Image by roadkillbuddha
Planning My Birthday— it’s in 24 days. 24 days! Where has this year gone? To combat the fact I’m now another year older & can count down the years until my 30th on both hands (scary times), I’m reverting to my childhood & going out in fancy dress! There’s no rules or restrictions & I’m friends with quite a creative bunch, so hopefully they’ll come up trumps! I’m planning my superhero outfit, making the most amazing pink cape & trying to decide upon my alter ego name & power! It’s got to be girly, sparkly, pink, but powerful & punchy– any ideas are welcome!
Advertising— After much thought, I’ve decided to set up some advertising space on aimeemarieblog, which you can read about here, if you’re interested! I’ve also got some amazing giveaways & reviews in the pipeline, from companies such as the lovely ModCloth. Watch this space, or follow me on Twitter for details.
Weather— The weather is a very British thing to talk about, isn’t it? (It’s hardly surprising though– considering how dreary it usually is, I think we can be excused!) It’s been gorgeous outside today & I love finishing work in the early afternoon & going outside to glorious sunshine, getting in my car, windows down & music blaring out. My current playlist is one I made for my visit to Paris, called “Gay Paris, oui!” & brings back all kind of memories!
Sponsored Jog— I’m running / jogging / walking 10km on Wednesday with Kate. It’s come around so quickly! I have a feeling I’ll be walking most of it, but I’ll do my best! Expect some horrible, sweaty photos of us both. Thank you to everyone that’s already sponsored me, online & off, & if you’d still like to, it’s not too late. You know what they say– every little helps!
Honourable mentions— banoffee pie at The Beefeater; red grapes; Body Shop Shea Body Butter; re-discovering old handbags; filling up my diary; buying fancy dress clothes (possibly the best kind, no?); adding more glitter eyeliners to my ever-growing collection; almost finishing watching my Friends boxset; Ricky Gervais tickets; Wispa’s; geeking out over stationery!
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Filed under: Friday Feeling, Regular Features |
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Images by Wenday
Let’s set the scene: your exams are in a few weeks; you haven’t started revising; you don’t have a revision plan; you’re nervous! But don’t worry, all hope is not lost! Everyone feels that way about taking exams, but it’s important to remember that an exam is a test of learning, not memory– revision should be about gathering your understanding of a subject, not just cramming as much info as possible into your head, on the morning of the exam! But of course, last minute cramming can be helpful in some situations– I know it helped me pass some tests when I was at school!
Last Minute Tips
It’s recommended that you start revising at least 6 weeks before your exams, but if you don’t have enough time now, don’t worry about drawing up a revision plan / schedule. Try to follow these tips:
Make a least of your strengths & weaknesses in each subject & identify any gaps in your knowledge that need working on. A good way to do this, is to look at past test papers.
Alternate between subjects for a bit of variety e.g. two sessions of maths followed by a session of geography.
Don’t panic! Be positive & think about what you can achieve, rather than what you can’t.
How & Where To Study
Try to find a place with little distractions like food, tv, radio etc & keep background noise to a minimum.
Make sure you’re comfortable & have everything you need to hand.
Sit at a well-lit desk, rather than lounging on your sofa / bed.
Use post-it notes & index cards for bullet points & spidergrams.
Highlighters, coloured pens & paper make note-taking a lot more fun!
Keep yourself alert by changing between revision methods, like going from memorising to note-taking to reading.
Attend any extra revision classes that may be running in your school / college.
Make sure you have regular breaks to refresh yourself (although not too regular!) A 5 minute break every 45 minutes is better than a half an hour break every 4 hours. Look after yourself!
Dealing With Nerves
Think positive!
Check & double-check that you have all your tools (including any books you’re allowed to take in with you.)
If you’ve got to travel, make sure you leave in plenty of time & try & get their early so you have time to calm yourself down before entering the exam hall.
Eat & drink sensibly to keep your brain aler & drink plenty of water so you don’t become dehydrated,. Dehydration can lead to a lack of concentration.
In The Exam Hall
Look through the paper first & answer the hardest (or the one with the most marks) first.
Make sure you are actually answering the question! Don’t go off on a tangent.
Look how many marks are awarded & try marking it yourself mentally as you write, so you know you’ve made enough points.
If required, show all workings out.
Keep an eye on the time (take a watch!) & pace yourself.
Write as neatly & clearly as possible.
Give yourself 10 or so minutes at the end, to read through your answers.
After
Think positive! Don’t compare your answers with other people, as this can create negative feelings.
Don’t rush & check your answers in your textbook, as ultimately, it is now too late.
If you have more exams, take a break before you start revising again, as your brain is probably feeling quite frazzled now! Have something to eat & drink.
How well did you feel the test went? If necessary, adjust your techniques, as everyone works in different ways.
Good luck!
