What To Bring To Uni

Hey guys!

Today I am back with another university post! If you're heading off to uni later this month, you've probably already started to pack. If not, now is the time! You don't want to end up turning up to your new home and realise that you don't have half the stuff you need. Before I started uni, I spent some time reading checklists of things I would need to bring with me so that I wouldn't leave any essentials behind or take anything I didn't need. I still somehow forgot to bring stuff for the kitchen! To make your life easier, I have included a checklist of my own in this post. I hope it will be of some use to all you new freshers out there!

Essentials
 

A Lady In London

  

 

1. ID / Passport

2. Mobile phone

3. Laptop

4. Credit / debit card

5. Uni acceptance letter

6. CV

7. USB Stick

8. Chargers

9. Extension cable

10. National Insurance Card

 

 

Clothing

1. Underwear

2. Socks

3. Sports clothes

4. Swim wear

5. Raincoat

6. Slippers

7. Casual tops

8. Dressing gown

9. PJs

10. Jumpers

11. Hoodies

12. Jeans

13. Dresses

14. Skirts

15. Evening shoes

16. Party shoes (for clubbing and campus events)

17. Hats / scarves / gloves

18. Trainers

19. Winter boots

20. Fancy dress (Typical fancy dress themes include Decades, Disney, Cavemen and School Uniform. You'll also need something for Halloween)

 

 

Bedroom

 

Pinterest

 

1. Duvet

2. Pillows (I'd recommend taking two so that you can swap them round every so often. You might need a couple extra if you've been lucky enough to be assigned a room with a double bed)

3. Mattress protector

4. Fitted sheets

5. Blanket (for when it gets cold)

6. Alarm clock (Let me tell you now that the alarm on your phone isn't always reliable so it's good to have a back-up)

7. Hangers

8. Posters and photos (to make your room feel more homely)

9. Laundry basket

10. Bin (though this should come with your room)

 

 

Bathroom

 

 1. Toiletries (including shampoo, conditioner, face wash, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.)

2. Toothbrush

3. Soap

4. Plasters

5. Toilet paper (unfortunately, this isn't provided)

6. Towels and flannel

7. Bath mat

8. Hairbrush / comb

 

 

Kitchen

 



Save the Student

 

1. Plates (preferably microwable ones and one spare for guests - you can always buy cheap plastic ones if you plan on having more people over later in the year)

2. Bowls

3. Cups

4. Mugs

5. Forks

6. Knives

7. Spoons

8. Water bottle

9. Bottle opener

10. Saucepan

11. Frying pan

12. Measuring jug

13. Sieve

14. Colander

15. Scissors

16. Can opener

17. Oven gloves

18. Vegetable peeler

19. Tea towels

20. Washing up liquid

21. Scourer sponges

22. Chopping board

 

 

You might want to bring a blender, though it would be best to keep this in your room. Also make sure that you have some food to keep you going during Fresher's Week (e.g. pasta, noodles, cereal, milk, snacks, sauces, fruit and veg). If you're planning on going out, bring a bottle of alcohol to share with your flatmates. Vodka and Sourz usually go down well. Just remember to get a mixer for the vodka!

 

 

Academic

 



Ideal Store

 

1. Stationery (including pencil case, pens, pencils, highlighters, ruler and erasers)

2. Notebooks (one for each module - you can always buy spares if you run out)

3. Diary

4. Folders (for any loose sheets you get during lectures and seminars)

5. Post-it notes

6. Calculator

7. Hole punch

8. Any reading material you might need for your course.

 

 

Other

 

 1. Reading books

2. Kindle / Tablet

3. Storage boxes

4. Camera

5. Printer (there are ones on campus but you might end up having to queue for ages around deadlines so it's useful to have one of your own)

6. Recipe books

7. Bike

8. Hot water bottle

9. Fairy lights

10. Medicine

11. Jewellery

12. Make-up

13. Pack of cards

14. Musical instrument

15. Spiralizer

16. Rice cooker

 

 

(First Image from Tumblr)

 

 

So there's my university checklist! I'm sure I haven't included everything, but those are all the main things you need when you start uni!

 

 

Hasta luego!

 

 

Serena



A Busy Student's Guide to the Best Microwave Meals

Hey guys!

 

Uni has been really busy recently, but I've finally finished my dissertation and can start blogging regularly again! Yay! Today's post is about the wonders of microwaves!

