The Land of Laura

Hello Lovelies,

Welcome back to the new post in mine and Jess' "Lets Talk About" series, this week we'll be discussing all the things they don't tell you about growing up, from periods to drinking, we've got your girls guide to growing up covered, telling you all the little nitty gritty things no-one else ever did.

You can see mine and Jess' advice on four topics on my blog and then another four on her's.

But for now, on my blog we're going to be discussing what they don't tell you about moving out, periods, getting tattoo's and drinking!

Moving Out

Laura - 
From my personal experience, moving out is the exact opposite of everything you expect and plan it to be. Don't get me wrong, it's amazing, but impossible to prepare for! If you're like me you'll tell yourself that you'll start/stop doing a million things when you move out. For example, "i'll start making my bed" or "i'll stop leaving my washing up until the next day". While you will certainly develop your own habits and routine, it'll take time, and it'll never be perfect! I spent so much time in the first few weeks kicking myself because i broke the promises i made to myself, I just eventually had to realise that nobody is perfect and that I was developing my own little way of doing things that works for me. So, i think the main thing people don't tell you about moving out is that it's a long and messy journey of figuring out exactly who you are, and how your life best works for you ! 

Jess-
Something that everyone will face one day and the one thing that I could not wait for. I moved out of my family home into student halls but they were luxurious. I had a fab room with my own en-suite and then a huge kitchen/living area. My halls may have been luxurious but I definitely did not live with luxurious people, one of them was a complete scutter. This is where I get onto what I wish someone would have told me. I turned up to uni with my Nan's old Denby kitchen stuff, so I was very protective of it and get very annoyed if it was being abused by my awful flatmate. I really wish someone would have said actually go to Asda and buy 50p plates and cups as you probably will be lumped with someone who will ruin it. There were many occasions where I would bleach and then wash my plates and cups because they had used them and let them go mouldy and suffering with OCD did not help. So I'm giving you the advice now, if you are moving into shared accommodation don't take nice stuff that will be accessible to anyone as I can guarantee there will be somebody who will, to be frank, take the piss with it and the more you run around and clear up after them so your stuff doesn't get completely ruined the more they will do it.

Periods

Laura - 
Ah yes, periods. That wonderful topic that for some reason, we all act as though it's a taboo. I think one thing I wish someone had told me when i first started my periods is that, in most cases, they get better! With every period you have, you become one step closer to conquering those painful little sods! Everybody has their way of dealing period pain, talk to people, get some ideas, try them all, see what works for you. For me, a heat pack and nap does this trick! However, at 16 I went on the contraceptive pill as it is known to dramatically reduce period pain, and when i was missing 4 days of school every month because i was in so much pain, it was needed! I would recommend trying some home remedies first, because they can work wonders, but if you do get very intense period pain, i strongly suggest talking to your doctor and seeing what they can do - they've heard it all before! Don't fret though, in most cases your period will regulate themselves as you get older, so you can start planning for your unwanted house guests, and you'll nearly always find a way to kick their ass!

Getting Tattoo's

Laura-
I'm not going to sit here and pretend that I'm an expert when it comes to tattoos, mainly because those serial tattooers will laugh at me! But there are a few things I wish i'd known before i got my first tattoo. The first one is THINK, THINK, THINK, whatever you get will be on your body forever so you need to think about three key things; what to get, where to get it, and who's going to do it. All of these are so important as not thoroughly thinking about just one of these things can lead to a botched tattoo that you hate! Luckily, I love mine, and the artist did an amazing job! Another thing I wish I'd known is that getting a tattoo on your ribs hurts like a mother-trucker and the pain can't be described or anticipated. For example, when I was being tattoo'd at the bottom of my ribs, I got a really bad pain in my nipple - weird and unexpected! Finally, if you can't afford to get it done properly, don't do it! It doesn't matter if your friend offers you "mates rates", you know whether they're capable enough of doing the tattoo you want, if they're not, save up your money and go elsewhere!

