Life. How Should We Live It?

As you can probably tell, my lack of posting has been as a result of a serious motivational problem that I have been feeling for the last couple of months. I've been up to various things, one of which packing up my first year of University (physically and metaphorically) which has taken SO much of my time. Now, I am back and settled in Bristol again; it really does feel good to be home. However, over this short period of time that I have been here, spending days at home on my own, really gives your brain the good opportunity to think like you've never thought before!

Personally, I have no idea how I am right now in terms of living. Yes, sure, my heart is beating pretty hard out of my chest, and my breathing is of a consistent rate. But am I really, living? Being a young twenty year old girl, a somewhat shining pearl in this big oyster of a world, it can be quite daunting thinking about life choices and how successfully I am doing right now, for me. I have numerous amounts of aspirations in life, dreams that I want to make a reality. It is my mission to be who and what I want to be, and live my life exactly how I think I should live it. Sometimes though, it can be hard to find the get up and go, as well as the right route, in order to achieve these things.

We are presented with a perfect world left right and centre; celebrities posting videos on endless amounts of social media of their practically perfect lifestyle. But that being precisely the point...Nobody is perfect in this world; we only see what those people want us to see. Why do I sit and scroll on my phone, admiring an unrealistic, picturesque perspective of the world, watching people live their life when I should be living my own? The majority of the time, these people don't make me feel good about myself. They just make me feel like a considerably dim pearl in our oyster of a world, without the pretty clothes and makeup and beautiful holidays and settings around me.

Are these people really, REAL people? They come from completely different backgrounds, lifestyles, families, and riches beyond the mind's imagination. Sure, its exciting to watch their experiences because it opens up our eyes to a completely different world out there. But don't forget who YOU are, and how incredible your life and experiences are right now. Most importantly, how incredible it could be in years to come if you work hard and put in the effort to be a bright shiny pearl. Do you want to be there in the future, gazing out the window contemplating the things you could have done, thinking "what if?". Look at yourself now, and be the person you want to be. You might not even know who that is yet, and that isn't a bad thing at all! There is no right or wrong in this world, the only person who can make a decision for yourself is YOU. Never let anyone prevent you from being the best you can be. If you have crazy, exciting, wild dreams for your future,  I SAY YOU GO FOR IT!! There is nothing, or no one, stopping you. Don't be afraid to take risks, be bold and be all you can be in this world.

The things I want to do are hard to reach, and I have been told so by countless amounts of people. But who are they to say what I can and can't achieve? Even if your goals are somewhat unrealistic, they are YOUR goals and the only person stopping you from reaching them is you. We have all had our knock backs in life, be it big or small, but it's what we do after these knock backs that really make the difference. It doesn't matter how quickly we get back up...It's the fact that we DO.

 But most of all? Believe in yourself. "Promise me you'll always remember: You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and more loved than you'll ever know."
(A.A Milne)

 And I really do stand by that!

Soph x

Something To Make You Think.

Have you ever felt like things can get just too much sometimes? You get one of those days where you walk into things, forget things, a bird decides to poo all over you, you step in something you didn't think existed in this world or someone says something that gets you down? Almost like you are forever doing the wrong things....

Or are you having one of those MONTHS? A huge mammoth of bad luck has made its way into your life and you just want to curl up in a ball and stay there for all eternity?

We have all been there. All got to the point where life throws you things and you just aren't ready and its hard to cope with isn't it? Well here are a few motivations points that I found online a while ago with my own commentary ( I especially thought them relevant considering exam results are coming up) which will make you think and re-evaluate your glum thoughts.

1. At least five people in this world love you so much they would die for you. 

Think about it.... Even if its a few members of your family, those people respect you and your presence so much they would put their own self at risk if it meant you were okay. Their life for yours... because you make that much of an impact on someone. And that's a whole handful of people my dear!


2.  At least 15 people in the world love you in some way. 

That's right! AT LEAST FIFTEEN. There isn't even a limit on that! It could be a love for your eyes, the way you laugh, they could love the way you dress or the way you do your hair. No matter how, there is an element of love for you because of the way you are. Something you chose to do be it from the way you put your outfit together to the way you write your name, those people love you for the things you do. And love is a powerful thing.


