Merry Christmas!

Christmas Day is almost here: The trees are up and the presents are in. All traditions have been done, however the pavements are damp, the weather is mild and there is no signs of snow coming in time for Christmas. Has the snow affected anyone at all? Has the snow affected YOU at all? Sarah, 21, UK 'I don't feel like it's Christmas at all because of the lack of snow. To me it feels as if it's October' A lot of people may agree with this however others may disagree. Teresa, 48, UK 'I don't mind it not snowing, at least I can now go out and not worry about falling over. I've saw snow fall recently and it was lovely and now it's gone I don't mind. The snow not being there has not changed my festive attitude towards Christmas in the slightest'. I agree with both people as yes the snow can make the festive season a little more special, however I also know how dangerous the ice and snow can be as My phone broke a few years ago from falling over. This year however I seem surprisingly festive, almost as if I'm a young child again. Then again I may be excited because I can actually buy people presents this year! Well please let me know what you think, have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Coca Cola Trucks on Tour!

It's that time of year again where the dark  nights are coming in, Halloween's past and the only thing to look forward to is Christmas. This year however, people of the UK are getting a chance to walk on the cool side and visit the Coca Cola trucks (famously known for their adverts throughout the Christmas period) in which you will be welcomed with a can of Coca Cola of your choice( Diet, Zero or Original).

The trucks are making their way around the full UK so everyone can enjoy the festive fun. As a big fan of the trucks, I just had to see them for myself! I luckily got to the front of the queue for my photo with the trucks quickly as the queue did seem to add up. 'Santa's Little Helpers' let you take a photo yourself or you can get a photo done professionally which will appear on their site to download. For some people this may be the better option as they may want their photo took together.The queues for the free Coca Cola are considered long however, with the truck as your view it's a great opportunity to take some images and to watch some action taking place(i.e, a choir performs during certain journeys). With Christmas songs surrounding you and the joy of others, it really does get the festive spirit all around. Check the website if you are unsure of where it stops near you and remember, 'Holidays are Coming!'

Wednesday's wonder

If this post becomes popular then I will continue to do Wednesday's wonders which will involve something that has been on my mind a lot this week. Just like a small debate amongst each other. And my Wednesday wonder today is:

As I wrote my to do list of my college work, it suddenly hit me how much work college students actually do and then I thought to myself, is it all worth it? Yes, great experiences come with it but is there more important things to life other than our education?

Feel free to comment and I will try and conclude everyone's opinions for next week's Wednesday wonder.

Beat the Blues

It's coming to the end of October and everyone at work and college/university are just wanting a break, I know I am! As the nights are getting darker, people's mood and inspirations are becoming more and more vacant. Whatever you do, don't panic, I'm here to help. So what is it that's making your feel like this? Some say it's tiredness, others say it's just being stuck in the same routine; whatever your problem is, I hope to cover it in this post.

After your long holiday you probably felt refreshed and ready to face anything. Then after your first easy week of going back to work or college/university, you are already beginning to feel the tiredness kick in. Here is a few of my handy tips for all you people on how to get your zzz's. As you may have thought, go to bed earlier however you don't want to go to bed really early one day and end up tossing and turning all night do you? Exactly. Start off with going to bed 15 minutes earlier for 2 days. and once this has been done, repeat it and within a few days you will  be a more relaxed, tired-free you in the morning. To quicken this process, you could possibly go to bed half an hour earlier and read for 15 minutes. It may not seem long but you will be surprised in how much reading in your bed can make you tired. The warmth of the drink and the time it takes to drink complement each other giving you a relaxed feeling and a soon-to-be tired you.

Maybe you you haven't been well or have been feeling slightly down for the past few weeks. Some may say that the perfect pick me up may be a shopping spree, others say its complete relaxation, well here's a few ideas that you will ideally find useful. If you love shopping and love treating yourself but want to save the money then why don't you just get something small. If you have gotten an A in an assignment or if you feel like you deserve a treat then just buy yourself something small from a new coloured nail varnish, or a lovely dessert to have after your hard days work. Although if shopping isn't your thing then don't worry, you can still give yourself a pick me up, without splurging your cash. Having a bath at night relaxes your muscles and makes you feel more refreshed. Face masks and now hair masks are a great way to have you looking and feeling great. If your an old fashioned Brit and just love a good old cuppa then having one before bed will help a great deal. A pick me up doesn't have to be pampering yourself however, it is mainly just 'me' time. If watching your favourite film or baking a cake makes you feel good in any way then go ahead, it's your treat, not mine.

