Away Days (Manchester Area).

  So you fancy a day away from the high-paced hustle and bustle of Uni? (An activity that doesn’t involve Jaeger Bombs, jello shots, and collecting traffic cones, semi-naked on your way back from Baa Bar)… or maybe you just want somewhere to take your parents when they visit. Whatever the reason, we’re here to help you, with our top tips and user-friendly guide to local attractions and fun days out.

ALTON TOWERS

  For thrill-seekers and adrenaline junkies, the UK’s most famous theme park is the destination of choice. The Staffordshire-based attraction is a bit further away than many of our other ’days out’ but it’s well worth the journey. Home to the world’s first vertical drop rollercoaster, free-fall drop rollercoaster and B&M, flying rollercoaster, and to Europe‘s first inverted rollercoaster; Alton Towers is truly at the fore-front of rollercoaster technology. The park hosts rides to suit all ages, as well several restaurants, food stalls, an aquarium, a water-park and the famed Alton Towers Hotel. Attending annual events such as the October ’Scarefest’ and Fireworks celebrations give you more bang for your buck, as live actors and displays accompany the park’s usual attractions, and they often run 2-4-1 or ’money off’ promotions.

THE TRAFFORD CENTRE

  Boasting over 230 stores, as well as a host of restaurants, take-outs, market stalls and a cinema; the Trafford Centre is one of the UK’s largest shopping complexes.
  The home of brands from Gucci to Guess, the site offers a variety of events, including regular celebrity ‘signings’, and store launch-parties. With a bus service running every 30 minutes from the centre of Manchester, and a range of student discounts available on everything from clothing to food, this is one of the easiest student days out. However, those with a strict budget should steer clear, as although offers are available, and there are plenty of activities to choose from, a day at the Trafford Centre is usually a day spent shopping. Your bank balance will not thank you.

CHILL FACTORE

                                               

  Who said snow sports were restricted to your Christmas holidays? All you snow bunnies and ski studs can get your adrenaline fix in the UK’s longest, (and the world’s widest), real-snow, indoor ski centre, ‘Chill FactorE’. Featuring the main slope (590ft), a luge track, and specialised ’snowplay’ and tubing areas, the Trafford-based winter wonderland has plenty to offer everyone; from beginners right through to more experienced ski and/or snowboarders. The ‘Alpine Village’ includes a rock climbing wall, chalet-style shopping centre, and bars, restaurants and cafes for refreshing après-ski snacks and meals; and a frequent bus service from Manchester City Centre to Trafford Park makes it easily accessible. With equipment hire, lessons and lift passes, the price can mount up, but if you already have the gear and the know-how, it’s a great way keep yourself in shape for ski season.

CHESTER ZOO

  Ahhh days at the zoo; watching the monkeys swing on their bars, eating luke-warm hot dogs by the penguin pool, those great novelty pens shaped like meercats that you begged your long-suffering parents to buy? Yeh, ok, maybe it wasn’t all good, but with the UK’s number one Zoo in close proximity, this is one childhood memory that you’ll want to re-visit. With over 7000 animals and 400 species on show, Chester Zoo boasts some of the most endangered species on the planet, and 110 acres of land to enjoy them in.
  With sensory awareness days, garden tours and ‘bats by torchlight’ dominating their calendar, there’s more than enough activities to fill your day. So embrace your inner child; get your face painted, play in the ‘fun arc’ and watch the penguin feedings; 10% of the entrance fee goes to help their conservation work, AND they offer a student discount.

THE PEAK DISTRICT

  The stunning Peak district offers a tranquil backdrop to your day out. Attractions such as numerous tea shops and ‘low intensity’ walks, allow for a relaxed break, while facilities offering horse-back riding, water sports, and fell running are available for a more active experience. The park is open all year round with a variety of B+Bs and hotels near by. (We advise suggesting this one to your parents).

MAKING THE MOST OF OFFERS.

