Going to University?

Are you about to go to university and embark on the best time of your life? If yes, here are some tips on how to survive your first year away from home and more importantly...how to survive being a fresher!

1. Say goodbye to your sleeping pattern - being in halls of residence you will not get to sleep until the early hours and wake up mid afternoon. Its normal to be woken up to blasting music and noisy flatmates
2. Get used to being poor - you're a student, therefore you will have no money!
3. The fire alarm is your new wake up call - it's ridiculous how many times the fire alarm goes off, so be prepared
4. Decide on whether to spend your money on food or a night out
5. 'Freshers Fifteen' - if you don't eat healthy and exercise regularly you will gain the freshers fifteen. Fifteen pounds!
6. Don't eat on nights out - this is when the fat from the pizza or kehab take-aways will stick to your stomach and it will be incredibly hard to get rid off
7. You will go with a full dining and cutlery set and be lucky to leave with anything - people take things, you've been warned
8. Don't leave any decent food in the fridge EVER - especially on nights out
9. Clean your room and bed sheets - it makes a difference
10. Contact people on your course before going - its nice to go and already know people and arrange nights out to get to know one another
11. Register with your doctor - this is vital! I came down with freshers flu and knowing that I was registered with a doctor if I needed to go or there was an emergency made things better
12. Lock your door when you go home or you may come back to find the whole room covered in tin foil, wrapping paper, balloons, the list is endless
13. Don't be alarmed to find random people sleeping in the corridor/kitchen/bathroom etc after a night out
14. You will hate at least on of your flatmates
15. Do not hook up with your flatmates - awkward
16. It's normal to spend a whole day in your pyjamas/onesie in bed watching a whole tv series
17. You're kitchen will look like a bombsite almost everyday
18. Not having enough money for laundry and end up washing your clothes in your bathroom sink
19. 40% is the new 80% - you might not agree with this now, but you soon will
20. A night out will never be a quiet one - you say you're not drinking much but who are you kidding?
21. You will drink anything, and out of anything
22. Having a shopping trolley in your flat is common
23. Don't take your whole bedroom - you will not have enough room. You're bedroom is literally the size of a box.
24. Go all out on fancy dress nights - if you don't you just look like a tit
25. Decorate your room - this makes you more at home
26. Your accent will be made fun off almost all the time
27. Have fun - university is supposed to be the best time of your life
28. Join in as many activities as possible - you will get to know more people
29. Explore your surroundings
30. And finally...don't drink too much

Sporty Spice

The time has finally come where fashion and sport go hand in hand, and it's about time. Being an active person and enjoying working out, I like to dress so that my clothes show off my figure, as I do work hard to stay in shape, and the fact that sportswear has become a trend is music to my ears. There's now unlimited access to sweatshirts, mini skirts, crop tops and body hugging dresses so you can dress it up or down and pull off the ever so chic sportswear trend. I like to keep it casual during the day with a quilted sweatshirt, boyfriend jeans and a comfy trainer. But when it comes to hitting the town, swap your boyfriend jeans and trainer for a fabulous wrap mini skirt and power heel. Here are a few of my favourite pieces that will be a certain hit.

Future Sports by eaustin featuring Topshop

Song of the day

Instantly puts me in a party mood and is sure to be a big hit.

https://soundcloud.com/leyouth/le-youth-c-o-o-l

Top 10 Holiday Essentials

Throughout the years I have been fortunate to go on some fabulous holidays, from skiing in Breckenridge, Colorado to swimming with some of the most fascinating fish in the Red Sea. However, every year I would pack my suitcase with all the essentials but I would always end up forgetting something. So, I have chosen my top 10 holiday essentials that mustn't be forgotten.

You absolutely cannot forget your iPod! On holiday an iPod is a necessity. It allows you to escape and relax with the perfect summer playlist. Whether you're listening to a playlist full of club anthems or you're the type of person who likes to sit back and enjoy the sound of chilled anthems. Or in my case, I like to escape the sound of screaming children and other annoyances whilst I relax on the beach.

Next is the iPad. I like to go on holiday to get away from the television and other electrical appliances that I spend hours on each day, I do like to take my iPad or laptop so that if I do get a bit bored I have something to keep me entertained. Not only does it keep you entertained what with access to music, films and games, but it also allows access to books (my summer read has been Anatomy of a Trend by Henrik Vejlgaard)

You've got your iPod and iPad, now you need a perfect set of headphones to listen to the perfect summer playlist that you spent hours putting together. My go to pair are Skullcandy Hesh 2 Black/Black. I've only had these about a year now but they were the best investment I've ever made. I like to get a pair that not only produces great sound but also are comfortable to wear, and these are the ones!

