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3 steps to taking your career in a new direction*

19th April 2019
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Brooke Lark

Making the decision to take your career in a new direction can be a daunting prospect. Fortunately, there are certain steps you can take that will help make the process that little bit easier. If you’ve decided it’s time to make a change, but you need extra confidence to commit to overhauling your career, you can start by asking yourself the following questions; Why exactly are you looking for a change? What other occupations are you considering exploring? Will you need any additional skills or training to get there? Once you’ve got your answers, you’re ready to start taking the steps to starting your new career.

Sell your skills 

Whether you’re looking to transfer to a new department or keen to overhaul your work life entirely, you need to work out where your strengths and transferrable skills lie. This is what you can offer your new employer. You also need to asses your values, key personality traits and interests so that potential employers can get the best idea of who you are and where you might fit in their existing team. At this point, it’s vital to be honest with yourself and acknowledge that while you may have the drive to succeed on your new career path, you might not stand out to employers on paper just yet. That’s where the Bologna Business School can help. With over 40 courses aimed at inspiring both personal and professional development, there’s never been a better time to study. With a BBS Master in Data Science, for example, you’ll not only learn how to manage big business data, but how to apply innovative analysis methodologies that will give you the expertise to apply tactical or strategic decision making to resolve company issues. 

Do your research 

If you’re not entirely sure where you want to go next then this step is vital. Doing research is key to working out exactly where you want to be and will save you the hassle of taking the wrong career path yet again. A great place to start is by making a list of possible careers you’d consider exploring. Write down which aspects of each you find appealing and any areas you’re not sure would be a good fit for you. This will help you to narrow it down to just a handful of options ready for you to give some serious thought to. Key things to look over at this point are salary ranges and training as these may require a compromise or more energy and time that you’re willing to commit to the cause. 

Outline a goal 

Once you’ve decided where it is you want to be, it’s time to set yourself a goal. What steps will you have to take to land that dream job? Is there a timeframe within which you’d like to be settled in your ideal role? Write yourself a career action plan including any training or time you’ll need to build up the desired skills for your chosen occupation. Stick to your devised plan and you’ll be back on the right career path in no time. 

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Degusta and Chill- the February Box

07th March 2019
It seems like Pablo gatecrashing the party is going to become a new theme as he just can’t keep away from the Degustabox* delivery when it arrives! Whilst it’s actually the cardboard that his little feline heart desires, I’m very much about the contents and the February box, with it’s “Degusta and Chill” theme was an interesting one.
Explore cuisine organic chickpea fusilli is a pasta made from plant-based protein and fibre. It’s organic, suitable for vegans and gluten free! I’ve seen these kind of pasta alternatives on the shelves and wondered how they’d be- I really like this as an change from the norm but at £3 it’s too expensive for me to consider regularly. It made a nice change though.
I’ve tried seaweed snacks in the past and I’m the kind of person who loves them. Whilst not much of a snack at 18 calories per bag (although great for anyone on a diet), these Clearspring Organic Seaveg Crispies with Tumeric are oddly tasty. They contain only four ingredients and are high in fibre, gluten free and vegan. Again pricey at £2.59 but worth a try and good as a salad booster.
These funky looking products from Choc Chick were the ones I was most excited to try from this month’s box. Here we have Quinoa Pops and Plantain Bites- both vegan, being coated in Ecuadorian single origin organic Cacao. They both contain 50% less sugar than your average chocolate snack, and whilst I wasn’t so keen on the plantain ones, the quinoa variety are completely addictive. I can’t describe either of the snacks adequately, I’ve never had anything like them to compare them to, all I can say is if you’re intrigued, treat yourself (RRP £1.85 a bag so definitely a treat!)
I’m on a bit of a sweets kick at the moment and these Watermelon jelly gums from Bebeto are delicious! At just 50p a bag there is a reason why these are the brand’s biggest UK seller. Fruity and delicious, there has been a gap in the market for a watermelon flavour sweet in my opinion, and these fill it nicely.
There were two packs of these Brioche Folded Flatbreads by Deli Kitchen in the box and I gave one to my Mum to try as she was as excited by them as I was. They make a lovely and slightly sweet change to my usual soup dipper of choice and also make an excellent lunch time sandwich alternative- especially packed full of chicken, salad and balsamic. Yum! These will be a regular purchase from now- £1.25 a pack (and they freeze wonderfully).
I have a friend who once worked in a pork scratching factory and her stories put me off for life. Bob however really enjoyed these bags from Snaffling Pig- and from what I gather this brand is THE brand to buy.
Can you go wrong with a jar of Pesto? I don’t think so! Especially not if you’re Sacla. Their new reduced fat pesto has 30% less fat than their regular jar. It cleverly replaces the cheese with tofu making it vegan friendly, and whilst I am yet to crack this jar open I have high hopes for it. It’s available now for £2.50 a jar.
I kind of felt like these cartons of milk were a bit of a random choice for the box, but whatever! I don’t like milk but Bob does, and he’s ploughed through this in the evenings with a thumbs up. Perfect for anyone who loves milk, or who has lunch boxes to pack for their kids- £1.00 per pack.
What can I say about Orangina that hasn’t been said before? It’s a classic for good reason, and I’m always delighted to get a bottle in Degustabox.
Let me know if you’ve tried any of these products and what you thought in the comments.
If you’re new to Degustabox, it’s a monthly food subscription box that gives you the chance to try new and exciting products on the market whilst providing amazing value for money.
On a month by month basis the box costs £12.99 (with a discount for longer subscriptions) but the contents are generally worth far more than this as you can see if you do the maths.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £5.00 off of your first box (making it just £7.99!) by entering the code 6HZJ8 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand regularly over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.

