Online Dating: Yes or No?....

Last night I watched a documentary on ITV called 'A Tonight Special'. It was about the world of online dating and focused on a variety of good, bad, and hilarious online dating stories.

Firstly I was shocked to learn that there are over 9 million online dating websites in the UK alone! That is crazy! I thought 'how many online dating websites can you have? Aren't they all the same?' Apparently not! It was interesting to see how many random categories there actually are. From cat loving ones, to bikers, golfers, swingers, naturists and - the scariest of all - CLOWNS! How you can sign yourself up to a dating website specifically for clowns I do not know. It confused the hell out of me! Maybe it's just because I hate clowns. They scare me with their evil smiles, stupid tricks, and jolly attitudes. I was always the kid that sat out of the circle at kids parties when the clown arrived, and the circus was never my choice of a fun day out when my parents asked!

Anyway back to online dating! I really enjoyed watching the documentary. So much, that I thought I would share with you guys my own online dating experiences (despite how stupid and embarrassing I may feel by doing so) ,and also express my view on the whole online dating world.

My first time online dating

I think I was sixteen when I first signed up to an online dating website. I'm not sure what my reason for doing it was. I can only think that it was out of pure boredom, curiosity, and maybe - at that age - some need for attention. I can't remember what site I joined, but I do remember lying about my name and age. I think I called myself something like Melanie or Maria. I didn't put up a profile picture or fill out any about me section, but to my surprise, I started getting pokes and winks after a few days by men of all ages (which intimidated me). I felt like I was doing something wrong and that I was going to get caught and get in to trouble, when really thinking about it now, I probably felt that way because I was young and naive and had no reason to be on the website in the first place. I think I spoke to one guy who was a few years older than me, didn't really know what to say, and once he asked for a naked picture I deleted my profile and promised myself I would never sign up to one again. 

My most random/unexpected online dating experience

That promise didn't last long, and after a while I had signed up to another dating website again. I kept doing the same thing for ages until I got more confident and had had some practice talking to guys online. I suddenly knew how to grab their attention. I knew what they wanted. I found myself enjoying the harmless flirting with random people online who I had no intention of meeting up or staying in touch with. All I wanted out of the dating website was someone to talk to and mess around with - verbally - whenever I was bored and had nothing better to do.

The most random experience I had was when I got talking to a guy who became my friend! After having a few conversations with each other, we realised that there was no sexual attraction there, no desire to flirt or send naughty photos, we just enjoyed each others company. We would speak daily about random things, places we had been, what problems we had going on, and other subjects friends talk about. We exchanged numbers, Msn usernames - yes Msn was the Facebook of that time - and continued our friendly conversations away from the online dating website. This 'online friendship' went on for six months until one day he asked to meet me. It was out of the blue and I didn't like it. I was happy with our little online friendship and as crazy as it sounds, I didn't want a real one. So after I rejected his offer of meeting up, our friendship eventually fizzled out, and after a few months we stopped talking for good.

My last experience of online dating

This was right before I went to university. I realised I was confident enough to meet people in person. I was a extremely sociable girl and the whole online dating thing was not for me. I was kidding myself online because everyone I met only wanted one thing - to meet up and sleep with me - and I felt it wasn't real, even if the person was who they said they were. I was also to scared to if I am honest. For me, it felt too dangerous, and deep down I knew I wasn't one of those people that just meet up and have casual sex. It's not me. I think it's very un lady like like, and that's all the guys I was meeting on there wanted to do.

After watching this documentary, I can see how love can be found through online dating. Some people find it easier to communicate online before they take the next step into meeting someone. Not everyone is a weird nutter, and if you are lucky enough to find someone real with the same intentions as you, why not? I also think you have to be a smart person and not too trusting to online date. The documentary introduced a woman who had fallen in love with the guy she had met online, and by being so in love he persuaded her to send him money abroad - £15,000 to be exact - which only a stupid person would do, in love or not. Of course it was a scam, and it left the woman devastated. There was also the hilarious story about a woman who fell in love with a guy online, actually spoke to him daily on the phone for hours, only to find out after six months that it was a fat woman with a man sounding voice. Imagine that? That's another thing I don't like about online dating. You can never be 100% positive about the other persons identity and that's why I prefer the traditional way of meeting people.

That's my little confession and rant of the day, what's yours?

What do you think of online dating? Do you have any online dating experiences of your own? Do share with me :)

LoveLove

-Elle-

Party At The Weekend...

I love a good party, and my family definitely know how to throw one!

Coming from a big and extremely close family, there's always a party - or random gathering - every week. Whether it's a special occasion, or just an evening round someones house, there is always something going on.

