UPSTART! 2014

Hello there! You may be aware that I haven't blogged in just over a month, and for that I am not going to apologise, I am instead going to explain why! Two weeks ago I took part part in Upstart at the Nottingham Playhouse, which is a theatre based work experience! A few months ago I applied to take part in the work experience programme, I then had an audition and group workshop and much to my surprise I got in! I got a place on Upstart along with 11 other actors and two designers! The aim of the two weeks was to put together a performance of 'Twelfth Night' to be performed in the last three days of the second week, we did three performances outside at Nottingham Castle on the Wednesday and three performances in the Neville Studio of Nottingham Playhouse over the Thursday and Friday!

UPSTART 2014!

We spent the first day getting to know each other, as we were effectively working as a theatre company for the two weeks so we needed to be comfortable with each other! We also got to have a tour of the Playhouse, going backstage and looking at the props room, paint-shop and costume department and talking to some of the staff! It was incredible getting to see behind the scenes and gaining a better insight into theatre! We also looked over the plot and characters to made sure we were all familiar with the show we would be creating (I mean, you can't really make a show if you have no idea what it's about, can you?)! I think warm ups and drama games are one of the funnest parts of drama based things, they're so full of energy and get everyone working together! Although the warm ups we did throughout the week certainly required a hell of a lot of energy as there was a lot of running!

The second day was spent doing a read through and some people  performed a comedy routine they'd prepared the night before (I am hopeless at comedy so gave it a miss!) We had sketches previously done by Jack Whitehall and Rowan Atkinson which were absolutely hilarious! I'll link to the originals if you'd like to check them out because they are honestly brilliant! Nandos or Hell? We then got our roles, I played Maria who is, in the original text, Olivia's lady-in-waiting; however we modernized the play and went with a sort of Made In Chelsea theme, meaning I was Olivia's rather posh PA. Now unfortunately the MIC theme did mean that I had to sit and watch an episode of Made In Chelsea...I can see why people watch the show but how the heck have they managed to get 7 series commissioned?!

The rest of the first week was spent using the script to devise our short scenes and develop character, we were measured for costume and also had seminars with people working at the Playhouse! Now the aim for the work experience was to educate us all in other jobs available in theatre and to dissuade us all from wanting to go into the acting profession. To do this we spoke to Fiona Buffini the Associate Director, Giles Croft the Artistic Director, Stephanie Sirr the CEO, Derek the membership manager, Bea the Creative Producer in Diversity, Cat who works with Stage Management, costume and props and who also led the work experience for the designers in our team, and Allie Spencer, the Education Officer, who ran the work experience programme! Prepare yourselves for cheesy-ness, but it was honestly so inspiring listening to everyone tell us about their jobs and how they started and how they got to where they are today, it really opened everyone's eyes to the different layers behind theatre! Each person gave us an 'inspirational quote' which were simply brilliant, one included 'You don't have to pluck chickens forever' which I think says a lot about the two weeks!

We also, rather luckily, got to sit in (well stand in) on part of a design meeting for 'Time And The Conways' which is being put on at the theatre later in the year! It was incredible to see the model box for the set design and from listening to the concept for the piece I 100% recommend you go and see it if you're in Nottingham when it's on! This was honestly one of my favourite parts of the two weeks as it's amazing to see all of the creatives together seeing the idea for a show for the first time!

Actoring...

At the start of the second week we went up to the castle and planned our route and how the audience would move from scene to scene, this got a little bit tricky at one point, as a scene we had only planned indoors had to be sorted out on a bridge...we needed to work out where the audience needed to be to be able to see the actors and how best to access the bridge etc etc! On the Tuesday we had our dress rehearsal! This was so unbelievably useful in getting us all used to where we needed to be and where the audience would be and where props should be left! However one girl did drop out of the program which kind of threw a spanner in the works and our assistant director had to step in and take over the part...this effectively meant that by our first performance at 10 O'clock on the Wednesday morning we were still at dress rehearsal level, simply because rehearsals had got a bit more difficult! But we thought all would be okay as we weren't expecting a big audience at that time, maybe one or two people, however it then turned out that a primary school wanted to come and see us, putting us all under slightly more pressure! 

