Top Tips To Ace Your Job Interview

We all know how it goes. You send out application after application with very little responses, and when somebody finally offers you an interview, it rarely works out. Sometimes it feels like you have to attend 100 different interviews before you finally get an offer for a job.

A bit of backstory. The past 6 months I've been dealing with a lot of personal stuff that, unfortunately, affected the way I was working. I ended up jumping from job to job quicker than you can change your socks. I'm feeling a lot better now and I've finally reached out for help, and I've managed to grab myself a little part time job in a lovely restaurant. However, even though I kept chopping and changing jobs, I received an offer after every interview I attended. My friend Brenna mentioned that I seem to be really good at getting jobs, so I thought I'd share my tips and tricks for acing a job interview.

1. Send a Thank You Email

Even though this is something that you do after an interview, as opposed to during, it is my most valuable trick. Simply write an email addressed to the person who interviewed you, and thank them for the opportunity. Reiterate why you'd be a great asset to the team, and why you want to work there. It's so easy, and literally takes 2 minutes. Keep it short and sweet, just a paragraph or two, and you're golden! Since I started doing this, I've never been refused a job.

2. Do Your Pre-Interview Research!

Knowing a bit of backstory about the company that you want to work for can be really helpful. If they have a website or a social media page, check it out! Nobody likes a clueless interviewee, and I find that most of the questions I want to ask are because of something on the website, which brings me onto my next tip.

3. Ask Questions!

You don't need to wait until the end of an interview to ask questions, do it as you go along. Some questions may be a little obvious during the conversation, but it shows that you're really interested, and actually listening to the information they're telling you. Of course, questions at the end are really important too. Even though you're interviewing for them, you need to be happy in the position, so ask whatever you need to know! I often like to ask what a general day would like look for somebody in that particular role. You can find lists and lists of good questions to ask in an interview, just have a quick google!

4. Manners Are Key

If you've been shown to a room to sit and wait, always stand up to greet the person interviewing you, and reach for a handshake. I always found this really difficult because I get so nervous, but it lasts 2 seconds and is generally expected. If you don't reach for the handshake first, they will. Show them you're actually happy to be there and have the opportunity to talk to them by doing it first!

Smile, keep eye contact, and keep your body language open. Crossed arms, hands in pockets, or constantly playing with your hair, doesn't really look great. Just keep your back straight, and your shoulders relaxed, with your hands on your lap or on the table in front of you. 

5. Dress for the Job

This is a really obvious one, but you'll be surprised how many people don't dress appropriately for an interview. The jobs I interview for generally have a smart-casual dress code, so a nice pair of jeans and one of my fancier tops does the trick. Alternatively, for a more 'professional' job, like working in an office, you may want to upgrade those jeans so a pair of simple black trousers and an appropriate jacket.

6. Enjoy Yourself

At the end of the day, you're meeting somebody new with something to offer, so engage with them and be friendly. It may seem daunting, but it's just a conversation, so talk to them the way you'd talk to anybody else.

And that's it! Really simple, but really effective. Of course, if you're interviewing for a job that you're really not the right fit for, or have no experience in, you may not find these tips overly useful. But for those of you, like myself, who have a preferred profession and experience, they'll be happy to have met you. Don't forget the thank you email!

I hope these are helpful to some of you, and I'll see you soon!

Ciao for now, 

Katie x

How to Sleep Early on Christmas Eve

For the last day of Blogmas, I wanted to do a little guide on how to get to sleep early on Christmas Eve. I don't know about you, but even at 20 years old, I'm always so excited that I just can't sleep. However, there are loads of lovely things to do throughout the day to help you fall into a deep peaceful slumber while Santa stops by. These tips might be handy for parents with overly excited children too!

For starters, plan yourself a busy day. Whether you're going out or staying in, there's loads of things you can do to wear yourself out. Take a walk/drive around and look at all the Christmas lights nearby, do a last minute shop (the busyness alone will make you tired!) or go for a winter woodland walk. You can spend the day rocking out to the best festive party songs, bake your favourite goodies, marathon some movies - there's loads to do, and you can do whatever you want in your own home! 

