The rollercoaster we've called 2016

There's no denying it - 2016 has been a crazy year! And while I've seen a lot of a people saying it was the best year of their life and a hell of a lot of people saying it was the worst, for me it's been a little bit of both. So before we wave goodbye to it, I thought it was only right I take a look back on all the highs and lows of this year; both for me and for the world.

1. I turned 20

I had mixed feelings about turning 20 back in June. On the one hand I felt really nostalgic about leaving my teens and entering proper adulthood. On the other hand, your twenties are arguably your most exciting and life-changing years of your life and I can't wait to what they bring. Plus my birthday night out was pretty amazing!

2. Disney remade The Jungle Book and Tarzan

I am a big lover of film and TV (as well as Disney of course) and so I was super excited about these two live-action remakes. I wasn't disappointed - both films were incredible! The on-screen chemistry between Tarzan and Jane was just amazing.

3. I joined Snapchat

For someone who documents their life so much through blogging and Instagram, it's kind of weird that I never bothered with Snapchat. Despite my friends always pestering me to make one, I held out for like 2 years until I finally gave in this year and I love it. I obviously didn't know what I was missing out on (like filters that have your back on an ugly/hungover day)

4. Brexit

Normally once we've all had a good moan and a fall out over politics during the general election, we go back to our usual routine of never discussing it for another 5 years until the next one. However, this year not only did we have another political vote only one year after the election, but it was pretty much a once in a lifetime vote. In or out. Despite me thinking that we would definitely stay, the nation was shocked when Brexit won. At first, like everyone else, I thought it was a disaster but to be honest nothing has even changed so far and I doubt it will for a long time yet. My favourite thing to come out the whole thing though is when Welsh Tory leader Andrew Davies said 'We must make breakfast- brexit a success!'.

5. Aidan went to uni

Another one I had mixed feelings about. Obviously I was so proud of my baby brother for getting in and doing so well in his A-levels but it meant saying goodbye to him for months at a time! Although it has been weird without him, I'm so happy that uni has turned him into just as much of a degenerate partier as me.

6. Terror attacks 

It doesn't exactly feel like it's been a great year for love winning out over hate. First Brexit (the majority of leave voters I believe voted for hateful reasons) and then the bombings in Brussels, the gay nightclub shooting in Orlando and the lorry mow down in Nice on Bastille Day. In that respect, this year has been in stark contrast to last year when it seemed like love kept winning (with things like the legalisation of same-sex marriage).

7. Leonardo DiCaprio won an Oscar

Let's face it, it was a long time coming. The man who brought us genius such as Catch me if you can, The wolf of wall street, Titanic, Inception, The Great Gatsby and Romeo & Juliet has finally got the recognition he deserves - he finally won his Oscar!

8. I got my first tattoo

I've always had a fairly relaxed attitude to tattoos. I like them but wasn't desperate to get one the second I turned 18 and I don't necessarily think they have to be deep and meaningful but I do think that you should be 100% sure on what you want before you get it. I first had the idea for mine nearly 2 years ago so like Leo's Oscar, it was a long time coming.

9. Giant panda's are officially no longer endangered

They gained their 'endangered species' status in the 1980s but in September of this year they officially lost it! Okay so they're still classed as 'vulnerable' but miracles don't happen overnight and this is definitely a step in the right direction.

10. I went on countless amazing trips

Okay so maybe not countless. I can count them. I went on 10 to be exact. But I think that's pretty amazing! Not only did I have absolutely incredible holidays in Ibiza, Florida and Amsterdam, but I also had fun little city breaks in Sheffield and York (both of which I've been to twice this year) and London (which I went to 3 times).

11. The ALS gene has been found

When things go viral on the internet, it's easy to just pass it off as dumb teenagers going through a fad (for example: the kylie jenner challenge, the harlem shake videos and the mannequin challenge). When people started dumping buckets of ice water (well most of the time just room temperature water) on their heads back in 2014, it was hard to believe it would do anyone any good. However, the money that was donated because of that whole campaign, has now funded research that successfully identified a gene responsible for inherited and sporadic forms of Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS) which can hopefully lead to new treatments. Never underestimate the power of the internet.

12. Donald Trump

This has certainly been a year for the unthinkable happening. Like Leicester winning the premiership. When the US Election came around, despite everyone believing Donald Trump to be a crazy chauvinistic pig not to be taken seriously, somehow he ended up head to head against Hillary Clinton for the presidency. I think that some people were hoping for too much from the candidates - someone kind and squeaky clean who cares about the people and will strive to always do good while ruling with integrity. Yeah right, get real. When it comes to the world of politics, you will have to hunt high and low for someone who isn't corrupt (and even then you still won't find one). So Hillary Clinton got a lot of slack for being corrupt but I think the question was pretty straight forward. Do you want a corrupt genius in charge of your country or a corrupt idiot? Unfortunately America voted for the latter. I would say crazier things have happened but actually I'm not sure they have.

