Louise Kaitlin

Hello again!

Today's post is something quite different from my usual posts and i have never done anything like this before on my blog, which is super exciting but also super nerve-racking!! Today's post is a collaboration with the beautiful Estelle, who i met on instagram a couple of years ago, and shared a love of pretty much everything, we are so so similar which is appropriate for this collaboration. You can find Estelle on instagram with the handle @velvetteddyblogs and also you can read her post by clicking here! - make sure to leave a nice comment & let her know you've come from my blog too!

* not my photo. full credit to the rightful owner.

Well, first things first i should probably introduce what this post is about. When Estelle approached me about collabing, she mentioned the idea of something food related, which if you know me is right up my street! We decided to each do a post on a place to eat from our local areas.

Choosing 1 place to eat was so so difficult because i am such a huge lunch bunny and love to eat out in all different places with my friends, but on thursday i adventured into Southampton with my uni friends and stumbled across this place called Cosmo. Basically, it's an all you can eat buffet which if those 5 little words don't bring you in then i don't know what will.


Food
Cosmo as mentioned, is an all you can eat buffet and therefore, the food selection and choice is huge! There is everything from Asian to Chinese, French, Indian, English, Italian and so so much more! All the food is set out into different sections labelled by their country or 'genre'. You can grab a plate and make your way round each section or simply start at one, eat and return for more! The quality of the food itself was way better than i thought it would be. I was slightly cautious knowing its a buffet, the assumption that the food would be sub par due to the fact the restaurant is catering for large quantities. But boy was i wrong, the food was restaurant quality, piping hot and full of seasoning.

There buffet also includes a desert section, which things such as cheesecake, cakes, donuts, ice-cream, fruit, sweeties and so much more!

* not my photo. full credit to the rightful owner.

* not my photo. full credit to the rightful owner.

Cost
Cost wise, you'll love this! especially if you're a student on a budget like me. For the buffet it cost only £8.99! For you to eat as much as you want, endless amounts, how amazing?!

Drinks cost £3 for a bottomless glass, which means like the buffet you can refill until your heart is content!

Now, if i don't say so myself that's a pretty good, cheap meal out with friends and family.


It's safe to say, I will 100% be returning to Cosmo very very soon! Ohh, and a bonus... if it's your birthday you can go to Cosmo and your meal will be FREE! Just make sure you take some ID to prove it is actually your birthday haha ;)

I hope you enjoyed this post, and i'll see you (or well talk to you) very soon!

Love From,
Lou X

When I look back on my blog, over the years there has always been 1 specific topic post that seems to do the best in terms of views, comments and interactions. The original post was titled 'Organisation Tips for Blogging' which I believe I posted back in 2015. In 2016, I did an updated version where I discussed some new ideas on how I keep up to date with blogging. A lot has changed in a year and previously 3 years from the original post, so I thought I would do an updated updated blogging organisation tips (that's not a great title but you get the idea).

Being a full time undergraduate student at university is stressful in itself, but combine that with working part time, volunteering and trying to maintain some kind of social life (note i said some kind) makes life even more hectic. With assignment dates here and there, I must admit i do find it very difficult to make time for blogging. But i've come up with the best way for me, to at least help maintain some kind of clear direction when it comes to sitting down and writing something.

Notebooks
What can i say? Who doesn't like buying cute new stationary? I know I do! With university being 99% computer and online based, it makes it very difficult to have a good excuse to buy some cute supplies. But... blogging gives me that little bit of justification i need ;)

I usually have 2 notebooks to use. The biggest A4 one is kept at home ALWAYS. It does not leave the house purely for the reason it holds many a secret for my blog and i know if i lost it or left it somewhere i'd be devastated. The smaller A5 notebook is the complete opposite. It comes EVERYWHERE with me. For those days where i'm sitting on the train to uni and a blog post idea pops into my head and i immediately want to start planning. Weirdly enough, this little notebook has become very useful in the car too. It's weird but when i'm driving i get all these great ideas and must write them down before i forget. (Don't worry, i always pull over somewhere safe before i whip the little book out!)

Phone/Apps
Living in 2018, its safe to say pretty much every single person has access to a mobile phone on the go. I mean if you're like me, you will not leave the house without it in your hand. This little handy device is great for when you really are stuck with writing a spur of the moment idea down. Also, there are many many apps you can download that are targeted to bloggers, helping you keep all your ideas in one place.

I also use my phone for scheduling what days and times i will upload my blog posts. I must admit sometimes i don't stick to a schedule because some days i want to just sit and write and upload all in one go regardless of whether it fits into a particular time slot. But keeping up to date with days you have time to upload is very important when it comes to maintaining a continuous upload.

All my university assignments, lecture times and volunteering slots are all stored in my phone calendar, so adding when i want to or more importantly when i have time to write a blog post is important. Whip out your phone ladies and gents and start scheduling your life.

Similar to phones, why not schedule and plan on your laptop. At the end of the day most of us probably use a computer or laptop to upload photos and actually write blog posts, so find an app to download to help keep it all in one place.

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I hope you guys enjoyed this little spur of the moment blog post. You all seemed to really love my other one so i really hope you enjoy this one too!

Let me know of any other blogging organisation ideas you have by commenting below this post as i love love love hearing what you guys have to say and maybe one of your guys' ideas might make its way into my little schedule.

