Good Morning!
I hope you are having a lovely day so far.

It is that time of the month again where I get to ramble on about all of the products and random things I have been loving throughout the month. Can you believe that it's the first day of September tomorrow? Summer has been and gone, at a very rapid speed! However, this does mean it is nearly Autumn and we get to cosy up in bed with blankets, fluffy socks and hot chocolate while reading through blogs and chatting on the Twitter Blogger Chats. Sounds amazing, doesn't it.

So less of me rambling, and let's get to my August favourites and I have to say, there are a lot this month!
First things first, hair care! It is summer, and the sun is forever drying out our hair and therefore, it is really important to take care of our hair and put in all of the natural vitamins etc which our hair is losing from being exposed to the sun. One holy grail hair care product of mine is the Tresemme Luxurious Moisture Shampoo. This smells incredible but it also leaves my hair feeling silky smooth and very soft afterwards. I generally love Tresemme products and I have been using them for so many years but this is definitely my favourite by far. I always notice a difference in my hair after using this shampoo with the conditioner and it has never let me down when my hair has felt rather dry.
How could I possibly mentioned favourites, without mentioning PokemonGO. I absolutely love this game and I never thought I would ever say that. I have never been a Pokemon person, I never really understood it when I was young and when I was old enough to understand it, no one really spoke about it, but my boyfriend is definitely a Pokemon fan and recommended to try this game out. I try and go for a walk every day, not only to hatch my eggs in their incubators but to generally get out of my house if I have been stuck indoors all day and to just have some sort of exercise every single day. After installing this game the day it came out in the UK, I am now level 20 which I am very happy about and for living in a village, I feel like I have succeeded in this game especially when I very rarely see a pokemon near where I live. I have now purchased the Nintendo 3DS Pokemon Omega Ruby which my boyfriend also recommended because I love PokemonGO so much. Therefore, you may possibly see that featured in next months favourites!
This is possibly the most random of random things to include in monthly favourites, however I generally love it. While shopping for stationery for University, I picked up a pack which included around 30 different stationery/office bits by Pukka Pad. In this pack, there was this beautiful Pukka Pen and honestly, this is the best pen I have ever wrote with. It is so smooth to write with, although its a ballpoint, it's a gel too but it dries immediately. If only Pukka Pad would produce a large pack of these pens, I would be a very happy customer!
My favourite blusher throughout August has been the +Sleek MakeUP blush in 926 Rose Gold. This is the most stunning rose gold/peach toned blusher ever. Can i also express how good it smells as well? Is that weird? This is the only Sleek product I own and I am highly impressed with the quality and the pigmentation of this blusher. It's not a matte blusher but it's not too shimmery either which is perfect throughout the summer when you want a bright summer makeup look. Sleek products are definitely not expensive either!
Of course I can't have a favourites post without including a product from +Makeup Revolution, I have really been loving their Iconic 1 Palette which is the perfect dupe of the Naked Palette. The colours in this palette are all very pigmented and they last throughout the day as well. One thing I love most about this palette is the range of shimmery and matte eye shadows, so this is very versatile and you can use it throughout the day time and evening if you want too. I have been reaching for this nearly every day, as well as the Iconic 3 Palette and I highly recommend them.
If you have read my last post then you will know that I recently read Safe Haven. Although I can't exactly call this a monthly favourite as I haven't used it throughout the whole month, but I did read it throughout August and it was the best book that I did read. I read Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks within two days and I couldn't put it down. It's so happy and emotional all at the same time, it really makes you feel like you're part of the story and living in Southport with Katie and Alex. I cried multiple times while reading this book and it was definitely a book that made me smile more than once! Make sure to check out my last post for a full review of this book.
I have decided I am going to be choosing a monthly fragrance each month as well and throughout August I have definitely picked up my Loverdose by Diesel the most. My boyfriend picked this up while we were in Paphos, Cyprus and I absolutely fell in love with it. This can be worn as a day time or evening perfume and it's a mixture between a sweet and a deep scent. The bottle of this perfume is also absolutely stunning and although it will be empty one day, I definitely don't want to throw the bottle away. If you are ever near a perfume shop, definitely check this one out! I also mentioned it in my Holiday Haul post if you want a more in-depth review of this.
If you follow me on Twitter you will know that I have been raving on about the +Primark Velvet Matte Lip Crayons. These are another makeup product which I use every single day. I only have three shades so far, however I will definitely be picking some more up next time I go into Primark. These lip crayons are so moisturising and creamy, even though they are matte on the lips and the shades they have are also the most stunning nudes you'll ever want or need in your makeup collection. From top to bottom, the shades are called; Hustle, Mushroom and Ballerina. Ballerina is definitely the perfect nude if you want something you can wear every day, whether you're a student at school, a teacher or even working in a store.
My favourite song of the month is Sia-Unforgettable. After working in the Cinema and watching Finding Dory, I fell in love with this song after the film had finished. It reminds me so much of Adele but the lyrics of this song are just beautiful. So many people haven't heard of this song before, and this is generally because it was brought out as a soundtrack for Finding Dory. So if you haven't seen Finding Dory then I highly recommended not only watching it before it finishes in the cinema, but also to listen to this song through Youtube because it's incredible!
One item of clothing I have been wearing non stop through August is my shorts from +Primark. Unfortunately, they no longer sell these which I was very gutted about when I went to find them in different colours but they are the most comfortable shorts I have ever owned. They are a light weight cotton material, the detailing at the bottom and at the front of these are so dainty but cute at the same time. Obviously, they're black so they go with absolutely anything and everything and to be honest,I will definitely be wearing these still even if it's snowing, they are that comfortable! Only indoors though, where I can wrap up in a blanket at the same time.

