what i am taking with me to university | a basic guide for you

If you have been reading my blog for a while, or even just the past year or so, then you will know that I am off to University this month. Saturday to be exact. So I have been shopping around for everything I will need to take with me, as I am going to be living in University accommodation also known as halls.

I thought I'd give you a basic list of what I have bought to take to University, but to a too in-depth one that lists every item of clothing, skincare or make-up I am taking with me.

this post contains amazon affiliate links below 

BEDROOM

• Pillows 
• Duvet
• Bedding (duvet covers) x2
• Mattress protector 
• Single air bed (for guests)
• Doorstop
• Airer (clothes horse)
• Tote shopping bags

• Fairy lights - primark do cheap battery powered ones! I got some of mine for 50p. 
• Clear command hooks - small & medium
• Blue tack - amazon
• Extension cable
• Portable charger
• Phone charger
• Laptop 
• Laptop Charger
• Favourite TV boxsets- Gilmore Girls, Big Bang Theory & Miranda
• Favourite Films- Girls Trip, Pitch Perfect (1-3), Trolls, Clueless, Pirates of the Caribbean (1-5)
• New Books- Surprise Me, To All The Boys I've Loved Before (1-3)
• Playing cards - amazon
• Photos - I got mine from free prints (app) and I got 30 images for £1.50
• Washi tape - wilko
• Sellotape 
• Make-up storage
• Light up Mirror

STUDYING

• Printer - amazon
• Printer paper
• Post-it-notes
• Labels/stickers - wilko
• Pencil case - pens, pencils, highlighters, rubber, ruler, sharpener, fine-liners, stapler & hole-puncher.
• Desk lamp & light bulb - wilko
• Notebooks - 2x A4, 1x A5
• Rucksack - vans

BATHROOM

• Hand towel
• 2 x Large towel
• Bath mat
• Head towels

• Period supplies
• Shower gel
• Shampoo & conditioner
• Razors
• Sewing Kit
• First aid kit - plasters, blister plasters, paracetamol, ibuprofen, strepsils and cold & flu sachets
• Laundry bag
• Small bin - amazon
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Toothbrush holder - wilko
• Toilet roll

• Bleach
• Hand soap
• Defuser - most students accommodation don't allow plug-in air fresheners so this will be perfect to put in the bathroom or even in the room to keep it fresh.  
• Clothes
• Anti-bacterial wipes

KITCHEN/COOKING SUPPLIES

• Teapot
• Mugs 
• Drinks glasses
• Reusable tumbler - the range 
• Reusable coffee/tea mugs - chilly's 500ml tumbler
• Water bottle - chilly's 500ml bottles
• Coffee maker (tassimo) - amazon & argos
• Smoothie Maker - argos
• Slow cooker
• Plates, bowls & cutlery 
• Frying pan - ikea 
• 'Pasta' pans - ikea
• Baking tray
• Chopping boards - ikea
• Grater - ikea
• Peeler - ikea 
• Can opener - ikea 
• Colander
• Measuring jug

• Greaseproof paper 
• Foil
• Oven Gloves - wilko
• Scissors
• Sandwich boxes - different sizes
• Bags for food/freezing
• Tea towels
• Washing up bowl
• Washing up liquid
• Bin bags
• Kitchen cleaner spray

CUPBOARD ESSENTIALS

• Fry light - sainsbury's 
• Salt & Pepper
• PG tips
• Wholemeal pasta
• Noodles
• Red or green pesto
• Honey
• Nutella
• Oats
• Pot Noodles (obviously, what uni student doesn't take some?!)
• Snacks - chocolate, nature valley bars, brunch bars, biscuits & crisps. 

I hope this is helpful for those going to University this year or even next year. I move in on Saturday and I am feeling very mixed emotions about it all. Good Luck if you are also going off to University.

meg x 

what i have been listening to | august 2018

August consisted of 2 weeks in Spain and then working 5 days a week so I have been finding more new things to listen to, which is a mix of podcasts and music. I have never talked about podcasts before on my blog and honestly, I haven't been listening to them for that long, but this past month I have put them on when I had to get the bus to or from work when I wasn't in the mood for music.

