The Struggles only a Glasses Wearer will Understand

I've been a wearer of glasses since the age of 12- well actually very recently the proud owner of contact lenses which I wear more frequently than glasses.

My first pair were bright purple and pink thick framed, rectangular glasses that I am pretty sure would not have looked out of place with some Disney character adorning them. I honestly thought these were the height of sophistication. I have a slight obsession with tortoiseshell so for a long time I was the proud owner of a pretty cool pair of glasses. More recently, however, I got a pair of slightly oversized black, plastic framed specs that maybe are slightly more age appropriate.

I truly couldn’t live without my glasses; life would be a total blur… but here are some struggles I’m sure every glasses wearer has at some point:

Rain

How is it even with an umbrella that your glasses get soaked?? The number of times I think I have nearly been run over as my glasses resemble the inside of a shower curtain is unreal.

Being in the kitchen or coming in from the cold

Opening the oven or dishwasher to be met with plumes of smoke or temperature change deems me totally blind for a few seconds. So annoying and everyone around you just laughs.

Driving

A strange one but so often your peripheral vision is slightly hindered by wearing glasses. Rather than being able to simply just move your eyes to look at a sign you often have to turn your whole head to avoid just seeing the inside of your glasses frames.  

Putting on make-up

Applying make-up is like stepping into the total unknown. You have no idea until you put on your glasses whether you actually look half decent.

3D film watching

Truly one of the most uncomfortable feelings having to wear two sets of glasses.

Issues of romance

It does slightly ruin that moment when you have to stop or hold back on something to remove your glasses. I suppose if they like you enough this shouldn't be a problem you would hope.

Inadvertent comments

People assume I am brighter than I am actually am when I wear my glasses… maybe a good thing I don’t know??

People love to try on my glasses and tell me how blind I am. Thank you so helpful!

Ella xx 

Wise Words Wednesday #1

My Wise Words Wednesday this week is a poem written by Mother Teresa.

This particular poem was something always read to us at the end of every term while I was at school.

These words have always, and I think always will, mean a lot to me. There is so much truth in these words and written by someone who I think is a true inspiration.

We are all totally human and in the world we live in today often we are bombarded with many negative sources but often I feel at times we need to worry less about what other people think and do what we instinctively think is right and makes us feel happy.

Ella xx

Soap and Glory: Face Soap and Clarity Vitamin C Facial Wash

I have always been an absolute sucker for Soap and Glory anything. May it be their body butters or beautiful makeup. Something has me drawn to their packaging too which is always absolutely spot on.

I have recently been changing up my skincare routine which so far seems to be suiting me well. I always fear with some facial washes how harsh they are on my skin. Are they actually doing more harm than good? My skin is generally quite dry and sensitive, but I can truly say that because this facial wash is not a serum or cream, it’s more of a gel-like consistency it is much easier to lather into a foam to remove dirt or make-up.

The exfoliating properties in this gel mean that you know any dead skin cells are being got rid of. These jojoba microbeads unlike many other washes I have tried do not feel like you are scrubbing your face away with a sandpaper like a scrub. Always a bonus!  

As this facial wash contains Vitamin C and a citrus fruit called yuzu this helps boost the radiance of your skin making you look and also feel far more awake then using many other washes. The yuzu smell is also really refreshing and definitely does not smell too chemical like which makes me feel like I am least putting something a little bit more natural on my face.

Goodbye dull and flaking skin throughout the next cold and wet few months…

Ella xx

Southampton University Halls room

I am generally quite a nosey person so I wanted to do a post on my university halls room to maybe help someone else who is either thinking about choosing Southampton to study at or maybe someone who is not sure of what a university halls room looks like! (or maybe someone is nosey like me??)
I will put on a few pictures of my room to show you what it looks like…

I am lucky enough to be in a part-catered hall at Southampton, only one of two, which so far I have really enjoyed. I have definitely benefitted from the social aspect of being in catered halls, meaning I actually have to make an effort at mealtimes. This has allowed me every morning and evening to have an excuse to catch up with some of the friends I have made through halls. I think being self-catered definitely does have its benefits but I feared that I would become slightly isolated if no one else was in the flat kitchen either cooking, eating or socialising.

The rooms in my halls tend to slightly vary in size with my room being one of the medium sized ones. You still pay the same price regardless of size, unless you have an en-suite room. Stupid I know! I then share a tiny kitchen with the rest of my corridor of around 20 people, but having most of meals cooked for us makes this a lot easier. We then have a large bathroom with 4 loos and 2 showers for those 20 people. So far I don’t think I’ve ever had to wait for a shower which is great.

Duvet cover and blanket: Primark, Slippers: Joules, Cushions: Mainly Cath Kidston, Red Scarf: Zara

I have tried to make my room as homely as possible putting up lots of pictures I have printed off from home up. Lots of people saw it as a good excuse to come and talk to me when I first started at university, so were a brilliant way to break the ice and find things I had in common with the people I live with. I also brought lots of cushions and blankets too just to try and make my room a little cosier. The picture is not very clear but my duvet cover has French Bulldogs on. I went through a slight obsession of loving them so thought it was rather cute.

Above my bed and opposite my bed I have lots of shelf space. I have tried to put all my folders on one shelf and then all my books and textbooks on another. Again I have tried to keep these areas homely with any cards that I might have been sent over the last 4 months and lots of my personal stuff like jewellery and notebooks too.

Over the last 4 months I seemed to have accumulated various foodstuffs, so a designated food shelf has been created! Very useful because it is just behind my desk chair allowing for a little mid-work session snack. The shelf above all my food has my mugs, plate, cutlery and things like teabags and spreads (I have a slight addiction to peanut butter so I wanted easy access to it.)

In the corner I have my basin area which has a cupboard underneath for storing all my washing powders and also my clean sheets and towels. Next to this is my chest of drawers with all my clothes in. Currently, there is very little on top of my drawers but normally I would keep my bag for lectures on there or any folders I might need for a certain day.

My desk seems pretty self-explanatory and has my laptop, printer and everything I might need for doing my work and anything I might want near my bed too. I would really recommend getting a year diary planner to write any deadlines, commitments or lecture times in. This has been a slight saviour for me as quickly I can have an overview of what I am doing for the next week. Life has been far less stressful. I am thinking a wall planner would be an even better addition to my wall just to quickly glance up at for an overview of the semester. Will definitely consider getting one for September. I haven’t taken a picture of this but I have a built in cupboard next to my desk and shelf which is pretty large to keep some of my clothes and shoes.

Well that was a quick rundown of what is in my university room. If you would like to know anything else may it be about my room, my specific halls or halls life in general I would love to help!

Ella xx