A Year In The USA | Weeks 11 & 12

3 months??!! WHAT?! Time's going by so quickly, and in a few weeks I'll be on my way home for Christmas! Just goes to show, time flies when you're having fun! The past two weeks have been absolutely amazing! Read on to see what I got up to!

Weeks 11 & 12

Did someone say HALLOWEEN?! Americans do Halloween like no other; it's the 2nd biggest holiday after Christmas and this year they spent an estimated $7.4 billion on it! So it only seemed right for me to do as Americans do and go all out. That meant decorations, candy for trick-or-treaters and costumes. Oh and of course, parties! Remember in the last post I said The Howl was my best night here so far? Well Halloween surpassed that by MILES. And to finish off the weekend, a friend and I performed at PoBev (Poetry and a Beverage, an open mic night) and got an amazing response from the crowd. We were on top of the world for hours after!

I also finally got time to start my YouTube back up again, alongside the wildly talented Katherine (she can pick up any song on the guitar so quickly!) with whom I performed at PoBev.

Week 12 finished with a conference in Salt Lake City called Expect The Great. Black Student Unions from across Utah joined together to discuss ideas on bettering connections between the unions, as well as advice on how to overcome stereotypes. I also wrote an article about it which got published on Aggie Radio's website (heck yeah!). It was a fantastic weekend filled with good company and good food!

Being in the USA has made me remember what I really love to do and what things are important to me. It has already been a life-changing experience, and I hope it continues to be.

A Year In The USA | Weeks 9 & 10

The stars one night when camping

Weeks 9 & 10

Hurray for FALL BREAK! (It was only one day but oh well). Week 9 was spent canoeing, hiking and camping in the Southern Utah desert. It was so great and I got to experience real stars for the first time in my life. It's amazing how much you can miss when living in the city...

Camping under that view, not a bad life

Aside from the usual midterms, homework and keeping up with my radio show, the highlight of week 10 was The Howl aka the biggest halloween party west of the Mississippi River! 6,000 party-goers from all over Utah and the surrounding states gathered at Utah State University all dressed in an array of outfits to party like it was the end of the world. And boy did I party too! So far it's the best night I've had in the USA, hopefully there's many more of them to come!

Welcome To The Adventures Of Lois And Minny!

So a few posts ago I mentioned that I might be hosting my very own radio show on Aggie Radio. And as you might have guessed by the title, myself and my co-host Minnie have our own slot on Tuesdays at 5-6pm PDT (12am UK time), WOOOOOO!

It's all about travel, giving students like ourselves, tips on how to save for their dream holiday, information about other countries and cultures and loads of fun facts! It's going to be a blast so make sure you tune in on Tuesday to hear our first show and follow us on twitter!

A Student's Guide To Effective Time-Planning

Since I started university, I have to admit that I'm not as organised as I once was. Getting up at 9am is such a struggle and gym?! Pffff what's a gym?! All I knew during my first year of uni was work and lectures, work and lectures... and then just work. I got lazy and would stay in bed all day, do homework at the last minute and go to the gym once in a blue moon (hands up if this sounds like you), which is the complete opposite of what I used to be like! I didn't even go out partying (WHAT?!)! So this month I decided to become a little bit more proactive with my time-planning so that I could have time to study AND play. And guys, it's been working!

Below is a timetable I've come up with to help me plan my week more effectively and efficiently (it's a lot so take a few minutes to take it all in). Keep reading to find out how I decided to allocate my time in the most useful way!

• Must-haves: Everyone has the things that they must do during the week. Your's might be school, a job, homework etc etc. Mine were going to my lectures, so I scheduled these in first, and doing my homework assignments. On average, it takes me 1 hour to do 10 questions (that's Maths for you) and normally for one assignment, I'll get 20-30 questions. So for each class, that's 2-3 hours of homework. I have 4 classes so that's 8-12 hours of homework each week, give or take. I've also scheduled in some Extra Homework sessions, just in case I miss one earlier in the week, or if I have more homework than usual. Figure out how long it normally takes you to do a piece of homework so you schedule in enough time. I also have a kick-boxing class which I get credit for, however, it's not on campus, so I have to make sure I allocate enough time to get there and back before my next activity (make sure you remember to do this if you need to as well!).

• Needs: So, I don't know about you, but I LOVE my sleep. So much so, that if I don't get my 8 hours, it's VERY unlikely I'll get up on time the next day. So the next thing I scheduled in was bedtime (I'm still working on this though!). However, everyone's different; some people only need 6 hours of sleep and they'll be fine the next morning! Take some time to find out how much sleep you can properly function on, then schedule that in. 

• Wants: Here's where gym fits in, because it's not a necessity but I really enjoy going to the gym and want to get healthier. BUT I know there are some people who need to go to the gym for 2 hours a day, every day, every week. If you're one of those people, make sure you schedule this in with your 'Needs' section, to make sure you allocate enough time for it! 

• Clubs & societies: If you are apart of any extra-curricular activities, like cross-country running, football, theatre rehearsals etc etc, you'd want to schedule this in with your 'Needs' also. However, there are often times when if things do overlap, you can alternate between weeks. I am apart of the Black Student Union and also apart of Aggie Radio, and their meetings happen to fit in nicely with everything else! 

• Religious activities: Now, certainly not everyone will need or even want to put this into their schedule, but if you do go to Church or Temple, then make sure you put this in your 'Must-haves' or 'Needs' section.

• Food, hanging out & naps: All the blank spaces are for going to lunch/dinner, hanging out with my friends or having a nap (because it's true, sometimes you really need them!). 

Tip: If you normally roll out of bed 20 minutes before your lecture, make sure you have prepared everything the night before. This means packing your bag, laying your clothes out, putting your make-up out in order (so you're not fumbling around trying to find your eyeliner) and making a quick breakfast. It only takes me 5 minutes to do this before I go bed and it saves me so much time in the morning!

