Hello everyone!
Today you've got a guest post from Liam of The Life of A Thinker so this is just a quick wee message from me to say go check out his blog & enjoy! Over to Liam!
Back in March 2014, it was fair to say that I had no knowledge of British Sign Language (BSL). I am mildly deaf and had previously been invited to join a youth board of 18 deaf young people. When I went to my first board meeting, I knew that learning BSL would be useful and help me to communicate with other members of the youth board who use it. Now, one year later, I went from knowing no BSL to being able to have full conversations with BSL users.
So whilst I wouldn’t say that I’ve learnt the language completely (I’m still learning), there’s definitely things I did throughout the year to help me pick up the language easier. Whilst BSL is a visual language, these 5 top tips of mine will definitely help if you wanted to learn a foreign language as well.
1. Practice with those who speak the language
This is obviously one of the best ways to practice a language. They can correct you on things such as pronunciation, and you can even make new friends through practising with them!
2. Buy an English to *insert language here* dictionary
When learning a language, I often have moments where I cannot remember the word I wish to say. For that reason, having an English dictionary handy can often help solve that problem. Whilst paying £30 for a BSL dictionary can be a bit too much, dictionaries often have helpful, easy-to-understand tips on how to pronounce a word too, and they are incredibly invaluable.
3. Watch TV shows/films etc. in the language
I still do this now. At weekends, when the Coronation Street omnibus is shown on Sunday, I often pay attention to the BSL interpreter in the corner signing and can sometimes learn new signs through that. As for foreign languages, DVDs and some TV shows often have subtitles with other languages available. Why not watch the programme in another language and then have English subtitles on screen in case you get stuck?
4. Take courses/lessons or buy books
With foreign languages, always try and see if a local college, university or school offers free courses or lessons. They’re often great places to meet fellow learners and more people to practice the language with! Also, there are numerous books out there which can help. Some of them may be targeted at children, but they often explain the language in a clear, easy-to-understand way so they can be useful.
5. Make use of YouTube videos or apps.
If courses are too expensive or aren’t available where you live, then YouTube is always a brilliant place to go. Videos on YouTube are free and can sometimes be easier to understand than books (especially when it comes to pronunciation). There’s also the really useful app and website, Duolingo, which sets you quizzes to help you learn a language for free!
So those are my top five tips for learning a new language. Even though I say in the title that these may help you to learn a language quick and fast, it’s also good to remember that you can language at your own pace. Take as long or quick as you like, and best of luck if you plan on learning a new language!
What languages do you know, and which ones would you like to learn? Comment below!
Liam
Hello everyone!
It's time to share what I've been listening to throughout the month of July!
Everything Everything
I've had Regret stuck in my head this whole month! I first heard it when they performed it on a TV show then again on the BBC's Glastonbury coverage. It's ridiculously catchy with it's punchy rhythm - you'll be singing it non-stop! I didn't realise they're the same band that also sing Kemosabe, a song I loved when I heard it last year so I'll have to get listening to more from them!
Kid Astray
Kid Astray's song Diver was on one of the Spotify ads at the start of the month and I was immediately drawn to that indie pop sound! Think fun, easy breezy, chilled out vibes. I probably should go and listen to their full album now!
The Weeknd
Ah, The Weeknd. I'd heard him on various songs with Drake in the past but for some reason I never really listened to his own stuff until now. Holy moly, I was missing out! Wicked Games is by far my favourite song of his; if you're adverse to the odd f-bomb, maybe give it a miss but if alternative R'n'B sounds like your kind of thing, see what you think. Can't Feel My Face is his current (less explicit) single which definitely takes on more of a pop sound. When I first heard it on the radio I wasn't sure about it but now it's had time to grow on me I love it!
Years & Years
The trio released their new album this month which I was pretty excited for, already being a fan of their singles I'd heard previously. Unfortunately the majority of Communion just didn't do it for me but there are a few tracks that did stand out! I'm absolutely loving Shine, Worship & Desire. I'd love to know what you thought of the album!
Empire
& last but not least, I couldn't not include the Empire soundtrack! I loved the series on E4 so it made sense I'd enjoy the album. Hip hop fans will love the cast's take on Money For Nothing but I imagine Dire Straits fan might not! I've been singing You're So Beautiful all over the house - Jussie Smollett's voice is gorgeous!
