I WANT TO TRAVEL THE WORLD!

I was casually browsing Google Maps the other day (is that weird?) looking at all the countries as you do, and then I thought to myself
'Alison... you know all these countries! You're practically a world explorer'
So, in a moment of haste (and sheer boredom) I got up this quiz. Basically all you have to do is name as many countries in the world that you can think of.
p.s who knew the world had 196 countries!! That's quite a lot.
On my first attempt I got 67, which I thought was pretty good. The game however didn't, apparently the average number of countries people get is 117.
On my second attempt I got 97 countries! Remarkably good I think, my target was 100 by the end of Easter, so hopefully i'll make it.
Give the quiz a go, it's actually quite fun!

This leads me on to talking about my dream holiday.

I'm not particularly a fan of beach holidays, don't get me wrong, I do like the sun; just lying on a beach for a week solid isn't my definition of bliss.

First my dream holiday is going to start of in Rome.
There we are going to look at all the historical elements of the ancient Roman world. I love history, and this genuinely fascinates me. Although my last experience in rome wasn't blissful, it was too hot, I was sweating, a pigeon pooped on my head, they charged €6 for a 1 scoop ice-cream. Nasty. However this time it will be different.

Getting a Good View of the City of Rome

Next we will travel down to Pompeii and the surrounding ancient villages that have all been preserved from 2000 years ago. Wow!
I tried to make my mum watch a documentary on Pompeii a while back, but she turned it off because it wasn't very cheery... some people just don't have respect for our ancestors *hair flip*

About to have a look round Pompeii!

After a good snoop around Pompeii, next stop is Athens, why Athens? Truth is, it's because it's in the middle of the previous and the next destination which is...

Good View from the Bridge!!!

Istanbul!
This is one which actually really interests me.
Istanbul used to be called Constantinople - head to the Western Empire of Rome as made by Emperor Constantine (272-337 AD). Waowwww. It was here during the Great Persecution the Christian church stood on a hill, opposite the Palace, significant because it shows the Christians place in society at that time.
The whole city is drowned in history, it's been the capital of 3 Empires, the last being the Ottoman Empire (ending in 1922).
The buildings look beautiful, app the food is quite nice. I am going to return from this trip a new woman full of culture.

Time to get travelling again, next stop is Israel, where we will visit both Jerusalem and Bethlehem. (hopefully we will avoid getting killed while here, always a plus.)
These places are often talked about, but rarely visited. Jerusalem is a key place for 3 main world religions, and watching Teresa the Travellers vlogs about this beautiful city has made me want to visit it. Watch her videos here.

Next we will pop over the border to Jordan and take a swim in the dead sea

Chillin'

From here, we will head to Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt. Classic sight seeing stops such as the Pyramids and Sphinxes and Catacombs and Palaces, again Teresa has some brilliant videos on these countries and I recommend watching them.
Again these are places I've learnt about while studying my Church History course, so maybe their a bit more interesting to me for different reasons.
I also intend to take this opportunity to go for a camel ride, cause I can.

That ends our Tour of The Great cities surrounding the Med.
Whoooooho.
We will then fly home, (via Dubai, got to take in some tacky places after all that culture)

If there's enough food in the world, then why do people go hungry?

'Nearly one billion people go to bed hungry every night and two million children die from malnutrition every year.' Yet ask anyone on the street do they go to bed hungry they'll look at you like your an alien, say no, then rush off back to do their own thing irregarding the question as stupid.
Sadly, that's the norm in our society.

IF is a campaign supported by over 150 big name organisations such as Christian Aid, Trocaire, Abaana, Oxfam, Tearfund... the list goes on.

These organisations are appealing to the countries leaders to act to resolve the 4 big issues that mean many people in the world do not get enough food.

'Aid

Enough Food For Everyone IF we give enough aid to stop children dying from hunger and help the poorest families feed themselves.

Tax

Enough Food For Everyone IF governments stop big companies dodging tax in poor countries.

Land

Enough Food For Everyone IF we stop poor farmers being forced off their land and grow crops to feed people, not fuel cars.

Transparency

Enough Food For Everyone IF governments and big companies are honest and open about their actions that stop people getting enough food.'

During a debate on business ethics pro's and con's that took place in my business studies class one day which turned into a '3rd world aid' debate the following arguments against aid was brought up by a classmate.

"Why should our money, go into funding these people, who don't go to school to get an education".

My answer, these people don't have a choice! Countries, like our own, in the past took the resources from these countries without giving them anything back, therefore they now have nothing to trade from their limited resources and hence the country has no money hence jobs are scarce, hence families have no money, hence they can't afford school fees, hence they have no get low end jobs to pay for their family, hence no education, and so the circle continues.

(Look at my snowballing effect Mrs White... full marks for A03 analysis)

Top this with a lack of food, this is the way many people today are living.

So how can we help?

Sign the Campaign, even if that's all you do every name will help.

http://enoughfoodif.org/get-involved/join-us-now

For more information take a look on the website, that's enough from me... for now.

What i'm wearing today. 25/3/13

So, we're off school for Easter and its... snowing?
Yep.
Snowing.

:(

Normally i'm not a moaner when it comes to snow, but in March it's just not right. Plans have had to be cancelled because of how deep it is in some places. I have a spring outfit to put up, but it just doesn't seem the time.

So this is what i'm wearing today.

Jeans - £11 Primark. - Being honest, i'm not a fan of these Jeans, in true Primary style this size 12 seems much baggier than the other two pairs of jeans I bought in Grey and Black so I don't wear them too often and they are quite high wasted. However watching 'When Harry met Sally' yesterday has inspired me, and so i'm diggin the slighly ill fitting, high wasted jeans look.

