Bicester Village

Who would have thought I would be up and out of the door at qaurter past six in the morning? Not me! Now don't get me wrong, i've seen many six o'clock starts but here's the thing about holidays. There's no college, and on this particular day no work, so why am i throwing away the only lie-ins i'll get until summer? 

Because I am a good girlfriend. That's plain and simple. It had nothing to do with me wanting to go shopping... No not at all. I was accompanying, and then my hand slipped. Into my purse and then into the card machine. 

My boyfriend drove his mom to Banbury on this particular day and she had to be there quite early hence why we had such an early start, and I decided it would be nice to go with him since he may have mentioned his plan to take me to Bicester village... 

Now if you don't know where Bicester is then... I don't know where i'm going with this to be honest i don't really know either. 

But! I'm not completely useless I can tell you what it is! 

It's a cute shopping village full of boutique looking stores, and pretty trees and flowers. It's definitely not your typical shopping trip into town as everything was so beautiful (and expensive). 

The stores are all outlet stores, and they certainly had a lot going for them. Imagine your favourite designer, and yes that was there! (I can't say that for certain it probably wasn't), but they had so many shops. They had the typical Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Ted Baker stores, and they also had a Mulberry, Alexander McQueen and Kate Spade store! (More on Kate Spade later.) 

They also had a Jimmy Choo store but I just admired a lot of them sadly from the window. 

I'm going to admit it, Josh is a brand whore. Just don't tell him I said it! I on the other hand, not so much. I do love expensive clothes, but I find Primark satisfies me enough. 

I think its something to do with the whole I work in McDonalds during weekends while i'm at college, thing. My bank account certainly isn't a pretty site, and therefore I would never be able to justify spending so much. 

Which means I mainly just looked and let Josh do the spending, until my minor slip up but i'll explain that later.

It was a lovely day when we decided to go and I think that just made it for me, not only did I get to browse a load of lovely (and bloody tempting) shops, but I also got to sit in the sun taking in the scenery and enjoying my strawberry frappe. Oh yeah and Josh, I got to spend time with him as well. 

Just before we left, I dragged Josh into Kate Spade. It's not a very popular brand where i'm from, most people don't know who Kate Spade is so a Micheal Kors bag is the next best thing. I did contemplate going into MK which was next door but I decided against it. 

I had resisted spending money for the whole two hours we were shopping, but I have a little space inside my heart for Kate Spade. The watches, the bags, the idiom bangles. I've been obsessing over them for ages, and I was planning to go to the store in London sometime soon. 

Anyway, as soon as we got into Kate Spade I fell in love. I knew what I wanted. I knew what I had to have. I got paid on the day we went (bad idea, I know) and since i've had holiday from college I worked almost everyday the week before and so I succombed. 

Any other pay day I wouldn't have considered spending that much money on a bag, Kate Spade or not. But since my pay had temporarily (*sob at temporarily*) doubled, I could afford the bag. And guess what? Still afford to eat! 

I should really be saving for a car, and our holiday. But hey ho, this was the first designer bag I had ever bought myself and if you ask Josh (do you even know who Josh is? He turned up in my life somewhere in the midst of my time away from the blogosphere) he will tell you how excited I was. I felt like a little kid on Christmas and I was my own Santa! 

It's a beautiful grey colour with a shoulder strap, this was the most important element hands down. And it closes at the front of the bag with a really cute Kate Spade clasp, the inside is a white with Kate Spade New York written over and over again in a satiny white. It's beautiful! 

Now i'll leave you with a picture, and be sure to visit Bicester if your near! Not only did it house the most amazing shops, but because of the cute village feel it made an amazing day out. 

Starting the warmer months off right!

After working all week last week, I decided to finally enjoy my time off of college! As the weather has been amazing this week, I thought Tuesday afternoon would be the perfect oppurtunity to invite some people round and have a barbecue! 

I spent most of the day lounging around in the sun while Josh cooked our food, making the most of the time with my friends and drinking cider in the garden. The weather was great, the food was great and the company was even better. 

We had a bit of a barbecue nightmare to begin with when the gas ran out, but we got there in the end haha! 

After we had all eaten we ended up just laying on some blankets in the sun and listening to some Arctic Monkeys. It was a great start to the summer. (Even though it is still spring it was at least 17 degrees for most of the dsy, i'm classing that as summer! 

I love a good barbecue, do you? I'd love to hear any good stories about any barbecue fiascos or summer get togethers! Leave a comment letting me know yours.

We had a bbq? #20thingstodothissummer

I wrote a post, inspired by one of my favourite youtubers, listing 20 things I wanted to do this summer.

