My big fat blogpost of the year 2017

And just like that, another year is almost over! I can't believe how fast this year has gone and how monumental it's been for both the world and for myself. At first glance, it may seem a little like it's all been doom and gloom but like always, it's been a year of ups and downs.

1. Beyonce has twins

In what was possibly the most beautiful pregnancy and maternity photoshoot of all time, Beyonce unveiled the two newest additions to her family.

2. Donald Trump

It's felt a bit like the universe has been playing one long prank on us with this one but unfortunately the nightmare that is Donald Trump continues. Looking on the bright side, atleast he's a quarter of the way through.

3. The honey bees are fighters

In a bit of heart-warming news, the honey bee population has increased this year! See, it ain't over till it's over.

4. #MeToo

2016 was the year of celebrity deaths and 2017 has turned out to be the year of celebrity sexual predators (I'm not sure which is worse). Celebrities like Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey have been called out for their offences and although at first glance it sounds terrible, it did bring about a wave of female empowerment and victims claiming back the power.

5. Beauty and the Beast

It was the moment we'd all been waiting for when the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast hit the cinemas at the start of the year and it did not disappoint. The soundtrack was all I listened to in the shower for about 5 months after that.

6. Snow leopards are no longer endangered

In another little win from nature, Snow leopards have officially been taken off the endangered species list!

7. Terror attacks and massacres

Possibly the worst part of 2017 has been all the atrocious attacks going on. Westminster, Manchester, Barcelona, Las Vegas; the list seems to go on and on. But once again, in the yin and yang that is life; where there is darkness, there is light because the One Love Manchester fundraiser was truly amazing.

8. Man flu is real

After years of jokes about "man flu", apparently scientists have proved that it's a real thing and that men do feel pain and illness more than women. However, I can almost guarantee that that study was carried out by a man...

9. Fiona the hippo

If you ever needed a better argument for big girls are beautiful, just look to Fiona the hippo, who was born at cincinnati zoo earlier this year!

10. Hurricanes hit America

In yet another string of disasters, America was hit by one hurricane after another that devastated the Caribbean, South America and Southern states like Florida. Is it bad if one of the most heartbreaking parts was seeing animals who had been abandoned in the storms?

11. The solar eclipse

It may have been for America rather than us, but the eclipse really did show how beautiful mother earth can be.

12. The Oscars mix-up

Winning the awkward-moment-of-the-year award, the mix up when the Oscar almost went to La la land instead of Moonlight was a moment not to be missed.

13. Brexit

Unfortunately, this saga has continued for another year and I'm sure it will keep going for years to come. This year was pretty important though because we got the ball rolling by signing Article 50 - the excitement never ends.

14. Fenty beauty

It was a revelation for the beauty industry when Rihanna launched her line of inclusive beauty products with shades ranging from the whitest of white to the darkest of dark. And within a year, others are already following in her footsteps!

15. Prince Philip retires

I mean, the man is 96 years old so I suppose it's about time!

16. Grenfell tower

Sadly, this one was no tragedy of nature but a travesty of man. The worst part of the Grenfell fire was that it could've been so easily avoided.

17. Aids is no longer the leading death cause in Africa

It's a real turning point that Aids is no longer the biggest killer! I mean, there's still a lot that needs to be fixed but we have to take the wins where we can.

18. The Kardashians are all pregnant

They are the family we can't help but talk about and the latest gossip on everyone's lips is pregnancy. Kim is pregnant via surrogacy, Khloe is finally pregnant after being told she couldn't have children and Kylie may or may not be pregnant - perhaps we'll never know. Although judging by Kylie's previous track record, (if she is pregnant) the kid will be 5 years old before she even admits it's hers.

19. Harry & Meghan

They are our current favourite sweethearts and so the nation rejoiced when Prince Harry proposed to Meghan Markle. She will definitely be a princess of the people, and how good that their first visit as an engaged couple was to Nottingham!

20. Internet sensations

As always, the internet has provided us with a few laughs through the year. My personal favourites have been salt bae, the series of "first of all" tweets and the BBC video interview where the guys kid came strolling in!

