Book Review: Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K Rowling

Hey Guys!

I'm back! I took a break from posting on here after Christmas to concentrate on handing in all my essays for university and then getting organised with my dissertation (third year is sooo much fun!!) so I took a back seat from blogging and concentrated on getting all my work done. Now that I'm not an uncoordinated mess I want to start uploading once a week again! Finding a balance with all my uni work, extra-curricular activities, freelance work and blogging is a challenge but I'm attempting to make it work!

This week I'm back with another book review, which is still quite new to my blog as I've never been one to post many book reviews before - however now that my love for reading has sparked again I want to share my thoughts and opinions with you guys, especially as I have a long TBR list! 

I read Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire back in September while I was on holiday in Lanzarote, but you know me - I'm late with everything! So I made sure to make some notes while I was reading it so that I could write a blog post later on - and here we are! ❤

Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K Rowling

Blurb

Harry Potter is midway through his training as a wizard and his coming of age. Harry wants to get away from the pernicious Dursleys and go to the International Quidditch Cup. He wants to find out about the mysterious event that's supposed to take place at Hogwarts this year, an event involving two other rival schools of magic, and a competition that hasn't happened for a hundred years. He wants to be a normal, fourteen-year-old wizard. But unfortunately for Harry Potter, he's not normal - even by wizarding standards. And in his case, different can be deadly.

I fell in love with the Harry Potter books ever since I began reading them in my first year of university more than two years ago! Between each book, I've found myself picking up other books on my TBR list but I've always gone back to another Harry Potter book in the end. I've always been captured and pulled in by Harry Potter ever since I watched the films as I child, but now that I'm making my way through the books I'm even more drawn in by the charm of the characters, Hogwarts and the whole of the Wizarding World.  I know a lot about the Wizarding World and Harry Potter characters as I've seen every film at least a hundred times but reading the books has helped me dive even further into the lives of the characters and the challenges Harry has to face both with the Dursleys and in the classroom. It is so easy to lose yourself in The Goblet of Fire thanks to the imagery and narration. 

The highlight to The Goblet of Fire was the introduction of other wizarding schools from around the world - in the three previous book other wizarding schools aren't mentioned, so meeting characters from places not related to Hogwarts and seeing them all take part in the Triwizard Tournament was so capturing! I think because I'd already seen the film I already had the scenes and settings imagined in my bed but reading one chapter to the next made it come to life even more!

The characters explored were definitely the best part of the fourth instalment! Hearing more on the protagonists Harry, Ron and Hermoine were fun but getting to meet Victor Krum, Cedric Diggory, Fleur Delacour, Cho Chang and Padma and Parvati Patil was so interesting. Two other characters that I wish were featured in the film was both Charlie and Bill Weasley! You get to hear more about the Weasley family and all the Weasley children which isn't featured in the film, especially the home life at The Burrow. Also, another fun character that was introduced in the book and not the film was Ludo Bagman. Now that I've read and seen The Goblet of Fire I really wished Ludo Bagman was included in the film. Obviously, other characters take over his parts such as Bartie Crouch and Cornelius Fudge but having the character Ludo Bagman in the film like his character in the book would have been great - especially his enthusiasm for the Quidditch World Cup! 

When the book goes into detail of the Quidditch World Cup and all that it encompasses it was an element to the story that made it so much more exciting - having wizard celebrities and the celebration of an event that is so close to our own football world cup was fun! Seeing a magical twist on a normally mundane event. 

One element of the book I was really taken in by was the story of Tom Riddle's childhood. In the film you don't get given an insight into Tom Riddle and his family like you do in the book. Especially the beginning chapter when it gave such extensive detail on the Riddle family house and how it's a location/setting is key to the story.  

There are so many elements to the book that made me fall in love with The Goblet of Fire all over again. Especially as the fourth part of the Harry Potter collection has always been one of my favourites due to J.K Rowling introducing so many new characters, wizarding schools which previously weren't mentioned and more of Voldermort's evil crimes and back story. This is when the story of Harry Potter and Hogwarts really takes off! 

If you haven't read the fourth book of the Harry Potter series then I highly recommend you pick it up. You won't be able to put it down and you'll be moving on to the next book straight away to continue escaping to the Wizarding World ❤

See you next week for another new blog post! I'm not sure what day I'll be uploading a new post as I'm still sorting out my week plans but there will be one! 

