Graduation| Goodbye To University...

So after three verrry long years, this week I finally became a university Graduate (Hooooraaaaaah!) and you must now address me Lauryn Williams BA (Hons)... just kidding.. kinda.

Graduation is what can only be described as an American-ism... and unfortunately only something University Graduates can experience in the UK, which seems such a shame because after Monday, I honestly believe that everyone should experience such an amazing day.

You don't realise how important the last three years have really been until you're stood in front of your family donning your Harry Potter-esque robes with a weird hat on your head, but trust me, it's so worth it. Even though your time to shine on stage is literally ten seconds long, it's one of the proudest ten seconds of your life, so if you're soon to graduate... own those ten seconds!

Looking back now, university was such a roller coaster ride for me, but I wouldn't change any of it. It's made me who I am today, and without it I wouldn't have made the friends I have or experienced half of the things I did, and for that I am truly grateful, plus nine year old me literally died when not only did I get my degree... but got my degree from childhood hero Jacqueline Wilson!

So I guess what I'm really trying to say in all of this is a huuuuge thank you to all of my family, and friends and of course my fiance for sticking with me for the last three years, through the tears and tantrums, I couldn't have done it without you all.

I'll leave some snaps from the day below, and if you're soon to graduate, enjoy every second, you earned it!

Love Lauryn (BA Hons) xo

The 9 Stages Of Graduate Life

So, referencing is a thing of the past and word counts are distant memory, you are officially a graduate, and here are the many stages between your last moments of freedom and officially becoming an adult...


1. Freedom - Nothing says 'congrats for surviving the last three years' like the sense of freedom that comes with submitting that last essay... cue weird happy dance.

2. Netflix Addiction - Next will come endless days of festering in bed making the most of that Netflix subscription along with a newfound relationship with carbs. It's fine, you totally earned this.

3. The Realisation of Results Day - The panic begins to set in as you frequently check your email just in case they send the results early. Never know, could happen.

4. Actual Results Day - A day of staring at the computer screen eagerly awaiting perhaps the most important email of your life - minus the 50% of Kurt Geiger, of course, all amounting to whether the last three years have been worth the ridiculous debt you soon have to face.

5. 'I have a degree' - You tell everyone, every chance you get. The nice man in the shop? Yep. The lady in the bank? Totally fine. It even becomes your new comeback 'Whatever, I have a degree.'

6. Let The Job Hunt Begin - Armed with your degree, and a graduate-esque confidence you are ready to search for your dream job and become a glamorous city worker with a Louis Vuitton in one hand, and a cocktail in the other.

7. 'I'll never get a job' - After the 56783th rejection email entitled 'Dear Applicant' you begin to wonder whether you have enough qualifications to apply for vacancy as a cleaner in McDonalds let alone become a city girl.

8. Getting A Job - So the admin job that requires a bus, two trains and three different tubes isn't quite the job you'd imagined, 'Christmas Holidays' now means four days instead of four weeks and your 'early start' is practically in the middle of the night. Tutors failed to mention the chances of you getting the dream job you've studied three years for and this is how you feel about them right now...

9. 'I wish I was a Fresher' - The pain you feel when you hear a Fresher say they can't wait to graduate and you think back on the three long years you eagerly awaited the day you got your first pay check after living on tins of value baked beans.

Make the most of it, first years!

Love Lauryn xo

Too Young To Be Engaged?!

So today's post is a little different from normal... it's more my view on a particular topic, but I felt I really wanted to share my view on this, so here we go...

So something I've noticed recently, is that a lot of young people are getting engaged, and along with these engagements, comes the question of 'Aren't you a bit young to be engaged?'. Getting engaged myself at 20, I've had this question asked a number of times, even from close friends, and quite frankly, it frustrates the hell out of me.

As much as I understand that nowadays people want to travel the world, build their career and create a lifetime of memories before they settle down and build a family, I can't even begin to understand why getting married would stop any of these things from happening. If anything, If I chose to travel the world I'd have not just someone, but my best friend, there to do it with. And if I chose to completely change my career path, I'd have someone to support me. No matter what, I'll always have someone there to share the experience with.

I'm not saying that getting married at a young age is the way things should always be done, because of course, that's not the case. Getting engaged, and then married, should be done when you're 100% certain you've found 'the one', which I know I have, but as for dissing people that choose to do it young - not cool.

People feel that you lose your freedom when you tie the knot, but if that's really not that case, being engaged doesn't prevent you from doing anything, and in my experience, it heightens any experience you go through, knowing that someone special has shared it with you. You can still go on those girls nights out, and you can still visit those exotic locations you've always dreamt of visiting, but instead of returning home with a kebab and a cold bed, or taking that lonesome selfie... you have your best friend right by your side.

So whatever you chose, to get married young, old, or even not at all - the most important thing is that you're happy!