Et voila! Make a schedule one week and really try to stick to it! You just might be pleasantly surprised with how much you can get done!

A Year In The USA | Weeks 7 & 8

The beautiful mountains next to campus

WOAH, time is flying by! I can't believe I've already been here for 8 weeks! It seems like only last week I was packing my suitcase to come here! The past two weeks have been so great, mostly because I have some REALLY amazing friends. It's definitely true that American kids know how to have fun WITHOUT alcohol (something we are yet to learn in the UK!)

What is the craziest thing you've done since being here?
Parents, siblings, those over 25, just skip down to the next question (don't say I didn't warn you!). So my friends introduced me to a game that I've never heard of back in the UK. Basically, you're in a car driving around, and whenever you come to a yellow light or see a car with a broken headlight, you have to hit the ceiling and yell "Sex". The last person to do it has to remove an item of clothing. And yes, one of my friends was striped down to their underwear!

Do you miss home yet?
There's only been one time when I've missed home, and that was only for about an hour. I honestly love it out here and wouldn't change anything for the world!

What's the major difference between studying in the US v UK?
So for my degree back in the UK, I used to have loads of lectures/supervisions/labs and barely any homework. Over here however, it's the total opposite. I only have 14 hours of lectures/classes a week, but boy is that made up for in assignments. There's never been a time yet when I haven't had work to do. I'm still to make up my mind which system I prefer...

Weeks 7 & 8

Mostly during the past two weeks, myself and my co-host, Minny, have been preparing for our own Radio Talk Show (but more about that in a later post!). On the weekend we took a mini road trip down to Provo, a city just below Salt Lake. There was an free street concert which was apart of the Provo Rooftop Concert Series, where a few bands and artists performed in front of a huge crowd. The headlining act was Neon Trees (no, I'd never heard of them either, but they were big news because they were from the area) alongside Fictionist and Blue Aces (yep, still never heard of them!). Now, I'm not a huge fan of the rock scene, nor being out in the cold for longer than necessary, but I did enjoy it and am really glad I went. Plus it was free so who am I to complain?! 

Week 8 was all about Homecoming! But I have to disappoint all my Brits and say that college homecoming is not a big as the movies make it out to be (yeah I know, I shed a tear too). But the university still put on loads of events to celebrate, such as the Mr USU pagent, a concert, street painting and of course, a dance to name a few. The highlight of my week though was Thursday night when Hypnotist, Chris Jones, decided to pop by and give us a bit of a show. Oh, and I was in it... Yes I got hypnotised into doing some crazy stuff like being a Zombie, dancing like I was a dude and hiding from the cops. Oh and did I mention he made us believe he was Drake and that we were at his concert? I was convinced I had touched Drake's hand and I was going to call my sister to rub it in her face...until I walked out of the room (yes, more tears were shed!). It was SO fun and from what I heard, all 800+ people who were in the audience had a blast! BRING ON SPRING HOMECOMING!

A Year In The USA | Weeks 5 & 6

Yellowstone during my first few weeks in the USA

The past two weeks haven't been as eventful as the first few, so for this post I want to enhance a little on the differences in culture I've experienced whilst being here.

What are the main differences between Utah and the UK?

Of course there are many differences, one prominent difference being the religion. Most people in Utah are born and raised LDS or Mormon, which was something I knew VERY little about before coming here. Before leaving the UK a lot of people joked around saying I'd come back Mormon, but since being here, I've learnt that the LDS faith is not very different from any other religion. In fact what surprised me most, is that most Mormons are very cultured and educated because they go on missions all over the world when they are 18, 19 or 21; I've met people who are fluent in Spanish, Portuguese, Russian and Ukrainian! One of my best friends here is Mormon and she's no different to any other American girl you'd cross on the street. 

The major difference though, is that Utah is prominently a 'white state'. It's fairly rare to see a non-white face whilst walking through campus. So that was really strange for me to get used to because London is so diverse and you wouldn't walk down the road without coming across someone of a different nationality. Saying that though, it's not a big deal because the people here are so friendly, no matter what their race.

What are the similarities?
Well, when it comes to similarities it's actually really difficult to think of them! I guess the only one really is the mindset of college students! We all just want to do as well as we can in our course but at the same time, we want to have as much fun as possible!

How does being born in the UK affect my social life? (BTW my friends came up with this question)
Honestly, I don't think it's affected me in any way except that I've been exposed to many different cultures, religions and races so my knowledge of these things have been enhanced, perhaps more than if I grew up in another country/city!

Weeks 5 & 6

Apart from the excitement of having midterms during the past two weeks, there were a few other events which really stood out. The first being a panel which I chose to be apart of. I joined the Black Student Union (BSU) here at my US university (kinda strange considering I'm not apart of the ACS back home). Anyway, a Multicultural and Societies class were having panels of students from the Black, Latino, Polynesian and various other student unions, in order to ask questions and understand other cultures better. I opted to be on the panel for the BSU, which I was excited about but we were warned beforehand there may be some strange and ignorant questions asked. However when it came to it, the students in the class (who were 99.9% white) were respectful and asked genuine questions like "how did you feel when you came to Utah". It was great to be apart of, and it was lovely to know I was helping others understanding of different cultures.

Saturday night was spent at PoBev i.e. Poetry and a Beverage. A few friends and I snuggled up (literally, it was cold) with a few blankies out in the Quad (the main outdoor's space of the uni) and listened to amusing songs and heartfelt poems by some very talented students. Plus we got free Apple Cider (non-alcoholic of course)!

My highlight of the two weeks though, was the play we went to see at the Caine Lyric Theatre in downtown Logan, the town where my university is based. It was called Bus Stop and a friend was performing in it, which is why I went. And I'm honestly glad I did. It was funny, romantic (sort-of) and pulled at your heartstrings; literally everything you could want in a play. And it was free because we were students...WOO! The first of many plays and musicals to come I hope!

