If you're anything like me, you don't do mornings.

I struggle with motivating myself to get ready at the best of times but getting ready to go at 6am on a weekday does not equal a happy Amber. 

Sadly though we all have to make ourselves look presentable for work and that usually requires putting on a bit of make up to hide my under eye bags make myself look and feel better.

As much as I love make up most of the time I don't have the energy to create something spectacular on your average week day. 

Particularly because it's cold, dark and nobody will notice what my amazing eye make up looks like once I'm sat behind my partition at my desk. 

So I have whittled my morning make up routine to such a peak of efficiency that it now takes me less than 10 minutes to achieve.

Base

I always start with my bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted  Gel. This stuff is fab and great if you like to wear a bit of a base but don't want anything too heavy. 

I find this gives a 'soft focus' effect (similar to Charlotte Tilbury's Wonderglow) and blurs imperfections rather than hiding them. This foundation is light and it will not cover a blemish or hide redness. But it does give a smoothed appearance without hiding what your face actually looks like.

It's long wearing and I find it works well on my combination skin. It is best applied with your fingers and less is DEFINITELY more with this (which is good because it lasts a long time). You need a pea size and that is it. Any more and you will not get it to blend evenly. I love that it can be applied with fingers because it means less brushes to wash and its quick and easy.

A word of warning though, this product does NOT get on with any sort of silicone primer. I once tried it with The Ordinary's High Adherence Silicone primer. Big mistake. They did not mesh well together and it peeled off my face in huge strings of gloop. I had to wash it all off and start again.

In all honesty this product doesn't need a primer as it stays put well by itself. 

I wear this in shade 06 Ginger but it comes in a large shade range which should suit a lot of people. 

It also contains SPF 30 which is perfect for me in the winter when I'm inside an office all day. 

To hide my tiredness I use my Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser which twists up and you apply it directly to your under eye area using the sponge applicator. I wish this came in more shades as it doesn't give you many options. 

I blend this using my Primark Beautyblender (these are amazing btw) and that's my make up base done.

Brows

I probably spend the most time on my eyebrows and use three different products ( I know, I'm high maintenance). 

I like a soft natural look so I use an angled brush to apply my Mac eyeshadow in Cork in small feathery strokes. I define the underside of my brow first and work upwards.

I have a bald patch in both my eyebrows where the arch is (one is worse than the other) so I use my NYX eyebrow pencil to fill in any sparse areas and then the spooley on the other end to tidy things up.

I set my brows using my Benefit Gimme Brow eyebrow gel, which keeps everything in place throughout the day.

Eyes

On mornings where I am getting ready this quickly I only bother with mascara. At the moment I am using the Lancome Grandiose mascara which has it's very unusual swan neck wand. I actually really like this mascara and find that the different shape of the wand does help you to evenly reach all of the awkward bits. 

This mascara stays put all day and doesn't flake off. It's only annoying thing is I struggle to apply this without getting some of it on my upper eyelid. I just dip a cotton bud in micellar water and do a two second clean up.

This does give quite a bold, thick look to lashes, which might not be to everyone's liking but I quite like a dramatic look. 

Cheeks

This is the part of the look I switch up the most but lately I've been exclusively using my NARS blusher in Orgasm. I've recently seen a lot of people saying they don't like the cult favourite but I personally love it.

It's a soft pink with a gold shimmer running through it. I find it gives a natural flush to the cheeks and the shimmer means I don't need to use a highlighter which saves me time.

NARS blushes are legendary for their staying power and this stays put all day. 

Lips

I also like to mix up my lip colour but my Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Curviest Caramel never leaves my handbag.

I usually apply this in the rear view mirror of my car as I'm about to get out and go to work and I love how easy and fuss free it is.

The twist up pencil doesn't require sharpening and it has good staying power. The formula is more lipstick like than the other chubby sticks and as a result it only needs reapplying a few times throughout the day.

The colour is incredibly flattering and is a warm nude with just enough brown. It's my favourite nude shade and easily my most worn lip product. It's perfect for any time that you want to 'play it safe' like a job interview but also when you're in a hurry like me in the morning and don't have time to be worrying about your lipstick. 

So that is how I get myself out of the door in time without scaring my co workers. Do you have any favourite products for when you're in a hurry? Let me know in the comments as I'm always looking for new products to speed up my routine even more.

Life After Graduation - Why working at uni was great for my career

To finish off my blog series on Life After Graduation this is a post for those of you who are still at uni and are starting to realise that one day soon, you too will graduate and join The Real World. It's also for those of you who have just graduated and don't realise that the job you worked at uni could well be the springboard to launch your future career from.

As I've mentioned in my previous posts I worked throughout my time at uni, but I actually got my first job at 16 waitressing. I didn't do it for very long and I wasn't that great at it, but it was a valuable start to the world of work.