 

With a hectic schedule, it is often difficult to find the time to prepare meals from scratch. However, having a microwave can come in handy as you will be able to whizz up a meal in just a few minutes. Another great thing about microwaves is that you won't need to do much washing up afterwards. Here are some of the things you can make in a microwave:

 

1. Chips
 

Wikimedia Commons

Believe it or not, chips can be made in a microwave. It saves a lot of time, and it's fairly simple too. All you need to do is chop up a couple of large raw potatoes into thin strips, place on a microwave-safe plate, and microwave for a couple of minutes on each side. Make sure that the microwave is on a high setting. You will then need to cook the chips for a further 15-20 minutes in an oven.

2. Mac & cheese

Wikimedia Commons

Mac & cheese is the perfect comfort food - ideal for when it's cold outside or you've had a rough week. To make mac & cheese in a microwave, you will need to combine macaroni pasta and water in a bowl. Microwave for 2 minutes, then stir. Repeat this step until the pasta is completely soft. Stir in a little milk and grated cheese. Cook until the cheese is melted and serve immediately.

3. Omelette

Pixabay

Omelettes are a delicious staple that you can eat at any time of the day. You'll need 2 eggs, 1 tbs milk, a pinch of salt, and a range of toppings - I personally like to add grated cheese and ham. First, crack the eggs into a mug. Add the salt, then beat with a fork. Microwave for a minute. Add your chosen toppings and cook for about 45 seconds. Enjoy!

4. Chocolate Mug Cake

Pixabay

Mug cakes make an easy and delicious alternative to traditional cakes. This chocolate mug cake is great for when you're craving cake but don't want to go through all the hassle of preparing a proper cake. Simple crack an egg in a mug and add 3 tbs milk, 4  tsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, and 2 tbs cocoa powder. Stir in a handful of chocolate chips. Microwave for 2 minutes. Sprinkle the cake with icing sugar or serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

 

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Panasonic microwave oven. All opinions are my own.

 

Hopefully this post has given you some ideas of what you can make in a microwave! What do you usually use a microwave for? Do you have a favourite mug cake? Let me know in the comments!

 

Hasta luego!

Serena

My Third Year Bucket List

 

Hey guys!

Today I am going to share my bucket list for this year. I know it's almost the eight week of term, but better late than never, right? I still have over 20 weeks to complete this list so there's no rush.

1. Write more articles for the student newspapers.

I haven't had much inspiration for articles recently, but if I can manage between 8 and 12 before June that would be great. I've stuck to the food section in the past, so I think I'll try writing for another section this year, like Music, Film or TV.

2. Bake / cook more with flatmates.

Erm, so this hasn't really gone that well so far, but maybe I should suggest doing a roast at some point? And there's always Pancake Day...I didn't do nearly as much baking as I would have liked to last year, so I want to make up for it this year!

3. Attend a blogger event.

Not really uni-related, but there are some blogger events around Yorkshire (and London too, for when I'm back home). I was planning to go to an event in Liverpool last weekend but I decided to go home instead (to see kittens!). Hopefully I'll be able to attend the event at Kiehl's in a couple of weeks.

4. Find Crumbs Cupcakery.

It seems to be forever hiding from me but cake. CAKE.

5. Go to King's Manor.

Because apparently it's a really awesome place (I'll believe it when I see it).

6.  Write a totally awesome dissertation.

And get a first for it! Because I've already spent hours doing the reading for m dissertation and it would be heartbreaking if I didn't get a first!

So those are my goals for my third year of uni! What would you like to achieve this year?

Hasta luego!

Serena

Back To Uni Wishlist

Hey guys!


I can't believe it's already October!! The summer hols flew by! Now that I'm officially back at York (I did come up for a week before my work experience placement, but that doesn't count), I thought I'd share with you some products I'd like to buy for my room and desk (and wardrobe). "Back to education" shopping trips aren't really as exciting as they used to be when I was at school (that feels like such a long time ago now!), but I do still love looking at stationery products! I often find myself wandering into Paperchase and finding 135564 items I want to buy. Unfortunately, I've accumulated way too many pens and notebooks so I can't really justify buying any more, no matter how pretty they may be!


1. Poppy Lux Dorothy Sweater

 I adore Peter Pan collar sweaters. This one is fairly simple but great for Autumn, and I do need some more jumpers / sweaters (I'm pretty sure I have around 8-10 overall, which may seem plenty, but in the UK that's not nearly enough!).


2. Weekly Planner Pad

I really really really need one of these in my life! Weekly planner pads seem so useful, more so than diaries!


3. Pencil Pot

A pencil pot will definitely stop me from cluttering my desk with pens and pencils! This one is only £1.73 too! Bargain!