A Year In The USA | Weeks 3 & 4

My first ever hike up to the Wind Caves during Week 2

Like the last time, I'm starting off with a mini Q&A; this time, it's about accommodation and meal plans!

What is your accommodation like?
I live on campus in a shared dorm room. There's around 50 girls on my floor and 1 RA (Residential Advisor). I chose it because it was the cheapest and I wanted to save as much as I could for travelling. I expected it to be really low quality and basic, but I was pleasantly surprised when I got here. It was very spacious, clean and well presented, not at all like the prison-style room I had envisioned. Also, the bathroom situation isn't that bad either! I've never had to wait to have a shower or go to the loo and it's kept really clean and tidy.

Do you have a meal plan? And what is the food like?
With my accommodation, it's required that you have at least a 10 meal plan (i.e. 10 meals a week). There are more options such as a 15 or 20 meal plan, but I thought that would be too much for me. Like anywhere, it really depends where you go to eat. There are a few places where the food isn't so good, especially late at night, but at other cafés and shops it's really nice and tasty! Plus it's all American sized!

How much is your accommodation/meal plan?
My accommodation is $990 per semester (£610) and my meal plan is $1,330 (£820). Over the two semesters it's $4,640 (£2,870) which is a lot cheaper than my accommodation last year (which was around £4,200 NOT including food)!

Week 3

Just a really cool picture I took in Yellowstone

WOAH, what a week! It began with some friends and I heading to Yellowstone National Park for 3 days; a six hour car journey, but well worth it! There were 8 of us split over two cars; 2 Americans, 1 Spanish, 1 French, 1 Italian, 1 Swedish, 1 German and me (crazy huh?). I spent around $180 (£110) for the whole weekend, including food, petrol, camping equipment and souvenirs which was brilliant!  I could've budgeted a little more but I decided not to, solely because I wanted to really enjoy the weekend and not be thinking about what I could and couldn't buy. It was a lovely weekend,

The Multi-coloured Geyser at Midway Basin

surrounded by amazing scenery and amazing people, what more could you ask for from a holiday!

Another super exciting thing I did this week was join the Aggie Radio team! I had applied to be a DJ/Talk Show host/News reporter/Acoustic singer (so basically everything lol!) at the Day on the Quad which was an information day about clubs and societies, and I got an interview for it on Tuesday! It was really chilled and exciting, and I got to talk about my performing arts experience and travelling. After that, there was a quick meeting where all the newbies were introduced to all the directors and important people, which was fun! Allocations for positions are still to be made but I'm hoping to have my own Talk Show or be a News Reporter! But one thing that's for sure, is that I'll be performing a live acoustic session sometime this or next semester, so watch out for that!

Apart from the usual, going to classes, doing homework etc etc, I also got to experience my first American party...and it was a frat party, WOOO! Delta Sigma Phi hosted a Toga Party on Friday evening. It was No Toga, No Entry so my friends and I decided to go all out and make our own toga's and flower headbands! Click here to check out how you can make your own! It was so much fun and such an experience so I'm really glad we went!

Week 4

The Football Stadium during my first football game!

Week 4 started off with a BANG! It was the (American) football team's first home-game of the season, so the school organised a BBQ (free food WOO!) and the traditional Stampede to the Football Stadium. The stadium is at the bottom of a hill, so there was around 200 people who all stampeded from the top of the hill to the bottom; it was such a surreal experience! The school spirit at USU is absolutely incredible so the game was AMAZING (even though it went on forever). It was my first time watching an American football game so my roommate had to tell me the rules throughout the game, but it's really easy to pick up and it's actually really enjoyable to watch.

After, we went home, ate, got changed (cause it was REALLY hot) and then made our way to the Foam party! It was like the after-party of the football game because everyone were still in their Gameday shirts. We didn't get too foamy (huh? oh well) but had a good time, and then moved onto some other after-after-parties!

The rest of the week was spent doing the usual classes, homework, eating pizza and watching movies so it was just a really nice, chilled week. The football team also had their second home game of the season and this time it was a WHITE OUT! (i.e. everyone wears white).

These have been the hardest, but most amazing 4 weeks of my life so far; hopefully it continues that way!

DIY | Quick & Easy Donuts!

Quite possibly the yummiest post on Love, Lois Layne so far! My roommate decided she wanted to make donuts (doughnuts?? Oh well) on Sunday morning after a weekend of partying. It's safe to say they were scrumptiously yummy!

You will need:

• Buttermilk biscuit pre-made rolls
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Essence 
• 1 cup Caster Sugar
• 3 tablespoons water or milk
• 1/2 bottle vegetable oil
• Your favourite toppings such as Nutella, Sugar, Peanut Butter

To make the donuts:

To make the frosting: Take the caster sugar, vanilla and water and mix together until it becomes a silky liquid! 

Now just take your frosting and toppings and pop 'em onto your donuts! Nom nom nom nom nom. 

DIY | Toga & Flower Headband

Yesterday, I had my first taste of American college parties and what better way to kick it off than with a Toga Party! So my friends and I decided to make our own toga's and headbands. It was super easy, so fun and so cheap to make because we bought all our materials from the thrift store and Hobby Lobby! 

You will need:

• A white sheet
• A belt
• A sparkly embellishment (optional)
• Gold wire
• A stem of faux flowers
• A pair of white shorts and a white vest to go underneath

Okay, let's get started!

Finish off by wrapping a belt around your waist to secure the toga together and accessorise until your heart's content! 

Below is the finished look!

A Year In The USA | Weeks 1 & 2

So two weeks ago I made the biggest move of my life so far! Instead of studying in the UK for my second year, I decided to take a year abroad at Utah State University (USU). It is honestly one of the most beautiful places I've been. I think I'm going to have an amazing year here! Below is a quick Q&A with a few questions I have been asked regarding this, before moving onto what I've been doing so far!

