Little Stationary Wishlist // Lifestyle & University Advice

Stationary is one of my all-time favourite things, and I just love to buy it. 

Seeing as though I am going back to university next month, I saw this as a perfect opportunity to put together a little wishlist with the things I am currently wanting, stationary wise! The majority of this stuff is from Paperchase, as their selection is just the cutest at the moment. Even though it is quite an expensive outlet, I just couldn't help myself.

(1) 10 Subject Notebook / £8.00

Last year at university, I had a NU Pad which had different sections in it. This was so handy for my different modules in lectures etc. however, I found that I had to purchase more and more as it just wasn't big enough to fit everything in. With this notepad, it gives you room for your different modules or subjects, with extra room for added notes. It is also colour co-ordinated, so that you can link everything up with different coloured pens etc.

(2) IKEA Candle Holder / £2.00

Even though this is labelled as a 'candle holder', I couldn't help think that my pens would look so cute in this on my desk. Firstly, its white which means it will go with practically every room decoration or design and secondly, they look large enough to fit a good amount of pens in. I myself would get a few of these, purely because I would want to sort out my pens into different pots so they are easier to find. For example, I would put all of my writing pens in one, coloured pens in another, tools in another and highlighters in another one. Bits of ribbon could also be added around the pots to add further decoration.

(3) Floral Journal / £4.50

Even though I have already displayed the 10 Subject Notebook, I think it is always handy to have a journal with you. I carry one in my handbag at all times, because I never know what list I might have to make, what phone number I have to write down etc. I may also have different ideas which I know I will forget, so having this is extremely handy. You can also keep this on your desk, or also in your handbag.

(4) Staedtler Pencils / £2.00

Pencils are a good shout. In lectures, I always get given photocopies of book parts which need to be read and annotated. I always use a pencil for this, because you can rub out any mistakes you make. Pencils are also good for doing first-drafts of essays. This way, you don't have to worry about making a mess of the paper with the pen, and little parts can also be added in easily.

(5) Standard Colour Gel Pens / £6.00

Like the pencils, these are a necessity. When it comes to revision, these are a God-send. Pairing these up with the 10 Subject Notebook (or any other divided notebook for that matter) will make things so much easier, as you will know what is what and what goes where!

(6) Pineapple List Pad / £5.00

This year I have moved into a house with 3 other of my friends. Even though we are not properly living there until September, we have all still been making lists as a group of what we need to buy and do to the house. Having one of these will be the saviour of our lives. It can just be stuck to the fridge, things can be added to it and then the paper can be torn off and off we go. It is so much easier than reading through old messages to try and find what somebody said needed getting, or whether we need full-fat or semi-skimmed milk!

So those are a few of the stationary bits that I am lusting over at the moment... What are you guys wanting so far?

TO MY YOUNGER SELF // ADVICE

If you read my post regarding my mental health story (which you can find HERE), then you may or may not feel as though I have a lot of advice to tell my younger self.

In my opinion, I have a lot that I would tell my 13/14 year old self. Not a lot of it would be in a kind or sympathising manner, but then again I have to think that I can't be so hard on myself because of what happened in my past. Things are in the past for a reason and we learn from the mistakes that we make, it is the only way we can achieve and become better people in life. But anyhow, here is some of the advice I would tell my younger self.

Everything happens for a reason

My younger self wouldn't have taken this advice on board. As I was so full of self-hate, I was a very stubborn young teenager. Obviously, my 19 year old self takes this on board and due to what has happened in my past I do think this advice is very true. Without what had happened, I wouldn't be where I am today. I wouldn't be this strong, I wouldn't know how to deal with difficult situations and I wouldn't know how to take myself out of a negative spiral and place myself into a positive one.

Your parents/carers only have your best interest at heart

Me and my mum didn't see eye to eye when I was 13/14. This is down to the fact that I had an older boyfriend who she loathed, and because I didn't speak to her about how I was feeling and wouldn't let anyone in other than my dad. I constantly felt that I was being lectured, being told what to do and I didn't like it one bit. I felt too grown up for what I actually was. I have now come to realise that they did only have my best interests at heart. What they say, they mean because they love you. Even if it comes through to yourself in a horrible manner, they just probably don't know how to say it properly and just want you to understand.

