tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79594504007318293942024-03-12T20:27:03.750-07:00Beautiful LiarBexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-51270123192055358642013-03-19T11:45:00.000-07:002013-03-19T11:47:50.008-07:00The Internet is Bad For My Body Image<div style="text-align: justify;">
Wow, I have not written in ages! I have been meaning to write this for a while, so I may as well write it today!</div>
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An issue that is always being brought to my attention, in the media, on Facebook and in real life, and something that I have addressed previously, is that of body image. There are a lot of images circling the Web regarding body size, commenting on what is attractive. Usually, there is a photo of a super skinny woman, next to a photo of a curvy woman (often Marilyn Monroe), with some comment about how the thin woman is unattractive and the curvy woman is attractive, this image is the one I am thinking of:</div>
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Firstly, they have not only chosen an unflattering photo of Marilyn to use, the one which makes her look bigger than she is, but they have also chosen the most extreme example they could find to basically say 'curves are better than bones' or whatever. Now, of course I agree that yes, super skinny is bad, if you have inflicted it upon yourself or have an eating disorder (although instead of judging these mentally ill people, we should be helping them love themselves, not loathe themselves even more which is often why they have an eating disorder in the first place: trust me, I know). </div>
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Secondly, your weight should NOT in any way determine how attractive you are. I loathe all the Facebook groups that say looking a certain way is better than looking some other way, particularly as people are then all confused as to why so many people have body issues or low self-esteem. We place so much emphasis on looks, bringing your weight into it makes it worse. What makes you attractive is not your appearance, but your personality (cliche I know). What is wrong with thin women? Why are they so unattractive all of a sudden? I am not a large woman, I have curves but in the grand scheme of things, I am thin, and people often call me skinny even though I don't believe I am. I don't look good chubbier than I am, so I don't want to gain weight in order to measure my worth, especially as years ago I developed an eating disorder after being called 'fat' for my entire childhood (I was never above a healthy weight for my height). My body is naturally 'chunky', regardless of how little I weigh. </div>
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Similarly, these two images often appear on my Facebook timeline, or Tumblr dashboard:</div>
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Again the intention of these is clear, it is to dictate to people what they should find attractive. I see Kiera Knightly and Kirsten Dunst on the 'unattractive' image list. They are both naturally very slim and always have been, they cannot help it, so we should not make them both out to be unattractive because of this. I don't doubt that the models on the bottom are attractive, but they are all still very slim women, not that much bigger than the 'skinny' women, so it seems like the point is a bit invalid. Equally, the second image is usually accompanied by figures telling us what clothing size these women are and that men will prefer the bigger woman, thus insinuating that women must be bigger to get male attention. All three of those women are attractive, yet people comment on the thinner ones saying how they are 'too thin'. No one in that photo looks too thin to me, they all look healthy weights of different sizes. Why do we feel the constant need to compare these body shapes and comment on them all the time? It's belittling and mean. The people who make these comments would hate it if their photo was on the internet being judged in the same way, so it should not be ok for them to effectively bully and stereotype people of different body shapes. </div>
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<span style="text-align: justify;">There is also another issue, that a friend brought up a while back on Facebook. He is a skinny guy, he is naturally skinny (although he is strong and muscly, he will never be bulky like Arnie because his body is not made that way). On a Facebook group promoting 'curves' over 'skin and bones', they posted</span></div>
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This photo is telling girls that skinny guys are bad in bed, that you need a fat guy in order to satisfy you sexually and therefore in a relationship. I can see why this upset him, because it is utterly ridiculous. Just as your weight/body shape doesn't define your attractiveness, it also does not define your ability to form successful relationships or be good sexually. For starters, just as guys have a type, so do girls. Personally, I prefer slimmer guys, but some women will prefer bigger guys. Whoever you prefer, it doesn't matter in the long run, because your relationship is far more important without the inclusion of looks. It's crap that skinny guys are bad in bed, loads of girls I know have dated or are dating skinny guys, and not once have I heard 'he sucked in bed because he was too thin'. That is never a reason. Being bad in bed is not defined by your weight, just as being good in bed is not defined by your weight. This issue then spreads further into the wider body image debate, because not only girls have body confidence issues, and we can't be telling guys that they need to be fat in order to get a girlfriend.</div>
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To summarise, we should stop basing our self worth on how we look, whether we are fat or thin, but more on who we are. We need to stop encouraging young and impressionable people to change their body shape in order to be beautiful, instead accepting that as long as we are healthy in ourselves, and we are not drastically over or underweight, then we are ok and we are worthwhile human beings. Then, we can start working on being more confident and positive and love ourselves for who we are. This is something that I am trying to do, and when it's successful, I feel amazing.</div>
Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-27142422801767957052012-11-15T07:28:00.000-08:002012-11-15T07:28:01.834-08:00Am I a Juxtaposition?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is probably going to be the most pointless blog post in existence, but here we go. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I found a comment on a blog post that I posted about the importance of charity (which I deleted rather than responding and getting into an argument) in which an anonymous commenter (classy) made snide remarks about how I go on about charitable giving and such like whilst endorsing the fashion industry and spending money on clothes and such. Firstly, yes, I do this. Secondly, it's not like these two things do not go hand in hand; people hold auctions of clothing and the like, for charity, where rich people spend ridiculous amounts of money for a good cause. This may not be the best example, as many may have other motives, but it makes my point. I do not spend extortionate amounts of money on clothing, shoes, jewellery and make-up. In fact, the most money I have spent on clothing in the past year was last month because I got money for my birthday to spend as I wished. Being a student, I cannot afford THAT many clothes, but I will occasionally treat myself to a purchase that I really, really want, half of the time returning it though paranoia, but the other half keeping it and getting enough wear out of it to make it worth it. There's nothing wrong with this.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the same time, I endorse and partake in charitable giving. I spend money in charity shops on books (I ADORE the Oxfam Bookshops), or give money to causes like Children in Need, Red Nose Day, Kidney Research and Cancer Research (among others). I would give blood if I was allowed to! (I had Malaria and cannot give blood for 3 years). Again, being a student I cannot afford to donate as much as I would like, but if I were rich, of course I would. Many rich people will spend vast amounts of money on clothing, homes, private Islands/Jets and holidays, they will also be willing to commit some of their money to charity, a lot more than anyone else could even dream of, because they can afford to and believe in the cause. Just because they live a luxury lifestyle does not mean that giving to charity is contradictory, the both go hand in hand. They would not live a deliberately frugal lifestyle in order to give all their earnings to charity, unless they really believed and wanted to, just like I do not want to spend every spare penny I earn on charitable giving and buying clothes in charity shops (I would if I found things I liked or fit, by the way, but I do not, because there is never anything that is my style or I would wear, rendering the transaction pointless.)</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am not in any way trying to make out like I am a saint or anything like that. Nobody is perfect and very few people are wholeheartedly committed to charity alone. Yes, I care a great deal about my appearance, fashion and someday hope to work IN fashion. But I also care about charity, I saved up £2000 to go to Africa and do volunteer work there, for goodness' sake! And obviously, I am thus acknowledging this awkward comment and possibly adding credence to their argument, but I just felt it needed to be said, as I will be blogging a lot more about fashion related things as I am currently trying to gain work experience in fashion. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So yes, a pointless blog post for the sake of a blog post, which will probably be deleted soon.</span></div>
Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-32066128103188380322012-08-23T05:29:00.000-07:002012-08-23T13:17:36.270-07:00Disney's Brave: Feminist Role Model or Stroppy Teenager?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am never one to pass up a<i> Disney</i> film, especially one about a fiery red-haired Scottish Princess with Billy Connelly as her dad. AWESOME. If you want to win me over, take me somewhere where I can watch a <i>Disney</i> film and put up with my endless emotional sobbing at the happy, sad and exciting moments. Yes, I am an emotional wreck, but if you <i>do</i> put up with that, I will love you forever. </span></div>