I've had Regret stuck in my head this whole month! I first heard it when they performed it on a TV show then again on the BBC's Glastonbury coverage. It's ridiculously catchy with it's punchy rhythm - you'll be singing it non-stop! I didn't realise they're the same band that also sing Kemosabe, a song I loved when I heard it last year so I'll have to get listening to more from them!
Kid Astray
Kid Astray's song Diver was on one of the Spotify ads at the start of the month and I was immediately drawn to that indie pop sound! Think fun, easy breezy, chilled out vibes. I probably should go and listen to their full album now!
The Weeknd
Ah, The Weeknd. I'd heard him on various songs with Drake in the past but for some reason I never really listened to his own stuff until now. Holy moly, I was missing out! Wicked Games is by far my favourite song of his; if you're adverse to the odd f-bomb, maybe give it a miss but if alternative R'n'B sounds like your kind of thing, see what you think. Can't Feel My Face is his current (less explicit) single which definitely takes on more of a pop sound. When I first heard it on the radio I wasn't sure about it but now it's had time to grow on me I love it!
Years & Years
The trio released their new album this month which I was pretty excited for, already being a fan of their singles I'd heard previously. Unfortunately the majority of Communion just didn't do it for me but there are a few tracks that did stand out! I'm absolutely loving Shine, Worship & Desire. I'd love to know what you thought of the album!
Empire
& last but not least, I couldn't not include the Empire soundtrack! I loved the series on E4 so it made sense I'd enjoy the album. Hip hop fans will love the cast's take on Money For Nothing but I imagine Dire Straits fan might not! I've been singing You're So Beautiful all over the house - Jussie Smollett's voice is gorgeous!
Well I hope you enjoyed my July Playlist! Get involved in the comments below and let me know what you think of the songs I included!
What have you been listening to this month?
Thanks for reading,
Maeve
x
Hello everyone!
It's time to reflect on another week!
This week . . .
. . . got off to a fantastic start - we had a little family day out to the shops on Sunday afternoon which was so lovely! We had a coffee in M&S first thing then had a wee look round the shops. Boots, of course, as well as Next and Pets at Home! The sale in Next was a bit hectic but I managed to try on a few things and made a few cheeky purchases. Pets at Home was the best - I was genuinely having the time of my life with all the rabbits & guinea pigs and there was a gorgeous bearded dragon! I absolutely love lizards but my parents really don't so it wouldn't be fair to get one while I'm under their roof. Maybe when I move out!
I did my first Periscope when I got home! It was a little nerve wracking but I really enjoyed it, although a lot of people seemed to watch but not comment. I might do another one soon so be sure to add me @ThriftOClock if you like watching broadcasts!
With my illness I rarely go out two days in a row. I was feeling okay so on Monday we went on another family day out to Dobbie's. It's a garden centre which also does homeware and other bits and bobs. My mum wanted to pick up a few things so we had a look round and naturally took full advantage of the delicious sweet treats in the cafe!
Tuesday was a day for resting but on Wednesday we took a wee drive into Moira!
I've also noticed that my hair has been growing so fast! I don't know whether it's down to the fact I've been reverse washing it or what but I swear it's getting longer by the second. Anyone with short hair will understand the annoying middle stage so I'm not sure whether to keep getting it cut short or grow it out really long again. I came across a photo of myself with really long hair from a few years back and really miss it! I'd need to make sure it would be in good condition so these haircare tips from AllCures are so useful! It'll be lots of carrots and dark green leafy veg for me from now on!
My brother and I got back into playing Mario Kart on the Wii this week which was hilarious - we're both so out of practice! Who remembers when that used to be the ULTIMATE game back in the day?
Oh and also, you all know how much I love tea, right? Well I used to only have a coffee once every few weeks but over the past few days I've been really getting into it - more so than tea!
And that takes us right up to yesterday! I had the best day ever in Lisburn with my friend Megan who I hadn't seen in ages. We hit up Caffe Nero, Castle Gardens, Bob & Bert's, looked round the charity shops and of course, had lots of existential chats!
