Make The Most Of University

After finishing university about two months ago, I did not quite believe that I had completed four years of my degree and it was finished forever.  It did not sink in for such a long time but with the starting date of my job looming closer and closer (eek it's tomorrow) it now seems very real.  My time at university has had it's ups and downs but it's been such a blast and I would definitely do it all over again!

Here are my six tips for making the most of university:

One.
Join clubs and societies.  It gives you a chance to do something you have never done before, or you can join in with an activity you have always wanted to do.  It also gives you a chance to meet new people, it's fun and you may discover an activity you really love.  I only really got involved with things in my last year and really wish I had got involved much sooner from day one!

Two.
Explore the place you live in.  Again, I did not make the most of this opportunity for a very long time. But when I did start looking around it was great to explore new towns, big cities and little villages.  Especially if you are at a university in a small town you can start to feel very trapped if you don't get out and about.  It stops any boredom and you can make new friends if you ask people at university to join you.

Three.
Get out there and make friends.  It seems like an obvious one but introducing yourself to random people can be a bit daunting.  I remember on the first week I met so many people.  I ended up going on nights out with random people I had just met, to house parties and socialising with so many people in my block of flats.  I didn't talk to many of those people after the first few months, but the more you get out there, the more likely you are to make friends.

Four.
Study.  Again another obvious one.  But don't make the same mistake I did and not study in your first year then end up failing.  I feel like such a loser for this mistake but learnt from this and got much higher grades in my other years.  Don't leave everything until the last minute, plan ahead and know what is expected of you.

Five.
Prepare for your future career.  I know so many people that have finished university in the last two years who still do not know what to do with their lives.  They are in jobs that they hate, or even worse, don't have a job at all.  Before starting and leaving university I have researched different careers, done lots of work experience and been to various careers fair.  The future seems so far away and it seems like a lot of effort to do, but it does all pay off.

Six.
Go on nights out.  Get socialising.  Or not necessarily on nights out if that isn't your sort of thing.  Any sort of event.  Organise things, attend events and gatherings.  This is the way you will make good friends, so any time you are bored you will be able to call up a mate instead watching the next cat video on Youtube.

So to round it up, HAVE FUN but study as well :D

I am moving to my new flat later on today where I will not have any internet.  Who knows how long it will be until I get internet set up! So it may be another long silence from me.  Meanwhile you can follow me on instagram.

Do you have any university tips to share, or will you be going to university this year?

Nobody Likes You When You're 23.

Again, another long silence from me. I have been very busy.  I have a job!! I have not yet started but have been busy organising for my new job and getting a flat sorted! It's all very exciting and I will be posting about it soon.

But on to other news.  I turned twenty-three on Wednesday.  Wow, 23! How scary!  On the evening of my birthday I went out for a meal and drinks with a friend.  The following day me and my Mother went to the theatre in London to see We Will Rock You.  I had never been to a theatre before so that was quite exciting.  I then went out on Friday night with my university mates and spent the day in London on Saturday sunbathing and drinking.  We took a stroll through Hyde Park where we knew the Rolling Stones were playing.  Although we didn't have tickets we were able to stand right next to the stage on the outside of the gate and hear the music very clearly.  We even saw a few glimpses of the band when they opened the gate.  It was such a good atmosphere with people dancing, drinking, trying to peep through the fence and enjoying some free music.  Four days of drinking and no sleep really takes it's toll though and I am now exhausted!

Here are some birthday pictures.

Present from my parents.  Love this perfume!

Another present from my parents.  Bag from Next.

Present from me... to me.  Shoes from ASOS.
I wore these on Wednesday night... nearly toppled over a good few times!

Present to myself.  New phone!!

Much better than my crappy old Blackberry!

Me ready to go out on Friday night.

I am now going to slap some suncream on and spend the rest of the day enjoying the sun before I start working.

I hope you had a good weekend!

Maria's Festival Guide Part II

Seeing as it's festival season, I have made a guide for all you festival first timers and those who are unsure what to take.  My first list is here, and now here below are my checklists for the toiletries and clothes you need to take.

