Interview #3

My March interview is with the lovely Siobhán. So everyone give her a warm welcome. By clicking HERE you can find her blog "There's always light at the end of the tunnel"
And without further ado here is the interview.

1. First up, why did you start blogging?
Well it wasn't really by choice to be honest. It was part of my transition year I.T class. Every student in the class had to keep a blog to document the things we were doing during the year. The idea behind it was to replace the written folder of work each student would have to compile at the end of the year. I didn't take to it very well in the beginning but as time went by I realised that I loved writing and letting people know what was happening in my life.

2. What's your favourite thing about blogging?

That's a tough question. I never thought about it before, I guess my favourite thing would be sharing my story. My blog is a way for me to share my life experiences and help show others that no matter how bad things get that there is hope. I love that people can visit my blog and leave knowing that things get better. There is no limits to the things you can blog about and no matter what there is no stopping you. The freedom to express yourself and be who you really are is another one of my favourite things.

3. Any other hobbies?

Yes indeed!!

I love athletics and have been doing athletics for the past eleven years. I don't know what I would do without athletics in my life, it is such a huge part of me if I didn't have it I don't think I would be me.

Scouts is another one of my hobbies. I don't know why I love t so much I guess its the being active part and meeting new people. I have met people in scouts that have become like siblings to me and I would be lost without them.

Charity work especially related to mental health. I will do anything I can to try and make a difference to the way in which people in our society view mental health. I have been on the receiving end of stigma and so I want to make a difference and ensure young people do not have to experience what I went through in relation to stigma of mental health.

4. Do many of your friends know about your blog?

Hmm I like to think so. I know that my close friends know and any of the friends I made while in transition year know because we were all in the same boat then and we all knew about each others blogs. As I am a very active blogger and post links on facebook and twitter most of my friends would be aware of my blog. I guess being in local newspapers and kiss magazine and the fact I never shut up about my blog means that people know I blog, weather or not they read it is another questions all together.

5. How did you choose the name of your blog?

I don't really have a very good answer to this questions. I use to have lots of different quotes stuck on my bedroom wall and Theres always light at the end of the tunnel was one of them. I just decided I like it and figured that if I ever did want to write about really personal things in my life the title would suit. It shoe people that there is hope and one of the main thins my blog is about is providing hope for those who need it most.

6. What's your favourite animal?

That's a bit of a random question. Emm well I guess my favourite animal would have to be either a dog or goldfish.

7. I guess it is a bit random.... In a totally different direction then, what is your ambition in life?

Hmm well my ambition in life is to..... I don't know really. I guess I would like to go to college and do youth work. I hope that I will be able to help people in life and make a difference.

 

Thanks Siobhán for this wonderful opportunity, you were lovely to interview!

x

Easter Eggs and Chocolate Cake

At long last it is the Easter Holidays. I've been counting down the days to this glorious break but now that I actually have my Easter Holidays, I'm bored out of my mind. So naturally, I dug out the bowl and wooden spoon to do a spot of baking. I can't even remember the last time I opened a cook book or lined a tin, I've been so busy with school. And I must apologise for boring posts that probably sound like a whining teenager but nevertheless I am back and ready to delve into your lovely blogs for the next two weeks, provided I do not have a life.
Now for the cake, it is a two-layer brownie with double cream and crushed oreos in the centre and a dollop of fudge icing in top along with what is supposed to look like a nest of eggs.
Ingredients
150g Dark Chocolate
50g Milk Chocolate
80g Butter
200g Caster Sugar
110g Plain Flour
3 eggs


Method
1)  Heat oven to 180*C and line two sandwich tins.
2)  Melt dark and milk chocolate whilst adding the chopped butter.
3)  In a beaker combine 3 eggs with a tspn of vanilla extract and then add to the cooled melted chocolate and butter.
4)  Add flour and sugar and mix.
5)  Bake in prepared tins for 20 minutes.

When the cake is cooked and cooled, whip some double cream and mix in 3 crushed oreos. Spread on one layer of cake.
And finally coat the cake with chocolate fudge icing and decorate with mini eggs.

Viola; an Easter cake with chocolate goooodiness!

 

Enjoy thees chocolate-coated-two-weeks-free-from-school

x

Studying: the stress, strain and strategies.