"Love hurts. There is nothing as painful as heartbreak. But in order to learn to love again, you must learn to trust again. When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet unassuming, Katie is determined to avoid personal ties until a series of events draws her into reluctant relationships. Despite her reservations, Kate slowly begins to lower her guard, putting down roots in the close-knit community. But even as Katie starts to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts her..." 

Good Morning!
I hope you are having a wonderful day so far.
This is 100% a long overdue book review. I read this a while ago now and it has taken me so long to just sit down and write a review of it, even though I loved it so much that I recommended it to everyone as soon as I read it.

I absolutely love Nicholas Sparks films, they are definitely my favourite films of all time including Dear John, Safe Haven, The Last Song and The Lucky one. Obviously there are so many more and all of these he wrote as a book too. When I watched Safe Haven when it came out on dvd, I fell in love with "Katie" and Alex was absolutely gorgeous, I mean, who doesn't love the look of Josh Duhamel? This is one of my favourite films because the story line is absolutely incredible, beautiful and breath taking but it did make me cry. The fact it made me cry, made me want to read the book afterwards because I am one of those irritating people that prefers to watch the film and then read the book and compare. I'm sorry! However, I knew I would instantly love this book before even reading it, because I already knew the story line.

After picking up this book, I read it within two days which is absolutely insane, but that's how much I enjoyed it. I really didn't want to put it down and I read 25 chapters in one day just so I could finish the book which is crazy, I know! This was the first Nicholas Sparks book I ever read, however I did purchase them all at the same time (well nearly all of them), and I knew it would be a novel I could really get my teeth stuck into.

What I love about Nicholas' writing style is how realistic he makes the story. Obviously fiction books are not real, we all know that but to be able to read a book and actually see the story in your mind, is definitely a book worth reading and reading until it's finished. The characters in this book are so easy to relate too because it's a realistic topic which occurs in real life nearly every day. This story line happens to so many people and it's wonderful to see it put into a book. Nicholas' writes in a way which makes you feel like you're actually there in Southport, basically as the character "Jo", you're there, but you're not really there. You go through every bad and amazing situation that Katie goes through and you end up in tears after reading one chapter and finding out what happens along the way and I LOVE this!

Nicholas reminds you how although a past can haunt you for such a long time, he also shows you how you can get yourself out of a situation if you really want too. Also, as the blurb mentions, heart breaks are so painful, I definitely know this and have experienced it. But you love again, you need to learn to trust again and he shows how this can be done in this fantastic story of Alex and Katie. Everyone has baggage and everyone has trust issues whether these are tiny or fairly big but if you love someone, you can see straight past all them issues and only see the person right in front of you. 

Re-reading the last page makes me cry with happy tears, even when I haven't re-read the whole book, it's so beautiful! This book is definitely romantic yet realistic of the real world and that's another point I love about Nicholas' writing style, he relates every story to the real word, even if it only a story. 

Would I recommend Safe Haven?
If you are reading this, I recommend Safe Haven to you. It's is an incredibly beautiful book which will make you cry with happiness and sadness. You will see the beauty of Katie and Alex and understand how far anyone would go to find the happiness they deserve. You will not want to put this down once you have picked it up.

Would I re-read Safe Haven?
Always! I am completely and utterly in love with the story, the film is also just as amazing and if I have to cry, I'd want to cry while reading this book!

Overall score out of five?
Definitely a 5. Nicholas couldn't have made this book any better than what it is. The ending is the best ending of a book you will ever read, it's very real and very relatable. It's a story you never want to stop reading.

Did you love it? Did you hate it? Is there anything you expected to happen but didn't?

Good Afternoon!
I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday so far.

So today is a slightly different post, and definitely an unexpected one as well. While wandering around the #Bloggerationchat, myself, Emily and Becky started discussing when I came out yesterday to my mum! This sounds absolutely crazy I know, and trust me, it's not what you're thinking. However, we decided to start a tag called #TheComingOutTag. This tag will be a place for bloggers to share their "Coming Out" stories with other bloggers and to get a general discussion going.

As part of  #TheComingOutTag we will be answering four questions to start off our story. A story which may influence and inspire others to come out. Join us on this adventure and share your coming out story too!

So let's get too it;

1. Why Did You Start Blogging?
I started blogging because I had a passion for writing, photography and taking pictures of generally everything I laid my eyes on. I used Facebook a way of expressing my photography by sharing pictures of my pets, baking, knitting and any other bits and pieces I took pictures of. I needed something bigger and better than Facebook to share my passion for writing and this is when Kimberley Jessica formed.

2. Who have you come out too?
I have come out to the blogger community, of course! However, I have only come out to my boyfriend and my mum just this week.

3. How long did it take you to come out?
Realistically, it has taken me over two years to come out to my boyfriend and my mum. And two years exactly to come out to the blogger community when my Instagram account was formed on 30th July 2016; just two years and four days after my blog was created.