Love, Lauryn xo

How To Beat Those Down Days

As a fresh out of uni - and therefore unemployed - graduate, I've had one too many of those awful endless netflix-watching, pyjama-wearing and eating-endless-amounts-of-food-that-I-know-I'll-only- regret-later kinda' days. So whether you're job hunting, scouring the internet for the next step of your life, or just having one of those down days, here's a few tips on how to pick yourself back up and get that smile back...

1. Get up and Get Ready
As tempting as it is to stay in those comfy pyjamas all day and hibernate in bed watching Gossip Girl for the tenth time, it'll only make you feel worse. Get up and get ready for the day, even if you're not going anywhere. Feeling fresh and clean will make you feel ten times better and stop you festering away in your bed.

2. 'A Tidy Space is A Tidy Mind'
I don't know about everyone else but when my rooms a mess it makes my mind feel cluttered, too. Even just making my bed in the mornings helps me feel better, so keeping your room or your workspace organised and looking pretty is more likely to make you feel better and more motivated.

3. Find A Hobby
While once upon a time watching netflix all day sounded like a dream, the novelty soon wears off. Find yourself a hobby to encourage you to get up and do something. It could be blogging, running or even something as simple as drawing - just find something you enjoy so that your whole day doesn't merge into one long series of PLL.

4. It's Okay To Have Bad Days
It's okay to have those 'I'll never find a job!' days! We can't be positive Polly's all the time, so let yourself have a day off from job hunting or course researching when it all gets a bit too much. This is the perfect to focus on that hobby and give yourself a bit of you time.

5. Don't Overwhelm Yourself
Whether you're looking for a new job or worrying about which uni looks the best, remember not to overwhelm yourself. If it's a job you're looking for, set yourself a target of applying for say 10-15 jobs a day, and that way you've made an effort to look and apply but job titles won't be blurring into one and you can save your sanity!

6. Socialise
When you feel yourself slipping into one of those bad days, grab yourself a chum and cheer yourself up. If I'm feeling down I text my best friend and she'll soon remind that things could be a lot worse and the phase will soon pass. Even grabbing a cuppa' with your mum will you make you feel better than laying in a dark room feeling sorry for yourself.

7. Get Out And About
As much as friends help, so will getting out and about, too. Even a walk through the park or a browse in the shops makes me feel better. There's nothing worse than getting cabin fever after sitting in the same house for days on end, so for a clearer mind take a stroll and find some inspiration!

Hang in there, chums! Down days will soon be a distant memory!

Love, Lauryn xo

A Change Of Name...

Hey Guys!

So just a quick update to let you all know that I have had to change the name of my blog. Although I very much liked 'Love Lauryn' there were so many blogs with similar names and it just wasn't helping to get my blog noticed and 'out there'. So if you have commented on any previous posts, the comments will have been deleted when I changed my URL, and I am very sorry!

My blog is now titled 'Enchanted Rose xo' which reminds me of the rose in Beauty and the Beast which is very fitting seeing how much I love anything Disney related. If I'm honest, I'm not entirely sure why I chose this name but it seems so much more girly and magical so I'm pretty happy with it.

I'll still sign off my blogs in the same way but it's just the URL and header that will be different now! How exciting!

Keep your eyes peeled for my next post which will be in a few days!

Love Lauryn xo

Summer Nightime Routine

Now that summer is almost upon us, it's time to dig out the fan from the loft and prepare for those sleepless nights of unbearable temperatures and constant daddy long-leg invasions. But those sticky nights aren't all bad, as the arrival of the summer means a re-vamp for the night-time routine...

1. Make Up Wipes
Taking off your makeup after a hot day is one of the best feelings eveeeer. I have super sensitive skin, so I find the Tesco basic makeup wipes the best ones for me as any others break me out. The cucumber scented wipes smell amazing and leave my skin feeling so refreshed.

2. Exfoliator, Toner & Moistouriser
Hot summer days + a face full of makeup = gross skin. I love the Clean & Clear collection for my sensitive skin and make sure I exfoliate a few times a week and tone and moisturiser every night after taking my makeup off... It's the perfect way to cool your face down and get rid of the last bits of makeup!

3. Shower
A cool shower is one of the best ways to wind down before bed in the summer, especially when the nights can get so humid. I've been loving the Radox Feel Glam Berry Burst shower gel as it smells so summery. Instead of spending hours under a hot hairdryer and straighteners after a shower, I tend to french plait my wet hair which means not only do I get easy beach waves the next day but my wet hair helps to keep me cool in the evenings, too.

4. Vaseline Moisturiser Spray
I have been absolutely OBSESSED with this stuff this year! The spray means its so quick to apply and it dries instantly so you completely skip that tacky feeling when you're waiting for moisturiser to dry. The cocoa radiant spray is the nicest smell ever, its like holidays, suncream and happiness in a bottle. And heres a quick tip... if you have sunburn, leave your moisturiser in the fridge for a while and then spray on those red patches... it is heavenly!

5. Light Pyjamas
There's nothing worse than being uncomfortably hot when you're trying to sleep so light pj's are a must! Primark have some fab summer pyjamas that are crazy cheap, like these cute biscuit ones that were a complete steal at £4...

