Over the years, we have seen many internet fads ​​peak and trough, with the online study community being one of them. Correct me if I'm wrong, but being a study blogger myself, I couldn't help but notice how much the hype that previously surrounded the community seems to have died down. This led me to wonder, is the study blogger dying? If so, why? Today's blog post is a non-serious exploration of just  that. I hope you enjoy this read, and I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
​G x 

Well isn't this a trip down memory lane? Those that have been here a while will know that - while a fashion post is now probably one of the last things that you would expect to see on this blog - I was quite fond of the odd fashion post a couple of years ago. Don't get me wrong, my utter adoration for clothing as a means of expression has not once disappeared in that time; fashion was simply an interest I felt somewhat misplaced to talk about. Having realised that you do not need to be some sort of expert to speak about a subject you are passionate about, I am back to present you with a Style Forecast for this season. From knitted vests to faux-leather shirt jackets, there really is something for everybody this season! As usual, do let me know of any thoughts in the comments below and I hope you enjoy this post.
​G x

Let's take our minds back a decade to 2010; you've just arrived at your dentists for a check-up and, as always, things are looking a little busy and you may have to wait a little longer than you anticipated. Nowadays, you're likely to use the time to catch up on your socials but let's not forget that, at this moment in time, smartphones were only just beginning to disrupt the market. So what do you do now? Well, what better way to pass the time than to grab something from the little table in the corner - you know, the one that's overflowing with magazines such as Hello and Now? You see, whether you love them or hate them, the gossip magazine was the pinnacle image of the 2000s. In a quick turn of events, however, the sound of crickets can be heard emanating from the very Tesco shelves these magazines were bought from. That leads me to the question, has 2020 finally marked the end of the gossip magazine? 

'Cancel Culture': a twenty-first century social media phenomenon seeking the mass boycott of public figures or companies following "objectionable or offensive" actions (Dictionary.com). Born on and popularised by Black Twitter in the mid-2010s, 'Cancel Culture' aims to hold those in positions of power accountable for their misdemeanours - predominantly acts of discrimination and racism - by taking away their public platform. In lieu of recent events, what with some of YouTube's largest creators having some rather questionable remarks dug up and laid bare for all to see, I thought now would be a more pertinent time than ever before to ask ourselves just how effective 'Cancel Culture' is. 

Those that know me personally will know that I have been going a little Depop/eBay crazy as of late, having both a large clear-out of my own as well as finding a few unique pieces to add to my wardrobe. Admittedly, I'm no professional when it comes to these two platforms but, what with business gaining a fair amount of traction at the moment, I thought it may be helpful to compile a few tips from an average Sally's perspective. Today's educational recommendation is The Guardian's "Today in Focus" podcast, which can be found on Spotify. I must say, I have really been enjoying getting a concise news round-up that lends itself to discussion and debate, thinking about the wider picture than the information we receive at face-value. Without further ado, I hope you find this post informative and be sure to let me know if there is something that I have missed in the comments section below. 
G x 

“Modern foreign languages are not in crisis. It’s worse than that.” It was around this time last year that, prior to the arrival of this health fiasco which now dominates our headlines, a surge in such articles could be seen following the publication of a report published by the Higher Education Policy Institute. In summary, this report concluded that British language skills are significantly below par when compared to our European counterparts, with only 32% of 16 to 30 year-olds feeling confident reading and writing in another language, compared to a 89% average in the European Union. That begs the question, why are we Brits so bad at learning other languages? A question which I, of course, intend to explore in this post. As per usual, let me know your thoughts in the comments section below. ​

There was one quotation in particular that stood out to me when I read Ruiz Zafón's La Sombra Del Viento last summer: "There's no such thing as dead languages, only dormant minds" ("No hay lenguas muertas, sino cerebros aletargados"). For those of you who may not know, my recent quarantine undertaking just so happens to be learning a fifth language: Latin. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this very undertaking of mine was many-a-time faced with the age-old question: "Why Latin? It's a dead language." Granted, Latin may no longer be an official language or widely spoken, but is it really dead? What even constitutes a 'dead' language? Truth be told, I'm no expert in the matter - but there's no harm in doing a bit of research and sparking up a conversation as I do so. As usual, be sure to let me know your thoughts in the comments down below. Any sources that I have used will be listed at the bottom of this post if you are interested in wider reading. 
​G x 

Isn't this something a little different? Truth be told, this is yet another one of the blog post ideas that have lurked around in my drafts folder for longer than I'd perhaps like to admit; quite frankly, I just never felt as if it was my place to be giving this sort of advice and, in more ways than one, it still doesn't - I'm far from being any sort of fashion guru, after all. That being said, in my personal journey moving away from a trend based wardrobe to something a little more elegant and personal to me, I have picked up a few tips that I thought may be of use. This is not intended to be a rule book of sorts and the following tips are, of course, based on nothing but my own personal opinion - though that's exactly what fashion is all about, so let's not take life too seriously and dive straight into this post!
​G x 

Needless to say, the current state of affairs have imposed sheer havoc on society as we know it; indeed, this post is not intended to detract from that, for I know that I am very fortunate to be able to sit at my desk and talk about a few positives that have come out of lockdown given that so many have not only lost their livelihoods, but loved ones also. That being said, it's only human nature to dwell on the negatives and reading What Cat Says' blog post has inspired me to share a few of my own positive lockdown outcomes to shed some light on the matter. As usual, be sure to let me know any thoughts in the comments below. 
G x 

Good evening everyone, I hope you've had a good festive period in spite of the difficult circumstances that have surrounded it this year! Today's post is a little different from my study-orientated norm, but I feel as if it is more important than ever to put out. Over my five, approaching six, years of blogging, I have been known to take on a sponsorship or two - though recently, for reasons which I am still none the wiser to, I have received a flux of emails from brands who claim they want to work with me. As a small blogger, particularly when you're just starting up, nothing could be more exciting - until, that is, you realise that the whole thing is a scam. See, speaking from personal experience, I know how easy it is to get carried away and respond with an email of interest almost instantly but over time, I've seen just how important it is to do your research first and I've compiled a some 'red flags' and recommendations today to help you take on sponsorships responsibly as a small blogger. I hope that this post is helpful, and do be sure to let me know if I have missed anything out in the comments section below!
​G x