Farewell to the Fairground...

Hello there lovelies!

Today I've got a quick post to say goodbye to summer and what feels like my child hood, as I finally venture into the big girl world that is Sixth form and A Levels *shudder*. 

So as I stare at the new pile of stationary on my chest of drawers and contemplate how I'm going to survive taking Physics, Maths, Economics and History for the next two years, I thought I'd make a list of things I did this summer that are worth talking about...

1. I got a job. Yes I did. I did it all on my own, without any help from family friends or people who my dad works with, like so many people do. I wrote a CV, applied, got interviewed and worked really hard to secure the job that I now have. It isn't easy at all, especially when you're getting up at 7am on a Saturday to work for £4.98 an hour. But a job's a job and I really enjoy my one, it's not the best but the people are nice and the clothes are cool too.
2. I went to a festival. It was insane. It was wonderful. It was muddy. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I will never forget the amazement of being on a random boys shoulders whilst watching Kasabian close the whole festival doing a cover of a Beatles song, complete and total goosebumps.
3. I got real qualifications. GCSE's to be exact. After months of preparation, 12 exams decided my fate. It was hard and I should've worked harder. But I did it and I got into Sixth Form to do the A Levels I want to do. I'm rather proud of myself to be honest. 
4. I grew up. I really did. I finally accepted that I am not Peter Pan and I will not be flying off to Neverland any time soon. I payed my own through summer, I took responsibility for myself, I went away without my parents and I chose what I'm going to be doing for pretty much the rest of my life, scary. 
5. I had an amazing time. This past year has been a bit of a mad one and summer was also rather mad to begin with. There's always some sort of drama going on around me and I'm rather prone to getting absorbed by it all. I've finally knocked the habit (well, nearly) and I had an absolute ball with my friends, doing silly things, throwing parties and just having fun. 

So that's my summer, what was yours like? Do anything amazing? Learn anything that changed your life? Let me know in the comments below! 

Thanks for reading guys, speak soon.

Here's a little something to leave you with, it's a motto I'm trying to live my life by...

Stay Classy!X

Festival Series: Toiletries

Hello there beautiful people, 

                                                  I'm back again with my next festival post and this one's all about toiletries. Now some people may think this is pretty easy, as after all it's a festival, you're supposed to be as minimalistic as possible. However minimalistic and me do not mix. I would much rather be over prepared than under, especially when I'm living in a tent for 4 days in the middle of a field and as great as mud is for the skin, I do not plan to embrace nature in any way shape or form.

*As some of you may have noticed, it is now the 1st of September and most festivals are finished. I am fully aware of this but being the total scat that I am, I completely forgot to set this post live before I went, soz. However Bestival is this weekend (I think) and Glastonbury's in May so now you can all be prepared, way in advance. Now back to me speaking in the future tense even though it was actually written in the past, confusing I know, but let's persevere through this together, okay? *

So here's what I'm taking to Leeds...

So baby wipes, first and foremost the most essential thing any person could ever bring to a festival (after a tent, your ticket, money, wellies etc...but you know what I mean) as if you're like me, a communal shower does not appeal to you in any way shape or form. A baby wipe bath is the best you can hope for if you're going to VETO the showers and VETO you should.  A good wipe down with a few of these in the morning and before bed will rid you of any immediate grossness and make the mud that little bit more bearable. 

I'm also taking separate face wipes as I don't like using baby wipes on the face but that's just me being fussy. 

Next is dry shampoo, once again a must if you're not planning on venturing into the watery wilderness that are apparently 'showers'. Boys and girls alike, this will be your hairs best friend.

Now my actual wash bag contents...

My wash bag is a wipe clean one from French Connection, it's pretty big and fits all my stuff in perfectly. 

I have the obvious things of course: tooth brush, tooth paste, deodorant and mouthwash. I'm also taking pretty much every medication you could need for a weekend in the wilderness (okay so it's not the wilderness but I've never camped before, don't judge me...) ibuprofen, allergy and hayfever relief, indigestion tablets, sore eye drops, throat lozengers and soluble paracetamol (great for hangovers...just saying). Also I'm taking about a million plasters, blisters will not be a problem for me I assure you. 

My next two words are perhaps just as important as baby wipes: HAND SANITIZER. Hand sanitizer will possibly be the only thing standing in between you and E Coli, you've all heard festival toilet stories I'm sure you don't need any explanation from me. 

