Coping with Exam Stress

As it's April, tests are just around the corner. My GCSE'S are coming up quite soon, so of course am quite nervous and stressed so I decided to compile some tips to help with all the exam stress. 

Know when to stop.

You should stop revising 24 hours before your test because you're not going to learn a lot of new content. The likelihood is much higher that you're going to stress yourself out and confuse yourself. For last minute, flashcards can be a good resource. They can earn you a few more points on test day, and it's a much healthier thing to do than starting on page one of the textbook.

 Start revising in advance

Everybody knows that revising a little bit over a long period of time is the right way to study, and yet we are all terrible at actually putting this plan into effect. The best time to start revising is at the beginning of the class. Set aside a little time each week to sit down and organize your notes and think about what's going well and what's going badly. Remember that cramming is toxic!

Know your targets.
It becomes quite east to feel like you're simply jumping through a series of hoops as opposed to understanding why that class and that test are relevant to you. If you figure out really why you want to do well, you’ll become more motivated to do so.

Prioritise the tests that are most important
It's a definite mistake to consider all of your tests equal if you're better at one subject than another this is why you shouldn't commit equally to revising for each test. This will take away from an opportunity to really commit time where needed

 Learn how you revise best.

Everyone learns differently and just because your friend makes colourful notes, doesn't mean that's the best way for you to revise too. Any revising is good revising, so do it the way that works best for you.

Get a good night's sleep.

Eight hours is ideal for the night before a test. It may be tempting to stay up late revising, but remember: you're going to need energy and focus while you're taking your test.

Relax.
You've survived final exams before, and you'll survive them this time too. If you're feeling nervous when you sit down to take the test, take three slow, steady breaths.

Be positive
Have a positive attitude towards your work really helps when you have a lot to do and would rather be somewhere else. Even though you may not feel like working, just pretending to love what you do can make your day better and you may even finish your task before you realise it!

Look forward.
Anything you long for can help you get through with less stress and more happiness! Look forward to an hour of your favourite novel before bed?

Behind this face: Alexa Chung

Just having me some special bonding time with edexcel higher tier....So I have a Behind This Face article on Alexa Chung who is one of my role models and style icons! So was super pumped writing this article on her. I think she fits the concept of Behind this Face really well because she is so much more than JUST a model. Read my article if you have time here. But for now, Au Revoir mes amis...
xx

Neon limelight

Happy Easter Everyone :) I hope you are all having a fabulous morning wherever you are...and well done to all of you that managed to commit to lent this year! 

That being said, it is spring! Well...it has been for the last 10 days, but it is spring! My birthday was on the 20th so still have to do a post on that but today I have a special something written all about neon.

At 10 years old, pre-puberty and naive, I used to look at teenage girls and wonder if they knew just how tacky they actually looked! Why on earth, would anybody in their right mind even consider buying anything neon? But now, bearing fifteen years and your average fashion obsessed teenage girl…. I, of course bear neon fever. If only my ten year old self could see me know. I imagine my past-self’s mouth open so wide, I am sure you could fit a can of coke can through it, thank the lord that time machines have not yet been invented yet. Amen.

Many have noticed my uncontrollable urge for all things neon and bright. So, like a moth to a flame, it is no wonder that bright green neon coats have captured my heart and always make me whimper as I stroll past designer shops selling delicious green neon coats that I simply cannot afford...
I have fallen deeply, madly in love with neon clothing, in fact it is probably safe to admit that I am adamantly infatuated...There's just something so dashing about it that I absolutely adore; it exudes an air of practical youth and fun.

Neon was first discovered by a Scottish chemist who cooled a sample of the atmosphere until it liquefied, and then proceeded to warm the liquid and managed to capture three gases as they boiled off: krypton, xenon, and neon...I think the fashion industry has a lot to thank science for.

Just a few years back, if you were spotted sporting neon, I assure you, eyebrows would be quick to soar like Para glides. But what was once a fashion faux pas is extremely slowly developing itself into a chic sartorial trend. And I mean slowly...so slow neon is still probably socially unacceptable to wear in certain places in Dubai. When I am editor of British Vogue, I shall brainwash the world into purchasing nothing other but neon coats. Fashion would be extremely daft to ignore the beginning of the neon craze…imagine what an apocalypse it would be if my glorious plan did not come through…no, I shall not think of such disastrous means. I can only dream of my sweet success.

