ME #1

1. I live in Holbrook, Derbyshire (with 47 sheep)
2. Ruth Hannah Smith (hence the RHS, incase you were wondering) 
3. 14th December 1993
4. I have been to five schools since turning 4 (16 years ago, cray-zee)
5. I don't eat lamb (not because of the sheep, because it tastes like plastic)
6. My favourite fruit is banana (with lashings, I mean a tablespoon of peanut butter)
7. I love to run (a lot, occasionally, sometimes, in lycra)
8. I am unbelievably organised (you should see my desk right now and my calendar) 
9. I will only drink bottled water when at Uni (theres just something in the water in Stockotn) 
10. My favourite film of all time is Love Actually (and The Holliday, and Notting Hill etc etc) 
11. I am an only child (not a lonely child as Sarah once thought it was, she's one of three) 
12. My aim in life is to achieve a Masters degree, just to get the same qualifications as my father 
13. My obsession for Clinique is frankly unwordable (which isn't even a word... see) 
14. I can't drink caffeine 
15. I don't drink milk, it makes me rather ill, but I will always partake in chocolate 
16. I can rap the words to "Make me proud" by Drake (Don't ask me sober though)
17. I always try and have breakfast in bed (a new thing, I wake up 20 minutes earlier to relax!)
18. I wear glasses to read (+0.5 - is it even worth it?)
19. I am the area champion in Derbyshire for the 800m 4 years running 
20. I have never broken a bone (apart from my nose, but that is not a bone) 
21. Myself, my mother, my grandmother and my great-grandmother all went to all-girls schools 
22. I have never smoked, or taken drugs, you will find me with a bottle of rose occasionally however
23. I have never had anything pierced, ever, anywhere, never will. 
24. My day always begins with solid porridge, keep it in the microwave for 5 minutes, with half the normal amount of milk. Bon Apetit! 
25. My favourite animals are cats, British Blues to be certain, although I love my rabbit Lady Gaga lots
26. I was in New York for my 15th birthday 
27. My biggest fear is illness 
28. My favourite holiday is to the west coast of France, Cognac, La Rochelle area 
29. My lucky number is 4 as it is the only number where the number of letters are the same as the number itself 
30. Are oranges orange because of orange or is orange orange because of oranges? 
31. I love scars, in fact don't get me started
32. Most used nicknames are Ruthie and Rufus (and now Rutilda from my supervisor at work)
33. I support Derby County, have done since I was born, with my dad taking me to the Baseball ground, then the opening of Pride Park
34. Harry Potter over Twilight all the way 
35. I can play the piano (a bit, when I feel like it)
36. My favourite composer is Beethoven, then probably Einaudi
37. My favourite actress EVER is Kiera Knightly, how is anyone that gorgeous? 
38. My favourite actor is Hugh Grant 
39. My favourite boys names are Elliott and George, maybe Morgan too 
40. I love the name Felicity for a girl 
41. I'm not superstitious as I never know what it means when you see a Black Cat and after all my Uncle Stevie Wonder said "superstition aint the way" 
42. I once cycled from London to Derby for Sport Relief and fell off and got bursitis in my shoulder, of which I still have the scars on my elbow from, nearly two years later. 
43. I often sleep talk 
44. As a 5 year old I always wanted a red Porsche boxter - I had one for my Barbie dolls
45. I have never owned a horse 
46. I have driven through Luxembourg in an hour
47. I would rather have fingers for toes than toes for fingers 
48. I am pretty amazing at risottos - ask me to make you one sometime
49. I laugh at everything, or I see the funny/happy side of everything. Every cloud!



I tan like there is no tomorrow

50. My greatest weakness is worrying. I worry about everything. Hence no.49! 



the fam



Ahh Stephenson College, DU



I'm a cat

6 ways to stop procrastinating

I just thought I'd fire out a list of ways to avoid procrastinating, whilst I procrastinate.

v. pro·cras·ti·nat·ed, pro·cras·ti·nat·ing, pro·cras·ti·nates

v.intr.

To put off doing something, especially out of habitual carelessness or laziness.

There is it, in blue and white, you're lazy and you know it. Ok, not really, we all procrastinate.

I am currently supposed to be writing a Law essay, but I've just come back from the gym and really can't be bothered to start it just yet - I will in 30 minutes.

I've been on Facebook
Checked my blog
Checked my poll - can you please vote, just there, on the left, it takes a second (extra procrastination!)
I've lit a candle
I've had a cup of tea
I have washed up
I have checked my emails, rang my father and spoken to Natalie for 20 minutes all to avoid doing work.