Amy x 

Book Review: The Last by Hanna Jameson

Hey Guys!

Over the past couple of months, I've been posting a lot more content related to books and book reviews. Before I didn't really talk about books much on my blog but as I've found my love for reading again I've become more interested in discussing the books I'm reading, what I potentially want to read and my thoughts on particular novels. 

Back  in August, I received 'The Last' by Hanna Jameson in the post after being chosen to receive the book. I've never been sent an advance proof copy by a publisher before, so to be one of the three individuals chosen by Hanna was very exciting!

The Blurb

Jon Keller was on a trip to Switzerland when the world ended. More than anything, he wishes he hadn't ignored his wife Nadia's last message.

Twenty people remain in Jon's hotel. Far from the nearest city, they wait, they survive.

Then one day, the body of a girl is found. It's clear she has been murdered. Which means that someone in the hotel is a killer...

As paranoia descends, Jon decides to investigate. But how far is he willing to go in pursuit of justice? And what happens if the killer doesn't want to be found?

About The Book

The Last is written from a first-person perspective. It is an account/diary by Jon Keller on life before and after the world ended, including the discovery of a dead girl's body. Jon details life at the hotel in Zurich, events and relationships between the characters, problems they face as a group of survivors and the investigation into who murdered the girl. The main storyline focuses on life after the world suddenly ended and the uncovering of a murdered girl, but alongside these events, mini-stories develop throughout the book relating to the lives of the other characters and how they all ended up at the hotel in Switzerland, detailing their back stories and relations to other characters.  

It isn't really a diary, but more of an account of information and events, which details the feelings and thoughts of Jon and what he has discussed with other characters. Jon details his life before the world ended sharing memories of his wife and children, what would have happened hadn't such events taken place, his ideas and thoughts of the future and what might happen to the group he has found himself residing with. 

When I was reading the book it reminded me a lot of 'The Walking Dead'. There are a lot of parts in the book that reminds me of a lot of scenes I saw in 'TheWalking Dead' series, especially because of the end of the world scenario where shops are ransacked and people have to kill to survive. I loved watching 'The Walking Dead' so to read a book with a somewhat different storyline but a similar outcome was fun! I would always finish a page or a chapter and talk to my mum about what was happening or my thoughts, as there was so much going on all at once and I was always coming up with scenarios in my head of who was behind the events taking place and who I suspected as the murderer. 

My Thoughts

When I read the first couple of pages I had absolutely no clue what was going on! I was so lost. The book started without explaining any of the context or what had happened, so I had no idea what to think about the storyline until I got further in and the story properly began. The first couple of pages are very similar to those of a diary/account and are very short and don't explain a lot of detail, so for a while you don't really know what is going through the mind of Jon Keller. However, after a while, the story takes full swing and a lot more context and detail is given to the reader to help you understand why such events had taken place.

Having the book written in a first-person perspective made the book feel a lot more personal, you felt like the character was sharing their thoughts and feelings with you,   details that nobody else knew, so it felt very special as a reader. I became invested in the story very quickly! 

There are a few moments in the book where you are wondering what the hell is going on, as it can jump from one thing to the next without much notice. But when you finish the book a lot of things make more sense and all the random details add up to paint one big picture! Especially as there is a huge plot twist that explains a lot of what was going on in the main storyline. 

The book made me question and think a lot about the world we live in currently and I was always asking myself what would I do in an end of the world scenario and whether I would be tactical enough to survive. Questions like what resources would I need to survive and how would I plan to live as long as I could with the resources I had came to mind. 

What was kind of scary reading the book was that what happened in the book could actually happen in real life, and is a very realistic novel when it comes to how the world ended and the reasons behind it.  

When I finished the novel and read the last page I was questioning what happened to so many characters such as what did Nadia's message imply, what happened to Nathan and did everyone survive? What happens next? The book will leave you with so many different questions about what will happen next and about what everyone around the world experienced in those last few weeks. It is definitely a book where you have to stop and think sometimes, what would we do if this disaster really happened? 

A lot of the time I had to put the book down to process what was going on and take it in, especially as a lot of things were going on at the same time throughout the book! 

