50 Facts About Me.

Hey!

I'm currently all snuggled up in bed, candles burning, relaxing before our game tomorrow. I had 2 exams this week so I'm enjoying some free time this weekend. We won our first game of the weekend  yesterday 3-0 and we take on St Francis tomorrow at 1pm. 

Things are very busy with me in America right now. With 2 games every weekend, we are well into the heart of our season and things are really starting to pick up. I'm really excited play Championship games and hopefully maintain our title as A10 Champs! I also can't wait for my parents to come and visit. This year is already flying by! The weather is starting to change here in Massachusetts. It's getting a little colder, the trees are changing colour and I just can't wait for Autumn/Fall! Anyway, I thought I'd do a more personal blog post this week, so here are 50 facts about me! 

Enjoy :)

1. My middle name is Ebony.

2. My star sign is Aries.

3. I'm a Journalism Major.

4. Field Hockey is my passion.

5. I don't have a favourite colour.

6. I have 11 piercings.

7. I love bracelets.

8. I have 2 pet mice.

9. I went to boarding school.

10. I'm at University in America.

11. I got an A* in Drama.

12. Diet Coke, always.

13. My favourite film is Shawshank Redemption.

14. I really dislike mushrooms.

15. Cookie Dough is my favourite ice cream flavour.

16. I secretly love video games. Especially FIFA.

17. I have a smashed iPhone 4.

18. I can ski and snowboard.

19. I want to live in Australia.

20. I having an older brother called Tom.

21. I'm very independent.

22. I like all genres of music. Except country.

23. I can water ski and knee board.

24. I was on the school tennis team.

25. My bed is my favourite place.

26. I mostly hate school and studying.

27. I love puppies.

28. I played Lacrosse for 6 years.

29. I have a tattoo.

30. I bite my nails.

31. Heels are my guilty pleasure.

32. I have 10 cousins.

33. White wine over red wine.

34. I naturally tan well.

35. I wish I liked running.

36. I always read sad books.

37. My family is crazy. But I love it.

38. I've been to over 20 different countries.

39. My Flappy Bird high score is 148.

40. I want to have my own business.

41. I once split my chin open.

42. I love musicals.

43. I'm not a morning person.

44. Iced Vanilla Coffee/Latte is my 'go-to'.

45. I've never had braces.

46. My parents own a nursery school.

47. I've been scuba diving in Australia and South Africa.

48. A fire extinguisher broke my ankle.

49. One of my YouTube videos has 23,500 views. lol.

50. I'm grateful for my supportive family, friends and teammates.

That's all! Let me know if you learned anything new about me!

Keep spreading the love :)

Sometimes the things you are most afraid of are the things that make you the happiest.

Ciao,

Hannah x

Get Motivated.

Motivation is key. It's what makes you get up in the morning, better yourself everyday and pushes you to achieve your dreams. Everybody's motivation is different and it's important that you find what drives you in order to help you to succeed.

"If you can dream it, you can do it."

I have my big dreams but I also set myself goals, daily, monthly and annually. What I wish to achieve this week, this year or before I'm 25 is private to me and I rarely discuss my dreams with anyone. My reason for this is that my dreams scare me, because I dream big. However, I believe in myself and what I'm doing. I once read that "if your dreams do not scare you, they are not big enough." I live by that advice and aim to challenge myself as much as I possibly can.

Now it really doesn't matter what your dreams, goals or aims are. It's irrelevant how big or small they are but it is important that you stay focused and use your motivation to achieve exactly what you want, whether it's training harder, studying better, eating healthier, staying positive, completing chores or getting organised. You can do it. Stay committed and push yourself outside of your comfort zone. 

People motivate me. Watching others succeed is why I get up everyday. I admire so many people on this earth, from my family to sports stars or business entrepreneurs. Whatever your motivation is, even if it's a quote, a person, a theory or your religion, remind yourself of it everyday.

"Believe you can, and you're half way there."

Whenever you feel that things aren't going your way or your plan isn't quite working out, change it yourself. Think back to why you're doing what you're doing and use your motivation. You can motivate yourself from within and I urge you to do so and create your own happiness in life! Don't let people or circumstances determine what YOU want to do with YOUR life.

Dream Big.

Ciao,

Hannah x

XX Commonwealth Games.

We are currently right in the middle of the 20th Commonwealth Games, hosted in Glasgow, Scotland. I love watching any sporting major but this one was particularly special for the Farrell Family Household! Early in the summer my brother, Tom Farrell, was selected to run for England in the 5000m race on the 27th July, so we have been eagerly awaiting the Commonwealth Games!

Many of you will know that we are quite a sporty family, with my Dad being a 3.44.78 1500m runner and my Mum a 1.86m high jumper. I'm currently playing hockey in America for the University of Massachusetts and hope to continue my hockey career after university and maybe one day achieve an international selection.

Flashback!

In 1986 my Mum was selected to compete for England and travelled up to sunny Scotland to jump at the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, now, 28 years later my brother also found himself travelling up north to Scotland for his first Commonwealth Games too! Back in '86 my Mum, Jenn Farrell, placed 8th in the high jump, a very successful performance. Therefore, the ongoing joke was that Tom had to try and beat Mum's position of 8th place...

Tom has had a summer of successful races leading up to the Games including the British Championships and the Oslo and Glasgow Diamond Leagues. He also spent the majority of his time training up at altitude in various places such as Utah, Kenya and Font Romeau, in order to maximise his training. Tom flew back from altitude a few days before his race in Glasgow and was then dropped off at the athletes village to prepare for his race on Sunday.