4. Vintage Notebook

I have enough notebooks to open up a shop, but I love this one - the cover is so pretty.


5. Retro Light Up Sign

 The 'Sweetheart' sign would look good in my uni bedroom - I've been living in my new room for two weeks overall and it's still really, really, really bare.



So there's my wishlist! Why not check out the wishlists on Fashion Train  or Elle Yeah? There's also some lovely stationery over on Em's Little Box!
 

What products would be on your wishlist?


Hasta luego!


Serena

How to save money at uni

Hey guys!


Following my Top Tips For Uni post, I thought I'd share with you some of the ways you can save money whilst studying at university. There's nothing worse than being stuck in debt and not being able to enjoy your life at uni. By utilising these tips, hopefully this won't happen to you.


1. Get a railcard

As a student, you'll be using trains at least six times a year, so it's worth investing in a 16-25 railcard. It only costs £30 per year (o £70 for all three years), and you'll be saving 1/3 on train tickets. You can find out more by clicking on this link.


2. Hold pre-drinks at home

If you're going on a big night out, get your friends together and pop to the local Aldi for any prinks (a.k.a. "pre-drinks"). This will cost as little as £3 per person, whereas drinking in bars can add around £15 on top of the £3 entry fee to the club. And £18+ is a lot to spend on a night out when you're a student, especially if it's going to become a regular occurrence.


3. Alternate nights out

What I mean by this is, go out every second week, rather than every week. It's really not necessary to go out every single week and you'll be saving money this way. The other nights you can stay in and watch a film with your flatmates.


4. Limit the takeaways

It may be tempting to stop off at McDonald's (or Efe's, if you're in York) on the way home after a night out, but think about all those calories! And all those fivers you spend on a burger and fries / pizza could add up and you'd be able to afford a ticket to visit your friend in the next town (I'm sure they'll be so happy to see you!)!


5. Subscribe to Netflix

You may be glued to your TV when you're at home and having your own tele at uni can be sociable (ironically). However, subscribing to Netflix can save a lot of money. Netflix may also have films / TV shows that aren't available on an ordinary TV (e.g. Pretty Little Liars).


6. Walk

It's shocking how much you can save each year by simply walking instead of taking the bus / a taxi. You could literally afford a weekend's holiday if you saved all the money you'd be spending on buses. I'm going to try to limit my bus journeys to once a week (so one return ticket), if that. Also, as my mum tells me almost every week, "walking is good exercise". The uni gym is so expensive so walking is a cheaper alternative. I use a pedometer whenever I go out, so that gives me more incentive to walk rather than hop on public transport.


7. Use the library

Any books you'll need for your course are bound to be somewhere in the uni library. Check before spending £50 on a book that might be difficult to sell after you've finished using it.


8. Sign up to experiments / help out at open days

It is so hard to get a part time job so look out for any psychology experiments at your uni. Some Departments / Colleges may need students to help out at open days, and they can pay quite a bit, so make sure you volunteer if you have time and you haven't managed to get a job.


9. Keep a money jar

Keep any spare change in a jar / large purse and it'll eventually add up! At the beginning of first year, choose a type of coin, for example 20p, and try to save every coin of that type. I personally try to save every coin dated 2012 or later. I started at the end of first year, and I'm now starting third year, but I've saved quite a bit! Only "break into" the jar in real "emergencies" - like if you're getting a taxi home and don't have enough cash on you, you could quickly run up to your room and take some coins from the jar and "pay yourself back" later (this happened to me last term - I was only £1 short! :( ).


10. Get loyalty cards

It's probably wise to get a loyalty card for shops / restaurants you'll be purchasing things from regularly. I'd recommend getting ones for Starbucks, Costa, Superdrug, Boots and Nando's. Also see if your local cinema gives out loyalty cards.


I hope these tips come in handy! Thanks for reading!


Hasta luego!


Serena

Top Tips For Uni

Hey guys!

With the beginning of the new uni year just around the corner, I thought I'd do a post sharing my top tips. As I've already been at uni for two years, I know how it works, and this post should be useful for anyone starting this year.


 1. Join the university / hall Facebook groups before starting

Facebook is great for keeping in touch with old friends. However, what you may not realise is that Facebook is also useful for making new friends. During the summer holidays before you head off to uni, join the different Facebook groups (for either your accommodation or the university in general - or both!) and start chatting to the other students. It'll help break the ice for when you arrive.


