Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lifestyle. Show all posts

Top 44 Shows & Movies To Watch This Upcoming Winter! | SimplyJessyTee


Hi guys! Its been a while but I've just had photography issues. Hopefully once I travel, I shall have some new photos to share with you all for the blog. Today I just wanted to let you guys know that there’s tonnes of movies and shows to watch this upcoming winter which I hope some of you will watch with me. This is not a Christmas special or anything - this is for anyone looking to watch any new series (that's not so Christmassy) this upcoming Chirtsmas/Winter break. This is also to write down the shows that I’m mentally TRYING to keep tabs on!

Some of these (particularly movies) I have already seen before but I figured it would be great to watch again!
(If you have any suggestions of movies or shows, pleeeease let me know!).

Series:

1. Empire (Have to keep up with this one)
2. The 100 (Season 4 looks a lil boring but I’ve only watched 2 episodes)
3. Married to medicine (Seems very intriguing)
4. Love and hip hop (Hollywood)
5. Love and hip hop (Atlanta)
6. WAGS (LA)
7. WAGS (Miami)
8. EastEnders (A british soap)
9. Gossip girl (Downloading this one to watch when I travel)
10. Hit the floor (*face palm* watched every episode of the last season except the last one)
11. Orphan black (a MUST- I finished it. Can't remember if I was emotional or nah)
12. Pretty Little liars (smh- I finished it. Lets just say I'm happy it's over)
13. Ackley Bridge (If this is like Waterloo Road then I’m down for it- I might even watch Waterloo road again because I loved it but I watched only the last season. Veeery late)
14. Scandal (Can’t wait to see the hype)
15. Growing up hip hop (might give this a pass, not sure)
19. Star (didn’t get to finish)
20. Fashion Bloggers (hopefully that’s the correct name)
21. Rich Kids of Beverly Hills

Movies:

1. The divergent series
2. Fast and furious (fun fact: never watched it until now. I watched number 1,2 and 5. The third wasn't up my street and I'm trying to finish the fourth one)
3. White chicks
4. Moana (I’m a child)
5. Suicide squad (Yes. I know.)
6. The Pianist
7. Odd one out (all about bullying, similar to 13 reasons why)
8. Wild child (don't know why I didn't see this)
9. Easy A
10. John Tucker must die
11. She’s all that
12. Legally blonde
13. Friends with benefits
14. Not easily broken
15. Good deeds
16. Soul food
17. College hill
18. Stuck on you
19. This means war
20. The devil wears Prada
21. Meet the brows
22. Bridemaids (I cant waaaaiiiiit)
23. 21 (and 22) Jump Street

Of course if there’s any more then I’ll just watch it off the bat but that’s most of what I could think of/wrote down.
Like I said, if there’s any movie/series suggestions you have, please comment and make a girl’s Winter x
Thanks for reading! Have a great day <3
“Nobody Cares, work harder.”-An Instagram Post Somewhere :)

Simply, Jessy Tee


So It Has Been A Year! | My One Year Blog Anniversary + (Why I Love It, Regrets, Advice etc.)


So - I guess it's now my turn to announce that it's my blogging anniversary. This post was supposed to be up since last Sunday but I wasn't feeling 100 and I didn't want to mess this particular post up! Around this time last year - I started this lil space. I've laughed, cried, been frustrated and lost with this blog. I created this from scratch, template and all which is mad because if you had told me I was going to start another blog from the beginning of 2016 - I would have just rolled my eyes and pretend I didn't hear you. BUT HERE WE ARE!
Let me just unravel the truth of the whys and whats behind the blog along with some facts.

Why I started the blog?

