'tis the season: the christmas tag;

It's been over a week since I last posted, I'm sorry!  I am up to my eyeballs in assignments and study, which leaves very little time for blogging, but I couldn't leave December pass without making a Christmas post!  Christmas is my absolute favourite time of year, for so many reasons.  I love Christmas trees (yes, we have two), Christmas lights, Christmas food, Christmas markets, Christmas weather... and of course, Christmas presents.  So today's post will be a quick 'un, but a good 'un!  Taken from lovely miss Niina @ It Seems Pretty Obvious.


(1) What's your favourite holiday movie?
They're not 'Christmas' movies, but every year I watch Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Bedknobs and Broomsticks on repeat during the holidays.  When I was little, they were played a lot on tv around Christmas time, so they always remind me of that ~magical Christmas feeling~.

(2) What's your favourite Christmas colour?
I know it's not exactly traditional, but purple is my favourite Christmas colour.  One of our trees is decorated in gold and purple, and our Christmas dinner table is decked out in purple too.  Still festive, but it's less gaudy than dousing the house in red and green.

(3) Do you like to stay in your PJ's or dress up for Christmas?
A bit of both!  I always wear new pyjamas Christmas eve to wake up in on Christmas morning.  Then it's into my Christmas finest for visiting family and eating my dinner, and back into pyjamas for lounging around eating crisps and watching tv.

(4) If you could buy one person a present this year who would it be?
I couldn't buy a present for just one person!  I love buying presents for other people, especially when I find something they'd really love.  How could I possibly narrow it down to just one?!

(5) Do you open your gifts on Christmas eve or Christmas morning?
Roughly 5am on Christmas morning.  It's become a sort-of tradition with my sister Chloe and myself.  Up at 5am, wake the rest of the family, open presents, eat fruit pastilles, go back to bed.

(6) Have you ever built a gingerbread house?
No :( I don't think I even know anyone who has.  Does anyone build gingerbread houses in Ireland?  I'm not even sure I like gingerbread!

(7) What do you like to do on your Christmas break?
I just like to relaaaaaxxx.  The weeks leading up to Christmas are always really stressful, with exams and that, and work is always hectic, so I relish the chance to do nothing.  I like to sit and eat and watch tv and not have to worry about a thing.  Well, for a few days at least!

(8) Any Christmas wishes?
To have a few extra days off work!

(9) Favorite Christmas smell?
The smell of a real Christmas tree mmm.  My grandparents always have a real tree (we never do. boo) and it smells delish.

(10) Favorite Christmas meal or treat?
It's not a strictly 'Christmas' food, but every Christmas morning without fail, the whole family meets at my grandparents house to exchange gifts, drink tea, and eat cocktail sausages.  It's my favourite part of Christmas, so in a roundabout way, cocktail sausages and tea is my favourite meal.

(extra question) What's your favorite holiday song?
A little bit typical, but Do They Know It's Christmas? // Band Aid 1984 (note: not Band Aid 20 no no no) is my favourite Christmas song.  Too good.

I tag all of you to answer these questions!  Thanks for reading, and Merry Christmas!

tag: the blogger tag;

So, I've been tagged by the fabulous Miss April Rose to do the blogger tag.  I've never been tagged before and, I dunno, it's nice to feel like I'm actually getting somewhere with this blog.  Before I get too ~emosh~, let's get on with the questions!  Enjoy!

Rules;
(1)  Each person tagged must post 11 random facts about themselves.
(2)  They must answer the 11 questions posted by the previous blogger.
(3)  They must create 11 more questions to ask their tagged bloggers.
(4)  They must tag blogs with 200 followers or less.
(5)  Those bloggers must be told.
(6)  No tag backs.

11 random facts;
(1)  I'm a total hoarder. Seriously.  I collect pointless knick-knacks and can never bring myself to throw anything away.  My room is full of useless things.
(2)  I hate Alicia Keys.  Like, really hate.  Not just her singing, but her as a person.  And Bruno Mars.  And Ed Sheeran.
(3)  Last night, I caught my cat drinking out of the toilet.  And then she tried to lick my face.  Nice.
(4)  I always always chew gum.  Cherry Airwaves or Extra Ice, thanks.
(5)  My car is named Dustin Hoffman.
(6)  I rub the top of my head when I get angry.
(7)  I talk to my pets in a baby voice.
(8)  Today is my last day of being 20.
(9)  Daisies are my favourite flower.
(10)  I wore a brown dress to my debs/prom.  It was fabulous.
(11)  I much prefer 7up free to regualr 7up.