Top -£2 Primark - I teamed the jeans with this boob tube top, the blue stripes go well with the jeans, and its not baggy in the slightest which means the jeans aren't totally drowning out my figure.

Cardigan - £18 River Island - This cardigan is actually from the mens section in River Island, which I got last year in the sale where I think it was reduced from 30something£. (Only once have I encountered another male wearing it... awkward moment). Though I think its quite feminine looking so I bought it, it's also quite warm. I'm also wearing a plain black, thin cardigan under which you can't see, but it is snowing after all

Boots - New Look - I can't remember the price of them, but they're a light brown colour and I like the buckles and the material lining around the top of the boot.

Earrings - £2 Primark - I love cross earrings, and these dangly light gold ones are no exception. Their a nice colour (although since they are from Primark I recommend giving them a quick brush with clear nail polish to prevent from tarnishing).

Bag - Mums Wardrobe - I'm not actually going out anywhere... I just like the bag

50 Facts About Me

Oh hey, so I forgot to introduce myself... so here are so facts.

1) My name is Alison Anne Ramsey
2) I have size 3/4 feet and often get shoes from the kids departments (VAT free!)
3) I have my 10m, 20m, 50m and 100m swimming (Come at me Olympics)
4) I used to figure skate
5) I was once a dancing robin in a play of 'The Twits'

Robins..

6) I love board games
7) I am a Christian
8) I watch the Shaytards... daily
9) I love the NI band 'The 1930's
10) I study Religion, Business and ICT
11) I hate ICT Coursework
12) I once cried at Finding Nemo
13) I often start things but never fins...
14) I love travelling
15) I'd love to get married young(ish)
16) I love kids
17) I want loads of kids
18) I normally use E45 as everyday moisturiser
19) I help at a local Brownie Unit
20) I've completed both my Bronze and Silver DOE awards
21) I go to an all girls school
22) Girls melt me
23) Most of my friends are boys
24) I've got a big brother
25) I work in a coffee shop
26) No matter how much work I need to get done, i always stop at 11.30 cause after that its time for bed
27) I quite like doing exams
28) I always leave revision to the very last minute
29) I always try to look for the positives in things
30) I hate attention seekers
31) I can't stand knuckle cracking
32) I get a Mocha when going for coffee
33) I still don't know what I want to do when I 'grow up'
34) I believe that everything that happens has a reason
35) I like things to do organised, but don't mind them being messy
36) I eat too much cheese, eggs and bread
37) My brother and I used to call our stuffed toys 'lovelies'
38) We frequently lined our lovelies up and brushed all their teeth
39) I won Settlers of Catan 2 nights ago (v. proud)
40) I hate televisions
41) I feel claustrophobic if theres too much noise around me
42) I really want to start Geo-caching
43) I used to play violin and piano, but my teachers made me cry so I quit
44) I am a library assistant in school, and proudly display my badge ;)
45) I am a Quaker
46) I also try not to fight with people
47) I think I an very impatient
48) I used to want to dress as a boy because I thought I was to fat to wear girls clothes
49) My fav colour at the minute is either Dark Green or Orange
50) I really want to be able to do smokey eyes!

Pictures of my brother and I (bff :p)

So that's me...

Calvin Klein Delicious Creme Luxury Lipsticks!

For a while I've thought about getting new lipsticks, as I need a few neutral colours, as my Topshop Brighton Rock, or Dark Reds aren't exactly... subtle.

So while browsing Amazon I came across this Calvin Klein set, for only £6.

The set has 3 colours, two Neautral ones called 'Henna' (the lighter of the two) is a and 'First Kiss' which could both be described as a light, very natural, mauve colour.
The 3rd is called 'Ruby Red' which just about sums it up. It's a nice red, not too harsh or overbearing but red all the same.

The lipsticks creamy and quite pigmented, their name 'Delicious Creme' is not misleading in any way!  I have relatively dry lips and they do not leave them feeling dry, more like i've freshly applied vaseline and they last a good few hours without touchup.

Packaging
The packaging, is clean and simple. This the top of the lips displaying the 'ck' logo and brand name. The tube in itself feels quite 'plasticy' though not in an off putting way. I like the simple design, although the only thing is it is hard to tell which colour is which without lifting all 3 up to inspect the name, which is written down the side in quite small writing.

Conclusion
I like this product... a lot.
I've never really been into lip products in a big way, though coming into spring I think it'll be a beautiful natural look. Definitely going to invest in more colours!

DIY Posters!!

I've always been jealous of people with artistic abilities that can draw/paint/ just do generally artistic stuff then have it in their room, it just seems a lot more personal that posters bought at shops - especially if your not into fan girl posters all over your room.

My artistic abilities were always lacking, so instead of actually having to do anything my version is cutting and sticking (who doesn't love a bit of cutting and sticking?!)

Firstly get some pictures, could be personal ones or from a magazine,  cut them out.
Second find an old poster picture frame or buy one - I don't think their very expensive
Third - Cut and Stick!! (I stuck to the sample sheet that comes in the frame just to give extra weight/depth and keep it all together!)

Jack Wills

Topshop

And there you go, simple.

I kept similar colour schemes running throughout each poster, i.e the jack wills one is bright and summary whereas the Top Shop one is more neutral colours.


I have also got very obsessed with Les Mis lately, its bad...

"Can you hear the people singggggg"?