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Filed under: Articles, Hints, Tips and Advice, Life and Love |
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Friday 22nd May ‘09
Grey / charcoal summer dress — H&M
Gold chain necklace — H&M
Pink tights — Topshop
Leopard print shoes — Primark
Yellow eyeshadow — Make-Up Forever
Pink eyeshadow – Make-Up Forever
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Filed under: Regular Features, What I Wore |
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L-R: Image by Anushruti RK & Sean Stayte
Munch— I write about food every week, don’t I? I’m a complete foodie. It’s a pleasure & enjoyment for me, not just something I have to consume to survive. This week I’ve discovered I like Brie, made my own pizza with the boy (& it was quite literally one of the best pizza’s ever!), re-discovered Strawberry Pop-Tarts(!), made apple, raspberry & strawberry frozen lollies, chucked together a fruit salad & fallen in love with Milka all over again. Yum.
Photoshop— I totally get what Iconogenic are getting at here, but for me, this is a great resource to see just what lengths I can go to with Photoshop & how bad lighting can end up looking awesome.
Gifts— It’s lovely to give as well as take, but taking is generally great, no? My parents returned from Florida today, bearing handbags (Tommy Hilfiger, Betseyville & other amazingness) & make-up & perfume. Good times!
Honourable mentions— my interview for The [lovely] Sassy Minx; all the new ladies that have joined the UKLB network; being a clean freak while looking after the house; Irish brown soda bread with butter; Friends series 8; late nights watching movies & drinking Cherryade & vodka; emails about photo-work & lovely comments; my new sparkly pink hoop that I can not use for shite; the massive new H&M in town; Daisy sparkly perfume stick by Marc Jacobs & playing with new cosmetics!
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Filed under: Friday Feeling, Regular Features |
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When I wrote about Living & Studying in London, Caity also asked about London style & how it differs from the rest of the world. Defining fashion is so difficult, especially when the city is full of such stylish, eccentric & eclectic people!
Being Yourself
London is full of fearless fashionistas who will brave bold, new designs & wear what they like, without a care in the world but it is also full of slaves to the latest trends. Like any place that you go, it’s important to remember to be yourself & not be sucked in by the amazing advertising & flagship stores. If you like something, then wear it— you don’t need anyone else’s approval, which I think is why London is so full of style eye-candy— people just don’t care what anyone else thinks! I’m not saying you have to strive to be different from the ‘norm’— if you want to wear the same jeans that 50% of the ladies out there are wearing, then do it! But do it because you want to.
Defining Your Style
I’ve written about how to define your style before & how difficult it can be. I hate the idea of pigeon-holing myself, as I don’t have one signature style & like to mix things up a little! For that reason, I don’t like to pigeon-hole others either, but walking across the town, you’ll see several different groups of people, that are almost always defined by the clothes that they choose to wear— metallers, punks, 50s/60s inspired looks, trend fashionistas, metrosexuals, tomboys, girly-girls, thrifters & DIY outfits, chavs & townies, sports inspired looks, designer freaks & everything you could possible think of!
Because there’s a wide range of different shops available, you’ll find people wearing every kind of outfit imaginable, so Caity, in answer to your question, London is quite different from smaller towns in the suburbs– but because of this, you can still wear what you like & ‘fit in’, because there’s not one particular style to fit into!
Bring it, ladies!
It’s all well & good writing about fashion, but all the good stuff is in the photos! There are so, SO many stylish ladies out there in London-town (& beyond!) & fortunately for us, they have blogs, so we can see just how amazing they are!
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Yishyene @ Yishyene
Y does her own thing, keeping herself to herself & posts lovely outfit photos on the regular. There’s not too much about her floating around the internet, but from what I do know, she’s a crazy lady & that sometimes shows in her imaginative outfits! She mixes high-street with vintage pieces & pulls it off amazingly. Think summery skirts & dresses, with pretty shoes. Her style constantly looks so effortless & I only wish I could throw on some clothes & look equally as good! |
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Nikki @ Oh Fab
23, fashion-student-cum-Textiles-teacher & all-round fab gal with immense style. Nikki loves big heels, the colour black & statement jewellery! She’s originally from Wales & brought some of her Welsh charm to London for a while, whilst she studied, but now she’s back in Wales & has dragged some London style back with her. Nikki is on-trend, but always adds her own twist & isn’t adverse to a little DIY! |
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Mademoiselle Robot @ Mademoiselle Robot
30, Vintage Queen, online fashion editor & quirky lady. Mademoiselle Robot is originally from Paris & it shows, in her unique style. She mixes high-street, with designer pieces & hunts down vintage items, while helping you find your own vintage style, through her website. She’s adorably girly, without being pink & sparkly- think big, sexy bows & red lips, big skirts & petticoats & florals. She’s fearless in her fashion & wears anything that pleases her. Vintage jumpsuits? Owl brooches? Deer headband? Nautical inspiration? She’s got it all & she’s proof in the pudding that you don’t have to lose your style as you grow older & have children. |
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Lisa @ Pink-World & The Sassy Minx
30, Agony Aunt, journo-girl & pink-lover. If you hate the colour pink, cuteness & fabulous girlyness, step-away from Lisa Clark! This girl is my cup of tea, & some— sparkles, glitter, pink, stars, quirks & awesomeness! Lisa is a wannabe 60s icon & I don’t think I’ve ever seen a photo of her where she’s not wearing a shade of pink, which in my eyes is a great way to live! She mixes bright colours with her dark hair & clothes, for a look that’s adaptable for fashionistas of any & every age– her style is reflective of her bold personality, & while she’s a positive & happy lady, her girly style will remain! |
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Carrie @ Wish Wish Wish
18, Student & DIY-er extraordinare. Carrie’s style isn’t really my bag a lot of the time, but she does what she does incredibly well! If you like lace, muted colours, bows, skirts, key designer pieces & knitting/sewing your own clothes, Carrie’s your girl & if you haven’t heard of her already, where have you been? |
For up-to-date British fashion news & FAQs, from real-life ladies, visit LiveJournal community The High Street.