If you like murder mysteries, adventure or apocalyptic novels then this is a book for you! You won't be able to put it down and you'll be constantly questioning what will happen next.

 As the book isn't officially out yet, look out for 'The Last' on the 31st January 2019, the link to pre-order the book on Amazon is here. Make sure to check out the author Hanna Jameson on Twitter here. 

Look out for some more book reviews soon. What book are you reading at the moment? Let me know in the comments below ❤

See you soon! 

Amy x 

Book Review: The Secret Life of Bletchley Park by Sinclair McKay

Hey Guys!

In one of my previous posts, I discussed the current books I was reading: Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J.K.Rowling (still reading) and The Secret Life of Bletchley Park by Sinclair McKay. Last week I finished Sinclair McKay's book and after reading the last page I knew I wanted to share with you guys the details of the book, my thoughts and whether it was worth the read ❤

WARNING: SPOILERS!

The Secret Life of Bletchley Park: The WWII Codebreaking Centre and the Men and Women Who Worked There is about the lives of those who worked at Bletchley Park in Buckinghamshire, England in World War II codebreaking and decrypting German and Japanese messages. Sinclair McKay explores all the different aspects of life at the park from the Engima, Bombe and Colossus machines, recreational time, romance and relationships, the Blitz, D-Day and time after the war when Bletchley wasn't needed anymore. Throughout the book, he uses quotes from Bletchley Park veterans, memoirs and references from other published material to describe how it was personally for those who spent nearly six years as part of the Bletchley Park community.  

Blurb

"Bletchley Park's cracking of the Enigma code was one of the greatest achievements of the war. Now, for the first time, here are the stories of the ordinary men and women who made it happen..."

"At the secret codebreaking centre of Bletchley Park, debutantes, factory workers, students and Wrens were thrown together with Britain's most brilliant brains, united in work of almost unbearable intensity, and even greater importance. But there was far more to their days (and nights) than the long hours spent decrypting enemy messages. "

"From world-class concerts by visiting musicians and amateur dramatics to ice-skating on the frozen lake and furtive romances sealed down quiet country lanes, Sinclair McKay's acclaimed book reveals what life was really like for the young people who clandestine efforts were instrumental in winning the war." 

My Thoughts

Personally, I love history and any fiction or non-fiction books based on the First and Second World War are my favourite. I've already got quite an extensive collection of books based in World War II, so I was excited to read something that wasn't fiction and instead based all on fact, memories and testimonies from those who experienced life at Bletchley Park during WWII. 

I visited Bletchley Park Museum in Buckinghamshire back in April. It was overwhelming learning how much these men and women actually did throughout the war and the pressure they were under to decrypt thousands of messages a day. From visiting the museum and grounds of the house it has helped me piece together parts of the book and understand what life at Bletchley Park was like for these men and women codebreaking. 

Sinclair McKay goes into such extensive detail about the mechanics of the machines (Engima, Bombe, Colussus, Heath Robinson) such as how each machine worked and how they were manned by Wrens and engineers with such skill in machinery that they were able to build more and have them moved to places of importance such as a location in Middlesex. They were using these machines to decrypt messages and following the stories of veterans like Sheila and Oliver Lawn, Jean Valentine, Mavis and Keith Batey and Sarah Baring really brought it to life. He describes how those who were decoding messages and signals from German High Command and from U-boats had the pressure of working hours on hours sometimes stuck on one message, trying to crack it and find out what moves the German navy, air force and army were going to make next. 

Sinclair McKay has the skill of delivering all this information, testimonies and facts without overstimulating you as a reader. Sometimes it was hard to read the book when I was tired as you are being given a lot of complex information on machines, decoding methods and the movements of the German army throughout the war. 

Reading this book with all the memoirs and recollections from veterans has opened my eyes to how it wasn't just the men in the field protecting our country and winning the war but also those who had to fight the war back in England finding out what the German, Japanese and their allied forces were planning. There were so many times throughout the book where I was in utter awe at what these men and women achieved in those years of war. With all the pressure and stress they were under they did an incredible job of maintaining motivation and efficiency, but I guess in wartime they had to!  

His attention to the smallest details shows throughout the book. 

He clearly put a lot of time into researching every part of life at Bletchley Park and getting even the smallest of facts. Collecting the memories of those who experienced it all first hand would have taken time and patience, so Sinclair McKay did a great job in getting all the information he possibly could from archives and the Bletchley Park Trust, giving the men and women of Bletchley Park the recognition they deserve! 