13. I got famous

But something good to come out of the US Election was that it helped me shoot to twitter fame! For all my fans, I'll be sending out signed books and doing a couple of personal appearances in clubs across England. No biggy. Being famous is a hard life but someones got to do it.

14. All my friends started turning 21

Although I only just turned 20 in June, my best friends started turning 21 in September! We've had such an amazing time celebrating each of theirs so far that I can't wait for my own next year! And now Christmas is over, it's obviously time to start planning my birthday right?

15. Pokemon go took over the world

In a true nostalgic revival for all the nineties and noughties kids, Pokemon go swept the nation and had everyone from the age of 7 to 25 hunting high and low around their local park for Pokemon. It was about 3 months before the whole thing died back out again but it was fun while it lasted.

16. I finished my time at UNiDAYS and McDonald's

This year was a bit of a career roller coaster for me. I had such a nice 9 months at UNiDAYS and I felt like I gained a lot of valuable experience and then when my contract ended in May, I wanted to leave and pursue something else. On my last day, I celebrated by taking cakes in (of course). So I spent the summer just working at McDonald's and going on loads of amazing trips and holidays and having the time of my life. Then in September, I got a new job so it was time to wave goodbye to McDonald's, a place that I've loved and that's felt like home for the last 4 years. A place where I met friends for life, learned the most invaluable life lessons and became the person I am today. On my last day, I celebrated by taking cakes in (of course).

17. There's now a vaccine for Ebola

Another scientific break through! Terror swept the world when Ebola started breaking out across Africa and then eventually came to the UK but as of this year, there is now a vaccine. Progress all round.

18. I got and left 3 jobs

Bearing in mind (as I mentioned), I had already left 2 jobs this year. Then I accepted a job in Burton-on-Trent, hated it and left after 1 day. Then I accepted a sales job, hated it and left after 1 day. Then I got a magazine job that lasted slightly longer but still only a week so nothing to shout about really. I think this year I may have broken some kind of record for the number of jobs I've had. It's safe to say that September and October were not fun for me.

19. SeaWorld is no longer breeding killer whales in captivity

You may call me a hypocrite for being a meat-eater and leather wearer while being against SeaWorld but I think there is a fine line between killing animals for necessities and pointless animal cruelty. SeaWorld falls in to the latter category and so with the announcement that they will no longer be breeding whales, I have a feeling it's not long before they shut down entirely.

20. I started my job at Potter Clarkson

After a rough 6 weeks or so, I was starting to wonder if I would need to become a stripper if I ever wanted to work again. But life has a funny little way of giving you exactly what you need, exactly when you need it (even if you don't realise). I started working as a temporary marketing administrator at Potter Clarkson, a law firm in town, at the very end of October and by December, my job had been made permanent! And I started at the perfect time really. Not only do I love my job, but for Christmas, all employees get a wine hamper, a food hamper, a £55 M&S voucher and a Christmas party with 3 course meal and open bar all paid for. So despite this year not being the most perfect one in my career to date, it certainly ended on a high.

21. Harambe and Disney alligator disasters

It was seemingly a year for neglectful parents blaming their own incompetence on other people (it's like the McCann's all over again) as not only was poor Harambe shot after a child wriggled its way in to his enclosure, but only 2 months later a child was dragged away and eaten by an alligator at Disney after his parents left him to paddle in the lake. Oh and I went to Florida like a month after that and there are literally warning signs everywhere saying not to go near the water as there are snakes and (you guessed it) alligators in there.

22. The ozone layer is repairing itself

I can't exactly say I spend a lot of time worrying about the state of the planet. I'm too self-absorbed; I tend to worry about my own future and my own prospects and my own relationships and my own opinions, rather than doing selfless things and contemplating the affect we as a human race have on the planet and all the other living things around us. That being said though, you can't completely ignore the fact that our planet has been around for millions of years before us and it will be around for millions of years after we're long gone. So it's nice to know that despite all our efforts to destroy it, Earth proved it didn't need us and has started to repair its own ozone layer. And I think that's pretty cool.

23.  I went back to the dark side

Okay so the saying is half true. Blondes do have a hell of a lot of fun. But so do brunettes. And after being blonde for a year, I figured it was about time I go back to the dark side. I always have a fabulous time anyway no matter what colour my hair is.

