Goodbye 2013

So its the day before New Year's Eve and its the day to eat all of your chocolate before you agree to eat more healthily for a resolution. Let's see how long it lasts this year!!
In all seriousness 2013 has been a really good year and its nice to look back and see what has happened in the past year that has been good.
Personally I am happy that:

• I'm more confident - In one of my posts I spoke about Pole Fitness. I am not the most body confident person in the world and am rarely seen in anything that shows my legs, I practically live in tights. But every Sunday I've been wearing shorts and a vest in front of a large group of skinny girls. I thought they would look at me strangely but I couldn't be more wrong. Those classes have made me feel so much better and making me question if my insecurities are irrational
• I'm more organised - I've finally got myself in order in certain aspects of my life. I'm better at organising time and my money which is very useful when you're a student! It's meant that I've been able to spend more time with my friends and I've made lots of new friends this year which has been great. I've always loved meeting new people and trying new things and I've been very lucky this year in meeting so many fantastic people!
• I've been smiling more - I've always been known for being a bubbly person but the past few years have been a bit difficult. I find it hard to know my place in a friendship group or even just a social situation. So its hard to be happy all of the time and I've always felt a little left out. But this year I've felt like I have a lot of people close to me that I can trust and be myself around which has really helped me. I feel a lot happier a lot more often. Obviously everyone has their bad days but I can take them if it means more happy moments. 
• My family are closer - Since me and my brother have both moved out of the house when we're at Uni my parents spend more time together. They used to always argue but now go on holidays for just them two, go on dinner dates and days out. Its nice to know that they can be happy together as no one likes when their parents are always arguing. Its made home a lot more relaxing and fun and even me and my brother get along better than we used to

I'm glad to be starting the new year feeling happier and more confident and hope 2014 will be just as good! I haven't decided my resolutions yet but I'm sure there will be a few. Whether or not I stick to them is another matter. 

I hope everybody who reads this has had a good year and are as excited for 2014 - see you next year :)

XXX

Getting Healthy: Vegetable Curry

I love vegetables and I love curry, so I combined the two!!! This is a pretty simple recipe and it tastes amazing!! You can also change around some of the vegetables to whatever you like best and the curry paste, depending on how hot you like your curries. This recipe serves about 2-3 people.

Ingredients

• 1 sweet potato
• half a green pepper
• 3 or 4 mushrooms
• 1 medium red onion
• 1/4 jar of Curry Paste- (make sure its a paste not a sauce- I used a mild curry paste)
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes

Method

1. Chop the sweet potato into about 2cm chunks and chop all other vegetables
2. Fry all the vegetables in an oiled pan for around 5 minutes
3. add the curry paste and cook for another 3 minutes
4. Add the chopped tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste
5. Leave to simmer for around half an hour - make sure the sweet potatoes are soft
6. If there isn't enough liquid and things are burning - add a little water
7. Serve with rice and any sides you like with curry (chutney, naan, poppadoms etc.)

Getting Healthy: Stuffed Mushrooms

So here's a recipe I threw together when trying to eat more healthily! I just made a basic recipe so if you ever try it; add things to make the meal more interesting. This recipe is for one so just adjust it to whatever you would want

Ingredients

• 2 or 3 large flat mushrooms (depending on how hungry you are)
• 1 slice of bread (left on the side for the day to go a little stale for breadcrumbs)
• 1 small red onion
• 1 large clove of garlic
• lots of grated cheese

Method

1. Remove the stalks from the mushrooms and clean them. Also turn on the oven to 200 degrees centigrade on a fan oven
2. Once the oven is hot put the mushrooms on a baking tray and drizzle them with oil and leave in the oven whilst doing the next steps (or around 5 mins)
3. Break your piece of bread into very small crumbs and add to a bowl. Also chop the garlic and onion into small pieces and add to the same bowl
4. Mix all the ingredients in the bowl and add salt and pepper to taste
5. Carefully take the mushrooms out and spoon the mixture equally into the mushrooms
6. Grate as much cheese as you'd like onto the mushrooms and put them back in the oven for another 10 minutes or so until all the cheese has melted and the onions look cooked

ENJOY :)