Anyone sick of routine? I know I am. If you feel the same and want a change of scenery then maybe a mini-break could help. Being adventurous can be fun so why don't you put it to the test and look up some mystery weekend breaks? The half term is nearly approaching and if you have no plans then now would be the perfect time to plan that little quaint cottage house you love so much, or that romantic weekend for 2 you have been meaning to do. Whatever you end up doing, you are guaranteed in having a good time and relaxing with your partner as well as all the time you'll have when you get back!

So good luck with your last few days guys and think positive, your holidays are right round the corner!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is just around the corner and before you know it, you will have kids at your door asking for sweets. I remember dressing up in a black bin bag and going all out there whereas now, there are a lot of costumes to choose from where you just dress up and show up on the door. Not as fun as the old times but the effort for the young kids still stands. Halloween tends to be for the younger generation more, however the costumes are becoming more and more available for adults. University parties and college parties are always  on at this time of year. The best thing about these parties is that the more inventive you are with your costume, the better!Anyone who doesn't like to go out can still enjoy Halloween in their homes.

Anyone remember carving in the pumpkins? Well why don’t you have a crack at it and get into the mood of Halloween. Pumpkin carving has been took to the next generation and people now count it as art. So get creative and see who you can create on your pumpkin or go traditional and make the most gruesome one you can.

If you wish to leave your ‘trick or treater’s’ a simple tasty snack then why don’t you make some chocolate apples? One of their 5 a day and I can certainly say that their parents will thank you for it! When you are a student there is so many possible things to do on Halloween, from hosting a party to taking your siblings ‘trick or treating’ or maybe even hanging out at home with a few friends, making some toffee apples each other.

Maybe your wanting to spend some time with your partner? Watching a horror film in the dark couldn’t be any more perfect. Yes it may be scary but at least you have a good reason to hug your boyfriend/girlfriend. Scary films aren’t your thing? Then there’s always action films, either way, it’s a great way to spend your Halloween.

Are Apprenticeships The New Uni?

With the prices of studying at university in the UK going up significantly, will apprenticeships be the majority of teens choice next year? This year is the last year to go to university at £3500 a year. Anyone wanting to apply for 2012 however will now have to pay anything up to £9500 a year. With the price almost tripled, has this put anyone off going to university at all?

Laimis Narsutis,17,who lives in the North East of England, said: "The cost of going to university doesn't really bother me as a lot of jobs these days require a degree and will eventually lead to a better job. "One of the main reasons why I want to go to university is because of the student experience, whereas with an apprenticeship you work all the time. "I think that the people who decide to do an apprenticeship instead of going to university don't really understand that there isn't much difference in before". Laimis added, "Without a degree I think that your limited to certain jobs but I do think that it is important to do what is right for you. "I personally feel that university will let me achieve my goals in employment."

Male,Living in London, said: " Totally depends on the degree your after, if it meant you could possibly get a job quickly after graduating the sort of salary involved then uni is worth it. "It's not the case for everyone, if your after a bit of fun during the 3 years it's to high a price to pay if you have no real ambitions afterwards".

Another student also added: "Don't see how the rise in the fees makes any difference to their financials?! Fees may have increased but the repayments are lower".

So Are apprenticeships really taking over? Apprenticeship are becoming vastly more popular however a lot of people still found pros and cons to going to university. Yes university is expensive however the bursaries and grants are much more. You may want money fast but the course you are interested in may involve you finding work in you chosen area. If you need any more advice on what to do please visit http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk and I'm sure your answer will be waiting.

One,Two,Three...Zumba!

