Teens Summer Events

In my area, there are several fun activities and events to keep teens busy. For people living or going to school in Fareham or Winchester, there is the Access All Areas Scheme. These events are from 1 til 4 and provide free activities for 11 to 17 year olds. These include inflatables, quad bikes, zorbing,  manicures, henna tattoos, hair chalking and free hot dogs. There is also a morning session for under 11's, a perfect way to keep younger siblings busy (and out of your way!). They set up in a different field or park each time. I went to a couple of these events last year and they are great.

For people living in Gosport or Lee On Solent, there is the Gosport Summer Passport Scheme. These activities are more sport based, including water sports, team sports and even ice skating as well as a free BBQ, henna tattoos and inflatables. They run from 12 til 4 and also set up in a range of parks and green spaces all over Gosport. I have yet to go to one of these events but I drove past one yesterday and they look fun, although possibly a little less varied than Access All Areas.

I think these events are important. I like to go out and do things with friends in the holidays but often the activities we want to do are expensive. These schemes allow us to enjoy a range of activities for free, as well as giving us a place to hang out that our parents are happy with (the schemes employ people to keep an eye on us). Comment if you have been to any of these events with your experience.

Back to School

 

Back to school products are always in the shops way too early. Who wants to be reminded about going back to school before they are even on holiday? Still, now we are part way through the summer, it is the perfect time to start getting your September supplies before they are all sold out. So, here is my selection of back to school favourites.



        

          This brightly coloured folder will
          brighten up your school work.
WHSmiths, £2.00

This box file also comes in a cool colour.
WHSmiths, £6.99





   


This pencil case will help brighten your mood during
 homework sessions. I like the contrast between the
coloured face and the black and white words.
WHSmiths, £4.79

This minion pencil case describes exactly how I feel
when the holidays are over!
WHSmiths, £9.59

I love shaped sticky notes!
I have some in the shape of Angry Birds.
Paperchase, £2.50

This fab organiser is covered in African animals, including my favourites, tigers.
The set looks like a notebook on the outside but inside it has a notes section,
a to do list, sticky notes and a handy pocket.
Paperchase, £10.00

Survey

Instead of doing a normal post tonight, I have simply created a survey that will help me write future posts. It is on the right hand side of my front page in Desktop view. This is used automatically on computers. It can also be used on phones and tablets, if you switch the view at the bottom of the page. It works better on a computer though as you have a bigger screen. You do not need a blogger account, just click on your answers and click done.

It would really help me if you all did this. It will help you as well, as it means I will do more of the posts you like. If you have anything else you would like to say about my blog, you can tell me in the comments. Thank you for your feedback.

My First Piercing

Today, I got my ears pierced (first time) in Claire's. It did not hurt as much as I was expecting. It was fine at first, but then hurt and continued to sting for the next 20 minuets. For those who haven't had it done, it goes something like this:

Staff:"1,2,3,"
CLICK
Me:" That's not too...... Ahhh!"

The earrings I have in at the moment are simple studs with a bright turquoise sparkly stone in. They are gold, in case I am allergic to other metals. I also got some silver studs reduced in with the piercing. These are colourful red studs in the shape of ladybirds. I also bought a set of 3 that are gold plated- one set of plain gold for school, one round pair with a single large, clear stone and one pair that are heart shaped with lots of little stones.

After I had been to Subway to recover, I did some more shopping. I bought a pair of skinny roll up jeans in Dorothy Perkins. They are great for summer. I also bought 2 books.

Have you ever had a piercing? Tell me your experience in the comments.

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is a film- an 80s film. However, it is so simple that it does not seem dated. 5 high school teenagers in an 8 hour Saturday detention, all for different reasons. A brain, a princess, a jock, a wierdo and a rebel; They do not even know each others names.

You may think a film that only shows a detention from start to finish is boring, but it is anything but. Unusual, yes. But not boring. Here is a clip if you don't believe me. They even refer to it in pitch perfect and use one of it's songs in the final performance..

