Packing 101

Two weeks.. Two weeks until we pack the car and head two hours west to a town extremely similar to our own. Seriously though, a typical british holiday means driving to a campsite two hours away squished up against your siblings and the suitcases. It was were 'do I have to stop this car' was invented all those summers ago. My Nan spent her childhood summers in camp/caravan sites, my Mom did and now I do. It's the same dull weather, except there's no work or annoying neighbours. There's also a beach, but the waters so far out you hit sinking sand before sea, and when the tides finally in the waters so dirty you just don't bother. But... It's still a holiday, and it's always surprisingly an amazing week. It doesn't seem like the potentials there, but boy oh boy it is. So my point is it's still a holiday (or vacation for you Americans) and you still need to pack, so I thought while I was packing like a pro, I would share my tips.

If your clothes don't fit in your suitcase, then you probably have to... Get a bigger suitcase. It's true, you need to make room for more shirts you wont wear that week because it's necessary to have options.

Always leave your packing till last minute, because it's very important that it's as unorganized as possible, this means when you're on holiday you can make an excuse to go clothes shopping.. See, I got your back.

Roll your clothes instead of folding them. It gives you more room to fit in more clothes.

If you have two or three of the same white tank tops you should take them all, you don't want to have to do laundry. (Actually this might be a pretty good tip.)

Never forget to take jewelry on your trip. Just take your whole jewelry box because I promise you, you will need it; and you're gonna thank me when you summer fling notices that your classy because you remembered your pearls. How are you gonna have a good time, if you're not accessorized?!

Use straightners to get creases out of your clothes, because let's face it no one wants to do ironing on holiday. (Is that even a packing tip? Is that a really bad idea or...)

So if you follow all the tips above... You're probably going to have a packing nightmare, but don't worry I survive them every year; mainly because my mom always double checks my case...

I got a job? #20thingstodothissummer

I thought this was so funny

#9 GET A JOB. For the dollar, dollar bills.

It's true, I finally got a job. In my new years resolutions post and number nine in my 20 things to do this summer list, I said I wanted to get a job, and it finally happened. I had the interview, trial shift and orientation before I turned sixteen and then a few days after I did my first shift. It was kind of scary, because it's my first job but six shifts in I'm enjoying it. Putting enjoying it lightly... I basically do any cleaning and help customers at McDonalds, which means I get to eat my favourite food every time I do a shift. It's so tiring, and I have to do the washing up (and there's a lot surprisingly) which always gets me soaked because of the spray thing (such technical terms), and I have to take food out to cars and it was raining yesterday! But I'll quit complaining because it's a job at least, and I'm earning more than my sister does at KFC! The people there are so welcoming and nice, I've made 2 really close friends already, and the rest of the people are so nice that I'm really exciting to be working with them.

I'm so glad to finally have a job, it's payday Thursday so that means shoppingg...

I'm a people watcher.

What a creepy title, I was gonna call this Addictive Older Siblings, but that's possibly worse. I like to watch people's actions, when i'm bored and out and about I'd rather watch other people busy themselves, then busy myself. So it's no surprise that this year I've found myself so into Big Brother it hurts... This post is basically just me bitching about it so feel free to leave.

I can not believe Jale was evicted on Friday, I was sure Ashleigh was going to go, and I was hoping as well. I really do not like her, she gets into way too many arguments with Helen, and while she is only defending herself I'm sure she loves it. She's a game player, she admitted it in the diary room. She even said she was glad her evil plan was coming together.

What's up with how horny the housemates are, I get Steven and Kim are completely in love, or at least Steven is. But having sex with cameras around? No. They've only known each other a bloody month!

I don't really bother with Mark, because I just don't like him, I don't like Chris, Christopher or Ash either. So basically over half the house. I love Steven, even if I feel he's a bit naive about Kim. I think Danielle does more than her fair share of bitching with Ashleigh, but honestly I feel like she's a good person. I think Winston's funny, but I can't get over his little comment when Jale jumped in the pool, I think I am so like Jale that I'm a bit reluctant to forgive him. I'm kind of a little scared of Helen a little, her personality reminds me of the girls in my school who I avoid at all costs. When she whispered about Jale being a slug and then said it louder as she walked away so Jale could here it, I was appalled, she was so rude. She's not so bad now, she focuses on Ashleigh a lot, but honestly I'm not surprised. I guess I hold a lot of grudges from the earlier weeks... Especially ones concerning Jale. I like Kim, but not all of the time, and I really can't be bothered with Marlon, even though I think everyone's reaction to Marlon pressing that bloody button was ridiculous.

I think that's it... I don't even know.

This week behind the scenes of Guess What Hollie?

I recently read Michaela's post, which you can read here, and I thought it was a really cool. I've seen posts like this before, and decided I would test the waters myself.

A gif that made me giggle:

Because, honestly. Who wouldn't enjoy this (except for people allergic to cats).

Something i'm excited about:

What I've been reading:

This book is perfect, it's so funny as Mindy always is, and it basically reminds me of a ton of blog posts put together making it even better! 

All I wanted was:

Sleep. Lots and lots of sleep.

Sweet Sixteen

Not so sure about the sweet part, I eat a lot of sugar though so I probably have super sweet blood. A vampires dream I assume.