What other books do you recommend I read? Let me know in the comments below! 

See you on Wednesday ❤

Amy x 

Simple Water Boost Micellar Cleansing Water & Hydrating Booster Review

Hey Guys!

After running out and in desperate need of a make up remover I popped down to my local Boots and normally I would have just grabbed my usual choice of micellar water the Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water for sensitive skin, but I saw that Simple was on offer so I decided to give their new Water Boost skincare range a try!

I've used a few different micellar cleansing water products now, some having oil bases and some just been specifically for delicate and sensitive skin so I'm always open to try different brand's line of cleansing products. For ages people have raved about Simple's Water Boost cleansing line and at lot of YouTuber's I watch, like Sophia Chang and Jenn Im have been partnering up with Simple to showcase and review their new range. So from watching them and reading many other reviews and impressions on the micellar water and hydrating boost I thought I would give it a try for myself! 

Simple Water Boost Micellar Cleansing Water 

One thing I notice every time I use the product to take off my eye make up is it doesn't make my eyes sting. I've had some occasions when using Garnier Micellar Water when I've put too much product on the cotton pad and when I go to wipe my mascara and eyeliner it leaks into my eye and stings like crazy! Where as, so far I've not experienced any stinging or burning to my eyes which is great! Other than not stinging my eye it is also great at breaking down my tough eye makeup like my mascara. Normally it takes a while to get my mascara and eyeliner to budge but with the Water Boost Micellar Water it lifts really quick so I don't have to keep rubbing my eyes and making them inflamed and irritated :) 

When I've finished removing all my make up my skin is left feeling soft! Sometimes after wearing make up my skin can be quite dry but every time I've used this micellar water my skin is left feeling hydrated and not stripped. Other than the hydrating aspects of the product the smell is also something I always think about because if it doesn't have any perfume or fragrant smell it tends to be better for my skin, and this micellar water has no smell to it, it is very neutral which proves they are true to their claim of not having any artificial perfume or colour in their products!

So far I'm really liking this product and it has helped keep my skin, especially when I've been wearing make up all day, bright and hydrated :) I just wish they did a smaller version for travelling as the bottle is quite heavy and big, so if they did a small bottle like Garnier I would be even more sold on the product! 

Simple Water Boost Hydrating Booster

I've never seen a brand do a product similar to a primer, but specially for hydration. It is definitely something new so I was excited to give it a try and see if it would do anything for my skin. They give three suggestions of how to use it: 

1. As a hydrating primer layer 
2. Add to your moisturiser for a booster 
3. Apply directly to the really dry areas before applying moisturiser. 

I've been using it as a hydrating primer layer then occasionally as a booster and adding it to my Nivea moisturiser. I didn't notice a big difference straight away but that can be quite normal for most skincare products because it takes time for them to make a difference. After a few more days of using it in my skincare routine both in the morning and evening I started to notice a difference to the dry patches on my face, such as around my temples, on my cheeks and around my eyebrows. You only need a little bit for it to go a long way, I've been using around a bean sized dollop and and with just a small amount it covers my entire face and dries quickly. One thing I like is that it doesn't have a sticky consistency, so it doesn't go tacky or anything it absorbs into the skin very fast! I dislike products that go really sticky and tacky as it just makes products that I'm putting on top look odd and then it sits weirdly. 

It is a very lightweight product that doesn't feel heavy on the skin and it does make my skin look much brighter and when put into my moisturiser my skin has a fresher look, kind of a dewy glow. Similar to the micellar water it doesn't have any fragrance or perfume scent and it has a pure clear appearance so they haven't added any unnecessary colours either! From looking at the packaging I like that they explain why the minerals benefit your skin for hydration and how the plant extracts are used to maintain hydration and is a natural ingredients that is great for the skin! 

I would recommend if anyone has dry skin, especially since it has been very cold in the UK at the moment, to try out Simple's new Water Boost range, as I have noticed a different with using the hydrating boost! For the price I paid I was very happy (but it was on offer the time I brought it so it was inexpensive). 

What is your skin type? Let me know in the comments below!

