Sophie Elise
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Lifestyle

Uni room tour

7/4/2019

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  I've been wanting to show my uni room on my blog since I arrived in September, so I think it's about time I show you guys around considering I go home in less than a week ​(honestly, I can't wait). My mental health has been struggling a bit recently, so a nice and easy post was perfect for me this week. So, welcome to my lil' slice of comfort...this post was definitely a good incentive to make me tidy up! 
Uni room tour
  As you can see, I have a 3/4 double bed, ​a nice and big desk and lots of storage (and if you look close enough, you can see my boxset of The Office even though I got rid of my TV). Those red boxes by my chair aren't usually there, they're waiting to be filled with all of my stuff for when I come home!
  I also have an en suite with a toilet and shower, but to be honest that's really nothing special. 
Let's look a little more at my desk, shall we?
  Here it is! I wish I could say this is where I spend most of my time, but I'd be kidding everyone...we all know I rarely get off my bed.​ ​​I kind of have my desk split in half, all of my uni stuff is on the left hand side (printer, stationery etc) and then I have all of my skincare on the right. That really helps with keeping organised. And of course, I have loads of pictures and cards from home!
  In my little storage shelves I have some books, my uni folders and all of my makeup and perfume. I also use this adorable little DIY trick ​that I stole from India to store all of my earrings.
Uni room tour
Uni room tour
And then there's the most important thing, of course... my bed!
Uni room tour
  Here's my lovely cosy bed, where I spend all of my time unless I'm at uni.​ I've decorated it a bit by stringing up some fairy lights and photos and putting some artwork on the side of my wardrobe (and a cushion with my dog's face on it, lol). I've also got some fake cacti on the shelf/headboard because I was too scared to bring real plants in the car with me (lol) but next year I'm going to bring real ones, I really miss having plants and that freshness in my room.
  Just around the corner is a coat rack and my wardrobe, and then my bathroom. I do love this little room, but I'm definitely ready to move out of halls!
Uni room tour
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Here's some tips on how to save money as a student.
Want to see more of me? Follow me on Instagram.
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A Reflection on my 2019 Goals

28/3/2019

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  Okay, I’m firstly going to start off this post by saying how the hell are we a quarter of the way through the year?! Time really flies when you’re constantly distracted by mental breakdowns and procrastination (not a great combination, by the way).
 Anyway, at the end of last yearI shared my goals for 2019 with you guys, so I thought it would be a nice little habit to get into to share how those goals are going every so often. 
1. Immerse myself into blogging
  I hate to gloat, but I think I’ve done pretty bloody good with this goal so far. I’ve kept to my regular blogging schedule, been to a couple of blogging events and I’m working on interacting more and more on my social media (still working on finding that perfect spot with Insta, but I’m trying). Blogging is probably my favourite thing in the world (besides The Office) and since the start of this year I’ve made some incredible friends through it, so this goal is going very well. I can’t wait to see where blogging can take me later in the year!
A reflection on my 2019 goals
2. Sleep more/better
  I was actually pretty worried about this one, considering my sleeping pattern literally disappeared in 2018, but I’ve been doing relatively good with my sleeping. I get up at the same time every day and I’ve set myself some ‘time targets’ for getting into bed and turning off technology etc. I do sometimes still get days where I can’t get to sleep until late, but on the whole my sleeping has definitely improved.
3. Find a balance
  I’m not sure whether I can even count this one anymore. I wanted to balance uni, a social life and blogging, but to be honest my social life has gone out of the window this semester (my own choice lol) so I’m super duper on top of both uni work and my blog. When I go back to work over the summer, that may be a different story. 
A reflection on my 2019 goals
4. Learn to budget
My next goal of learning to budget is going about as well as you can expect it to go for a fresher. The problem is I’m a serial snacker. Everything else in my budget is fine, but I just have to go to Tesco and buy a load of snacks every so often because I’ve bloody eaten them all. I’d like to say I’m going to work on this, but let’s not kid ourselves. My snacking habits are going nowhere.
5. Stop putting things off
  And finally, probably my biggest (and broadest) goal was to stop putting things off. Well, I’ve (successfully) applied to become a student mentor, applied to study abroad, been to two blogging events on my own and done a few other things that have pushed me out of my comfort zone. I can definitely give myself a pat on the back for those things, but I’ve also pulled out of a few things because of my anxiety and I do still put a lot of things off if I’m having a bad brain day. For now, I’m going to be making small steps and not focus too much on when I do put something off. 
A reflection on my 2019 goals
There you are, all up to date with how I'm doing with my goals for the year. I'm going to try and do these sorts of posts once every three months, so keep your eyes peeled! How are you doing with your goals for 2019?
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I chat some more about budgeting in my most recent post.
Want to see more of me? Follow me on Instagram.
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Easy Ways to save as a student

24/3/2019

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  In terms of money, being a student is shit. My student loan doesn’t even cover my rent and when I started university I found myself scrounging for pennies at the end of each month. I know it’s obviously going to be difficult to begin with because, for most people, it’s the first time you’re budgeting for your entire existence. Here’s the thing though, it doesn’t have to be so tough! Here are some nice little ways of saving money when you need it most.
 Download savings apps
  For this I use an app called Monzo, but I know there are lots of different apps around. With Monzo, you can set up a ‘savings’ pot where you can have a setting on that puts at least a pound into the pot every day and every time you spend the price is rounded up and the leftover change is put into savings. It sounds straightforward and that’s because it is! I haven’t really noticed the money missing ​and in January alone I saved around £130. Like I said, you really won’t notice the money is gone and it makes saving much easier! With Monzo you can also budget how much you want to spend on certain things (eg travel and groceries) and you get a notification on your phone every time you spend.
Simple ways to save money
Shop online
  Doing my general, weekly shopping online (toiletries and groceries) has literally transformed the way I buy. ​Doing your weekly shop online means that you can search for the items you want and you have the option to buy cheaper versions or see offers, instead of being limited to whatever’s in the shop. Shopping online also prevents you from bimbling around the supermarket and picking up things you really don’t need, like a £4 mug with cats all over it (okay, how could I have left the shop without it?!). Buying fresh food from markets will also help you save cash, if you can get to one.
Simple ways to save money
Bulk buy
  Okay, so I know I’m talking about saving money but hear me out. If there are things that you buy regularly, especially toiletries, and you see the item on offer…buy a load of it. I do this with toothpaste and mouthwash a lot when they’re on offer for £1 instead of something insane like £2.50 – think of how much you’re saving in the long run! As long as it won’t go off anytime soon and you definitely need it or use it regularly, then buy it in bulk when it’s cheaper.
Think of the environment
  This is a little added one, but environmentally friendly goods will usually save you money! For example, a few weeks ago I picked up a little item that holds half of your lemon in the fridge so that you don’t have to wrap it in foil. It’s completely reusable and was only £4. The only thing I use foil for is wrapping my lemons/limes in the fridge, so this has saved me money in the long run! Things like Tupperware instead of freezer bags are also great. Little swaps will help your bank balance and the environment.
Simple ways to save money
  There are some basic tips to help you save as a student, obviously if you're on a low budget this will help out too! I haven't noticed changes to my day to day living but my bank account is much happier for these changes. Do you have any other saving hacks you'd recommend? Let me know!
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Want to read more student bits? Here's my fave things about uni.
If you want to hear more from me, follow me on Instagram. 
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A Recent Read: Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race

