Top Inspirational/Motivational Influential Icons

For sticking it out. For being themselves. For believing in themselves. For believing in others. For being the best. For changing the world. For making the world a better place. For striving for the best. Here's to these inspirational people:

J. K. Rowling

Stephen Fry

Arnie

Steve Jobs

Marie Curie

Carpe diem xx

Back To School: Stationary Haul/Supplies

Sticky Notes:

I like Post-Its for daily to-do lists, sticking in agendas/academic diaries, or writing down key information for revision.

Fineliner Pens:

I use coloured Staedtler fineliner pens mostly for revision.

Colourful Stickers:

Great for marking tasks when they're completed, revision, or generally brightening up your notes/agenda.

Index Cards:

I love using colourful flash cards to summarise and learn key information during revision. As a dyslexic I find it particularly focuses my mind on what I need to learn for specific exams. I keep them in a plastic folder to keep them clean and neat when I pop them in my school bag.

Pens:

I find Uni-ball pens the only ones that I use daily for work, mostly because they flow properly and encourage me to write more. Always a bonus!

Carpe diem xx

Packing for University/College: What To Bring

The list can become ridiculously long, and does change with the type of accomodation that you are moving into at university/college, but here are some of the main things that I'm bringing for moving into my new off-campus house. Hope you find it useful :)

Bedroom:

Duvet and pillows

2 sets of duvet and pillow covers + sheets

Decorative cushions

Cosy blanket/throw

Tissues

Waste paper bin

Photo collage
Clothes horse/drying rack

Electrical:

Laptop

Chargers

4-plug adapter extension cords

Kitchen: 

A lot of (cheap) T-towels/dish cloths

Kitchen towels

Food storage boxes

Cooking utensils

Pot and saucepan

Can opener

Bathroom:

Toiletries

Body, hand and face towels

Toilet roll

Here's the link to the Bed, Bath and Beyond Beyond Campus packing list that I used:
http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/BTC_checklist.asp?

Carpe Diem xx

My Top Favourite (Free) Smart Phone Apps

My recent top favourite free smart phones apps:

Wunderlist - as soon as I got my phone I was searching for list maker apps, being list obsessed! Wunderlist allows you to create and edit as many lists as you want.

Instagram - it's great to share snapshots of your day with friends, family and followers.

Pinterest - I'd heard a lot about Pinterest before I downloaded it and now I realise what the hype was about. Being a visual person I love searching for inspirational pictures to 'pin' and making mood/inspiration 'boards' for fashion, makeup, decor, etc.

Any DO - start a to-do list of tasks that you want to complete by the end of the day, tick them off as you complete them, and continue the next day by adding new tasks alongside those you didn't complete the day before.

Angry Birds Rio - a completely addictive app that turns your phone into a toy, with a series of levels of increasing difficulty.

Carpe Diem xx

Style Confidential: Pale and Interesting Celebs!

In my opinion tans are too often over-rated and over-faked. These celebs illustrate beautifully how you can pull off the 'pale and interesting' look with different fashion and makeup looks.

Kristen Stewart: red carpet chique

Taylor Swift: stunning ballgown

Lily Cole: natural no-makeup makeup

Karen Gillan: everyday vintage glamour

Christina Hendricks: feminine sophistication

Carpe diem xx

Dyslexia: My Top 5 Back to School Learning Tools

Add colour to notes or essays everyday or when revising with different colour highlighters. 

Tip: choose a different colour highlighter for each of the different sets of information that you want to highlight.

Use coloured index or flash cards to summarise revision notes and test yourself. Using colours will help to store information in your visual memory. 

Tip: Get family or friends to test you on your notes in a quiz game.

Smart phones are great for helping you organise your revision schedule and exam timetable and stay on top of work.

Tip: Research shows that regular texting actually helps practice language skills.

Mini whiteboards are a cheap and fun way to record to-do lists or test yourself on what you have just learnt. 

Tip: Having two whiteboards means you could team up with revision buddies and have a competition on what each of you can remember.

Dictophones are great for recording lessons or lectures so that you never have to worry about missing out on crucial facts and figures when you feel bombarded with information overload.

Tip: During revision time listen to lectures, lessons, or revision notes when travelling gets boring.

Carpe diem xx

August Favourites: The Body Shop, John Frieda, and Organisation....

Technology: My new Sony Xperia Tipo! I finally replaced my old Sony Ericsson with a smart phone, after 4 years!

Reading: I got 'Girl With a Pearl Earring' (Tracy Chevalier) from the library, and am really enjoying it. It's classic historical fiction set in the 17th Century Dutch home of painter Vermeer.  

Skincare: I've been testing different moisturisers for dry/sensitive skin and really like this Vitamin E Moisture Lotion (SPF 15) by The Body Shop. It's a nice light moisture layer for the summer.

Haircare: Before blow-drying my hair I've been using John Frieda Frizz-Ease Heat Defeat protective styling spray. It leaves a nice glossy shine.

Homeware: I bought a 3-set of white wicker organiser baskets for my room and really like them. £20 from TVC.

Clothes: I've been loving the lace-trim jersey tank tops that I found in H&M for £7.99. I got one of navy blue and one in black. Abercrombie look for less!

Carpe diem xx