The 2023 Super Bowl saw the Kansas City Chiefs go against the Philadelphia Eagles in Arizona as they fought for the win. The 2022-23 NFL season has seen some great games and surprise victories. With the 18-week regular season, including a bye-week, done and dusted at the beginning of January, it left seven teams from each conference in contention for the Super Bowl. In the AFC, the teams that got through to the playoffs were: Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers and the Miami Dolphins. In the NFC, the teams that got through to the playoffs were: Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After the wildcard round, the Ravens, the Dolphins, the Buccaneers and the Seahawks were all out of the playoffs. Next came the divisional round, which saw the Chiefs, the Eagles, the Bengals and 49ers take victory. It was then down to the final two games: San Francisco 49ers vs Philadelphia Eagles. Cincinnati Bengals vs Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles beat the 49ers with a final score of 31-7. It was an unfortunate game for the 49ers after their quarterbacks suffered some injuries. The Eagles took the victory meaning they had made it through to the Super Bowl. In the AFC, it was the Chiefs who were victorious as they outscored the Bengals by only three points. The Bengals made it to the Super Bowl last year against the Rams, but this year they lost out against the Chiefs. So for Super Bowl LVII, the two teams were: Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Super Bowl LVII I am a Dallas Cowboys fan, so it was only right for me to support the Chiefs given the rivalry between the Cowboys and Eagles. However, it makes me proud that the NFC East had three teams in the playoffs and one in the Super Bowl. Heading into the Super Bowl, the Eagles' regular season saw them win 14 games and lose three. The Chiefs had the same record making a level playing field in terms of stats. Both quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs) and Jalen Hurts (Eagles) were suffering from injuries. However, they were both cleared to play and so the Super Bowl began. As all NFL games do, the Super Bowl began with the coin toss. It was the Chiefs who won the toss, but they deferred until the second half, meaning the Eagles started with the ball. It was an exciting game straight from kick-off as the Eagles scored a touchdown in just under the first five minutes. However, it was recalled but that didn't stop them as on the next play, Hurts took the ball into the end-zone. From there, the Chiefs were eager to even the score. But, unfortunately for the Chiefs they missed a field goal. This Super Bowl was not only Chiefs vs Eagles but Kelce vs Kelce as Travis Kelce was playing for the Chiefs against his brother, Jason, who plays for the Eagles. Once the Chiefs had the ball, Travis Kelce levelled the score by achieving a touchdown. Having kicked the extra point, it was then 7-7. The first quarter remained 7-7 and ended with a first down for the Eagles after the Chiefs were penalised for a false start. Eagles dominance Throughout this season, the Eagles have outscored their opponents by 116 points in the second quarter. And this proved to continue as Hurts found AJ Brown in the end-zone for a 45-yard touchdown. Despite things looking bleak for a bit for the Chiefs, they were able to come back with a scoop and score. The Eagles had the ball and were on a 3rd and 5, but Hurts dropped the ball. The Chiefs were quick to pick it up and Nick Bolton carried it to the end-zone, making it 14-14. This was the Eagles' first turnover of the post-season. Soon after a neutral zone infraction by the Chiefs, the Eagles got a first down and Hurt slipped through the defence and got another touchdown. With two minutes left of the quarter, and the Eagles up by seven, it wasn't looking good for the Chiefs. On a 3rd and 15 at the Chiefs' 31, Mahomes got taken down by the Eagles' defence. He was then seen hobbling away off the field as his already-present ankle injury just got worse. At the end of the first half, it's 14-24 to the Eagles after a 35-yard field goal attempt. Then it was time for the half-time show! The second half saw a resurgence of the Chiefs. Many questioned whether Mahomes would be back on the field due to his injury, but the break whilst Rihanna performed was just what he needed. On the opening possession, the Chiefs' Isiah Pacheco scored a touchdown. But they were still three points behind the Eagles. The Eagles attempted to respond with Hurts passing to Sanders, but it was a catch and fumble by Philadelphia. The Chiefs picked up the ball and the ruling on the field deemed it a touchdown. However, after review, it was confirmed as an incomplete pass. With the time ticking, it was at 2:36 that Hurts got sacked by the Chiefs' defence. But he gets back up again and the Eagles score a field goal taking it to 21-27. Tables have turned Once the third quarter had ended, the tension ramped up. The Chiefs began the final quarter of the game. 2 minutes into the quarter and the Chiefs scored a touchdown! The touchdown and extra point put them one ahead of the Eagles - the tables had officially turned. After several plays, the Chiefs were at it again as Moore ran it in for a touchdown with just under 10 minutes to go. However, the Eagles didn't give up. Hurts completed his fourth touchdown of the night and with the two-point conversion, it was 35-35. At the two-minute warning, the Chiefs received an automatic first down after a penalty by the Eagles for defensive holding. Kansas City, then, instead of scoring another touchdown, kept possession of the ball stopping at the two-yard line, to use up time on the clock. After a field goal pushed them up to 38-35, the Eagles only had four seconds left for the final play of the game. And that is that. The Super Bowl LVII ended with the Kansas City Chiefs being victorious, beating the Philadelphia Eagles in what could only be described as an epic game! Both teams played fantastically; Mahomes and Hurts are incredible quarterbacks. Either one of them deserved to win! Who were you supporting in Super Bowl LVII? Are you happy with who won? Until next time...

