You may be the most outgoing individual out there or completely introverted, either way, it’s not uncommon for someone of any background to experience homesickness. Whether you are travelling far and wide to start University, or just commuting into the city, it is completely normal and completely valid. Whoever you are, you don’t need to tackle it on your own so today, you can sit down with me and listen to my tips of how to help those feelings wash away.
Keep yourself distracted
This involves saying yes to things, putting yourself out of your comfort zone, and generally getting yourself out there! Whether it’s moving your study plans to the library or common room rather than your bedroom, signing up to a society, or trying to join in with things you never usually would, a lot of the time, you’re mind will be so focused on the new task or environment that you might even forget about your homesickness all together.
One of my favourite things to do when I’m feeling in a bit of a rut is to jam-pack my days. Instead of going to Uni then coming home, arrange to meet some friends after, start the day early with a run, plan a late-night study session; keeping the plans rolling will really help keep your mind of any niggling worries.
Limit home visits
As much as you’ll want to go home every weekend, sometimes keeping constant contact can just make you feel worse. A quick phone call home every evening to check-in is perfect, you get to update your family on what’s been happening without seeing exactly what you’re missing. Plus, you should be able to tell them about all of the different things you’ve been doing with your days and, as you begin to receive praise, you’re only going to want to do it more and more.
Know that it’s okay!
Whether it’s the dog you’re missing, your Gran, or simply the corner of your bedroom that makes you feel cosiest, it’s completely fine to miss these things. After all, these are the things that you have most likely grown up with and formed an unbreakable bond with. When you move to University, by no means do these bonds have to break - feeling homesick is a completely normal and common thing to experience and, no matter how bad it feels, there will always be a way to feel better. Every University has a support team, well equipped for dealing with any of your worries and, believe it or not, a lot of your friends will probably be feeling this way too, so it’s completely fine to have a little chat.
Limit it to 3 words if you need to: ‘Distract. Limit. Share’. Keep your mind away from your worries, limit the time you have to think about these thoughts, and don’t be scared to share these thoughts. As we all know, a problem shared is a problem halved, and, when it’s a problem as universal as this, we all have a lot of halving that we can help with.
We'll kick off with a disclaimer: I'm an eager cook and frugal bunny, so eating out is always a treat for me. I see others out for food every weekend and, not only do I question 'how the hell do you afford that?!' but I also know that my own cooking is sometimes just as good (if I do say so myself). Of course, you stumbled across my blog expecting the typical 'perfect life' of a blogger/influencer but, I'm certainly not about that here. So, with that in mind, I'm going to chat on about the little treats that I allowed myself over the past few weeks.
1. The Brownie Bar - Heaton
I very recently popped into The Brownie Bar to try out some of their treats with a few friends. The staff were more than welcoming to us, chatting with us, double-checking any dietary requirements, making us laugh, and leaving me alone as I proceeded to take multiple pictures of my cookie. Oh and, if you're wondering why I got a cookie in a Brownie Bar, it's because this beauty has a brownie nestle inside it. What a dream! I paired it with a banana nut ice-cream milkshake which was pretty much gone in seconds.
2. Valerie's Tearoom - Whitley Bay
It was actually my first time to Whitley Bay when I came to this Tearoom but I knew from social media and word of mouth that this was a lovely little place to check out. It certainly didn't disappoint. I got 20s/30s vibes from the interior but was so pleasantly surprised by how clean it was, even considering it was an old fashioned style place. The selection of cakes was wonderful; almost every type of classic cake you could think of. I opted for a walnut and coffee cake slice (which was very rich and large) and a pot of tea, of course, served in silverware.
3. Bao Bar - Heaton
Just before our brownies, we tried out Bao Bar, also on Chillingham Road. Bao Bar serves, you guessed it, steamed Bao Buns filled with your choice of 5 fresh fillings. I was super impressed with the chicken in my Chicken Bao Bun - not only was it super fresh, but also tender and delicious. While it may feel a little on the pricey side, with 1 small bun being around £4, it's definitely worth giving a try.
4. The Punch Bowl - Cradlewell
Standing proud on Jesmond Road is the newly renovated The Punch Bowl Hotel. Owned by the same company that owns The Brandling Villa, this pub opened its doors in July and seems to have had a lot of mixed reviews since then. This, though, is mainly because of the cheeky remarks and controversial attitudes that it holds (yet it's mostly sarcastic). Jamie and I did, however, welcome it with open arms. The vibes inside are so reminiscent of an old fashioned pub, with racing green subway tiles, old leather sofas and log burner. Although, I'm here to talk about the food which is 100% worth going for. It's pub food that has been carefully tweaked and changed to showcase delicious, unique flavours unlike anything else. We tried the pastrami potato rosti with silverskin onions and the venison meatball garlic toasted sandwich with parmesan fries - absolutely wonderful.