Have a hearty meal at the end of the day and you'll be sure to be exhausted. You know when you just eat so much that you could fall asleep there and then? I know a lot of people probably like to have a light dinner to keep room for Christmas Day, but a proper nice comfort meal will make you sleep super well. Just don't eat so much that your stomach hurts. I've made that mistake once or twice...

Wash your bedsheets and light candles in the bedroom to give yourself the cosiest night ever. Of course, you must remember to blow the candles out before you go to sleep, but lighting some during your wind down time will release the wonderful aromas and make you feel lovely. 

Baths are always on my list of ways to relax or sleep better. Keep yourself excited whilst getting sleepy by watching your favourite vlogmas videos, or listen to some Christmassy music while you relax, and make sure you've got your go-to bath bomb or oil to really pamper yourself. Make an occasion of it by adding a glass of wine, a face mask, and some exfoliator. It will feel amazing when you get into those fresh bedsheets!

Read as much of a book as you possibly can before your eyes just won't stay open. I always find that reading a book in bed makes me very sleepy, so it might just work for you too. Try and avoid your phone and the tv for your wind down time and keep your lights low. Bright lights are going to keep you alert and make it harder for you to sleep.

Last, but not least, make sure you're prepared. The last thing you want to be doing is stressing on Christmas Eve. It should be relaxed and carefree as the special day itself, so make sure you've done your shopping and most of your wrapping beforehand, so you can really enjoy the run up to Christmas.

And that's it! This post marks the end of Blogmas here on my blog. I really wanted to do the full 25 days, but I'm not overly liking my content right now and I'm just so busy with my new job at a new store - there's a lot of training and setting up to do. We open on Friday so a lot of my energy is going towards that, and I don't want loads of distractions during those first couple weeks of being open. I want to make a good impression on my colleagues and my manager, as well as helping the store get off to the best start possible. I can't really do that when I'm stressing over content that I'm not particularly loving. But don't worry, I do have some more blog posts going up throughout December, I just can't be overly consistent at this point in time. I've loved doing Blogmas so much, and I've found some wonderful people through blogging, so I'm really glad I did decide to partake in it. Maybe next year I'll do the full run, or maybe even vlogmas, who knows! 

Merry Blogmas, and I'll see you very soon!

Ciao for now

Katie x

How To Avoid The Winter Slump

It's so easy to feel blue during the winter months, and it's such a shame at such a magical time of year. A lot of people suffer with seasonal depression, and the lack of sunlight and vitamin D can vastly affect your mood, too. We get stressed over money, it's raining all the time, and it's too damn cold. So, for Blogmas Day 7, I thought I'd share my tips on how I avoid the winter slump.

Keep yourself busy

I find myself more often than not wanting to just stay indoors and watch Christmas films all day. Although this is super lovely sometimes, too much can make you feel like a bit of a recluse, and you have to try and get outside. Have a look online and find some local Christmas markets, take part in carol services and relax while you're doing your shopping. Nobody likes to rush to buy presents, so make sure you've left yourself a few days over the course of the Christmas season to go out and have a proper look, and maybe even stop for tea and cake. Dress up warm and go for winter walks, head down to your local for a G&T and a Christmas catch up with your bestie, or plan a delicious lunch at your favourite restaurant. There's so many wonderful ways to make the most of the winter season.

Eat healthy

You're standing in the middle of the supermarket. There are boxes of chocolates, cheese wheels, pretzel sticks, and every delicious snack under the sun all around you. You buy anything and everything you can possibly fit in your trolley, and scoff your face when you get home.

It is so tempting to break your healthy eating habits, just because it's Christmas. But you have to remember to have your favourite things in moderation. Eating chocolate for breakfast will make you feel sluggish and unenergetic for the rest of the day, so make sure you're keeping up with your fruits and veggies! Put a warming twist on it by making lots of healthy stews and casseroles, or using crudites instead of bread for dipping into your camembert. 