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<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Brave_Teaser_Poster.jpg/220px-Brave_Teaser_Poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/db/Brave_Teaser_Poster.jpg/220px-Brave_Teaser_Poster.jpg" width="214" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The film follows the story of Scottish teen Princess, Merida, who has spent her whole life being educated on what a Princess should be like but is, in fact, the anti-Princess. Her mother dictated what she wore, what she did, what she learnt and so on, all with the goal of becoming the perfect woman and ideal future Queen (queue feminist rant about how women aren't just for show and that we need a voice. Probably from Merida, as a matter of fact!) As one would expect from the promotion, Merida is a rebellious child, who enjoys riding through the Glen and practicing with her bow and arrow at any possible moment: much to her mother's dismay, of course. Following an awkward but hilarious presentation of suitors (totally and utterly unappealing to Merida), the protagonist has a huge argument with her mother over what she should do with her life. I know this argument. It's a typical occurrence between a teenage girl and her mother. Mum wants one thing, daughter wants another. There is a huge, irrational fight about how mum won't let you do things your way, but mum thinks you are being selfish and immature. Of course, it ends with something like "I wish you weren't my mum", "I hate you" or "I wish you were dead" (come on, we have all said it at least once, don't deny it!). Then later, once cooled off, both moan on at themselves about how it should have gone and form a rational argument that they will never present. This is typical and it happens pretty much to this exact specification in <i>Brave</i>, only in this, the daughter rides off into the forest, finds a witch and makes a spell to change her mum (and her fate), only to have disastrous and amusing consequences. Imagine if we could all do that! The world would be insane! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, so at the moment, she just appears to be a typical teenage girl fighting out against her mother's authority. In a way, I suppose, this is a form of feminism in itself. You know, fighting out against authority/patriarchy/mum, wanting to go your own way, make your own mistakes, be your own woman and not be told what to do or who to marry. Of course, in Merida's case, effectively having an arranged marriage as opposed to one based upon love,she has a foot to stand on in her opposition. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maybe, then, she is a feminist role model. If we look at the underlying message of the film, aside from the whole, appreciate-your-mother-because-if-she-turns-into-a-bear-it-will-be-awkward situation, it is about an opinionated young woman trying to change the rules and gain the right to do and marry as she pleases. I suppose that's similar to what feminists have been doing all along: fighting the patriarchy. Merida is fighting for her equal rights, as a woman, and freedom of choice. In this way, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merida is the alternative role model, who should encourage young girls to break through the stereotype of the 'Princess culture'. Merida is not a flailing, pretty in pink Princess, waiting to be whisked away by her prince charming. No, as I have already mentioned, she is an independent young woman who doesn't need a man to save her from her mistakes; she can do that all by herself, thank you very much! She won't let anyone tell her what to do. Whilst it's not advisable that we tell young girls to go to the extreme and fight the system so much that we end up with a bunch of radical 7 year old girls refusing to do anything girly and fighting against the patriarchy in obscure ways (although it would be funny), t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">he film is, in fact, teaching young and impressionable girls everywhere not to settle for money etc. over love. It teaches them that it's ok to have an opinion, to be your own person and break the mould. It teaches them that it may be a struggle at times to get others to realise your potential and dreams, but it will happen eventually and things will be better for it. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merida is the <i>Disney</i> Princess we have been waiting for. Someone for the new age who embraces feminism and the modern woman. Whilst she expresses some of the teenage angst so common among us girls, its only purpose is to further the storyline and bigger message. On a whole, this film is enjoyable for all ages. It doesn't have the adult 'in jokes' of other <i>Pixar </i>creations, but it is nonetheless one of my top <i>Disney/Disney-Pixar</i> films of all time. If I was 7, I would want to be Merida, I would want to dress up like her and act like her because she is the Princess I can/could associate with and the kind of Princess I would like to be. Good on <i>Pixar </i>for this, you have done womankind proud. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">P.S. The animated short beforehand is so cute, you will explode at how adorable the premise is! </span></div>
Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-63075991624129151022012-06-04T07:49:00.001-07:002012-06-04T09:03:49.897-07:00I am a Feminist!<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">I say, shouting from on top of a chair, because
Caitlin Moran told me to. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Evidently, I am not the stereotypical feminist that
everyone will think of if one says the dreaded word ‘Feminism’. I don't burn my
bras. I haven't decided that my blatant heterosexuality is holding me back in
the world thus have gone to the 'other side' (or is it the 'same side'?) to
pursue the pleasures of the flesh that only a woman can satisfy. I don't NOT
wear make-up or dress nice. I don't lecture others on the patriarchy (too often)
and so on. No, I am not any of these things and if you look at me, you probably
wouldn't think that I am a feminist. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">One argument, which I agree with, and which Caitlin
Moran discusses in her book <i>How to Be a Woman</i> (which has become my new
bible) is that, whilst only 52% of our population would admit to being a
feminist, probably more than that are feminists without realising it. If you,
as a woman, have a job, then you are a feminist. If you want to be equal to
men, you are a feminist. If you want to have the right to choose who you date,
marry, divorce and so on, you are a feminist. If you want the right to look how
you like, not to impress others, but because it's how YOU want to look, then
you are a feminist. If you want the choice as to if and when you have children,
and use contraceptives like the Pill, you are a feminist. I could go on for
hours. Whilst I should really add 'probably' before 'feminist' each time,
because it may not necessarily entail that one is a feminist, it would take away
the significance of what I meant. Also, I am probably right, more of us than
would like to admit are feminists, simply by being able to do what we want,
when we want (within reason) and have control over our bodies, yet because this
isn't what we tend to associate with feminism, we don't think that it fits.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is what a feminist looks like</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Feminism seems to have become one of those taboo
subjects that is only discussed by radicals or academics, a subject that isn't
willingly included in day-to-day conversations because it's a touchy subject
and people will assume you're some crazy radical communist man-hater who likes
to throw herself under horses just to make a point (or something to that
effect). It's as though people just think, "You made your point in the 60s
and got what you wanted, so shut up, please, women." But we shouldn't shut
up, please, because we are still fighting an ongoing battle. For instance,
sexism is still very much a part of our society and it goes unnoticed because
it's usually not that extreme (unless you're David 'Calm down, dear' Cameron)
or deliberately trying to insult a woman, it's still just the 'norm' in a way.
In her chapter 'I Encounter some Sexism!', Moran makes the point that a lot of
it comes from the men in charge, who were from the pre-feminist era so are used
to sexist attitudes and those who are post-feminist, well, they are just subtle
about it, but it doesn’t mean it’s not there, for example;</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">"Very often, a woman can have left a party,
caught the bus home, washed her face, got into bed, read 20 minutes of </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">The Female Eunuch<i> and put the light out before she
puts the light back on again, sits bolt upright and shouts, 'Hang on—I’VE JUST
HAD SOME SEXISM AT ME. THAT WAS SOME SEXISM!'" </i>(From <i>How to Be a
Woman</i>)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Times;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Also, the
average pay for women is still at least 30% lower than that of a man in the
same position, but why? Women are most expensive to ‘maintain’; our clothes
cost more, creating our appearance costs more, we are required to buy things
like tampons and other feminine products, and we tend to be the ones paying
most for children. All of this costs more than any ‘normal’ man’s, so as we
earn less and spend more, we are left with even less money than is suitable for
us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">Another problem
for women is the way we dress, particularly as many clothes have become
sexualised. This paves the way for sexism and is often used as a justification
for rape. Just because a woman wears certain clothes, it does not mean she is
interested in attracting men and having sex. She wears those clothes because
she feels comfortable in them, or simply because there really isn’t anything
different available. I try to dress nicely most of the time, I wear short
skirts/shorts, tight clothes, high heels and make-up. But it doesn’t mean that
I am inviting a man to come up and grind his bits all over my bum and try to
get off with me when I am out with my friends, or rape me and say that I was ‘asking
for it’. It doesn’t mean I am in any way ‘easy’ and I don’t like it. This is
one of the main reasons why I hate going clubbing and if I want to drink, I
will do so at home, or in a pub, where dancing is optional. I dress how I do
because I think it looks nice, looks nice on me and makes me feel a bit more
confident. I don’t dress this way to attract men, deal with it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxulUyudESdfEpO6O-frX4FKPU20outUMWJ-l-lOOr-ovrHDJgcTWUCNLXn3oup5j1LO5l2qEd0UswX2YDgZgbj0lWK3Y_FhzpIosfwxZUzGYx9ja8fmMQryrNt-ceRxQwyyAr9xoSp8/s1600/422955_10151325883320512_193452877_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJxulUyudESdfEpO6O-frX4FKPU20outUMWJ-l-lOOr-ovrHDJgcTWUCNLXn3oup5j1LO5l2qEd0UswX2YDgZgbj0lWK3Y_FhzpIosfwxZUzGYx9ja8fmMQryrNt-ceRxQwyyAr9xoSp8/s320/422955_10151325883320512_193452877_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This is also what feminists look like</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">What I like
about Caitlin Moran, is the way in which she addresses all aspects of femininity,
focusing upon our sexuality; totally blunt, to the point and accurate. She
isn't afraid to say what, effectively, we are all thinking. Most of her topics
are supposedly controversial and come at a time where feminism has taken the
back seat, yet everything she says should appeal to the modern woman (or man, for
that matter) and encourage them to start being more honest with themselves
about these aspects of humanity that should not be put aside and tabooed, –
masturbation, abortion and so on – because we all experience these things in
