My University Bucket List

I started Northumbria University in September 2012 and made a bucket list on paper and promised myself to do it. It was roughly 20 things and I wanted to achieve them by the time I graduated. Well, I graduated on the 9th July and I thought I'd see if I had completed everything I set out to do.. I thought I'd show you some of my list here. If you enjoy reading uni posts then I have some here such as Exam Tips and What To Take To Uni.

The List

1. Join the uni gym

So this only happened today! I signed up for 3.5 months for the remainder of my time in Newcastle for a membership at the uni gym. Not only is this to work out but to also go swimming, use the climbing wall and go to classes. I feel like a new person.

2. Get to grips with the new place

I definitely feel like I know Newcastle a lot more than I previously did. The only thing I knew prior to moving here was what happened on Geordie Shore... not the most credible source for information.

3. Make friends

I have written previous posts on bullying in my time at uni, but one thing I learned was that I can have people who are friendly and do care for me. I was treated quite badly in my second year at university for no particular reason in my shared house but since moving out my whole outlook on life has changed. I seem to have shaken the majority of my depression and I'm not as anxious. I went up to people and spoke to them and I made some close friends and some course friends. 

4. Get a 2:1 in some assignments

After getting ABB in my A-levels I set myself a goal to gain some 2:1s in some assignments. There haven't been many but you know what, a law degree is hard work and is difficult to get your head around especially when there are external things going on. I've learned to be proud of all my grades.

5. Do something I would have never agreed to before

I went to a Benefit Cosmetics event with my uni friend Katie which I wouldn't have done before uni since I didn't have to confidence to. I went to a networking event with my course and met people who would have previously intimidated me. I also went on some mad nights out that I definitely would have agreed to.

6. Go to a lecture alone

I only succeeded in this in my final year! If my friends weren't going to a lecture I would head to the computers to do work, but picking modules alone meant that if I didn't go to the lectures then I wouldn't be able to complete my work. This was a huge step and I'm so proud that I accomplished it. It may seem little to some, but anxiety doesn't half surprise you.

7. Expand my cooking skills

I wasn't one of those people who believes they can't even make toast or use a microwave, I used to cook for myself a fair bit at home. But I wanted to learn to cook from scratch. Not to use a jar for my pasta, not to heat up a pizza and to make a gorgeous curry using tons of spices and herbs. And I did it. I love cooking even more now and would happily spend hours in the kitchen.

8. Go out in fancy dress

I went out as Spiderwoman, a dead ragdoll, a school girl, a dead bo peep and then some in first year!

9. Go out in a different city

I went out in Leeds in first year with friends which was completely different to Newcastle. A club inside an old church, the SU actually having a really good club and obscure pre-drink games.

10. Start off a new life

This wasn't completely intentional. I wanted to know what I wanted to do with my life, create some certainty and develop as a person. I never intended to meet someone and want a future with them, but I did. That person is Andy from Andrewmarksmith.co.uk and he is fab! Needless to say, I have still never kissed a random person in a club, nor had a one night stand because it just never happened. I'm so thankful anyway!

11. Have an amazing night out

I've been out when it's snowing, where there are stage games, seen people like Fatman Scoop and Verne Troyer. There have been nights where I've sang until my heart is content, or nights where I've had a right laugh. There is the occasional "screw this, let's get a subway" kind of night but they're still good nonetheless.

12. Complete a dissertation

I did it! And I'm so glad I never have to do it again. It was more enjoyable that my other modules since you got a bit stuck in, but the amount of proofreading, rewording, restructuring... Not worth the stress it put on my body! 

13. Go to the SU

I have done - in first year. I don't think Northumbria's SU is anywhere near as good as other uni's like Leeds (where they have their own club inside!). I wish ours was bigger with more on than just the odd quiz or football match that I would never go to.

14. Get a job

Kind of true. I had a job at the end of my first year back home for a few months which was good but couldn't transfer back up to uni as it was too far away from where I was staying. I did also be one of those promotional flyer people outside a club for all of two nights before I decided that my 9am lectures were suffering and it wasn't worth being groped by drunk men for £12.50 a night.

15. Get out of my comfort zone

I did things I wouldn't have normally done, but not to extreme levels. I got the metro by myself (to a job interview, see I tried!) before I understood which route to take. Bare in mind I despise getting the bus into town at home, so this was a good step in the right direction. I even got a 4 hour train from Newcastle to Liverpool by myself which was something I really wasn't expecting to do (for some reason I didn't think during uni I would come home, including Christmas?!). I've met some lovely people by going up to them and starting a conversation, with pre-uni Laura seeming completely out of the picture.

16. Travel further outside of Newcastle

With Andy, I have been to Edinburgh for the day, been on day trips to Sunderland and Gateshead and even gone to conduct research for his dissertation in the Lake District for a week. Can definitely tick off this box!

17. Develop career skills

Not only did I learn to network due to being a law student, I feel I have learned more interpersonal skills and confidence. I don't feel nervous going into interviews anywhere near as much and I can sit down and solve a strangers problem at ease. I've given legal advice to other bloggers and to family. I've learned to think from different perspectives and not get wound up as I used to. I think my whole personality has developed and I'm a much more well rounded person.

18. Expand my love of writing

Here is the proof! I've been writing my blog for exactly half the time I spent in university. I've definitely expanded my skill set and I'm loving every minute.

19. Get to know myself a little better

Not like what you're thinking. I always used to doubt myself and be unsure of whether I was really being "me". I learned to not care as much what other people thought of me (including bullies) and really be who I want to be.