2. Subscribe to Netflix

Netflix is a fantastic way of watching all your favourite TV shows and films - and it's a lot cheaper than forking out for a TV licence.


3. Don't worry if you don't like going out

University students have a reputation for partying 24/7, but in reality most of us prefer to spend the night at home snuggled in bed with a tub of Ben and Jerry's watching Netflix. Don't feel like you have to go out to a club or a bar just because everyone else is.


4. Join clubs / societies

Societies are another way of making friends at uni (and they look great on your CV). Many universities have a whole variety of societies on offer, ranging from the standard sports to the unusual FetSoc (i.e. Fetish Society - yes, there is such a thing). Remember not to sign up to too many societies in your first week - you'll never make all of them! I'd say two or three is a good number.


5. Bring a laptop

This is probably an obvious one, but it does seem that some students don't have laptops. Having your own laptop saves all the stress of trying to find a computer in the library - there never seem to be enough.


6. Buy food as a household

Doing a weekly shop with your housemates can save money and you can cook things together.


7. Buy books secondhand

There is seriously no point in spending £60 on a book you're only going to pick up once. Save money by ordering used books from Amazon or other students. Many books may also be available in the library - even better!


8. Bring fancy dress

Fancy dress costumes are something you'll be needing right from Fresher's Week. Some of the most common themes include Disney, Decades and Superheroes. You'll also need a costume for Halloween - though many Freshers go out several times during the same week as Halloween so it may be useful to bring two.


9. Attend classes

As many lecturers upload their presentations for students to read after class, it is tempting to just skip lectures. However, attending lectures will enable you to get a better grasp of the material covered, and you can ask the teacher for help if you don't understand things.


10. Stock up on medicine

Flesher's Flu is real, and it's not nice either. Make sure you have a selection of medicine so that you are prepared for the unexpected cold. Water bottles are also good for the long winter nights.



And finally, have fun! University is such a good experience and I hope you enjoy it!


Hasta luego!


Serena

So You Don't Want To Go To Uni?

With results day just around the corner, many sixth-formers across the country are busy deciding where to spend the next three (or four) years of their lives. However, others may feel that university isn't for them - maybe their grades weren't quite what they'd expected or they simply feel that they're not ready to go to uni. There are a number of students who aren't keen on the prospect of a few more years of education and would much prefer to do something else. But what can you do? British society makes us believe that university is the only post-school option. We grow up thinking that university is the only way to get a job, though there are plenty of other things available once you leave school. These are as follows:



1. Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are great for students who already know what type of job they want to do when they finish school. Apprenticeships combine study with practical training in a specific job. They enable teenagers and young adults to earn a wage whilst studying, and can last as short as a year, which is a lot quicker than a degree and therefore suitable for anyone who doesn't really like education. Apprenticeships are very varied and can train you to become a chef, retail assistant, receptionist, sales consultant or even an engineer.



2. School Leaver Programmes

Companies such as Barclays, Tesco, Nestle and Siemens give school-leavers the chance to work and get paid. Barclays in particular has a Life Skills programmes which is designed to teach young people the necessary skills for their future careers. Nestle offers a Fast Start programme during which you can work in one of their commercial departments. They will fund your programme and pay you too, though you will need 300 UCAS points before applying. This is equivalent to 3 Bs at A Level.



3. Gap Year

A gap year is definitely something you should take into consideration when deciding what to do after school. Gap years give you the chance to take a year out of education and think about what you really want to do for the rest of your life. During your gap year, you may decide to travel the world or simple stay in your hometown and look for a job. Although travelling is expensive, and you may find it difficult to find a travelling buddy, it is something you should do at some point during your life, especially while you are young. Experiencing other parts of the world will open your eyes and help you discover who you are. You can develop new skills that wouldn't be possible in your native country. Perhaps you will choose to climb to the top of a mountain or nurse villagers after a natural disaster. Travelling will also help you become independent, especially if you decide to visit place on your own. You may want to learn a language whilst you are abroad, which will in turn provide you with a whole new range of opportunities. Travelling the world will be challenging and I am sure that you will meet some amazing people on your journeys. STA Travel and Gap Force are two brilliant companies that can help you plan your year of travelling.


I hope this post has given you some ideas as to what you can do after school. Don't worry if you don't want to go to uni - you don't have to have a degree to be successful. Look at Zoe Sugg, Bill Gates and Steven Spielberg - they are hugely successful and didn't go to (or complete, in Bill Gates' case) uni. Don't just do what everyone else does, or what your parents think you should do - it's more important to do what YOU want to do!


Hasta luego!


Serena