  Student life is ALL about budgeting, 27p saved by buying Super Noodles in stock is 27p that can go towards your next pint, right? Days out are no different, there’s always offers to be taken advantage of, and money to be saved. Student discounts are always a bonus, most places will knock at least 10% off the entrance price when you produce a university or NUS card, and websites like ‘www.tours4students.co.uk’ help you save money by organising group trips for society outings. Although there are plenty of sites out there designed to help you save when you spend, sometimes to find the best offer, you don’t have to look further than your shopping basket. Household brands from Walkers to Muller offer money off admission prices when you buy the right yoghurt or packet of crisps, and supermarkets like Tesco or Sainsbury’s will give you free tickets for the correct amount of clubcard points - after all, ‘every little helps’.
  Student railcards can save you big bucks on big journeys, but if you’re heading to a large town it’s worth checking www.megabus.co.uk or www.nationalexpress.com to see what’s on offer; a coach journey may take longer than the train, but for £6.50 return who’s going to complain? Bus passes and careful planning will save you precious pounds but the easiest way for you to get to your destination is still going to be by road. So if you’re lucky enough to have a flatmate with a car, who’s willing to drive, then invite them, and split the petrol money, (just make sure you get ACCURATE directions).

OUR TOP TIPS FOR A FUN DAY OUT. 

- If you’re out for the day, take food and lots of it. There’s something about rollercoasters that makes every student ravenous, and you don’t want to be forking out for expensive on-site treats - £8 for a burger and fries? No thanks.

- Check the weather forecast. Then double-check it… then pack an umbrella anyway. The North is known for it’s unpredictable showers, so be prepared for anything; sunglasses? Yes. Coat? Yes. Umbrella? Yes, yes, yes.

- Plan your journey. Students are notorious for their last minute plans, and ’devil may care’ attitude when it comes to transport, but do your homework. The last thing you want is to be stranded in the middle of nowhere.

- Make a budget and stick to it; it’s easy to get over excited when you get to the gift shop, but with ticket and travel prices, you don’t want to be too out-of-pocket. And just think, you might not have that ’really cute’ stuffed dragon, but you will have money to plan your next trip with.

- Now this one is important - CHARGE YOUR PHONE. Some of you want to see the monkeys, the others desperately want to watch the sea lion show; so you split up. Next thing you know your phone has died and you have to spend the rest of your day trying to spot your friends in the crowd. Either that or get some sniggering staff members to do a tannoy announcement… oh the humiliation.

- Above all, enjoy yourself, stay safe, and take a camera to catch all of those Facebook-worth moments!




By Beth Cook.

Through The Looking Glass.

  With the release of Tim Burton's tantalisingly twisted version of Alice in Wonderland just around the corner, it seems that the whole world has caught Alice-mania. Even the high street has chosen to cash-in on this lucrative little trend with establishments from Urban Outfitters to Urban Decay paying tribute to Lewis Carroll's trippy fantasy fairytale. If buzz-words like 'contrary wise' and 'nonsensical' are tickling your fashion fancy, follow us down the rabbit hole while we show you where you can get your wonderful Wonderland-themed pieces. We're all mad here, (mad for Alice that is).

Urban Decay have released this luscious limited edition 'Book of Shadows'; featuring sixteen best-selling Eyeshadows, a travel size Eyeshadow Primer Potion and two 24/7 Eye Pencils all in an adorable pop-up Alice case. (£28).

   American Brand OPI have released four Wonderland inspired nail colours, ('Thanks So Muchness', 'Absolutely Alice', 'Mad as a Hatter' and 'Off With Her Red!'). (£9.95/each).

Paul and Joe have created these gorgeous limited edition tins in two Alice designs - 'Fantasy' and 'Daydream', each contains Blotting Paper, (with mirror), Blotting Paper refills and a Lip Treatment Stick in 'Milky Pink' or 'Sheer Orange'. (Available from www.ASOS.com and Harrods at £25/each).

  Urban Outfitters are currently selling these cute 'Junk Food' and 'Truly Madly Deeply' tees. (Prices ranging from £25 to £28).

Miss Selfridge feature a line of Mad Hatter, Alice, White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat and Red Queen themed tees and vests. (Prices ranging from £16 to £20).

