Five tips on how to stay happy during exam time

So, it's the final term of second year at University and I'm definitely feeling the pressure. Some people are able to keep relatively calm during the exam period (lucky people!), however I'm on the opposite side of the spectrum and find it almost impossible to stay relaxed. Since the days of A-Levels, I've made sure I've done certain things in the run up to exams to ensure I don't burn out. Here's my five tips that help me stay sane during exams and deadlines, and hope they help all you fellow stress-heads out there.

1. Eat healthily and feed your brain!

This one might seem extremely self-explanatory, but it's so vital to make sure you feed your brain the right foods during exam time. I have been in the situation where you're so tired that you just kinda want to eat Nutella on toast for each meal, which in an ideal world would be amazing, but it's frankly not good for brain functioning. Make sure you eat breakfast, tonnes of fruit and vegetables, good carbs, and plenty of fish. I absolutely love cooking, and find it really therapeutic. When I'm at university, I mainly adopt a pescetarian diet because fish does wonders to your energy and meat is also very expensive. If you've got a sweet tooth, like myself, definitely invest in Nakd bars. They're 100% vegan, one of your five-a-day and are surprisingly super tasty.

Revising is so emotionally and mentally draining, sometimes making some people feel really down. In my first year of psychology, I found out that diets containing tryptophan, an amino acid essential to produce serotonin, alleviates depressive symptoms. You can find tryptophan in chickpeas, fish, eggs, cheese, oats and bananas! All you people will be extremely happy to know that chocolate does indeed contain tryptophan. I hear you all cheer!

2. Organise your work schedule 

Again this is kind of obvious, but organising your time, your work and yourself will help you keep stress to a minimum during the exam period. Creating a revision timetable with plenty of breaks will keep you motivated and will also ensure you revise efficiently. Also, I find it's really helpful to find out what type of learner you are. I did a quiz a week ago and found out that I'm a visual learner, which is no surprise as my revision tactic is to make about a million mind maps and (badly) draw pictures. My room literally becomes infested with mind-maps on each wall. Once you find out what sort of learner you are, information seems to flow much more easily.

3. Get a good night's rest

Sleep is everyone's best friend, and you definitely should not neglect it over exam time. I've never been the sort of person to do all nighters as my cut off time has always been 9pm. Memory consolidation happens when you sleep, so make sure you avoid those all-nighters and get a good night's rest as sleep helps you remember information you have learnt in the day. You've got nothing to lose, you get to sleep AND your brain helps you revise without you even knowing.

4. Exercise, exercise, exercise

At university, I am part of the Aerobics Society which is super fun because you workout for an hour and not even realise you're doing high intensity cardio. Whilst at the time you might prefer to slob around and watch 10 episodes of Friends, exercise rejuvenates your brain and body making you feel motivated. Also, it's a good excuse to get out of the library. 

5. If you're the super anxious sort, drink tea. 

I'm a typical Brit integrating cuppas into everything, but here it is totally relevant (I promise). There are many different types of tea you can dabble with, and all of them are super healthy. I am a sucker for a traditional milky English Breakfast tea, but have recently jumped onto the herbal-tea bandwagon. I've bought lots of Camomile Tea because it's renowned for its relaxing and soothing effects on the brain. There's plenty of science behind the powers of Camomile Tea, and has even helped alleviate anxiety in those suffering from General Anxiety Disorder. Camomile Tea is naturally caffeine-free and should be consumed before you go to sleep. I have a severe attachment to tea, so getting by in exam time without it would be devastating.

Hopefully these five tips will help the most anxious amongst you all. Exams are stressful but don't forget to look out for yourself and take plenty of breaks! 

Our adventure in Berlin

For months, we had been counting down the days until our city break to Berlin and this week we finally arrived in Berlin for our 4 day adventure! 

After a considerably early flight and a painless journey from the airport to the city centre, we quickly got settled in Plus Hostel Berlin, although I should probably correct this to "hotel" because it was nothing like a hostel as we had a private double room and an en-suite. So, as far as hostels go this was probably the most luxurious you could get. 

After a quick unpacking of our bags, we went straight out to get our bearings (and mainly to get food). Our hostel is directly next to the East Side Gallery and borders Neukolln, the hub of all things vintage. According to reviews, it's hipster haven. Alex and I felt like the un-coolest people in the area!