With regards to more beauty related items I'm taking: a mini Frizz-Eze serum, eye make-up remover,nail varnish, body lotion, Righteous Butter, Vera Wang solid perfume and a razor which I probably won't use but you never know. 

To round up, my key tips are for toiletries are: 

1. Be prepared- you're in a forest at the end of the day, if you think you'll need it, take it. 
2. Mini's are your friend- Travel sizes were made for occasions like this. You're the one who has to carry your bag don't forget
3. Take home comforts- This sounds stupid but if you moisturise every day religiously, take your moisturiser with you. I'm sure no one will think any less of you if you whip out your Palmers Cocoa Butter before bed. 

So that's it hunny's. If I've missed anything, please let me know. Hope this helps!

Speak soon!

Stay Classy X

Festival Series: Pre-festival planning!

Hey hunny's!

                       So here I am, after a ridiculous amount of time away,I'm finally back. With a REAL blog post, yes a real one. No long apologies and photo fillers, but actual blogging...it's taken me long enough, I know. But yes I'm back and not with just one post, oh no, I'm back with a whole SERIES of blog posts. Yes you read correctly, a whole series of blog posts to make up for inexcusable absence from the blogosphere. 

And this series is going to be all about festivals, simply because this year I will be going to my first music festival and I am beyond excited. I know lots of festivals have already taken place but arguably some of the biggest are still yet to come (V, Reading, Leeds) so I thought I would share all my planning, tips and other interesting things with you lovely lot. 

Also as this is my first festival, I've been scouring the web for outfit inspiration, make-up ideas and hair tips to keep me going and to be honest I haven't found anything that has particularly taken my fancy. So I thought I'd just do it all myself and let you all in on it too! 

For any of you wondering I'm off to Leeds, it's pretty huge for anyone who isn't familiar with it and this year's line-up is amazing. As I said, it's my first one so I'm not too sure what to expect but here's what I've done thus far....

First thing first, get your ticket. To some this might seem obvious, but if you're unprepared (like me) you will leave completely last minute and then stress out. I got my ticket today, yes today, 10 days before the festival starts. And I don't mean my ticket arrived today after ordering it months ago, oh no, I actually bought it today. I'm a freak I know but here it is, in all it's shining glory.....

TA-DAHHHHHH!!!!

Once your actual entry into the festival is sorted, next thing to do is transport. So for some it'll be a rather tedious coach journey with a load of randomers, others will go up on the train with the backpack firmly attached and their patience preparing to take a battering and for some lucky few there'll be a car journey, which if you're not driving (like myself, thanks Peej) will be quite enjoyable. Whatever your chosen transport, plan it in advance, keep your tickets in a safe place and find someone who doesn't mind you drooling on their shoulder if you nod off. 

Transport, done. Next thing to sort is accommodation, if you're one of those people in the VIP area with a real toilet and electricity, then I hate you. Just kidding, I don't really. Okay, maybe I hate you a little bit. But for the majority of us, we'll be roughing it in a tent. This is possibly one of the most important aspects of the whole festival experience, as this will be your base for however long you're there for. It needs to be durable, comfortable and portable. Don't bring a 10 man tent for you and your best friend, it's pointless and heavy. Find a tent that works and make sure you know how to set it up before you get there. For anyone struggling Blacks is really good and not too pricey, also a HUGE thank you to the staff in their Liverpool store for being super helpful to me and all my rowdy pals on Saturday, you were great! 

Here's my tent for anyone who's interested...

Don't forget the pegs! No one wants to come back to their campsite and find their tent has been stolen by the wind. 

And finally get yourself some wellies. Now if you're like me, wellies are not a part of my wardrobe and the idea of wearing them for 3 days to an amazing festival filled with people wearing amazing outfits, terrifies me to my very core. I'm vain, what can I say? But they're necessary and that's that. For me, I'll be purchasing the seemingly obligatory Hunters but if you're not bothered, run down to Primarni and get yourself a few £3 pairs. If you do want Hunters however, John Lewis is the place to go. Yes they're expensive but they'll last forever and they look pretty. 

So that's my pre-essentials done. As soon as my ASOS order is here and my wellies have been collected a festival fashion post will be up, followed by a beauty post, a packing post and one more kind of summary post. 

I'd love to hear of any festival stories or tips you guys have and I hope this has been somewhat helpful to you all! 

Speak soon kittens.

Stay Classy!X