When I first went to uni I spent my holidays working at a local riding stables which did carriage rides at Center Parcs. I got the job because of my experience with carriage driving and it suited me pretty well. The hours were long, the weather was rubbish (anyone who has ever set foot in Center Parcs at Longleat in the winter will tell you that it is extremely cold there) and like all jobs working with horses, it was hard work. Their busiest season was Christmas where I spent most of my time dressed as an elf. Yep an actual elf, or occasionally making a brief appearance as Santa. The kids absolutely loved it and they ALL always called me 'Mrs Elf' unprompted by anyone. Where do they learn to do this? I felt like the Trunchball from Matilda and wanted to scream, why is this elf married?!! My family like to remind me of it a lot.

But do you know what? Although the pay wasn't amazing (not to mention the extremely glamorous outfit), the long hours meant I wracked up enough money to make it worth my while. The hours were flexible and they mostly needed me during the weekends and holidays which suited me perfectly. So although it wasn't the dream job it paid enough to get by.

I used the experience to gain my next job which I worked at for the final two years of my degree (which included my masters year). The hours were still flexible, the pay was better but the job was harder work.

Holding down my job and doing my degree at the same time taught me some valuable lessons and gave me FAR MORE experience than anything I ever did during my four years at uni.

So if you're at uni now, my advise would be to seriously consider getting a job. If you've left uni and you had a job while you were there then these are the reasons you can use to work it to your advantage to find your first role after you graduate.

1.  You have to learn to balance your priorities

I usually worked 16 hours a week for my final two years at uni, which consisted of two 8 hours shifts on the weekend. I switched between working early and late shifts. Some months I did more hours, some months less depending on what was going on.

I can already hear the chorus of students claiming they don't have time for that. Now fair enough if you're studying a contact heavy subject at a hardcore uni (I'm talking medicine at Oxbridge) then maybe you don't have time. But if like the rest of us you have a chunk of free time in your week (yes that includes weekends) then you do have time.

Before anyone comments that I did a doss subject at a crap uni let me fill you in on my degree. I did an integrated masters at the University of Southampton in Geology and graduated with a 2:1. Jared did the same in Marine Biology and worked roughly the same amount of hours as me and got a first. Southampton's Ocean and Earth Science department is one of the very best in the UK (not to mention the entire world) and is a leading research institution that sets very high standards for its students. I had around 25 hours of contact time per week throughout my degree but as standard my friends and I were at uni from 9-5. Plus an hour each way commute as our campus is the other side of the city. I'm not trying to make myself sound like the most accomplished person ever (I'm very far from it), but I just want to prove that it is possible for a lot of students at uni to work and study at the same time.

But you do have to be organised and prepared to work hard, play hard. If you've got a deadline coming up on Monday and you're working this weekend then you'll have to get the essay done by Friday. If you've got a social event coming up and you're working then you'll have to get your deadlines done AND arrange your shifts so that you can do all of it. 

Why is this important? Because it's preparing you for the real world where work is non negotiable and has to be prioritised else you will no longer have a job. You can't decide you're not working because there's a party you want to go to, or because you're too tired today. You have to roll up your sleeves and get it done.

If you can manage doing this at uni, then you'll find a 'grown up job' a walk in the park.

2. Working isn't so hard after all

Is it just me or when you were a kid and you saw adults on TV working you just thought that they magically knew how to be a secretary or an accountant? You saw the adults around you doing their adult jobs and thought quietly to yourself 'but I don't know how to do that', it must be something you learn when you grow up'.

Well you're at uni, you are a grown up. The secret truth is that for a lot of people, working is not as hard as being at uni. At uni you are expected to direct your own learning with minimal support. Sure you have a tutor who you either haven't seen since your first semester as a fresher or doesn't even know who you are. Your lecturers throw around complex terms and if you don't understand a concept you have to figure it out on your own or you'll fall behind. 

Work is different. For a lot of roles you will receive on the job training and will likely be mentored to someone who will teach you. At first it will seem complex and scary but few entry level jobs are. That's why they're entry level. Once you've been doing it a little while you will soon get to grips with it. I find is so strange that so many people my age are desperate to 'stay in education forever because the real world is scary'. Of course it is, all change is scary. But it'll be scary for a few weeks tops and then you'll be ok. It really isn't so bad after all. If you can get over that and realise that you can learn a job just like every other grown up in the world while you're still at uni, you won't be paralysed with the fear of the unknown that grips so many graduates. You'll be the one grabbing a new opportunity because you're fairly certain you'll figure it out.

3. Keeping your finances healthy

Being a student is basically another way of saying you're poor. Even if your parents help you out chances are you still have just enough to get by. I'm from a low income background so I qualified for the maximum grant/loan but even that is only around £7,000 a year. When your rent plus bills (in a small, very reasonably priced but nice-ish for student standards shared house in Southampton) is £4,800 a year it doesn't leave you much to live on. My parents could not in anyway afford to support me so having a job was essential if I wanted to have enough money to live on, let alone do fun things, like everyone else.