Why did I decide to study abroad?
I have always wanted to take a year abroad so I told myself if I was given the opportunity, I would grab it. I want to experience a different culture, and whilst it may not be that different from that of the UK, there's still a different atmosphere, different people and different scenery. Plus, a year in the USA is integrated into my course provided I got the grades, which I did!

Is it more expensive to study abroad?
This is what surprised me. With regards to Tuition fees, I didn't have to pay USU as I am classed as an exchange student. Also, instead of paying the £9,000 a year which I paid in my first year, I only pay £1,250, a fraction of the fees! With regards to Student Finance, I got 30% more that I did in my first year, plus a Travel Grant. So all in all, it actually cost me less to study abroad! Be sure to check requirements/benefits/fees with your own university and department though.

What grades did I have to get to study abroad?
For me, we only had to pass the year, i.e. get 40%. However, I do know that the Maths Department at my UK university is changing it's study abroad requirements so that students need to get 60% in order to take a year abroad.

So! Moving onto what I've done in Logan, Utah in the past two weeks!

Week 1
My mum, boyfriend and I flew into Salt Lake City Airport after a 17-hour journey from London. We stayed at one of the airports hotels overnight because we were so tired and it would have been another 2-hour coach ride from SLC to Logan, where USU is located. It was HOT when we got there, a lovely contrast to what the weather was like in London...and, basically, we fell straight asleep. So after a night in Salt Lake, we jumped onto the coach to Logan. This is when I really saw the beauty of the state; there were mountains running along both sides of the freeway the whole journey! When we arrived at the university we settled into the hotel and I checked into my dorm, which I must say, was a lot nicer than expected. My roommate had already settled in and was there to greet me which was nice! The rest of the day was spent in Wal-mart and ShopKo buying bedroom supplies so that I would have more than a mattress to sleep on!

The next two days were spent in International Student Orientation, where I met loads of International and American students. There were lots of activities, talks and information sessions over those two days and I really enjoyed everything that we did! The rest of the week was spent trying out different breakfast bars, setting up a US bank account and mobile plan, applying for on-campus jobs (which you can do with a J-1 visa given you've got authorisation) and finding out about more courses and clubs. Aside from my compulsory classes (which my UK university specified I needed to take) I have also signed up for Spanish classes and Aerobic Kickboxing classes! The array of class options over this side of the pond is MUCH bigger than the UK, which is fantastic! I really wish it was an option in the UK too!

Week 2

The past week has been spent going to classes and re-scheduling, because I realised that I'd actually already done some of the modules back in the UK...oops! It was also spent going to USU's Week Of Welcome activities like Movie on the Quad (USU's main open area), Day on the Quad (where you sign up to clubs and societies), USU's Slip'n'slide on Old Main Hill and loads of other fun stuff!

But... best of all this week is that a group of international students and I are going to Yellowstone National Park for Labor Day weekend! I am super excited about going because it'll be my first taste of the USA's National Parks! Updates soon y'all!

A Guide To Amsterdam

Place: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Hotel: Novotel Amsterdam City

Booked with: Crystal Travel

Price: £179 p/person including flights, hotel and breakfast

Spending money: €200 p/person (on average)

Amsterdam. Known for it's great history and beautiful canals, but more commonly known for it's herbs and explicit nightlife. We went for 4 days at the beginning of August with 6 friends and it may possibly be the best city break I've ever had. The scenery, the waffles, the atmosphere; need I say more? The only downside to the break (in my eyes) were the people; nearly every Dutch person I came across was rude! But hey, that might have just been me because everyone else didn't notice it! Anyway, without further ado, here are my tips for having an amazing Dam break!

• Visit the Museum Quarter- We only spent about an hour here, but I wish we allocated a little more time to actually go in the museums rather than just looking in from the outside. It is usually very busy around midday/early afternoon so I would suggest to go in the morning. Remember to take a picture of the famous I amsterdam sign!

• Eat loads of waffles!- Holland's patisseries certainly made our trip even better than we anticipated, the Dutch sweet stuff might even knock Paris' off my top stop! My favourite was a waffle topped with white chocolate, strawberries and cream. Heaven! The best one we found was just off Dam Square down the little road where NH Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky is situated. 

• Visit Anne Frank's House- We didn't get to go in, purely because we got there too late and the line was a 3 hour wait! If this is definitely something you want to do, make sure you go at least an hour before opening. 

• Go on the Lover's boat cruise- There are a few different ones, but we went on the one which took you right past all the main points of interest such as Anne Frank's House, Grand Central Station, the largest floating Chinese restaurant in Europe and the museum quarter. It is usually around €25 p/person but we got on at the last minute so got a discounted price of €18 p/person! Well worth the money!

• Have a drink at Wonderbar- The coffee shop which also sells herbal shisha. I'm sure there are many more but this one we particularly liked. The bar staff were nice, kept the tables clean and the lighting made the experience even more surreal. The only downside was the music...the music was strange. 

• Have a stroll through the Red Light District- Arguably the most famous attraction in Amsterdam. You'll find it awkward at first, but you'll soon get used to it! 

• Go to the Artis Royal Zoo!- One word: Banter. Pure banter. The zoo is a place we nearly always visit when we're away, but it's because there's so many amazing animals to see! And if you go with people who you enjoy being around, it just makes it all the more fun, humorous and... you guessed it, banterous (is that even a word?!)

A word of wisdom and warning: The hotel we stayed in was lovely and modern, but the booking agency, Crystal Travel, failed to mention to us (it was an over-the-phone booking) that we would have to put a €70 deposit p/room just in case we used the minibar/other facilities. This cut into our precious spending money and put a huge bummer on the beginning of the holiday. So #1, make sure you bring a little extra money and #2, make sure you read all the terms and conditions/make the agency read them out to you. Yes it's long, but it might just save you a huge shock.

