Lifestyle: First year at university - what I've learnt.

As I come closer to finishing my first year at Sussex University, I began to think back to the fantastic year I have had and thought I would put together a list of the things I've learnt and a few tips for future freshers! (I've also added a few of my favourite photos of my first year throughout!).

1. Join flat mate group chats and leave your door open when you move in.


These are two simple but very effective way to get to know your flat mates in the first few days as it opens up conversations as you'll see everyone coming and going. With my flat I not only got to meet everyone in my flat before I moved in and quickly before I arrived, I also became friends with a girl from the flat opposite. Also in regards to getting to know people, cooking together is a great way! We cooked a flat meal a couple of days after we arrived and bought a cake for one of my flat mates who was moving in a day after her birthday and even though nobody really ate the cake, it is still a memory we all look back on fondly!

2. Expect communal areas to be a mess.


With lots of people living together; in my flat this means up to 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 6 dinners a day being made in the kitchen; there will be a lot of mess! As long as everyone agrees on boundaries so it doesn't get too bad then it's ok, but be prepared for some mess! (also bin rotas are extremely useful if you share a kitchen/communal area!).

 

3. Do everything you can in freshers week.


One of the best weeks I had was freshers week as there is so much going on that you get a taste of everything the area you are going to call home for the next 3+ years has to offer, whilst meeting loads of new people! I went bouldering, to dance classes, on bar crawls, laser tag and the classic club nights in freshers week - as well as most notably a party on Brighton pier with rides and a bar! Take full advantage of everything in freshers week as you will only be a fresher once!

4. Talk to as many people as you can.


This is the best way to settle at uni. Everyone is in the same boat as you at the start so talk to everyone you can in classes, around your accommodation, at lunch, on nights out, anywhere you can meet other student! It is a lot easier to make friends than you think if you talk to everyone you can!

5. Explore the area (and find your favourite spots).

Over the year I have lost count of the many bars, clubs, cafes, shops and tourist attractions I've been to. While some have not had a second visit, some have been regular hotspots since (laser zone, globalls, shuffle bar, the haunt, Brighton pier, revolution bar, Casablanca, snoopers paradise and Wahaca are good shouts if you live in Brighton!). It is easier than you think to find your feet in a new town or city if you explore a bit; and you may stumble across some hidden gems on the way (bagelman and shakeaway)!!!

6. Manage your money!!!

I made this mistake many times in my first year. Be careful with your money so you can take advantage of all the opportunities thrown at you! It is the worst feeling not being able to go out because you can't afford it or having to eat the same thing everyday to save money; so make sure you have an emergency fund on hand and don't spend what you can't afford like I've done before!

7. The library can be your best friend


When it comes to getting work done on time, the library is the best place to be in my opinion. You are in a work environment rather than the relaxing environment of your bedroom so it is so much easier to focus. I usually plug in my headphones to encore radio (great for musical theatre fans) and just focus on one essay and get it done that day so I don't have to think about an essay for too long. Whilst it's not for everyone, the library is a great place to go to focus for a while.

8. Take advantage of societies and socials.

This was the biggest game changer for me at university this year. I started attending the Ballroom and Latin dance society (strictly Sussex!) at my uni just after Christmas and it made my university experience a thousand times better! It helps you get into a routine of doing something other than work, you can do any activity you enjoy regularly, meet loads of likeminded people, go on socials and have people to talk to who all support each other. My dance 'family' have became some of my best friends at uni and the society gave me so many opportunities over the last few months to learn something I have always wanted to do with a group of great people. If you take one thing away from this post I would say join a society - it is the best way to explore the area around you, meet people, do something new and make the most of uni!

If you have any university fresher survival tips post them bellow! And also a massive shout out to strictly Sussex (the best society and people at Sussex uni!).

 

"I have insecurities of course,

but I just don't hang

out with people who point

them out to me!"
- Adele

Beauty: My new hair colour!!!

Recently I finally took the plunge and dyed my hair pastel pink! It is something I have been thinking about doing for a long time and I am so happy with the results! I decided that I would share with you how and what I used to do it today, as well as how I maintain it and my favourite products for styling my hair. 

Hair Dying & Colour Maintenance Products
To dye my hair I first used the L'oreal colorista dirty pink washout hair dye to test the waters and see if I liked the colour - and I definitely did! This colour was really easy to use following the instructions and lasted 4 washes in my naturally dark blonde hair before I had faded completely.

Once the L'oreal dye had faded I decided to keep the colour and used Schwarzkopf's LIVE lightener + twist in 101 cool rose to get the colour for longer. If you have long and thick hair like me you will need 2 boxes of the dye to colour it all but for the reasonable price it is well worth it! I have also got a third box of the dye to recolour my roots (I have had the colour for 3 weeks and they have only just started to show!).

To maintain the colour of my hair I use Fudge colour lock shampoo and conditioner which not only smells amazing but really helps to maintain the colour of your hair. Also, it lathers up a lot so a little goes a long way and it lasts a lot longer. 