I wasn't as financially disciplined then as I am now and anything I earnt that was extra to what I needed to live off I spent on fun things. Mostly holidays, but also compulsory field trips as our living costs weren't covered by the uni or sometimes the trip itself was only partially paid for and we had to cough up the rest. For example, my six week mapping trip to the Isle of Skye which we only had a £500 contribution towards. Our accommodation alone cost £600 and we had to cover all the additional kit, travel and living costs ourselves. I bought a £200 pair of walking boots for this trip on the advice of my mapping supervisor and it was some of the best money I've ever spent. Everyone else had wet feet for the whole six weeks and mine were warm and dry. I could never have afforded that without my job. I had to work some extra shifts to earn them but it was worth the small amount of effort for six weeks of comfort. Plus I still have them now.

Even though I spent most of the money I earned, having a job crucially stopped me having to rely on an overdraft. My friends mocked me because they told me an overdraft was 'free money' which you don't have to pay back until after you graduate. I'm so glad I ignored them and refused to ask my bank for one. A year after graduating I know so many graduates who are no closer to paying off their overdrafts than when they wracked up the debt in the first place.

Even for those that have a job, their pay cheque often only takes them to £0 each month and then all the money they spend waiting for their next pay day just sinks them back into the depths of their overdraft. In short, overdrafts are really hard to climb out of. And the bank don't let you have that overdraft for free forever. As soon as you graduate the clock is ticking for when you have to pay it back, and overdraft charges can soon start to mount up making it even harder to claw your way out.

Having a job at uni kept me debt free (besides my student loans of course, but they're not the same kind of debt) for four years. When I graduated I actually had some savings (as I had been too busy with work and uni to spend as much money) which I spent on this year's trip to Norway.

On top of that, earning your own money makes you really think about how much things cost. When I wanted those walking boots all I could think about was how many shifts I would need to do to earn them and whether or not it was worth it. In that case it absolutely was, but I shudder to think now at how much money I've wasted on crap clothes I don't wear anymore over the years.

When you start looking at a top in terms of 'I'll have to work this many hours to afford it' it gets a lot easier to put it back on the rail. Learning to do that is the secret to financial success for the rest of your life. 

4. Gaining new skills

This is probably the most important one of all. For one thing if you've already held down a job before you REALLY need one in the big wide world, you're already a better bet to an employer with a shed load of CV's from graduates that are hard to separate by their academic ability alone.

You've already proved you're reliable by holding down the job for whatever period of time. You've also proved that you're hard working. I've never had an interviewer fail to be impressed that I held down a job and studied for my masters degree at the same time. But mostly you've proved that you're determined enough to do what it takes to get the job done.

As I mentioned above, working alongside studying does not come without a certain amount of sacrifice. You can't go on every single night out. You can't always see your friends at the weekend because you're working. But employers don't care about your social life (much). They will be impressed you were strong enough to prioritise working over partying and lazing about watching Netflix marathons with your mates.  It shows a certain amount of resourcefulness that you were able to juggle all the balls without dropping them, because you found a way.

On top of that are the skills you gained within your actual role. Perhaps you worked in a customer service role and have handled irate customers and solved their complaints. Maybe you answered the phone and can talk to people calmly and professionally (essential for almost all roles and a skill a lot of people our age lack thanks to our love of texting). Perhaps your work involved helping others and your empathy shines through when you talk about it. One friend of mine worked at McDonalds. A job many people would consider to be shameful to put on your CV. She didn't think so though, she always talked about how she was in a leadership position and her job was to train new members of staff. She emphasized the importance of food safety and ensuring that all of her staff adhered to this. Funnily enough she found a job straight out of uni. 

5. Confidence in yourself

There is something to be said for knowing you can do something well. Once you've been working somewhere a while and you know the ropes it can be an enormous boost for your confidence. A problem comes up and you know how to solve it because you've handled it before. Or you know who to ask to help you sort it out. You handle a tricky client's complaint and get it fixed for them. You go home at the end of your shift knowing your hard work made a small, but positive difference to someone's life.

This confidence that you know how to handle a real life job starts to bleed into other areas of your life. Handling new software at uni? Ok it'll be difficult to start with but you'll get to grips with it. Doing group work with someone who is notoriously lazy? No problem, they can't be any more challenging than so-and-so that you work with. 

But when this all really comes into its own is when you graduate. Your pals are all running around like headless chickens at the mere thought of getting a job, while you are calmly browsing Indeed for something you reckon you can do. If your friends were honest they would tell you the thought of getting a job scares them because the unknown is frightening. If they were brave enough to tell you that, you could reassure them that you know it's scary, but they will soon adapt and you know this because you've done it before. 

In summary, some of us have to work while we're at uni just to make ends meet. I was definitely in that category but I wanted some money to spend on fun things (mostly trips abroad) so I worked harder than I needed to just to get by. But for those of you who don't need the cash, you should still seriously consider getting a job while you're at uni. Even if it's only in the holidays (temping is great for this). There's a lot more to be gained than money. 

Did you work while you were at uni? Or are you thinking perhaps you should? Let me know your experience!

Life After Graduation Blog Series

Post 1: My job hunting experience

Post 2: Starting your job search

Post 3: Why it's ok if you don't want to work in your degree field

Post 4: Coping with life after leaving uni 

Shout out to my fabulous Geology Girls who made my years at uni so much fun. #TeamSirens

Life After Graduation - Coping with life after leaving uni

We talk so much about how hard it is to leave home for the first time, learning to cope on your own and how to manage your own life. Struggling with life at uni is also widely talked about. Coping with exam stress, challenging modules, conflicting deadlines and managing to have a social life and keep your bills paid on time can get on top of people. Which is ok, we're only human and you were learning how to handle all of that for the first time.