Take essential breaks

Although it is very important to get out during the winter for fresh air and some sunlight, you have to dedicate some time for yourself too. We can all get a little too busy in the festive season and forget to take care of ourselves. Grab your favourite book, some cosy socks, and the cheesiest film you can find, have a spa evening and pamper yourself in the bath, or just get an early night every now and again. You'll feel so much better, and a lot less stressed.

Do good, feel good

Christmas and winter can be a very stressful, and sometimes very hard time for a lot of people. Some people have bad memories and experiences around this time of year, some people are very lonely. Everybody has their own struggles, and it's really important to be aware of that around this time of year. Why not dedicate a day to volunteering at a local shelter, or visiting an old persons home for some games and a chat with those who don't have any family around. They will be so appreciative, and that in turn will make you feel good. 

Make time for the people you love

I think everybody has a weird uncle, a grumpy grandma, the auntie that smells a little weird, some member of the family that you're not overly excited to see, and sometimes they can put a real downer on your day. Make sure you have somebody to look forward to seeing, like your best friend or your close family members for some much needed ranting and family gossip.

Stick to your traditions

As we get older, it's easy to lose sight of our traditions. Everybody spends the festive period differently, and it's so important to keep your personal family traditions and values going. In my family, our main tradition is that presents have to be opened one at a time, no diving into the pile! We all have to see what everybody else has got and actually take the time to thank people for each present. It takes a few hours, but it's so much more fun. Last year, we didn't open our presents until about 11pm as everybody was working different shifts, and we weren't all together until the late evening. We loved opening presents after sundown, so we've decided to make that a new tradition this year. Stockings in the morning, board games, movies, and films during the day, and dinner and presents in the evening. That way, we actually spend time with each other, rather than everybody running off to use/play with their new presents.

How do you stay happy and relaxed during the festive season? Let me know in the comments, and I'll see you tomorrow for another day of Blogmas!

Ciao for now, 

Katie x

Top 10 Best Beauty Calenders

It's finally here, my favourite time of year! Ooh, that rhymed.

December is upon us once again, which can only mean one thing.. BLOGMAS!

I had uhmed and ahhed about whether or not to do blogmas, since I've only just got back into the blogging scene, but since Christmas is my favourite time of year, I thought it would be the perfect way to properly get back onto my blogging feet again.

So let's kick off Blogmas with Day 1, 2018's Best Advent Calenders.

In previous years, finding an advent calendar was really easy. You'd just pop to the nearest Tesco and get your favourite chocolate. For my brothers and I, it was usually a Cadbury one, or one of the cheap ones with your favourite characters on the front - I remember getting a My Little Pony one when I was younger. But nowadays there are so many different advent calendars to choose from, including beauty, makeup and skincare, candles, toys, chocolate, you name it. It's so difficult to know which one to go for.

This year, since we're all adults now, we decided to splash out on some nice chocolate ones, since we're old enough to actually appreciate the cost of glorified chocolate (and it's traditional). We always wanted a fancy chocolate one and begged our parents every year. You'll be happy to know that this year I get to open a lovely Lindt Lindor window every day. Yum.

My brothers went for a Reese's one, and a Millions one, and my partner has a Heroes one. We're all very excited.

However, my amazing friend Jade got me the most insane beauty calendar from M&S as a Christmas present, and let me tell you, I could not be more excited to open this thing. It is absolutely beautiful and has some really amazing products inside. I've had a couple of beauty calendars before, but none as lovely as this. Thanks Jade!

I thought it would be fun to share some of my favourite calendars on offer this year, and if you're a crazy person and don't already have an advent calendar, you may find some inspiration for one you like. Beauty calendars are definitely one of my favourite varieties to go for, but since there's so many other amazing calendars out there, I decided to add on a little bit for food, drink, fun, and classic chocolate calendars too.

Beauty Calendars

For those of you, like myself, who love to try new makeup and beauty products, a beauty calendar would be perfect. You can get ones with a range of different make up products, hair products, lip products, skin care - there is something for everyone!