17/3/2019

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  Waaaay back in November, when I actually had money and was spending too much time mooching around Cardiff in an attempt to avoid essays and revision, I headed into Waterstone’s and bought too many books. One of those books was Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge. As a white person who has never faced any race-related battle (and probably never will), I knew I had to pick this up. It was definitely worth the read! It's pretty fitting to chat to you about this book this week, as I've just finished writing an essay about racism in journalism so I'm allll over the subject.
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  ​The book starts off with a brief history of black people in the UK. I can remember once questioning why my GCSE history course contained one female and the rest of the course was dictated by white males, but I honestly didn’t realise how little I knew about black history in my own country. I actually didn’t know much (barely anything, in fact) about slavery in the UK…can you believe that?! So, there’s me being called out for my ignorance within the first few pages. I really appreciated the first chapter giving a briefing on black history in the UK because it makes it much easier to navigate the next few chapters.
  The book discusses how corrupt the system is and I found the “Fear of a Black Planet” chapter particularly interesting. For example, a fully qualified black man (I’m talking degree level qualified) has as much chance of getting a job as an unqualified white male. I really don’t think I can explain how horrifying some of the stats were. 
​  I also enjoyed a chapter named “The Feminism Question”, which actually reflected on something I’ve been pondering for a while. Why are feminists all for ‘women supporting women’ until it’s a black woman who needs that support? Reni chats about an interview she had with a woman in this chapter who clearly was not about supporting all women and it’s truly inspiring to read about her resilience.
  I think what made Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race so impactful to me was that we are living in this moment. Reni talks about the past, definitely, but she also talks about present issues such as the case of Stephen Lawrence and the casual racism that, on the whole, British society has allowed in. I have always been aware of my own white privilege and I’ve always tried to speak up about topics that I feel strongly about and can use my voice for, equality and racism being two of them, but after reading this book I was insanely inspired to speak out about more things that I disagree with; with that said, please feel free to call me out if you ever think I’m being ignorant.
​  Reni’s resilience as a black female journalist shines throughout the book and I think she would be a truly incredible woman to meet, she’s surely a force to be reckoned with. If you’re wanting to learn more about our history (no matter what those history courses don’ttell you, this is our history) and generally not be a shitty and ignorant person, may I suggest heading to your local bookstore right now. If you’re not quite ready to face the factual truth, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is a nice place to start, which is a fictional novel based on police brutality in America.
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​This post contains affiliate links.
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Want some more reading inspo? Here's another recent read.
​If you want to see more of me, you can follow me on Instagram. 
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Nothing Looks Good on Me

10/3/2019

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Disclaimer: I have collaborated with Hunkemoller for this blog post, however all words and opinions are my own.
  Okay, that title is a lie. Things do look good on me, but that thought runs through my head more times in a day than I’d like to admit. As a female who doesn’t fit the most popular beauty norms, I am definitely not as kind about my body as I should be sometimes. 
​  I have big boobs, big hips and a big bum. Of course, I have a lil’ tum too, but I’m learning to love that. When I wear relatively fitted clothing, my body doesn’t look too bad. But the thing is, I hate wearing fitted clothes. Baggy t-shirts are my comfort dream, but looking like a shapeless marshmallow is not my ideal. It doesn’t help that I put on and lose weight extremely quickly, thanks to my PCOS. If I have a few days of bad eating, I can definitely notice it. Don’t even start me on how bad I look when I start my period. My stomach is honestly like a rock. 
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​  Finding clothes that look good on your body and also allow you to feel comfortable and confident is something that I came to terms with sometime last year. I now know that I will never step foot in a Topshop dressing room without wanting to cry, because they make their clothes for women who don’t carry a pair of DDs on their chest. Don’t even start me on buying trousers and jeans, unfortunately Fashion Nova are the only place I can buy a pair of trousers from that can get around my booty and hips and still accentuate my waist – and I really don’t want to support fast fashion. 
​  Have I also mentioned I’m 5’8”? So just to tot everything up for you; I have to shop in tall sections, big busted ranges and sometimes plus size sections so that I can squeeze my hips and backside into a skirt. ASOS have recently created a line for those of us with bigger busts, and the incredible brand Hunkemoller have swimwear and lingerie to suit any body type. They so kindly sent me a bikini from their DD+ section, and let me tell you that it fits like a dream. No more feeling shit for having to pick up an XL bikini just to fit the girls in and then tying it ridiculously tight around my back, or grabbing a pair of bottoms in a size up so my bum isn’t on full show, but then the front of the bikini goes all wrinkled and weird (girls, you know the deal). 
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​  There is almost an excitement in realising that you’ve found the shop that works for your body. I’m really trying to be more ethical with my buying, so sometimes that product is a men’s, size large t-shirt from a vintage store, but that’s okay. As for buying a bikini that keeps me secure and looks bomb?! Hunkemoller is absolutely the way to go. It will definitely take some time (and a few meltdowns) to find the stores that work for you and your body, but once you have then it will really change the game for you in terms of how you shop and your self-confidence. 
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I have another chat about body image here.
Want to see more of me? Follow me on Instagram.
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A Recent Read: The Discomfort Zone

10/2/2019

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  If you didn't already know, Farrah Storr is one of my idols. ​As an aspiring journalist, she really is quite a woman to look up to (Cosmo has been my favourite magazine for years). I had the pleasure of meeting her at a Cosmopolitan networking event a few years ago and that was when I realised that this woman was a woman. So, when she announced she was releasing a book I preordered it immediately and patiently waited for months - my god, it was worth it.
Disclaimer: This post includes an affiliate link. It won't cost you any extra, but I will receive a small amount of money.
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  'The Discomfort Zone' is a mixture between Farrah's personal experience, others' inspirational stories and advice/information about your own personal discomfort zone. I had a relatively stressful year in 2018 (to say the least) and I really wish this book had come out earlier because it would have motivated me to power through some hurdles much better than I did. 
  The book discusses how we cope with failure and obstacles, I've learned that I'm an 'obstacle magnifier' meaning I perceive things to be so much worse than they are. It also talks about 'hustling' and (I wish I could say it was purely a coincidence) after reading I decided to do some of my own, so I've been emailing plenty of companies to get involved with my blog - I've pushed myself out of my discomfort zone and so far it's worked pretty well. 
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  'The Discomfort Zone' is incredibly motivating and leaves you in a great mindset,​ which was very useful for me as I read it while juggling a few deadlines. It isn't often I hold off on how much I read because I don't want a book to end, but I did it with this. No words I write can do it justice and if you want to be successful in anything in your life (she doesn't talk specifically about journalism) I suggest you head to your nearest bookshop as soon as you can and pick up a copy (or three, for annotation).
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  As always, thank you for reading! What helps you get motivated to be successful?
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If you want some more book inspo, here's another recent read.
​Fancy seeing more of me? Follow me on Instagram.