6. Summery Candles
I am such a candle lover... even in the summer. I love lighting candles before I get into bed, it just feels so much more relaxing when your room smells gorge! I've been absolutely loving the Strawberry Rhubarb Marmalade three-wick candle that I bought from Bath & Body Works when I went to America. I'm absolutely gutted that we don't have a B&BW here in the UK but Yankee Candle do some amazing summer scents such as Pink Dragon Fruit and Vanilla Frosting.

7. Cool Blankets
It's time to put away the extra thick winter duvet and bring out the lighter covers! Although a British summer isn't all it's cracked up to be, the nights can be crazy humid so instead of using a duvet, I tend to use a light blanket or throw as a cover, instead. I can't sleep without any cover on so this blanket from Victoria's Secret has been a life saver!

8. Refreshing Drink
While Winter nights were all about being cosy in bed with a mug of hot chocolate, it doesn't mean you can't rewind in bed in the summer, too! Think ahead during the day and leave a refreshing drink in the fridge ready to take up to bed with you. My fave's for the summer are Dragonfruit Vitamin water or a nice cold strawberry milkshake!... and as I have a obsession with pretty drinking glasses (weird, I know) I like to make it a bit more fun with a pretty tumbler.

9. Beating Those Light Nights
I don't tend to suffer too much with this as I'm not normally asleep until it's dark anyway, but if you're one of those unfortunate people who have to be up at the crack of dawn and need an early night, but find it impossible to fall asleep early now that it's light until much later, grab yourself an eye mask. They're the perfect cheap fix to shut out the sun and get that much needed sleep!

Happy Summer, Everyone!

Love Lauryn xo

Girl Struggles

While being a girl can be pretty damn fabulous most of the time, there are, without a doubt, a number of problems us females have to deal with that the male species wouldn't even consider in their simple day to day lives.

1. Periods.

We moan. We cry. We eat our body weight in chocolate - and then cry some more. Guess what? We're allowed to. If boys had to put up with this crap once a month I'm pretty sure they'd kick up a bigger fuss than us. 

2. Shopping.

The pain of feeling somewhat skinny before you set off for that mammoth shopping trip you've been waiting weeks for, only to find those shorts you've been dying for don't actually fit and having to do the walk of shame from the fitting room, grunting at the shop assistant when she asks if they're any good. 

3. Crazy Emotional - and for no apparent reason.

We hate you one day and love you the next? Totally normal. Some days we'll sob like a baby at the end of Titanic, and others we'll totally think Rose was just plain selfish. There was definitely room for two on that headboard. 

4. The Want To Look Good vs The Need To Be Comfy.

How we hate those girls who turn up at the airport for a 5am flight with perfectly applied lipstick, shoes to die for and ginormous blow dry... and there you are. No makeup, hair shoved up and wearing those leggings that you think may be see-through. Comfort all the way.

5. Eyebrows.

We were all fine with barely existing eyebrows and then bam! Cara Delevingne makes an appearance and suddenly were drawing on eyebrows that are thicker than Charlie's from Busted. The male species will NEVER understand the time and effort that goes into plucking, shaping, grooming, tinting and pencilling a girls eyebrows. 

6. Diet.

The struggle between wanting that stuffed-crust meat feast pizza with a side of onion rings and mozzarella dippers... and looking like a Victoria's Secret Angel. Guess which one wins?

7. Bitches.

You'd think that at 20 years old, you're too old for twitter wars, right? Wrong. Whichever path you take in life, you will always come across a bitch. Sometimes she will recruit an army of bitches to stand by her, and sometimes she will work solo. But she'll always be there. 

8. Shaving.

It's so time consuming and you practically have to be a gymnast to manoeuvre around the shower cubicle. But when it's done, it's SO worth it. Just call me the silk goddess. 

9. Expensive clothing.

Men can take a minimal amount of money and come home with an entire new wardrobe. Girls? Oh no. With a new bra costing the same as what you earn in 6 hours, we're surprised we can afford anything at all.

 

10. The Kardashian's.

We just want to be a Kardashian. Is that so much to ask?!

11. Tanning.

Having stood in positions you never knew existed in order to reach that awkward section on your back, you find you missed the back of one of your legs and your hands are now bright orange, only to then realise it's raining outside and end up in the club looking like you have a skin disease. Oh the joy. 

12. Pain.

Period pain. The pain of waxing. The pain of poking yourself in the eye with the mascara wand. The pain of breaking an acrylic nail. It just hurts, okay?!

13. Hair.

Do we go lighter, or darker, cut it all off, get extensions? Why can't I get it to look like Blake Lively's?! and don't even get me started on bad hair days.

14. Unrealistic Expectations Of Love.

Thanks to Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill all girls desperately hope for at least one romantic declaration in the style of Chuck Bass or Lucas Scott... unfortunately for us, the male species are content with a pizza delivery and a text along the lines of 'love u bae.' And who said romance is dead?!

But it's not all bad for us gals, because after all...

Love Lauryn xo