Getting Healthy

Last year at Uni I found that McDonalds became my best friend, along with lots of other fast food restaurants! So this year I've decided to change my eating habits and to get healthy. So I'm going to be trying lots of new foods and new recipes and hope you guys can join with me. Most people told me that at Uni all you can afford to buy is unhealthy food.
I can prove them wrong! I have begun shopping at my local market and butchers and have spent the same (or sometimes less) on a weekly shop. I know you can't get everything from these places but I've also stocked up on things like pasta, rice and bread every week or few weeks. I've found that buying vegetables when in season from a vegetable and fruit stall makes you think more about trying new things. For example I'd never cooked sweet potato but now I seem to be eating it with every meal.
So I'm going to share my experiences with you guys. Writing down any interesting foods I try and any recipes I think of that I think you would enjoy!
Fast food may be nice but if you cook veg properly it can taste really good and make you feel a lot better about yourself!

IT IS A SPORT!!!

I've always wanted to be part of a sport but never actually liked sport. So I looked at all the sports societies at my university and came across something interesting. The pole fitness society! I've never had much body confidence so the thought of dancing around a pole in minimal clothing actually terrifies me. However I've decided to join anyway.
Now to those of you who think its all about dancing like a slut in your underwear... you are very wrong. The only reason people wear small clothes; shorts and tops, not underwear, is because you need to grip the pole to do the moves. Now I've never actually done the sport and my first session is this Sunday, but I know it is a sport! How do I know? I have to do 2 hours of fitness and circuit training a week and 2 hours of core strengthening and stretching weekly as well. Pole fitness can be a competitive sport and really works on your fitness and toning. Which I'm glad about because I am seriously unfit.
I am so excited to try it out and will post about my progress, hopefully whilst simultaneously proving it doesn't objectify women!
Hope this inspires some people to try it out as well :D xx

Being Yourself!!!

Its always interesting to talk to my friends from different universities to see if there are things that all students experience. One of my friends is currently a fresher whereas I'm a second year so its fun to see how her uni life is different to mine. However when I was on the phone to her she told me something that I experienced myself when first joining Uni.
Being around a completely different group of people changes our personalities unintentionally. Back at your home town your friends know exactly what you're like and whether you have certain quirky personality traits. But when you turn up in a new place with people who might be the complete opposite to you its hard to truly be yourself just in case they don't like what they see. It may sound like you're being superficial but I think its just about acceptance. Knowing you have to live with strangers 24 hours a day 7 days a week is difficult and its hard to open up straight away. Personally I have a rather loud personality and can be a bit annoying at times and going to Uni knowing that made me worry that my flatmates would get bored of me quickly. I found it really hard at times, being somebody I wasn't and sometimes I would just stay in my room so that I didn't have to act. The only time I felt like myself was when I was on the phone to friends.
I don't want to worry anyone by writing this I just want to know if anyone has or is experiencing this. If you are feeling just like I did all I can say is it gets better. Everyone is in the same position and people grow accustomed to each other and love one another's quirks! My flat know I'm loud and crazy but they also know I'm bubbly and optimistic and will be there for me when I'm not. Its so true that your uni friends will be friends for life, now I can't imagine being here without them and feel completely happy with who I am. I hope you all do too! :) xx

Moving Day

So it's September which means a lot of you will be going to school, college or Uni. Now it's a big change to go from primary school to high school or high school to college. But moving to Uni is something else. You'll possibly moving to a new town or city, one you may never have been to before and you leave all of your friends behind. I know when I left home to move 3 hours away to Lancaster I was terrified. 

But I'm not writing this to terrify anyone, however, its perfectly normal to be scared. Everyone who is moving away will be feeling the same and some people may even be new to the country. My advice is to relax and make the most of this opportunity. Since moving away from home I have become far more independent and mature and have learnt many life skills. Before uni I hadn't done a lot for myself, signing up to a doctors surgery or organising bank accounts, for example, really confused me on the first day. I couldn't even work a washing machine. It sounds ridiculous but living away from home teaches you far more than just what you're planning to take for your degree. 

I know it's also hard to make friends straight away but I promise you the majority of people will be lovely and the best advice I can give you is... BE YOURSELF!! You will achieve nothing if you act like somebody you're not and you will be spending a lot of time with these people so you want to feel comfortable around them. 

It may sound cheesy but you just need to Stay Positive. Good luck to everyone with their first week at Uni, hope you all enjoy yourselves :) xx

Book Worm!

So I love books and reading so thought I would share my favourite books with you all!