Email: sophieelise.blog@gmail.com
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Do I Worry Too Much About My Future?

3/2/2019

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  As I mentioned in my birthday post, something I’ve realised in life is that you should always be open to learning things about yourself. ​Well, something I learned about myself in 2018 is that I’m one of those people who always has to be doing something. If I’m not at uni I’m doing work, if not working then I’m blogging and if not blogging then I’m reading – and what about all that time I get off in between semesters? Throw me a 30  hour week and I’ll do some waitressing. My brain literally can’t switch off.
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  Something I learned very recently is that because I’m always doing something, I’m often thinking about what to do next. This isn’t just small scale, either. Not “I’m revising right now and will cook then write a post”, oh I wish…no. It’s “I’m at university until 2021 then I need to do this, this and this and then do this to be able to do this”. My anxieties related to my future are slowly driving me to insanity. So, here’s a chirpsy little post on why the hell am I so worried about my future?!
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​  I think one answer that isn’t so worrying is that I’m super excited about my future. Visiting New York over the summer and moving from an incredibly small town in the countryside to a capital city has made me ecstatic to see all the places I possibly can and experience them in my own way. If I could, I would pack my bags and move to New York in a heartbeat … imagine all the other places I can see and fall in love with along the way! And let’s talk about how exciting growing my blog and getting settled into a career is going to be – I literally cannot wait.
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​  Another pretty similar answer is that I’m constantly setting goals. I like bettering myself and I think goal-setting is a very positive thing for me. So, when I’m always making goals I want to think about things further into the future, career-wise, blog-wise and personal-life wise (my personal life has literally no goals other than to travel and own at least one Chow Chow). I wouldn’t be my goal-getting, ambitious self if I wasn’t thinking about my future all the time.
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 Next? Well, I hate to admit it but maybe I’m wishing my life away a little. I despised my year of A Levels and I really spent the whole time thinking “this will be over soon”. I have to be honest and say I’m sick of education. I love learning and socialising but I hate the exams and essays and I’m just so ready to live that maybe I’m wishing away the next few years (and don’t even get me started on whether I want to do a masters or not).
​  I really don’t think there’s anything wrong with me wanting to get stuck into the “boring” everyday life, right now I’m immersing myself into university (getting way too drunk too many times a week? I’m your gal), definitely living in the now and I’m enjoying it, but I really think I’m ready for some more adventures and maybe my future is where those experiences are. 
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​Thank you for reading my little ramble, Soph’s babbling posts are definitely back! Do you find that you worry about your future a lot or are you more of a ‘live in the moment’ kind of person? 
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I wrote another ramble about my future right here.
Want to see me more? Follow me on Instagram, I'm getting much more chatty on there!

Email: sophieelise.blog@gmail.com
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My 2019 Goals

31/12/2018

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  ​A blogger writing their New Years’ Resolutions as their last post of the year? Are you really that shocked?! ​I wrote a  similar post last year  (‘drink less alcohol’ was clearly me starting 2018 with a good joke) and I just think it’s nice to note my goals down…so without further ado, here are my aims for 2019.
1. Immerse myself into blogging
  After I took a break from blogging in September I’ve realised how much fun it is to get yourself super involved in the community and, I hate to say it, I’ve really gotten into promo planning and general bloggy bits ​like the rubbish Instagram stories I put up despite doing nothing of any interest. This really is my passion and I want to dedicate as much time to it as I possibly can.
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​2. Sleep more/better
  I’m currently writing this at half past midnight when I’ve been up since 8am in an attempt to ‘create a sleeping routine’ … ask me how that’s going? I like to get up early ​to go to the gym and get a headstart at a more productive day – yes, I’m one of those people – but then my brain doesn’t switch off if I don’t get myself to sleep by 9:30ish. It’s like I have a little timer inside my head and once I’ve gone past that time, by brain decides to get shit done. I want to have a better sleep schedule this year and be much more strict with it, because it’s clearly not going so well at the moment.
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3. Find a balance
  I’m doing pretty well at the moment with my uni/social life/blog balance, but at some point I should probably factor a job into the equation (unless my job at home wants to pay me double, or someone wants to pay me £1,000 per post). I love working when I’m back home but I wouldn’t mind some extra cash while I’m at uni, which means I’m going to have to work out when I can slot some shifts in.
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4. Learn to budget
  And on the topic of money… In last year’s post I simply wrote “save money” and honestly I think I’ve got pretty good at it. My problem now? I don’t know how to bloody budget. Shove the extra cash to the side, no problem, now work out with the leftover money what I should spend how much on…cue me stressing and not knowing how to do adult things. I’m getting there slowly, eg November’s budget was much better than October’s (my first month at university, of course it was going to be rough) and I’m hoping by the end of 2019 I’ll be a budgeting master.
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5. Stop putting things off
  I’m a constant worrier and overthinker. I don’t often talk about my mental health on here simply because it gets me down, but my anxiety towards general existence will slowly push me into a corner of my room if I’m not careful. I recently read The Discomfort Zone by Farrah Storr (a post is on its way but I’ll save you waiting and say BUY IT) and it made me realise how much I need to grab things by the balls and stop putting them off. I’m really hoping this year I can push myself out of my comfort zone a little bit more each month. Who knows, maybe I’ll even make a solo trip somewhere this year and say ‘screw you’ to my anxiety towards transport and travelling alone. 
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What are your resolutions for the new year? I haven't given myself too many this year in the hopes that the end result will be quality over quantity. 2018 really wasn't the best year for me in so many ways and I'm so glad to see the back of it, but at the same time I've really seen myself grow this year and, in an odd way, I'm very thankful for it. I'm hoping to make 2019 my best yet!
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Related: 19 Things I Learned in 19 Years
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Shows I'll never get sick of watching