Posted in food, review, Uncategorized

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Review: Vampire Vapes at E-Cigarette Direct

03rd March 2019
When I began my journey in to quitting smoking by way of vaping one of the brands that I heard recommended over and over was Vampire Vapes, most specifically their seemingly infamous “Heisenberg” e-liquid. I dutifully tried it and became hooked, it’s one of my favourites and despite meaning to try out other flavours from the range I had never got round to it until now, when my friends at e-cigarette direct sent over a selection of flavours from the brand…I went in to this review with high expectations, but were they met?
Raspberry Sorbet is a fresh and fun flavour that has that tart taste of fresh raspberries followed by a fizzy sorbet coolness. I really like this flavour, it reminds me of one of my favourite frozen treats.

Blood Sukka may had pipped Heisenberg to the post and taken the top spot to become my all time favourite juice (to date). It’s aniseed-y, which I love, mixed with cherries, berries, red fruits, menthol and sweet eucalyptus. It sounds complex, and it tastes it too – the flavours mix together wonderfully to create something truly special.

Funky Monkey was the flavour I was convinced I would hate. Banana, chocolate and aniseed sounded quite grim if I’m honest and my past experience of any chocolate flavours hasn’t been good. Somehow though Vampire Vapes have pulled this off. It’s not my favourite flavour, but far exceeds expectations- I think the aniseed tips the balance and stops it being too sickly.

Heisenberg is the flavour that everyone knows and seems to love. It’s hyped for good reason, the flavour combination is a closely guarded secret but it definitely includes some kind of fruit and menthol. It’s every bit as addictive as it’s namesake and I’ve purchased so many bottles of this over the last six months!

Pinkman is a complete mystery to Bob and I. It reminds us both of something from our childhood but we can’t quite put our finger on it. It’s fruity, a bit cough-mixture like in it’s flavour and utterly addictive. This, as well as Blood Sukka are top of the re-purchase list.

Dawn and Dusk were my least favourites of the selection I was sent. The flavours both sounded great but didn’t quite stand out as much as the rest I tried. Dawn is a darker fruity flavour with a menthol finish which was nice, but didn’t especially stand out. I found Dusk a bit perfume like for my tastes, but it is still good, just not out-standing.

Overall the range lived up to and exceeded my expectations. Vampire Vapes are a brand that know their stuff and whilst on the pricier end of the spectrum at £3.99 per 10ml bottle, well worth it. There are still many flavours I haven’t tried of theirs which will be going in to my next order. If you have any recommendations then feel free to leave them in the comments.

