My boyfriend and I have a big list of countries we want to travel to, so what better way to kick start the new year than a trip to Paris?! We booked it for our two year anniversary and found such a good Eurostar deal, we couldn't say no.

The Eurostar is so much more comfortable. No luggage allowance, no liquid limit, so comfortable and it takes you into the centre of Paris. I'd definitely recommend it over flying!

I've visited Paris once before, but I was much younger so was only really interested in the crepes. Alex has never been so we were both really looking forward to it. We left on Thursday 25th, and so we thought were supposed to return on Sunday - however we somehow booked our train for the wrong day (don't ask, I don't even know how) so after a huge panic at the check-in date, had an extra day! Thankfully our Airbnb host let us stay another night in the apartment (thank god - that saved us about €100!)



During our five days, we managed to do all the things we had planned, so we were chuffed about that. We visited the Eiffel Tower on the first evening we got there - it looks amazing lit up, especially when it flashes at each hour.

Before we went, we found a suggestion to visit the Shakespeare and Company bookshop. After reading about it we were sure we wanted to go there. It is located on the banks of the Seine, so we spent the day exploring and actually stumbled across it. We were visiting the Notre-Dame and didn't actually realise how close it was.



This is such a wonderful little bookshop - I can't sing it's praises more. It's literally filled floor to ceiling with books of every kind. They also only sell English books, so of course I had to buy one. I definitely recommend visiting it, even if you don't buy anything! It was quite busy when we visited, but that added to the experience. It was nice to see so many people interested in it. On the corner, we stopped for a coffee at the Shakespeare and Company coffee shop, and sat with a lovely view of the Notre-Dame.

Outside the front of the shop is stools of second-hand books for sale. There are so many of them that add such a nice touch - it really draws people's attention to the shop. So many people wandering past stopped to look at the stalls and then decided to go inside.




Definitely be prepared to walk a lot in Paris! We spent all day every day just wandering around, taking in the sights and scenery. We actually accidentally came across the Louvre! We were going to visit the day after what we did, but spent such a long time walking we just stumbled across it - sounds stupid, I know! We didn't go inside as there was quite a long queue, but it is so pretty from the outside!

When I was at school my friendship group was quite big. A big friendship group at such a young age leads to endless dramas, arguments and bitchiness. I just remember it being so draining and you're constantly wondering who likes you and whose bitching about you to someone else in the group.

Seven years on, I only speak to one person from that friendship group. At the time, I thought I could never be without them and that they were the be all and end all of life. Now, I couldn't be happier. Moving away from my hometown to university was the best decision I ever made.

Living two and a half hours away from home taught me so much. I overcame challenges I never expected to be faced with and learnt my own independence. I made true, lifelong friends that I know are friends with me because they want to be, and there's no drama!

One thing I have learnt that is so important is that I need to do things for me. I've learnt to do things that make me happy, and not do things to please other people. Since graduating, my boyfriend and I have moved to London. It was either that or move back to my hometown and back into the baggage that comes with it. London is the place we need to be for our career aspirations, and I'm so glad we just went for it. We have so many more opportunities from living here and I just love the city life. I couldn't imagine moving back home after three years of not living there.

Alex is so supportive of the decisions I make, I couldn't be happier that I met him. We met at uni, and coincidentally his dad only lives half an hour away from my parents! On Thursday we're off to Paris too! The Eurostar was so cheap we couldn't justify not going. We have so many places we want to visit so may as well make a start. What better way to start 2018 and celebrate our two year anniversary than in Paris?!
What I'm trying to say really is seize every opportunity that comes your way. Don't worry about what other people think, it's nothing to do with them. Life is short and you shouldn't spend your time unhappy. Anything can happen at anytime so we may as well make the most of it. If you're unhappy with something in your life, take the steps to make a change. It may take time and require patience, but if you get there, you'll be so thankful for it. Empower others, make them feel good about themselves and don't pass judgement on those you don't know. Putting others down won't make you feel any better about yourself.

One of my New Year's resolutions is to stop comparing my life to others. I'm trying to keep in mind that people's lives are not all that you see on social media: you only see what others want you to see. Nobody has the perfect life and everyone has struggles. I need to remember that when endlessly scrolling through Instagram making myself feel like shit.

What are your New Year's resolutions?