So summers are always a confusing one for me. I don't really have much to look forward to and the summer of 2016 was no different. I didn't want to be bored and lets say my summers don't consist of pool parties, red cups of alcohol, road trips, festivals, sleepovers or travelling the city - not under my parents roof. So I must have (this is gonna sound so sad but I'll keep it 100) been searching for things to do this summer because I full on wanted to be prepared and sorted. And I came across an article that listed various things to do. So after scrolling endlessly, the one thing that kept popping up was 'make a blog'.
However I dismissed the idea of doing one because I didn't see myself having one. The last blog I had was when I was like 10 and I had a good 4. So to get back into blogging would be weird because it's been so long. But no matter how many things I came across, the blogging idea stayed stuck inside my head - so with searching for teenage bloggers on google and just reading the 'About Me' section as knowledge for what having a blog would be like, I created one!

So the short simple answer was, I created my blog in the summer of 2016, from July-beginning of September so that I would not be bored!

Why I almost stopped blogging before I even started?

So although it's been a year, there's so much more to blogging than I've experienced yet. So why did I almost stop just before I got started? The short answer is commitment. Fear. And change.

That's what almost stopped me.

I wanted to create a blog so bad but I didn't want it to be like the blogs I had before (for insight, I had a collaborative blog where me and my former best-friend owned it, a nail blog and two MovieStarPlanet blogs- if you remember those days comment below LOL). Therefore I wanted to make sure my template was different to having the traditional blogger templates. Plus I wanted my blog to have logos and just be completely different from what I had before.
The fear in things going wrong which at times it did was the main reason why I had really bad anxiety. The overwhelming feeling of starting year 11 along with trying to start a completely different blog which I felt was a mile out of my comfort zone produced huge feelings of fear.

Like I never had those feelings before. From September to December, I had a really bad fear of blogging. The fear of it going wrong, the fear of potentially losing the blog, the fear of change because I would now need to commit to something (& whoever read my FIRST  blogpost will know that I find it challenging to commit to things). It was difficult for me and it was something that I overthought about a lot. I would make up scenarios of things that could go wrong. Seriously, if you have ever been through core-shaking, plain FEAR, then you know what I'm talking about.

That went on for four months but I got over it. I prayed about it, I calmed my butt down, I re-evaluated the situation and realised I needn't put myself through no stress. And since the new year, I've been taking it one day at a time.

What is my regret?

I don't really have any regrets when it comes to blogging. I just wish I had done the appropriate research beforehand. There's a lot of things that would have saved me a lot of time, frustration and anger if I had simply just researched it prior to doing it.

Why I love blogging?

Because it's mine. I have complete control of what I post, what I put out there. I have the access to take the blog in whatever direction as I see fit. As the years progress in my blogging journey, I have different plans for it at different stages. I see myself developing each 'sector' of my blog further in it's own individual way. I see myself slowly investing money and more time into it. I have goals for it. I have stated that this is something I would prefer as my main hobby as opposed to a career/profession.

My advice to any new bloggers:

Do it and get better. Do your research and understand what you're getting into. Blogging has many rewards - much I am yet to receive. But like all things like that, it comes with an investment of either hard work, time or money. But you can do it!
Don't compare yourself to other bloggers. I still do this myself but the more you invest into yourself and focus on your own lane - you will soon so how incredibly amazing you are and how much potential you have.
Don't let something fun be the stress of you like I did. Just remember it's a hobby, not a business...yet. Just learn to take it easy, one day at a time and take the breaks you need/deserve.
Engage with others! Only recently I've done this and I'm really glad I did: you feel less alone and understand that many are in your exact position.
DREAM BIG! Don't let anyone say you can't go places with a blog because there's so many out there! Not so many blogs out there are gonna bring what you have to offer. Be unique, be you and never think you can't achieve what the big bloggers are achieving.

Goals for this year:

-Improve my photo quality (it's all over the place at the moment).
-Develop each category of my blog further: nail art, drawings (watch out) beauty, genuine lifestyle posts etc.

So with that done thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who's supported me. The close friends, the friendly people who blog and have been with me at different stages. The likes, the re-tweets, the comments - IT IS APPRECIATED SO FRICKING MUCH!! Thanks for sticking with me guys! Cheers to another year, many more to come!