19/12/2018

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  With Christmas right around the corner, I hope you're spending plenty of time curled up on the sofa in front of the TV ​(unlike those of us that work in hospitality). If you think you're all binge-watched out, then you've come to the right place, because I've rounded up the best shows that I'll never get sick of watching.
The Office
  Did you expect to read the title of this post and not see The Office mentioned first?! As I said in my birthday blog post, I'm on my 7th round of the show and I don't think I'll ever get sick of it.
​  The mockumentary follows the incredible character Michael Scott, who regularly screws up at his job as regional manager of a paper company. I can guarantee you'll be in stitches at every episode, and those funny skits at the start of each ep definitely add to the comedy. It's possibly the funniest and most lighthearted show you could ever come across. ​I dare you to watch it and not become way too emotionally invested in the characters.
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Gossip Girl
  One of the easiest shows to watch and with very lovable characters, ​I find myself choosing Gossip Girl a little t00 regularly. If you do choose to watch this, I can't be held accountable for how much you'll want to live in the Upper East Side - it always leaves me dreaming of the New York life I wish I had.
  If you want your teen show and New York lifestyle fix, then Gossip Girl is definitely the one for you.
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The Good Place
  I'm not sure if I can actually put The Good Place in this post because I haven't even finished it yet, but seeing as this is my blog, I'm pretty sure I make the rules. The show follows Eleanor on her journey in the Good Place (heaven, but for the very best of the best)...except she's not meant to be there, and is actually a pretty shitty person.
  I'm only on season two but I'm already wanting to start the series again.​​ It's the perfect mixture of comedy and twists and it's wonderfully refreshing - not to mention the all-star cast.
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Well, there are three shows that I can watch over and over (and over) again - ironically I'm watching The Office as I'm just finishing up this post. What are some shows you'll never get sick of? I'm always ready for a new binge.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.
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Want to see more Christmassy bits? Look at what I got in my advent calendar this week.
​If you want to see more of me, you can follow me on Instagram.

​Email: sophieelise.blog@gmail.com
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The Best Things About Uni (that people never mention)

12/12/2018

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  Now that I've done my first semester, I feel like I can reflect upon my uni experience so far. Everyone (I mean everyone) talks about how great uni is; living with your friends, going out constantly, having freedom, being one long boozer - which it isn't, I hate to break it to you - but there are other things that definitely go unmentioned before you begin university. A few of these things are actually my favourite bits about uni, so come and have a peek:
  1. The independence
  Yes, I'm completely skint and most of the time I have no idea what I'm doing, but living independently is actually a heck of a lot of fun. It definitely helps that I like my own company, but choosing what to do with your spare time is really quite liberating and I love deciding what I want to do and eat each day. Let's not pretend I don't phone my mum almost daily, though!
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2. How effortlessly sociable it is
  I know I've just said I like my own company, but I've hit the jackpot with my flatmates and living with your friends is so much fun. I know student halls aren't for everyone (honestly, please give me a living room and a bath) but having your friends in the same place as you makes things a lot better. 
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3. The studying
  Have I actually just said studying? Yes, why yes I have...hear me out. 
  You're studying something that you (hopefully) enjoy and you're surrounded by likeminded people who want to be there. I find my seminars, where we have big class discussions, to be the favourite parts of my uni week. It's so refreshing to talk about things that you actually want to learn ​about.
  There are three amazing things about uni life that I think go under-appreciated. Of course, there are all the obvious things that I love, too (especially all of the debt). What are your favourite things about university/student life?
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Email: sophieelise.blog@gmail.com
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Pricey Printing

6/12/2018

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  Fellow students, gather. Let’s talk about printing (cue all my readers groaning in unison). Paying £9k a year to then be charged an extra 10p per sheet?! Ludicrous – and don’t even get me started on if the document needs to be printed in colour. 
​  My 19th birthday present? A printer. I couldn’t cope with the thought of spending a fortune on printing at uni when I could have a printer at home. I’m one of those people, lecture readings have to be printed out so that I can annotate and highlight relevant information. When my readings are up to 100 pages long, I’d rather run a marathon than pay for all that paper (and I hate cardio). 
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   Of course, getting your own printer means you have to fork out on those ridiculous ink and toner costs – you may as well just pay a small fortune for the bloody uni paper, right? WRONG. I have found the answer to your prayers, all of your financial problems solved. Well, not all of them but you sure will save some money, and who doesn’t love saving money?!
  Picture this, being able to buy cheap ink and toner cartridges that are 100% compatible with your printer without having to spend a small fortune for the branded stuff that is "the only thing you should put in your printer".
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​  Which Cartridge sells all the best ink and toner cartridges for a fraction of their branded price (think BeautyPie, but for printers). All you have to do is hop onto their website, put in which printer you own - get it, WHICH printer? - and the site shows you ink and toner cartridges for the best prices as well as branded cartridges, if you can afford to fork out; but, to be honest, why would you when there are so many drinks you can buy with that leftover money?
  I know for sure that I’ll be saving a fortune through shopping with Which Cartridge, not only do I print uni bits but I print lots out for my blog too as well as photos to make my room seem a little more homely. There’s even an option to reorder, so you don’t even have to go through the faff of finding the product again!
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  So, save yourself some pennies and grab your ink and toner cartridges on Which and you can thank me later over a drink(which you can afford with the money you’ve saved on printing).
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More studenty bits? Get yourself organised.
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Want to see more of me? Follow me on Instagram.

Email: sophieelise.blog@gmail.com

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Which Cartridges, however all words and photos are my own.
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Christmas Gift Guide: For the kids

17/11/2018

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  Christmas is easily my favourite time of year. There's nothing I love more than having nothing else to do other than enjoy amazing food, drink allll the alcohol and watch heartwarming films (let's forget that I work non-stop over the Christmas period at a bar). One other thing I really love about the Christmas season is choosing and giving gifts to loved ones; there's really something magical about picking out something for your nearest and dearest.
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  This year I want to spread my love of gift giving with my lovely readers, so I'll be writing a (probably small) series of Christmas gift guides. An amazing brand named Zimpli Kids ever so kindly sent me a few of their bestsellers to try out, and I couldn't recommend them enough! If you're looking for something that the kids will love, creates virtually no mess and is wallet friendly​,then these are the gifts for you.

