BATISTE DRY SHAMPOO

Batiste dry shampoo is literally a life saver in a can. Every girl every so often has the unexpected plan of going out without having the time to do the hassle of washing, drying and styling hair. Dry shampoo allows you to wash and style your hair in a fraction of the time. 

PINTEREST

If you don't have Pinterest then the question is, why not?! Pinterest is addictive, and not in a healthy way! I can literally spend hours browsing through pages and pages of makeup, architecture, travel and food (not good when I have coursework to be doing!) It is basically a huge range of photos that have tags along with them (like the hashtags you use on Instagram and Twitter but without the hashtag) so that they are easy to find, for example, type 'handmade card' into the search bar and lots of ideas of handmade cards for you to have a go at will be shown but also with the instructions! Literally anything you need can be found on Pinterest.

WHAT I HATE ABOUT LIVING AWAY FROM HOME

Moving away from home for University is one of the best things I have done so far in my life. Not only have I built up my confidence but I have learnt a lot of new things about life itself as well as about myself. I've also learnt to navigate myself around a new city and I have to say that Newcastle is an amazing place. I have a new friendship group and I can see a couple of people being a friend for life as well as meeting my boyfriend. However, there are downsides to almost everything in life, including moving away from home.

BANANA AND CINNAMON PANCAKES

Due to following lots of food accounts on Instagram and obsessing with how good the food looks, I decided to make something a little different for breakfast in the form of banana and cinnamon pancakes. I have of course had chopped up banana alongside pancakes but I have never thought of using chopped banana actually in the batter, until now.

STUDENT STRESS

This time of the year must be one of the most stressful times of year for a University student. With my exam dates for the summer released today, I have discovered that I have 5 exams and I still have 4 coursework assignments to do before I'm finally done with second year. I say finally but second year has flown by!

Along with the stress of coursework at the minute and the thought of exams, it's become the time of the year where I don't have much student loan left, mainly due to the fact that I spent far too much money on Dominos and clothes this semester. My loan is due in exactly a month and although having a lack of money can be hard, I think having little money can be of some benefit at this time of the year. It means I won't be tempted to buy a takeaway and with summer fast approaching, takeaways need to be banned anyway to help with my waistline. My lack of money will also stop me going out drinking so I can spend time revising and doing coursework unless I get too stressed and just need to get drunk and party and this will again help my waistline. 

The good thing about this time of year is that it's Easter very soon which means I can go home and spend some quality time with my family as well as spending time with my boyfriend without having to worry about going to University as I can't be spending my whole 3 weeks off at Easter doing University work, I need a rest as it is!

My motivation to work hard will be the fact that in 2 months, I will be completely done with second year and my long 4 month summer break can begin! 

Are you or do you know a student who is stressed? Have you become a poor student like me?

25 THINGS I HAVE LEARNT SO FAR FROM UNIVERSITY

Here is a list of the things I have learnt from my University experience so far.

MY DAILY MAKE-UP ROUTINE

My daily make-up routine is quite extensive I have to admit - probably more a going-out make-up than a day make-up to most people. This is simply because I don't feel confident enough to go shopping or to University for example without a full face of make-up. The only time I don't wear make-up is when I sleep of course, when I know I'm not leaving the house, if I'm just popping to one of the local shops for food (I hide with my hood up) or if I'm staying at my boyfriend's or he's staying at mine. 

A FEW MONEY-SAVING TIPS

There are many simple ways to make everyday life cheaper and here are just a few! This is perfect not only for students but for anyone wanting to save a few pennies here or there.

MY 5 SPRING MUST-HAVES

Spring is just around the corner finally! A new season of the year also means a new season in fashion, woo! I personally get sick of having to constantly wear a coat outdoors in winter so spring and summer is the time to experiment with outfits without a coat hiding it from the world. My 5 must-haves this Spring are A-Line skirts, clogs, co-ords, a denim dress and a sleeveless blazer.

Full A-Line Airtex Skirt from Topshop, £42.00

GETTING YOUR 5 A DAY

I will be the first to hold up my hands to the fact that I struggle to eat my 5 portions of fruit or vegetables everyday. Being out and about or just choosing to snack on chocolate is my downfall. Also the fact that I originally thought that a portion of fruit or vegetables to make up one portion of my 5 a day would be huge when it actually isn't as I will demonstrate here with some of the more common fruit and vegetables available. 

RIVER ISLAND LONDON EAU DE TOILETTE: REVIEW

This perfume was bought to me as a Christmas present and ever since I first smelled it, I have been hooked. I have to say this is my most favourite perfume I have yet to own which shows not everything has to be a huge-named brand. I don't particularly believe in big named brands which will be obvious if you have read my previous beauty-based posts. It also fits into my student budget perfectly and I'm sure you'd love it just as much as I do.