Simply, Jessy Tee



4 Books That I'm Going To Be Reading This Summer


Hey guys. Fingers crossed that this is going to be a short and sweet post but all I’m going to be writing about in this blog post (whilst I paint my nails) is about the books I am going to be reading this summer. Considering that the majority of you guys reading this blog post are either bloggers, general writers, amazing close friends of mine or people who love to read - most of you will know or understand how reading is great in general.

It is so easy to become absorbed into things that are completely irrelevant in making you happy or enabling you to grow physically, mentally and spiritually. I honestly challenge some of you guys to let go of things that are not contributing growth whatsoever.
Whether it be certain apps, music, TV shows or even a bad habit, this can be replaced with something that will actually help you. For example, reading :-)
Honestly, it’s a must I get into reading this summer and not just reading books on my phone but paperback books. I feel that I am spiritually down because I’ve invested a lot of time and emotions into things that are not relevant instead of using that time to get to know myself, my goals and God. Personally, I think reading is a hobby that will definitely force you to be away from technology and put you in a position to be alone and spend time genuinely by yourself as opposed to spending time alone but with 100 other people through a screen.
You eventually realise it becomes unhealthy and eventually, spiritually draining. But onto the books!

1. Playing Hard

Now actually this is a book that I’m reading online (the irony and juxtaposition, shout out to my English squad who’s doing English next year). But this book is actually alright, it kinda drags but I’m still yet to finish the book. (UPDATE: I've finished the book and I would recommend it to anyone who loves the movie 'Love and Basketball'.)
It’s basically a typical romance which is about a boy and girl who are different and cannot be together because of their difference and end up catching feelings for each other. It can be found on Wattpad where all the remaining information on the novel can be found.

2. Keysha’s Drama: A Kimani Tru Novel

Now – any Kimani Tru book, ANY book from the collection I always love. The love is reaaaaal out here for Kimani Tru books because they’re interesting, relatable, funny and enlightening (in terms of life over the pond). I would recommend this to anyone of ethnic minority and anyone interested in drama in within books.

3. The Boy Free Zone

There is a crazy reason why I’m reading this. I must have been with some friends in my school library doing things you shouldn’t be doing in a library (talking loudly and laughing but it’s always loud in the library). So I was bored and picked up the nearest book that caught my eye and the title hooked me. I got the book, well temporarily borrowed it without signing it out, and it’s been sitting on my shelf ever since.
To be honest I have to read this book this summer because I have to return this back to school on results day because that is the biggest chance I’ll get to put it back (if I don't end up going to my school's sixth form). So wish me luck! Plus the book, from what I can remember because I’m too lazy to get up and get it, is about a girl that’s bored in a town and a hot guy comes and she’s mesmerised. If that’s not the plot, I’m so soooorrryyyyy guys but I'm lazy as anything rn.

4. Drama high: Frenemies

 I think I’ve read this book previously but I’m not 100% sure but I’ve definitely come into contact with the series and for the most part it’s okay. I’ve actually started this book but I stopped due to exams but this book was actually interesting up until the part I stopped so I’m definitely going to be catching up with it!

Thank you guys for reading! I honestly challenge you guys to spend some genuine time by yourself. It doesn’t have to be reading. Take the time to understand your purpose and don’t let anything consume your mind that does not aid your personal growth! You’re amazing and you need to start to feed your spirit.
“Show me your friends and I’ll tell you your character” – An African proverb

Simply, Jessy Tee



What They Never Told Me About Blogging | SimplyJessyTee


Hi guys and welcome back to my blog! Recently getting back into blogging, I’ve realised a few things that before starting this journey I was not quite aware of because nobody TOLD MEH. In this post I wanted to share 5 things that nobody tells you before you start blogging and hopefully to anyone who does not have a blog, it will give you a more personal insight of what goes on behind the scenes. And for those that do have a blog, I hope you find this relatable as I wouldn’t want to be the only one who goes/went through this.