Topshop join the teaparty with a cropped sweatshirt and 'Tea and Cake' necklace (sweatshirt £25, necklace £10).

The 'Tom Binns for Disney Couture' collection offers 35 pieces of uniquely designed jewellery; earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces inspired by characters such as the Talking Flowers, White Rabbit and the Red Queen. (Available from http://www.ASOS.com/, prices ranging from £12 to £148).

Manchester based jewellery designer Janine Byrom has created a line of one-off, vintage-style Alice in Wonderland Charm bracelets and necklaces, available on her website - http://cherishedtrinkets.co.uk/  (prices range from £12 to £38).

Or, if all else fails then log on to http://www.myvintagecharms.com/ pick up some chains, clasps and charms, (see above), and get creating your very own uniquely Wonderland one-offs!

I Think It's Love.

Oozing kittenish sex appeal, Miss Teese is polished to perfection. The pinnacle of sleek, sophisticated, retro glamour, this Burlesque beauty is subtle, feminine, and hot as hell.

She. Is. BEAUTIFUL.

Valentine's Day Treat

Vodka Smoothies!

 Get your 5-a-day the fun way! This fantastic recipe is great for a girly night in, the perfect drink to go with that romantic meal or...well... do we really need an excuse to make cocktails? No. Cocktails are a girl's prerogative and the beauty of these little babies is that they’re versatile! More of a mango girl? Cherries float your boat? Just swap the raspberries for your favourite fruit, try upping the dosage by adding a few shots, or, water it down with extra fruit juice for a more laid-back drink. Just beware, they're stronger than they taste!

Ingredients

400g of frozen raspberries

1 bottle of vodka

1 litre of exotic fruit juice

1 litre of pure orange juice

Equipment

Shot glass

Glasses (one per person)

Blender / smoothie maker

Instructions

- Measure out two shots of vodka, two shots of exotic fruit juice and one shot of pure orange juice per person, (so if you had two people you would need four shots of vodka, four shots of exotic fruit juice and two shots of orange juice, capiche?).

- Stick the shots in your blender with a BIG handful of frozen raspberries and blend!

Voila! Easy peasy, quick and simple, scrummy Valentine's Day cocktails!

(Enjoy responsibly)

The Single Girl's Guide To Valentine's Day

 Whether you’re a romantic at heart or a cynic who believes that Valentine's Day is “just an excuse for greedy corporations to manipulate the consumerist tendencies of modern society and cash in on love”, the reality is that Valentine's Day exists. In fact not only does it exist, but it can actually be fun, with or without a partner. So resist jumping on the cynical bandwagon or post-Notebook sobbing into your Kleenex about 'never finding a love like Noah and Allie’s', RSVP ‘No’ to the pity party and follow our Valentine's Day ‘Dos and Don’ts’ for an enjoyable, tear-free day.

Dos and Don'ts For Singletons On February 14th.

DO... Dress Up - So you don’t have a date? Who cares? Dressing up to the nines will not only make you aesthetically fabulous, but that sexy LBD and ‘to-die-for’ patent heels are an instant feel-good confidence booster.

DON'T... Hide Away - If you’re the type of person that ‘didn’t even remember that it was Valentine's Day’ then feel free to go about your normal business! But if your forced, ‘blissful ignorance’ is likely to turn into you drunk-dialling an ex whilst sobbing and binging on Ben and Jerrys then remember, company is key.

DO... Avoid Couples - This one might be a bit of a no-brainer, but if you’re not in the mood for PDA-happy twosomes, resist romantic hotspots like restaurants and head for a cocktail bar, (2-4-1 anyone?).

DON'T... Drink Too Much - “Whoooo…. I mean who needs a guy anyways? I have youuu bootifuuul, lovely girlies and you’re bootifuuuul…” Happy-drunk? Yes. Hysterically sobbing into a hankie every time a Dominoes advert pops up, (“*sob* Dan used to eat pizza...*sob*… ”), sad-drunk? Not so good.

