I'm A Not So Fresh-er Anymore!

So I survived my first year at Uni!! Not only that but i'm absolutely itching to get back, there's just under a month till I finally move back to start Freshers week, with a lot more familiarity than the previous year, and then getting back into the groove of learning i'm exciting to start doing something again! I've had a long and somewhat boring summer, not that the break isn't welcomed and to start with the endless amounts of time to do absolutely nothing but nap was tantalising, but I know myself well enough by now to know that doing nothing just isn't well suited to me. I've handled it like a pro, living up to my couch potato tendencies but without a job i've found myself going stir crazy.

With nothing to do but a casual job with Showsec (an event security company - a valuable experience as my degree is Events Management with Arts and Entertainment) that has been underwhelming due to my lack of money to actually get to the jobs, resulting in me only working one job so far. Although the job I worked was at Sheffield Arena while Take That were performing, now i'm not a huge Take That fan but there's no denying they put on an incredible show and what's even better, I got paid to attend!! Nevertheless i've been strapped for cash, spending money that I don't have on crap that I don't need so i've had a lot of time to think. I've been thinking about my degree a lot and how much I enjoyed first year, at some points I had doubts about my degree and whether I was good enough to carry on (mostly a self confidence thing) which let me to being dubious about applying for volunteering or work experience roles that would have helped me out. Now, nearing the end of summer, i'm getting my excitement back and am kicking myself for not working more! Because of this I am more determined than ever to push myself next year and be uncharacteristically proactive..

Back to my uni experience I have no other words other than that I absolutely loved every part of it and would more than happily repeat first year all over again if i could! I've met so many people in such a short space of time and have really felt myself grow, a year ago meeting this many people felt daunting and completely ridiculous! And while it hasn't always been a breeze and there were many awkward conversations and drunken moments i've come out the other end with friends and experiences that'll last a lifetime. For anyone who feels completely out of their depth and sick to their stomach nervous about starting uni, all I can say is that I felt the same and now look at me! YOU WILL BE FINE I PROMISE YOU, just relax and go with the flow and it'll come to you easier than you think. Saying that, don't sit back and let everything happen, initiate things and you might find this is when you find the best people.

Going into second year I know that I am going to have to work a hell of a lot harder and the work load may be more than last year but i'm ready to get stuck in. Having already half-moved in to my new house (which is so cute just look at my room (below))  i'm beyond excited to fully live there, there's nothing like feeling completely independent even if it is just for a few months a year. Overall I've had one of the best years in a city that i've grown to love with people that i'm excited to get to know better, and i'm about to have another.

 - Sam x

An Amateurs Attempt at a Book Review - 'All The Bright Places' by Jennifer Niven

The book in question: 'All The Bright Places' by Jennifer Niven

Firstly I want to say that fans of John Green (The Fault in our Stars), Rainbow Rowell (Eleanor and Park) and Gayle Forman (If I Stay) will no doubt love this book!

 (Photo ft. annoying rip in bottom corner yay)

I honestly can't rave about this book enough so bare with me if I start fangirl-ing something silly. This is a stand alone book, so there's no sequel or prequel which for someone like myself, who absolutely loves reading beyond the story, is a little frustrating. Although saying that, the book is more than enough within itself, Jennifer Niven has written a compelling, emotional and enlightening story of falling in love and meeting 'the one' at just the right time. 

The Book tells the story of Violet Markey and Theodore Finch through a duel narrative that Niven pulls off remarkably, each side of the story gives the reader an insight into the somewhat tumultuous lives of both characters and how their connection, while unconventional as they meet a top a bell tower fighting to save themselves, is one to be envied. Personally I think the duel narrative is one of the books best assets as you really get to know the characters and make your own connection. Theodore Finch clearly steals the show in this book, he's a wonderfully developed character fill of conflicting emotions that even I, an actual physical person and not a character, can't comprehend. He completely personifies the struggle between whats universally perceived as right and the inner personal struggle, which is something that I don't think is covered enough in modern young adult literature. Basically, be prepared to fall in love with him and all his imperfections. Hard.

Violet is also another well developed character, going through her own battles that are clearly visible from the get go, although without Finch she wouldn't be half as appealing in my opinion which proves how well Niven has forged both characters to compliment each other so well. The book is a young adult novel and so you can probably predict some themes present within the book; Love, friendship coming of age, peer pressure as well as others but the way Nivel has constructed the book so carefully to brush over these as well as a topic that is so often, wrongly, considered taboo; mental illness. This book carefully glides over the topic using it as a motif throughout the book instead of hitting it hard, head on. I like this as it gets you thinking without being an emotional wreck.