1. Hunger games by Suzanne Collins - I am obsessed with this trilogy! Personally I think everyone should read this and it applies to all sorts of ages and both boys and girls would love these books. There is a lot of hype about these books and I can say its all worth it. The story is written so well and the plot and characters are fantastic! If you're going to read any book on this list please let it be this one!
2. The Fault in our Stars by John Green - John Green is quickly becoming one of my favourite writers! He writes amazing characters and he has made me cry in several occasions. The fault in our stars is a beautiful story about a cancer patient whose life turns around because of one boy. It's beautifully written and is a great story to read, just make sure you have tissues handy
3. Daughter of smoke and bone by Laini Taylor - if you like anything to do with fantasy this is a great book for you! All of the characters are amazing and the story has so many plot twist it'll keep you up all night to finish it. The story is about an art student whi has a secret life in a place called "Elsewhere" and is keen to find out where she belongs. this is the first of three books and I've only read the first one but I'm hoping to read the second one very soon
4. Falling leaves by Adeline Yen Mah - this isn't a book that is normally on a teen reading list but its such an amazing book that I just have to recommend it. It's the life story about a little girl and her life with her horrible stepmother, pretty much a real life Cinderella. This book is about the authors life and it really makes you rethink your own life and situations. There are some very sad parts but overall it's a beautiful book
5. Harry Potter by JK Rowling- I must admit I have only read one of the Harry potter books but I love all things Harry potter! I will read them all one day! Hopefully you'll all know the story of Harry potter from the movies but I really recommend reading them. Everyone likes a good story about magic. Personally I'm still waiting for my acceptance letter on Hogwarts 
6. How I live now by Meg Rossoff - This book is one I read a long time ago but I think it applies to any age up to about 19. Its a story about a girl from America living in England with her cousins and how their split up and forced to find each other. It's a really good book and Meg Rossoff is a great writer.
7. Pride and prejudice by Jane Austen - I had to include a classic in this list. I'm sure most people know the story of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy from the TV adaptation or the film but the book is also great. You do need to pay full attention to the book as the dialogue can get confusing at times because you don't remember who is talking. However I think everyone needs to read a good classic and if you want a classic love story rather than the boring classics you do in school this is a great place to start.
8. The Foreshadowing by Marcus Sedgewick  - This is another book I read a few years ago but can be called a young adult novel e.g 13-18 maybe. This book is quite small so it won't take long to read and Sedgewick is a fantastic writer. The story is about a girl in WW1 and her ability to see death and when she sees the death of a loved one she does all she can to stop it. This is not the happiest book in the world but it does end happily and its a good book if you want something to read but you don't want something that will take up all your time to read
9. Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne - This book is intended for children but I think its better to read it when you're older. Its the story of two boys in Germany during WW2 and their different lives. I think everyone should read this book as its important never to forget what happened at Auschwitz, where this book is set. I recently visited Auschwitz when on holiday in Poland and it made this book incredibly realistic. You may need some tissues nearby when reading this
10. Before I die by Jenny Downham - This has recently been made into a film called Now is Good but personally I prefer the book. Its about a girl who has leukemia and writes a list of things she wants to do before she dies like drive a car, take drugs and have sex. Its a beautiful story about making the most of life and the ending is amazing!
11. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath - This is another classic but more recent than Pride and Prejudice. Its about a girl dealing with depression and is loosely based around the author's life. Its an amazing book but I must warn you that its also quite distressing and upsetting at times. Even so I think its a book worth reading
12. The Great Gatsby by F.Scott Fitzgerald - After the new film came out this book became very popular and it is a book worth reading. Its all about the American Dream and I personally loved reading all about the great 1920s/1930s with the parties and glamour. Its quite a short book as well so you have nothing to lose by reading it!

These are only a few of the books that I've read and loved and I have another list of books I've yet to read. Please comment with your favourite books. I always love finding new authors.

Where to shop for...

When you start off as a student fending for yourself everything seems ridiculously expensive. Living on a student budget can be difficult but from a year at uni I've learnt a few places to go for some good deals and I hope these tips are useful for you too! 

