November 2017 | Monthly Wrap Up

Wednesday 29 November 2017

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November has on the whole been quite good, just stress filled with the joy that is A Levels.

Favourite part?

I’ve spent a lot of time with friends this month – going out for birthdays, etc. – and a highlight I would say was a night of vegan pizza, cocktails and sing-along a live singer in a restaurant.


I also had the chance to visit Parliament with my college. I had a lovely day and I got to view some of the debate around the effects the EU (Withdrawal) Bill would have on human rights in the UK.


November was the month that my university application was actually sent off by my college and received by my university choices. As of the time of writing, I have received 4 offers out of the five universities I’ve applied for and I’m waiting for a response from the fifth. I can officially say that I got an offer from my first choice uni and I couldn’t be happier. That would definitely have to be the highest point in November!

Best read?

I haven’t read that much this month, because, well A Levels. I read the Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx to back up my knowledge on socialism (we finished studying it at the beginning of this month) and I have to admit I was surprised by how short it was. Though, don’t get me wrong. It may be short, but it’s intense! There’s a lot of information crammed in there and I did have to read about 10 pages per day so that I could try to digest it all properly (still haven’t but hey ho, I’ll get there eventually). As well as that I’ve been reading The Russian Revolution by Alan Moorehead, A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin and GB84 (although, not really. I think I’m going to just Google key quotes to use in my EPQ and stop reading it. It’s annoying me).



Favourite tunes?

I’ve been listening to a lot of the ‘My Mix’ playlist on YouTube, aka, lots of Regina Spektor, Mika, dodie, Anastasia, Ed Sheeran and Melanie Baker. Would recommend that combination.

Favourite watch?

This month has been a major TV month. I watch the first season of The Crown so quickly, and I can’t wait for the second season to come out (8th December people, 8th December). I also re-watched the BBC’s most recent adaption of War & Peace, which is a favourite of mine. I love the characters a lot, they’re all so complex, and I need to get round to reading (more like listening, it’s so long!) the book.

My major obsession this month has been Jane the Virgin. I think I’ll do a post at some point on why this show is amazing because I could go on for a while. If you haven’t watched it, then please go. It’s one of the best things I’ve seen in a while.

Credit

I’m currently watching The Tudors and I’m at the beginning of the second series.

What did I learn?

I am way better at answering A Streetcar Named Desire A-Level questions than other texts. It’s my feminist oracle. I will defend Blanche 'til my dying day.

What’s happening next month?

Christmas! I think that’s the biggy. Ooh, and The Last Jedi is out (we all know I will cry when Carrie comes on screen).

What’s been on my mind?

UCAS and offers from universities. I was refreshing my emails almost constantly before I got my offer from my top choice. Now, I can’t wait to see what the future holds.

Favourite blogger/vlogger?

I’ve been loving Sarah Kirby’s blog at the moment – looking at all her vegan recipes and how to eat vegan in major restaurants etc., which I know I will find really useful both now and in the future.

Favourite post?

I have missed a lot of posts this month, again, due to A Levels. My blog has had to be sacrificed a bit so that I can stay on top of my workload a bit. In future, I’m going to do my best, as I have done the past few weeks, but I’ll let you know: monthly wrap-ups are always going to happen (even if they’re the only post in a month and this section becomes void) and if I miss a post, I’ll most likely write and publish it on a later occasion.

In regards to my favourite post this month, I’d have to say that that would be My First Thoughts on the Menstrual Cup. It would fun to write about what was for me, a very funny and memorable experience.

Biggest inspiration?

The fact that the future actually seems a bit more real now. Like, going to university seems like a tangible thing now. I’m so excited about everything. Also, now that I have the

Any other favourites?


I feel like this has become the podcast section now. Okay, so, Witch Please. Witch Please! I freaking love Witch Please. And not just because of the pun title. I love new perspective I’ve gained on the Harry Potter series, in so many ways, but I don’t feel like my love for it has diminished in any way, probably due to the way that the hosts (Marcelle and Hannah) talk about it with such care and love. This podcast has definitely helped me as a close reader and I would recommend it to anyone who studies English Literature or Film.



If you liked this post you might like: October 2017 | Monthly Wrap Up

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My First Thoughts on the Menstrual Cup | #ACupaDay

Monday 6 November 2017

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I did it! I used a menstrual cup and I’m proud of myself for taking the first step and actually doing it. Well, I used one for all of about 3 hours and that was about it for that period to last me ‘til the next one, and I’ll explain why. (Just to clarify, I’m writing this about 2 weeks after I first used my menstrual cup and I haven’t used it since because, well, my period finished so...).