Zumba has hit the nation by storm this year as one of the best workouts to do for your body. Men and Women of all ages have signed up for lessons, bought the fitness videos, signed up for Zumba cruises and parties and have even bought the video games (Wii, Xbox etc.). Zumba is a dance workout which combines dances such as the Salsa, the Cumbria, hip hop and many more. The well known dance workout gets you  using all of your body. First you will start with the lower body,then your abs and eventually your upper body. All of this gets worked out at the same time which means you will burn more calories within the hour. I have always wondered what the big fuss was about it so i have decided to get my Zumba on via the Wii and the sessions to see which was more fun, more challenging and overall, if it works!

To start with I decided to try the Wii console version of Zumba to see how it works and if it was effective or not. After an hour of working out I can certainly say that I had fun. It did take me a few times to learn the steps and the next day my body did feel stiff so I must of gotten a good workout since I stretched before and had a good cool down session too. The only downside to using the Wii was that although there was people on the screen it was quite lonely and if you shook your hips as fast as they did on television then your remote would have fallen out of the belt provided with the game. To buy the game it is roughly £35 at any game store and grocery stores such as Tesco or Sainsburys.

Today I went to one of the Zumba lessons and I was pleasantly surprised how much of an atmosphere there was. The room was filled with positivity and everyone was raring to go with the lessons. The teacher was full with enthusiasm and definitely brought it out of other people. Whenever I couldn't keep up with anything I never felt daft or embarrassed that I messed it up because I felt as if I wasn't the only person who was getting confused. It is much harder to do in a lesson although the outcome will be much better. The music is the same in the lessons although you get more of an understanding of how to perform the moves correctly. The lesson I went to today was at my College which only cost £1 whereas at a gym the lessons may vary, depending on how many are in the class etc..

If anyone was unsure about whether to try Zumba or not then I would definitely give it a shot as I was unsure and now I love it. If you would like company then I would recommend the lessons however if your shy about your body then try the video game or the workout DVD. Then if you feel that you could face a lesson then do so as they company will be an advantage and you may possibly make some new friends while your there! It's a win win situation, so what are you waiting for? Try Zumba today and I can guarantee you, that you'll have a blast.

Don't Break Your Piggy!

I went to the town earlier this week to buy my dinner when I realised I hadn't enough money.Is it just me or is everything starting to become more expensive? Have no fear, I've found a solution to all of you financial problems.

Us girls like to shop yeah? Well if you always feel like you need some retail therapy then look no further. Being a student can have its benefits in this area with 10% of here and 10% off there but not everything has to have a small percentage off. Any fans of Dorothy Perkins clothes needn't look further as if you have a student card then you are allowed to use it on sale items. The only time you are unable to use your card is if there is an event such as, 'everything 30%off'.

If you aren't a student then don't worry as Primark will always have the latest trends at very reasonable prices and T.K.Maxx gives you the opportunity of wearing brands but without the expense, what more could you need?

Not everyone likes to spend their money on shopping though, they prefer to spend it on food and social events. If this seems more like you then your not alone;I love my food, sweet food in particular. What I find is that the best way to not buy food out is to either have a meal before you go out which isn't always enjoyable if the food's boring but that's where you come in.

Why don't you try and buy yourself a cookbook? In the book you will find loads of different recipes that you can make and maybe even end up making something new for yourself. This is especially useful when you don't know where to go to eat with someone ( boyfriend/girlfriend, or friends in general). If you cook a meal for your partner they will see you as utterly sweet however if you both work together and make something, you both will be having fun and will be getting to know each other more and it's all for free. Maybe your with your friends? Then make a 'Come Dine With Me' themed night and each week go to one another's house and see who is the best cook or make a meal all together and have a goggle in the process. Whatever you do it's a win win situation.

Anyone just want to save in general? I know the feeling. I spent months trying to save up for a college trip and I eventually got the money I needed. To be honest, I probably wouldn't of got it all if it wasn't for this site. www.vouchercodes.com is a site that allows you to print off any deals that may interest you or the site will give you the code( for example, you would get a code for asos.com) . The amount of vouchers you can get is unbelievable. From Argot to Frankie and Bennies, and the variety can be so big also, such as Homebase to New Look. I can guarantee everyone that there will be a voucher on this website that someone will be interested in.

Good luck in your savings and remember, don't break your piggy!