Despite the little hiccups we muddled through the first performance quite well and were all happy with how it had gone! We then had to set everything up for our next show at 12 and then again at 1:30 so the day was very hectic but so much fun! I've never done promenade theatre before and it's incredibly challenging to stay in character the entire time and ad-libbing Shakespeare (or rather trying to) is on a whole new level! There were a lot of 'for sooth's thrown around!
After a day of shows at Nottingham Castle we arrived at 9:30 on Thursday morning in the Neville studio and began reworking the entire show to fit in the space on an incredible floor cloth! Now Allie said that it usually takes about 3 days to rework a show like our into a studio space...we had THREE HOURS! So everything was done at lightening speed and there were so many things to remember! It was quite a stressful morning but it was totally worth it when we performed! We had two performances that day and we continued to tweak little bits after the first show to make it even more effective! On the Friday we had our final performance and although everyone was incredibly tired we all gave it loads of energy!
Performing in two styles of theatre was an amazing experience and the pressure we were working under made the rehearsals very true to the real life of an actor!
After we'd finished on the Friday we had to strike the set, which basically means sorting all of the props, set and costumes and taking them to the right departments and after we had cleared the studio we had a few bits of evaluation to do and then that was it! The work experience was over! 

Oh and just in case any of you UPSTART-ers are reading this (because you never know right?) I just want to say a MASSIVE thank you to you all for making the two weeks so fantastic! 

I do hope this post wasn't too ramble-y...gosh it's quite hard to condense two weeks into one blog post! I know this post was quite different to usual but I wanted to share the experience!

It was honestly one of the BEST experiences of my life and I'm so glad I actually pushed myself to audition! The people there were all incredible and some of the nicest people I've met! I urge you guys to just go for things because you never know, you could end up having one of the best times ever!

And if you live in Nottingham and theatre is your thing (and if you're in years 10-12), check out Nottingham Playhouse and apply for the work experience, it's taught me so much and I've had so much fun! If you're not really into acting or designing and just want to see some great theatre then check out what's on because they're always showing new and exciting theatre!

I hope you're all having a really great week (I only have a day and half left at sixth form until we break up for summer! Hooray!)

Until next time, Cheerio!

xx

How to get THAT summer body

So, the sunny weather is finally here to stay (or so it seems!) can you believe it?! I know many people out there will be desperate to get themselves ready for summer with THAT bikini body; so with all that in mind I've decided to help you all on your way to becoming bikini ready for a sun filled summer! All in FIVE easy steps!

Tenerife was beautiful!

Step One:

Buy a bikini or cropped swimsuit or any kind of swimwear you like! I am in love with the 50's style bikinis and am lusting after quite a few in Topshop!

Step Two:

Wait until the sun is shinning and it's warm enough to sunbathe or go swimming! (If you're going abroad this summer, I seriously envy you and your near-constant access to warm weather!)

Step Three:

Whilst waiting for the weather to be suitable for bikini wearing, continue to eat as much as you normally would! What the heck, why not treat yourself to a few extra sweet treats as well? I mean, who doesn't love a slice of cake (or two or three..!)? 

Step Four:

Once the weather is nice and sunny, put on your bikini (or other swimwear)!

Step Five:

Step outside and look absolutely gorgeous! Enjoy the sunny weather (and the sea and sand if you're lucky enough to be near a beach)! Have a laugh with your friends and spend the entire summer looking fabulous whilst getting a super glow-y tan!

Source

And there you have it! Five simple steps to getting your body bikini ready this summer! It requires very little effort...in fact, all you really need is a bikini! Give your body some love, I'm sure you'll all look wonderful in your swimwear this summer (and every summer after this)! As long as you have fun, who really cares how you look? You go out and you wear THAT bikini...You ALREADY have THAT summer body! All you need now is summer!

