The 'Lauren Marie' Bucket List

WARNING! This is NOT your average Bucket List… 

I am twenty years old and in the past I've been told to write a ‘Bucket List’ but if I'm not mistaken a bucket list is something created when people want to achieve or accomplish something before they die...  But the idea of having some kind of goal-orientated, organized and purpose filled content, that would hopefully one day make me feel like I have got an achievement of success on my back and a life long list of memories rather than someone who doesn't dream, want to succeed or just can't be bothered with doing anything... Sounds just like something I need to do! So this bucket list of mine is about finalizing my life ambitions that float around in my mind all day, flow through my diary and come to bed with me every night; life slips through your fingers so fast that it can’t be stopped but you can hold onto the great things and memories that you do in your lifetime. So here it is, My Bucket List which is full of my simplest of dreams to those that are just waiting to prove everyone who said ‘you can’t’ wrong…

1. Own a MacBook
2. Graduate University
3. Let my hair get really long
4. Read ‘The Hunger Games’ trilogy. Twice.
5. Visit London
6. Visit Monsters University
7. Take my mum on the vacation of her dreams
8. Learn how to apply false eyelashes (it still amazes me how people do this!)
9. Go on a spontaneous road trip
10. Visit Walt Disney museum
11. Have flawless skin
12. Live life without regrets
13. Take a photo everyday for a year
14. Be the girl of someone’s dreams (cheesy, I know but it’s nice to hope!)
15. Own the car, I’ve always wanted
16. Shop on ‘Black Friday’
17. Spend an entire day watching Disney movies (in Pj's) 
18. Own a Dream Catcher
19. Write something in wet concrete
20. Have a wardrobe I actually like
21. Be kissed unexpectedly yet romantically
22. Stop eating fast food for at least a month (I've actually done more than a month!)
23. Save money (not so easy when your surrounded by super cute shoes and clothes all the time) 
24. Find my dream job
25. Go an entire day without using any technology (If social media could just shut down for a day, I would really appreciate it!)
26. I want to be (more) organized
27. Visit the 7 wonders
28. Grow old with someone I love
29. Visit the Walk of Fame in LA
30. Go to Winter Wonderland, London
31. Make a time capsule (Planning to do this after university!)
32. Be a good parent
33. Scuba dive in the Great Barrier Reef
34. Go skinny dipping
35. Meet an amazing guy
36. Be proposed to in a unique way
37. Have a romantic date under the stars
38. Go to a spa
39. Release a paper lantern
40. Start running
41. Feel great in a bikini
42. Write a letter on Juliet’s wall in Verona, Italy
43. Go on a road trip with friends (Bournemouth in 2013 was amazing… I think its time for another one girls – Louise, Eleanor and Charlotte don’t let me down!) 
44. Walk on the Great Wall of China
45. Live in my dream house
46. Fall in love
47. Have best friends who will never let me down
48. Kiss in the rain
49. Live to see cancer cured
50. Go to Atlantis Bahamas
51. Attach a lock to the love bridge
52. Kiss under the Eiffel Tower
53. Complete a scrapbook (I need to actually start one first) 
54. Go to Disney Land
55. Eat healthier
56. Visit the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
57. Visit Australia
58. Go on vacation with my best friends
59. See as much of the world as I possibly can
60. Go to California
61. Ice skate in Central Park
62. Own a pair of Ray Bans (I will be doing this after I learnt NOT to sit on my sunglasses)
63. Go to Hollywood
64. Get engaged
65. Experience Christmas in New York
66. Stand under the Hollywood sign
67. See a Broadway play
68. Go to Times Square
69. See the Statue of Liberty
70. Shop in New York
71. Have Children
72. Visit the Lourve, Paris
73. Go on an African Safari
74. Go in a hot air balloon
75. Say ‘I Do’
76. Pet a baby lion
77. Stay in touch with all my university friends
78. Fly 1st Class
79. Be someone that everyone wants to be friends with
80. Do everything on my bucket list (Cliché, I know!)

If lists aren't your thing; check out my Pinterest account 'Bucket List' pin board! {Bucket List Picture...} I hope one day, you will fulfill your dreams, just like I plan to with mine but just in case you don’t think I can do it; check back in 20 years time, when I will be writing my best seller about my high-powered, purpose filled, beautiful lifestyle when my ‘Bucket List’ is complete…

Remember Readers: Never stop dreaming!

- Lauren xo

This blog post is in loving memory and incredible honour of an old family friend, who was a loveable, friendly and a truly honest man, who was suddenly taken from us with such shock and upset 12 months ago today – Unfortunately he didn’t get to finish his Bucket List.