our lives, so why fight them. She wants us to address these issues in a 21<sup>st</sup>
century stance, and we should. We need to decide how the failed sex education
system in our country effects women, the implications for the perceptions of
sex as a result of pornography, the moral issues surrounding abortion and how
to deal with sexism. What does all this mean to the modern woman, and why doesn’t
she want to talk about it?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><br /></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">I never really got taught about sex as a child. Sex education involved stories about STI's and how to say no. When you suddenly start realising that you're becoming a woman, it is scary. You don't know what your body is doing, what you are doing or what you want to do. You fall into obsessive love easily, you have imaginary relationships, you get your heart broken, you think about sex, you have sex, you drink, you smoke, you take drugs and so on (obviously I haven't done all of these things). But it's not taught, you have to discover it yourself, and it's not ok to talk about it with people, so how can you understand what is happening? The teenage years are erratic and hard for anyone and it's not helped by society decided to tell you it's not ok to talk about it. We need to teach young girls and boys about this stuff before they become messed up in the head and do something stupid, be it dangerously stupid or just silly stupid. They need to know it's ok to explore and develop sexuality, to take control of their bodies and emotions. That's what our previous feminists fought for, and that's what we need to adhere to. It's not extreme or anything, it's just what needs to be done.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">As Simone Du
Beauvoir once said, it’s easier for women to just conform and accept the
patriarchy than fight for liberation, and whilst I am not suggesting that women
start another revolution against it in the same way the suffragettes or
new-wave 1960s feminists did, I do think that it should be socially acceptable
for people to talk about this kind of stuff. For women AND men to come out and
say, “Yes, I AM a feminist!” and not be looked upon like some crazy extremist. We are always talking about the fact that women in third world countries have few rights and are trying to help them. But we need to help ourselves and address our issues before we start thinking about other societies!</span></div>
</div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-5004903011199186862012-05-18T11:46:00.000-07:002012-05-18T11:56:38.305-07:00I am Female, I have strong opinions.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are a lot of things going on in my life right now; I have exams to revise for, summer plans to make, I am consistently ill so am trying to control that, I have aspirations for a life after university that I need to work towards. In terms of revision, I feel the stress is getting a bit much and I find myself procrastinating, a lot. This, I cannot help and it does not help matters that I am tired and therefore struggle to concentrate. What I have found interesting recently is reading. Not just for my course, but for pleasure. Notably, I have been reading news articles, because I am an intellectual daaaahling and must keep up to date with the goings on in the world. A number of things have struck me lately that I wish to address, and as I haven't blogged in a while, I thought I would share one of them with you (whoever YOU are);</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, there was a show on called 'Meet the Romans with Mary Beard'. It was a wonderful, informative programme on the real people of ancient Rome. Not the upper class that we focus on, but the poor people; those who lived in the slums; the multiculturalism; the dangers and size of the city and Empire and so on. But that's not what I will focus on. Following the programme's airing, the infamous Samantha Brick (who you may remember wrote an awkward article about how attractive she is and that people hate her because of it, which caused lots of hate to be thrown her way as she is not, really, that attractive at all. She is rather plain, actually) wrote an article deeming Mary Beard, a Cambridge Professor, to be too ugly for TV. Not only is that incredibly hypocritical coming from Samantha Brick, who just seems to be a nasty, dislikeable person, but also incredibly unnecessary and harsh. </span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiispOcuvwUXBxviOh0HZTfrK3Qy7weiMTz7i38rI8gNXyuFJoyXn2MwSJhLTD6rFgFBbWrHoYQS8VojnMm0kVrNstu8Q9ZQbCPCpsK41NlhhBJiwCTYMw2FYqwfMRHja_10HnfMgVMdqw/s1600/beard2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiispOcuvwUXBxviOh0HZTfrK3Qy7weiMTz7i38rI8gNXyuFJoyXn2MwSJhLTD6rFgFBbWrHoYQS8VojnMm0kVrNstu8Q9ZQbCPCpsK41NlhhBJiwCTYMw2FYqwfMRHja_10HnfMgVMdqw/s320/beard2.jpg" width="230" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It made me think about our perceptions on beauty (which I previously wrote about in 2010, <a href="http://tallblondegirl.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/beauty.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>). Who has the right to tell someone that they can't be on television because they aren't ascetically pleasing enough. For starters, there are many people on television who are far more unattractive than Mary Beard. I can think of loads, who I won't name, because I don't CARE if they are ugly or not. Secondly, it should not be about the looks, it should be about what talent this person has. Mary Beard is clearly very intelligent and the passion she has for her subject is evident in the way she presents herself on camera; she is funny, silly, enthusiastic and makes it understandable and easy to watch, even though you're getting tonnes of information! It should be about personality, not looks (as I echo the popular term, 'Don't judge a book by its cover'). </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our society seems to be all about looking a certain way and if someone doesn't adhere to that, we shun them. With all the celebrity magazines around, it's hard to get away from this. They are always picking on people who appear to have gained a bit of weight, or have gone outside without make-up (SHOCK HORROR), or wore bad clothes, or lost TOO MUCH weight and so on. It seems like no one can do anything right nowadays. If we aren't too fat, then we are too thin. If we aren't what society deems to be 'beautiful', we are placed in the 'ugly' category. We can be too tall, too short, too smart, too dumb. If someone in the public eye does anything, people will immediately comment on it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some people have been going against our preconceptions of beauty recently, however the majority appear to be men. For example, Benedict Cumberbatch has become an 'unlikely' sex symbol recently (deemed the Sun newspaper's sexiest man). For years, this man has been scrutinised for his appearance, yet following the popularity of Sherlock and his evident high intelligence, women (and men) worldwide have become obsessed with him. They even have a name, The Cumberbitches (YES, I am one of them, and I am not ashamed). The power of the internet can create unlikely sex symbols and Cumberbatch is only one of them (although he's attractive even if loads say he isn't, I don't care). These sex symbols are deemed so because of their intellect, charisma and so on, not their looks (Russell Brand may not be really attractive, but women everywhere fancy him because of his outrageousness). Now, I could go on for ages about this, but I have written too much already. You see my point though, one should not be judged 'too ugly' for television, especially when bringing such knowledge to the world.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In short: Our society is messed up and we need to all take a good, hard look at ourselves. We need to change our ridiculous concepts of beauty, because mostly, they aren't beautiful, but instead unattainable ideals that would seem ridiculous 50 + years ago.</span></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-56295553566553873542011-09-28T04:30:00.000-07:002011-09-28T04:30:58.826-07:00Previously, in the life of me...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #424242; font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><a class="caption" href="http://thesweetandbitterfool.tumblr.com/post/6872336172/gender-stereotypes" style="-webkit-transition-duration: 1s; -webkit-transition-property: color; color: black; font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 1em; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; text-transform: uppercase;"><b>GENDER STEREOTYPES</b></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #424242; font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"> <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">- NB this is an old post from an old blog, but thought I would post it here :)</span></b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #424242; font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #424242; font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">I read an article in the Sunday Times Magazine about the way girls are presented and how they learn that pink is the right colour for girls. It interested me, because it is right that the media very much aims pink to girls and advertisements aimed at girls are usually referencing the fact that they are ‘princesses’. </div><div style="font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">It made me think, I really wasn’t the stereotypical girl when I was younger. Mum never dressed me in pink, overly girly clothes because they didn’t suit me. I wasn’t one for playing with dolls. I tried, though. I would buy barbies and stuffed animals and the Animal Hospital play sets, my grandparents even bought me a proper, posh dolls house. I tried to play with them, I honestly did, but I just think I felt it was silly to play with these inanimate objects. The most I did was cut and wash the dolls hair, change their clothes and take their heads off and have a ‘fashion show’ …. I never gave them personalities and such. And I always wondered why the black Barbies had pubic hair but the white ones didn’t….not that I knew what that was, but you know. Of course, I kept buying them though. </div><div style="font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">What I liked to do was write stories, paint/draw, read, act and bake. Those aren’t stereotypically girly. In all honesty, they are mostly gender neutral activities that both me and my brother would undertake. I much preferred creative activities, I got bored of the other things. I was very creative as a child, so much so that mum says I didn’t do that well in Year 2 SATS because I focussed on the story as opposed to the grammar or whatever! I also wasn’t one for wearing skirts, I wasn’t girly in that sense, and as soon as I was allowed I would wear trousers to school. Part of it was due to bullying for being fat and such, part of it was because I didn’t like girly things.