20. Figure out my future

Still need to decide what I want to do! The ultimate dream would be to work in fashion/beauty in magazines or online stores but this isn't achievable at the moment. For now, the job search is on and I'm hoping I'll get through the next round of graduate jobs to start working in a scheme in September 2016. Once I've returned to Liverpool properly after my holiday to Spain I'll be applying for retail jobs to pass the year by.

I ticked off all but one, typical!
Do you have a bucket list?

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What To Take To Uni

As I've not long finished my second year at uni, and I know how much I googled what I needed to pack to take to uni, what experiences to look out for and how to meet new people, I though it would be a good idea to make a checklist that personally helped me! This may be a bit of a long one, but it will be worth it! I am doing a Uni series at the moment, something a little different to my usual beauty and fashion posts, so keep your eyes peeled! If you're looking for a list of things you should experience during your time at uni, have a look at my Bucket List post.

For when you arrive:

Some people bring with them a gesture like cakes, drinks etc to welcome everybody into their new student accommodation. If your baking is good then definitely make something nice for people as it makes a good impression! You don't have to do this, but I did and it was a conversation starter to help ease myself into living with strangers.

Electricals:

• Laptop, with charger and bag.
• Extension leads must be safe, with surge protection.
• A printer if you think you will print a lot out - very handy. (+ ink)
• Digital camera for photos.
• A spare 'rubbish' phone. So many people lose their phones on nights out, have a spare!
• Chargers for any electrical devices.
• Speakers/docking station - plug in your ipod/phone during pre-drinks.
• HDMI/VGA cables for connecting laptops to monitors/tvs
• TV - check if you need a tv license though!
• Headphones.
• Games consoles with multiple controllers.

Clothes/Shoes:

Guys, you will come back to uni multiple times before the end of the year. You don't need to pack all of your summer items when you move up in September/October. Pack most of the things you will wear, but do leave things at home! 

• If you're moving to a potentially cold city, bring some winter warmers! 
• Ice proof shoes to walk to uni in, wellies won't cut it!
• Fancy dress items for Halloween and freshers parties.
• Clothes to go out in ("clubbing clothes").
• Thick socks for when it's freezing.
• Gym/sports clothes.
• Waterproof coat/Jacket.
• Dressing gown and slippers - a must for when the fire alarm goes off at 4am (horrible, I know).
• Smart clothes for possible job interviews etc.

For your bedroom:

• Buy a mattress protector, you will be sleeping where a previous student has before!
• Bring a double duvet even if you have a single bed to sleep in. It is worth it, trust me.
• Possibly bring two duvets - one thin and one thick.
• Pillows; pillowcases + spares (in case someone stays over)
• Bring printed photos for your walls, along with decorative items like bunting, fake flowers, etc.
• Posters and blu tac/white tac.
• Blankets for when it's cold.
• Cushions for your bed (decorative) and for your desk chair in case it isn't comfortable.
• Sheets for your bed x4/5. Drinks get spilled, as does makeup when you don't pay attention!
• Door wedge - so handy for getting ready for a night out or just not being completely anti-social.
• Hot water bottle for those chilly nights.
• Rubbish bin for those clothes tags you'll throw away from spending your loan.
• Small rug.
• Fairy lights to make everything look pretty!
• Febreeze - to keep everything fresh!

For Laundry:

• Hamper for clothes
• A bag to carry dirty clothes in to the washing machine and back.
• Clothes maiden for drying if you don't use a tumble dryer.
• Washing powder, softener, drying sheets.

For the kitchen:

You won't necessarily need all of these, depending on your student accommodation. Check your halls website page to see what is already there.

• Frying pans, saucepans, woks.
• Microwaveable bowls/plates, for all those noodles you'll be eating..
• Enough cutlery for you and a few others, in case you lose some or have friends over.
• Plates and bowls to eat out of, you won't be eating takeaways every day!
• Kitchen scissors, knives, wooden spoons, spatulas.
• Colanders and sieves for draining water or sieving flour.
• Plastic cups, mugs and throwaway cups (get 100 from the Pound stores for pre-drinks).
• Straws for pre drinks if you wish.
• Baking utensils, if you're into that sort of thing. I was baking multiple times a week at one point.
• Toaster, kettle, coffee maker, toastie maker.
• For roast dinners - masher, roasting trays, steamer.
• Cheese graters, measuring jugs, pizza cutters, peelers.
• Tuppawear boxes, cling film, foil, baking paper.
• Washing up liquid, tea towels, scourers, bin bags, oven gloves
• Bottle openers!
• Chopping boards.
• Shot glasses, wine glasses, pint glasses.
• Coffee, tea, sugar, hot chocolate etc.

For the bathroom:

I don't know if you will have a shared bathroom (I did) or have your own en suite. Regardless of this, you will most probably have to share a bathroom in 2nd and 3rd years!

• Towels, hand towels, face cloth, shower cap.
• Try and stock up on a few shower gels, shampoos, conditioners and even razors before you go!
• Hand soap - preferably in liquid form as bars can go a bit gross (in my opinion!).
• Face wash/personal hygiene essentials.
• Contraceptives - need I explain?
• Hairbrush, combs, clips etc.
• Hair styling products/electricals.
• Shaving essentials - nobody likes hairy legs!
• Make up remover - so important!
• Bath mats.

To take to Lectures/Seminars:

• A lot of A4 pads and biros for note taking
• Highlighters - I used so many, especially for revision.
• If you're bringing a laptop/tablet, bring a charger!
• Big ring binders to file your work in.
• A water bottle - most unis will have water fountains/dispensers and it means no buying Coke!
• Dictaphone - you must get permission from the tutor first though.
• Stapler and hole puncher - you can buy mini versions for on-the-go use.
• Pen drive/personal hard drive. I have 'saved' work and gotten home and it have disappeared.
• Tippex if you can't stand a messy page.
• Mini calendar/diary - don't rely on just remembering something important.