What we don't talk about is coping with life once you've left uni. That for the first time in life the neat path of school > 6th form > uni no longer applies. You are staring your future in the face but you might as well be looking into a blank abyss.

In my blog series about Life After Graduation I've covered several different topics from how my own job hunting experience went, to tips on getting started with job searching if you're feeling overwhelmed as well as why I think its perfectly ok to not work in your degree field. If you read my post on how I found a job after uni you'll know that finding a job happened REALLY quickly for me. Which is great, I'm really grateful to have found a job so rapidly, but it also meant I had no time to process the enormous change that had happened in my life.

As I mentioned above we accept that GOING to uni is a huge change that people have a tough time adjusting to but we're less sure how to deal with someone who is struggling to find their feet again once they have that degree certificate.

While having a job gave my life structure to work around (which definetely helped) it meant I had no energy to focus on how I was feeling and how I was coping. In reality my life had just been turned upside down. After four years of living independently and being in charge of myself I was now living back at home with my parents, one of my sisters also graduated at the same time as me and Jared moved in with us as well. That's enough to knock anyone off kilter but I started a new job at the same time as well. It wasn't until I had been back home for a few months that I was able to admit to people that I was finding it hard.

And do you know what? It's ok to struggle but the only people who really get it are your fellow graduates who have experienced it too. I love my parents so much but they cannot really understand why I feel a bit trapped at home. They take this as I'm desperate to get away from them, not I just crave being in control of my own life again.

More than a year since graduation, life has settled down for me and I have come to accept my situation for what it is. So if you've just graduated (or know someone who has) these are my tips for navigating this massively understated period of change.

1. Take a short break.

I'm not talking about months of dossing around the house, but take a short period of time to unwind from the stress of your final months of uni. Use the time to relax and regroup and figure out your next step. Don't pressure yourself to make huge decisions, just decide what your initial move will be and that's it. If you've got the funds (unlikely but some do) take yourself off somewhere to get away from it all and gain some perspective on your situation.

As I've already mentioned I was working at my new job before I had even graduated so I didn't take the time to do this and I think it contributed massively towards me feeling very frazzled and burnt out in my first few months of working. If you are able to, take just a short period of time for yourself, because I wish I had.

2. Work on accepting your loss of independence.

Chances are you've moved back home with your parents. It's what a lot of young graduates do while looking for employment. While it is fantastic to have such a safety net (and I am forever grateful to my parents for allowing both Jared and I to move back here) it doesn't come without it's problems. Now is not the time to sink back into adolescence. If you want to get ahead in life continue to be as independent as possible under your parents roof. Clean up after yourself, do chores not because you were told to but because you can see they need doing, wash your own clothes and most importantly: pay your way. As soon as that first pay cheque comes in it's time to start paying your parents rent. Before that you should earn your keep by being even more helpful around the house.

I think it's important to pay rent for many reasons. First and foremost, you're an adult and it's not ok to expect a free ride from your parents. In addition contributing to the household encourages you to manage your finances responsibly. The most important reason though it to maintain that sense of yourself. The one who paid her bills on time and kept a roof over her head at uni. Don't let that version of you shrivel up so that you don't recognize her once you're ready to strike out on your own again.

Paying rent also helps your relationship with your parents as you are less of a burdensome child and more of a fellow adult. You are helping your parents share the load and in return you can respectfully ask that they allow you the freedom to continue being an adult. How much rent you pay is between you and your parents but it's essential to have open and honest conversations about it. It's also crucial to talk about the rules they expect you to follow (and for you to stick to them) but also how they can allow you to maintain as much independence as possible.

It's by no means easy (and this is coming from someone who resents anyone having control over my life, no matter how small) but over time I've come to accept that certain freedoms are no longer available. The trade off is I get a roof over my head for a lot less then I would be paying otherwise and never have to worry about the heating bill. To be honest, a lot of the freedoms I crave weren't available to me at uni anyway, because I lived with other people. Accepting it refocuses my energy into creating my own life without relying on others.

3. Make an effort to stay in touch with friends

I think this isn't something that dawns on people until they're actually weeks away from graduating, but seeing your friends once you've left uni is HARD. It requires time and effort (and a lot of train tickets) to see them. Chances are you're all scattered across the country (or the globe in some cases!) with various work and social commitments to keep track of. Finding a weekend to meet up is hard but well worth the effort and expense. When life is getting a bit much for you, hanging out with old friends who are in the same boat can really help. It helps you remember that you aren't alone, which is important because life immediately after graduation can be lonely. Especially if you're at home on your own all day.

You will make new friends as you establish your new life, but to start with you might find that you don't have many people to spend your free time with. For this I am immensely grateful that Jared has moved in with my family as he is my best friend so he's always here for me to hang out with. But as much as I love him he cannot substitute for my girlfriends indefinitely and for that I need to either get in the car or catch the train to see them. I'm always so glad I made the effort and I feel recharged for weeks after a catch up with them.

