Summer Hand Bags

In the spring and summer, it can be nice to switch to a different bag that is lighter and brighter in colour, and perhaps a little smaller. There are many around in sweet summer prints and eye catching colours. I prefer ones that can be worn across the body for practicality. I am currently using my favourite bright yellow Kipling bag; I forgot how much I loved it over the winter! Here are my favourites from around the web.


Horizons
This bag features a pastel floral pattern.
 Animal, £25

Dawn
This small bag is bright and cheerful with a tribal print.
Those prints are often found on animal products.
Animal, £18
 

This cool woven bag is perfect for the beach.
I love how the bare fabric is seen behind the pattern
H&M, £14.95

I have always loved Kipling bags, and this one is no exception.
I like the handy front pockets.
Kipling, £39

The design on this bag had been cut out with lasers
to give an arty look.
New Look, was £29.99 now £13

This bag is simple but cute.
I love the pastel blue.
Peacocks, £6

A New Companion For Doctor Who

Whether you watch the show or not, you have probably heard that Doctor Who has a new companion called Bill. She will be played by Pearl Mackie, an actress from Doctors. She also teaches acting to kids. Pearl is young and cool, very different from Peter Capaldi.

As a big fan of her predecessors Clara Oswald and Amy Pond, I am not sure about her. I have watched the new trailer (available BBC i Player) but I think I should watch a full episode before I decide whether or not I like her. From the clip she seems like fun and should attract younger views, which will be good as I think Peter is a bit serious for kids. I have never seen someone be so unafraid of the Daleks before! It will be very interesting to see how she gets on! What do you think of her?

Sign For Clean Air!

Air pollution in our cities is a bigger problem than ever. Some research suggests that just 1 day spent in London has the same health implications as smoking 15 cigarettes. The toxic air found in urban areas all over the country is most dangerous to children, the elderly and people with health problems. In the UK alone, it is responsible for cutting short 40,000 lives every year.

To try and highlight the problem, Greenpeace got their campaigners to climb Nelson's column and put a pollution mask on him. They are trying to make the problem widely known in the hope it catches the attention of our politicians.

To try and stop this, Greenpeace have created a petition demanding that the government take action. They want them to reduce the air pollution in London and other areas before even more people suffer by phasing in more low emission cars, having low emission zones outside schools and encouraging more people to use public transport. The more people who sign the petition the more chance it will reach parliament, so it would be great if you all took part. As the younger generation, it will effect our future if we do nothing. Click here to sign.

Girl Problems

There are a lot of everyday things that girls have to deal with that boys just don't. From period pain to clothing problems and social expectations, I think we definitely have our fair share of issues. Personally, I think we have it harder than boys, but maybe that is just because I am biased! Marcus Butler has summed all this up nicely in his latest video. Whether you are a boy who wants to understand or a girl who just wants a laugh, here is the video is below.

 

There are probably others too. He hasn't said that we have worry about hair removal, or that we are the ones who actually have to have the babies. Have you thought of any more? Share them below.

A Confession...

I am seriously addicted to Dominos! Ever since I was little, whenever my mum asked me what I wanted for dinner, I would reply "Dominos". I still loving having it now. I do like a good curry, but Dominos pizza is still my favourite. The sauce, the smell, the doughy base... no other make is quite as good. My favourite topping is Ham and Pineapple. I don't really know why, nothing else compares. And the crusts just have to be dipped in BBQ sauce!

That is the best bit about being a prefect. We are allowed out for lunch and there is a Dominos really near the school. Me and my best friend went the other day. It was the best lunch I have ever had at school!

Are you addicted to Dominos? What's your favourite pizza topping?

Cool Common Room

A little while ago, I said how I thought it was unfair that we had to hand in our phones, as we were all suffering because of the actions of a few. Now, the senior prefects get to keep their phones on them throughout the school day. This is great, as it means the school have acknowledged that not all of us are untrustworthy. True, there are some pupils that are responsible that don't happen to be prefects, but it is a start.

There are other privileges that come with being a senior prefect as well. Starting this year, we get our own common room at lunch time where we are allowed to use our phones! We have also been promised a sofa, beanbags, a TV and possibly even a Games console. We also get to go down the local shops at lunch time. I am really pleased I decided to become a prefect now! The school have definitely made it worthwhile.

This Season's Summer Dresses

With a new spring comes a whole new collection of summer dresses. Hopefully, we will have some weather to enjoy them soon! This year, there are lots of boho styles as well as more stripes and other prints. Here are my favourites from around the web. Which is your favourite?