Food - as well as main supermarkets

•  Aldi or lidl - Both shops have really reasonable prices and although you've probably never heard of half of the brands you can't really taste any difference 
• Shops like b&m or home bargains - These shops sell loads of things like homeware, food and toiletries for fantastically cheap prices 
• European or oriental food shops - Even though you couldn't do a weekly shop in either of these shops they come in really handy for cheap alternatives to some products. Oriental shops are great for things like noodles and stir fry sauces and European shops are great for cheap snacks like crisps and cake - not exactly healthy but when you're a student and its cheap who cares? :)
• Markets - Many towns have brilliant markets and sometimes they have great deals - where I live there is a great veg stall where I get all of my veg for the week for under £5 - and I buy a lot of veg
• Butchers - sometimes butchers do great deals on meat - especially packs which would cost an arm and a leg in a supermarket - the meat is always so much better as well

Clothes 

• Charity Shops - If you really search through shops like Martha trust or oxfam you can find some really good items like clothes, jewellery or even books, you can save loads of money too
• Brands like Primark - Primark is perfect for cheap, disposable clothing and you can find something for everyone. I buy stuff there for everyday wear, nights out and even sometimes for fancy dress
• Online Sales - I find really cheap deals on certain websites and the sales on online stores are always amazing! I normally find great stuff from sites like boohoo, missguided and asos and delivery is usually pretty fast
• eBay - This site is great for fancy dress costumes and everyday clothes. Shipping can sometimes be a little pricey but I've been able to get dresses or jewellery for around 99p so I can't complain

Makeup and toiletries

• Superdrug - MUA and NYC are really good quality and cheap brands, most stuff is around £1 which is perfect for a student budget
• Boots - their natural collection stuff is really great value and their points system means in the long run you can save money
• Savers - they sell branded hair products for reasonable prices and other toiletries cheaply

For online deals

• Voucher Codes - I haven't used this one myself but I've heard great things about it
• Student Beans - this website is amazing! It has lots of hints and tips as well as telling you about online sales and deals exclusively for people registered to the website

What to do after Results

So if you're in the UK A-level results were released yesterday and you would have found out whether or not you got into University or got the grades needed for other things like apprenticeships etc. Congratulations to everyone who got what they wanted and to those who didn't... you may be thinking what can you do now but the best thing to do is not to give up. A recent article I read said that students lose their ambition when they get bad results and are likely to give up on certain career paths. But an attitude like that won't get you anywhere. Don't let what other people say to you or some results get in your way! If you haven't got the grades you needed or wanted maybe consider re-taking a levels or even thinking of another course that you may enjoy more or that may help you achieve the grade you need. A lot of people think that you may be left out if don't go to Uni as soon as you leave college and you'll be older than everyone in your year but its not true. I know people from ages 18 to 23 in their first year and even mature students so taking some more time to get into your Uni of choice isn't a big deal. Just make sure you think a lot about what you want to do before giving up!!!!
To those of you who did get in to University you now have a lot to sort out and prepare for when you arrive in September..

• Go on your Uni's fresher page on Facebook or Twitter and check out any information you may need for moving day, freshers or their Uni in general
• Try and find the reading list for your course. Getting the essential texts before term starts usually works out cheaper and gives you an idea of what to expect in lectures and seminars
• Make a checklist! Make sure that somewhere you have a list of everything you need to pack from room stuff to clothes to stationary to fancy dress. Also have an idea of what food you want to buy from the supermarket when you get there!

And finally, for everyone no matter whether your results were good or bad, enjoy the summer. You may have a lot to think about and organise but come September you may not see some of your friends for a while and you shouldn't let other things affect friendships. I wish you all the best for whatever comes next and I hope no one gives up on their ambition! There is more than one way to achieve any goal! xx

The Dreaded Hangover

No matter how well you can handle your alcohol at some point in your University life you will have a hangover (unless you don't drink.) There are many ways to get rid of a hangover and I may even do a blog just for girls to show you how to hide your hangover with makeup when you miss your alarm and only have a few minutes to get ready and look alive. These are the things that I do to feel better after having one too many drinks and I hope this helps!

