Jessalyn Amie

The Dublin Diaries

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 12:00:00 +0000

Over the new year period me and a friend went to Dublin to celebrate and guess what I'm only just getting a second to right about it, typical!

It's a trip I look back on with mixed emotions, there is no denying the Irish coast line is beautiful but I also think, what coast line isn't?

It was a great trip with a bag full of memories we spent time in the city, went to the Wicklow mountains and went to Northern Ireland for the Game of Thrones tour of course.

If you are a Game of Thrones fan that tour is a MUST. The city of Dublin and Belfast are both incredible cities full of rich history that I love.

I don't really have too much to say as it was a trip that I enjoyed but was so long ago (big regrets)

But, here are some photos!

How to Survive a Pandemic

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 17:41:00 +0000

So obviously at the moment I don't think the world could be more upside down if it literally tried. Things are crazy, we're in our houses almost 24/7, we are only allowed to leave the house once a day, we can't see our friends and families and basically it's all madness.

So here is the official definition of a pandemic:

pandemic

/panˈdɛmɪk/

adjective

(of a disease) prevalent over a whole country or the world.

However, I think it's definitely arguable that COVD-19 is a whole love more than simply a disease. It's changing people's lives drastically physically, mentally and emotionally.

Being a teacher I've found this time difficult. They say when you become a teacher you lose a part of your identity however it's also important to remember you gain a piece too. You gain care, love, compassion and responsibility and the idea of not knowing how my kids truly are, when I'll next see them and many other concerns are thoughts I have a thousand times a day. However, sometimes I have to sit back and think, "can I change this?" the simple answer is no.

I thought I would collate the mains tips that have been helping me to stay in a positive headspace!

Tip #1:

Be honest with yourself. Don't try and trick yourself into thinking that the glass is half full blah blah blah. Let's face it - life is pretty crazy at the moment. But what will help is remembering we're all on the same ocean just in different boats. What I mean by that is, we're all riding the same wave but not necessarily with the same equipment so be grateful for what you do have. Do you have a bed? Do you have food and water? Then you're surviving and that is what matters.

Tip #2:

Go for a walk everyday. There is no reason not to even for just 15 minutes around your block. I promise you, you'll come back in a better head space.

Tip #3:

Appreciate the little things. I think this is a tip to lifelong happiness - appreciate the little things in life. The way a cloud looks, that bird patting across your garden, the way your shower feels and the list goes on. If you allow yourself to appreciate these little details in life you will feel so good.

Tip #4:

Keep busy - this one is tricky when we are limited. Read a book, watch TV, workout, colour, tidy, talk to friends, bake, dance, yoga and so on. I was really bored and then told myself I should be grateful I'm not being forced to work everyday (I'm working one week in three) as I'm at less risk.

Be happy, keep safe and appreciate the little things guys.

Jessalyn x

Dating Yourself is the Best Kind of Dating

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Sun, 01 Sep 2019 15:35:00 +0000

I think over the last few years self-care has finally started to get the credit it truly deserves and how important it is to take time for you. But let's face it, is it always so easy? We recognise that self-care is important but sometimes we let it slip away.

Over the last week I have been feeling really down, I'm starting my first teaching position this upcoming week and to say I'm stressed or nervous would be well putting it lightly. I have really found myself... hibernating I suppose, I haven't been leaving the house, I haven't been seeing or talking to my friends and I've been spending way too much time in my room either doing work or just napping. I'm very much an outgoing person - I like being busy, of course I like my naps too but for the most part I'll take any chance to do something, going to tesco? I'm your girl! Yet as I said, this hasn't been me recently and to make it more frustrating I know exactly why I've been feeling this way, however this doesn't mean I've been able to shake it off any easier.

So this brings me on to this blog post - dating yourself! I truly do know and appreciate the importance of taking care of yourself both physically and mentally. Yet, as mentioned - it isn't always so simple. I have been feeling so tense and on edge but doing none of the things I know will help to combat it. I've been saying to myself all week "oh you should really go to the gym!" or "go to Starbucks to do your work - get out the house!" but then just stayed in my room and been in a pit.

Today was the day I took my stand - no brain, you're not having the better of me anymore! So I jumped in my car and drove down to the beach. Once I got there I walked up the path, plopped myself down and ate my lunch. I just sat there and took it in, read my book, watched the ocean and took in the little things.

Within minutes I felt all that tension subside - I felt like me again. I was kicking myself for not just taking myself out earlier, giving myself me time and doing things I love, such as spending time in nature.

So that's why I really wanted to write this post, so incase like me you've forgotten the importance of self care and you're in a pit. Have some advice - go spend time on YOU by yourself to work on YOU. Take a walk, have lunch out, go to a coffee shop and just do whatever you need.

This is something I really want to focus on this month because I know how focused I get and that I quickly lose focus of myself and my own needs. So I really want to ensure that I'm going to the gym, eating healthy and spending time on me. Not just focusing on work, work and oh yeah work.

We don't live to work, we work to live after all.

Florida - The Re-Run

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 06:14:00 +0000

Me and my friend decided this year we were going to go back to Florida for a second year to visit friends. We only went for a month this time but we managed to fit so many things in! We went to the beach (of course), visited more of St Augustine, went to the springs, Georgia, visited camp and just hung spending quality time with friends we love and miss. I don't have much to say as such because it was a 'visiting holiday' other than I had an amazing time, but I just wanted to share some photos really!

Teacher Training: It's Over

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Mon, 01 Jul 2019 16:51:00 +0000

I honestly thought the day would never come. That day is, the day my teacher training finished! I can not believe that it's finally all over, I still don't feel like it really it but it actually is and I'm very happy to wipe my hands off of it!

I didn't love my teacher training by any means (and that's being kind) it was a year of being picked apart, following orders and being below someone. I'm not someone that is good at being told what to do every minute of every day and trust me teacher training gives you a good cup full of it!

But, let's not focus on that! It's over after all so we are not going to dwell on the past!

I'm so excited to have my life back for a little while, I'd really missed out on things like the gym, socialising and just relaxing the last few weeks. I managed to land what I see as my dream job as a special needs teacher for September and oh my gosh I am so fricking excited!!!!

I am going to Florida again for a few weeks in the summer to 1. have a break 2. see my amazing very missed friends that live there 3. to bathe in the hot sun till I'm a little burnt potato!

I feel like now I can get back on to this blog, because my real passion is travel, which over the last year I haven't been able to as I didn't get bloody paid! But come Septemeber I can really start travelling again during the holidays and I couldn't be more excited!

Okay that's my ramble over and enough exclamation marks to last you a while, see you soon! x

A Reflection on Teacher Training

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Sat, 04 May 2019 19:25:00 +0000

Since September 2018 I have been completing my one year course of teacher training and corr has it been a rollercoaster! I am studying primary teaching through a SCITT with a PGCE for anyone curious. I thought I'd write a little blog post on the key parts of teacher training and what to expect for anyone considering teacher training.

I have always loved working with children it is honestly the only type of job I could see myself in, I can't imagine not working with children. Teaching is one of those jobs that opens a lot of doors for you, which is the main reason for me choosing teaching specifically. I wish to travel in the future and lets face it where doesn't need teachers to educate?