I know that a lot of people would be petrified to sport a neon coat out open…and since Dubai bearing its unforgiving scorching weather, there is even lesser chance of anybody doing so. But come winter, I shall sport the bright green acne coat that has been on my wish list for absolutely forever. I can imagine myself wearing the beauteous coat sitting front row at the Burberry Autumn-Winter fashion show 2014 thinking just how marvellous and superior my neon coat is compared to all the dull traditional trenches…Watch out Christopher Bailey there’s a new coat in town!

She, who wears a green neon coat, is the quirky cool girl from school; the one you would want to sit next to in class, praying that you would become cooler via osmosis. Her neon is infectious, she is armed with saucy looks and her neon clothes bearing a thrilling demeanour...Immediately,I’m obsessed.

A lot of people think that if you are wearing more than one neon item (who else is sick of the over-rated ‘colour pops’ that accentuated every winter outfit), your shades of neon have to match. But they don't! Personally, I love pairing different washes of neon together. I think two-toned looks are more interesting and scream sugar and spice. Of course, do not go overboard for the love of god. Stick to a maximum of two neon items as you do not want to look like a blind ludicrous twit. There's absolutely no way to sport neon and not draw attention. But a thing to keep in mind if you are colour bashful: Neon is currently being used as a cryogenic refrigerant agent. So you can always resort to freezing yourself and coming back to life in a few decades, once you've developed slightly more confidence.

Neon can also be lovely and also a quick way of shaking up your most comfortable outfit, which makes it perfect for running errands. And as the weather starts to gradually gets cooler (for all the Dubai girls, a few degrees makes all the difference!), and time gradually weaves itself into winter, do not be faint hearted and thus being fabulously fearless and blithely putting on that bright green neon coat!

6 things every girl in her teens should know

Your teenage years are a vital time period in any girl's life: you could even say it is somewhat of a transition period, when a girl figures out who she really is and what it takes to evolve into a woman. It's during these very years that we find ourselves learning what it really means to 'grow up'. Whilst juggling exams and early morning alarm wake ups it can be extremely easy to misplace the sunnier bit of life. However, this all being said, your teens can actually turn out to be some of the best years and for this reason I have put together a list of 6 things every teenage girl should know to make sure we make the most of our opportunities and never let go of any moments in these fundamental years!

1. Learn To Spend Wisely: Most girls begin to dip into taking care of their own finances at this age. Learning how to manage a budget for everything you need, can be difficult. In my experience, I have found out that by monitoring your monthly income and listing out what you want can actually aid you to better understand what you’re spending on and how long it will take you to save up for other things you want. It is also important not to go bananas every time you get 200dhs, learn to budget to make things easier in life later...
   
   
2. Get Interning: Your teen years are a prime time to start interning. Not everyone has figured out what they want they want to be in life. I can say that I have no clue. If you get somewhat as a seed of interest in a certain career path...intern! Intern with a company that fulfils what you want to be when you are older. For example if you want to be a lawyer, go talk to a law firm and ask for an internship opportunity. Interning is great because not only does this give you some work experience you can put on your CV, it also opens your mind to that business and will help you formulate the decision if you would like to stick to this career path so that you can take on more internships in this field to get broader experience! It's also a no brainer that it will help you cancel out the job paths that you don't want...like interning with one8one helped me to realize that I never ever ever want to be a secretary but working for a magazine would not be a complete no-no for me. Give it a chance!
   
   
3. Embrace Friendships: It is vital to realize that guys will come and go, but girls will be there for you forever!  Best friends are like four leaf clovers, hard to find and luck to have....and if you ask me, losing a best friend will be much much much harder than losing a boy.
   