If you know me, you know that one of my favourite things in life is books. I always have a book on the go, and more often than not I have two. So it was only right for me to receive some books for Christmas. For Christmas, I received six books in total. They all fit the same genre of romance but their sub-genres differ. I'm quite picky when it comes to getting books in paperback; mainly because I only want physical copies of books I love and know that I will reread. With these six new books, I had to rearrange my bookshelves (for the second time in two months), and because I love them so much, I thought it only fair to recommend them to you. Legacy of Gods Series Book #1 by Rina Kent God of Malice is the first book in the Legacy of Gods series, which follows the second generation of Rina's Royal Elite series and her mafia world. There will be six books in total in the LoG series and the first three have already been published. I enjoyed reading all of them but God of Malice, the introductory book into the new series, was my favourite. It's a dark romance mixing old money with mafia money. Glyndon King is the daughter of Levi and Astrid King, from the Royal Elite Series, and she captures the eye of Killian Carson, son of Reina and Asher Carson from the Lies and Truth Duet. God of Malice was such a good book that had many unique characters and I enjoyed reading about different stories. If you like dark romance with enemies-to-lovers vibes then God of Malice is for you. Kings of Sin Series Book #1 by Ana Huang After reading Ana Huang's Twisted series and being introduced to Dante and Vivian, I knew I had to read the book solely about them. King of Wrath, the first book in the series, follows Dante and Vivian as they're forced into an arranged marriage despite not knowing or liking each other very much. But eventually, things turn around and the two turn an arranged marriage into a proper marriage. King of Wrath kicks off Ana's new series and it was the perfect first book. I've always liked Ana's ability to create diverse characters and hook you with her writing and King of Wrath was so good I needed the paperback. If you've read any of Ana's previous works, or like the tropes of arranged marriage and forced proximity, this is for you. Also, can I just say, how pretty is this cover?! Everything But You Duet by Eliah Greenwood The Everything But You duet consists of the two books: Dear Heart, I Hate You and Dear Heart, I Miss You. This duet follows the characters Diamond and Finn. The duet are the second and third books in the Easton Boys series. You meet Dia and Finn in the first Easton Boys book as they're the best friends of those protagonists. I was so intrigued by their relationship that I knew immediately I had to read their book. It's an emotional rollercoaster of a duet with all the feels. Dear Heart, I Hate You ends on a cliff-hanger, so if you read the first book, you'll definitely want to read the second. Dia and Finn's story was full of plot twists and it's incredibly well-written. If you like emotional reads about college romance then you'll like Eliah's books. Chestnut Springs Series Books #1 and #2 by Elsie Silver The Chestnut Springs series is the first of Elsie Silver's work that I've read. I must say, I wasn't quite sure what to expect but now, Elsie is one of my favourite authors. The first book in this series is Flawless and it follows Summer and Rhett. Rhett's a bull rider and Summer is working for Rhett in a PR capacity, helping keep him out of trouble. Flawless is a bull rider/cowboy, small town romance. The next book is Heartless, which follows Rhett's brother Cade, who's a single father and needs help looking after his son during the summer. Willa, Summer's best friend, takes the job and with forced proximity and one the cutest little boy I've read. Flawless and Heartless are two amazing books and if you like small town, heart-warming romance then this series is for you. The third book, Powerless, is being released next month, which I'll definitely be buying because one: Jasper!! and two: the cover is so so pretty!! ..... All of these books are amazing in their own way. As an aspiring author, I can only dream of writing books this good! If you fancy reading any of them and you do, let me know what you think about them in the comments. Until next time...

