Thursday, 14 August 2014

I made my own kimono - Didn't take anytime at all!

As it's festival season and the on trend at the moment is kimonos!
I researched and they all cost quite a bit. To be fair, Summer hasn't got long left so I wouldn't get much use out of it.
However, I looked through my wardrobe and found a tasseled top which I brought from Primark about 2 years ago and in that time have only worn it once! I thought it was time to get rid of it but then came up with the idea of making it into a tasseled kimono!

Here is what it looked like before I transformed it:


In my opinion it doesn't look like the most flattering top you've ever seen. It felt too over sized and just didn't do anything positive for my body. One thing I do like about it is the pattern, it's not just a simple lace design, there has actually been some thought put into it.

However, pushing that aside, I began to cut... yes CUT down the middle of the top, making sure it was a straight line.

Here is the finished look of the own made kimono:

The finished look!


Once I had cut down the middle of the top I found that you may have to stitch the part where you cut to the inside of the top to avoid the material fraying.

This took no time at all. If you aren't one to splash out on something you'll hardly wear, then simply find an old loose fitting top and cut down the middle! With or without tassels.

Much love

ChristyJane
x


Saturday, 9 August 2014

What I'm taking to Sundown festival 2014 (camping)

This year will be my second time running camping at Norfolk's Sundown Festival. I'm going to share with you what essentials I take with me and why!




Cleansing wipes!
Cleansing/ baby wipes are a must. Your not going to be able to shower for a couple of days (unless you pay a ridiculous amount for one) and i'm sure you all want to stay hygienic and to not be smelling of mud and B.O. Take a full packet because if its muddy it may take a few wipes to get fully clean.

2. 
Face moisturizer! 
Mostly girls, but take face moisturizer... If its sunny and hot it will dry your face out and that wont look good when you try to re-apply your make-up and it will look worse with it on than with no make-up on at all. trust me I have dry sensitive skin, I struggle with this daily! 
If you do have skin like me 'Simple' is a very good brand as it's made for people with sensitive skin as it contains no bad chemicals so won't sting areas or make inflamed patches around your face. 

3.
SUNGLASSES!
This is a no brainer. Obviously you need to take sunglasses. This is one of the main essentials as you will be outside all of the time and you don't want the sun damaging your eye area. (It will increase the rate you get wrinkles (crow feet) so make sure they have UV protection).

4. 
Deodorant! 
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE take deodorant! I know we will all be going crazy, dancing and getting sweaty but as we will be all pushed together try to lessen the stench from your arm pits! Being pushed up against someone who hasn't worn deodorant is not one of my favorite things! 

5. 
Dry shampoo!
I have only just recently been introduced to dry shampoo. What do I say about it?... It's one of the best hair products ever invented! As I have fair flat hair I chose the XXL Volume dry shampoo so when I'm at the festival and it needs some de-greasing and plumping this will instantly give me big voluminous hair! It will also give me the festival look of big and messy up dos! Definitely invest in this product!

6. 
Take a hat!
Last year I took a hat and I intend to this year! It was a lovely hot weekend but without a hat I would have been fighting a constant headache as I am very prone to them! You can take any kind of hat but make sure you do! 

7.
A small bag!
For when your not at your campsite and walking around the main festival you will need to carry a few things like your card, cash and I.D. A small bag like this is perfect as it's light weight and can hang it on your shoulder so you don't need to keep hold of everything. Last year I took a bumbag and wore it that whole time. They are also great as it is strapped around your hips so you definitely won't lose anything!

8.
Make-up tips
 For those who are going to take make-up, do NOT bring your whole draw as you won't use most of it and no one really cares what you look like at a festival anyway. All I will be taking is foundation, a matte powder (with a brush) to stop me looking shiny, a palette of eye shadow and a mascara. You really don't need anymore than this unless your not planning on travelling light. 

9.
Hair ties and grips
 If you have long hair definitely take hair grips and ties. When you first arrive your hair will be all nice and washed but the day after and the day after that it will look bad and you will just want to put it up out of the way. 

10. 
Pair of dungarees for comfort and a crop top for style, also gives a  festival vibe!
(Not looking like a farmer as my brother tells me! :'))

shorts and a sleeveless top!
With a hoodie for the evening!
On to the types of clothes I would wear to a festival. I'm only going to take 2 outfits over the whole weekend. Purely because I want to travel light. It's only for 2 and a half days so it won't be too bad.

Denim shorts are a must! They go with near enough everything and are really comfortable. I would take these, 2 tops, my dungarees and a big old hoodie to keep me warm in the evenings like in the picture above!

11.
A blanket
I'm taking a blanket for something to sit on the grass or to keep me warm as well as a sleeping bag at night! Don't take your most expensive bed throw as it will get drink stains and get very dirty as your living in a field for the weekend!

12.
Obviously a tent!
This is very obvious but bring a tent... This one as such isn't mine as I will be sharing with a few friends. It is a six man tent and minimum there is going to be five of us as my brother has now joined the sundown crew for the first time as well as a couple of others!
This tent is good as it has 3 compartments around the edge which each fit 2 people in and just enough space for a double blow up mattress! As the compartment are around the edges of the tent there is a central area to store things and it's like your outside...but your inside :'). Don't forget a tent or reserve a space in somebody else's!