   
4. Keep Your Skin Looking Youthful: Teenage years are well...a bit of a up-down-hill for skin. Your hormones are going wild and this has an impact on your skin...your skin may look 'bad' or youthful and good...However, what your skin looks may not be what it will look like in years to come. But! It will help to determine what it will look like...sooooo, 1) wear sunscreen to prevent wrinkles coming in faster than they need to, 2) never sleep with makeup on and 3) Always moisturize and have a good skin care routine. Your skin will thank you later!
5. Be sure to not repeat the same mistakes: People will often tell you that your teens are a time to make many mistakes. But what’s important to remember is not actually making mistakes, but rather learning from the lessons these mistakes teach us. Take everything as a lesson learned and promise yourself it won’t happen again. 
6. You are not an oldie: Please remember to never lose sight of yourself. You grow up a ton in your teens, but you’re still young to have loads of fun! You’ll have lots upon lots of time to grow up. Be weird and goofy and go on crazy adventures! These are the memories you’ll embrace when you look back on these beautiful years.
   
   

I hope these little bits of advice inspire you take on your teens full-throttle!
Hannah

xx

Short story: A Blueberry pie

In the frosty December dusk black men’s cabins look snug with a pale powdery purple smoke rising from their chimneys and their front doors glowing with amber from the delicious fires inside.

Surrounding me were ladies in cool fragile pastel prints. They were smiling. Naked Oak trees stood in neat lines. And the slushy snow, bearing a myriad of footprints, was merely evidence. I looked up at the grey cloudless sky and prayed, for that was all I could have done.

Men holding beer mugs were at the front grinning broadly; and women stood at the back holding their children’s’ hands tightly. In the heart of the commotion, there stood a bare dark figure. His chocolate skin glistened in winter’s unforgiving sun but his eyes remained white and gloomy, they looked juxtaposed.

Slow desperate tears trickled down his cheeks as he was poured all over with oil. Suddenly, he was a blaze with dark fire. His flesh bubbled like a baking blueberry pie and its strong scent filled the misty frowning air. With every scream, the crowd cheered harder; they cheered louder; and for longer. I saw my father looking at me from the hazy corners of my eyes, I knew he wanted me to appreciate this morbid entertainment but I could not give in.

 He died innocent. He was another victim of a falsely accused crime. And by the next day, all was forgotten; women went back to knitting and baking cinnamon cookies and men went back to their respectable jobs. It was as simple as black and white.

How to make your fruit and veg last longer!

My weekly carrefour trips include of stocking up on lots of fruit and veg. I always find myself chucking out half of everything I get in a matter of days...which to be frank, feels stressful and annoying. I bought some oranges the other day and had to throw them out after two days! So I have decided to dedicate this post on...fruit and veg. Oh feel the fruitiness... 

Throw away apples as soon as you see them rot...they will ruin your entire fruit bowl

Keeping plastic at the tips of your bananas helps keep them staying fresher for longer

Tomatoes should never be kept in a fridge!

Rinse your berries with vinegar to make them stay fresh for longer

Mushrooms should never be kept in plastic, put them in a cardboard box.

Organising your wardrobe!

One of my marvy New Year’s Resolutions is to of course keep my wardrobe organised and neat. If I do not constantly organise my wardrobe once a month... things seriously get out of hand and even lost. Below I've put together a few of my own best tips as well as Lauren Conrad's for getting your wardrobe in check to give you a kick spring start :) 21st of March is not that far off guys, hope you are all anticipating Spring as much as I am!
Every day: Remember to keep your closet tidy! A way that works for me is if every time I cannot find something in my closet due to mess and clutter...I do the plank for a minute and do 20 burpees all in one go which seriously motivates me to keep my closet clean. But! If worse comes to worse then....

Once a Month:  Guys, by the end of the month my closet looks like an animal nest. I just...well when I am in a rush I forget to fold and neatly put away my clothes resulting in a mega stress and time wasted not being able to find something! So once a month, I really suggest you all organising and folding your clothes. I hang my clothes in order of colour just because I find that the easiest way for me to navigate my clothes but lots of people find organising their clothes in order of what they are...eg hoodies, dresses, t-shirt...much more practical  I have tried both and I recommend colour!

Every 6 Months: I recommend going through your entire contests of your wardrobe and binning anything that is stained, ripped and giving the clothes you don't want any more to charity. If you aren't sure about something, call a mate! 

Once a Year: Donate things to charity and organise a clothing swap with mates. It's important to remember that sentimentality should not warrant a precious piece of real estate in your closet. Another idea is to do the "switcheroo." At the beginning of the year, turn all of your hangers backwards. As you wear items, turn the hanger back around so it's facing the right way. By the end of the year you will see which pieces you wore and what you can get rid of. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.