How to survive camping (with your family?!)

Hey guys!

Ok, just imagine, you're adventuring through a forest (or across a beach or plain) with your family, having the time of your life when suddenly the clouds decide they hate you and it starts bucketing it down and the only place you can go is inside a tent, which is also wet.

This was a very real reality for me earlier in the year when I went camping with my family in Norfolk. Lets just say, I don't think that camping is really my forte! Don't get me wrong, it was a great laugh... during the day... when it wasn't freezing cold or raining. However, I did 'learn' a few tips on how to 'survive' camping that I thought I would share with you!

*Disclaimer: I'm very sorry if you really love camping, this post may not appeal to you or have any significant use but I hope it does come in handy for the less experienced out there! (or just those who are going camping and would like some tips!)*

1. Duvets

This is probably one that all the seasoned campers would suggest (or maybe not) but my duvet kept me a whole lot warmer at night ( and boy does it get cold!) along with my sleeping bag! It may be out of your control as to whether or not there is enough space for you to take it but if you can fit one then it is a good plan!

2. Hair-ties

Now, if you are a girl with longer hair (like me) then it is probably a good idea to take plenty of hair-ties! They are practically your new best friends! It is unbelievably difficult to keep your hair looking semi-decent let alone fabulous! I gave up after the first day and I'm not sure if I actually let my hair down again after that! If it rains, put up your hair. If it's windy, put up your hair. If it looks sunny, put up your hair because it will probably be windy later!

3. Warm clothes

This one is probably more about common sense but it is a good idea to take several big jumpers even if you are going camping in the summer! (unless you're going somewhere other than the UK!) I didn't think that I would actually need a thick, winter jumper but I definitely did!

4. Location

This one may or may not be completely out of your control but I think it is also a good idea to choose a campsite with a good location (or facilities if you are like me). It is a good idea to find a place with different places you can visit or activities you can do!

If you are planning to go camping in Norfolk then I can recommend the 'Waveney River Center', it is quite hard to find but it has a very nice view, a shop, pool and bar/restaurant on site. (It also has toilets and showers!) As the river Waveney runs through the campsite it is a good stop for boats too and you can hire boats/kayaks and take a trip down the river!

5. Hair

This one was a very silly move on my part because, after I had a shower one morning, I left my hair wet. So, my advice is to always dry your hair! I actually got quite a bad cold after that because my head got very cold!

So, this is it for this week's post, next week there is going to be a little 'insight' into one of the places I went in Wales in the summer!

Until next time

-G-

X

An Idea for Postcards

Hey!

I had this idea a few weeks back when I saw the tiny pegs that were in my last post. I have a lot of postcards. Everywhere I go I get one, or two, or three and I have never really known what to do with them.

When I brought the little white pegs, they made me think 'hmm... how can I use these in a more creative way than just pegging up Christmas cards?' Which is quite a temporary use! Then it hit me! I could make a 'washing line' of postcards so I could remember where I had been and have a cute, DIY decoration at the same time.

When I buy a postcard from somewhere I like to write the dates that I was in the place for and who I was with. Writing some memories would help you to remember the time you had in the place the postcard was from.

You could also (and I think I may do this) print out some photos or images with quotes on them to add to the line. I decided to use some twine as the washing line but I only have a very short length at the moment so I need to buy some more! You could also use some wool or coloured string but I decided that this twine would give it more of a rustic look!

I hope this post wasn't too boring for you and sorry it was a little short but there is only so much you can say about postcards and string!

Until next time

-G-

X

A little (not so tiny) haul...

S'up guys! (Don't worry, this isn't the new opener!)

Sorry this post is a little late! This week has been a little busy with it being the first week back at school and having to get back into a regular routine but I think I've got it now so here's a new post! While I was in Wales, I may have brought a few things. I'm not even going to say oops here because you and I both know it wasn't an accident! ;)

~Turquoise Notebook~

These type notebooks are very handy to have actually, I've been writing different post ideas and prepping ones, it is very easy to carry around and has an elastic strap to hold it closed. It is really soft leather (I think) but I can't remember how much it is (I think it was around £2) but I got it from Sainsburys.