Happy New Year! We're officially two weeks into 2023 and Christmas feels like ages ago. Now, I have a confession to make. This post was originally going to be published last week after the first week of 2023. However, life got in the way and things took a turn, so instead, I'm posting it about halfway into January. This post was going to be 'My Firsts of 2023' and while it will include some of these, it's more of a round-up of my year so far and lessons I've already learnt. So, let's get into it. 2023 Firsts For every New Year in my life, I've celebrated with my family. If we went to friends, it was together but since Covid, my family and I tended to stay in the comfort of our own home. But the 2022 celebrations were a little different. New Year in 2022 was the first time my sister and I actually celebrated the New Year without our parents. We decided to go to our local pub with some friends, which turned out to be a very fun night. The pub had a section of it that turned into a mini nightclub, so we were dancing the night away. That meant that the first person I spoke to in 2023 was my sister. Once midnight had arrived and we were officially into 2023, my text went to my parents to say we were leaving the pub, my first drink was my pink gin and lemonade that I had for the countdown and the first lesson of 2023 that I learnt was: Never wear heels to go to the pub/club if you're going to be standing all night. I made that mistake at my sister's graduation, but clearly, I hadn't fully learnt the lesson yet. But now I have so remember flats are the way to go! My first song of the year was technically Auld Lang Syne, but if I go with the first song I chose and the first music artist I listened to, it would be Olly Murs' Best Night of my Life. Heading on over to movies, I've managed to watch a fair few this year. The first film I watched, however, was Disney's Up as I needed to watch it for uni to compare it to Pulp Fiction, which was my second movie of 2023. My list of movies in 2023 then managed to increase when I found myself with spare time on my hands... January Blues are real After New Year, I had a plan of being the most productive person I could be. I was going to religiously do a morning routine, a night-time routine, workout four/five times a week etc. And for the first week, that happened. I went for walks, powered through my university studies, wrote my first article of the year for FormulaNerds and was pleased. But by the end of the first week, my sister had fallen ill and I was feeling the effects with a sore throat. We powered through so we could go to my friend's 21st party, but that's when the January Blues became tangible. The second week of 2023, only seven days into the year, I tested positive for Covid. My plan of productivity went out the window and I was bedridden, isolating in my room, sleeping. Having Covid for the third time at the beginning of the New Year wasn't how I envisioned my 2023 starting - hence why this blog post is later than planned. But, having now tested negative, I'm slowly recovering and actually looking back on the past couple of weeks, I've learnt some valuable life lessons. Lessons of 2023 Despite only being a fortnight into the new year, I feel as if I've learnt a lot of lessons already. As well as learning the lesson of shoes above, I've learnt not to feel guilty when you're ill. When I had Covid and was isolating from my family, it was hard not to feel guilty because I wasn't able to help them. I was resting in bed but things took a turn for the worse one evening and I kept everybody up late. I found it difficult to not keep apologising even though I knew I couldn't help being ill. From that, I learnt it's okay to be ill sometimes and not be able to do everything. This leads me to my next lesson relating to work. Whenever I'm not doing work, I feel bad for not doing it. I feel that if there's work to be done, I should do it. However, not being well meant that I slept and watched films for several days - this did mean I'd watched 10 films already in 2023. Lesson number two is that it's okay to take time for yourself and have some time off from work. Yes, things need to happen, but if the world isn't going to end if they're incomplete, you can have time for yourself. The third and final lesson (other than Top Gun: Maverick is the best film of all time) is to always appreciate your family. My family is the most important thing in the world to me and without them, I wouldn't be who I am and would also struggle a hell of a lot more in life. So to them, thank you! With that concluding this post, what are some of your firsts of 2023? And have you learnt any life lessons yet? Until next time...

It only takes one person to start a chain of events, so what would you do? I just want to start this post by saying I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas spent with their loved ones, eating lots of food, opening presents and maybe watching some Christmas TV. And speaking of Christmas TV, my family and I watched a Christmas movie on Christmas Eve, like always. This year, however, we decided to watch a new festive film that we hadn't seen before. The film we chose was This Is Christmas, which premiered on Sky Cinema. This Is Christmas is a kind of Love Actually type movie in that it follows the stories of many different characters, rather than focusing solely on a couple. It's about a group of train commuters, who go into Liverpool Street Station every day for work. In one particular carriage there is the same group of people nearly every day. One of them, Adam, works in advertising and he comes up with the idea of hosting a Christmas party for that group of commuters. It started because Adam wondered why this group of people, who see each other every day, never really speak and don't know much about each other after they all help a young lad who lost his ticket. So, he invites them all to a Christmas party to get to know each other and actually acknowledge them. At first, some of the commuters are hesitant and ignored the invite. But over time, when plans start coming together, people begin to join in, offering help and talking to the other commuters. You see friendships blossom and soon enough everyone is chatting and talking about their families and lives. The whole film is centred around the idea that it only takes one person to start a chain of events and create something good. In This Is Christmas it only took one person, Adam, to bring together a whole group of people from different backgrounds, who then by the end are spending Christmas together, dating, visiting each other's families and more. So my question to you is, what would you do? If you saw a group of people, the same people, every single day, but didn't know anything about them. And you were suddenly given the opportunity to get to know them and become friends with them, what would you do? Would you accept the party invite? Or would you go back to your life as if nothing happened, giving them a slight nod of the head or ignoring them completely? It only takes one person to create something, to take action, and that person can be you. I know, I've done it before - not quite the Christmas party for commuters kind of action, but an action nonetheless. As we head into 2023, ask yourself the question and see if there's any opportunities like the one Adam had but for you. Would you take the jump? Until next time...

