are all back to headline and entertain the crowd as other acts include David Guetta, Gorgon City and Haim as well as performers from weekend 1. What an amazing line-up. I can't wait to see all the pictures and videos from this weekend's crazy Coachella concert!

It is defiantly on my bucket list to go to this amazing event sometime in the future!

Girl Crushes: Life, Advice and Rants

Okay so for today's post its going to be kind of more focused towards the female members of our audience as I want to discuss the term 'girl crush'. A 'girl crush' is a common phrase used by generally teenage girls to define women who inspire them, that they idolise or who they aspire to be. 

Calling someone your 'girl crush' has often been misinterpreted as sexual desire for said woman however in many cases it is simply not true. Other may have a sexual attraction towards their girl crush, stating them to be 'the only girl I would ever have sex with'. Often these crushes are celebrities, women that are do amazing things or just keep us entertained with their talent, humor and beauty. With so many women in the spotlight that offer themselves as such good role models it is hard not to find just who they are to be attractive, its not just about how they look! I'll be honest, I have a massive girl crush on actress Anna Kendrick. Yes she is hot, but I read her twitter if I ever feel down because she is awkwardly hilarious. She is an amazing actress who has conquered both chick flicks, musicals and drama to create a creditable reputation which got her a Best Supporting Actress nomination at the 2010 Oscars. This crush on her isn't romantic (okay maybe a little), its focusing on her personally and her achievements which make me really want to be her best friend. Or be her. I haven't quite figured that one out yet.

Women, especially young women, have always had such feelings of adoration for each other. Social scientists suspect such emotions are part of women's nature, feelings that evolution may have favoured because they help women bond with one another. Theses girl crushes don't have to be the celebrities we would never met, they could be women in everyday life that you want to confidence boost because you see how amazing they are. My friends and I never think twice to tell another that their bum looks good in those jeans or randomly kissing them at parties when we have had a few too many. It doesn't necessarily mean we suddenly want to start our lesbian love affair together. 

Now a days its far more acceptable to embrace our girl crushes and to not be worried people will question our sexuality if we think some girl is hot. We can appreciate and admire a woman's beauty, intelligence, humor and personality. Women supporting women is what we should be doing instead of bashing down what it means to be a woman. So embrace your girl crushes because you know what, its okay to appreciate what it means to be a woman.

Ebay & Amazon Beauty Bargains #2: Laroc 120 Eyeshadow Palette

Nope, not the Lorac Pro Palette. Not even a dupe, just a company with a very similar name. The Laroc 120 eyeshadow palette. I saw this on eBay whilst scrolling for cheap makeup brushes to carry around and for £4.99, I had to try it. 

It's impressively pigmented. There are so many colours to choose from and a wide range of finishes from shimmers to mattes and everything in between. Some do show up better than others. Many of the bronzey/brown shades are to die for and blend really nicely, but some of the white/creamy tones are chalky. Fall out is expected, but it's nothing major. 120 eyeshadows for £4.99 isn't too bad at all. The packaging is flimsy and the panels come apart when closed but it'd be great as a gift or just for experimenting with. I have used many of the shades for everyday looks and despite the packaging fault I cannot complain.

Find it here.

Genders: The Serious Stuff

Genders are a lot more confusing and complicated than once thought. Like sexuality, it’s a spectrum rather than a binary, and everyone falls somewhere on it. It’s subjective, and doesn’t always follow sex, appearance, or sexual orientation. Genders should be respected, and knowing about them is important.

To start off with the basics, let’s cover the difference between sex and gender. 

Sex is your physiological body, it’s what you've got going on in your pants. Usually, this is male or female, but other sexes do exist. It also relates to your hormones and chromosomes. Males have XY chromosomes, and produce a hormone called testosterone. Females have XX chromosomes, and produce a hormone called oestrogen. Occasionally someone may be born with an extra chromosome, and hormones can be affected with certain drugs, which is what many transgender people use as part of their transitioning process.

Transitioning is where, using drugs, surgery and other methods, a person can change their physical sex. The drugs induce extra testosterone or oestrogen, and stop periods or lowing voices. The surgery is for genitals or other sex-specific aspects of the body, like breasts or hair. Transitioning can happen at any point in a trans person’s life, and does not have to happen at a young age. However it is expensive, and hard for young people to do without funds or parental permission. Other temporary methods such as binders are available.

Though this will make a trans person more comfortable, as they are finally satisfied with their form, it is not necessary to be validated as trans. A lot of people will be the sex they were designated at birth, either due to complications and limitations with transitioning, or due to the fact that their gender is not linked to male or female. They are still trans.

This is where the difference with gender is found. Gender is your psychological personality, who you are inside. Gender does not exist inside any sort of binary, and instead lies on a spectrum. There are many genders, and there is no way I could possibly list them all. Here are a few common ones:

• Cisgender Male – male and born as such
• Cisgender Female – female and born as such
• Transgender Male – male but not born as such
• Transgender Female – female but not born as such
• Agender – has no gender
• Bigender – has two genders, can be both at the same time or switch between them
• Genderfluid – has multiple genders, fluidly switches between them
• Demi boy – sometimes a boy sometimes something else
• Demi girl – sometimes a girl sometimes something else
• Non Binary – doesn't fit inside the ‘male’ or ‘female’ binary

All of these are perfectly valid, and as you can see, many of them don't correlate to a specific sex. This makes transitioning pointless for many people, and shows that it is not required to be considered trans. A transgender person is anyone who does not associate with the gender they were assigned at birth, not someone who has undergone surgery to change their sex. That is why we say transgender instead of transsexual, as it’s about gender rather than sex.

