missssippi stories

make sure you catch up with what I've been doing in America over on my other blog. I just thought Id let you know I have been posting regularly on there in case you didn't know!

Sneak peak below

I'm leaving!!

Tomorrow I am moving in to this haven in Oxford, MS to start my term abroad.

As nervous as I am (see here), I'd like to think I'm just about ready for this next step. I hope to write a lot on my other blog so make sure you click here to see my latest post about setting off and read my future ramblings as and when things happen. 

As I will be living in America, this also gives me unlimited access to American products so please please please recommend me things to pick up and try out to feature on here as well but I will be predominantly using http://eminthestates.blogspot.co.uk to share my adventures just so you know.

I'll see you in Mississippi, you know what I mean!

Hotty Toddy!!

Em x

M.I.A

yeah, so i've not been around for a while but I'll catch you up.

I went back to uni after easter having been on a brilliant Mediterranean cruise and was thrown straight back into the reality of lectures, revision and exams.

I sat my exams, meanwhile discovering that I now suffer with anxiety and panic attacks, but managed to just secure myself a grade average of a 2:1 which I am so pleased and surprised by!

In the midst of revision, I went to see One Direction at Wembley Stadium. An amazing night but I really struggled with my anxiety to put myself in such a huge crowd of people I don't know.

So yeah, I've mainly been learning to deal with having anxiety and passing my first year at uni.

I've been home from uni for just over two weeks now and I am really missing my uni life but in less than 4 weeks I fly to Tennessee to start my study abroad semester at the University of Mississippi which I am so excited about!

I started another blog where I will post all about my time there if you want to keep up with that you can check it out here.

Hope you've all been okay and are all about to go on lots of nice holidays all over the world. If you end up posting about your travels I'd love to read about them so tweet me @emilaaarblog or send me a comment.

speak to you soon, promise 

Em x

life as a fresher

So I've been at uni for 5 weeks today, hence the lack of blogposts.

I'm at the University of Reading studying English Lit for anyone that doesn't know (hehe reading at Reading) and I'm loving it so so so much I can't even put into words how happy I am here.

 

We had freshers fortnight when I first arrived so I got to meet everyone really quickly and experience some of the best nights out, it was honestly my favourite two weeks ever! It's amazing how well I've settled in and how many people I've met who I instantly get on with. I've not been homesick at all which has completely surprised me, and I just want to stay at this point in my life forever at the minute.

 

Obviously work wise I have a lot to do, multiple essays every week and background reading and catching up even though I haven't missed anything but I feel like I have the balance between work and socialising.

 

I'm staying in halls and it's set out like a long corridor rather than flats so there are always people around and you're never really on your own and everyone is just so nice.

 

Here are some pictures from freshers and to anyone who is in the process of applying to uni or thinking about, definitely do it! My experience with applying to uni was the most stressful thing, I almost wasn't go to go this year and give myself a gap year to get my thoughts together but I could not be more happy with my decision to come here!

 

And to anyone who is already at uni, I hope you're having the best time too!

 

 

If you have any questions or you'd like me to do more posts on my uni experience let me know.

Hope you're all fabulous

 

Em x

My Memory Jar

This is completely different to what I normally post but you know I like to switch it up a bit!

 

At the start of the new year, I vowed to myself that I would make a note of everything good that happens to me throughout the year so I can look back on it at the end of the year and smile at all the memories I've made in only one year.

I saw this idea on tumblr probably like 2 years ago but it just stuck with me (along with the newspaper nail art that I still haven't got round to trying).

 

Basically I just found an empty jar (or if you can't find one, I used my favourite mug for a while) and every time I've had a nice day or something good has happened to me or I just feel good, I write down the date on a post-it note or piece of paper along with what made my day, fold it up and stick it in the jar.

I've found this to be a particularly good year to do this as I have had a very rocky time, especially throughout January and the start of the year, but now I get to look back and not focus on those difficult times and only the positive things that have happened. It's good to recall important events too, such as the date I found out I was officially going to uni after so much drama about that, and just whenever I've made an effort to go out with friends and we've ended up having the biggest laugh!

 

Just thought I'd share this idea with you in case any of you want to do it as well. Even though it's not new year, it's a fresh start for me starting uni in just over a week and you can decide to change your outlook whenever you want to.

 

Hope you liked this slightly different post, I'd love to know what kind of things you do to stay positive/be sentimental.

 

Em x

Florida Update #3

This is way too long overdue, but I never finished the "what I've been up to in Florida" posts, missing out on the highlight of my whole holiday! Since the boys went to the Kennedy Space Centre, we went to Blizzard Beach- a melted ski resort water park with some huge slides although no photos to show for it since we didn't want damaged cameras, should have got a GoPro! Then after that, we hit Universal Studios for a second time- see that huge roller coaster in the background? We went on it!!! So cool, although it videos your reactions as you're on it, I don't pull pretty faces let's just say that!

