10 things university students need to know...

If you're going to University for the first time this year, here's 10 things you really need to know...

1. People will use your stuff. No matter how hard you carve your name in capitals into your plastic sieve, you will see it in the washing up pile every day whether you used it or not. 

2. You should probably invest in Netflix. Ok, so I never actually invested in my own account, I just covertly used a friends... but still.

3. Don't live off freezer food. Although its quick and easy and cheap, your body will hate you for it.

4. Ear plugs could well be your best friend. On that one night when you've got an exam 9am the next morning, but your flatmate has decided its a perfect night for the flat party of the year. Yep. 

5. Books are pricey. You need to decide quickly whether you're gonna spend that £200 on books, or spend the year renewing them from the library. 

6. Contact-less cards should NOT be with you when under the influence of alcohol. "Yeah I'll have a drink, take my card, its contact-less" in drunk terms means "yes, buy yourself and everyone a round of tequila shots, i'll live off beans this week". I'm pretty sure my entire overdraft went on me being a very generous drunk. 

7. Don't wear nice shoes on nights out. Permanent beer tide lines on your favorite shoes? Nice.

8.  Buy a squeegee to de-steam your mirror and clean your shower. Yes, weird! but when you've got 20 minutes to have a shower and get ready for a lecture, ain't nobody got time to wait for your mirror to de-steam. 

9. Join a society. You can't watch Netflix 24/7 so you need a hobby- a society gets you out of the flat, gives you a chance to make new friends and maybe even learn a sport or craft. This is the one thing on this list I didn't do and I massively regret it. Although I can now recite every word from every episode of FRIENDS. 

10. The homesick struggle is real. Whether you'll notice it or not, you'll probably be missing home once all the fun has died down. Surround yourself with homely things and lovely people. 

Ok so these 10 things summed up my first year in Uni.

Enjoy it!

Chloe x

Mini Ikea Haul...

The best part about moving house is the obligatory trip to IKEA for essentials. I've already spoken about moving house in a previous post, to see what my new things look like in my new room, see here.

I live with 4 girls so there's pretty scented candles scattered everywhere, and although I will never light them, I  wanted some for my room. These came in a pair, are unscented, and sit pretty on my window sill.

I also picked up some little pots, one is holding my bobbles, bobby pins and jewelry, and the other is holding my make up brushes and other make up bits. These are the perfect size for my little uni room, and stop me finding bobby pins in every corner of my life.

Girl probs!

Chloe x

A Skin Care Routine for Dull Skin...

I'm blessed with not having many problems with acne, and cursed with dry skin yet an oily T-Zone! if you are the same then you'll understand when I say its so hard to find both skin care products and make up to sit well on my skin. Before I came across Cliniques 3 step skincare, all the products I'd used before either broke me out or enhanced my combination skin. 

I had a skin care consultation along with my chummy Danielle, where we both did a quiz on our skin and were then matched with products suited to us. I was matched with the standard 3 step routine as I wanted something to keep my face super fresh and clean, keep the odd spots at bay and even out my skin.

The first step, liquid facial soap. This paired up with an exfoliating glove (gently!) gets rid of all the impurities and leaves my face so clean, without drying my skin out or leaving my face tight. The second step is my favorite, clarifying lotion. Its an exfoliating lotion which, when applied using a cotton pad, gets rid of even more grossness and feels so tingly on the skin. And finally, the moisturizing lotion puts back all the moisture into my skin. Although I find this moisture a tad bit greasy on my t-zone, its still one of the best I've tried.

So if you have dull and lifeless skin, give this a go! An investment in a skincare routine is essential! 

Does anyone have any cheaper alternatives that still do a good job? I'm a poor student and these products won't last for ever!

Chloe x

The Summer of a Lifetime...

Spontaneous is not a word anyone would use to describe me, so when I booked a one-way ticket to Cyprus 2 weeks before I was scheduled to fly, everyone around me was pretty shocked. But hey, im 19, skint and jumped at the chance of a summer of work, sunshine and spending time with my Dad who lives there. One shift into my amazing, life changing job and I was told they no longer needed extra staff. I'm in Cyprus with no job, no money and no idea how I was going to get home so what do I do? Convince my best friend to get a flight over and be my partner in crime for a few weeks!

First job, buy snorkels of course! We are both keen swimmers and went on the hunt for the perfect snorkelling spot, which we found on the beautiful coast of Ayia Napa. We went on a day trip to Turkey, went to the Ayia Napa Waterpark, drove up to the highest point of Cyprus to see the whole of the island below us, and of course went on a couple of nights out in Ayia Napa.

The moral of the blog? Whether things go to plan or not, make the most of what you have and enjoy every minute! I got to spend 6 weeks in sunny Cyprus with my Dad and my best friend, what more could I want? Best summer ever! 

Chloe, x

Moving House...

I've recently moved back to sunny Ormskirk after a summer at home and abroad with my family. I don't start university until the end of September but I couldn't wait to move in to the house and make it feel homely, spend some time with my lovely housemates before things get serious, and go on a mass hunt for a job! Its been a week of laughter, exploring, and piles of job applications!

This is my favorite part of my bedroom. My desk was already here, but adding a little mirror, all my make up and nik-naks, a (fake) plant and some sweet purple candles has made it personal. No doubt I'll have to move my make-up for a stack of textbooks in a few weeks but for now its a degree-free zone!

   

I also adore these two cushions I brought with me. I am a professional procrastinator when it comes to sleep, but having a cozy looking bed makes it slightly easier to give in and go to sleep. The one to the right is from card factory, and the left from George Asda; this one was a 'going away present' from my Mum who always tells me I'll grow into my dreams one day.

Very settled and very happy!

Chloe x

My First Blog Post...

So I've been wondering whether to get a blog for weeks but finally decided to take the plunge! I'm hoping this blog can be an outlet for me, my thoughts and everything I care about in my life. I'm not sure yet how many posts I'll do or if they'll even be any good but if anyone has the time or wants to read, this is the blog of a normal 19 year old student who's trying to find her place in the world.

Chloe x