The Formula For Smelling Amazing

Don't you just love it when someone compliments you on how good you smell? Or when a woman (or man!) walks past you and your nose can't help but linger in their direction? Smelling good plays a major factor in attracting the opposite sex, not to mention it gives an insight into what type of person you are. I never used to think about my own scent, but lately, I've become more aware of it and changed my body care routine for the better. You won't believe the amount of people who have come up to me saying I smell nice! Plus it's a real confidence booster, so without further ado, here are my tips for smelling great (and staying fresh throughout the day!)

Body Wash/Scrub

Now, it's not necessary to start off with a scented body wash, if you have sensitive skin you'd probably want to steer clear of anything which is heavily perfumed, but I like to just because this particular body wash I use smells sooooo gooodd! The body wash in question is the Beauticology Cherry Candy Cane body wash. It's a very sweet smell, as you can probably imagine, and smells exactly like what is it described to be. I also use a mint scrub which I made myself using PinkSoFoxy's recipe (check her YouTube out, she's amazing!)

Body Lotion/Butter

This is one of the key things in the whole process so don't miss it out! A good lotion will not only keep your skin hydrated all day, but the scent will also last for a long time. The one I am currently using is the Superdrug Cherry & Macadamia Body Butter (a good dupe for the Body Shop's body butters!). It smells gorgeous and keeps my skin moisturised.

Deodorant

The most important product of all. I have used Dove Original deodorant stick for about a year now and every time I change to a different deodorant my body hates me for it. Another tip is to keep your underarms waxed or shaven as the hairs hold a lot of the odour!

Body Spray

Again not a necessary step in the routine but I think it makes me smell much fresher. There are so many products like this out there so I always have a little spritz of the ones I think I'd like in the store. The Charlie line have a huge range of different body sprays all smelling completely different to one another, but my favourite is Chic. It does have a very strong perfumey smell when you first put it on though, so be sure to do it in a well ventilated room.

Perfume

I strongly believe this is a necessary step in the routine. Of course if you're staying in all day, this wouldn't be necessary but for leaving the house, this is a must. Like body spray, the range of perfumes on the market is huge so finding one will be a challenge but worth it! There are also perfumes which are made from oils and natural ingredients for those of you who don't want a heavy smell or if you have sensitive skin. Check out Lush and the Body Shop's ranges! If you've seen one of my previous posts, you'll know my favourite perfume is Prada Candy so I won't go into much detail about it. Knowing where to apply perfume is also essential as it helps it to last longer. You should apply it to the Pulse Points: behind the ears, behind the knees, on the wrists, inside the elbows and the base of your throat.

Of course there are other factors is your overall body odour: hair, clothes etc. To ensure you're super fresh, make sure your hair is freshly washed (or use hair perfume!) and wash your clothes with a detergent with a nice scent. The one I've been using at the moment leaves my clothes smelling super duper fresh. 

Make sure you keep a few spares in your bag such as body spray, perfume and deodorant, to freshen up on the go!

① Summer Sparkle Nails

Over the course of the next few weeks, I've set myself a challenge to come up with a few different ways to design my nails using only 3 nail polishes (shown below). Subscribe to see what I come up with and comment with your own ideas! Here's my first design: 

Super cute for summer and the holographic specks in the glitter polish looks amazing when reflected in the sun!

3. Apply one or two coats of the glitter top coat

1. Apply a base coat using a clear nail polish 

2. Apply a few (2-3) coats of a nude nail polish 

The finished look!

Summer sparkles in the sun!

Products used:
Bourjois 1 Second Gloss Gel Effect in Clear
Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint in Lychee
Barry M Nail Paint in Diamond Glitter

Ombré Nails

Nude nails with a hint of colour of the index and ring fingers. Mix it up and use different colours to the ones I've used here!

Products Used: 

Bourjois 1 Seconde Gloss Gel in Clear
Barry M Gelly Nail Paint in Lychee

Barry M Nail Paint in Yellow and Shocking Pink
L.A Colors Color Craze in Shock

Sponge from Poundland

How To Choose A Hotel

So, my trip to the Algarve, Portugal in early April inspired this post. The complex we stayed in was horrible to put it nicely, and it got me thinking where we went wrong with booking it and what we would have done differently. So here are my tips on how to choose a hotel. Some of them are pretty straightforward; so straightforward in fact that we often forget about them! Remember: in most cases, you get what you pay for.

• Reviews- If you only do one thing in preparation for your holiday, do this! Reviews on sites such as TripAdvisor give you a very unique insight into the ins and outs of the hotels and their staff. If there's a general comment throughout the reviews, it's most likely that you'll agree. I wish I paid more attention to them before booking Portugal.
• Star rating- In a lot of cases, star rating doesn't really mean anything- a 3 star hotel can be just as good as a 5 star because of the factors involved, like cuisine,  customer service, cleanliness, activities on offer etc etc.
• Amenities- I wished we had accounted for the weather before we went to Portugal. I though it was always sunny in the Algarve- BIGGG mistake. The complex we stayed in wasn't equipped for bad weather- there were very few indoor activities and the whole town was paved with ridiculously slippy white tiles.
• WIFI- Many hotels have free wifi anyway but if this is a necessity for you, make sure you double check (they didn't have any where we stayed!). Otherwise you'll end up using precious spending money on wifi!
• Board- We had all-inclusive in Portugal, and to be honest, it wasn't that great. We only ate the food because we'd paid for it, otherwise we would have happily ate out in the Old Town every night. If you want a lazy holiday and to cut down on food costs, all-inclusive is a great option, just check the food reviews before you book!
• Location- Unless you're going somewhere really remote, being close to all the sights is normally a must. Be sure to GoogleMaps where your hotel is so you're not too surprised when you get to your destination!
• Transport Links- Following on from Location, this is SO important. You don't want to get there and find the nearest bus stop is a 30 minute walk away. Check on the hotel website for the nearest transport links and also reviews, because...you know, sometimes the hotel lies.