At the end of every year, Spotify does a summary of your year in music, so I was inspired to make my own in different categories. For my 2022 Wrapped, I've made a few editions with my favourite things in life included and a summary of my year. But as it's the final day of 2022, I thought it was only appropriate to share my 2022 Wrapped: Life Edition looking back on the past year. 2022 has been a year of highs and lows but mainly highs. If someone would have told me at the end of 2021 what my life would look like and what I have achieved, I wouldn't have believed them. But here I am, having achieved and done so much both personally and professionally. The only word to sum up how 2022 has been for me is proud. I feel like I've grown a lot as a person and developed myself, doing things I never thought I'd do. I'm proud of everything I've achieved this year and when I look back I can't help but smile. Some of my top achievements are: Senior Editor for FormulaNerds Writing over 10,000 words of my novel Passing my university assessment Attending the British Grand Prix as a professional motorsport journalist Interviewing Mario Andretti All these moments are from my professional life, mostly related to my work as a journalist and my dream to be an author. Looking back over 2022, I never thought I would have had the opportunity to attend the British Grand Prix as a journalist or speak to Mario Andretti on Zoom. But I am so glad I have. Attending Silverstone was of my best memories this year, both when I attended the Grand Prix but also when I first went there for the SuperKarts. My other top memories from 2022 include: Benalmádena - My sister and I went on our first holiday abroad without our parents to Spain back in October so we could practise our Spanish. It was by far one of the best holidays I've ever been on. Mary Poppins - Just before Christmas, my mum and I went to see Mary Poppins in the West End before it leaves theatres in January. Between us, we've seen quite a few shows in the West End, but for me, Mary Poppins was by far the best - it was Fab-u-lous! Harry Potter Studio Tour - I love Harry Potter and I've been to the Studio Tour in Leavesden a few times but when my family and I went during the summer, it was like seeing it all again for the first time with the new additions being available. If you're a Harry Potter fan and haven't been to the Studio Tour, I definitely recommend it. 21st Birthday - 2022 was also the year that I turned 21 and the celebrations my family organised for me were amazing. I love taking photos and I'm pretty sure I have over 300 from my birthday alone! Benalmádena isn't just number one on my best memories list of 2022, it's also my favourite place I've been this year. The hotel, the town, the restaurants (best Carbonara I've ever had!) and the views - it was all so perfect! As well as making lots of memories and visiting lots of places throughout the past year, I've also learnt a lot of lessons. One thing about me is that I'm a people pleaser. I hate when I upset or disappoint others so I rarely say no, even if things don't suit me or are inconvenient. But this year I've learnt to say no and actually be a bit selfish sometimes. For me that's the most important lesson I'll be taking into 2023 as well as the others listed above. Life is full of lessons and sometimes things can get in our way or we conform to others expectations. But we need to take care of ourselves, live life to the fullest for ourselves and just be ourselves. Finally, to round out my 2022 Wrapped Life Edition, I wanted to reflect on the people and things I'm grateful for. I couldn't live without my family and I wouldn't change them for the world. They are everything to me and my life wouldn't be the same without them. My friends have also made this year special and I'm grateful to the friends I have for being there for me. FormulaNerds, whilst I joined a little over a year ago, feels like a family for me. I have met amazing people working in the team and have had out-of-this-world opportunities. I am grateful to everything FormulaNerds have done for me and the close friends I've made from working alongside the team. Authors and music artists aren't exactly in close relationships with me, however, I couldn't go through without books or music. If you speak to my family, they'll tell you how obsessed I am with both these things - I listen to New Music Friday every week and have just had to rearrange my entire room to fit in the new books I got for Christmas, haha! 2022 has been an amazing year that I have enjoyed so much, experiencing everything I've experienced. As we head into 2023, I can only wish that the new year brings the same happiness as the last. One last thing, I just wanted to wish all my readers a Happy New Year and hope you had lovely Christmases! Until 2023...

