I love new years, new beginnings. But at the same time I believe that if you want to make changes you can do them at any point in the year.
This year has been another big one for me, I think I will be saying that for the next few years as I have been for the past few as well! University is such a big change and life just doesn't stop, there is always something going on, always something to do. I have also done plenty with family and friends whenever I get the opportunity.
When I think back on 2013 I have some great memories; I went on a short family break to a lovely house up on Hadrian's Wall, I went to Wembley twice to see my football team play, I passed my first year of medical school and met some amazing people along the way, I went to Parklife with one of my best friends and had the most relaxed weekend ever, I attended a trial shoot to model for Asos and, although I haven't been back since, it was great experience,  I went on two amazing family holidays to the Outer Hebrides and Copenhagen, I volunteered at Leeds festival with my two best friends, I saw Vampire Weekend and The Fratellis live in Manchester and to top it all off I spent a wonderful Christmas and new year with all of my family.

Looking down Hadrian's Wall

My dad and I at Wembley (round 2!)

Sunny Parklife

Driving up to the Outer Hebrides

One of my mums snaps when I got back from the Asos shoot

My beautiful mum and I at christmas 

The traditional Christmas day walk!

I set myself 13 goals for 2013 this time last year and although I haven't 'completed' them all I feel very happy. Goals were just that, goals, and not something that I wanted to force myself to do over the year. Also things change as the year goes on and I actually decided that I didn't want to complete all of them. For instance for now I am happy just with the tattoo I have got and don't want to add any more just yet. Also, as much as I would have loved to have continued blogging all the way through the year I got so busy around exam time that it just wasn't possible. But this did allow me to complete my other goals of passing my first year, making time to see my family and keeping in touch with friends.
What I do wish I had had the opportunity to do is travel more. I definitely didn't manage to visit 20 new places and didn't road trip around the UK. However this year will be different! I have dates in my diary in summer for an interrail round Europe with my two best friends which I am so excited for. It would be great if anyone has been before to link me to posts or give me a few tips!

I have many more times to look forward to in 2014 but think I will write another blog post about what I want to achieve, although it is going to be a little different to last years post.

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The Fratellis

These guys have been one of my favourite bands for as long as I can remember. I was 12 when they released their first album and my dad used to listen to it. A lot of my early music taste was influenced by my dad! Except maybe Maroon 5… not sure he listened to them.
Since then The Fratellis have released two new albums with a very big gap in the middle. But during their hiatus I had Costello Music and Here We Stand on my ipod and learnt the words to pretty much all their songs. So when my housemate asked if I wanted to go see them because they were playing at manchester academy you couldn't have paid me to stay at home!

Sorry for the not so great quality phone photos!

They played about 50% from the new album and the other half were old classics. I did wish that they played a few more off the first two albums, I hadn't had a chance to properly listen to We Need Medicine yet, but it was still a fantastic set. They mixed it all up a bit and didn't play then exactly like on the albums but it just added to the charm! I loved that they came back on at the end to finish with Chelsea Dagger (surely everyone has heard this song!?) followed by A Heady Tale.
Last month I also saw Vampire Weekend supported by Noah and the Whale who were both pretty awesome. I absolutely love going to see live music, nothing can beat that feeling when you're in the middle of a crowd singing along with the lyrics of your favourite song.
What has the best gig or concert you have ever been too? Mine has to be Coldplay. I mean I have been to some amazing smaller gigs to watch some of my favourite bands play but watching Chris Martin and the rest of the band play on the stage at Etihad, with the whole crowd wearing flashing wrists bands, as the sky got dark, with my mum was pretty perfect I have to admit.

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My Life In Photos #3

1. Why are there christmas things in supermarkets already?!

2. A beautiful 7am sky

3. Listening to the football and eating chocolate

4. Fancy meal my housemate cooked us

5. Impromptu shoe shopping

6. Never too old for crayons at pizza hut

7. My latest nail art

8. Summed me up one evening

9. Sneak peek of a future post

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A Gift, This Park

Yesterday was a really beautiful autumn day. It wasn't too chilly, there were only a few clouds on a blue sky and the sun was shining. I might have had a mountain of work to do but it would have been a shame to stay inside all day! So I took a little wander through the park which is a minute from my house.

I went with the intention of finding conkers to fill up an empty jar. I thought it would make a unique little decoration. But either the squirrels or other children beat me too it (pesky kids!). So instead I just have these pretty pictures.

 Love all the colours of the different leaves at this time of year. Would love to try this idea that I found on pinterest!

 What a cool way to get around!

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My Life in Photos #2

1. Unconventional salad

2. Blackberry picking back home

3. Pancakes made by my housemates. Best hangover cure!

4. Our fancy dress for Pangea - Circle of Life

5. Primark snood

6. Chilled music to work to

7. A colourful stir fry for tea

8. My girls and me

9. I joined the university cycling club

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My Own Space

I moved back to uni about 2 weeks ago to start my second year. I still can't believe that I am already in 2nd year, feels two minutes since I moved into halls as a fresher!
This year I am living in a house with 4 of my friends from first year. We have spent most of our first weeks going out, sleeping of hangovers, eating and being mentors to freshers. I love being in a house now though and having a shared space and a big kitchen. Even if it does mean we have to take out our own bins and hoover the floors!
I have definitely made my room into my own little space. Having a double bed again is heaven and I am starfishing to the max. I am also slowly building a hoard of cushions to adorn my bed with. The only thing thats missing is some cute bunting or fairy lights to go round my walls.