The past year has been actually nothing but crazy and with only eight weeks left I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel! When I first started teacher training I was placed in a small village school in a Year Six class...not ideal. My second placement was a challenging large school in a Year One class, I chose to stay at this school for the rest of my placement as I found it the more enjoyable of the two.

Something teacher training will definitely help with is helping you find your spot with the education system whether that be Key Stage One, Two or EYFS. I went into this thinking you wouldn't get me out of KS2 but now I am looking for a KS1 position for after my training. So on to the things that matter, what does teacher training intail?

Workload:

Workload is something that I found tricky to start with I felt like if I wasn't at school I was prepping for it. Something I think to remember is teaching is a hard job as a teacher you're a teacher, a friend, a babysitter, a counselor, a social worker and all the rest! But it is all so worth it, you can't help but find yourself invested.

The main thing with workload is honestly finding a work - life balance, without this you're soon going to find yourself short wiring. I've found it really helpful to try and allocate certain days and to try and keep work to a minimum. Also, do not lose the things you love - I gave up the gym for a bit as I just was not fitting it in but I've made sure I make time for it as that is something that really helps to clear my head. I'm not saying this will be the case all of the time but try to make it a majority.

Money:

Something that is very tricky is money, be prepared not to get paid. Yes, there are paid opportunities out there but the truth is they're very far and few between. I have received £3,000 to last me the whole year and I've had to lose luxuries, travelling and live of just the minimum. It's not been fun and I can not wait to get paid but if you can, it is really only one year and trust me it goes quick.

Observations:

The most scary part, you will be observed all of the time but that is teaching. I honestly don't mind it too much now...yes, it's stressful, yes, it can suck and yes, it can make you feel pretty low but it's all to help you learn.

Okay so, these are just some bits and bobs to bare in mind for training. Each experience is different and no one can tell you what to do. If you are motivated and dedicated, GO FOR IT! It'll all be worth it when you have your own class of kids!

My Minimal Curly Hair Routine

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 16:51:00 +0000

Something I get asked a lot about is for sure my hair. Me and my hair have definitely gone through a bit of a journey together and it has finally ended in mutual love.

From as long as I can remember I was at the straighteners from probably about the age of 10 years old and before that I would beg and beg my mum to straighten it for me. I'm now 22. My hair was constantly straight, it didn't matter if I was sticking it in a bun, it had to be straight first. The thing is with straightening curly hair... yes it's damaging but most of all it takes bloody ages!

My hair takes so long to straighten, my arms ache and I get all hot and bothered so really what is the point? As I said before I've straightened my hair for as long as I can remember. When I was in school there was a shed of light for about a year or two where I would have it curly, but I'd still pop the straightners on it so it was...less curly?

Over the years I've had to have drastic cuts because of the endless amounts of damage my hair was enduring every darn day. Around a year ago I decided, enough was enough. Going travelling meant I didn't really want to be faffing about with my hair and then getting annoyed because it'd go wavy anyway. So I had an epiphany, why not try to embrace the hair I was given?

And over the last year that is exactly what I've done! None of my friends have hair like me and it makes me feel different and I love it. It makes me feel fierce like a lion and free-spirited. I know it may sound crazy to some but my mane has really become part of my identity.

This all being said, if you have curly hair you'll understand it is a bit of an art form to master, so I thought I'd share some tips and products to help anyone on their journey to embracing their lion's mane!

Here is a close up picture of my hair so you have an idea of texture etc. My hair is oddly soft and very ringlety.

So tip number one is do not, I repeat do not brush your hair. This will make some crazy bush on the top of your head and it's not for the faint hearted! I will only ever brush my hair straight after washing it to get those pesky knots out!

Tip two, use a wet brush - you'll thank me later.

Tip three, after brushing it always scrunch it back up with a towel. This may sound crazy, "I just brushed it????" but I promise it lets the curls form again and helps the drying process.

Tip four, want it to last more than one day? I wash my hair about twice a week but I will dampen it in the shower. This helps the curls spring back after a nights sleep.

Tip five, more is less! I use very little products on my hair now (they're in the picture below!) It's taken a while to find what works with me but I just use any old shampoo and conditioner and use these two products and BAM! Hairspray is an added extra for me.

I hope this post helps you with your mane! x

Five Things I do to Clear my Mind

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 11:16:00 +0000

At the start of this academic year I was finding myself in my own personal mind field, I felt my brain was all over the place and my body was exhausted. I was getting so focused on work that all I was thinking about was work, work and work. I wasn't thinking about myself, family or friends but just simply how unhappy I was.

Since the new year I really wanted to focus on myself and prioritising my wellbeing both mentally and physically. I am a teacher, which notoriously comes with a lot of stress, long hours and pressure. It became very easy to simply focus on my workload but truthly, I wasn't looking after much else. It got to a point where enough was truly enough, I couldn't keep focusing on work as you simply can't care for 30 children if you are not caring for yourself. Hence why this year I needed to refocus my mind and make self care a priority.

One - Gym:

One way I have prioritised self care is exercise whether that be the gym, swimming or a class. I love nothing more than throwing some weight around the gym and getting a good sweat on but I'd simply...not. I knew it was something I was desperately longing for so I decided enough was enough and signed up to a new gym where I can really focus myself. I find exercise is the perfect way to clear my mind and just simply focus on myself, I don't allow myself to think of work just what I am doing at that moment in time.

Two - Phone:

My dreaded mobile phone, this is something that isn't happening easily. I've been finding myself constantly on my phone (That screen time hit some reality into me pretty darn quick), I am really trying to cut down my time on my phone. It's tricky with work and my friends are very spread out so it is my main form of communication with them. But it's more the pointless scrolling I wanted to tackle! I'll have to keep you updated on this one!

Three - Reading:

Reading is one of my favourite hobbies, I love reading. I was finding it tricky to make time but really that was just a shoddy excuse. I'm now turning off my laptop about 9:00pm-9:30pm giving me around an hour to lay in bed and read my book. This has worked really well to get me sucked into something with no distractions.

Four - Mindfulness:

I've always been a fan of yoga (not that great at it tho) and meditation and this is something I'm making sure I make time for. Not necessarily everyday but at least every two/three days. It helps to centre your mind and release a lot of stress. Tricky to explain, give it a go trust me!

Five - Walking:

If you've read my blog before anyone knows I'm an advocate for walking! I love a long walk to get out those cobwebs. Me and my friend try to go on a long walk once a week(ish). Obviously weather permitting, this is England after all.

These are just five ways that I've been helping to focus on my self-care. Not everything will work for everyone but it is truly important to focus on your personal wellbeing.

Take care x

Change Equals Growth

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Fri, 08 Feb 2019 20:42:00 +0000

Sometimes change is welcomed, it's considered a fresh start, new beginnings, a welcomed change. Sometimes it is unexpected, something you do not expect and something that may not fill you with light but instead some darkness. Whatever way change enters your life it should be treated as an opportunity for growth.

Recently I have been feeling change in my life both through choice and through uncontrollable change. It is important to learn to welcome these changes, after all life is about change. We are not on a train that moves simply straight, instead we are on a train, that faces bends and sharp descents but also high inclines, it has a few bumps on the way and you may lose some baggage but you'll still get to your destination.

Since the new year there has been numerous changes in my life, I started at a new school, I applied for jobs, I lost friends and I gained friends.

