A Summary Of 2017

Ah 2017... what a crazy crazy year. Honestly from start to finish it has been pure madness!

As far as years go, I feel like this one has definitley personally had the largest amount of ups and downs I've ever experienced. But I'm a huge believer in everything happening for a reason and the amount I feel like I have learned about myself and life in general are astronomical.

And most importantly this year has taught me that everything I never thought would be possible, is in fact possible. Both the terribly bad and the good. 

So in reflection on this year, I decided to share a little summary of all my highlights:

• January 2nd- I started this year off (well the first day of the year that I wasn't hungover) with a walk with two of my best friends Georgie and Laura.

• January 6th- My birthday celebrations began with me going out with my friends from my old 6th form.

• January 14- My 19th Birthday and my favourite birthday so far. I honestly had the perfect day starting off with going to my favourite restaurant in Birmingham with my family. And in the evening I went out with my friends from work to Popworld in Birmingham and had the funniest night out ever!

• February 19th- My Grandparents, Aunt, cousin and I went to Lanzerote for a week.
• March 16th- All Time Low concert.
• April 12th- First (of many) Driving Test... yeah I still need to pass that!
• April 15th- My family went to watch Billy Elliot on stage and omg what an amazing show it is!
• April 23rd- The shop I work at had an official party and although I made a complete tit of myself it was still a good laugh to look back on.
• April 28th- My sister received surprise Ed Sheeran tickets for her birthday and was kind enough to take me. Not that she really had a choice because she knows she'd be disowned if she didn't ;)
• May 2nd- Traveled for a month around Eastern Europe with my best friend.

Here's a little montage of my trip!

• July- Ok I can't remember the exact date but I went to Germany to visit my family for 3 weeks.

Here are my Germany vlogs in case you missed them

• August 4th- I attended the youtube convention Summer In The City. This was the first time I traveled to London by myself and I had the most amazing time with the youtube squad :)

• September 9th- Me and my work friends went out into Birmingham to say goodbye because a lot of us were leaving for Uni in a few days.

• September 11th- Me and my work friends went out for drinks again to say goodbye.
• September 12th- Ok me and my work friends went out for drinks for a 3rd time to say goodbye because we're alcoholics #noshame
• September 15th- Had my last shift at work after a year and 3 days of working there. This was my first job and I honestly adored everyone I worked with.
• September 15th- Had a mini holiday to Tenby, Wales with my family

• September 23rd- Moved to Liverpool for university and officially moved out!

Mad love for my flat

• September 24th- I met Jo from S club in Liverpool. Honestly made my entire life!

We didn't force her to take this picture at all!

• September 25th- I attended my first university lecture... whilst very hungover!
• October 19th- Submitted my first two university assignments. This was a big deal to me because I hadn't done any sort of classwork in over a year.
• November 14th- I watched The Killers perform live in Manchester
• November 18th- I watched Little Mix in Birmingham
• December 16th- I came back to Birmingham again for the Christmas holidays.
• December 17th- My old work allowed me to have a Christmas job again and this was my first day back to the madness.
• December 25th- Christmas Day, and this was honestly one of the best one's I've ever had

So that's been a summary of my year. Thank you very much to anyone that's been reading my blog over the last year, you're support means the world. The song of the day is Glorious by Macklemore because I feel like that is the song of the year for me. 

Here's to 2018, may it continue to be just as crazy as ever!

Izzy K xxx

Snow Life

You'll never guess what happened?...

...England actually had snow this week! I can't remember the last time we had proper proper snow that actually stuck to the ground. And I don't know about you, but whenever I see a snowflake my festive mood increases by 100%. It genuinely made me so excited to see everyone so excited.

I came home for the weekend, getting the train from Liverpool to Solihull. Liverpool didn't have much snow but oh my, the West Midlands really did. I got picked up from the train station around 5pm so it was already pitch black outside. Me and my mum couldn't help notice it felt exactly like in a Christmas film, where families are reunited as it's snowing and the streets are filled with Christmas lights.

And the most exciting part of my weekend was that my home town genuinely turned into Narnia. Like legit! Have a look at these photos that my Mum took...

 I'm sorry but how talented is my Mum?

Even if I personally wasn't outside enjoying the snow, I was inside on social media watching everyone else have fun. It seems like every man woman and child was building snowmen, going to the park to have snowball fights, and just genuinely making the most of the phenomenon that it was snowing!

I just found it impossible to be in a bad mood whilst we were blessed with this weather, and I just wanted to document how I felt in this lil' post. The song of the day is Heartbeat by Scouting For Girls. It's not particularly Christmassy, but it's been permanently stuck in my head this last week. Did you have snow where you live?

Izzy K xxx

A German Christmas

As some of you might know, I am part German and have spent a few of my Christmases in Germany celebrating the occasion with my family. I wanted to share a few German Christmas traditions for anyone that might be interested in learning about it. Obviously each family will celebrate slightly differently, but this is how I gathered it traditionally goes down...

The Christmas celebrations actually begin quite early in Germany, as on the 6th of December it is St Nicholas day. Before they go to sleep, children leave their polished shoes or boots outside their door, and if they've been good St Nicholas fills their boots with gifts (usually chocolates) and if they've been bad their shoes will be filled with coal. 

Yummy!

Since this is the first year I will not be living at home for the 6th of December, my mum has ensured I got a St Nicholas day parcel delivered to my University, what a babe! 

Now in Germany, all the main Christmas celebrations are done on the 24th of December. Traditionally, families go to Church on the afternoon. Then when they come back a room in the house is locked and a bell is rung signalling that Santa has arrived. The children enter the room to see the Christmas tree is lit, and there are presents under the tree.

Germans are hardcore with Christmas decorations, with it being thought that the Christmas tree originated in Germany. I truly feel like every traditional household would be filled with nutcrackers and gingerbread houses throughout the whole of December.

The Birmingham German Market; 

My Favorite Place To Spend December

And I have to finish with my favourite part of Christmas, German markets. Luckily, I grew up in Birmingham which is home to one of the biggest, if not the biggest German Christmas markets in the UK. It honestly isn't even December without walking the streets lit up with lights, walking from stall to stall, scoffing your face with marzipan and gingerbread and drowning in mulled wine. And of course wishing I was still young enough to go on the helter-skelter and carousel. 

So for me all these things make up Christmas. The song of the day is O Tannenbaum, a traditional German tuuuuuune! Let me know some of your festive traditions in the comments below, 

Izzy K xxx