10 Steps of Organisation...

We all want to be more organised in life. It is sometimes the simplest things that make us feel ten times better, whether that's new stationary or writing a to-do list. I am a fan of the latter, making endless lists containing even the tiniest tasks that weigh a ton on my shoulders. Organisation makes life so much easier, but for some can be daunting and time-consuming. Truth is, it isn't. If it is, you are doing it wrong. Organising your life, your social life and work life, makes your week a whole lot better, finding you will have more time to have fun and relax which I'm sure we all need. Oh life, why are you so tough?! 

Most people say I'm a pretty organised person so I'm here to share with you the tricks of the trade that work well for me. It may not work well for you but hey, it's worth a try...

1. Make to-do lists

I make many. I put them on my whiteboard which I bought for a mere £2 from Asda. I draw bullet points as hearts and fill them in once I've completed the task and trust me, the colouring in of that little heart is an amazing feeling. 

2. Buy storage

Now storage comes in many shapes and forms and for pretty much everything. I even have a storage tray for my lipsticks as girls, we all know that lipsticks grow legs and escape from our bags. Storage allows things to not go missing, meaning you can save a lot of valuable time instead of frantically rushing to find things. It also allows you to categorise your belongings, from uni work to your toiletries. You will find you will become a much tidier and less stressed person.

3. Setting your clocks/watch 5 minutes early

Time is valuable so do everything 5 minutes before you were meant to. This is a hard one as you have to tell yourself that your watch is on time, but if you are an organisation pro you will just assume that your watch is correct. Imagine never being late for things, seems ideal doesn't it?

4. Begin a project as soon as you can

Even just laying out the foundations or an idea will gain your project some momentum. Obviously some projects can't start too soon, but start it as soon as you can. This will mean that you don't panic about what your doing and you will have more confidence in what you are doing, which will ultimately reflect in the outcome. 

5. End your mailing list woes

We all get emails from companies and shops that we no longer are loyal to. Simply scroll to the bottom of the email and click on the button that tells you to unsubscribe. Waking up to no annoying emails is a wonderful thing.

6. Make plans

Your social life tends to take the backseat in your list of the priorities so scheduling that time to go out and see your friends makes you become more organised to get things done as you'll have something to look forward to. Some would say this takes the fun out of it, but it only does if you make it. I always find this makes my week a lot more exciting. 

7. Get a family planner

I live in a house of 4 girls. We are not technically a family but sometimes it feels as if we are. So what else to make our family more like a real family than getting a family planner to document our whereabouts over the month. We were so excited about getting this that we began to question ourselves. Not only does this assist point number 6, it makes our life easier by knowing where each other is rather than sending out multiple texts if they haven't been home in a few days.

8. Bulk buy/Use the deals

Not that this is an excuse to shop more (it kind of is), buy the things you need whilst they are on offer. If your deodorant is reduced then stock up; you will never have to go through that annoying process of going deodorant-free whilst popping to your nearest supermarket/drugstore to grab one. It does save money in the long-term.

9. Take a trip to Paperchase

Sometimes the fancy stationary is the answer to making us more organised. I mean.. it's just so pretty...

10. Use folders

I use folders for pretty much every bit of paper I own. For my uni work, I have a different colour folder for each unit and for important documents, I have another. If I ever lose something, I look here first and 99% of the time it will be in one of these folders. As you can imagine, this saves time and stress as having to find the information elsewhere is a pain. Don't you ever just wish you could receive an email back-up for every bit of paperwork you get?!

I hope this helps you in some way.

I am most definitely open to more organisational tips... 

Christmas 2014 Wishlist...

Christmas, as per usual, is quickly approaching with festive adverts and songs seemingly following us. And it's only November! Don't get me wrong, I love Christmas, it's my favourite time of year but it is also the busiest time as everyone is trying to dodge the Christmas shopping mayhem in an effort to get the best presents (hello internet shopping). So being my organised (and excitable, keen) self, I have selected what I personally think are the best Christmas gifts this year for 20-something girls like myself, and put it into a series of wonderful collages (ahh) with a mince pie in hand. 

Click on the description below the collages for direct links.