The night before Tom's race felt like Christmas Eve. We were all filled with excitement, nerves and anticipation! My parents, Gran and I left home at 7am on Sunday as we had tickets for the morning hockey session. The hockey was great, despite a bit of drizzly rain! We watched Australia beat Scotland 9-0 and then England beat Maylasia 5-0. Even though the hockey was world class, I couldn't help thinking about Tom's race later on in the day.

When we reached the athletics stadium at Hampden Park, we were greeted with lots of family and friends who had made the journey up to Glasgow to support Tom. Thank you to everyone who bought tickets, it was great to share the experience with family and friends in the stadium! We were all equipped with loud voices, England flags and 'TOM FARRELL" t-shirts, looking like the ultimate fan club! I can't decided whether I was more nervous or excited, but either way it was an overwhelming experience. I can't imagine how Tom felt stepping out on to the track in front of 45,000 people. The atmosphere was electric from start to finish.

Tom ran an amazing race, finishing 7th and running the 3rd fastest time of his career, 13.23.96 for 5k. Tom stayed with the leading pack for the race and executed a great championship run. After following injury disappointment before the London 2012 Olympics, this was Tom's first senior Championships and his experience was extremely successful. Most importantly, he managed to beat Mum's Commonwealth achievement of 8th place! However, there's no time to celebrate yet because he has jetted off back up to France to get some more altitude training in before the Europeans in Zurich.

Our time at the Commonwealth's was short but sweet, but truly unforgettable! Glasgow has done a fantastic job at hosting the games so far, apart from large crowds making transport very busy, our experience was great. The officials at both the hockey and the athletics were extremely friendly and helpful. Let's hope the success continues for Team England!

That's all from me, time to get my hands on some England kit! Thanks bro!

Here our some pictures from our time at the Commonwealth Games.

 Ciao,

   Hannah x

Be Happy. Stay Healthy.

"Do more of what makes you happy."

Wherever you are, whoever you are and whatever you do, there is nothing more important than being happy. Personally, the little things in life make me happier each day, such as having a good nights sleep or tasting something new for the first time. I love having extra time on my hands in the summer because I can try new things and allocate more personal pampering time. I'm well aware that the luxury of long student holidays won't last forever, so I'm enjoying them whilst I can. Even if you work full time and lead a very busy life there is still time to put yourself first. Here is some advice and tips to help you lead a happy, but healthy lifestyle!

Beneficial Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Fact. So why not start your day off with something healthy, tasty and fun! I need to listen to my own advice here because I'm a sucker for a bowl of Coco-Pops in the morning, but I can't deny that when I make a more beneficial and nutritious breakfast I feel happier, fresher and healthier. I feel much better about myself when I chop up some bananas and strawberries, throw them in a bowl of yogurt and sprinkle some nuts all over, rather than simply pouring a sugary bowl of cereal.

Check out some more lovely breakfast ideas here -

http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/healthy-breakfast

Appreciate Alfresco

Get outdoors! This is the easiest thing to do in order to have a healthy lifestyle and you'll reap the benefits instantly. There are no excuses to stay indoors during summer, especially as the weather is beautiful in Britain this year! Ideally, aim to get 30 minutes of outdoor exercise per day such as a walk, run, bike ride, yoga, tennis or go for a swim. There has been a huge increase of outdoor/park gyms in England, that are a great way to get an outdoor workout in, so find the nearest one to you. Even if exercise isn't your thing, there are huge benefits of just getting outside. Just by spending more time outdoors you will improve your Vitamin D levels, your body will learn to heal faster, have higher concentration levels and overall, be happier. So go and embrace Alfresco living!

                                 
   

H20 Hydration

Drink more water! This is something I've been trying really hard to do lately, especially when it's hot. My room is very hot at nights and sometimes I feel very dehydrated. Therefore, I always try and have a couple of ice-cold glasses of water each day. Drinking a cold glass of water in the morning helps to increase your metabolism, which will help decrease the rate of your weight gain. If you are wanting to lose a couple of pounds, try and drink more water throughout the day and especially before meals so you feel fuller. I've been drinking water when I need a boost of energy and I also put a small pinch of salt in my glass to help hydration. Most importantly, water dramatically increases the condition of your skin as it keeps it hydrated and reduces pimples and helps your face to look clear and glowing. 8 glasses a day will keep the Doctor away!

Significant Sleep

There is no doubt that everyone feels better after a good nights sleep. Studies have shown that getting more sleep reduces chances of health problems and risk of injury. Half an hour before going to sleep, turn off you television, phone or laptop and relax, read or write. Let your body wind down properly! Recently, I downloaded and app called 'Sleep Time' which calculates how much sleep you need, wakes you up with a progressive alarm and sends you to sleep with sounds of running water. I love going to sleep to the sound of water and it's much nicer waking up slowly rather to the loud ringing of an alarm.

Fun Fulfilling

Have some fun! Play a game, get crafty, do what you love to do! For example, I started up this blog again purely because I love writing and enjoy being creative. Obviously I would love to have a huge audience reading my blog, but if 50 people are enjoying my posts then that makes it more worthwhile for me. Whether you want to paint a picture, start a blog, write a book, design a product or set up a YouTube channel...just do it! The other day, me and my best friend decided to find our inner child and get artsy again. We designed a small jewellery boxes and a hanging heart decorations for a bit of fun and a good laugh! Try something different instead of sitting in front of the TV every night, get out a board game, get crafty or play outside. I promise that it will make you fell that little bit happier. You don't have to be a child to do what you really enjoy!

My jewellery box and decoration :)

Check out this bracelet website and get creative and maybe make your own -

http://www.evelynselegance.com/

Here are some homemade bracelets that you could make too!

Enjoy the weather and most importantly...be happy and have fun!

"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions." - Dalai Lama

Ciao,

Hannah x