3. If you haven't done anything to someone who dislikes you, its because they want to be like you. 

There is always a motivation behind someones actions. Sure, we've all been jealous of people right? But sadly, there are people out there who hold that against you. They don't hate you purely because of your presence. That wouldn't make sense, because they know NOTHING about your fabulous self. Its most probably because of your beauty, your outshining personality or it could be something as stupid as a nice clip you have in your hair. Don't take it personally...They like something about you and are afraid to admit that to themselves. Their problem, not yours. Keep your head held high and you prove to those people why you are so great.


4. Your smile can bring happiness to even a stranger. 

If you went out today, and smiled at someone unintentionally you most probably just made them think of you all day. They could have been having the worst day possible and YOU my friend just gave them a reason to turn their frown upside down. That's how powerful you and your happiness is. Just a smile can give someone the reason to keep on going, to motivate someone who doesn't even know you something to live for. Or on the down scale, it could quite simply just put a smile on their face for what could have been a long time or a short time. But what does that matter? You still had that positive effect on someone and still can.


5. You mean the world to someone. 

There is someone close to you, you may or may not know it, that would move heaven and earth for you. You have such a positive impact on their life, you are their everything and give them a reason to keep on going every single day and night. You are the light in their dark, the clearness in their fog and it is just because you are being you. A dear friend once explained to me I meant the world to them, because I was their "Safety". They explained that I looked past their imperfections, (in my eyes, they are purely unusual perfections), and they knew that no matter what I would always make them feel safe because they could one hundred percent be themselves to the core. We all have a friend who laughs at the wrong things, who cancels plans last minute, who forgets important events or who can't help but talk about themselves (These are just examples!!). But they wouldn't be them if they didn't have these qualities about them, and if you look past that without even realising you do, and you are still friends with people who have similar qualities... you are assuring them that no matter what you will be there without having to tell them directly. You are the centre of their world because you understand. And there is SUCH a beauty in that.

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” 

[Smiling Snow White Sophie & A Dear Friend]

6. If it wasn't for you, someone may not be living. 

This may seem a little drastic, but if thought well it is most probably very true. Has someone ever asked you to randomly cheer them up? Or has a friend randomly hugged you and said "I needed that"? A smile can hide even the darkest of minds. Just because someone has a hard exterior, constantly laughing and smiling and looking as happy as can be does not mean that on the interior, they are not breaking. If you take a time to step back and think of all the times you gave someone a hug back randomly, invited someone over when they were feeling low or bought someone a little gift just because you thought of them when you saw it. Well, truth be known you saved their life. Something as small as a hug, or just a shoulder to cry on or an ear to listen is enough to keep someone going through a difficult time. If they didn't have you, they may not have got through the dark days without extreme difficulty. Right at this second, someone is thinking of you and smiling at memories you have together, or wondering how you are. You are distracting them from something troubling them, and that is so commendable because ultimately, you are saving them. You are keeping them alive. (Or literally you could have saved someones life in your job if you're a doctor or a nurse etc. And if you are one of those people and you have saved someones life literally? Good on you my friend, good on you.)


7. When you tell someone how you feel, you'll feel much better about things. 

Don't keep things to yourself. I can't emphasise enough how untidy your mind can get if you capture all your thoughts and bottle them up tightly, suffocating yourself from any freedom. Talk to someone. Even if its to your pet or your teddy just let it out. Ranting about your thoughts especially to your friends are the BEST way to offload any negative emotions. Or even by writing it down, or expressing your thoughts in song writing or poetry it all really helps to let off some steam and gives you some empty space in that mind of yours for positivity!


8. When you think the world has turned its back on you, take a good look: you most likely turned your back on the world. 

Just because things aren't going how they should, don't give up on the world. At the end of the day, everything happens for a reason and there isn't much that can be done about that. Dwelling on it, and hiding yourself away isn't a way to resolve things. The world is your oyster, and reoccurring bad events shouldn't give you a reason to turn your back on it because it won't determine your future or who you are as a person. There is a whole world out there waiting for someone like you to shine bright, don't hold yourself back from that.

[Drawing smiles on everything since '96.]

9. From every mistake you make, something good comes of it. 

Most of the time, its that you will learn from it in the future. Just because you've done something you shouldn't have, or made the wrong decision on something doesn't mean that you're going to continue to do so. Even if you make the same mistake hundreds of times something good coming from that is you are gaining experience. Everything in life is a learning curve, mostly rooting from mistakes. So don't give up just because of one wrong turn. Your path is still ahead of you, you just hit a bump in the road, that's all.