I love this unusual, eye catching pattern.
It is in one of my favourite colours as well.
New Look, £28

This floaty beach dress is great for holidays.
New Look £12.99

This short bright dress has a low, strappy back.
Topshop, £20

This pastel dress is simple and very summery.
Zara, £17.99

This pretty dress comes with a cool belt.
Primark, £13

This dress is definitely bright and eye catching.
Primark, £8

Looking For Alaska

At the moment, I am really into John Green books. I have read The Fault In Our Stars and Paper Towns and loved them both. Now I am reading Looking For Alaska. The book is set in a High School in Alabama, where the boarders range from poverty stricken scholarship kids to rich weekday only jocks.

New boy Miles meets the reckless, rule breaking Alaska and falls for her immediately. I love Alaska, she is clever, loves reading and is a serious feminist. She is constantly smoking and sneaking alcohol onto the premises. However, she also has a boyfriend, a problem for Miles, and her dangerous lifestyle could possibly get him expelled.

This funny, truthful book is great for all teens. It is just as good as his other books. I can't be sure yet, but I think Paper Towns is still my personal favourite though.

10 Shops I Can't Walk Past.

When I am out, there are some shops that I love so much I simply have to go in and have a look around. I cannot walk past them. These are the ones I find hardest to resist in no particular order....

1. New Look
2. Peacocks
3. Lush
4. Waterstones
5. WHSmiths
6. Paperchase
7. Tiger
8. Bodyshop
9. Animal
10. Cadbury's Shop

What shops can't you walk past?

Early Morning Cat Chorus

A couple of months ago, I told you about how my cat Bumble got injured and had a hole in his side. He has now made a full recovery and his fur has almost completely grown back. I am really pleased, as I hate it when he is poorly. Naturally, he is now back to his usual tricks. Bumble wakes up early, and often wants his breakfast before we get up. This is why he now meaows very loudly at the bottom of the stairs, sometimes as early as 5.30 in the morning. This wakes my dad up, but me and my mum sleep through it. I think he is singing.

If this does not work, he jumps up on my mum's bed and flicks her face with his tail over and over again. Next, he bashes her on the head with his paw. Bumble will then bite her if she still hasn't responded. Luckily for me, he only ever does this to my parents, and only comes in my room to sleep in his basket.

Currently, Bumble is outside enjoying the afternoon sun. He is always happiest when the weather is nice. Is your pet as badly behaved as mine?

Live In The Moment, Not Through Social Media

Have you ever been somewhere with your friends and they won't stop taking photos for Snapchat (or similar) long enough to enjoy your time together? We spend so much time trying to store moments and share moments that sometimes we forget to enjoy them altogether. I would rather have 1 photo to remember an occasion, than 100 to remember a day where all we did was take photos.

It's great that we can share our lives with each other through social media, but when it gets to the point where that is all we ever do, it becomes pointless. If we constantly post, how can we have anything to post about? It also drives people further apart, as they spend less time talking face to face. I would rather spend some time online, and the rest actually looking at what is going on around me. It really frustrates me when I can't have a conversation because people are more interested in what is on their phones.

 Do you feel the same?

10 Years Of BGT

Last night, I watched the first episode of Britain's Got Talent. This year the show is in it's 10th series, so the pressure to find the "next big thing" is greater than ever. As usual, the auditions included the weird, the terrible and the brilliant. My favourite act was Trip Hazard the dancing dog, he is soooo cute! I love his signature paw waving move. Watch his audition here.

There was also a very scary act that had me squealing on the sofa. A man did back flips and hung upside down on a pole with a sword inside his body. Worse still, he said that was only the warm up! I hate to think what he has in store for the live shows!

I also loved Amanda's 12 year old golden buzzer act who sung a song from Wicked and a street dance troupe that were dressed as the Queen and her royal guards. Best of all, however, was David Walliams dressed as Simon Cowell! I am slightly scared to think what he will do next week. Do you watch BGT?

Fast Rides

Today, I went shopping with my best friend and I bought a stripey off the shoulder top in New Look. It was not one of the tops on my previous posts, it was one I had never seen before that had caught my eye. The neckline is wide enough to show a bit of shoulder but not the whole thing.

We also went to the fun fair! We went on the dodgems, the waltzers, a ride with flying cars (my favourite) and a ride with spinning cars. It was great. It is staying in town for the weekend so if any of you want to go now is your chance!