DO... Have A Pamper Party - Have a girl’s night! A couple of face masks, your best friends and the first season of Sex and the City guarantees you some girly fun. Throw in a pitcher of margaritas and an hour later you’ll be wondering why you ever thought you needed a man.

DON'T... Forget Your 'Taken' Friends - They may have a boyfriend, but if for some reason they don’t have plans then invite them along. (Just make them aware that you will be enforcing VERY strict ‘no gushing’, ‘no romantic reminiscing about the boyfriend’ and ‘no being smug’ rules).

DO... Embrace The Love - Chances are that unless you live in a cave, you’ll spend most of the day being bombarded by little red paper hearts and adverts for ‘Love Songs II’, but don’t hate it, embrace it! Why not bake some cupcakes for your best friend, or make a card for your mum? Valentine's Day is about Love as well as romance so pamper the other ‘loves’of your life.

DON'T... Dig Into The Past – Digging is best left to archaeologists, so unless you’re planning to join Tony Robinson for some Time Team-based activities, leave the past in the past. The last thing you or your girlfriends need is the 39th tearful rendition of ‘how it all went wrong...'.

DO... Share Stories - If you really feel the need to talk about The Ex then why not focus on the things that make you GLAD to be single - He had the mother from hell? A weird obsession with Orlando Bloom? “He wanted me to put maple syrup and masking tape on his…”? You’ll be giggling into your Grenache and swapping war stories in no time.

DON'T... Watch Romantic Films - You'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn't enjoy the occasional rom-com, but watching one on Valentine's Day is like asking to be slapped with a big ol’ plate of ‘look what I have and you don’t’. Ditch the Hollywood romances in favour of something a little less depressing. 'Dawn of the Dead' anyone?

Impulse Control

10 Things To Avoid For An Easier Life.

1) Drunken Texting - Drunk words are sober thoughts right? Wrong. Even if you do spend your lunch breaks lusting over your boss, I highly doubt that he will appreciate an in-depth description of your underwear at 3am. His wife may also resent it.

2) Buying Clothes in the Wrong Size – Don’t. Yes that dress might be 'gorgeous' / 'just like the one Scar-Jo wore in that film' / 'perfect for the Christmas party if i diet a bit'... but if it’s two-sizes-too-small then DON’T buy it. It’ll never see the light of day, just take up precious closet space.

3) Skipping Bums and Tums to Watch Desperate Housewives – Slumming on the sofa with a bar of Galaxy and staring at Eva Longoria will only make you feel guiltier about missing your weekly exercise. Be good, wait for the Sunday repeats.

4) Leaving That Important Report Until the Night Before It’s Due - Yes it’s boring but you’ll feel SO much better if you get it out of the way early, (and a lot less guilty about going out for cocktails with the girls).

5) Changing Yourself For a Man - Have you ever read ‘He’s Just Not That Into You’? No? Read it. If he doesn’t like you now then no amount of haircuts, crash dieting or new and 'interesting' hobbies will change it. Accept it... and move on. It’s his loss.

6) Blindly Following Every Fashion Trend You Lay Your Eyes On - That sequined tutu may have looked AMAZING on the catwalk in Milan but there’s no chance in hell you’ll be able to rock that on a high street in Bognor Regis.

7) Work Flings - We all love the thrill of a workplace romance; secret kisses in the hallways, flirty inter-office emails, what’s not to love? Try sexual flashbacks and awkward glances over the boardroom table when your 'passionate affair' goes south.

8) Argument-Fuelled Revenge – OK, he may have called your best friend 'heavy' but playing Frisbee with his prized Rocky collection will only result in more arguments and a lot of guilt sex.

9) Cutting Your Own Hair – Unless you WANT to look like The Joker, this is one thing best left to the professionals. (As is dying, perming and any other complicated follicle artistry).

10 ) Those Last Few Chocolates - Yes you may have eaten half of the box but NO that doesn’t mean you HAVE to eat the rest. Put them away. They won't feel 'lonely', they'll feel happy that they didn't suffer the same painful death as their friends.