It will come as a shock to many that over the past couple of months, I have fallen back in love with Instagram. Maybe that's a bit of an overexaggeration - I have fallen back in like with Instagram is much better. I have been less active on the blog lately spending my time revising instead (A Levels sadly loom), but I didn't want to abandon all of my socials over this time. Since Twittter seems to be a downward spiral for me, losing followers rather than gaining them these days, I decided to turn to an old frenemy, Instagram.

Instagram never really seemed to work for me, until I realised that I just wasn't doing it right. I've changed up my posting techniques over the past few weeks and although my figures aren't gastronomical, I am actually enjoying posting on there now which is the main thing!! But what did I do?


SWITCHED TO A BUSINESS ACCOUNT

The day I decided to start trying harder with my Instagram, I looked at all my favourite accounts and realised they all had one thing in common. Business account. This was such a simple fix - you don't actually need a Facebook page anymore, hallelujah - and has seriously upped my game because I love looking at all the stats. It helped to show my what I needed to work on, and also how well I was doing which keeps me motivated to keep going. My life's greatest mystery is why I didn't switch it earlier.

BECAME HAPPY WITH MY NICHE

Flatlays are kinda my thing, for right now anyway. My favourite feeds to follow are either much more chill, life ones or the gorgeous fashion photography ones, but eventually I decided I need to stop forcing myself to be something I am not. I prefer being behind the camera, and so I decided to do this to the best of my ability. I got a lovely comment the other day about my flatlays and it made me realise that being happy with your niche and what you post is the most important way to enjoy using Instagram. If you feel happier, you'll be more likely to take more photos, and then...


POSTED MORE CONSISTENTLY

A few months ago, you'd be lucky if you got an Instagram photo every one or two weeks. Consistency? Never heard of her, until now. I had no idea how much of a difference posting often would make, and so ignored my fatal flaw. Posting at least every other day is my goal right now because engagament is so much higher. However, I realised there's a second step to this...

POSTED AT THE BEST TIME

Timing is key. Over the past few weeks I have done many experiements with what the best time to post is, and do you know when my posts do best? When they are posted early on, either between 7-9am on a weekday, and between 8-10am at the weekend. And they do awful if you post them at midday. It's definitely something to bear in mind, I have been popping notifications on my Instagram planning app UNUM to remind me to post so early, and when I do it really pays off.

USED THE RIGHT HASHTAGS

On my most successful posts, most of my reach comes from hashtags, often double or triple the amount from 'home'. But sure, I've been using hashtags since I started Instagram, popping thirty odd in a comment, so what's changed? The hardest thing about using hashtags, is finding the right ones. The most successful way of doing this, in my opinion, is finding a blogger with a similar niche to yours and clicking on one of their hashtags. Make a note of it. When you click on a hashtag, for example my favourite, #bloggershare, a bunch of related ones come up too. Make a note of some of those that best fit your niche, then click on another one. Keep changing them up and experimenting and see if it makes a difference!


TURNED MY FAVES ON NOTIFICATION

Maybe not to do with my own engagement, but something that turned me off Instagram big time is how so often you miss your favourite accounts' posts. So I simply popped all my favourite accounts on notification, so I never miss a single one, and can like and comment right away. This could help your engagement as you may discover more fab accounts from their comments, but generally I just advise it because I finally don't miss as many posts anymore!

COMMENTED MORE OFTEN... SOMETIMES??

This is the biggie that I am still working on. But commenting is a huge deal. And often, when you comment on someone's Instagram post, they go over and comment right back on yours (I know I like to). On days when I comment a bunch (and I mean make meaningful comments not just emojis, please!!), my own account is noticed more as a result. And you're sharing the love too - it's a win win!

WHAT AM I STILL WORKING ON?

My engagement isn't sky high, by no means, but I think by carrying on my techniques and finding new ones (which I am sure to report back on), it will carry on increasing, which is the main thing. A few months ago my follower count was decreasing per month, however I am now gaining a substantial amount each month which is much more fun.
I'm still working on liking Instagram stories. I love, love watching them, but can't get to grips with them properly myself - probably because I spend my life revising and it's not particularly interesting. Perhaps one to work on in the summer?