I hope you enjoyed my rather light-hearted approach to getting ready for summer! 

I'm sick of seeing diets plastered everywhere, they're inescapable and TOTALLY unnecessary!

Do let me know what you think about getting a 'bikini body!'

Until next time, Cheerio!

xx

Shoe Haul! (Primark)

Ah, it would appear that summer is finally on it's way in (fingers crossed)! I'm currently sat in the lovely sunshine on my back garden as I type this! However the other day I was looking through my collection of shoes, and decided I needed a little overhaul for the summer! There was a distinct lack of sandals in my wardrobe and as it appears to be time to banish the heavy black boots to the back of the wardrobe until autumn/winter, I decided that now was the time to fill the sandal/summer shoe - shaped hole in my wardrobe! So I thought I'd share my shoe-pping (see what I did there? I'll show myself out...) with you all!

Now all of these are from the wonder that is Primark! I am actually pretty impressed with the shoe selection in Primark at the moment, they all seem to be pretty good quality, especially for the price! The first pair I picked up were these gorgeous, metallic, chunky sandals! I think they're perfect for both daytime or evening and I love the way they're a little bit different to most summer sandals! The metallic straps made me instantly want them as they're so different and will definitely add something a little more interesting to a simple summer dress! I think these were £16 which is incredible as I can tell these are going to get lots of wear this summer and last me a very long time!

 

They also have rose gold buckles, I honestly cannot get enough of rose gold whether it's in jewellery (all of my rings are rose gold) or shoes! The fact that these shoes also have two straps is great because it means your feet don't slip around in them when walking meaning no blisters (bonus!) and lots of comfort! These are especially wonderful as I have quite thin ankles meaning the majority of shoes in this style just look silly because they're so wide around my ankle but these fit perfectly! They also had these in white and black and I'm really tempted to go back to pick up a white pair!

I can't wait to wear these and think they'll look extra cute and quirky with some bright or pastel frilly socks with lace trim! Let me know how you'd style these in the comments?








The second pair of shoes I bought were a little boring compared to the rest...I simply needed a pair of plain black heels for work! I can probably also wear them if I'm going out for an occasion although they have an ankle strap and as I'm not that tall I'm considering cutting it off so that it doesn't make my legs look even shorter!
 





















The third pair of shoes I picked up fill the sandal sized hole in my wardrobe very nicely! They're white flats and will be perfect to take on holiday (especially as there isn't that much room for shoes in the caravan!) as they're quite bendy! They'll be perfect for daytime and casual evenings when the barbeque is out and the sun is shining! I didn't own any white shoes before these and I have absolutely no idea why because they go with everything and are bang on trend for this summer! 
 






















The fourth pair I added to my basket were a little similar to the first, a pair of black chunky sandals! They're sort of gladiator style -ish? I'd been after some similar to these for ages because they go with everything and make a plain outfit a little more 'edgy'! These were also only £16 making them a complete bargain and absolute must have! These also have rose gold buckles (I think I'm developing a serious obsession)!

The fifth and final pair of shoes I bought, I am almost certain will divide opinion (both on here and in real life) but I absolutely love them! Any idea what they might be? 

 Any idea...?

 Still not sure...?

Go on, have a guess!

 Oh you must know by now?!

They are, of course, a pair of blue, sparkly jelly shoes! 

I know a lot of people don't like these shoes, I however very much do like them! I think they're different and cute and remind me of being a five year old again (which is always great!) I'm not entirely sure what I can wear these with yet, but I'm sure I'll find something! I think these will be best for daytime and they're surprisingly comfy so I'm not too worried about walking around all day in them! I am however a little concerned about getting blisters, because they're plastic, I have a feeling they might rub on my feet! I think they'll look cute with some statement/frilly socks though so that may solve the potential issue!

 Do let me know in the comments how you feel about the return of the jelly shoe!

Oh and also let me know how you would style any of these shoes/what you would wear them with!

I think my favourite pair are the metallic chunky heels! Do you agree or disagree?