4. What effect has coming out had on you?
Coming out to other bloggers has had a massive effect on me. Not only has my confidence increased so much in myself, and my blog. But I have formed a circle of friendships with many many bloggers and people I feel comfortable with, enough to share my thoughts and experiences with. These people are the ones I cherish the most, they're a group of girls, and boys who love me for who I am, they have things in common with me and they don't expect me to be any different to suit their requirements.
Coming out to my boyfriend and my mum lifted the whole world off my shoulders. I can now express my thoughts with them and ask for their opinions on my blog. I can now tell them what I'm up too instead of lieing and saying "nothing" when they ask me what I'm doing. I can share my whole world with them without feeling afraid.
I, me, Kimberley Jessica started my blog officially on 26/07/14. This was the day I posted my first ever blog post and Kimberley Jessica launched. However, I have changed my blog name quite a few times since then. I would honestly say Kimberley Jessica properly launched on 08/02/16, just this year where I started a little series called "Daith Piercing to Cure Migraines?" after I had my daith pierced to try and stop my daily headaches/migraines. So technically speaking, having my blog for two years, I never told any family or friends about my blog until this week, when I sucked it up and told my boyfriend on Thursday, and then my mum yesterday. I came out, not much, but a little bit and I felt so much better afterwards.

For the past 7 years of my life (removing the past year), I was bullied. I was bullied because I was different, I didn't look like everyone else by wearing fake tan and makeup and dying my hair and girls didn't like this. To be honest, boys didn't like this either. I was different because I enjoy education and would be the one person who sat down in silence and got on with my work. I never had a detention and I always did my homework. College was like this too; I was the only person who finished my essay within an hour and left before lunch and they hated this.

Although I've had my blog for two years, I was too scared to tell anyone; I didn't want the bullying to start again. My mum has mentioned me starting a blog for a while because she knows how much I love writing and she did say yesterday "I knew there was a purpose why you took pictures of absolutely everything." And she was completely right. I hated that I kept this secret from her for two years, and the past 8 months where my blog has been at it's fullest. However, I knew she'd understand.

The other day my boyfriend read my phone half way through a twitter chat and asked lots of questions and I responded with "oh, it's nothing". The next day I told him I needed to tell him something and I let it all out. I told him I had my own blog, that I was involved in a twitter chat when he was asking all them questions. How I speak to so many different people who all have very common interests as I do and that's why I'm so happy with sitting at home and doing "nothing", when really I am blogging but I never wanted to tell him. Although he said I have lied to him for the past two years of our relationship, he supported me and he expressed he doesn't understand blogging but he was excited for me and my journey.

One day I'll get around to telling other people in my family, and then I'll share my blog on my Facebook for everyone to see. However, for now I am happy and content with my blogger community around me and the loving support from my boyfriend and my mum. I'm finally in love with my blog, the way it looks and the content I am producing and I'm glad I can share my journey with you and whatever it may bring.

I've come out, sort of. Will you?

Good Morning Everyone!

Are you one of those people who gets extremely disheartened when someone says something about the makeup you're wearing today, or what brand of clothes you buy? Or do you take offence to the way someone laughs at what you say? Well, today I am going to be giving you four reasons why you should not care about what others think of you.
I know I know this is easier said than done but I was once in your position. I was the girl that got really upset when the girls behind me in class laughed about my eyebrows and shouted abuse at me, I hid away in corridors away from the people that called me "pig nose" or the girls that called me "fat" and "ugly". Throughout college, I began to feel like I was so different to everyone else, just like when I was in school because I was "different". The girls called me a "boff" and a "know it all" and every single word hurt me.

I have come to realise as I have grown up that other people's opinions do not matter and people tend to say horrible things to make themselves feel better and usually it's because there's something bad happening in their life. They believe saying harsh things to other people will take their mind off what's going on in their life. Unfortunately, this is what happens in society and there are people out there who do actually do this and it is sad to see. However, the less you care about what other people think, the happier you will be.

So let's get too the four reasons why you shouldn't care about what others think of you;

1. Life is about focusing on yourself and the people that matter the most to you; not what other people think. Someone might not like you because you don't wear a lot of makeup, or because you don't dye your hair. Usually, it's because you don't do something that they do. However, this is okay! If we spent every moment of our life worrying about what other people thought of us, we'd never do anything in the fear of being judged.

2. You might as well do exactly what you please, what makes you happy and just be yourself apologetically because regardless, you are going to get judged no matter what. I have learnt that no matter what you say or do, even if you try to be someone you're not, that one person that is forever judging you, will carry on to judge you even if you've done everything they want you to. There is absolutely no way you can please everyone so you should do whatever you want to do with no care in the world, and smile whilst you're doing it.
3. Ignore what everyone is doing and achieving. Your life is about breaking your own limits and outgrowing yourself to live to your full potential and to live your best life! You are not in competition with anyone else so plan to outdo your past, not outdo anyone else!

4. If you're happy with the life you are living, why does it matter what people think about you? Live your life to the fullest and forget everything else. One quote which sums this up in one piece is "How to be happy; ignore people who think they know more about you than you do" and it couldn't be more right.
If you care about what others think of you then stop now!
You are never going to be 100% happy with your life until you stop caring about everyone else and what they are thinking or doing.

Good Morning!
I hope you are all having a wonderful day.

So yesterday, two lovely girls Zoe and Emily tagged me to do the new "The Versatile Blogger Award Tag". I am taking this challenge girls and I am some how going to think of 7 facts about myself and then nominate further people to take part in this.
I absolutely love the idea of this tag as it's definitely a way of getting bloggers talking, nattering about all the things they love and finding that they have things in common! It's also a fab way of getting to know the blogger behind the screen.

After being nominated to do this, I knew I was going to have a few hours of my day taken by this, just trying to think of 7 facts about myself. I mean, how hard can it be? It's only 7 things. However, when I'm asked to think of things for a reason, everything leaves my brain and I can't think of anything! I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem..

So after sitting here procrastinating for a while, let's get too it;

1. I am addicted to chocolate; a chocoholic in fact. Chocolate cake, chocolate cookies, chocolate bars, hot chocolates; everything with chocolate in, is my favourite. I have no shame about it either.

