Little Thoughts

Alisha | 21 | London

[little-thoughts-lish]

Indie Stations

Not sure if it’s just me having a broken radio for the last 3 months or whether it’s actually a new occurence but I’ve heard of way more indie stations cropping up all over the place so I thought I’d highlight a few...

1. Reprezent

Is this still indie? I guess so but probably one of the biggest for emerging artists. Love the mix of genres they play and the community feel about the whole station. Truly a pioneer for the future of new music and broadcasting. Can’t wait to get involved.

2. Foundation FM

Only recently did I learn that breafast extraordinare, Kamillah Rose, is actually a Creative Access alumni! Oh how the stars do align. The whole station screams sisterhood and I love the way women bring their energy to the shows. Especially big up sistren for all their amazing work, topics and branding. They’ve helped me out when I’ve been stuck so huge shout.

3. Incognito Radio

Now, I won’t like to you... this was a complete instagram fluke. They followed me and, for once, the whole follow back thing actually worked. Usually instagram is the bane of my life but I love their entire aesthetic. It’s got a propper DIY groove to it all and it’s perfectly rough around the edges. Definitely somewhere to keep an eye on in the future

Also big ups to other stations like Balamii, Sable Radio and all new shows poppin up! Much more to talk about on them but this is just my little thought for now x

[little-thoughts-lish]

Mix 001: Intro to Garage [D-Lish]

My first ever mix :P Garage grooooves for ur soul

My first mix and obvs it’s garage - enjoy !! lots of mistakes but I’m really proud of this new chapter in my life :)

[little-thoughts-lish]

Channel 4 move makes Leeds the new media city

The broadcaster opens a new "national HQ" to better reflect life across Britain.

So exciting to see Leeds thrive into the creative hub it should always be! Watch out, I might just move back...

[little-thoughts-lish]

OnBeat Zine, Issue #1 - Space

[little-thoughts-lish]

Confused Glass

I’ve had trouble dealing with the changes in my body recently. My mind has decided that I’m unattractive due to the overwhelming thinness that surrounds me. At first, I created this poem to express how I saw myself every day in the mirror but, as I was writing, I realised I could not picture myself performing this without utter guilt. I have a voice, and that voice belongs to a body which I would not exist without. Everyone has that voice and body; no one should be ashamed to express it. 

I look in the glass  And what do I see? Blubber, bubbles, and a big bumbling bee.

Each footstep gongs, Each movement rings; I imagine myself shrinking beautifully.

I look in the glass  And what do they see? A confident young girl with surprises to seek.

A ripple here and a rumble there Are not even noticed by those who stare, Cos they stare far further, Through her skin, Into pockets of stars and energies within.

Yes, she bubbles and bounces, But with the thoughts in her mind, Not the resistance of her rubbing thighs.

What she sees does not exist, No matter size 20, 12, or 6, Body dysmorphia exists, And it has to be addressed, Cos however you’re feelin’ I promise you’re looking your best.

[little-thoughts-lish]

Neglected Bleach

I wrote poem about general episodes in my life where I felt like my skin made me an outsider. When I was always pushed onto brown guys at parties because our skin made us belong together. Or my constant struggle to find skin-colour tights that are actually my colour. Or the when I was told I should stay out of the sun on holiday to not get darker. Most importantly, the times when I have questioned whether being brown has denied me a right to be loved. As if I was not beautiful enough for love.

I used to dream of bleach.

She was my friend.

She’d tell me ‘Lighter! Lighter! Fit the trend! 

The colour of your skin is something to conceal’

So I sat as she laughed and watched the brown peel

But now I bathe in bubbles of orange,

Shimmering rapids of golden hues,

Rolling around in thick, dark asian hair,

No space to be pale, no time to be blue.

And I cry for her, she was so ashamed,

Of a culture unmatched by those to blame,

She devoured each shimmer

And there was nothing left to lighten,

Except a neglected soul that was far too frightened.

[little-thoughts-lish]

The Importance of Resilience

Recently, I attended the Empower Woman conference at the University of Leeds. When assessing all the relevant skills necessary to build up your career and improve your lifestyle resilience was at the top. It was mentioned by every single speaker and leader there. This got me thinking... am I resilient? How can I improve? Why is it so important? 

What is it?

Resilience is a skill that allows you to find positivity in the most critical and stressful of times. You may have just broken up with someone, been rejected from a company, or had a massive project fall through. So, what are you going to do about it? 

What is it not?

Resilience does not mean that you have to immediately be completely positive about the situation. Give yourself time to feel your emotions and understand that being sad and frustrated is part of the process - just make sure you don’t sit and fester in it. Once you have truly and completely appreciated the down moments, turn to the good. What has this taught you? What have you learnt from the situation? How can you avoid this next time? 

Why is it important?

Resilience is about learning. Learning is something you should be doing until your last day, and you should thrive in it because, really, if you are not learning then you are not changing. Without change you are not growing and bettering yourself. Who wants to remain a disgruntled teen forever? 

What if I can’t do it? 