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my summer shoe update!

Until next time, Cheerio!

xx

Getting Reflective!

Source

So, I have pretty much finished my AS exams (with the exception of drama, which I don't really view as an exam because it's so fun!) meaning that my first year of sixth form is almost over! Hooray! 
As a result of this, I decided to get a little reflective (see the photo above isn't completely random!) and look back at how I was this time last year...

To put it into context, this time last year I had finished year 11 (study leave) and was only popping back into school to take those dreaded GCSEs (I now realise how much of a walk in the park they were compared to A levels!) But looking back I realised just how little confidence I had. I mean I'd never been one of those people that could effortlessly talk to new people or easily speak up about their opinions, but I literally never ever contributed in class, I'd actively avoid looking at my teacher in the hope that they wouldn't pick on me! I would find it really difficult to talk to someone on the phone, and would hate having to go to a checkout in case the person behind the till tried to make small talk! I'd also let my friends talk to new people whilst I'd just stand there, wanting to join in, but having this sort of shield I'd put around myself that I couldn't seem to break through...I just never knew what to say and didn't feel like I could actually join in the conversation!

Writing all that now actually seems crazy, I probably missed out on so much by being to scared to join in! This year I have gained so much confidence, and I have to say that's all down to sixth form! With the smaller classes you HAVE to speak, there is literally no other option!! Even in the larger classes, I now actively volunteer my answers, especially as in my English Language class NO-ONE ever wants to answer, and neither me or one of my close friends can bare to sit in the painful silence that follows a question! It's funny how a year ago, I'd have quite happily sat in silence, forcing someone else to answer a question I actually knew the answer to! In some of my lessons I have the exact same teachers as last year but I somehow feel way more confident and able to contribute in their lessons...maybe it's because I'm more comfortable and confident in myself?
As for answering the phone, I have to do this on a weekly basis at work, I mean, I still don't really like doing it and yes the first few times I was incredibly panicky when the phone rang! But, it's easier and I'm getting used to it!
Paying at a checkout no longer scares me! I'm still not particularly good at small talk (ah, I can't believe it's raining again, typical weather, blah blah blah) but I get along just fine now!
As for meeting new people, I have improved greatly at this! I realised the trick is to just pretend you already know the person and just start a conversation as you would do with a friend! To be honest, I think drama is the reason for my improved social skills when it comes to meeting new people, having to go to a different school for a lesson where you don't actually know anyone is a surprising catalyst for the slight loss of social awkwardness! I've made loads of new friends this year simply because I've actually spoken to people...I mean what have you got to lose? If the person thinks you're a a complete and utter weirdo then you're probably not going to see them again are you?!
I hate thinking that if I'd have gone to college I would probably still be in the same place as last year, I am unbelievably glad I chose to stay at sixth form, and I honestly love the way our whole year is so close (we literally all cram around one table even though there aren't enough chairs!)

I hope this post was somewhat enjoyable, it's a little different to my past few posts and was probably slightly more for my benefit than yours...I guess I'm still trying to find my blogging feet! I should have a few hauls coming up soon as I've been shopping for various bits and bobs this month so keep an eye out for those if you'd like!

Oh and do let me know in the comments if you feel that you're in a completely different place to where you were this time last year! Even if you don't, I'd still love to hear your thoughts!

Until Next Time, Cheerio! 

xx

 

Exams don't matter...

Exams don't matter...BUT they do open doors.

Edited from here

I see so many people nowadays stressing over exams, and I have to admit, I myself am one of those people! To those people I see crying because they feel overwhelmed with revision, I just want to say, exams don't matter...Contrary to popular belief, exams aren't the be all and end all! You're not going to 'fail' at life simply because you didn't quite get the grades you needed! There are so many other ways of getting jobs and gaining life experience that you don't actually require GCSE or A Level grades for! For example, I'm pretty sure that if you showed enough enthusiasm and were determined enough you could get volunteer work for a few weeks / months which could end up leading to a permanent job if you prove yourself to those around you! Internships are another great way of getting experience without any actual qualifications! There are so many other things you can do that don't require exam grades...you could travel and meet some amazing people that completely change the path your life takes! I guess what I'm trying to say is that we all place unnecessary pressure on ourselves when it comes to exams, they sure as hell do help with your path for the future, and yes a certain amount of pressure is helpful in motivating ourselves; but they're not going to determine the way your entire life plans out! As long as you do your best, the outcome doesn't matter, and if you don't get the grades you hoped for just remember there are so many other options out there waiting for you!

