Friday 22 April 2016

NEAR THE END

Near the End!


For those who have me on social media, you will know I am currently studying an English Language and Literature degree with The Open University. I adore studying with this organisation, and I feel its opened some fantastic doors for me over the past 7 months. However, I have recently reached a rather stressful patch in my studies as I am nearing the end of my first module.

I began my journey with The Open University by enrolling myself on my first year, first module "The Arts Past and Present" course in October 2015. This course finishes on May 19th, WOOP WOOP! Yet, me being unsatisfied with keeping my work load fairly straightforward, picked up my second first year module "Voices, Texts and Material Culture" in February 2016, which doesn't reach completion until September 2016. Not only does this mean I do not get any summer break (Year 2 modules begin in October), but it means I have reached the tricky period where I am struggling through my EMA writing process whilst juggling this second module.


Currently, all my spare time is revolving around taking notes, highlighting and planning for my final assignment which comprises of an 'EMA'. I have little over 3 weeks to complete this and hand it in, and I feel I am massively running out of time. There just isn't enough hours in the day! So I felt I would share with you some key tips and tricks I have learnt over the past 7 months to stay on track and relax myself during stressful periods. I hope this helps!
  1. KEEP YOUR NOTES ORGANISED - There is nothing worse when preparing for a large assignment than battling with hundreds of pieces of paper. It makes life much more difficult. Although it can be time consuming to organise everything as you are going along, but if you keep your notes in check throughout the module, it will save so much time and stress in the long run.

  2. PAGE NUMBERS, PAGE NUMBERS, PAGE NUMBERS - When taking notes, the easiest thing to forget is writing down page numbers of where you get your information from. I have forgotten so many times and have spent the majority of my essay-planning time searching through textbooks to see where the information is to reference. Don't make things harder for yourself than it needs to be. Remember!

  3. TIME LIMIT - Always put in place a time limit every day, of when you will stop studying. Usually, my time limit is around 8pm. This is so important to ensure you don't overwork yourself which will result in little to none information being understood. Turn your laptop off, shut your text books and opened a novel or watch the TV instead for the evening.

  4. DE-CLUTTER - Going back to organisation, I feel its important to have a tidy work desk to have a tidy mind. Who can work with paper, pens and post-its covering their desk? I certainly can't. Being organised and tidy makes essay writing so much more simple.

  5. BREAK IT DOWN - How many times have you stared at a question and not understood a word of what its asking you? I bet hundreds. Nobody can understand large passages of texts or complicated questions on first glance. I will take my best friend, the trusty highlighter, and highlight the key points in the question. Once I have done this, I will clarify any points I am unsure about with my tutor. Spending your time doing this, will help break down the question and what its asking you to do making it more simple to understand and therefore, answer.

  6. FUN - The worst thing when trying to write an essay, is when you focus on it for so long you can see lines in front of your eyes. Every once in awhile, I feel its important to go out and have some fun! Whether this be meeting friends, going out for lunch or even going for a walk around your local park. The benefits of stepping away from your study desk for half an hour, completely outweigh the feeling of "Oh my gosh, I'm not doing work". You will come back with far more concentration than you left with, ready to tackle the essay again.


Love,
Hannah x

Thursday 21 April 2016

SPRING DAYS

SPRING DAYS!

Firstly, I wanted to apologise for the lack of activity on my blog over the past month. From starting a new job, to struggling with the up-coming end of my University module, I have had little to no time to blog! I've hated being so busy when the weather has been gorgeous! There is nothing I would rather do than read a good novel in the sun, with the view of our blossom tree blooming in the garden. Yet, as I have an end-of-module assignment due in little over 3 weeks, any moment where I can catch the sun is welcomed. I just hope this beautiful weather is giving us a snapshot of what we should expect from summer this year.

