10 Ways To Get Over A Crush

After my time on this planet I have learnt a few things. One of them been how to get over a crush. I find it a very good skill to have as I have fallen victim to the crush monster one or two (hundred) times. Some have been major and life consuming, and some have been a bit meh. A crush is a weird thing, its a pain that you don't mind having so much, you suffer but sometimes it is nice to know that you have this emotion. You have the ability to like someone on such a level that you convince yourself that you are ready for a commitment, and you are ready for someone to know every nook and cranny of you. So after all these times and occasions I have formed a short list of things you can do to get over a crush - lets go.

1. Tell your friends your emotions. Sharing is caring in this case. It may be hard to admit this truth because it can be very revealing of you, but I can guarantee that your friend will make you feel better - because they will no doubt tell you how good you are and awful your crush is. Winner.

2. Cry. Let it out and let it go. Crying is a great thing, its like you get to flush everything out in one big go - a colonic for the soul if you will.

3. Go outside. A distraction can do you the world of good. Go do something different and meet different people, you never know you may meet your next crush - or lover if you're lucky.

4. Look at yourself. You aren't a bad person but you can take this time to re-evaluate yourself. Why didn't your crush like you? Time for a bit of tough love. This could do you a lot of good though, improve yourself on the outside and feel better on the inside.

5. Watch a romantic movie. This could sound like torture, but it doesn't have to be. In a lot of romantic films you see a lot of ups and downs in a person's love life - now place yourself in the movie, you are only half way through you're story. Your happy ending hasn't happened yet, but if Julia Roberts/Sandra Bullock/Jennifer Aniston/Reese Witherspoon/Katherine Heigl have taught me anything, it's coming.

6. Listen to sad music. Personally I find depressing music the best type of music, and in times when having to get over crushes it can become a crutch. It is nice to know that someone has been going through the same thing - and they put it to a nice melody and make it rhyme. Plus getting to mime your pain in a mirror whilst imagining you're Taylor Swift never hurt anyone.

7. Find their flaws. This might sound cruel, but for so long you have been focused on their best features. It can be therapeutic to notice the things about them that ain't so pretty.

8. Out of sight, out of mind. If it is too bad a reminder of what you don't have every time you see them, then get away. Step aside, leave the room, get on a bus. It isn't going to do your confidence any good when you have to remind yourself that you don't have what you want.

9. Be aware of a relapse. Getting over a crush can take a long long time, it is hard work and sometimes you may find that you slip. You catch a glimpse and you just melt, they say hello and you want to grab them or their name pops up on your phone and a smile comes across your face that rivals the cheshire cat. This is okay. We aren't perfect.

10. Admit defeat. Maybe they are with someone else or a thousand miles away, it is time for you to move on, wipe the tear off your face, shake your hair in to messy yet stylish style and walk on with the pride of Beyonce. However don't confuse this defeat with failure. The fact that you aren't with the person you want has nothing to do with your own self worth. Some things are beyond your control.

I hope these 10 steps help someone, a crush can be soul destroying and really knock your self confidence - but they don't have to. Letting go and moving on is a process, it won't happen over night and you will relapse - this isn't failure, this is all part of it. So go on and go forth, don't let your crush end you. There is someone out there that will crush on you.

Man Up!

I hear 'Man Up!' way too many times in my life. I am one of those people that kind of blur the lines of gender. I don't mean in any way that I consider myself part woman. What I mean is that I have interests and qualities that once upon a time were considered a woman's. I enjoy things that maybe I shouldn't. And isn't that a damn shame that certain things can't be for one person but can be for another. Who made these rules?

When we were children it was pushed on to us what we should be in to. Boy's clothes are blue and girl's are pink, in Toys R Us there was an aisle for boys with dinosaurs, cars and Power Rangers, and in the girl's aisle they had Barbies, toy prams and My Little Pony. I never quite understood why they were so segregated. A child should be allowed to play what with what they want with out our judgement.

In later life we stepped out of Toys R Us and we were still assumed to be playing with our gender ruled choices. As a teen boy I was expected to kick a football around. This isn't me and never was. Sports are completely lost on me. I am happy for someone who succeeds but don't expect me to watch it. Selfish I know but I prefer to spend my time on something I enjoy.

Growing up I gained a love for fashion, I particularly enjoyed women's fashion. I never wore it and probably never will but I would buy Vogue, Elle and Nylon so I could see it. Its like art for me and I appreciate it on a whole other level than whether I could wear it or not. My music taste isn't particularly masculine, I enjoy female singing voices so much more than a man's and 90% of the concerts I have ever been to have been fronted by a woman. When I am watching TV, the shows I am watching are more likely to have a female lead - I don't know why and to be honest why do I need an answer?

So tell me what makes a man? Someone with a thirst for war? Someone who loves nothing more than a pint and football game? Someone who fights? Someone who doesn't show emotion? I am sorry but that isn't me. These stereotypes are ruining people's lives. We all try to fit something in a box; in society we need to be able to label something before we can accept it as it is. I don't know if its just the way I think (or that fact I don't fit in any particular box) but I don't understand why. In this day and age it is a shame that we can't just let things go. You see a boy playing with a Barbie and it is still weird. You see a girl kicking a football around with a bunch of boys and we call her a tomboy.