Before you go out

• Make sure there is nothing on your bed other than your covers and pyjamas so that once you get home you can go straight to bed
• Leave a pint of water by your bed - you should always drink as much water as you do alcohol to prevent the hangover in the first place
• If you need to Set An Alarm!! - If you need to be somewhere the next day set an alarm while you are still sober so that you don't forget later in the night

When you get home

• Drink the water you left out - before you go to bed drink something!!! 
• If you don't feel too queasy, eat some food - toast is easy and quick to make for example
• Get a good nights sleep 

In the morning

• Have a large drink - water is great but you can also have fruit juice or even a smoothie, all of them help you to re hydrate 
• Wash your face - this helps to refresh you quickly and for girls, takes the makeup off from the night before
• Eat a good breakfast - food will help fill your stomach and should help you to feel better - but if you're feeling sick maybe only eat something like crackers - rich food won't help

If you still feel ill

• Take something for the pain - If you have a headache take something like paracetamol or aspirin and if you have no energy, take a beroca
• Go to bed - If you're feeling particularly fragile it's better to get some more sleep than to suffer in a lecture - I'm not saying you should take this step often, only if the hangover is particularly bad

I hope this helps xx 

Top 10 tips for surviving freshers week

So everyone knows that freshers is a big deal at uni and there is partying and drinking involved. But no one actually tells you everything that goes on and there's actually a lot that you need to know. So here are the 10 things I think everybody needs to know before heading off to uni and in their first week :)

1. Open door policy- on moving day you may not know anyone at your new university and may find it difficult to start a conversation with your new flat mates. My advice for this is to get a doorstop, whether its a tiny wedge, a crate of beers or even a novelty doorstop (photo)

This way people can see you and say hello and you may find it easier to talk to them whilst you're settling in, it's also good to be able to hear people turning up and maybe give them a hand moving in, a great way to start conversations

2. Be prepared - there are so many ways to find out stuff about your freshers week and even talk to a few people to get used to meeting new people. Go on Facebook or other social networking sites and search for your uni's fresher page! There will be lots of info about the events happening, chances to get tickets, ask questions, learn themes for fancy dress and lots of other tips from current students. This helped me so much before freshers week as I was told everything happening in the week and even got to speak to a few people who were on my course to ask questions and feel more confident

3. Ready steady cook - when you're at uni you don't have your mum or dad to cook for you and no matter what anyone says you can't live on beans on toast for 3 years!! So over the summer get cooking! Ask your parents for some easy and cheap recipes. I've even uploaded some easy recipes like a simple bolognese and a stir fry. A lot of people I know offer to cook for their flats so it would be good if you had a few recipes up your sleeve to impress your friends, maybe suggest cooking for eachother every sunday... Also you need to stay healthy and eating well is the best way to keep you fit and happy 

4. First aid 101- no matter how healthy you think you are there is about a 90% chance that sometime in the first few weeks you will get freshers flu! This flu is only slightly worse than a cold but if you're also hungover it feels like the end of the world. My advice is to prepare for illness and injury in advance with a mini first aid kit. I will post this in more detail but you will definitely need beroca for energy or any glucose tablet, some plasters (particularly for girls as you'll probably be in heels a lot) and ibruprofen for those hangovers. This way you're prepared for the worst!!!

5. Know your limits - Chances are you will be drinking quite a lot at university, more than you have before and probably everyday. There are lots of drinking games too that at some points make you drink a lot. But only you know how much you can tolerate and when you feel ill. And remember, you've only just met these people and they won't want to spend their night looking after everybody - but don't worry if you are ill people will look after you!!! But if you start to feel ill, STOP DRINKING, get yourself some air and a glass of water. You need to pace yourself throughout the week and it will be expensive to go out and buy drinks so not getting too drunk every night will work in your favour. Another very important tip - eat dinner before you start drinking, line your stomach, just because you want to get drunk, doesn't mean you should get hammered every night!

6. Try something new - university is all about diversity and getting involved. My advice to you all would be to go to your freshers fair and join societies you like but also join one that provides something you've never tried before, perhaps a new sport, hobby or even a language. There are so many different societies and its a great way to meet new people and make friends. Also if you get invited to watch comedians, an open mic night or just to play pool, join in. You never know you may get to like a new band or a new hobby!

7. Fancy dress- Most universities have dressing up nights during freshers and some universities have regular themed nights. So before you head off to uni buy some fancy dress stuff. A onesie would be very useful and also fancy dress outfits like animals, pirates,a Superhero etc. Also invest in some face paints, there a good way to make your costume better and it's also a fun way to spend time with your flat when you're getting ready for a night out. 