Studying is an important but very difficult skill. Some people can just flick a mental switch and pass tests with flying colours while others will labour over notes and still nothing will sink in. It's a tedious task that takes lots of practise. I, personally, have trouble motivating myself to sit and learn. But once this brick wall is broken I have no problems with retaining information. Unfortunately (but still fortunately) we have this thing called holidays whereby our brains automatically switch off and refuse to register anything to do with numbers, facts and "educational" terms. Then when we're back at school, what do you know, we are back at square one with a fully concrete brick wall. And so the cycle starts again.
Have you ever made a timetable for studying? I'll assume you have as it is (in my opinion) a fun activity and prolongs the actual "studying". But one of the worst things you can do is use days and times. If you write a list of the days (Monday ...... Friday) and then have another perpendicular row that contains half our times (6:00,  6:30, 7:00.......) you are setting yourself up for disaster. I mean how many times have you actually stuck to it for over a month? I'm guessing the answer is somewhere between almost and never. A better strategy is to use weeks.
Write a list of subjects across the top of a sheet of paper leaving a gap at the start.
Then down the left column write week 1, week 2, week3 ........ etc. Include dates like March 18th -- March 22nd. Then fill in specific info for the first week but do not write in any other weeks. Once you've completed a piece of studying tick it off or mark it on the timetable. Then, when Friday comes, you'll know what you've studied and what you didn't get round to. Include the parts you didn't study in next week's timetable and prioritise them with a red dot. So that way you will not fall behind.
A study space is really important too. I do after school study which I find extremely helpful. I have a whole desk or sometimes two, all to myself and for two hours I get all my homework done with a little bit if study thrown in. So far I have not bothered to do anything extra when I come home but because we're close to the summer holidays I will have to do another hour when I go home. In my bedroom I have a desk but it gets cluttered so now I've cleared everything off except a globe and a mug of biros. Nothing that isn't study will be allowed to touch the desk. We are young and easily distracted so it imperative we avoid studying near interferences.
I know I'm not a know it all when it comes to studying or else I would be getting straight. But as I am at the height of the studying age and year I like to think I know a bit. If you do find yourself slacking and not bothering to sit and hit the books do not give up. Take every little piece of swotting as an achievement in itself.  Don't get fed up, there will always be good and bad days.
Participating in class will also help retain information. By using diagrams, hand actions or singing can be useful to some. The good thing about studying is that it actually becomes easier. Like I said before about the brick wall and how the very first step you take in studying will begin breaking it down. In about a week or two you should find it mush less hard to concentrate and more able to remember information.
There is lots of online sites that are specific for making timetables, flash cards and providing mock tests.
Here are a few:
examtime.com
studyclix.ie
skool.ie
I think they'll be more useful to students in the Irish system. If anyone has used them what did you think? Hopefully after reading this you might be better at studying or at least motivated to get going. So don't laze around in front of the screen, what are you waiting for? Start Studying!

x

Being Irish

So this morning I got up and plonked me green hat on me ginger locks as usual. Followed by a cup of tea and a jig with the leprachauns. Me spuds are on the boil now as I sit and pour a pint of guiness for me Faa-ther. De cows will be comin' down soon with Mary and Paddy and we'll all put on our bit of shamrocks and head off for Sunday mass.



So that was a bit of stereotyped Irish that I had to google because I really didn't know what the stereotypes were. Apparently we say "jaysus" and "top of the morning to ya" ..... this is NOT TRUE!! I have never heard those words in my life except maybe the "jaysus" one from some farmer, but that hardly deems us all big families on farms that wear green.
Actually, I think most people try to avoid wearing green even though it is my favourite colour. But of course everyone will be wearing that bit of green today...... it's Paddy's Day!
What I don't get though is why our taoiseach goes all the way to america to celebrate "being Irish" when really it should be the American President who should come to us. On top of that, have you seen the Amercian parades????!!!! The local one here really isn't worth talking aboout ( Nil se thar moladh beirte!) It is absolutely embarrassing how bad our parades are. At least if you go to the city ones you'll probably have some craic but the small town ones are useless. And don't get me started on the McDonalds milkshakes that are now green. No thank you very much!
Like, I love being Irish with our beautiful rolling (green) hills and fabulous weather. Yes, I actually like our changeble climate. Last monday and tuesday it was snowing...... Yesterday and today I was working on my tan! But now I have been told I have an American accent!!!!!! UGHHH!!!.......
I blame the American tv shows and movies I watched as a child. I'm  not trying to dis the Americans or anything, I love ye and yer ranches and cool accents and shopping malls! But Ireland is turning into America. Our culture and uniqness is going. Is mor an trua e!
I think Paddy's Day is turning into a more American mocking Irish Day. Where did they some up with green hats and ginger beards and ridiculous leprachauns?? So you'll hear it from me, there is NO SUCH THING AS LEPRACHAUNS! And we all don't drink ott. Neither are we all red heads from huge families.So hopefully today there will be a bit of craic and laughter but I will still cringe at the sight of those huge green hats with schamrocks! :/

Happy St. Patrick's Day

x

7 Day blog Challenge: Day 5, 6 and 7....

Day 5: Post a List of Your Favorite Words

Ludicrous
causing laughter because of absurdity; provoking or deserving derision; ridiculous; laughable

Dubious
uncertain, ambiguous, fishy

Palpably
obviously, clearly, tangibly

Bombarded
overrun, overwhelmed,  attacked

Day 6: Post a Pin (From Pinterest!)

make a scarf:

 

 

and here's another two pins incase the other one is lonely!