See you on Sunday my lovelies! ❤ 

Amy xx

Monthly Playlist // February and March

Hey Guys!

I've done a few of these playlist posts now, so I want to start doing a post once a month on my monthly music playlist to share my favourite tunes and what songs I've discovered recently. I go out quite a bit in Newcastle so there is always tons of great music being played at our favourite places! 

If you hadn't guessed by now I'm into a lot of Korean music and chart hits from the UK and United States, so if there are any songs you recommend let me know ♡ 

1. To Do List by Hyolyn

2. Starry Night by Mamamoo

3. Por Favor by Pitbull & Fifth Harmony

4. I Promise You (I.P.U.) by Wanna One

5. Magic by Craig David

6. Dive by Joo Young

7. Bad Boy by Red Velvet

8. Forget About Tomorrow by Jay Park

9. Notorious by TRAX & LIP2SHOT feat. Sophiya

10. Black Dress by CLC

11. One Shot, Two Shot by BoA

12. Friends by Marshmello & Anne-Marie

13. All The Stars by Kendrick Lamar

14. Bad Vibe by M.O, Lotto Boyzz & Mr Eazi

15. Blinded By Your Grace, Pt. 2 by Stormzy feat. MNEK

16. Him & I by G-Eazy and Halsey

17. Holiday by Suzy feat. DPR LIVE

18. IDGAF by Dua Lipa

19. Love Scenario by iKON

20. Pray For Me by The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar

21. River by Eminem feat. Ed Sheeran

22. Thanks by SEVENTEEN

23. Zero For Conduct by Block B - BASTARZ

24. Daydream by j-hope (BTS)

25. 17 by MK

26. Bouff Daddy by J Hus

27. Sober by Suzy

28. Alors On Danse by Stromae

What is your favourite song this month? Let me know in the comments below!

See you next Sunday my lovelies! ❤ 

Amy xx 

YSL New All Hours Foundation Review

Hey Guys!

I recently received a sample of YSL's New All Hour Foundation. I get sent a lot of samples in the post due to being signed up to Latest Free Stuff, who give out samples, voucher codes and free goodies, which I love because I get sent some really cool stuff! 

It was nice to receive something I know I would use this time! I love trying out new foundations and face products as my face is very hit and miss a lot of the time. I want to try and find all of the best products for my skin so trial and error is the best method haha!

On the packaging it claims: Up to 24 long-wear, flawless matte, full coverage, all hours foundation so I wanted to see if it really delivered on what it claimed. 

Application

When I opened the mini sample bottle I was surprised to see that it came with an applicator attached to the lid so you could apply it straight to your face directly. I thought this was a great touch to a sample! The application was really easy, I used the applicator to dot the foundation around my face and then used a beauty blender to move and blend all of the product. It was so easy to move and blend around the contours of my face and it doesn't dry really quickly like a lot of products do so I could work with it slowly and keep buffing it. It just blends so nicely around my face and even my problem areas like my nose and above my lip where I have some dry skin it didn't clump or break up, it applied so smoothly and creamy. One thing I did notice as well is that a lot of product went a long way to cover all areas of my face!

Coverage

I'd say the coverage is about medium coverage and is easily build-able. I normally start with a small amount and then build it up depending on how inflamed by problem areas are and if I have any blemishes. The first few times I tried it I applied about two layers and that was the perfect coverage for me as  I have a few spots and scars on my chin and jar line at the moment and they were hidden really well even without using any concealer! I'd say if you wanted to go for a natural make up look you would only need one layer, with a small amount and you'd get a really good natural coverage and if you have break outs or inflamed skin just put a slight amount on those areas and it covers them great! I'm used to a light to medium cover foundation so it was nice being able to see flawless skin and a naturally toned face with no patches visible anywhere.

Finish

After I finish blending I apply concealer to my under eyes, chin and the contours around my nose where I get redness, then I set my under eyes with powder and apply loose powder to the rest of my face so I get a matte finish. Because I get a very oily face throughout the day I like to have a matte finish, if I leave it looking dewy chance is I'll look like I'm dripping in sweat two or three hours later haha! Once I've finished all of my make up and applied everything, such as contour, blush and highlight the finished look does look good! It doesn't look much different from when I use my regular Bourjoir foundation, the only difference I would say is that this foundation looks slightly darker than my regular foundation, it appears to have more orange undertones. So, I'd say the finished look doesn't look much different from a drug store foundation product, but I wanted to try it to see how it looked 6 hours later after an excessive amount of oil, as my regular foundation does break up a lot throughout the day around my cheeks and nose. 

