30 Day Challenge - 29. A picture of yourself AND 30. What has changed this month and what you hope will happen next month.

That picture is me at graduation!  I get to do it twice because I'm special!  (Also because I did a foundation degree then a top up... Technicalities.)  Anyways there I am in all my glory and silly hatness.  I've honestly never felt so ridiculous, those robes have so much fabric in them, they kept slipping off and I felt like I was walking round with a table on my head.  It was all good fun though!

And now on to the last point!  Which I can't really do seeing as this has taken me 3 months to finish instead of 30 days....  I'll just go with what has changed whilst I've been doing this challenge.

So the first thing that changed was I became a 3rd year and decided what I'm going to focus on this year!!  Go me!!!  I also graduated (see picture above!).  However I have felt a little less confident in myself recently.  That tends to happen when 2 of your tutors practically accuse you of bullying just because one of your close friends isn't doing exactly what they want her to.  Oh well I'm sure I'll be back to myself in no time!

Ok now what I hope will happen next month.  Well firstly I hope that the 2 shows I have go well!  Secondly I hope we get snow on Christmas and that I have a lovely time with all my family.

That's it for this challenge!  I'm going to start another one on Monday, and hopefully finish it properly this time.

If you'd like to find out more about the 30 Day Challenge then click here!

30 Day Challenge - 28. The month you were happiest this year and why.

Right so seeing as this challenge has dragged on for way longer than 30 days (because I suck, sorry!) I'm just going to get these last 3 posts out of the way tonight so I can move on to something new!

So I'd have to say the month I was happiest this year was probably August.  My 21st birthday was at the beginning of the month and my wonderful boyfriend took me out for an awesome day in Keswick.  We went horse riding in the morning and then spent the rest of the day wandering around Keswick.  We also took a lovely boat ride on Ullswater!  (See video montage below! The song used is Queen of the Surface Streets by DeVotchKa)

I was also able to spend some time with my Granny in August.  I'd not seen her for months so it was really lovely, especially as it was her 80th!

August was also the month when I had my Harry Potter week, always a good thing!  If you want to read more about it then I suggest you read this post.

If you'd like to find out more about the 30 Day Challenge then click here!

30 Day Challenge - 27. Talk about your siblings.

Erm... I have none.  I'm an only child!  I can't really say much else so I'll just move on.

So it's around a month until Christmas now so I thought I'd start getting in the spirit by making my layout a little more festive!  Hope you like it!

If you fancy getting in the Christmas mood then check out my gingerbread biscuit recipe I posted last year.  It's the yummiest gingerbread I've ever eaten!  This year I'm planning on posting a last minute Christmas cake recipe.  I made it for my bf's parents last year and they loved it so I hope you do too!

If you want to find out more about the 30 Day Challenge then click here!

Giveaway at Island Girl Insights

My friend Rachael is having a giveaway over at Island Girl Insights!

Enter the giveaway and you get the chance to win a Vaseline Lips tin (including Original, Rosy Lips, Cocoa Butter and Aloe Vera), two pairs of snuggly winter socks, all 5 Models Own Beetlejuice Polishes, a MAC Lipstick of your choice AND some chocolates!  What more could you want from a giveaway?!

Head over to her post and enter the contest by clicking here!  Good luck!

30 Day Challenge - 26. Your religious beliefs.

Ok so this isn't really the 30 day challenge any more seeing as I started this in September and it's now November...  Sorry!!  But I will persevere til the end!

I've been putting off writing this one for a bit because religion is always a tricky subject.  I've never been particularly religious myself but I do love going to churches, cathedrals and places of worship like that I always find fascinating.

As for the practise of religion itself, I'm not so sure about that.  I don't have anything against the basis of the religions themselves, but there's always that one extremist view.  I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable believing in something that someone else has interpreted in a way which could hurt other people.

For now I'm just content dipping into religion occasionally and being more of an observer.  Although I can't deny that I do love the carol concerts at the cathedral at Christmas time.  It's not Christmas without a good sing song!

All pictures were taken at Carlisle Cathedral.  If you're ever in the city you should take a look inside, it's beautiful!

If you want to find out more about the 30 Day Challenge then click here!