~Butterfly Hook~

I really loved this hook when I saw it! It is so cute and really fits in with the vibe in my room! It was £1.50 from Primark but I think I would get some small plain white hooks to go either side so that the butterfly is the main focal point.

~Eye-shadows~

Where I was staying there was a few outlet shops and I spotted this eye-shadow palette. I had never seen the W7 brand in Next before (it was £7) and because they were so neutral I decided to give it a try. They are very pigmented and there are 2 matte shades which can be used for highlighting and contouring in the crease. The other shades are slightly shimmery but not too much. 

~Doorknobs~

On one of the days I was in wales I visited this beautiful little town called 'Mumbles'. It was so picturesque! There was a really cute little gifty shop near the lifeboat pier which I found these super-cute doorknobs which I have since put onto my wardrobe and they fit perfectly!

~Picture~

There was also a town called 'Barry' that I went to for a few days (which I will be writing a post about soon) and The next few items, I brought from a random shop along the front.

I really loved this picture when I saw it! It is printed on canvas and the quote is quite relate-able for me (as I love cup-cakes!) It is incredibly bright and so sweet! 

~Tiny Jars~

These tiny jars are glass and have small cork stoppers and their purpose will be explained in a few weeks so I don't really know what to write about them right now! But they are so cute!

~Tiny Pegs~

These tiny pegs are also going to be a part of a post in a few weeks where I will explain in more detail about how I am going to use them so I can't really say much now but they were £1.50 for a bag of quite a few of them.

I know there has been hardly any DIY posts lately but I am working on a few to be up soon! I'm also trying to tweak the design of my blog a little bit and come up with a new opener.

Until next time

-G-

X

Divergent - Book vs. Film

Hey there!

I know I am super late to jump on the band wagon with this! However, I am going to write this anyway! Recently I read 'Divergent' by Veronica Roth and I absolutely LOVED it (all those who read it ages ago are now shaking their heads at me through the computer screen) so, I just had to buy it as soon as it came out on DVD. I actually missed my opportunity to see it in the cinema because by the time I had actually decided to read it, it had been off screens for a while.

I felt that the film was, actually, brilliant which surprised me because, usually I feel that films (if they are based on a book) have 'big shoes to fill' and in some cases films cut out a huge proportion of important parts of the original book to fit it into a certain time or if they just aren't exciting enough. However, with divergent I thought that they actually described things well and even though some things weren't explained in the same way and  a few parts were left out, the overall film still made sense and was not too dissimilar to the book! Like how, at the beginning, the city is said to be Chicago but that isn't conveyed (at least I don't remember it being) in the first book. Some of the parts that they couldn't include in the actual movie are in the deleted scenes and I actually really like the deleted scenes (which is a bit of a strange thing) because they are some of the parts I like in the book!

The acting overall, I thought was very good! All of the actors portrayed their roles (I feel) very accurately and the only criticism I have is that it is very difficult to see the characters of Tris and Caleb (Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort) as brother and sister if you have watched 'The Fault in our Stars' previously. This is in no way a criticism to the actors themselves, I am simply stating that it is slightly strange sometimes! However, there is some criticism for the film itself from me and that is, that there are a few points in the film with some very 'out-of-place' music (or, I feel it is out-of-place) and I don't know if anyone else noticed but I just felt that it didn't really fit the vibe of that precise point in the film!

Overall, I actually prefer the book but I have always been a bit of a bookworm and I like it when the book goes into details in the main character's head! I just hope that Insurgent and Allegiant can live up to it!

I am actually thinking of changing my opening a little because I'm not really that fond of it and I'm not overly sure  it actually fits the vibe here! I know this post is a little plain and is just a film review but the one I was planning would have taken a lot longer so I shuffled around my plans slightly! It would be great to know if you guys like the films vs. books review posts or not and if there are any films or books you think I should see/read and review!

Until next time

-G-

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