Uni project - Inkling

So, I rarely post things on here during term time because I have so much to do and now have even more to do because it's scary third year time. 

For one of my uni group projects we have made a website/blog about books so a lot of my writing is going on there at the moment, rather than on here. 

If you want to check it out click here, it's called Inkling.

We do podcasts too where we talk about books and anything else that comes up in conversation, we also write reviews and other things about books.

Anyway.. back to uni work I go..

Sophie x

Everyday things you didn’t realise were difficult until leaving home

(First post in forever! I've been busy with life and revision etc. Also I've started writing for Pretty52!) 

Moving away from home is a really exciting time, until you realise all the new and scary things you are going to have to do by yourself. Some of these things may have looked easy when your parents were doing them, but realistically we have all made that awkward phone call to them when we forgot how to cook an egg. And even though I've lived at uni for nearly two years now, I still get confused.

Washing up

If you leave the washing up for just a few hours it seems to multiply. How can a simple pasta bake create seven different pans, a chopping board and three plates? And how can washing up take longer than the actual cooking and eating?

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has the right idea.

Paying bills

It turns out money does not just disappear out of your bank account for bills and rent, you have to actually do it yourself. You have to go into the bank and talk to people about money or (even more confusing) set up online banking.

Buying cleaning products

Why did no one ever teach us what different cleaning products do? Usually just go for the bleach everywhere method and hope it makes the dirt go away.

Money management

When you’re buying things like cleaning products and toilet roll, money finds ways of just leaking out of your bank account. And you often end up thinking you have a lot more money than you actually do.

Laundry

Apparently doing laundry isn’t just shoving things into a washing machine. You have to do it all separately, but which bits do we separate? Does pale pink count as whites and how do we know which clothes are delicates? (Speaking of laundry, that's something I need to do today).

Fending for yourself if you’re ill

When you get ill you can’t just stay in bed. You have to go outside and buy the drugs to make you feel better, unless you’re sensible and are prepared for these occasions in advance.

Deciding when to eat

Working out when to eat is harder than it seems. If I’m going out at 7pm should I eat at 6pm or will I feel too full but I may be hungry if I don’t eat… You see the dilemma? And I'm not even going to go into my attempts to eat healthily.

Ultimately, we owe a lot to our parents for doing all of these things that we didn’t realise we would actually have to do one day ourselves.

Sophie x

ps. I might have only just worked out how to put GIFs into blog posts, hence all the GIFs.

Student bedroom essentials for all budgets

So this post is a bit like last weeks but rather than pretty pictures of unrealistic student rooms from Pinterest, I'm going to be talking about the essentials you need to take to uni and coincidentally, I'm moving into my new uni house today so my essentials are already packed.

Bedding

If you've got a bit of extra money to spend, Parachute have lots of bedding and blankets for you to snuggle into after a day of lectures or a night out.

At $249 (£160) these duvet covers made from a linen and cotton blend are definitely more of a luxury item. I love the colours because they look quite airy and Mediterranean. See more of their lovely bedding here.

Most of you probably won't be able to afford this kind of thing, but ADSA home have lots of lovely duvet sets too.

If you still want that airy Mediterranean feel then this duvet cover from ADSA home is £12, and it won't feel as soft and comfy but gives you money to spend on other essentials.

Fairy lights

A bit of strange essential but fairy lights really add a nice homely free to a bedroom, especially one made out of breeze blocks and florescent tube lights. Basic fairy lights can be very cheap, but Etsy have lots of unique handmade fairy lights if you want to spend a bit more.

These lights are from an Etsy shop called NajaKonicaSan and are £43.26. The seller also makes pink ones, which could brighten up your student room.

Fairy lights don't have to cost loads, IKEA have lots of novelty plastic fairy lights.

These lilac diamond lights are £14 and the little LED lights aren't too bright but give off a soft lilac colour.

Desk lamp

Desk lamps are always useful when you want to concentrate on revision or something late at night.

For £130 from John Lewis you can get this Pixar style desk lamp that can be angled in any direction.

For £15 from Tesco you can get this lamp which can also angle a little bit and also comes in blue.

Speakers

Speakers are an essential if you're just sitting in your room or if you're having a flat party.

This mini amplifier from Urban Outfitters is £250. It works as an amplifier for instruments but can also be used as a speaker for your phone.

This little Alba bluetooth speaker is from Argos for £9.99 so this is good if you want something a bit smaller and more portable. 

So there's some of my student essentials! What are yours? 

Sophie x