Just to let you all know I'm still here..

Yes! Sorry guys, I know my blog has been hideously un-active for while now. There have been a lot of things going which means my blogging has taken a back seat. This won't continue for long and I will make more of an effort to post!

Otherwise, here's a little update on what's been going on/will be going on:

• Third year at uni... *cries* 

• Work, work and more work.

• I'm getting ready for two MA journalism interviews later this month which, quite frankly, I'm VERY VERY (very) nervous about. So I've been prepping for those by reading the news everyday and trying to memorize some of the important events that have taken place in media land. I might even prepare a little speech.. who knows. My first one is next week, eek! Wish me luck!!!! 

• I went to see the Lichtenstein exhibition at the Tate Modern on Friday with the boyfriend. The exhibition as a whole was great. Lichtenstein's use of primary colours, heavy outlines and his mimicry of comic cartoons was what really defines his work and being able to get up close and personal with them was pretty cool. In particular I really enjoyed his Art about Art series of works which featured his own interpretations, or parodies, of great masterful pieces which incorporated elements of pop imagery, deconstructing their classical stature to make it his own. I loved his interpretations of Picasso's works. I definitely recommend a visit for any pop-art enthusiast. 

• I'll be going to Amsterdam at the end of the month, courtesy of Top Deck travel to do some travel-writing. That should be fun! I can't wait to explore and discover the city, I'll be looking out for some cool places to eat for sure. Apparently it's the thing to try a raw herring? There are also a few places in particular that I want to see, including the Anne Frank House and the Amsterdam Museum. I also hear that there are some good art museums about. A trip to the red light district might also be on the cards...  Does anyone have any recommendations of somewhere to visit while I'm there??

• Right now I should be getting ready for work so I'm going to end this here. 

Shall update again soon! 

House-warming cupcakes

Alas, I've finally entered my third and final year at university and have moved in to a cute* little flat with my good ol' chums way back from first year. 

The work load hasn't hit hard just yet so me and my flat mate Ellie found ourselves with a bit of spare time this Saturday. Obviously baking had to be our chosen pass-time and so we made some oh, so naughty Nutella frosted cupcakes with crushed crunchy M&Ms. We thought we'd stick to a plain cupcake base and go full-on with a topping in order to avoid an overall sickly-sweet cupcake. 

*mouldy 

Observe:

 As you can see, the cupcakes look fabulous (if I do say so myself). 

And they tasted fab too, here's the recipe.

For the basic cupcake mix (serves 12) you will need:

• 125g unsalted butter, softened
• 125g caster sugar
• 125g self raising flour 
• A pinch of salt
• 2 medium eggs
• 2 table spoons of milk 

Preheat oven at 190C/ gas mark 5 

In a bowl, beat and stir the butter until it's soft. 

Add the sugar, flout, salt, eggs, and milk and whisk at a steady pace until mixture is smooth 

Spoon a little amount into each cupcake case

Careful not to over fill or they will collapse in oven! 

Leave in the oven for around 15 minutes 

Once ready leave to cool for about another 5 minutes 

For Nutella frosting you will need: 

• 125g unsalted butter
• 1 cup of Nutella 
• 125g of icing sugar
• 2 Tbsp milk 

In a bowl, soften the butter (beating it) 

Add the cup of Nutella and stir until it's properly mixed in with the butter  

Next add casting sugar and stir which should make the mixture quite pasty 

Add milk which will soften the mixture and turn it smooth and shiny

Once the cupcakes have cooled spoon/pipe the desired amount of Nutella frosting onto each cake. 

M&Ms in this case are optional! 

A 2:1 isn't good enough?

Well, according to the Guardian this may actually be so for the graduates of 2012 on wards.

As I myself am about to take on my last year at university I can’t help but die a little inside at the thought of even trying to find a job after university. What with the miserable prospect of a declining economic climate and a dim job market, it’s a nightmare for any graduate of today and it doesn't exactly help either seeing all these depressing statements occupying the headlines. It is said that more than 75% of employers now require a minimum of a 2:1 degree, which has soared from the half bad 52% in 2004. Whilst the AGR claim that there will be rise in graduate salaries, it is also expected that job vacancies will fall by 0.6% leaving graduates with a tougher outlook when it comes to finding a job.

It also seems that the average student has more to be doing than just obtaining that all important degree because the harsh reality is that it just isn't really worth all that much anymore. The want for a 2:1 may well be there but so is the necessity of an above-average and accomplished personal profile. It’s all about the extra-curricular stuff, the volunteering, and the accumulation of skills and experience that employers are said to be looking for in today’s competitive market. A degree is not enough and in that neither is having just a good grade. It just helps to have one is all.

In all this, the old words of comfort: “you have plenty of time” have expired. What time is there left to even think about aspirations when students are now expected to know exactly what they want to do upon leaving university. I mean, as if the stress of assignments, deadlines, reading lists, having a social life, etc, isn't enough, students now have to be thinking about their career from the onset. We have approached the age of “the switched on student” who doesn't really have that much time (or money) to mess around. Forget soul-searching because the demand to have a good CV with all the relevant experiences has become crucial. The pressure is on and it doesn't seem like there can be much done about it either.

Sources: www.guardian.co.uk, www.agr.org.uk

Image sourced from www.google.co.uk