Important Extras:

• Passport, drivers licence, NHS card, NI card.
• Any uni conformation letters, contracts, event info.
• Discount cards - 16-25 Railcard, NUS card etc.
• CV and references if you wish to get a job.
• CRB check if required for your course.
• Holdall for weekends home or trips to see friends.
• Sewing kit - my leggings rip so easy!

It seems like a huge list but remember, you will be living in uni until you graduate! These are just the things I would personally take, but be cautious on how you're going to get everything to your halls! Good luck to all those on their way to uni! If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments below.

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Advice For Future Students & Graduates | ad

After graduating from uni last month I've been looking into continuing my uni series to help others, and as they say, a little bit of help can go a long way. There are a few things I wish I had been told about how to prepare for uni and how to prepare for my future, so here are my tips.

Visit your guidance tutor/mentor You usually get assigned a guidance tutor in your first week of uni and they're supposed to help you through university. I asked to meet my tutor over email and on both of our parts it just didn't happen. On the occasion where I emailed to ask for help he gave me an email address for someone else. This happened a lot during uni as you're expected to find answers out for yourself. If you're struggling with writing (not learning) then seeing your guidance tutor is probably the best thing to do.
Understanding things This links to the first point - going over things by yourself and with others can help a lot. Having a study group or a revision session with people can clear up questions you have in your head that may not be answered by your tutors. Your guidance tutor may point you in the right direction but the best advice would be to ask a friend, and if they don't know then you can work out the answer together.
Ask for help Aside from tutors and friends there are people on campus to help. There are older students who work with younger students who can give advice, there should be a counselling office where you can get help and a disability office too. If you need advice with money, extenuating circumstances with exams/coursework or you just need a bit of friendly advice - they are the best people to turn to. Once daytime ends and the offices close, if you find yourself in need then a lot of universities have a phone service where volunteers can answer your questions, however serious they may be. The 'real' world may not take things like mental health seriously but there is a high chance your uni will, so don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.
Fix your CV I can't stress how important it is to have your CV up to date with your education, skills and hobbies, especially when it comes to your final year. The graduate schemes go online for application from September onwards and you may only have a few weeks to apply. This an be tricky when you're balancing assignments and Winter exams. If you keep it up to date every few months then you're less likely to miss those job application deadlines, in turn keeping you a little more relaxed. There should be a careers adviser on campus so see them if you're struggling.
Look for a job early Again, this goes with the above point. I've graduated with no career to go into and now have to wait until Autumn to apply for graduate jobs for the following year, whilst trying to find work to tide me over until then. Don't wait until you find your results out to apply for jobs. The earlier you apply, the stress is off your back for a while and it makes a good impression to future employers if you get your application in quick. I know a lot of graduates that struggle to find jobs because there are simply not enough, but if you get stuck in my situation then don't give up hope. You'll find your feet.
Here's an example of how you can get help in uni:

*This is a sponsored post

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I'm A Graduate!

You may have noticed I've been a little absent on my blog and social media the past week. It's been a busy week to say the least, because I graduated! I'm glad to be back blogging but I thought I'd fill you in on my week.

On Wednesday my family came around for dinner in mine and Andy's flat before going to their hotel (my nan stayed over with us) and we were tired from making sure the flat and ourselves were presentable. On Thursday I was up at 6am to start my hair and makeup. I originally planned on wearing my Hair Trade Extensions but it would have been too much messing around and went for straight hair. It was a small hassle to say the least when you have no idea where to collect your robes from, where you have to get your photo taken and which entrance you have to go through to graduate. My little sister has broken her leg too so we had to make sure my family had disabled access as she is in a wheelchair. Eventually, I graduated - I'm officially Laura Hadley LLB (Hons)!

After a quiet celebration with my family and Andy, we had to have an early night because it was his graduation on Friday. Luckily we weren't up as early as he had an afternoon graduation and we now knew exactly where to go to find his robes etc. At about 2:15 Andy graduated and is now Andrew Mark Smith BSc (Hons)! I'm so proud of both of us for getting our way through uni whilst dealing with some personal things at the same time.

Now for the next chapter of our lives. For now, we're both moving in with my family in Liverpool and will begin the job hunt from there. Andy knows what he wants from a career and will be utilizing his degree whereas I want nothing to do with Law as far as a job is concerned. Once we have saved enough we will be renting a house together and after that, another chapter will begin! We aren't those typical advertisements of graduates who can jump straight into a job and apartment straight from the university because these days that is a difficult job. We know that we both would love to work in the North West with dreams to tour America one day. We know exactly what we want from life and have done since the day we became a couple. Whilst we're open to suggestions it's safe to say we have it sussed. The summer will be spent enjoying a break from exams and dissertations and with a supportive family, we can slowly ease ourselves into graduate employment without the stress that really isn't needed.

I'm looking forward to the next chapter. It feels like I've been Andy's girlfriend for eternity and as soppy as it sounds, I'm loving every minute. It's not often these days you can genuinely not fault your other half. I didn't come to uni to find a boyfriend. I originally came to uni to train to be a solicitor and gain a Masters in Law. I dropped a year off so I gained the traditional Bachelors of Laws and I no longer want to go into that field. The best thing I gained from uni was my boyfriend and I'm thoroughly looking forward for us to continue our lives together.

Good luck to anyone graduating or receiving results this summer!