THE IMPORTANCE OF WATER

Coursework season is among me hence my lack of posts but once these next few weeks are done, there will be blog posts a plenty. Water. I have to admit my daily water intake is very low. I just struggle to drink during the day as I'm a slow enough drinker as it is and I kinda sometimes forget to drink which is really bad! It's not just water I don't drink, its fluids in general. I buy fizzy pop very rarely and even when I'm on a night out drinking alcohol, I hardly drink any water before going out or after meaning I wake up with a sore head, a dry mouth and feeling very dehydrated in the morning which is horrific! I thought I would've learned by now but I haven't - bad habits are hard to break but I'm determined to break this one!

ZAPATISTA

Zapatista? You may be wondering what this is. I had never heard of it until I met my boyfriend who is literally OBSESSED. When he first mentioned the word to me I had no clue what he was talking about, even my coursemates didn't know what Zapatista was until I told them. So what is it?

TOXIN KILLER JUICE

I have finally gotten round to writing a post about a juice that I have recently made by juicing. If you don't know what juicing is, you can read my previous post all about it here.

DRY HAIR

Any girl with long hair will understand how annoying split ends are as well as the appearance of dry hair (particularly for people who bleach or dye their hair like me). But I have an instant solution for those dry and split ends that my mum told me about. 

Aussie Miracle Moist Conditioner £4.69 for 250ml at Boots

SCENTED CANDLES

Most girls I know own at least one scented candle. Why? You may ask. Because not only do scented candles make your room smell amazing but they also look pretty too and can make your room look so girly (not that they are just for girls of course!) especially with the wide range of colours that are now available.

A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF UNIVERSITY LOANS AND GRANTS

Prospective students thinking about going to University may be confused about the whole loan and grant situation just like I was before I started so don't worry you aren't alone! They are both forms of money but they are based on and used in different ways.

This information is based on students from England but living outside London. Students from other countries of the UK as well as students living in London and students from other EU and non-EU countries may have different loan and grant amounts as well as people in many other situations such as people with disabilities, part-time students and students with children amongst many of the reasons.

LOWER THE CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AGE

As a Biomedical Science student at University, I regularly learn about all sorts of medical conditions and diseases. One of the modules I study this year is The Biology of Disease which is basically about the aetiology and pathophysiology of different diseases. One lecture I had recently was on cancer and a brief talk of cancer screening was mentioned. The main point that stuck out to me in this lecture was the age that cervical cancer smears are begun to be taken. The earliest age is 25, that's right, 25! In my opinion (and a lot of other people's), this age is far too high for a woman to have their first cervical cancer screening test. I think it should be lowered to a more appropriate age of 18 or 21.

OIL PULLING

Recently I have been searching for ways to make my teeth whiter. Being a student, it needs to be a relatively cheap treatment. After quite a bit of research ranging from many expensive products, I discovered coconut oil which I already use for several things, such as applying it to the ends of my hair. I will write a post on all the different ways I use coconut oil.

Based on my research, coconut oil can be used for 'Oil Pulling.' It is claimed to make teeth whiter, freshen breath, remove harmful bacteria as well as improve overall oral health by using the oil as a mouthwash. 

MY NIGHT TIME FACIAL ROUTINE

Lately I've been getting a few comments on how well my skin looks. I believe this is down to my night-time facial routine as well as my application of makeup.

In this post I will discuss my night-time facial routine. I will post about my makeup routine in the upcoming weeks.

HOMEMADE BROWNIES

I have to say these are the most delicious homemade brownies I have ever eaten. Don't believe me? Make them for yourself! Hardly any ingredients are used and hardly any utensils either which saves on the washing up afterwards! Wanna make this scrummy recipe for yourself? 

BALANCE IS KEY

Life is all about balance. Juggling University work, socialising with friends, seeing my boyfriend, speaking to family, cooking, cleaning, sleeping, blogging, searching for a job, independent time: the list is endless!

There simply isn't enough time in the day I don't think! It probably doesn't help that I am a huge procrastinator, it's about time my life got some focus. The first 2 weeks of the year saw me revising and stressing out over University exams which I don't think went too well but there's no need to dwell as I can't change it now! The last week and a half has been dominated by partying with my housemates and spending some much needed time with my boyfriend which has been fab! I think it's about time I got organised at time management more effectively now after my week and a half of fun.

WHAT'S IN MY HANDBAG?

Most girls, if not every girl I know is lost without their handbag and the essential items it contains, I know I would be! There's hardly ever a time I leave the house without my handbag apart from when I pop to the shop just a few streets away to get a few things. Every girl's handbag contains different items personal to them. Wanna know what's in my handbag? Take a peek. 