Cherish your young teenage years

I don't feel as though I had the opportunity or option to cherish my younger teenage years. I didn't have the guts or courage to pull myself together, or rather pull myself into a positive spiral. I felt deprived of these years and I don't feel as though they really did exist at all. This could have been due to all of the circumstances that occurred, but then again I should have been stronger and enjoyed myself when I could. If I could go back in time and change that one thing, I definitely would.

Don't make any rash decisions

This is easier said than done. When you're looking at your younger self from an older self perspective, your mind has obviously matured and you have learnt more things throughout the years, even if it is only 5/6 years. But over the years, I learnt that the decisions I decided to make when I was 13/14, I definitely wouldn't have made them now if I was back that age again. I would have waited and thought things through, rather than think it was a good idea to make them there and then when the idea popped up into my head.

So it is a bit of a short post, but I don't really have any other advice to give to my younger self, and even if I did then it wouldn't be too nice. Writing this post has definitely made me think, and i highly recommend writing one of these for yourself if you can.

Jessie x

WHAT I LEARNT IN MY FIRST YEAR OF UNIVERSITY // ADVICE

Before moving to university, everybody has their thoughts and perspectives about how their first year is going to 'pan out'. I had visions of my first year being completely different to what I have encountered. Definitely not in a bad way though, as I wouldn't change it for the world! But I thought that I would share with you what I learnt throughout my first year of uni, and maybe you could take a little bit of advice from this too!

All that lovely new kitchen-ware you bought?...

You will not use it. Not in a bad way, because you can save it for when you move into your house for the second year. When I moved into halls last September I brought plates, bowls, cutlery, mugs and everything else you can imagine. Except, Victoria Hall in Manchester supplied us with everything we needed without informing us first. So there was all of my nice new kitchen-ware sat in the cupboard, not being touched. However, even though I barely touched it, it still managed to get lost and when I was packing up everything of mine from the kitchen area to take into the new house, I noticed how many of my pans didn't have lids and how only 3/9 of my shot glasses actually made it.

What dignity?...

Okay so that is a bit of an exaggeration. You will have dignity - don't you worry - but I am focusing on how you look. It will get to the point at university where you really don't give a stuff about what you look like. I would stroll to the Spar in my dressing gown, and makeup from the previous night. It's just how I began to roll, and you will notice that everybody else around you is exactly the same. 

You're lovely and quiet?...

If you make friends with the type of people I made friends with, you will definitely not see your quiet  side very often. This isn't a bad thing, as I had so much fun hiding my quiet side and showing my true colours. I began to feel like I could be myself around complete strangers, who became my best friends. 

Oh THAT reading list...

Reading list? Nope. Every lecturer always bangs on about how you need to buy certain books for the course you're studying, because they will be needed and extremely beneficial. Beneficial maybe, but certainly not needed. I study Philosophy, and my lecturers would give us text book photocopies to take away with us, regarding what we had to learn. Don't get me wrong, I bought a few books off my own back to annotate, but I didn't need them. I just thought it would be easier than me scribbling my life away on photocopies. 

Who said your diet would consist of pasta and soup?

This myth is one of the biggest lies I have heard during university. Everyone always says "you looking forward to living like a student?", or "get ready for your diet of pasta and soup!". All vast lies which shouldn't be listened to. Me and my friends would often cook together, and the meals we would make up were amazing! One time, me and Minnie from Through Minnie's Eyes even had steak. Now come on, if you find the right shop e.g. Aldi, Lidl etc. you can eat meals which are half decent and enjoyable!

Night's out will become your new favourite hobby...

So when you go home and your parents ask "you found any new hobbies that you like?", maybe not mentioning that you attend all of the student nights throughout the week apart from a Sunday is a good idea. No matter how hard you try and stop this vicious cycle, you will always find yourself at the local student night, sipping away on £2 doubles pretending to be Kanye West. And yes. You WILL enjoy it.

So there is just a few of the things that I learnt throughout my first year of university. I will write a follow-up post on this, but for now here is a few to get your heads around.