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8 Things I've Learned Through Blogging

Organisation

Yes, sometimes I can sit watching tv and write out a little post like this, which doesn't require taking photos or in depth planning. Other posts take days worth of photography, planning what to write and researching the product in depth. Planning around uni is key to me blogging. I tend to write posts on the weekends when I take some time off from my studies, and making sure I have a few posts up a week is ideal. Nobody is perfect, but my organisational skills have developed!

Things change

I started my blog with full intentions to be doing OOTD's at least once a week, with some beauty posts since I didn't own much makeup. A year on, I have tons of makeup and a select few styling posts. I would love to have more fashion posts on my blog, but I am body conscious and currently in the process of losing weight slowly, since I have a joint condition. I cannot exercise vigorously to accelerate the process of getting to a healthy weight, which annoys me but I have to accept it. Life moves quicker than you would think, and I imagine upon graduation I will develop the fashion and lifestyle element of my blog. 

Honesty is key

After reading some review posts, or lack of disclosure on posts, you can sometimes tell a person isn't completely honest about reviews. When you see an eye shadow swatch, and the person claims how pigmented the product is when with my own eyes cannot see the same, I question the integrity. Not to say I've ever been dishonest, as I do pride myself in being clear with readers. But I used to be more reserved to please people, when it actually works against you. PR companies don't mind honest opinions of products they have sent you, if it is not a ridiculous post on how negative a product is, and not libelous. 

Having space

I've bought products before and felt the need to write about them as soon as I get home. Other times, I like something and hold off from blogging for a little while. Whilst most bloggers who give themselves a schedule, they allow some days to not blog at all. I do not have a tight schedule, as I personally cannot push myself to stick to it during my final year of uni. Writing my dissertation is taking up a fair amount of time! Whilst I would love to post every day,  I could not provide honest or interesting posts if stuck to that schedule. I do plan posts out ahead, but I give myself breathing time in order to produce posts that I will appreciate in the future.

Not everything is a competition

There is an air of competitiveness within the blogging community, as naturally everyone is writing about similar things within that niche. You can sometimes see a group of bloggers writing about the same products at the same time, as they have been sent them through PR agencies. I don't tend to read other bloggers reviews of these, as I use my honest opinion, and I imagine those do not read my posts on them either. Achievements also have competition. Everyone starts from 'the bottom' when they first begin blogging, but it's not all about being a famous blogger or youtuber. You don't need 'status'. I am content with every milestone and follower, but it's not why I write this blog. This is my creative outlet whilst doing a purely academic based degree.

Writing skills and development

In school, they teach you a lot about persuasive writing. In uni, they've taught me black letter law; being to the point and clear. Those are two completely sets of writing style, polar opposite. I am sometimes in doubt of myself when writing blog posts. Part of me is trying to train my mind to practice a black letter approach to help my degree grade, but my standard blogging approach is different. In life you learn that not everything you write will be in the same style, and blogging helps you gain a mix of different approaches, and developing your own style.

You can't please everyone

My blog is based primarily around beauty, with occasional lifestyle and fashion posts. I'd love to have more style and travel posts, but to me those cost money I don't have as a student, and would never expect those opportunities to be handed to be on a silver plate. I know some people would like if I focused entirely on beauty, and some love my previous travel posts but I cannot conform to everyone's needs.

It's my blog, not a free advertisement website

I love reading press releases about new products, and if they interest me it does persuade me to purchase some items. However, when emailed in a rude tone and being told I should publish a press release for free, that is not what I stand for. Being told they will retweet the post will gain me tons of viewers is not an incentive, nor is it worth the time taken out of uni studies. I am not guaranteed coverage, nor my readers would want to read something not written by me. I do write reviews of products that I love, but do not accept items that I don't personally feel relate to my blog. Your blog is what you make of it.

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Why I'm Not Pursuing A Career In Law

Aged 17 I wandered into a mock Crown Court trial for the first time not knowing what to expect. Aged 21 I came out of university with a law degree. I had worked hard for 5 years to gain the qualifications I needed. All seems pretty on track right? There's a few things I've wanted to get off of my chest from reasons why it isn't for me, to answering people's questions about what I'm planning to do with my future.

Why did I fall out of love with law?

It happened in the second semester of my degree. I'd already received pretty average results in my first year with some 2:1s and 2:2s. I had just completed an oral exam and received a good 2:1. So why was I not happy? I was not happy with how the course was going. I had to do a mock client interview and I had never been so nervous. I completed it and it went well in my opinion, only to receive some negative points (and feedback that wasn't even allowed i.e. gave my partner a 0 when the scale was 1-5) and it all felt ridiculous. I loved certain modules but there were more I disliked overall.  The rest of the second year felt like a chore and I had to decide what route to take for the remainder of the course. Did I choose the traditional bachelors (LLB) route? Or did I do what I intended to do and continue the masters course (MLaw) with the qualification to be a solicitor (LPC)? Or, do something I never had thought of and train on the bar course to be a barrister? To be a solicitor or barrister you had to complete four years and complete the masters on the course too. Did I want to do that? Nope.

How did the course influence your decisions?

Of course I picked to do the LLB route which meant saying a little goodbye to some of my friends I had made since I wouldn't be seeing them in lectures or seminars anymore. I became close to a fair few people in my second year and whilst I wanted to still see them in uni, it wasn't possible. Before my third year of uni I had never been to a lecture alone and the prospect terrified me. On the first day of my third year I sat down alone not knowing what to think. I did have some relief knowing that I didn't have to sit down with actual real clients for pro bono work or stand up in the mock court we had on the third floor and moot. I was happy that I had 9 months of studying left before I could say goodbye to it. Having to apply for graduate jobs was confusing since I decided to not make any use of my degree and follow what in my heart, I thought was right. I had been blogging since the turning point in my degree the year before and as the year continued I knew blogging and pr/marketing was something I had wanted to pursue a career in.