Well, do no work no longer!

My toppest tip (fail for grammar) to avoid procrastination is to plan your week
I print out my week every Sunday evening and attach it to my wall just by my mirror so I can see every morning my horrific black eyes and my day.
I plan when I'm going to the gym to work around seminars and lectures
I then write in each day what I am going to do that day, usually I decide this on Sundays but sometimes my plans change
This was I know I have given myself enough time to complete my tasks

I also try to break down my tasks into smaller pieces. E.g. for an essay, break the load down into researching, reading, planning, drafting, re-reading, editing, drafting etc etc this way you feel like you have achieved much more

Reward yourself with as many biscuits as you can - I tend to have a long break (10-15 minutes) every hour for a cup of tea and a few biscuits (7 as I just informed Natalie) - or get some fresh air to clear your head, or to procrastinate! Use your break to procrastinate, just don't leave it too long!

Get rid of all distractions, be that your boyfriend/girlfriend, dog, window, Facebook, phone anything that may distract you - put your phone where you can't see it but leave it on loud, so you don't have a nervy b when not checking it for an hour!

Tidy tidy tidy! - I find I'm far more productive in a tidy environment, spend 20 minutes of your procrastination time tidying your work area - which will also help to move distractions - open the window to get some fresh air, this will make you feel much more awake and ready to study.

At the end of the day, think about what you have achieved, this will be really motivating, especially if you tell people what you have done, as they will only moan that they have done nothing all day - very satisfying.


Lastly, why are you reading this? Stop procrastinating!!


RHS x 

Tuesday is the day of rest

I'm exhausted. I actually have done very little today, there isn't much to do when you have no car and your parents are at work till 7pm each evening and the only friends you have near is 17 baa-ing sheep. 

However, I have actually been quite productive. I woke up at 8am - I'm quite shocked - from another nightmare! That is the second in two nights, hmm... anyway I couldn't get back to sleep so I got up had my thick porridge with honey, read four pages of last months ELLE magazine that I haven't got round to reading yet and jumped in the shower, threw on some clothes and decided it was time to finish my application for L'Oréal. I started this on 27th November, it said I had till 30th December so there was no rush. I got to the stage where it asked me for my CV and decided to save it there and come back. BUT I have finally submitted my whole application, I have also managed to apply to two more summer internships - Actually that does sound rather productive, one with a recruitment consultancy company and one with a bank in retail general management. 

After that I did feel quite accomplished, although when I received an email from all three saying I had to wait to hear anything till 12th January I was a bit like oh... great! Oh well... no online psychometric tests till then, which means I have plenty of time to start revising. Which I did, after a 30 minute walk in knee-deep mud and sheep and a tuna sandwich. I sat down to Law. It took me two hours to read eleven pages of the textbook (half a chapter, not even one lecture), not because I'm a slow reader or because I couldn't be bothered but because the stupid thing is so text heavy it almost sent me to sleep. 

So I stopped, ate two crackers with Wensleydale and cranberry cheese, a fruit salad, a GÜ pot, a banana, a biscuit and the last two days of my advent calendar (plus the cardboard). It sounds a lot but not really... hopefully we're having a full boar tonight, I'm so hungry! So then I wrapped mother and father's present and put them under the sagging Christmas tree (its a real one and its boughs are almost on the floor... we can barely fit presents underneath).

Two hours later, here I am, awaiting my mother's arrival home for some actual human communication (as opposed to Lady Gaga who tried to bite my hand off when I fed her, after which I got very itchy eyes and sneezed for about an hour). I am convinced I am going to start some more Law, but I just really cannot be bothered. 

I'm definitely feeling Love Actually tonight.

RHS x 

p.s. Congratulations to Natalie for passing her driving test. I'm so proud!xxx 

Music Review #1 - Lady Gaga and Iggy Azalea

  Approximately 30 seconds after I posted about my holiday prep I decided it was time to complete and potentially review my summer playlist. I tend to go for two playlists - depending on my mood - one which is more Daughter and Jessie Ware and one which is more David Guetta and Beyoncé.

  So I merrily log onto iTunes and something catched my eye. The white background, the oddly painted face, the easy to recognise nose and eyes of Lady Gaga - you're not telling me she's back? Oh yes my children, she is back and which avngence by the sound of the single "Applause".

  The album is "ARTPOP" and the release date isn't until 11th November, remembrance day, interesting Gaga. But the single is available to download now.

  Its stil Gaga but there is something different about it - as the Adams family intro makes you think and with the opening line of "I stand here waiting for you to bang he gong" you know its different.