If you have anymore tips, comment down below!

How To Save For A Trip

"I can't because I've got no money." 

How many of us have said that before? It's a sad fact that many people believe they can't go travelling, or even on a holiday, because they don't have a wad of spare cash lying about. Yes, travelling and holidaying can be expensive but if you really want to do it, you can. There's nothing stopping you except yourself! I'm not saying go and take out an overdraft or a credit card. No no, that's definitely not the way, I vowed to myself I'd never get into debt- bar my student loan, because that's enough in itself, isn't it?- especially to travel. 

So here are 9 ways people I know and myself have saved cash to go travelling:

• Get a Christmas temp job- When you first get to uni, a lot of stores would have already began hiring christmas temps. I applied really early, the end of August to be precise, and after around 30 applications, finally got an interview at John Lewis. Yes, it's time consuming and applications are long but THINK OF THE MONEY. Remember: Christmas is one of the easiest times to get a job because virtually everywhere need extra staff! I worked from November until January, around 16-20 hours a week (plus overtime) and earned between £6-7 per hour. A lot of people think they can't work and study at the same time, but if you're organised and determined to reach your goals, you can do anything.

• Tutor- If you're good at something, use it. I'm good at Maths, so in January I decided instead of applying for more jobs, I'd just tutor. I posted my profile on TutorHunt and an ad on Gumtree. I got so many responses! January is the prime time for tutors because people are thinking "crap, I need to work harder" so use it to your advantage. I have 8 students, work 12 hours a week and charge £15-20 an hour. In short, it worked out better for me than a normal retail job because I got higher wages and worked less hours.

• Alcohol? Bleugh- A lot of my friends ask me how I've saved enough money to go on so many holidays. Well, the truth of it is, I rarely go out. My party girl days are over (I can't believe I'm saying that at 18). Whilst the rest of my friends are spending their student loan on partying, alcohol and other substances which shall not be named, I'm jetting off somewhere! Go ahead, go out and enjoy yourself, but do it in moderation. A test: Take one month off from heavy drinking, partying and eating out. You'll be surprised to see how much you've saved! 

• Go on a study abroad/exchange- Every year the government offers a certain number of places for undergrads to study abroad, often during Easter. They pay for everything bar flights and visas, but you can always ask your Study Abroad office whether they can help with additional funding. On the other hand, most uni's also offer exchange programmes to countries all around the world. It usually varies depending on your department but if you do get accepted, you can also apply for a travel grant via Student Loan. Depending on your household income, the government may pay for up to 3 return flights from the UK and help with any additional fees such as vaccinations. Also, have a look at ERASMUS- I'm sure everyone would have heard of it before, even if you don't know what it actually is!

• Intern- There are HUNDREDS of internships abroad. If you're signed up to Prospects or TargetJobs you'll always get emails about them. The great thing about internships is that they're usually paid and some companies even offer accommodation for the duration of the intern. Best of all you have your weekends free to do what you want using the money you've earned!

• Get a TEFL qualification- If you're thinking about staying in one place for a month or more, I'd definitely suggest teaching English. A lot of countries, especially in Asia, want more English teachers so there's always vacancies. The course is often expensive and will require a few hours dedication a week but if you look on deal sites like kgbdeals, Groupon and WOWcher, you'll find them for a fraction of the cost. I got mine for £29 and it was originally £524- did someone say BARGAIN?!

• WWOOF!- If you don't mind some hard graft every now and again, you could try WWOOF-ing! It's essentially where you work on a farm and in exchange for 4-6 hours hard work, you get accommodation and food. Excellent for when you're strapped for cash! You can do this pretty much anywhere in the world and the time you spend there is negotiated with your host, so it's perfect if you're only somewhere for a short time. When Nile and I go on our year abroad, we will most definitely be doing this to save money!

• Leading on from WWOOF-ing, Volunteer. When I first started looking at volunteering I was shocked to see how much I would have to pay to volunteer. I mean isn't the whole point of volunteering so that it's virtually for nothing??? Anyway, a friend pointed me to Original Volunteers which is a LOT cheaper than most volunteering sites. STA travel also do packages which vary in price, but some are very unique and can't be found anywhere else. I've also found loads of wildlife centres in Africa who offer the whole package (accommodation, on-ground transport, food etc) for helping out at the centre. A must for animal lovers. Have a look around online, you'll definitely find something.

• Au Pair- If you're good with kids, this is definitely for you and NO it's not just for girls. There are loads of sites for Au Pairing internationally. The best way is to search for your host countries agencies, but you can also do it privately- just make sure you know the requirements to work in the country. Normally, your host family will provide accommodation, food and flights from your home country. Sometimes they even offer you a car and your own apartment! (But that's very rare). You also get a weekly wage which, since everything is pretty much paid for already, is just pocket money to you! 

5 Minute Make-Up | Everday Make-Up

Now, if you know me, you'll know that I love my sleep. I mean L.O.V.E. I'd rather spend an extra 15 minutes in bed than do my make-up. But obviously this leaves me in a bit of a pickle every morning: do I want to look presentable or look like a goblin? We all know the answer to that, which is why I've come up with a way to get the both worlds! I still get my extra napping time and walk out the house looking fairly decent. I like to call it, the 5 Minute Make-Up routine. If you'd like to see the look in action, head on over to my YouTube!

So this is how it works:

① Primer. 30 seconds. Helps your make-up stay in place for the day. 

② Foundation. 30 seconds. Covers blemishes and illuminates the skin.

③ Contour. 30 seconds. Gives your face back the dimensions lost from the foundation coverage.

