Before we delve into today's post, there are a few matters that I wanted to address since my blog is arguably the platform that I have the greatest influence on. I am sure that all those reading are perfectly aware of what has been happening recently, what with the murder of George Floyd and the demonstrations that are taking place all over the world in support of the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight against the racism that pervades in our society. It truly saddens me that this is an issue that continues to prevail in our society but the truth of the matter is that it's not enough to be saddened, for this alone is not going to change anything. We need to speak up, we need to sign petitions that will invoke constitutional reform, we need to donate to help various campaigns and organisations out if we have the means to do so and we need to continue educating ourselves and those around us. Recently on my Instagram, I spoke about doing one thing a day to better your life situation in a week, a month or a year's time. I still stand by that mantra, but I also challenge you to now do one thing (and preferably more) each day to improve such issues worldwide; knowledge is power after all, am I right? My personal recommendations so far include the books "The Hate U Give" and "Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race", as well as this blog post by Brit Bennett. Let me know if you would like to me to begin including a recommendation about a book, documentary or podcast challenging social issues in every introduction from now on. 

Who would have thought that, at the time I'm writing this post, it would have been well over a month since my A-Level French speaking exam? That may seem like a rather odd comment to make, but funnily enough it was in that exam that I was due to present my knowledge and have a discussion about regional languages in France. You see, prior to starting my research, I didn't even know that regional languages existed in France at all! Now, it would be quite a shame to waste all that newfound knowledge and so, inspired by the 'A Very Short Introduction' book series, I thought I would post my own little take here today. Let me know if you are interested in posts like these and be sure to let me know if I have missed anything out.
​G x 

Those who have read my recent blog post about The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Solution will be aware that one of my major resolutions for this year was to both invest more in and take better care of my skin. Granted, there’s not necessarily an awful lot that can be done about my hormonal acne without professional consultancy, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t work to be done when it comes to my dry skin and prevention of premature ageing. As a result, following a little bit of research, I decided to purchase some new products and I thought that I would feedback to you today about what was worth the money and what wasn’t. Of course, I am no dermatologist myself, but I do believe there is a certain value to product reviews from the average Sally! As per usual, let me know your thoughts and recommendations in the comments section below!
G x

“Modern foreign languages are not in crisis. It’s worse than that.” It was around this time last year that, prior to the arrival of this health fiasco which now dominates our headlines, a surge in such articles could be seen following the publication of a report published by the Higher Education Policy Institute. In summary, this report concluded that British language skills are significantly below par when compared to our European counterparts, with only 32% of 16 to 30 year-olds feeling confident reading and writing in another language, compared to a 89% average in the European Union. That begs the question, why are we Brits so bad at learning other languages? A question which I, of course, intend to explore in this post. As per usual, let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. ​

There was one quotation in particular that stood out to me when I read Ruiz Zafón's La Sombra Del Viento last summer: "There's no such thing as dead languages, only dormant minds" ("No hay lenguas muertas, sino cerebros aletargados"). For those of you who may not know, my recent quarantine undertaking just so happens to be learning a fifth language: Latin. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this very undertaking of mine was many-a-time faced with the age-old question: "Why Latin? It's a dead language." Granted, Latin may no longer be an official language or widely spoken, but is it really dead? What even constitutes a 'dead' language? Truth be told, I'm no expert in the matter - but there's no harm in doing a bit of research and sparking up a conversation as I do so. As usual, be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments down below. Any sources that I have used will be listed at the bottom of this post if you are interested in wider reading. 
​G x 

Isn't this something a little different? Truth be told, this is yet another one of the blog post ideas that have lurked around in my drafts folder for longer than I'd perhaps like to admit; quite frankly, I just never felt as if it was my place to be giving this sort of advice and, in more ways than one, it still doesn't - I'm far from being any sort of fashion guru, after all. That being said, in my personal journey moving away from a trend based wardrobe to something a little more elegant and personal to me, I have picked up a few tips that I thought may be of use. This is not intended to be a rule book of sorts and the following tips are, of course, based on nothing but my own personal opinion - though that's exactly what fashion is all about, so let's not take life too seriously and dive straight into this post!
​G x 

In my recent post regarding my A-Level English Literature experience, I mentioned the fact that there is truly just one skill to be learnt in this qualification which is completely new: the incorporation of critics. To some degree, I feel as if that statement undermines the initial difficulties that said critics tend to present and, given that coursework season is fast approaching, I thought I would share my method as to how you can complete critical reading as quickly and as effectively as possible. Although this post is aimed at A-Level students, I see no reason as to why it could not work for university students or others alike. As per usual, I hope you find this post helpful and let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. 

Lo and behold, today's post marks the end of the 'A-Level Experience' mini-series on this blog of mine; quite frankly, I never thought I would see the day! Whether you are a Year 10 or Year 11 student currently thinking about taking up A-Level Maths or you're simply curious as to how I got on with the subject - and indeed how I, at times, didn't - I hope that this post provides some sort of value. As per usual, be sure to let me know any thoughts you have in the comments down below and let's dive right in!
​G x 

Needless to say, the current state of affairs have imposed sheer havoc on society as we know it; indeed, this post is not intended to detract from that, for I know that I am very fortunate to be able to sit at my desk and talk about a few positives that have come out of lockdown given that so many have not only lost their livelihoods, but loved ones also. That being said, it's only human nature to dwell on the negatives and reading What Cat Says' blog post has inspired me to share a few of my own positive lockdown outcomes to shed some light on the matter. As usual, be sure to let me know any thoughts in the comments below. 
G x 

Having reflected on my experience studying both A-Level English Literature and Spanish respectively, I thought it would be time to have a look at French - and what a tumultuous, for the lack of a better word, journey it has been! Whether you are looking to study A-Level French next year and would like a little more insight, for there really isn't a lot out there online, or are simply nosy to find out more about my personal battle (and I use that word on purpose) with this very subject, I hope this post is useful and do be sure to leave me any thoughts in the comments below as per usual. 
G x

Admittedly, there's nothing that quite rings 'hypocrite' like uploading a blog post about how to become a blogger following a two year-long hiatus of my own. That being said, I thought it would be a shame to rid this post from my 'drafts' folder; for while I am by no means a pro, there's still something to be said for the 5, approaching 6, years of experience I have amassed blogging - that, and it would be a waste given the circumstances, what with half of the Internet (or so it seems) seeking to start a new hobby. Whether it be choosing the hosting site that's right for you or learning the ropes of SEO and social media, I hope that there is something to take away for any of the budding bloggers among us. As per usual, let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
​G x