What's happening now?

I graduated uni and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. I stayed up in Newcastle for a few months seeing friends and then went on holiday in the August. My boyfriend and I moved into my family home in Liverpool which was odd at first but now seems completely natural. I had a temporary job at Boots which I loved and now I'm on the hunt for that perfect job in the media. I volunteer as a social media assistant for a business owned by two of my aunties and I also work right here on this little blog. People have asked me why I'm not just in a random job to get some money saved up but they don't seem to realise that blogging is actually my part time job. I'm working hard on it right now with some exciting collaborations and if the opportunity arose to go full time with it then I would. The thing that bugs me the most is when people ask but there's so much money to earn if you're a solicitor, why don't you just do it for the money? The answer to that is simply because money is not worth my happiness. And I stand by that. I would much rather be in my family home with Andy and work super hard on my blog and be happy. Yes money comes in handy for holidays and new clothes but it really isn't worth being in a job I hate just to have things that I'll barely even get a chance to wear.
All in all, please never ask me why I'm not pursuing a career in law. I don't sit on a pile of money which can allow me to blog whilst I'm in my pjs but that doesn't mean I don't take blogging seriously. When people say "but can you be my solicitor in the future in case I need you?" - NO. I'm not qualified and I personally don't think having a legal representative who is quite close to you is wise anyway. Who knows where my little life will take me. I don't feel like I've 'wasted' my degree as it has taught me some valuable life skills, such as what to do when I buy a faulty product, what to check when I'm buying my first house and what to include in my will in the future. It is a little bit of a ranty post I'll admit, but it is annoying.

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Taxi Tales & Survey*

It seems mad how it was nearly a year ago that I was moving out of my uni flat and I can't believe how time has flown. Uni feels almost like I blinked and then it was gone, although I've got some good memories from being there. While thinking back I remembered about the time when we booked a taxi to get to the train station from our flat. Whenever you get into a taxi, I always wonder whether they are a talkative driver, or that you don't hear a word until it's time to tell you how much your journey has cost you. I wouldn't say I'm always going to start a conversation with the driver, but if they are easy going and started chatting away, it makes the journey so much more relaxed and less awkward. 
Luckily, when we got in, the guy was so friendly and we got talking about this and that. When I asked him how his day had been and if he'd been busy, he started to explain that he was working long days as him and his girlfriend had been arguing. At first I was a little unsure where he was going with this, although soon enough it turned into a nice chat about how he could try and make things better and before you knew it I was helping out this random taxi driver and before I knew it we were at the station. Even though it was only a relatively short journey, it made me feel so much more relaxed and gave me a good start to the day, all from having a friendly chat with the driver.
Fast forward 6 months and we booked a taxi to pick us up from town. As I got in, I looked at the driver and recognised him. At the same point he came out with "have I taken you before" and the penny dropped about the last time we had seen him. We started chatting again and almost picked up from where we had left off last time. He was keen to tell us that things were much better with his girlfriend and he was starting to save up for a ring. He mentioned that as well as other money he was putting away, that every £2 coin he got from fares, he would put the ring. When we were getting to the end of the journey, I dug into my purse and randomly saw I had a few £2 coins, I felt happy that I would be able to help him save up. It felt a little weird that I wouldn't ever find out what happened when he managed to buy the ring.
A few months down the line I called a taxi after a hectic day at uni. It was the awkward moment when I felt like asking him as soon as I got in the car whether he had asked her yet. We had barely started moving and he was so excited to tell me he had bought a ring, asked her and she'd said yes. It almost felt like I was a proud parent, even though he was much older than me. 
It may seem like I've been going on about randomly getting the same taxi driver and you might think it was just a coincidence. The point of my little story is that when you get a taxi, having a friendly driver who doesn't mind having a chat will make your journey so much better, and I do feel much more inclined to give a tip to give them a little extra and I often feel happier for what I've paid if they have actually made an effort to talk to you. Even the little gestures can make a big difference. I was reading a few things online about similar situations that people have been in, and I was also quite surprised at some of the results in this Taxi Survey. Being up in the north it looks like we get cheaper fares which is something i'm not going to complain about! I'm always more likely to get into the back seat of a taxi as it just feels a bit safer, although my boyfriend doesn't mind going in the front, which is reflected in the survey. When getting a taxi, I have always been more likely to call a private hire as it just seems more trustworthy and I've been overcharged in a few Hackney cabs before. Since Uber has started in Liverpool, I have started using them sometimes too, but these are similar to the private hire ones. Anyway that's enough of me rambling about my random taxi journeys, let me know in the comments if you've had any weird or funny taxi journeys before.


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10 Tips for Travelling Home for Christmas

Hey Guys, I'm travelling from Newcastle where I stay during Uni, to Liverpool (my home town). If you're getting a train, I follow my little checklist to make sure I'm travelling stress-free, especially during the festive season. Follow these tips and you can too!