The Book of Beauty by Marks and Spencers is of course top of list, as my wonderful friend Jade actually bought this one for me. It features 25 products worth £250, from brands such as L'Occitane, This Works, Pixi, Stila, and more! I'm beyond excited for this calendar! It's so gorgeous, a proper magnetic box with adorable mini boxes inside as each window.

The Space NK Advent Calendar is a little more top of the range, with it being worth £600. This is Space NK's first ever beauty calendar, and how well they've done with it! The emerald green and burgundy box is simply stunning, and would look amazing atop any mantlepiece. Again with 25 mini boxes inside, Space NK's calendar features products by Drunk Elephant, Hourglass, Nars, Sunday Riley, and many more.

The 25 Days Of Enchanted Ultimate Advent Calendar by The Body Shop is the perfect gift for those who prioritise in ethical, cruelty-free skincare. This box features 25 products, 14 of which being full-size, and features some amazing products, such as the revitalising facial oil and the charcoal purifying glow mask. Gimme gimme gimme!

Another newbie to the beauty calendar scene, The Shiny Pretty Things Advent Calendar by M.A.C is sure to stand out amongst the make-up loving crowds. 25 of their popular products will have you feeling ready to get glammed up this season.

The Christmas Tree Calendar by Revolution is absolutely massive. From lipsticks to highlighter, this whopping 25 full-size product calendar can be nothing than a dream come true for make-up addicts.

If you like a mixture of skincare and makeup, It's In The Calendar by Soap and Glory is a must-have this Christmas season. Complete with 24 mini versions of some of their most popular pampering products, as well as a selection of their best make-up products, Soap and Glory have really got it right this Christmas.

Can't Wait Another Day by Sleek features lip creams, eye and lip pencils, mascara, nail varnish and more. Sleek is such an amazing, affordable brand with some really great products available, so this calendar would definitely have me jumping for joy.

If you're more into delicious hand creams, lip balms, and soaps, The Cath Kidston advent calendar is a necessity for full body pampering and cleansing. 24 mini products await you in this adorable kitsch advent calendar.

The Lancôme Luxury Beauty calendar has it all, including skincare, makeup, and fragrances. Enjoy a selection of 24 products from Lancome, as well as brands such as YSL, Ralph Lauren, and Victor & Rolf. 

For those of you who love a subscription box, the All I Want calendar by Glossybox looks amazing. I used to have a monthly subscription when money wasn't so tight, and I think it's so fun receiving them. Glossybox's advent calendar features 25 products (including 17 full size) from brands such as Nars, bareMinerals, Huda Beauty, Nip and Fab, and so much more. I think anybody would be thrilled to receive this gorgeous box.

Foodie Calendars

Of course, there's also those who would prefer a little something to eat for their advent calendar, without going for the same old chocolate one.

The Marshmallow Calendar by The Naked Marshmallow Company is filled with different flavour gourmet marshmallows, complete with a chocolate spoon for Christmas Day.

The Pork Crackling advent calendar by The Snaffling Pig Company is perfect for meat lovers, featuring 24 bags of flavoured pork crackling, including pigs in blankets, maple, and classic salted.

The Pringles advent calendar is something that could have been done a long time ago, but it's never too late to jump on the advent bandwagon. This calendar features 12 windows containing mini tubs of Pringles. What more could you want?

This Cheese calendar is a dream come true for those dairy lovers like myself. A slice of cheese a day keeps the doctor away! Or so I tell myself...

I think the Artisan Brownie advent calendar by The Sweet Reason Company has got to be the top of my foodie advent wishlist. Popular flavours such as honeycomb, mince pie, baileys, chocolate orange, and more await you with this gorgeous box of 25 homemade treats.

Drinks Calendars

Or perhaps a little merry something to drink..?

The Christmas Tea Lover's Advent Calendar by Fortnum and Mason looks so beautiful, and is absolutely perfect for those avid tea fans who like to enjoy a different brew each day.