Different genders come with different pronouns, and these are also important to understand and respect. More on that in a later blog post.

There are a lot of genders, and it’s important not to judge or make assumptions upon them. If someone tells you their gender, and you've never heard of it before, that doesn't make it stupid or less valid, it just means you've never heard of it before. That being said, if someone says ‘I identify with plants’, that’s different. Firstly your gender can’t be a plant, that’s not what gender is, plant isn't gender. Secondly, that’s something called ‘otherkin’. Identifying with a physical or fictional object/person on an emotional level. It’s something I don't fully understand and it kind of baffles me, but it is a thing, apparently.

The point is, gender is a spectrum and there are countless types of gender, some of which probably aren't even named yet. Respect gender. It’s part of personality and a huge part of who people are. It’s not something to joke about or make fun of, trans people get enough of that already. Just respect it, and remember a trans person probably knows more about their gender than you do. Forget binary, open your mind, there's a lot of cool stuff out there.

SEEING MCBUSTED LIVE IN LONDON!

On Easter Sunday (5th April), I was lucky enough to have tickets to watch Mcbusted at the o2 Arena. So for this weeks post I thought I would tell you all about it like I said I would in my other Mcbusted blog post which you can check out here.

Now the o2 is defiantly one of my favourite music venues ever and its fairly close to where I live which makes it even better! I went up with my family and best friend's family and we managed to get 5 seats in block 104 and then 2 at the very top in block 419. (That is where we sent the dads to sit lol). I have sat at the top before for a few concerts and the view is absolutely fine but I just feel like you can't have as much fun up there. On the other hand level 1 is where I recommend most. They are all such great seats and although I am desperate to have floor seats one day, I am more than happy to sit at level 1 whilst I wait for that to happen.

There were 2 support acts before Mcbusted but we still had to wait once they had stopped performing as Harry Judd (the drummer) injured his hand and when Matt Willis put this picture up on Instagram with the caption 'Not to worry anybody but this is happening right now!!!'... everyone panicked a bit. 

Despite this Harry was able to perform and the put on one of the best shows I have ever seen. I've seen Mcbusted 3 times and can't decide which show was my favourite as they never fail to disappoint. The entire set list was spectacular and I particularly enjoyed dancing to Star Girl and Year 3000 until I smacked my knee on the chair in front and thought I was going fall over the seat. I could not fault any of the performance and there was even a kiss cam in which Emma Willis (Matt's wife) snogged Stephen Mulhern. It was all very entertaining and as well as this throughout the night, I thoroughly enjoyed staring at my crush since the age of 5... Mr Danny Jones. haha. 

I loved seeing the whole crowd of different ages singing along and there is something quite magical about seeing the whole arena lit up from phone torches. I certainly hope that they tour again because I would 100% buy tickets and recommend to anyone to go see them! 

(Tom (Fletcher) makes Youtube videos and luckily filmed on the day of this show. It also explains what happened to Harry's hand and you can get some backstage footage so you should defo check it out!) 

SUSHI POPIN' COOKIN!- Baking

 Sushi Popin' cookin!

 

 

For a long time I have wanted to try out Popin' cookin! which is a Japanese candy making set. I know I know it's not baking, but I thought i'd share with you how to make up the 'sushi' and give you a little review on how it tastes and my overall opinion.

I bought this set on amazon for £3.50 here and it took about 3 weeks to come considering it was coming to England from Japan.

Included in the box was:

• 6 powders which make up your rice, salmon, egg, fish eggs and soy sauce (please note that these are all candy flavoured)
• Fondant which is used for seaweed
• A tray to make your ingredients
• a spoon
• a pipette

Since all of the instructions are in Japanese I had to turn to Youtube to find out how to actually make up the sushi! It turns out it is quite straight forward and really quick to make! When opening the packet cut along the dotted line and open the sheet up for guidelines to make your sushi!

Firstly to make your rice you will need to fill the oval shaped tray up with water until it reaches the end of the line of the oval shape. Then add the blue packet and mix until all combined.

 

Then to make the egg and the salmon, fill the two trays which have weird shapes in them up with water until it reaches the line. Then add the yellow packet to one and the pink packet to the other and mix. Make sure you smooth them out to make the mixture meet all the edges and then leave it to set.

 

Now for the coolest bit- the fish eggs! Fill tray A and B up with water until it reaches the line and then add the green packet to tray A and the orange packet to tray B and mix. Use the petite to pick up some of the orange mixture and drop it into tray B.

 

 

Then fill the left over tray with water until it reaches the mark and then add the brown packet to make your soy sauce!