The juices in the post were provided for review purposes, opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Posted in brands I love, review, Uncategorized, vaping

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The (almost) weekly wish list

23rd September 2018

Not even a month in to my new regular feature and I failed at keeping it, well, regular. The last couple of weeks have been crazy busy, and expensive with actual adulting so I suppose composing a wish list of things wasn’t top of my priorities for once.

But fear not, for I am back. Browsing has resumed just at the time some serious no spending has been implemented, and any spending that does occur will be with discount codes aplenty such as those found at Groupon

Hello Kitty Cashmere: Chinti & Parker at Selfridges | Patterned Rug: Urban Outfitters | Classic Coat: Monki | Bee Kind Breton: Sugarhill Boutique | Rose Gold Coffee Table: Habitat | Polka Dot Culottes: Joy | Green Metallic Midi Dress: Joanie Clothing | Disney Pyjamas: TruffleShuffle.com

It’s a bit of an eclectic bunch this time, with items ranging from the “in my dreams only” (Hello Kitty Cashmere anyone?) to the far more affordable (those pyjamas!)
Party wear is starting to creep on to my radar, as are ALL of the winter coats- the second the shops start releasing the Christmas chocolates I want to wear all of the sequins and all of the cosy coats.

You’ll probably notice more and more homeware on the list as time goes on too. Bob and I have found somewhere to live, and pending references going through will be moving very soon. This weekend has been a blur of white good comparisons and browsing for all of the practical things we need- the list never seems to end! Weekly wish lists may not be happening for a few weeks as we’ll be busy with moving stuff, but I’m sure once we’re settled they will resume with a vengeance, especially with Christmas slowly but surely creeping closer and the shops filling with all manner of exciting looking things already catching my eye.

What’s caught your eye recently? And where are your must-have shops for homewares? Blankets, crockery and cushions are top of our list!

Posted in brands I love, fashion, inspiration, interiors, lifestyle, personal style, shopping, Uncategorized, wish list

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Reasons Why Your Car Probably Hates You*

13th June 2018
I’ve finally taken steps towards getting my driving license – as many readers will know this has been a long old journey. I had my first driving lessons at the age of 17, have taken 7 tests (yep, really), passed my theory test three times and taken many an extended break after losing my nerve. Finally, with a new found determination and a little bit more confidence I am hoping to have my own set of wheels by the end of the year, which means I’ve taken a little bit more interest in how to keep a car running as by the time I’ve paid for lessons and a car- not to mention the ever more expensive petrol, killing my car with something that could be avoided isn’t high on my list of things I want to do.

Probably the biggest mistake you can make is to ignore your car’s servicing date. It might be tempting if everything appears to be running fine- why pay out money when you don’t particularly see the need? It’s a false economy though- ignoring your service when it’s due can lead to a build up of rubbish in your engine leading to increased risk of breaking down, and expensive repairs to fund that could have been avoided. Somewhere like KAP Motors offer car servicing of various car makes & models including Peugeot, Nissan, Fiat etc to ensure you stay on the road.

Another potentially costly mistake can be running your car on near empty. Rising petrol prices and being on the wrong side of payday makes it tempting to see how long you can run on fumes for, but this introduces a wealth of debris in to the system which will damage the fuel pump and filters.

Being clutch heavy is a bad habit many of us have (and one I’m determined not to develop). This can cause excess wear on the clutch which is very costly to repair.

Driving in too high a gear is another bad habit that is worth putting a bit of attention in to breaking. Driving in too high a gear at a low speed puts a lot of strain on the engine which will eventually lead to big problems. Similarly driving in too low a gear will also cause avoidable wear and tear. It’s a fine balance but listen to your car and how it feels whilst you’re driving.

Finally, learn what all of the warning lights on your dashboard mean- up to 98% of drivers don’t know and if one pings on and you dismiss it as something minor because you don’t recognise a major problem could see you stranded on your way home, and ultimately without a car to drive.

Are you guilty of any of these bad habits?

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