 Top Left Clockwise:

ASOS Turban Hair Wrap

Yankee Waikiki Melon Jar Candle

UniqOne Hair Treatment

Oliver Bonas Copper Initial

James Dashner 'The Kill Order' and 'The Death Cure' Novels

Top Left Clockwise:

Gourmet Gadgetry Popcorn Maker
Nails Inc Autumn/Winter Collection Polishes
Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics Palette
Schwarzkopf Medium Ceramic Brush
Dune Trish Pull-On Boots
Zara Rhinestone Necklace
Cheap Monday Round Sunglasses

Top Left Clockwise:

ASOS Holy Grail Heeled Sandals

Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne 

ASOS Hologram Make Up Bag

Liz Earle 3 Piece Beautifully Balanced Skin

ASOS Black and Gold Clutch

Next Grey Slippers

Top Left Clockwise:

Topshop Dogtooth Weekend Bag
ASOS Zodiac Watch
Oysho Clouds Dressing Gown
Kenwood Juicer
GirlBoss Book by Sophia Amoruso 
ASOS Cat Eye Sunglasses
Real Techniques Sam's Pick Brush Set
ASOS Knotted Turban Headband



BRING ON CHRISTMAS 
XXX

Top Fridays: Holidays

I have been very fortunate throughout my life to visit some amazing places around the world with my friends and family. These places hold amazing memories so I thought I would share them with you, alongside any hints and tips that I have picked up along the way. Sometimes holidays aren't always about the luxury. I have visited some of these places on a budget and believe me; it is possible. I have ordered them in regards to my opinion, beginning at number nine. This is in no way bragging- I simply want to take a walk down memory lane!

9. Istanbul, Turkey

I visited Istanbul on a college art trip in 2011 with a few of my best friends, so it wasn’t exactly the same structure as a family holiday. For example, after getting to college at 1am and travelling to catch a flight, flying to Turkey, arriving at the not air-conditioned hotel by about lunch time- we were expected to go sightseeing at the Blue Mosque for the evening, and then walk another few miles to have some dinner. It was exhausting to say the least and I personally wouldn’t have planned it like that. However, Istanbul has got amazing culture, with the Grand Bazaar a place you must visit. I remember buying my Mulberry clutch bag really cheaply and all my friends doing the same! Even though it was an art trip and we all dragged our sketchbooks around with us, I don’t think we did any artwork. We tended to leave the galleries and go sit in a café with a shisha and Lipton peach ice tea!

8. Pas De La Casa, Andorra

Nestled in between Spain and France is Andorra. Unknown to some, Andorra boasts some amazing ski resorts and a wide range of slopes with varied ability levels. The black slopes in particular were quite tame compared to French black runs. I stayed in the resort of Pas De La Casa with my family for New Year and it was hands-down one of the best skiing I have done. The resort itself was geared towards a younger audience with a bustling nightlife, but also fitted the purpose of our family holiday with some lovely restaurants. If I was to go back, I would save some extra money and buy perfume and more alcohol out there because the whole country is tax-free, meaning everything was very cheap. I bought 2 litres of spirits for the equivalent of £15. As you can imagine, I saved money when I came back to uni in the New Year!

7. Val D'Isere, France

I think the main reason I enjoyed this holiday so much is because of the upgraded chalet we were put in because of a booking blunder with the holiday company. Nevertheless, the resort was absolutely beautiful and do the best crepes. At night, the resort is lit with fairy lights which make it look like something out of Sylvanian families. The one downside about going with my family and other families with younger children is missing out on the apres. Val D'Isere is home to The Folie Deuce- the king of apres ski that is famous for it's saxophone dance music, table dancing, and very pricey drinks. I would love to go back with friends and get the whole après experience in Val D’Isere as it did look ah-mazing.

6. Paris, France

J'adore! I had the pleasure in visiting Paris in September 2013 with my best bud, and yes, despite being nearly in our twenties at the time, we did visit Disneyland, and yes, we did wear Minnie Mouse ears for the entire day. No shame. Paris itself is absolutely beautiful and absolutely massive. We managed to do the typical tourist hotspots, like the Eiffel Tower, but we would not have been able to visit everything (including the museums) in the 2 and a half days that we had. Luckily, being the cultured people that we are, we based our plan on what would photograph best so the main landmarks were our best shot. Paris is very expensive, more so than any other city I have been in. The cheapest soft drink in a cafe was 7 euros. I bought most my drinks from a vending machine on the metro and just sat on a wall by the river. Picturesque maybe, but not very glamourous. 