For those of you who have jumped on the gin bandwagon (not me), this Gin and Tonic Advent Calendar is perfect. Have yourself a merry little drink each day, or save them up for stocking fillers and Christmas Day shenanigans.

Whiskey lovers will malt (see what I did there) after receiving the Drinks by the Dram Whiskey Calendar by Master of Malt, containing varieties from a diverse range of distilleries.

The Fizz Advent Calendar by First4Hampers calls to those of you who enjoy a bit of bubbly, and what better time of year to receive 24 mini bottles?!

Debenhams have gone to town with the beautiful Coffee Advent Calendar, perfect for those who need a festive pick me up each morning. 24 coffee sachets in a variety of amazing flavours, from chocolate praline to strawberry and cream, are sure to leave you feeling buzzed for Christmas.

Fun/Lifestyle Calendars

Who doesn't love a good toy now again, or a cute knick knack for around the house? There are some awesome calendars out there to really bring out your inner child, or help decorate your home with adorable mini pieces.

I am in love with the Stationary Lover's Advent Calendar by Kikki K. I'm a sucker for cute stationary and desk pieces, and this 25 window book contains some adorable pens, notebooks, candles, and quotes to brighten your pencil case.

Calling all Potterheads! Funko Pocket Pop released a Harry Potter Advent Calendar, featuring 24 mini pop! figurines. Oh my god.

You can never go wrong with a candle, and this Yankee Candle advent calendar couldn't be anymore perfect. A selection of wintery and festive scents will have your home smelling sweet all day long.

I love Lego, and this Lego City Advent Calendar is no exception. Create an adorable winter scene and bring out your inner child with this amazing countdown.

As we get older, we really start to appreciate that new pair of socks under the tree. The Happy Socks Advent Calendar contains 24 pairs of socks to keep your toes toasty through the cold winter months.

Classic Chocolate Calendars

And last, but certainly not least, we have the classic chocolate calendars. Over the years, confectionary brands have gone all out with the Christmas countdown, with more and more of our favourite chocolates becoming available in advent form.

Hotel Chocolat are masters when it comes to creative delectable chocolates, and their Grand Advent Calendar has got me very excited. Salted caramel vodka, pecan praline, and more await you in the beautiful countdown.

Kinder is one of my favourite chocolates ever, so it's no surprise that my favourite simple chocolate calendar is filled with Kinder goodness.

Green and Black's Luxury Chocolate advent calendar is the perfect countdown for those with less of a sweet tooth.

This year, I have a Lindt Lindor Blissful calendar, so I just had to include it in my list. Lindt is so sickly and moreish, I love it.

And last, but certainly not least, a calendar that everybody will love - the Ferrero Rocher Golden Gallery calendar! If you don't like Ferrero, you're a crazy person. It makes you feel royal.

So there it is, my top 10 beauty calendars on offer in 2018, and my top 5 food, drink, fun/lifestyle, and chocolate calendars. Which of these would you most likely go for? Do you have a calendar already? Which one? Let me know in the comments!

Ciao for now,
Katie x

My Tips For Dealing With Stress

I don't handle stress well. I get irritable, emotional, fidgety, break out in spots, consume my weight in chocolate, and about a million other things when I'm stressed or getting worked up. For some people, a trip to the gym helps them to release the tension and stresses of the day. For others, it's getting curled up on the sofa with a good book and a hot chocolate. Don't get me wrong, these things are great for relieving stress, but I personally like to do a few other things to perk myself up and chill myself out.

Depending on what mood I'm in, the tiniest thing can get me stressed out. A lighter not working properly, forgetting about a cup of tea that's gone cold, if the washing machine is being just a bit too loud for me to watch YouTube, I stress out.

My main zone of defence against stress is talking to my mum. I know that talking to someone may seem pretty obvious when you're feeling down or stressed, but my mum is just like my diary. She's my best friend and is always there to impart her years of wisdom onto me. I feel much better after a cup of tea and a long rant with my mum.

