DECEMBER BEAUTY FAVOURITES

Having been inspired by watching hours of Tanya Burr vlogs and YouTube videos over the christmas holidays I decided to create a list of my December beauty favourites. I have only included things that I have been using on an almost daily basis and things that I genuinely feel are worth recommending. It's quite a long list so I better get started.

Kiehl's Skin Rescuer Moisturiser

I bought this product after going into the Kiehl's store in Westfields, Stratford with my friend Katie on a revision break back in May. We went a bit crazy in there and spent a fare few pounds but it was definitely worth it. What's good about the Kiehl's store is that they give you a skin test right there and then and they then present you with a few products that suit your skin the most and you can pick which ones you want to buy, if you want to buy any that is. Having been through horrendous amounts of moisturisers searching for the perfect one to complement my skin, I have not had to try anymore after buying this one. You only need one small pump which is about the same size or even smaller than a pea and it gives you more than enough coverage meaning that the moisturiser lasts a very long time. I am about half way through mine and I've had it for seven months which is incredibly good. I apply mine every morning after cleansing my face and it provides a great base for my foundation. I can not recommend this product enough!

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Another Kiehl's product, and one that makes my skin feel like silk. It's a lavender smelling serum that you put on just before going to bed and sleep with it on through the night. When you wake up your skin will feel like heaven; it is no wonder that it is one of their best selling products. Even though I bought it back in May I have only really been using it over the last month, I have no idea why but I am thankful that I rediscovered it recently and I imagine that it's going to be a staple in my evening routine for a long time to come.

YOU ARE NOT WEIRD

I often find myself confusing. I have felt this for a very, very long time. It would not be unusual for you to find me reading a book on fashion while watching the Simpsons in my sports kit. One day I could be listening and singing very loudly to some Justin Timberlake while the next you could find me head banging (not really, head banging just looks painful. Whiplash anyone?) to some heavy rock in the form of AC/DC or chilling to some Mozart. The same goes for fashion. Some mornings I wake up and feel like dressing smart and professional and throw on a fitted dress, tights and some boots. Other days I find myself walking to uni in boyfriend jeans, a band tee and a leather jacket or even just some gym clothes. It's quite tiring trying to keep up with myself!

I love watching comedy in any and every form. I even spend hours on youtube watching interviews with the comedians/writers/actors who are involved with some of my favourite shows and I even buy their books. This in turn as left me with quite a deep knowledge of, mostly American, comedy which 99.9% of my friends have no interest in (and to be honest why should they?) which means this is something that I get to enjoy by myself.

The same with sport. I have spent many weeks interning at different sports departments from the BBC to The Daily Telegraph. Throughout school and even now during university my whole week was basically taken over with either hockey, net-ball, rugby or going to the gym. Weekends are spent watching hours of sports coverage or reading about sport. However, most of my friends don't (and again why should they) have much interest in sport and that's totally fine, I still love 'em,  it just means that it's another thing that I get to keep to myself.

First Term Reflections

Last Wednesday was my last seminar of 2014 and the end of my first term as a third year. Third year is the year that everyone says is the hardest, the one where you will have no social life and will be working non-stop to the point where you begin to hate everything and everyone. However, my experience has been almost the opposite.

First term of second year was one of the most difficult times I have ever experienced. The amount of work we had to do was incredible in comparison to first year. We had at least one deadline a week for 11 weeks and along with playing sports and making time for friends it all got a bit  much. Third year however I feel as though I have found my groove. Don't get me wrong I still stress and panic occasionally over not necessarily the amount of work that I have to complete but more of the fact that the work counts for a hell of a lot more this time around.

Since the second term of second year (barring holidays such as Easter and Summer and the weekends) my alarm has been going off at 5:50am every single morning. I lived a very monotonous life of getting to the gym by 7am, staying in the library until around 5pm and then headed home to chill or go visit friends. However, a few weeks ago it all became way too much and I felt horrific as I was soooo tired and stressed so I decided to change things up a bit.

CARDIFF HALF MARATHON 5/10/14

A few weeks ago I packed my trainers and running vest and hopped on the train to Cardiff where I would be taking part in the 2014 half marathon.

If you would have told me a year ago that I would run 13.1 miles, all in one go, I would have laughed and quickly corrected your mistake at believing that I could run that far. In a moment of heightened confidence or boredom, I am not quite sure, I signed up to run the half marathon on behalf of the mental health charity MIND. I committed to this challenge amidst revising for my second year end of year exams. I think at that point anything sounded better than sitting at my desk all day attempting to memorise the histories of the Tudors, Stuarts and Victorians – even running a hell of a long way.

WALKING WORK BREAK

RESPECT // Monday Evening Ramblings.

Today I witnessed something that I well and truly despise. Something that I almost cannot even comprehend. Something that in an ideal world I should not have to comprehend.

In today's Nation of Islam seminar we discussed a variety of very interesting topics, so many in fact that the class overran by around two minutes. Yes, two minutes. An almost insignificant amount of time in the grand scheme of things. I mean, there are 1440 minutes in a day and 525949 in a year so two minutes out of that is not an extortionate amount. Well, that is what I thought. Upon bringing the discussion to a close a man walked in to the seminar room whom I can only assume to be a lecturer. With a smile on his face he preceded to patronise our lecturer, explaining to her how the concept of time works and at what time seminars start and finish. A fact that I am sure she has come to terms with in all the years she has worked at the institution. With a mixture of shock and discussed slapped across our faces we left the room and immediately began questioning who or what that man believed himself to be.

Since I can remember, barring teachers in primary school and the first few years of secondary school, I have never perceived anyone to be of more social importance than anyone else. Yes, your job title might read CEO or HRH the Queen of England but I would no more respect you than I would the man cleaning the street at 5am on a Sunday morning making sure all is spick 'n' span by the time the world awakes. All people must breath, eat, sleep and drink. Nobody is immune to illness and everyone must deal with heartbreak and enjoy happiness.

FINDING MY FEET

October signals the start of a new university year. A new house, new people, new lecturers, new goals, new deadlines, new timetable, new stresses, new laughs, new experiences. While the majority of these new things have entered my life without a polite please or a thank you, in what seems like a blur, they are all welcomed and I would not have it any other way.

SURFING CARCANS-PLAGE