2. I cannot go a day without coffee, and I don't start my day until I've had one. Black with two sugars, please x

3. I tend to wear pyjamas all day, everyday if I am not going out. They're comfy, therefore I'm comfy. I also have no shame about this!

4. I've had migraines and headaches everyday for 3 years.

5. I love making to-do lists, being organised and making sure everything is planned, and completed before the deadline.
6. I would love to go onto Great British Bake Off, I love to bake absolutely anything and everything. It's therapeutic, it keeps my mind off everything and who doesn't love cake?

7. I was bullied for 7 years straight and suffer with depression and anxiety because of this. I've come out a fighter though.

So there you go! 7 random facts about me, and the most relevant things to know about me too! I'm fairly boring, I know!
I can't wait to see all of your responses to this tag.

My nominations are as followed;
1. Em
2. Jodie
3. Lexi
4. Lily Rose
5. Nusha
6. Shann
7. Brogan
8. Kirsty
9. Jade
10. Emma

Good Morning Everyone!

Today I have another baking post for you guys, sharing my favourite white chocolate chip cookies which taste absolutely incredible! After baking these, I left them in my other oven to cool down before putting them into a container, completely forgetting they were in there when it came to dinner time. They were baked for an extra 10 minutes but they were still mouthwatering.

Whenever I try out a white chocolate chip recipe, I find they taste quite nutty. I'm not sure if this is to do with the type of butter I use or the brand of white chocolate, but these didn't have that nutty taste, which I was so glad about! It's nice to find a white chocolate chip cookie recipe which only tastes like white chocolate and the gorgeous sensation of warm cookie dough.
If you want to find out how to make these gorgeous cookies, then carry on reading!

You will need;
1 cup butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp salt
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
2 1/2 cups plain flour
20 oz white chocolate, cut into pieces.

Firstly, you will need to preheat your oven to 180 degrees, and line a baking sheet with baking paper.
Secondly, cream together the butter with both of the sugars and then add in the eggs and vanilla; beat this till it is smooth.
Next, add in the bicarbonate of soda, baking powder and flour and mix until just combined.
Fold in the white chocolate.
Form into tablespoon sized balls placing 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.
Bake for 8-10 minutes until golden around the edges. Do not over bake these!
Allow to cool then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Enjoy!

Good Morning Everyone!

Today I am going through everything you will need to go back to school, college or University!
Now is the time of the year when you will be going out finding all of your stationery items ready to go back to education in less than a month and it's probably one of the most exciting times when preparing for school, college or University. I found that stationery can automatically put me in a better mood when I am colour coordinating different aspects to the subjects I am studying or when you make a sentence stand out with bright colourful highlighters which are brand new. I found recently even writing my schedule into my diary can also be fun only because I'm using brand new pink pens which are so lovely to write with. So to my fellow stationery addicts, you will know exactly what I am talking about. Even if you don't go to school, college or even University, stationery items can still come in handy at some point in your life when you are trying to get your life in order.

So let's get too it!

Planners are definitely an essential for any student! or anyone at all! I am forever using a planner to jot down everything that is going on throughout each day to help me prepare for essay, blog posts or projects at University. It helps you to plan out your busy schedule stress free!

Notebooks are the second essential for anyone. I use a notebook every day at University throughout lectures, planning my essays and jotting down anything important. I prefer to use the refill notebooks as you can easily tare out pages without ripping them in half in the process.

Ring binders are a way of taking organisation to the next level. If you have a lot of notes from lectures or homework etc, the best place to organise it is in a ring binder to keep everything together and so you don't lose the most important parts of your project.

Subject Dividers take organisation to the highest level. If you're not like me where you have a ring binder for every subject, you can use subject dividers to divide up your ring binders for each subject to keep everything in one place and organised. These are also great for general use at home when diving important document such as car insurance, home insurance, bills etc. Multi-purpose use!

Sticky Notes I can never have enough of these! They are absolutely great if you want a page of notes to look bright and beautiful or if you want to cover your room in brightly coloured pieces of paper to help you revise for your exam. These are the best part of stationery check lists and I will always have these in my stationery collection.

Pencil Case; a great home for all your colourful pens, pencils and markers. You don't want to have to rummage through your bag to find your pens and there are so many different pencil cases on the market. I personally prefer pencil cases which you can see through or the ones which are just too beautiful to touch.

Hole Punchers, these are great if you don't want to use plastic wallets but need to secure all your important documents in your ring binder. You can find hole punchers in all different sizes, but my favourites are the tiny ones with either one hole or two. They're perfect to store in your bag because they're not too big.

Highlighters I am one for colour coding everything and highlighting important aspects of a topic. Highlighters are an essential in my stationery collection and I use them for university and blogging too. Colleges and Universities highly recommend using highlighters to make them key points stand out.

Small Notebook, although large notebooks are absolutely great for studying, small notebooks are perfect for when you're on the go and want to jot things down. This is also a fab tool for bloggers too!

Good Morning Everyone!