Something else I like to do is watch vlogs on YouTube. I find that I'm too restless to sit and watch a film or a TV show, but trawling through videos on the Internet immerses me pretty well, and I can walk around with my phone to stop myself getting fidgety. At the moment, I'm really loving Zoe Sugg's vlogs. I know that a lot of people don't like Zoe for whatever reason, but I personally think she's an inspiration - she created a brand from her bedroom, has her own beauty range, has published 4 books, and is basically just life goals. She's down to earth, and it's really interesting to see how the other half live, especially when they come from such humble beginnings. If I wanted to watch a rich person play rich, I'd watch Keeping Up With The Kardashians.. which I do.. sometimes.

Another way I like to immerse myself is through watching dance videos. I get so pulled in watching amazing dance routines, everything from ballet to street dance crews. I especially love watching the Royal Family crew, and Sorority as well. Check out one of my favourite routines by Sorority below!

Something that I probably have in common with a lot of people in order to de-stress, is to run a nice hot bath, complete with a Lush bath bomb and lots of bubbles. My favourite thing to do is pull up a little table next to the bath, pop a glass of cold water and maybe a bar of chocolate (or something else yummy and nibbly), and set my phone up to either watch YouTube, or listen to music on Spotify. I always naturally find myself wanting to shave my legs and exfoliate in the bath, but I do it pretty slowly and half-assed for a long time while I'm watching videos, so it works out much better than scrambling to shave my legs quickly in the shower.

At the moment, I am loving the Imperial Leather Polynesian Spa bubble cream, it smells absolutely divine and does exactly what it says on the tin - BUBBLES! I'm currently using a mango and coconut scrub, as well as the Baija Gommage Festin Royal Body Scrub - it lathers as you scrub away, and has the most gorgeous caramelised sugar scent. It's packed with shea and honey for super smooth skin, and I just love it.

My bathroom is by no means the nicest room in the house - it looks like the kind of bathroom that you would get murdered in, but when you're surrounded by bubbles and delicious smells, it makes very little difference. One day, I hope to have enough money to buy a bathtub that simultaneously fits my knees and my tatas, but that's nothing but a pipe dream (ha).

Another great way for me to de-stress and perk myself up is to put on one of my favourite playlists, and just go nuts dancing around the kitchen. We have a very narrow, small kitchen, but it makes no difference to me. I will serenade into a wooden spoon and catwalk that shit. Never underestimate music, and always listen to music for the mood you want to be in, not the mood you are. Sometimes it's nice to belt out sad songs when you're sad, but I'd rather be smiling and happy. Wouldn't everyone?

Like I said in my introduction to this post, a simple hot chocolate and a book is a fantastic way to melt your worries away, too. I personally love Cadbury's hot chocolate, but Whittards is my go-to for something a little fancier. If you haven't tried Whittards hot chocolate before, I seriously recommend you try it.

At the moment I'm reading the Harry Potter series, and although I go through phases with reading, I do really enjoy it. I have loads of other books that I want to read, some I've bought recently, some from years ago that I still haven't had a chance to read (or just been too lazy). I can read a whole book in a day, or it might take me a few months. But it's always a good way to distract yourself.

And lastly, blogging. Although writing my blog can stress me out a little (because I'm a perfectionist), it usually entertains me for long enough that I've forgotten what I was originally stressing about. If I get writer's block, I just walk away from the laptop and do something else for 10 minutes. Once I've come back to the computer, I have a slightly different thought stream from before, so I can usually add another paragraph or two. It's so exciting seeing a preview of your finished blog post, especially one you worked hard on and really enjoyed writing. Now that I've gotten back into blogging, I think this will probably be one of my go-to things to de-stress.

And that's basically it. I try to relax as much as possible and keep myself busy and distracted. Other people may wish to write in a diary to get all their negative feelings out - it's different for everyone. How do you deal with stress? I'd love to know!