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST

During August two of my favourite bands both released an album, so the majority of August that is what I was listening to along with a few random popular songs that I have been loving. My family probably got annoyed because whenever we got into the car I always played this playlist, which is mostly Kovic and The Vamps.

We Don't Care - Sigala & The Vamps
The Case - Yana
Loyal to Me - Nina Nesbitt
My Life - The Vamps & New Hope Club
Talk Later - The Vamps
For You - The Vamps
What Your Father Says - The Vamps
Cheap Wine - The Vamps
Time Is Not On Our Side - The Vamps
Pictures Of Us - The Vamps
High Hopes - Panic! At The Disco
Happier - Marshmello & Bastille
Coming Home - Sheppard
We Belong - Sheppard
Been There Done That - NOTD & Tove Styrke
Don't Leave Me Alone - David Guetta & Anne-Marie
Eastside - benny blanco, Halsey & Kahlid
Wires - Kovic
Give It All - Kovic
Drown - Kovic
Running Underwater - Kovic
Blame - Kovic
Nobody Like You - Kovic
Issues - Kovic
Talk - Kovic
Ropes - Kovic
If You Don't Love Me - Kovic
Giving up - Kovic

PODCASTS

I have been listening to podcasts for a few months but never religiously, only every so often when I felt like it. This past month I have begun to listen to them a lot more, choosing to listen to a podcast on the way to work rather than music.

Danielle and Kayln are two of my favourite youtubers and when they announced they were starting podcasts I knew I would have to give them a listen. They are both quite different but brilliant and if you are in college/university I would definitely recommend Danielle and Brooke's! Kenzie Elizabeth (another favourite youtuber) is coming out with her podcast later this month (I think) and I honestly cannot wait to listen to it.

My Favourite Murder is definitely a different type of podcast and it was actually the first one I listened to, and fuels my love of true crime. So if you are a lover of true crime then 100% give this a listen, if not then don't worry. Funny story about this podcast, I was listening to one on the bus into Nottingham and it was about cannibalism and then an old lady came and sat next to me so I changed to music as I was feeling so self-conscious that she could hear it and I just didn't want to creep her out.

Gals on the Go by Danielle Carolan and Brooke Miccio - find it here on spotify and here on iTunes

Kayln's Coffee Talk by Kayln Nicholson -  find it here on spotify and here on iTunes

My Favourite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark - find it here on spotify and here on iTunes

what podcasts do you guys listen to?

meg x 

Photo Diary | Moraira, Spain 2018

As a few of you may know if you follow me on Instagram, I have been back in England for a week now after being in Spain for 2 weeks with my family for my Aunt's 50th. 

We stayed in a place called Moraria, which is in the middle of Valencia and Alicante along the coast. I have been going here for the past 10 years now but haven't been here since 2016.  

Moraira isn't very tourist like and has very few hotels which is what we like about it. We stayed in a Villa just round the coast, in between Moraira and Calpe. Driving around the estates is quite difficult even if you know where you are going, in the light and it's extremely difficult to find your way around at night! This time around as we knew where we were going it was a lot easier to find the villa, compared to last time when we got lost. 

On our second night, we headed into Moraira for dinner and I had a play with the HUJI app that everyone is so obsessed with. 

We always go down to the marina took look at the fishes and the boats and cars we cannot afford.

If you read my post from Moraira 2 years ago then you will remember we went to the cutest restaurant ever that did a wonderful paella, and of course, we went back this time!

I had such a lovely holiday and I adore spending time with my family, they are honestly the best and I will miss them when I am at University. In the first week, I finished my book - One of us is lying by Karen McManus which was amazing, I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I also watched the new season of Orange is the new black which was amazing as always!!

Thank you so much for reading, I know I have been lacking with the posts recently but I haven't felt motivated to do anything apart from work and watch Netflix. However, I wanted to share this with you and start to get back into blogging for University.

meg x