Wow. How quickly did we get off track there, I start writing a post about my birthday and end up talking about vampires. In one sentence.

Back on track however, it was my sixteenth birthday on Wednesday, I didn't think I'd make it this far. When I was naughty my mom would always say "you'll never make it to 9". (Or any other age under 13, nine just seemed to fit.) Well, guess what Mom. I made it. And a bit.

Back on track (again). Because I turned sixteen, and my New Years resolution to do more meant I made a lot more friends, I did what every other teenager does on their birthday. I threw a party.

It was great, it was in a big function room, people auditioned for invites, Justin Bieber performed and I got a car. Ha, I wish, I can't even drive until I'm 17. I've just been watching way too much MTV.

I did throw a party though, and it was amazing. It was in my garden, my iPod was the only performer, my invite was in form of a text, and I didn't get a car. (I did however get a £20 gift card for River Island which is way better.) It was still perfect in every way. I had such a good time, and pizza, and I know everyone else enjoyed themselves too.

The last of my guests didn't leave until gone 2am, and seven of them stopped over. We actually watched High School Musical (16 or 10?) and then when that was over only four of us were awake, and even though it was nearly 5 in the morning; we actually cleared up outside because it was a mess and then sat on the trampoline with some blankets and talked. It was perfect.

I bet you are itching for photos, most of you have probably already scrolled to them and skipped this long ass post. Or maybe, after you've looked at the photos first, and now you're reading the writing. Who knows, but I've kept you waiting and here you are....

I love this candid.

Group photo

Olivia was so excited, she got a double chin.

My favourite picture.

Chillin.

Yes.

You can imagine this mess x100 after we were finished.

Alison.

Blurry, but what a perfect fb cover photo?

Lizzie.

I love candids.

The pizza party to end all parties..

This picture has been in my drafts for a very long time. I finished school on June 13th and finally getting round to writing this post July 3rd. Anyway, on Friday the 13th we had our last maths exam (which actually wasn't our last but we were going on study leave that day) and bolted out of school. I headed down to the park with a few of my friends and we listened to some music and drank a little. Then at 3, we met everyone else in my year group and a few more of my friends at a different park.

That was a lot of fun, I ended up speaking to a lot of people in my year who I had never spoke to for longer than a few minutes, and more to people who I see all the time but it's always small talk. Which was nice. We didn't stay there for more than an hour or two and afterwards I went with the other friends we met at the second park, and we jumped on the bus to Licky Hills, another park.

We just walked through here which took us forever because it was way bigger than any of the other parks, and at the other end we found a pizza place. We ordered a pizza and sat in the park to eat it. If you haven't seen any of the shrek memes then how did such a normal person stumble upon this blog? We raised our pizza to shrek like the typical kids who spend all day on tumblr, and have become insane.

I had such a good day, minus the sunburn. And I learnt that my bus home doesn't run after 8pm, yeah.

Any summer evenings you've got to share? I would love to hear them.

June and July Goals!

We made it to July and I couldn't be happier...

JUNE

The month of June is also the start of my summer! I want to make these goals very strict, since I only have to stick to them for two weeks, but I only have three sub goals this month. I decided for June i'll make some fitness goals. Everybody loves being healthy, right? For the first two weeks of June, I've been testing the waters and it's proven to fairly easy if I actually try so let's get stuck in!

SUB GOALS

1. Eat 100% healthy meals 6 out of 7 days a week. It's only six because, a girl needs chocolate once a week, and there's nothing wrong with a treat now and again!  I'll be sticking to salads and vegetables instead of chips/rice or any other of the sort. I mention rice because the only kind of rice I like, is very fatty and oily. Then I'll accompany the veggies with a source of protein, like lean beef or egg whites. I'll also be eating fruits, hopefully this will give me chance to find new healthy recipes that I can enjoy in later months. 
2. Workout every day. This will be my hardest goal! I want to get in about 45 minutes of cardio a day with some sort of targeted strength training for 30 minutes a day. I will probably alternate between butt, abs, arms and legs. Since I've finished school now, there's no excuse!
3. Drink 8 glasses (or more) of water a day. I am very much a soda drinker, this month though i'll be sticking to water! 

Week 1

1. I managed 5/7 days a week, after prom I went on a binge. I ate pizza, and Mcdonalds, and just a lot of food really. 
2. I worked out 2/7 days in the first week.... Yeah.
3. I drank a few cups of water every day, and not as much soda, but probably not 8 glasses.

So week 1, didn't go very well for the most part, but week two went a lot better.

Week 2

1. 6/7 spent eating clean.
2. I completed my cardio 6/7 times this week, and I mainly did ab workouts with it.
3. Mon-Wed. I drank 1/2 glasses a day. Thurs-Sat I drank 8 glasses. 

I'm really glad I decided to make these my goals, I lost five pounds this month, and overall I ate pretty healthily in the month of June, and I'm going to continue that way! 

July

In July, I plan to write a novel. I've joined Camp NaNoWriMo, to help me achieve this. I haven't made any sub goals for this month because my goal is plain and simple. 

I want to write 50,000 words in a month. That's averaging 1,613 words a day. Okay so not that simple really. BUT Camp NaNoWriMo is a great help when staying on target, and has some great tips on naming you characters, knowing your characters and building a story! 

I'd love to know if anyone else is attempting this challenge for the month of July!