Hair Styling
To style my hair I use two of three products before blow drying it. I always use the Tresemme heat defence styling spray to protect my hair from too much damage. Then, if I am going to leave my hair natural I use V05's smoothly does it curl defining mousse to enhance the natural wave in my hair (to stop it from knotting I sleep with it in a french plait when it is dry). Then if I am going to straighten my hair I use the John Frieda frizz ease 3 day straight straightening spray simply so I do not have to straighten my hair everyday.

Once my hair is dry I use Tigi's dumb blonde smoothing stuff all over my hair to help with split ends, flyaways and smooth static. Then if I have left my hair natural I will use the Got2B beach matt texturizing spray to maintain the waves and give them a beachy yet finished look.


If you have any products you love and think I should try or you have experiences with dying your own hair leave a comment below! 

"Your hair is the
ball gown you never
take off".

- Jo Robertson.

Beauty: Eden Semilla 100% natural vitamin E oil Review

This week I was lucky enough to be given the chance to test a new product by Eden's Semilla! A lovely lady called Blanca got in touch with me and asked me if I would like to try out the company's new oil - which of course I was excited to do!

Eden Semilla is a company selling a variety of natural and essential oils, and face serums. It originally formed in the USA to meet demand for a South American variety of rosehip seed that creates incredibly versatile rosehip oil with fantastic benefits for hair, nails and skin. The name for the company comes from it's connections to South America as Semilla means seed in Spanish. I was given the opportunity to try the 100% natural vitamin E oil with organic rosehip and jojoba blend which has been created to repair skin cell damage to repair blemishes, discolouration, scars and acne, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, sooth irritated skin, revitalise dull skin, and soothe sunburn. Also, it can be used on hair to protect the scalp, detangle hair and leave it  looking smooth and shiny. 

I have tested the oil for 3 or 4 days and I have to say I am really loving it! I have been massaging a few drops into my skin in the mornings, mixing it in with my moisturiser in the evenings and combing it through my hair when it is damp after I wash it and daily before I go to bed. It have very acne prone skin I was reluctant to use it on my face as I have very oily skin, but this oil has actually helped reduce the redness and blemishes I have. In regards to my hair, it has made a huge difference in detangling it (as I can actually get a brush through it in the morning with this oil!) and it has also helped with my very dry and split ends! My only issue is that I am not the biggest fan of the scent, but I love the product so much that I can happily ignore this! I will definitely be repurchasing and trying more products from Eden Semilla!

If you would like to try this product it is available on Amazon for £12.95 and can be purchased here: http://amzn.to/2gSZWmw
If you would like to try some of their other products they can be purchased here: http://amzn.to/2gGqHqk
Finally, to find out more about the company you can check out their website here: https://edenssemilla.com/

"Beauty is how you

feel inside and it reflects in

your eyes".

- Sophia Loren.

This is a sponsored post - but I would not share any products I didn't love!!!

Beauty: VIDEO: Beginner's makeup starter kit

For today's post I have done something a little bit different and uploaded my first video for you to watch! This is a beginner's makeup starter kit and I hope you enjoy it! (Don't forget to subscribe to my channel after you have watched it!!!) 

"Self-confidence is the most important

element of true beauty".

-Robert Jones

Fashion: OOTD: November Blues

With the cold November weather finally reaching me in my new second home of Brighton, I decided that it was the perfect time to break out the winter fashions that I love so much and head out into the cold winds of the Brighton seafront in order to put them to the test and show them to you guys!

The outfit I went with was a mix of monochrome and blue tones - perfect for the winter season without being too dull. I paired this blue and white check cold shoulder dress (Topshop, £10 on sale) with black tights and this awesome blue and black platform ankle boots (eBay) to create a cure winter-toned outfit. 

Then to keep warm I wore my new black faux fur coat that you can see bellow (Primark, £20) and it certainly did the job of keeping me warm from the cold sea breeze! It also is extremely practical with two large pockets to keep my phone in (and my hands warm!). 

For accessories I also kept it very simple by layering a choker and a necklace. I wore this black tattoo choker (New Look, £3.99) and this black cord space ship necklace (vintage fair, £10) to add a bit of detail without over powering the whole outfit.

For makeup, I kept the majority of it simple with a nude and brown shadows (Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette), black liner (Soap & Glory Supercat liner), a light blush (Sleek Rose Gold blush) and a white-tone highlighter (Topshop Starlight Higlighter). Then add a bit of drama I wore a dark purple lipstick to create a focus point to the look and tie in the dark and blue tones of the outfit (Makeup Revoulition Salvation Velvet lacquer, Velvet Vamp).

I had lot of fun exploring Brighton seafront to take the photos and even stopped for a cheeky Shakeaway whilst out (strawberry and milkybar milkshake with with cream if you are interested!). I really enjoyed making this kind of outfit post so if you liked it make sure to let me know so I can do more! 

Photos: Scarlett Walker (Instagram: @scarlettsweird)

"Even when it's cold 

outside our memories keep

us warm".

-Anonymous