The Week Edit #6

THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS:

The Valentine's Great Gatsby themed locomotion dinner, here with my 'Valentine' (Natalie) and my college son (Alex)//Pyjama Party 'A Different Nail Enamel' by Clinique, you knew I had to get Clinique in here somewhere// The locomotion dinner after party at the Cross Keys in Yarm was a very eventful night, read my post on Valentine's Eve below// teaching a sprinter to run a 5k is never easy, but I'm getting far better, today I did a PB (for a treadmill) of just over 26 minutes, a very proud moment// I cannot get enough of the Olympics, I was in the library watching it on my iPad//


THIS WEEK'S POSTS:

RITA ORA FOR RIMMEL LONDON//ME #1//ME #2//BEYONCÉ'S RISE//FITNESS THURSDAY #5 YOGA//HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY//VALENTINE'S EVE//

THIS WEEK I'M LOVING:

It has been quite a busy week, with Valentine's day and formal dinners, assignments and far too little running for my liking, but I have been enjoying having a week (4 days) off running. Today I attempted a 5k and was really pleased with a new PB on a treadmill of under 27 minutes (so hopefully much less on road!). But mainly my favourite part about this week was seeing the second years out on Friday night, all together, just like in our fresher's week, we don't get chance to go out as much (or maybe that is just granny Ruth over here) so its always really nice to see everyone, especially when the club you end up in is playing some immense tunes. Also just as an add on Clean Bandit have released "heart on fire" on Soundcloud here so check that out I'm loving it. Ok just one more thing I'm loving, can't believe I forgot this but how amazing has the Olympics been? I cannot get enough of it, I was on the treadmill earlier watching the x-country 10km mens relay, it took nearly an hour and 45 minutes and was amazing, It honestly made me run faster seeing how hard they were working made me increase my km/h!

NEXT WEEK:

More Olympics, I really can'y get enough, tonight sees the 2-man bobsled, featuring GBR and JAM (yes that is Jamaica! how exciting, cue Cool Runnings on repeat and a lot of kissing lucky eggs!) GBR also have a great team, they won gold in 1964, can they do it again? There is also the figure skating with a GBR team who won bronze at the world Champs at the end of last year, so hopefully they can do really well again. I have two days off this week from Uni (thank you very much!) however that is going to involve a lot of work and then a night out in Newcastle on Thursday should finish the week in style (Love a bit of the Newc) 

Have an incredible week, 

RHS x

Valentine's Eve

*subtly reaches for phone in order to remember the events of last night* 

Valentine's eve? Valentine's day eve? wasn't sure what to call this post, last night, Yarm, BeerSoc, Locomotion formal dinner. Anyway. 

Last night saw the last Locomotion dinner (a formal dinner held at Stephenson College, Durham Uni) of the academic year (sobs quietly) followed by a big night out in Yarm (organised by the very organised BeerSoc) 

Ah the locomotion, on Valentine's day, there were a lot of couples, however the singles definitely dominated the field. Standard antics followed the meal, including a poem about roses are red and taking your date to the waterside, cheap skate? was that how that went? Very poetic. Followed by typical photo taking, boys handing out the flowers from the tables to their respective others etc etc

The night moved to Central, for speed dating and ball room dancing (to Spanish music and the Killers, but who's judging?!), the speed dating consisted of people who knew each other having a chin wag (does anyone know what that means?) and the ball room dancing, people attempting to look very classy, the majority of the time it did look really cute, but by this time I was half a bottle of wine down (which I was sharing!) 

I then received a flower(s) from a rather intoxicated, line-out-themed nek-nomination rugby boy (I'll let those of you who know him guess who that is), a change of shoes, a few "we like to drink with so and so" and downing of drinks, running to the taxi, forgetting my blazer, sitting in the front with the taxi man and taking "taxi man selfies", miscalculating how many people were on the bus and somehow ending up in Yarm, with a few opera singing moments on the way. 