</div><div style="font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Anyway, back to point…it seems odd to me, like the article pointed out, that everything for girls is pink. 60 years ago, pink was a masculine colour that was associated with red! Blue was a girls colour. Not long ago, boys would wear dresses until they were 7. Things have only really changed in the past few decades, and it seems that ‘pink’ is not a natural attraction for girls, but has been forced upon them. The woman who wrote the article said that she always tried to allow her young daughter make decisions and play however she wanted. For her first few years, she played with trains and cars and loved wearing dungarees/overalls. The trigger was a boy in the playground saying “Girls don’t play with trains!” that led to this toddlers lust for all things pink, for Barbie dolls, to be dressed as a princess. People who talk to young girls call them ‘princess’ and always make everything that the girls do about princesses; “Here’s your special princess meal”…”Come and sit in the princess throne” etcetera.</div><div style="font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Geneva, 'Lucida Sans', 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: justify;">Girls should be allowed to do what they want, play with what they want, dress how they like without feeling pressured to be the same as everyone else. They should be able to feel OK to be different, rather than succumb to gender stereotypes. I mean, as we get older we develop our own personalities and styles and do what we want, but there are some young girls (notably those girls who take part in Beauty Pageants etc) who don’t learn, because they are indoctrinated and forced to believe in an ‘ideal’ for girls and if they don’t act like ‘girls’ then they aren’t treated well. The example of Scout from ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ comes to mind. When I first read the book, for half the time I thought she was a boy because the focus was on her take on the events and because she dressed and acted like a boy. However, she was very much a girl but preferred to be a tomboy. She hated wearing dresses, but was at times forced to because she is a girl and had to act and dress like one. Of course, she didn’t succumb to the stereotype and remained her own person, like her father suggested. Girls like that are hard to come by these days, but they need to know that it is ok to want to play with trains, run around outside, get mucky and so on. It doesn’t make you any less of a girl, in my opinion it makes you stronger and a more rounded person!! </div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-51977076518582414442011-09-23T06:23:00.000-07:002011-09-23T06:37:12.382-07:00And the rest, they say, is history....<div style="text-align: justify;">I am sat here, writing from my desk in my university accommodation - my home for the next year. I am listening to <i>Colbie Caillat</i> and feeling strangely romantic/loving and I am just in the mood to snuggle. Odd, huh?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fresher's week, thus far, has been an all out success. Well...nearly. I am lucky enough to live with the loveliest people that one could ask for as friends/roommates etc. We all get on like a house on fire, like we have been friends for years and it just makes me so happy and glad that I have got to this stage in my life. I have eaten more food this week than I have done all summer, and whilst the concerns over my weight remain, I know that my roomies accept me as I am, in all my paranoid, unconfident, slightly bi-polar self. It's all I could ask for really. Plus I can go to the gym whenever I want, so I plan to go A LOT and get fit and feel attractive for once in my life.<br />
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I have done the whole 'getting drunk in Fresher's' thing. Last night, actually, was the worst night because I got so terribly off my face and made a complete fool of myself (some evidence below). I hope that people do not think less of me for this. I don't intend on drinking much for the rest of term, just every so often and only a little. I want to keep my wits about me!<br />
<br />
My course seems really good, and whilst I am sad that I am not undertaking a drama aspect, I can join the drama club and all will be well. Generally, though, university is wonderful :)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUk7MkkSslsU_Ol1670q07_-65wU19mbGbjNmBeIrF53iUnt723LSCZ-OB-7JG8jhe4K3ubBt6TAu1WammnYtD_Du6QaMGCTpZZRfAfTitSALgbEjLPs0WAMg9Ux84i3KG3XpWpzheos/s1600/DSCN0143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvUk7MkkSslsU_Ol1670q07_-65wU19mbGbjNmBeIrF53iUnt723LSCZ-OB-7JG8jhe4K3ubBt6TAu1WammnYtD_Du6QaMGCTpZZRfAfTitSALgbEjLPs0WAMg9Ux84i3KG3XpWpzheos/s320/DSCN0143.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-76802316503532145472011-09-08T14:04:00.000-07:002011-09-08T14:04:57.589-07:00Holiday Fashions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Ok, so whilst on holiday in a boiling hot country, it is hard to be completely fashion conscious. It is too hot to dress in certain ways and I would often opt for loose fitting dress or short-shorts. However, I always tried to take care over my appearance if we were going out, and it only backfired once when I chose a gorgeous floaty, short <i>Jack Wills</i> dress on a windy day in Bodrum. Awkward times....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">My general bikini choice was a rather beautiful yet skimpy <i>Accessorize</i> number from last year (below)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Cplm2JIWjMXsWwU8piecTMzAnHIx56AoTR1L6TFq6Ob8dbgwOmbZJzgeLEG08XknQ4Gduj_lB_swsrKZgVhfICrpamusHjClpsS8FwHBhmXiSsm7npr96UJA0Wx1X61ksO_VXqGvDRk/s1600/P1140412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Cplm2JIWjMXsWwU8piecTMzAnHIx56AoTR1L6TFq6Ob8dbgwOmbZJzgeLEG08XknQ4Gduj_lB_swsrKZgVhfICrpamusHjClpsS8FwHBhmXiSsm7npr96UJA0Wx1X61ksO_VXqGvDRk/s400/P1140412.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It cost me about £25 overall due to it being in the sale at the time, perfect. I always feel that one should make a good effort in terms of swimwear (I also had a gorgeous leopard print costume for the fat days) as it is the clothing that exposes your body to the greatest extent. A badly chosen bathing suit on holiday will, no doubt, lead to awkward moments (such as your bottoms falling down whilst entering/leaving the pool, sagging etc) that need to be avoided at all costs! The good thing about a 'string' (or tie up) bikini was that I was able to tighten the top or bottoms if and when I needed to whilst avoiding sagging. Perfect. The men seemed to enjoy my bikini too ;)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">My favourite outfit, for holiday and in general, is my <i>Topshop</i> leopard print playsuit (below) which is loose fitting with a cute tie at the centre to emphasise the waist. I wore this on a number of occasions, especially on nights out as the shorts somewhat protected me from the advances of unwanted Turkish men! Although when you are drunk, it is a BITCH to go to the toilet haha.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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Finally, thought I would show you this dress as everyone always compliments me on it and I have no idea why they all love it so much! It is a couple years old but I do enjoy wearing it, even if it is too big. It's <i>New Look</i> as well, which makes it even better!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I think that my summer fashion is generally practical, loose fitting, comfortable yet on-trend (mostly). I really miss Turkey, so, so much!</div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com0Bodrum/Muğla Province, Turkey37.035339 27.43029000000001437.0193445 27.386377000000014 37.0513335 27.474203000000013tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-64053228841531272432011-08-20T09:23:00.000-07:002011-08-20T09:23:44.251-07:00Whoops, I lost my mind<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I realise that I have kind of neglected this blog recently. I have had <b>SO MUCH </b>on my plate, with exams and then various holidays - Malawi, France and then Turkey on Tuesday! I have a number of opinions about those holidays, some good, some bad...but I digress, I have decided that I am going to try and re-invent this blog; delete awkward/unwanted posts, change layout etcetc. I feel it should be properly cared for, and I will have plenty of time as I am about to begin my studies at Kent University studying <b>English and American Literature</b>. I am very much looking forward to it, meeting new people and immersing myself in the beautiful topic. <u>First up:</u> Daphne Du Maurier's '<i>The Birds</i>' (the basis for Alfred Hitchcock's film of the same name). </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I got my A level results on Thursday. I achieved A*, A, B, B. I am disappointed in both the B's as I worked <b>SO HARD</b> for <b>MONTHS </b>in order to achieve my grades. However, due to the fact that <i><b>150,000</b></i> of this years applicants didn't get into university, I should count myself lucky that I got into my first choice with absolutely no problems! I was very grumpy on Thursday due to the grades, but I then got over myself and had the most lovely night out with my friends to celebrate the end of an era! I will miss everyone, but me and my friends are already figuring out how long it'll take to visit each other and because many of us are near London it's a good meeting point! AND I CAN GO TO PARIS EASIER THAN COMING HOME :D</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So, that's the big change in my life. I am very excited now and look forward to the next chapter in my life.</span></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-9460928657845126802011-03-28T09:14:00.000-07:002011-03-28T09:15:13.914-07:0026th March - Protest Against the Cuts in London Photo's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxI13OeVN9C_ak2TFVlSBckg3jJzUIh1n6UsB5_T-2IJKLZMmnH8fPLQPc55nT_Shw8XqSs9VWsgAtqQrZiRfC45Jb8Y71in8epnlJicOTIV6_L6iA_cuZ8zDAuZWmLxnLnW7TAhyphenhyphentcj4/s1600/P1130144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxI13OeVN9C_ak2TFVlSBckg3jJzUIh1n6UsB5_T-2IJKLZMmnH8fPLQPc55nT_Shw8XqSs9VWsgAtqQrZiRfC45Jb8Y71in8epnlJicOTIV6_L6iA_cuZ8zDAuZWmLxnLnW7TAhyphenhyphentcj4/s400/P1130144.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6s_qYM5rKwTvktWuhkp0ndzoy7UV8zQvQhzZdMPgC8AOognv3UCa2znbpPh9WHn4E1jeSEKHaxjFT65uSYhtOSAnCMB-aSoG5isqlLgFJWNrpn_pRZ6A-WGQgBRFGTxXkbx6i6rxS3fU/s1600/P1130241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6s_qYM5rKwTvktWuhkp0ndzoy7UV8zQvQhzZdMPgC8AOognv3UCa2znbpPh9WHn4E1jeSEKHaxjFT65uSYhtOSAnCMB-aSoG5isqlLgFJWNrpn_pRZ6A-WGQgBRFGTxXkbx6i6rxS3fU/s400/P1130241.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-73621932398772072812011-03-19T15:06:00.000-07:002011-03-19T15:06:34.214-07:00My Red Nose Day Vlog :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="283" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vAqsMOz19ig" title="YouTube video player" width="450"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I realise this isn't great, but I am new and I am trying to find my voice :)</div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-36838563045267050332011-03-16T11:13:00.000-07:002011-03-16T11:13:52.276-07:00The Importance of Charity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/images/2009/02/12/red_nose09_470_470x250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/images/2009/02/12/red_nose09_470_470x250.