A heart to heart...

Hello dolls!

Well it's been quite some time eh? Well that's what this post is all about, where I've been and when I'm coming back to the land of bloggers!

Firstly, thank you to all the lovelies who noticed I wasn't posting and checked up on me through twitter!

 It has been a hard few months and writing had to take a back seat. The root of this comes down to a topic that is very current in blogging and online lives... Anxiety. Yep, nothing new. 

Well it kind of is for me. I'll try to explain as best as I can, but it may get a little chattery so bear with me ok? 

Just over two months ago I was officially diagnosed with severe anxiety disorder and I am undergoing treatment in the form of medication and CBT.

 I have always been something of an internal worrier. Very much not giving a crap on the outside but inside, I found it difficult to forget about things. And my anxiety times this by 100.

 So if I say anything awkward, I regret it and play it back for hours. If something major is coming up like a deadline, I'll stress and stress until my brain can't handle it anymore and will shut down. They are just some of my bigger triggers.. I also have a problem with answering my phone, overcompensating just in case I've messed up, sleep problems... The list could go on. 

It's possible I've suffered with this for over a year without realising!

A small amount of worry and stress is normal in life, but mine had taken over. 

Asking for help was the hardest part, I had no idea anything was wrong with me. My brain just thought I wasn't good enough and I was failing. 

That was never true. My amazing Dr explained it as my anxiety being like a car alarm. The alarm should only go off when there is a break in. But when it is broken it keeps on going off until the battery dies. So my alarm/anxiety kept going off for no reason until it couldn't anymore and stopped working altogether, meaning I just couldn't deal with any stressful situation. 

Like I mentioned, I am in treatment for this and it really is working. I can handle my work again, I'm more social. But it really is a long road. Slowly, I have to retrain my brain to handle all of the factors in my life. 

Anyway this isn't a 'boohoo woe is me' post! Its a positive post for me because I finally feel able to share it with you all and I'm so pleased that my inspiration is slowly coming back and I feel like writing again! 

Thank you all for reading and being so patient! 

Much love,

Gabriella

x

Day 12: 5 weird things I like!

Hello Lovelies! 

Just a quick post today, I'm deep in revision this week!

So here are 5 weird things I like (some according to my housemates...)

 - having my hair played with

- creepy crawlies (except worms - eugh!)

- making lists 

- changing ends of my bed in the night

- eating frozen peas (still frozen)

I don't think they're that weird, especially making lists.. 

Of course revision is the last thing I want to be doing right now, so help me out with a little procrastination and tell me one weird thing about you! 

Good luck to everyone with deadlines, finishing dissertations and getting ready for exams! 

kisses
gabs.x

twitter: @cityprettyblog

facebook: Gabriella Price

instagram: @gabbyrose18

Day 10: Whats on my music player?

Hello Lovelies!

So, after a crazy few weeks I'm finally getting back into the swing of things and it's back to the 30 day blogger challenge!

I really enjoyed answering these questions every day, and hearing some of your opinions! 

So day 10 is the first ten songs on shuffle...

Cinderella - Diana Vickers

Wreaking Ball - Miley Cyrus

Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood

Needle - Born Ruffians

Woohoo - Christina Aguilera

Delusions - Jack Ross

Million Voices - Otto Knows

Girls/Girls/Boys - Panic! at the disco

Battles - Hudson Taylor

Young and Beautiful - Lana Del Ray

-

So as you can tell, my music taste is a bit here, there and everywhere! I love having a song for every mood!

What's your top song right now?

kisses

gabs.x

I'm still here!

Hello lovelies!

Lets be honest, a huge apology is in order. I have been absent for far too long. I know the typical excuse of 'life's been crazy' just won't cut it right now. Life has gotten way past crazy and here's why... 

Devon - An amazing week in beautiful scenery. Getting to spend everyday doing what I love with the best course mates going! It's impossible to be bored around these guys and they really did make the experience 100 times more brilliant. 

Netherlands - Anyone who knows me well, can back me up on the fact that working in a zoo one day is such a dream. So a trip to Holland, with 4 zoos in 3 days couldn't have been more perfect for me!

Then it was back home for a week with my lovely family and catching up with the best friend! Spending time with Soph always fetches me back to my senses, she gets me more than anyone! 

And finally we come full circle, back to uni! Coming back really got me down, knowing I was back for 2 weeks of assignments and exams. Which explains why I'm so absent at the moment. I'm now in the middle of my final assignments and too much revision ... 

So, I promise I will be back posting full time as soon as possible! Two weeks and I'll be free of this year! Time to power through! 

kisses

gabs.x

Day 9: How important is education?

Hello Lovelies!

Day 9 and the topic of education. I think it's particularly difficult to give a general view on this topic as it really is so different for each individual. 

I believe doing well lower in the system such as high school and college, is beyond important as GCSEs and A Levels really set the ground work for what a person is interested in and the beginning of working toward something you actually want to gain a knowledge of. 

When it comes to moving on and studying at university, it is not a decision that can be made on a whim. I am currently in my second year of studying for a degree in Zoology. I can honestly say 100% that it was the right decision for me. Not only in the academic sense as generally, becoming a zoologist would require a zoology degree but also from a personal sense. 

I have grown into a better, more mature person more than I ever imagined.

 I have pushed myself so far out of my comfort zone, and really taken the steps towards being completely independent.

I could never put a value onto the experience gained and the friends I've made!

But I know that moving away from home and continuing in education is really not for everyone, some people are just ready to head into full time work, which is great if it's possible to get into your desired field. 