5. Acropolis Street Food - Tynemouth Market
Whenever one of the local markets is on, I'm always mostly thinking about Acropolis Street food. Luckily, they seem to go to all of the main markets in Newcastle and, seeing as the Jesmond Food Market is super local to me, it's dangerous for my bank account. Their gyros, packed with everything they have to offer, is an absolute melody and, if it was possible, it would eat it over and over again. It's the only one on this list which I've already visited multiple times before and, I can guarantee it'll continue to be one of my favourite choices.
Having eaten at all of those new places, I've got to say that I'd love to revisit the Brownie Bar the most given the fact that I've already checked out their breakfast menu and, when breakfast that good is so local, I don't know how I'll be able to resist.
This blog post was inspired by the wonderful Bekki at mynameisbekki.co.uk. You can read her recent post of where she's been eating, here, and follow her on Instagram too.
Where have you been eating out recently?
It’s been a long summer - many days off, many relaxing times, and very many fun times. It was a great way for me to invest some more time into blogging, meet new people, and spend time with those I love. Of course, it wouldn’t be a true ‘Rose Glow’ reflection if it wasn’t completely random though, would it?! From food, theatre productions and places; here are the random things that I discovered this summer.
It’s been on my list of places to visit for the longest time and, finally, we decided to do it. We were lucky enough to get a rather nice day to do so, bar the insatiable rain. Nevertheless, we even decided to buy a metro day-ticket and take a look up to Whitley Bay too. I have to say, though, the Tynemouth Market was my favourite part of the day - I simply couldn’t believe how large it was. There were stalls after stalls, as well as food vans (featuring my beloved Acropolis) and unique shops. I will definitely be making Tynemouth market part of my monthly routine and have been told that I should definitely visit at Christmas time.
Rocky Horror Show
Completely and utterly late to this party but, I guess, there has to be a point in everyone’s life in which they discover the wonderful world of Rocky Horror and, for me, that time was this summer. Along with my sister and mum, we watched the fabulous RHS production at the Newcastle Theatre Royale (which is a fabulous theatre, fyi) - this show features Duncan James as Dr Frank and I was just blown away at how alive he was in that role. The whole show was laughs from end to end, a completely unique piece that I would see over and over again. Having never seen the RHS prior to this, I definitely feel like I was considerably late to that party.
Mexican Rainbow Salads
Donuts, on the other hand, has always been something that I adamantly hate. And, to be honest, I’m not completely on the dark side just yet. For me, I stop at a custard doughnut (or perhaps anything filled to the brim with something sweet (i.e. Nutella, which I’m now drooling at the thought of)) and the idea of a plain glazed doughnut still weirds me out a bit. That deep-fried dough flavour isn’t my jam (pun completely intended) right now but cover it head to toe in sugar and custard, and I’m there!
So, this winter you’ll find me eating colourful salad bowls, followed by a creamy doughnut and a viewing of The Rocky Horror Show (oh, and a Christmas visit to the Tynemouth market). I’m stocked up with new discoveries and excited to see what I’ll be learning about in the next coming months. What did you discover this summer?
Mexican Rainbow Salads
It doesn’t really get more random than this but, you guys know by now, I love my food. And, as summer comes along bringing its salads with it, I decided to try out a Mexican Rainbow salad and now I feel like I never want to go back. It feels so good to be eating a colourful plate and generally makes eating a salad 100x more exciting. Even more, it can be completely customisable and I love that. I will definitely be dragging these into the winter with me and seeing what other colour schemes I can substitute for plain, old green.
Coffee and Donuts
Two wrapped into one, here. Let’s start with coffee. It’s a drink that I feel I’ve always been on the edge of enjoying and knew that, as my tastebuds matured, I’d begin to enjoy the taste. This summer, along with the help of syrups and sugar, I’ve begun enjoying a cafe latte more than ever before. One thing I must say for anyone aiming to widen their drinks palette like me is to avoid sugar-free syrups. They are watery and weird, if you’re going to load yourself with caffeine and milk, you might swell keep the sugar in their too.
Donuts, on the other hand, has always been something that I adamantly hate. And, to be honest, I’m not completely on the dark side just yet. For me, I stop at a custard doughnut (or perhaps anything filled to the brim with something sweet (i.e. Nutella, which I’m now drooling at the thought of)) and the idea of a plain glazed doughnut still weirds me out a bit. That deep-fried dough flavour isn’t my jam (pun completely intended) right now but cover it head to toe in sugar and custard, and I’m there!
So, this winter you’ll find me eating colourful salad bowls, followed by a creamy doughnut and a viewing of The Rocky Horror Show (oh, and a Christmas visit to the Tynemouth market). I’m stocked up with new discoveries and excited to see what I’ll be learning about in the next coming months. What did you discover this summer?
Making Friends is easy but still requires effort
A lot of people will say ‘Oh, you’ll make lots of friends at Uni’ and they’re not wrong, they just missed out a vital part. Making friends doesn’t happen if you stand still - to be brutally honest, you have to put some work into it to get things back. But, don’t worry, I’m not telling you you need to train day-in-day-out on how to greet people properly, I’m saying you need to engage with people and make sure that you come across as an approachable person or even human. This included getting into group chat for, say, your course mates; inviting flatmates over for food; going along to social events, and even having a go at the karaoke night. It might seem painstaking, you might feel completely intimidated by those 3rd years in the society meetings (which, by the way, is how everyone else feels) but in these first few weeks, you have nothing to lose. Get yourself out there, step out of your comfort zone, and be the best version of you that there possibly is.
