I've been a bit absent from here recently (for which I massively apologise!). It has largely been because of technological problems - apparently Internet Explorer 11 no longer supports Blogger (yes, I'm one of those people who has yet to move to Google Chrome!) which has actively prevented me from posting. Now I have moved back home, I'll be able to  occasionally use my Dad's computer to create and publish posts but of course this isn't an ideal situation - he's a very busy man!

 

In the meantime I have been blogging away on Tumblr (www.the-mocking-jade.tumblr.com) if you fancy taking a look! I'm going to keep blogging there, as I did anyway, but in an attempt to try and coordinate all my online efforts, I'm changing the name of this blog to match. For those wondering, yes the new name did start as a terrible pun on the Hunger Games! But actually, I think it fits the direction of my blog too because although I try and be professional with my blogging, I also want to have fun with it and I hope to never take myself too seriously! I think it's a great quality to be able to laugh at yourself and I am a great believer in laughter being the best medicine. Having said that, I am starting to taking blogging more seriously now; I would love for it it to complement the direction my career is hopefully going to go. I want to be a writer: both the creative route and more journalistic route appeal to me, and I'm planning to maximise on any viable opportunities that come my way. I am already building my CV by writing for free and I hope that by continuing to blog and by gaining more experience in my chosen craft, things can only improve!

 

I am due to graduate next month and of course that brings with it great a deal of fear and uncertainty! It's a tough time for many of us out there but I know I have a strong support system with my family and close friends, all of whom I am incredibly grateful for. So with that, I apologise again and I am on the lookout for a way to solve my current techy problems! I may have to admit defeat and submit to google chrome! In the meantime, if you also blog on Tumblr, let me know! Otherwise I wish you all a lovely start to the summer and I hope to be blogging again in the next day or so!

In the meantime, come and find me on Instagram, Tumblr or follow my newly named and updated Bloglovin'!

 

Much love,

 

Jade x

Last week took the form of a nice collection of activity-filled few days: I met up with my best friends who I hadn't seen since Christmas; Mum and I took our dog on a long (and windy) walk one morning; I went shopping a couple of times (sadly not for myself) and I finally got round to re-dip dying my hair. So all in all, a pretty decent week.

 

 

 

The pictures suggest that the weather was nicer than it actually was but I can't complain - we managed to avoid the rain! The wind, on the other hand, was out in full force and being the idiot I am, I stupidly left all my gloves at uni so by the time we got home my hands were absolutely frozen. It was worth it though, the walk totally tired Popstar out: she just got a bit comfy on the wrong bed!

 

 

As stated above, I also dip dyed my hair again. My hair really needs a cut but I'm planning to dye the ends red in a few days so I figured I'd cut it after all the hair dying is done. As my hair is so dark naturally, I had to use a pre lightener on it first but I actually love the colour it turns the ends of my hair. Which is ideal really, as I can't dye the ends red straightaway.

 

 

 As for the denim jacket I'm wearing there, I bought it ages ago for a cheeky £10 in the January sales from Urban Outfitters and I swear I wear it all the time. I love the collar detail and it's perfect under my ever-growing collection of men's jumpers.

 

 

 Happy Easter!
 

Jade :)

It is with the greatest relief that I can say I am home from uni for Easter. It's been an incredibly busy term since Christmas and I can't lie and say it hasn't been terribly testing at times. But like always, things are never quite as bad as they initially seem and here I am, back home for four whole weeks. And boy am I going to make the most of them.
 

I've already caught up with one of my best friends, blitzed my bedroom and eaten more food than is probably necessary. My dog (who I affectionately refer to as Popstar) has spent a lot of time in my room since I've been back and since the rest of the house are mostly still at school and work, I think she's just happy to have a personal playmate. She has started to claim my bed as hers though - I obviously don't wear the trousers (or patterned leggings) in this relationship.



As a little treat after a pretty stressful term at uni, my mum bought the two of us tickets to see Singin' in the Rain at the Palace Theatre, London on Wednesday.


We went to a matinee performance and despite being the second youngest person in the entire theatre, it was such a lovely day out. We had pizza for dinner after it had finished and only just made it in time to Victoria to catch our train home. Mum and I both dance so it was incredible to watch all the tap routines in the show (even if neither of us really understood the story line!) It was a lovely day out though, now all we need is a bit of sun to make this Easter even better.