6-8 Hours Later

I have oily prone skin so obviously a few hours later I was going to get some oily patches around my nose, forehead and cheeks but I was expecting that as it happens no matter what products I use or how often I touch up my make up. But other than the oily residue expected there was no sign of it going cakey or going really patchy like some foundations. In fact even though my face had become oily and dewy and its a matte finish foundation it still looked really good after going out to uni and spending my time in hot lecture halls and seminar rooms. Also, I tried using this foundation when I went out clubbing throughout most of September and it is so good for that particular occasion. When clubbing it obviously gets really hot and sweaty, there is a lot of dancing and when I drink I do tend to get a lot more red and oily, so this foundation proved to be great coverage as it stayed on the whole time I was out! I even had drinks spilt on me, was moved around and it still looked great when I got home :) 

Overall Thoughts

Overall I wouldn't say its a 24 hour long wear foundation, throughout the day our face goes through a lot which causes our foundation to get either really dry and break away or gets really oily and wears away. I think it depends on each individuals type of skin but for me this would not last 24 hours! By hour 12 it will have started to wear away around my cheeks, nose, forehead and chin thanks to the excessive oil production on my face! It does say flawless which I would agree with, when it is applied and the finished look is complete it looks really well blended and flawless so that is a claim I would agree with as it has great build-able coverage! It is also very matte once setting and loose powder is applied, I would agree with that claim, however after about 3 or 4 hours it isn't matte anymore and becomes more dewy around my nose and forehead, so I would say the matte finish doesn't last very long if you have oily skin like me. But for someone with normal skin it might be perfect! I think overall it is a great product, it does have great coverage, it does deliver a matte finish and it does blend perfectly to a flawless finish! It is one of the high-end foundations that would be worth the money! 

What is your favourite high-end foundation?

See you on Sunday lovelies! ❤ 

Amy xx

Pros and Cons of Living in University Halls

Hey Guys!

Now that I'm in my second year at university I live with my friends in a student house but last year I spent my first year in university accommodation. It was very bitter sweet. There was so much I loved about being in university accommodation, being there was such a great experience and I met some of my closest friends so I'm so glad I chose Bowsden Court but we also had a lot of problems with the flat above us. They were so rude and disrespectful and just people in our building were awful! But I wouldn't have changed anything, my first year was great!

Here are the pros and cons to living in university accommodation in your first year: 

Pros

Meeting People Is Easy - It is so easy to meet people from your university and to make friends when you are living in halls as you are constantly surrounded by different people. Being a first year can be quite scary as a lot of the time you don't really know anybody and everything is so new but living in halls helps you so much when it comes to meeting people who do the same course and you can go on nights out as big groups, there will definetley be someone in your accommodation that will share the same interests as you. 

Communal Area is Cleaned Once a Week - At most accommodation options there are cleaners that come in every week to clean your communal area. In Newcastle I stayed at Bowsden Court and on a Thursday we had a cleaner who would come in to hoover, wipe down all the surfaces and just ensure the living room and kitchen was clean and hygienic. So, even though we did clean our flat and tried to keep up with the washing up every Thursday we had a spotless flat which helped out loads! Especially if your really not into cleaning like a lot of us haha! 

You Won't Get Bored- You will rarely get bored at your accommodation as there are always people around, events and activities going on that there will always be something to do. When my flatmates and I were bored we either had a movie night, games night, went out for dinner or would just go for a night out and see where the best place was to go! And if not go and explore the new city your in, go adventure and explore your new home! I didn't when I first moved to Newcastle and I wish had now. 

Rent and Bills are All Included - This is a huge bonus! Coming from someone who now has to pay separate bills it is an absolute minefield, as all the bills are under other people's named and your having to set up loads of different standing orders, so having all your rent and bills included in one payment at uni halls is so much easier and as long as you pay it on time you literally have nothing to worry about! One thing I loved about having all your bills paid for as well is that you can use as much water as you like and you don't have to worry about how long the heating has been on for. Make the most of it! 