1. You are forced to learn HTML.

This has to be the worst one for me. A quick confession: I HATED designing the template/layout for my blog and vowed I would NEVER do it again. From the widgets, to the favicon and back to the sidebar – it was genuinely an awful experience for me. Things that went wrong would be the end of the world. There was one time I risked deleting everything from my blog when I was designing it. Honestly I would rather buy another template in the future than re-design my blog all by myself, I kid you not. I didn’t mind making the logo, header and icon designs but that was a grain of salt compared to what I did overall. For some they love HTML, for me – just no.

2. Using a camera becomes rocket science

Now, to take the photo – 50/50. Upload the photos – fine. Selecting the right photo to use in a post – great. BUT! To create the layout, to find useful things to take for the blog post itself, to edit the photo using a website (especially when your wifi is slow), to buy another SD card because the one you have won’t format which means on top of that you cannot access the photos on the card - I caaaan’t deal you guys. Its legit the one thing that I was not informed of, legit. For some, this is their favourite part of blogging but for me it's the most tedious and sometimes the most boring part. (I prefer to write.)

3. You’re more socially involved.

Before the blog, I never had an instagram account. My twitter was pretty much inactive, I never perceived Pinterest to be a place to attract potential readers and I didn’t even know that Bloglovin existed. Well now I have an instagram which I really like, I’m more active on my twitter, Pinterest is forever my favourite app and now Bloglovin allows me to read other great blog posts! I'm not the biggest lover of social media at times but due to blogging I've become more involved and when it comes to the blog, I actually enjoy using social medias.

4. You become more passionate

I feel I’ve become more passionate about it. I don’t see it as my career or lifelong dream but I do see me blogging in the long haul as something I like to do on the side and possibly going further in terms of going self-hosted and even investing more into it. But we'll see!

5. You either make it easier or harder for yourself.

One thing that I was told before blogging was that it is hard work and requires a lot of time, effort and other essential stuff. I shrugged that off and did it anyway because I didn’t want to be bored in summer 2k16.
In the beginning, it was hard for me because I put so much pressure and expectation on something that had been live for about 2-4 months which is hardly anything compared to those that have been doing it for 4-6 years. But as I had to weigh my priorities, I’ve realised, blogging is what you make it. If you can post 10 times a week, promote everything on everything along with taking a million perfect photos. Then you know what? Kudos to you and those that can do it because you make it look easy and amazing. But for me personally, doing that is begging for a breakdown. So instead, if I can’t do it, then I won’t do it. If I can, then I will.
At the end of the day, blogging is about being realistic and doing it because you're passionate about it and have a lot to bring to the table. You are in complete control so I would say that nobody told me that I don't need to pressure myself because I won't lie. Some bloggers make it seem like you have to love EVERY single second of blogging. And that's just not the case for me when I feel pressured to be perfect at it. One day at a time *claps, bows, and struts off her imaginary stage*

But that’s about it guys, This is one of those posts where I’m going to be annoyed later because I’ll feel like I’ve missed something out but it’s all good. Thank you all so much for reading and I hope you have a restful day. God bless x
“If it’s meant to be, it will happen. If not then God will provide something better” – from a friend of mine.
Image source: Pexels

Simply, Jessy Tee




I'm Back!! My Plans For Summer #2K17


HEY GUYS! It has been sooooo long! I legit can’t remember the last time I sat down and wrote anything that wasn’t relating to exams. But it’s over and I’m honestly free and happy. There was a lot of fricking setbacks: no Wi-Fi, my SD card was not formatting so I had to get another one, a lack of motivation to at some point. So to blog again is a bit weird and I’m not gone lie, I felt to leave it for longer because I was kind of hesitant starting again. I was apprehensive about who’s reading it, is there going to be anymore updates with the HTML (which caused a lot of stress last year), will I still enjoy it and of course the big question: do I really want to continue with this? Overall, all of that was just doubts. Doubts that is slowly fading away. I DO enjoy blogging, in general I am a person who’s not easily knocked by opinions and if anything, it’s just restarting a process that I am excited about.