And Easter Eggs of course. Lots and lots of Easter Eggs.

 

Finally I am now on Bloglovin'. I'm sure you've seen the rumours circulating around the internet about GFC and all that jazz so I got Bloglovin' just to be on the safe side. I spend far too much time finding new blogs to follow that I didn't want to lose all the ones I have already found! If you fancy a follow, you should find the Bloglovin' button on the right hand side of the home page :)

Hope everyone else is planning a nice, relaxed Easter :)

Jade

The whole of February seems to have literally flown right by me and the month isn't even over yet. It's an odd sensation because so very much has happened but at the same time, I feel like I almost haven't been present for most of it.

 

 

 

In short, February has been a blast.

 

February was always going to be fast and furious this year as three opposing events were all scheduled to occur. To be fair, I could happily of evaded two of them but alas, such is life.

 

So what happened in February? Firstly, I very reluctantly turned 21. I AM OFFICIALLY OLD and anyone who says otherwise is either not yet 21 or in some sort of denial. Aside from an intense hatred for celebrating my birthday, the day itself was borderline bearable this year. I had extra dance rehearsals on the actual day (BONUS) and my mum came up to spend the day with me which I have to admit was lovely. We went for dinner and I naturally ate far too much and had to run (on an incredibly full stomach) all the way across campus to make it (not quite) on time for even more dance. I don't think I've ever felt so full or so sick.

 

I was incredibly lucky though and got a few lovely little gifts from friends and family that I absolutely adore. Happy Jadey.

 

 

The start of semester two however made for a not-so-happy Jade. And not for want of trying. As much as I get bored terribly easy of doing absolutely nothing, starting new modules and learning new things just hasn't held as much appeal this time around. Still, we can't have it all and since the third event is probably going to be on the highlights of the entire year for me, I'll take a bit of degree-related despondency 

 

Unsurprisingly, February's final event is dance-related (what isn't?). As part of the university dance club, we hold an annual dance show for three consecutive nights in February and this year absolutely topped every other for me. If I'm totally honest, I pretty much threw myself into the deep end of dance because at times, it felt like the only really positive thing happening. It's certainly where I attain the most enjoyment and couple that with becoming disillusioned with my degree and despairing over turning 21, I decided to fill every spare hour doing something to do with dance.

 

The pros to this are that I am, without a doubt, the closest I've EVER been to having abs. Not most people's greatest life aspirations but I'm still excited. And I'm aware that this is rapidly becoming the most vomit-worthy 'I love dance' blog post ever but this year has been such a confidence boost that I find it hard not become some sort of soppy simpleton.

 

Because I - the shy, sarcastic, socially awkward soul - got on stage, in front on actual, real people and danced a solo I'd choreographed. It's not a big accomplishment in the grand scheme of the Earth's history but coming from the girl who, for most of her childhood, simply refused to even speak to people, it kind of feels like a big deal.

 

It proved to me a number of key things that I hope I don't ever forget. The most important one is that the stage is definitely my home away from home. I'm not some am-dram, super talented performer. I'm not the best ballerina or the most talented tapper and I doubt very much I'll make a career out of dance. But there's something so fantastically freeing about dancing on a stage, in having the knowledge that people are watching you - whether it's as a soloist, as a duet or group piece or part of a larger ensemble. And it's weird, because I am naturally such an anxious person but somehow all the hours of rehearsals and practice suddenly come together and the fear of disappointing people (dance teachers, the rest of the team, the audience or in other words everyone else alive) dissipates and all you're left with is energy and enjoyment and exhilaration.

 

So I'm exaggerating a little (guilty little English student). To sum it up succinctly, February's been fun because I've spent it doing something I genuinely love. I love the friends I've made, I love the things I've learnt to do and I love the costumes and craziness that comes part and parcel with it all. And yes, I'm aware that dance isn't for everyone but if you can find something you enjoy doing half as much as I enjoy dance, then I would consider your life well lived. I don't have many life tips to dish out but that one's golden.

 

I hope all of your Feburary's have been full of fun too :)

 

And all I can with is this: March, it looks like you have a lot to live up to.