Now I will say, do not beat yourself up if this does not come easy. Mental health can be a massive barrier to resilience and can knock you back again and again. However, with the appropriate help, overcoming mental health issues can be the most resilience-building activity there is out there.

Where can I improve my resilience?

Anywhere. It really is developed in all aspects of your life. Push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Find opportunities that will make you resilient. Resilience won’t just appear, the whole point that you have to work towards it.

[little-thoughts-lish]

Dry January: A Review

I actually did it! But what did it teach me...?

 Do I even enjoy myself?

The Dry January experience really made me question my social calendar. Half of the events I had bought tickets for in the last year I barely remember now. So, did I even enjoy them? Was it worth it? Do I actually like bassline or was I just insanely giddy?

 What music do I like?

Without alcohol blurring its way through my eardrums I realised I don’t have the time for a lot of genres when I’m sober. However, I do have a lot of time for disco and soul – which, previously, I knew was my vibe but when its 3am and everyone around you looking a little bit incoherent, your favourite tunes can push you through the early hours.

 Do I need the club bathrooms?

Not anymore! Time away from alcohol means time away from the bathroom; and that can only be a good thing. Tap water is free though so stay hydrated.

 Am I mentally stable?

As I said in my original post (link), alcohol is a depressant and that really showed this month. I felt lighter, happier, less tired, and less hopeless; particularly in the days afterwards. Don’t get me wrong I still didn’t feel energised after 5 hours sleep but I was certainly less fragile.

 Did I save money?

Completely and utterly true! I still went out so the occasional uber and deliveroo here and there was understandable. However, I was not queueing at the bar for 10 minutes just to find out a gin & tonic was £7; and as they say… time is money.

 Am I productive?

The day after a night out I managed to go to the library and scrape through a few hours of seminar prep – something completely unheard of in the past year so I would say yes. However, I would say I’m suddenly a changed woman and all my goals are on track because that would be a lie. I’ve come to terms with the fact that being more productive is something that improves with time but cutting back on a few drinks will undoubtedly help that progress.

 The most important question… Would I do it again?

If it were not for my birthday falling in February I think I would extend this out. Nevertheless, I am going to majorly cut down. Clearly, I can live a happy life without alcohol so why not?

[little-thoughts-lish]

The Ordinary: Plant-Derived Squalane Oil

I have been using this wonderful little oil for around a month now so I thought I would share my thoughts on it and my general “The Ordinary” experience.

Source: The Ordinary

Location: 10/10

I went to their Deciem store in Shoreditch, London. It was incredibly easy to locate being so close to both Shoreditch High Street station and Liverpool Street station, as well as being in the heart of Spitalfields Market. The store itself was quite small but it was never over-crowded.

Experience: 9/10

I simply had to tell one of the employees that my skin tends to be quite dry and they suggested a couple of options to me. Since doing my research I had an idea of which oils to consider and stay away from. I had the chance to test a few on my hand and then pay immediately. They also have a policy that means if you are not happy with your product, you can return it at any point - even once you have used it! I only wish there was a product description next to each item in store.

Price: 10/10

When scrolling through other options for squalane oil, everything was either double the price or higher. At a student-friendly £5.50, this really cannot be beaten. 

Performance: 10/10

Since using this oil, I have found that my skin is more balanced. Around my corners of nose I used to get a ring of oil building up but since using squalane oil, these rings have completely disappeared. Secondly, during the trial of this oil, I had an incredibly rough cold which, usually, would cause the skin around my nose to flake from all the tissues and my lips to peel. However, with use of this oil everyday, my skin was still a little sore but none of my skin peeled off - which is a first. Thirdly, the oil is incredibly light-weight meaning that it never leaves a greasy film, leaving you to go about your day.

Packaging: 10/10

Honestly, I cannot think of a better way that they could have packaged this. The UV protected bottle means the oil will keep for longer and the dropper is a hygienic, easy way to drop this into your palm or into other foundations/moisturisers.

Overall: 10/10

I clearly cannot fault it! Wonderful addition for someone whose skincare routine is very limited or to build up an already existing one. When it is vegan and cruelty free, what is there to complain about?

[little-thoughts-lish]

Glitter: It’s Not Just Sparkles

RE: Glitter should be banned over environmental impact, scientists warn

In the last couple years, everyone and their grandma has been seen with glitter on their face, myself included. Whether it was at a festival, a night out, or your mum's 50th - everyone is wearing glitter. 

Here is the problem. It might make you feel wonderful but it certainly isn’t making our oceans feel the same way. All those micro plastics are difficult to filter out of the ocean; causing a build up of plastic within the aquatic food chain. Recently, those micro-bead face washes you use in the morning have also been banned due to similar problems found with glitter.

So, possibly, please try to re-think whether creating that glitter c-shape on your cheeks in the hope that you might pull is really worth it? I assure you that your dazzling confidence is more than enough. And if you really, really cannot help yourself then perhaps save the glitter for some incredibly special events that are worth the death of our little watery friends.  