Today is the day, T.M Lewin have launched their new infinity suit! How exciting! So first thing's first, you may be questioning what the Infinity Suit is and that is why I am here! The Infinity Suit takes inspiration from finest traditions of British Cloth manufacturing. T.M. Lewin want to help their customers look as good at the end of a busy day at work, as they do at the start after putting on a clean, freshly ironed suit. The Infinity Suit offers more protection than any other suits against creasing which will help any man, maybe even your man, to stay looking sharp all day.
Not only does this Infinity Suit include crease resistance, but it also absorbs any excess water, leaving you feeling cool and comfortable even throughout the hottest day. This is perfect for the current weather here in the UK where temperatures are on the rise but you still have to look smart and crisp for work. On the plus side, wouldn't it be cool if this suit also turned you into Superman, or maybe even batman?
 This Infinity Suit is absolutely gorgeous and is available online in Navy and Charcoal, both also in slim and regular fit. Personally I would love to see my man in a regular fit charcoal infinity suit. Now he would be more handsome than ever! If you paired this suit with T.M Lewin's Non Iron Shirts too, you'll look great all day.

At this moment I would like to mention Chase Armitage, the model of the Infinity Suit. He is overall and incredible person with over 60 productions under his belt, while having worked all over the globe. How incredible is that? Chase is able to demonstrate how resilient this suit really is, and if it can survive a free running trip across London and still look perfect, then it can survive anything.

Do you commute to work by train every morning at 8am? Or do you cycle to work because it's easier than driving into the city centre? You may also be one of those who gets caught in every single traffic jam. This Infinity Suit will still look great through all of these commutes, leaving you feeling comfortable even through the worst nightmares of a busy life.
Obviously the new Infinity Suit is now out on their website, however I thought this small clip was too cool to add to this post, doesn't it just remind you of James Bond?

Good Morning Everyone!

So if you're reading this, you may have possibly just received your A-Level results, how exciting! Or you will be receiving your results at some point today. Teenagers across the UK will be currently feeling a variety of emotions. These include excitement, denial, worry and acceptance, all at the same time. Unfortunately I didn't study at Sixth form, I went to college instead and I knew on my last day what my results would be so overall I was very pleased and had nothing to worry about what I received my certificates through the post on results day. So I have no idea what you guys are currently going through. However, if you have got what you wanted, congratulations! If you are not too pleased, don't worry; there is always a plan B!
I am here today to provide you with twenty tips ready for your freshers year. You all need to know these and they will definitely help you throughout your first year at University.

University can be quite a scary and worrying situation to be in. You have no idea what it's going to be like or who the people are going to be on your course, but that's okay. A lot of the experiences at University, you won't learn until you experience it for yourself. For example, there are a lot of meals you can cook on 200 °C for 20-30 minutes and how skipping lectures may seem like a good thing. However, while you are skipping these lectures, you're wasting a lot of money when you're paying £7000-£9000 a year, to be at them lectures.
So here are twenty tips all you freshers need to know about University and how to get through your first year of the unknown!

Let's get too it;

1. You do not need to pack the kitchen sink.
I am definitely one for over spending and when you receive your letter of acceptance from the University, I'm sure the first thing you want to do is go shopping and make lists of everything you will need. You will not need half of the things on your list! It's just like packing for a holiday. Only purchase the essentials and the things you will actually use either every day or every week.

2. Explore on your own.
When you move in to university, there will be a couple of weeks or days before you actually start your lectures. There are all of the fresher parties in the evenings, so spend your days exploring on your own. Find out what's near your university, what shops and cafes are local and get to know the area that you'll be living in.

3. Good intentions will not last very long.
Everyone goes to university with good intentions. The idea of ironing clothes every single morning, or washing your clothes every other day. Making your bed might even be one of your intentions but it won't last very long. Don't be disheartened after your second week at university when your clothes are screwed up instead of nicely folded away.

4. Don't have high expectations.
There are so many stories out there about university experiences. Some people say it's the best years of their lives, whereas some say it is pretty rubbish, and they couldn't wait to finish and get away from University. Try not to have high expectations; this is your experience and experience University the way you want too. Social media definitely makes University look a lot better than what it truly is and this can dishearten some people. Go to university with no expectations and everything will be positive.

5. Do not offer to wash up.
If you offer to wash up, this will be your job while you're at university. So many of my friends have mentioned how on one day they have offered to wash up and then it's expected every single time there's a sink full of dishes. Do not do it! Try and create a rota for everyone to join in and take turns in the chores.

6. Make an effort with other people.
I couldn't express this more; People do not show their true selves over social media so it can be difficult to socialise with them once you're face to face. Make an effort, say hello and be kind! The first few weeks of university will be lonely as you're all in the same position of being somewhere different, while also not knowing anyone but that's okay. My closest friends are at University with me and I had to get through the awkward stage to get to where we are now but it was worth it!

7. Do not leave work till the night before & back it up!
First things first, back your work up! I remember in college when I lost my USB stick and that was where I stored all of my essays and it was all gone. I couldn't express this point more, back up every single piece of work to every device possible and online backup systems too; you never know when a disaster will occur! Also, leaving your work till the last minute will just make it rubbish. Nothing will make sense and your tutor will just throw it back in your face and tell you to do it again. Give yourself time to complete your work.

8. Go to the freshers fairs!
I absolutely loved the freshers fair at my university last year and I will be going again this year, sh don't tell anyone! Freshers fairs are a great way of meeting new people and finding out what's going on around the University. You can also pick up lots of freebies which is always a great thing!

9. Register with the doctors or medical centre.
If you're moving away from home, then you're going to need to register with some sort of medical centre. So many accidents happen while at University, and you're going to need somewhere to go when you slip in the shower while drunk or when you run out of your contraceptive pill! Girls you'll know what I mean. Before you even go to University, make sure to register to a medical centre!!