Jess-
Ever since I was a little kid I had always wanted tattoos! I love the idea of being covered in artwork that everyone can see. For my 18th birthday my parents had promised me faithfully that they would pay for a tattoo for me, I'm 22 this year and still waiting for it to happen, so when I moved to university I decided I would get a tattoo, only something small and cute. Some kids go to uni and do drugs, I got a heart tattooed on my lower left forearm! I'll be completely honest I was absolutely crapping myself about getting it done, I'm petrified of needles and I don't really cope well with pain. So I get to the tattoo shop and am papping myself, trying to talk myself out of it with every excuse under the sun but at the same time psyching myself up and talking myself into it! The tattooist must have thought I was mental. We went into the room and I find out she's got a silent tattoo gun which instantly puts my mind at ease as the noise goes straight through me, she starts doing it and I honestly can hand on heart sit here and say it was one of the least painful, pain driven things I've felt. It's very niggly and irritating but not painful, this could have been because of where I got it as I know it is painful if its on bone but that would make sense! I would recommend getting your first tattoo on a fleshy part of your body so you get a feel for the sensation!

Drinking

Laura - 
While this is a serious topic that should not be taken light-heartedly, I'm not going to sit here and preach at you, saying that "drinking is bad" or "you shouldn't do it". The problem with drinking is that it can so easily become a problem, without you realising it. I see this all the time at university! By 'problem' I don't necessarily mean alcoholism (although this is something that can happen to), i'm more referring to the state you get yourself in when drinking. Only once in my life have I been blackout drunk. So drunk i didn't know how i got home or what had happened the night before. Luckily for me, this happened at a party where i was surrounded with friends to take care of me, and not around strangers. Some people aren't so fortunate. All i'll say on this matter is that binge drinking is an incredibly dangerous habit. Having the best night of your life, to then not have those memories in the morning is a horrific feeling. If you choose to drink, do it safely! Drink and be merry, and then stop, drink some water, and get home safe. 

Jess-
I will hold my hands up high now and admit that I'm a bit of a lightweight. Its cheap for me on a night out. I hardly ever go out or drink really though and there were definitely points where my friends thought I was boring because I wouldn't go out clubbing with them. I have never seen the appeal to going out, I'd much rather have my friends round and have a few drinks with them and thats fine. Clubs are way too expensive. My first night out when I moved to Cambridge I spent £10 entry and then probably £30 on drinks. That's extortionate, a bottle of echo falls is £5 from co-op and that keeps me more than happy. It's easy to give in and just go out if you're friends are but it really is about weighing up if its worth it, the sting to your bank account, the hangover the next morning or even those horrible drunk regrets. If these aren't worth it see if your friends would rather come round for a few social drinks, if they don't there is nothing wrong with you staying in having a glass of wine and watching a soppy rom-com by yourself!

Check out the rest of our post over on Jess' blog!

Until Next Time, 

Laura & Jess xoxo

Hello Loves,

Welcome back to 'Moving Out Monday'. Last week (which you can check out here) I went through some of the things you should think about before deciding to move out, this week i'll be going through some of the things you should look at and ask when actually viewing a rental property!

1) WHAT'S INCLUDED?

Something to ask is what exactly is included with the property. If when you're viewing the house the kitchen has a fridge, cooker and washer in it, it's worth asking if any of these things come included so you know exactly what you need to buy.

2) WHAT DO I PAY FOR?

Another thing to ask is what exactly you have to pay for. For example, if the fridge breaks, are you expected to pay for it? These are all things that should be detailed in your contract, but its worth asking all of these things on your first viewing as it will help you make a decision if you're undecided between a couple of properties.

3) BASIC RULES 

Things such as "can i put things on the wall?" or "can i have pets?" are some of the basic things you might want to ask if they effect you. If you've got a dog, for example, this is something you'll definitely want to ask to make sure the house is suited to you and your needs.

4) LOOK FOR MOULD, DAMPNESS AND WATER STAINS

Be wary of a property that has any of these things, not only can mould be dangerous to your health, but it also shows poor maintenance of the property from your landlord, which isn't what you want! Also look out for anywhere that looks like mould may have just been painted over, this is not a fix to the problem!

5) TEST THE WATER PRESSURE

A minor thing, but if you love your showers as much as i do, this is a good thing to test! Moving into a property and finding out that the shower feels like you're being cried on is horrific, so it's worth just switching the shower on and checking it works well if you're able to!

