Friday 18 September 2015

First Year At Uni

All the freshers reading out there, keep your ears wide open for some advice on how to handle the first petrifying year at uni. As everyone moves into their flats with their new housemates, others stay at home and travel to uni, we are all pretty much in a similar position when it comes to having a fresh start with new people. So, I attempt to give some tips on how to survive this year based on my experience which may be wildly different to others!

1. Don't leave deadlines to last minute
This is possibly the worst mistake you can make when you have a mountain of deadlines all due in on the same week. Trust me, I am the queen of disorganisation and procrastination so please listen to me when I say: get a diary and write this stuff down. Leaving a 7000 word assignment 4 days before its due date is not a healthy experience!

2. Speak to people
Whether you live on campus or not, speaking to people has got to be the most scary thing that happens for most people. Nobody can deny that this is one of the things that everyone struggles with. If everyone speaks to everyone then no one is left alone = solution. The first couple of days are important, so just speak to anyone that looks friendly or that you see is your type of person. Remember that everyone is in the same position as you so be nice and others will be too. Arguably, the first person you speak to may not be your friend for life but its nice to have someone!



3. Save some money
I know, spending your student loan on alcohol, clothes and anything else that you have written that list for is very tempting but try your best to save at least a bit of money. Think about the summer that will be coming and how much you will regret not saving at least some money when everyone else is enjoying holidays or even the scary prospect of putting a deposit down for your next flat. Even if that means not buying that bottle of vodka or the new Topshop jumper that you really wanted. It will be worth it when you have something in the bank.

4. Try and get a job
By all means, enjoy Freshers week. However, once life starts getting into the nitty gritty and you have to think about paying for your own food, clothes and living in general; extra money is extremely useful. Just put yourself out there, any job is better than no job. I know being a waitress is not my expertise, who am I kidding, I hate it. It still gives me some sort of income that makes me feel independent and this way I don't have to rely on my parents for any extra money.

5. Moving in/moving out
Don't worry, as long as you pack absolutely everything you have in your room and house you can't possibly forget anything, right? Wrong! Even if you make a list as long as your leg, there will still be something that you are missing, so don't worry too much because you can buy it when you get there! Yes shops do exist near campus too. Also, those of you who are going to uni next year, make sure this is your decision and you don't feel that you have to move to uni to get the 'experience'. Everyone wants something different, I chose not to and I don't feel like I've missed out on anything that I haven't wanted to do. Make your own experience.

6. Don't rely on public transport
As I travelled to uni, trains became the bane of my life. Although I can drive I thought that getting the train would be more relaxing as I wouldn't be stuck in traffic at peak times and I would be able to sleep if I was really that tired (and not miss my stop). However, I would always suggest making sure to get the train earlier than you plan just to make sure you don't miss it. Who wants to walk into a lecture 30 minutes late because the train has been delayed for the 5th time that week? Not me. Make sure you leave yourself extra time to get to and from uni, it will save stress and grey hairs from accumulating.

Wednesday 30 April 2014

Writer's Block

Hey dolls!

I know its been a while since I've posted anything or had an update of what I've been doing but its literally been the most stressful year EVER! Saying that, I know some of you will be in the same position as me at the moment and its nearly over, we can do this! Two more months left of year 13 then UNIVERSITY! Hooray!

So as I said, I've mostly been focusing on things at school. I haven't even been to work either because I just wanted time to rest at this busy time of year. I feel as though I've been living at school because of all the work and after school sessions I have done lately, its so tiring and you really appreciate sleep when you get to this stage in life! How I wish I could go back to the life of five year old me and tell myself to take as many naps as possible.

I really hope everything that I've done in these two years pays off. I can't say I'm the best at revision so I would be 0 help to anyone looking for motivation because I am currently trying to buy motivation on the internet but I can't find any! Anyone, ideas, please?

The only major thing that has happened lately since I last blogged is that I finally PASSED my driving test! It was probably the most nerve wracking experience ever, my foot was shaking whenever I had to release the clutch and I screwed it up so many times. Somehow, with the help of the driving gods out there, I passed first time. It literally feels like a huge achievement when you pass, everyone that has passed will remember what it was like. I think its because of all the time you put into it and the fact that everyone else around you can drive, you just feel very proud.