Changing school for me was a big step, I was feeling rather unhappy in my last workplace and didn't feel like I was achieving. Yet, joining a new school filled me with dread, what if this was worse? What if I hated this school even more than the last? For the first two weeks, oh boy did I hate this school, I felt like I was constantly sinking. My new school is very emotionally and mentally draining. However, as I allowed myself to adjust and grow in this new school I found I loved it. It became exactly what I needed, everyday is a challenge but everyday reeps reward beyond belief.

The other factor I wanted to touch on in this blog post is friendship, over the last two months I've realised you lose friends and that is actually okay. Friends aren't always around forever and that is okay. Sometimes you realise the relationship is not healthy for you and brings toxicity to your life. You follow different paths, which mean you are no longer on the same path that was once keeping you together. All of these reasons are okay and in time I have come to accept that I can't be friends with everyone I meet. The people I may have once considered my closest friends may simply become happy memories.

I have felt myself holding back from certain changes, as if growing would mean I would have to admit loss. I'm starting to realise that's okay and that we can't hold on to everything we encounter, that is what we call a hoarder.

Basically, in simplicity - change is okay and change brings growth.

This blog post is a little different, yes. But, I just needed to kind of spill my words on a page for some closure. x

Five Things I've Learnt in 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Fri, 28 Dec 2018 09:06:00 +0000

2018 has been a whirlwind of a year and in many ways my favourite year. So much has changed, so much has happened and so much has been learnt. I am so thankful for this past year, the opportunities I've had and the way it has shaped me as a person. This is not to say that this year hasn't had its difficulties, oh it has, but that has just enabled me to grow more as a person.

I'm definitely leaving this year a different person to how I entered it and I'm truly happy with that growth.

To grow this year I've had to learn a lot about myself and about life, so I thought I'd narrow it down to the five biggest lessons I've received this year.

Number One - Resilience

I think over this last year I've learnt that I am a very resilient person, throw something at me and I'll stick my feet into the ground to get through whatever the storm may hold. Over the past year I've had various storms chucked my way but each one I've come out on top and not allowed that storm to eat away at me.

Number Two - Compassion, Kindness and Emotions

I'd always considered myself a bit of a cold hearted person, I struggled to show my emotions and I struggled to understand others emotions. I was aware that was a weakness of mine and I'd openly put my hands up to it. If someone cried I would freeze up and just say "There, there" not much help. Over the past year I've had to learn to show compassion and emotions, I've had to help others in their moments of weakness but there have also been times where I've had to go to people and ask for help for my own emotions. I've learnt that it really is okay to let people help you and I've learnt how to help others when they need help too. I'm far from an emotional person, that's just not me but I'm glad that I am now in the position I am, a happy medium.

Number Three - Independence

I didn't realise just how much I leant on others, such as my parents, until I had them taken away from me. This was something that come as a shock to me, I had always thought that I was independent and could stand on my own two feet. This year I learnt what it truly meant to be independent. I no longer feel like I need someone with me, I no longer need the help I once thought I needed. This growth come as a shock to both me and my parents and when I returned it definitely unsettled the soil, I was no longer their little girl, I'd grown up. But we've adjusted because I wasn't willing to go back, I've changed but I'm no longer going to just sit there and take whatever, I'm no longer going to need others to prompt me and instead I will do something on my own esteem.

Number Four - Friendship

Friendship is something I was already aware of but over the last year I feel like I've really solidified my friendships. I've lost any toxic relationships and can honestly say I believe the friendships I have now are the friendships I want. I've also gained a lot of friendships this year and obviously that makes me very happy.

Number Five - Going With the Flow

I hadn't realised until this year just how chilled out I am, everyone told me this year "Oh Jess, you're so chilled out" etc etc. It's something I've grown to really like about myself. Life is too short to stress over small dilemmas, to worry about what others are doing and to concern yourself with small petty drama. Live life simply and you'll be much happier.

Travel Blues - How to Shift Them

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 11:36:00 +0000

Oh the dreaded travel blues, we've all had them. You have the best time away travelling and you get back home, reality hitting you like a ton of bricks. Not fun. I must admit in recent months I've had serious travel blues but I'm trying ways to help tackle them a little bit. In this blog post I'm going to talk about a few things that I'm doing to tackle the blues.

Since getting back home in September I haven't been able to travel due to my course (teacher training) I don't get paid to complete my course, despite working full time, so I have a grand amount of £3,000 to last me the year but this doesn't go far once you've taken out petrol etc. Meaning, I can't travel much, if at all. Travel is the one thing that is always on my mind but I have to admit it's a bit miserable thinking about it when I can't actually do it at the moment. I'm sure I'm not the only one in this boat so I thought I'd share my tips on how I'm trying (sometimes failing) to tackle the post travel blues.

First things first...

Stop. Looking. Pointlessly. I find myself constantly browsing the internet for trips I simply can't afford that fly out in two weeks time, pointless. It just gets me all moody that I can't go, so honestly why am I looking at it in the first place?

Instead I'm trying to look at realistic trips, something I actually stand a chance of doing. I'm saving all my pennies to go away this summer so instead I'm looking at trips that stand a chance of actually happening, not trips like Bali for a weeks time...NOT GONNA HAPPEN! I've found this has actually motivated me to stick out my course and is giving me something to look forward to.

Look back fondly...plan the future.

Look back at your old trips and think "Yep, this is why I love travelling." I've found thinking of old trips and memories to help me think of all the new things I need to look forward to. I'm planning future trips for what I want to do and how I want to go round it, although it's a while in the future it lets me visualise myself actually doing it.

Explore, explore and EXPLORE!

Yeah alright, you might not be jumping on a plane but you'd be surprised just what you can explore by hopping in your car, going on a long hike or popping down the road. Focus on what's around you because that's what you have.

I think in life a tip for happiness is to simply appreciate the little things and then the bigger things will come naturally.

Okay just a small post from me today, hope you enjoyed!

The Lake District

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Sun, 16 Dec 2018 14:25:00 +0000

I had the opportunity to go work with 'troubled' teenagers from Essex/London area in The Lake District and obviously I jumped at the opportunity. Working with kids is something that really does make my heart full but I'd never actually worked with 13/14 year olds so I was a little bit apprehensive.

Although this trip only lasted a week it was such an amazing week with so many highs but the occasional low. This blog post is for anyone to read but it's also a little reminder to me of the differences that can be made to a child's life in such a short time frame just by providing love, compassion and kindness.

On Saturday morning we left for The Lake District with a mini bus crammed full of 12 nervous/excited teenagers. At this point in time I was sat on the bus thinking 'oh god, I can work with kids but these are so different, they're mini adults' there was swearing, shouting, phones and general teenage chat, not something I'd experienced before. Little did I know by the end of the day I'd already be seeing a change in these kids.

That night, after a seven hour drive we were straight out for a night time hike along the mountain edge. Something I don't overly enjoy is walking late at night because I'm so clumsy (I know it may sound stupid but I'm recklessly clumsy, trust me). It was the first time I'd got to properly talk to these kids and I got to learn a lot more about them.

The first 'growth' that struck me was the boy who didn't talk to anyone or mutter a word unless you asked him directly, who hadn't talked during the six week course prior to this. This kid by the end of the first day was dancing weirdly, whacking a pair of socks on my head and just generally joking about.

