... So Far

Lots of photos today and (hopefully) lots of home inspiration for you! I've left my blog rather neglected the past week but now you've seen just how much shopping and organising myself I've been doing you should understand. I move into my halls on Saturday and will have an ensuite room, share my flat with 7 others and cooking wise be self catered. Perhaps I should be at the stage where I'm getting excited but really there's nothing but nerves at the moment so if anyone's got any tips to combat them it'd be much appreciated. Obviously as a student, none of these things break the bank with the majority being either from Asda, Tesco or Dunelm Mill. I'm going to list links and prices of the more interesting and my favourite items but if you want to know about anything else, just leave me your question in the comments. If not, simply tell me what your favourite item is I've picked up and whether you're now after any of these. I think my personal favourite has to be the 'Unnecessary Item Fund' coin tin (£2.50 here) simply because I know that's what I'll use it for! 

Anyway, I hope this gives you some ideas and I'll be back to more regular posting as soon as I can.

Lara xo

Items

Cupcake Themed:
Apron - £4 here
Tea Towels - £4 set of 3 (can't find online) 
                     £2 individual towel here
Oven Mitt - £4 here
All Asda

Purple Shower Scrunchi with Pink Platypus (!?!) - 49p here - Dunelm Mill

White with Blue Hearts:

4 pack bowls - £8 here
4 pack side plates - £8 here
Set of 4 Mugs - £5 here
All Asda

'Receipts for Money I Used to Have' Tin - £6.91 here
'Unnecessary Item Fund' Tin - £2.50 here

Back to School/Uni Essentials

Haul

As much as we hate to admit it, the time is very much upon us now as most schools have already gone back and university terms will begin at the end of this month. Whilst I haven't done my proper uni shop yet, I have begun picking up some bits and pieces as and when I saw them. In keeping with the student-esque 'I have limited money', I have been very conscious of only buying practical items but still that I would be happy to be seen with! So without further ado here's a small haul of what I deem some of my uni essentials.

A Waterproof Coat

Living in England, we have to accept that rain will be a given in autumn/winter and with the reliance of lifts from Mum now being taken away, it was about time I didn't place all my faith in a £2 umbrella. This mac has small, bright pink flamingos on which admittedly very much sold me from the start. It was also (and still is) in the sale; another great plus meaning it was only £10 instead of £20. Even better, it actually works! In the recent rain we've been having I've trotted around in this and successfully remained dry. I do wish the hood stopped at protecting my hair though rather than my entire face and causing slight visibility problems. And when you're done, this coat handily folds into its pocket making it extremely lightweight and easy to carry around in your bag which brings me onto . . . 

A Bag That Will Not Destroy My Posture, Actually Fit My Stuff In and Not Disintegrate in the Rain

Catchy title - I know. I am guilty of many bag crimes over my school years; telling Mum that yes this bag is big enough then proceeding to carry most my books in my arms all year, choosing one made of canvas then drying textbooks on the school radiator and carrying so much stuff in my bag that now one shoulder seems to permanently droop. Well no more I say. This rucksack from Accessorize is large enough to fit in A4 folders (and more than one I add), made of plasticy coated material so will be shower proof at the least and will be possible to carry for when I wish to cycle from my accommodation to lectures with considerably less balance issues. Accesorize also offers 10% student discount and despite being a rucksack it doesn't look like I'm about to set off on a D of E trek. An all round perfect bag I think.

Sensible Footwear

Sticking again with the waterproof theme I really did need some practical shoes that would stay on my feet, be comfy to walk more than 2 steps in and be suitable for most weathers. It seems all my shoes end up being from New Look but once again they've provided a shoe that ticks all the boxes and you know they're good shoes when the first time you wear them they don't rub at all. I chose these Patent Chunky Lace Up Brogues in burgundy because they're still subtle enough to go with nearly everything but if you did want, they are also available in black. New Look is another store offering student discount but even at full price of £24.99 they're well worth it as even my Mum commented on how good quality they looked. (Rest assured though I will still insist on wearing my heeled boots as often as I can manage this term!)

Pretty Stationery

Perhaps not a necessity to everyone, but definitely something that appeases me! I will still be doing a much larger stationery shop but for now I have a basic purple ring binder and the main feature, this beautiful set of 24 different colour sharpies. It really does make me feel so happy every time I look at it! The purple folder really was only bought so I could save £10 on the sharpies meaning they only actually cost me £6.99 (and getting my Financial Maths practice in that means they're around 29p each.) I'm definitely going to end up labelling absolutely everything using these this year.

And that's it . . . For now. Let me know what you think of these things and when you're off to school/uni. At least getting to shop before hand makes the pain of going a little bit less!

Lara xo

A-Level Results Day 2014

Going Through Clearing

Sometimes things don't go quite as expected. Up until the day before results, I was all set to have a gap year and wasn't really worried about my grades at all as I knew I had no university place lined up. Then I read an article on my school website's newsroom and just like that I changed my mind. Now I've never been a decisive person but I continued to spend the day reading about the clearing process and decided it didn't sound too painful an experience. Boy was I wrong.

So Thursday morning, 8 am, I grabbed my envelope and was straight in the car ringing the clearing hotline, knowing I had the necessary grades. I was early ringing, so didn't have to wait in a phone queue and quickly got told I had done enough and would be put through to the relevant department. It was then as I was again recalling my grades I heard in the background they were now having to ask for higher requirements due to demand and I was told sorry we can't have you. Yes I cried, yes I broke down rather spectacularly. I glumly returned into the school hall snivelling and already dreading seemingly inevitable retakes.

3 hours later, both my head of sixth from and head teacher himself had tried to get past the general admissions hotline and into the department to explain my theatre studies grade shouldn't be an influence when I wanted to do maths but neither succeeded. They suggested I try different universities, but for me, it was never about the course and it was the place I had fallen in love with. By 11:30, I headed home, still snivelling and very much resigned that I was going to have to go ahead with my gap year after all although with resits which was far from the original plan.

In a kind of desperate attempt, when I got home, I emailed the department directly, trying to explain my situation or at least searching for advice for application the following year since now my grades wouldn't be enough. We left for a celebratory (ish) lunch and during this I received a reply asking for my number so he could call me personally. It definitely proved rather difficult trying to eat whilst nervously expecting a call. 

I had no idea what he was going to say, so when he apologised for my earlier ordeal and asked if I still wanted a place, all I could reply with was 'really?!?'. Not necessarily the most professional response but at least he got an idea of my enthusiasm. Now I am all set to start at the University of Surrey on a 4 year Financial Mathematics course and I absolutely can't wait! Even the prospect of buying my own bowls is exciting me at the moment so expect homeware hauls galore on here leading up to September.

Whilst at the time it was an emotionally exhausting day, it just shows that trying to stay calm and use a bit of initiative really does go a long way and it's definitely going to be a tale that I come back to read! 

Did any of you just get results? Or do you have any results day experiences to share?

Lara xo