Recent Favourites

23.12 in ate, favourites, i, Paid, recent, today, what

At the end of each month, I see an abundance (its a funny word, abundance. I dont know why. I remember the exact English lesson in which I learnt it and since then it has just stuck. Anyway...). At the end of each month, I see an abundance of *insert month* favourites popping up on my Bloglovin dashboard or in my YouTube subscriptions. 

Dont get me wrong, I love looking at what types of things people have been loving; it gives me ideas for things to try. But I ask myself each and every month, how on earth do people have a bunch of favourite things every single month?!? Am I the only one who uses the same things for a good few months? That is probably because once I find something that is a favourite I usually end up sticking with it as I dont see the point in moving onto another thing.

So I thought Id share a bunch of things that Ive been loving over the past few months. It would be pretty ironic if a few days after writing this, I have a complete change of heart and end up absolutely loving a bunch of other things. Oh well, I dont plan on doing monthly favourites, they may be more like here is a collection of things that Ive been loving for x amount of time ... or the easier title of recent favourites.

1. Dry Brushing

Wow. Just wow. Id heard of dry brushing a while back but thought it would be painful, scratching a brush against dry skin. But, I picked up this amazing brush in boots a few months ago and Im so happy I did! This little baby is used about 3-4 times a week, a whole lot more than when I just used normal body scrubs, and my skin is looking and feeling pretty darn good since I started. Ill let you read about the benefits of dry brushing here, but I will say that its so much easier to exfoliate as there is no mess - unlike when using sugar scrubs.

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been a favourite of mine for a while but over the past few months Ive started using it as a hair treatment and ooo my hair feels so soft after doing so. Typically, I try to apply it once a week, but sometimes I forget, and I usually put it on in the morning then leave it on all day with my hair tied up in a bun whilst I lounge around all day (like most days).

3. Tea Tree Oil

Speaking of things to help the hair, Ive recently been adding a drop of tea tree oil to my shampoo about once or twice a week. Tea tree oil helps with hair growth, hair fallout and dry scalps. We all suffer with our little problems and I suffer with a dry scalp (thanks genes) but Ive noticed quite an improvement since using it and I dont have so much hair fallout when I brush my hair.

4. Tangle Teezer

Following swiftly on, once again, with another hair favourite...the tangle teezer. Yes, Im well aware that Im like 3 years late to the hype but at least I joined aye? This little beauty has been a god send in the breezy weather of Britain. I also find it so much easier to keep clean than a regular brush, which is fantastic because loose hairs literally make my skin crawl (even more so when they are wet loose hairs, urgh)

5. Slip On Plimsolls 

I have been living in these for the past 2 months, they are so darn comfy! They are perfect summer footwear for people like me, who dont like showing a whole lot of their feet. They are comfy, practical, go with most things and were only £10!!! Thats all I have to say.

6. Coloured Fine Tip Pens

These little bad boys got me through my revision over the past couple of months. Their fine tip meant I could write with them and it didnt end up taking up half the page as well as looking neat. Who doesnt love a good bit of stationary?

7. Colouring

Yes, Ive joined the trend. Ive seen adult colouring books popping up all over the place but havent picked one up, instead I just printed a bunch of random pictures. Its so relaxing to just colour away and if youre anything like me and cant just sit a watch a program or film and need to be doing something with your hands, colouring is perfect as it doesnt take any concentration.

8. Bananas

Of course I had to include food favourites. For quite some time now, I have been in love with bananas and Im always stocked up so that I have a bunch ripening whilst Im munching away of the already ripe ones. Eat your bananas ripe and spotty people, they are more easily digested!! I love making creamy banana porridge or my new found love of banana nice cream.

9. Potatoes

Okay, this one may seem a little strange, but I potatoes have become kind of an obsession. More specifically, oil free potato wedges (aka my most eaten meal over the past few months). 

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7 Essentials To Make Your Uni Room Homely DIY

08.29 in 7, diy, essentials, favourites, homely, make, Paid, recent, room, to, uni, your

September is slowly approaching and what does that mean? Back to school, college or uni (or it could be earlier for some places around the world). For so many students out there, it is the exciting (and equally scary) time of moving away from home to go to university. Im one of those students; well hopefully depending on when I receive my results on the 13th of August. 