Of course, Instagram, like any social media, isn't all about the engagement and the numbers. However I think it's fair to say when you're constantly losing followers, it's going to be less enjoyable because your effort isn't paying off. I am enjoying Instagram a lot more, and by using for my own account more, I have discovered more amazing posts and gain a lot of inspiration to it, saving all my favourite outfits, rooms and flatlays to my saved posts almost like a mini Pinterest.

Today has been sunnier than usual, the temperature has increased a few degrees and spring finally feels officially upon us. I couldn't hesistate to share with you a few of my favourite fashion trends and items right now that are essentials this seasons.

Firstly, the midi skirt trend is something I am currently obsessed with. I can't walk past a shop window right now without spotting a midi skirt, and wishing I owned it. The lovely Luxe Kate is one of my inspirations when it comes to midi skirts, she styles them so fantastically! I love how these skirts come in a range of styles and colours, there really is something to suit everyone. One of my favourite places to explore midi skirts is New Look, their selection is really fabulous but everyone's really jumping on the bandwagon right now so you can pretty much find one anywhere!

Florals for spring? Groundbreaking! Seriously though, florals are an absolute essential in the spring time, and I love how versatile they can be. I picked up a couple of floral pieces last year but I'm currently loving a slightly different take on it, courtesy of my ditsy floral print t-shirt from Monki. I'm totally obsessed with the gold-mustard colour of it (although my filter likes to make it look really orange) which I think is a real spring/summer favourite. I'm also loving florals in the style of tea-dresses, they are such a cute spring item.


All over the fashion weeks, neutrals was a key trend and I'm totally obsessed. I originally thought I could not pull it off as I reckon beige would wash me out, but taking inspiration from Alix of I Covet Thee's very neutral wardrobe, I've found out how versatile it can be because beige pieces match with absolutely everything, making it a wonderful trend to get into, because it can't really go out of style!

A final trend I'm currently loving is the different ways to wear denim, in particular different styles of jeans. I've been skinny jeans number one fan for years, until last year when I bought a pair of Mom jeans and wondered why I hadn't tried them sooner. Recently I have been inspired by Topshop's new Editor jeans, which are a gorgeous straight leg, kinda cropped fit in a variety of different washes. I am also a huge fan of Miss Selfridge jeans so a pair of their black straight leg jeans are right at the top of my wishlist.

SHOP THE EDIT:

After many, many months of deliberation, watching videos and planning, 2019 was finally the year I started bullet journaling. I had wanted to for the longest time, but for different reasons to most people - rather than using it to remind me to do things, I wanted it more to track things I had done. For example, using it to track my mood, how much revision I had done, what homework I had done and much more.

I chose the navy Leuchstrumm 1917, I feel like this is a classic favourite bullet journal, with its dotted pages and index at the front. It took a while to get into - I am awful at beginning a new notebook, its crisp clean pages are too perfect to ruin! And although now I am in a routine of creating a spread each week, at the beginning I found this difficult, so it was only actually mid January I started making weekly spreads, while early January was devoted to those year long pages at the start of the journal.


Firstly, we have a grid spacer. I find this so useful, and the biggest tip to anyone starting bullet journals is to have one. I was inspired by the YouTuber AmandaRachLee to do this, because it speeds up counting up all the boxes out each spread which can be a time consuming nightmare.


Another of the spreads at the beginning of the journal is my Pixlels Mood Tracker. I saw a bunch of these on Pinterest, where I fill in my mood in its corresponding colour each day. I can't wait to see it become a huge pixelated graph by the end! I do a similar style with blog posts too and the themes of each post, although of course this isn''t filled out every single day.


One of my other favourite continual spreads is my revision tracker. This was something I found essential when I started bullet journalling and truly one of my reasons for doing it. I created a tally chart for each hour I revise each topic of each subject, which will be so reassuring when it comes to exam season and I can see exactly how many hours I have done.


I also recently created a music related spread, including my most played song of each month (tracked by Last FM), and the layout was inspired by Cara's design that I seriously loved. I can't wait to keep adding to this one!


