The Law Student Exam Week #101

I thought it was only fitting that since I am currently going through the phase of 'the lead-up to exam week' that I'd do a brief post on my "Exam Week #101". I'm lucky enough to only have to sit for two papers whilst some friends of mine particularly those who have combined Business with Law are currently inundated with several exams. However due to the fact that I'm a Communications student alongside with Law, I'm only required to complete grueling assessments and assignments to make up for the lack thereof exams being a Communications student. So here are a couple of tips of mine that I like to apply to myself when its that time of the year when you question yourself as to why you failed to open your textbooks the entire semester and calculate with 'x; amount of days will I know 'y' content of information.

1. Eat, Sleep, Rave, Study and Repeat: Definitely avoid parties and events during the lead up to finals. I personally believe they tend to side-track your concentration levels and may affect your final performance. Attempt to keep a proper balance between eating, sleeping, studying and repeat the entire routine in order to achieve your full potential when exam time comes round. 
2. Be a serial water drinker: I cannot begin to stress how important and quintessential it is to keep that constant flow of H2O in your body. You should ideally be aiming for 6-8 glasses of water and despite the fact that it may seem an effort to do so, it is possible. If normal water bores you then try to play it up by adding sliced fruit to create fruit infused water. 
3. Don't overdose on Reese's Peanut Butter Cups: We are all guilty of reaching out for the sugary snacks in comparison to the muesli and granola bars. Once in a while sugary snacks are okay but if you want to keep your momentum during exam week then try to focus on eating foods that are nourishing for your mind, body and soul. A recent favourite of mine for breakfast has been placing slices of tomato and cheddar cheese slices between two pieces of wholemeal toast which keeps me going for the morning.
4. Allow for some "social media cheat time": The fact that most us like to go into "hibernation" mode may not be entirely beneficial staying cut off from the world, allow some "cheat time" where you access Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest etc. however keep it limited to a specific time slot and ensure that you're not tempted to log back in again every now and then.
5. Don't be a study table couch: It is important to get up from your study table every now and then in order to keep your study momentum going otherwise you're bound to start drooping and finding yourself checking out sale deals on ASOS and what Ryan Gosling wore to the recent premiere of some movie. 
6. Coloured sticky tabs are your B.F.F: Since most law exams, if not all, tend to be open book I like to keep sticky tabs near me whilst studying so I can tab the most important bits that will be of use to me during the exam.
7. Work hard, play harder: As simple as it gets, the amount of work you put in today will play off tomorrow. 

Despite the fact that I may be sloppy in following my self-implemented "Exam Week #101" regime it doesn't mean it isn't possible. Hope everyone of you is doing fine in the lead up to finals week. All the best troopers! x

Chewy Red Velvet Chocolate Chip Cookies

I found myself endlessly pinning on Pinterest a few days ago and stumbled across this brilliant creation and knew I had to give it a go. It was the deep, rich red colour that beckoned me to click on the photo and eventually the link to the recipe which I spent a good time analyzing it to ensure that it was as easy as it looked. This was my first time attempting this type particular type of chocolate chip cookie and it sure was an instant hit amongst family and friends. This sweet treat is as in the words of Sally from 'Sally's Baking Addiction' is a "blissful marriage of two classic desserts". My only pointers to keep in mind before beginning to make these wonderful and chewy cookies is to ensure that the cookie dough is chilled for at least 1 hour in the fridge with clear film wrap over the bowl, and to ensure that your cookies look incredibly neat in their presentation take them out after 10 minutes in the oven and press down 3-4 chocolate melts on to the top of the cookie balls and place back into the oven to cook for another good 5 minutes. Happy Baking and be sure to comment below if you end up giving these little beauties a go. 

Pakistani Pre-Wedding Festivities (Mehndi)

Plates filled with traditional Pakistani sweets (Gulaab Jamun and Laddu)

Colourful plates adorned with traditioanl sweets and diyas (claypots carrying a candle)

Closeup of the decor

Pakistani weddings have always fascinated me from a very young age. This fascination could probably be attributed to a variety of things ranging from the lavish 3 day ceremonial proceedings, the array of colours and patterns that the bride would be seen in for the next few days or so, the endless lights and marigolds that the couple's respective houses would be adorned with and the myriad of cultural activities that would take over the course of the wedding. Overall, as any wedding would be around the world, the happiness, laughter, banter and colour that embodies a Pakistani wedding is undoubtedly heartwarming. 

Here is a link to my all time favourite mehndi tune (Mehndi Hai Rachnewali). 

The October Review

Apologies for being absent without official leave but it has been such a eventful past month or so that I have not had proper time to blog on a consistent basis. Also with university law exams just around the corner I may tend to pull a Houdini here and there but fear not this is only a temporary phase and hope to get back into the gist of things as soon as Summer break begins. Speaking of plans, I've got so much on my mind for Summer ranging from photo-walks and catch-ups with dear friends, getting down and dirty in the kitchen experimenting new baking feats to trying out projects that I've pinned on my Pinterest boards (click on the text or Pinterest icon on the left to access). Hope you've all been well and in good health and hope to be back with more wonderful posts soon.

Till next time x 

The Law Student Diary

"Don't love deeply, till you make sure that the other part loves you with the same depth, because the depth of your love today, is the depth of your wound tomorrow."

(Nizar Qabbani)