To assemble the sushi, roll out the seaweed to the length suggested for you on the packet and then wrap it around a small ball of rice. Add some fish eggs and wollah you have made your first piece of sushi!

 

Not going to lie, it is hard to roll out the seaweed without it breaking, but its still fun to make!

Next you can be inventive and use up the rest of your ingredients to make more sushi!

 

I made this with my younger sister which kept her entertained whilst I was babysitting her and she was so excited by the fact that everything smelt of bubble-gum. However, the texture was horrific and was not something I'd choose to eat again!

Despite this, it was great fun to make and interesting to see how something that was a powder can turn into edible food.

 

 

Dealing with Crushes: Life, Advice and Rants

Adolescence can be a difficult time for most, growing up with hormones raging all over the place. Crushes are bound to develop making most of us go a little bit crazy. They can be improbable celebrity crushes such as my heartache for Andrew Garfield (if only I got caught in his web...) or the cutie that sits next to you in biology. This however isn't the movies so sadly they don't miraculously understand your feelings and slow-mo run towards you ready to whisk you away into the sunset...*sigh*. A last there are SUBTLE ways to drop hints towards your crush which I will share with you today.

- Talk to them in person
 Admiring from a far maybe a short term but if you really like them at some point you will have to interact with them. When you gather the courage to talk to them make sure you are 100% you. Being yourself is the best way to test compatibility so don't start conversations about things you know they are into but you have no idea about. You'll find things in common if they are right for you.

- Know its going to take time
Most of us aren't lucky to get the crush straight away, its going to be a journey trust me. Make sure you know where you stand whether you are friends, acquaintances or complete strangers. The best things come out of hard work and commitment however don't focus all your energy on that one person. There are also other important things that go on during your teenage life.

- Confidence
For some its natural however, others are shy and may not have the ability to just walk up to someone and say 'hi'. Maybe try messaging them so you don't have the face to face conversation your not ready for and then when you are comfortable, go and talk to them.  

Occasionally crushes don't go to plan however don't let this ever put you down. People come and go in life and love so just relax and let it happen. You can speed up the process but remember, the crush you have today you may look back and ask yourself 'why?' Have fun and enjoy whatever company will come your way.

Rag Rugging:Textiles

Rag Rugging

This technique is so easy, and if you build it up, will give great texture and design. It can be used to create so many different things. for example, wall hanging, pillow case covers and of course a rug.

You will need:

• Hessian fabric, or a fabric with a really loose, wide weave 
• strips of different fabric
• Ragging tool (picture below)
• Scissors

1. Cut your hessian to size. Go larger than you need too.

2. Grab your ragging tool and strip of fabric.

3. Push your tool through the hessian from underneath.

4. Hook your fabric strip onto the tool in the centre.

5. Pull the fabric through but not all the way.
 

Simple!
From here just build up the fabric pieces and you'll get an amazing result.
Here's my small sample:

The Round Up: Easter

The only holiday which cannot decide on an annual day to occur on but still we all love Easter. I for one have substantially stuffed my face with chocolate and now lay spread out in order to remove the aching food baby from my stomach. Much to the dismay of most people, Easter is not all about scoffing chocolate until you begin to bleed Cadbury's but is regarded as a time of reflection as we remember, for those who believe, the crucifixion and rising of Jesus Christ. 

Pope Francis has called for peace 'above all' in Syria and Iraq during his traditional Easter Sunday message. He addressed to the faithful rain-drench crowd to 'ask for peace above all for Syria and Iraq  that the roar of arms may cease and that peaceful relations may be restored among the various groups which make up those beloved countries. May the international community not stand by before the immense humanitarian tragedy unfolding in these countries and the drama of the numerous refugees" He concluded by saying 'We ask for peace and freedom for the many men and women subject to old and new forms of enslavement on the part of criminal individuals and groups.'

Each year, Easter is a time to reflect on the tragic events which occur within our world and is a time to hope for a better things to come. Even if you do not consider yourself religious, we pray that there will come a time when we live in a world free from such evils and experience a better world. The likelihood of such eternal peace is unlikely, yet hope is what spurs us on, the possibility of that peaceful world may occur for generations to come. 

So while you indulge yourself in roast lamb and chocolate bunnies, take time to recall on the world we live in today and join with many others that the best is yet to come. 

And eat loads! Happy Easter!

SHEERAN'S SUPERB SESAME STREET SONG!

After a year and a half of waiting for Ed Sheeran's Sesame Street song, it is finally here for us all to enjoy!

Ed first made the announcement on his Instagram account that he would be teaming up with some of The Muppets including Elmo and other of the furry friends and ever since I have been eager to listen to the song. I definitely haven't been disapointed! The song 'Two Different Worlds may be aimed at toddlers but it's still just as catchy and great to listen to. It was filmed all the way back in October 2013 but there is no word as to when the episode will air. The pop song was made as an educational message which teaches children about the different rules for talking at home and at school. 

Ed also announced recently that he will be hosting Canada's MMVAs (Much Music Video Awards) on the 21st June! He made the announcement in a video where he was holding a beaver. Yep you heard... a beaver. It was even named Justin Beaver. hahahaha oh puns. It's going to be so exciting!