On top of that we make a serious effort to chat to each other on facebook very regularly which although isn't the same, helps us stay connected with each others lives. It's also a huge comfort to know that I can pick up the phone if I'm struggling and they're still there for me.

4. Make a structured plan for your day

If you're still looking for a job, then you must be strict with yourself and try to structure your day. Include time spent job hunting within that. It's better to apply yourself solidly for a short amount of time each day then to spend hours aimlessly browsing job adverts or staring blankly at a daunting looking grad scheme application. Doing a small amount daily will add up to a considerable amount over the course of a week. When you're not job hunting make sure you are strict with yourself about things like getting up and going to bed at the same time, eating sensibly and doing basic chores such as making your bed, taking a shower and getting dressed. Feeling like you have no direction in life is challenging enough without allowing yourself to slide into a poor state of health (be that mental or physical).

5. Find a productive task

If you're looking for a job, then finding productive ways to fill your hours not spent job hunting will really help you if you're feeling a little low after uni. This is an ideal time to do projects you've always needed the time for. A great one would be learning to drive (if you haven't already) as you know have the free time for lessons and it helps give you focus. Once you've passed not only are you able to add 'full clean driving license' to your CV but a whole other world of jobs opens up to you. Or you could task yourself with sorting through all of your stuff from uni and donating unwanted items to charity or selling them on ebay. You could volunteer for a cause that matters to you and put your skills to good use. Or you could even start a blog... It doesn't really matter what it is, it's just important to have something to do to prevent you from becoming apathetic by having something else to focus on. On top of that you're almost certain to improve your skills along the way too, which is  a win win.

6. Read some inspirational books

In our digitally switched on world we're finding it increasingly difficult to devote a chunk of time to reading. But is so good for you. Take the time to refresh your sense of purpose with something motivational. It could be an autobiography of someone you admire, or a book on mindfulness or one that teaches you how to start your own business. Keeping your head high and remembering to keep trying are really important in this awkward, transitional part of your life. Three personal favourites of mine are The Wrong Knickers by Bryony Gordon, #Girlboss by Sophia Amoruso and The Life Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck by Sarah Knight.

7. Accept this phase for what it is

It's ok and pretty normal for this part of your life to be uncertain  and unpredictable. You are still getting started and its fine that you haven't got it figured out yet. Decide that you are going to buckle yourself in for the ride because the chances are you will experience a lot of highs and lows in the coming months. Your early twenties are a place of turbulence because you are figuring out which path to take. That's all ok and normal. Come to terms with it and you will be able to roll with the punches a lot better.

8. Nobody else has it all figured out either

Always remember that what you see online is other people's highlight reel. They often don't share the struggle or the insecurity as openly as they do their amazing work trip or the fancy cocktails they seem to drink every night of the week. Chances are you're guilty of it too. It's almost certain though that they are also struggling and trying to figure things out one step at a time, just like you are.

9. Don't neglect yourself

Although its important to work hard, take time to be nice to yourself. Keep up with your hobbies, spend time doing things you find relaxing, hang out with your friends and family. It's good to be ambitious but if you try to do too much you'll burn yourself out. 

10. Strive for your independence

During this period of your life if you're not sure what direction to head in, then having this as your goal won't steer you far wrong. Just remember that independence has a different meaning for everyone. To me I think it means not having to rely on other people financially and being able to have a place of my own. To a friend of mine, independence means being able to work for yourself, anywhere in the world and not being constrained by your location or the company you work for. Another friend wishes to be able to research what interests her without being tied into a degree course. Whatever it means for you, make sure that you're constantly striving for it and that it shapes your decisions. 

Did you struggle with life after uni? Are you still adjusting a year later like I am? Or are you going through this now? Let me know if you have any tips that worked for you!

Life After Graduation Blog Series:

Post 1: My job hunting experience

Post 2: Starting your job search

Post 3: Why its ok if you don't want to work in your degree field

Life After Graduation - Why it's ok if you don't want to work in your degree field

So if you're coming to the end of five years of training to be a doctor because it has been your single dream and ambition since you were eight years old this might not be the post for you. But for those of us who either don't want to work in our degree field (whether you enjoyed your degree or not)  or those who can't find work in our degree field then read on. Not only are you far from alone but it's ok to make your peace with it. 

18 is so young to decide what you want to do with your life and what direction you want to take. 18 year old me didn't have a clue about anything and least of all about myself. If I had known about the hidden skills I have now I would have possibly chosen a different path. However there is no point focusing on this, you can't change the past. I do suspect though, that those skills that have come to the fore since I've been working have in fact been developed through my degree without me even knowing about it. So it doesn't mean your degree was pointless.

On that note learning is never a waste of time and I try to be grateful for all the opportunities my degree has given me. It has shaped me and challenged me in ways I never knew it would and has forged me into a person I would never have believed I was capable of becoming. The skills you have gained may not be immediately obvious such as the ability to cope under pressure (remember that dissertation deadline) or to handle difficult questions from superiors (such your viva). You also never know when the knowledge you've gained might come in useful in the future. 