With the start of spring well and truly here, I felt it was important to take onboard the motto "Out with the old. In with the new" in all aspects of my life. Firstly, I did this by succeeding in getting a new job!
Having applied for an interview at the beginning of the year, I never thought my anxiety would have allowed me to complete a 4 hour training session and actually go through with beginning a new job - a scary experience for anybody, even without the added stress of anxiety. But once again, with the support from family and friends, I proved to myself that I can conquer anything I put my mind to. It hasn't been easy and I have spent several mornings physically being sick before heading out the house for work, but I finally feel comfortable in my amazing work place with my brilliant colleagues who are all so supportive. I still have moments in my new job where my anxiety takes over and I wonder why I pushed myself, causing so much extra stress. However, I know the benefits of going to work and pushing myself far outweigh the stressful moments. As each day I push myself, I know I am beating my anxiety and getting stronger overall in my mental state. I have managed to achieve something I never thought possible, even 6 months ago - working and feeling like an "ordinary" 19-year old. I feel with the start of spring, I am finally on my road to becoming more settled in my mental health, with more good days than bad days, after 6 years of struggling with crippling anxiety and panic attacks. Who wouldn't feel more settled when your work place looks like this?!!?!?


 With Spring and "new beginnings" came the chance to start afresh and begin spending more time with my family, something that I didn't feel well enough to do before. I love my weekly lunch dates and coffee mornings with my Mum, a chance when the two of us can sit down and enjoy each others company without the stresses of every-day life ruining communication between us. Over the past 6 years, she has been my absolute rock, and continues to take everything I throw at her on my worst days. I wouldn't have got to the position I am in at the moment, being able to enjoy lunch dates and quality time, without her continuing support. Now, I look forward every week to our coffee sessions!



After watching a poignant video by Carli Bybel on clothes recycling and the importance of helping our planet, I felt inspired and influenced by the meaning of spring, to de-clutter my bedroom cupboards, wardrobes and dresser...to make space for the new of course!! Anybody who hasn't watched the video I'm commenting on, please find the link here. It really put me into the spirit of rummaging through my wardrobe and removing the clothes that perhaps don't fit, that I haven't worn in forever, or I just didn't really like in the first place when I purchased. I also felt having a de-cluttering session really helped clear my mind and not just wardrobe space. I used it as the chance to re-organised my room and make my space more me-friendly in order to create a perfect study-come-relaxing room which I love being in, whilst doing some good for the planet and recycling my unwanted items.

My overall message in this post is to think about what things in your life you wish to change and instead of whinging about it, MAKE the changes and improve your lives.

Love,

Hannah x

Friday 25 March 2016

Pond Photography

Pond Photography

It's been a gorgeous day today, so I decided to take my Nikon out with me and record my day. Enjoy!


Love, Hannah

Thursday 24 March 2016

NEW AVON Perfectly Matte Lipstick review!

NEW AVON Perfectly Matte Lipstick review!

Having seen the new Avon campaign on the television, promoted by several YouTuber's and Bloggers, I thought I would test out the new "more matte than Mac" lipstick. I've seen brilliant things about this lipstick as it's supposed to be highly pigmented and long-lasting. I ordered this lipstick in two shades, "Peach Flatters" and "Red Supreme". I have two similar colour lipsticks by Mac, which I thought I would compare with.




My first comparison is between Mac Red and Avon Red Supreme. As you can see, Avon definitely lives up to their promise as being "more matte than Mac". Without a doubt, I prefer the Avon red lipstick compared to the Mac due to the feel and look on the lips. Although a matte shade, Red Supreme by Avon is far creamier when applying. I tend to find red shades rather difficult to apply due to the bold colour, but Avon's red was perfect. It was easy to apply, I find it stays on for the majority of the day (yet residue is left on cups, etc) and the matte consistency is better compared to Mac's matte shade. I also find it darker than Mac Red, which is my preferal in a red lipstick.


Peach Flatters is a rather more pink shade compared to the neutral Velvet Teddy by Mac. Compared to Velvet Teddy, I found Peach Flatters was definitely more buildable, with the
colour becoming more vibrant with the more layers put on - this makes it very versatile. However, I do prefer the shade of "Velvet Teddy" in this comparison, purely because it is more of a brown shade in comparison to the pink of the Avon lipstick. Again, Avon's Peach Flatters lipstick is very matte, I was not expecting it to be AS matte as it was. It clings nicely to the lips and brightens up any make up look! I find Velvet Teddy by Mac a little too drying for my liking, so I 100% prefer the Avon matte alternative which like Red Supreme, is silky and smooth when applying. I find Mac lipsticks sometimes fairly rough on the lips during application, so in terms of formula, I again, prefer the Avon "more matte than Mac" lipstick!