10. Manage your money.
Luckily enough I do not have this issue regarding university rent fees etc, however you will need to be able to manage your money. There is many ways of doing this and I personally love to have a billion bank accounts for a billion different things even if there is £10 in each account, that's fine with me. Find a way to manage your money so you have enough money to last you the month after paying for rent, bills, food etc etc.
11. Decorate your room, the way you want too.
I have seen this on so many different occasions and unfortunately social media can sometimes be quite controlling. Many people, girls especially try to have the perfect bedroom which will look great on their social media accounts but it shouldn't be this way. Decorate your room the way you want too, not the way social media does. If you want black walls, you paint them black! It's your university experience at the end of the day.

12. In a relationship? do what suits you both.Long distance relationships can go both ways, they either work, or they don't. On many occasions, people tell you to break up with your high school boyfriend or girlfriend and find someone who you can see while you're at university as the distance will never work, but this isn't always the case. If you love your partner, you will be able to cope with the distance between you and make it work. Do what suits you both, not what others want you to do.

13. Do not buy every book on the reading list brand new.
Before the start of every semester, you will be given the longest reading list ever and under every book title, it will say "Recommended purchase". If you want to go ahead and buy every book that's on the reading list, find places which sell these second hand otherwise it is going to cost you a fortune to buy them brand new at £25-30 a book. There are many places where students sell their old books once they have finished with them, and their usually at least half the price or more.

14. Freshers flu, you'll most likely get it.
I couldn't believe this when I heard it, but there is such thing as a freshers flu. Even if you don't go to the freshers parties or the fairs, you will some how catch this flu. You'll have a croaky throat and feeling probably a little bit rubbish but after the first few weeks, you'll be completely fine!

15. Get Insurance.
Just as important as backing everything up; get insurance if you are moving away from home. Unfortunately student accommodations are places which are targeted the most because that's where all the technology is. Not only will insurance back you up if your laptop etc is stolen, but if you spill your morning coffee or tea over your laptop, it won't be the end of the world.

16. Don't expect your flat mates to be your new family.
Another high expectation of many people; expecting flat mates to be like your family. It is never going to happen! Everyone is different, and at my university there is definitely a wide age range across the board. You are not going to get along with everyone and your flat mates will definitely not be as close as your family. Accept it before you even start university!

17. Check for damages when you move in.
First things first, check for damages when you move in. You don't want to leave university and have a massive bill in your hands for something that was broken which you never even touched. Make sure everything is working and that there is no leaks before you even unpack. If there's a damage, report it immediately so it can be dealt with.

18. Try and say yes to every opportunity.
Saying yes to every opportunity can be quite time consuming and stressful all at the same time. However, university is one of them things that you'll only experience once and it's great to say that you achieved something while you were studying! I personally took on the role of student rep and student ambassador in my first year at University, because it was something different and new for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it too.

19. Find the best way to do your food shopping.
When you were out exploring did you find your local store? Or was it 8 miles away and you have no way of travelling to it? Find the best place to do your food shopping and stick to that one place. Is Tesco around the corner to you, and in walking distance? Or is the local shop, 4 miles away and you haven't got a car? Many supermarkets deliver either with a cost, or for free over a certain amount spent. Shop around and find the best place for you.

20. First year doesn't count, but...
This is the one phrase you will hear over and over and over again throughout your first year and it can be so disheartening when you receive your first result and you only got 50%. Although your first year results do not count towards anything. It is a way of creating a platform for you to build on any weaknesses you have in your essays throughout your next year at university. You can also build on your critical analysis or your referencing which will improve and improve. You’ll find everyone tells you not to miss out in your first year as all the hard work starts after that. First year’s where you build your foundations both academic and individually, don’t underestimate its importance. If you're achieving 40-50% in your first year, make it your own personal goal to be hitting higher than that in your second year. Don't let the horrible phrase get you down, work to your highest potential.

Good Morning Everyone!

Today I am going to be bringing you my hints and tips of how to stay organised while studying at University. These will also work if you are at college or sixth form too!
I am one of those people who have to be completely organised while studying, I have a schedule of when things need to be done, and the process of which I complete everything, So I hope I can motivate some of you to stay organised this academic year while studying!

Between being a student at University, having two jobs and this blog, life can sometimes be very busy and slightly stressful; so using my time to it's maximum potential is very important for me to feel more at ease.

So let's get too it;

Firstly, you need to have some productivity in your life so these are my top four tips!
1. Make a list and tick things off once you have completed them. This may seem really basic and common sense but it really does work.
2. Get your least favourite task completely first, the rest will follow a lot easier.
3. You can also get the most important tasks complete done first too, that way you won't feel stressed when you only have a couple of jobs left to do but they're not that important.
4. Complete your work in stages, try not to do it all in one go as you need to give your mind a break. Have a coffee, grab a snack and come back to your work in 15-30 minutes.

Now for my tips on how to actually stay organised.

Tip One; Planners, diaries, calendars, lists.
List writing is high up on my priorities for staying organised while at university and in general life. I write absolutely everything down and tick it off as a go just to keep my life in order. I also tend to forget things if I don't write them down as well. Not only will lists help you stay organised, but they will also give you motivation to achieve everything you have written down. Although this may sound simple, you also need to stay realistic with the goals on your list; don't write something down which you know you won't be able to complete. Also use diaries and planners to write down everything that's going on to keep your mind at rest.

Tip Two; Tidy House = Tidy Mind.
I find it very difficult to concentrate on what I am doing if the area around me is untidy. Therefore, I always try to ensure that my workplace or anything around me is tidy before I start the jobs on my list. My doing this, my house is tidy and so is my mind. I am able to concentrate easier knowing I have done all the housework before doing the jobs on my study list. When I first wake up in the morning I tend to spend half an hour tidying up in the kitchen or in my bedroom before sitting down for the rest of the day to complete my essay or whatever project I have on the go!