And what about for me?

1. Holidays galore

I've always been fairly well travelled but this year has been the most amazing ever for holidays! I kicked things off in May with Venice and then continued with one a month; New York, Ibiza, Wales, Greece, Barcelona and then Tenerife. They've all been so amazing and I've literally had so much fun. It's really given me the travel bug too and I have no plans of slowing down next year!

2. I got 3 new tattoos

After getting my first tattoo at the end of last year, it was like breaking the seal and so I got the 3 others I'd planned. Although my most recent one (my bunch of wildflowers) was over six months ago now so I reckon it's about time for the next one...

3. I passed my driving test

Apparently I like to keep a touch of dramatic flair because I passed my driving test on the last day before my theory test was set to run out. It was definitely one of my greatest achievements of 2017 and then 2 months later, I got my beautiful little car!

4. My career

After a rocky year career-wise last year, this year has not only been much calmer but much better too. My career has gone from strength to strength; I love my team, I've planned events for 400 people in Barcelona and for 50 people in Sweden and I get to do different things every day. Goals for 2018? Keep climbing the ladder and get that dollar $$$!

5. I turned 21

My birthday was the most extravagant and dragged out affair of the year and I loved every second of it. My celebrations involved a cocktail making class, afternoon tea, a trip to London, a meal at World Service, an Alice in Wonderland themed tea party, a meal at Dino and a girls night out. Well, go big or go home, as they say.

6. I started to cook

It was a bit of a delayed new years resolution, but in the summer I decided I wanted to start cooking properly and I'm actually getting pretty good! I can make an amazing peppercorn steak sauce and I even finished the year with cooking a full Christmas dinner.

7. My blog

I've not done great with my blog in terms of volume; this is actually the least amount of blogposts I've written in the 4 years that I've been keeping it. However, I've loved the posts I've written and I like that I've done a few different ones (like my book reviews and more editorial ones). And you guys have loved them too because I'm now at 43,000 blog post views, as of today!

And what about my new years resolutions?

It may be a cliché but I do like to make New Years resolutions and so I obviously made a few for 2017. But how did they go?

1. Drink more water

I tend to drink 2 or 3 litres a day now and obviously we can always do more but I'm going to consider this one done.

2. Pass my driving test

As mentioned earlier, this one gets a big fat tick too!

3. Get my debts paid off

I paid my dad back for everything I'd borrowed and managed to get completely out of my overdraft by June! Although, I then plunged right back in to it when I spent so much on all my holidays (ooops)! But I did technically get out of it so I'm considering it accomplished.

4. Start squatting again

I did start going running and exercising again properly at the start of the year but once I'd gone on my first holiday of the year, I never really got back on the bandwagon and so this one was a big fat fail.

5. Take better care of my hair

Well after 2 years of bleaching, I went back to the dark side ,which was an instant reliever on the condition of my hair. I've also been straightening my hair less (more out of laziness, rather than a conscious decision) and I've been taking Hairburst tablets too which are actually amazing! So this one gets a tick too - 4 out of 5 isn't bad!

And my resolutions for 2018?

1. Get toned

Obviously because I failed at it this year, I need to actually try harder at it this next year

2. Become more knowledgeable

I really enjoy learning new things and yet after school and college, you kind of stop learning in the same way. So in 2018, I want to start learning new things again - in particular about history.

3. Save money

Last year, I wanted to get out of debt. This year, I actually want to get in to the positive and get some money saved. So come January, I'm going to open a savings account and start paying in to it, with my goal of moving out in a year or two in mind.

4. Learn to tie a cherry stem in a knot

This is a really random one but I feel like I need a new party trick and so I want to learn to tie a cherry stem in a knot with my tongue. We'll see how that goes - I'll try not to choke in the process!

Apart from that, I just can't wait to have another year of loads of holidays, of getting a few more tattoos, of climbing the career ladder, of planning my future and of making tons and tons of amazing memories with all my favourite people. It's time to see the new year in with a bang; goodbye 2017 - it's been a blast!