Toiletries

1. Talcum powder - Never know when you might need a bit of talc.

2. Cotton wool - Depending on what products you use.

3. Deodorant

4. Mouthwash

5. Toothbrush 

6. Toothpaste

7. Baby wipes - Very essential if you want to remain slightly clean.  Also very handy to clean all that mud off.

8. Soap - I usually avoid having a shower at festivals but I do like to wash my hands now and then.

9. Dry shampoo - I usually try to avoid using this but I take it just in case.

10. Make-up remover

11. Cleanser - The Clean & Clear cleanser I take is quite strong, usually too strong for every day use.  However being unable to wash your face at a festival I find this cleanser perfect to use both morning and night to clean all that dirt and grime off.

12. Make-up.

This isn't essential at a festival but I do like to take a few bits.

Moisturiser, primer, foundation, concealer, lip balm, mascara and eyeliner.  I try and take samples or small bottles to keep my luggage as light as possible.  I also take tweezers and small nail scissors - You never know when you might need a tweeze or to cut a ripped nail!

Even though I take all that make up, most days I only use the moisturiser, concealer, Porefessional primer from Benefit and my trusty Lily Lolo foundation and keep my eyes bare.  I just can't be bothered witht he effort of slapping too much on.

Other toiletries you may consider taking are shampoo and conditioner depending on if you want to brave the showers and wash your hair; hairbrush or comb; hairbands can be very useful, cotton buds, possibly a razor or some hair removal cream although I don't bother with that and of course a towel.

Clothes

1. Underwear - Of course knickers and bras unless you want to wear the same one all weekend.

2. Socks - I take normal socks and thick socks for wellies. Football socks can also be quite useful.

3. Waterproof trousers - These aren't the sexiest or the most fashionable piece of clothing.  I only took these because I was working and may have had a night time shift.  I wore them once when it hammered it down with rain, then when the sun came out I took them off and was wearing my normal clothes underneath.

4. Waterproof jacket - Essential!!

5. Hat - It can become very cold at night time at festivals.

6. Gloves.

7. Trousers - I usually take one pair of jeans and never wear them.

8. Shorts - I take a few pairs because I live in shorts at festivals.

9. Leggings - I find it easier to wear leggings and shorts instead of trousers. Leggings are also useful if it's very cold at night and can be worn under pajamas.

10. T-shirts/tops - I usually take the number of t-shirts for the number of days I'm going.  Some people only take one or two but I don't want to put on a dirty t-shirt.  I usually take one long sleeved shirt then the rest with short sleeves.

11. Hoodies - I take about 3 or 4.  Just because if it rained and your hoody gets soaked, it feels awful putting on a cold soaking wet hoody. I sometimes also wear a hoody while sleeping.

12. Plastic ponchos - I love these as they can fit in your pocket and also keep you slightly warm.

13. Pajamas/Onesie - I never take proper pajamas.  This year I have a onesie, other years I have worn trackies and a tshirt to sleep in.

14. Bikini - Just in case I want a shower... or if the unexpected happens and it becomes sunny enough.

15. Wellies!! - A must!!

16. Normal shoes - I usually leave these in the car so I have comfy shoes to drive home in.

17. Flipflops - Just in case you use the shower and don't want to walk barefoot in everyone else's grime.

Do you take anything I have missed off the list?

Are you going to any festivals this year?

Sleep, Domino's and Tinnitus

I got back from Download Festival today.  A week of camping, no showering, lack of sleep and drinking really takes it's toll and I was glad to get home, even if it was an awesome weekend.

This year instead of buying a ticket for the festival I decided to do volunteer work with Oxfam.  This means I had to do a few shifts doing various jobs but got to see bands for free.  It was well worth it.

My favourite acts of the weekend were Slipknot, Enter Shikari, Stone Sour and Bullet For My Valentine.  All four were excellent.  Other favourite acts include Architects, Five Finger Death Punch, Modestep and Rammstein as well as getting to see Asking Alexandria, Papa Roach, Korn, Dragonforce, Jimmy Eat World, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, Graveyard, Cancer Bats, Coal Chamber, Parkway Drive, Gaslight Anthem, Thirty Seconds To Mars and a few others.