#2 BARBECUES. They are perfect, I may be having one for my birthday, which will be fun! Barbecues are a time for good food, good people, and (hopefully) good weather!

I love barbecue food, it just makes summer. If summer were a food it would barbecued, if winter were a food it would be stewed. I don't make the rules.

It was my first time trying peppers, I didn't like them, they just weren't my thing. We had sausages, burgers, corn on the cob and salad. Always gotta have salad. I don't think I could ever be a vegetarian, I don't know how anyone is. I get the whole animal killing thing, but have you ever tasted a burger! I'm hungry now... Burgers and corn on the cob covered in melted butter. The only thing that would make it better is cider. Barbecued food and cider. I just drooled all over my keyboard.

A long drive and a beach walk.

On Saturday I returned to reality, I went to work on Sunday and spent most of today asleep or reading. Tomorrow is Tuesday and I'm back at work again, so my suitcase is still to be unpacked but I have had enough time to recap my week away (and to write a blog post (priorities)).

SATURDAY
Saturday started with a road trip, if you could call it a road trip. Does it count as a road trip if you only have one stop, that could make a trip to Tesco a road trip. But for coolness reasons... It's a road trip. It took us six hours to get there, and we made a quick stop at starbucks, good old starbucks. During those six hours I did a little reading, listened to an amazing playlist and went a little crazy. We settled in unpacked scoped out cute boys (more to come on the cute boy front) then we took a stroll down the front and went to morrisons and bought cheesecake. Everyone loves cheesecake.

If you don't put it on social media, then its not true.

Why it took us six hours, traffic!

Six hours is a long time, enough to make a girl crazy.

Like I said. If its not on social media, its not true.

Sandy toes and sandals.

We went venti, only on holiday do you go all out.

I think she's trying to kill me.

Even the Haven site we stayed on was pretty, a change from Birmingham!

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...

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.

20 Things To Do This Summer

Ahhh. Summer is here! PointlessBlog made a video saying he had twenty five things he wanted to do this summer, and he's going to document them all in a little book. We all know from this,and this post that I am a summerholic, so I made a list of twenty I would love to do this summer, since it's gonna be a long one (two and a half months!), and I'm going to document them in a journal full of details and photos, and on the blog of course! I need to start filling my Cath Kidston scrap book so I'm super excited to get going!

1. CONCERTS! This is key for the perfect summer, I went to one a few days ago but I'm not counting that, because the more the better! I think, I'm going to buy tickets to see some really cute guys with a few new friends I made at Sunday's concert. So look forward to that! 
2. BARBECUES. They are perfect, I may be having one for my birthday, which will be fun! Barbecues are a time for good food, good people, and (hopefully) good weather!
3. TAKE A RUN ON THE BEACH IN THE EARLY AM. I really want to do this when I go on holiday, a change of scenery will be perfect, and I really just want to watch the sunrise at the same time.
4. WALK UP BREAN DOWN. There is quite a big cliff? If that's what you would call it, where I am going on holiday. The first time I climbed it, I was too scared to enjoy it (i hate heights). So I want to do it again. 
5. WATER FIGHT. A little water never hurt no one, it's just really fun to soak people, and I have no idea why.
6. BUILD A FORT, EAT SWEETS AND WATCH MOVIES. So tumblr...
7. PICNIC AT THE BEACH. Food, sea, and sand. All the best things in one! 
8. SEE A PLAY AT A THEATER. I live near Stratford (if you even know where that is), and it's the birthplace of Shakespeare. They usually show plays in theaters there, and I would really love to see one.
9. GET A JOB. For the dollar, dollar bills.
10. GO CAMPING. I am a happy camper, everything about it is exciting to me.
11. DO SOME LATE NIGHT BOWLING. Bowling is fun, late night bowling when it's lit up and there's no kids, is so much funner.
12. SPA DAY. Because a girl needs to look after herself, right! 
13. RUN 3 MILES. It took me like 6/7 minutes to run a mile, three can't be that hard. (Fingers crossed.)
14. MAKE LEMONADE. So pinterest...
15. READ A BOOK FRONT TO BACK IN ONE SITTING. I've done this before, but there's one in particular I want to read.
16. NURTURE A PLANT. I'm starting college soon, I am practically an adult! So I want to try my responsibilities. 
17. TRY SUSHI. I have no idea why I want to do this so bad, food on a conveyor belt just seems cool. And who's never tried sushi before anyway, just me?
18. TAKE A PICTURE EVERYDAY AND MAKE A FLIPAGRAM AT THE  END. So Instagram...
19. TIE DIE SOME OLD SHIRTS. Because how freaking cool would that be!
20. READ GOSSIP MAGAZINES WHILE LAYING OUT. Because who wouldn't enjoy this? Grab a deck chair while I am at the pool, and chill, with the gossip. 