I have 1 weekend and 2 days left before I go back to school. Shame. I have had a good holiday though, and it is still quit a long time untill exams (I'm not even going to think about that). Tell me your holiday highlight in the comments.

Bridget Jones's Baby

This year, there is one film I cannot wait to see: the new Bridget Jones film. The chaotic character of Bridget is back again and I am not sure if I can wait until it is released in September to see it. I have got the trailer to keep me going in the meantime though.

 

 



This film is not based on the latest book "About The Boy", it is based on the newspaper column Helen Fielding wrote in-between the second and third book. This is great, as it means me and my mum do not know the ending. In fact, no one knows the ending, because 3 different ones have been filmed and not even Renee Zellweger knows which one they will use. Whatever happens, it promises to be a hilarious film. Now Patrick Dempsey is involved,  it will be interesting to see how he fits into the new love triangle. I am really looking forward to it! Are you going to watch it?

Skulduggery Pleasant

For over a year now, one of my best friends has been begging me to read the Skulduggery Pleasant book series by Derek Landy. A couple of months ago, I eventually gave in. I have just finished the second book and I am now seriously into it! The series is set in Ireland, and is based around a hidden world of magic that Stephanie discovers when her uncle dies and she meets Skulduggery Pleasant, the dead skeleton detective. From there on, she becomes a part of this dangerous world as Skulduggery's assistant. Together they fight groups who are trying to bring back evil gods who will change life as we know it.

The story is funny yet very exciting. I love Stephanie, the main character, and Skulduggery is cool too. One minute, you are laughing at how pathetic Scapegrace is (he is the killer who has never actually managed to kill anyone yet), the next you are shocked at the Baron's plans and Tanith's fighting skills. They are really gripping. I will definitely be reading to the end of the series. Have you ever read these books?

The Ellen Show

This holiday, I have started watching the Ellen Show. It is on ITV2 at 1.45 every week day. The chat show features A list guests, opinions on current affairs, funny videos from the Ellen tube and of course, dancing. Hosted by the funny but truthful Ellen DeGeneres, it is entertaining but raises some important points. One of my favourite bits is where she creates fake comedy videos, such as this one:

Her guests are really interesting, too. Yesterday, Renee Zellweger came on the show to air the Bridget Jones trailer for the first time, and Breaking Bad actor Aaron Paul was interviewed as well. The show's topics are not always up to date, as it is aired in America first and then shown over here. The content is still fairly recent though. I am going to be making the most of being able to watch the show while I am off school. Do you watch it?

Guys and Dolls

This year, our school production is Guys and Dolls. I really like drama, and have a part in it. I play Arvide Abernathy, who is a part of the mission and also the Grandma of Sarah Brown (the main character). She is played by one of my friends. I have to say, I am not looking forward to my costume! At first, I was not keen on the play because it is so old fashioned, but now I am really getting into it. Rehearsals are going well, although it is only a matter of time before my mad English teacher appears on the scene. That's when things will get interesting.

At the end of the play, there are two weddings (the couples are married by yours truly). At this point, there is also some kissing! I'm sure the people involved are really looking forward to that one! Or possibly not, depending on who it is they have to kiss! I cannot wait to see how that goes.

The play is several months away, but rehearsals start increasing at the start of this term. I will keep you posted on any interesting developments over the coming weeks.

642 Ways Not To Be Bored

There is a series of activity books that I love that are sold in Waterstones. The books are designed mainly for adults, although a few are aimed at children/young people. Each one has a theme: they can be full of things to photograph, or draw, or write about etc. And each one, for some unknown reason, contains exactly 642 creative prompts.

I have 2 of these books. One is called 642 Things To Write About (young writer's addition) and the other is called 642 Fashion Things To Draw, which is much newer. They are both lovely books which contain lots of clever, creative prompts to make you think and give you ideas. Some of my favourites  include: "You're in the middle of a coffee shop, and time grinds to a halt. Describe the scene.", "Draw a holiday outfit." and "Draw the thing you wish someone would steal from your mum." They are a fun and creative way to fill an hour, perfect if you are trying to avoid boredom this holiday. Have you tried them?

10 Foods I Can't Live Without

I am definitely a girl who likes her food, and these are the ones I could never live without.

1. Cadbury's dairy milk
2. Heinz tomato ketchup
3. A good curry
4. Ham and pineapple pizza
5. Donuts
6. Ice cream
7. Haribo
8. Custard
9. Pasta
10. Summer berries

What foods can't you live without? Tell me in the comments.