8. Get to know the area - whether you live in a city or on a campus you need to learn the area. Take a walk in the first few days to where your lecture theatres are and find an easy route and see how long it takes. Also make sure you can recognise the buildings around you so that you could find your way home on a night out if you ever end up alone. It's also good to know where the nearest shop is if you ever need anything in a hurry

9. Money money money - Budgeting is going to take up a lot ofyour time at uni. During freshers work out about how much you need to spend on food and nights out a week. Also remember that you WILL spend more money in freshers week than any other at university You'll have to buy books, pay memberships for societies and entry to events. In freshers fair every society will ask for a bit of money to sign up to their group, so limit yourself to how many you pay for on the day. Most societies allow you to try their activity out first so make sure you like it before you pay! Also for nights out, NEVER take your bank card with you, make sure you have a sufficient amount at the start of the night for a few drinks and taxi money hidden somewhere (inside your phonecase perhaps) 

10. Relax and enjoy- Freshers week goes very quickly so make the most of it!!! Don't stress and just have fun making new friends and your new found independence!!!!!!

Uni Cuisine - Bread Pizza

This is such an easy dinner for when you only have a few things left in your fridge and not enough money for a food shop. Its cheap, easy and takes about 5/10 minutes to prep and cook. I haven't put quantities on this but they depend on how many pizzas you are planning to make. I made mini pizzas and took some photos, they're not amazing as I'm no photographer but I hope you'll like the recipe nonetheless xx

Ingredients

• Sliced white Bread 
• Tomato puree
• grated cheese
• Your toppings (this could be anything like; ham, mushrooms, peppers, tomatoes etc)

Method

1. Cut the bread into pizza shapes. You can cut this yourself by just removing the crusts or cut into a circle. Tip: I sometimes did this with a small bowl or rim of a pint glass!
2. Spread one side with a small amount of tomato puree
   
3. add your toppings - cook first if necessary
4. Add the cheese
   
5. Pop into the grill for about 5 minutes or when the cheese has fully melted
   

Serve with chips or salad (depending on how healthy you want to be) 

Food essentials!

So everyone needs food and there are some things you need to buy and keep in your cupboard for many reasons. You may need things that are essential for certain recipes and you may need stuff for when money is tight and you just need to eat. These are things that I think everyone needs in their kitchen cupboards but I must stress not everyone will agree with everything I put but this is just my opinion on what's essential.

1. Instant noodles - the ones from oriental shops taste the best and are only about 30p 

2. Baked beans - because there will be a week at some point in the year when you can't afford fresh food :P

3. Eggs - good for making simple dinners like omelettes or good hangover food like scrambled eggs

4. Soy sauce - adds flavour to a lot of recipes

5. Stock cubes

6. Pasta- quick to cook and there are loads of different things to put with it

7. Chopped tomatoes

8. Garlic

9. Ketchup

10. Salt and pepper

11. Spices and herbs - e.g. Chilli powder, paprika, basil, oregano etc

12. Tea/coffee/hot chocolate 

13. Cereal

14. Things for toast- like jam or Nutella

15. Bread - freeze half the loaf so it doesn't go mouldy 

16. Tuna

17. Ready made sauces- for example curry pastes, pasta bake sauces or sweet and sour sauce

18. Cereal

19. Oil
20. tomato puree
21. Worcester sauce
22. This last one is something I use a lot in my cooking but its not necessarily essential - Sweet chilli sauce

Uni Cuisine - Spaghetti bolognese

Here's a simple recipe for bolognese sauce that I think everyone needs to know. Not everything in this recipe is essential and some stuff can be substituted or left out completely, make sure the recipe is something you really like. This recipe either serves two people or you can freeze half of it to eat another day!

Ingredients 

• 250g beef mince
• 2 rashers of bacon
• 1/2 onion
• 1 clove of garlic
• 4 mushrooms
• 1 stick of celery
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
• dried herbs
• salt and pepper 
• tomato purée 

Method

1. Chop up half an onion and one clove of garlic. Add oil to a saucepan and wait for it to heat. Once it's hot add the onion and garlic and start to brown them

2. Chop up the bacon into small pieces and add to the pan 

3. Once the bacon is almost cooked add the mince. But before you add it make sure you break it up before it goes in the pan or it will all clump. Stir everything until all of the mince has gone brown

4. Add the chopped celery and mushrooms and stir until the mushrooms change colour

5. If you really want to impress and have some red wine in your kitchen at this point you can add a splash of it to add some flavour to the sauce

6. Add the tin of chopped tomatoes and stir them in

7. Add salt and pepper and some dry mixed herbs for flavour. Taste the sauce and keep adding these ingredients until it tastes how you like it. You can also add tomato purée to thicken the sauce but this part isn't essential 

