Homesickness: Elle's Experience and Advice ♡

So September is coming to an end, a month of change for many. Many of you have begun your transition from the comforts of your childhood home to the world of freedom that is College Life. Some of you may have adjusted easily, others not so much. This time last year, unfortunatly, I did not adjust, and I'm here to share with you my experience to help you out.

After opening my Leaving Cert results and the realization hit me that I had made it to college, I was absolutely delighted, I began packing almost immediately, I couldn't wait to move in to my new home and begin a new chapter of my life. All those happy emotions quickly changed on my first night there. I'm quite a shy person to start with and last year I never really went out partying to the extent that everyone else did, so living in student accommodation should have set alarm bells ringing from the very beginning. I remember lying in bed on my first night on my own in my room, loud music blaring from every apartment around me, people shouting outside my window, and one guy even deciding to use the bush outside my window as his own personal toilet - yuck! I remember walking to college on my first day trying to fight back the tears that resulted from tiredness, homesickness, and thinking to myself 'Why me? Why can't I fit in and adjust?'. My housemates were lovely and very easy to get on with but unfortunatly we just didn't spend enough time together, and we all just ended up staying in our rooms. I lived for the weekends where u could just go home and be with my family, and be in familiar surroundings. After that first night I'd say I stayed there only about 11 more times and each of those times I experienced the same thing. I spent from September to November staying at friends houses who lived at the other side of the city and staying with my aunty who lived half an hour away from the city, and only using my apartment as a place to keep all my stuff, but the extent that I had to go to was worth it! Finally in November I took a stand and moved out of the place that caused me so much emotion and I moved in with my best friend who luckily had an extra bed in her room. From that moment on I was happy, I began to enjoy college life and I really began to mature and change for the better. 

Obviously there is more to that story but it's a very long path in my life that I'd rather forget. Nevertheless that chapter in my life shaped me and inspired me to be the person I am today. I have gained a lot if experience from that period of time that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

For those of you who struggle with homesickness, I know what you are going through and it does get better, trust me. Surround yourself with friends and good times! Everyone gets homesick, whether they show it or not. I know it feels like your the only one exoeriencing it and that you feel like the odd one out, well your not. There are many others going through the same emotions as you, some just find it easy to hide it that's all. 

If any of you are feeling homesick at all and need somebody to talk to then email us at ellebeelooks@gmail.com , we'd be delighted to hear from you ♡

Until next time...

Elle (Lorna) xxx

College - Tips and Essentials ♡

So whether your like me and are heading back for yet another fun filled year of college, or you're just beginning on your adventures, I have some essential tips for you, including style, organisation, food, money, etc... I'm also going to give you a sample list of essentials needed to start you off ♡

1. Money and Budgeting

Yes I know I'm such a typical commerce student budgeting my money but honestly you really need to. You need to sit down at the start of each week putting aside food money, rent money, electricity money, etc... For 1st years this is particularly necessary as you need to get used to the transition from having food, toilet roll, electricity, etc.. at your fingertips, to having to provide all this by yourself. Also for those of you who come from a small town like myself and are also shopping obsessed like myself I'll warn you that it is quite hard to refrain from spending that odd hour off engrossed in the large clothes stores being tempted to spend that precious money ♡

2. Food

While quite an obvious essential it can be the most difficult at times, the main difficulty being 'what to buy' and 'what to cook for dinner'. I remember spending my 1st month or 2 ringing my mom every night asking her what I should make for dinner! Over the next 2 weeks I advise maybe making a list of simple, cheap recipes you could make throughout the college year because you'll be making life a whole lot easier for yourself! Also I know fast food restaurants are so tempting but please do try and refrain from ordering them on a weekly or even daily basis! They'll leave you feeling full and tired, and you'll find it very hard to concentrate throughout your lectures.

3. Organisation

You need to learn to keep yourself organised in 2 regards. 