Your Independence - Now that your not at home and you technically have your own place you will have so much independence! No more asking permission to have people over and no more curfews and rules, you can stay out for as long as you want, you can eat whatever you want, refuse to wash your clothes for 8 weeks and buy pointless things like samurai swords without your parents nagging you for making bad decisions haha! It is great having your independence as you really learn how to look after yourself. I definetley grew as a person after living away from home for a year!

There Is Always Someone To Help You - There are so many official university staff members to help you out at your accommodation. All university accommodation will have staff on site within the day at the reception and they will have certain open times. If not there are always contact numbers to call if you have any problems within your accommodation. Within our first two weeks our oven broke and within a day the caretaker Keith came to fix it all for us! We had a great team of staff at Bowsden Court who were so helpful and the security team were great too! They are always happy to help!

Cons

More Expensive Than Home - It is more expensive than living at home with your parents! Way more expensive as your having to pay rent, bills, buy food and for most accommodation you have to pay a damage deposit so it isn't the cheapest option. But for most of you accommodation is essential as you'll be moving away from home and won't be in a reasonable distance to travel to university so it is hard to find a solution to having to spend so much money!

FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) - For first years this is something a lot of people experience! I experienced it in my first year as well. There is always so much going on and so many events to go to that you feel like you have to go to everything otherwise you'll be missing out on something huge! I remember I didn't want to leave the living room where my flat mates were watching TV or a night out with all my friends because I didn't want to miss out on anything! But once you get into second year the fear of missing out goes as you know that there will always be another night out, there will always be more fun to have! Also in second year we have to prioritise our work a lot more so there are other worries and stress!

People Are Filthy - You'll be surprised how dirty people can be! We had a flat above us who were absolutely disgusting I'm surprised they didn't attract rats! Some people are just very lazy and aren't capable of cleaning up after themselves, so don't be surprised if you find food lying in the corridor that has been there for three weeks, rubbish on the floor, people not cleaning communal showers and sick in communal bathrooms. Prepare yourself for some filthy flatmates! 

Prepare For Constant Fire Alarms - We had 8 fire alarms in one week when I was in my university accommodation because the fire alarms in the kitchen we extra sensitive, it was an absolute nightmare considering every fire alarm was at either 2am or around 4am! There were so very unhappy students. So, be prepared to be woken up by fire alarms quite a bit, a lot of students living in your halls will most likely burn something or set something on fire so it will become a regular occurrence. Tip: Make sure to have a pair of shoes and a coat handy as you'll be outside for a while before you are allowed back in to your flat!

Going Home is Expensive -  Buy a railcard! This will help you out so much! Travelling back home will be so expensive so a railcard will save you loads! I go to Newcastle University and my family home is in the East Midlands so it is a 2 hour 45 minutes journey and a £90 train ticket but with a railcard I can get a great discount! If you wanna travel home I recommend getting tickets 12 or 8 weeks in advance, definetley not a few days before! 

You Will Feel Homesick - You will feel home sick at some point as it is quite a change from living at home and being away from your family. At first I didn't feel homesick at all as I was so pre-occupied and excited about starting university that I didn't feel very homesick but there were times throughout the year that I really just wanted to go home and just have a hug from my mum :) but don't worry they are always at the end of the telephone!

What has been your favourite thing about staying in university accommodation so far?

See you on Sunday! ♡ 

Amy xx

Recent Movies I've Been Obsessing Over | Part 2

Hey Guys!

On Sunday I shared a post with you about films that I had watched over summer that I was obsessing over and loving! And instead of making it a really long and boring post I split them into two parts, so here is part two ❤ 

Let's go! 

The Legend of Tarzan

I actually thought this was a live action version by Disney but it turns out it isn't, it isn't linked to them at all, but obviously Tarzan isn't just a story created by Disney. Many other production companies have created films and stories about the fictional character.

I love the story of Tarzan, I think its a great tale and the relationship he has with all the animals is so enchanting! As a child I always wanted to have an elephant and monkey for a friend and obviously as I grew up that little dream became very hard to achieve haha! But I still loved watching the Disney animation. So, when I came across the 2016 'Legend of Tarzan' film I was very intrigued to how the story would be portrayed differently and if anything was adapted or changed, and to my surprise it was very similar to the Disney fictional film but was based after Tarzan had met Jane and wasn't about being discovered by man but more about how he has adapted into society and having to go back to Africa to protect his ape family. It is a very action packed film, with lots of fighting and conflict between different parties but it isn't all about the fighting and the selfishness of the enemy, its also about family and the connections he still has with the animals even after moving away. 