On the flip side I see so many people that just don't care about exams and already think they don't matter. To those people I just want to say that yes, exams don't matter...but they DO open doors. Having qualifications can help you have more experiences throughout your life! Say you want to go to uni, but you don't care about your A Levels...how are you going to have that life changing experience of university if you don't quite get the grades to get you there? Of course, as I said before, it's not the end of the world, but being more highly qualified than the people you're going up against for THAT job can only help, right? Exams give you the best possible chance of doing the things you really want to do with your life, they can be a gateway to new experiences and open you up to an array of possibilities you had never imagined...all because you have a few qualifications. The exams you take don't matter, but they do open doors.

The idea for a post like this came when I was on my way back from sixth form and I was discussing exams with my dad; the whole sixth form had just had an assembly on exams, not stressing and how failure wasn't really failure (a teacher used the example of Steve Jobs being fired from Apple and going on to create Pixar)! My dad completely agreed and said 'exams don't matter, but they do open doors.' 
It got me thinking about the way there are three kinds of people when it comes to exams:

•  The ones who stress beyond belief
• The ones who either don't care or can't be bothered
• And the ones who have a nice balance of the two

I now thankfully only have one written exam remaining (history paper 2) and two drama practical exams! I'm incredibly lucky that I only have 4 written exams in total, some of my friends have 9! I think they've all gone well so far, which I suppose puts me in an okay position while I await my results in August!

 Let me know how you're getting on with your exams, I wish you all the best of luck!

Oooo also let me know if you agreed/disagreed with me on any of the points I made in this post! 
I like to see other peoples' thoughts and opinions!

Until next time, Cheerio! 
xx

Home Alone...

So this weekend I decided to stay at home whilst my family went off in the caravan for a little break over the bank holiday, mainly because doing revision is hard enough at the best of times and I knew that being stuck in a caravan would not make me want to pick up my history revision guide and start making mind maps on the holocaust! Now, I don't really understand why some people don't like staying home alone...I mean what could possibly be better than getting to watch whatever you want on TV and eating whatever and whenever you like? 

However being home alone can be a little boring what with having no one around to communicate with in person so I've created a list of my top (mostly cringe-worthy) ways to keep entertained and fill the empty silences in your house when home alone for a few evenings!

1. Sing your heart out! Oh yes, we all love to pretend we're some international superstar like, I don't know, say Beyonce? (What do you mean I can't sing?) So when is there a better time to completely belt out some cracking songs? The answer is never! I find this works best if you find some super cringey pop songs to sing along to...no one's around! 
2. Dance like crazy! Pretend you've 'got them moves like Jagger'!  What's better than dancing your way around your house to some cheesy songs and pretending you've got the best moves? Nothing!      (Hint: Think Hugh Grant in Love Actually! - If you don't have a clue what I'm talking about, check it out HERE!)
3. Eat like a pig! No one's around to moan at you for eating two bars of chocolate to yourself, so why not? You want to eat a whole packet of biscuits or an entire tube of pringles, go for it!
4. Watch endless movies! Whatever is your guilty pleasure, stick it on! Horrors may not actually be the best idea though...! I opted for Pretty Woman (having never seen it before) followed by White Chicks (oh how I love that film!)
5. Mess around with makeup! Okay so this might sound weird but being home alone is a great time to experiment with your makeup, especially as there's no one around to see it if it goes wrong/looks awful! I decided I'd try drawing on thick, dark eyebrows one evening...it's safe to say I definitely won't be going outside like that anytime soon!
6. Selfies! It seems that everyone is super obsessed with taking selfies right now! So having the house to yourself means you can take a tonne of selfies without hiding from your family! It passes time...I don't know, maybe upload a few to instagram?