Next chapter, I bought a car! Yay! Its not a great car but its also not a bad first car. My dad found it in our local area and it was fairly new and not very used at all which is brilliant. I got a Kia Picanto, I'm not sure what the reg plate is but I'm sure its 2007. I had initially been taught how to drive in a diesel car and I'm finding it difficult to adjust to a petrol car, also I'm really scared I don't have full control when I'm driving - speed wise. I don't drive quickly but when I want to slow down, its too abrupt.

So that's what's been going on. Plans for the next two months are to try and blog a lot more after exams finish. I've been thinking about finally writing a review on SkinnyMeTea which as most of you know is a detox tea made with natural ingredients. I've never had it before and I've heard lots of reviews about it which has made me want to try this out myself and give an honest opinion. Also I've finally sorted out the layout of my blog which I'm very happy with, this is how it will stay for a while. Hope everyone likes it! And, I was also thinking about putting some hauls on here very soon with outfits too!

Hope you guys have had a lovely Easter x

Wednesday 5 February 2014

A Nail Polish Invasion

I feel like Bruce from Finding Nemo. 

Bruce: Hello. My name is Bruce. 
AnchorChum: Hello, Bruce. 
Bruce: It has been three weeks since my last fish, on my honour, or may I be chopped up and made into soup. 

Its been two days since I last purchased nail varnish and then two days before that I also bought some more. I go through these stages where I get very obsessed with buying nail varnishes and have to have them all. Strange? I'm sure everyone's done it at one point!

So this post is clearly about a new nail varnish purchase that I was very excited to blog about and I thought "what a good opportunity to take some pictures and plonk them on here", plonk doesn't sound appropriate because it sounds careless, more like "I thought long and hard about this decision and decided to upload these wonderful pictures".

I don't know how or why I randomly came across the modelsown website but I did, and its 50% off all nail varnishes at the moment!! The amazing thing is that they are all 14ml pots and that's around double the size of any other nail varnishes. For £2.50 I thought it would be ridiculous to miss out on. So I got my sisters involved too and they bought a couple. 

I'll be doing a couple of swatches of the different colours once my nails have grown as they look quite shabby at the moment. It was really quick delivery as well, they came within one working day which is great for standard delivery.

Cue the pictures!









A couple are duplicates because me and my sisters bought some of the same colours. Watch out for some swatches of these six colours!

Hope you're all well x

Cue The Tumbleweed

Hi guys, yes I realise it has been quite a while and that I have indeed abandoned you...

So let me explain myself.

In general, its such a hectic year because of the fact I'm in my last year in the run up to getting into university and it has been very busy so far. From the beginning in September when I started writing on my blog, up until now. The beginning of February. There's so many things going on at the moment, not to list too many, but: school, after school sessions, work every weekend, another new job, prepping for uni interviews, prepping for uni entrance tests, driving lessons, getting closer to my driving exam, school work mounting up to my ceiling, coursework deadlines. Its definitely been a busy couple of months.

Not that any of that is an excuse, I should organise my time more wisely but that isn't how its gone down as we all know I win the award for being the biggest procrastinator on earth. 

Now to get to the nitty gritty of what I've been doing lately. As some of you may know, probably not many of you, but I've applied to enter a primary education course and that means I've been having to do a lot of things in preparation. Lots of teachers have given me advice on how to approach the process, for example, getting as much work experience under my belt as I can which is what I've been doing once a week, every afternoon. Also, my new job involves me working with children which is even more experience but means I won't be having much time to do things at the moment, such as writing on my blog and updating.

All my weeks right now consist of school, work and driving. I really suck at driving as well so I wouldn't be surprised if I was still learning by the time I've turned 66! Everyone cross your fingers and toes and anything else for good luck, I hope I pass first time or that's money down the drain (this is not likely whatsoever).

So this was just a little update and apologies for those (if any) who do read my blog. But, I do have an exciting new post to come and also I might be doing a mash up of a couple of things I've accumulated over the Christmas/New Year/sales in general in terms of clothes shopping.

Hope you're all well x