5. Marrakech, Morocco

I visited Marrakech in the summer of 2011 with my family and stayed at the Riu Tikida Resort, which was looooovely. Despite this not being my favourite kind of holiday (I'm not the best at laying around doing nothing- put me on some skis!), it was by far the best sun holiday I've had as it was so relaxing, and I got to see some of the Moroccan culture. The Moroccan markets in Jemaa El-Fnaa square are strangely a nice break from all the laziness, as these are buzzing with tradesmen, tourists, and snake charmers (no thanks). Quite typically, you do get a lot of beggars and unauthorised tour guides trying to get your attention when you leave the bus, but it is important that you just keep clear. These baddies can charge you for even talking to them. So yeah, stay clear and your bank balance won't hate you. Other than that, you are sure to pick up a bargain or two, and also a tan (oh yeah).

4. Orlando, Florida

Literally the happiest place on earth. Being the biggest Disney and film fan, Disneyworld and Universal Studios are so much fun, regardless of your age. I’m an adrenaline junkie so I’ll go on anything, as long as I’m securely strapped in! I went with my family and we stayed in a villa just off International Drive, which is full of hotels and restaurants. Eating out on International Drive is cheaper than eating in the parks, but I wouldn’t rule out trying some of the themed restaurants in the parks because they are an once-in-a-lifetime experience. It is also important to pack a ran mac or poncho that you can quickly put on in a Floridian storm, which can go from spitting to torrential rain in 0-5 seconds. Not exactly the best fashion statement, but when your walking and queuing in the humidity- practicality is key.

3. New York City, USA

It is my life ambition to live in New York for some part of my life. I just love how every corner there is a Starbucks or a breakfast café with about 20 different varieties of muffins. Whilst on the topic of food, there are so many salad bars where you can create a customized salad, which is perfect for lunch on-the-go. My sister and I had one every day and we still say how much we miss them (I’ve just realised how weird that sounds haha). I went in 2010 and again in 2013, so I feel I’ve done all the main ‘touristy’ things like the Empire State and Liberty Island and therefore won’t probably go and do them all again for another 10 years! After all, the queues for all these places are lengthy to say the least. I would say, that if I had to choose between the Empire State and the Rockefeller Centre, I would pick the Rockefeller because there are no queues (hoorah!) and you can get better pictures with glass walls, whereas the Empire State has these metal bars that just get in the way. Also, stay as close to Times Square as you can so most things are within walking distance. We stayed last year at The Manhattan at Times Square Hotel, which was perfect for us- and we got a double bed each, so as you can imagine, we were thrilled.

2. Barcelona, Spain

Quite possibly my favourite European city (bar London- still loyal), Barcelona is absolutely beautiful and has so much to do, whether that be shopping, site-seeing, or trying out the local cuisine. I visited with my friend in the summer of 2013 and stayed at the Acta Mimic hotel, which was about a 5 minute walk from La Rambla and the nearest metro station. This room was on the small side but it suited us fine with its great location and air-con! We did all the touristy things like Parc Guell, Camp Nou, and the Gothic quarters of the city, so by the last day our feet were so sore! As a solution to our throbbing feet, we rented bikes for our last day and cycled to the beach, which was such a good decision. The weather was perfect and the Barcelona beach is pretty easy to find, as well as it being nice and sandy. Easily one of my favourite holidays.

1. Meribel, France

My other home! I did my ski season in Meribel which is situated in the 3 valley area in the French alps. A playground for the rich and famous, but also families, young groups, and seasonnaires. I may be biased, but Meribel is a picturesque and an all-round contender for best ski resort. Meribel is made up of pretty wooden chalets, amazing apres ski bars, and restaurants (which I have to say, are pretty pricey). If your looking for a night out, each night has something going on. On Sunday's at Jacks bar is a night called 'Toss-the-Boss', where if you roll the dice higher than the barman, you get your round for free. I had many Sunday nights where I didn't spend a penny, which is ideal when you have spent too much money on nachos. If you are wanting food out on the slopes, I recommend taking a pack lunch or going into the resort, which you can access easily down the Doron piste to avoid walking up the hill. The restaurants on the slopes are very expensive, so if you are looking for food like burgers, chips, pizzas etc. then the Tavern in the centre, or the Meribar (at the bottom of the Chaudanne) are best for this. The buses in Meribel are also free. If you are wanting to venture further, Courcheval and Val Thorens are either side of the resort and costs 25 euros to upgrade for the day on your Meribel ski pass. This is so worth it, but make sure you know what time the last lift leaves, otherwise you'll have an awkward situation of trying to get back home. From what I've heard, it isn't easy. 


I can't wait to add to this list as the years go on! If you want to know more about these holiday destinations, then feel free to ask questions in the comments below. Now I reaaaaally want a holiday!