Monthly Highlights | July

Hi, another month gone. July has been fun but lacking sun badly. Camping was a much needed brake and going to the zoo was a nice relaxing day. I can't believe how fast this month has flown by and how blogging makes everything seem to past so much faster, I'm keeping track of dates more. I feel rather accomplished this month and that I have got a lot done, both on my blog and generally in life.

Goals Complete 6/10

• Play with bubbles in the Sun
• Buy an epic Ice cream
  
• Take photos for an OOTD post
• Walk the York cat trail
• Finish a book
• Have an awesome holiday
• Eat somewhere new
• Wear a floral head crown
• Treat myself to something from Lush
• Try some new hair styles

The holiday was a great chance to relax, I really needed it. The weather could have been better but it didn't spoil anything. In York I bought a space girl bath bomb (can't believe it will be my last) and did some of the York cat walk as planned while wondering around the city. While I was there I got in a lot of reading time. I not only finished one book this month but five which for me is amazing. So many stories from all different genres, all where really good I'm glad to say and I think this speed up my reading.

I got a massive Ice cream from Dixon's (A local brand), they used to only do the vanilla milk but now do a varied selection of flavor infusions. Even so I stuck to the classic with a drizzle of raspberry juice in a waffle cone, it was so yummy. I ate at a Brazilian grill restaurant where you basically get served all you can eat meat at your table. They come round with the meat on massive cooking skewers and carve the meat off to serve it. The sides of skinny fries, rice and refried beans are also super yummy.

Recap/Highlights

• Reading 5 books - I started with the #Sassybooks pick 'Only Ever Yours'  you can read my review here and the other four books reviews are here.
• York camping holiday - whats not to love about a holiday in york, read what I got up to here.
• Yorkshire Wildlife Park - a day out seeing so many super cute and generally beautiful animals, polar bears are so big. You can read about my day here.
• Lush Space Girl - Sadly discontinued so I had to pick one up before it is gone forever, I did a review to tempt you to try one before it's too late, read it here.
• Versatile Blogger Award - I got nominated two times this month, you can read some random facts about myself on the posts as well as find some really good blogs. The posts can be found here and here.

Hope you had a fantastic month and completed all your goals.
Sam

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Festival Survival Kit #2 | Toiletries

Hi, Today I'm continuing with my festival survival kit focusing on toiletries. These are the items you will need to keep yourself feeling as clean as possible and feeling good. There are always showers available so the amount of toiletries you want to take is totally up to you but I'd advise as little as possible. Most Festival have a supermarket and other merchant stalls where basic items are available if you decided to stock up at the festival instead of traveling with them, but be aware that festivals have inflated prices so expect to pay more than normal.

Wet wipes are your best friend. I've never really dared to venture in the shower area so if you don't fancy that either wet wipes all the way. I needed these the most to keep clean due to the amount of mud and dust at festivals.

Suncream is very important. You might see a little or a lot of sun but there's nothing worse than a nasty sunburn to ruin the fun. Suncream is one of those items which can be heavy and bulky to carry and will most defiantly be available to purchase at the festival Supermarket, choices will be limited.

Toilet roll is also something you can buy on site but I advise you to take a few packs of tissues with you as well. After the first day you can bet there will be no loo roll anywhere, so have your own ready. Don't forget hand sanitizer.

Dry shampoo is another must, if you're not daring to use the showers, to keep your hair looking fresh. Also bring a selection of hair ties and grips to style your hair, or in my case try and tame it.

If you've got longer hair get a wide tooth comb. I got mine from the Body shop and it saved my hair. When you're not washing your hair normally it gets knotty, this comb saved me from pulling half my hair out, the key is to start at the bottom and work your way to the top layer of hair or you'll just make the knots bigger.

Just because you're not showering doesn't mean you can't smell nice, take perfume samples with you. In the past I've collected a few magazine samples and used one a day to keep myself smelling nice (who am I kidding, at least everyone smells as bad).

Painkillers and plaster for those ouch moments. Everyone over does it at a festival so having pain killers will help you get through the weekend. Also I seem to have an issue with tent pegs and accidents always happen so have some plaster on hand.

Bring a small compact mirror with you, if you don't the only time you'll see your face is in the portaloos, just saying.

Other basic items include a good deodorant, I find rollon are easier to pack. Moisturizer decanted into a small container so it's easier to pack, or buy a miniature product. Lip balm because your lips will chap due to dehydration, no one drinks enough water and on that note drink water!!. A tooth brush and paste, nothing nicer than clean teeth.

Packing Check List

• Wet Wipes
• Dry shampoo
• Moisturizer
• Suncream
• Wide tooth comb
• Tooth Brush/Paste
• Deodorant
• Lip Balm
• Perfume sample
• Painkillers
• Plasters
• Hair ties and Grips
• Small Mirror
• Hand Sanitizer
• Packs of Tissues

So here are my essentials when packing for a festival, which item could you not live without?

Sam

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Festival Survival Kit #1 | Outfits

Hi, I'm going to do a mini series on my version of a festival survival kit, I've been to Download and Leeds Festival, so I have a little experience and have come up with some tips to help you pack for any festivals you maybe going to. It's an experience waiting to happen, just remember to have fun and keep safe.

To start off this series I'm focusing on festival outfits. The problem with a British festival is you have to plan for all types of weather. I've been during heat waves and also five days of constant drizzle. Everyone wants to look as stylish as possible, but more importantly you should dress to look after yourself.

I normally pack a fresh outfit for everyday, consisting of a t-shirt, shorts and a pair of tights. This way even if you can't bring yourself to use the showers you feel a little refreshed and ready for another day, also if it rains the whole weekend you've got a nice dry outfit waiting for you. Pros of this outfit combo are you don't get too hot, it dries quickly if you get stuck in the rain and it's smaller and lighter to pack so can fit more in to your backpack.

At night it gets cold, so a hat and gloves are a must even if it's just for when you're sleeping. Also hats are amazing for those morning toilets trips before you've had time to fully wake up.

Dr Martens boots or similar are a good footwear choice but don't go wreaking them. Buy a cheaper alternative if you don't have an old weathered pair as you'll end up wrecking them. They are a good choice because they are super comfy and the bouncy sole technology looks after your feet. Also if it's muddy they don't get stuck in the mud and fall off like wellies do.

Extra socks, this is only really an issue if it's muddy, but with my experience that's more than normal. Wear two pairs at once, pull one up to keep your legs warm pull the other down over your laces. If the mud is deep it gets all over the laces and makes it impossible to remove your boots without using a whole pack of wet wipes to clean the mud from your hands after. Doing this with the socks means you can remove your socks to reveal totally mud free laces.

Take a jumper, I'd normally take a hoodie and wear it down to save room in my bag. Again this is important because even if there is a heat wave during the day once the sun goes down it gets cold. Consider taking a thin cardigan or kimono as well for during the day to keep your skin out of direct sunlight.

Other optional extras you may want to take with you to finish off your festival look are a floral crown and a pair of sunglasses. Remember not to take anything you might regret ruining.

My festival packing list based on early entry ticket

• Shorts x5
• T-shirt x5
• Tights x5
• Socks x10
• Underwear x5
• Spare Bra
• Hat
• Gloves
• Hoodie
• Cardigan/Kimono
• Dr Martens/Similar
• Floral Head Crown
• Sunglasses

Hope this is helpful, have I missed anything?

Sam

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