                           
                           


Day 7: Promote up to 5 Blogs

A Tiny Cup of Tea
is an adorable blog with lots of challenges (including this one) and thought provoking posts. Even the name I love!

Through a Cat's Eyes
has lots of make-up and beauty post with some interesting tags and often shares her latest books and buys.

The Satchel Girl
blogs manly about beauty, fashion and lifestyle and has a simply beautiful background design.

Feed Me Books Now
is pretty much a book blog. But it is the BEST book blog I have ever seen. Her reviews, opinions and personality are all what make it so fantastic.

In A Few Nut Shells
has a lot of inspiring post including fashion, photography, tags, helpful tricks and much mcuh more.

I have about another 50 blogs to talk about but alas I can do only 5. Apologies to the bloggers that aren't featured, I will do another post in the not so distant future to talk about other blogs so hopefully yours will be included in that list.

So that's that of Katherine Rae's challenge.

x

7 Day Blog challenge: Day 3 and 4

Day 3: Post a Recipe!

I have featured this recipe on my blog before but it is one of my favourite things to make and eat so her it is again.
Oreo stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies.

Ingredients

• 2 sticks softened butter
• 3/4 Cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 Cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla
• 3 1/2 Cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 10 oz bag chocolate chips
• 1 bag Oreo Cookies, I used the double stuff

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer cream butter and sugars until well combined. Add in eggs and vanilla until well combined.
2. In a separate bowl mix the flour, salt and baking soda. Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips until just combined. Using a cookie scoop take one scoop of cookie dough and place on top of an Oreo Cookie. Take another scoop of dough and place on bottom of Oreo Cookie. Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo Cookie is enclosed with dough. Place onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet and bake cookies 9-13 minutes or until cookies are baked to your liking. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Serve with a tall glass of milk, enjoy!

Day 4: Post About Your Favorite Book

My favourite book is Harry Potter even though it is actually 7 books but really it is one big long story. I love how magical and gripping they are and how unique, lovable, hateable and human the characters are. There is no way I could tell you who my favourite character is because there is so many. I adore Professer McGonagle, Molly Weasley, Snape, Draco, Hermione, Ron, Dumbledor, Dobby, Hagrid.......
There is a tale to tell with every Harry Potter book I own, how I got it and from whom. For example, the Order of the Phaonix was on sale in tesco after the shop flooded so now there is water stains all over it. I like how there is a memory to each of them.
If there is anyone who is reading this that hasn't read Harry Potter I am telling you now, it will be time well spent if you do.

x

7 Day Blog Challenge: Day 1 and Day 2

Hi everyone,
once again I am behind and I have to fit two posts into one. From the title you will already have seen that I am participating in a 7 day blog challenge hosted by Katherine Rae. You can find the original post here.

Day 1

Day 1: Post 5 facts about yourself  (picture optional!)

 

 

 

 

#1 I am not a very talkative person and tend to say absolutely nothing.
#2 I get really excited when I come across something to do with physics
  example:
An ambulance passes by with the siren blaring
me: Oh my God! It's the DOPPLER EFFECT!!! LOOK LOOK! Did you just see that??!!
whilst I jump up and down and start doing the sheldon cooper impression of the Doppler effect where by I go NNEEeeeewwww and move my head in circle.
#3 I am approx. 5 ft 7 (and a half)
#4 I am afraid of blood and thus needles.
#5 My feet are always cold.

Day 2

Day 2: Post 3 Facts about your Blog

(Why you started it, what it's about, et cetera.)

 

#1 One of my intentions for setting up a blog was to improve my English. I like to think that it has

#2 My blog was originally named on the spur of the moment as inkdropperr

#3 All my posts were supposed to be book reviews - didn't go as planned did it?

x



 

 

My fear of Mother's day.

There are only two days in the year that I really dread. No it's not any Friday 13th, although they do make me apprehensive. But Mother's day somehow has a big affect on me. Now as we come up to it, it seems to be everywhere. I don't know if anyone else notices it or maybe it's just the fact that I'm super aware of anything to do with "mothers". Open a magazine for instance and you will probably find some gift ideas for the "mammys". Even small things like when people are talking in school about how their "mum" is being so unfair and not letting them go to the disco or even an advertisement for flowers for mother's day. When I hear any of these things my throat gets really tight and all of a sudden I become numb. Then at night I will usually shed a few tears if the day wasn't so good or if it is like now; getting close to the day.
I saw a picture around valentine's day that caught my eye:


I fall into the second category. My mother died 6 years ago. I was 10. The last memory of her alive was when I was walking up to school and my little sister was ahead of me and I remembered I hadn't said goodbye so I turned around and waved and she smiled and waved back. So now as you can see this time does make me into an emotional wreck. Like right now, as I'm typing this it feels like a ball of flames is lodged at the back of my throat. I'm not sure why I'm telling you all this, I guess I just need to get it off my chest. For those of you that are lucky enough to still have some form of a mother remember to do something extra nice for her this Sunday because there may not always be another opportunity.

x