In terms of suncream, P20 is the best! You only need to apply it once and you are covered for the rest of the day. Its perfect for any skin and sure to protect you all day.

This summer I have been wearing a lot of orange and coral in terms of my nail varnish. This Gelly Barry M Nail Paint is perfect for summer. It bright and bold, and will go hand in hand with a golden tan.

When I have my nails done, the lips must be done up to. My favourite colour this summer is another Barry M product, and this time its a lip paint in Sunset. Just like the orange nail varnish, this shade will no doubt make your lips pop, and be sure to catch a few people's eye.

When it comes to a beach bag, I like to have one where I can see everything so that I'm not digging around trying to find what I want. And this plastic bag with matching purse is just what you need for a day at the beach or pool. This bag is from ASOS and is priced at £24 which is a great price. Not only will you be able to see everything, but the zip also prevents sand from getting everywhere, which is something I cannot stand!

I love to wear a good pair of sunglasses especially on the beach when you do a bit of stalking. I'm a people watcher and so a pair of sunglasses with dark lenses are perfect for me. Even though I live on a student budget and prefer not to splash the cash on expensive items, these Miu Miu glasses are to die for. This pair is priced at £185, which is not a bad price, but considering I live on a student budget are unfortunately not within my budget.

Every year I go to Marbella in Spain and its one of those destinations where you have to be on form in terms of your fashion as the rich flock to this city every season to party in style. A place that my family and I go to is Nikki Beach, which is ridiculously over-priced and full of bikini clad women where the men are constantly spraying champagne over one another. It's a real beach party. Because I go with my family, I tend not to be outrageous as some women there, but I do like to dress for the occasion. And so my bikini choice is this fringed dip-dye top with matching bottoms. This is priced at £32 and from Topshop. Not only at a decent price but sure to catch a few eyes.

Finally, a decent pair of flip flops. I like to throw on a pair of comfortable flip flops that will do for the beach and also look fashionable for those nights where you go straight from the beach to the restaurant. These black croc jelly sandals are from River Island and are priced at a bargain of £18. Stylish and affordable!

Even though summer is nearly over, there's still enough time to go away and enjoy the luxury of relaxing all day whilst looking the best and having the time of your life.

Summer Style

Now that summer is well under way, its time to have a wardrobe that matches the blazing sun. Whether you're jet-setting across the globe or staying at home you're style need not be forgotten. I've selected my favourite asos pieces for summer that will be perfect for a student budget. Take your pick from gladiator sandals to cute and fabulous dresses.

Top with Kimono Sleeve - £32

Swan Link Necklace - £10.80

Mini Skirt with Wrap detail - £36

Shift Dress with zip detail - £40

Flirt Sandals - £24.50

Crocodile Drop Earrings - £18

OMG Clutch - £19.50

NEXT POST WILL BE ON HOLIDAY ESSENTIALS

Race for Life

Wednesday 26th June marked the 18 year anniversary of my nana's death and to celebrate her life, my mother and I decided to run the 5k Race for Life in aid of cancer research. 

The Race for Life is for women only and you can walk, jog or run the 5k in memory of someone you love or just to help raise money. It was so amazing to see how many young girls and women came out to support cancer research. And the best part was that everyone was wearing pink and some even wore fancy dress. It was brilliant!

When it came down to the actual run part, I thought that because I had only been training for 2 week, that I would jog it with my mum and her friend. But no. I decided to run the 5k with two of my good friends. What a mistake that was. I felt like I was about to die. But it was so worth it. I felt good about running it for my nana and all the other men and women out there who have cancer and are fighting to find a cause for this terrible disease.

I am definitely not going to stop with my running and most certainly am going to participate in this event every year! Here's the start of the race and I am on it even though I didn't even realise they were filming it.

It's That Time

At last! It's here...Wimbledon.

It's that time of year again where the tennis white's come out, the blazers are worn with so much style and strawberries and champagne are in everyone's hands. Yes, Wimbledon has kicked off and the summer has officially begun.

The sports elite have come from across the world to play at the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world. And as usual, us Brits are backing our only hope, Andy Murray to win the title once and for all. But will he do it? Will he crack under pressure from tennis greats, such as Nadal, Federer and Djokovic? Or does he have the confidence boost from winning the US Open and most recently Queen's to do it? I pray to god that he does, just so that as a country we are all not devastated just like last year, and the year before that, and the year before that.

I try not to get too involved in the tournament, but every year I'm sat there, eyes glued to the screen to see if my favourite (Nadal) makes it to the final and more importantly wins.

My predictions this year are:

Men's final - Federer vs. Murray

Women's final - S. Williams vs. Azarenka

Who are you backing this year?