I'd love to hear a few opinions on university vs. work, everyone feels so differently.

Comment or feel free to tweet me at @cityprettyblog

kisses

Gabs.x

Day 8: Hopes for the future!

Hello Lovelies!

My future, well I have no idea! Past the next few year it all gets a little blurry, I have too many plans coming up to think past my 20's! So I'll stick with what my hopes are for after university! 

I'm currently in my 2nd year of reading zoology at ARU, next year I hope to produce a dissertation that is good enough for publication as a scientific paper.

After that, I would hope to graduate with a high 2:1 or above. Once I've graduated, I don't plan on moving back home. After 3 years of living in a city, I fear moving back to sleepy Cheshire would be more than horrid. So instead I'm going to find a job and work like a crazy person until I have enough money for a big plane ticket. 

Then as soon as I can, it's back to my favourite place in the world, New Zealand.

My hope is to head out there on a working visa, find a basic job and travel around when I can afford. It's still such a basic dream but I have to start somewhere! Eventually once I've figured being a grown -up, I hope to work on breeding programmes and with Primates in particular. 

My hopes for the future definitely seem so vague right now, but at least I know where I want to end up! 

This is such a talky kind of post so I'm going to leave it there, and maybe head back to doing some essay writing (got to get those 2:1s!).

Got any tips for entering the real world again after graduation?

Tweet me at @cityprettyblog

kisses

Gabs.x

What's On Repeat.

Hello lovelies,

Well it has definitely been a crazy week in Cambridge, I've been dragged kicking and screaming through more deadlines than my brain could handle. 

Thank goodness for Spotify is all I can say, I can't concentrate without music! 

Generally to block out all the annoying people who insist on having a gathering in the library!

So here are some great tracks I've had on repeat this past week... 

1. Tich - Dumb

2. Lilygreen & Maguire - Come on Get higher

3. Adam Barnes - She will stay beneath the moon 

4. Hudson Taylor - Battles

5. Jose Vanders - These times

6. Nina Nesbitt - Stay out

7. The 1975 - Chocolate 

8. The 1975 - Sex

(Okay, the whole 1975 album really!) 

What songs are you all loving at the moment? 

kisses

gabs.x


twitter    @gabbyrose18
facebook   Gabriella Price
instagram    @gabriellap21

A few little loves...

hello sweets,

well it was back to the grind of university this month. and honestly, it has been mad from the word go! 

on the plus side, it is the month of love and whether you spent v'day with 

the one who give you butterflies 

or 

drowning in food with your fellow cynics

 {FAC i'm looking at you guys}

i hope you had a day full of laughs and loves! 

here are my top loves for the beginning of semester...

APP:

 iStudiez Pro 

£1.99

this app is great for helping organise new modules. you can use it to keep track of all assignments, which lecturer the work is for and your timetable. for a to-do list junkie like myself, its great being able to see exactly what order my work is due and being able to plan ahead. 

  

SONG:

arctic monkeys

'why'd you only call me when you're high?'

awesome lyrics and i'm totally addicted.

BEAUTY:

rimmel london professional finish in 

500 peppermint 

and 

avon colour trend in

iced champink 

this  miserable weather isn't doing anyone any favours so in a bid to stay cheery i'm channeling a little spring. these pastel colors are sweet as can be and leave nails glossy whilst staying chip-free for up to a week {a miracle for me!}. 

DRINK: 

twinings lemon green tea

i cannot stop drinking this stuff. a much tastier take on the regular stuff! as i'm on a starbucks ban this month, this caffeine free tea is a great substitute... well as a great as anything not from starbucks can be. 

well that's just a few little favorites of mine. 

apologies for the lack of posts but you know how life gets, there's plenty of exciting posts coming in the next few weeks so keep coming back!

what are your feb favorites? 

kisses

gabs.x

Blogger guilt..

hello strangers..

well my blog is definitely been feeling unloved in the new year and i have a serious case of blogger guilt.

 i have many excuses for not writing and posting. but excuses will not get any new posts up so instead i'll fill you in on a few things from the end of 2013 and whats been keeping me busy... 

1. university. so mid december i finished the first half of my second year at aru. it was a fun semester with new friends, too much jager and way too many assignments (in my opinion anyway). this break means i am now half way through my time as an undergraduate which is a little scary but i am excited to dive into the beginnings of my dissertation!

its amazing the people you meet in cambs

my gorgeous housemates! 

2. christmas. i spent the holidays with my family and we kept it relatively low key this year, hanging out at home with a full fridge.

 it was amazing to catch up and spend some quality time with my parents and best friends, with me being away for such a long chunk of the year. 

toodlepip 2013...

catching up and being silly with the girls on christmas eve x

3. so with the new year, came the thing i had been dreading most... exams. these were my first set of university exams and i do worry that i was under prepared and my nerves got the better of me. but what will be, will be. or so i keep telling myself. 

well doesn't really seem like i've been up to a great deal, but the photos tell another story. 

right now i'm back at home having a lazy week before semester two starts and life gets all serious again. it is an extended visit after my dad & i got into a little mishap on the motorway trying to get back to cambs on satuday, but we're all dandy now. shame the same cannot be said for the car :( 

so its back to university on monday and time to start figuring what i want the next year and half of my education to be about... exciting times! 

any tips for dissertation planning and organisation would be amazing...!

from today, my blogging schedule will be new posts every monday, wednesday and sunday! 

hope you're all making the most of the new year with some exciting plans!

kisses,

gabs.