I always prefer to walk round the city as opposed to getting the train or bus, as you get to see the real personality of a city and usually the best parts are hidden away from the main streets. On our first day we walked to Treptower Park and around the area before finally ending up in Que Pasa, a Mexican themed bar-restaurant. I didn't expect to be eating anything other than burgers and Currywurst, but the food at Que Pasa was so yummy (and reasonably priced). It was a bonus that they were also offering ample 4€ cocktails! It would be silly not to visit this little gem.

Our second day was our busiest day as we did all of the touristy things and managed to walk around 20 miles in total that day. Firstly, we walked along side the East Side Gallery, the most intact part of the Berlin wall, and this was by far my favourite part of Berlin. Each part of the wall tells a personal story, and it's an uncensored expression of freedom through street art.

We also ventured to Alexanderplatz to see the TV Tower, Brandenburg Gate, Tiergarten, Checkpoint Charlie, Topography of Terrors and in the evening we had a guided tour of the Bundestag (Reichstag) Building which was surprisingly super interesting and gave an insightful overview of the history of German parliament. The views of Berlin from the terrace at the top of the building finished off the day well. Better yet, all of the attractions above were free. The only thing we paid for that day was a Currywurst and some snacks from Lidl. We're stereotypical frugal students, aren't we? 

Burgermeister

Five Elephant Coffee and Cake

New Deli Yoga Berlin 

Berlin isn't a place you go to be bombarded with lots of attractions, but the culture and lifestyle is an attraction in itself. Once we had finished looking at the sights (which took only a day), we emerged ourselves in the culture. If any of you know me well enough, you know that Alex and I are HUGE burger enthusiasts, which means we were in our element when we found Burgermeister. Burgermeister is hidden under a bridge in Kreuzberg and serves the world's greatest burgers for a friendly price of only €4. It also has beer cheaper than Coca-Cola, so you can see what the hype is about. 

We also did some cafe-hopping around Neukolln and purposefully went to Five Elephant Cafe. The weather was tropical for March, so we sat outside with some fancy coffees and ate the most incredible cheesecake.

When evening arrives, Berlin has an incredible array of bars. After revising the entirety of Trip Advisor, we explored another neighbourhood called Prenzlauerberg and spent the night having copious amounts of Whiskey and Beer.

Berlin is now one of my favourite places, and I'm really itching to get back there once I'm not a student and earning my own money. Berlin is perfect for a student budget, or anyone who isn't looking to break the bank. 

Review: Brew and Brownie, York

If anyone knows me well enough, they will release that I have very strong feelings towards cups of tea and cake. York is well renowned for offering copious amounts of cafes and tea rooms, but there is one place that certainly has the edge. Brew and Brownie is my ultimate favourite place for a loose-leaf tea (such a luxury), thick buttermilk Pancakes with maple syrup and bacon or a generous helping to one of their bakes of the day.

I discovered this place one gloomy, winter morning in York and since then, I've been hooked. So hooked that I've been here twice this week already. The American-style pancakes are INCREDIBLE. Now, I've been to IHOP in America a couple of times and were impressed by their humongous stack of pancakes but, still, Brew and Brownie offer something even more impressive. I've tried both the Nutella and Banana pancakes and the Maple Syrup and Bacon variety. I'm still torn between which one is my favourite. Although, my boyfriend Alex would disagree as he is firm believer that the bacon pancakes are the winner. 

Lemon and poppyseed cake and a very milky cuppa - yummmm!

If you're not a huge fan of pancakes, there are some delightful savoury meals you can devour also. If you're a sweet tooth, like me, then there's numerous different baked goods offered. I absolutely love the tea they serve here because it's loose leaf and the flavours are much more refreshing! They do a fab selection of herbal teas too; the lemon and ginger one is worth a try if you're trying to ween yourself off milky tea. 

This was the fourth attempt at taking a nice photo!

If you're a fan of vintage-style decor, Kings of Leon and the Beatles, great coffee and amazing service, then I beg you try this place out. It's impossible to hate this place, and you'll find yourself returning on a weekly basis.

The best things in life are for free

I am definitely an advocate of the motto "the best things in life are for free" and now this extends into the realm of free burgers, courtesy of Byron Hamburgers. Byron Hamburgers in York should now know myself and Alex on a first-name basis as we genuinely use any excuse to devour one of their extremely wonderful hamburgers. As we are VIP and fabulous (ahem, signed up to their Burger Club Mailng list), we got a sneaky free preview of their infamous B-Rex burger which is a delectable combination of proper beef, proper American cheese, fried onions, streaky bacon, an onion ring, barbecue sauce, pickle, chili peppers and it's sandwiched between a brioche bun (possibly the best part).

Here I am at Byron Hamburgers (again). Like seriously, do I ever leave this place? 