I love this film. It is everything a good black comedy teen film should be: funny, makes you think and entertaining. There are quite a lot of good 80s films, but this is one of the best because it does not seem like it is from the 80s, as it is not too dated. Back to the Future is another example, because they spend so little time in the 80s. However, the 2nd one is not so good as it is set in a 2015 that was very clearly invented by someone 30 years ago. Have you seen any of these films? What do you think of them?

Highlights!

Yesterday, I went to the hairdressers as a birthday treat and had lots of blond highlights put in. I have never coloured my hair before. It took hours, as they had to put half my hair in foils (and I have a lot of hair!). However, the colour worked very quickly as I am blond already and have what they call "virgin hair", which made the whole process a lot easier.

When I was younger, I was a beautiful light blond but as I got older, my hair got darker and I became a darkish blond. Now, I am back to the colour I was when I was 7. I love it! I have got used to it very quickly as I have been that colour before. No-one but my family have seen it yet. I am very interested to know what others will think!

Have you ever had highlights or had your hair coloured? Tell me you hairdresser experiences in the comments.

Bloxorz

Bloxorz is an online game, designed for kids. However, I have known people of all ages to enjoy it. The aim is simple, manoeuvre a 1x1x2 cuboid to a 1x1 hole in a strange, floating land. However, the game is surprisingly tricky and I have never completed it all. It is strangely addictive, as you always want to finish just one more level. I recommend it to all who like a challenge. it will definitely keep you busy over the summer!

I love it, it is something a bit different. It is hard enough to make you think but still easy enough that I am able to do it (until you get to the final levels!).

It is found on a few different sites. Here is the link to one: http://www.coolmath-games.com/0-bloxorz .

Orange!

A colour that we are seeing a lot of this summer is bright orange. I love it, so I will be taking the opportunity to stock up on it while it is in the shops, as when it is not so big it is almost impossible to find. I guess not everyone is brave enough to wear it! Here is my collection of my favourite orange items, all from New Look.

This unusual top is perfect for bright summer days.
Wear it with denim shorts or cropped jeans.
£7.99
 

This gorgeous dress would work well on an
older teen as it is very grown up.
It could be worn in the day or the evening.
£34.99

This skater skirt is a slightly darker, stronger orange.
The colour would look good with a simple white T-shirt.
£17.00 (in the current sale)

This purse adds a splash of colour to any outfit.
Wear with a matching orange item or with black
for a more dramatic look.
£7 (In the current sale)

Marcus Butler

I have just discovered a great YouTuber called Marcus Butler. This is his channel. He makes a wide variety of videos about a range of topics, many of which apply to teenagers. These include entertaining dares and challenges, videos about different types of people, ever popular "reacting to old...." videos and many more personal topics.

His videos are both funny and interesting. He is not as silly as other YouTubers but still has a laugh. One of the funniest is his "Switching Clothes Challenge". In this one, he and his girl friend each create 3 different looks for each other, based on their own wardrobes. I think my favourite bit was watching Marcus try to walk in high heels!

One of his slightly more serious videos is his most recent one, which happens to be especially appropriate for our age group. Weird things Teenagers Do is an insight into Marcus's teenage years that I think we can all relate to. He also seems to be very sympathetic about all our issues! See if you can guess the songs he plays when showing the various teenage phases. I named 2, but although I recognise the last one, I just can't quite get it. Comment if you do, otherwise it will bug me. I don't think I apply to any of them, do you?

I am definitely going to be watching more of Marcus in the future. Are you?

Doctor Who

Doctor Who is my favourite TV program. I have watched it since I was 6 and love it. My favourite Doctor was the 11th Doctor (played by Matt Smith) and my favourite assistant is Donna Noble, closely followed by Amy Pond. The show has the perfect mix of action, danger, scariness, comedy and romance.

Doctor Who has a long history of brilliance but I have only ever seen clips of the older episodes. From what I have seen, I think that the bad picture, wobbly sets and dodgy costumes ruin it for me! However, the newer version re-started in 2005 is much, much better. I guess this is why it now has a much wider audience than Si-Fi geeks!

Next September, the 9th series is coming out! It features Clara with the 12th doctor on their new adventures. They have recently released a trailer and it looks brilliant. This is the link.