April Rose's questions;

(1)  What is your most embarrassing moment?
Here's the thing,  I don't get embarrassed that easily.  I don't really get embarrassed at all.  I cry watching Hollyoaks all the time?  I guess that counts as embarrassing.

(2)  Who inspires you?
Emmett Honeycutt.  I know he's fictional, but he doesn't care what anyone thinks of him, he always looks on the bright side, and he has swagger for days.  I want to be just like him when I grow up.

(3)  Your favourite shop?
Brown Thomas or LUSH.

(4)  Coke or Pepsi?

'Tis the season, it's always the real thing.

(5)  What is the one beauty product in your life that you will never stop using?

The Righteous Butter.

(6)  What is your favourite smell?
The smell you get walking past/inside a LUSH store. Mmm.

(7)  Where is your current location?

I'm in room IT120, in college.

(8)  What were you doing 3 hours ago?

Sleeping.

(9)  If you had to have toes for fingers or fingers for toes, which would you choose?!
Fingers for toes.  Toes are creepy, I couldn't deal with having them on my hands.  Plus, the foot-fingers could be useful for picking things up and the like.

(10)  What is something you're scared of?
I am a total scaredy-cat.  Lots of things frighten me.  Creepy crawlies, jellyfish, the ocean in general, horses, being electricuted, getting taxis alone...

(11)  What is your favourite makeup brand?
Urban Decay.


My questions;
(1)  Three beauty products you can't live without?
(2)  Three everyday/household items you can't live without?
(3)  What's your favourite radio station?
(4)  What songs are you currently loving?
(5)  What was/is your favourite class at school?
(6)  Can you do a handstand?
(7)  What songs do you sing in the shower?
(8)  Black or blue pen?
(9)  What's your favourite fast-food restaurant?
(10)  What are your favourite baby names?
(11)  Daddy or chips?


My tagged bloggers;
beautybutterflyxo
oliviaryanxo
coleoftheballl33

Thanks for reading!

top tips: your study vs. your job;

As I've mentioned before, I'm currently a full-time student working towards an honours degree, which means lots of exams, lots of assignments, and lots of pressure.  On top of this, I work 20+ hours a week, which leaves me very little time for study.  Every day, I get asked the same question, over and over.  How do you manage it? Well, I'm going to tell you.  Here's my advice for staying on top of your studies while working.

(1) Attendance Attendance Attendance:  This is the most valuable piece of advice I could give you.  I can't stress enough how important it is to attend every class.  First of all, having less time to revise than other students, you might already find yourself falling behind.  Skipping class is only going to add to the growing pile of catch-up work you've to do.  And, if you find yourself really stuck or overwhelmed, lecturers are always more than happy to help, but only if they know you've been attending.  From experience, if you can't be bothered to even turn up, your lecturer won't be bothered to help.

(2) Get to know your lecturer/tutor:  Following on from my last point, make sure your lecturer knows who you are.  Now, I don't mean on a super-personal level, but they should at least recognise your face and name.  Participate in class.  Don't be afraid to ask questions and make comments.  Like I said, lecturers are always happy to lend a hand if they know that you're making an effort.

(3) Google is your friend:  This is something you should do before asking for help.  If you're stuck on an assignment, or you don't understand something in your notes, google it first.  Take note of the results, see if they make sense to you.  Some of them might, others might not.  Then, if you're still stuck, your lecturer will appreciate that you've at least attempted it yourself and it'll give them a better idea of what help/information to give you.

(4) Make every minute count:  Time is of the essence.  There's not a minute to lose.  We all know that you didn't really  need to watch that episode of Antiques Roadshow, and that you took twenty minutes longer than usual to make that cuppa.  Procrastination has no place in this world of study and employment, and you could have easily written 600 words in the time you spent formatting the headings.  If you utilise your free time properly (including before class starts, between classes, free classes, breaks, and those few minutes after college finishes and your job starts) you'll find that you get much more study done than you realised.

(5) Get stuck in:  When it comes to assignments, the hardest part is mustering the motivation to get started.  It's torturous.  Believe me, I know.  But once you get into it, there'll be no stopping you. And don't stop, unless you have to, or you'll have to go through the whole process all over again.

(6) Keep Calm and Carry On:  Finally, don't panic!  Not only does panicking waste valuable time, but it doesn't achieve anything.  All it does is drain your motivation and make you feel like poo.  Stay calm, have confidence in yourself and your ability, and just get on with it.  You'll be graaand.

Do you have any tips for balancing study with work/home life?  Thanks for reading, and good luck!