Onto some weekly spreads! I have come a long way since my first one in January I think, they haven't become overly flashy or anything but I am starting to really enjoy them. I pop in events, occasionally homework I have completed (if it's a larger piece), but mostly the revision I do each day, so I know exactly what I have done when, again to prove to myself I have done plenty, but also to see which topics I might not have done a lot on, or actually did a while ago and therefore need a refresh!


They also have a little habitual tracker on each page, which includes revision, instagram and blog. It was much more full on half term week than any other! I also occasionally add quotes if there's any left over, either from a song or something related to the week.


Something I really enjoyed creating recently was a moodboard (really it's just a fancy collage) to start off March. I was feeling quite visual and therefore decided to print out a bunch off stuff. It features some quotes (including my current lockscreen), some photos from the Marvelous Mrs Maisel including others that I'm feeling really inspired by right now, and a little calendar for this month. Oh and lots of sparkly rose gold Washi tape that I was just dying to try out, I can't get over that it was only 50p at the Japanese inspired shop in my city!

I am writing this post the day after I finished my mock exams, with the rest of the week off since mine happened to fall at right at the beginning of the week. I feel relieved, although its a short lived relief because the pressure hasn't really been lifted, at all, for two reasons.

Firstly, for the rest of this week, I have to produce a lot of art work that I abandoned until now to prioritise revision, which all though I do enjoy (only occassionally that is debatable) I am really feeling the pressure of needing to get the marks, and the fact this all goes towards my final grade.
Secondly, the break between mock exams and the real thing is so small, because of all the content, that I can barely breathe before I will need to start revising again.


Right now, in this moment, it feels like the calm before the storm. It certainly does weather wise, it is so warm for the most unusual time of year it feels only natural that the temperature will have to plummet before it goes up again. It's weird, the warmth, it's putting me on edge. A year ago to this very day I woke up to snow, on the way to college the boys were having a snowball fight and I was desperately trying to dodge them. Now I am walking around in a T-Shirt. It doesn't feel right, at all, but that's an issue for another day.

It really feels like the calm before the storm because I have a week or so before I get my marks back of my mock exams, where I realise what I need to do to improve, and in the case of French it will probably become real the ridiculous amount of work I am going to have to put in. But for now, I can be oblivious to how I've done and what I need to do for a while.


I have gone off on such a tangent, I actually started writing this to update you all about my blog. I always knew it would inevitably take a back seat, but I don't want to abandon it for a few months. My head isn't particularly in the blogging game right now, understandably, and I simply don't have the time for my usual goal of two posts a week, but I am determined to keep going with it somewhat. During this week, and a bit at Easter, I plan to draft some posts so I should have a post up once a week most of the time.

I am looking forward to June wholeheartedly, especially when it comes to blogging. I have some ideas that just aren't possible time wise right now, so come the end of A Levels I cannot wait to create some posts I am really excited about.


This post has felt like a ramble but really my intention was for a little update, featuring some sundrenched Huji photos. It is a weird pressure like nothing ever before, is A Levels, because this time where I really want to go next year depends on it. I would love to hear if you're in the same position as I am, in which case good luck to you! Or, if you have been in the same position as I am in before. It's kind of scary, but I am trying to take it all in before the storm begins.

I get way too excited for The Brit Awards. It's just an award show, and usually, most of the performances are bland, most of the winners aren't who I want, and yet, I am like a child at Christmas when it comes to the Brits. I enjoyed this year's ceremony a little more than usual - might be due to the fact there was none of them crazy rap performances where every other word is edited out - so I thought I'd share my little round up of events with you.

T H E  L O O K S

A couple of hours before the ceremony, I began constantly refreshing the Brits Twitter feed in anticipation of everyone's outfits. I said I get over excited, and it begins right here. I can't say I was really excited by any of the dresses this year, there wasn't particularly one that I had an 'OMG I LOVE IT' moment over. Little Mix looked très fierce, and compared to a photo of them from the 2012 Brits that I saw on Twitter, they had a huge glow up. 