Learning how to learn is a skill in itself and if there is only one skill you gain from uni its this. Uni is sink or swim and if you can't keep up you get left behind. You pick up new skills quickly once you get to grips with that. One of my modules at uni during my masters year had us learning new, industry standard software each week with an assessment the following week on how well we had used it to present our data and analysis. Each piece of software was complex, with each being less intuitive and user friendly than the last. We would have a short session with PhD students demonstrating how to use the software, then we either collected the data (depending on the task) or were given the data to clean, plot and analyze. If you didn't pick up how to use it during that session you were screwed. When I started my first job I picked up their computer systems really easily. During my training I repeatedly asked my boss to let me learn quicker and to move on to new stuff. I was confident on what I had already learnt and I was consistently getting it right without help. She repeatedly told me no, that learning new software would confuse me. When I finally did come to learn it I found I was right, I could have learnt it months previously and my boss was projecting her own struggles to learn new things onto me. It was one of the reasons why I ultimately looked for another job. The lesson was valuable though, I knew I wasn't being pushed hard enough and the skills I had gained at uni made me confident enough to say so.  

Uni teaches you that learning new things and being challenged is part of life. It teaches us the value of hard work and that if you aren't brave enough to admit you don't understand something then people will assume you do. Doing that will always come back to bite you. The nature of researching subjects in depth teaches you to not accept something as true just because things rarely have a straightforward answer. You learn to weigh up the pros and cons of peoples arguments and to analyze which one you think has the more convincing evidence. You learn that group work is a nightmare of clashing egos and personalities. You realise that field work and being away from home for long periods of time is not all the fun and games its cracked up to be. You learn things about yourself but you also slowly figure out how to work with other people. All skills that are essential to hold down any job. 

On top of all of this, knowledge is power. You never know when the stuff you actually learnt about during your degree is going to come in useful. You might end up working in the industry in a way you hadn't previously considered, but your base knowledge underpins all of the stuff you learn in your role. You might win your team a crucial round at a pub quiz. You might correct someone who is talking about something they don't really understand and help them to understand it better. Knowing about things will always help you in some way, even if it isn't right now.

As you graduate and start to gain real work experience each role you have will help shape you in its own way. You will gain more experience and more knowledge with time. You may sit some industry qualifications or you might prove yourself to be a good leader. I bet you developed the skills that helped you pass those exams or to manage projects at uni. Each role will help you move forwards as you look to build upon what you already have. If you're trying to find a role within the industry you studied at uni, then each position you have will give you more experience that should make you a stronger candidate, over graduates with no experience. Everyone needs basic skills such as customer service, answering the phone, responding to emails etc. The more you develop the basic stuff, the better chance you have of breaking into the industry you want to work in.

It's also ok to change your mind. We live in a culture where we are all supposed to just magically figure out our calling and know what we want to do forever and ever. In reality as we grow up we change and so do our passions. A career is meant to be a journey, not a fixed path that you are set upon. It's normal to dart in a direction for a while and then either continue if you're enjoying it or find a different opportunity if you're not. 

I struggled throughout uni with peoples expectations of the field of work I would go into when I was finished and I still get comments about it now. I sometimes feel like people might think I'm a failure and sometimes they make those feelings known. People are often incredulous that someone with a masters degree in something doesn't want to work in it. Well four years is a long time to study something and by the end of it I had made my peace with the fact although I loved the subject and found it hugely interesting it wasn't where I wanted to work. Realising that I have the power to take my life in the direction I chose is empowering. I don't have to obey these people, they're only voicing their opinion, it doesn't mean I have to listen to it. 

Overall I chose to work in something that I find interesting and not because I think it will impress someone else or have made my degree 'worthwhile'. I  think you should do the same and make what you want out of your degree, whatever subject it was in.

Looking ahead to the New Year 2017

2016 according to most (or at least the people I follow on social media) has been an awful year.
My timeline on every channel is full of 'Good riddance 2016' type posts and statuses.

However I'm feeling sad that this year is over. While it's been challenging it's also been one of the best years yet for me.

I started 2016 feeling stressed, anxious and panicked and as we begin the New Year a lot has changed for me. I made 8 goals back at the beginning of 2016 and I've surprised myself by achieving most of them.

I've completed my masters project and received a mark I'm really proud of. My bound copy of it now proudly sits on my bookshelf along with my 3rd year mapping project as a constant reminder that although it seemed impossible at the time, I still managed it.

2016 also saw me graduating from the University of Southampton with a 2:1 MSci in Geology. It only seems a few moments ago I went to look round the campus for the first time and now I have finished my masters degree. My 3rd year at uni was tough for me and I struggled all the way through my final year feeling like I wasn't good enough and that I didn't deserve a place on the course.  But I proved everyone wrong and I think it is fair to say that I am really proud of myself.