Ciao for now,

Katie x

Education Wisdom

It's that time of year again, where people my age, and those at school/college/university are sitting their exams for their GCSE's, A-Levels, Diplomas etc.
It's so easy to get carried away with summer and not want to revise or do anything exam related, especially if you're like me and gave up in the middle of September *guilty smile*. Today was my last day at college before having four weeks off for study leave and to sit my exams, and honestly, it was the worst day of college so far. I received my coursework grade back my media AS, and lets just say that appalled is an understatement. I almost cried, considering I wanted to study media at university, and I thought I was going to get my target grade. That is basically the reason for this post, as I just want to share some words both for myself and for you, so you don't stress over your exams or your grades.

Grades don't define you
It's so easy to let your grades ruin your life. Since I was 6 I have been told that i'm 'top of the class', 'really smart, 'capable of anything', and it has completely ruined education for me. I managed to come out of school with 2 A*'s, 5 A's and 5 B's, which when you think about it, is really really good. But those B's completely crushed my confidence. I was targeted A's for everything and I will forever regret not trying harder for those subjects. But at the end of the day, those grades don't change who I am. They don't change what I want to achieve or what I want to do or who I want to be. It's just a letter on a piece of paper reflecting how good my memory is of random knowledge and my ability to spew that knowledge onto some lined paper. In completely silence. With no other resources. That doesn't happen in the real world. You get trained and you get experience and you will always have the internet or books or people around you to help. Your grades do not define who you are or how smart you are.

Revise
I have no idea how to revise. Literally, do not have a clue. As I've always been 'smart' (in the education system's eyes) I've never needed to revise in order to get a good grade. I did little to no revision for my GCSE's and I completely regret it. I should have asked for help so I knew how to revise properly and now that I'm at college, I'm completely stuck. It's so important to revise, and start as soon as possible. Although I have little motivation when it comes to education, I always want to start revising as soon as lessons start in September. I want to be able to go to my lessons, review my notes at home and create more condensed notes to look through every now and again, rather than having to read pages and pages of some useless information. There are loads of ways to revise, and its been said that you should do 20 minutes of focused revision and try to do the best as possible, and then take a 40 minute break, rather than trying to do everything all at once. If you don't revise, you will end up panicking way more than you really need to, and may mess up on the tiniest questions or make silly mistakes that you could really have answered. Practise makes perfect.

Help with exams
Exams can be ridiculously scary. Massive, freezing cold sports halls, rows and rows of creaky little desks and horrible plastic chairs, an extremely loud clock, and an exam paper that looks like it's been written in hieroglyphics. I had a mock exam a couple of months ago, and ended up having a panic attack in the middle of it. Not fun. But, in case you don't know, you can get help with your exams. I went to my college's mental health nurse who arranged for me to have my exams in a separate classroom  so I don't become overwhelmed, and I think it may really help. You can also get extra time (usually 25%), can have a computer rather than pen and paper and probably other things. I thought you could only get these things if you were disabled in some way, but that's really not the case. It's also important to know that the people marking your exam papers know that you are under scary conditions and do take this into account, so it's never as bad as it seems.

See you soon!

Katie xo

Simple Summer Things

Afternoon lovelies!

So today, as I thought it was so lovely outside, and my arm is literally burning from the sun coming in through my window, I'd do a summer themed post. 

Source: google images

Now, I am very much a summer person, for the most part (cannot do bugs). I love having time away from school to just take a breather and chill, and I think it's always really amazing to go back to school in September and see how everyone has changed - some people got their hair cut, some people lost weight, some people got piercings and all sorts of other things. But have you ever had loads of fun in the first week of the summer holidays, and then was completely bored for the rest of the time, and when it got to late August/early September you thought "what on earth have I been doing?!"
Well. I didn't even have a fun first week, I skipped straight to bored.

So this post is basically some ideas for you guys to try out over the summer, to keep yourselves active and as human as possible (nobody likes being a potato all summer) and also some little tips to keep you happy.