. . . got off to a fantastic start - we had a little family day out to the shops on Sunday afternoon which was so lovely! We had a coffee in M&S first thing then had a wee look round the shops. Boots, of course, as well as Next and Pets at Home! The sale in Next was a bit hectic but I managed to try on a few things and made a few cheeky purchases. Pets at Home was the best - I was genuinely having the time of my life with all the rabbits & guinea pigs and there was a gorgeous bearded dragon! I absolutely love lizards but my parents really don't so it wouldn't be fair to get one while I'm under their roof. Maybe when I move out!
I did my first Periscope when I got home! It was a little nerve wracking but I really enjoyed it, although a lot of people seemed to watch but not comment. I might do another one soon so be sure to add me @ThriftOClock if you like watching broadcasts!
With my illness I rarely go out two days in a row. I was feeling okay so on Monday we went on another family day out to Dobbie's. It's a garden centre which also does homeware and other bits and bobs. My mum wanted to pick up a few things so we had a look round and naturally took full advantage of the delicious sweet treats in the cafe!
Tuesday was a day for resting but on Wednesday we took a wee drive into Moira!
I've also noticed that my hair has been growing so fast! I don't know whether it's down to the fact I've been reverse washing it or what but I swear it's getting longer by the second. Anyone with short hair will understand the annoying middle stage so I'm not sure whether to keep getting it cut short or grow it out really long again. I came across a photo of myself with really long hair from a few years back and really miss it! I'd need to make sure it would be in good condition so these haircare tips from AllCures are so useful! It'll be lots of carrots and dark green leafy veg for me from now on!
My brother and I got back into playing Mario Kart on the Wii this week which was hilarious - we're both so out of practice! Who remembers when that used to be the ULTIMATE game back in the day?
Oh and also, you all know how much I love tea, right? Well I used to only have a coffee once every few weeks but over the past few days I've been really getting into it - more so than tea!
And that takes us right up to yesterday! I had the best day ever in Lisburn with my friend Megan who I hadn't seen in ages. We hit up Caffe Nero, Castle Gardens, Bob & Bert's, looked round the charity shops and of course, had lots of existential chats!
Well I hope you enjoyed this post! Don't forget, if you want to keep up with my week as and when it happens, follow me on Snapchat! I'm basically daily vlogging on there so add maeve.toc! Get involved in the comments and let me know what you got up to this week!
How was your week?
Thanks for reading,
Maeve
x
______________________________________________________________________________
♫ Would I lie to you baby, would I lie to you? ♫
No, I wouldn't.
This post contains a sponsored link from AllCures but all opinions are honest and my own. Hello everyone!
Y'know those annoying little things that just make you sigh? Well, this post is an ode to ten of them. Here are ten things ain't nobody got time for!
1 // The daily untangling of the earphone wires.
2 // I could maybe deal with one Facebook game invite a day. When it rolls over into double figures though, that's when I just can't even. *insert sassy hand emoji here*
3 // Who has the time to shave their legs every week? Not me that's for sure!
4 // Auto DMs on Twitter. Need I say more?
5 // And while we're on the topic of social media, ain't nobody got time for when people follow, unfollow & refollow you multiple times. If you'd like me to follow you, start up a conversation and let's be friends! 9/10 times the whole following/unfollowing thing will act in the opposite way you're hoping for. Ya feel me?
6 // You've just painted your nails and they're looking pretty fine if you do say so yourself! You allow them time to dry and just when you think they are, BAM, you've smudged them opening the door or something. The struggle is real lads.
7 // When products are overpackaged to the extreme. Not only is this pretty wasteful but it takes up valuable time that could be spent eating the donut (or any other kind of snack) inside the wrapping.
8 // When things are always out of stock. I'm looking at you Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pink Gold - I've swatched you many a time in store but can't buy you because you're only a tester!
9 // Spending time doing your hair all nice just for you to step outside the door and the wind ruins it. This is why I barely bother most of the time!
10 // Lastly, on a slightly more serious note, I just don't have the time for negativity. Haters. I'm lucky not to get them myself (touch wood) but it makes me so sad seeing people get hate online. Can I get a collective "ain't nobody got time for that!"? Their time and energy could be so much better spent sharing positivity!
2 // I could maybe deal with one Facebook game invite a day. When it rolls over into double figures though, that's when I just can't even. *insert sassy hand emoji here*
3 // Who has the time to shave their legs every week? Not me that's for sure!
