Cheap Student Decor- The New House!

My friends and I recently organised our housing arrangements for second year and I am already so excited. I've always loved change and back home I was forever rearranging furniture in my bedroom. I can't wait to have a living room again, as the halls of residence I'm in at the moment don't have a social area.For this post I thought I'd share some items I've got my eye on for decorating our new house in September. I'll also recommend some highstreet stores for cheaper options so that if any of you are looking to make student accommodation a little more homely, it won't break the bank.

There is an Ikea in Southampton which isn't too far from us so we'll be making a trip later in the year. The first thing I'll be picking up is a few of their potted plants  which are currently £4.50 for three. Cacti are supposedly very easy to keep alive and healthy, so they are perfect for us students who often forget to do the simplest tasks... I think they will look great on the kitchen windowsill or in the bathroom to add some green to the house!

Another must-buy from Ikea is this set of two scented candles with brightly coloured pots. I have always loved Ikea's range of candles so I'm looking forward to trying these mandarin and sea salt scented ones. Since it'll be heading into winter when we move in, it'll be nice to have vibrant and cheerful items to warm us up- and there's nothing more calming than candlelight. These are £3.50 for 2!

H&M home is great for homeware as they have such a big range of more affordable options, alongside some very stylish, more expensive pieces. I can't resist this set of two body towels because, well, I just love bananas! I don't think I've ever seen such an interesting print and it'll be nice to have enough bath things when guests come to stay. These are £6.99 and I've seen that there is a matching shower curtain, so I'll have to persuade my housemates on that one!

The last item I've found is from Ohh Deer, a site which has lots of quirky items. This Jungle print oven glove  is something I must get as I love cooking and have had too many flimsy tea towel related burns to not buy a proper glove. I much prefer this print over the floral, feminine Cath Kidson alternatives and this is only £7.95!

If you are looking to find cushions, blankets or other larger items, I'd recommend visiting TKMaxx and Zara home as their products are great quality and if you hunt around, you'll definitely find some bargains. I'll be updating you later in the year with all the decorating news!

Does First Year Matter?

https://www.ccsf.edu/en/student-services/admissions-and-registration/records/evaluation-and-graduation.html

There is something so frustrating about working really hard at University, only to be told ‘it’s only first year, it doesn’t even matter’.  If anything I'd say this only reinforces the lazy student stereotype, and adds another layer of pressure. Sure, we’ve got bills to pay, relationships to form and a pile of reading that never seems to shift, but now we have to prove that the work we do is worthy? It just baffles me.

I wanted to write this post to reassure those who are going to start university in September or are hearing similar comments from family and friends. First year assessments are worth the effort and those who dismiss your dedication are not who you should be taking advice from.  Learning to manage all the different tasks in your first year- or even your first term- can feel daunting to say the least, so don’t let anyone put you down.

The way I find I can deal with these comments is to find motivation from knowing that the work I do in first year is preparing me for the next, and by treating it with as much seriousness as a final dissertation, it will be not only to a good standard, but something I can be proud of. This is absolutely key, remembering that university is not just to get a degree and make your parents happy, but to discover what you love, to experiment with different things and create an experience in which you grow as a person.

It’s quite rare for me to do such serious posts but I wanted to get this out there. To compare one workload to another and judge how hard they have to work is unnecessary. If you are someone who is convincing yourself that you can just slob about for the first year, it’s inevitable that second year is going to be even more overwhelming. ‘Preparation is key’ is what they always used to say at school and sixth form, and I completely agree. As much as spontaneous adventures are wonderful, when it comes to managing work, it helps to keep on top of things.

Just one last thing, if someone (like me) does a creative degree which has no exams, that doesn’t mean they don’t have a huge amount of work to do. If anything, there are multiple different things that need our attention which vary from academic essays to writing poetry, both of which are more difficult depending on each person. Focus on your own situation and only give positive guidance to others if you feel that they are struggling. 

Empty Products

I finished up some face products this month, annoyingly all at the same time! I plan on making a trip to boots soon so would love some recommendations! 

First up is Origins Ginzing moisturiser, perfect for oily skin as its a non-clogging jelly formula. It was super hydrating and cooling with a delicious orange scent. It has done wonders to my sleep deprived student skin, giving a wide awake glow! I think it was around £24 and lasted a long time. 

