Erin Cruickshank

26/10/26

GROUNDED

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What's going on near you?

Welcome back!

I hope you’re staying safe out there - it has been wild! However, what better excuse than the weather to hunker down for the darker nights.

This week, in what felt like the only calm moment between 100mph wind gusts and torrential rain, it occurred to me that we are officially 9 weeks away from the new year. So, naturally, as we are now in “reading week” territory, I began to panic about every deadline, exam, and un-completed application form. However, after bringing myself back down to earth, I was reminded about the importance of taking everything one step at a time; so here we are!

In the following paragraphs you will find everything that has helped me escape from what can only be described as a complete October overreaction. These are simply my personal recommendations for you this week and they should therefore be taken with a pinch of salt…

Events

The Lounge Foundation Boob Box is coming to both Edinburgh and Glasgow university this week.

By signing up for a ticket (free of charge), you will receive a free thong at the event. Once there, you can help support the cause by donating to the Boob Box which will go directly back into the Lounge Foundation - not bad for a pair of pants!

Hybrid Games: The Run Down

Hybrid training is currently all the rage, and with everyone having completed or currently training for an upcoming Hyrox, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to avoid any conversations around the subject.

I have always been interested in training - from growing up as a swimmer, to dusting off my running shoes once arriving at Uni, before going on to inevitably joining the gym - however, I never saw myself ever being a potential Hyrox athlete; or as some call it, a hybrid rockstar.

Held in the SEC Arena in Glasgow, the Hybrid Games was, in my opinion, incredibly well organised. Check in was a breeze, the course was well thought through, and everyone was incredibly supportive - which I did have my worries about! Everyone was there to have fun and they all looked great.

Unfortunately, my race outfit did not arrive in time so I wasn’t as stylish as I had originally hoped, but it didn't matter as apparently fashion didn’t count towards the leaderboard. And, with an average heart rate of 196 bpm, I quickly forgot about the bright pink top that was now arriving as a post-race present.

Overall, I think it may have been the hardest sporting event I have ever competed in and crossing the finish line was definitely my favourite part. My cheer squad was a necessity and will be required at any subsequent event I take part in - which, despite my immediate disgust at the thought, I have already booked.

Grateful, against all expectations, to have walked away with 3rd place. Liverpool, I’ll see you soon!

Discounts

It is officially Pumpkin Spice season, and although Greggs would not be my first choice, you can receive a free drink when downloading the Greggs app for the first time - which includes their recently launched autumn drinks menu!

Unfortunately, not everyone can travel to Edinburgh to top up their winter foundation, luckily there is a 15% student discount when shopping online at Sephora with UniDays.

Sunday Night Face Masks

After a high stress weekend, I was in desperate need of some TLC. However, despite my burning desire, I unfortunately cannot afford monthly microneedling sessions nor Shark’s DePuffi handheld contrast therapy device. I opted instead for the L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Hydrogel Mask.

Scottish weather is not forgiving. While I may get a good night's sleep after spending a considerable amount of time outside, my skin does unfortunately seem to take a hit. The mask, therefore, felt like the best of both worlds; some designated R & R alongside some refreshing skin care.

Although I am usually the type to look for a ‘quick fix’, the instructions were clear from the beginning - leave the mask on for 90 minutes. So it was the perfect excuse to take my relaxation seriously and I paired it with a homemade mocha, a knitted jumper, and some light revision (the degree won’t complete itself).

I felt instantly zen, whether the results reflected this or not. The mask, albeit slightly too big, was light and rejuvenating and it seemed to be working. Fortunately, I did buy an 8-pack - it felt the most economical at the time - and so I will be returning to my sofa at least once a week with 90-minutes worth of decompression to look forward to.

This Weeks Outing.

The Hive: Rugby in the Rain

This week’s outing was, for me, a little bit different.

While I do consider myself a sporty person, I seldom participate as a spectator so, naturally, a night out at the rugby wasn’t on my initial reading week cards. However, I have to say, I had a blast.

Before arriving early, we took a quick trip to Pho in the St James Centre for a delicious and warming dinner of spring rolls and Vietnamese noodle soup before heading to Murrayfield. While slightly ashamed to admit, in donning my most appropriate gown for the weather, I did in fact arrive at dinner sporting the dowdy Dry Robe! However, I refused to acknowledge any judgemental stares as it certainly served its purpose in the storm.

Once at Murrayfield, after inevitably stopping at the Costa stand to acquire a suitable hand warmer, we made our way to Terrace E. Although initially apprehensive about standing all evening in the cold, minus losing feeling in my fingers, it never actually dawned on me once throughout the game.

Despite not being exceptionally well versed on the United Rugby Championships, I was proud to be able to celebrate Edinburgh’s victory against The Johannesburg Lions which has allowed them to defend their leading position in the league.

What's For Dinner?

I disagree entirely with the serving suggestion on any tortellini packet and now refuse to order it when out for a meal in anticipation of being left extremely disappointed. So, whenever I make it, I make sure to add a little bit more(tellini)!

This week, I experimented slightly with my ingredients, and I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome; it’s easy, effective, and a little bit different…

My “Little Bit More” Tortellini:

Ingredients

One packet of tortellini (I went for chicken and chorizo)
One packet of Chicken Sausages
Pre-chopped red onion
Cherry tomatoes
Pitted Dates
One cube Chicken Stock

Written by Erin Cruickshank

*And, if you need a snack while you wait, or you fancy a dessert, this week we are loving blueberry muffins.

Steps

Cook the chicken Sausages according to instructions, chop them into bite sized pieces, and set them aside

Heat some oil in a pan before adding your red onion and letting it soften

Chop your cherry tomatoes in half and add them to cook alongside the onion

Boil the kettle then, in a measuring jug, mix your chicken stock with 250ml of boiling water (or more if you would prefer a broth-like outcome)

Chop a handful of pitted dates into small pieces and add them to the pan

Let everything simmer, then add your stock and bring to the boil

Add the tortellini, cook according to instructions (usually around 3-4 minutes) before bringing the pan off of the heat and adding the chicken sausages

Stir everything together and then serve with a sprinkling of cheese and enjoy