④ Blush. 30 seconds. Makes you look more awake!

⑤ Mascara. 45 seconds. Opens up your eyes.

⑥ Eyelashes (optional). 2 minutes. I do this because my eyelashes are super-duper short so they just make my eyes look bigger and more open. (OR you could replace this step with curling your eyelashes and putting on an extra coat of mascara)

⑦ Lip Product. 5-10 seconds. Adds an extra oomph! to the whole look. 

I also spend a few seconds brushing my eyebrows into shape so they're not so wild!

I find that this creates a very natural look that's perfect for a normal day, but if I feel like it (and I have time!), I can also add to it. It's also the perfect base for any make-up look and all it took was 5 Minutes! Who said all girls take ages to get ready?!

Welcome To My YouTube!

So after months of hmm-ing and ahh-ing, I've finally posted my first cover! I'll be posting a video (hopefully) every Monday #MusicMonday and Thursday #VlogThursday. The vlogs will be everything from make-up looks/tutorials to how to style's and room decor inspiration! 

Check it out and have a look on my channel: Lois Layne. If you like what you see (and hear!) please like, subscribe and comment! 

JAY Z & Beyoncé: On The Run Trailer

WOW WOW WOW! If this doesn't get you excited for their upcoming tour, nothing will; it's just a shame no UK dates have been announced (WHHHHYYYYY??!!!)

Still, Queen B and Jay show everyone why they're the world's ultimate power couple, just watch and learn.

Product Review | Prada Candy Eau de Parfum

The first time I sprayed this on, I hated it. I thought it was absolutely vile (okay, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but still). I walked away from the perfume counter and continued my window shopping around Debenhams...and then...it hit me. "OMG what was that smell?!" It was like sweets and flowers and heaven. I ran back to the counter and grabbed one off the shelf. As you can see, I've since gone back and bought 2 more because it is SO amazing. 

The scent is very sweet, almost caramel-like, with musky undertones. You only need a few spritzes and you're away! The only downside is that when you spray it on, you get a whiff of that strong alcohol smell many perfumes have. But once you let it settle, it's actually a very beautiful smell (am I allowed to say that? Beautiful smell?).

Smell:☆☆☆☆☆

Appearance: ☆☆☆☆☆

Sound: n/a

Taste: n/a

Feel: n/a

Woo Woo, New Blog!

Welcome to my NEW revamped blog! It will now include not only travel inspiration, but also beauty, DIY, style looks, music and much more! Stayed tuned during the next week for new posts! 

x

A Guide To Prague

Renowned for it's explicit night life, there's much more to Prague than meets the eye- okay not a lot more, but there is stuff to do. Nile and I went for 4 days in January on a bit of a spur of the moment break, it was cheap so we thought "what the hell!".

We booked with KGBdeals and it was £129 each for flight and accommodation with breakfast included (*swoons*). Of course you can only go on certain dates but it just so happened to fit in nicely with our plans. We only took £250 out with us as it's quite cheap in Eastern Europe cities and we weren't planning on buying much anyway.

When we got there it was snowing so it was super cute if not really really, I mean really, cold. In fact it was so cold we couldn't stay out for that long, so a lot of the holiday was spent playing Candy Crush and Blackjack. Nevertheless, here's my 5 fav Prague picks:

• Tram rides!- Now I know it's not that amazing, but for someone who has never been on a tram, it was funnn! They're cheap- one 30min ticket is 24CZK or about 70p, which you can buy from your hotel, ticket machines and corner shops. They're the main source of transport around the city (apart from taxis)- just be sure to know where your stop is so you're not walking around for ages -_-

• Visit the Castle- The highlight of my trip. Whether night or day, the castle is so so beautiful. Situated on the top of a hill, it is a bit of a steep walk up but the view of both the castle and city are worth it.

• Explore the nightlife- Yeahh again this means Strip Club's (wooooo) and all that jazz, but this is what Prague is known for, so it'd be a shame to miss out on it, wouldn't it?

• Take a walk on the Charles Bridge- Insanely beautiful and HUGE, the Charles bridge is one of those things you see and are just like WOAH. It's just over 620m long and just under 10m wide- you'll know when you've spotted it, fo' sho.

• Go to Praha Zoo- Prague's zoo is considered the 7th best in the world and I can see why. Very few animals were out because of the snow but the ones we did see were beautiful- one baby monkey even entertained us with a composition (???) of backflips! It's fairly easy to get to on the bus and cheap too- it was only 300 CZK for the both of us, that's £9...sw-heeet.

Top tip: Prague centre is quite small so get the tram in and then walk. We like to wander because you see things you wouldn't normally see if you had a specific route planned out. In smaller cities (i.e cities not as big as London) I find wandering is best. Give it a go! You'll be surprised just how much you see!

How To Save Money In Paris

As mentioned in A Guide To Paris, we spent £1,100 in Paris. For a 5-day trip, that's £110 per person per day for everything, which considering we went between Christmas and New Year's, isn't THAT bad.

Still it would have been even more if I hadn't tightened the purse strings. Here's my 7 money saving tips when in Paris, because after all, it is bloody expensive.

• Book a 'secret' hotel package- This just means you don't know what hotel you are staying in until you've paid. We booked with lastminute.com and our flight and hotel came only to £420 for the 5-days. You know the rating of the hotel and area it is in- that's it. For us, we got lucky and loved our hotel, but beware, you might end up less than satisfied.

• Buy a 'carnet' of tickets- I would say that the best way to see Paris is by foot, so apart from getting into the centre, you don't need to use that much transport. A carnet is a book of 10 single tickets and costs around €13. We only needed 2 carnets because as mentioned we walked a lot. Depending on your itinerary you may need up to 3 each a day, but I would say that's the max. 