As I’m writing this, it does not feel like summer at all. It’s still early days and I’m yet to return to school to say goodbye so I’m not exactly like “YAY, SUMMER IS HERE” because it just feels like a half term week away from school. But when it does begin to feel like summer, here’s some of the things I plan to do!

Blogging:

A very obvious one. But hopefully I can post two times a week. I plan to be more ‘varied’ in my posts because I’ve got 2 months to myself. Then it’s a-levels and I really don’t know how that’s going to work :’D

Drawing:

Some may have guessed in certain Instagram posts but I have completed a GCSE in art. To say the least, it has made me a little passionate about the subject. It’s another thing I’m hesitant to do because I’m scared of flopping or getting something wrong. I was eager to start when exams were over but I’m just gone wait and see when I feel more willing to start a new project. Then I’ll share if I’m feeling courageous.

Volunteering:

Probably might pursue medicine, I probably won’t. *shrugs shoulders* but regardless I need to start at some point. It’s the best way to boost my CV and make good use of my time. I’ll finish once I begin school again. A bit apprehensive with this ALSO (everything new makes me feel somehow) but I’m happy that I’m doing this.

Catch up with all my series/movies:

Yet to do a post on this but pretty little liars, The 100, EastEnders, Love Island, Star, Hit the floor, Gossip girl – Coming for all of you.

Meeting with friends:

Fingers crossed. Studying for exams has turned me into such an introvert, it's even been the cause of a lot of friendships not working out for me because my priorities were elsewhere. So overall, I’m not a fan of going out unless 100% sure it will be worth it and I’m guaranteed a great time – but to my closest friends, I’ll hopefully be seeing a lot of you this summer.

Reading:

I miss reading, I honestly do. And the books I would read were so interesting. Anyway I’ll do a post on all what I’ll be reading this summer because I think the majority of you reading this will actually enjoy some of what I’m yet to absorb myself into. Plus I’m gone start reading the bible, I stopped before because some things didn’t even begin to make sense and it got a bit long. But some bits were interesting and helpful so I’ll be starting again.

YouTube:

Nope, not an ‘I’m going to start YouTube’ kind of motive. An ‘I’m going to watch the 350 saved to watch later videos that I was supposed to watch from last September’ motive.

Nostalgia:

Honestly just going to go through everything nostalgic and go through it. Photo albums, videos etc. It will be actually be nice to look at the 1000+ items in my library of photos and videos 

De-clutter my whole room:

From my wardrobe, to my bookshelf, to the stuff underneath my bed – It has to be sorted this summer or I swear I’ll never get the time to do it again.

Gym/sleep:

That’s still pending due to my mum’s reluctance to allow me to go. If not, I'll catch up on all the sleep I missed out due to exams.

Thanks for reading guys. As always, I appreciate you guys sticking with me on this journey! Many more posts to come for summer 2k17!!
“Be thankful for nights that turned into mornings, friends that turned into family and dreams that turned into reality.” -unknown

Simply, Jessy Tee



Why You Should Celebrate Your Birthday + Tips & Advice | #TeamPisces


Hey guys! So this will be the last instalment of my birthday series. Yesterday was my friend's birthday and although many things didn't go exactly as planned, it definitely served as a reminder as to why its important to celebrate the one day of the year that should be dedicated to you. I hope you guys have enjoyed my mini series. Although we are now into Aries season, I just thought we're all March babies at the end of the day! Personally, its been a great month full of many happiness and celebrations but also some hard lessons were learnt. All will be explained through a blog post on my blog which I know I keep on saying but there's been too many things happening which I just wish to share at a later date so I can get EEEERRRYYYTHING off my chest. But thank you all for reading my posts for this month and now let's begin this one!