1. Pack your bags well When travelling home for Christmas, everyone will be rushing and throwing as many things into a bag as possible. Pack wisely with only the things you need, it won't be as heavy to carry!
2. Choose your bags wisely So many people will take a large suitcase with them and try to cram them all into the luggage compartment on the train. Why not choose 2 small holdalls instead of one large one. You can fit them into the overhead storage without taking too much space.
3. Book tickets in advance There's nothing worse than getting to the train station on time and seeing a huge queue for the ticket machines. If you book your ticket in advance, you can get tickets posted home, print them out yourself or pick them up from a machine a few hours after you've bought them. If you happen to be near your train station days before your trip, you can pick them up then, meaning less of a rush on the day.
4. Get cheaper tickets If you book in advance online, you can see the prices of the tickets. This means you can pick the cheapest tickets available to your suitability. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy 2 singles than a return, so buying in advance is a huge life saver. Don't forget, if you have a railcard you can use it to book tickets online, saving about 1/3 of the price too.
5. Get a reservation Booking as early as possible (usually about 12 weeks in advance) means you can get first picks of the seats. You can choose a normal seat or table seat, and aisle or window seat. I personally always go for a table seat at the window as I do uni work whilst I travel. Having your own reservation means that no matter what, that specific seat is yours for the journey. It means less rush during busy Christmas travelling times as you don't have to scramble to find a free seat, and you don't sit in someone else's reserved seat. I can't got on a train journey without a reservation!
6. Arrive 15-20 minutes early You're at the station and need to find your platform with 2 minutes until the train leaves. You have to go through the ticket barrier and then onto the platform, which could be a few minutes away. There are loads of people looking to find their train. Then you miss it. Arriving about 20 minutes before my train means that I can grab any drinks/snacks before I leave, and I'm ready to board the train as soon as the doors are open. Christmas time is usually incredibly busy, so allowing yourself as much time as possible to get to your platform is a ticket to stress-free travel.
7. Don't forget to pack your presents You can't arrive home without the presents you've carefully wrapped and added a sparkly bow to can you? If you have a lot, try to make sure any fragile gifts are in between your warm jumper in your bag to keep them protected. If you plan on taking gift bags home, flat pack them in your luggage and re-pack them into their gift bags at home. You don't want them to be creased on Christmas Day.
8. Grab a hot drink and some food In most train stations there are usually a variety of little shops like Costa, Starbucks, Pumpkin etc that you can buy a hot drink and some food from. Some trains don't have food trolleys to buy things from, as they don't always have a huge selection. You can get your festive food and hot chocolates from stores in the station and carry them onto the train with you. Just remember to put the rubbish in the bins located on the trains or in the station when you're done.
9. Add Christmas songs to your phone/iPod The train is loud and you want a peaceful journey back home, ready to see your family and friends. Why not make a playlist filled with your favourite Christmas songs to listen to on the way back. Just don't forget your headphones!
10. Get the National Rail App No matter where you're travelling, you can track your train journey with this handy app. If there is a delay, you can see even when you're mid way through your journey, how long the delay may be. This is handy if someone is picking you up from the end point station as you can update them with what time to arrive there to greet you. It also sometimes tells you which platform you will get off at, so if you know the train station well, you'll know how long it will take you to get from the platform to the exit. Particularly handy in Liverpool Lime Street Station as there are 3 different sets of platforms (Wirral line, Plat 1-6 enclosed and Plat 7-9 near some shops and the exit).    I hope you enjoy these tips! I'll be travelling via First Transpennine Express* this Christmas, where you can find cheaper tickets online. On the home page, you can find their 'best fares' and their student offers which are quite handy. Their destinations include Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Sheffield, York and many more. This means that you can visit the Manchester Christmas Market with a cheap ticket too!

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2020 Is Approaching Us, So What Have I Achieved In The Last Decade?

At the beginning of 2010 I was 16 and about to finish the last 6 months of GCSE exams. I'd already moved to my Dad's house, had my appendix out, started a relationship with a boy I liked and mourned several people from my family in just a few close years. When I opened my exam results I was nervous, but I achieved a double A* in ICT, A's in Science, Religious Studies and Child Development, B's in English Literature, English Language and History, and C's is Spanish and Maths. At this point, I'd already decided that for my A-Levels I would choose History, Sociology and Psychology with an AS Level in English Literature. Throughout the next two years of studying those topics my baby sister Sofia was born and she is honestly the light of my life, my little best mate and she is a joy to be around. She's just turned 8 and it just shows how fast the years have gone by. I started going out drinking and had an amazing time with friends. I applied to study Law at Northumbria University and was accepted when I achieved an A in Sociology, a B in History and Psychology and a C in General Studies in my A-Levels.

I moved up to Newcastle and still managed to communicate with my little sister despite being 3 hours away from her. I met my flatmates and for the next year, they were all great friends. The closest person I became friends with was Andy, and we used to sit and watch TV together every time we couldn't be bothered to go on a night out. By two months in I knew he was someone I highly valued and was an all-round lovely person. Not long after the next semester started I ended things with boyfriend and a few months later ended up dating Andy. In our third year of uni, we got our own flat together and it tested our relationship, especially while both doing dissertations and end of year exams but it showed our strengths far more than weaknesses. We both graduated in July of 2015 and moved to my Dad's the next month.

During my uni experience, I began to develop pains in my body and couldn't decide whether it was in muscles or bones. I don't know why it had to be just one of the two but it turned out it was both plus nerve pain. After a lot of pushing to see a rheumatologist I finally was able to go and a doctor said I had Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome. This was an out of date term for Joint Hypermobility Syndrome but regardless I wasn't listened to properly and ended up back in the same hospital for another opinion eight months later. This doctor formally diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia and only verbally diagnosed me with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. I only found out it wasn't on my medical notes when I had a letter through the post that didn't mention it at all which only enraged me. It took until April 2018 for me to have it confirmed by a doctor and added to my medical notes. It took 4 years, which isn't even 'that' long in regards to being diagnosed with this condition. All in all, I've now been experiencing pain (I did have pain with EDS before but it was nowhere near as extreme) for over 6 years now. 