I also finished this face wash from Nivea, which I didn't like much as it was a gloopy gel that was far to sticky. It's also very stripping which is not ideal for dry winter skin. There are other budget face washes out there that are much better than this one.

I finished the First Aid Beauty facial radiance pads which are great for those who are new to using acids for exfoliating as they are very gentle. You swipe these across your face after cleansing before popping some moisturiser on. These helped reduce redness and size of any breakouts I had, stopped it from being dry and flaky. You can get these for £20 from Feel Unique.

For hair, I finished up this conditioner from a set I'd been gifted before starting Uni. The L'occitane repairing range is made up of essential oils including sweet orange and geranium. With sweet almond oil to smooth and soften hair fibres, I had high expectations but it didn't actually moisturise my hair that much. This really smoothed my thick hair, but weighed it down a bit too much for regular use. I loved the smell but the full size is £27 and since I didn't love it, I won't be repurchasing for such a high price tag!

Another conditioner I finished up was the American Dream from Lush. This was quite a runny formula, which smelt of vanilla and strawberries. The sweet scent stayed in my hair for a really long time but it didn't do much for hydrating my hair which is a shame. Since better alternatives are available for a lot cheaper, I'm not planning on repurchasing.

The final two products are samples that came with other purchases or gift boxes at Christmas! 

Nuxe's 'huile' is a multi purpose dry oil which I tried this on my legs and as a hair mask. It smelt really nice, very nutty from the plant oils including Macadamia and Almond to repair and soften skin. My favourite thing about it was it was dry and quick to absorb without feeling greasy. The shine this gave my hair was gorgeous. I think this comes in a spray bottle at around £28 so if you want a pre-birthday splurge or to spoil your mum - this is a winner.

The final product is a sample of L'occitane's Shea butter foot cream.Taking the time to pamper and soothe cracked skin has been a nice addition to my winter night time routine. With 15% shea butter and antisceptic lavender oil, the cream was really nourishing and it's scent made me drift off to sleep a lot better.

Spiced Sweet Potato Soup: The Recipe

This is one of my favourite comforting dishes to make in this cold time of year, a sweet potato soup with warming spices. I usually chuck everything in by eye, but I've given some rough measurements below if anyone wants to give it a go! It takes half an hour tops to make, including prepping time- so a perfect option for after an evening lecture when all you want is fast food and sleep.

    

YOU WILL NEED:

• 1 tablespoon garam marsala 
• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds/ground 
• 1 teaspoon coriander seeds/ground
• 1 white onion
• As much red chilli as you like
• 2-3 garlic cloves 
• Chopped tomatoes (fresh or canned)
• 1-2 sweet potatoes- depending on size
• 1 vegetable stock cube dissolved in 1 litre hot water

Heat a splash of olive oil in a large saucepan before chucking in the chopped onion and garlic. After five minutes add all the spices (including the chilli). Allow this to dry fry for a few minutes then add your tomatoes, sweet potato chunks and the stock. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, pop a lid on and leave to cook for 15-20 minutes. Either blend the soup with a handheld blender or a food processor, until smooth and creamy. Pop it back onto the heat for a few minutes and it's ready to serve!

Productive Procrastination

Sali Hughes spoke on the power of taking a few days out, which has inspired this post. Whether it be taking a morning off, or dedicating a whole Sunday to be 'physically and mentally unchallenged', it can be incredibly restorative. I am only a first year student but struggling with the workload kicks in more regularly than I expected. So after a productive week, I tend to take Sundays off, to remind myself that I am alive, and capable of more than simply typing essay after essay.

Illustration: Valérie Boivin

With that said, I began finding this time not all that useful, as I simply wasn't prepared. I spent it feeling guilty with each Netflix episode, worrying about tasks that were building up and generally being negative. So I decided that if I'm going to procrastinate, it's going to need to be done properly.

What does that involve, exactly? Well, the first step is to completely de-clutter my desk. Allowing me to work on a clean slate at the start of a new week. If I feel energetic (a rarity indeed) I hoover my dorm room and do all my washing. If only the boys I live with had such motivation!