10. Someone you don't know exists, is going to love you.  

That is certainly right. Someone out there, walking this earth right now doesn't know you are here. But one day your paths will cross and they will love you unconditionally. Even if you are in a long term relationship or married right now..There is still someone who you are going to meet that will love you (referring back to number 2). They will love you in some way, and you can't give up now when that person is oblivious to your existence. I mean come on petal, you can't give them a life without your wonderful self can you?!


I hope I've given you a reason to think, and smile. I know times are hard, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel..walk through the darkness with your internal torch. It's in there somewhere, you just have to find it. And you aren't alone.


Soph x

Never let anyone take your sparkle away. 

Smiling Soph Launch!

Why….Hello there!

Here I am, with a blank page and excited fingers to open up a new opportunity in sharing my life with people. Many of my friends tell me I have an exciting life,  always up to random new things and undergoing many a thing which a normal eighteen year old wouldn't normally be doing! So, after being pestered by them (you can stop that now!) I am going to be documenting everything I do for you guys to enjoy and take the journey of 'Smiling Soph' with you in case you ever wondered how on earth I end up in the kind of places I do. Ive always enjoyed writing, and am guilty of being that kind of person who cant just write 'happy birthday' or 'merry christmas' on a text or in a card, I have to write a massive mini essay, giving that person a running commentary on how I feel about them. Writing this takes a lot of self courage and a lot of motivation, so if you've got this far already… thank you for reading and know that it means a lot.

 I suppose I should tell you a bit about myself. Well, if you were a little Sherlock, you'd realise from my URL and in the previous writing that I'm Sophie and I'm eighteen years old. Pleased to meet you *shakes hand with computer screen*. My hair is ridiculously long, one of my eyes is green and the other is green verging on blue (I'm merely pointing that out to make myself sound a bit more interesting. Did it work?) How about I show you a picture?

JUST JOKING… Here is my face….

                       Had to add an over edited sepia one…..Sorry for the brightness.

There we go. So that's me. Hi!

I regard myself as a bubbly, random and loving person. Everyone has their flaws of course, myself having many which include singing loudly in supermarkets, messing up ANY room which I am in somehow after a few hours or even upon arriving (oops), loving One Direction (its not really a flaw is it girls?!) Oh the list continues! But one thing I pride myself in, and gave me the name behind this blog, is how no matter what I always always try and smile. And by that, I don't mean I'm one of those people who are constantly happy and smiling and jumping up and down like an excited bunny. I mean, that I merely prioritise doing things and being with people that make me happy. I've finished school, and to be frank I have absolutely NO idea what on earth I am doing in this big wide world. I enjoy far too many things, and being so young I don't want to pin myself down doing one thing and regret it in several years to come. So.. in the mean time I am merely going here there and everywhere to help find what I am meant to do.

So.. whats my past? Well.. I have been to school all my life, so that's pretty normal hmm? But in between that time, I spent four years on a television set acting as the character 'Sally Arless'.  The show was called Lark Rise to Candleford and it was a BBC period drama series which ran for four years.  I worked with some INCREDIBLE people, and I couldn't single out many because each and every one of the cast and crew were fab and there are too many to type out. But I will be loyal to my onscreen family and shout out to my on screen mummy and fantabulous comedian/actress Dawn French and older bro John Dagleish (who you may now know as Barry from E4's Beaver Falls). This is probably my first proper adventure in life, and it taught me many life lessons as to what I enjoy and what kind of person I am. It's probably one of the main things that has helped shape me into the person I am today. Here are a couple of snaps…..

 Talking of family! I have the most inspirational, idolising and wonderful family in the whole world.. Sheesh that was a lot of adjectives. My famalam consist of my incredible father Laurie, my mother (also known as moomy) Marcia, my older sister Hollie whom is at UNI in Southampton, and two younger brothers; Harry who is at school and wants me to inform you all he is 'cool' and little monkey Freddie who is three. I am so grateful to my family for always supporting me and being there for me to infuse my smile. Anyway, enough of the soppy stuff, lets carry on with the Smiling Sophie introduction shall we?  So… Here are a few past adventures for you to, in a way, catch up with what I have got up to. In pictures...because everyone loves pictures. Right?