4 // Auto DMs on Twitter. Need I say more?
5 // And while we're on the topic of social media, ain't nobody got time for when people follow, unfollow & refollow you multiple times. If you'd like me to follow you, start up a conversation and let's be friends! 9/10 times the whole following/unfollowing thing will act in the opposite way you're hoping for. Ya feel me?
6 // You've just painted your nails and they're looking pretty fine if you do say so yourself! You allow them time to dry and just when you think they are, BAM, you've smudged them opening the door or something. The struggle is real lads.
7 // When products are overpackaged to the extreme. Not only is this pretty wasteful but it takes up valuable time that could be spent eating the donut (or any other kind of snack) inside the wrapping.
8 // When things are always out of stock. I'm looking at you Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pink Gold - I've swatched you many a time in store but can't buy you because you're only a tester!
9 // Spending time doing your hair all nice just for you to step outside the door and the wind ruins it. This is why I barely bother most of the time!
10 // Lastly, on a slightly more serious note, I just don't have the time for negativity. Haters. I'm lucky not to get them myself (touch wood) but it makes me so sad seeing people get hate online. Can I get a collective "ain't nobody got time for that!"? Their time and energy could be so much better spent sharing positivity!
Well I hope you enjoyed this post, it's just for fun! Get involved in the comments below and let me know if any of these things get on your nerves too - we all have to passive-aggressive vent somewhere!
What are your pet peeves?
Thanks for reading,
Maeve
x
(P.S. I'm now on Snapchat! Add maeve.toc to see my daily stories!)
x
(P.S. I'm now on Snapchat! Add maeve.toc to see my daily stories!)
Hello everyone!
Last week I blogged about life without a smartphone, this week I'm loving Snapchat and updating my story!
Yep, I've made myself a new account and I'm snapping away - it's a fun way of instantly vlogging! So far we've been to Pets At Home, M&S and Dobbie's and I've captured it all in my story. There are of course gonna be times when I'm just chilling at home with Mia so expect no makeup sing-songs sooner or later!
I'd love for you to join me & let this be a new way to connect!
Add: maeve.toc
I'd love for you to join me & let this be a new way to connect!
Add: maeve.toc
So if you'd like to keep up with my Summer adventures, add me on Snapchat! Get involved in the comments below and share your usernames if you'd like to!
Are you on Snapchat?
Thanks for reading,
Maeve
x
Hello everyone!
Well here we are at the end of another week! Let's have a little reflect on the past few days . . .
This week . . .
. . . got off to quite a lovely start when I woke up on Monday morning to an email telling me I've been nominated for The Blog Awards Ireland! I still can't believe it! I wish I could thank whoever put me forward for it personally but we don't get to find out who it was. I'll let you know when voting begins so you can do so if you wish but truthfully, I'm beyond grateful just to even be considered!
On Tuesday afternoon, my mum and I made the most of the lovely weather and went for a walk. Living in the countryside, I'm very lucky that I can step outside and have such beautiful scenery right on my doorstep! If it wasn't for my illness I'd be out doing this everyday but I made the most of it and took my camera with me too. I got loads of photos (you can see more in this post) but I've just included three of my favourites in this post!
Also, did you know this little blog reached 400 followers on Bloglovin'? Thank you ever so much! Your support of this wee hobby of mine means so much to me!
Friday was my granny's birthday so of course I went to pay her a visit. Lots of hugs and laughs were had over a cup of tea and several bakewell slices!
I woke up on Saturday morning not feeling 100% as a result of the day before's outing, but I was determined to make a trip into Lisburn! I wanted to visit my good friend Roberta and also have a look round my favourite charity shop. You'll know which one I'm talking about if you read this post a few weeks ago, and as soon as I walked in I was greeted with the loveliest welcome from Liz! We had a wee catch up then she showed me some of the amazing things she and her friends had crocheted for the shop. Look at that minion hat! If you're local and are looking for gift ideas, pop into Action Cancer, do your bit for charity and tell them I sent you!
Whilst I was in town yesterday I also got a new phone! I went without one for somewhere close to four weeks so if you read this post you'll know how relieved I am to have emojis back in my life again! I can't wait to get back into Instagram and maybe even give Periscope a go? I've made a new Snapchat account as I completely forgot the password for my last one. I'm hoping to document little parts of my days on there so if you'd like to watch my daily story or snap me, I'm maeve.toc on there!
