A little over a week ago I found out I hadn't got into Oxford. It really has been a week of a whirlwind of emotions, at the start of which I originally decided not to write a post on the subject, but after reading some fab posts of people going through the same as me, and realising that I always find it so helpful to write (or in my case, type), out my emotions and thoughts so that everything makes sense, I ended up being sat here writing one now.

Applying to study History at Oxford became one of the biggest parts of my life the past at least six months or so, and as a result of that, it felt relieving that the process was all over, but, although I am glad that I've gone through it all to know what the result would be, it also felt really anti-climatic. But I tweeted not long after I found out that I wasn't as sad as I expected, and it was true at the time. For the first few hours after finding out, I didn't think at all about what I had lost by not getting into Oxford. I concentrated on my back-up, UCL, and what I was gaining by now being able to study there.

Of course, it all dawned on me eventually, but what I have realised is that more so than not getting to study at Oxford (a place that I totally loved), what upset me more was getting the 'no' itself. Knowing that I was more than willing to put the work in, and it was just how the interview went - and not even that, loads of politcal jargon that determine who gets in or not - was what it all boiled down to. I really wanted to have something to say 'see, I can do it', to show that I can succeed. But I learnt that Oxbridge does not define success. It was a dream, true, but definitely not the 'be all and end all'.



As it happens, I had another dream, another life that I really was torn between. Even a couple of days before I found out, I wrote down in my 'uni planning journal' that I actually wasn't sure what I wanted the result to be. Even if I had got into Oxford, it would have been a bittersweet experience, because I still would have been letting go to another dream. Studying at Oxford for three years was one dream, but another was studying at UCL, living in London, getting work experience in the field I really want to go into and getting my foot in the door of a career of my dreams.

As I told myself in the art lesson following finding out, I was now going to UCL, with so many amazing aspects going for it - my favourite history course, the fact it was the first ever English university to accept women, it was the university that Coldplay attended and were formed at (this totally wasn't a reason for me looking at it or anything...), and as I mentioned above, the fact I am going to be able to gain experience in the industry I want to work in being in London which is amazing. I am also super excited to live in London and explore the city; being from up north I don't visit very often right now!

I am really glad that I went through the whole Oxbridge process, not just for the fact that I will never live my life with a huge 'what if' clouding over it. Reading more history books and getting more enthusiastic for my subject that I wouldn't have otherwise, going through the interview process, which was one of the best weeks of my life, including meeting Eleanor and having a much needed mini-holiday from college and the drama that comes with it.

But everything does happen for a reason - I am a firm believer of that. Having come out of the initial disappointment, I am taking it positively. For so many months I have never been able to see past my A-Levels, never known where I am going next, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel which has really motivated to work to my absolute best on these exams. UCL may have the same entry requirements as Oxford, but now I can see where I am heading I am even more motivated than ever to get these three As.

The sale after Christmas is my favourite time to go and shop in Lush - I mean, who can say no to half price bath bombs?! I went into my local Lush on Boxing Day when the sale started - I saw so many criticisms of going shopping on Boxing Day over on Twitter but I just think you do you? Lush don't have a sale online, and fortunately, my local one isn't a million miles away so I was really excited to go this year and share with you what I got.

I got two singular bath bombs - two which happen to be my favourites so I am really glad they still had them in stock. The Magic Wand bubble bar is my all time favourite and I am now perfectly stocked up, as I got one for Christmas too! It lasts so long, I think I got about eight or nine uses out of my last one, with loads of bubbles and a very pink bath every time. Plus, it's so easy to use on the stick, I find that a lot easier than a bubble bar you crumble into the hot water!


I also love the Snow Fairy jelly bomb so I was excited to find it still there, it has the Snow Fairy scent so of course, a classic must have, but I love the jelly bomb formula because it feels so soft. Again it's also super pink, I seem to remember it having some blue iridescent glitter in it too which made it even prettier.


I also picked up a set on half price - often on the sale, these can work out better value but only if you want to use all the products! Fortunately, the Christmas Candy Box I chose comes with four products I really wanted to try, none of which they still had on their own either! Half price on this gift set worked out about £10, so £2.50 each for these products is such good value.


The set comes with a Luxury Lush Pud, one of Lush's most famous bath bombs, a real cult favourite. It's so colourful so I can't wait to use this one again (I got a set with it in on last year's sale). It also comes with another two bath products I have never tried - the Candy Cane bubble bar, which you may remember seeing in my Lush Christmas Wishlist so I am really excited I can now try! It looks so cute - it may not be the festive season anymore but I still love it. The final bath product it comes with is the Bubble Bear, which is obviously a lot less colourful than ones like the Lush Pud, but I think this will be a lovely bath.


The last item the set came with is a mini Snow Fairy shower gel. I couldn't find any Snow Fairy shower gel on sale so I am so glad this set comes with some! It's such a gorgeous scent, and the small size is so travel-friendly.