This week it was all about my two cousins - who are sisters - who were celebrating big birthdays. Christina was turning 21, and Andrea was turning 18 (pretty big ones). Friday night my sister and I gave the girls their birthday presents. As this year was a special birthday for them both, we decided to get creative and make them a Scrap book each.

I took this picture Friday night as we watched them open and read through their Scrap books. It was quite emotional for them, but they loved their gift which was all we were hoping for. The Scrap books consisted of photos, a list of our best memories, our favourite film quotes, a playlist with our favourite movie themes, and a personal letter from both my sister and I to them.

Everything we used to make the Scrap books were from Hobby Craft. Up until two weeks ago, I had never stepped foot in to one. But as a lover of arts and crafts - and seeing as one of the Hobby Crafts stores had not long opened just up the road from my house - I thought it was the perfect time for me to visit one for the first time. I'm not going to say much about Hobby Craft yet because I'll probably write some long arse post about it in future posts, but I will say that I did get a bit too excited in the store, and if I wasn't already broke, I probably would be now.

Saturday night was the party of the month! We hired out a hall, invited the whole family, hired a DJ, made some food, and partied pretty hard (well I did). I can honestly say I did not sit down once. I was dancing non-stop all night - probably burnt loads of calories woop - and it was another great night.

The cakes were made by my Aunty. She is pretty awesome and will attempt anything. I'll make a post soon about all of her cakes she has made so far as I honestly think she would be really good at it professionally.

(left to right) Birthday girl Andrea, Moi, my sister Martha, birthday girl Christina, and Christina's friend (who I feel really bad that I have forgotten her name).

Myself and the boyfriend. The dress is from Tesco's again. I actually love the clothes I find in there! It's a navy lace dress with a black belt and it was £25. Bargain.

Have a great week people :)

LoveLove

-Elle-

Imagination Can Take You Everywhere...

So we are halfway through the week and I must say - for me - it has been a pretty uneventful one so far. 

I should be excited about starting my new job soon, but as all the paper work and my CRB are taking their sweet time getting to me, it's all just one big boring waiting game. This means I am currently just stuck at home - alone - all day, and I can't even go out and enjoy myself because I'm flat out broke (cue the violins).

Now I do enjoy being at home most days. I get to walk around the house in my PJ's, sing from the top of my lungs, eat everyones food, dance all over the place, catch up on all my favourite shows, nap, and browse the internet pretty much all day. However, it does get to a point where I want to be busy, get outside and do something useful with all my free time.

After being house bound for so long, and having nothing to do, it tends to get to you - well it does for me anyway - and you think you're going nuts! I start to think I'm not alone in the house.. I go crazy and start talking to myself. I follow my cat around the garden, and I manage to jump and trip over myself every time the postman drops my letters through the door. 

The worst thing I have a habit of doing when home alone...is thinking. I tend to spend most of my day day dreaming, over thinking things that haven't even happened yet, things that might never happen, and things I wish would happen. Our minds are a powerful tool. They can be used for greatness - but it in my case - they can also be someones downfall. When left alone with just my thoughts, I let my imagination run wild. I make up stories in my head, believe for a while that they are true, spend a few hours feeling angry or sad about the situation, and not once do I notice how crazy and delusional I sound.

There have been plenty of times my boyfriend and I have had a small argument over it - usually because I've dragged him in to the soap opera I have created in my mind - and then I'll snap out of it....until the next time.  

It's quite unhealthy the majority of the time. I often imagine scenarios that outline my weaknesses. Like saving my friends from a burning building - which would never happen - because I'm not that brave or confident. Also, I can't even take burning my hand on the kettle let alone a full blown blaze! However, it's not always a bad thing. I also 'create scenarios' in my head when preparing to have a planned conversation with someone. Whether it's an interview, heart to heart, meeting, or just a conversation, I'll often imagine how I hope it will go - which I think everyone does - but it almost never goes the way I planned. It usually goes better. 

My boyfriend thinks my imagination and I together cause trouble, and I do agree with him to some extent. I am always in a constant 'what if' mode, and we all know that never solves anything. But I do think being imaginative is a good quality, because imagination can take you everywhere. 

Even sitting here now writing this post, I keep drifting in and out of my day dreams, which I think means it's time to stop writing!

Can anyone else relate to me? Or should I accept I may be a nutter? Where does your imagination take you?

I'll leave you with the words of Albert Einstein  'Imagination is more important than Knowledge'

LoveLove

Introducing 'That London Girl'...

Well that did not take long at all! After confessing yesterday that I wasn't blogging about what I wanted, and that I was going to take some time out from blogging to figure it out, it suddenly hit me, and when I really think about it, there wasn't much to figure out!