Yarm has the be the cutest place ever, after Durham and a few others (York etc etc), however the cobbles are not made for platform-ed stilettos, nevertheless, we made it to the George and Dragon to be greeted by the BeerSoc exec, who after being complimented were very pleased with their organisational skills, which they should be! A raspberry flavoured sambuca later (Blogger always edits sambuca to "samba" why?!) and we were well away to having a good night. The place was crawling with second years, which was really nice as we haven't all been out at the same time in ages. 

Osbourne's for cocktails and dancing to 70's and 80's classics, getting in the way of couple's lovely night out, mingling with Yarm-ers, we ended up in the Keys, with our wristbands like we were some kind of celeb pushing through the queue, or just like on Miss Congeniality when she walks into Starbucks to order her office's coffees and uses here FBI badge to push everyone out the way - it was like that, but better, ish, almost. 

For half an hour, we owned the dance floor. It was R&B night and there were some serious shapes being pulled. Stephenson college had made their mark on the dance floor, only to be made sweaty and frizzy-haired (just me then) by Yarm-ers cramping our style, nevertheless, we stuck to the lit-up trippy dance floor and danced to some incredible, black, bass thumping tunes. Maybe I was in a world of my own but I was having a great time. 

Now, I am not a big fan of Beyoncé's new album (don't judge!) but when Drunk in Love came on, oh my gosh, if you had a significant other you were grinding away like Jay-Zed's and Beyoncé's grammy performance was U-rated, if you were single, there were some serious hip shaking, Beyoncé on the beach style dancing, the bass was to die for. 

It is very fair to say, I wasn't near tipsy at all, but I learnt last night to just enjoy yourself and it was so worth it! - I was dancing to Beyoncé's new album, there was clearly some letting-go. 

What we didn't realise till we were inundated with Yarm-ers was that we were in a traffic-light party! I know, there were people running round (including bouncers) with green "single" stickers on them. I only managed to grab this "taken" sticker for blog-worthy evidence. 

By 1am, due to the heat in that club, my feet had just about given up on me, so we hobbled (ok, I), to a taxi and ate food back at our flat. yum yum. 

All in all, a great night (which you know is true when you wake up at 9am still buzzing off the night before). Newcastle on Thursday could be another one of last night all over again, that would be incredible. 

Whatever you did last night I hope you had a great time and have a great weekend. 

RHS x 

Happy Valentine's Day!

I thought I'd be the last person to wish anyone a Happy Valentine's Day, but I can only imagine it is actually a really lovely day (like any other) in which to show someone how much you care aww. 

So, as my nod towards the big V day, I thought I'd share some of my favourite love songs. Now that might sound a bit wet, however my childhood and into my teenage and now into my adult (gulp) life my parents always play Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs, in every room of the house, the bedroom, the living room, the kitchen everywhere. Some were really soppy like a bit o' Whitney, but I'm talking the ones that you could get up and shake a few pounds off to! (and some others which are just pure classics)

I hope you enjoy and have a great day, whatever you do. 

"Isn't She Lovely" - Stevie Wonder

"You To Me Are Everything" - The Real Thing 

"At Last" - Etta James

"Lets Get It On" - Marvin Gaye 

"I'll Make Love To You" - Boyz II Men

"Rather Be" - Clean Bandit featuring Jess Glynne 

"National Anthem" - Lana Del Rey 

"Valentine" - Jessie Ware & Sampha 

"All Of Me" - John Legend

"Love On Top" - Beyoncé 

My list could literally go on and on, ok, I know I promised get up and dance, but some were just too irresistible. I'm quite impressed I managed to compile that without looking at iTunes. 

Enjoy your day!

RHS x

Halfway

I think I am more the glass half empty kind of person when it comes to this kind of half. Half of my (our) university career is over, I can't believe it has been that long since I arrived as a nervous 18 year old and now I'm 20 with only 15 months left. Where has the time gone?

Anyway, enough pondering, questioning and wondering. Last night saw the Halfway dinner for second years. It was a formal event with a toast to the college, a speech by the Dean and lamb was even on the menu!