STRESS HEAD!

It's the beginning of January which means the return back to University for many students (myself included). I came back to Newcastle on Sunday with a very heavy case. Luckily the conductors were nice and helped me on and off the train because I needed it! (Especially with me wearing heels which probably wasn't the cleverest of ideas!). I don't even know why my case was so heavy, my excuse is because I'm a girl!

I've missed Newcastle so much over Christmas, the people, having my own little routine and the social life! But one thing I haven't missed is my freezing cold student house. That is probably the major downside of moving back here in January because I loathe the cold! I am also one of those unlucky students who also has exams, boo! None of my housemates have them which isn't fair at all! I love and hate University. I love everything about it apart from actually attending lectures which is the whole point of going to University in the first place!

2015: THE BEGINNING

It's finally 2015! After the big build up to Christmas and the New Year, its nice to finally relax from all the celebrations (but not from my revision unfortunately - boo!). I entered 2015 pretty drunk! It was meant to be a few quiet drinks in one of the local pubs to see us through to 2015 but I got carried away! Shots, jäger bombs and countless double gin and lemonades (Gordon's is my weakness!), I was very hungover when I woke up! (I won't go into detail as it was quite disgusting!) 

SNOW DAY

Hope everyone has had a fab Christmas! I know I have. What made it even more perfect for me is that it snowed on Boxing Day and I don't just mean a thin layer, it was actually quite thick! Its still lying around today although it has thawed and refrozen a few times so it's not soft and fluffy anymore! However most of the non-main roads are still like an ice rink.

I have a love/hate relationship with snow. I love the first couple of days after it has snowed but then it starts to irritate me when it's no longer fresh and walking on icy snow is a mission! (Particularly in heels which I experienced the other night).

I was unhappy about the fact that it was snowing at first as I was meant to be going out. When I started to get ready, not one flake of snow was falling from the sky. After I had finished getting ready which was 2 hours later, a thick blanket of snow had covered the surrounding area! I knew that it was supposed to snow after checking the forecast but with it being England, I thought it wouldn't settle on the ground and would just end up turning into rain and the snow getting washed away but no I was wrong!

CHRISTMAS EVE

It is finally Christmas Eve! Not that it feels like it. I think this is the first Christmas Eve where I don't feel Christmassy for some reason - probably because I'm getting older and you realise how expensive Christmas actually is!

Even though my student house has been decorated since the end of November and I returned home in the middle of December to a wonderfully decorated house, I just can't seem to get into the Christmas spirit this year! (probably partly due to the fact that I haven't yet had a mince pie due to my mum hiding them away until Christmas Day - I blame her!)

Every Christmas Eve, me and my family always go to the cinema to watch a film - it's been a tradition ever since we turned too old to be going to the pantomime. But first we made a trip to Starbucks! I of course had Gingerbread Latte, it is a must around Christmas time as it just tastes so festive. I was hoping this was going to put me in the Christmas spirit today of all days but no I was wrong!

GARNIER'S MICELLAR CLEANSING WATER: REVIEW

As a huge lover of makeup, I'm also a huge lover of removing makeup at night in order for my skin to refresh and rejuvenate itself. I have never thought that makeup wipes completely remove all traces of makeup, only the majority of it. After trying many products from The Body Shop, Boots and Superdrug I finally discovered Garnier's Micellar Cleansing Water which is without doubt the ultimate product at removing makeup. This product proves that makeup wipes alone don't completely remove all makeup.

JUICING

As I was watching This Morning last week, a guest called Jason Vale caught my eye. I had never heard of this man until then and when I discovered that he used to suffer from obesity and severe psoriasis as well as smoking 2-3 packets of cigarettes and drinking up to 14 pints of lager a day, I was in complete and utter shock. He looked as fit as a fiddle due to a major lifestyle change; he began juicing. He is now known as the 'Juice Master' and it's totally understandable why.

CORAL

I am a huge lover of makeup. Eye makeup is of particular importance to me - I take great time using liquid eyeliner to get perfect wings and lashings of mascara as well as a white eyeliner pencil on my waterline to make my eyes seem bigger and brighter. With makeup, you either focus on bold eyes or bold lips as both would be too much. Because I focus on the eyes, I need a nude-like colour on the lips rather than the more intense colours like red and purple (as this would probably make me look like a clown). However, I wanted a slightly different colour to nude just to add a little extra colour to my face.

As a huge Made in Chelsea fan, I have noticed during the latest series that a lot of the darker-haired girls seem to be wearing coral-coloured lipstick. After weeks of searching in Boots and Superdrug, I finally came across Barry M's lip paint 54 which is classed as peach but I would personally say it is more of a coral colour.