My Favourite Places To Buy Affordable, Cosy Homeware
Since officially moving in with Stewart a couple of months ago, I've become obsessed with decorating our flat with lovely things. Having only previously had pre-furnished student accommodation, there wasn't too much I could really do to make give the houses those warm, personal touches and make it truly feel like 'my own'. Since getting our flat, we've been able to start from scratch, buying our own furniture which reflects our personal tastes and those finishing decorative touches you can only really get once you're settled. We keep adding little things bit by bit and we are slowly getting there- it definitely feels like 'ours' now, but we still have further to go in really putting our stamp on the place. As we continue this home-decorating journey, I thought I'd share some of my favourite places to by those cosy homeware pieces on a budget- let's face it, after the cost of moving, those decorations need to be as money-saving as possible!
Hever Castle: A Fun, Historical Summer Day Trip
Despite having graduated from my history degree last year, my fascination with the people of the past will never leave me. Thinking about what the folk back then wore, what their day to day lives were, how they felt and where they had walked sparked something in my imagination that I have always held on to; throughout my childhood, I've always been obsessed with history. It's a huge passion of mine, and so can think of nothing better than spending my spare time on historical excursions. It could be some people's idea of hell but, for me, wandering around the grounds of a majestic castle picturing the people who worked and lived there feeds my desire to learn and indulges my imagination. Recently, Stewart (my boyfriend) and I visited Hever Castle in Edenbridge, Kent. As an end of exams treat, we picked this location as a place that would offer us plenty to do, beautiful things to see, and infinite things to learn. Turns out, it's a great summer day out for people of all ages!
Is Blogging The Most Stressful Hobby?
When I started this blog in 2012, it was a creative outlet for me and something to focus my mind on over the summer. I'm not one to do 'nothing' with my time off; I get ants in my pants and need to constantly be doing something productive. Creating this blog was a way of satisfying my need to constantly be on the go. I love writing, and I have developed a passion for photography through having this blog, and also find the process of discussing trichotillomania rather therapeutic. Blogging is a hobby, but a hobby that also helps me personally (and hopefully helps others too)- and that's why I love it so much. However, as more and more sites become sleeker, more professional and more commerically-minded, there seems to be a pressure to 'keep up with the Jones'. As your site grows, you might become involved with brands and PRs, and as other sites grow, you might look to them and start questioning your own success. Either way, blogging has evolved into far more than just the hobby it used to be; it's become a competitive commercial world which is perhaps just another source of pressure and stress.
The Best Thai In Brighton: The Giggling Squid
Stewart and I always try to go out for dinner once every few weeks for 'date night', but we always seem to end up going to the same places (usually Italian) that we know are safe bets and will be cheap. It's difficult to find somewhere in Brighton that isn't massively touristy, a well-known chain, or attaching ridiculous prices to their dishes, so I turned to Twitter for a bit of help. After asking for recommendations, I was greeted, pretty unanimously, with 'The Giggling Squid'. Having never heard of this unusually named Thai place, I conferred with my colleagues only to be reassured that it's an incredible restaurant. It was confirmed- we were going to the Giggling Squid.
The Book Of Mormon: The Show You Need To See
You may have seen on Twitter or Instagram last week that I popped to London to see a show with my boyfriend. Tickets to the Book of Mormon were his birthday present from me; it's a show we have both wanted to see for ages, so last Thursday, we finally got to go! After strolling around Leicester Square in the sun for a while, we mooched to the Prince of Wales theatre (which is right by Leicester Square and the station) to see the matinee performance of The Book of Mormon.
6 Things You Learn When You Move House
Moving house is both an enlightening and extremely stressful process. All your life belongings get packed away, the cleaning products become the main feature as you scrub your house ready for the new tenants, and your money is drained into a new deposit/early rent payment. You officially check out of your house, faced with the thought of a new bunch of strangers lounging around where you used to call home. Nostalgia hits you before being mixed with the excitement of all the new wonderful memories you will make in your new home. It's a strange combination of emotions, and along with all the boxes you learn quite a lot during the home-switching process...
Let's Talk About: Age Stereotypes In Blogging
Since the blogging world has considerably expanded in the past couple of years, a number of stereotypes have popped up with it. Although not desirable, it only seems in natural line with the way humans think and process information; the blogosphere becomes more prominent in people's lives so stereotypes are designed in order to help people categorise this new field. Unfortunately, being stuck in these stereotype boxes can cause many issues and frustrations, and once the category has been created, it is quite difficult to break that mould which has been set by others. Since London Beauty Queen created the successful 30 Plus Blog Collective, the issue of age stereotypes has become an issue which I have been thinking a lot about. Why do they exist? What can we do about them? How are these stereotypes validated?
Bloggin' Ain't Easy: When Inspiration Runs Out
Blogging has become quite a competitive business recently. No-one can deny the power the blogosphere holds over industries and markets, and the influence blogs hold over their audience. I always go straight to blogs when researching a product I want to buy, as you are guaranteed a personal, honest opinion. People rely on blogs, but what about those behind the blogs? Blogging is a huge passion of mine; it keeps my brain ticking over when I have spare time, allows me to develop new hobbies and interests, you can meet so many amazing people and provides a fantastic creative outlet. In the broader sense, I love blogging. But when it comes to creating content all the time, sometimes inspiration can wear a bit thin.
Best Places To Buy Homeware (On A Budget)
Moving house can be pricey. You see new opportunities to design your home exactly how you like it, and with this comes the need for purchasing new furniture, bedding and bits and bobs to make your place extra cosy. Next week I will be moving into a brand new house which has a lot more space than the last, meaning that not only do I have room to store all my make-up (YEY), but I need to think about how I want my room to look. Being fresh out of uni and laden with debts, it's essential for me to build up my home on a budget. Whether you're preparing to move into uni halls, are in the same position as me, or just want to decorate your home with some wonderful bargains, here are my top places to buy budget homeware.
That Time I Graduated...
Hey everyone! Just another quick life update to announce to you all that I have officially graduated! Myself, my fellow history students, and the departments of philosophy and art history all took to the Brighton Dome on Monday afternoon to walk across a stage for five seconds and shake someone's hand to formally become Sussex University graduates. The ceremony was actually full of far less pomp and boredom than I had imagined, and it was an amazing day.
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