Tan!

I've had a great holiday away. During the time I've been away, I've been staying at my mam's friends house in Devon and been camping in Cornwall. The weather down south was lush! It was sooo hot and I've got myself a nice little tan - especially on my lower arm = result :) Devon and Cornwall are beautiful places and here are some lovely photos to share with you all. We stayed in St. Ives in Cornwall while camping but also visited the surrounding areas - Hayle, Lands End and when in Devon we stayed in Sidmouth but went to Tipton and Perranporth along other little stops. We also walked along the Pebblebed Heaths in Devon - seriously such a lovely place!

St. Ives

My twin brothers with pirates at Lands End

Lands End

Lands End Sign

Lands End

Hayle Beach - this photo does not do it justice! It was a beautiful beach!

Pebblebed Heaths

Secretaries of Juliet

The other day I watched 'Letter's to Juliet.' Yes it had that predictability about it like all romantic films do but I really enjoyed it. In the film the concept of the Secretaries of Juliet are explored and basically that's how the film starts - with someone writing to Juliet about her love situation, leaving it tucked in a wall at Juliet's house in Verona and never getting a reply until 50 years later when the letter is found.

I was pleasantly surprised when I looked on the internet and found that these secretaries are real and they answer thousands of letters sent in different languages, asking for help on what they should do, every year. Either that be about love lost, love found or love remembered. They have been answering these letters for over 70 years and sign them at the end 'The Secretaries of Juliet.' Amazingly, people still send these letters to this day and still get replies from volunteers who work there.

Juliet is one half of one of the most famous couples in literature. Perhaps the most famous couple. I love the story by Shakespeare about the couple who fight against what their parents and families have believed for years, all in the name of love. The families continue to fight over hatred but they have to fight for their love for one another. It's one of the greatest love stories ever written, which turns into one of the greatest tragedies ever known. I absolutely love the 1996 version of the film with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. There's actually a new Romeo and Juliet film being released in 2012 with Ed Westwick as Tybalt. Yes, the bad guy who kills Mercutio but still... Ed Westwick! Perfect casting in my opinion.

I think the way that people still send these letters to 'Juliet, Verona Italy' and still get replies is amazing. It's carrying on this incredible love story and making sure it carries on through the centuries. It promotes Verona as the new city of love and romance. The volunteers from Verona always write back to letters which have return addresses. Although Romeo and Juliet are fictional characters, girls go there as tourists and cry, visit her tomb and house, write her letter wanting advice and support or just for someone to listen to them, and then cry some more.

The Club di Giulietta (the secretaries) divide themselves up to answer the thousands of letters, which pour in to Juliet every year. These divisions are according to different languages or different romantic problems. Maybe it's crazy that people still send letters and recieve an answer back but I don't think that. I think it's really inspirational and think that more people should know about it around the world, that there are women out there that want to help in the name of love, keeping the romantic tales of what relationships should still be like.

"Juliet is a symbol of love," says Marchi, who has been answering letters for seven yearS. "Once you start, it's difficult to stop because it's so interesting. It gives you an intimate view of people's feelings. It is good to see that in the heart we are all the same, despite different countries, different cultures."

TUNE: COLBIE CAILLAT - WHAT IF

Weekend Musings

Yesterday, me and my friend Amie went to see Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides. Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow was not a disappointment. He was his usual eccentric, funny self and the film was great. I'm a big fan of the POTC films and so I was really looking forward to the film. I really recommend it - and it was in 3D too!

Today, I got my shoes and my bag for Prom. My dress is red, which I got last week, so my shoes are red too. I don't feel such a smally in them as they have quite a big heel! Let's hope I can last the night in them. All I have to get now is the rest of my jewellery and get the fake tan on! I'm not going for the orange look but just a slight summer tan so I don't look so white! My mam is also trying to book a hair appointment for me so things are looking up.

Now, I'm off to do some much needed revision for my English Literature and Physics exams which I have on Tuesday and Wednesday. To be quite honest I'm a bit worried about them as I feel really under prepared even though I have already done quite a lot of work on them. I think a few past papers are in need. Fingers crossed, I'll be fine! 

My Weekend Was Such A Great One!

Hello everyone. Hope your Monday was good, mine was very very tiring! I'll explain in a mo. I've had such a good weekend. It was very busy but very worth it!

On Saturday, I finally got my prom dress! I was so pleased because after my friends got their dresses one/two weeks ago, I think I was the only one left in the year who didn't have one yet. Mine's from Coast and this is it below. This isn't the best picture but what do you think? :)

I've spotted the shoes I want to get and then I just have to accessorize with a clutch, jewellery and decide how to wear my hair. I'm wearing it down but that's all I know so far. It's not 'till the end of June so I have plenty of time, right?