I think the movie is a great new story for the fictional character Tarzan and how his life progresses. It is even better being live action as I got to see it in a completely new light. It is very heartwarming and Margot Robbie and Alexander Skarsgård are perfect for the casting!

If you were a fan of the Disney animation Tarzan than check out this version! 

Spirited Away

I'm actually in love with this movie! I remember it was on the television one of the days when I was younger but at the time I never got the chance to see it, and I can't believe I never saw it until now! It is such a cute movie ❤  I'm really into Asian dramas and anime so this movie was perfect! It is such a happy feel good movie that is sweet, innocent and is the type of film where you can just sit back and enjoy it without having to think too much! Each of the characters have such lovable characteristics and some of the story is just so wacky and unrealistic, its so fun! The main character Chihiro is adorable and the way every character tries to help her is so sweet!

Considering it is dubbed in English as the original voice over is in Japanese you wouldn't be able to tell, it could be as if spoken originally in English! 

I feel like Spirited Away is a classic that everyone should watch! Especially if you aren't into anime as it might shine a new light to that genre of television ❤ 

Footloose (2011)

This version of Footloose is the remake from 2011, as I wasn't sure about watching the original Footloose as I don't really like Kevin Bacon and watching a two hour film with him as the main character is not really my idea of fun haha! He just annoys me, especially after the EE advert! Anyway, the 2011 remake is so good, they updated all the tracks to more recent songs except from the original movie track 'Footloose'. The soundtrack is so good - definetley fits the film perfectly!

I love the story line for Footloose and the protagonist Ren is the cutest! His character is so sweet and all his friends are so funny, especially Willard, his personality is hilarious haha! Seeing all the traditional line dancing and classic dance moves was so amusing :)

I love that the film is just so chill, light-hearted and the soundtrack definitely makes it more fun, a little like Guardians of The Galaxy! I find a lot of soundtracks made the films so much better ❤ They made them more enjoyable! I actually liked it so much I downloaded it on to my phone and get ready to it in the morning haha!

When it comes to movies with great songs I always get a bit carried away and end up listening to the songs all the time and learning them off my heart haha! Especially films like Mamma Mia, Funny Girl and Disney movies ❤ 

The Godfather Trilogy

Me and my mum have sat and watched the Godfather trilogy over the past two weeks and damn they are long! A three hour film is tough to watch in the evening when you have been busy all day and have to concentrate to what is going on! But it is such a great trilogy of films! I love gangster, mob type mafia films as they are so packed with action and I love the way Italian families are so close and look after each other as it is how my family are so I can relate ❤ I think the first movie is my favourite as I love Don Vito Corleone as the head of the family, I like that he is feared and respected by a lot of people but will help any of his friends and family in need, he is a loyal man! In the first movie I like that Michael has just returned and that all his family are still in it like all his brothers and mother. I actually can't believe its taken me this long to actually watch the movies as my cousins have always recommended them to me! 

The second movie is great too as it obviously moves on to when Michael becomes the head of the family and takes control of all the businesses and has his own children, but I miss Vito Corleone and it isn't the same with him not being in it anymore but obviously it moves through the times! I also think when they flashback to when Vito moves to New York and his origins before becoming the Godfather is great! The second movie is very dramatic and I do love a bit of drama so its the perfect set of films for me haha! 

Then, the third film is obviously the conclusion to the trilogy when the head of the family changes again to Vincent, and I think the film was so action packed that I had to keep reminding myself what had happened in the beginning as three hours is a long time for a lot of action and complicated drama to happen haha! I had to keep asking my mum a lot of questions as she has seen all the films before :) 

If you like organised crime movies like Goodfellas and Oscar, where there is loads of conflict, drama and action you'll love the Godfather trilogy! But you can't just watch the first one you need to watch all three otherwise you'll be missing out on some great scenes! 

If there are any really good movies that I haven't mentioned comment below and I'll add them to my film list ❤ 

What is your favourite movie of all time?

See you on Wednesday my lovelies!

Amy xx