I have been blessed in my family life, my parents let me be whoever I wanted to be. Nothing shocks them anymore with me. Just today I was watching a drag queen performing and told my Dad my thoughts on it - no he didn't care about it at all but he still listened. My sister is an avid supporter of football and she doesn't care at all that I would prefer to be reading Vogue. My Mum will come to me for fashion advise because she knows I have an opinion on it. We all just get on with things in our house and gender doesn't rule anything. I would be miserable any other way, and they love me just the way I am.

I think it is impossible to describe what a man should be. You call a man strong? Why isn't a woman? You call a woman beautiful? Why can't a man be? A man should provide for his family - why? Can we not get over this caveman mentality of men hunting and women looking after the home.

So right here right now I am taking a stand. I am a man. I have an adams apple and no ovaries. Who cares what my interests are? I am not choosing what I enjoy to piss any one else off. I don't have a definition for a man or a woman that goes any further than a medical dictionary would. At the end of the day that is the only thing we have in common, whatever we have going on inside of us or sticking out of us doesn't mean we should be any which way.

My name is Craig. I study fashion. I never watch sports. I have seen every episode of America's Next Top Model. I have aspirations to work in female fashion. I like to gossip. People like Sandra Bullock, Beyonce and Taylor Swift are some of my favourite people. I will go clothes shopping with my Mum. I cry at every episode of Grey's Anatomy. I am a man.

The Heat - A Review

So I thought I would have a go at writing my first movie review. I picked The Heat directed by Paul Feig and starring Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy; two of my favourite actresses/people in Hollywood. Bullock stars as Special Agent Sarah Ashburn, an uptight FBI agent (very similar to the character in Miss Congeniality until those beauty queens warmed her heart). McCarthy stars as Det. Shannon Mullins, a foul mouthed Boston Police Officer. They are brought together to bring down a drugs lord, Ashburn is promised a promotion if she can work with Mullins and Mullins is very protective of her city and family; its very much two worlds colliding.

There have been a lot of buddy cop movies, (Lethal Weapon, Bad Boys and Rush Hour for example) but never with two female leads. A lot of elements of these macho movies are within The Heat, the oil-and-water-relationship, the violence, the language and some explosions - but this film does something different. It has to as it is two women. There is very much an emotional undercurrent as we watch these two women who are very committed to their jobs also struggle with the loneliness that comes with picking a career over families and relationships.

There is a certain formula that comes with these films so this film can be very predictable, however don't let this put you off. Mixed with in what you expect there are some hilarious scenes. With out spoiling anything I will just mention Spanx and a tracheotomy. This film could easily have been acted by men. The roles are pretty genderless, I applaud the director and producers for picking females, especially actresses of a certain age that are unfortunately looked over.

So to recap it is a very predictable movie but with a little something special thrown in. Bullock and McCarthy have an amazing chemistry and I will always watch their films, together of apart. I feel if it wasn't a cop comedy they did then it would have been some Bridesmaids knock off.  I am so happy they finally joined forces. This movie is funny (the drunk scene will be talked about for years), light-hearted and easy to follow - a perfect film if all you want to do is sit back and be entertained. Also the soundtrack is pretty stellar with the likes of Azealia Banks, Angel Haze, Santigold and Kreayshawn.

The U, S of A

So today is kind of an awkward day for us Brits as American's are celebrating their independence from us. Today across those 50 states there are BBQs, fireworks and lots of partying. It is a day American's set aside and celebrate them. We don't have anything close to this in Britain - we barely even celebrate the day of our Patron Saint (choosing to toast Ireland's St. Patrick's Day more).

I love America. I have often been the butt of jokes and told that I should just be American. I don't mind that thought at all. America has produced and created some of my favourite things in the world. Some of my favourite people are American - I am not shy in confessing my admiration for the likes of Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Sandra Bullock (plus many many more).

America is probably my main problem aswell. They invented my number 1 addiction - Coca Cola. I can tell you my Doctor is not too happy about that. I love it - people start their day with a coffee, I start my day with a can of coke. As a diabetic it probably isn't the best choice to make, but I can't stop it. I need help. My favourite alcoholic beverage is also American - the beautiful Jack Daniels. Put it with coke and you have my dream drink; it will be the drink I will request at my last supper.

As a HUGE fan of television and film I again have a lot to thank the American's for. Us Brits can not make a horror movie that will ever be in the same league as an American - there I said it, I'm not proud that I said it but it needed saying. TV is also bigger in America - everything is brighter and more dramatic. In England we have perfected the gritty, lower class, back streets stories for TV - but these aren't to everyone's taste. Especially not mine, I live in the lower class, gritty back streets, all I have to do is look out the window for that experience, TV should be an escape not a mirror on your own reality.

America also supplied me with the best holiday I have ever had. Around 6 years ago I went to the Big Apple, New York. I loved it and I didn't want to leave. Okay I was happy to leave at the time. The heat was unbearable, so bad they turned the lights off on Times Square. I would love to go back, and I am 100% sure I will go back - just maybe not in August, a cooler month will be a smarter idea.

So to wrap this up, I don't want people to get me wrong - I am 100% proud to be British, I love our quirkiness, our fashion and (unashamedly) I love the Royal Family. England has given me everything I have. As a Diabetic I will always be thankful to the NHS, as a student I will always be thankful to Student Finance and as TV lover I will always be thankful for the BBC (Doctor Who for the win).