What're you most looking forward to at university?

GUEST POST | 'THROUGH MINNIE'S EYES' // HER ALL-TIME FAVOURITES

Minnie from 'Through Minnie's Eyes' has done a guest post for my blog... And here it is!

Guest Post // 'My All-Time Favourites'

There are certain hair and beauty products/tools that are my 'all time' favourites and are used on a daily basis. Some of them are favourites that I have had for years, and others are fairly new. So, I thought it would be good to share them with you...

Favourite Hair Straighteners/Curlers

Cloud 9- Touch Hair Straightener... I am obsessed with these! They warm up within 3-5 seconds by touching the plates together. They turn off automatically within 20-30 seconds of not being used, which is a good safety measure. The heat setting can also be changed to a lower temperature by touching the plates together 3 times. Their overall result is amazing, as I have long hair it used to take me about 25 minutes to straighten my hair by layers with my GHD's. But since having these Cloud 9's, it takes me a maximum of 10 minutes and the result is so smooth and still has that fresh shine to it. Love them!

They are £99 and you can find them HERE, if interested.

Umberto Giannini-Curling Tongs... I've had these for 8 years and they are now slowly dying on me. I've looked everywhere to find a new one to buy, but it turns out they have been discontinued. These are the only tongs I've found that work on my hair. The curls last for two days and that's without any hairspray to hold them in. Hoping they will last even longer than eight years.

Favourite Hair Product?

Argan oil of Morocco... I've been using this for about two years. You just rub in a few drops to the ends of your hair when damp after being washed. Ever since using it, the ends of my hair look healthier even though I tend to use a lot of heat on my hair. It prevents the ends being dry and having a dry/frizzy look to restoring the shine and softness.

Any organ oil will do the trick. This one is £6-8 and you can get it from HERE, if interested.

Favourite Lip Product(s)?

Lush- Mint Lip Scrub... This is one of my new favourites. It smells and tastes amazing and works wonders. It has become part of my daily routine before applying my makeup. It leaves your lips feeling nice and smooth, perfect base for applying lip balm or lipstick on. 

It costs £5.50; there are a variety of flavours and you can find it HERE, if interested.

EOS Lip balm... Again the mint one is my go to one but I also have blueberry, strawberry sorbet, honeysuckle honeydew and summer fruit. They smell good, look good, and feel good on your lips. 

I got mine from Canada but in the UK they are about £6.50 and you can find them HERE, if interested.

MAC- 'Matte Yash' Lipstick / 'Stripdown' Lip Pencil... The new lip combo that I am loving at the moment. It can be used on days out because it's a simple nude , however it can also be used on nights out if you were going for a more dramatic eye but want a simple lip.

The lipstick is £15.50, you can find that HERE, and the lip pencil is £12.50, you can find that HERE, if interested.

Favourite Make-Up Product?

Anastasia Beverly Hills- Powder Contour Kit... This is in the shade Medium to Tan. I absolutely love this product! Ever since I got it, I've used it everyday without fail. Before I got this I used to use the Sleek one, but this one is so much better to use because it contains all the shades needed to emphasise the eyes, cheekbones, nose and jawline.

It costs £39 and you can get it from HERE, if interested.

Favourite Perfume?

I have two perfumes that are equally my all time favourites:

Thierry Mugler- Alien... I love the scent. It's very musky and mysterious. When it first came out, I was obsessed! It got to a phase where every Christmas for 3 years straight, I would get 4 bottles as gifts from different people. I would never complain and still to this day I wouldn't because I love it. The smell doesn't wear off which is always a pro for  perfume, and makes the perfume last longer.

The bottle in the photo is actually a refill bottle, but for the normal 60ml bottle, it's £69 and you can find that HERE, if interested.

Zara- Fruity... Another perfume that is long lasting. It's a nice light smell that I use as my everyday perfume. It's a cheap one that I don't mind using up quickly because it is easily replaced. It costs only £10 and you can find it Zara stores, if interested.