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ok, so I am going to have a SLIGHT moan about the importance of charity and the selfishness of many people I know. This Friday (18th March 2011) is Red Nose Day (Comic Relief). For those of you who do not know what RND is, it is a one night TV event where celebrities (from A list to Z list) appear in skits, one of music videos etc. The BBC Newsreaders do their infamous dances, Dr Who gives a preview of the next series and the Soaps join together, usually in a comedic sing-song. It began in 1988, following the huge famine in Africa, Ethiopia especially. It's slogan is 'Do something funny for money' and every two years it raises tens of millions of pounds that will go to those worse off than us; those in extreme poverty, with HIV etc - all in the UK and Africa. Over the years it has already made a big difference, but it is still an important part of our culture, with the majority of the country tuning in to watch. It's something that I have always been involved in, and it is especially close to my heart after visiting Africa in 2008 and witnessing first hand the conditions many people live in, and the effect that a small amount of money has on these people's lives. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am really looking forward to RND '11, yet I have a number of friends - or at least people I know - who not only think that I am weird for feeling this way, but also have no interest in helping out. With regards to this charity, or any charity. And I wonder how, in this day and age, with the amount of suffering that is in the world, people do not care enough to give even £1 (which buys a red nose, or may buy videos/CD's/DVD's in charity shops) to a charity. Why? Because they care more about themselves than others. And it's not just charity, it's things that DIRECTLY affect them; such as the government's cuts to the public sector which they will not fight to save; it is saving money for university/holidays/the future in general. They do this because they live in the here and now, they aren't currently effected by the cuts, and they aren't directly linked to any charity - so see no need to support or care for any of this. Instead, they fritter their money away on clothes, food, DVD's, whatever; materialistic stuff that they will use once and never again. Now, I am not saying I am perfect; but I am getting better with my money nowadays and unlike many people, I don't get government support (such as EMA) and I have a job (of which every penny I have earned has gone into a savings account) but I still splurge now and then. However, my reasoning for doing so differs from that of many people my age. The reason I may spend £40 on an item of clothing when I have money is because I know I will get good use out of it for a long time, and because I know if I don't, then I am at risk of wasting all my money on food/alcohol which I then get annoyed about. My friends keep inviting me out on nights out, and of course I would LOVE to go, but spending £15-25 a week on a night out with friends = up to £100 a month, and that is RIDICULOUS. I cannot see how people can be so uncaring and unaware - and they then complain that they don't have any money, yet I have £1,800 that I don't want to dip in to in order to go out with them. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Luckily for me, I think I will fare quite well at university and as long as I am careful, I should have minimal debt at the end of it. Many people I know, however, will have extremely huge debts because they throw their money away like bits of rubbish. Now, I may be overexaggerating here, but you get my point. Today's youth is more concerned about themselves and feeding their needs than about others or about their future troubles (as they don't pay any attention to the news and the stories of the economic climate). I urge people to, instead of spending money on an item of clothing that you will wear once, think 'Do I love this? Will I wear it a lot?', if no, put it back. Maybe some of your money could be given to charity. £10 - which is nothing - will make a huge difference to someone's life, someone who is less fortunate than you in some way; maybe they have a disease, are in poverty etc. £10 will buy two mosquito nets for African's. That will save two people from getting Malaria, and two people from dying. If you watch RND, actually ring or text in and GIVE them money. Don't be one of those people that sits there, enjoying the entertainment but doesn't think about giving any donations. Save your money up; create a separate savings account that half your earnings each month goes in to and you'll be surprised how much you save so that you can spend it on something worthwhile (thats how I got my MacBook Pro!). Just.....care.</div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-80541741068827637172011-02-27T13:54:00.000-08:002011-02-27T13:54:11.871-08:00London Fashion Week....Best of, as chosen by me<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RlYPU65PzltxzUwnNdjGDPLYyUjQPX1P9PpK3kmOGB6yvwRv7oAhkHaJch3msCqc6sWProySnnSH5miQVMKSxd-FE2iJJX8tR187d2EfTBtc6Yi7eKEZ8NwP6hZQtB2F65PCDu9KKc8/s1600/tumblr_lh7qx11aDY1qdggyho1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5RlYPU65PzltxzUwnNdjGDPLYyUjQPX1P9PpK3kmOGB6yvwRv7oAhkHaJch3msCqc6sWProySnnSH5miQVMKSxd-FE2iJJX8tR187d2EfTBtc6Yi7eKEZ8NwP6hZQtB2F65PCDu9KKc8/s400/tumblr_lh7qx11aDY1qdggyho1_500.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi333qTdUxkxim50DLItUzMCi5stW3J0qrznTUvJDVKfKWD4YMbYR9WpoVUsGgABVkDC9Vi6msFGW94gAM4BvF0lVEM3l9GqbL2JcXEWxlBUto6N6fVafy3qSWSRR8evi5A2sf3wFwj3Eo/s1600/tumblr_lha6kx7rsS1qzlkx6o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi333qTdUxkxim50DLItUzMCi5stW3J0qrznTUvJDVKfKWD4YMbYR9WpoVUsGgABVkDC9Vi6msFGW94gAM4BvF0lVEM3l9GqbL2JcXEWxlBUto6N6fVafy3qSWSRR8evi5A2sf3wFwj3Eo/s400/tumblr_lha6kx7rsS1qzlkx6o1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(she is my Style Icon - Olivia Palermo)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGDtj9R29YALe7igI0e_1thvOMzynW6UEu0-EzhWfbO2BWBAmG5NO4xS2C95ASVLLf_sA3ITiCcBfDCkKhVqOVL3VsW-PP13LZixATvBgf9jMZJwVB9HCM1b6ZufpDDRsftPZEaB1noc/s1600/tumblr_lhah74hr4Q1qatb9fo1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvGDtj9R29YALe7igI0e_1thvOMzynW6UEu0-EzhWfbO2BWBAmG5NO4xS2C95ASVLLf_sA3ITiCcBfDCkKhVqOVL3VsW-PP13LZixATvBgf9jMZJwVB9HCM1b6ZufpDDRsftPZEaB1noc/s400/tumblr_lhah74hr4Q1qatb9fo1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RZEw08YrN4__ezIfI4714caQ8j91pJwO7ptpytCDKzDeLRqAyI23oelrCmh7NnZkf5GFq9cTkNNWZuP9guzxEBUGEd-6KcTosDDMGyNXeVh0TQaLUgMDlbE2RQw1KdPIi1L12RUYqro/s1600/tumblr_lhajl0oOVM1qzarkho1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2RZEw08YrN4__ezIfI4714caQ8j91pJwO7ptpytCDKzDeLRqAyI23oelrCmh7NnZkf5GFq9cTkNNWZuP9guzxEBUGEd-6KcTosDDMGyNXeVh0TQaLUgMDlbE2RQw1KdPIi1L12RUYqro/s400/tumblr_lhajl0oOVM1qzarkho1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_LtkBKSTy61tpN4R6AzaBLc2skp6byFCOYOf8zbQLEfqKa9FD40pUpU0XyeN1_ThBoUerOxUaVhtu6xg-Pmx9We5q8OZmtL5rjSAOI9nHTMsTinN0ek2ikVB04sSqMiXMs0Tef-wY_I/s1600/tumblr_lha21pSqRU1qfiit1o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_LtkBKSTy61tpN4R6AzaBLc2skp6byFCOYOf8zbQLEfqKa9FD40pUpU0XyeN1_ThBoUerOxUaVhtu6xg-Pmx9We5q8OZmtL5rjSAOI9nHTMsTinN0ek2ikVB04sSqMiXMs0Tef-wY_I/s400/tumblr_lha21pSqRU1qfiit1o1_500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-76899712625703590462011-02-16T10:27:00.000-08:002011-02-16T11:31:58.243-08:00Hey, I got some new shoes on and everybody's smiling...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">So, I bought myself those tan brogues that I was umming and ahhing over. They are exchange only so I am a bit :/ ... I have spent the last hour trying on all my clothes trying to see if they suit, as they are so different and having fat legs (which doesn't show as much in these pictures) doesn't help matters. Do they look ok? And what else can I wear them with?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0g-o8d9hZdZK-7tdNieEpjbW_BNSf6nYuwxs9UsSCf-IPHCic8FLlwtwPrVKz1MERYzHYPSPsScDTCHjPwIQcYBs583m-akQgYDwBxbQcErWWlZyS6cdtg5M6mIKQBxnM-WR4CI9122s/s1600/P1130012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0g-o8d9hZdZK-7tdNieEpjbW_BNSf6nYuwxs9UsSCf-IPHCic8FLlwtwPrVKz1MERYzHYPSPsScDTCHjPwIQcYBs583m-akQgYDwBxbQcErWWlZyS6cdtg5M6mIKQBxnM-WR4CI9122s/s400/P1130012.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I must admit they are divine, and my outfit here is pretty awesome (will wear it tomorrow, should I choose to keep the shoes). I needed some summery shoes as I am wearing out my boots...lol. I can't wait for it to be summer so i can wear nice dresses and no tights! EEP :D hehe. But yes, I am so in love with fashion right now. I also bought myself a sleeveless, cropped denim jacket which is gorgeous and goes with EVERYTHING. I am a happy bunny...now off to do english coursework :S</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh, and here is my new jacket....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_d6RNLv8cEqiOqwm06-QVXRPwk69gwhi_A-Ld5ptqrMA0PIWEbafHCIlm1DCW40zDXr_HTiM4vFToFBMKe7LKbwkzOTEvCfU7QcZwsnRo4xIVg-J8bPjyiH69ONA1XOsrvZqeV70lvcs/s1600/Photo+on+2011-02-16+at+19.27+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_d6RNLv8cEqiOqwm06-QVXRPwk69gwhi_A-Ld5ptqrMA0PIWEbafHCIlm1DCW40zDXr_HTiM4vFToFBMKe7LKbwkzOTEvCfU7QcZwsnRo4xIVg-J8bPjyiH69ONA1XOsrvZqeV70lvcs/s400/Photo+on+2011-02-16+at+19.27+%25232.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-25713766102161263522011-02-09T14:17:00.000-08:002011-02-09T14:17:33.117-08:00Brogues...Ok, so today I went shopping with my Gran. It was quite good. I went to topshop and bought the loveliest playsuit (below)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPk0utpLt1RXBGBzlWlYG4wVcCfPCo2ymP_ITQUJE6D1JGzKsK_H_Er-Dbvhadl-u1Vt8ykmF_zZ4Ue-opMc2bu9sFiZSxIe89sIzfwAy20Noojf0sAW1FDOg92-QFst1lTrRJzZfq9Q/s1600/tumblr_lgcz3y4fvh1qc61h5o1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPk0utpLt1RXBGBzlWlYG4wVcCfPCo2ymP_ITQUJE6D1JGzKsK_H_Er-Dbvhadl-u1Vt8ykmF_zZ4Ue-opMc2bu9sFiZSxIe89sIzfwAy20Noojf0sAW1FDOg92-QFst1lTrRJzZfq9Q/s400/tumblr_lgcz3y4fvh1qc61h5o1_500.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I thought that it was gorgeous on the hanger and trying it on was just divine. It is so slimming and flattering, I just jumped at the chance to buy it. It was £50 but with my discount it was £45. I don't know if that is good or bad, but if I get wear out of it, then it is totally worth it :) <3 There is a lot of other stuff that I want, but I cannot decide what to buy!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I was also looking at shoes and trying to decide what to get. I want some for spring that are nice and will last. At Office, I found some nice Brogues, but the colour I wanted wasn't in stock so I tried another colour in. Because they are so different to what I am used to, it is hard to decide if they are beneficial.