• Choose the set menu- There's nearly always a set menu in most restaurants which offer a starter, main and dessert for a lower cost than buying them separately. The price varies depending on what kind of restaurant you go to, but the average one along the street (bar Champs-Elyees) would set you back around €25. Drinks are really what eat up your budget, so when eating out, drink as little as possible. 

• Buy breakfast from local shops around your hotel- We bought brioche and croissants every morning from a shop next to our hotel. It was cheap, it was French, it was delicious. 

• Skip the Eiffel Tower- Whilst it isn't THAT expensive (around €12 each to go up to the 2nd floor) it isn't that amazing either. As mentioned in A Guide to Paris, the Sacré Coeur is the highest point in Paris and has the best views, so apart from taking a picture next to it, skip the Eiffel.

• Most museums and attractions are free to those under 26- If you're a student (or a young buck), milk it. You're not paying 9 grand a year for no privilages. You need to bring your passport and still wait in line to get a ticket, but most lines move quickly and IT'S FREE! Need I say more?

• Look around for deals- Everyone who knows me, knows how organised I am and how obsessed I am with planning, so I do a lot of research before going away. I came across ComeToParis and fell in love with their deals. I bought our cruise from here and our Cabaret at the Lido. If we had more money and time, we definitely would have done more.

And that's it! Feel free to share your tips below with other readers!

A Guide To Paris

Ah Paris. Famous for it's beautiful monuments, gothic churches and fascinating museums, if you have a couple of days in the city, lucky you! You're in for a treat. There's an abundance of things to do, sights to see and places to visit. Depending on how long you're there for, you may not see everything you would like, so categorise what you want to do into Must-See's, If We Have Time's and Don't Really Care's. We like to wander a lot and aren't history buffs, so don't really have that many Must-See places, but fortunately, we always happen to stumble upon them anyway.

Nile and I went during Christmas 2013 for 4 nights and it was so magical. The streets were filled with festive lights and there were loads of Christmas Markets to visit (think Winter Wonderland but better, minus the rides). If you do go at Christmas time, be sure to visit the market near Place de la Concorde at the end of Champs-Élysées (basically Paris' Oxford Street) and the market, complete with Ice Rink, at Trocodéro opposite the Eiffel Tower. 

I would say the best way to see Paris, especially if you're only there for a couple of days, is to have a few Must-See's a day in the same area. For example, if you get up early, you can see (and go up) the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, Place de la Concorde, Jardins des Tulieres and the Lourve all in one day, because they're all on one straight road. On the other hand, you can see the Panthéon, Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle, Love Lock bridges and Centre Pompidou in one day too, because they're all within walking distance. If you want to go to the Grande Arche out in La Defense, the business district of Paris, you might want to think about spending the early morning or evening there. It's out of the city centre and not really near any other places of interest apart from two very nice shopping centres.

All in all we spent £1,100, which if you think about it, is a lot for a 5-day trip but it's the city of love, and love costs money. 

Here's my Top 10 things to do in Paris:

• Visit the Sacré Coeur at night- Not only beautiful during Christmas but at all times of the year. You can take a short shuttle up the steeper part of the hill, but we decided it would be fun to walk (wrong decision). BUT when you get to the top, you'll realise the struggle wasn't in vain. The view is AMAZING and it's the highest point in Paris so you can see pretty much everything. I say to go at night so you can see the city in all it's glory but I'm sure during the day it is just as beautiful. (Top tip: if you do take the stairs, don't look behind you until you get to the top. The view will literally make you catch your breath).

• Take a picture at Trocodéro- One of the most famous pictures you will see of the Eiffel Tower is taken standing in Trocodéro. You will see it time and time again, but aside from that, Trocodéro is in a beautiful setting. 

• Go to the Circus!- One of the highlights of our trip. We went to the Cirque d'Hiver and paid €50 each for seats close to the ring. It was absolutely mind-blowing so if you get the chance, go! For everyone with long legs, beware, the seats are tiny, so even though he enjoyed it, Nile was extremely uncomfortable.

• Go to a Cabaret- Doesn't really matter which one you go to because they're all different and plus it's all part of the experience. We went to the Lido for a 2 hour performance. I would have loved to go to the Moulin Rouge but it was waaay too expensive.

• Mum, Dad, under 18s, skip to the next post. Go to a strip club- Paris' red light district is near the Moulin Rouge at Blanche Métro station. It comes alive at night and it's an experience to say the least. It cost €40 for both of us to go into a club and includes a drink BUT don't go into the first place you see, that's a mistake we made. 

• Show your everlasting love- One of the most iconic things for couples or best friends to do to show their everlasting love, is place locks on the Ponts des L'Archevêché and Arts and throw the key into the River Seine. Be careful which bridge you put it on though: Des Arts is for your committed love whilst L'Archevêché is for your lover. Just to be on the safe side, we put locks on both.

• Get a Caricature- Nearly everywhere along the Seine there are cute little stalls selling antique books and photos. Every now and again you'll come across a painter or a caricaturist. We decided to get one done to remember our time in Paris. It was €30 and many of our friends and family have had a lot of fun laughing at it, as have we.

• Cruise the Seine- As mentioned, Nile and I aren't history people so the thought of spending an hour listening to someone talking about the history of buildings and monuments may have sounded boring, but it was a great was to see the city and learn a little bit about why the buildings were actually there. Plus it was only €12 each!

• Go up the Arc de Triomphe- It's a long walk up a spiral staircase but when you get to the top you'll find yourself with a smile on your face. You can see a total 360° view of Paris from here, including all the way to the Grande Arche. Plus it was freeee! (see my next blog on How to Save Money in Paris)

  

  A View down Les Champs-Elysees from the Arc de Triomphe
  
  
  
  
  
  

  See the Mona Lisa- Both times I've been to Paris, I've missed out on this because I've always gotten there too late BUT if you're a historian, artist or just want to see it, I would definitely put this on the Must-See list.