6) ASK ABOUT THE NEIGHBOURS 

If there are currently tenants in the house, ask them about the neighbours, especially if you'll be living in a terrace or semi-detached property! I know first hand what it's like sharing a wall with shitty neighbours and it's not fun! If the current tenants have had loads of trouble with the neighbours, I'd suggest looking elsewhere!

AND FINALLY, 

7) MAKE A LIST OF THE PRO'S AND CON'S

This is ultimately what helped me and Ross decide on our house, its unlikely that you'll find somewhere perfect, so making a pro/con list can really help you settle on somewhere. Ideally, the pros side will be much longer than the cons! Something to be wary of though is the weight that these pros and cons carry. For example, the pros side might be full with things like "nice wall colour", "newly decorated" or "good shower", while all of these things are valid pros if the downsides are that the property is "too small" and "too far from work", they far outweigh the positives of the house. This is why, last week, i told you it was important to decide on what is important to you!


That's all for now folks! What would you like to see next week?

Laura xoxo

Hello Lovelies,

Welcome to the first 'Moving Out Monday' post! Today, i thought id start in the logical place, the beginning of the moving out process. If you're thinking about moving out, these are some things you  might want to consider and some questions you should ask yourself before taking the plunge and moving out for the first time!

1) CAN I AFFORD IT?

When you first start thinking about moving out, this is absolutely the first thing you should figure out. Whether you'll be living alone or moving out with someone else, you need to cost out absolutely everything! Start off by looking at your income after tax, and then deduct any and all bills you have to pay, even the little ones! Bills to consider here are things like council tax, rent, internet, phone bills, Netflix etc. After you've taken off all your bills and commitments, deduct estimated costs for things that aren't fixed, such as fuel and food. Be generous here, if you think your food shop is going to cost you about £150 a month, deduct £200 from your budget, just to be safe. If, after you've deducted everything, your bank account still looks pretty healthy, then congratulations, you can afford to live on your own!

 

2) WHAT IS MY CREDIT SCORE LIKE?

This is something that not many people think about, yet it is so important for renting a house! In nearly all cases, when you apply for a house, the estate agents will credit check you to make sure you're good at keeping on top of your payments. This is where that phone bill you couldn't afford to pay a couple of months ago bites you in the ass. I'm in no way a professional on this, but your credit score is an important consideration to make. There are loads of tips and advice all over the internet that can help you with your credit score!

3) WILL I NEED A GUARANTOR?

In some cases, landlords may require you to have a guarantor. This is someone who says they will pay your rent if you ever can't, so it's a big commitment to make. So, something to consider here is do you know anyone that would be a guarantor for you? (Parents are usually good people to ask). Also, if they are willing to be a your guarantor, do they meet the requirements? Luckily, i didn't have to have a guarantor for my home, but if i did, the requirement was that they had to be earning 3x the annual rent for the house. So, if your yearly rent is £10,000, your guarantor would have to have an income of at least £30,000. Guarantors are usually required for a couple of reasons such as being young, or the landlord worries that your income isn't enough and questions your affordability.

4) WHAT DO I NEED MY PLACE TO HAVE?

Thinking about what you want your place to have is probably the most fun bit of this whole process at this stage. It's important to think about this to help you with your budget. For example, if you want a house with at least 3 bedrooms, you need to make sure there is room in your budget for that, and if not, you need to look at how important having 3 bedrooms is to you. If there are 3 of you moving in together, then having three bedrooms would be something very important to you. Just think about what you need your place to have in order for it to work for you. This also helps you narrow down your search when you begin looking for homes!

5) RESEARCH ESTATE AGENTS

Having a browse online and reading some estate agent reviews is honestly priceless! Nothing makes moving out more stressful that shitty estate agents, so do your research! I was very lucky in that Belvoir we're absolutley fantastic and so incredibly helpful and efficient. They really helped make the whole application process go smoothly, which is exactly what you want when applying to rent your first home as you don't really know what you're doing!