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAARW2axXUjKVP3lROHDJtfXz7bCs_YOTYtzdBzSAGMmL0nD-sJ9Op6HZO72jr4x3Ph-BogtVAVArmUCo8PqHfTMIp1Ehhy7XuhnrNac_RQtueUTAkzAXPpbD-AdKwEQSoVF_Oxo_dSk/s1600/33841050_z1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAARW2axXUjKVP3lROHDJtfXz7bCs_YOTYtzdBzSAGMmL0nD-sJ9Op6HZO72jr4x3Ph-BogtVAVArmUCo8PqHfTMIp1Ehhy7XuhnrNac_RQtueUTAkzAXPpbD-AdKwEQSoVF_Oxo_dSk/s320/33841050_z1.jpg" width="320" /></a>This is the colour I had wanted as it is a nice brown and will go with more stuff...they cost £68 but I would get my student discount off. The problem with Office is that they do not do refunds, only exchange, so I would need to be sure I wanted them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqESvTSBjnBjJU3YK8_3lnhm73xaa8BaXx2o9CZMpeZWca-BwPo9bo7rYc2_MQi5puWLjGXk_ktpikOAoeIek9qFYg00QIU5-j4o94HV8MfhtQpNUrOtSpUJ6_boimkWwk4IHA8y6F0A/s1600/33841070_z1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqESvTSBjnBjJU3YK8_3lnhm73xaa8BaXx2o9CZMpeZWca-BwPo9bo7rYc2_MQi5puWLjGXk_ktpikOAoeIek9qFYg00QIU5-j4o94HV8MfhtQpNUrOtSpUJ6_boimkWwk4IHA8y6F0A/s320/33841070_z1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">These are the other colour, which are equally nice but I still feel that it would be better to get the darker ones. I am not sure entirely what they will go with, as they are making a statement. So I am stressing as I need some new shoes and they are LUSH....but would I be wasting my money? Oh, I don't know...</div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-13937416559724211542011-01-26T14:10:00.000-08:002011-02-15T01:40:53.918-08:00My life with Ana<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ok, so I have lived with Ana (anorexia) for the past 4 years and it plays a large role in my day to day life. I have decided to create a post to express my feelings towards it, to address common misconceptions, to explain my situation and anything else I think of. I am in no way </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">promoting</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> Eating Disorders, I am merely stating the facts and trying to give an </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">honest account</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> from a person who has been diagnosed with this 'disease'. Believe me, I would love to live without it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Firstly, a bit about me and my experiences. My current STATS are:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Height:</b> 5'7.5"/5'8"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Weight:</b> 115 llb (8st 3)]</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>BMI:</b> 17.5</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Average daily intake: </b>1,000-1,200 calories</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Exercise:</b> Moderately active (am going to raise this once I start running more)</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ok...so it started when I was 14. I don't know how or why, but it did. It began with the Dancemat. It is a weird way to start, I know, but it did. I had lost 1 stone naturally in my first year of high school, 10 down to 9. So I was already a bit thinner. I had not realised, but my DanceMat had an 'Aerobic' option which would tell you how many calories you burned per song. I realised that if I just ran on the spot then it would burn loads of calories, even though it wasn't that accurate at all! So I kept doing it, and would get excited with the amount of calories burnt. This was the time I discovered calories, and found out all the facts. The country had just recently become very health aware, putting all those food wheels on food packets with nutritional information so it was hard to miss the calories issue. I then lost my appetite significantly. I then found out that I could run, well. My Gran asked me to come to the 'Mothers and Daughters' running group that was part of the Women's Running Network, so I said ok. I was always at the front, and had to loop back. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.netscool.com/elrio/daniela/anorexia-y-bulimia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.netscool.com/elrio/daniela/anorexia-y-bulimia.jpg" width="256" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I began to run by myself, a 3-4 mile route in 30-40 mins, depending on how I felt that day. I would do this a lot. Meanwhile, the amount of food I ate became less and less. I was obsessed with counting calories, and having as few as possible. I would tally the amount up and sometimes would eat 200 a day. Not even quarter of the recommended daily intake. I was obviously losing weight rapidly and within a month I had lost a stone. I know this because I read my diary from that year (as it was Jan-Feb time) and I was recording my daily weight. When I got to around 8 stone (112 llb) I wrote that I was worried. That I didn't want to lose any more weight because I thought I had lost enough. ... I was obviously aware of what I was doing. However, in that same day I would write that I felt disgusted that I had eaten a bit of chocolate, or binged a bit, so the next day I would eat less and run more.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This continued, and within 3 months I had lost 2 stone and was 6 stone 10 (94llb) so was significantly underweight. At this point I seemed to have hit my maximum and I was not losing weight anymore, instead fluctuating up and back down by a few llb. It was horrid. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I had absolutely no concentration. I was making myself sick. I was exercising whenever I could. I was refusing food. I remember one time I cried in class, I don't know why, and my teacher GAVE ME MONEY TO BUY LUNCH. I bought quiche and ate it all and spent ages crying and feeling awful, wanting to throw up. I couldn't believe I had done that after I told myself I would eat half of it. I was going out of class to throw up. I was crying all the time. My friends left me (which is the absolute worst thing anyone can do to an anorexic...I still haven't forgiven them completely for that, because I NEEDED someone and no one was THERE, it was teachers instead.) I would break down and tell my teachers what I was feeling, that I didn't want ana but at the same time I did. I was so bad that I was told I didn't have to do my SATs test in year 9, instead have a week off. I had to lie and say I was sick. It was somewhat humiliating.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">So...I was never hospitalised, but was an out-patient. I went on regular visits to the hospital and got a counsellor. She was helpful and I met her anorexic daughter. She told me about her experiences, and she was worse than me by so much. She almost died. Yet I just got ideas rather than shock tactics. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Then one day, I suddenly seemed to have gained weight. I got uo to 8st and my period came back. To this day I don't know what caused it, but it happened. I went back up to almost 9 stone, but then back down to 8 which I stayed at for a long time. Then recently, I weighed myself. 8 st 6. 120llb. I felt sick and refused to eat. So now I am trying to lose weight. it doesn't seem to be happening but I am trying. I know the cut off point for my period so I just won't go below that. I hate looking this way. I want to be toned and beautiful and skinny, not fat like I am now. People can tell me I am not, but Ana won't listen. She says I AM fat. I don't want to fight this. I know people don't care. No one has noticed. So I shall keep going. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Secondly, misconceptions/issues/my thoughts.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ok, so many people think that anorexia is just girls wanting to look like celebrities. This, is false. I never wanted to look like a celebrity. The root of anorexia is often linked to a trauma. I was bullied from a young age, and still am. My dad walked out when I was 8, I blocked all memories before that age. The divorce was messy and I have never forgiven him, instead blame myself. I blame myself for my brother's disease also. I am one of the 'intelligent' girls and I put pressure on myself constantly. I have OCD, BDD and have bipolar tendencies. All other girls I know with this disease have pretty much the same story. We are all the 'intelligent' girls, who have gone through something bad and need to get control back. It's not about being skinny to start with.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/i/tim/2010/12/30/anorexia-isabellecaro-640_620x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://www.cbsnews.com/i/tim/2010/12/30/anorexia-isabellecaro-640_620x350.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Also, WE NEED OUR FRIENDS. When I was at my worst, I lost everyone. To this day I don't know why, they just became horrid and cruel and made me want to kill myself. It MADE ME WORSE. I recognise that people do not understand the disease and get scared, and I was the first girl in our year to get anorexia. So no one got it. But they told me they would bitch about me. Little did they know that I was self harming (I would scratch my arms so much they are now scarred a little), crying, throwing up, running, screaming, hurting, because I NEEDED them and I couldn't understand why they hated me. They said I had become a bitch. A) I am not aware that I ever was a bitch, B) If I gave off that impression it was Ana, not me, and this is because Ana reverts you back to a childlike state and you focus only on that, so you become selfish. It is not our fault, so if you know someone with the disease, don't alienate them. Care for them, listen to them, be there for them. Even if they push you away, let them know you will be there because they need that.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anorexia doesn't necessarily just go away, nor does it not exist if you look healthy. Just because someone is back at a normal weight does not mean that they still don't need help, that they still have it. Because I know I suffer with it now. I am terrified of getting fat. Anorexia may be a cry for help and once a normal weight, the support needs to continue in order to reduce the risk of a relapse. IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Anorexia is a mental disease. It affects mostly girls, but quite a lot of boys too. It's like a voice in your head telling you that you're fat and no one will like you as you are ugly as well. It is not an attention seeking thing, and if it is we are not aware of this. Apparently, people are born with an anorexic tendency and something will trigger it. Don't tell them how selfish they are, or that they should 'just die' or whatever, because that doesn't help. Whatever you feel, I am sorry to say, is irrelevant. Until they have got help, do not try 'tough love' because it makes it worse. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If there is anything I have missed, let me know. I hope this has been informative. Stay strong.</span></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-75784148265185060112011-01-24T10:45:00.000-08:002011-01-24T10:45:52.730-08:00I painted this...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3rPz2gKeGVNFYS_OuBHD8QUTw2-jNJ3ZpllqE9zyAc16hXjwH2gWMaWqOfmLNyVY4Rwj0HYQAjqNXg0QIuXNHb79ZsYKr3fAZrKLRE3ApIioWu6X9Weei2CfVUmy9w2b5vzX0aTyNsTo/s400/165723_10150382365020512_784205511_17282384_6587899_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freedom Through the Written Word</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">One, it's actually in black and white, my hipstamatic made it red lol.