My Lush sale tips:

- Plan ahead: Lush's Christmas items disappear from their site by Christmas Eve, so I would recommend looking online a week or so before the sale to work out what you might fancy getting, and how much you might end up spending so you don't go too overboard while you're there!

- Sets are often better value: Especially when most of the products in the set are no longer available on their own! But make sure you are getting your money's worth, and you're not just buying a set for one item in it, you may as well just have gotten it full price before the sale in that case!


- Get there an hour or so after opening: I got to town a little after Lush opened and I was shocked to find a huge queue outside the door - nieve I know! I wandered around a few other shops for an hour and returned to be able to walk straight in. It may seem overwhelming but it will die down eventually, and you will still be able to get the same stuff as those who are first in!

- Be prepared to queue: My Lush had a queue for actually buying the product all the way around the store - it's a pretty small shop! I was saying it's important to plan what you want, and this is also because you need to be pretty speedy because most of the time you spend in the shop will be queueing!

- There's Still Items Left After Boxing Day: If you really aren't one to leave the house after Boxing Day, I totally get it - there's usually plenty of products left a couple of days later, especially in bigger stores! I visited the Leeds Lush on the 28th last year, and despite most of the individual products had gone, there was still lots of sets left and I bought enough to make my arm ache from carrying the bag around with me all day!

The beginning of a new year floods our social media with 'new year new me' inspired goals, and although I don't feel like particularly embracing a new me, there are a few areas I would like to focus on this year - maybe we can come back at the end of the decade (yep, we're really nearly at the end of these tenties or whatever we're supposed to call them) and see how many I achieved.

Only buy makeup if it's filling a gap in my collection: I have accumulated a lot of makeup over the past couple of years, and I do consider it a proper collection that I love adding to, but I really want to stop adding necessarily to it. I really want to work out what I need (definitely not another brown toned lipstick anyway), and curate a collection of products that I really use all of.

Make my blog more 'me': Although I am not entirely sure how I want to achieve this, something I know is that I really want to make my blog exactly how I want it to be this year, and use it exactly how I want too. I reread my 'hello 2018' post prior to writing this one, and there was a real focus on growing follower numbers and sticking to a blog schedule. I felt bombarded in 2018 by posts about 'how to triple your followers' or 'how to drive traffic to your blog' and began to realise that those things aren't why I started, nor why I want to continue.

Even looking back at posts I wrote from a few months ago, I realised the topics weren't something I would write now - I found myself thinking "When did I even write that?!". In 2019 I really want to focus on writing about topics that really interest me. This includes more fashion posts, at least half of what I read has to be fashion related and my love for it has grown in the past year, I just have to work out how this will work for me. A huge part of my life which I barely share on my blog is my love for art, maybe we will see a more creative side to Everything Erin in 2019, who knows!

Eventually I would love to give my blog a makeover and really think about what I am adding to the internet, but for now we won't be having a 'new year new blog' (thanks A levels), maybe think ' new June, new blog'...


Connect to bloggers more: Something that hasn't changed since last year is I still really want to comment on more blogs, and use social media productively. I find that I scroll endlessly throughout Twitter and Instagram without adding anything, and it's such a waste of time! When I use social media, I really want to start using meaningful comments and actually use that scrolling time to benefit others a bit more. I also want to meet more of my favourite bloggers, as I mentioned in my last post, meeting Eleanor in Oxford was amazing, and we can't forget about my fab friend Ellie - whose blog I read a long time before I actually met her and now we're in the same French class! I really want to make more blogging related memories this year.

Accept what is meant to be: In under a weeks time I will find out a decision that will probably determine the next three years of my life, or even more than that, in one way or another. One of my biggest goals for 2019 is to not shroud myself with 'what ifs' and focus on what is actually happening. Wherever I end up, it will be where is right for me, and I really need to remember that.


Stop procrastinating: It all goes back to that scrolling thing doesn't it... I really want to spend less unproductive time on my phone. I've become a little over obsessive with the new 'screen time' section of the iPhone, and have worked over the past few weeks to get my daily average down on my phone. Sometimes it's quite high, perhaps I've been taking blog photos or reading a book, so I can't possibly beat myself up for that, I basically just want to stop the scrolling. I could be spending that time so much better, and then I won't get as overwhelmed that I have a thousand and one tasks to complete!

Read more: But by that, I am happy enough if it doesn't mean reading more books. I have come to terms with the fact I don't have the attention span nowadays to get into a full fiction novel (I shocked a few people in my English last year when I commented I don't really read, nope, definitely not even Harry Potter...). Perhaps in the summer, I could read more books, but I am happy enough for them to be historical and something that I am particularly interested in. I love learning, so this year I would love to read more interesting articles, blog posts, even more magazines.