First off you need to keep up with your studies. College is not easy and is very different to secondary school, you don't have someone there to tell you what to do or give you homework, it's very much self orientated. I advise working continuously, doing a bit every night and giving yourself the weekend off. I also advise learning what technique works for you best early on in the year - some people love taking notes during lectures on their laptop, while others (like me) love handwriting theirs. I did this and there was no need to cram anything the night before exams, instead I think I relaxed, watched movies and had an early night, and I was thrilled with my results. 

Finally you need to respect the ones you live with by keeping the place relatively tidy. You're not at home anymore, you're either living with complete strangers or your friends, either way they deserve to be respected. Wash up after yourself, help out in the housework and if they need peace and quite to study then don't deprive them of that. There's nothing worse than living in a mess created by somebody else, trust me I know because last year I moved out of student accommodation and in with my friends over the other side of the city because of it (but that's a story for another time).

4. Fashion Advice

In the fashion world college is a fresh start. It's a time to leave behind all those style errors you made in the past and concentrate on the new you. College is where you will develop your own sense of style and not just follow the crowd. You'll find yourself experimenting with different trends, and paying attention to others around college and admiring their style. I only began to develop my style this summer, which I would call classy shabby chic ♡

List of items you may or may not need for the day you move up. (I'm going to categorize this into rooms to make it easier.)

Kitchen

♡ Food (remember breakfast, lunch and dinner) 

♡ Don't forget essentials such as cooking oil, butter, milk, salt, sugar, teabags, coffee)

♡ Always check and see if you are required to provide your own cutlery, bowls, plates, saucepans, etc..

♡ Tea towel, sponges, cloths, kitchen roll

♡ Detergents: Counter top stray, washing up liquid, dishwasher tablets, washing machine detergent

♡ Sweeping brush, and dustpan and brush

♡ Bin bags

Bathroom

♡ Toilet roll (you'll be surprised how often you'd forget to buy it :L)

♡ Detergents: Toilet Bowl Cleaner

♡ Hand towel, shower towel, hair towel

♡ Air freshener

♡ Shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, soap, tooth brush, tooth paste

♡ Bath and toilet mats

♡ Nail clippers, tweezers

Bedroom

♡ Always check and see if your required to provide your own blankets, sheets and pillows (usually you are)

♡ Doorstops, they come in handy especially for student accommodations where the doors are very heavy and designed to stay closed

♡ Picture frames with photos of your nearest and dearest (it helps make you feel at home)

♡ Maybe bring up a teddy or something to make you feel at home

♡ Clothes, socks, knickers, pyjamas and shoes

♡ Clothes hangers

♡ Desk lamp if you need one

♡ Alarm clock

♡ Laundry bag or basket

♡ Dressing gown and slippers (you'll be surprised how much you'll wear it for warmth and comfort)

♡ Mirror 

♡ Storage boxes and bins

Etc..

♡ Sewing kit - comes in handy, you'll be surprised

♡ First aid kit - plasters, sudocream

♡ Umbrella - it's a long walk to college in the rain

♡ Laptop

♡ DVD player and DVDs for those comfy nights in with your housemates

♡ Chargers

♡ Hair dryer, straightener, curler, brush, comb, hair spray, hair pins, hair ties

♡ Makeup, cleanser, toner, moisturiser, facewash

♡ Panadol/Nurofen for headaches

♡ Pencils, pens, rulers, notepads, folders

♡ School bag/big handbag, pencil case, purse

♡ Good, warm and proper raincoat

♡ Passport or driving licence, you NEED one of these to collect your student ID. Age card, etc is no good.

♡ Stapler, hole puncher, poly pockets, sticky notes, Sellotape, scissors

You may or may not need all of these items, but I said I'd give a list of everything you possibly could need to make packing for college that little bit easier!

I can truly say college is so far one of the best experiences of my life and I'm so looking forward to going back and catching up with all the new friends I've made. It's known that the friends you make in college will stay your friends for life and I believe that's true. I've a lovely bunch of girls in college who I'd be lost without, and I hope you too will have one ♡

I hope this blogpost has helped you in someway, and I'd love to hear some feedback? 

Love,

Lorna xxx