Christmas is less than a week away. Oh, how the festive season creeps up on you! 2022 is slowly coming to an end and if you're anything like me, this festive season has been rather chaotic. Every year we always know Christmas is coming. We know when it's happening, and what needs to happen. But for some reason, it always creeps up on me. It doesn't help that my birthday is at the end of October and my mum's is in November because our focus is on them. Especially when it was my 21st, like this year. So, in the weeks building up to Christmas, I had millions of things to do to prepare as well as finishing my uni studies for the year and working as well. With all of this, things got quite hectic and stressful. However, being me, I decided to plan everything out and use as many post-it notes as I can for lists. I wanted to share some of the things I've learnt and some tips about to handle Christmas with you, which could hopefully help us all prepare for Christmas and have a relaxing December in 2023. Lists of gifts throughout the year Do you ever get asked what you want for Christmas, but fail to think of an answer? That happens a lot to me and the people I know. To combat this problem and to make sure you're not rushing to buy everything when shops are busy or when there are postal strikes (they are rather disruptive in delivery of presents), have a list of what to buy in advance. A way to have a list in advance is to think of presents throughout the year. If you're with someone and they mention something they'd like or want to buy but can't justify it, note it down. If you think of ideas for people, note it down. If you see anything you would like for yourself, note it down and then when it comes to Christmas, you will have a list of some ideas. Food lists One big aspect of Christmas that everybody enjoys and that Christmas is famous for is the food. Food glorious food! The turkey, the gammon, the stuffing...everything about Christmas dinner! There is so much food to buy, and drink as well, at Christmas for Christmas dinner and just generally throughout the day, that it can be hard to keep track of it all. I've definitely found this year a struggle because there's so much food in our freezers that I didn't know about. In order to manage the food and shopping lists, my sister and I created an inventory of all the food we need for Christmas. We noted everything included in our Christmas dinners: the meats, the veg, the potatoes, the sauces, the starters, the desserts, everything. Going through our stocks, we ticked off everything we have and don't need more off. Then we made a list of what we need to buy and when we need to buy it - dates on some foods like salmon and cauliflower cheese can be a bit tricky to buy them in advance. Once you have a list of everything you need, and then everything you already have and still need to get, it becomes easier to navigate Christmas food shopping. Plan your meals for the week Once you've got a list of all the food you need for Christmas, it can be helpful to plan your meals for the week leading up to Christmas. That way you don't accidentally cook a turkey or eat the potatoes! Having a list of your meals for the week also helps keep on top of things and plan things around when you need to cook and eat dinner. Get the house ready Christmas is a time to spend with loved ones and that means cleaning and tidying the house. For my family, for Christmas, we always spend a whole day cleaning to make sure everything is spick and span and practically perfect. In addition to the usual housework, we also have to build a table and sort out bedroom arrangements for family that stay over. To keep on top of all the washing and cleaning and building and Christmas tasks, I made a list. I wrote down everything that needs to happen in the build up over Christmas and when the tasks need to happen. I also made a note of all the scheduled events such as haircuts, uni deadlines, final days of work etc. This meant I could work out when people had free time and when things could be completed. Now it's only Tuesday and we've got five sleeps till Christmas Day - that's when Christmas starts in our house! So far, we've ticked off seven tasks out of however many are on the list (there's quite a lot!). We have more to do but having a list of all the tasks helps focus the mind and reduce stress. Plus, if there's something you do that isn't on the list, add it on and then you can tick it off and you'll feel even more accomplished! If you're a natural at dealing with Christmas and being ready on time, then this blog post isn't for you - in fact you should probably write your own! But if you're a bit behind and found you have lots of things still to do, I hope this post has helped you in some way. Until next time...

