Christmas Tag

What is your favourite Christmas film?

My favourite christmas film has to be the Grinch. Without fail I watch it every year at some point. Nice and snug on the sofa with a hot chocolate!

What is your favourite festive colour?

I wouldn't say its much of a 'christmassy' colour unlike you golds and reds but I'm loving Burgundy this year. Anything burgundy and glittery just shouts christmas at me!

Do you open your gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning?

Morning! We're a massive family and with younger brothers and sisters they're awake around 6am anyway, so it's a nice early start, plus it takes us hours to get through the presents anyway!

What is your favourite winter fragrance?

I wouldn't say I have a favourite winter fragrance as such. My mum is always burning candles so the house always has a nice fresh and warm feel at christmas. 

What is your favourite Christmas scent?

Christmas dinner has to be the best scent of all. Although again, i'd say probably the smell of my mums candles constantly burning throughout the day at christmas.

What is your favourite holiday drink?

There is nothing better than a good cuppa or hot chocolate at christmas.

Candy Canes or Gingerbread Men?

I'm not really a sweet or cake type of person so I don't think I'd have either. I'm more of a meal type of person than a snack one.

What is your favourite Christmas song?

I'd say it would have to be good old Mariah with 'All I want for christmas' that one's always a good'un on karaoke .

Have you ever made a snowman?

I've made a few snowmen over the years, although I tend to get bored half way through as I get annoyed with the cold and my hands being wet. Or the snowman just doesn't go to plan and I get pelted with snowballs by my brothers. (Usually happens)

What is the most important thing to you about Christmas?

The most important thing to me at Christmas is Family. I'm lucky to have the most amazing foster family in the world and I wouldn't want to spend Christmas anywhere else. Being away at University for the whole year makes me SUPER excited to go home for a few days at Christmas and spend it with people I love.  I think Christmas is a time for appreciation and I really enjoy being part of a big family at Christmas. We all open presents together and it's a day that involves everyone which I think is really nice. Also, the other most important thing about Christmas to me would be giving. I love wrapping up presents for people and seeing their reaction when they open it. 

What are your favourite things about Chirstmas?

Do this tag and join in (:

Rachel

Student Spending.

Since being at university I have come to terms with the fact that the saying 'A girl can never have too many clothes' in completely incorrect unless you are Paris Hilton and have about 15 rooms to put them in then it's a different story. The idea of having many different outfits to wear day and night is great, but realistically, how many pairs of leggings do you need in your life? Lets be honest. Now,  I'm not going to lie, I'm defiantly a fan of a Topshop purchase. Probably not the best place to be shopping on a 'student budget', but somehow I always manage to avoid Primark and magically end up in the more expensive shops. Lets just say budgeting isn't my strongest point. But anyway, back to the point. When packing up my room to go home for the summer, I realised how many clothes I had that I never actually wore. Stupid I know. I'd buy maybe 2 or 3 jumpers at a time, telling myself I'd get lots of wear out of them, and by the end of the year, it seemed I had only lived in 1 of the 3. Ridiculous! If there's one thing I've learnt, (after a big clear out of all the many clothes I have and never wore, or completely forgot about' it's that, half the time, at University, unless your going the extra mile for a night out, is that no one actually pays any attention to what you look like. 

Before coming to my senses and realising I had far too many clothes, half of my problem was that I had far too many, and I didn't think I had enough. It wasn't until I came home and unpacked that I realised that I'd wasted far too much money on clothes that I'd hardly even worn. Silly mistake. 

Lesson learnt, my wardrobe is now cut down to clothes that I love and wear all the time, which is a lot easier to decide on what to wear when I'm in a rush to my 9am lectures. 

 Tips to save money as a student - 

Make Primark your new best friend - it may be known for 'cheap' clothes, but you can buy 3 jumpers for £30 or 1 jumper for £30. Easy decision!

Ask yourself the same question - 'Do I NEED it?' Most likely the answer will be no. And if you choose to buy it, give it a week and you'll wish you saved the money for that extra night out on the town.

If you've seen something in Topshop, chances are the same thing will be in Newlook, River Island and most likely Primark, so try and save yourself that extra £5.

Get wear out of things. It's so easy to get bored of a item of clothing, (I'm guilty of this one) yes, you may of worn the same pair of jeans to uni 3 times in a row, but if you know you have had good wear out of something, you won't feel as guilty when its time to buy a new pair.

Accessorise. A few pieces of jewellery, studs or some sequins can instant change an outfit. So instead of chucking it away or to the back of your wardrobe, think of a few ways to jazz up your top or shirt. Cut off the sleeves, add a few studs to the shoulders, and you have a brand new top. 

Are you guilty of having too many clothes? Does your student loan burn a hole in your pocket? 

Rachel

No Longer A Fresher

Whilst writing this, my last piece of work for university is slowly being uploaded! It's such as relief to know that all my work is finished and I will be off on my way back home to Cambridge in 5 days time with no work to complete over summer, apart from when I'm working at ELLE Magazine - yep, you read that right, I'm working with ELLE! Little Rachel from Camden Town who would of thought it eh? This year at Uni has been crazy, overwhelming, and overall a complete roller-coaster, but I've had a great time, met amazing people, and most importantly worked hard and learn't a lot. 

This book has been a good source this year!

What I've Learnt At Uni This Year 

1- Magazine Journalism is for me

2- I'm still the nosey bugger I've always been, but I'm a training Journalist, there for it's a great quality to have!

3- Sometimes you don't need to say anything, being observant is enough.

4- Shorthand isn't going to be as easy as I thought

5- I prefer writing features to news stories

6- Starting an essay in advance does you the world of good

7- Leaving an essay to the last minute is the most stressful thing ever (I don't advise it)

8- Reading more genres gives you more ideas

9- There is a hell of a lot to know about the Journalism Industry

10- Blogging is way too much fun

With endless amounts of essays and deadlines out of the way, I now have the whole of summer to kick back, and make the most of having home cooked meals, Sky TV, and a sofa (if you don't live at uni, and have the luxury of a sofa, you won't understand how much it is missed.) Being away from home for so long really makes you miss the little things. I thought it would be a huge relief to not hear my little foster sister winging and crying, but strangely enough, I miss it (ask me again in a week and see if I've changed my mind.) Living so far away from home does have it's disadvantages. Firstly, there is no Megabus directly from Sunderland to Cambridge, so I can't save myself a little bit of money. Secondly, a train journey is a whopping £70 ish return, bit expensive for a quick weekend home. Although coming back home less often then others makes you cherish it that little bit more.

I'm hoping second year won't fly by as quick as this year has. With twice as much work, I'm guessing it will seem a lot longer. It's crazy to think how quick time goes when your having fun! I'm gutted I can't stay a fresher forever, it's far too much fun, but I have next year, and who said I can't come back to uni early and do freshers all over again?!