The Avon lipsticks are a fantastic, affordable comparison to Mac lipsticks and I would recommend them to everyone looking for a more budget product which is equally high in quality!

Love, Hannah

Wednesday 16 March 2016

Open University Q&A

Open University Q&A

After the overwhelming response to my previous blog post regarding The Open University, I have decided to do a collaboration with Christine Grant from pandaramablog.wordpress.com. We both have very difference experience with the Open University. Christine studies Science and is nearing the end of Level 2. However, I study English and I am half way through Level 1. There is also an age difference and a location difference between us.
We will be focusing on our experience of work load, discipline, how we spend our assigned “breaks”, social life and our experience with tutorials/day schools. Hopefully this will be of some help to students who are unsure about beginning with The Open University, or with students who are already members but need some advice.

Q. What is your experience of work load?

Christine = All my OU materials are online, which makes it feel more intensive. I’m studying S215 which I started then deferred, so my workload consists of 13 topics, 6 TMA’S, 2 iCMA’s and a 3 hour exam. I also have a practical block along with a residential school which you have to pay for separately, on top of other fees. However, this wasn’t a viable option for me due to my location, so I attended the online interactive version which, although is designed specifically for this purpose, made me feel rather isolated as I wanted to get physical hands on experience. My work load is intense, but some of the topics are split into parts, for example, Topic 5 is Chemical Kinetics which is split into 4 parts. I usually have a week to do each part, so every week, you’re working on something new which means if I get stuck on something, it’s very easy to get behind. This work load doesn’t lay off for TMA’s, so the week a TMA is due you still have an entire section to go through.
I loved Level 1 – the amount of work as a lot, but more manageable. It seemed to be more widespread. I studied S104 which was 8 topics and I managed far better. Level 2 was a sudden increase in difficulty and work level, which may just be for the sciences