On Sunday, it was time for RADIO 1's BIG WEEKEND!!! I was really excited and even though it was raining in Carlisle we didn't get that wet as we went in the Main Stage (which was a HUGE tent) as soon as we got in. This is who I was able to see with my friend: (and I'm not just saying this but they were all amazing!)

- Bruno Mars

- The Wombats

- Polarsets

- Two Door Cinema Club

- Masters in France

- The Script

- Noah and The Whale

- My Chemical Romance

- Lady Gaga

I seen snippets of Taio Cruz and Katy B when we walking to different tents or off to get food or listen to the Outdoor Stage. Lady GaGa was twenty minutes late and arrived in a coffin, which took her ages and ages to get out. But she was really, really good!

The Script - number 1 fan right here!

We left Carlisle at 10.55 and it took an hour and half to get out of Carlisle Airport and then an hour to get home instead of an hour and a half as the roads were obviously empty at this time. I got home at half one, went to bed at twenty to two and then woke up at ten to seven. As you can imagine I was very tired when I got up for school. And, then to top it all off I had two exams today - an English exam for an hour and three quarters and then a French exam in the afternoon, which lasted around an hour.

Starry Eyed

I wish this is how I could spend my summer this year...

Photos via 1 and 2

Make A Wish Today

Whenever I went on walks when I was younger and there were dandelions I would always pick one out of the grass, close my eyes and blow. I came across this photo today and I remembered those times well. Not the yellow ones though, if you picked one of those up, you were destined to pee the bed that night! Well that's what I was always told! :)

Photos via 1 and 2

My Favourite Things!

Melisande from The Franglais Diaries tagged me in a 'my favourite things' post. So here I go :)

1. Food - Italian food

2. Colour - Pink or Sky Blue

3. Animal - Dogs and Elephants

4. Sports Team - I'm not really a fan of sport and so don't really have any teams that I support

5. Dessert - Ice cream and strawberries

6. Artist/Singer/Band - Rihanna, Adele, Mumford and Sons

7. Pair of Shoes - I don't have any designer shoes - yet! But I love pumps in the summer and comfy boots in the winter, not forgetting I love my wellies for walking the dog

8. Outfit - Something that looks nice but is comfy. I don't really have a favourite outfit but I love my jeans!

9. Skinny Jeans - For skinny jeans I shop in Dorothy Perkins and New Look 

10. Brand - Emm, I don't really have one

11. Pefume - DKNY Women and Calvin Klein CKIN2U Her

12. Accessory - I love wearing bracelets and always wear them outside of school

13. City - London and Paris (I can't wait to visit New York, San Francisco, Venice and Rome sometime in my life!)

14. Hobby - Reading, Blogging and does walking the dog count?

15. Beauty Product - I actually love using Astral as a face moisturiser; it's a must when you have dry skin like me!

16. Snack - Alpen cereal bars

17. Holiday - Christmas

18. Movie - I have so many but Dirty Dancing & The Notebook

19. Song - Again far too many but my favourites at the minute are: Mumford and Sons - Timshel, Adele - Set Fire to the Rain, and Pink - Perfect

20. Guilty Pleasure - Doing abosultely nothing when I know that I should be doing something useful and watching too much TV. Apart from that I can't think of any more at the minute.

...I'm tagging:-

Amie at Life Is Beautiful If You Look Very Close

Hollie at My General Consensus
Furree Katt at Furree Katt
Meleonie at Ramblings of a Teenage Daydreamer
Jennifer at The Sparkling Diamond

P.S. I finally finished Wuthering Heights last night and I've already started a new book. I'm going to post a sort of review on it tomorrow but I'm off to draft the post (which I don't normally do) now as I'm going to see The X Factor Live Tour tomorrow night so I won't have time to write it from scratch! And, I'll change the picture of what I am currently reading tomorrow.Have a great day/night :)

Time to Smile - #126-130

Title: Time to Smile #126-130

Weekly Post Day: Wednesday

Details: This is my weekly wednesday post which will feature five things each week which I love, make me happy or make me smile. Mostly all three! Hope you enjoy :)

(You can find the others in the tab above)

I'm very pleased to say that this my 200th blog post! I'm really happy that I've managed to sustain my blog long enough and have lovely readers too! I'm off to enjoy the rest of the sunny weather and then I'm off out to do a little shopping. I hope you can agree with some of these below. Have a lovely day :)

126.The tune of an ice cream van

 127. Writing and recieving letters

128. Good advice

129. Someone sticking up for you

130. Finding money in old purses

Another Award!

I was thrilled yesterday to find out that I had got another award - The Versatile Blogger Award - and as promised I'm posting the rules of recieving the award today. I love that this is the second time that I have recieved this award making this my third actual award.

Thank you Jennifer over at The Sparkling Diamond!!