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Filed under: Articles, Hints, Tips and Advice, Inspiration, Life and Love, Style and Beauty |
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Impromptu day trips— I’ve ‘done’ Brighton so many times & it’s always the same, so this time me & the boy went to the Brighton Lanes for some shopping, instead of walking along the pier as usual & it was great. It’s nice to re-discover a place that you think you know so well! I’d recommend Harry Ramsden’s World Famous Fish & Chip restaurant too— amazing portions! We’ve also been spending our pennies on Oxford Street & filling our days by roaming around the streets of Camden– the lock is amazing now it’s been refurbed!
Feedback— I’ve had some really awesome feedback from you guys lately, including some lovely comments on this article & a really sweet email from a girl called Kate, so thank you! Feedback is really appreciated, especially when the statistics are telling me that you’re reading, but the comments don’t– I know it’s something I’m guilty of too, so from now on I’m going to try & make a conscious effort to comment on posts when I’ve ready them!
The Boyshape— “What are you writing about? Blog about me & how much you love me!” So Ashley, my dear, I love you millions & I’m on my way down to chill with you now! <3
Honourable mentions: learning new things at work; contemplating promotions; lost & found black & white photos; when the weather forecasts rain, but it’s wrong!; matching neon pink bags & purses.
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Filed under: Friday Feeling, Regular Features |
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A few weeks ago, I received this email from a girl called Caity, with a broad & vague question:
I’ll be studying close to London this summer- any advice?
London is all that I know & love. I’ve never studied in Central London, so I don’t feel qualified to give specific studying advice, but living in London, I’m a dab hand at…
Study-time
Image by Mil
London is home to more than 90,000 international students from over 200 different nations, so it’s no surprise that you want to study here! (You should remember that too, when you’re feeling alone in a new & strange place, that there are 89,999 people in the same boat, so break the ice & say hello!) There’s a lot to consider when you’re moving to another city, or even country, particularly when it’s a big, bustling place like the Big Smoke! It can be a big culture shock for a lot of people, especially when you realise just how busy it is here, all the time. It can be hard to find a moment to yourself!
Remember to work hard, have fun, make use of everyone at your disposal to help your studies & make sure you mingle with your peers– if you’ve come from abroad, you have the perfect chance to immerse yourself in a brand new culture & the potential to make life-long friends. Gala has a great article on how to settle in to a new city & make friends.
Getting Around
Image by Fabbriciuse
London is a rich, multicultural & dynamic place, that has a lot on offer, so the first thing to do is familiarise yourself with your surroundings. If you’ve come from a really quiet & small town, then the underground might seem daunting, but don’t worry as if you start heading in the wrong direction, you can always jump off & onto a train the other way, which is why I’d always suggest buying Oyster Card to save you money, especially as you can use it on buses & some trains too. You can grab a free tube map at most underground stations, but a lot of diaries / planners will have one at the back. Alternatively you could download & print one out from the internet beforehand! This is also a really good map, with universities & places of interest on it as well.
Food & Drink
Image By Kake Pugh
With so much food on offer, it’d be easy to eat-out or get a takeaway every night of the week, but if you’re on a budget, buy your groceries from a nearby supermarket (or support local businesses by going to your local butcher & food market.) You could even order your food online, if it’s easier. If you are going to have lunch / dinner out, go to a cafe or pub, for delicious meals ranging from burgers & fries, to fish & chips, to sausage & mash, to salads.
There’s restaurants & pubs on every street, but check out Baozi Inn, Square Pie & Tibits. Remember to look out for buffets, 2-for-1 offers & subscribe to Money Saving Expert’s restaurant deals to hunt out some bargains!