Well there's just a few ideas for filling the silences when home alone!

Do you have any more silly ways of keeping entertained?

I might not be blogging for the next few weeks as I'll be revising for and then sitting my AS exams...Ooo scary! Where has this year gone?

They are obviously my priority meaning blogging will simply have to take a backseat!

Until next time, Cheerio!

xx

Primark Haul!

So, a couple of days ago I took a trip into town, and being on a budget I of course took a trip to Primark to see if I could find anything for spring/summer as my wardrobe is in serious need of an overhaul! I managed to pick up a few basics I think will serve me well for casual days out this summer!

3 pairs of ankle socks for only £2!

Okay so the first thing I picked up were some adorable frilly socks, I already own a few pairs and I just love them! I think they make any outfit look cute and girly, making them a must have in my wardrobe! I picked these up in white as they'll go with pretty much anything, and a pale pink colour with cream frills; these were both £1.50 each! I also picked up a set of five ankle socks with frills for only £2! These are in the colours cream, lilac and turquoise, all with white lace trim! They're pretty much all identical to the Topshop ones but are considerably cheaper!

Only £1.50 each!

The second item I picked up was a basic floaty black cami as you can throw it on with anything and just add a chunky necklace to have a casual look or you can dress it up with a midi-skirt and heels for the evening! (I was actually in desperate need of one as I have a tartan midi-skirt that is a little too big around the waist so this will be perfect for either layering over the top or tucking in!) However it is quite thin - perfect for hot weather YES! Not so good for showing off your bra...so I think a bandeau will be needed underneath!

I picked this up for only £3 making it an absolute bargain!

The next thing I dropped into my basket was a casual speckled vest top in a sort of mint green/duck egg colour which I think will serve me well throughout the summer! The colour was the main reason I picked it up if I'm honest as I don't think I currently own anything in it!

This was also £3!

Now, as soon as I saw this t-shirt I knew I simply had to buy it! Firstly the colour is gorgeous! And secondly I adore anything with a collar! I think it's bordering on an obsession! I just think that collars make an outfit more girly and cute! You can't really tell from the picture but it's a sort of lilac/grey-ish colour!

I love the lace detailing!

I also bought two pairs of what I guess you could call capri pants? They're sort of checked cropped leggings and they remind me of the style in the fifties! I have quite a few pairs of leggings but they're either black, disco pant material or velvet which aren't exactly summery, so I thought I'd invest in these lovely ones! They're so comfy and as I do drama at sixth form I always need things I can move around in, and I hope these will also look pretty fab! 
Also for £5 each you can't really go wrong!

I'm loving midi rings at the moment!

Oooo and I also took a little trip to Topshop with my friends Emily and Laura (none of us can resist walking past!) I tried on some clothes and there was a really pretty skort and coral scalloped crop top which I fell in love with...however I decided it was too much money to spend at the time, but I'm tempted to go back and pick them up as a treat once exams are over! I did however pick up this super cute midi ring with a frog on it in the sale for only £2 (I may or may not have used my friends student discount on an already discounted ring)!
 

That's all from my little trip to town! I'm hoping to get some more summery clothes so I can completely overhaul my wardrobe this season! I'm especially loving pastels at the moment! 

Another thing I'm in desperate need of is shoes/sandals as the only summery-ish shoes I own are a pair of tan brogues! If you can recommend some sandals I'd be incredibly grateful!

I hope this was entertaining, I always love having a nosey at what other people have been buying!

Oh and I also apologize for the awful quality of some of these photos! (I'm currently using my phone's camera which is unfortunately not the best quality!)

I'm looking into buying a camera as I've been after one for ages!
 I'm not really sure which makes/models I should be looking at though so if any of you have any suggestions I would be super grateful!

Until next time, Cheerio!

xx