Tip Three; Create a Routine.
Anyone who is a blogger and also have a job knows how difficult it can be to find the time to blog, take pictures and do everything else which is involved in your general life. This is exactly the same as being a student. I know from my first year, finding time within my first month of University was absolutely ridiculous and I found it difficult even to see my partner. This is why trying to organise a routine will help your life in every aspect. I created my own planners which helps me to plan out my day, each day of the week so I can fit in everything that needs doing. I also carry round an academic diary which I write everything into; when I am working, when I have a blog post scheduled for, when my partner is working etc etc.. If I have been at work all day, I tend to do everything as soon as I get home so I can then sit down and relax for the rest of the evening without having to worry about things I need to do.

Tip Four; Try to make the most of your day.
If you have a day off from work or University, try to make the most of your day! I will always try and wake up earlier than usual on my days off to get as many jobs done as possible and out of the way so I can enjoy the rest of the day. University work can be very time consuming so if I have a day off during the week, I'll get anything done then so I can then enjoy my next day off doing anything that I want to do.

Good Morning Everyone
Today I have another baking post to show you guys how to make this gorgeous double chocolate traybake. This used to be one of the only things I could bake when I was younger. It is the most simple recipe you could possibly find and it doesn't take long to bake either. I remember making this nearly every single week because I always wanted to bake something but I was too young to know how to bake more in-depth cakes. This was probably ten years ago that I started making this cake, and I still make it today because it's soft, gooey and so chocolatey. If you want to know how to make this, then carry on reading!

You will need;
350g Self raising flour
3 tbsp cocoa powder
225g caster sugar
225g margarine
4 eggs, beaten
4 tbsp milk
50g milk chocolate chips
50g dark chocolate chips
50g white chocolate chips

You can use any cake tin you want, but make sure to grease it or line it first!
Place all of the ingredients into a bowl apart from the chocolate chips and mix until smooth.
Stir in all of the chocolate chips.
Spoon in the mixture into your prepared cake tin.
Bake in a preheated oven of 180 degrees celcius or gas mark 4 for 30-40 minutes until golden brown and springy to the touch.
Leave to cool in the pan and then dust with icing sugar.

This cake can be frozen up to two months if wrapped well. Defrost at room temperature.

Good Morning!
Today I have another University Tips post for you guys who are going to University in September, whether it's your fresher year, second year or even your third year. Essay writing is completely different in University compared to college and by following these tips, you'll be hitting the higher marks in your essays.
I was completely shocked about how many little things you have to include in your essays just to get a highish mark, You cannot "wing it" like you're able too in college. University requires a lot of time and hard work to get the grade you deserve but it's not that difficult if you are able to put your mind too it and dedicate everything you have.

So let's get too it;

Firstly you need to research everything thoroughly.
You need to know what you are arguing about in your essay because this isn't about your opinion, it's about finding the good and the bad points about that topic and arguing about it on a piece of paper. What side of the story is better? Can you find quotes to back up what you're saying? If you agree with one side of it, can you find a theorist who agrees with you? You need to be able to back up every argument with quotes from theorists and books and you need to know your topic inside and out. Your lecturer will want an in-depth argumentative essay with good strong points for each side but with quotes and references. However, you cannot rush this! You can't just find a reference and think "that'll do". Imagine you're part of this argument, in a law case maybe? You need the strongest points you can find.

Secondly, your word count is so important. Your lecturer will give you a word count and you cannot go over this word count, not even by one word as you'll be deducted points. You can also only be under by a few hundred words and then you'll also be deducted points. Although it can be easy just to write and ramble about loads of random things but you need to be concise and stick to the point. Take out any extra words, the nitty gritty words which you don't need and any connectives or sentence starters. You will not need them!

Thirdly, keep personal views out of your essay. Do NOT use "I", at all. Just don't do it. Unless you have been told to write a reflective piece of writing and they have told you that you can use the word I, then do not use it. You're lecturer will get annoyed and you'll lose marks on your essay. This essay isn't about you, it's about what theorists and other people say, backing up the ideas as if it was your own opinion, but it isn't.

Please do not leave your essay till the last minute. Rushing your essay will not give you the higher marks. Even a couple of weeks before the due date isn't enough. Essay writing at University needs to be coherent, logical and well thought out. It can't just be slapdash and rambles because it'll be the biggest waste of time other wise. I mentioned in my "Reaching your Full Academic Potential" Post, the best ways to study while at University which will help you figure out how long you will need to prepare for this essay.

Also, don't forget to proof read. You need to find all them spelling mistakes and find where you can get them crucial extra marks within your work. Find someone to have a look at your work, even if it's a parent or a sibling; because they haven't wrote it, they'll be able to find them silly spelling mistakes that you can't see even though you've read through your essay 10 times. There will always be one.

Last but not least, referencing is key. If you're at college now then I highly recommend starting to Harvard reference now because it takes time and you need to get it perfect to get them extra marks. It won't matter too much in your first year, but in your second year it will knock you points if your referencing is wrong. If you want to know how I Harvard Reference, let me know in the comments and I will create a post just about Referencing and how to do it.

Good Morning Everyone!
Today I have another baking post for you because this cherry pie looked too good not to share with you. I have three cherry trees altogether and this year we have had some gorgeous looking cherries. Every day I went outside to see if any where ready to pick, and I'd walk back into my kitchen with handfuls of cherries. I did this every day until we had enough cherries to make a homemade cherry pie. It was incredibly mouthwatering and possibly the best cherry pie I have ever eaten and I'd love to see some of you guys make it too!

