Bucket List 2.0

So it has recently come to my attention that I have never written down my Travel bucket list; i.e. all the places I want to visit in my life.

At the end of the day, life is short. We have to grab it by both hands, and experience everything. So, without further ado, here is a list of the top 25 places I want to visit in my lifetime.

1. New York (preferably at Christmas; but also during autumn).
2. California
3. Thailand (anywhere in Thailand... just anywhere)
4. Bali
5. Sydney
6. Las Vegas
7. Italy (just all of it; Vienna, Rome... take me everywhere!)
8. United Arab Emirates (I need some Abu Dhabi and Dubai in my life please)
9. Berlin
10. Amsterdam (Anne Frank museum, canals and bikes... please!)
11. Poland (I want to visit Auschwitz... but also experience Poland too!!)
12. Norway; mainly the Fjords, but again... general Norway too)
13. Copenhagen (been to Denmark before as my brother lives there... but lets visit the capital city!)
14. Nepal
15. India (obviously already visiting the south, but want to tour around India, do the north and other bits of the south too... it is a sub-continent after all!)
16. South Africa
17. Egypt (pyramids... duh?)
18. Morocco (I like homous ;D)
19. Japan (cherry blossom... all the cherry blossom. And I would LOVE to see a real life Geisha; as Memoirs of a Geisha is one of my all time favourite books)
20. San Francisco
21. Prague
22. Paris (again)
23. Barcelona
24. Greece (Santorini especially)
25. Rekiyavik (I want to see the Northern Lights... doesn't really bother me which country I see them in though, but Iceland is supposed to be beautiful!) 

Hope this blog post was interesting... I know it's basically just a list, but thinking of all these beautiful places has made me super excited for getting out there and exploring.

An interest in witchcraft...

... well sort of.

FIRST IMPRESSION: Witch Blemish Stick

So I was in Sainbury's yesterday with my housemate, and was looking for some kind of face wash I could use in the shower. I have make-up remover and stuff that I use on an evening (and morning sometimes....), but wanted something to help with the occasional breakout. I picked up this beautiful little witch (hence the witchcraft title...) blemish stick (because all the face washes were so expensive), and was so shocked. Seriously... it is like witchcraft; IT'S MAGIC.

The product is a witch hazel block that applies to the face in a similar way to that 4head headache product thing. It's almost like one of those rock salt deodorant type thing, but soft. It applied like a gel? Anyway, whilst difficult to explain what it feels like on the face, it is easy to explain what it did to my face.

I applied a few layers to one of my blemishes on my face on the evening, and woke up to find it was literally almost gone. Without a trace. And I swear, just now I applied some over it again just to see, and half an hour later it was gone. This is all within like 12 hours of having first applied it. I am so so impressed with this product so far, and am giving it:

For only £1.30 (although it was half price I believe), it has done an absolutely superb job. I will keep you updated in case my face suddenly comes out in hives or whatever, but for now, good job Witch!

I'VE BEEN STABBED (again); India Update 3

So, just to reiterate, I was only stabbed by a needle. 

Just another quick update whilst I am sat in a break in a lecture... I had another jab on Monday; my second Twinrex (combined Hep A and B). This one didn't hurt nearly as much as the Typhoid one. No-where near. I also organised a cake sale (finally) with a few of the girls on the trip. If you are a Loughborough student, and are around the library next Tuesday (which, come on, you should be because exams are very soon...), then come and buy a cake from us! As I say every post, every penny counts. And this way, you get something for your money too!!

I'VE BEEN STABBED... India Update 2

... with a needle. Two actually. I wanted to clear that up from the beginning!

So a quick India update. Can you believe its only 93 days until I fly to India for a month? I got my itinerary yesterday, and I've genuinely never been so excited for a trip, ever. It's going to be fabulous, and I can't wait!

On another note, I got two injections for the trip. Typhoid (which hurts like you wouldn't believe) and the Combined Hep A and B shot. I have another in one month, and a final dose in 6 months (after I get back). 

I'm also on the hunt for a cake sale outside the library around exam time... so many things to arrange and so little time. But for now... a link to my JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/sharla-bennison. 

It would mean the absolute world to me if you could spare a £1, or just give it a share so that people can see it. If you would like to learn more about the charity I am going to help, please click here: http://www.russfoundation.in/index.php 

Thank you. Your views mean the world to me!

