10 day 'you' challenge #9

A day late on this one, sorry! Time sped by yesterday and all of a sudden I needed to be out the house and didn't get home till way past my bed time. I knew I should have written a scheduled post!

♦ #10 secrets ♦ #9 loves ♦ #8 fears ♦ #7 wants ♦ #6 places ♦ #5 foods ♦ #4 books ♦ #3 films ♦ #2 songs ♦ #1 picture of yourself ♦

1. Might as well get the cliche ones out of the way first so number 1 has to be my family, immediate and extended. Despite being fairly spread out I can always count on every single one of them. I was lucky enough to move a lot closer to my family in Liverpool last year as I started attending university there and it's been an absolute godsend. It's so nice, when you move away from your hometown, friends and familiarity, having somewhere homely to go to whenever I like is the best thing. It's been a fairly tough year and I can honestly say they're the main reason I got through it. (The wonderful home cooked meals every Tuesday evening are just an added bonus!)

2. The best friend (and her family). I've known Ellie since we were 4 however after going to different secondary schools in completely different towns we stopped having regular contact until June of 2007! We actually got back in touch via Bebo(!) and have been inseparable ever since. We've been through a lot together the past 5 years and now live 3 hours and an expensive train journey away from each other we're as close as ever.

3. The boy. I don't really know what to write here without being all gross and soppy but he's lovely and the best thing that's happened to me this year and I honestly don't know what I'd do without him.

4. Now they're all out the way I can move on to the more materialistic loves! I absolutely love reading and have done since I learnt to read when I was 4. One of my favourite things to do is get in to a really good book, I end up so involved in the storyline I end up feeling like I know the characters. I have a memory of my sister finding me behind the sofa with a pile of books lost in my own little world after she had spent ages searching for me because I'd been so quiet! Unfortunately I don't seem to be able to find nearly enough time to read these days.

5. Watching films and TV series, I love watching a TV series from the beginning and owning the box sets of the ones I want to watch over and over. I love going to the cinema and watching films in bed and I can never stop myself from heading to the film section every time I'm in Tesco and more often than not buying one (or a few). Orange Wednesdays and being a student are fabulous - cinema for £3? Don't mind if I do!

6. Life just wouldn't be the same without music. I love discovering a new artist, rediscovering old loves, going to gigs & festivals and buying CDs. Not a day goes by that I don't listen to music. I really want a record player but don't really know anything about them so if anyone has any tips!?

7. Animals! I mentioned them in my last post so I won't hark on too much but I really do adore them and would love some kind of job involving them when I 'grow up'.

8. Tea & toast - I consume far too much of both of these but a good strong cup of tea (no sugar) and a couple of slices of toast is just what I need when I wake up (or ant any other time of day!).

9. Castles! Or forts or amphitheatres or any kind of historic slightly, or completely, ruined building. This is a bit random and I have no idea why I love them so much but they're the best and I don't get to go to them nearly as much as when I was little - I must rectify this!

Another rather lengthy one, today's actual one to come later :). Again, let me know if you're doing this too!

10 day 'you' challenge #10

So I've seen this little challenge on various blogs including Jayde's and Vicky's and thought it would be a nice way to get in to the swing of blogging and also give you a little insight in to my life!

♦ #10 secrets ♦ #9 loves ♦ #8 fears ♦ #7 wants ♦ #6 places ♦ #5 foods ♦ #4 books ♦ #3 films ♦ #2 songs ♦ #1 picture of yourself ♦

Now I don't really have many secrets and any I do have I'd rather not share with the whole internet so I'll try and think of 10 (vaguelly) interesting things you may not know about me.

1. I am the youngest of four. My parents are still together so I grew up in a rather hectic home! It wasn't always fun or easy but I loved it and I wouldn't change it for anything (although I did always want a baby brother or sister). Having 3 siblings is the best thing especially when we're all together as now we're grown up we're all fairly spread out and it's made me want to have a big family when I (hopefully) have one.

 2. I've lived in the same house for nearly 18 years. It's nothing amazingly special but it's a good size and I absolutely love it because I've grown up here and it's the only home I can remember. I've occupied 3 of the 5 bedrooms throughout my time here so it's not felt like I've been just been stuck in the same place. My current room is my favourite place in the world and I actually redecorated it all by myself last summer. I'm so attached to this house I've told my parents they're never allowed to move!

3. I love sports and have done for as long as I can remember. I was a bit of a tomboy when I was little, still am really, and as soon as I could I was taking part in all kinds of sports. Athletics, football, rounders - you name it, I've most probably tried it! I trained and competed in athletics for the majority of my life until various circumstances meant I had to stop. I haven't done much this past year but my goal for this year is to get back in to regular sports.

4. I absolutely adore animals, pigs and giraffes are particular favourites. We had guinea pigs (6 at one point!) for a good few years when I was younger which I absolutely loved and I then had a hamster for 3 years. Unfortunately my mum suffers from fairly severe asthma so we weren't allowed any cats or dogs and I'm living in student housing so have to wait till I get my own place to have any more pets :(.

5. Just like my mum, I've also suffered from asthma my whole life. This isn't interesting in the slightest but it's a fairly large part of my life which affects me on a daily basis - can't got anywhere without my inhaler!

6. I can't drive. Despite being 20 I have never had any driving lessons, I even only got my provisional license when I needed it for ID. This is due to lack of wanting however, I simply haven't been able to afford it yet. I'm planning on hopefully finally learning next summer, best get saving.

7. I have 13 piercings and 2 tattoos. I've had 19 piercings in total but the other 6 have either grown out or I've taken them out. I also have a lot more tattoos planned and will hopefully be getting my next one in the next couple of months.

8. I am a collecting/hoarding/organising freak! I love to collect things and find it really hard to throw anything away. Although I have got better in the past few years as my room was getting just a little too cluttered. Organising is actually one of my favourite things to do (hiya weirdo) and I am forever making lists and sorting anything I can get my hands on.

9. I am a self confessed One Tree Hill and Grey's Anatomy addict. These are definitely two of my favourite TV shows (along with Gavin & Stacey and Scrubs) and I really need to complete my boxset collections with the most recent seasons. I never tire of watching them and the number of times I've watched them from start to finish is just a little ridiculous really.

10. I almost never wear make up during the day time. With the exception of a bit of concealer every now and then, unless it's a special occasion/I want to make a good impression I just don't bother. This may seem strange to most of you ladies but I haven't for about 4 years now. I think it stems from pure laziness tbh! I don't have the worst face in the world (I hope!) and through 6th form I wouldn't get out of bed any earlier than absolutely necessary and I'd known everyone for a good 5 years already so I just got in to a habit that's carried on in to university. Don't worry though, I won't go on a night out without 'putting my face on'!

Sorry for the rather text heavy post but there you go, you know a little more about me. Please let me know if you're taking part in this challenge too, I'd love to check them out.