New Years Resolutions 2016

2016 is here! I am ready to welcome the new year with open arms and a fresh start. I did a video on my new years resolutions so I thought I would put the video into words and explain my resolutions more thoroughly.

1. Exercise more

Now I know this is the most generic new years resolution you can possibly have. Everyone says that they want to start working out and get fit for the new year. For me, it's more about restoring my old exercise schedule from the beginning of 2015 that made me feel healthy and happy. I used to have a weekly schedule for exercise and somewhere along the track I lost it. In the new year my goal is to regain this exercise schedule.

2. Start and keep a journal

Apparently, keeping a journal is very good for you. There is something therapeutic about getting all your emotions and troubles down on the page. Someone very wise gave me the advice to start the ritual of journal writing and I decided to take up that challenge. Of course, starting off writing everyday is ridiculously difficult and there is slim to no chance of me achieving that. Instead, I aim to write in my journal once a month (at first!).

3. Have more self control on social media

When I say this I mean in constantly being online. It is not healthy to 'stalk' people who you are no longer friends with or people who have hurt you in the past just because you are desperate for an update of their life (trust me, I've done this too much). I've come to realise that the most important people will know what is going on with you WITHOUT the assistance of social media. I think more blackout nights in 2016 are in order.

4. Read more books

Now I am very proud of myself for the amount of books I read in 2015. I didn't read many books at all (or as compared to some people) but for me, it was a big achievement. I used to HATE reading with a passion and over the last few years hate has turned into love. So, for 2016, I aim to read more books than I did in 2015.

5. Get into a regular sleeping pattern

I've noticed that when I go to bed around the same time and wake up around the same time, I generally feel healthier and happier. Somewhere around the middle of 2015 my sleeping pattern went from scheduled to whenever! The change definitely made it harder for me to fall asleep and make me feel tired more often. In the new year I would love to regain the sleeping pattern I once had.

6. Say yes more

Towards the end of 2015 I started getting these weird, spontaneous lapse in judgement that lead me to saying yes to a lot more things that I normally wouldn't have. Most of these times I have said yes have lead to great memories or just simply the reassurance that I can do it. I think it's important to start saying yes to more things more often, that way you gain more life experience and hopefully lifelong memories.

7. Start a self defence class

For my whole life I have wished that I started some sort of self defence (like Karate) when I was younger. It would certainly make me feel safer being by myself if I knew that I could protect  myself. After years and years of wanting to start, I hope 2016 will be the year that I actually do it.

8. Get a job that I enjoy

This one is kind of more specific than it sounds. Right now I work in a cafe and although I don't hate it, I also don't see  myself being able to do it for much longer. It would be a dream come true if one day I could follow my passion for youtube into something that becomes a job. I mean doesn't everyone dream of getting paid to do something they love?

9. Be organised

In 2016 I am going to do my very best to stay organised for the whole year. That means writing down university assessments, studying well before exams, finishing assignments early and being prepared for class. For youtube, that means posting weekly videos consistently all year. For my blog, that means posting at least once a month (a small goal I know, but I am trying to make youtube my number one priority for now).

10. Be happy

Cheesy, I know. But doesn't everyone just want to be happy? Well, I do. I am leaving the unhappiness of 2015 behind and taking a new, positive, happy approach into the new year.  2016 will be a wonderful and happy year, I'm sure of it.

Feel free to leave any of your new years resolutions in the comments! I would love to read them.
Happy new year to all my wonderful followers and I hope 2016 is the best year of your life <3

Love, Nicole Marie

You Need To Be Cold To Be Queen; Blair Waldorf

I am in the middle of a very exciting Gossip Girl marathon. As of right now, I am watching the finale of season 3 and what I have realised during these first 3 seasons is that Blair Waldorf is the most inspirational character. Despite her obvious flaws (the scheming, blackmailing and bullying other people to get what she wants) I think she is a good person. She is loyal, loving and hard-working. These are three things that I am working towards improving in myself.

Blair doesn't let anyone step over her. She doesn't let anyone stand in the way of what she wants. She doesn't let the pressure of life get to her. And whenever something DOES get to her, she will bounce back every time. The resilience of Miss Waldorf is another thing that inspires me about her. Throughout all of the pain and hardships, Blair still ends up happy and successful.

The power of Blair Waldorf's forgiveness is amazing. No matter what mistakes others make - whether it be Serena sleeping with her boyfriend or Chuck trading her for a hotel -  she always has the ability to forgive and forget in time. Holding a grudge will never do you any good and although Blair can hold a grudge, she will always forgive the people who are most important in her life. And this is a very fine line to master. It's important to figure out who is there to stay and who is just passing through your life.

She carries herself with grace and poise. She dresses to impress. She speaks clearly and articulately. She is one classy lady, that's for sure. And right now, she is my biggest inspiration.

Blair Waldorf is my alter-ego. Whenever I need to remind myself to be strong, to be powerful, to let nobody stop me, I think WWBWD (what would Blair Waldorf do?).

I desperately need this cup to serve as a constant reminder:

(Image)

Here are a few of my favourite Blair Waldorf quotes:

"You need to be cold to be queen"

"If you really want something, you don't stop for anyone or anything until you get it"

"I'm not a stop along the way. I'm a destination" 

"You can't make people love you. But you can make them fear you"

"Feelings never make sense. They get you all confused. Then they drive you around for hours before they drop you off right back where you started" 

This is my second blog post in a row dedicated to the wonderful Blair Waldorf, if you haven't seen my last post it was on the fashion of Blair Waldorf, so check that out if you are interested!

And remember... WWBWD?

Love, Nicole Marie
(All images from my pinterest board)

Re-inspire yourself.

"The world is your stage, make it a performance of a lifetime" - I have no idea who said that but it was probably someone special and important

Sometimes we can all lose sight of what we want, or what we once thought we wanted. I think that through time we will discover what our true desires are and what was just another part of finding ourselves.

Today I have been re-inspired. I want to create magic that makes people feel something, whether that be laughter, inspiration, sadness (in the best way) or happiness. In fact, just being able to share something that I have put my heart and soul into is all I want. It could be in the form of blog posts, youtube videos, opening a cafe, movies, television, novels... the list is endless. These are all the things I hope to accomplish in life, ambitious... I know. I am a big believer in doing anything you set your mind to so I am going to start, one task at a time, and prove everyone who said I couldn't do it wrong.

So re-inspire yourself! For me it was watching a lot of Ashton Kutcher movies as well as crying my eyes out to numerous Nicholas Sparks movies (I really want to read the books too). Find something that re-inspires you, it could be books, movies, television or even people.

Today I have been re-inspired, and I can't wait for whats to come.

Love, Nicole Marie