6) THINK ABOUT WHO YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE WITH

If you're choosing to live with someone else then this is crucial, especially if your signing a long rental contract. You and your partner may well be together forever, but i still wouldn't recommend you sign a rental agreement with them after just 3 weeks together. Make sure you're confident in the relationship you have with a person before agreeing to live with them, whether their friend, partner or family. If there's a high chance you'll fall out and want to live together anymore, i'd reconsider, because even if you don't want to live together anymore, you'll still have to pay the rent until the contract expires.

7) DO I HAVE ENOUGH SAVINGS?

Last but by no means least, you need to make sure you have enough savings to move out. Look at all the things you're going to have to buy and how much you have to pay up front to make sure you have enough in your savings to cover these costs. It cost me and Ross £300 to even apply for our home, and then we had first months rent and a deposit to pay on top of that. These costs vary from house to house, but i would say you'd need at least £2000 saved up to make sure you can consider these costs, depending on where you're moving to because places such as London will require a higher deposit.

That's all of my tips on what to think about before renting your first place, hopefully you've found them helpful if you're thinking about moving out! If there is anything you think i've missed, be sure to let me know in the comments!

TTFN,

Laura xoxo

Fear.

That all encompassing feeling that stops us in our tracks. The dark cloud that we all try to ignore but we can't, because deep down we know there's a storm overhead. The feeling that consumes you so much you can't escape from it.

Fear.

The weakness of man.

No matter what you are told, everyone is scared of something. Everyone. Whether its the monster under their bed or the fear of losing the one they love, their fear is real. It exists. Sometimes it presents itself in the most violent of ways, and other times it creeps up on you so slow that you don't feel it until you're doing the thing that scares you most. You could be up in a plane about to do a skydive and then it hits you when you here the word 'Jump'. You could find yourself trapped in a small space and it makes you want to kick and scream and panic until you're free. Fear. It's a funny thing. The same feeling that stops a little boy going to bed at night, also brings a grown man to his knees. We are all scared of something.

Me? I'm scared of flying and spiders. Small spaces and big crowds. Failing and Death. Loving too much and not being loved at all. These are my weaknesses. Some stop me in my tracks, others are like a quiet niggling that will destroy me in my sleep if I let them. They consume me all at once, and then not at all. Sometimes I think I've conquered them, and then they prove me wrong when I least see it coming. It's an ongoing war that won't be won on either side. Thats how fear works. It plays tricks on you until you think you've won, then it shows you who's boss. It doesn't want to win, it just doesn't want you to win either. It's your own personal little joker.

But here's what fear doesn't know - It can be channelled. Let the fear that stops you in your tracks become the adrenaline that gets you moving again. Let your heart race for the right reasons. Fear was designed to stop us. Adrenaline was designed to keep us going. So, I guess that's the real war isn't it? Do we stop and walk away, or do we jump? Either way we'll be scared out of our skin, but only one of those ways do we get to conquer our fear, if only for a moment, before we're crippled by the next thing that scares us.

Hello loves,

If you read my post last Thursday, you'll know I've been in somewhat of a rut the last couple of weeks. If you've not read my post from last week, you can do so here. So, it's Monday now and I feel much more on top of things, so I thought I'd share my little tips on how to get yourself out of a rut and find your fire again.

1) CLEAN YOUR SPACE
If you're anything like me, you find it incredibly hard to stay on top of the cleaning! If your space (e.g your room, office or whole house) is a mess, it really helps to give it a good clean! I know it may seem like an overwhelming task but just take it one room at a time and you'll be done before you know it. A clear space really helps to achieve a clear mind! This is something I'm really trying to improve on, and now I've finally got a clean room, I'm aiming to keep it that way! It also helps to make your bed every morning. You'll be surprised how much cleaner your room looks!

2) LIST EVERYTHING
It really helped me to break everything I had to do down into as many small tasks as possible. I briefly touched on this last week but I'll explain some more now. Writing every small task down may make your list longer, but you'll constantly be crossing things off, making you more motivated to keep going, and consequently increasing your productivity. It also helps if you're particulary struggling with a task, such as an essay, to break it down so you can overcome it one baby step at a time and it doesn't seem like an unachievable task!