The rules of the award are:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award

2. Share 7 things about yourself

3. Pass the award to up to 10 versatile bloggers

4. Let those bloggers know that you gave them the award

As I have already recieved this award back in November, I am doing seven different things about me and will therefore give it to different blogs than last time. My other seven facts.

Seven things about me are:

1. I will start my driving lessons in December this year - aghh scary!

2. I really want to go to University after I get my A-Levels and I want to do a history degree then become a teacher.

3. While some people hate watching the trailers at the cinema I love watching them.

4. I'm part of a family of six and my little dog and have three brothers.

5. I hate when people do weird things with their eyes - it makes me go eughh!

6. I love reading, you may have noticed, but don't actually have a favourite book. I've read too many good ones!

7. I'm going camping for the first time ever this year.

The award goes to these 5 blogs: (which I have recently found and I love reading!)

- Little Pink Book

- The Franglais Diaries

- Furree Katt

- Tegan on Toast

- Under Lock and Key

Hope you are having a great day! :)

Time to Smile - #121-125

Title: Time to Smile #121-125

Weekly Post Day: Wednesday

Details: This is my weekly wednesday post which will feature five things each week which I love, make me happy or make me smile. Mostly all three! Hope you enjoy :)

(You can find the others in the tab above)

I can't believe that is Wednesday already. I always feel that once a Wednesday at school has passed, which is always the most boring day, that the last two days always go really quick. I can't wait for the weekend, I don't think I'm doing anything special yet but it's great to have days off even if it is only two days! Here's another Time to Smile post - I think I could be running out of things that make me smile pretty soon. I'll just have to get my thinking cap on :)

121. Great blogs which I love reading but can also relate to

122. perfume testing in shops

123. Marilyn Monroe quotes, definitely inspirational 

124. babies! (I'm not broody as I'm only 16 but they are just too cute!)

I love their little hands and feet.

125. good photo taking!

(Half the time I'm rubbish)

I was also really pleased today that I found out that I had recieved an award 'The Versatile Blogger Award' for the second time!! I promise to do the rules of recieving the award tomorrow. But for now: have a really lovely day.

I Don't Want To Bombard You...

...with lots of images but I'm going to with these:

all via

Time to Smile - #116-120

Title: Time to Smile #116-120

Weekly Post Day: Wednesday

Details: This is my weekly wednesday post which will feature five things each week which I love, make me happy or make me smile. Mostly all three! Hope you enjoy :)

(You can find the others in the tab above)

116. Pancakes

 (as you probably noticed in yesterday's post!)

117. musicals

118. new or clean bed sheets

119. these films

(it's years since I've seen The Parent Trap)

120. everything turning out alright

It'sssss Pancake Day!

It's Shrove Tuesday today aka Pancake Day!

 I don't normally have pancakes, maybe only two or three times a year, mainly because of the fact that I can't make them and I love my toast for breakfast! So this will be a nice treat when I have some later on. I'll probably be boring and only have lemon juice or sugar on mine instead of something extravagant but hey ho. I'm not that big of a fan of raspberries but I would love some strawberries with mine!

Anyone else having pancakes today and if you are what's your topping? :)

(3) At The Moment I'm Loving:

Living in the Present

Your probably thinking wtf? but when I say living in the present I mean not thinking about the future as much and actually enjoying what is happening right now, right here. As you may have noticed on my blog I talk about the future and things I can't wait for but I'm starting to lay off that for a while.

Things are quite good at the moment; family, friends, school, money - I actually have money in my purse. But I'm sure that won't last long and will go before I can re-count it. (It's not actually that much) I love how it's starting to warm up and the sun is starting to shine more and that it is nearly spring! This living in the present may not last long because I love thinking of the future all of the time, making plans and saying 'I can't wait for...' but this is what I'm loving right now.

What are you loving right now?

(2) At The Moment I'm Loving...

That it is March!

Firstly, I can't believe how fast the last two months have gone over! Is it just me or have they flown by? I love when it's this time of year because Winter is literally over, Spring is poking its pretty little head around the corner and it's nearly time to stop wearing those winter coats and scarfs.

Today was really sunny even though it was a tad chilly this morning but when I came home from school at half three, I was able to wear my thin coat and my scarf not my normal thickish coat to walk my dog. Wooo! Another thing that I'm loving about this month is that it is light when I wake up in the morning and that it is still light now. My alarm goes off at 7am for school and it was light outside this morning which is great because if you love sleep and lie-ins as much as me, these light mornings are so helpful when trying to get up. Also, it's 6pm while I write this and it is just starting to get dark. My last exam until May and June was done today as well so I'm happy about that. Smiling right now!

What do you love about March?

P.S. I've just started getting into the swing of reading Wuthering Heights and I really like it so far. Just to say it may be up in my sidebar for a while!