So that's what I got up to this week, all in all it was a really lovely one! Get involved in the comments below and let me know what made your week fun!
How was your week?
Thanks for reading,
Maeve
x
Hello everyone!
You may remember at the very end of 2014, I made some blogging resolutions for the New Year. Seeing as we're roughly half way through the year now, I thought I'd do an update to see how they're going!
It's kinda funny going back and reading that post cus at the time I wrote my resolutions, I had no idea I was developing a chronic illness. Here are the things I wanted to do blog-wise in 2015!
PHOTOGRAPHY
I started to really enjoy photography last year and with practice, I've only found myself loving it more this year! Instagram is a fun outlet and I've found that trying to update it daily pushes me to take more photos & improve. I can say I definitely put a lot more effort in now but obviously it's still a work in progress!
POST SCHEDULE
I wanted to try posting 2-4 times a week, which at the time was pretty ambitious for me so I can't believe I've found myself putting up 4-6 posts some weeks! I still don't have a set schedule but that's something I'm trying to figure out. How often do you think is best?
I'm also pretty proud of the fact I've kept up with my Weekly Reflect series every Sunday this year!
I started to really enjoy photography last year and with practice, I've only found myself loving it more this year! Instagram is a fun outlet and I've found that trying to update it daily pushes me to take more photos & improve. I can say I definitely put a lot more effort in now but obviously it's still a work in progress!
POST SCHEDULE
I wanted to try posting 2-4 times a week, which at the time was pretty ambitious for me so I can't believe I've found myself putting up 4-6 posts some weeks! I still don't have a set schedule but that's something I'm trying to figure out. How often do you think is best?
I'm also pretty proud of the fact I've kept up with my Weekly Reflect series every Sunday this year!
FAVOURITES
I've also kept to my aim of doing monthly favourites - I've also recently started filming them for my channel too! It's interesting to look back on them because it instantly takes you back to the memory of that month. Keeping a whiteboard and jotting things down on it throughout the month definitely makes it easier to keep a track of favourites!
YOUTUBE
Youtube! I've wanted to do it for years and finally bit the bullet at the end of last year. Having a channel and making videos is a really fun process but I have to admit, it can be difficult to juggle it as well as a blog at times. Add my chronic fatigue syndrome into the mix and consistency is a struggle! For now this blog remains my priority but making a video every now and then is cool. I'd like to be able to say I have a proper upload schedule by the end of the year though!
OUTFITS
My OOTD posts are few and far between at the minute - woops! Truth be told, it's because I'm in pyjama's most of the time . . . and when hen I do get dressed, I don't really feel like my outfits are anything worth sharing. Maybe doing this update is the kick up the bum I needed to make more of an effort with my outfits!
MEET UPS/EVENTS
I went to my first blogger event in May! It was an evening with some lovely local bloggers & The Publicity Loft to chat about lots of different beauty brands (see post here) and it was brilliant. I have been invited to a couple of other events before and after but I've had to turn them down because of my illness or due the fact they're in London! Hopefully by the time 2015 is over I'll be able to say I attended some more meet ups/events!
COMMENT/SHARE
I love supporting other bloggers and think it's such an important thing to do. I'm definitely commenting a lot more on blogs these days rather than just leaving a page once I've read it! By way of sharing, I do like to retweet other blogger's posts on Twitter but I could always try doing that more often. My Bloggers I Love post & Youtubers I Love video were two things I loved creating and I hope to do more of those in the future!
It's still a possibility and who knows, I might even do Vlogtober/Vlogmas!
I've also kept to my aim of doing monthly favourites - I've also recently started filming them for my channel too! It's interesting to look back on them because it instantly takes you back to the memory of that month. Keeping a whiteboard and jotting things down on it throughout the month definitely makes it easier to keep a track of favourites!
YOUTUBE
Youtube! I've wanted to do it for years and finally bit the bullet at the end of last year. Having a channel and making videos is a really fun process but I have to admit, it can be difficult to juggle it as well as a blog at times. Add my chronic fatigue syndrome into the mix and consistency is a struggle! For now this blog remains my priority but making a video every now and then is cool. I'd like to be able to say I have a proper upload schedule by the end of the year though!