We got the keys to open paradise..

This is my second instalment of spring break ootds (even though spring break was a while ago) check the first out here. I am such a poser, it's unreal. I actually look like one of my friends, dani so much in this photo it's crazy. As you also mights be able to tell from the first ootd compared to the second that I look a lot darker, it might have been sunny this week but that was definitely thanks to my good old friend st tropez.

Denim shirt- Primark   White tank- H&M  Skirt-H&M  
Shoes-Converse  Bag-New Look

When the sunlight beckons I wake up.

Spring break is here! (I'm not american but spring break sounds better than the easter holidays, right?) The first week of spring break graced us with sunshine, I got to wear many skirts! I was pretty happy about this as you guys know I am a firm believer in skirts and summer. ;) I decided to share with you one of my favourite outfits and I'll also be putting more ootds up soon!

Jacket-vey.co.uk   shirt- jack wills  skirt+belt- primark
shoes-converse from bank    sunglasses- raybans

Festival Fever?

Have you been sitting at home this weekend, scrolling through instagram and watching multiple vlogs entailing all the deets about Coachella because I know I have! If you've been readng my blog for long you'll know I am a complete summer addict, any excuse to get out in the sun and wear skirts without getting frostbite and I'll take it! This is why I love festivals so much, who wouldn't? Take a couple of your friends, dress up in the cutest outfits you can only possible pull off at such festivals (if you live in the UK like me). Camp out and enjoy spending time with your best friends while you sing along with tons of perfect musicians! Colourful accessories, floral kimonos and flower crowns. Sound like heaven to you? Me too. It's not just Coachella's been and gone, but there's still so many festivals and so much of summer left, the Reading Festival line up is super exciting in particular.Arctic Monkeys, You Me At Six and Vampire Weekend. Uh? Yes please! Plus, even if your a introvert (like me) or suffer from anxiety (like me) I can assure you you'll still have great fun, just stick with people you know and let the music take you to a new level!

So since there's still some hope on the festival front I've come up with a lookbook using pieces from BANK, make sure to check them out! 

1)Beaded Playsuit £18 available here. 2)Ribbon Suede Pouch Bag £38 available here. 3)JuJu Maxi UV Jellies £20 available here. 4)Peace Necklace £5 available here.  

Annddd, if the lookbook isn't enough to get you hyped up for a festival filled summer I've put together a playlist and found my favourite coachella vlogs and snaps to get in you in the mood and assist you with your festival shopping! Be sure to check out BANK they're a sure favourite of mine for shopping this summer.

Festival ready playlist here + my favourite Coachella 2013 vlog.

Festivation 

(festival motivation ;))

Have fun, be happy and be safe! <3 div="">

13.04.13

On Thursday school finished for two weeks. Two weeks. Can I get a hell yeah? Hell no. Because on Friday and yesterday and today I was in school for revision classes, have I mentioned how sucky exams are? The only thing getting me through is the idea of over two months of summer, two months. Can I get a hell yeah because that makes two weeks seem like nothing. Monday was technically the first day of break, when better to do a photo an hour post!

7am:

This is sometimes my least favourite part of my day, sometimes it's my favourite. At seven am though, everything is my least favourite.  

8am:

Get dressed, eat breakfast. 

9am:

I waited for the bus and my bus stop was in the shade not fun.

10am:

In the dance studio, best way to start off the day if you ask me!

11am:

Still dancing, lot's of water was drunk.

12pm:

Still in dance! I got changed and started my theory work, theory sucks. 

1pm:

Ate lunch and went to English for an hour, before everyone came in I got my friend to take this picture for me. Anything for the blog.

2pm:

It was so sunny, after school my best friend and I headed to the park. Time to break away from studying and talk about boys. A lot about boys. 

3pm:

Living that all star life. Am I right Ladies?

4pm:

More bus fun. That's only a tad sarcastic because there's something surprisingly calming about being on a bus on your own with your earphones in. 

5pm+6pm:

When I got in, I fell asleep. This happens a lot. Obviously this is not posed, I was 110% asleep while this picture was being taken.

7pm:

You know what seven pm means! Hollyoaks and Eastenders, I literally can't keep away from the soaps.

8pm:

I shower? Who even knew, on a more serious note though, the sugar crush body wash is the best ever.

9pm:

And finally, this is where I spent the next four-five hours. 

I haven't done a post like this before but I actually really enjoyed documenting my day, maybe I'll do another some time soon! Have you started spring break yet?