My 17th Birthday

I know this post is long overdue, but I really wanted to do it, so here it is.

On 19th August it was my 17th birthday. I have been waiting for this day for a long time, especially as I am one of the young ones in my year at school, so everybody is already 17 and learning how to drive and some already have cars, so I always felt like I missed out. But, I have finally reached that age when I can get onto the roads. As I am writing this post, I have booked my first driving lesson for next Tuesday, which I am so excited and nervous about at the same time.

Being 17 I feel so much older than being 16. I will start applying for universities in the autumn, deciding whether I want to go to a uni closer to home or move away from my parents and friends. I already know I want to take a gap year out as I need a little break from education for a bit but also to experience something different.

I really want to do some travelling during that time, but as most of my friends are not taking a gap year I don't really have anybody to go with. I also need to get a job for that year and I might also do some volunteering as this will really stand out on my CV. Also, it will be my final year at school, so it will be sad having to say goodbye to people that I have known for 7 years, but I personally think I am now ready to move on from secondary school and take the massive step into the world.

Anyway, for my birthday I went to Brighton for the day with my parents and my cousin, Hannah. I love Brighton so much, therefore it was a great place to spend my birthday.

A view from the pier

Once we arrived, we were all really hungry so we decided to have something to eat. I decided on fish & chips, because when you are by the beach, the old English delicacy is the way to go.

After eating, me and Hannah went off shopping while my parents headed to the pier. We walked all the way up to the high street shops and had a quick look in Urban Outfitters (my favourite shop ever!), H&M and New Look.

I bought myself a gold statement necklace from H&M and some skinny tight trousers with a burgundy, black and white checked design on them, which are so comfortable and lovely.

Afterwards, we really wanted to find the Lanes, as I had never been to them before so it was new for me as well. We found this little knick-knacky shop where I bought a little stand to put on the wall to hang my necklaces on.

We were both really tired after all the shopping so we went back to the pier to find my parents and had a rest. Then, we went on some rides and played some games in the arcade.

It was a really great day and feels weird being 17 at last.

My feet on the pier with my tanned legs. 

Me sitting on the pier

 Hope you enjoyed this post!                                          

My Daily Nail Routine

Over the summer I have been trying endlessly to grow my nails. I always try and unfortunately fail at keeping my nails looking long and healthy. However, I end up breaking one and then this has a domino effect. Since being on holiday I found that my nails have got stronger due to the sun and therefore growing! 

I always find the only way I can succeed in getting my nails to grow and maintain themselves is if I apply nail polish and shape my nails. 

So, this blog post is going to be on my daily nail routine. I do this routine every time I get bored of the colour on my nails, so I'm going to take you through my step-by-step guide to maintaining healthy and fairly strong nails. 

Hope you enjoy! 

I thought I would show you what products I use on my nails first. 

1. The first thing I do is pick out the nail polish I want to use on my nails. This happened to be a bright, neon dark pink (it looks more red in the pictures but on the bottle it is pink.) 
2. I have my nail polish remover. Personally, I think it doesn't matter what remover you use, whether it is expensive or not, in my mind it all does the same job. My remover is from Tesco. 
3. I have a clear nail polish which I am going to use as my base coat. 
4. I have a Top Coat nail polish, which explains what it does basically. 
5. 2 cotton pads. I prefer to use cotton pads rather than wool because I find it easier and less stringy. 
6. A cuticle tool. I don't really know what it is called but it pushes down your cuticles. 
7. Finally, a nail file. This is to get rid of unevenness and to leave your nails smooth and well-shaped. 

After having taken you through the products I am going to use, I am just going to show you what my nails look like at the moment. I currently have on Gelly Hi-Shine Nail Paint By Barry M in Blood Orange. 

                                           

Next, I'm going to remove my nail polish with the cotton pads. I use one pad for each hand. 

Then, I use my cuticle tool to push down my cuticles. It is important to push back your cuticles because it can lead to stronger, healthier nails. 

                                            

After I have done my cuticles, I file my nails. This gets rid of any unevenness in your nails, shapes them and smooths them. This is really good if you have broken your nail and need to sort it out. 

                                             

Once filed, I quickly go to the bathroom and wash my hands under some water. This is to remove any nail dust that has accumulated when filing. 

                                            

Once washed and dried, it's time to put on a base coat. I am using a clear normal nail varnish for this. The nail polish I am using is one I got on my holiday. 

                                           

Nails after the base coat...

Now time for the fun part, you finally get to paint your nails in your chosen colour. I also apply 2 coats to my nails, to ensure that all my nails are completely covered and so the colour stands out.

It does take a lot of practise and time to get your nails perfect and to avoid smudges. The amount of times I have smudged my nails or accidentally gone onto my skin, but keeping trying and you will eventually get the hang of it. 

Wait about 10 minutes until your nails feel a little dry and then add your Top Coat. This makes your nail polish last longer and avoids chipping. It also leaves a high gloss to your nails as well. 