Back to School

School, college or university, all of their long 6-8 weeks of holidays is finally coming to an end. Some people have tried things they would never have imagined while others just cruised by and let time pass them by. At the very beginning of each year who doesn't decide to change something about their school/college/uni lifestyle? It's almost like a New Years Resolution. Some people always want to change something for the following year and here's a few of the top most wanted lists.This year I will...

Try harder at studying. Yes some people may have not got what they wanted so they want to try extra hard this year in getting what they want while others just want to maintain their brilliant grades, maybe get even better. At the moment this is one of mine, purely because I was so close to the above grade.

Look much better. Some people could see this as looking more 'together' and stylish although some guys may think to themselves 'I shall grow a beard' or 'I will look more clean shaven'. Some of the girls may even try new make-up and hair ideas also just because they are sick of what they used to look like, wearing the same type of thing everyday. It's a good thing to try although it is harder than everyone thinks. Some people also try and look better as in losing weight, putting on weight so when they go back people can shower them with compliments but to lose or gain a significant amount of weight takes pure determination.

Prioritise my time better. This one is very similar to trying harder at studying however I feel that this would be used for all aspects of your life, ie, college, friends, job etc. If you try your hardest and don't succeed on this one then it could leave quite a scar behind. I always try to do this one but everything always ends up getting on top of me and that makes me even more stressed.

Eat healthier. Yes, it's all their at the back of our minds. Since we're all away from our parents at this time, most people like to opt for the more unhealthy option of junk food and takeaways. Unless you have a packed lunch however which shows that you are trying to be healthier in some sense. Some people may eat healthy all week then one day just eat what you want. In my college, my group used to have something called 'Take out Thursdays' were we would all chip in and get some dominoes pizza delivered to the college. One of my friends gets a McDonalds every Wednesday. Yes these lot are good as treats but if this becomes a habit your body will know what to expect a certain day which won't do you metabolism any good.

So if any of the top ideas seem like something you have come up with then I wish you all the best because like I pointed out it's not easy to change our habits and you need stamina and determination to keep it up.

Who goes? You decide

It's that time of year when the Big Brother roommates give their first nominations. So who goes you say? This week up for nomination is Pamela and Darren. Pamela Bach Hasselhoff got the most votes out of the full house with 7 nominations, making her the most unpopular. The Baywatch actress has been known in the house for interrupting conversations, ignoring people and showing no sense of team work. Some housemates claim that she's 'away with the faeries', while others say that 'she's just getting to me'.

Darren, also known as 'The Paperazzo' is well known in the house for taking control of the kitchen, holding onto the shopping list for dear life and telling the Jedward twins what they can and can't do.  Darren got 5 nominations this week which led him heading straight into the publics grasp. If I could have nominated I would easily have said Pamela and Bobby purely because Pamela doesn't seem like a team player and she confuses me and Bobby was out of line making Darren drink his sweat, but it isn't up to me. so who goes? You decide...

Yoga v The World

I've always wondered what the big fuss about yoga was. To me it's like Marmite, you either love it or hate it. Yoga is an ancient Indian exercise that is supposed to give a spiritual insight and tranquillity. It is known that if you do yoga once a week, you are supposed to become less stressed.Some people say they don't feel like they're getting a workout, while others say it's good for the soul and makes you feel less stressful. So I've officially decided to give it a go  and see how I do.

At first it didn't seem to do anything but after a while if you really try your hardest it is slightly relaxing and you do feel more flexible. It seems less stressful having the concept that you have done some exercise today although it does leave a vibe that is refreshing and that sets you up for the day. I can see how people think that it's spiritual since you have to concentrate on your breathing and stretching. I will try it for two weeks and hopefully I can feel a change within my mood. I can certainly say that it makes you much more flexible, although I can certainly say that If you haven't stretched before you do it, you will ache the next day. If you haven't tried yoga yet then it's a definite must.

Let the features begin!

Welcome to the first post of featuresque. Within this blog I will try and contain as much useful and entertaining articles as I possibly can and make them visually interesting and intriguing as possible. If there's anything you would like to see on this blog then please just leave a comment and I'll consider your ideas. Featuresque shall involve articles on everyday subjects as well as necessity things such as recipes for students, how to have a money free weekend, career decisions and a lot more. Enjoy my blog and feel free to write your opinions on the bottom if you wish,

Charlotte