Byron's menu may look like it lacks variety at first glance, but the simplicity works. The menu is straight to the point. I always know where I stand with it. You can jazz your burger up with additional toppings if you really need to overdose on flavour, but their choice of burgers are traditionally American in everyway, and surely that's what you want from a burger?

 I rarely enjoy side dishes as they usually comprise of soggy chips lathered in vinegar or a flavourless salad of some description, but again Byron nails the side dishes. I religiously order the courgette fries which are SO BLOODY GOOD. Psychologically, I make myself feel less guilty by eating vegetables (vegetables that are battered). 

If you're a burger enthusiast or have any sense, get yourself signed up to the Byron Burger Club via their website www.byronhamburgers.com

You won't regret eating these burgers, and your stomach will be eternally happy. 

Why Sunday mornings are the best

Usually, I never get to enjoy my Sunday mornings properly as I always have a mountain of uni work to finish and also work on Sundays. Sunday in Latin means "being a lazy bum all day", right? I celebrated having a day off by making Avocado and Boiled Eggs on Seeded Toast, which is a definite upgrade from my usual porridge. Avocado is my new kryptonite and I genuinely try to incorporate it into each meal. The best bonus of this meal is that it's super healthy as well as super filling, meaning you can have something incredibly yummy without feeling guilty. 

And of course, no morning is complete without a giant mug of tea watching Sunday Brunch. I definitely sound like an old lady right now. 

Also, after a disastrous week with technology and two laptops later, I finally bit the bullet and purchased a MacBook Air. I was considering it for awhile as they are the most reliable little things ever. So, this Sunday I'm being a techie geek and plan on spending my day actually learning how to use a MacBook and of course taking silly photos Photobooth. 

A long over-due trip to Betty's tea room in York

Everybody in the English-speaking world knows about Betty's Cafe and Tea Rooms based in Yorkshire. After almost two years of living in York, I finally went for afternoon tea at Betty's located in St. Helen's Square after my mum  bought me a couple of vouchers for Christmas. 

Betty's is the most truly delectable English dining anybody will experience. If you're familiar with York, you will often see tourists and locals queuing up as early as 8.30am to bag a seat. The rumours about Betty's are true; it hosts the most unbelievable Afternoon Tea ever! 

Alex and I opted for the Afternoon Tea as we were feeling pretty hungry and wanted to experience the world-famous selection for ourselves. Firstly, they brought out a huge pot of tea with milk and sugar cubes. I am a sucker for sugar cubes, as I'm sure any avid tea-drinker is. The attention to detail is spotless. You really feel honoured and valued as a guest, which I feel is often over-looked in other places.

I am one of those people in restaurants who is constantly keeping an eye out for my food, but I really didn't need to at Betty's because the service was unbelievably quick considering it was quite busy. The Afternoon Tea at Betty's boasts a large selection of savoury and sweet treats. The selection of sandwiches were ham, egg mayonnaise, roast chicken and smoked salmon with cream cheese, but you can change these sandwiches if you have any dietary requirements. There was also a scone, clotted cream and the most fruity strawberry jam ever. The cake selection included a raspberry tartlet, an Engadine macaroon and a chocolate-orange fondant fancy. I am proud to say that I ate every scrap (almost). 

Alex and I looking pretty smug with our Afternoon Tea!

The whole experience at Betty's was charming. If you want a truly English dining experience, then look no further. The Afternoon Tea at Betty's Cafe at St. Helen's Square in York is priced reasonably at £18.95. I cannot wait to go back to try every cake on the trolley. Is it too soon to go again? 

Student Style Seafood Spaghetti

Everyone seems to have a preconceived idea of students just eating beans on toast throughout their degree. In my first year of university, I definitely dabbled with canned and processed foods, but found eating more a chore than an enjoyable activity. This year, I'm living in a house and therefore have more space to experiment with cooking. Although seafood spaghetti sounds like quite a lot of effort to make and on the higher-end of a student budget, Alex and I have found a way to eliminate both cost and time from the equation. So, we present to you Student Style Seafood Spaghetti!

All you will need is:

• Spaghetti
• One heaped tablespoon of Crème Fraîche
• Cooked King Prawns
• Cooked Mussels 
• Smoked Salmon
• Spinach
• Cherry Tomatoes 
• Juice of one lemon 
• Garlic and chilli to flavour!

There is literally one step to this recipe:

1. Once the spaghetti is cooked, leave to one side draining, add all the ingredients into a pan. Mix them all on a low heat, add the spaghetti, mix again and serve!