I was super excited to see Shawn Mendes on the red carpet, someone who it never crossed my mind to expect to see there and I think his blue suit was pretty fab, probably my look of the night. The 1975 also looked very dapper, especially compared to their last Brits. Makeup wise I was absolutely loving the rosy tones Dua Lipa went for.

T H E  P E R F O R M A N C E S

You know when I said I felt like a child at Christmas when it comes to the Brits? Well, the presents at the beginning of Christmas day are always the best part, and then it goes a bit downhill, and the exact same happened at the Brits for me. When I found out Hugh Jackman was opening the show I was absolutely buzzing, and his performance of The Greatest Show really wowed me. His vocals were amazing - you wonder because he's done amazing film musicals if he would really be up to scratch in real life, and he was! Cue me and my mum wishing we got tickets to his tour. 


My other two performances of the night hardly come as a surprise if you know me at all! George Ezra's performance of classic Shotgun took me right back to seeing him front row last year, it was such an amazing experience and reminded me how good he is live, I seriously recommend. My other favourite was of course The 1975 with Sincerity is Scary - I had been wondering which one they would go for to perform and I think Sincerity was a very good choice!

Other memorable performances included the huge Calvin Harris number; is it really the Brits if Dua Lipa isn't performing in her underwear? The neon number of Little Mix, and Jess Glynne which honestly looked like a Boots advert to me, I was really expecting someone to come out at the end and tell me they make foundation in every skin tone at the end (which probably wouldn't be true anyway, since it's a Boots ad). 

T H E  W I N N E R S

First award of the night was Best Male, and I was very excited that it went to George Ezra. Was it really going to go to anyone else? Then The 1975 got best group and I felt like I'd got 2/2, really excited that they both won! Best female went to Jorja Smith which I actually expected it to be Anne-Marie who has been much more successful commercially, but there we go.


The international winners flew by in a flash - disappointed that Shawn lost, I mean he came all the way here! Ed Sheeran won Global Success and I honestly forgot he even existed - I feel like George Ezra has replaced him this year and I am not complaining. I was hardly surprised Little Mix won Best Video, a category voted for by the public. Their fans are insane, so it was very predictable! Calvin Harris won two consecutively and I could not get over his accent - yes, Jack Whitehall mentioned he was from Dumfries about three times but I still wasn't expecting it, and found it hilarious. 

When it came to Best British Album I was very much torn between George Ezra and The 1975 - 100% my two favourite British albums last year. I was really excited that they were both even nominated, and couldn't really decide who I wanted to win. I remember listening to George's album one evening last year, all the way through and just being blown away by how flawless it was. Yet The 1975's latest release is incredible too, and some of the songs on it have become my favourites ever. Of course, we know that in the end The 1975 were triumphant, and I could not be happier, they did really deserve it this year.

I have always, always dreamed of owning a Bobbi Brown shimmer brick. About three years ago this was the cult raved about product, but one I could kind of never justify spending so much on - not when I could get a couple of lipsticks for that much anyway!

But when I found a mini version of it in the Debenhams sale just after Christmas, I remembered how much I wanted it back then, and just had to go for it. I kind of thought I was taking a bit of a risk getting this, as I am not a blush person. At all. Yet this was why I fell in love with it so much... it's not your average blush at all, to the point even someone like me can get on board with it.


The shade 'Bronze' is Bobbi Brown's OG shimmer brick shade, and ranges from a white iridescent shade at the top, all the way down to a bronze, with a bunch of rosy shades in between. The main way of using these is swirling them all together on the brush, adding to the cheekbones in a similar way I would apply blush. I liked using this for a more occasion-style makeup look, as an extra-fancy treat, however I have also loved experimenting with the different ways you can use it.


Firstly, I love taking the lighter couple of shades on a smaller brush, and applying to the top of the cheekbones like a highlight, which adds such a gorgeous glow! Alternatively, the shades can be used as beautiful shimmer eyeshadows, which all pair together perfectly. Because of its versatility, I think this makes it worth it as a product. I certainly wouldn't want to pay £36 (or £19.50, in its mini version) on a single blush, but also on a bronzer, highlighter and eyeshadow compact - yes please!