Love From,
Lou X

This quote has become such a significant part of my life.

2017 has been a strange year for me, so many ups but also so many downs.

I've accomplished so much this year but I've also struggled more than ever, both physically and mentally.

This year, I have made it half way through my degree, quit my job, strengthened my friendships and most importantly i've become happier. But don't get me wrong there have been so many negative moments in 2017, so many hard times but guess what? I made it through and so have you.

This post was very impromptu but I wanted to share with you guys, how I managed to kick anxiety in the ass and start to re-build my life. Some of you may have read my previous post, around this time last year about understanding and admitting to social anxiety. With my first year at university and living in halls being a nightmare, and making the massive decision to move home and travel to and fro university. At first I had initial regret and was extremely hard on myself because I missed so much by living at home, but as time went on I learned to accept my decisions and make the best out of every situation. 2017 has definitely been the year where I've learnt to let go and live, stop worrying about little things and just be free. This is something i've definitely come along way with but I'm still learning (just like you).

Moral of this post, is to show you that YOU CAN DO IT. Stop worrying and enjoy life, as cliche as it sounds, life really is too short and unpredictable. Let go and try it, you never know you may like it ;)

Let's make 2018 another year full of happiness and joy, spread love and positivity. Leave the negative, horrid thoughts behind.

Happy New Year my lovelies.

Lou xxx

Around a year ago, I wrote a blog posted titled 'Organisation Tips for Blogging' and to this day it is still one of my most viewed and commented blog post. As we approach 2017, I think I need to take a leaf out of my own book and organise my blogging life. If you're like me and find it hard to fit in some time to write a blog post, then maybe these tips will motivate you to reorganise and plan your blogging life.

A notebook for me is the best way of motivating myself to plan out new and interesting blog posts in detail so when it comes to the time of writing, I know exactly what I'm writing and including. A visually interesting to look at notebook always helps me stay motivated and the one included in these images is the Zoella 'Once Upon a Time' notebook which can be brought from Superdrug. It was £14 and was the best purchase I've made for a notebook. Within the lined pages there are inspirational quotes which help me keep going through those bloggers block moments.

Similarly, a diary of some kind is always helpful to keep up to date with when you're going to post, in terms of both times and dates. Having a diary also allows me to see if I'm posting too many of one type of blog post too often such as too many beauty/makeup posts next to each other. I use the same diary for blogging as I do for my university assignments and lecture dates and times, as I find having everything in one place is best for me.

Lastly, it's the 21st century and everyone under the age of 20 has some kind of mobile device with them. So why not use your phone to set reminders/make notes on the go? Its easy and I'm guessing you always have your phone in your hand, just like I do? (haha). Make use of this and download apps for notes and blogging, its so simple yet so obvious.

I hope i've inspired or given you fellow bloggers or busy bee's like me to keep organised and prepared for 2017.

lou xx

Hello Everyone! Long time no speak and all, how's everyone doing? I hope you're all well. A lot has changed for me over the past few months, I've sat my exams and guess what? I got into university! I am studying Early Childhood Education Studies at my first choice University. Although I was excited to come and emerge myself into the lifestyle of a university student, it hasn't come without its ups and downs. As I'm writing this I'm currently wishing I was at home (yes it's got that bad).

Living in halls, is quite possibly the biggest and most difficult thing I've ever had to do... EVER! I was never really one for wanting to live in halls, but my mum told me I had to give it a try before I can make a judgement on it. So that's what I've done. I moved in on Sunday 18th September (2016) at around 10am, the day had only just started but I had already been an emotional wreck the night before and all morning before I left the house. We did the usual playing tetris with the car to fit all the bags and boxes in, which we did! We took the 40 minute journey (roughly), where I picked up my keys and headed down to the accommodation to unload my stuff (at this point I was feeling physically sick, and shaking). Long story short, I unloaded and unpacked and my mum said she was leaving, this is where I became truly upset, I burst out crying uncontrollably (like a toddler does). I couldn't bring myself to accept that I wasn't going to be living at home anymore:(

Anyway, the days went on and since Sunday, I have been on the phone to my mum every night crying about how much I want to come home. Living in halls is just not for me, I want to study for a degree but I don't want to live here! It has nothing to do with my flat mates (so if you're reading 'hello' it has nothing to do with you, you're all so so so lovely), its to do with my personality and suffering with social anxiety. I'm trying to fit in but its hard when the first week is freshers which involves clubbing and partying which is another thing I HATE. I've made some lovely friends on my course and just around the uni and I am very thankful for that.

Needless to say, i'm not entirely sure what this blog post was or what it was for, but I needed time to fill and somewhere to express my feelings. I'm hoping that if you're reading this and are currently at university and are feeling just like me, then this may help in you knowing you're not alone! Or if you're reading this in 2020, then 'hey' from the past, you're not alone either!

If you are struggling with the decision to go to university or you're at university and aren't enjoying yourself, then please do feel free to message me via my instagram @hiyaimlouu as I'm happy to help in the best way I can. I'll keep you all up to date with how my life is going but for now i'm off to burn some toast like a typical university student, goodbyeeeeeee! xxx


*photos are not my own, full ownership goes to the rightful owner*