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Two, I don't know if I like it</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Three, it is for my Extended Project Presentation on Wednesday. Part of a Poster for Martin Luther King and Malcolm X as I focus on their autobiographies.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Opinions?? :)</div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-26337092940516399142011-01-19T15:35:00.000-08:002011-01-19T15:35:12.521-08:00My favourite Vogue Covers...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.models.com/oftheminute/images/2007/05/gemma-w-vogue-it-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i.models.com/oftheminute/images/2007/05/gemma-w-vogue-it-cover.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.models.com/feed/uploads/1260033797_orig_vianna1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i.models.com/feed/uploads/1260033797_orig_vianna1.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.poster.net/ritts-herb/ritts-herb-vogue-june-1991-8400383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.poster.net/ritts-herb/ritts-herb-vogue-june-1991-8400383.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.mariasphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/beauty-and-the-beast-vogue-cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.mariasphoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/beauty-and-the-beast-vogue-cover.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/05_04/claudiaVOGUE_468x614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/05_04/claudiaVOGUE_468x614.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/msu-abourgeois2/vogue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o120/msu-abourgeois2/vogue.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i.models.com/oftheminute/images/book452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i.models.com/oftheminute/images/book452.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.modelinia.com/_content/slideshows/134/images/15_Vogue-Italia_Steven-Meisel_April-2007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.modelinia.com/_content/slideshows/134/images/15_Vogue-Italia_Steven-Meisel_April-2007.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This is just a small number of them but, God, aren't they stunning? I ADORE fashion and anything fashion related and these covers make me love it more. They are just so </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">classy</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">, so innovative, so creative. Vogue is one of those magazines that will live on forever. It. Is. Beauty. </span></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-38526886789573883982011-01-18T09:27:00.000-08:002011-01-18T09:27:48.512-08:00Beauty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_le5gjzxe5N1qboappo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">What is our obsession with beauty? Or, to put it another way, why are we so OBSESSED with being 'perfect' or 'sexy' or 'stunning' or.... 'fake'. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.premiere.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/list/the-100-sexiest-movie-stars-of-all-time/1.-marilyn-monroe/44945-1-eng-US/1.-Marilyn-Monroe_imagelarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.premiere.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/list/the-100-sexiest-movie-stars-of-all-time/1.-marilyn-monroe/44945-1-eng-US/1.-Marilyn-Monroe_imagelarge.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The fashion world has gone, in my opinion, too far in its quest for beauty. A beautiful woman who, 50 years ago, would be considered a pin up would today be called fat. A woman who was once seen as too thin and boyish is the epitome of beauty in our modern society. It seems that there is a certain ideal that we must all aspire to. This, to me, is wrong. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Take Marilyn Monroe, for example. She was once considered one of the most beautiful women on the planet. She was the subject of many mens desires. She was a highly sexualised pin up of the 50's and 60's. She was gorgeous. Yet she was naturally a size 14 (UK) - which is incidentally the average dress size for UK women. No one wanted a bag of bones, they wanted curves and breasts. They desired a healthy woman. If she was to launch herself today as an actress and model she would be labelled 'plus size' and would not be recognised in the same way. At all. You may hear people talk about her positively, but who can honestly say that she would have the sex appeal and the popularity today as she did 60 years ago? If it wasn't for Twiggy, our models would probably still look like this.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">------------------------</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Girls as young as 5 are beginning to feel concerned about their appearance. They wear make-up and have piercings and wear short skirts and heels. We are encouraging children to sexualise themselves and this gives raise to pedophiles, praying on innocent, naive young girls who don't realise the image they are putting across to horny men. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our mothers do not stop this. There are many women that encourage their young child to dress inappropriately because it is 'cute'. Their children are becoming fake, 'plastic' and often resemble Lolita. And we all know how that story goes...</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Even Barbie has changed. She portrays the commercial view of what a beautiful woman should look like. And girls aspire to be her. If she were a real person with the correct proportions she would be something like, 9ft tall and 100llb which would make her severely malnourished and probably dead. Is this the kind of role model children need?</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">---------------</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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<a href="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_le5gjzxe5N1qboappo1_500.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_le5gjzxe5N1qboappo1_500.gif" width="320" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our current idea of beauty has stretched so far as to give a huge rise in eating disorders, particularly among teen girls. Now, it has been suggested that an eating disorder is genetic, but only occurs through triggering. Often that triggering is the media's portrayal of beautiful, perfect women. Most of these women have been photoshopped and people do not seem to acknowledge that these models' skins are not blemish free, their legs aren't that thin and that their faces are symmetrical. Some of the triggering comes from experiences at school, for example. If you are even a little bit overweight, or perhaps you aren't what they see as attractive (even if you are) then you will be bullied horrendously. I experienced this first hand for the majority of my school life, and still experience it now. It cuts you to the core, and whilst this bullying may be down to jealousy (as often you ARE beautiful and you ARE smart and you ARE thin), you will believe it. You will look in the mirror and all you will see is a fat, ugly freak who no one loves. Trust me, I experience this on a daily basis. Sometimes, this can become extreme and lead to BDD (Body Dysmorphic Disorder) which is associated with OCD, Anorexia and Bulimia. </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Do we really need to starve ourselves in order to be beautiful? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In theory, no. Everyone will openly state that they are NOT pro-ana. Modelling agencies state that their models need to be (UK) size 8-10. But how many of those catwalk models do you REALLY think are a size 8-10? How many do you really think are encouraged to eat healthily, to exercise with caution etc? </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">--------------------</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Beauty is NOT what you see on the catwalk. It is NOT what you see in the magazines or on the TV. If you look around you, there is virtually no one who looks like them. At all. Our desire to be beautiful should be based upon intellect and personality, not on the external appearance. I know this is what everyone says, but come on, if you see couples on the street, how many of them are what the industry labels as beautiful? Beauty comes from within you, and relationships aren't built on looks alone. The reason I have gone on a rant that doesn't even make sense is because I KNOW HOW IT FEELS. I experience this pain everyday. Perhaps I am a hypocrite, because I will starve myself. I will work to lose weight. I will look in the mirror and feel ugly. I will look in the mirror and feel fat. I will feel unloved and unwanted. But this does not make me right. No one will ever be 100% content with themselves, but we can still believe this is true. We can still KNOW it is true, even, because true beauty comes from within us. And everyone is beautiful in their own way. And just because I have issues, it is not because of the industry, because I disagree with their perceptions, hey are personal issues and nothing to do with them. So shoot me...</span>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-57626178437664115782010-12-25T13:27:00.000-08:002011-01-18T10:48:40.014-08:00Christmas and all that...So...first off I would like to say Merry Christmas to you! Hope it has been a wonderful day for everyone and that you got everything that you wished for.<br />
<br />
Main present was my MacBook Pro (which I paid £679 toward so it not particularly a present, but it is awesome all the same) :) the Webcam is so fun!!:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaUl87_Et8OiCadaossE7D9PTs-douNd_FUlGBv_YWyAmvu-aW-oUEDu-3hzezhTsKeSnLlMdI4LHSYp_AhB7W9afB_TG7lBLGjrJbHAQsC4rDndeFNvcaA5GMw_GblxfzHD-Mwaaddg/s1600/Photo+on+2010-12-25+at+11.38+%25233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqaUl87_Et8OiCadaossE7D9PTs-douNd_FUlGBv_YWyAmvu-aW-oUEDu-3hzezhTsKeSnLlMdI4LHSYp_AhB7W9afB_TG7lBLGjrJbHAQsC4rDndeFNvcaA5GMw_GblxfzHD-Mwaaddg/s400/Photo+on+2010-12-25+at+11.38+%25233.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2U_udQik7z5DXXVsHYnI1QwNP0FFvwnz0WBnz0eunxlcZeFmlTgn3Z_OGd4i0QtN6X_ck8m5z0Nh9xihutnd_csiFP2-xg7Lwi63_-q6HyO3FG5o0VLUE65QwwD1Ylz3Utx0qixvlR18/s1600/Photo+on+2010-12-25+at+11.39+%25232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2U_udQik7z5DXXVsHYnI1QwNP0FFvwnz0WBnz0eunxlcZeFmlTgn3Z_OGd4i0QtN6X_ck8m5z0Nh9xihutnd_csiFP2-xg7Lwi63_-q6HyO3FG5o0VLUE65QwwD1Ylz3Utx0qixvlR18/s400/Photo+on+2010-12-25+at+11.39+%25232.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">... and here is a silly one for good measure :):</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcOnMA8LNSZRpxjwkhTnyFVxF4LkJrWzTmIoxN0S0hig1YCrnvXgqHGkNV56lUTXBNNjNnhOlaS3a3-49KOZHCE_BjZ2U8J7IvFCL32egjYCIp2fig5mz5xFLCBF5kDWx7GMqR_KCz_o/s1600/Photo+on+2010-12-23+at+15.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqcOnMA8LNSZRpxjwkhTnyFVxF4LkJrWzTmIoxN0S0hig1YCrnvXgqHGkNV56lUTXBNNjNnhOlaS3a3-49KOZHCE_BjZ2U8J7IvFCL32egjYCIp2fig5mz5xFLCBF5kDWx7GMqR_KCz_o/s400/Photo+on+2010-12-23+at+15.19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyhoo..been a good day. Stuffed my fat gob all day, I bet I have gained half a bloody stone today. Feel awful...no guys will EVER want me now. UGHGHGHHG. But Tv was good, Ben got Xbox Kinekt thingy and it is so random and funny :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Still thinking about my whole situation at the moment...lots of guys seeming interested in me. However there was only one who has been so unbelievably sweet and I dunno if that is just him or whether he interested in me. Either way he is a very nice person and made me feel special the other day :) The other guys are just horny...but funny. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomorrow I have to work. F.M.L!!! haha Really don't WANT to get up early and go into frigging Debenhams for 9am! UUUGGHH</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyhoo..watching 'Come Fly With Me' then beddy byes :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-88707884461100941772010-12-12T13:42:00.000-08:002010-12-12T13:42:11.112-08:00Another BlogOk, so it turns out I made a wordpress blog ages ago.<br />