Niven has wonderfully described many settings throughout the book, her style of writing conveys the beauty through the eyes of her characters so well that you can picture yourself there. In my opinion you know it's a good book when you feel like you're right there experiencing everything with the characters, with this book you will be taken on a complete rollercoaster of emotions and love every minute of it because of Niven's meticulously thought out plot and elegant writing.

Overall this is one of the best books i've read not only this year but in a long time, I enjoyed every minute of it (which wasn't long because I read it well within two days) and am still thinking about it weeks after finishing. I'm not only recommending you read it, i'm telling you, you absolutely need to. Now.

 - Sam x

My 'Rainy Day Brownie' Recipe

This 'Rainy Day Brownie' recipe is called so because on a rainy British day which, lets face it, happens more often than we'd like (particularly in summer, I mean what's all that about?!) what's better than a chunk of chocolaty goodness. 

PLEASE NOTE: This recipe is not completely limited to only rainy days, feel free to bake whatever the weather! Now that we've cleared that up.. 

You will need: 

275g Chocolate - Half plain, Half milk

225g Unsalted Butter

400g Caster Sugar

1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract

5 eggs, beaten

200g Plain flour

Pinch of Salt

Icing sugar to dust

What to do:

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C or Gas Mark 6 and grease and line a deep tin around 20cm x 20 cm.

2. Melt the chunks of chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of boiling water - no need to stir here the magic will happen by itself!

3. Remove bowl from heat and add the caster sugar and vanilla extract, then leave the chocolate mixture to cool slightly - feel free to place on a window sill and let the smell waft to your envious neighbours (although don't blame me if they come round begging for a bite). 

4. When mixture is cooled, add the beaten eggs a little at a time till all mixed in, then sift in the flour and a pinch of salt and fold this in (with a metal spoon preferably) until the mixture is smooth.

5. Poor mixture into lined tin and place in the oven for around 25 mins.

 - Note, the time may vary depending on the size of the tin. After the 25 mins stick a skewer into the brownie and if it comes out clean it's done, if not leave in for longer - 

6. Allow brownies to cool completely in the tin before lifting out, when cooled cut into squares and dust with icing sugar.

7. Finally ENJOY!

- Sam x

Holy Grail Spot Treatment - Origins Super Spot Remover

Product in question: Origins Super Spot Remover, Blemish Treatment Gel

So about a month ago now I was in the midst of an aggressive breakout, I don't think there was a time that i didn't have at least one angry spot screaming 'LOOK AT ME!' so I went in search of some miracle treatment to immediately erase breakouts and banish them for good. While I was unsuccessful in finding some magic cure, I did find this product and now I worship it!

A little about the brand: Origins is a brand focused on natural ingredients and science. Their products are formulated with all natural and organic ingredients and 100% natural essential oils that have a history of use and proven scientific benefits to the skin. Along with all this they firmly believe in being kind to the planet as well as your skin, what could be better? 

Having never bought anything from the brand previously I had no expectation or knowledge of how it works. Finding out that all products are natural and kind to the skin from the lovely lady at the counter, I was immediately intrigued. Ive always thought that putting chemicals onto spots is surely going to hinder the process as appose to help so finding a natural product that supposedly does the job I was already handing the money over. 

Lets get to it!

Pros: Having used the product for over a month now I can definitely say that it works, it's a direct treatment, not a preventative treatment so don't go using it thinking you well never get a spot again. It works its magic by using healing ingredients (Salicylic Acid) to fight the blemish itself and anti spot technology to correct post blemish darkness, so not only does it get rid of the spot but it helps in the aftermath too! I got into the routine of applying three times a day and found that that in the morning of just one day of use, the results were visible! The spot, depending on it's intensity, would be almost or completely gone! A little goes a long way with this product, just a small amount applied to the area will do the job, another plus is that while it is a gel it doesn't feel oily and it dries incredibly fast not wasting anytime and ready for the day ahead. The best part of this product, for me anyway, is that you can feel it working after its dried, it makes the skin around the problem area slightly tighter, drying it out just enough to clear any excess oil and unclog pores.