Sales Shopping

Sorry I didn't post last night, I was on a sleepover at my friends house. As we are all big fans of the minions, we watched the Despicable Me Movies last night before going to see the new film today. It was really funny, although slightly silly, but then this is minions we are talking about. I loved it, although I think we may have been the only teens there! This is the trailer.

Before the film, we had spare time, so we had a look round the shops. There are lots of sales on. In New Look, about half the shop was full of sale racks. You can view the range online by clicking here.  I bought myself a blue blouse. My friend also bought herself a top. This is mine:



My top was a darker, stronger blue than this top.
It is loose and floaty, perfect for summer.

Have you bought anything in the current summer sales?

Smartphones - Are They Slightly Addictive?

I am going to put this out there right now: I do not have a Smartphone. I have a Nokia which can use the internet and is touch screen, but it has buttons. And you can't get Google Play. There are a few good reasons for this:
1. I can't work the touch screen key board
2. There are other things that I would rather spend my money on/get for my birthday.
3. I think they are addictive.

When I first joined senior school, almost all of my friends had smart phones. They were slightly addicted and now are much worse. I thought nothing of this. It was when my parents got their first smart phones that I began to think differently. My dad was first. He got his first smartphone two and   a half  years ago. He got a Sony Experia, largely because Bond had a Sony in the latest film. At first, he did not use it much differently to his old phone. However, as time went on, he used it more and more. Now, he devotes quite a lot of time a day to staring at his phone.

My mum was the most surprising. She got her first smart phone last Christmas. She loves it, using it more and more. At the same time, my dad got a newer version of his phone and now spends even more time on it.

This made me realise that it was not just the people at school who could get addicted. It could be anyone. You probably think I am being ridiculous, but if you have a smartphone, how happy would you be to lock it in a cupboard for a week? If you are anything like most of my friends, the answer would be something like a cry of "No way!" or "My baby!".

Do you think I should get a smartphone? Do you have one? Are you addicted to yours? Tell me what you think in the comments.

Jonathan Creek

One of the reasons I didn't post last night was that I got into Jonathan Creek. I love that programme. It is about a man who designs magic tricks for a living and does a bit of detective work on the side. As he is used to working out how to achieve the seemingly impossible, he is good at solving difficult cases. They usually seem to be done using some sort of paranormal or magic means but are actually all just tricks. He has a female friend who helps him. I guess it is similar to Sherlock in a way, which many of you will remember me posting about before.

Another of the reasons I like it is because they are usually a bit scary. This is because they make out at the beginning there is something spooky going on. This makes it good for teens as it has a bit of an edge without being really scary or violent. They often repeat the show in the evening on the Freeview channel drama.I was going to get a clip for you, but there aren't any good ones on YouTube. Instead, you can watch the episode I saw last night here.

Ballet Pumps

Ballet pumps were my first pair of grown up shoes that weren't for school. Since then, I have had a few pairs and loved them. They are comfy and fairly practical as they are flat. I can wear them shopping with jeans or in the evening with a dress. Today, I chose 2 new pairs for my birthday (not long now!). They are below:



These blue and cream stripey shoes are perfect
to wear casually with denim.
New Look, £9.99

These smarter pastel shoes could be worn on a
summer shopping trip or for a smarter occasion.
Clarks, were £40, now £16

Cropped Jeans

In England, there are plenty of summer days like today where it just isn't that warm. Or sunny. Or just generally summery. However, when it is not quite as miserable as today, we do have cropped jeans. From longer shorts to mid calf length, there is something for everyone. Here is my selection.


These cropped jeans end just
 past the knee. As they are dark,
 they look reasonably smart.
New Look, £19.99

These blue mid calf cropped
jeans are classic. They are
casual and very summery.
Debenhams, £16

These black cropped trousers
are even smarter than the ones at
 the top. Perfect for going out
on a summer's evening.
Debenhams, £16

These skinny cropped jeans could
be worn under a tunic top as an
alternative to leggings or just
 with an ordinary top.
ASDA, £16

Make-Up Favourites



Today, I have decided to share with you my favourite make-up items. Lately, I have discovered several brilliant but affordable products that I wanted to share. I know you can find recommendations from magazines and YouTube channels, but not many of those come from actual teenage girls. Most of the popular YouTubers are older than us and magazine authors definitely are. Here are my current favourites, I haven't covered everything, just areas where I thought I had found something particularly good.