Lamb, eurgh, whoever invented that meat, let alone that animal needs shooting (they're probably already dead), I hate that meat, it is one of the only things I won't eat (that and pineapple - serious allergies). And it was on the menu, which was fine, it just meant I had the vegemetarian option instead, which was vegetables in a fill pastry, with vegetables on the side.. veg and more veg! I could never be a vegetarian. 

Anyway, everyone looked very smart, the boys in suits, the girls in classy dresses. I was potentially in THE brightest dress EVER - at least it was red (the colour of the college) and my nails matched. 

The meal went so quickly though, it was all over far too fast and when it was ever so slightly knocked off balance with an attempted (but very funny) neck nomination (worth a try I guess), everyone diffused to have a natter. It was nice to see people in that environment rather than running past each other at 4pm on your way to a lecture.

This is where I have to reach for my phone as I was taking notes at the end of the night on the bus back from Durham - on my own as Natalie left me! boohoo (to go home, she had work, not anything else!) 

A lot of people said to me "don't put that on the blog!" like I was going to transcribe their conversations on here - I don't do that don't worry! You can speak to me in confidence that I won't spill your gossip on here! (unless you really want me to!) 

When myself and Natalie got on the bus to Durham - that is ran, I almost and I mean I think I nearly did, break my ankle - stilettos and running = unhappy ankles. The bus driver waited for us, bless him to which Natalie said "thank you mr taxi driver!" - ah man, one bottle of wine and we forget our own names. And our age apparently as I was convinced I'm half way to 36, but in actual fact, this may shock you, I'm halfway to 40 - when did THAT happen?! - I've lost two years from somewhere! 

I said "surprise me" to the woman behind the bar in Whisky River (cocktail bar in Durham - so incredible) and I got a "forbidden fruit" cocktail which was so tasty, and I think it was soda water based = cha ching no calories! 

After squeezing our vegetarian filled bodies through Fabios to get a glass of water (really) we attempted to get a Subway - which wasn't happening because it was packed however I did manage to have a minor argument with an obnoxious Durham student about his friend who had pushed to the front of the queue, blindly missing eight people in the queue behind him. I had words, I wasn't impressed, but it was fine because he had a subway... common theme here... 

I got the bus back and was sat merrily typing away the evening, I got home, took my make up off with A MAKE UP WIPE - I know, God of make up removal, I am so so so sorry. BUT thankfully there was hot water (there is never hot water here!) so I was able to Clinique myself up and remove my make up properly (I am not going to make up removal hell). 

I may have had some curly fries when I got in - which I managed to burn?! - ahh this is why they turned the cookers off in halls at night - they were still edible though, only a few had slightly charred edges. 

All in all it was a good night, really really nice to see everyone and have a catch up. And I am really happy that people from Uni read this blog! - seeing as it is mainly about Uni, but I write it for you not for me so thanks guys! :D 

Here's to the next year and a half!

RHS x


p.s. thanks to Sam for the photo!

The Library

I thought I'd take 10 minutes procrastination time to write a blog post. I am currently sat in the library, researching antecedents of public service motivation and I am having a break of eating walnuts and drinking freezing cold water. 

I have been here, hmm about an hour now and I have already seen some very interesting sites. 

If you are in the library and not currently sitting a computer, you most definitely have an Apple product, be it an iPad, MacBook or covered in a green skin, you have one. I have to hold my hands up to that one. 

If you are in the quiet study area (as I am), it is acceptable to talk about who you are going to "cock block" tonight at the marrow strip, not mentioning any names... The marrow strip is a charity night in which people get naked and people pay to go and watch, high entertaining I can only imagine...

It is then also appropriate to chat about what you're having for tea, what you did last night, what you're plans are for your neck nomination challenge, it involves a toilet brush apparently.

It is also vitally important that you don't make eye contact with anyone when you walk in and out of the library. Ensure you maintain a straight forward "I'm in working mode" look about you to avoid any awkward "hey!"s that come out a bit squeaky as you're not sure if you're allowed to talk or not. If you do catch somebody's eye, a simple smile will send them on their way. 