24. We lost so many loved legends

This photo isn't even a fraction of those celebrities who died this year - there's been about 50 of them! True legends who brought us Willy wonka and the chocolate factory, who showed us that it is possible to be both a princess and a bad ass and who turned 'turn to page 394' in to a pop culture quote that will go down in history. I can't even explain how sad and poignant it is that George Michael died on Christmas day when he wrote and produced one of the greatest Christmas songs there ever was.

25. Lots of future celebrities have been born

And to complete the yin and yang that is life, where there is death there is life. Yes many beloved celebrities have died. But loads of our favourite couples have had babies too. Mila Kunis & Ashton Kutcher and Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds both had second babies as beautiful as themselves, Chrissy Teigen & John Legend took themselves from relationship goals to family goals and Ginnifer Goodwin & Josh Dallas lived out their real life fairytale once again with baby number 2. Surely there are no better parents than a real life snow white and prince charming?

26. I went to (and then gave up) Rock City

I've been loving (and practically living at) Rock City since I started going on a Thursday 3 years ago and for all that time it's been a part of who I am. It's what I'm known for. But now I've entered the proper adult world where I am a twenty-something with a 9-5 job and so it's time to put down the 2 for 1 drinks and behave. Well, for the most part anyway. Thanks for 3 years of amazing and embarassing and unforgettable nights out, Rock City.

27. I got Bella

Possibly one of my favourite things to come from this year is the fact that I can now officially call myself a crazy cat lady. I'd wanted a tiny grey kitten for atleast 2 years and this year I finally got round my parents (I get everything I want sooner or later). Funnily enough she turned out to be my good luck charm; 3 days after we got her, I got my job at Potter Clarkson. Look how much she's grown already compared to how tiny she was only a couple of months ago! She's basically me in kitten form too; lovely half the time and evil the other half of the time, naughty and mischievous and curious about the world around her, vain and great at posing for photos. My literal spirit animal.

28. I had the most amazing Christmas

Just like every other year, I had an absolutely amazing Christmas with all my family and bestest friends. I keep reading about how people aren't leaving 2016 with the same people they started it with but I am. I'm lucky to have found best friends for life, to have a really close family who actually love spending time together and to have loads of other friends of all different ages with completely different lives who I love catching up with. 

And what happened to my new years resolutions?

I know that a new year is only a new date but I'm into my symbolism and I think that a new year is the perfect time for a new change. So I always make new years resolutions - let's see how I did with the ones I made for 2016:

1. Learn to drive
Okay so I haven't actually passed my test but I have been having lessons and I think I'm pretty close. And I do technically know how to drive so I did technically learn. I'm counting it.

2. Eat healthier and exercise more
I include this every single year and I have no idea why. I'm never going to eat kale or drink spinach smoothies or get up at like 5am to go for a run. Plus I love my body and I figure that if I really wanted to change it then I would actually bother doing all those things. But considering I never do, I must not be that bothered anyway.

3. Get a tattoo
I managed to leave it until the very last month of the year but I finally got one! It's like breaking the seal though - now I've had the iconic first one, I'm already planning my next 2.

4. Buy a designer handbag
This one gets a big tick too. I got my Kate Spade tote bag while I was in Miami. I still haven't bought the super expensive Givenchy bag I want but I'll get there.

And for 2017?

So obviously I have some resolutions already decided on for the coming year. For the first time ever, 'lose weight' is not on the list (thank god because it'll never happen) but there's plenty on there for me to try and stick to. Obviously the clichéd 'drink less' isn't on there either because, let's face it, that would never happen.

1. Drink more water
I actually started drinking loads of water when I was still at McDonalds and it made me feel so much healthier and more energetic and made my skin nicer but then I kind of forgot when I started my new job and so it's definitely something I'm going to get in to the habit of doing again next year.

2. Pass my driving test
And the second part of my 2016 resolution - to actually pass my test! Ideally before my theory test runs out and I have to take it again.

3. Get my debts paid off
I was out of work for 6 weeks this year and because I'm not a responsible adult, I didn't cut back on my going out or online shopping to compensate for no income so I maxed out my overdraft and borrowed loads off my dad. So in 2017 I'm going to be financially stable and get everything paid off!

4. Start squatting again
This is not relating to weight before you think it sounds like I've gone against what I just said. I'm never going to be a gym bunny but I did used to do loads of muscle building exercises at home and I've just stopped doing them so I need to pick that up again in the new year.

5. Take better care of my hair
Being blonde for a whole year has seriously taken its toll on the condition of my hair. Plus all the heat I use on it, so I need to nurse it back to health in the coming year.

It may have been a crazy year but life has a habit of being like that and I couldn't be more grateful for the hand that life has dealt me this year. Now it's time to get super drunk and wave goodbye to 2016 (because some things never change). I'm excited to see what 2017 brings - happy new year everyone!