8. Wait about 20-30 minutes for the sauce to reduce. At this point you can cook up the pasta which takes about 10 minutes

9. Serve the pasta and sauce then maybe add some grated cheese on top and even some garlic bread

Uni Cuisine - Stuffed Peppers

This recipe can be altered to everyone's own taste and can just be made to use up things lying around in your fridge. It can also be altered to be a really quick recipe or a recipe to impress. I'm going to give you the recipe for the filling of the stuffed peppers and all of the instructions which overall takes about 45 minutes to cook. However if you want a quicker, easier recipe buy some instant flavoured rice, any you like and skip to step 7 so it'll only take around 10 minutes. This recipe serves one but there is probably going to be spare filling and enough for 2 or just a rice dish to heat up for lunch the next day

Ingredients

• 1 large bell pepper - any colour
• oil 
• 1/2 cup of rice
• 1 vegetable stock cube
• mixed herbs
• 1 clove of garlic
• any cheese (I normally use cheddar or, if I can afford it, mozzarella) 

As I said before you can use any veg for the filling but this is what I normally use

• 1/2 onion
• 1 large carrot
• 3 or 4 mushrooms
• a handful of frozen peas
• a handful of any cooked meat (I use chorizo but you could use ham or bacon and the meat isn't essential)

Method

1. Heat some oil in a pan and add chopped onion and garlic and begin to brown them
2. Add all the other chopped vegetables to the pan (other than the frozen peas)
3. Turn on the kettle and crumble the stock cube into the jug. Add about 300 or 400 ml of water to the jug and stir it in
4. Add the rice to the pan
5. Add the stock
6. Add herbs and salt and pepper to taste and leave to reduce for around 20 minutes. About 15 minutes in add the chopped meat and the frozen peas
7. Cut the pepper in half length ways
8. Drizzle the skin of the pepper with oil and place the halves on a baking tray
9. Stuff the peppers with the rice filling and add grated cheese on the top
10. Place them in the oven at about 180 degrees for about 10 minutes or when the cheese has melted and started to brown

Uni Cuisine - Stir fry

Stir fries are so easy to cook and only take about 5 minutes. And even though I'm giving you a recipe it can be changed in any way. I'm going to show you a chicken stir fry with a homemade sauce but you can use sauces in jars or sachets. Also you could use different meat like pork or beef, tofu or no meat at all and you can also use different vegetables or cook rice instead of noodles but just take its cooking time into account

Ingredients

• 1 large chicken breast
• 1 packet of ready to wok noodles
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1/2 red onion
• 1/3 bell pepper
• a couple of baby sweetcorn
• a couple of sugar snap peas or mange tout
• a few florets of broccoli 
• 2 carrots
• 3 or 4 mushrooms
• oil

    For the sauce (quantities to taste)

Mix all of these in a jug and keep tasting it 

• orange juice
• dark soy sauce
• peanut butter
• tomato puree
• Sweet chilli sauce

Method

1. Heat some oil in a wok and add onion and garlic 
2. Add the chicken and keep stirring until its completely cooked through
3. Add the vegetables that take longer to cook like the sweetcorn, pepper, carrot
4. Add the other ingredients like the mushrooms, broccoli and mange tout
5. Wait until everything has cooked through and then add the noodles
6. After a minute or 2 add the sauce and cook for another 3 or 4 minutes and then serve

Uni Cuisine

So before I moved away to Uni so many people told me I'd be living off beans on toast for the rest of my life. But I'm here to tell you they're wrong!!!!! I may not be the best cook in the world but I know its important to eat well at university or even if your just living on your own. So over the summer I'm going to be uploading some simple recipes that I cook every week or so and they're really easy. Please comment as well if there is anything you want to know how to make and want me to give you an idea how, from something simple like scrambled eggs, to burgers for a bbq or chilli con carne to impress your friends :) Hope these posts inspire you guys to get cooking!
Alee
xx

Results heaven/hell

So exams are over and summer has begun! But if you're anything like me you're worrying about upcoming results!!! Well all I can tell you is there's nothing you can do now so just relax and enjoy your summer. And if on your results day you get the grades you need... WELL DONE! The work was worth it and it may mean you can move on to sixth form, uni or a new job so you'll have a reason to celebrate. But I know some people will be disappointed with their results and wonder what to do next. All I can say is don't make any rash decisions and seriously consider what you can do to make your situation better... Maybe you could organise a remark, resit or maybe find a way to still achieve a lot with the grades you got. People may stress how important exams are at school etc. but from my experience a bad grade isn't the end if the world! There is always a way to make life work in your favour so keep smiling, don't worry, and GOOD LUCK to you all :) 

Alee xx

Its almost the end!