Here is the link: <a href="http://littlemissphotographer92.wordpress.com/">http://littlemissphotographer92.wordpress.com/</a><br />
I am not sure whether I prefer wordpress or Blogger...opinions?Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-42962185576560740962010-12-11T05:45:00.000-08:002010-12-11T05:47:19.384-08:00Photo's I took at the Exeter Protest against fees - Weds. I led the College march ;)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqF__XfmBMfKyE4ojQMrlfnnBlcLcB-ryn0Q9t8aDIRnz1BA-U4YgzRbJLA6Ns22u6tyzX1cXWx9kFbba6MrB8uDPuJQRI1eBrzAu80ZEbewP1bssms_xVk4l-tY0qryqj1KIpWRfoEM/s1600/P1120681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqF__XfmBMfKyE4ojQMrlfnnBlcLcB-ryn0Q9t8aDIRnz1BA-U4YgzRbJLA6Ns22u6tyzX1cXWx9kFbba6MrB8uDPuJQRI1eBrzAu80ZEbewP1bssms_xVk4l-tY0qryqj1KIpWRfoEM/s400/P1120681.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2LFX27U1kvPTlAw5iQ7e-o4FawlZfs_1tRj886K6s6GQP5sb0hyy8tpMOwO0kH4PQ8syqjdWhlkxO6Z14CDKqhN6A8dxIG79w5SC243IRd7tKr65pG7OldIfkXd5kLH5tTs7LO_KRBU/s1600/P1120683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm2LFX27U1kvPTlAw5iQ7e-o4FawlZfs_1tRj886K6s6GQP5sb0hyy8tpMOwO0kH4PQ8syqjdWhlkxO6Z14CDKqhN6A8dxIG79w5SC243IRd7tKr65pG7OldIfkXd5kLH5tTs7LO_KRBU/s400/P1120683.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsah4M2v1I4_Za4N3f_mNJQnr6u9Duh4X3VQeSXKO-CCTIo9IH40siXuBKGUyQaQ6IEIw-8Wvczp9eUpL0thWpgw10i78HqGqo-M2xFtkqhK-cbirLOECk7adGGuEpDB0G8L9LdxD0dQ/s1600/P1120685.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIsah4M2v1I4_Za4N3f_mNJQnr6u9Duh4X3VQeSXKO-CCTIo9IH40siXuBKGUyQaQ6IEIw-8Wvczp9eUpL0thWpgw10i78HqGqo-M2xFtkqhK-cbirLOECk7adGGuEpDB0G8L9LdxD0dQ/s400/P1120685.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2uGCK8q22i0yXuQuIbkHImHfsu5w8JWF7fgUEZIi3Lajh-7ip1saR38ERW-MkR_yr6rk3LQmMj6EMacSHwL3aELEfhvaik6MKxskii9-DekqslFVs_gc87B39TSG7smE6b53PHlLxh0/s1600/P1120696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2uGCK8q22i0yXuQuIbkHImHfsu5w8JWF7fgUEZIi3Lajh-7ip1saR38ERW-MkR_yr6rk3LQmMj6EMacSHwL3aELEfhvaik6MKxskii9-DekqslFVs_gc87B39TSG7smE6b53PHlLxh0/s400/P1120696.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEh1SshEBokxhkgjAdqoSos27U3QB3V3hiriwavHM0eyCe1HVcixEV7ls2o0K4mxnjTI-h_RbxyQ_4NwoTpPP9A3Qac4hS1fgvGJp4dllbOyJO61KKj82nk1aAJBoZIMxvWTbcZZYtHw/s640/P1120697.JPG" width="265" /></div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-64363186123236048402010-12-06T13:50:00.000-08:002010-12-06T13:57:57.643-08:00No 'ifs', No 'buts', No education cuts!As you will be aware (if you live in the UK or you keep on top of UK affairs) our new government is deciding to cut EVERYTHING. ... pretty much. They want to destroy our country, why?<br />
<br />
At the moment, I am in my second year of 6th form and I had planned to take a 'Gap Yah' to travel back to Malawi, the place I love so much. However, the government has proposed a raise in University Tuition Fees. It will go from £3,290 to a whopping £9,000 (although may I point out that this will be the MAXIMUM). Therefore I will not be able to go on my 'Gap Yah' anymore, instead I have had to contact all my Universities and ask to be considered for 2011 entry, of which most have OK-ed it. I didn't WANT to go, but my family has forced me into it.<br />
<br />
I have bee taking part in the nationwide protests against the proposed increase in fees, because I do not agree with it at all. I can safely say that I am incredibly proud of everyone who has taken part so far, we have done so well. I was really impressed with the way everyone acted last Tuesday when we launched a spontaneous sit-in at the College. We managed to grab the attention of our SU, who are now fully backing us and supporting a further protest this coming Wednesday (of which I hope to lead somewhat :D, just for LOLs). We are being associated with the Exeter Anti-Cuts Alliance who are based at the Uni, and Rob Edwards (one of the leaders) has told us to stay separate from the SU, yet the SU told us to separate from the EACA! Oh dear, maybe we should just do what we want?<br />
<br />
I got into a massive argument yesterday with a supposed friend and her boyfriend who put up a shit argument as to why the government is OK to cut the Arts and Media. I completely oppose the idea, of course, because art is an integral part of our society and without the ability to express ourselves freely it seems that we would no longer be living in a democracy, instead more a dictatorship. Arts and the media are important for many reasons:<br />
<ul><li>Without them we would not have the internet, television, games, newspapers, films, clothes, buildings, appliances, photography, cars, ANYTHING</li>
<li>It's not just about art as in paintings, it's museums, theatres, Universities and more that will be affected</li>
</ul><ul><li>The Arts and the Media are things that earn billions of pounds for our country each year, without them we would be in an even bigger recession.</li>
<li>People ENJOY them, for many reasons. They enable a freedom that cannot be gained through things such as science.</li>
<li>If we don't have the arts and the media, we may as well cut EVERYTHING ELSE, because everything has some aspect of these two subjects. For example, English Literature is a subject based on the arts, History relies heavily on them, as does philosophy and even psychology. If we cut Arts and Media, it would appear that we should cut these other subjects, despite them being among the most popular university degree courses for the country.</li>
<li>EVERYONE is creative in some way, and they should be encouraged to express that creativity in whatever way they can. We should not, as my friend said, let them "find it out for themselves" because that is ridiculous.</li>
<li>Artists don't do it for money, they do it because they love it. If they make lots of money, that is an added bonus.</li>
<li>There are so many arts and media based degrees, if we cut them many Uni's will have to close. </li>
<li>Art and media is a way of communicating stories, opinions etc. It has been an important part of our world since cavemen began drawing on the walls, and since humans began to communicate.</li>
</ul>Art and media brings so much more to our culture than the above points, but I would be here all night if I listed them all. I am still shocked that my friend felt that way, and that she let her boyfriend insult me in that cruel and degrading manner. That's not very friend-like to me :( And their arguments were not very good, so I have no idea why they shot me down so much. What is funny is that as soon as I mentioned films, he agreed with me. Funny that! YES, people are entitled to their own opinions, but it does NOT make it ok to call someone a 'stupid cow' for fighting for what they believe in, especially when they cannot present a good argument!.... Anyhoo, anyone who thinks that arts and media should be cut should go and live somewhere where humans have not affected the landscape, or even visited, because that way they will not be around ANYTHING that has any link to arts or media.<br />
<br />
Rant over..... HAHABexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-62615536741339278552010-10-28T15:21:00.000-07:002010-10-28T15:21:03.475-07:00Is there something wrong with me?4100) When girls with gorgeous bodies tell me their weights, and they weigh more than me, I look at myself and wonder what other people see. I wonder why I feel so fat and disgusting, when I can clearly see that they're beautiful.<br />
<br />
<div class="right"> 4091) I wish people understood that you don’t have to be underweight to have an Eating Disorder.</div><div class="right"> </div><div class="right"></div><div class="right"></div><div class="right">4056) I can feel myself slipping into an ed, some days i care but most of the time I wish it would happen faster.<br />
</div><div class="right"><br />
</div><div class="right">Why do these appeal to me so much? :/<br />
</div>Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7959450400731829394.post-76267374424370324682010-10-25T11:57:00.001-07:002010-10-25T11:57:29.418-07:00poem I wrote ages ago about love...It seems to me that love is a daydream,<br />
Happy, <br />
Perfect,<br />
Beautiful.<br />
You are blissfully unaware of reality,<br />
Pain,<br />
Loss.<br />
<br />
You can’t get him off your mind<br />
He’s your first thought when you wake<br />
Your last thought when you fall asleep.<br />
You are so in love<br />
You cannot imagine your life without him<br />
And you cannot remember how you lived,<br />
Survived,<br />
Before him.<br />
<br />
He makes you feel complete.<br />
<br />
Lying in his arms you feel safe,<br />
And the rest of the world disappears.<br />
Your fingers entwine <br />
And you can’t help but smile.<br />
You kiss him and you feel like you are flying<br />
Your head spins round<br />
As you realise there’s nowhere else in the world<br />
That you would rather be.<br />
<br />
The first time he said those words<br />
Those 3 beautiful words<br />
I love you.<br />
And you know he meant it.<br />
<br />
You tell your friends of your love<br />
Your plans.<br />
You swear he’s the one,<br />
And that you will never love someone else<br />
Because in your eyes he is perfection<br />
And you don’t care what anyone else says.<br />
You are in love.<br />
<br />
You are so young.<br />
You give everything to him<br />
Begging for it all in return<br />
And if you don’t get it you feel worthless<br />
Selfish<br />
Insecure.<br />
You wonder how he could love you<br />
Want to be with you<br />
For all you see in the mirror is ugliness<br />
And you want never to lose him<br />
As you fear you will never find someone like him <br />
For the rest of your life.<br />
<br />
You believe everything that he says<br />
Trust in him entirely<br />
For he said those 3 words<br />
I love you.<br />
<br />
You let yourself get caught up in his mistakes<br />
His lies<br />
Because you think it’s just a one off.<br />
You need him<br />
You cannot cope without him.<br />
He hurts you <br />
But you forgive<br />
Because you are so caring,<br />
Even though your friends say he’s not worth it.<br />
It all comes down to those 3 words<br />
I love you.Bexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14579132296634105904noreply@blogger.com0