On the Sunday we were up early for our first hike, we were hiking up to a peak, having lunch and then hiking back down. Easy right? Ha ha ha, no. This day made me think 'what the hell have I done?' forget the kids just the walking of this was SO challenging. but walking like this allows you to see the team work starting to worm its way in, kids were helping each other and me cos obviously i'm a cluts. Hiking up for me personally was fine but coming down not so much, I ended up on my butt a few times.

I always find saying no to kids when they ask you to try something difficult, how can you expect them to try something if you wont sign yourself up for it? So before I know it I was jumping down the mountain with slate under my feet. God was I bricking it but if kids are yelling "GO ON JESS!! YOU GOT THIS!" You can hardly say no, can you now?

Yeah I was happy to get back to the safety of the cottage. One thing I wanted to mention here was one of the boys jumpers. This part is more just for me but this kid didn't moan, they didn't mention anything but I did. The jumper didn't smell...great, so I asked if I could hand wash it. I took it up to my shower and washed it out and the water ran a dark mud colour for a solid five minutes. I was so shocked to thing that a child was living like this, I'd heard of it but I'd never seen it first hand and it honestly broke my heart. But that small gesture of washing the jumper made their day. I think it's so important to remember things like that to centre you when you feel a bit down.

Oh Monday and Tuesday, oh the joy!!! This was our exhibition days, where we'd hike up the mountain, camp out and hike back down. My lord I have never been so cold in my whole entire life but the kids amazed me so much.

One kid the bag was bigger than them but they made it the whole way up to the top, all the kids truly amazed me. We weren't camping out with tents just a sleeping bag and a bivy bag - in the middle of December mind! This wasn't my favourite night, I don't like being cold but I'm so proud of everyone. Plus look at the photos below to see the amazing morning fog!

On the Tuesday afternoon we checked out a pretty cool landmark, it's similar to the stonehenge just not as big but older (I basically wanted to stick this photo in lol).

Wednesday morning, oh the joys! This day started off so well, we hiked up to a waterfall, explored mines and just had a really nice morning. The kids were all brave and we all went under the waterfall despite the freezing conditions. It was so much fun, the walk was dotted with quartz and the kids all loved the waterfall.

On the walk back from the waterfall I think I nearly died about three times, not being dramatic at all...

The first time I slipped and rolled down the side of the mountain about three times, the second I landed flat on my butt and oh the third time I was walking back on the pavement and I somehow fell over and tore the ligaments in my right ankle. Forget the mountains, forget the waterfalls, it was the pavement that got me! Although this really sucked and I had become the running joke of the group (as always) "Jess needs two helmets" "Jess is so clumsy!" and "Everyone watch out Jess is coming." it really showed how much the kids had grown over the week.

When I first went down it was just me and the kids, they all stopped and checked I was okay, they were all so shocked and worried. They all just wanted to help, something I'm not sure if it'd be the same case of on the first day. They were all amazing. As I got up with a ballooned ankle they all cared so much, one child who comes from a difficult background and sometimes finds it difficult to show compassion left the group to help me over puddles and muddy slopes, bare in mind this kid is about 5ft and I'm not far from 6ft.

Because I'd managed to stick myself in the hospital for an x-ray I had to miss out on the afternoon is Keswick, I was honestly so gutted. The kids came home and were all beaming when they saw me. I know this doesn't sound much but bare in mind these kids don't come from much, they don't have tons of money but they came back with two bars of Aero for me. This again just shows the change over the week and how much they'd grown.

On the Thursday I couldn't hike, for obvious reasons but I sure did miss those kids. When they got back we had a reflection period and they all had such amazingly sweet things about everyone. Shock, I cried. I don't think you realise when you work with kids just what an impact you can have on them, you don't have to go the extra mile even for some kids. Sometimes just being there is enough. I gave one child without going into detail some of my bits like deodorant, a lip balm, a perfume, etc and they said it was like an early Christmas present.

This week truly taught me a lot, one I'm stronger than I thought. Two, it reinforced my love for kids. Finally, it taught me that you don't have to do anything sometimes to have an impact, just by being a good person you can have an impact on their life. Choose kindness, always.

Walking - Good for the Soul.

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Sat, 17 Nov 2018 12:07:00 +0000

Recently I'd been letting my workload get the better of me, I'd stopped going to the gym, I'd stopped going on walks and I'd even stopped seeing friends. I begun to realise this isn't how I've ever wanted to live my life, I've never wanted to live to work but to work to live. I simply want to work so I can travel and enjoy my life, but i'd started to realise that was not what I was doing. I was simply just working, working and oh yeah...working. I was on a burn out and was going to crash sooner or later.

Low and behold I scrapped that, I still have tons of work and there are times where I have to skip meeting friends or the gym and instead get my work done because that is life. But I wanted to start focusing on me again, I wanted to enjoy the little things again. I am back to going to the gym when I can, I'm making time to see my friends (this is vital, love your friends) and I'm making a little tradition out of going on a nice long walk once a week. Nothing crazy, just the simple pleasures of life I love the most!

Walking is my little escape from all the craziness in the world, I get to focus on my steps, the noises around me, the scenery and just basically not my work.

This blog post is basically to just let you know it is important to make time for yourself!!!! Something as simple as a walk can make the world of difference to your mental state. I promise you, give it a go and you'll fall in love with walking, the sound of leaves crunching under your feet, the small things you'll notice and the freedom your mind will feel.

London Day Trip: Top 5 Places to Check Out

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Sat, 03 Nov 2018 10:05:00 +0000

The other week I met up with Dion (from camp) and we decided to meet in London because D lives in Watford and I live in Essex so it's a good middle ground and let's face it there is always something to do in London?! We were only in London for the day but we squeezed in so much (yeah, 35,000 steps I should hope so too!) I'm pretty used to London and go there regularly but having sent photos to my American friends it made me think how not everyone just pops to London and for some London is a big deal. So here is my little whirlwind day trip so if you ever find yourself in London for the day you can see a fair bit in a short amount of time!

1. First Stop: Camden Market

If you love food, Camden is the place for you! They have a huge outdoors market where it is full of food, food and food. If you can think of the food it is probably there somewhere! Chinese, pizza, churros, burgers and every other food on this earth. It's not pricey either, it depends on what you're after but you're looking around £5.00-£10.00, which is a bloody bargain for London! The only issue with grabbing your lunch at Camden Market is seating, oh the joys. No seating frickin anywhere! Well, technically there are seats but it is so busy there, think of sardines, yep that's you at Camden Market! I often give up looking for an actual seat, walk to the river and plunk myself down on the floor!

Camden is also host to a world of wonderful, odd and crazy shops. To be totally honest, there is no where else quite like Camden. Even if you're not into the fashion scene of Camden (cos I'm not) it's still cool to check out, as the shop fronts are insane!

2. Up Next: Covent Garden

Covent Garden is where you'll see most the street performers, along with an array of shops, food stalls and other odd little bits and bobs. Covent Garden doesn't hold anything crazy unique but it does look pretty wonderful. It's full of lovely old buildings that are a sight on their own with the added plus of street performers, which is 100% something for everyone to see! Added bonus, Covent Garden is pretty close to Leicester Square, double wammy!