An achievement that really should be highlighted is starting this blog. It began in February 2014 so we're coming up to the 6 year anniversary in a few months. I've worked with many amazing brands and PRs and although sometimes it's hard to keep up when you're in pain, I'm so thankful I can post when I can and some brands are understanding of this. I've managed to review hotels and restaurants, share my experiences of living in Liverpool and Newcastle, share holidays with people and review a lot of makeup and skincare. I'm really grateful for the opportunities I get.

Since graduating, we went to Los Angeles together as I won a competition to go which gave us a range of emotions and experiences and we'd definitely go back again. We saved up for years and finally last year we were able to buy our first home. Aside from leaving the kitchen cupboards in their place and painting them, we fitted new worktops, tiled the walls, plumbed in a new sink, changed the flooring and the result went from a dark scratched up kitchen to a bright white and grey one. We also fitted laminate flooring in four rooms of the house, dug up a fair bit of the garden, daringly painted our living room navy blue and so much more. That was a whirlwind of four months of renovation and it was so worth it. We made the decision to not have a TV in our bedroom too, to allow us to have a better nights sleep and that was another great decision for us both. Instead of having a dining room we have a creative space and beauty area room that stopped us cluttering up other rooms. Our house is our safe space and right now I don't even want to think about moving at some point.

I suppose the last big achievement for me was deciding to get married. In December 2017 Andy popped the question on a trip to Newcastle to visit for the first time since leaving. It was absolutely freezing! A year later we booked our wedding in, so in the first half of 2020, we will be getting married. Obviously, we have had to split the money between the house and the wedding, with the house being a priority, but 2020 felt about the right time for us. Not everything is sorted yet but we are most of the way there and glad we've made the majority of the decisions by ourselves. I will share a lot of the process and things like the invitation and the dress post-wedding and I'm looking forward to that too.

For things I'd like to achieve in the next decade, there's only a few things I'm certain will happen. The first will be to get our own dog. Our family dog Charlie lives with my Dad and has just turned 12 but I do miss having a dog in the house. I do think we will eventually move house in the next decade, partially for another project to work on as we love renovating, but also for a bit more space. I have my fingers crossed that I'll continue to work from home on blog things and move properly into freelance work too. We are hoping to have our honeymoon in Disneyworld in Florida but it really depends on money. We are thinking about having a 'minimoon' not long after the wedding so that if we don't get to have our dream honeymoon then at least we can have a little holiday to have a break. Aside from that, I'm not really sure what will happen. 

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Blogging Achievements Of 2015

Okay so it's pretty obvious that I failed at Blogmas because I hadn't posted until today since the 19th December. Work got in the way and I fell ill right over Christmas meaning from the 22nd until the 27th I couldn't bare even looking at a laptop. Christmas Day wasn't the best as I just wanted to sleep but now I'm refreshed and well again and felt like reflecting on the past year. It's been an up and down year, having entered 2015 in my final year of uni with many ups and downs there, finishing uni with having nothing but blogging to do, moving back to Liverpool then getting a job in Boots for over the festive period. Nonetheless, I think I achieved a lot in the year with my blog and I'm so proud of what it's become.

Viewers

Recently I hit 100,000 page views which doesn't seem a huge lot in comparison with the most successful bloggers, but I'm proud that it took me 22 months to hit 100k. I think I entered 2015 with about 30,000 views so I've not done too bad. Using Google Analytics has really helped me discover what times of the day I get the most hits, where my referrals are coming from and really how to use the stats to my advantage. I was surprised by the numbers (especially when looking at Bloggers stats, which were only about 1/3 more than what GA was saying) and whilst views aren't everything, they mean a lot.

Photos

I've already spoke about this on my How I Edit My Blog Photos post, and more recently on my New Camera post because my photos have improved so much it's unreal. I posted over on Twitter when comparing photos from the beginning and the end of the year. I think I realised that light was key and learning to edit on Photoshop has helped with that when natural light just wasn't possible. Using my blog photos and putting them on Instagram boosted my followers there, along with the same on Pinterest too.

Followers

I don't even like calling people who follow my blog and social media followers because they do just feel like blogging friends. I also don't want to be a cringe and started referring to you all as friends because I just can't even deal with that. Anyway, overall I hit 12,000 and it felt like such an achievement. I can tell that my heart is a lot more into my social media than previous years and I think this reflects it. I'm so happy that I know more bloggers now and love chatting to people at whatever time of day.

Enjoying Blogging More

This is the most important thing to me. Whilst I started blogging as a hobby, and now it contributes towards paying the bills, it is still my hobby no matter what. I put so many hours into it, have paid (happily) for blog designs and taken a step forward into developing skills to potentially, one day, turn it into a career. Over the past year I've learned so much from blogging and think about it all the time. Building up relationships with brands and discovering new products has changed my perspective about a lot of things and is making me such a better person. Blogging has helped me increase my confidence and the support of other bloggers has encouraged me to do things I would never do off my own back. I'll only stop blogging when it's no longer in my heart, which I can't ever see happening.

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Why We Should Stop Judging a Book by Its Cover

If you didn't know already, I'm a scouser born and bred, and I'm proud. I was born in Oxford Street Hospital (before it was knocked down and the Women's was created) on Tuesday 19th October 1993 in the early hours. I've lived in different areas of South Liverpool my entire my life before moving up to Newcastle for uni. I've always been proud of where I come from but my feelings started to change when I moved away. Why? Everyone who moved into my student accommodation were from different areas of the UK and elsewhere. Luckily, the lad in the room next to me in my flat was also from Liverpool so I didn't feel singled out. I started to notice "I had an accent" when speaking to others and they would either look at me like I was an alien or I was speaking a complete different language. Let me start off here: I don't have a strong accent. Place me in town and you will notice that I don't have a thick accent, nor do I pronounce words exactly the same way. My Nan and Dad don't have a strong accent, and although mine is slightly stronger, I still don't sound really scouse. So why where people looking at me like I don't speak English?  