Tip: picture Nemo and Dory dead as you apply the pesky sparkles

[little-thoughts-lish]

How to Eat More Fruit as a Student

Okay, it might sound a bit like a pointless post but I promise it’s something that needs to be addressed.

Veggies are the most easy way to bulk up your meals with the nutrients you need and it makes the portions last longer. There’s no question. Want pasta and pesto? How about adding some sweetcorn and spinach to make that a “pasta salad” - you see? 

Fruit is far more challenging. You cannot just whack it into every meal you have. So where do you put it?

Breakfast

By far the easiest way. Just make fruit your breakfast. Haven’t got time for toast? Grab a pear! Banana! Tangerine! Apple! 

Tip: make sure you buy fruit that will last and that you can eat as you commute. No one wants sticky fingers making 9am lectures even more unbearable. 

Library

Feeling peckish? I know you’re not supposed to eat in the library but as long as its not something super juicy you should be fine. Peeling a banana is definitely quieter than opening a rustling packet of crisps, so opt out of the Doritos this time. Just clean up the evidence.

Tip: if you have a supermarket on campus, fruit is likely your cheapest snack option anyway so help your pocket and your belly.

Pre-drinks

This one is a little bit strange but leave a box of grapes or berries on the table while you’re getting ready or having pre-drinks. You will find yourself naturally picking at them as you slowly slip into a slurring mess. It’s not exactly going to counter the damage your doing with that triple g&t, but it might make you feel better about yourself.

Tip: if you have berries left over, why not pop a couple into your drink? Or save them right next to your bed when you inevitably wake up at 7am with the driest mouth you could imagine?

Smoothies

If your lucky enough to have a working blender at uni, then don’t hesitate to use it. This is the easiest and quickest way to get in your 5 a day. It is especially useful if you have loads of fruit that is about to go off.

Tip: add spinach if you want to make the smoothie more filling and nutritious. Its taste is completely undetectable so, why not?

[little-thoughts-lish]

Top 5 Cooking Tips for Students

Cooking at university can seem like a lot of effort so here are a few ways to make it easier

Whole lot of Spice

Always put any whole spices you have in the oil at the beginning i.e. chilli flakes, cumin seeds, cinnamon, cardamon pods etc. This will allow them to infuse the oil so that the flavour carries through to the rest of the dish.

Water is Your Best Friend

Have a cup of water besides your hob in case things start to burn. Add a splash when things start to stick and smoke. This will give you few extra minutes to save your dinner from disaster.

Learn When to Stop

Always add less seasoning than you think and then build. Make sure to taste as you go along. This means that when you sit down to eat nothing will be too spicy or too salty or bland.

Soup for Days

Don’t underestimate cupboard staples. They last forever and can save you when you’ve maxed out your overdraft. Let me know when a tin of soup will save your life.

Help Yourself to Leftovers

When you make something, make double and freeze the rest. That means when you look at your empty fridge on a Sunday afternoon, you know that you can whip out something from your freezer for Monday - avoiding that trek to the shops in your slippers. Also, bulk buying ingredients usually saves you money.  

[little-thoughts-lish]

How to do Dry January at University

... And why would you even want to? I’ve largely written this article to try and convince myself, but maybe I can convince you too.

You Have Exams

Remember those? For the first couple weeks of January you’re likely to have exams anyway so your social calendar will be at its emptiest. If there’s any time to do it, it’s now. It might even help you pass the year and feel you’re doing something with that £9000.

Pressure a Friend to Join You

Preferably a housemate because then at least there’s going to be someone sipping on alcohol-free sparkling rosé with you in the late hours. Maybe a special bond will be formed in the morning, as you laugh watching the rest of your housemates struggle to make a cuppa without crying.  

Get Yourself Cultured

There’s quite a bit to do in Leeds that doesn’t require alcohol. Check out Belgrave, Hyde Park Picture House, and Brudenell Social Club because they’re all hosting chilled events throughout January.

No-Go Zone

Tuesday at Royal Park is not where you want to be. No amount of self-discipline can help resist those sultry £1.75 pints.

Binge Watch, Don’t Binge Drink

There are a fair few series out there so ask your mate if you can borrow their Netflix password and get addicted to something else. I can safely recommend Peaky Blinders.

Mental Health

On a serious note, January can be one of the toughest months for mental health with the lack of sunlight, pressures of exams, and the next break seemingly centuries away. Give your brain a well-earned recovery period. Alcohol is a depressant. You might feel giddy and invincible for a couple hours but it won’t be doing you any good in the long-run.

Mo Money, Less Problems

Do you realise how much money you’re going to save? It’s not just pre-drinks. Don’t forget the over-priced red stripes at Canal Mills, the uber surge that you’ll ignore at 4am, the inevitable cheesy chips and gravy you’ll smother yourself in, the take away the next day when you can’t even open your eyes let alone shove a ready meal in the oven. That’s easily £30. So, don’t go out a few times and you could afford a return flight to Prague or something.

The inevitable February 1st binge

Great news! By then your tolerance will have plummeted meaning that you can drink less and feel just as tipsy. Your savings won’t stop in January.

Good luck!