3. So Now: China Town

China Town is just a short walk off of Leicester Square. Not much really to explain here, I love to pop to every China Town I can! I just find it really cool how you can walk up a different street and almost enter a whole new world. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area!

4. Nearly There: Trafalgar Square

I feel this one is a tourist classic, again it is full of beautiful building, the fountain and of course THE LIONS! Here there isn't loads to do as such but you know it just has to be done. Trafalgar Square is also home to the National Gallery, so if you're into art it might be something that takes your fancy.

5. Still Walking? Okay... South Bank it is!

South Bank is hands down my favourite part of London, it runs along the Thames so it is a beautiful walk on its own let alone all the sights you get to see! On South Bank you can see the Houses of Parliament, London Eye, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. By no means am I saying these are a two minute walk from one another but it is something you could do if you're feet are up to it and you'll get to see a lot of other bits on your walk!

That is that! There is obviously loads more to London that you can check out but these are just my favourite spots! I hope you found this useful and enjoyed the post.

Summer Camp: Working at a Day Camp

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 14:30:00 +0000

When I originally applied for Camp America in November 2017 I had this whole vision of what my summer would look like, log cabins, bunk beds, camp fires, big lakes and most definitely working on a residential camp. I'd never really explored the option of working on a different style camp, such as a non-residential, but low and behold that was where I ended up.

Within a week of applying for Camp America I had received an email from a camp in Florida and obviously Florida sounded great. However, the idea of working on a non-residential camp just wasn't what I had planned for my summer. I was debating declining the camp and seeing if I got offered another camp. Then I really considered it, I love working with kids but that isn't to say I like time alone. I love being active but that isn't to say I don't like to chill out. I love the idea of living in a log cabin but that isn't necessarily realistic. So I decided to go ahead and sign up for a non-residential camp and change my whole in vision of my summer.

Whilst I was considering the pros and cons to working on a non-residential camp I tried to do some research but I really couldn't find much information. Camp America seemed to be focused on residential camps and so did all the youtube videos, blog posts and pictures. Obviously I found a couple but I felt there wasn't very many whatsoever. So, hey! Here I am writing a blog post on my experience of working on a non-residential camp in a hope I can help someone out. But word of warning before reading on, please do remember all camps are different and not one person's experience is the same, even those who went to the same camp.

Living Arrangements:

So where you live whilst working at camp is one key difference when it comes to working at a residential and a non residential. When you work at a residential you live at the camp too, all in one location. But working at a non-residential you will most likely live in a different location. For me, I lived in a three bedroom condo, which was around a 15 minutes drive from camp.

Pros: The condo itself was insane, a two minute walk to the beach, it had a pool, we only had to share our room with one other person. The condo had everything we needed, comfy beds, wardrobe space, two nice clean bathrooms, a balcony (our favourite hang out spot), a kitchen (this saved us a lot of money) and just generally it was a chilled out place for us to all come home to, relax and be ourselves.

Cons: There wasn't many cons I have to say to living in a private condo next to the beach (obviously?!) but with anything, there is always something. I would say the main con was keeping the condo clean. It was really hard to keep the condo clean for inspections as when I say clean I mean it had to be absolutely spotless, like an ikea show room spotless. Clean is fine, spotless is tricky when you work such long hours. But, really it isn't that big of a deal, keep it clean and it'll be okay cause let's face it who is living in a condo by the beach? Oh yeah, you.

Work Day:

There is no two ways about it, working at a camp is hard. I don't think this will change if you work at a residential or a non-residential, it is hard hard work, you will be ready to collapse come your day off, it is technically 'slave labour' but hey it's one summer so embrace the blisters, cuts and those bags so big they could hold your weekly food shop.

This one isn't really a pros and cons, it is easier to run through the week schedule and you can make your own call!

7:15am Leave for camp (Remember you have to drive to camp).

7:30am Set up camp (get out equipment, fill up water jugs, paperwork, sign kids in, etc.) and do the bus run.

8:30am Round up, these are so fun! You'll get messy and competitive but the kids love it and you love it. Win win all round really.

9:00am-6:00pm This is hard to summarise, all days are different! You'll do your daily activities, swimming, cooking, science, archery, arcade etc. But mother nature can throw a curveball, it could give you a thunderstorm and your whole day goes down the drain. Overall, your day is crazy, fun, excited and most of all exhausting haha!

6:00pm-Until you're done CLEAN CLEAN and oh yeah CLEAN! Lots and lots of cleaning at camp, my camp was located within a school so everything had to be back like new ready for the next day. This was the hard part you've been at camp 11 hours without a break and you're having to clean shaving cream off the stage, picking up water balloon leftovers from the playground and mopping every inch of camp! But the quicker you finish, the quicker you can go home.

The Extras That Come With a Non-Residential:

Sleepovers:

Sleepovers were one of my favourite parts of camp, it was such a different atmosphere to camp. You went from having 20-25 kids each to having about 40-50 between 7 of you, it was much more relaxed too.

Generally at our sleepovers we started off with PIZZA (who doesn't love pizza right?!), then we'd go on to have free time in the pool, where we could all just have fun. We'd also play games like races, which makes it very easy to be super competitive between the counsellors! After the pool, we'd either play something messy outside (the kids are already in their swim stuff so it's best to get it all done in one go!) or we'd play treasure hunt and then manhunt! After the kids have been completely tired out, as much as kids can be anyhow, we'd all make s'mores and then get tucked up in bed to watch a film.

These were late nights the kids would usually drift off around 1:00-2:00am. These were loooooooooong days, the longest of all camp days. At my particular camp you'd start work at 7:30am on the Friday, you'd be with the kids all day (including lunch and dinner) get a few hours sleep and then the kids would go home at 8:00am on the Saturday. But, that's not your day over. After all the kids have gone you have to clean up from all the fun you had the night before. On these weekends we'd finish work on the Saturday around 2:00-3:00pm.

So yeah, basically we would work 30 hours days but you were all in the same position and helped each other out. You'd be more exhausted than ever but the sleepovers were one of my favourite parts of camp, you'd get to know your sleepover kids on a different level, you'd get to have even more fun with them and you'd feel so proud of them all!

Field Trips:

My other favourite part of camp! I loved, loved, loved field trip days. Yes, they were stressful watching over 25 excitable kids solo was stressful but once you got the hang of it they were so much fun and you could really get involved in the trip. Top Tip: Nail your head count. Once you have head count down the whole process is easier, knowing your kids is key to a successful field trip. By this I also mean knowing their faces but also their personalities, who is the runner of the group, who is the nervous one, who is the excitable one and who is the one who is easily upset. If you can prep mentally for these kids you can avoid, avoidable situations.

Field trips changed weekly we went on such a wide range of field trips such as, a candy store, a trampoline park, the cinema, bowling and a water park (this one was a high stress zone haha). Field trips was something I was most nervous about before camp, it was something I had quite literally zero experience with but you do get thrown in at the deep end and you have to sink or swim, you choose to swim. I grew to love them, I got the hang of them and they become something I looked forward to every week. Put it this way, one week I got sick and wasn't allowed into camp (much to my protest) and I had to skip a field trip and I literally cried because I was so upset I was missing time with my kids on a field trip haha.

