10 Things You'll Probably Forget to take to University

Staying in the same city that I went to university in means I tend to get a little bit nostalgic every time September comes around. While I don't usually have much reason to stray towards the more 'studenty' side of Manchester such as Fallowfield, Rusholme or Didsbury, a short walk down Oxford Road quite literally is a walk down memory lane.

While I get all misty eyed over £1 Jagerbombs at 5th Ave and sharing a living space with 9 other people (yeah, maybe not) I thought I'd offer a few words of advice to those starting university this year.

So you've packed up what looks like your entire room, including a few extras here and there and it's like a game of Tetris trying to fit everything into your parent's car. You've definitely thought of everything. Or have you? Here are 10 things that you've probably, most definitely, forgotten to pack.

1. A door stop. The small yet mighty key to socialising in those vital first few days. Nothing says 'social recluse' more than a closed door. Some folded over cardboard might do the job for a day, but a doorstop is a handy little tool you'll wish you had remembered.

2. Nail varnish remover. One of those things that you might have relied on your mum or sister for before, but now you'll just have to scratch off until you splash out at Boots. This one applies to the guys too, especially for that awful neon nail varnish someone gave you for the 90s themed disco and it's definitely not coming off. And if you do remember nail varnish remover, your housemates will just borrow yours all year and not bother buying their own.

3. Toilet roll. One of those living essentials that you overlooked while making sure you had enough outfits for Freshers Week. A new toilet roll no longer magically appears in the bathroom. That stuff runs out.

4. A sewing kit. Want to create a fancy dress costume on the cheap? You'll wish you had your gran's biscuit tin of lies for once.

5. A bottle opener and corkscrew. Because nobody likes bits of cork floating in their White Zinfandel after someone's been at it with a knife. You could always sieve out the bits of molested cork, if you brought a sieve...

6. Coat hangers. They're so damn hard to pack that you only brought about 5. The rest you can keep from all the cheap clothes you've yet to buy from Primark. 

7. Scissors. And then when you do buy some you need another pair of scissors to cut them out of the plastic packaging.

8. Speakers. It's probably worth investing in some decent speakers to improve the sound quality of that film you've just illegally downloaded to your laptop.

9. A printer with ink. The library will be full and all the computers will be taken when you need to print off and hand in that essay 10 minutes before the deadline.

10. Scales. For weighing ingredients, not yourself. You definitely won't want to weigh yourself after Fresher's, but you may actually want start trying some of the recipes from all those student cookbooks everyone gave you before you left.

You can of course pick all of these things up once you're at uni, but it's a lot easier and cheaper to add them to the list of 'things to buy for uni' for your parents.

The Book Lover Survey

For some reason or another I've never done a 'tag' post, which is quite strange as I quite like reading them and they're a really nice and simple idea. I spotted this tag over on Jennie's blog Sail Boat, and thought that I'd jump on board (pun highly intended). Jennie's blog is also one that I've been reading for years, which tends to make me feel a bit stalkerish, but I do love her photography and her pet rabbit. So cute!

Anyway, away from the fangirling and onto the tag!

Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?
I remember my parents reading to me before bed when I was very young, and then as my reading skills grew I began to get impatient with them and just started reading on my own. I think it just took off from there and I began to devour books. I looked forward to trips to the local library and would take out lots of books from the school library too. Some of my friends have mentioned in the past that my family home isn't as full of books as they would have thought, and that's because my family have always been a big champion of libraries and borrowing books. And that scene in Beauty and the Beast where he gives her the library? Yep, that's my favourite bit. Libraries are pretty damn magical, and that's why whenever I hear about another one being forced to close, I get a little bit sad. Boo to the government. Maybe I should make a placard?

Where do you usually read?
I love reading in bed. So comfy and the best place to wind down, unless you're reading a really exciting book and you just can't put it down so you end up reading into the early hours. Many a tired morning has been made from reading until 3am.

I actually found it really difficult to read in other places during my English degree, as I would just associate reading with lying on my bed relaxing. Sitting in a hard chair in the freezing or boiling hot library (depending on what mood it was in) was a challenge, especially when I had to analyse the writing instead of just enjoy it.

Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once?
When I was at uni I got used to reading a few books at a time (and pretending that I'd read a few too!), but outside of studying I just like to have one book on the go, otherwise one gets neglected or I forget what's happening in the storyline.

What is your favourite genre?
Definitely dystopian fiction or books with really big themes in them like, WHAT IS LIFE? and such. I love the His Dark Materials trilogy for the whole religion/science debate and basically anything Margaret Atwood writes. For she is god.

Is there a genre you will not read?
Any book that has a pastel coloured cover, so basically chick lit. I've tried reading a few and they just tend to be too fluffy for me or I get annoyed with the main character.

Do you have a favourite book?
Oooh, a difficult question. This has definitely changed quite a few times as others have come in and bumped my previous favourites off the top spot. I have some favourites that I haven't read again for fear of not liking them anymore (Northern Lights) but this if my current list of all time top favourites - The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Grapes of Wrath, Kafka on the Shore, The Poisonwood Bible, Never Let me Go, Oryx and Crake, and Brave New World. But there's probably more...

What is your least favourite book?
Oooh I've read a few stinkers over the years of my degree (sorry English lecturers), but I've also subjected myself to a few ones that were also pretty awful in my eyes. So much so that I wrote a blog post about them!

What is the longest book you have ever?
When I was at school I would deliberately choose books by their thickness, and the thicker the better. I think I was just being a show-off, as I thought that the big books would make me look more intelligent. Some of my favourite books are pretty hefty though like The Grapes of Wrath and The Poisonwood Bible, but I think the biggest might have been one of the Harry Potters - probably Order of the Phoenix. But that just means you get to stay in the world of the story that little bit longer.

What was the last book you bought?
I took a trip to Oxfam the other day to look for some books for the #bloggerbookswap that I'm taking part in and ended up buying one for myself. Such are the hazards of entering a bookshop. I'm actually on a book ban as I have a ridiculous amount of books that I've never read sat on my shelf, but I picked up Girl, Interrupted as I'd been meaning to read it for some time after watching the film. And the book is always better than the film. Unless it's Atonement.

Do you prefer library books or buying books?
I think I've already mentioned this, but I really do like borrowing books and libraries are so important to so many communities and towns. Plus, when you borrow books you get to enjoy all the little quirks that come with a library book, like seeing who last checked it out, (curse you barcodes for taking this small pleasure away!) or where they've stopped and folded down the corner of a page.

What are you currently reading?
I'm currently reading a book of short stories about roller derby called Derby Shorts. Yes, it has an amazing pun for a title. I think I'll do a review on it too as it combines my two loves at the moment. Although I am keen to get started on Girl, Interrupted.


Let me know if you're going to do this tag too, as I really enjoy reading about what other people love about books!

IL2L Blogger Event

While I wouldn't call myself a fashion blogger, I really do enjoy reading lots of fashion blogs and spending hours shopping online in search of that perfect outfit. So when online fashion boutique iL2L invited me to their blogger event a few weeks ago, I RSVP'd pretty quickly.

Although I was vaguely aware of iL2L before the event, it was great to actually meet the people behind the online brand and have a chat about some of the things that go on behind the scenes. Being able to try on some of the leather jackets was also a bonus, as that can be one of the drawbacks of making a big purchase online.

Everyone enjoyed the cupcakes and Bellinis, but the hair and makeup ladies were probably my favourite part of the event. I've had some awful 'makeovers' in the past where the makeup artist just doesn't listen to you at all so I was a bit nervous, but Abbie was great and I was so happy at the end! I loved the vampy ombre lip and my skin has never looked so flawless. I haven't been able to recreate it since.

To match the makeup I requested a big quiff and ponytail from hairstylist Charlotte who also did a great job with my thin and flat hair. A lot of hairspray was used! It was such a shame that I had nowhere to go after the event apart from home. I felt very glammed up sat on my sofa watching TV.

Thanks to the marketing team behind iL2L for such a fun event. I had a fab time and enjoyed chatting with some fellow bloggers. I shall also cherish my personal fashion illustration (such a nice little touch) and the leftover cupcakes that I was burdened with...