Nightlife
Image by Aubrey Arenas
As you can imagine, London is expensive (& busy), so it’s always good to look out for vouchers & special offers. Try & ring ahead if you’re going to a specific club & see if you can wangle a space on the guest list. A lot of places will honour this, if it’s a birthday or something special. It might not mean free entry, but it’ll certainly save you from waiting in a queue for hours! Check out Matter, The Underworld & KoKo as well as your Student Union bar. With great transport links, you don’t have to go out in London town itself- check out Croydon (Tiger Tiger, Reflex or The Black Sheep Bar), Kingston (Oceana), Brighton (Honey Club) or any other easy to reach place.
If clubbing doesn’t float your boat, there’s also an abundance of live music & comedy nights, in & around London, every night of the week, as well as cocktail bars including Belushi’s & 22 Below.
Days Out
Image by paulbence
Cathedrals, museums, galleries, shopping stores, parks, greenery, river cruises, 3D cinema experiences, markets, festivals, parties, theatre, exhibitions… London’s got it all! Once you’ve done all the obligatory attractions such as The London Eye & you’ve shopped til you’ve dropped in TopShop, H&M, Selfridges & Harrods, you might feel like you’ve exhausted all that London has to offer, but keep your eye on Time Out’s What’s On page for one-off experiences & bizarre attractions. Also, remember that as well as the flagship stores along Oxford Street, there are tonnes of markets, vintage stores & charity shops to rummage through too, for one off pieces.
Sometimes, a girl just needs some time out, so go & do something different. Go & scream on rollercoasters at Chessington World of Adventures & Thorpe Park, feed lambs at Godstone Farm, throw pebbles into the sea at Brighton Beach, coo over cute animals at London Zoo, fly a kite on Hampstead Heath, go to a chocolate-making workshop, go to leafy Surrey for a bike-ride, have a picnic in Hyde Park, watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, go to a pole-dancing lesson & have fun! If you look closely enough, there are lots of free things to do too.
London can be big & scary, but there is so much to do, right on your doorstep. I’m not advocating the neglection of your studies, but if you’ve been given the chance to live in a new city/country for a year or more, use your time wisely & take your head out of your books every now & then, to look at this amazing new place that you’ve landed in.
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Filed under: Articles, Hints, Tips and Advice, Life and Love, Travel |
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Chicken chow mein; neon pink & electric blue; Primarni; cooked breakfasts; tiffin; nights in with the girls; lay-ins with the boy; babywipes; long-distance phonecalls; Ribena; revamping WordPress; pancakes after work; my Twitter pals; Uni Qlo bargains; bedtime!
I’ve been busy this week with real-life socialising & generally being a good housewife, in between re-installing WordPress & brainstorming ideas for my portfolio, so sorry for the lack of posts! (You might find you have to re-subscribe, if this post isn’t appearing in your RSS reader.)
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Filed under: Friday Feeling, Regular Features |
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Being in the kitchen— Since Wednesday, I’ve made french toast, potato dauphinoise (yum!) with haddock & veg, apple crumble (so easy & so impressed at how good this tastes), chicken biryani & a lemon drizzle cake. I don’t always get the time to cook/bake during the day, so I’m relishing the opportunity while my parents are away. Me & the boy are living like kings (& queens)!
BBQs— Bank Holiday weekends are immense (& would be even better if I didn’t have to work!) & this one see’s the first BBQ of the year! I’m such a carnivore, so for me, they’re absolute bliss.
Duvet time— Burning the candle at both ends is really catching up with me, so I had the best power-nap this afternoon, snuggled under my duvet watching E4, while the sun was blazing through the window. Gorgeous!
Narcissism— Every now & then, a girl loves to take some self-portraits & talk about herself a little, for interviews. Saying that, I’ve found re-writing my bio kinda hard. A small dose of narcissism a day, keeps the doctor away!
Being productive— Having the house to myself keeps me busy– running errands, tidying, cooking, washing, shopping & all that jazz. I love being busy, as nice as lazy days are. I always feel so much more accomplished, rather than wondering where the hours have gone. I’ve recently revamped my portfolio & all the subpages on the blog (again- I’m so indecisive!)
My 101 in 1001— I’ve made a separate page for my challenge, to refer to as I keep forgetting what some of my smaller aims are, that I should be completing daily. Maybe that’ll help. I’ve still got 50% of my list to write out & I’m struggling slightly, for any meaningful goals! Any ideas?
Comments / emails— I’ve been really bad at replying to comments & the like recently, but I’m trying to catch up! Thanks you for all of your messages though, they’re appreciated! Out of interest, how many people check back on a blog post that they’ve commented, for a reply? Not just mine, but any blog. I always dither between replying in the original comment/post or in the latest post of the commenter’s blog (if they have one.)
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Filed under: Friday Feeling, Regular Features |
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