Face:

Primer- I have been using Maybelline's Baby Skin Pore Erasing Primer for almost a year now and it is perfect. It can be used under foundation or on it's own for a smooth finish, both to touch and to look at. One of my best friends recommended it to me last summer.

 



Eyes:

Liquid Eye Shadow- A couple of weeks ago I ordered AVON's liquid eye shadow in Chromed Coco and I think it is one of the best things I ever bought from them. Inside, there is a sponge applicator which makes it really quick and easy to get the look you want. The colour is beautiful and looks even. It also washes off easily with water for minimum fuss.

Eye Liner- I have 2 Miss Sporty Mini Me Eye Liners and they are great. They are the crayon style that turn up so there is never any sharpening needed. They come in a wide range of colours and are easy to apply because of the thin design. As they are small, they are easy to fit in a handbag or purse. Overall, I really like this product as it is good across the board.

Hopefully, this will be helpful for summer holiday shopping. I need your recommendations on something actually. I will need a new mascara soon. Previously, I have only had a basic one from a set and so I don't know what type or make to get. I want reasonable volume and length, but nothing so dramatic that I can't wear it in the daytime. If you have any suggestions, please post them in the comments.

The Fault In Our Stars

I have just finished reading The Fault In Our Stars and it is amazing! Most of you have probably heard about it and know the basic story already. For those who haven't, it is about 16 year old terminal cancer patient Hazel and what happens when she meets the gorgeous Augustus, who is in remission. It is not the best book I have ever read, but it it definitely the most thought provoking book I have ever read. It creates a realistic insight into a "Cancer Kid's" life. I am very pleased I read it, as it taught me what it is like to be dying. As we will all die at some point, I think that is very important.

The book itself is very well written. Throughout, it makes reference to another book, An Imperial Affection. I would like to read it, although I think it may be a little to complicated for me, but it does not actually exist. There is, however, a poem with that name which John Green got the name from. There is also a six page taster of the book, written by John Green for fans of The Fault In Our Stars. I would like to read both of these.

I recommend A Fault In Our Stars to anyone and everyone over the age of 12.

The Ombre Look

I have finished school! We had our last day today. Unfortunately, one of my best friends and my 2 favourite teachers left. The teachers are married and moving back to one of their home countries, as one is from New Zealand and the other from Austraila. They were buried under presents today as they are much loved.

Anyway, on to my main subject. From T-Shirts to nails and even hair, the ombre look is very popular at the moment. I love the T-Shirts, they are often in summery colours and perfect for the beach. I also like the nail looks, although they are very hard to create at home, really you need to go to a nail bar. There is a method in the Avon book, but it looks very hard to do.

I have come up with a way to do it with clear, glittery nail varnish. You paint a very thin layer of it on the end of the nail and add more to the tip of the nail. The glitter looks like it is graduated but as the actual polish is clear, you can't see the join. I tried this when I got home from school and it worked really well. It was much easier than I thought it would be.

Have you got anything ombre? Please comment if you do, telling me what it is and whether or not you like the effect.

Adult Colouring

As it is my last day of school tomorrow, I went shopping for end of year teacher presents. While I was in the Range, I bought myself an adult colouring book. A friend of mine has one (she loves it) and my art teacher does too, so I bought one to try. They seem to be quite a big thing at the moment.

The one I got was full of all different things: some flowers, some patterns, some themed pages. I like it because it is so varied. You can get some that are all repeating patterns or that are all animals or all flowers, but I think that if I got one of those I would get bored after a while.

I tried it out when I got home. I found it really relaxing. I like doing it while listening to music, as although I like listening to music I get bored after a while if that is all I do. Have you tried one of these yet?