Yes! I used a menstrual cup! Go me! (I also got one of my friends to buy so mwahaha the message is spreading.) Now onto how I actually found it.

On the first day of my period, I tried to use it but I couldn’t. I kept getting it half up there (sorry if this is a bit TMI but really, why are you reading this if you should really not care about that or you’re in for a shock) then losing grip and it springing open. Not quite how it’s meant to go. But I tried. I had a go and got our first encounter out of the way.

Three days later, I tried again. I read through the instructions and figured out the best way to insert it – basically, you can’t put a menstrual cup in the same way you would put a tampon in. It just doesn’t work like that. So, it was up. I was wearing a menstrual cup! And, I’d like to say thank you to my friends who received some excited snapchats from me in the half an hour that followed of, what was, essentially, me walking around repeating that I was wearing a menstrual cup. Sorry, guys...

I have to say I was very impressed by how little I felt it. It was honestly hardly there. I thought that I would be able to feel it, especially if I leant over to get something or did exercise – though I did manage a whole pilates class (oh, how middle class of me) with it in and not feeling it at all, genuinely.

It was great. I was in love. It was going so well. Then I had to take it out...

I tried to get it out for about 40 minutes, and failed. I thought I could just push the sides in and then it would just pop straight out. Nope. I repeat. NOPE. My advice to anyone: read the instructions before you start doing anything. Once I’d had a break and had a laugh with my family about the whole situation, I had another go, this time more relaxed and knowing actually how to remove the vacuum (pinch the bottom of the cup with two fingers) and I succeeded in removing it, at last!

Overall, my first impressions were great. It felt so easy when it was in, although I think that it’s what goes on either side of that that I need a bit of practice with. And I think that’s all that is needed until I am fully comfortable and happy with my cup. A bit of practice is all.

If you liked this post you might like: A Cup a Day Keeps the Tampon Away | New Series

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How To: Use a Planner for Study

Friday 3 November 2017

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People generally have the perception that I am a really organised person who has her shit together. And that’s partly true; I am really organised (in the day to day planning, though not so much in physical objects and messiness) but there is no way that I have my shit together. I am a metaphorical mess. However, the one thing I can do is organize my workload.
I swear by my planner. I use it for absolutely anything: college work, deadlines, blog posts, my job and any babysitting I may be doing, social events, birthdays and everyday tasks and ... All sorts! There’s nothing that is too small or insignificant to go in a planner.

My planner is the ban.do I AM VERY BUSY planner, which you’ll see used by many different bloggers (that’s certainly how I became aware of it), and I love it. It did cost me 20, so definitely more on the pricey side, but I think it was worth it and I understand that I am coming from a place of privilege that I am able to afford this planner, but it’s not necessary, I just wanted to say how much I love mine. My planner lasts for 18 months, which is annoying in some respects as it leaves a 6-month gap in between (I need to buy a new cheap planner son for that gap), but it does mean there is better value for money. However, this planner is suited to me in its layout – it may be completely wrong for you. Once you find your perfect planner, you’re on the right track.

So, you’ve got your planner. Great. But how do you actually use it? Well...

As I said before, WRITE DOWN EVERYTHING!!

With each of your subjects, write down every bit of work you are set – whether it’s a long essay or something you need to print off or bring in to a lesson. This way you are a lot less likely to forget something, which will make your life a lot easier. I bullet point my work according to what subject it is. So I’ll do a heart bullet point (and colour it in with a pink highlighter because I’m cool), write the subject on the right and the due day on the left. Then, I’ll use an arrow for the different piece of work I have to do within the subject in lines. And so on for the next subject if I have homework for it. On the due dates for any work, I also write down in the bottom right-hand corner of the day ‘Politics due’ or whichever subject it is, so that I have a reminder on both days. This way, if a piece of work is due on a different week than it was set (as they often are) then I am reminded by that the week that it is due and won’t forget about the notes I made of it before.

Use your planner to prioritise your work: do the more urgent things first – and by this, I mean the stuff that is due in first. Of course, if you have coursework due in in a month, still keep doing your coursework so you don’t have a mad rush at the last minute.

A planner is also a great place to write down your daily to-do lists. I make a to-do list every day, sometimes for individual frees. Say I have 2 frees in a day, I’ll use the arrow system (except listing horizontally) so that I get what I need to be done, even if they’re little jobs like typing up some notes.


So, that’s how I use my planner for study. But, as I said, this may not work for you – you may prefer a completely different system, but as long as that system works for you and helps you keep up with your workload, that’s completely fine.

If you liked this post you might like: My Advice to New A Level Students

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