Sno Balls

  You can't beat fake snow, there's no doubt about that. I've bought fake snow every year for the past three or four years now, it just really adds to the Christmas magic. It's only £4.99 for a pack of four bags which will make around 15 snowballs each, and instructions come inside. You can find these bad boys at your local The Entertainer. While these are great for the kids to play with fake snowballs in the garden, fake snow is also super cute to use as decoration (it does dissolve, though) and I'll definitely be putting mine outside the house come Christmas time. Why not use some leftover powder for Santa's footsteps?!
  As I mentioned above, this fake snow will dissolve so it's relatively mess free - win, win! (Cute penguin decoration not included, but you can find him at Paperchase)

Water fun

  I can remember having Gelli Baff as a child, so I feel really nostalgic writing about it right now. As a child, I saw bath time as a time for creation and playing (thanks to my mum for faffing with bubbles, and my stepmum for playing every made up game I could think of) and Zimpli Kids' Gelli Baff and Slime Baff make it even more fun. 

  Slime has really taken the world by storm over the past year or so - I know my eight year old stepbrother likes to make a mess with it. Slime Baff allows for the kids to play with slime without getting it into the p*ssing carpet (as I've definitely said on multiple occasions). Not only is it super easy to create - just add the powder to your bath - but it can also be diluted with more water and drained away, no harm done; trust me, the drainage in my halls is shocking and the slime went down relatively easily. How much fun will this be for the kids?! You can even put some in a bowl, if you've got more patience than I do.

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Gelli Baff is the exact same as Slime Baff, just with a chunkier, gel sort of texture instead of slime (if you hadn't already guessed!). The Gelli Baff can't be drained as easily as Slime Baff, thanks to its texture, but Zimpli Kids have already thought of this and have thrown in a dissolver which turns the gel back to water. Once again, no mess! ​
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 Bath time will get a whole lot more fun with these two products, or you can even make them in a big bowl for the kids to play with outside (if I can do it in a tupperware tub, you can too!). You can buy a single use of Gelli Baff or Slime Baff for £4.99 each, or you can buy two uses for £9.99 each. ​Both products come with instructions and the Gelli Baff comes with a dissolver for each use. Don't these just make the best stocking fillers?
As always, thank you for reading. And a big thank you to Zimpli Kids for sending me some goodies over. Christmas is easily my favourite time of year, and I can't wait to get my gift guides out to you! It's just so magical. What's your favourite time of year?
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It was my birthday earlier this week and I wrote about 19 important things I've learned in my 19 years.
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19 Things I've Learned in 19 Years

13/11/2018

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  If you're a Bieber fan like me, you'll know November 13th is the date that the Purpose album released three years ago. Well, did you know it's also my birthday? I turn 19 today (which I'm finding very daunting, 19 is not a childhood age anymore) so I thought it would be nice to share with you 19 things that I've learned in my 19 years...should I say 19 again?
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1. It can take you a while to find who you are and be true to yourself ​(a huge cliché, I know). I only realised last week that the place I became most myself was at my workplace back home, and I've stuck by that person through moving to uni in Cardiff (I may have held back on the intensity a bit to begin with). It's pretty nice to be able to say that, on the whole, I like the person that I am.

2. Finding time for yourself ​​is super important. This can be self-care/mental health days or simply giving yourself a half hour or so to read a book - I've set myself the challenge of reading at least a chapter of my current book each day, so that I can switch off.
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3. You don't need loads of friends, or to be the most popular. I love having a handful of close friends, and the phrase "quality over quantity​" is definitely true when it comes to my friendships.

4. Animals will change your life. I cannot express enough how happy and soothed a cuddle with my dogs or cats makes me feel.

5. Sometimes, things don't go to plan​. Your world can be thrown upside down, but you will feel better once you're out the end of it.
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6. Exploring new places is one of the best things to do with your spare time. I urge you to travel and explore (even if it's just locally) as much as you can.

7. You should always try to be nice to people, you never know when you may be making someone's day!

8. I hate to sound like a teacher, but getting things done early will reduce stress massively.

9. It's important to understand when and where you're at your most productive.

10. You are always learning things about yourself​, make sure you're open to this!

11. What people think of you is none of your business.

12. It can take you a while to find your social feet (it took me until university to realise that I love ​nights out).

13. The Office US is the only TV show that I can watch repeatedly - I'm (embarrassingly) on my 7th round. 

14. Small steps to help the planet really aren't that difficult. 

15. It's important to learn about and understand your body shape ​and what clothes/shops do and don't work for you. It will help with those changing room meltdowns, trust me. 
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16. You're allowed to crave a Chinese every day of the week. 

17. Effort is a two-way thing; it's important to recognise who is and isn't worth your time.

18. Not wearing makeup everyday can lead to a shit load of compliments when you go all out - but also, you should wear as much or as little as you like.

​19. Simple home comforts are definitely under-appreciated​ before you move into halls, I've now learned that nothing can replace a nice hot bath (and that next year's student house must ​have one).
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  There's everything I've learned in my 19 years! I've got an assessed seminar presentation this afternoon (happy bloody birthday, right?) then I will definitely be enjoying the rest of my day and getting a little too pampered this evening.

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A Recent Read: God: A Human History of Religion

1/11/2018

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  If you read my recent post, you'll know that I'm trying to dedicate more time to reading now that I don't have to constantly study books for A Level English. Not only am I try to read more but I'm also trying to learn about more things and 'expand my brain'​, so the next book I decided to pick up was God: A Human History of Religion by Reza Aslan...and oh my god (if you pardon the pun), it blew my mind.
  I had never heard of this book before, but I picked it up on a whim when I was bimbling round Waterstones (read: avoiding essay planning) because I've always been super interested in religion ​and the backgrounds of different faiths. I'm not religious myself, I simply just find the concept of religion extremely intriguing. 
  I thought God was going to be about the creations/origins of each religion and their histories, but it was actually more about the theories behind ​why we have certain religions and gods. This book honestly blew my mind, for example it questions why we see the Christian god as a male and why we give this god human characteristics and that this is perhaps because we see God in the way a child sees their father (honestly, mind-blowing).
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  The book revolved around Christianity a little too much for my liking, I would've liked to have seen more major religions included too. However, I can't stress enough how interesting God was and how much I've learned - I was texting people every 2 minutes with a new piece of information. If you're wanting to read something non-fiction and insanely interesting, I'd definitely recommend.
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  Do any of you read non-fiction - and if so, do you have any recommendations? Let me know if you'll give this book a read, I can guarantee you'll learn something! As always, thank you for reading.
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Let's Talk Organisation

1/11/2018

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  You only have to ask a member of my family to find out that I'm a very messy person. I often have to tell people that while my personal spaces are often super cluttered, I have to be very organised in my mind. You may be thinking, what on earth does that mean? Well, here's a quick post on how I keep myself mentally organised, despite my surroundings (sometimes) being a tip.