As I am sat at the back of the library I can see everyone's laptop screens, not that I'm looking but so far someone has an assignment on kidney function and disease, someone has a journal open on motivation in the police force and there seems to be a few assignments based on Facebook (and blogger...)

Oh no, someone just did a squeaky hello. They are now talking about their assignment and that a girl looks nice in her new green jumper, from Topshop, in the sale. Bargain. 

Ahh Library chronicles. I really should get back to Perry 1997 

Love 

RHS x 

The Week Edit #4

THIS WEEK IN PHOTOS:

My post-run protein and potassium kick, my favourite snack ever// The Six Nations didn't get off to England's best advantage, however there are still plenty of games left, next week England are away to Scotland// I add peanut butter to everything, I am a big lover of its protein-ness and here I zuzzed it in a post-run smoothie of banana and raspberries// First run of February - start as I mean to go on at 9am - hello quads!// My Clinique arrived! yayy, I was nearly deprived of my night cream but Boots.com came to my rescue// Pizza night friday with Rachel, we went a bit mad but it was oh so tasty (hence the 9am run the next morning to burn it off - well, at least 1/4 of it)//

THIS WEEK'S POSTS:

SWEET DREAMS// UNIVERSITY SECRETS II// 6 WAYS TO STOP PROCRASTINATING//LADY CHATTERLEY'S LOVER//LUSH 'SOFT COEUR'//FITNESS THURSDAY #4//CARA DELEVIGNE "IV DRIPPIN"//PRIMARY SCHOOL//10 REASONS TO WATCH THE SUPERBOWL//

THIS WEEK I'M LOVING: I received my order from Boots on Thursday and I am in love with the EVEN BETTER EYES DARK CIRCLE CORRECTOR which has a really pretty sparkly tint to it and makes my under eyes really smooth - contrary to my flat mates'  dismay at the price... It was a slight indulgence for an eye cream but well worth it. I also bought a Boots ESSENTIALS CUCUMBER EYE GEL which I keep in the fridge and apply whilst I wait for my porridge to cook to reduce puffs!

BLOG POST OF THE WEEK: My favourite blog post this week was from LILY PEBBLES and it was her "JANUARY HITS AND MISSES" which are a big thing in the blogger-beauty industry, I already have my eyes on several of her hits.

NEXT WEEK: A busy week of welfaring, half way-dining (dinner-ing?) - can't believe I'm half way through Uni already, although by the looks of these assignments I'll be lucky to finish alive, or with a pass, running (I'm planning on 5 this week!), eating and probably a bit of blogging! Talking of blogging, my poll came out as you prefer me to write about "lifestyle/ everyday madness" - you voted, I'll deliver!

Have a great week,
RHS x 

Primary School

I'm in the S somewhere! 

Holbrook C of E Primary School, home of the great. 

It was the tiniest primary school in the area and it was the best place on earth. acc moi. 

I have been thinking a lot about primary school lately and all the little things that made me chuckle and when I thought that having the coolest snack for break time was basically the biggest issue of your life and in year three if it wasn't a Frube you may as well have gone and sat on the Betty no mates bench as you were not cool. 

So here are a few little memories that I'm sure a lot of people share too... 

The Spice Girls were big back in the 90's and I was always Scary Spice, because of my enormous afro hair (I always wanted to be Sporty Spice, but I just didn't fit the criteria)

There was always that one girl who braved the summer dress in March when her mum was convinced it was Summer and that the poor lamb would be too hot in trousers... 

Aparatus was THE best P.E. activity ever, those long wooden planks that you used to attach to a metal bar and walk up like you were a trapeze artist was the best. 

Having the sportiest boy on your rounders team was like having Suáez on your football team, no one could ever catch those balls and the Babe Ruth (no connotations to moi) walked round the posts like he was a Saint and everyone cheered and you got like a whole rounder for it. 

"Hands together and eyes closed" was the way you knew lunch was about to start. Being a C of E school we had to stand up and thank God for our parents, but mainly the food we were about to eat because by 12 we were eating each other's arms, or the sand pit, which ever was closest. 