3) BREAK THE ROUTINE
Routine can be such a comforting thing that most of us fall victim too, but sticking in a routine for too long can really make you feel trapped. Do something a bit different such as a weekend away or a night out with the girls - get yourself out that house and have some fun, (most) work can wait till Monday! You'll come back on Monday feeling much more refreshed - especially if you're coming back to a clean space!

4) FORGET THE SMALL THINGS FOR NOW
If one of things you've got on your to do list is 'hoover under the bed', FORGET IT. Do the visible things, and the big tasks first. You can shorten your to do list down no end by scrapping all the silly tasks. Don't forget them forever, you can return to them when you're feeling more on top of things.

5) DON'T PRESSURE YOURSELF
There is one thing that all us humans need to realise, no-one has their shit together! Everyone at some point feels like they're in a rut and thats okay! Theres no need to feel bad for it, we've all been there. It's also okay to not come out of your rut straight away, sometimes we need time to take a breath and recuperate. Stay in bed, eat some ice cream, binge on Netflix, work out whatever it is you're going through, but set a day that will be the turning point. It can start with something as easy as getting out of bed earlier, making your bed and having your breakfast. It's all about baby steps!

6) REWARD YOURSELF
If you've been feeling really down, reward yourself everyday! Okay so you didn't get all the laundry done today like you planned, but you got up, made the bed, did the dishes and cooked dinner, good job! Now go make yourself a Gin & Tonic! Criticising yourself because you didn't achieve a million things in one day is only going to put you back in a slump. Reward yourself for the little things, and every day you'll feel better and get a little bit more productive, promise!

You've got this!

Laura xoxo

So, today is the third of March 2017, meaning today is the day that Ed Sheeran dropped his new, much anticipated album 'Divide'. I decided to write a post giving you my honest opinion on each song. I'm not down with all the technical lingo so i wont be able to give you a proper description of the songs, just my opinion. I highly recommend you listen to the album (with tissues and your dancing shoes) to fully understand what I'm on about!

Eraser - For me, Eraser is a progression of classic Sheeran. He truly is an incredible lyricist. Singing about the down sides of the industry and job he's found himself in, I can't help but think Ed is incredibly brave for coming forward and singing in the such true manner that he does, and this continues throughout the album. One thing i really love about this song is the several levels to it, sometimes its just stripped back and raw and then others it's so full on.

Castle on the Hill - where do i start with this little charmer? Singing about growing up in his hometown of Framlingham, Suffolk, Sheeran provides an upbeat song that everyone can relate to from the days they grew up, discussing first kisses, drinking and many more things teens get up to. The song encourages the listener to think back to their own upbringing, and if you're anything like me the song with have you smiling at many points as it reminds you on anecdotes from your youth. The love Ed has for his hometown is beautiful, and the feeling he puts into the song is reflected in his voice in such an impressive manner.

Dive - I really can't think of the way to describe this song! It builds so beautifully and the roughness in Ed's voice is gorgeous. I love all the backing elements we have with this song, and we don't often get them with his songs! The electric guitar we get in the middle adds such a fantastic dimension to the song before kicking back in with the incredible roughness of Eds voice.

Shape of You - I love this! It's so different for Ed! Ed spoke about how he took some convincing to put this on the album, and then more convincing for him to also release it as a single, but i'm so glad he did! I find the song difficult to come to grips because in some ways this is so different for Ed but in other ways it's hard to imagine him not releasing this song, it suites him so well! It's nice that he's released an upbeat song that has already proved to be a hit and is a banger in nightclubs across the globe. Shape of You also provides a nice chilled back listen that the album really needs before the emotional stuff really kicks in.

Perfect - Okay, so who wouldn't have this as their first dance song? I love how much he loves his current girlfriend, and ex-classmate Cherry Seabourne. If i was her i would die a thousand deaths every time i heard this song. It made me an emotional wreck within 10 seconds. It is very 'Thinking Out Loud' in nature but there seems to be so much more truth and personal experience behind this song - i can imagine him getting emotional singing it for some reason? It really is the staple first dance song we all know Ed is great at creating.

Galway Girl - The first of the Irish influenced songs on the album, paying tribute to his paternal grandparents heritage. I can't help but feel disappointed that this isn't the cover of the song 'Galway Girl' from P.S. I Love You that i was expecting, but i like the song non the less. I think this song will grow on me the more I listen to it, because i honestly wasn't huge on it the first time I heard it. It may just be that it combines so many different types of music that i don't know what to make of it, but we'll see.