Quick side note: I say I'm messy, but I really try and tidy up after myself! (This usually means I tidy my uni room about three times a day, though)
  I may have mentioned before that I get overwhelmed easily. This doesn't have to mean I've got lots of big tasks to do, it could simply be that I can't cope with having a few errands. One way of chilling myself out and organising my day well is to make to-do lists; I can't exaggerate enough how much to-do lists make my life easier. I write one every Sunday night with all of my tasks for the week ahead and I write one at the start of each day, which allows me to tackle these tasks in smaller chunks. Not only does it help me cope with being overwhelmed by the amount I have to do, it also feels amazing to tick things off one by one and it keeps me more focused.
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  Another way I keep myself organised is to have a routine. I've really struggled with settling into a routine at uni and to be honest I'm not sure I've fully mastered it yet, but it does make a difference. Even though I feel like I'm constantly catching up on sleep, I set myself an alarm for the same time each day; it means that I can get more done in the hours I have and my body isn't being messed about (except for Friday nights!). I also try and set myself "study times", these differ from day to day based on when I'm in university but they really help with discipline, because sometimes I can procrastinate like my life depends on it.
  This one may sound a little hypocritical, but a tidy and organised space really does help with an organised mind. I can say that I know where everything is in my room even when it looks like a bomb's exploded but, let's be honest, no one wants to wade through a pile of gym clothes to get to their notebook. Like I said earlier, I try and tidy up after myself as I go along but often I really am like a little tornado​. To (sort of) combat this I give my room and bathroom a big clean every Friday, which is conveniently the day I finish the earliest. I do the whole shebang - pick up crap off the floor, organise and clean my desk and shelves, hoover, bleach and clean the bathroom and shower etc - and it makes me feel much better and more mentally organised. It would be nice to not have to do a military-operation clean up once a week but nobody's perfect!
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  Thank you for giving this little post a read, I really think it's important to have a clean and organised mind to ensure that you're on top of things. My next goal is to be less messy at home! What are your organisation tricks?
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A Recent Read: The Keeper of Lost Things

24/10/2018

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  I've always loved reading; as a child my nose was always stuck in a book and at school my favourite subject was English Literature. Unfortunately my love for English Lit meant that my love for reading had to take a back seat as I studied it for my A Levels, and I can honestly say I don't think I read more than two books for fun during my entire time studying. Now that I've got some free time I've been reading much more and I thought it would be nice to share some books I've enjoyed every now and then. So enough of my rambling, here's a book I loved.
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  My mum recommended The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan to me after she read it during our trip to Bournemouth and she couldn't put it down. We both have a very similar taste in books so I took her word for it. To be honest, it took me a while to get into the book as I found the start a little slow and the chops and changes in the timeline are a little confusing but once I'd got into it, I really ​got into it.
   The Keeper of Lost Things follows Laura on her task of fulfilling the last wishes of her employer, a writer. Laura must reunite the (incredibly random) lost items that her employer has collected over the years with their owners. Along the way Laura befriends a wonderful character named Sunshine who will honestly fill your heart with joy, and of course there's the love interest of Freddy, who Laura thinks she isn't 'enough' for and will make you want to rip your hair out.

  I think my favourite part of the book was how easy it was to fall in love with the characters, especially Sunshine. I also liked how the ending gave you a very good amount of closure, something not all books do which can leave me struggling to read something new for a while. One thing I wasn't so keen on was (without spoilers) that the plot was a little unrealistic at times, but I understand that this was crucial to the story and it's definitely just my personal preference.
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  If you're looking for a lighthearted story that will have you a little bit teary (but in a good way) at the end, then The Keeper of Lost Things is right up your street. It's a lovely novel that will definitely warm your heart. 
  As always, thank you for reading. I'm hoping to write about books more often, now that I've actually got time to read them. What are some books you've enjoyed recently? Please drop me some recommendations!
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Where I've Been

22/10/2018

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  I'm really not sure how to start or even write this post, so I'm apologising in advance for the inevitable bad writing. As those of you who have read my posts in the past will know, I started university and moved to Cardiff in September. After moving in, I managed to publish a pre-written post, but then I disappeared. So, where have I been?

  This post is definitely going to be full of excuses, but to be honest my absence from my blog has been due to a variety of things. For one, I've been so busy with uni, whether it's going out or doing work or getting into a routine. I don't actually have to be in uni too often, but I have a heck of a lot of reading and I've been spending a lot of time writing up/elaborating on my lecture notes. Alongside keeping on top of my work, I've been jobhunting, going to the gym and enjoying my social life and going out (something I didn't do too often at home).

  Another reason I've been gone is because I've had very little energy or motivation to write, which is probably because I didn't give myself a break during freshers and then went straight into lectures. I always have blog post ideas flying through my brain but recently I've found the thought of sitting down and organising my blog very overwhelming. I have never found my blog to be a chore and I've always loved writing and producing things for people to read, so I told myself not to come back until I felt like I actually wanted to write. Otherwise, my content wouldn't be authentic and I definitely wouldn't want to publish it.
  I've been loving university and I've made some friends already, as well as bagging a job. I headed home this weekend for the first time since moving and it's given me a new lease of life and I'm definitely feeling ready to come back to my blog, so please let me know what you'd like to see. I was planning on doing Blogtober and Blogmas this year, but I'm not going to push myself too much!
Thank you so much for reading/coming back to my blog after my unexplained absence. This post may have seemed a little pointless and 'sulky', but I promise I've got some good stuff planned!
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Easy Lamb Koftas

12/9/2018

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  I rarely write about food or cooking on my blog, but that's because I don't do a whole lot of cooking at home. Now that I'm off to uni, I think I'd like to make a habit of writing about some recipes I've tried out and enjoyed. I came across this lamb kofta recipe online and really loved them, so why don't you give it a go yourself?
The recipe is pretty straight-forward and you'll need these few ingredients (most of them I already had at home):
  • 500g lamb mince 
  • 3 tbsp tikka curry paste (I ended up using sauce, as we hadn't got enough paste)
  • 2 tbsp mango chutney
  • 2 finely grated garlic cloves (I definitely used more!)
  • pinch of finely grated ginger
  • 225g Greek yoghurt
  • 1 tbsp mint sauce
  • 8 flatbreads (I used pittas)
  • 4 sliced tomatoes
  • 2 shredded Little Gem lettuces
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  I actually prepped this meal beforehand and then cooked it all once my family was home, as the lamb doesn't take that long. To start with, I mixed together the lamb mince, curry paste, mango chutney, garlic and ginger to create the koftas. The recipe said to season this mixture, but of course I forgot to! Luckily, they still tasted delicious. I popped this in the fridge until everyone arrived and I sliced the tomatoes and shredded the lettuce in the meantime. By the way, do you like my spoon?
  Once everyone was home, I moulded the mixture into koftas - the recipe says 20, but I managed 17 - and then cooked them in a frying pan in batches of about five for 2-3 minutes, or until they were looking cooked! I popped them all on a baking tray once they were all cooked and then put them in the oven at 180 for 10 minutes.