Using that dome shaped robot in IT lessons was incredible (as we had like 1 computer in the whole school in year 2 it was all about those robots). Pressing its little buttons and watching it move around the room was insane and you'd bore your parents to death about it that night. 

Big holidays always meant making your parents a card or a present. I remember once taking my parents home a Christmas tree angel made out of a toilet paper tube, a doily and a straggly piece of yellow string, I insisted it go on the tree that Christmas, I never saw it again... 

Having to take the "pen test" before you were allowed a Bic in your life was like sitting your finals at Uni (I can imagine), I was stuck with my HB for quite a while, however I could count to 1000 by year 3. 

When Bull Dog was banned and everyone went on strike and wouldn't go to the playground at break time. My first "political" stand off. Not bad. 

Stuck in the mud replaced Bull Dog, that was definitely where I learned how to run - playing stuck  in the mud - ahh good times. 

You were the boss in year 6 when you got to sit on those apparatus benches during assembly - OR if you were selected to operate the OHP (Thats an overhead projector to anyone under the age of 15) and move the written out song lyrics. 

Hands down, thumbs up was a great game when you'd leant people's shoes, or who just sucked their fingers and you got touched by a slimy, deteriorating finger - ew. 

Ahhh the free milk we used to get aged five and a bit - the one that used to sit outside, in the winter it would be frozen and in the summer it would begin to curdle, potentially why I don't drink milk now, that put me off for life. 

Our school introduced giving our fruit for break time, which was always a bit manky, nevertheless, fruit goodness. However, there was always some silly baboon who dropped their apple and was told by the teachers to just go and wash it under the sink and eat it again - thinking back, that sounds vile. 

I used to fall over all the time when I was in reception/year 1, I was always coming home with scrapes and scabs on my knees and Savlon was literally called "the magic cream" as I'd be magically healed by the next day - That was the time I was convinced Jesus had come back as my Dinner lady - very interesting. 

When it was home time and you used to sing "footballs coming home, its coming home, its coming!" - just me? I was a football hooligan back then... 

Ringing the bell at the end of playtime was an incredible achievement and basically meant you were loved by the dinner lady and could at smug for the rest of the day.

You always knew it had been Christmas holidays when that kid came back with Bugs Life pencil case, rubber, pencils, crayons, sharpener (No one had a sharpener! or a red crayon for that matter...)

Ok I could literally go on all night... But I already fear this post is very very long. 

What good memories!

I'll be thinking of more all night!

RHS x

Cara Delevigne "IV Drippin"

The picture that put people off getting "hooked"

There is a latest "craze" in the celeb world - that is to attach yourself to an IV (Intravenous - "within vein") after an extreme night out. 

Rihanna's "IV Drippin"

According to celeb world, Rihanna was the first to introduce this back in 2012 when she tweeted that she was using an IV drip to hydrate herself quickly after a night out. Apparently she was rushed to hospital where they attached her to a drip, although that night she had been out partying hard at a gig and then at a strip club and taking drugs. 

Last summer there was a frenzy of paying nearly $1000 for a drip containing a cocktail of vitamins being pumped directly into the veins of celebs and athletes alike. what is wrong with just taking four Berocca? 

So anyway, five days ago Cara Delevigne put quite a scary looking photo on Instagram showing that she was hooked up to an IV, that definitely is not for the eyes of some Instagram viewers, I know I couldn't look at it for long. She jumped to twitter to explain that she was just having vitamins pumped into her as she was feeling like she had a "cold" - sounds like a very normal way to deal with a cold. Celebs are getting a lot of bad publicity for this kind of treatment, especially if they use it as a way to deal with hangovers. Something just doesn't seem right about it, or safe. It wastes the hospitals time as well. 

After taking someone to hospital because they were so drunk and seeing them having to be hooked to a drip so they could be hydrated quickly was a horrible site and I can imagine not one he enjoyed either (even though he was out of it). But he won't be and I won't be ever getting to that stage after witnessing that. 

Any thoughts on this extreme way of rehydrating? 

Coconut water? 

Stay safe 

RHS x