Money:

You are going to have more spare time at a non-residential camp but that means you're going to need more money. You're going to have to feed yourself, you're going to want to do things in the evenings and you're going to want to treat yourself for all your hard work. So one thing I would say is try and bring as much money as you can. Everyone's position is different but just try to save if you can. I was in America for roughly four months, I took $2,000 spending money and used my pay for travelling. I found this was enough but if I'd wanted to buy more items I would have definitely needed more money.

So...

I've tried to be as honest as possible in this blog post, I have talked about both the positives and the negatives of a day camp. Camp is hard work, you will be exhausted and some days you'll think 'I just can't do it anymore'. But camp is also a once in a lifetime experience, you will make such amazing memories, get to see so much, make new friends, meet children that will shape you in ways you didn't even expect and you will grow so much as a person. Camp will always hold such a special place to me and the memories I will cherish for life.

It is important you make the right choice for you, do what you believe is right and what you want. But most of all, embrace every moment of your summer and have a blast!

Summer Snaps

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Wed, 24 Oct 2018 06:46:00 +0000

So in my last blog post I spoke briefly about Camp America and my summer but I really wanted to share some pictures with you guys. After all, a picture speaks a thousand words! This summer was fun, crazy and liberating but I think I'll always wish I had more photos (despite having thousands) maybe I should have stuck my GoPro on me 24/7?!

There are a lot of photos in this post some from camp, some from time out of and camp and some from travelling after camp. A mixed bag to say the least! I just felt my last post was very very VERY wordy so here is a much easier read haha. Enjoy!

A Fresh Outlook for This Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 12:55:00 +0000

A lot has changed over the last 10 months and by a lot I really do mean A LOT. 10 months ago I was going into my final semester at university studying Education and Childhood Studies with no clue what the next 10 months would hold for me. Fast forward 10 months and I look back and think, "How did all of this happen in 10 months?"

So let me break it down for you what happened...

January to April: I finished university, hooray! I had been stuck in this university rut for three years and I was truly ready for it to be over, I'm proud I completed it and I look back at it fondly, nevertheless I never want to go back.

During this time I applied to go to Botswana to build a school for blind children. I got through the interview process and the next step was just the payments, I thought it was what I wanted, until it come to me paying something just wasn't sitting right. So I scrapped the idea and instantly applied for Camp America, without really thinking about it. It was almost a joke application, such little thought process went into it. I sat there on my bed and had a 'screw it moment' next thing I know I've submitted my application and booked my interview with a Camp America representative. Cut a long story short I got hired within the week and was spending my summer in America.

May to September: Yep you guessed it, summer camp months! I can honestly say applying for Camp America was the best decision I've ever made, I needed it. I was in a really 'non-moving' place before camp. I'd always wanted to travel but had never really taken the major steps for it and going to camp was a bit like a sprint. I honestly thought I'd drown at camp in some deep, dark hole but I was wrong and I thrived.

Camp taught me more than I'd ever expected, I did not expect it to have such a big impact on me, do not get me wrong it was not all sunshine and rainbows (but mostly it was) and there were crappy times but as a whole it truly is amazing. Even the bad swings to a positive because you learn a hell of a lot from it. There is way too much for me to say about camp but in short here are the things I took away from it:

The Kids: Ohhhh the kids will inspire you every day, that is not to say there aren't days where everything goes wrong and you have 7 incident reports by 12:00pm, a child throwing up, your science experiment has gone horrifically wrong, there's water everywhere, another kid has had a fight with a kid in your group, your kids aren't listening to you for love of money and you question is this really the summer you signed up for?

You have to learn at camp to really focus on the good, the little things and the big things. The kid that challenges everyone and everything starts to listen you and you build a type of friendship that you will treasure for life. The kid with stuff going on at home starts to open up to you. The letters and little gifts (by gifts I mean an odd stone they found) to those kids they're giving you treasure. The kid that is on the spectrum pays you a compliment. I became really attached to my kids and they taught me so much about life, kids and myself.

The Friends: You build all types of friendships at camp, some will stay and some will dwindle. You will become a family that is so unbreakable, you smile, you laugh, you cry, you scream and you all love together. You won't get on with everyone but that is okay that is life. It's another little challenge that teaches you how resilient you really are. The friends you make all have different outlooks and it makes you have multiple outlooks. I made some friends for life at camp and even though some live a 100 miles away and others thousands of miles away they all end up meaning the world to you.

Independence: I think this is something I thank camp for, I was not the most independent person before I went to camp. I thought I was but I now know I most definitely was not. Camp taught me how to deal with things by myself, I had stuff happen at home that I had to deal with without the support of my family, I had things happen at camp where everyone was busy and you just had to manage. It really does teach you a lot about yourself and it does throw you in the deep end. You'll grow more as a person that summer than you'll ever know.

September to Present: So I landed back home on the 1st of September and started my teacher training on the 3rd, yep a hell of a quick turn around!

Coming back home hit me like a ton of bricks, I didn't realise just how much I'd miss my friends, camp and St Augustine. It's a funny feeling, feeling home sick in your own home. It took some time to adjust especially as I haven't had a chance to actually chill and settle, I got chucked straight into a year six class.

Over one month in and I'm really starting to settle back down, I'm not loving it, it is cold, it rains a lot and I have enough work to fill a house with but working with kids is the one thing I really do love.

Training in year six is such a crazy experience, one moment you're teaching children the next you're teaching teenagers, truly mind blowing! I'm feeling more confident as time goes on. The kids are amazing and as always you can learn so much from every single child.

Future: So over the last 10 months a lot has happened and sometimes I don't actually recognise myself. I have had so many life changes, family changes, work changes and personal changes that it is hard to keep up. But I do feel like I know what I want now.

I've never wanted to stay in England, it's never really been an option for me but I'm also not ready to settle, I know as the moment stands I want my end destination to be St Augustine, Florida, but I'm not ready quite yet.

I want to complete my teacher training and my newly qualified year. I love teaching and it is something I will always come back to... just not quite yet.

After those two years I want to work with kids across the world, I want to explore, I want to grow and I want to be free.

So that's been my last 10 months, this blog is not going to be a regular thing, I don't want to force things onto it for the sake of their being a blog post I just want some form of space I can talk on!

I am going to do a blog post (or a few) on camp and travels!

New Year Resolutions - 2018

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 16:01:00 +0000

Okay, so I'm currently sat in bed with a cold and a mega sore back (maybe I'm officially a grandma?), which is not the best of endings to 2017 but it has given me a lot of time to reflect on the past year. As a result, I'm popping it all in a blog post for you all to read through.

So let's start with 2017, it was not the best of years for me in more ways than one. It was a very mediocre year as it is, let alone with the big pile of crappy stuff being dumped on top of it, by know means was it as bad as some but for me I felt very lost, deflated and just a bit crappy. I've never been one to shy away from a challenge or wrap myself in cotton wall but this year I feel like I have kind of just cocooned within myself a bit too much.