  While the koftas were in the oven, I put the pittas in the toaster and I made the mint sauce; pour the greek yoghurt and mint sauce into a bowl and then mix them together for a delicious minty freshness!
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  So there's the easy lamb koftas! They're so quick and straightforward to do, and if I can afford to I'll love making these at university. Let me know if you've tried them out, and please recommend some recipes to me as I'm dying to try new things.
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Happy Moments #3

10/9/2018

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   I haven't written a post in my 'Happy Moments' since I fell in love with Washington Square Park over two months ago (!!). If you're new here, my Happy Moments series is where I write about things that have happened recently that have made me really happy. My third post is bittersweet, as the things that have made me happy are people who are all going their separate ways this year.
  I sometimes refer to my job on my blog, but I never go into a whole lot of detail about it. Well, I've been working at a restaurant for just under two years and I've met some people who I'm now lucky enough to call my best friends. If you read my post about friendships earlier this year, you'll know I was pretty willing to cut a fair few people off - but none of these!
  A few of us left this job last Saturday (8th Sept) while a few are staying a little longer, but we all went out to celebrate after our last shift. It was so nice to be able to let loose after working all summer and we all had an amazing time (I definitely suffered the consequences of a good boozer the next day). I had such a great night and it was definitely one of my happier moments!
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The Uni Process

30/8/2018

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  If you've read my 'Life Update' or 'A Level Results' posts, you'll know that I received my A Level grades and I'm off to uni. While I think these posts of mine may be a little repetitive, I want to touch on how I had to go through Clearing and how the entire process really impacted my mental health.
  As some of you may already know, I didn't get into my first choice uni and I no longer wanted to go to my insurance choice. So, on Results Day I had to make a few phone calls to see what I could do. Making those phones calls was the most daunting thing I've ever had to do, but they're nowhere near as bad once you're actually on the phone - you're usually speaking to other students.

  I was offered a place at a nearby uni that I knew was in my comfort zone; I'd know a few people, I sort of knew the area, they wanted lower grades than what I got etc. It was a safe option. My parents (who were insanely supportive throughout this whole thing) and I thought, however, that I could aim a little higher - which I did. I phoned up Cardiff, a Russell Group university, and asked them for a place. I'd never been to Cardiff and, honestly, it had never been on my radar so there was a whole load of panic when I was told I could have a place but it would only be kept for 48 hours. 
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  People who know me will know I get overwhelmed very easily and when I was told that I'd need to decide in two days about moving to somewhere I'd never even been I immediately went into 'freak out' mode. The next day, I'd done a complete U-turn and decided I was going to take a year out. I really enjoy my job and I was hoping I'd be able to get some work experience and travel slotted into the 12 months between now and September 2019. I really didn't want to 'waste' a year, but it honestly seemed like my only option.
  En route to visit some family the day of my deadline, my mum and I took a detour to Cardiff so I could get a feel for the city and see if I wanted to defer and go there in 2019. I think sometimes you just know and I immediately really liked it. I was still anxious and unsure of what to do so I phoned up and asked if I could defer - to which they said no. Cue more stress, panic and a biiiig emotional meltdown.
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  Despite my deadline being up, I slept on it. In the morning, I decided I had to bite the bullet and ask for a place this year. There were many factors, but one being that Cardiff's new media school is opening this year and I think they will up their entry requirements for 2019. I'm immensely proud of myself because I think if I had the choice I'd never leave the safety of my own bed, but I know that this is the best for me. I know that I cannot let my anxieties and paranoia rule my life and this is one small accomplishment of (hopefully) many to come.
  Sorry if my uni related posts seem a bit samey but it's been nice for me to get the whole process out without having to shorten it to one post. The entire week after results really knocked my mental health and I'm glad to say now that I've got a uni place, accommodation and, of course, some freshers' tickets that I'm in a much better place, but that's not to say anyone is meant to take the same path. I guess this is just me saying that I did what I knew would be best for me in the long run and that I'm proud of myself for taking the bull by the horns.
  This may have been a bit rambly and negative but it feels good to have my thoughts out there instead of swimming round my head, so thank you so much for reading and let me know how you overcame your uni/sixth form/future fears!
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A Level Results

28/8/2018

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​How do you react when things don't go your way?
  This past year has been beyond stressful and exhausting in every sense of the word. While I've actually managed to somewhat switch off over the few months between my last A Level exam and results day, all of this stress and exhaustion began to pile back up in the weeks coming up to the big day; I'm not going to sugar coat it, things got worse before they got better.
  So, I got my results. I'm actually really pleased with them except for my English grade (which I'm getting remarked), but unfortunately, despite all of my hard work, I didn't get into my first choice university. If you've read my 'future plans' post, you'll know that I no longer wanted to go to my insurance uni so I had to go through the whole clearing process. I will write about the struggles after I got my results and how the whole clearing process went in a second post, however you'll know from my 'Life Update' that I have got a place to start at Cardiff University in September.
  My results were pretty odd in the sense that I've never done 'badly' in English Literature - I've never had below a B, been getting straight A's all year blah blah blah - yet managed to get a C, while I've struggled in Psychology for the past two years but I got my first ever B in the subject in my final exams. My hard work definitely paid off in Psychology, yet my success in English clearly wasn't reflected in my overall grade. I guess what I'm saying is, your grades do not define you nor your ability.
 
I was really knocked by my results initially (more on that in my second post) but looking back on it, I know that I am better than a few letters on a page and these exams were simply stepping stones to get me to my next step. I'm a strong believer in fate and things happening for a reason, and for some reason I was meant to get these results and push myself way out of my comfort zone afterwards. These few weeks have definitely challenged me but they've also been one big learning curve that I'm somewhat glad to have experienced.
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  Anyway, thank you for reading this little ramble. I promise the second post will be more cohesive. How did you cope when you got your exam results? Let me know!
(PS a little update as this was meant to go up last week: my English grade was remarked and it went up!)
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A Little Life Update

27/8/2018

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  I rarely (read: never) write about my proper personal life on my blog, and I really think it prevents me from creating a true, raw bond with my readers. After having a pretty hectic time recently, I thought I'd write a little life update based around my previous 'future plans' post.
   So, in my previous post I wrote how I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do in the near future and I wasn't actually that scared about this. While this isn't my 'A Level Results' post (that's on its way), I think a pretty big life update is that I got into university. In a few weeks time, I'll be moving to Cardiff to study Media, Journalism and Culture at their university.
  