So this is March 2013, where I went front row to a One Direction concert. This resulted in a gif of Harry Styles putting his thumb up to me and poking his tongue out going viral on tumblr. (We were both wearing the same t-shirt and it kinda happened from there really)

Soccer Aid last year, which has just recently happened again. Its a good excuse to make yourself look like you know the rules of football, when really you're secretly only shouting because your fave celebs are in tight shorts running around. Sorry, had to say it! 

Disney Land 2012. My most favourite place.. If you ever want to feel like you are a little one again, this is the perfect place to go!! 

I once bumped into Jacksgap. Me being me, I was really dopey and kinda just, didn't realise who he was until I walked away and my friends explained. I embarrassingly said to him "I don't know who you are, but I will have a picture with you anyway!"He is a really really lovely guy either way. (2012)

Ive bumped into George Shelley from Union J twice, and don't ask me how or if I followed him round the mall. I did not, it was pure luck and was very quiet out. He is so cuddly and very cute! (2013)

Tom Daley, 2012. I will write of this adventure at some point, but I didn't get to meet him without going through a lot beforehand! But either way, he is quite possibly the most adorable human bean. Ever.

This happened last week… I am so very proud of how good timing this shot is! This was at Niall Horan's charity football match. I spent the whole time in a bright red waterproof and looked like what can only be described as a wet dog. Sassy James Corden in the background there. Click here for more info on the charity it was in aid of. 

Halloween.. Ten years ago and then last year with the same friend. Incredible how quickly time can fly, yet people still stick around if they want to. Its nice, that. Also that is a mask on the left, in case you were wondering if I was that ugly as a child. In the near future, I will write of  little adventures I go on with my friends, as they are one of the main reasons for my happiness and mean very much to me. 

I, along with my friends, were once chosen to be a 'superfan' on X Factor. It was hilarious! We basically had to stand against the stage and scream and dance anytime a teenage boy act  or a boy band came on stage. I will share details of how you can do that in the near future, so keep an eye out people! 

Somerset House in London, Covent Garden 2013. I will go back there soon, lovely lovely place with really cute little stores in. 

TAXI SELFIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.. Before the Radio One Teen Awards, 2013. Last year of being able to go there! Sad times. Such a great event and some truly inspiring young people's stories. As well as great performances! My favourite blogger Zoella was also there!!

Brit Awards 2014! Popped along and it was MANIC. There were so many screaming people trying to bash down the metal barriers. It can only be described as a somewhat rabid species of fangirls eager to catch a glimpse of their lovers. CRAZY. A random lady in the park complimented me on my outfit that day, saying "I absolutely LOVE your tights" sneezing, and then continuing "In fact, your whole outfit is absolutely gorgeous!! Love it!" Bless her. 

Sports Relief 2014 was SO much fun. I went with my sisters boyfriend, and managed to meet one of my favourite Radio One DJ's Greg James. Greg even was the first person to like this picture on my instagram. A lovely lovely guy, even though he stole my head pom poms and tried to run away with them to the toilet! (It was an accident that he ran away with them, he really is VERY lovely).

Last one before I continue to babble! Me and mum being fangirls at her favourite programme live tour 'Dancing On Ice'. We were as she described 'groupies'  (that's a joke, please don't take that seriously) and got in back stage to meet Torvill and Dean.     

 So Naughty.

So there you have it. Welcome to my world! I know these are only a few adventures and a quick insight to who I am and my background, but hopefully you'll get to know me and my journeys a lot more along the way. I'm not an expert in makeup, hair products, fashion or music however I want to share with you the different opinions and experiences I go on to inspire you to be confident, healthy, happy and help you out in anyway I can. I will share with you my latest obsessions, be it from the latest hair trends to my favourite places, as well as the adventures that I go on. Please appreciate I have next to no idea what on earth I am doing! The design of this page is temporary until I get to grips with blogger so if the layout offends your eyesight I apologise, it wont be there for too long. (Apologies to Charlotte for constantly sending her my link to proof it.. blame her if you dont like it)

Sit back and enjoy reading the nonsense I post with a nice cuppa and biccy!

Thank you for taking the time to read!

Sending Smiley vibes...

Soph x