Hey guys,
So its coming up to the end of my first year at University and I'm feeling very nostalgic. The last 3 weeks have been hectic with exams and I've finally had a chance to relax and spend time with friends. It has also made me realise that I'm going to be away from Uni for 3 months over summer and its hard to leave.
At university you make so many good friends and you spend so much time with them, especially your flatmates who you see everyday. Its going to be a shock not having them just down the corridor all the time.
But we're making the most of the time we have left together so I thought I'd tell you guys a bit about it. Whether you're in the same position as me or its your last summer at home before you go away to uni or you're even moving away you may need ideas to enjoy the time you have so here are some of the things I've done and other ideas to spend time with your friends over the summer!

• Watch a band perform - We went to go and see Rudimental at our student union club and had a great night http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bC1tewsrb-U
• Organise a day out together - we visited alton towers the other day to celebrate the end of exams and it was so much fun 
• Have a barbeque - make the most of the weather when it's good, which is hardly ever here in the UK, and ask all your friends over. Its an easy way to just relax and hang out together

Other ideas

• Visit your local cinema - there are always good films on, particularly this summer and I've found that if you have a friend with very similar taste in films and you are separated by uni or something else, films are a good way to stay connected and keep talking
• Go for a walk - hikes may not be for everybody but even a small walk in a nice area gives you a chance to see lots of friends and have a good catch up 
• The beach! - its an easy day out to enjoy the sunshine and can be a great way for everyone to spend time together

Just remember to take lots of photos, pictures are a great way to remember your friends and make your uni room or any room feel like yours :) So don't take friends for granted and enjoy the time you have with them!!!! xx

25 facts about me

So I thought I should really let you guys know me a little better before I start blogging so here are 25 facts about me :)

1. I was born in South West London but now live in a little town called Hereford in the West Midlands
2. When I'm not at Uni I live with my parents and my older brother
3. I have two beautiful cats called Sally and Tango



Tango



Sally

4. I study Spanish and Italian at Lancaster Uni
5. From the ages of 3-18 I went to dance schools to do ballet modern tap and jazz
6. My favourite flower is an orchid
7. My favourite meal is Chilli con carne
8. My favourite food is philadelphia - I can't live without it
9. I am obsessed with Disney movies and still own most of them on VHS
10. I also love everything Hunger Games - especially Josh Hutcherson
11. I am a total drama queen/ diva and when I was little I wanted to grow up to be an actress or a ballerina
12. When I was little people would say I had footballers legs because they were so covered in bruises - I am very clumsy
13. At university I am in the Glee Society and I am their publicity officer
14. When I leave Uni I want to travel South America and then live and work in Spain
15. My favourite place in the world is Seville in Spain
    
16. I am seriously afraid of spiders 
17. The thing I miss most about home is my mum's roast dinner 
18. My guilty pleasure tv show is Here Comes Honey Boo Boo (you'd better redneckonize)
19. My favourite actress is Jennifer Lawrence
20. I love all of the Harry Potter movies and went to the Warner Bros studio tour last year

    

    Outside Ollivanders

21. My favourite colour is purple 
22. If I could have any animal in the world as a pet I would choose a tiger or an elephant
23. I get scared really easily and have never made it through a whole horror movie without hiding under a blanket
24. My hair is naturally curly/frizzy and it takes ages to straighten!!!
25. I may say I'm organised but I am insanely messy (my flatmates would agree)

So I hope you know me a bit better now :)

x

Hello Internet

Hello Everyone,
I'm Alee and I study Spanish at Lancaster University.
I know when I was applying to go to university last year I had loads of questions and could only find an answer to a few of them. So I've decided to put them on here, all in one place, to give some freshers a chance to get a feel for Uni before they start and maybe even to inspire somebody to consider going to university. As well as hints and tips I thought I should throw in some stories about my experiences so far to make things more fun :) 
Hope you all enjoy My Uni Diaries!!

Alee x