When it's your birthday or Christmas, do you ever struggle to come up with gift ideas that people can get you? I often struggle and don't have many ideas but the one thing that I always manage to think of is books. If you've read my blog before, or know me in person, you would know that I am a massive bookworm with my own bookstagram and forever-growing bookcase. At the end of spooky season, I turned 21 and my family were asking me what they could get me. I struggled because I felt I already had everything I needed and wanted in life. But I managed to come up with a few books that I'd quite like to have in paperback (I say that like it was a tough job...it wasn't!). With paperback books, I'm very particular about what ones I get. Usually, I only buy paperbacks when I know I LOVE the book and will definitely reread it. But out of the six books I received for my 21st, I have actually only read one before. The other five, however, are written by authors I absolutely love (their books are more like a must-have) and I've heard constant good reviews about them. So I added them to my list. Here are the six books I received: Icebreaker by Hannah Grace Icebreaker is a book I have read before. It's Hannah's debut novel and oh my word it is amazing. I remember when I first read about Anastasia and Nate and how as soon as I finished it, I went back and reread my favourite scenes. I absolutely loved reading this hockey romance because it had a different angle to what I've read before. Plus, all the characters are unique and drew me in so this was definitely needed on my bookcase. And the fact that Hannah likes F1 just made me like her as an author even more! Snowed in for Christmas by Sarah Morgan Some festive cheer is in the air with Sarah's new Christmas book. Now, I haven't read this book but Sarah is one of my favourite authors of all time and I always make sure I buy her books. I haven't read a Sarah Morgan book that I haven't liked, so I can't wait to read Snowed in for Christmas during December to get me ready for Christmas. A Christmas Celebration by Heidi Swain Heidi Swain is very much like Sarah Morgan in my book - I have loved every one of her books that I've read. I particularly enjoy her festive reads so A Christmas Celebration was one I knew I had to have. Her Christmas books are perfect for December and this one is a lovely addition to my Heidi Swain Christmas book collection. Addicted to You / Ricochet / Addicted for Now by KB Ritchie These three books are the first books in the Addicted/Calloway Sisters series made up in total of 10 books. I haven't read this series before but I always see positive reviews about them, especially the male protagonists, so I wanted to give them a try. The first three books are part of Lily and Loren's story, which I constantly see on TikTok so I can't wait to dive into their relationship drama and eventually finish all 10 books (when I have the other seven). Question: What authors' books do you always buy because of who has written them? Until next time...

Have you ever suffered from burnout? Or too much stress? 2022 has been a very busy year for me in both the personal and professional aspects. Whilst I've thoroughly enjoyed every minute, there came a point where I needed a break, a holiday. I'm prone to burnout because I'm not very good at taking breaks or being selfish once in a while and doing something for myself. But, my sister and I had been talking about going to Spain for a while and we decided to go last week. We booked our package holiday to Benalmádena in Costa del Sol; it was everything I needed. At first, it was quite stressful because packing always is. Trying to figure out how much swimwear to take, how many outfits you'll need, and how many books you're going to read (that's always a difficult one for me!). However, once we'd started packing we got into a rhythm and at 4:30am we were off to the airport. Going on holiday was an exciting venture but it also made me feel a bit lost initially because I wasn't going to do any work or any university studies. People who know me know how hard I find it to not work - I feel guilty when I don't, which then sends me down a negative spiral towards burnout. But whilst I was in Benalmádena with my sister, I lived in the moment and tried not to think about anything but being on holiday. We explored some lovely sights including El Castillo Bil Bil, Puerto Marina Benalmádena and El Parque de la Paloma. The weather was amazing out on the coast, so we also spent time each day around the pool, sunbathing. Having this time away to relax and take time for me was very much needed. In the weeks building up to going on holiday, stress was a constant aspect of my life. I had a university assessment to complete and a lot going on with my work that things became too much. I knew I was heading towards burnout. I was tired a lot of the time, my appetite was a bit all over the place and I wasn't in a great headspace. Generally, I can be very sentimental, but I don't normally cry and that's one of the symptoms I have when I'm reaching my limit. This holiday to Spain was a lifesaver that rejuvenated my mental health and made me appreciate life more. It taught me to take breaks because whilst I might feel guilty about taking time for myself, it is necessary. If you feel as though you're reaching your breaking point, remember it's okay to feel stressed and take time for yourself. Until next time..