So let's get too it;













Our pie went slightly dark on the lid but we used brown sugar on top so this was bound to happen. However, my brother loves food which is definitely cooked so there was no issue with this.
This cherry pie tasted like Christmas, it was heavenly and I can't wait to make it again.

I highly recommend trying out this cherry pie recipe if you love cherries as much as I do.
If you do make it, make sure to send me a picture either on twitter or Instagram. My twitter is @kimmcpherson_ and my instagram is @_kimberleyjessica.
I can't wait to see how they turn out.

Good Morning Everyone!
I am so excited to be writing this post today because it's only a month until everyone goes back to school/college or maybe even University. I personally go back to University at the end of September, however I go back to my job at a Primary School on the 2nd September which is less than a month away now and I couldn't be more excited. I'm ready to go back now.
I always go completely crazy when all of the back to school stationery items come into stores and I can't help but go over the top and get too much. But, you can never have too much stationary.

If you want to find out what stationary items I picked up this year, then carry on reading!
 The next items I picked up were in Poundland and Tesco. I really wanted to get another pencil case this year for my coloured pens, whether these were ballpoint or fine liners but I wanted to find one which I could see through but still had some colour too it. Some pencil cases are really bulky or far too small to fit anything in but I found this one from Poundland ticked all of the boxes. For only £1 I couldn't be more happy with it and the quality of it is great too. I also picked up a pack of highlighters from Poundland too as the highlighters I currently have are the very thick and bulky ones which take up the whole of a pencil case. These obviously were only a £1 too but for 8 highlighters in various colours, this is great for studying!
From Tesco I picked up the most gorgeous fine liners for only £2. There are 10 altogether and they are all in different colours. I really recommend fine liners for studying because they're perfect for underlining key points, or even for writing with because they're thin enough! It makes your studying so much more fun than writing with a standard black pen and everyone loves to add some colour to a page! I also picked up Tip-Ex. This stuff is a complete life saver when you're at college or University. I am a complete weirdo when it comes to writing down notes and I can't have a page of notes which have scribbles on or crossing outs so Tip-Ex comes in handy when I want to cross something out but still have a pretty page with no lines going across it. I go through so much of this when I am studying and for three bottles, it only cost £1.50 at Tesco too.
 Whilst in Tesco I also picked up another lever arch folder because this semester I will be studying two modules again. I like to use lever arch folders for my modules because it keeps everything separate and I know exactly where to find everything; this was only £1.50 and is another Pukka Pad one. I also picked up five folders with the press stud on them because these things come in handy when you need to take important pieces of paper some where but you don't want them getting creased, these were around £1 I think! It also keeps things separate at University when you don't want to take your lever arch folders every time you have a lecture but you still need to bring the important documents such as reading lists and module guides. Therefore, I will use one of these for each module too. Of course if you have a folder, you are going to need the page dividers. I picked these up in Tesco also for £1.25 which come in handy to separate different areas of a module within my folder. Last but not least I picked up one of the 400 page refill notepads by Pukka Pad for £1.50 also. I also get through so many of these throughout an academic year. They are absolutely brilliant because you can tare out pages without having horrible rips going down your page. They are value for money and Pukka Pads are brilliant for the quality of their paper.
 While all of the stationery items are out in store, I wanted to pick up my lever arch folders for my second semester at University while they are around. I went into Wilkos and picked up two folders for £2 or £3 altogether so they were inexpensive! Obviously I would also need some more page dividers for my second semester so I picked this pack up for only 30p also in Wilkos. We cannot forget punched pockets or whatever you call them (Everyone has a different name for them). These were 80p I believe for 50 high quality wallets. You will need these if you are a college or university student. The amount I go through in an academic year is absolutely crazy. I probably bought about 6 or 7 packs of these for my time at college which is ridiculous but an essential if you're studying. Last but not least, I had to pick up the Bic Cristal fun ballpoint pens. I really like these pens because they come in such fun colours and the quality of them are brilliant. I especially really enjoy using the pink ones because they're a colour you never thought you'd find in a high quality ballpoint pen. I gave so many of these away last year because people at work loved them but you can only get them in the Summer when back to school stationery comes out in store. So I need to restock now I only have a few of the pens left from last year!
As you can see, I went a bit mad when it comes to pens this year and I did buy quite a lot! Paper Mate Inkjoy pens are also another great brand when it comes to general writing pens and I love these just as much as the Bic ones. I decided to pick up a pack of 8 standard black pens which are so easy to write with and as they mention on the packaging, the ink is so smooth to write with too. These were only £1.50 in Tesco. I also picked up the Paper Mate Inkyjoy pens but the colour set which includes; two shades of blue, pink, red, orange, green, purple and black. I know I really like the Bic coloured pens and I generally love to use the black Paper mate so these are a new try for me but I know I'm going to love them! They were also only a pound in Tesco. I'm not sure how many times I have mentioned how much I love Bic pens but one colour I tend to never use is blue so I wanted to make a change this year and purchase a pack blue Bic Round Stick Pens. These were a pack of eight from Poundland which is a great price for high quality pens!
Last but not least, I picked up the most beautiful sticky note set from Poundland. This includes three different colour sticky notes. The pink one says "Do Not Forget", the green says "To do" and the blue says "Ideas". I really thought this would be perfect for either blog posts or studying at University too. I thought they were so cute and I couldn't help but pick them up for only £1.

This is absolutely everything I have picked up for University this September. I did have quite a lot left over from my first year, but I couldn't help but buy some more!