I started blogging two months ago because I loved the idea of being able to express myself through words online. Not only for random people to read and enjoy, but for me to have another way of getting my thoughts, feelings, and general rubbish off my mind. It also made me feel dangerous. I'm not one for letting everyone know my business (unless I want you to), and I have never had the confidence to air my dirty laundry, untold stories that should remain untold, and confessions etc....until now.

I follow quite a few blogs that are like online personal diaries, but public of course. I have and write my own diary, but it's an app on my Iphone that requires a password, and even though it helps in times when I need to write something before I burst, I've never had that make believe person that we speak to when writing our diary to give me the advice, love and support that I need to get me through what I am feeling. Some of you might say 'well that's what friends are for', but we all know that our friends sometimes just want to comfort us, and even though mine can be pretty blunt, sometimes we all need a big kick up the arse by people who aren't afraid to give it to us...strangers!

I find that my best writing comes out when I'm writing about things that mean something to me, people I care about, can't stand, or just want to bitch about. Family, friends, enemies (I don't have too many I hope). My ambitions and dreams, problems, relationships, and everything else that goes on in my life and the people around me. So I think the best way to describe what category - if you like - I want my blog to be in, it would be the personal/online diary one, where I can blog about what I want, whenever I want, and for everyone to see (just to add some spice to it all).

I think this will be an even better therapy than music is for me, and it will allow me to talk to people I don't know - but can relate - about it (and they're the best types of conversations). It will also give me back the confidence I once had before I went to university.

So due to this change, I have re-vamped my whole blog. It was called Baby Owls Thoughts, and it focused on everything beauty & fashion - which I didn't enjoy blogging about that much - and it has now had a makeover (let me know what you guys think). The reason for the title 'That London Girl' is because 1: I am from London, 2: I am a girl, and 3: I've had a lot of people call me 'That Girl' before either because they didn't know my name when they were bitching about me, or just because they were being mean and didn't think I was worthy of a name!

I was browsing one of the blogs I follow last night and came across this little fun questionairre. So I thought I'd kick start my new and improved blog off by filling it out.

Hope you enjoy it, and let me know if you decide to include one on yours blog!

1)   What are you wearing?

My pink pyjama vest top that says 'YAWN', and my matching black shorts.

2)    Ever been in love?

I thought I was in love many times, but I have only ever truly been in love once, and that's with my boyfriend Liam.

3)    Ever had a terrible break up?

I wouldn't say terrible, but I've had pathetic ones, and pretty shitty ones.

4)    How tall are you?

5”8

5)    How much do you weigh?

After last nights scoffing session, I think I may have put myself back up to 13stone 3pounds? I am overweight.

6)    Any tattoos?

Yes, three pointless butterflies on my waist that don't even look like butterflies it's a joke!

7)    Any piercings?

My ears and my belly, although I've let the belly one close up because I was too scared of pulling it (and it kinda got infected..nasty).

8)    OTP?

Should I know what this stands for? Does this make me a bad blogger? Oops.

9)    Favourite show?

I have loads but right now it's between Revenge & The Original's.

10) Favourite bands?

Paramore & Bastille.

11) Something you miss?

Living at University, my friends, the parties, and a few of the scandals...

12) Favourite song?

Right now Counting Stars by One Republic.

13) How old are you?

23 (only since July might I add, so technically I'm still 18).

14) Zodiac sign?

Leo

15) Quality you look for in a partner?

Someone who can make me laugh and still gives me butterflies after years of being together.

16) Favourite quote?

'I understand feeling as small and as insignificant as humanly possible. And how it can actually ache in places you didn't know you had inside you. And it doesn't matter how many new haircuts you get, or gyms you join, or how many glasses of chardonnay you drink with your girlfriends... you still go to bed every night going over every detail and wonder what you did wrong or how you could have misunderstood. And how in the hell for that brief moment you could think that you were that happy. And sometimes you can even convince yourself that he'll see the light and show up at your door. And after all that, however long all that may be, you'll go somewhere new. And you'll meet people who make you feel worthwhile again. And little pieces of your soul will finally come back. And all that fuzzy stuff, those years of your life that you wasted, that will eventually begin to fade.' 

Iris (Kate Winslet) - The Holiday 

17) Favourite actor?

I have many but right now I love Joseph Gordan-Levitt, Joseph Morgan, and I'll always love Jack Black.

18) Favourite colour?

Purple

19) Loud music or soft?

I can't answer that. It depends what mood I'm in.

20) Where do you go when you’re sad?

To the fridge.

21) How long does it take you to shower?

20 minutes.

22) How long does it take you to get ready in the morning?

10-15 minutes.