The year started off with me being in a job that was constantly putting me into a negative headspace and my boss (whom was also the only other member of staff) was very emotionally dependant and for a 20 year old girl it was not exactly what I'd signed up for to say the least. I went on to leave that job and started work at my current job, which I absolutely love and I am going to be gutted to be leaving in May cos it's bloody awesome. I then went on to have my teacher training interviews, which left me wanting to pull my hair out and everything ended up taking a major backseat whilst I focused on those. FYI, I successfully landed a place and I can not wait to start. But as I said, I put everything else on the backseat. This was a very silly idea as I soon come to the realisation that I was very behind on my uni work and this led to me once again having a freak out. Along with all the work and uni stress, I've also had a lot of heartbreak in terms of my family, a lot of crap has come to the surface, which has left me questioning a lot of things, in truth everything I thought I knew. So concluding on 2017, it hasn't been my finest of years in terms of headspace and I know I've disconnected myself rather a lot. But I have had some amazing things come from this year, memories made with my closet family, memories with my friends, Amsterdam with Danisha, being placed for camp, the confirmation that my career is the correct career and discovering new things about myself.

So moving on to 2018 I know what I want to achieve and I'm feeling stronger, more determined and ready than ever.

1. Fitness and Healthy Living.

This has really played a big part in my life over the last two years but moving into 2018 I really want to dedicate myself more to my health. I want to go to the gym at 6:30am four times a week, run twice a week and meditate every day. I want to truly appreciate my body, perform to the best of my ability and become even stronger than I am now. I also want to focus on my diet, this has always been the area I struggle more with, I want to stay focused and reduce my 'treats' to the bare minimum.

2. Friends and Family.

I want to spend more time with my friends and family, I truly want to appreciate what I have and stop spending so much time on my own. I enjoy my own company, which is considered a strength but only to an extent.

3. Social-Media.

I have noticed recently how disconnected me and the people around me have become, we go out for a coffee and we check our phones simply just to scroll through facebook. It's pointless and can wait, the entertainment you have physically in front of you is much better. I am also going to make a conscious effort that even if I'm not socialising with others, I will instead of aimlessly scrolling through social media I want to pick up a book or appreciate my surroundings more.

4. Learn More.

In 2018 I want to learn more than ever, through books, through documentaries, through travel and through others around me. I don't know enough about the world, which is so interesting I'm determined to learn more than ever in this upcoming year.

5. Be Kind.

I want to celebrate others successes a lot more and appreciate others, it's hard to admit but sometimes, like any other human, I get jealous and as a result may not truly share the happiness. I want to change that.

6. Be More Ethical and Eco.

Simple, appreciate the planet I live in even more than I already do.

Okay so they're my goals for this upcoming year. 2018 is going to present a lot of change in both the ideas of my goals but also in the fact that a lot is changing. I graduate from uni, I leave my job, I spend the whole summer in America and I begin teacher training. I'm so excited for this upcoming year and I hope you'll follow my journey!

Camp America: What to Expect During The Interview?

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 09:04:00 +0000

So you've decided to take part in Camp America, you've completed your application (which is very straight forward and is just discussing your skills so do not be put off by the initial application process!) and now you have been invited to the interview, hooray! But what do you need to expect from your interview and how can you prepare? Well I recently had my Camp America interview so I thought I'd share my experiences and help you if you are preparing for your interview!

Okay so before you even attend your interview you probably have a worry, your outfit, "what should I wear?" and "Is it smart or is it formal?" Well I know this was something I was really worrying about and I struggled to find an exact answer anywhere. But remember this is a job interview essentially, would you attend a job interview in jeans and a hoodie, well I know I definitely wouldn't and this is how I decided what to wear. Although, I had found a few people individuals saying it was really casual I didn't want to risk it so I chose formal-ish and went for black skinny jeans, a grey blouse and some black boots. I think it is better to go formal than to go casual and be worried you're under dressed!

Next up, it's actually time for your interview, make sure you turn up around 5 minutes early but not to early otherwise you could be interrupting another interview or something! Also you need to remember that where your interviews are held is often at the interviewers house so be polite, offer to take your shoes off and just be courteous.

The interview itself is very relaxed and you will come out wondering why you were so nervous but you do still need to be prepared. To start off with your interviewer will discuss the skills you have put on your application and ask about your interests, it would be helpful to have a quick read over your application just so you can remember exactly what you put. EXAMPLES, EXAMPLES and EXAMPLES, always have good examples of where you have applied your skills to show that they are actually skills you do have.

Right, now it gets to your experience with children and how this is going to help you with camp, you are going to discuss any relevant experience whether this be working in a school or babysitting your niece or nephew, anything is useful experience as camp has such a wide range of scenarios that any experience will be relevant at some point.

Additionally, you will be asked scenario questions - I expect that not all interviewers ask the exact same questions but along the same lines. My questions were all camp scenarios such as, what would you do if a child is upset? How would you deal with conflict between camp counsellors? Questions like this are what I considered the 'final decider' but remember they do not expect you to be perfect as you will have camp orientation and until then you will not know your camps rules and regulations, so as a result you just need to answer these questions the best you can and what you personally believe would be the correct avenue to success.

Now the interview is over, you will find out within a couple of days if you were successful and then the process really begins! My personal interview took around 2 hours, but please take this blog post as my experience and a guide, not all interviews will be the same. Just remember the main purpose of this interview is to get a feel for you as a person and to ensure you are bubbly, friendly and suitable for a camp!

Finally, GOOD LUCK!

Top Five Things to do in Amsterdam

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 14:15:00 +0000

Me and my best friend recently took a trip to Amsterdam for my 21st birthday and it was the most amazing week full of food, exploring and lots of walking, trust me a lot of walking will happen, my feet were throbbing! We only had three full days in Amsterdam so we knew we wanted to fit as much as we possibly could in the smallest amount of time possible but we struggled to dwindle down what was the best things for us to do so I thought i'd make a blog post for anyone else who may want an idea and what they can afford to give a miss and what they should definitely check out!

1. A'dam Lookout

On arrival we were handed a mp of the city, so we trekked our suitcases up to our room and had a look at what the hotel suggested. One thing that really stood out to me was the 'A'dam Lookout' which is essentially a very tall building where you can see the whole city from but this was not what stood out to me, what stood out to me was what was on top of the building and that was the 100 metre high swing that sat on the top of the building. I wouldn't say it was the biggest adrenaline rush but it was still very high and you are swinging over the top of the building but the view was insane! This is probably a miss for people with a fear of heights but if you're okay with heights you will not want to miss this. In total it cost about €20 too so it was a great way to see Amsterdam from a birds point of view without having to pay a bomb!

2. Chips, all the chips

These chips are honestly something you can not miss, the line may look half a mile long but it moves super quick and is sooo fast and anyway these chips are worth the wait, i'm still dreaming of them. They're from 'Manneken Pis Amsterdam' and are situated down the same street as the sex museum etc.

3. Hire a bike

Anyone that has any knowledge on the Dutch knows that they bike EVERYWHERE and this is not an exaggeration there are probably more bikes than people. We hired a bike and other than the fact I fell off once because those bikes don't really have much suspension apparently and can't go over bumps very well apparently, oh and I did nearly get run over by a tram. However, lets ignore all of that and focus on the positives we got to see so much of the city in such little time and allowed us to save our poor feet from walking any further.

4. Waffles Waffles and Waffles

Just a small one here but make sure you try the wide range of waffles because they taste soooo good and I'm now sat here drooling.

