Revision Tips & Tricks | English Literature ♡

It's getting to that time again; exam season is looming and along with it months of unavoidable revision. Whether you're at GCSE, A Level or in University the coming months will no doubt be filled with post-its, highlighters and endless pages of notes - half of which you probably can't remember the meaning of and are most likely covered in doodles of animals, flowers and various caricatures depicting your classmates. English Literature in particular is a subject in which I often get lost. I love it, don't get me wrong, but reading Shakespeare for a double lesson on a Monday afternoon usually sees me lost in my thoughts, staring out of the window. Case in point; last week when we reached the ghost's lines in 'Hamlet' and, as I didn't currently have a role (meaning I'd completely zoned out and everything was washing over my head), our teacher said "Maddie can read the ghost." I heard my name but had no idea what I was doing until my friend whispered instructions into my ear, haha. Here are some of my revision tips and tricks for English Literature, which may help you to revive your knowledge of your texts! While I've tailored it to A Level, it can be adapted to GCSE too.

1. Index tabs, index tabs, index tabs. 

If you haven't used these and you're taking English Literature, you're seriously missing out. I don't know if it's just me who loves to colour code all my revision but these go a long way to help. I usually draw a key at the front of my text and assign each colour to a motif or symbol - for example in Atonement I have assigned the pink coloured tab to the symbol of the vase, and placed one in every page that it's mentioned. I usually combine these with post-it notes highlighting key events (such as Hamlet's "to be or not to be" soliloquy), which allows you to easily flick through your text while revising and pick out key information without having to search. I always find marking out my texts in this way a great starting point.

2. 'York Notes' really are amazing.

Forget CGP revision guides, for English Literature York Notes are where it's at. You can usually pick them up for around £5 on Amazon and they're worth every penny. They are full to bursting with notes on the text, including commentary on authorial methods (which is what I always struggle with most in exams), motifs, key ideas and important characters. When I'm making mind maps, these really help.

3. Don't underestimate the power of Quizlet.

It may only be a little app but Quizlet is amazing for solidifying your revision. As well as creating your own material, you can download hundreds of others that people doing the same courses as you have created, which you can then open and use on public transport, while waiting for a friend, or just in a spare moment at home (on the loo if you wish). And it's completely free!

4. Writing in the margins is soul destroying, but really useful.

I am the biggest neat freak when it comes to books; spines can't be broken, pages can't be written in and dust covers must be kept on. But with my A Level texts I break the rules. They are so heavily annotated that I get pencil lead on my hands when I flick through them. The reason I, and of course many others, write so heavily on them is simply because I want to make sure I get everything down without having to scribble it all in my notebook along with page references and full explanations. Jotting down rough notes and converting them into proper notes later is so much easier - if you can remember what your shorthand means!

Obviously these are just my top tips and I do all the usual methods (revision cards, mind maps...) which you don't need telling about I'm sure.

Do you use any of these methods? How else do you revise?

Maddie x

Makeup Bag Staples ♡

When it comes to packing my makeup bag to take somewhere there's always a handful of products that never fail to make it in. From base to lips, I've listed my main staples here:

• Rimmel Match Perfection Foundation: This is my favourite foundation for most days. It gives just the right amount of coverage for everyday wear and the range of shades is great too - although I find that mixing the lightest two shades actually gives me the best colour match in winter.
• Rimmel Stay Matte Powder: I think this is the most talked about drugstore powder in blogging history and I'm one of the masses - it's my favourite. I use the translucent shade to set my base makeup and it never fails. Due to it being translucent I can use it year round too.
• Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer: Again I'm one of the masses with this product, but it really is my go to. The formula is the perfect consistency to blend and has amazing coverage for under eyes and blemishes alike.
• NYX Tinted Brow Mascara: After using Benefit's Gimme Brow for as long as I can remember I discovered NYX's tinted brow mascara on recommendation of a friend and I can safely say that as long as I'm on a student budget I won't be buying the Benefit product again. This is a quarter of the price and works just as well - if not better for my brows, which are thicker and therefore the thicker brush works better.
• Mac Velvet Teddy: Another product that is the staple of many a makeup bag, Mac's Velvet Teddy lipsticks are like gold dust and it took me months to get hold of one in stock - I finally found it in duty free at Manchester airport last year. Now I've got it it's never off my lips and I wear it all the time, from going out to lunch to going out, it fits the bill for many an occasion. 
• Soap & Glory Supercat and Crazy Sexy Kohl: Soap and Glory eyeliners are my absolute favourites and both their Supercat eyeliner pen and their kohl pencil always make it into my bag. The kohl pencil stays put for the whole day without smudging even in the rain (or while crying at a film hahaha) - it's not going anywhere. I love the Supercat eyeliner because it's a pen and therefore way easier to apply than with a brush.
• Benefit Hoola Bronzer: My favourite bronzer due to the ease of application and the way it blends perfectly into any base of makeup. It is also so buildable, which is perfect for a variety of skin tones.
• Benefit They're Real Mascara: I have quite a few mascaras worthy of credit, but my go to every day is Benefit's They're Real. I love the fact that it adds so much volume and though it is pretty difficult to remove it stays put all day.
• Carmex and Eos Lip Balms: Of course lip balms are always going to feature in my makeup bag and my favourites are definitely the basic Carmex tube and also an Eos lip balm, which I find perfect for inside my bag because it never comes open and makes a mess! I liberally apply lip balm every day, and there's always one hanging around in whatever bag I'm carrying!

What are the staples in your makeup bag? Anything I should try?

Maddie x

Little Comets in Sheffield ♡

I apologise about the awful quality photos - iPhone camera and bad lighting!

OOTN: Off The Shoulder Top, New Look | Chokers, Asos

Last Saturday night brought around my first gig of the year; Little Comets supported by Eliza and The Bear in Sheffield's Leadmill club. In all honesty, when we booked the tickets we were actually going to see Eliza and The Bear, having never really listened to Little Comets. We had seen Eliza and The Bear at Y Not Festival last year and loved them so we jumped at the chance to see them again - and they did not disappoint! In their half an hour support set they covered the best tracks off their album and had the entire crowd in high spirits. When it came to Little Comets we were still, of course, looking forward to seeing them but I had that awful feeling of being at a gig where you know none of the songs. This didn't prove a problem - they were amazing! They played their most popular songs as well as some from their new album and there was some serious moshing going on (almost a little too much for my claustrophobic self), which meant that not knowing the words became less of a problem half way through the set - although I did end up with a bleeding, bruised ankle - s/o to the 6ft tall guy who inflicted that upon my foot. 

It was also my 14 year old brother's first gig (don't worry mum, his drink in the photo above is just cola), as he ended up taking my boyfriend's ticket who got a migraine on the night. Taking him was a slight worry, but he is about four inches taller than me and in the end it was him who elbowed some guy out of the way that tried to put his arms around me, hahaha. All in all I think I am now a converted Little Comets fan - in fact I'm listening to them as I write this... while my ankle is still swollen.

Do you like Little Comets / similar bands? And have you ever gained an injury at a gig? (This is the worst I've ever picked up haha).

Maddie x

Making A Blogging Return: New Goals ♡

It definitely feels like a while since I've sat down and typed a blog post! Towards the end of last year, as I was focusing on my upcoming AS Level exams and the back-to-back busy summer I was about to experience, I lost my blogging mojo. I don't know how, I don't know when, but it went. The thought of getting out my camera and laptop and having a 'blogging day' was something I came to dread, and combining revision for four different subjects that between them had eight exams and blogging at the same time seemed like the impossible task. I eventually let my blog slide further and further down on my list of priorities, until eventually it wasn't something I considered part of my schedule any more.

It was only recently that I decided to get my blog up and running again, and as I'm sat writing this post I'm brainstorming blog ideas for weeks to come. I don't know where it went over the last year, but it appears my 'blogging mojo' has returned.This time though, I want to establish some personal 'goals' that will hopefully keep me on track:

1. Blog only when I want to - don't force it, don't rush it. Make sure that every post I hit the 'publish' button on is my best work, and something I want to put into the blogging community.

2. Make use of my blog Instagram and Twitter accounts. Become more active on them. Let people know what blog posts have bee published, and join in with social media blog chats.

3. Enjoy writing! Because what's the point in having a blog if you don't?

I hope to see you all soon!

Maddie x