Along with many other daunting aspects of going to uni, such as meeting new people, the work load and living independently, leaving the comforts of home is a little sad. Especially leaving behind your own room which is your space to design, express yourself and hold all those precious (also many useless) items. 

Lets be honest, university accommodation isnt going to be like living in a luxury hotel. But its going to be your home for the year; your place to study, sleep, wallow in self pity and other things. Adding homely touches to make the place feel more comforting and more like your own place, rather than a last minute booked B&B, is always a great thing to do.

So when Parachute got in touch and asked about uni room/dorm essentials, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to share what Ill be planning to take and Ive compiled a list of essentials to make that dull room feel more homely.

A Rug

You may be thinking that a rug is pointless, not only will it add a nice touch to your room, but it will feel like youre bringing a piece of home with you. What do I mean by this? Well, you could use the rug a home for a while before you move out so then when you get to uni and wake up each morning youll be stepping onto a familiar feeling until your surroundings become more familiar.

Comfy Bedding 

What is better than getting into bed after a long, hard day? But lets be honest beds are just for sleeping....what about those neflix marathons! Fluffy pillows and a duvet are obviously needed, but you gotta get a lovely bedding set to cover them - whether you choose one that is plain, patterned or adds pop of colour always make sure its soft!

Blanket

I know you have the comfy bedding and all, but youve got to have a blanket to hand to snuggle into for those netflix marathons, comfort eating sessions or when you have a hangover (I expect that they will be pretty prominent in freshers week). Also, they add a nice touch to any room!

Memories

This one may come in different forms : photos, cuddly toys, ornaments, books etc. You arent going to need to take every little thing you own, just take a small selection that you can have dotted around your room. Even if you dont have the things on show at home (like me), you never know, a quick glance at those items may help banish any oncoming feelings of homesickness.

Greenery

Adding some greenery to a room brings about a sense of calmness. You could pick up a small fake plant or fake flowers (much easier to take care of) and place them in a decorative pot or vase. I plan on picking up some little succulents or cacti and having a few on a shelf in cute little pots.

Fairy Lights

Im not to sure how each university or college is with fairy lights, as I know some places dont allow them. But if youre going somewhere where they arent a problem then go ahead a string some above your bed, across shelves or wherever else theyll go. Fairy lights just make everything better! They instantly make a room feel cosy by flicking them on and any other lights off. So tumblr or what?!

Bunting

If you cant illuminate your room with fairy lights then bunting is a great option, it can make a boring shelf look all pretty or fill blank spaces on a walls. Bunting can easily  be picked up from many craft stores or even ordered online, but sometimes its much more satisfying making your own. 

So here is a really simple DIY you could be doing on those nothing to do days throughout the rest of summer (its a lot easier than it probably looks as the sewn outline isnt needed and only there for decoration).

What you will need:

• fabric (use assorted if preferred)
• triangle template
• needle & thread (use one colour or go wild with a bunch of colours. Matching the colour of the thread to the colours on the fabric looks really nice)
• string
• scissors
• hot glue gun

Directions

1. Draw around your template on the back of your fabric for how ever many triangles you want then cut them out.

2. Thread your needle then go ahead and get sewing about 1/4 to 1/2 an inch from the edge, but make sure to leave about an inch or more at the top of the triangle to create a flap over the string in the next step.

3. Lay your triangles out in the order you want them to go and using the hot glue gun stick the string along the top and fold the flap down over it to fix it in better.

4. Once its all done, hang it up and youre good to go!

So there you have it, those are my tips for making student accommodation more your own. Do you have any to add? Please share them in the comments.

I just wanted to add a little extra on the end to mention something amazing that Parachute does. Whilst having a browse on their website I found out they are in partnership with Nothing But Nets, who provide bed nets to help fight malaria. You can read about it on their website here.

As a little disclaimer, I was not told I had to mention the brand and there is no payment for doing so, but I wanted to mention them as I love that they are supporting a very good cause and wanted to share that. 

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