23) Ever been in a physical fight?

I've had a little scrap before. Oops.

24) Turn on?

Play fighting (with my boyfriend only of course).

25) Turn off?

Arrogance.

26) The reason I joined YouTube (or in the case, started a blog!)

I want to express myself to a bigger audience, share my thoughts and connect with others.

27) Fears?

Deep water, small spaces, the unknown.

28) Last thing that made you cry?

Hearing about my Uncle's illness.

29) Last time you said you loved someone?

Last night. Although I didn't get an 'I love you too' back the son of a lovely lady.

30) Meaning behing your YouTube/blog name?

I'm just another one of those London girls.

31) Last book you read?

Fifty Shades of Grey.

32) The book you’re currently reading?

Fifty Shades Darker (it's boring me now).

33) Last show you watched?

Once Upon A Time.

34) Last person you talked to?

My sister, Martha (aka Bodis).

35) The relationship between you and the last person you texted?

My boyfriend, lover, man of my dreams, although he hasn't text me back the bastard!

36) Favourite food?

Greek Souvla which pretty much means a BBQ, Greek style!

37) Place you want to visit?

New York, California, La, America basically.

38) Last place you were?

My bedroom, which I'm also in now.

39) Do you have a crush?

Yes on Joseph Gordan-Levitt...

40) Last time you kissed someone?

Yesterday. It was my Bapz (granddad).

41) Last time you were insulted?

Saturday. My boyfriends flat mate (Timbo) keeps calling me an Essex Chav...

42) Favourite flavour of sweet?

Raspberry.

43) What instruments do you play?

I can play a bit of the keyboard. I'm not bad at guitar hero?

44)  Favourite piece of jewellery?

I'd like to say my Amethyst Necklace but it was bought for me by someone that didn't value our friendship at all, so I'll say my necklace with the shape of the Cyprus Island on it.

45) Last sport you played?

Table Tennis...if that's classed as a sport!

46) Last song you sang?

Jessie J - Sexy Lady

47) Favourite chat up line?

'Wanna play thumb wars?'

48) Have you ever used it?

No, but my boyfriend did, at a student party at university, ironically called 'Chav & Wags' night. We played, then he got one of his balls out, kind of sealed the deal really (we were both pretty drunk on sambuca and god knows what else).

49) Last time you hung out with anyone?

Last night I hung out with my parents and watched Doc Martin.

50) Who should answer these questions next?

Whoever has time on their hands - like myself - to fill it out :)

LoveLove

Time for a Change...

Morning Lovlis.

I have been thinking a lot lately about my blog, what I want from it, what I want to write about, and after a lot of thought I have decided to change the focus/main subject of my blog.

I have always wanted to have my own blog. Always loved the idea of being able to express myself through words online. Have people follow me, relate to me, and connect with me etc. I started 'Baby Owls Thoughts' a couple of months ago, and if I am honest, it wasn't the right time. I have been wanting to start blogging for so long that I just created my blog for the sake of creating it, leaving myself no time to decide what I wanted to blog about.

My main focus up until now has been Fashion/Beauty, but if I am being completely true to myself and you guys, that's not what I want to be mainly blogging about. Don't get me wrong, I love reading all the fashion and beauty bloggers posts that I follow, and I do enjoy writing my own posts from time to time, but I want to feel excited when I blog, I want to feel passion for what I am writing, and at the moment, I don't.

It has got to the point now where I can't be bothered to blog because I am not that interested in what I am blogging about. I do love fashion and beauty, but I wouldn't go as far as saying I am passionate about it. I don't follow top brands or trends, I have more natural - non makeup - days than makeup days. I'm one of those girls that only take 30 minutes to get ready instead of an hour or more. I'm also not that educated in fashion or beauty, so blogging about something I don't know much about or I'm not interested in, seems pretty stupid and pointless.

Every post I have uploaded has been 100% accurate in terms of what I've blogged about. However, I haven't been as enthusiastic when writing some of them as I may have come across in the actual posts, and that's something I don't want.

I have decided to take some time to figure out what I want to write about. I'm considering changing my whole blog! The title, image, the subject focus (obviously), I want to see if it makes me better at blogging. Who knows, it might not work again, and I might actually figure out that I'm not meant to be an online blogger! But it might work this time, and I'll realise that all I needed to do was give myself time to decide what my blog and I are about!!

I hope you guys can support me with this decision. I do think blogging should not be just for the sake of it, which is why I think it's only fair I am honest with myself and you lovlis.

This does mean I'll be off the radar for a while, but I'm hoping it won't be for too long, and when I return, I hope it's with something awesome :)

Thank you for reading and see you soon!!

LoveLove

Elle P