  She then shows her true colours (if you will excuse the terrible pun) when the chorus beings with "I live for the applause" - being repeated over and over. Overall the YouTube likes say it all at over 129,000 likes and only 14,000 dislikes (still a lot of dislikes!) - but I am very much a like.
  She's been having some good and bad press recently but shes headlining at iTunes festival on September 1st in London - normal. Now this (only just in from MTV) she's doing a DUET WITH CHER, you heard me right - any "Believe" fans will LOVE this and I have to say I am loving it - there aren't really any official audios so  have a search on YouTube to have a listen to some previews but its looking more Cher ft. Gaga rather than Gaga ft. Cher - YES CHER!

Anyway, after a bumpy ride for Gaga including a naked V magazine shoot, buying MJ's clothes, doing a "non-promo" here (basically telling people not to buy her single - very odd indeed, but a very good technique), and feuds with Katy Perry as her release date and "Applause" release date now clash (Applause was leaked so the release date is earlier than expected)... It doesn't take the shine away from the fact that GAGA IS BACK! 

I give it 3.5/5 bravo Gargs.

Now onto Miss Azalea - the lyrics to "Work" are absolutely amazing.

  My favourite line to be exact is "Valley girls giving blow jobs for Louboutins, whatcha call that? - head over heels?" - another bravo is in order.

  I had seen the official video on MTV and liked it, kind of, but then when I saw her perform on BINTM on a table infront of Elle McPherson I was like "I need this in my life - and my workout" it is such a good motivator to workout to and the varying tempos and dynamics make it a great club tune, I am definitely requesting it next time I am out.
  She has recently released "Bounce" but I am definitely not sure if I like that - its quite Nicki Minaj and Ke$ha - but a fail and I can see that hitting clubs too.

  But by far "Work" is my favourite - the video is pretty amazing too - as she struts across a desert (sorry, walks a mile in her Louboutins) in Empire State heels. 

4/5 go Iggy iggy iggy! oi oi.... ohhhhh dear.

Hope you enjoy them as much as me!

RHS x

5:2

5:2? 

5:2? 

5 cookies for every 2 doughnuts?

Butternut squash risotto = 240 calories! 

5 pairs of shoes for every 2 new dresses?
5 nights out for every 2 nights staying in and drinking anyway?

er, not quite, its the 5:2 diet! yes, diet. (when friends read this I will probably get told off - sorry!)

Its this new craze thats everywhere! (apparently) and basically you starve yourself for 2 days of only 500 calories (ahh, 5:2 I hear you say)

Created by Dr. Micheal Mosely (of course, a man - http://thefastdiet.co.uk) the idea is that fasting helps you burn more fat by giving your body time to get rid of the rubbish it doesn't need. yeah. whatever. 

Now, for a runner this sounded a bit mental, seeing as when I train (good joke, Ruth), when I attempt to train (by looking like I know what I'm doing in the gym) I consume around 2300 calories a day. 

So, like the mad head I am, I gave it ago. Well. I have never felt so sh1t, if you will excuse my terrible Russian. 

I decided to do 1 day a week (5:1, far more sensible). I was working the night before and finished work at 3am, and from 12am I made sure I stopped eating, so I went to bed without my usual 2 biscuits after work and woke up at 11am. 

I had porridge with soya milk for breakfast = 144 calories, ok. 

I didn't have lunch, as I was up so late. I was at work at 6pm that evening so I thought between 11am and 6pm I could easily only have 500 calories, 



Around 4pm I had chicken satay skewers with spinach = 290 calories
  (recipe: http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/dieting/recipes/52-bikini-panic-diet-recipes-1967236)

Then I had an Activia yogurt = 68 calories 

Total = 502, oops. 

As you can see, its hard! 

So I got to work and by 10pm I felt like a hairy Neanderthal, who had woken up with severe period pain - nice. I felt awful and got home at 12:30am and weighed myself. 

My friend, tucking into a late night takeaway! -
why not!

I HAD LOST A POUND. not joking, I wouldn't lie to you. 

the idea is that you eat 500 calories for 2 days a week and "normally" for the remaining 5 (i.e. 2000 calories a day) and that you workout for 30 minutes for 3 of the 5 days. 

Its worth it, apparently you lose up to 2lbs a week in the first week then a lb a week after that.

Is starving ourselves the way forward to looking good or losing weight? 
That sounds like a bad case of "Im Dior, I need size -6 models not 0, Chanel has them!" 

know what I mean?

stay healthy and happy!

RHS x