5. The Red Light District and The Sex Museum

Okay technically this is two things but they are very similar so we can pop them into one thing, The Sex Museum is €5 and is pure crap but it will definitely make you chuckle and it is rather eye opening to say the least. The Red Light District is almost one of Amsterdams 'national treasures' and you will see nothing quite like it but I think it's something you should go and visit. If you want a more PG view of The Red Light District then definitely go during the day but I would suggest the night if you want to get more of the real vibe and I wouldn't say I felt intimidated during the night by any means as I'd say 90% of the people there were tourists too.

Where Have I Been?

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 13:24:00 +0000

Once again I had a blogging mishap and possibly neglected my blog for a considerable amount of time, lets just be grateful blogs don't need food and drink because I highly doubt my blog would have survived.

Blogging is something I seem to drift in and out of, I really enjoy blogging and sharing my interests with others but sometimes I just struggle to find the time and eventually it all just seems to collapse around me and I forget the whole thing!

This being said I really want to pick blogging up again but from a new perspective, my interest for beauty seems to have died out, I'm not sure if I've almost grown out of it and it was a stage for me or I just have other areas of focus now?

I've really got into fitness, which steamed from wanting to lose weight as I'd gained A LOT of weight since the start of university let me tell you eating as a method of procrastination did not do me any favours.

I'm also wanting to write on my blog about travel, travel is not a new love by any means, I doubt there is many people that don't enjoy travelling but this summer I'm going to camp in America (AHHH! I know I'm so bloody excited) so I really want to document my journey as I know there are going to be many highs but I'm sure there are going to be lows but no matter what I want to share my experience for myself and also for others!

So expect some more content from me (hopefully)!

The Healthy Way to Have Cheese on Toast...ish

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Sun, 22 Jan 2017 13:40:00 +0000

Who doesn't love cheese on toast? It's one of those comfort foods that just hits the spot. But there is a downside... it's not the healthiest of foods and with the new year and the whole fitness thing blowing up why not try to enjoy the best foods with just a few healthier changes?

To help curb my cravings for cheese on toast I swapped the toast for some 'Ryvita' I went for the sesame flavour which was pretty good!

People mostly think 'Ryvita' is like cardboard and I am right behind you on that one but toast is crunchy... Ryvita is crunchy so how different can they really be?!

Just bake them just like you normally would with toast with a little bit of cheese on, the less cheese the healthier it will be and I added some pesto on top for some extra flavour, which went down a treat!

These could not be simpler or yummier to make, so if you make these bad boys please let me know in the comments!

THE EVERYDAY MAKEUP POST

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 18:38:00 +0000

This post is a bit of a classic post but I thought it might be helpful for anyone who is looking for some everyday makeup. I try to keep my makeup pretty simple for everyday as I do like the more natural look, I just think it suits me much better than heavier makeup. I like going full out on special occasions or nights out! So this is my everyday makeup:

THE BASE:

Bare Minerals - Prime Time - I start off with a primer using Bare Minerals just to help sooth my complexion and as I use a powder foundation this helps to stop it from going cakey, which no one wants.

Bare Minerals - Original Foundation in Fairly Light - I use this foundation as it is a mineralised foundation which is much better for your skin especially when you suffer from acne. I would not say I suffer from acne but I do have spots and this has helped my skin but it doesn't work miracles. (Sometimes I will apply high beam from Benefit on the high points of my face but it depends how lazy I am feeling)

Anastasia Beverly Hills - Contour Kit - I do not go full out every day with this but I like to bring a little bit of life to my face by bronzing it up. (I still look pale af)

Benefit - Rockateur Blush - Just adding that pop to my cheeks

Vichy - DermaBlend Setting Powder - I've only recently just started using this and I can not tell if this is what is drying my skin out.

THE BROWS:

MAC - Fluidline Brow in Dirty Blonde - I originally got this because I ran out of my Anastasia Beverly Hills Dippomade and I hadn't purchased it in time before I ran out so I decided to go for this. I am really impressed with this and 100% a great dupe for your brows.

THE EYES:

MAC - Paint Pot in Utterly Becoming - This is just a great base for eyeshadow and just adds a tiny bit of colour to the lid.

TARTE - Tartlette Palette - LOVE LOVE LOVE, if you don't already you NEED this!

NO7 - Liquid Eyeliner in Black - This is my favourite eyeliner, it is so affordable, easy to use and lasts for ages!

TOO FACED - Better Than Sex Mascara Waterproof - This girls eyes water and she needs that waterproof mascara! Love this mascara but definitely not desecrate your lashes will pop!

THE TRAINER COLLECTION

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 14:47:00 +0000

I'm a sucker for comfort always have been and I always will be, I envy those girls who walk round in heels and dainty dresses but I just can not hack it for the life of me. Okay okay it does not help I can barley walk in trainers let alone heels because I'm so bloody accident prone but thats beside the point - comfort is best!
If you're out on the market for your next pair of trainers then this may be the post for you, here are my favourite trainers I own. I wont deny it I could easily consider myself a trainer fanatic and have probably about 30 pairs of trainers laying around but some are hideous, too small, broken or just too uncomfy to wear. So here is just a snippet of the trainers I own!

FROM TOP LEFT TO BOTTOM RIGHT:

ADIDAS Originals Superstars in black and white - RRP £74.95

CONVERSE All Star Low in black and white - RRP £44.99

ADIDAS Originals Gazelles in black and white - RRP £74.95

Nike Free Run 2 - I can not seem to find a link for these anywhere sorry guys!

VANS Classic Slip On in black and white - RRP £47.00 (these are the easiest shoes, EVER!)

Nike SB Satire Trainers - RRP £50.00

CONVERSE All Stair Low in White - RRP £44.99

Nike Flex Sole 2014 Run - I grabbed these from a Nike outlet for about £20.00 and they are amazing trainers!! So if you come across them you should grab them!

Okay thats a wrap, I hope you enjoyed this post! Any trainers you'd recommend please leave them down below!

THE ROOM TOUR

noreply@blogger.com (Jessalyn Amie) — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 14:22:00 +0000

I'm a sucker for room tours that noisy bit of me just loves to have a look at what other peoples rooms look like and the decor they have, so I thought why the hell not do my own room tour?

THE ROOM: My room itself has all dark wood furniture with all white walls. The main colour theme is Black, White and Silver but there is the odd bit of colour elsewhere in the room. I love to keep my room simple and clean looking I have no clue why but by doing this I feel organised I can not stand stuff just everywhere.

FAUX PLANT AND PLANT POT - IKEA

BUDDAH - A tiny little stall - sorry!

IMAC - Apple

DESK - IKEA

BOOKCASE - IKEA
TAPPESTRY - Market in Mallorca

POLAROIDS - Fujifilm instax mini

CAP - Urban Outfitters

HEADPHONES - Urban Ears

BAG - River Island (I know you can hardly see it but oh well)

COPPER TUB THINGY - Home Bargains

BUDDAH - The same little market as before

MIRROR - HOMEBASE

FAIRY LIGHTS - HOMEBASE again, but they were a christmas special so I'm not sure if they still have them!

BOWEL - Crete market

CHUNKY SILVER BRACELET - Thai Land

WATCH - Rotary (mens)

RINGS - All Pandora

LAMP - IKEA

LAMP AND BULB - ASDA
GLASS BOX - Sainsbury's