I don't know about you but for me, the weekend is for indulgent breakfasts. A preferred change from the rushed smoothies and pre-morning lecture banana. The ultimate treat for me is taking time to prepare my favourite food at a slow pace. I'd probably opt for hot chocolate with smoked salmon, some french toast with syrup or a huge bowl of fruit.

The most helpful advice I would give is to write a to-do list for the week ahead, organising tasks and events from your calendar to make daily plans that are clear. This means you can slob it out for the rest of Sunday without panicking about deadlines or forgetting anything. This often makes me more productive throughout the week as each task I tick off the list, makes me more deserving of the chilled Sunday. That's what I tell myself anyway!

One of my favourite things to do is meal planning, which has helped my budgeting immensely. I check the cupboards and freezer to check what the situation is, which tends to be a lonely can of chickpeas and some sad greens at the back of the fridge. But hey- that's student life I guess. Then I browse Pinterest and Youtube for recipe inspiration, before making the meal plans for each day. As I only cook for one, there's usually a lot of leftovers which I either pop in the freezer or try to recreate into something interesting. Once this plan is made, I can create a sensible shopping list which can be stuck to, no extra thought required.

Once all the preparation for the week is done, you can start relaxing. I opt for baking, reading and binge watching programs I've missed during the week. I'd definitely choose a huge bubble bath but as as you know, my student halls don't have such luxuries! Also Sundays are perfect for skincare pampering, so I'd definitely recommend popping on a face mask. Let me know what you get up to when treating yourself to down time, I could always use more inspiration.

Valentines: The Self-Gift Guide

I never really liked the idea of Valentines in a romantic sense, and as a child I would spend the day baking with my mother instead. Though being a Bridget Jones stereotype probably had an influence, I'm still not a fan of the cheesiness. Instead, I've decided to see it as a brilliant excuse to treat yourself, a friend (or special friend...) and share the love. And yes, I know pancake day is first up, but I don't think any of us need convincing for such a delicious occasion.

Students are always told to budget and as much as this is a good thing, I do believe it is ok to indulge every so often. Be it the occasional meal out or a full blown haul... I've compiled a list of things I've picked up or have loved in the past.

First up, some Lush products. I love their festive ranges - Easter, Christmas etc, and Valentines is no exception. I actually ended up only buying one limited edition product and a permanent one, which is very impressive. I wish I had a bath in my bedroom at university, but it's nice to look forward to using these when I visit home.

Lover lamp (right): This bath bomb is filled with cocoa butter which melts to create a milky soft bath with a chocolate orange and vanilla scent. The floating red hearts are super cute and create a luxurious experience. For £3,95 I'd say it's a decent price for a large bath bomb- and you could always cut it in half.

French kiss (left):This is made up of relaxing scents including rosemary and lavender, with coconut oil for softness. The bubble bar turns the water a subtle lilac colour, so if you aren't a fan of the glittery bright colours that Lush tend to be known for- then this is a more 'grown up' option. These are reusable, create loads of bubbles and cost £4.25. Side note- I also recommend Lush's massage bars as they smell amazing and are lovely for post bath moisturizing.

In terms of perfume, I had to include my current favourite, Black Opium by YSL. It's dark and sweet with a strong vanilla scent. For a more masculine scent, I'd suggest Mont Blanc Emblem, Fleur de Force mentioned it in her Christmas gift guide and so I had to give it a sniff. This has a very woody smell, with grapefruit, cardamom and black peppercorns for warmth.

Aside from these physical products, I have to say that as a foodie girl, I love both cooking a special meal and being cooked for. So if you can't afford to splurge then there are always gems in the supermarket- seaweed spaghetti, new spices and exotic sauces are some of the things I find really cool. 

A good way of knowing what to buy someone is by checking out their Wantfeed. The site was created by the lovely Stef Michelak who shares a youtube channel with his wife Hannah. They upload weekly family video diaries which are stunning. So Wantfeed is essentially a way of discovering new things you love and creating a pin-board style page. Then, people (think partners, grandparents etc) can find inspiration for what to buy you for Christmas or on birthdays. Each item has a link to where you can buy it, and I'm pretty sure you can now purchase straight through the site itself. I've used this for a while now and it is just as addictive as Tumblr so be warned! 

My Wantfeed page- http://wantfeed.com/MiaRodriguez/wants

I hope you take some time out of work or studying to treat yourself, I certainly will be!