                                                     

There we have your finished nails. Hope you enjoyed this blog post. 

The British Tag!

I have arrived back from my holiday in Turkey today. I have not slept since 11 last night as my flight was at 2.30am and did not really sleep on the plane. As a result, I am shattered but am too overtired to sleep, so I thought I would do a simple and easy blog post today. Sorry I haven't put the last part of my bikini summer guide up yet, but don't worry I will try and get round to that very soon.

As my holiday is unfortunately over, I now need to try and get back into the swing of things. My A2 school work needs to be completed (now, that I have my results!), my 17th birthday is coming up, which has been a long time coming, and I am so excited to finally learn how to drive! I need to come up with a regular schedule for my blog and make a list of some ideas for future posts. (If you have any ideas, don't hesitate to leave a comment, I would love to hear what you would like me to post). So, over the next couple of weeks I will be organising myself and my life.

However, today is going to be a lazy day as I cannot concentrate for too long before my eyelids start to slowly shut down. Therefore, this post is going to be quick and easy!

Recently, I have seen many YouTubers and bloggers posting "The British Tag!" and as a fellow Brit myself, I thought I would join in the trend. I have also down a TMI Tag which you can see here if you would like to learn more about me.

1) How many cups of tea do you have a day and how many sugars?

I have one cup of tea every morning to wake me up and prepare me for the rest of the day. I can get very grumpy if I don't have my morning cuppa! Another cup around late morning. One at lunch. One at late afternoon and one in the evening after my dinner. In total, I have five cups of tea. However, this can vary depending on the seasons as I will have more tea during the winter in order to warm myself up and less in the summer. Also, I drink a lot of tea to get me through exam season and revision. I do not have any sugars in my tea as I think it tastes disgusting.

2) Favourite part of your roast?

My favourite part of my roast dinner are the roast potatoes (crispy, of course!), gravy (mmmmmmm!!!) and Yorkshire Pudding (yum!).

3) Favourite dunking biscuit?

I tend to go through different stages of eating biscuits with my tea. But, my favourite dunking biscuit would probably have to be a Custard Cream.

4) Favourite quintessentially British pastime?

My favourite British pastime is going down to Swanage with my family. Sitting on the beach, hearing the waves, smelling the sea salt, eating fish & chips (obvious, that is the most British thing!) Also, Swanage do the best fish & chips ever. Then, finishing the day off with wasting my money in the arcade on stupid 2p machines and eating proper vanilla ice cream.

5) Favourite word?

I really like the word "giggle" for some reason, I have no idea why, but I just like the sound of it. I also really like the word "mango", even though I don't eat mangoes. Weird.

6) Cockney slang rhyme?

I actually don't know any except "up the apples and pears" which is stairs, but I think everybody knows that one.

7) Favourite sweet?

My favourite sweet by far has to be Cherry Drops. I absolutely love them! They are the best sweets ever! But, they don't sell them in most shops, so when I do eventually find them I end up buying quite a few packets. Other sweets I like are the Haribo Fangtastics, Flying Saucers, Lips & Teeth, Strawberry Laces etc.

8) What would your pub be called?

Ummm... that's tough. The Flying Saucer. I have no idea why, it was the first thing that came into my head. Probably because of the previous question.

9) No. 1 British person?

I have no idea. Probably, Prince Harry because he is a bit of bad boy but is also adorable at the same time.

10) Favourite shop or restuarant?

Topshop. Every time I step into Topshop there is always something I can find. If I could only shop at one shop it would have to be Topshop. I really like Bill's Restaurant which is quite expensive but the food is so yummy that it is worth the money. Also Ed's Diner, which is like a old American diner, with red booths, black and white checked floor, and on each table is a little juke box machine which you can put money in and play old songs. Plus, there burgers and milkshakes are really good.

11) What British song pops into your head?

"Never Forget" - Take That

12) Marmite?

No way! I hate the smell and the taste of it so much.

Hope you enjoyed this blog post, it was a little bit different from previous posts, but I do like to mix it up once in a while. Let me know if you like these type of posts and if you would like to see more. 

This Summer's Bikini Guide: Part 2

Just before, I go on holiday tomorrow, I thought I would post the second edition of my Summer Bikini Guide. This blog post focuses on the bikini bottom. (For, the bikini top, click here.) This season, there are so many different designs, patterns and styles of bottom for your bikini. From the high-waisted to the cut out, there is something for everyone.

I have been searching the Internet for as many different styles and colours for you guys to choose from, even supplying you with the links, so you can check them out for yourself if you are interested, and also the prices, so you know exactly what sort of money you would be spending. I have also given you two additional options that you could pair with your bikini this summer. However, in this post I have included some luggage, so you can travel in style.

So, without further ado, let's take a peek at This Summer's Bikini Guide: Part 2!