  

My sister Sofia and I, and my boyfriend Andy who is from Derbyshire.

I'm not just talking about 18 year olds moving to uni, I'm talking about adults. I once had a job offer over the phone, and when they hearing me say 'Hello, yes this is Laura" they said "I can tell you're from Liverpool" and proceeded to assume I wouldn't be able to take the job over the summer. I couldn't accept as I didn't have a place to stay since our tenancy began in the September last year. But why did the person feel the need to announce where I was from? They could have simply said "This job is for the summer, would that be okay?" Ignorance is bliss they say. No it isn't. Why should I be judged based on where I was born. I didn't have a choice where I was born. My parents are both from Liverpool, as are all of my close family. That doesn't mean I should be discriminated against. People shouldn't make comments based on ludicrous 70's style Harry Enfield jokes, telling me to "calm down" when I don't believe I have ever told people to calm down in that tone of voice. Why do people make sarcastic jokes to be 'careful' in case I steal something, because stereotypically 'all scousers are thieves'? I can feel myself getting wound up as I write this because I would never judge anyone based on their age, gender, race or colour so why am I judged because I'm a scouser?!

My best friend Robyn aka Twinny & I, primary school and now. Do we look scouse? It's not funny. It's not mature. It's essentially bullying if it is repeated and if you've seen some of my older posts, you'll know how much bullying has affected me and how much I detest bullies. I get assumptions based on me too, like am I going to wear rollers during the day before my night out, have I got 'Scouse Brows' and what colour tan am I going to wear. I own rollers, but I've never used them because they make my hair static. I have eyebrows funnily enough and technically they are scouse. I've seen photos of girls all over the world filling in their eyebrows with what looks like a sharpie, don't assume that is a scouse thing. I wear fake tan the odd time a year, but don't like it because I actually like being pale. Assumptions rebutted. I love wearing natural looking false eyelashes, and have reviewed thicker lashes before because trying new products is fun.
I've always thought that I'd like to start YouTube, but when speaking to my lovely friend Jemma who is also from Merseyside, it made me realise that this discrimination will only continue on the internet, with bigger, meaner trolls. She said about a week ago "I hate that I have that tagging along me every time I open my mouth" because she feels that people will assume she sounds chavvy based on where she comes from. She feels like some Southern English people she knows, see her as 'rough' which is exactly how I feel when I talk to people who aren't from Merseyside. Now do you see a pattern here, another person feeling judged by others and made to feel like she shouldn't be proud of her roots. Who has the right to judge us? Nobody does.
Sorry for the long post! I've been holding this in for about two years and decided it is my time to speak out. No matter where you come from, I won't judge your accent just because it isn't the same as mine, so I don't expect to be judged in the same way.

Have any of you experienced this?

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A Guide To Northumbria University: Clearing

Although I've not been a student now for two years, I wanted to write about my experience at Northumbria University, given that it's only two months away until the Autumn semester begins. This week it's results day, and aside from those who have already chosen Northumbria as their firm or insurance choice, there is also Clearing at Northumbria University. They have a limited number of spaces for high quality students so it's well worth checking out before getting your results if you're thinking of studying there.

Northumbria University is based in Newcastle Upon Tyne in the city centre. I studied Law LLB and in my first year lived in Glenamara House with 6 other students and had an amazing time. I chose my course based upon wanting to be a solicitor (which is no longer the case) but it's taught me so many skills and it's a great course to have on your CV. Had I not had chosen Law, Marketing would have been my next choice. For accommodation, I chose to live in flats with two shared bathrooms (or a non-suite as I call it) which worked well for me and my flatmates. It was a five minute walk to lectures and a further five minutes to Primark which is basically where I spent the rest of my time. I've created plenty of posts about my time in Uni, especially since I began this blog halfway through my second year, which are linked below.

Clearing Hotline: 0800 085 1085

If you like the look of Northumbria University, here is a bit of information below about the Clearing Process. 

The Process
You're eligible to go through UCAS Clearing if you're not holding any offers (firm or insurance) from your initial UCAS applications, you applied after 30th June, you do not have a confirmed place from your firm or insurance course, you've declined all of your choices or you have been declined by default, you have not withdrawn your application and have paid the full application fee of £23. If you have made a single choice application, you can pay £11 to apply to other universities through Clearing. If you're eligible for UCAS Clearing then UCAS will give you a Clearing Number which you can access by logging into your UCAS Track account.

Things you need to know before ringing up:
You have to call yourself, it cannot be someone ringing on your behalf
You have your UCAS personal ID number and your clearing number handy
You know the title and UCAS code of the course you're interested in studying 
Have all the details of your qualifications which include GCSEs
Be prepared to talk to the admissions tutor and answer questions about why you want to choose this course
Have pen and paper or a laptop to take notes
Think of questions you may want to ask

If you're offered a place through Clearing you'll be notified by email, and your place is only open for 48 hours.

Accommodation
The university has over 5,000 bedrooms in their residences and are working with referral partners to ensure that they can guarantee accommodation to every student that goes through clearing. Once you accept your offer you will receive log in details to the portal where there is an accommodation widget where you can reserve a room based on your preferences. You will receive your accommodation offer within the next few days.

Posts To See
What to pack/take to uni
What it's like to live in Newcastle
Places to visit in Newcastle for students
Graduating from Northumbria University

Good luck to everyone receiving their results this week, and I hope to see you joining NU!

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