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My Life In Photos #1

1. On the way to watch my local football team, Bradford City!

2. Finally found this screensaver for my mac.

3. My mums pasta bake.

4. Cricket club outing to the pub.

5. Moved into my new house in Manchester.

6. Cooked a green veg risotto for my housemates.

7. Pineapple and wine with my best friend.

8 + 9. Our first night out of 2nd year.

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Copenhagen

The last big part of my holiday was a family city break to Copenhagen. Denmark is a country I had never been to before, so thats another ticked off my list! It really is such a beautiful city with great architecture. We spent our time visiting museums, taking boats tours, wandering through parks, shopping, eating out and at Tivoli gardens.

We had a great apartment near to the city centre, although 5 flights of stairs is a heck of a long way up! There was a lovely little cafe across the street where we ate breakfast and had afternoon drinks. The Danish do have quite a strange combination of foods for breakfast though; bread, cheese, jam, museli, yoghurt, egg and juice. The houses along the canals were like something off a postcard and it was made even more pretty because of the sunny weather we had.

We climbed to the top of this tower, which had a spiral staircase around the outside of the building! It gave some great views over the city. You could also see Sweden and the huge bridge that lead across to it.

My beautiful sister and brother.

I was rather excited when I realised that there was a Monki store (there were actually 2 in the city centre!) in Copenhagen. I absolutely love the brand and often shop in the online store but find myself put off with having to pay postage because I am never sure if it will fit me properly or look right on me. So I tried on so many things and came away with a few items. Think I might do a little post on those too.

One of the stranger experiences whilst there was visiting Christiania. This is a really unique neighbourhood with its own way of living. It started off as a military area and then people began to squat there. Fairly recently the government has allowed people to begin to buy and rent the properties. It was certainly very interesting but I'm not sure I would like to walk down Pusher Street again where people were freely selling drugs..

This sign did make me laugh though.

A final thing I loved about this city was the number of people that rode bikes! The whole place is designed to make it easier to get around by bike which I think is such a great incentive and something that needs to be done in more UK cities.
Being able to travel to places like this only makes me want to visit even more European cities. Next on the list are Venice, Berlin and Rome.

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Lilygreen and Maguire

I dont know how many of you will have heard of these guys, but if you havent you should definitely have a listen! I heard them on youtube about a year ago playing Come On Get Higher. But i actually fell i love with their cover of Jessie J's Domino! Since then they have released several more songs, have toured with Olly Murs and Westlife and have a new album coming out in about a month.
They have also done a couple of busking tours (= hours of endless youtube watching) and came to manchester today, so i popped along.

Cant say tescos makes the most beautiful backdrop..

Attractive faces ;)

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A snow day

Thought i would spam you with a few photos of the snow round where i live, i know you probably havent seen enough already.. :D

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6 happy things from this week #1

This week i also got my nose pierced, got a new phone and got instgram (alicelilymh).

- The SNOW! People can moan as much as they like on twitter but i love it when it snows. Especially since we only get it once or twice a year.

- Finishing my exams for semester one. A big relief getting them out the way even if they didnt go amazingly well.

- Treated myself to a bit of retail therapy (post to come).

- Had a really funny conversation with my mum and dad. Oh he does make me laugh!

Mum: think i am going to buy this top in the colour 'mole' too, i really like the blue one i have.

Me: thats nice, reminds me quite a bit of a taupe colour :)

Dad: now youre just making colours up!

(Returning 5 mins later) Dad: that skirt is lovely, would be nicer in the colour 'otter'...

Does not translate as well when it is typed out, was a 'had to be there moment' clearly.

- Went ice skating and to pizza hut with my boyfriend. Have not been ice skating in sooo long and i managed to not fall over, achievement.

- Watched Les Mis. Enough said.

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Looking Back On 2012

I havent posted for quite a while, because i am busy revising and will be for the next few weeks until my exams are over. But i really wanted to write something down because its that time again where a lot of reflecting goes on. So i have two posts coming up (thought it might be too much to put inot one post!). I know it can all get a bit cliche, but my blog is a space that i know i will look back on so love to record things like this.

2012 went by in a flash for me! So many things have changed this year and its had its ups and its downs. I had a few things i hoped to complete and i did most of them, which makes it feel like i have achieved something. There are also things which are just really happy memories from this year.

I passed my driving test early on in January which was something i really wanted to do first time.

I bought my macbook which i had been saving up for - post here.

Went to northumberland for a few days break with the family - post here.

Started reading more books, especially since i got my kindle for christmas, and loved the Hunger Games this year - post here.

Started to really get into nail art and buy lots more nail polishes.

Went down to london with my ex boyfriend, and attended my first bloggers event - post here

Went to watch Coldplay at the Etihad stadium with my mum!

Went on a great family holiday in Portugal, where i turned 18 - post here.

I got the grades i needed at a-level to get into university!

So i have moved away from home and gone to uni where i have met some amazing people and started on my medicine course.

Had loads of great nights out alongside the handwork! (this one was geek night haha)

Went to radio 1xtra with my sister in manchester, saw rita ora for the second times!

Had a great christmas and new year back home with all my family :)

This has turned into quite a long post! I have had a year unlike any other and feel more grown up now than i ever have, although I'm sure i still have a long way to go. Ive got one more post on some of the things i hope to do and achieve in 2013 coming up :)

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