My plans for life post graduation were fairly simple. Move home, get a job and then regroup from there. What I didn't expect was to be made redundant from my job (along with the rest of the team)  just weeks before I graduated. I hadn't even received my degree certificate yet and I was already being made redundant. Not the plan I had in mind.

I signed up to a temping agency and a few days later they contacted me asking if I could start a temping job in 3 days time. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for but I said yes. 3 weeks of temping later and the company offered me a full time role with them. It turned out that finding a job post uni was not as hard or as scary as I had feared. Now I am settled into my full time job and have learnt a huge amount about the new industry I am working in.

While all of this happened without as much difficulty as I had feared it has been a huge period of change in my life. On top of that my family dynamic has changed massively. When I graduated and moved home my parents also invited Jared to move back home with me so that we can try and get our own place together. I absolutely love him living here and how well he gets on with everyone, although it was a big change to get used to. We now have to share quite a small space together but coming home every day and getting to spend time with him is just the best.

Looking ahead to 2017 I want to make some new goals to help challenge and focus me throughout the coming year. I didn't achieve all of my goals in 2016 and some of them I have put on hold for a while, but hopefully the New Year will be as good as the last.

Money Goals:
1. Reach my saving goal for our house deposit. This is the biggest goal for the year, Jared and I are trying to save enough money and while we have made a pretty good start already the next 12 months are crucial if we want to stay on target. Money is tight for me while I'm saving so its going to have to be quite a frugal year but having a house of our own has got to be worth a few years of scrimping.

2. Pay into my pension. Now that I work for a pension company I feel I actually understand what a pension is now. Don't laugh I know most of us have no clue either. The one thing I have had impressed upon me is the importance of small but regular contributions throughout your life. Over the course of a working lifetime it can really add up but the key is to start right away, not leave it until you're older. Although as I've previously said I could really do with the extra money I am trying to look at it as additional saving that I am doing for my future.

3. Donate to some charities that mean something to me. While I have been at uni (without the reliability of a steady wage) I have not been as generous as I would like to be with my money. This year I would like to choose three charities and make a small donation. Not because someone is waving a collection tin in my face, but because I think their cause is worth helping. Sometime we can feel pressured by others into donating and I would like to take the time to support charities that matter to me, as well as those that matter to other people.

Travel Goals:
4. Visit Norway. Going to Scandinavia has been high on my bucket list for ever. This year we are going on a cruise to Norway and I cannot wait! Luckily this was already paid for by working overtime from my old job while I was at uni so it shouldn't affect my saving plans.

5. Visit Bath. Considering this is pretty close to me I have only ever been there on a couple of nights out that feel like a lifetime away now. I'd really like to take a day trip there and actually explore the city. There is no excuse really as it is only an hour away.

6. Visit Ann in Exeter. My best friend is graduating from the University of Exeter this year and I've been trying to go and see her since she was a fresher. Now that I don't have deadlines and exams to fill my weekends I am hoping to make it down there soon!

7. Visit Oxford. On a similar note to Bath this isn't very far from me and I've never visited. I'd like to have a wander about and see what's what. As I haven't got a huge amount of spare cash at the moment a proper European city break is out of the question so I'd like to visit places on my doorstep instead as a compromise.

Development Goals:
8. Read 3 'classic' books. One of my goals from 2016 was to read more and now that I've left uni I am actually relaxed enough to find the time to read. I've always been someone that reads what I enjoy, not necessarily what challenges me. There are so many books that I should have read but haven't got round to it. So I'm going to start small with some of the books many people read at GCSE (Animal Farm anyone?) that my school didn't cover.

9. Practise my German. Since I've left school the amount I've forgotten is shocking. I was by no means fluent (lol) but I could get by on trips to Germany and Austria (where is the toilet, how much is this etc). I want to get my butt back on Duolingo and get practicing again.

10. Become competent in all processes at work. As I've only been working there for a few months there is still a lot of stuff I don't know how to do. Over the next 12 months I'm hoping to learn new things and keep improving.

We'll see this time next year how many I've managed!

How to get the most out of Clinique including things for free!

I am a huge fan of Clinique. There's no hiding it. My bathroom and make up bag are littered with their products and I'm forever harping on about them. However it is a relatively expensive brand and as a poor student I can't really afford it. Below is a list of the ways I have used to make it as affordable as possible and get as much for my money as I can.

1. Get yourself a Boots and/or Debenhams card depending on where you most frequently shop. I personally prefer Boots and its more convenient and you get more points with every spend. Always use your card when you buy your Clinique products. You will be amazed how quickly they add up and it is an easy way to make the most of the money you spend. Download the app on your phone to keep track of points and take advantage of the offers that are frequently available. In a few months I earnt enough Boots points to spend £30 on Clinique. That's £30 worth of stuff I effectively got for free.

2. Spend a little time choosing a favourite counter. This is really important as if its in a convenient location that you are likely to go to frequently you are more likely to pop in. I would advise frequenting your local Boots counter so you can also build up your Boots points with every purchase.

3. Develop some loyalty. By repeatedly visiting the same counter you will get to know the staff that work there. The guy who runs my local Boots counter in Southampton is absolutely awesome and so helpful. I always go to this counter and as a result he now knows me well and I can use his expert knowledge of the products on offer to my advantage.