OUTFITS
My OOTD posts are few and far between at the minute - woops! Truth be told, it's because I'm in pyjama's most of the time . . . and when hen I do get dressed, I don't really feel like my outfits are anything worth sharing. Maybe doing this update is the kick up the bum I needed to make more of an effort with my outfits!
MEET UPS/EVENTS
I went to my first blogger event in May! It was an evening with some lovely local bloggers & The Publicity Loft to chat about lots of different beauty brands (see post here) and it was brilliant. I have been invited to a couple of other events before and after but I've had to turn them down because of my illness or due the fact they're in London! Hopefully by the time 2015 is over I'll be able to say I attended some more meet ups/events!
COMMENT/SHARE
I love supporting other bloggers and think it's such an important thing to do. I'm definitely commenting a lot more on blogs these days rather than just leaving a page once I've read it! By way of sharing, I do like to retweet other blogger's posts on Twitter but I could always try doing that more often. My Bloggers I Love post & Youtubers I Love video were two things I loved creating and I hope to do more of those in the future!
It's still a possibility and who knows, I might even do Vlogtober/Vlogmas!
Well I hope you enjoyed this post - I can't wait to look back on this post in 6 months time and see what's changed! Get involved in the comments below and let me know if you made any blogging resolutions this year and how you're getting on with them. It's never too late in the year to make some if you'd like to!
What are your blogging achievements so far this year?
Thanks for reading,
Maeve
x
Hello everyone!
A few weeks ago, my phone stopped working. I love social media and staying connected but I decided instead of replacing it straight away, I'd challenge myself to go without having a smartphone for a while. I thought I'd share with you how I got on!
The CONS
I miss Instagram. I've still had access to the internet on my laptop but desktop Instagram can only get you so far. Not being able to update my profile with daily pics of what I'm eating or what nail polish I have on or what my cat looks like today is something I didn't think I'd miss so much!
I've also missed Snapchat and being able to see what everyone's up to via their stories!
What I feel I'm most lacking however, are emojis. You don't realise how much you value them until they're taken away from you & you can't express yourself fully by adding the cry laughter face to the end of a tweet! The struggle is real.
The PROS
When I get out of bed in the mornings, I go straight down for breakfast instead of feeling compelled to stay in bed until I've scrolled the whole way through my Instagram feed. I have to say, I do miss this but it gets my mornings off to a much better start!
I'm not constantly attached to social media like I used to be which means I've been spending more valuable time with my family.
I can still communicate with my friends via Facebook private mail and I've come to realise who really cares by who gets in touch that way when they notice I haven't responded to their texts/Whatsapp messages!
I miss Instagram. I've still had access to the internet on my laptop but desktop Instagram can only get you so far. Not being able to update my profile with daily pics of what I'm eating or what nail polish I have on or what my cat looks like today is something I didn't think I'd miss so much!
I've also missed Snapchat and being able to see what everyone's up to via their stories!
What I feel I'm most lacking however, are emojis. You don't realise how much you value them until they're taken away from you & you can't express yourself fully by adding the cry laughter face to the end of a tweet! The struggle is real.
The PROS
When I get out of bed in the mornings, I go straight down for breakfast instead of feeling compelled to stay in bed until I've scrolled the whole way through my Instagram feed. I have to say, I do miss this but it gets my mornings off to a much better start!
I'm not constantly attached to social media like I used to be which means I've been spending more valuable time with my family.
I can still communicate with my friends via Facebook private mail and I've come to realise who really cares by who gets in touch that way when they notice I haven't responded to their texts/Whatsapp messages!
All in all, I've surprised myself at how little I care about not having a phone. I don't think I could go without a smartphone forever (a girl can only go so long without emojis in her life) but I won't be rushing out to buy a new one with any urgency any time soon!
Well I hope you enjoyed this post - it's a bit different to my usual! Get involved in the comments below and let me know how long you think you'd be able to live without a smartphone!
What would you miss if you didn't have a phone?
Thanks for reading,
Maeve
x
ABOUT ME
Maeve, 19, Northern Ireland
For enquiries: maeve.thriftoclock@hotmail.co.uk