Freaky Futures

As most of my year group is away on a residential trip to The Somme, we are doing some work on Dystopia, the opposite of Utopia. It is used in many films, books and works of art and has the general theme of a bleak, miserable future. I have read several books set in a future like that such as The Hunger Games series, Maze Runner series, Flood Child and the Divergent series. I have loved them all. It seems to be a popular theme in teenage fiction and many of those types of books have become best sellers.

Why are these books so popular? Generally, stories set in a dystopian future (like the one some people think we are hurtling towards) show that people can live through terrible situations and still come out the other side. Some people think that they are a reassurance to people that humanity will always find a way.

However, there is another explanation that is specific to teenagers. Moira Young, an author of teenage books, said 

"There are a number of opinions, but the main drift seems to be that books set in either chaotic or strictly controlled societies mirror a teenager's life; at school, at home, with their peers and in the wider world. Let's call it the "my own private dystopia" theory.

I'm going to offer a much simpler explanation. Teenagers like to read dystopian fiction because it's exciting. It all comes down to the story. The story comes first, and the setting – extraordinary though it may be – is of secondary importance."

I think it could be that we subconsciously like reading about people who successfully live their lives under very restrictive control. Most teenagers, myself included, feel frustrated about the lack of control we have over our lives, and I think we might be attracted to books where characters live in an even more controlling environment. Do you like books with a dystopian theme? Why do you think they are so popular? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Broderie Anglaise

Before I start today's topic, I would just like to tell readers that yesterday I bought one of the Bikinis from a previous post. I bought this one from Peacocks. They have a 20% off everything sale at the moment.



Also, the reason I haven't posted in the last couple of days is because my Mum's best friend came down to stay Friday night. Her other best friend happened to be in the area this week-end as well, so we saw her today.

When I was in Peacocks, I noticed they had quite a lot of Broderie Anglaise tops. Broderie Anglaise is a type of embroidery but I was surprised at how many of my friends had never heard of it. I have said on my post about pyjamas that it is on-trend at the moment and is therefore everywhere. I have always loved it but normally it is very hard to come by, so I thought now would be a good time to post about it. I have already bought some Broderie Anglaise pyjamas and a summer dress. Here are some other items that I like.



I love this simple white summer dress.
The Broderie Anglaise detail adds interest
and stops it being too plain.
New Look, £27.99

This summer top is more special than
a T-shirt but still casual.
Perfect to wear with denim.
Peacocks, £8

This Broderie Anglais T-shirt
comes in white, pale blue and pale pink.
The back is plain.
Peacocks, £10

Creative Writing

There are several jobs that I might want to have when I am older, and an author is one of them. I like writing children's fiction, particularly fantasy novels. I do creative writing at the moment, but when I am at school I do not have much time to write and generally do most of it in the holidays.

Although I have started many books, I have not finished a single one. I get an idea, usually at the beginning of the holidays, and will write the first few chapters. I then forget about it for a bit, or go back to school, and by the time I get round to writing again, I have a new idea. I then start that book, and so on.

If I eventually finish a book, I would publish it online as an E-book. Anyone can do it, as you don't need a publisher because only virtual copies will be created. I think this is a good thing as it gives young teens that are not old enough to have their book published properly a chance to sell their writing to the world.

Stand For Trees

Today, temperatures in the UK reached 36.7 C. That is not only the hottest day of the year so far, but the hottest 1st of July on record and the hottest day for 12 years. We had our school sports day today. If the scientists are right about global warming, we are going to have to get used to this.

Global warming will effect our generation most. We will have to deal with whatever state the planet is in, so it will benefit us to conserve it. One major way to do this is reduce the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere. Trees are very efficient at this, as they take in carbon dioxide and expel oxygen. But, as I am sure you know, some of the major rainforests of the world are being destroyed.

I often feel that, as young people, we do not have much power to change this. However, I have recently discovered a website which gives us more power to help. Stand For Trees allows you to buy your own plot of rainforest for only 10 dollars. As you own it, it can't legally be cut down or burnt. I feel that this is the perfect way for ordinary people of all ages and backgrounds to make a difference. I think we should all get behind this scheme.  Comment and tell me if you buy any.