Happier - A heart breaker, Ed sings of seeing an ex with someone else, a notion many can relate to. The album really explores many different emotions, this song is a complete 180 flip from 'Galway Girl'. However, I think this really shows the diversity this man has and truly does  his talent justice.

New Man - Again, a complete switch from the song before. I like to think of this song as the 'middle finger' of the album. It really is the perfect 'f*** you'. The song is actually also quite lyrically funny, which isn't unusual for Ed. Overall, I love this song, i think it'll be the song i angrily clean my room to when i'm in a bad mood, and by the end of it i'll be having a proper dance.

Hearts Don't Break Around Here - I genuinely don't know how he does it! Another beautiful little love song. The type you slow dance to as you try not to cry and fall apart at how perfect the moment is. Again, you can really feel the love he has for his girl in this song, she's one lucky egg. The impressive thing is how incredibly he manages to put this love into words, because i struggle to name someone who does this as well as him.

What Do I Know? - Bringing the mood back up, this song is just cool I and can't help but have a little boogie to it. For the weirdest of reasons, certain bits of this song remind my of the theme song for 'The Cleveland Show', but that's definitely just me! I'm honestly struggling with stuff to say for this one, just because i can't stop dancing long enough to actually think about it !

How Would You Feel (Paean) - I could be wrong but i believe 'Paean' is a song of a tribute to a certain person, so again, i bet his girlfriend is a puddle of tears every time she hears this. I don't know whether it's insulting to describe this album as a wedding album but it has the perfect mix of upbeat, dancing songs and romantic slow dance ballads that this album would play perfectly at a wedding, (although it is destined for so much more than that!). Perhaps you'd take Happier off the playlist though, the newly weds might not appreciate it. Moving on, again with this sexy electric guitar he keeps bringing into his songs, i blooming love it, it adds a whole other kind of groove to the song.

Supermarket Flowers - I was not emotionally prepared for this song - it is gorgeous. I could be horrifically wrong but i believe this was written about his grandma? The sadness in this song is enough to jerk tears from the most emotionless of people, it's so raw. You song really breaks for Ed when you hear this song, i'm yet to listen to it without crying all the way through. The lyrical break in the middle of this song is hauntingly beautiful and puts in me in a state of awe of every time.

Extended Edition

Barcelona - The furthest switch from Supermarket Flowers, this song is just fun with an incredibly Spanish influence (obviously). I dig Ed singing Spanish in some of this song, even if I don't know what he's saying. I love that it brings in loads of different instruments, it really adds to the fun of the song.

Bibia Be Ye Ye - Again, just pure fun. This is the sort I imagine playing in Nando's (and no that's not an insult!). I love that he only put these song's on the extended edition because that's what they are, a nice little bit of fun at the end, I don't think I'd have liked them if they were in the place of one of the other songs on the normal edition of the album. This is really one to have a boogie and laugh with your best friend too!

Nancy Mulligan - Again, I believe this is about his grandparents and the Irish influence in this song is so much fun and such a refreshing thing to listen to. I need to learn how to Irish dance just for this song, I imagine a large group of people dancing to this at folk festival, it's so much fun and just something so different. This seems like something that would just be sung off the cuff, in the most positive way possible it just seems so busked.

Save Myself - This song is exactly what i needed to here. If you've read my previous blog post about felling overwhelmed, you'll be able to understand why i relate to this song. If you've not read it you can check it out here. I truly believe this is a song that everyone needs at some point. It has such a 'lifting' element, i feel like a massive weight is off my shoulders by the end of the song. This song is like a deep breath of fresh air that we all take to help us through trying times. I honestly think this is one of my favourites, and it is a gorgeous ending to the extended edition.


So that's it! My review of Divide (Extended Edition). I know that some of you will think me being a huge Ed Sheeran fan has made me biased, and it probably has, but i tried my hardest to be as honest as I could in this review. The problem is, it is so hard to critique greatness - which this album is.

Until next time,

Laura xoxo