Ten crappy things about being in a long-distance relationship

Being in a long distance relationship is hard work. Constant effort is needed by both parties to make sure it lasts a long time. Here is a (non-exhaustive) list of reasons it is pooey to be in a long-distance relationship:

1. They are never around for a hug (or kiss) when you need it the most. 
2. Fitting in a Skype into two very busy schedules can often be quite difficult (especially when she is addicted to PLL and he is loving How I Met Your Mother)
3. So many arguments about when you will next get to see them/ the fact that you haven't spoken properly for a while. 
4. Text messages always sound more blunt than they intend, or than it would in person, therefore arguments start following that too. 
5. Netflix and chill is nonexistent. We've all tried the "3, 2, 1 PLAY" situation; trying to get the show playing at the same time whilst on Skype. But lag is a genuine problem, and having a Skype call plus streaming Netflix means that neither will be good quality and someone will end up moaning. 
6. When you do eventually see each other, although you are excited and happy, there is always the thought at the back of your mind that you have to leave them for a few weeks again...
7. You will get sick of hearing about people who feel they don't see their boyfriend enough (3 times a week isn't enough?? Try once a month!).
8. However your friends will eventually get sick of hearing the same old stories about how you miss your other half too...
9. Having the most amazing summer together, seeing each other nearly every day and doing exciting things... then having to go back to seeing each other once a month. This is literally the hardest thing ever (and repeats with every holiday).
10. You will constantly miss them. Every time you see a couple in public, you'll miss them. Every time you eat a specific food, you will want them to be there eating it with you. Every time you see something they would find funny, you wish they were there to see it. 

But long-distance relationships do last. They can work, as long as you both put in the effort. Because nothing is as exciting as that feeling you feel when you see your other half after a long month without them. Awww.

*pukes*

India Update 1!

So I did the bucket collection on Wednesday, as you know, and I thought it went alright, but wasn't too enthusiastic to find out the total. I didn't think we'd managed to raise that much. We did the bucket collection on the Wednesday before Halloween, and after a very big Stupid Tuesdays, and it really was absolutely dead in the Union that night.


However, regardless of all of that, I found out on Thursday (at the first India meeting) that we'd managed to raise £84! And I also found out that on the Friday, they raised £150 something meaning that split between the 6 of us that took part, the total £240ish means we have raised £40 each!! I am so pleased with that, it's unreal. I said to myself before the bucket collection that £30 each would be a huge achievement, and to be honest, I didn't even expect £20 each. I am so impressed... and it'll go straight towards my total of £1450! (which is now down to £1400 after an anonymous £10 donation on my page. Thank you to that person, if you're reading this!!

EXCITING! I hope to be able to do more bucket collections soon, but I also have a few big plans for fundraising too, and have already started contacting people... watch this space...

If you want to donate, please visit www.justgiving.com/sharla-bennison. I understand if you cant donate... but please feel free to share this too! The blog, the link... whatever is easiest. I would just love to get my story heard. Thank you so much for reading this!

Ticking off my bucket list; I'M GOING TO INDIA!

So as the title suggests, something really exciting is happening in my life at the moment... I am currently fundraising as I AM GOING TO INDIA IN JULY 2016!!

I am going out there with fellow students at Loughborough Uni, and we are going to help children and women out there who are victims of the tragedy that is HIV/ AIDS. I thought I'd write up a few Q&A type things about the trip, because I'm super excited about it, and thought you might be interested.

When am I going?

• End of June - beginning of July for 4 whole weeks. I have never been more excited about a trip in my life (have I mentioned that I'm excited yet?)

Where in India am I going?

• I am going to the South of India (personally, my favourite part... its where all the amazing food is). We are staying in a place called Madurai.

Why am I going?

• Besides the fact that I love Indian culture, and have always wanted to visit India, I am going predominantly to help the children out there. I want to work with children as a career as it is, and I know that this is a fantastic way to start. As a volunteer, I will be working on a project throughout the 4 weeks.

How am I going to afford it?

• I have a part time job in my Students Union as an Admin Assistant; at the moment, that will be my main way of funding the trip. However, I also intend to fundraise a LOT and spread as much awareness about the charity I am supporting whilst I do so. Finally, I have spoken to my family and friends (and if I haven't already and youre reading this, I guess this is a message to you!) about any birthday or christmas presents becoming donations to my trip. I have a lot of money to raise, but with the help and support of everyone, I know I can do it :)

Any fundraising projects coming up?

• Yes! I have actually just got back from a bucket collection tonight, all dressed up in my Action Top, and the Indian flag on either cheek! Sneaky peak of my gorgeous Action top and paint at the end ;D It was so much fun, lots of drunken people walking by giving us funny looks! The girls (and guy) I did it with were lovely though, and I'm looking forward to the next few months with them.

Will I update my blog about my trip?

• I am so excited to be able to even talk about this. 4 weeks in India (albeit in several months time) is something that I never thought I'd be able to talk about. I will definitely be posting regular updates on how my fundraising is going, anything exciting that happens along the way, and obviously I will blog about the entire trip!!

Do I have a JustGiving page?

• Yes I do! The link is: https://www.justgiving.com/sharla-bennison if you would like to see how I am doing with my fundraising, or would like to donate! I would really appreciate any donations, however big or small, but I understand if you are not in the position to donate, so would also really appreciate shares. Shares of this blog post, of my JustGiving page.. anything that gets my story heard really.

Thanks so much for reading this, and I hope you enjoyed! Stay tuned for updates :D