1) Coral Hawaiian Print Tie Side Bikini Bottoms - New Look - £7.99

These bikini bottoms scream out summer for me. It has a perfect Hawaiian print on the bottoms which look so cute and perfect for lounging by the pool in. I really like the bow detail at the side, adding a little bit of style to these otherwise quite plain bottoms. The back of the bottoms cover your bum, so you don't have that on show (perfect, if you aren't that confident showing it off!). As well as the beautiful colours and design of these bottoms, the price is avoidable which makes them even more endearing! 

2) Minkpink Baby Blue High-Waisted Bikini Briefs - Urban Outfitters - £35

The second pair of bikini bottoms I have picked out are these high-waisted bikini briefs from Urban Outfitters. These bikini bottoms are on the higher end of the spectrum, but let's not talk about the price just yet. Firstly, the high-waisted bikini bottoms are bang on trend this season. In whatever high-street shop you step into nowadays, you are bound to find a pair of high-waisted bikini bottoms, scattered around somewhere. I adore the high-waisted trend, as I think it is perfect for those of you, like me, that doesn't like the show their bum area to much! They cover just the right amount of flesh without you looking like a complete granny. The print of these bottoms are ultra feminine and are adorable for the summer time. I love the baby blue colour and I also like how the pattern is not all over the briefs, but are just focused on the middle, making them not too overbearing. Now, let's talk about the price. At £35 these bottoms are expensive, and personally, I would not pay that amount of money, but if you are travelling this year or you go away quite a lot (which involves the sun, water or the beach!) then I think these would be perfect and maybe you should invest in them, as I think you would get so much wear out of them! If you are interested in these bottoms, then they are an online exclusive, so they will not be supplied in any stores. 

3) Pink Box Pleat Bikini Pants - Topshop - £12 

The next pair of bottoms are from Topshop and are quite simple. These pale pink block colour pants are perfect for those of you that like to keep it simple and not too over the top. I love the colour of these bottoms to start with, as I think that pastel colours are on trend, but are better than a really bright block colour. For an added bit of detail, these pants have a little cream frilly detail at the top of the bottoms, which makes them so much more feminine and unusual. Plus, if you are into this season's mix-and-match trend, then you could pair these bottoms pretty much with any top you wanted. At £12 I think they are at a reasonable price for Topshop and you would get so much wear out of these as well. If you are not a pink lover, then no worries, as they have them in Mint, (which is my favourite colour!) 

4) Blue Frilly Bikini Bottoms - River Island - WAS £10 THEN £5 NOW £3

Another pair of frilly bottoms for y'all. However, the fringing of these are more noticeable than the Topshop ones. Again, if you prefer block colours, then these bottoms are made for you. Plus, at only £3, that is such a bargain! These bottoms are more mini, then the others, but if you are more confident with your body and don't mind showing a bit more flesh, then I would recommend this style of bikini bottom for you.  

5) Black Floral Cut Out Side Bikini Bottoms - River Island - £12

The last pair of bikini bottoms I discovered were these floral ones. Another style of bikini bottom is the cut-out. However, I think that these bottoms embrace two of this season's trends which are obviously the cut-out, but also the high-waisted. Although, these don't have such a high-waist as the Urban Outfitters ones, they do have a slight raised pant effect to them. The pattern of these remind me of an oriental design (sort of the type of pattern you would get on a kimono) which I think looks so sophisticated and elegant. You can't really see the cut-out, which I think is quite good as it doesn't appear to be a massive cut-out, which I think would be a bit OTT. These bottoms have quite a subdued more grown-up look to them, than the other designs but still perfect for the summer. 

Now, for the accessories...

6) HOTBED Two Part Footbed Sandals - Topshop - £26 

When I saw these sandals I instantly fell in love, not only because they are in mint green, but also the style of the sandal. I really liked the cross over front at the bottom of the sandal as it adds a bit of a subtle design, without being too outrageous. I also liked the fact there wasn't that bit which goes in between your toes, as I personally prefer sandals which you can just slip on. I really liked the buckle as I prefer a simple buckle, rather than lots of buckles, which gets a bit annoying after a while. These sandals add a pop of colour to any outfit and they look so comfortable as well. If you are not keen on Mint Green, then they also have them in Orange. 

7) Red Snake Print Wheelie Suitcase - River Island - £65 

The last item is a little bit different. Don't just let your bikinis do the talking, why not get a stylish suitcase to put all of your beautiful bikinis in. I love the pattern and snake-skin effect on this suitcase from River Island and for only £65, I didn't think that was too bad for a suitcase like this. It has a zip around fastening and exterior pocket, making it extra safe for your belongings. I love the block colours that accompany the snake-skin pattern, the deep burgundy, black and beige really makes the suitcase come alive. Another bonus of getting this suitcase is that when you come to collect your luggage on the conveyor belt, you will instantly see your suitcase coming as it will stand out from the crowd of black and grey luggage. 

Well, that is my second edition of my summer bikini guide and I hope you enjoyed it. I will have one more edition of the guide to do, so keep your eyes peeled for that. Unfortunately, it won't be out for a couple of weeks, as I am going on holiday tomorrow for two weeks, so it will be out shortly after that.