Also, in Universal Studios is Springfield! We took full advantage of this and headed to Moe's where we met Barney with Chief Wiggan waiting outside with a donut to sort out any mischief!

 

After Universal, we went to the Hard Rock Cafe to eat, the largest one in the world! It was so nice and such a cool place to chill in, yes that is a Mustang hanging from the ceiling!

 The next day was Discovery Cove- my favourite day of the whole holiday! We donned our wetsuits and snorkels ready for a day of swimming with tropical fish, rays and dolphins!!

 Just chasing some rays!

 Later that day, I married a dolphin called Marian, we had a whirlwind romance and it topped off the most perfect day. If you ever get the chance, go to Discovery Cove, it has a capacity of 1,000 guests so no where is ever too crowded and they also have an aviary of birds that land on you and eat out of your hands, it's like a fairy tale!

After such a perfect day in Discovery Cove, complete with all inclusive food and drinks, we were still not fish-ed out yet so headed off to Seaworld again the next day!

Still can't understand how amazing marine mammals can be! I had goosebumps the whole day, by far one of my favourite things we did while we were there!

 On our last full day in Florida, we went back to Typhoon Lagoon with the huge wave pool (you can see one brewing in the last picture) and we took great pride in the fact we were first ones in the pool! Having exhausted ourselves and nearly drowning several times under the 6ft waves we went back to our villa to soak up the last bit on luxury and pack our things up while the boys put on the LCFC football game on TV so we didn't miss out on anything back home!

On the way to the airport home, we went for our last Five Guys meal which was a perfect end to our stay in Orlando and we then got on our plane to Newark.

 The views flying into New York were amazing, although not very clear, it was so cool!

After one last Starbucks in America we boarded our flight back to London. Such an amazing holiday, wish I could go back and do it all again!

If you're going to America any time soon, do let me know so I can get all excited/jealous of you!

Em x

Florida Update #2

So since my last post, we've still been super busy in Florida so I thought I'd share some more pictures.

We went to Disney World which was so magical, even for a group of teenagers as you don't have to be really young to have a brilliant day. The guy on the entrance called me a princess so I knew I was in for a good day!

Aside from the touristy excitement, like seeing the Princess castle and the Walt Disney statue, we went on all the rides. The mine train and Space Mountain were obvious favourites but I liked all of the rides we went on. I think Disney World is a must-do for everyone at some point in their lives.

We left Disney World to go to Waffle House for tea and for a quick swim in the pool in our Villa to cool down but then we went back to watch the fireworks and night time parades.

My top is from Primark, my shorts are from Miss Selfridge two years ago and my bag is also from Primark. (Alex is wearing a Superdry Polo Shirt and shorts from Topman)

Then, this weekend we went on a road trip to Clearwater Beach and stayed at a hotel overnight to see a different side of Florida and also to have a rest from long days at theme parks.

It's pretty cool to think I've paddled in the Gulf on Mexico!

We also went on a dolphin spotting boat ride and saw lots of dolphins playing in the waves. This was so cool because although we saw how talented the dolphins were at Seaworld (post here), this is how they naturally behaved.

We got better videos of the dolphins, than photos but you get the idea!

And here's me jumping on the bed in our hotel room!

The beach we went to was completely idyllic. White, fine grained sand, green/clear water, palm trees- such a lovely setting. And then when dusk fell, the pier turned into a series of unusual market stalls selling artwork and carved wooden items and personalised bracelets. You could even get your name carved onto a grain of rice! Street performers accompanied this, as well as a glass blower and an outdoor cinema showing my favourite film- The Hunger Games.

On the way home from the beach, we stopped at Five Guys Burgers and Fries for lunch since my brother has been obsessed with this comedic song since we've arrived in America, and after that we went to the Orlando Premium Outlets to do some shopping. 

Yesterday, we went to Hollywood Studios- another Disney park but it shows you more about the magic of the movies. There are still plenty of rides and shows to do though, our highlight of yesterday was Aerosmith's Rock n Rollercoaster, even managing to convince my fearful mum of joining us on it! The ride pictured here however, is a 3D Toy Story zapper/shooting game which was fun but I really liked the car stunt show that they put on, especially with a special guest appearance from...

Lightning McQueen!!!!!!!!!

Today I'm having a chill day while the boys have visited the Kennedy Space Centre. There is actually a launch taking place there tomorrow night which we might try and go to. It would be amazing to be there when a real space shuttle goes into space!

Hope you've been having a nice week, not sure if I'll be able to post again before we come back but on Friday we're going to Discovery Cove to swim with real dolphins! Don't want it to end, although I am missing the dog!