The multi-use nature of the product makes it super travel-friendly and perfect for on the go. It is definitely an item I will be taking out and about with me this year! It even comes with a mirror inside which is perfect for touching up, although doesn't happen to make taking photos of it easy!

Just shy of two years ago now, I decided on taking A Level Art. I was umming and aahing about it for ages - I had committed to the idea of doing three subjects; History, French and English Lit, but I kept telling myself I would regret it if I didn't take Art. So here I am, two years later, having just finished my coursework in my fourth A Level, Fine Art.

Why did I take it? Art has always been a hobby for me, and it was one I wanted to get better at. I honestly think I wouldn't have found time to continue with it if I didn't have to do it as an A Level, and therefore taking it has allowed me to spend time at it while improving. And I have improved a lot, let me tell you!


Today I thought I would share some of my pages in my art sketchbook with you will also compiling tips for the subject, some of which I reckon could be applied to art as a hobby too. I will be circling back round this post in a couple of days when I find out how I've done in my coursework too to let you know how well I did in it - that is if I did well, haha!

Choose a subject that you know you'll enjoy
As much as it's great to take risks in art, something to play a little safe with is your subject choice. Don't choose something you will end up bored of after a matter of weeks because it will become so much harder for you. In year 12 I did fruit for a whole eighteen weeks and the work felt like such a chore, thank goodness the work from last year didn't go towards our final grade because I really didn't have my heart in it! But this year I chose portraiture, and my Wednesday afternoons I have a double art lesson in don't feel like a chore at all, but something I really look forward to.


Don't judge a piece until it's finished
Okay seriously, the amount of times I have panicked about a piece not going the way I intended, to end up being fairly happy with it by the time it is finished is endless. Sometimes it is a battle that I feel like I am never going to win, until suddenly it actually looks decent. This is good! This is supposed to happen! Would you judge an essay that you've only written a paragraph in? Give it time and everything will work out. Saying that...


Don't expect every piece of work to be your best
It's okay if every piece of work isn't of the highest grade possible, or as good as you want it to be. Some pieces, such as a different scale, different medium or different image just won't work for you, and that's actually sometimes a good thing because while developing your ideas you can say why it wasn't for you.

Give media outside of your comfort zone a chance
One medium I know is not for me is printing, it never has been and never will be the medium I ever develop, or spend more than a couple of weeks ago. But this year I tried it out a bit more and actually created some printing pieces I totally didn't hate. Oil painting was a medium this year I had never used before, was totally terrified to and then fell in love with it. I could have decided it was a bit too difficult and given up, but I persevered and I am so glad I did.


Explore different scales and textures
Working on an A3 canvas was a huge breakthrough for me - I had never really used canvas before but, especially when using oil paint, it made such a difference and made my application a lot easier. I also experimented with smaller scale, creating an A4 portrait (on the right page above) which surprisingly I found it a lot harder to get detail. I even did an A1 ink piece at the start of the project which was a lot, let me tell you! Eventually I worked out A3 was best for me but it totally will differ for anyone. Don't feel confined to your sketchbook size - I photocopied my larger work (such as the left page above, an A3 board photocopied) to showcase it in my sketchbook too.

Get inspired by artists
Pinterest is full of amazing ideas to get inspired by, and artist research is super important to show where your ideas came from. This is especially useful if you're using a medium unfamiliar to you, such as when I started oil painting and found some artists that approached it very similar to I did. 


I took art at a level because I genuinely have a love for the subject. For the first time in a long time, this June it will finally become simply a hobby again rather than a school subject, which I am kind of looking forward to because I won't have to paint from my own photos anymore! (Roll on the drawings of Harry Styles again).


Yes, the subject is time-consuming, but it doesn't feel like a drag when you really enjoy it, and would probably only recommend you take it if you know you won't treat the work as a chore. However, due to the amount of revision I have for my other subjects, I don't think the amount of time I spend doing art is any more than them right now! Compared to GCSE, I actually think art at A Level is a lot less time consuming, because although you have a lot more to complete (4 sketchbook pages a week rather than a month), you also have a lot more class time. Personally I am really glad that I took it, as the access I have had to different sorts of media - ink, oil paint, etc has made my skills improve so much.