Thursday, November 29, 2012

How to Make Plunger Coffee | How To

I recently bought my very own coffee plunger (also called a french press). I have never been very good at making coffee and it certainly took numerous tries for me to get the hang of making plunger coffee. I watched a few YouTube videos and tried a few different ways and here's what I have found to work best:

1) Make sure both the glass jug and the filter part are completely clean.

2) Boil your kettle and fill the jug with the boiling water for about a minute so that the glass warms up (this way your coffee won't get cold whilst it brews and it prevents the glass from cracking).

3) Empty the boiling water out and then scoop your coffee granules into the jug. I heaped table spoon per cup usually works well. If you like your coffee a bit stronger than add more.  I chose a medium roast called Confessions - but of course this is up to you. There are some great specialised coffee brands but generally whatever you can get at a supermarket is great too.

4) Boil your kettle again and allow the water to cool for about a minute (pouring boiling water directly onto the powder burns it) and then pour enough into the jug to just cover your coffee and then stir well. You will see foam forming.

5) Then fill to the top of the jug, leaving at least 2cm space at the top. If you are unsure how full to make it, pour the water into your mug first and then into the plunger to measure it out exactly.

6) Place the filter (lid) onto the jug (without pushing the plunger down) and turn it so that the nozzle is closed.

7) Usually there are instructions on the coffee packet as to how long you should leave the coffee to brew, but the general rule is 3 - 4 minutes so keep an eye on the time!


8) Fill your mug/s with milk (hot or cold) and then pour your freshly brewed coffee whilst stirring. Add sugar to taste.

Enjoy!!!

Monday, November 26, 2012

5 Tips for Kicking Exam Stress' Butt | Advice

Most institutions place a huge emphasis on exams. This puts students under an immense amount of pressure which more than likely amounts to a great deal of stress. Stress is one of the most counterproductive things when it comes to exams: it prevents one from thinking clearly and retaining information. It results in constant fatigue and people often develop unhealthy habits as a result of stress. As someone who gets really stressed when it comes to exams, here are my tips to deal with and even combat exam stress:



1) Get enough sleep. Establish a set bedtime and make sure you stick to it and make sure you get a full 8 hours (if not more). Both your brain and your body need sleep in order to process and retain information, to cope with stress and to help you concentrate.
2) Exercise. Although working out or playing a sport does cut into your study time, setting aside an hour a day to get moving will actually benefit you more than studying for that hour. The reason being is that it floods your body with oxygen and gets your blood pumping. When exercising you can get all your frustration out and it helps hugely with keeping stress levels at bay.

3) Avoid stressful people. As mentioned in my previous post about exams, staying away from people who stress a lot is just as important as avoiding negative people. People who naturally stress a lot will have an influence on the way you function. Their stress levels will rub off on you.

4) Stay healthy. One tends to pick on a lot of sugary and unhealthy food during exams - mostly because of stress and the need for energy. Treat your body respectfully and it will return the favour. Try to eat at least one proper meal a day that includes a high dose of protein and a load of different veggies. Eating balanced meals will help your body cope with stress and keep you feeling healthy.

5) It's mind over matter: think your way out of stress. If you stress at a particular time during exams (e.g. the night before an exam , the day of or even right at the beginning of your studying) then make sure you prepare yourself to mentally combat your own stress. This might sound really wishy-washy, but you do have the power to control your own thoughts. When stressful thoughts cross your mind, distract yourself, think about calming things and convince yourself - even if it may not be the truth - that you are well-prepared and that you have more than enough time to get everything into your head.

GOOD LUCK!!!

Sunday, November 18, 2012

My favourite things in life

I love stars. I love Summer. I love food. I love pink. I love pizza. I love swimming. I love amusement parks. I love the beach. I love technology. I love art. I love reading. I love baking. I love sleep. I love coffee. I love music. I love lava lamps. I love milkshakes. I love board games. I love magazines. I love nail art. I love photography. I love rings. I love expensive cars. I love dogs. I love boots. I love stuffed toys. I love chocolate. I love postcards.I love vloggers. I love The Italian Job. I love shopping. I love puzzles. I love non-fiction. I love perfume. I love spiral-bound books. I love Cape Town. I love YouTube. I love licking the spoon. I love goldfish. I love sarcasm. I love making big decisions. I love ice-cream. I love make-up. I love PJs. I love nature. I love gym. I love bacon. I love design. I love watches. I love glitter. I love tattoos. I love denim shorts. I love skylines. I love Green Day. I love skateboards. I love guitars. I love snap-backs. I love nail polish.  I love walk-in closets. I love Pop art. I love Birthdays. I love lipstick. I love hoodies. I love bows. I love Modern Family. I love knuckle rings. I love piercings. I love Fall Out Boy. I love doughnuts. I love kids. I love Nutella. I love platform heels. I love Dr. Zeus. I love Pacman. I love Henna. I love cheese. I love ombre hair. I love welcome mats. I love boys who wear snap back caps. I love elephants. I love comic books. I love cupcakes. I love pot plants. I love vodka. I love messy buns. I love liquid eyeliner. I love boys who wear jewelry  I love soda floats. I love tiaras. I love unicorns. I love Sam Pepper. I love Instagram. I love lollipops. I love facials. I love card games. I love earning money. I love concerts. I love stationary. I love key rings. I love Converse All Stars. I love learning. I love collages. I love I love Ivy League Universities. I love your mom. I love Christmas. I love social networking. I love yoga. I love bubble bath. I love brightly-coloured hair. I love waferer sunglasses. I love holidays. I love Tumblr. I love getting mail. I love boys who wear hoodies. I love typewriters. I love soup. I love Disney movies. I love swings. I love Jacksgap. I love genuine people. I love my University. I love skinny jeans.