Okay, why celebrate your birthday?

1. Your birthday only comes once in a year

There's no reason as to why you shouldn't just do something small or even large on your behalf. This is YOUR day and therefore it should be acknowledged, even if its by only a few. I remember not wanting to make a fuss for my sixteenth birthday but once the day came, I wanted to feel extra special. Which I did feel, considering that my friends brought me two balloons and I had three badges, causing me to be very distinct amongst a sea of people in uniform. Overall its only once a year and its entirely up to you what you wish to do, so big or small- do what you wish. Its YOUR day.

2. Make memories

In every birthday celebration I've had, no matter how big or small they were, memories have always been made. The fact that you can take photos with your friends/family which you can later look back at in the future is great. I highly recommend that you do something in order to have that opportunity to say "Om my gosh, remember *insert a name* birthday?"  or "that was so funny what *insert a name* did at *insert your name* birthday!". We only got one life y'all, better make the most of it!!

3. Celebration of life in general

As soppy or cliche as this may sound, life's a gift guys!! There are people who did not wake up to see today, there's people who prayed to live long but couldn't and there's those who wish they could take your place in your new age of youth. For whatever reason you may not be fond of not celebrating your birthday, whether it be that your missing someone on your special day or even just worrying about things not going right - remember that things will be alright in the end, they always are. Use your birthday to look to the future or use it to remember that you deserve to be happy and enjoy yourself- no matter what situation may occur.

ADVICE AND TIPS:

For people who want to do their birthday BIG:

-A house party!! (This could be intimate or as wild as you want. Just be sure to keep the numbers low enough so that nothing stupid happens: like someone breaking something or possibly gate crashing)
-A hall party (You can get a little crazy with this one, especially if you've got the money to do this)
-A limo and a dinner outing (make sure people turn up on time. If you know your friends are latecomers - if you want them for a certain time, tell them an earlier time to avoid missing a  reservation or upset)
-Rent a hotel room and do your party there! You may even want to sleep over

For people who want to do something SMALL/INTIMATE:

-Go out for food with a few friends and watch a movie afterwards
-Get your hair, nails, make up done for the day and go shopping. Make yourself look nice for the sake of looking nice because its yo birthday!!
-Small house party/get together (This was what I did for my sixteenth and I had a great time. There was music, food and laughter. This will be great for anyone who wants to do something but nothing too big.)
-Go and do something active. Like jumping giants, go karting, a trampoline park - whatever you fancy.
-If you got a bae or a best friend, do something with just the two of you.

REMEMBER:

-Not everything will go to plan guys. There will always be something that doesn't go exactly to plan, big or small. Do not worry because regardless of these implications, they should not be big enough to ruin your day. 
-People might not turn up. This is the hard truth. Although people will say they will defo come, there is that slight probability that they could pull out last minute. Try not to worry too much, your real friends will explain/give a proper excuse as to why they can't make it or will tell you beforehand so they will not disappoint you last minute. We all hate these turn of events but they do happen - just make sure to not let it worry you and to give people enough notice so that people can tell their parents in advance.
-Not everyone will say happy birthday. LOOOL! This used to really make me feel a certain kind of way. I remember how last year for my fifteenth how the guy I was talking to didn't wish me happy birthday 'properly' (I know, I'm such a drama queen) so I was therefore in a kind of mood. Not to mention like 4 people said happy birthday on my social medias when I turned 15th. All I've got to say is this: If you ain't close, why care? Let people say it if they wish to or not at all - either way, the older you get, the more you care about just surrounding yourself with your close friends/family. You learn that a few posts on your Facebook wall doesn't define your importance or your value. So chiiiiiillllllll <3

Hope you all have amazing week - let's go APRIL!!! Thanks for reading and supporting me xxx 
Remember to check out my previous post: My March/birthday playlist!!
"The bags under my eyes are Prada" - french by design

Simply, Jessy Tee