Yesterday was my one year anniversary of working for FormulaNerds as a journalist. During Covid, my future included going to university and leaving home. But after a lot of research and thinking, I changed my mind. Instead, I applied for an online part-time degree in Creative Writing. Whilst beginning my degree, a friend of mine, who's a fellow Formula 1 fan, sent me a job advert for FormulaNerds. Knowing I love writing, she thought it was perfect for me. At the time, I loved F1 but wasn't as invested in it as I could have been. However, I applied and I got the job as a motorsport journalist. That was a year ago yesterday. If I go back to then, I could never have imagined that this is what my life looks like today. The past year has been an incredible experience that I sometimes feel is more of a dream than my reality. What I've achieved in the past 12 months is, in my opinion, incredible. With FormulaNerds, I have been given so many opportunities and chances to grow and develop myself and my career. I wanted to share some of the achievements that I'm proud to have accomplished since joining FormulaNerds. Motorsport Journalist: I didn't really know what to expect as a motorsport journalist when I joined FormulaNerds. I was only 19 at the time and still had so much to learn. But when I started writing for the team, I absolutely loved it. Having writing out there, for people to read about and learn from, is a great feeling. Since I started writing articles for FormulaNerds, I have written 219 articles and had some reach over 100,000 views. I love writing (fiction and journalism) and being able to pursue this avenue with FormulaNerds is just amazing. Deputy Editor-In-Chief: Earlier in 2022, I was promoted to one-half of the F2 and F3 Editor for FormulaNerds. Since then, I have been promoted to Deputy Editor-In-Chief. I was rather shocked when I was awarded this promotion because I still feel quite young and don't have the leadership experience that others, who are older, have. But whilst it's been a challenge, it has pushed me out of my comfort zone. And I am so grateful. Podcast Panellist: As well as being a journalist, I'm also part of the FormulaNerds podcast panel, featuring on the News From the Nerds show and also the race reviews. When I had the opportunity to try out for the podcast, I originally said no, but my parents persuaded me to try it and grab the opportunity with two hands. My parents have always supported me and pushed me to be my best. For them to persuade me to try out for the podcast was possibly one of the best decisions they could have ever made. Since joining the podcast panel, I have hosted a couple of episodes, conducted an interview on my own (and since been featured in the acknowledgements of the author's book), and interviewed huge figures in the motorsport industry including Amanda McLaren, Mario Andretti and Harry Benjamin. Silverstone Paddock: As part of the F2 and F3 Editor, I was able to go to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix weekend as a journalist for the feeder series. I was able to be in the paddock and mingle with drivers, get exclusive interviews and have a great view of the track. It was my first ever grand prix in person, so to be in the paddock for it and be there as a professional journalist was amazing. The past year has helped me discover more of myself and grow in confidence. I have met some amazing people and have made friends for life. I think the big lesson that I've learnt is to grab any opportunity you're presented with, with two hands. You never know where life will take you or what will happen, so don't be afraid to take the leap. Until next time...

Have you ever heard of productivity guilt? I never really knew what it was until last weekend, but after learning more about it I realised that it's something I suffer from. In a nutshell, productivity guilt is that feeling where you feel like you should be doing more. And if you're not doing more, then you feel as though you're being too lazy. When I'm not working or completing university work, I often suffer from productivity guilt because I always feel as though I should be working or studying. I know that it's okay to take breaks and have days relaxing but there is that nagging feeling that I shouldn't and should actually be working. It could be argued that productivity guilt is a consequence of the society we live in. Everyone is taught to always work hard and that money makes the world go round, which can feed our productivity guilt. Productivity guilt isn't something that can be easily fixed by one action. It takes time to retrain your mind to overcome your guilt. One thing that has helped me in the past retrain my thoughts and combat things such as productivity guilt is knowing the triggers, behaviours and actions related to each thought. If you feel yourself having thoughts such as: 'I should really be working,' 'I can't afford to take a day off,' or 'I could've spent less time in bed and woken up at 4am to utilise the more productive hours of the day,' think about what triggered those thoughts. Was it looking at your planner? Was it seeing a social media post about how to best use your time? Or was it simply a random thought? Once you've identified the trigger and the thought, think about what they lead to. What consequence comes about because of the thought, what action/behaviour do you exhibit? Once you've identified all of these, you will be able to understand what happens when you experience productivity guilt. You can then retrain your mind to think of more positive thoughts. Telling yourself, 'it's okay to rest today, the task isn't urgent, there's still time' can help. Or making a to-do list that's more flexible can help by notifying what you need to do, but allowing you more time to do it. If you put deadlines next to each task that can sometimes worsen your guilt because you feel under pressure to complete it. Trying to retrain your thoughts and stop comparing yourself to others can help lessen the productivity guilt and actually make you more productive by working smarter, not harder. Until next time...