13.
Blow up mattress!
I beg of you to bring one of these! Sleeping on the ground is not fun as I mentioned in my experience last year at Sundown Festival . Having one of these to sleep on while camping is like icing to a cake. It just has to be done. Also, remember a pump. If you don't it wont be any fun using your lungs and then probably nearly passing out! We might take a pump which you can connect to the car. We tested this out and blows the mattress up in about 1 minute! Be prepared!

15.
Excuse my creased pillow...
Take at least one pillow per person. I was a little more organised than my friend last year and took MYSELF a pillow. As for them, they did not. So  found a friend who had a spare one...Thankgod!

16.
Any old sleeping bag!
Definitely bring a sleeping. Especially one per person as once again somebody decided not to bring any kind of duvet so we had to undo my sleeping bag and share it. Them two nights must have been the coldest I had ever been while trying to sleep. Yes my sleeping bag is pink and yes it has got 'Bratz' the dolls on it. I got this when I was about 7 at Christmas time. I know what your thinking... 'oooo she still likes Bratz hahaha'... That I do not. This is the most warmest and comfiest sleeping bag I have ever slept in and am not planning on getting rid of it anytime soon. Also I am not going to buy a brand new sleeping bag just for it to get muddy and drink spilled all over it ;).

17.
Sun cream!
 Sun cream is a must! I can not tell you enough how much you need to take and wear this product. Last year I made a massive mistake and ended up going to my first day of college looking like this...
Burnt nose
Do not make the mistake I did... Not a good look.

18.
What I'm taking all my stuff in!
Like last year i'm taking my belongings in a back pack. This one is slightly bigger than last time as I struggled to fit certain stuff which you cant bend like a deodorant bottle!

19.

Take mini toothpaste and mouthwash. I haven't got mine yet but will be making sure I have it for when the time comes which is about 3 weeks away!

20.

My piece of advice is to leave your moodiness at home. No one wants an unhappy camp mate who isn't enjoying themselves or is just having a sulk. That way others will have to try and cheer you up when they could be having fun... Don't be selfish :P Or they just won't care and leave you to it! Have fun ;)
Much love


ChristyJane
x

Tuesday, 5 August 2014

My experience last year at Sundown Festival!

So the season for festivals has finally arrived and I expect many of you are off to see your favorite bands at some of the country's biggest festivals.

I'm going to Sundown Festival in Norfolk at the end of August and I want to be more prepared than I was last year...

Friday

Once packed and ready to go we set off to arrive at the festival on the Friday afternoon. Once we were dropped of we then realized we had to carry everything at once to our campsite... was not fun. Between us we stupidly took stuff that we didn't even use... such as a gas stove! Just buy your food... I know it's expensive but better than having to carry all that stuff!
We also had to carry a rucksack, sleeping bag, alcohol and other small unnecessary objects... TAKE NOTE...ONLY TAKE WHAT YOU WILL NEED AND USE!

That evening there was a party in a big building so that the campers were entertained until the next 2 coming days of bands and singers. That was mad... especially when most people has been drinking!

This was my second time at the festival but my first time camping so didn't know what to expect. Idiotically, I decided not to take a blow up mattress or anything comfy to lay on... bad idea. The first night must have been one of my worst nights sleep in my entire life. Considering there were people constantly tripping over our tent lines as we were right on the edge of one of the walk ways...also a bad idea!

Saturday

Saturday morning was horrible. We woke up so early and couldn't get back to sleep as so many people were still up... No idea how they do it!

Our tent got broken through this day... that was £40 down the drain £20 each for me and my friend haha! Luckily another friend had a spare fold up tent we could stay in! Also that day we went up to Argos and bought a blow up mattress... no way was I sleeping on the ground again. Here's a link to the Blow up mattress we bought!

For breakfast we walked up to Sainsburys supermarket to have a full English breakfast to cure the hangover. It was like heaven to my mouth :').  When we got back drinking again had already started... weirdly that made me feel better... One of the group bought their beer bong! This resulted in drinking from it in a hand stand for some!
Beer bong stand!


That day we also went into stage 2. OMG... That is absolutely mental! Even though its in like a big gazebo it's still pretty dark. All we did was get in the middle of the crowd and just weaved in and out of everyone. You couldn't just stand there.. It was so intense but amazing!

That night my favorite act was example. I had a bit to drink which made it even better as it gave me energy to just go crazy hahaha!

I stayed up to the early hours of the morning with a friend from school that I hadn't seen in forever! Saw  my birthday in with me!

Sunday

The Sunday morning was MY 17TH BIRTHDAY! Friends in the group brought me birthday brownies... how sweet! The day time basically went the same as Saturday except from seeing Jessie J that evening! We only stayed for one song as we had to go home as I had College the next morning... which I woke up to still hungover... I was so tired and looked a state! Good first impressions... not haha!

Overall my experience at Sundown Festival made me want to go again this year and that's exactly what I'm doing! I can not wait until the 29th of August. This time my birthday will be on the Monday so I won't be spending it at the festival like last year as I plan to go home one the Sunday evening as it's my 18th the next day so I want to spend it with my family and friends. Also 2 days camping at sundown is enough for me... I like to shower :').

Group photo!

Make sure if your reading this your going to the festival! If not your missing out!

ChristyJane
x

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