4. Get involved with their social media. Follow them on Twitter and Instagram, sign up for their newsletter and like them on facebook. By doing so you can keep up to date with all the promotions that are on offer. Clinique almost always have some sort of promotion running and if you make an effort to time your purchases you will always save some money or get some products for free. For example I got an email yesterday to say there was a 24 hour offer on the Clinique website where you got two freebies with every £30 spend.

5. Make the most of Bonus Time. I only buy things from Clinique when its Bonus Time so I can get as much for my money as possible. In the UK you usually have to buy two items (one to be skincare) so I keep an eye on the Bonus Time website and carefully time my purchases to take advantage of these offers. Another thing worth bearing in mind is the more exclusive department stores (eg. Harrods) usually have better stuff in their Bonus Time than say Boots does. If you happen to live near a larger department store it may be worth popping in there for a visit as the value of the products you receive is probably more than you would earn in reward points from Boots or Debenhams.

6. Choose your products carefully. This is why it is useful to always visit the same counter and get to know the staff. Only go in when you know it will be quiet so that the staff have got the time to advise you properly. The people who work at Clinique counters have a genuine passion for beauty and skincare so taking the time to chat to them will help you get the most out of your purchases. Don't be afraid to ask to try products either as trying before you buy is essential. You don't want to spend £17 on a lipstick only to find it doesn't suit you. Never buy a product that you haven't tried in store or received a sample of during a promotional offer. That way you know it will work for you.

7. Make the most of new launches as there is usually a free or promotional offer to go with it. For example when the new Beyond Perfecting Foundation launched there was a free colour matched sample for every customer in store. You need so little of this foundation to make it work that my sample pot is still going strong so a quick trip into store was well worth it.

8. Don't be afraid to shop around as there are often deals available online that aren't available in store. Check the Clinique website carefully for offers. Sites such as Fragrencedirect.com often have Clinique products at discount prices and is always worth a look. Feeluinique.com allows you to choose your favourite brand and you always get 10% off with free shipping on orders over £10. This is very useful if you are too busy to go into the store and need to stock up on essentials.

9. If buying online always use Quidco which is an online cashback website. So far I've earnt £80 using this site so its well worth doing.

10. Most importantly always take advantage of instore services such as the Foundation Fit or skin type assessment. The key to getting the best value for your money is to only buy the products that will actually work for you. The more time you invest into choosing your products the better.

These are the methods that have worked well for me, if anyone has any other suggestions or tips I would love to hear them!

When is the right time to do something?

Now I'm in my third year at uni this question surrounds me constantly. I'm no longer a carefree freshers who's major concern is working out how much I can drink and still make it to my 9am lecture. And its not just me, its my friends too. We're no longer stressing about how we're going to do all the things we want but rather WHEN is the right time to do them.

I know one day I want to explore the world a bit more. But when should I do it? Do I get it all out the way in a year long trip after I graduate? Sounds amazing but I have no money to do that, so I guess I need to get a job. But once I have a job heading off on such an adventure would probably ruin my career. So just how am I going to make this dream work?

Another major goal of mine is to one day own a house. I've lived in rented housing for three years now and I don't see that situation changing anytime soon. Its ok, but I would like to have something that is actually mine. I want to be able to do things as simple as change the wall colour or hang a picture without having to ask first. But most of all I want to feel settled somewhere, to create my own home and to feel it is my own personal sanctuary. I'm desperate to unleash that nesting urge women seem to have and put my own personal stamp onto something. So I guess I am going to have to get a job and save damn hard if I want to make this one work. But when is the right time to actually say you want to put some roots down and start building your life?

Most difficult of all when is the right time to have children? If I'm being honest this is my only major life goal I have. But ask anyone and they all have different opinions on whens the right time in your life to embrace this enormous change and responsibility. I've got friends who already have children and those that are shocked at the thought of having kids before they are 30. I think I'm probably somewhere in the middle of those two but even so I have no idea if or when there will ever be a time when I'm ready. I don't think its fair to have children if you are not able to support them. But will I ever get to that stage before the biological clock has stopped altogether? With a family history of early onset menopause it is definitely something I need to be thinking about.

These worries keep me up at night sometimes. This is the big stuff that I actually really want. And it scares me that I have no idea if its even possible to achieve all of it. And because its what I want I think its worth giving it some thought. I'm starting to see that stressing about it endlessly won't help either. I have no idea what the future holds and my current situation might change dramatically. I might win the lottery or get some amazing job that will allow me to afford these things easily. I guess I just need to wait and see what happens and try to ignore the pressure society puts on us to 'have it all figured out'.

Also, in all honesty though I am not sure there is ever a 'right' time to do anything and if you are determined to wait for it then you might never achieve anything. Sometimes you just have to go with it and take the risk. That I guess is the tricky part and the point I am trying to make with this post. You just need to decide if you want it enough to try.

For now, I am going to focus on finishing my 3rd year at uni and going on holiday to Crete. These are all baby steps towards what I want in the long term. The rest of it will just have to work itself out.

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