Tom Cruise is a formidable actor with many iconic films to his name. His most famous film is, most likely Top Gun. And now, he's taken cinema one step further with the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. I remember the first time I watched Top Gun. Tom Cruise was already one of my favourite actors and so it didn't take much for my parents to persuade me to watch the 1986 classic. Top Gun was amazing for its time with the action and the filmography. Talks of a sequel were in the works for years and years, but it was never confirmed until a few years ago. And to say I was beyond excited was an understatement. Top Gun: Maverick was the film I was most excited to watch in 2022. Knowing it would encompass everything of the first film with more action, Goose's son, and Great Balls of Fire, bumped it to the top of my list. So, if you have watched, in my opinion, the best film of this year, let me know what you think in the comments. But if you haven't, hopefully, my review will persuade you. My review of Top Gun: Maverick Tom Cruise is back again with the best sequel I have ever seen. Sequels can sometimes be a difficult topic. They're not always as good as one expects and fail to live up to the expectations people have from the originals. However, this sequel was amazing! Tom Cruise had said before that he didn't want to do a Top Gun sequel unless it was done right. And it was done right. I was so excited to see this film in the cinema - you have to watch it on the big screen, if you can - that I persuaded my dad, who isn't a big fan of the cinema, to come with us and watch it. When we saw it, we instantly knew it would be an incredible film from the opening scenes. Everyone involved in the making of the film made a fantastic film of cinema that echoed the original. Maverick's character goes on a journey in this film. He's a lone wolf at the beginning, never really settling down and without close family. But that soon changes when he's brought back to Top Gun to train the elite and when he reunites with Penny Benjamin. The mission is crazy dangerous and the shots of the planes are mind-blowing. Knowing that the actors actually had the training to fly those planes and perform some manoeuvres makes the whole film 100 times better because it just adds to the authenticity. Plus, I love when Tom Cruise does his own stunts. When Maverick and Rooster meet again, emotion filled the cinema. Throughout the whole film, every emotion each character experienced was tangible. I had tears when Goose was mentioned and other characters from the original, like Ice Man, were involved. I smiled and laughed so much throughout that I can replay one specific scene that had the whole cinema laughing. The acting in this scene and the embodiment of the characters were inspiring. Miles Teller's character, Rooster, Goose's son, was one of my favourite characters. He looked so much like Goose and Teller was born to be an actor - every emotion he portrayed was tangible. When he sang Great Balls of Fire in the bar on the same piano his dad did, was actually quite emotional. Top Gun: Maverick has everything a film needs. It had action, drama, emotion and best of all, phenomenal acting. It is a film that every action-movie lover, every film buff, everyone, should watch! Until next time...

There are two main types of entertainment in this world: Books and Movies. They can be completely separate or interchangeable, but more often than not, there is always a preference, a favourite. I was having this conversation with a work friend of mine the other day and he said that he doesn't read much. To me, that seems strange when I've read one book a day before, but he isn't alone. Members of my family don't read much unless they're on holiday, then reading by the pool is a mandatory activity. This conversation got me thinking. There are millions of books out there and a lot of them have been transferred to the screen, whether it be TV shows like Nine Perfect Strangers or films like Harry Potter. As both a bookworm and an avid movie buff, it's interesting to me to see what other people prefer. It's even more fascinating when it comes to deciding whether the book or the screen adaptation of a story is better, and which order you encounter them in first. What comes first? Film series like Harry Potter came out after the first book, at least, was written. This is the same with some TV shows; the books are so good that movie directors think they'd make a great screen adaptation. But just because the books were written first, doesn't mean people read the story before watching it. For me, I always like to read the book before watching the movie. Sometimes people don't ever read the books before watching the shows on screen. I know for The 100, I never knew it was based on a book series until after I finished watching the show. With so many stories told both in print and visually on the big screen, which do you prefer to dive into first? The book or the film? What's better? One thing I like to do once I've read the book is to watch the film. I remember when Bridgerton first came out and I really wanted to watch the show, but I didn't allow myself to until I'd read the first book. However, the screen adaptations don't always live up to the book. Sometimes, and I use this word carefully, they are better than the books. Books like The Maze Runner are better than the films, in my opinion, and so is The Mortal Instruments series. It's harder for all the information to be included in screen adaptations, particularly if they're movies because having a three and a half hour movie is a bit extreme. For TV shows, it's easier as there can be several seasons with multiple episodes. In The Maze Runner, I felt that the screen adaptations weren't as good because they missed out information and altered the story to fit the screen better. The Mortal Instruments is actually rather unique. The series has a TV series based on it called Shadowhunters and a film based on the first book City of Bones. For me, the books trump both versions of screen adaptations. But there are some film/TV versions I prefer. For instance, The 100 and The Vampire Diaries are better on the screen than on the page. Whilst there are some quite big differences, for example in The Vampire Diaries, Elena has a sister, not a brother, the TV show is more entertaining, gripping and emotional. So, I have two questions for you: What do you prefer: books or movies/TV shows? What do you read/watch first? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time...