Revise from Day 1
I said this about college and now I’m here saying it about Uni; this time, though, I mean it. No matter what kind of course you’re studying on, whether it is coursework or exam based, revise from the moment you start. It may seem insignificant now, but when it comes to exams, you will hate yourself for losing that piece of information or having not written down the necessary notes. In general, just be organised and make life so much easier for your future self.
You’re an investor in a business, so get back your worth
When I started working for the Uni a few months into my 1st year, my previous naivety quickly began to wear off and I started realising that Universities are a business; a money-making scheme. I have previously discussed on here how I strongly believe that certain courses should not be worth the £9K that is required in comparison to some more costly courses. In a way, though, I think a lot of people would be able to use this information as they head into Uni (no matter which year you’re entering) as an advantage. Don’t sit and struggle in silence; as for things from your lecturers, attend the extracurricular lectures, use the library computers, their software, etc. do everything you possibly can to gain back your worth as an investor in their business. After all, you are paying for this, so it’s time to get your own back.
If you’re starting University this year, heading back into your next year, or even just thinking about applying for Uni, make sure to remember that it is a unique and excellent experience and, in more ways than one, and excellent learning chapter.
Never in a million years did I think I'd be the kind of girl to enjoy wearing false lashes. I've always had delicate, sensitive and all-round problematic eyes, so some eyeshadow and mascara were often enough. Not until one day I went out on a whim, bought some lashes, and then completely fell in love with them.
Admittedly, I'm still a beginner myself and, if I'm honest, I think everyone attempting to put false lashes on is just winging it. There's no definitive order of how to put them on, no rules on how to wear them, and no rules for when and where. I do, however, believe that there are a few key ingredients for making sure that you are pushing off the right foot when starting your first false lash escapades.
What you'll need:
- Lashes. Of course, you are going to want to find the best lashes suitable for you and, while you can pop into town in the likes of Boots, Superdrug, or even Primark, there are great places such as FalseEyelashes.co.uk which offer an extensive, organised range of lashes as well as free delivery! I ordered a set from here in the sale and will definitely go back because of how easy it was with them.
- Glue. Of course, there are lots of different types of glue because nothing is ever simple. There are dark glues, clear glues, brush-on glues, dab-on glues, quick-set, latex-free, aloe vera, rosewater, waterproof, and sensitive glues. Oh, and that's probably only to name a few. If you're new to the lash world, don't be overwhelmed by it - a lot of it won't matter to you but it is going to pretty important that you carefully check whichever glue you choose to use before going on your big night out, ust to check for sensitivities.
- Scissors. This was one of the main mistakes I made when wearing lashes one of the first times, I didn't cut them enough. Now, it may seem like a shame when you are cutting a chunk, sometimes a full quarter, of your lash strip away, but it's vital to remember that these strips are made to be extra long and designed to be cut to size. Some lashes you may not have to cut because they might just suit your eye shape, but a lot of the fuller styles will need to be chopped in order to sit better above your lashes.
- A steady hand. While I do like to use regular tweezers to get mine right in place, you really only need to stand at a mirror with a steady hand in order to get your lashes on. If you don't feel like you'd be able to stick them in the right place, don't worry, a regular pair flat tweezers will help get that little bit closer. Also, don't forget to lightly press your own lashes and false lashes together for some extra security.
What you WON'T need:
Just like everything else, there are a few things on the market that can be deemed just unnecessary. Some including:
- Eyelash tweezers. Following on from my previous point, you may have seen the funny looking hammer-head tweezers swimming around the lash world and, in my opinion, they just aren't necessary. Of course, if you get them as a gift or they are included in your packet of lashes, go ahead and give them a whirl but, if you're looking to start wearing lashes on a budget, don't fork out the extra money for something that can so easily be replaced by simple flat tweezers.
- Individual Lashes. When just starting out don't attempt the extremely intricate job of individual lashes. As you can imagine, they include a lot of concentration and skill so maybe don't try this on your very first shot.
- Preglued lashes. Another lash type that I would deem unnecessary for beginners would be pre-glued lashes. There really isn't much point in paying for the glue to be on your lashes when A) glueing them is the easiest part and, B) all lashes already have an existing layer of glue in order to stay in the packet. You really aren't going to go wrong on the glueing part so try spending the extra pennies a bit more wisely.
- A lottery win. You don't have to sell your arm and leg to buy lashes. As I mentioned before, FalseEyelashes.co.uk and the likes of beauty outlet stores mean you can find some fantastic offers. My 5 set of Lashes from The Vintage Cosmetic Company on False Eyelashes came to just over £7! That makes each set of strips just over £1 each, AND they're reusable. If you're just starting out and don't want to break the bank before deciding if you even like wearing lashes, make sure to shop around first.
What would your top tips be for false lash beginners?
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