I had such a good weekend.  Download is definitely my favourite festival and I can't wait to go again!

I didn't take many photos as I didn't want to lose my camera when dancing around in a crowd so left it hidden in my tent most of the time, but I did take a few.

Main Stage.

Motorhead.

Enter Shikari.

Enter Shikari.

Security and festival wristbands.

I am now showered, am full up from my Domino's pizza, feel slightly deaf from a weekend of music and all I want is my bed.

Such a brilliant weekend!

Maria's Festival Guide Part 1

I may see myself as a bit of a festival pro seeing as I have been to my fair share of festivals over the years.  So I am going to share my festival list with you, so you can be fully prepared without experiencing an overloaded car and many long arm-breaking trips back and forward from car to campsite.

1. Tent - 
Unless you are going for the day of course.  Choose wisely, you don't want a flimsy tent that collapses under the tiniest gust of wind, then again you don't want to spend £100s on a fancy tent that may get muddy/trampled on etc.  In fact, WILL, get muddy.

2. Sleeping bag -
For obvious reasons, unless you want to be shivering all night.

3. Pillow -
Not necessary, just depends how comfy you want to be.  I always take a pillow as any sleep at a festival is precious sleep.

4. Blow up mattress - 
Again, not necessary, it depends on comfort vs how much you want to carry. Additionally you could get a self-inflating mat, or just choose to sleep on the floor.

5. Pump - 
Unless you want to blow up that mattress with your mouth.  If that is even possible.

6. Torch - 
Very handy, especially for those night time trips to the loo.

7. Loo roll - 
Essential! Keep some in your tent, some in your bag, some in your pocket. Never know when you might need some toilet roll.

8. Wellies - 
Essential.  I always laugh at those fools who turn up in their trainers then end up having to buy expensive wellies at the festival.

9. Money - 
Obviously!

10. ID - 
Again, an obvious one if you are planning to buy or even take in alcohol.

11. Tickets! - 
Well, duuuhh!

12. Antibacterial hand gel - 
A must! If you are a clean freak like me you will take a bottle for each day. Ok maybe that is over exaggerating, but make sure you take at least one bottle.  I take antibacterial wipes as well.

13. Plasters & headache pills - 
Not absolutely essential. But I always seem to be a walking first aid box, you never know when a plaster may come in handy, and you don't want to be walking around with a throbbing headache all day.

14. Camera -
Just incase you want to take a few pictures for those awesome memories.  You may want to take a disposable camera depending on if you think you may drop it in the mud or lose it. I just take my digital camera and make sure I look after it.

15. Tape - 
Just in case you get a hole in your tent... or to tape your tent poles together if they break.  This happened on the first day at my first festival. Luckily I was prepared.

16. Phone - 
Just in case you want to find your mates/call your Mum/check the time.  You may not want to take your new, expensive phone.

17. Bin bags - 
Useful for putting muddy clothes in, rubbish etc as well as lining your car when you're ready to go home.

18. Toiletries - 
I will make a separate post on this.

19. Clothes - 
Another post on this to come as well.

Do you have any festival must haves that I have missed off the list?

New Buys For Download Festival

It's festival season coming up and I am off to my first festival of the year next week so I have been spending a bit too much money on things I probably don't need.  My first package out of five arrived today from boohoo.com.  I had ordered two pairs of shorts (one which came looking rather creased!) and a onesie.  I have always wanted a onesie but have never quite managed to get one.  This week I started to think of what to wear at night at a festival when it is cold and I am trying to sleep.  Perfect excuse for a onesie right?  I thought so!

Have you started shopping in preparation for any festivals yet?

I PASSED!!

Yesterday I discovered my exam results... and it turns out I passed!!  With some firsts in there I was quite proud of my results, shame they weren't all firsts.  But nevertheless, I passed university! I am now officially a qualified radiographer.

As soon as I found out my results I phoned my Mum who was super happy and bought me some gifts.  Then I went to the pub and celebrated.

I have never felt so relieved in my life!!

I DID IT!!

Now I just need to ace my upcoming interviews and get a job.

Good luck to everyone else awaiting results!