Hannah = I have a very different experience, compared to Christine, when it comes to work load. As I’m only 6 months into Level 1, I haven’t experienced the sharp increase in difficulty or workload yet. In terms of part-time and full-time study however, I can shed some light. I began in October 2015 on a part-time course, only picking up 1 module. With this option, I found I had too much free time on my hands and ended up with the feeling that I felt I SHOULD be doing something more. Because of this, in February 2016 I chose to pick up my second module, therefore becoming a full-time student. In the first few weeks, I have noticed a large increase in my work load, as I am studying 43 topics, with a combined 13 TMA’S and one 3 hour exam. But, I’m finding this amount of work still manageable providing I stay organised and continue studying, even when I don’t want to! Before starting a full-time course, I think it’s important to fully understand the commitment you are taking on, as although manageable, if you don’t feel you have the adequate time to accommodate your studies, you will fall behind. I study at a rate of 2 chapters per week, sometimes more if it’s an “assignment week” and I have submitted my TMA’s, or if the chapters are fairly simple and short.
Q. How do you manage to discipline yourself?
Christine =If I’m honest, I do struggle as I am naturally scatter brained and unstructured – the master of procrastination! But I just have to tell myself, tonight I’m going to study 10 pages, and sometimes once studying, I find myself doing one more page and keep going. However, other nights I will sit down after making myself a cup of tea and cleaning the house, having avoided studying. I also use a time-management app which you can set for an alarm to go off every 15 minutes. So will study for 15 minutes, have a 5 minute break, and continue in this pattern. In terms of my study space, I am very organised. I use lots of colour coding and I use yellow coloured paper, with my fiancés dyslexic over-lays to help read print outs – this helps me study for longer period of times.
Hannah= Again, I am in complete contrasts with Christine. I find my brain is fairly ordered and structured, making life simpler when it comes to studying. Of course, I have those days where I don’t want to pick up a textbook and procrastinate, but I find these are few and far between. I am very organised in terms of head space and study space, needing to compete the tasks I have set myself on time. I set my own deadlines for my work, in-keeping with my study planner on the OU website, to ensure I complete the necessary work on time. I usually work in larger chunks compared to Christine, as I find I am more able to focus that way. I may work for an hour continuously, before having a small break. Overall, I think creating my own deadlines has worked well in keeping me disciplined in my studies.
Q. How do you spend your assigned breaks? (Spring Break, Winter Break, etc)
Christine= I have a meditation room in my house where I go and listen to music quietly when I need a break from studying. I also do regular Yoga as I find certain poses help when I am stressed out or finding something particular troubling. Over the assigned breaks, I usually find myself catching up on my studies, but I’m getting married next year so I am already planning my summer holidays! At Christmas I usually give myself a week off to tidy all my stuff away and make sure I am prepared to start again. Through Easter and October I just keep studying so I have a safety net in case something doesn’t go to plan.
Hannah= In terms of my assigned breaks, I tend to find myself in the same boat as Christine. I use my breaks to catch up on missed chapters, prepare for assignments and have a general organisation of study space. Although I am less worried and focused on studying, I do find myself itching to pick up a textbook by mid-week! For the up-coming Easter break, I will be spending my time prepping and writing TMA’s, as I have 4 due in April. I find the breaks perfect for this, as they are a chance for me to get ahead, leading to a less stressed-out Hannah in the long run.
Q. What do you think of The Open University’s social life?
Christine= I’ve found that although there is an OU Scotland and OUSA page, there is little done for anything North of Glasgow, which is a 6 hour round trip for me via train. So as a North Scotland student, I find it isolating. Sometimes I find a great group of students who don’t mind skyping and having “revision” sessions, but in my last module, I posted on the forum asking if anybody wanted to get together for a meet-up and gained no replies. I did have the chance of attending a residential in Brighton for a week, which was amazing because it included night classes to aid you in maths or things you were interesting in. I also had the chance of meeting fellow students.
Hannah= I live in the South of England, in Oxfordshire, putting me in the perfect location to London and Milton Keynes. This means I have plenty of meet-ups and study sessions near me, and nowhere is really too far to travel to these. I’ve also found the Facebook groups invaluable for my social life. I enjoy being able to interact with the other students on there, posting questions and receiving answers very quickly. I have met two of my closest friends via the Facebook groups, which I am very thankful for. I don’t find myself isolated in one bit, but I think the socialising aspect of The Open University depends on your location, even though the OU try their best to accommodate everyone.
Q. What is your experience of day schools/tutorials?
Christine= For tutorials, only my first module had physical ones where I went to Aberdeen University (a 3 hour round trip) for an hour. Since then, everything has been done online through illuminate/blackboard, where the tutorials are 1-2 hours, usually at night, and record so you can go back and listen to them as often as you want. There has never been any day-schools that I have been aware of. Sometimes people will organise an informal get together but due to distance, I’ve never been able to go. Revision weekends are also arranged, but again, they are all based around Milton Keynes.
Hannah= Again, due to my location, I have had a different experience with day schools and tutorials. For my first module, I have a 2 hour tutorial at Oxford Brookes University (only a 20 minute drive from my house), every month. My second module however, only has 3-4 tutorials in the whole course, but more online interactions. I have only been able to attend one tutorial and it was so worthwhile going. It enabled me to interact with other students and meet my tutor, whilst also receiving extra help on my module content. My local day school is in Reading, (45 minutes on the train) which I haven’t been able to attend, but it’s great I have the choice to as it’s fairly close by.

Big thanks to Christine for collaborating on this with me! Please check out her blog!
Love, Hannah

Sunday 13 March 2016

Breaking the Stereotype

Breaking the Stereotype

Being a student with The Open University entails masses of work behind the scenes which people tend not to realise, and although I had thoroughly investigated this beforehand, it definitely took me by complete surprise.
I have had conversations with several people regarding my decision to become a member of The Open University, especially when I first came upon the decision during the end of my Sixth Form life. Many of my friends were planning on attending “brick” universities – I was over the moon for them, but this just wasn’t the pathway I wanted for my life and my career. As a matter of fact, I didn’t actually know what I wanted until I began my studies in October 2015. Some may say at nearly 19 years of age, this is rather late in your academic life to begin thinking about possible career paths, and it wasn’t as though I hadn’t thought about them, in comparison to, I hadn’t decided on which path was most suited to me.
It blew me away, the amount of people who made comments such as, “Do you get a real degree?” “But this is only a practice run for Uni, isn’t it?” “Surely that is so much easier than a ‘normal’ university?” Before I begin to answer these questions, I think it’s important to define what a ‘normal’ university actually is. Trust me, you will get many responses to this. You can use the Dictionaries definition of a University:

 “an institution of higher learning providing facilities for teaching and research and authorized to grant academic degrees; specifically :  one made up of an undergraduate division which confers bachelor's degrees and a graduate division which comprises a graduate school and professional schools each of which may confer master's degrees and doctorates”

But, in simpler terms, here is how I would define a university;
  •   Enables you to gain a degree through study and research
  • Enriches your knowledge and understanding
  • Broadens your capabilities 
  •   Something that makes you more aware of the society around you
  •    A place to carve friendships and develop social skills 
  •     A place of diversity, which is challenging and rewarding
Honestly, I can’t imagine a university, better equipped than The Open University to fulfil my definitions. If this is the case however, then why do I (and many other OU students), still get plagued with the same questions regarding its authenticity as a place of higher education?
The answer is simple: STEROTYPES.
Before I had established an opinion or an understanding of what The Open University entails, I sat on this high-horse of judgement, creating a personal stereotype about how this type of distance-learning works. It’s bound to be easier right? WRONG. Now-a-days, I think it’s wrong to assume that the only way to carve a successful career for yourself is in the shape of these “brick” universities who have specialised tutors, guidance in the form of lectures and end-of-year examinations. Not forgetting the prestigious status of being a member of “The University of….”. Suffering with anxiety, I did look into attending a ‘normal’ university before coming to the realisation that it just wasn’t for me – attending lectures for hours at a time, each and every day, was not something I could have managed at that time in my life. If I’m brutally honest, YES, I did believe The Open University would be the ‘easy option’ of achieving a degree – something which I soon realised would not be the case.
I am enrolled on 2 modules currently - each module lasts about 6 months (AA100 & A105 will make up YEAR 1). Combining both these modules, I have a total of 10 books, all with corresponding Audio CD/DVD’s. This breaks down into 41 chapters of reading, with an additional 7 set books. All this work, including 14 assignments and 1 exam, in less than 12 months.
Not to mention the fact it is completely independent, with little help from your assigned tutor unless you request it.
An Open University student, compared to a “brick” university student, has the struggle of teaching themselves the entire module. We have the challenge of having little direct tutor contact, unless we decide to email or call for help. This means as a student, we have to unravel any mis-understandings ourselves, or through a forum pathway. We have tutorials at our local university campuses about once a month (some modules may have only 3 a year) where we are taught specific pieces of module material to aid our knowledge. On the other hand, a “brick” university have constant teaching lectures to help with their studies.
It’s a challenging process, but one that I am very glad I have taken. The main point of this blog post, is as the title suggests – a chance to break the stereotypes that seem to be connected to the OU. I have met some of the most hard-working, diligent and conscientious people through my studies, who have come across challenges and pushed through them. Yet we are still classed as the lazy university. Trust me, we are anything but.  
Love, Hannah

Saturday 12 March 2016

My current favourite bloggers!

My current favourite bloggers!

There is nothing I love more than spending endless hours scrolling through lifestyle/travel/fashion/beauty blogs. I love seeing the adventures of others, their top beauty picks and their recommendations! Each blog I read is different to the other, which makes a long afternoon reading them, very enjoyable. I particularly like these blogs as I also watch these women on YouTube, which is how I was directed to their successful blogs. I adore watching their every-day lives appear infront of me. They are all beautiful and inspiring women, who make me want to become a better version of myself.





Emily Canham: http://www.emilycanham.co.uk/ (My absolute favourite Vlogger!)
Tanya Burr: http://www.tanyaburr.co.uk/ (She's gorgeous & her photos are stunning!)
Helen Anderson: http://www.helenanderz.com/ (I love her originality!)
Victoria: http://www.inthefrow.com/ (The fashion guru!)
Freddy: http://www.freddymylove.co.uk/ (Completely flawless & obsessed with pink!)
Amelia Liana: http://amelialiana.com/ (Adore her YouTube Favourite videos!)
Fleur De Force: http://www.fleurdeforce.com/ (Fantastic for makeup product recommendations/ disappointing products reviews!)
Lucy and Lydia: http://www.lucyandlydiablog.blogspot.co.uk/ (I love their obsession with Disney!!)

Take a look, and I hope you fall in love with these amazing women as much as I have!

Love, Hannah