Minnie☆

"Great things never came from comfort zones"

MAC // LOOSE PIGMENT IN 'COPPER SPARKLE'

For me, the best part of doing my makeup is my eyes. I am constantly playing around with different eyeshadows, and trying out different looks. I never stick to one look daily!

On my birthday in May, my uni friends surprised me with a few goodies from MAC, and this pigment was included. I have never owned a pigment before, but I was constantly using my flatmates pigment for nights out as it was so pretty and easy to apply.

'Copper Sparkle' is a gorgeous burnt orange tone, with an illuminous shine to it. I don't like to wear this on a daily basis though, as it is too pretty to just bring out. I save this for special, special occasions.

I usually match this pigment with either brown/orange toned eyeshadows within the crease, or I quite often put a black throughout the crease of the eye and then carry this pigment underneath the bottom lash line. If done quite subtly, this looks gorgeous and makes the smokey eye 'pop'.

Not a lot of this product is needed, and can be used with either a dry or wet brush for application. If a dry brush is used then it will be treat like a regular eyeshadow however, if a wet brush is used then the colour will be a lot more prominent, and it also stays on the lid better too. 

'Copper Sparkle' retails for a price of £16.00 and can be found HERE.

Have you tried any other pigments from MAC? What do you recommend?

ELIZABETH ARDEN // CERAMIDE LASH EXTENDING TREATMENT MASCARA

Without mascara, I do not feel as though my makeup looks complete. Even when I am not wearing makeup, I always like to put on that little bit of mascara to make sure that my face just doesn't look like a blank canvas. 

I struggle with making my eyelashes look long and gorgeous. I have such short eyelashes- it is a joke sometimes honestly! For a long time, I have had such a rollercoaster ride with trying to find the right mascara that will give me both length, and volume... But I may have just found this within this little beauty. 

I never actually bought this mascara myself, infact my nan gave me this from an Elizabeth Arden gift set she had. I was so so grateful as I had been needed another decent mascara for a while, and I couldn't wait to begin using it!

When I first applied this mascara, I thought to myself that I would only apply one coat and see what happens. Well. One coat is all I needed! My lashes looked amazing and I couldn't have been anymore satisfied with the product.

This mascara is available to purchase on its own, and isn't needed to be bought as part of a set. On it's own it can be bought for £22.00, and can be found HERE.

Another great thing about this mascara is that it doesn't have any fall down. The mascara doesn't crumble throughout the day, and stays right where it should- on the lashes. It truly is a fabulous product. 

What mascaras have you been loving at the moment?

PERFECT DUPE FOR MAC STUDIO FIX FLUID // BEAUTY

I'm not usually one for dupes. I just prefer to stick to what I know and have found, as I think this makes it a little easier. However, I feel as though I have found the perfect dupe for MAC's Studio Fix Fluid. 

Firstly, I chose to go for MAC Studio Fix Fluid due to the fact that my skin is combination skin. I suffer from both oily and dry however, it is more to the oily side, so I needed a foundation which would last all day without budging and I found this within MAC's foundation. Although I love this foundation silly amounts, it does make me break out if I wear it on a daily basis. Therefore I set out to find a dupe, and ended up with Revlon Colorstay foundation. 

In the Studio Fix Fluid I wear NC15 (as I went to a counter and got matched up), so I gathered that I would need quite a pale colour to suit my skin tone. After trying all of the shades, I found that 'Ivory' matched NC15 near enough perfectly, so I settled for that. Usually with a foundation I always have to set it with a translucent powder, but I have found that with Colorstay I do not have to do this at all, and it does not budge throughout the day. This really impressed me, as with Studio Fix Fluid I have to apply a little bit of powder to just ensure that it stays in place. Another similarity Studio Fix Fluid and Colorstay have in common is that they are both SPF 15, which is important for daily sun rays on the skin. 

I bought Studio Fix Fluid for £22.00, and you can find that HERE.

I bought Colorstay for £12.99 from Boots, and you can find that HERE.

Yes the Colorstay is a little pricey for a drugstore foundation, but it is near enough half the price of the Studio Fix Fluid, and it is perfect for a daily foundation when saving your better one for special occasions. Also, it doesn't make you break out so what could be better?

Have you found any foundation dupes recently?