{This is for you H!} x

12 Things that every 3rd Year at University knows to be true!

So, I thought that I would try a funny post this week and because third year is a stress-testing, emotional rollercoaster but enjoyable time in my life, I thought I would show you some of the things that most third year will know to be true! After being in third year for the past 4 months, I've started to learn a few things and I think most  third years are likely to agree with me! (I am actually glad that only a few of these things have happened to me… Coffee being a best friend is one of them!) 

How many are true to you? Check it out…

1. The realization that you need to have more nights in than you do nights out.

2. Hangovers are now deadly bombs that you cant just disarm within 24 hours.

3. You spend loads of time reading 20th century novels and theories and you still don’t understand what your dissertation is going on about…

4. All your days seem to roll into one…

5. Coffee is your new best friend!

6. Although, you’re older and wiser than the fresher’s, you’re still envious of their late nights and party spirit.

7. You have more meetings with your dissertation supervisor than you see your friends… Awkward!

8. You constantly hear THAT
optimistic dreadful question that gives you a dry lump in your throat that you just can’t seem to get rid off….

“So, what are your plans for after you graduate?”

This is when most people (especially your parents) want to hear that enthusiastic answer of “I’m going to get a full time job, earn a living and stop eating you out of house and home, like I have done for the past twenty-one years.” 

- Sorry Mum and Dad!

9. When your brain reaches boiling point as you hear your friend has landed their first ‘proper’ job or internship and your still sat at home with the dog.

10. Trying to resist the urge to scream or cry when you look at your workload!

11. The intervals of relief you get when you have given an assignment…

But then you suddenly realize how much work you have to do, in so little time.

12. When the reality hits that your graduating and entering the real world of work in less than 4 months.

- Lauren xo 

New Year, New Me

The title of this blog post is probably one of the most cliché sayings that is spoken every new year, when the clock strikes twelve… 'New Year, New Me'. Every year, I promise myself new year resolutions that I can just never seem to keep; things like: lose weight, be a more confident person or blog twice a week (which isn't so easy when you have the biggest deadline of uni on the horizon!) So this year, I have decided that I am going to find 15 things that I want to achiee and don't worry this isn't going to be one of these Oscar-worthy style summaries where I say 2015 is going to be my year because actually nothing I say ever seems to go to plan. In place of the new years resolutions that I never seem to keep is going to be a 2015 Bucket List where I have one of the most memorable years to date because I have so much to look forward to already like: my graduation, turning 21st and a holiday with my lovely uni girls.

15 things I want to achieve in 2015:

1. Find my 1st (proper) full time job
   Since I'm graduating this year, it's probably time to start to thinking in terms of the real world and earning a living.
2. Drink more water
   I know this is a type of resolution but realistically I feel 100% happier with myself when I drink the recommended amount of water.
3.  Visit (at least) two different countries
   I think it's about time I see the world while I am still young.
4. Start to read more books
   Ever since my dissertation started, I've been reading 20th century novels that analyse theory after theory and I miss cosying up into my duvet with a good book.
5. Start saying 'Yes' to more opportunities
   I think this is self-explanatory really!
6. Visit Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park
   I've always talked about going but my uni schedule just seemed to get in the way but when I finally graduate I will have no excuse not to go.
7. Visit Harry Potter World
   I've waited so long and this will be acheived this year! (Don't let me down Louise, Eleanor and Charlotte)
8. Go on another spontaneous road trip with friends
   Being spontaneous is always super exciting and when it's with friends it's even better.
9. Start a scrapbook
   I will finally put all my photos from university into a scrapbook (I've only been saying it for the past two years)
10. Graduate
11. Visit all my uni friend in the summer
    Okay, maybe not all of them as that would be a lot! Just a few to begin with…
12. Take better care of myself
    Take pride in my appearance but looking after myself a little more.
13. Do a good deed for someone
    I wouldn't say I am selfish but it's always nice to put a smile on someone else's face.
14. Go a whole day without ANY technology
    Now, I already that this is going to be extremely difficult as I have grown up in an ages where technology is on our doorstop but I suppose having a whole day without technology has it's benefits…
15. Complete the 30 day abs challenge
    Now, I managed the 30 day squat challenge surely the ab challenge can't be that much harder… can it?

So, that's a wrap! Maybe check back at the end of 2015 when you can see if I have achieve my 15 things in 2015 and see what the next chapter in my life is going to be in 2016.

- Lauren xo