Cons: Of course there has to be some downfalls for any product no matter how hard we try to find the good in everything. For this product its pure and simply its size,  the treatment comes in a small 10ml bottle and no other sizes are available and for £15 for a 10ml bottle its a little on the pricey side. Considering i've bought products over 100ml for around the same price, it may be hard to justify the price.

At first I was wary of the price and how likely i would be to repurchase, but after using it and absolutely loving its result I have no quibble in the price whatsoever and I have already repurchased this for undeniable future breakouts.

I would give this product 9/10 and highly, highly recommend!

 - Sam x

An Amateurs Attempt at a Book Review - 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' by Jenny Han

So. Here goes. I can't say i'm particularly qualified to write a book review other than the fact that i have indeed read some books, and i do have an opinion on them, but nevertheless i'm going to put an A Level in English to some use and try and write something somewhat informative and interesting. Wish me luck!

The book in question: 'To All The Boys I've Loved Before' by Jenny Han

(Picture sourced from: http://www.bookinity.co.uk/jenny-hans-to-all-the-boys-ive-loved-before-movie-rights-picked-up/)

The first of two books (as of May 2015), followed by 'P.S. I Still Love You' this is a charming book, in which 19 year old me relished in the romance and naïvety of its hopeless romantic protagonist and her, much to be envied, love life. 16 year old Lara Jean Song Covey (a mouthful of a name I must admit) is the narrator of her life, allowing the reader to be completely emerged in the story and, in my case allowed my younger self to live vicariously through her high school romances. As the title hints at, the books revolves around letters that Lara Jean wrote 'To All The Boys [She's] Loved Before' until they mysteriously (or not so mysteriously as the book reveals) get mailed to each of the 5 boys she's ever had a crush on. Now as a girl who had many a crush throughout school I cannot imagine a worse fate than the humiliating realisation of these boys knowing my innermost feelings, this is how Lara Jeans feels. The book tells a charming story of family, friendship and most of all the emotional turmoil that a first love entails.

For me Lara Jean was a compelling character, while she is completely predictable in her naivety and frustrating in her insecurities, you simply cannot help but egg her on in her quest for romance. The middle child in a single parent family Lara Jean encompasses both the maturity of a mother figure for her younger sister and the child like innocence of a girl trying to grow up. Her hopeless romantic nature and her charismatic personality is beautifully offset by Peter Kavinsky. Peter, a complicated love interest for Lara Jean is 'the popular guy' (and we all know one of those) whose 'experience' with romance and laid back attitude makes his connection to Lara Jean a wonderfully inviting story to read.

Now i'm not going to sit here and say that this is some literary masterpiece, because for me it wasn't. Some parts of the story felt irrelevant and like an obvious break from the main plot, and while I agree that these pauses in plot are important to keep the reader captivated, I felt myself getting bored and and just reading for the sake of reading. The setting focuses primarily on the high school and family home of the protagonist and while a cliche to some, there simply isn't any other setting in which a high school romance can take place, so if this bothers you, then get over it. While it's predictability may leave some readers yelling at the pages, you get what you expect with this book and anyone who is as much of a sucker for cute as I am will find themselves smiling and wishing you were 16 and in love.

Overall if you're looking for a delightful young romance to either reminisce about the good old days or to keep you entertained on the beach (or imaginary beach by the way of the living room sofa) this summer then I would fully recommend this smile inducing story by Jenny Han.

 - Sam x

Who Am I?

The question absolutely no one has been asking, Who Am I?

Purely for my own benefit of making this blog look somewhat legit this shall be my first post, a small insight into the girl behind the screen.

Well firstly, my name is Sam and i'm 19 years old and I've started this blog as a way to pass time in the never ending break from university that I am currently tortured with. With no job on the books as of yet i've found myself with an endless amount of time that's currently spent watching re runs upon re runs of friends (which I am not complaining about) and baking to my hearts content. While this doesn't sound particularly horrifying there's only so many episodes with only so many cakes that a girl can take without going a little stir crazy.

With no plan in mind for this blog, it'll be a little space on the web for my thoughts on various subjects to roam free. As a student my life isn't as glamorous as i'd like so the posts will be closer to a stay at home holiday than a 5* resort holiday in Dubai but nevertheless a real life blog is way more interesting, right? So I hereby introduce you to my blog of books, films, beauty, baking and struggling through life.

 - Sam x