Hello there! 

Can you believe that I have been back from Canada for about 2 months now. Where has the time gone? I really, really wish I knew. I have been working, I've been seeing friends, I have been house hunting (I FINALLY have one and it sounds perfect!) and, of course, blogging! Still, with results being posted (although mine still aren't...grrrrrr) I thought it would be nice to do a little post on a few things I learned during my year abroad. 

TRAVEL // Montreal, Quebec

Hello!
Are you guys ready for my next instalment of my travel photos? Of course you are!
After a few days in Toronto, I grabbed my bags and jumped on a 4 hour train to Montreal. We met the most adorable Canadian couple who said 'ey' at the end of pretty much every sentence and who had been married for 60 years or something. They gave us lots of tips too - especially on marriage. You know you've got a winner if you have a husband who lets you eat crackers in bed apparently.

TRAVEL // Niagara Falls

Hello there!
Just 2 days into my trip I found myself on a coach to one of the most beautiful places I have seen in my life - Niagara Falls. It was the reason I flew all the way over to Toronto and it is such a beautiful area. The falls are just breathtaking and I could stare a them for hours (although I did not have this opportunity unfortunately due to a very badly organized tour). However, if you ever get the chance to go to New York or Toronto, please go see Niagara Falls. You will not regret it!

STUDY // I'm home!

Hello there!

This post has been a long time coming.

I kept starting to write this post but have never been able to finish it. I tried as soon as I finished my final exam. I tried to write it again once all my bags were packed. I sat down at Vancouver airport, Montreal airport and LAX and attempted to write this post and I just could not bring myself to do it. Now I'm back in England I feel like I HAVE to write it because I am no longer living in North America anymore and I really do need to sum up the past month and a half that I have been away for.

If I am honest, I was in complete denial that I was ever going to leave Canada. I had a job interview lined up, I had accommodation sorted for when I got the job (which I didn't get but considering the whole getting a visa thing last minute is completely understandable!) and I was convinced that I would not be leaving for a good few months. I had 3 weeks of travelling around the East coast of Canada and then West coast of the US before I had to leave and it just felt so far away. 

However, now I'm sitting on my sofa with my cat, watching Pointless, and yearning to go back to Vancouver as soon as possible. I have banned all travel websites and have three estate agent websites up instead because I still don't have a house for university this year (slightly worrying - but I'm technically a grad student so I'll just repeat that over and over until I have someone let me live in their house). 

I may be awfully jet lagged (like crazy - it's not what I want right now) but at least I have Radio 1's Big Weekend this weekend with all of my girls in Norwich to look forward to. Muse, Florence, Tay Tay, Catfish, James Bay and more all in one weekend (for free!?) How could I even be so lucky!?

Anyway, I'm going to stop blabbering on and feeling sorry for myself and start giving a quick recall of my final weeks in Vancouver and my final thoughts on the whole thing. Let's go!

BEAUTY // Essie Berry Hard

Hello!

Just before Christmas I treated myself to my first Essie polish. I had been put off my the hefty price (considering the colours are nice but not that unique) but I was very pleasantly surprised. It's a lovely polish!