​Not only does this mean I'll be (obviously) attending uni, but I'll also be moving out and living independently for the first time and I'll be leaving all of my good friends and family at home, or seeing my friends go to different universities.
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  Like I said, this isn't my 'Results Day' post, but I think it's important to say that I didn't go through a great time after results and I was pretty much adamant that I was going to take a year out to get my head together, so I'm really proud of myself for taking the plunge and just deciding to go despite my mental struggles. It will really push me out of my comfort zone and while a huge part of me is nervous, anxious and downright petrified, an even bigger part of me is insanely excited and deep down I know going to university this year is what's best for me.
  Well, there's a little life update for you! Are you going to uni this year? Or if you're already there, how did you find the beginning? Let me know!
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Body Confidence

3/8/2018

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  With all of these beautiful, bikini clad Victoria's Secret models swarming my Instagram feed I can often find it hard to appreciate and love the body that I was born with. The phrase "body positivity" is thrown around too much for my liking and I think it now lacks depth, because what does "body positivity" actually mean?
  I think most (if not all) people struggle with loving/accepting their body at at least one point during their life, and I am no different. While 'body dysmorphia' is a term not to be thrown around lightly, I have recently realised that I can easily fit into size small items of clothing, despite wearing larges most of my life. I'm absolutely not shaming bigger sizes either, I am simply recognising that I had an unhealthy habit of believing I was much bigger than I was.

  Shops (Primark, I'm looking at you) do absolutely nothing for your body confidence either. It was actually a bad shopping experience that inspired me to write this post; I bought a top three sizes bigger than my normal size which was tight on me (red top seen below) - how is this healthy for young, vulnerable people when it comes to their self image? 
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  If you didn't already know, I sat my A Level exams earlier this summer. I did absolutely no exercise during this time and I ate complete junk for about 6 weeks straight. Obviously, I put on weight and broke out awfully which led to me hating my body a lot - but I should have loved my body, it got me through those horrible few months and it's still here protecting and loving me now.
  The little pouch at the bottom of my stomach simply shows that I have organs and the stretch marks on my hips, bum and thighs are just signs of me growing and developing into a person that I quite like (I've also named them tiger stripes to feel a little better about them). When I think logically about my body's imperfections, they are just proof that I'm a functioning, somewhat healthy human being.
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Why I Started Blogging

29/7/2018

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  People start their own blogs for all kinds of reasons and I think everyone has their own unique story and background for theirs. I love reading about why other people decided to go into blogging, so here are a few reasons why I wanted to start putting my thoughts onto the internet.
  1. Ever since I was a child (cliche, sorry) I've wanted to do something that involves writing as a career. There was never a specific job title, I just knew I wanted to write. Now that I'm a little older and understand the world of work a little more, I know that I want to go into journalism in the future. So, for now, I do my own bit of writing on this blog in the hopes that it will improve my skills and show to future employers that I love doing this. It's also a lot of fun for me to just write (as you can probably tell by my never-ending posts).
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  2. I love sharing my experiences with people. Whether it's places I've been, things I've tried or just stuff that's happened in my life or things I've learned about myself ... I just love writing it all down and sharing it with the world. I also really like looking back on past posts and seeing what I've been up to.
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  3. My blog is a really positive place for me. The blogging community is incredible and I find it so rewarding to see my engagement grow. Even on not so good days, though, I am always so proud of my blog and it is ridiculously pleasing to know that people take the time out of their day to read my words. I always love writing posts and my brain is overflowing with ideas, so it just makes me happy to have this little space.
Okay, that last point may have been more so why I stick to blogging but even so, I honestly love doing this and I love getting positive feedback. Running a blog is so much fun and if it ever becomes difficult to do (which happened around my exams), I am reminded of how much I enjoy taking the time out of my busy days to sit down and write out my thoughts. As always, thank you for reading.
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Am I obsessed with labels?

18/7/2018

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  Please don't take this post personally, it is simply an observation I've made - and please note, I am speaking for myself in this post and use 'we' very lightly. This may also seem like a bit of waffle, because I really am just typing my thoughts.

  With the rise of social media and seeing celebrities such as the Kardashians always having the next best thing, I think we've become a lot more aware of what we have in comparison to others​ - be it our lifestyle or our actual belongings. Unfortunately, not everyone can afford certain luxuries and I know many people save for a long time before treating themselves to a sought after item. My question is; why? Why do we care so much about owning products purely because of their label? I know I'm very guilty of it.
  Of course, there isn't a problem with spending your own money on whatever you want ("Don't tell me how to wear my money" is my new favourite quote thanks to Alissa Ashley) but I've definitely noticed that I would rather buy something with a label. I'm always a big lover of Primark and high street shops, but when it comes to makeup and now, unfortunately, bags and, on occasions, clothes, I've become somewhat of a high-end snob. ​It's not healthy for me nor my bank balance. 
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  I recently visited New York, and couldn't wait to show off the two new designer bags I'd bought while I was there, yet I failed to tell my followers and Snapchat friends that I'd bought both of the bags half price. The same with my purse and card holder, both designer - one was a gift and the other I bought for a bargain on Depop. Why do I want to show off my labelled items when I know that I haven't paid the full price for them? Does that make me a fraud?
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  When it comes to makeup and skincare, I have my priorities completely backwards. My skincare routine is good, but almost all of my products are from Superdrug's own range while my makeup collection is virtually all high-end. I'm really trying to spend less on expensive makeup because I know that some drugstore products can do the same job for a fraction of the price, but why did I spend so much money in the first place?
  The only possible explanation to this behaviour (for me) is rewarding myself and validation. I love when someone compliments something about me and I can tell them that it's something high end - but at the same time, how great is it to go "thanks, it was only from Primark!"? Don't be deceived by the title, I know I'm not actually 'obsessed' with labels (there will be a new post next week: "am I a clickbait fraud?!"), but I'm definitely more aware of them than I've ever been.

​I know when I've worked hard and when I deserve to reward myself and I have always been pretty good at saving money, so why can't I treat myself to something nice every once in a while?​ ​With that said, I'm definitely trying to go 'cheaper' with my makeup because do I really need to spend £25 on a concealer when the Revolution one is just as good?
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  If you made it this far, thank you for reading my babble and I hope it made sense to you. Please don't think that I'm criticising anyone for what they spend their money on because it is our money to do what we want with, I have just recently noticed that I've become much more interested in labelled products and I'm curious as to why.

​As always, thank you for taking the time out of your day to read this post. I'd love to know your opinion on this, do you like treating yourself to labelled products or are you not bothered? Drop me a comment with what you think!
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Want to read more babble? Here I go on (and on) about friendships.
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Email: sophieelise.blog@gmail.com
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