Source: google images

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Things to do:

• Get a summer job
  Now this one probably doesn't sound all that fun, but when you get your pay check and realise that you FINALLY have some money to buy those shoes you really wanted, or go to the cinema with your friend, it will definitely be worth it. Plus, it means there's always something to do when you don't have any plans. Practically everywhere hires people as summer temps from as early as April, so get in there!
• Learn a random skill
  This one can be as personal as you want it to be. Look up tutorials on how to moonwalk, juggle, yodel, whatever takes your fancy. My skill for this summer will be perfecting winged eyeliner and learning how to use Photoshop properly.
• Take up a new hobby
  When I was in the middle of my last year of secondary school, I decided that I really wanted to study Photography at college, and I worked really hard to get the grades I needed, as I hadn't done Photography at GCSE. I definitely see photography as more of a hobby than a qualification, purely because I love it so much. I've recently completed my photography AS so I don't have to do it again until September, so college is a little more boring now, but I will be spending my entire summer taking photos. You can take up a hobby in literally anything. I want to start painting, and blogging lots throughout the summer.
• Go to the beach
  I know not everybody likes the beach (sand in my hair is a massive no) and not everybody is lucky enough to live near the beach like I am, but for those of you who do, grab your favourite book, your best friend, a couple of quid for some ice cream, and just spend the afternoon lazing about on the sand. Make sure you take a really good sun cream though! I step outside for 5 minutes with no sun cream on and end up looking like a wrinkly tomato. Ouchie.
• Make a summer time capsuleIt's so easy to forget some of the amazing things you do over the summer, so decorate a pretty little box and put mementos in it. Take lots of pictures and put them in, write little notes about what you did, keep receipts and cinema tickets, anything with a good story behind it. Then, shove it in your attic or at the back of your bed, and take a look at it next summer, or in 5 years time. You'll be amazed at how easily everything comes flooding back to you.
• Rearrange your room
  If, one day, it's not as lovely as you thought it was going to be, or your friends cancel on plans, then take the day to change things up a bit. It is so refreshing to move things around every now and again. You don't have to move your furniture around if that's too much work for a lazy day, but even just tidying up your dressing table or rearranging your wardrobe can make such a difference!
  
  

  

  Source: google images

Simple Tricks

• Keep a lip balm handy
  Chapped lips are usually really common in winter when there is a lot of cold air hitting your face, but the sun and the heat can dry them out too. Make sure you have a really moisturising lip balm handy all the time. I just have a cheap tea tree one from Tesco, but Carmex and Baby Lips are really good too. Invent in a good one, you only get one set of lips.
• Don't be a potato
  It's so easy to fall into the trap of doing nothing all day, especially when it's 1000 degrees outside and you don't have any money. But this often leads to not seeing your friends or not talking to anyone for ages, and when you go back to school in September, you'll have missed out of loads.
• Keep hydrated
  I am one of those people who will go days without drinking anything and not think anything of it. DON'T DO THIS. As well as keeping you healthy and flushing you of toxins, water keeps your skin looking gorgeous and helps prevent things like headaches, which are really common in summer.
• Don't be embarrassed
  Summer is all about having fun and being as happy as possible. So don't let anything hold you back. I would never wear a swimming costume to the beach because I hated my body, but there was no reason for me to. I am beautiful, and you guys are too. So own your body and love the skin you're in.
• Wear sun cream
  It is so so so important to protect your skin. Even though the sun gives you essential healthy vitamins, it is also extremely dangerous if you don't protect yourself. I'm all for showing your skin in the summer and getting a tan, but I don't really want to burn or get skin cancer. Invent in a sun cream with a really high SPF, even if you think you don't burn easily, and make sure you apply it multiple times throughout the day if you're outside. Most foundations and face products have a small SPF in them, so try and go for those if your regular foundation doesn't protect.
• Have fun!
  This is so ridiculously cliché, but it's so true. As you get older, you'll realise how lucky you were to get such long summers away from school. Unless you're extremely lucky, you'll have to work throughout the year when you're older, so you really need to treasure the time off you've been given, and be as productive as possible so you don't have any regrets later on. 'Carpe diem' and all that.

So that's it for this post. I'm going to leave you with one of my favourite songs that really gets me in a summery mood, and I hope I helped!

See you soon!
Katie xo