I'm (attempting) to write a novel!

This is quite a daunting post to it publish, but here we go. About a month ago I woke up from a dream and couldn't shake off the feeling that the dream was real. I got thinking about it, and suddenly in my mind I'd come up with a dystopian world and a skeleton of a novel. And that's where my idea for my own novel came from. 

Now I'm no professional writer or anything but I have said for the past two years or so how I'd love to write a book, but now I've finally decided the time is now. I don't know if it's very good- it probably isn't - but this summer I'm focusing on building the world and the characters in depth, and plan to just write - not caring how bad or how good it is, but just get the words onto paper and see where it takes me. And I thought, why not keep my blog up to date on where my novel is going and how the process is for me? So here we go, here is my first instalment of 'Writing with Christina' - I'll probably update it once every two or three weeks this summer (kind of inspired by this series of videos by Christine Riccio.)
I'm going to be very vague about the actual characters/ plot of this book, so this series may not be interesting, but you never know!

World building and character profiles 

My inspiration for my book came from my dream. In my head I had the main two characters and where they were going, but I needed to create the world. This came fairly easy, I started taking messy scribbly notes about the plot, once I'd got the idea of having three main characters - two females and one male, I started figuring out the world. It is a type of dystopian book, which obviously means a complicated world accompanies it, this was so fun to create and imagine. I tried to put a little spin on it, and at the moment as a base to my novel, it works well (in my opinion.)

From here I started writing, I started with an epilogue which flew out of me so quickly and got me very excited to write. However then about 2,000 words in I hit a wall, I wasn't too sure of my characters and their personality. I realised I needed to differentiate between them and make each individual different. So I set out to make character profiles. I've found it hard, with two main female characters, to differ between the two. Now I've finished the narrator's character profile and can see a precise difference between the two. Whilst creating this world/characters I have started an inspiration board on Pinterest. Cassandra Clare (author of the Mortal Instruments and the Shadowhunter world) often does this for her books and I can really see how it helps. It helps vision characters and settings. Here's a link to my pinterest board - you can see the names and overall themes of the novel if you fancy.
I've got three main characters, and having been questioning whether to write the novel from three different point of view's which is something I'm going to decide next week, once I've got all three of their character profiles done.

This is quite scary to shout to the world that I'm writing a novel. There is a slim chance anyone will ever read it (apart from maybe my family) but I wanted, for my blog and for myself, to create a document of my journey, struggles and positives of this huge task! Hope you've had a good week, Christina x

Fake it until you make it

Jumper - M&S. Jeans - Topshop. Jacket and Boots - New Look. 

I'm weird. I'm sometimes shy. I'm sometimes loud. I sometimes dance in the middle of the kitchen, sing my heart out to random songs or make the weirdest noises when I'm bored. But, that's me. And back home people knew I was odd but in a way I was always scared of people judging me, not wanting to be friends with me and just avoiding me if I acted myself. However at Uni, I'm surrounded by these guys 24/7 that I have had to be nothing but myself, and they accept that (or at least I think they do.) They ignore my random outbursts of dance, laugh at my singing and (I hope to think) appreciate my loudness. Within the first week they knew that I like to be organised - I'm always the one asking questions on the group chat. I am very clumsy - Freshers week was a whole new level, I think they were surprised that we didn't end up in A&E by the end of the week. I can be very loud - when I don't know people I can act two ways, I can be quiet and go on my phone and ignore the world around me or I can be loud and ask the most random questions to fill the silence, and that's what I had to do. Now we're all comfortable with each other and they know me and I know them, I've loved just being myself. I feel the most confident I have ever felt, being thrown into a sea of unknown people means you have to fake confidence. "Fake it until you make it" I faked confidence when I arrived but throughout the last five weeks I have actually become confident in myself.

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Books, Autumnal clothes and saying yes

I haven't done a post where I use recent photo's from my Tumblr and just write in a while. I'm not sure if people like these posts as much but I find them fun and relaxing to write so I figure I might as well! I've had a busy few days and my cough/cold has still not budged so I'm going to spend today relaxing by writing, cooking and sorting out things for uni! So crack out a coffee and get scrolling.

As most of you know, I'm moving to Uni a week tomorrow where I'll be living in London and studying English - the dream life in my view! I was reading back my posts from last December and I wrote about how I couldn't wait to just do English and not bother about history or photography, and it's still true. My course is just reading and analysing books. I'm so excited to be surrounded by people who find that interesting, I ended up getting fed up at school of people who didn't take their work seriously or had no passion for what we were learning about. But now, just studying English, I hope I will be surrounded by like minded people who actually get excited by reading a book!

How beautiful is this photo? Tanya Burr and Jim Chapman (the worlds hottest youtube couple) tied the knot at their marriage ceremony last week and the photo's that have been shared are beautiful. After watching both of them for the past two years or so, I think they are such a perfect couple - they just seem to complement and bright out the best in each other. Not that I know them personally, but I, and the rest of the Internet was so so happy for them to finally get married!

I've said this for the past three years or so - Autumn is definitely my favourite season, and most of that is purely for the clothes! The trends that have been appearing over the last few weeks are just perfect. After spending an afternoon in the fashion closet of a magazine I was able to see how to work these trends and match them together. Now I don't always like to follow trends, I just like what I like, but the recents trends, I love. The neutral palette is steering me away from monochrome from which I am known for, the range of textures from cord, suede and leather is such a fun way to make an outfit just a little bit more interesting and although I'm still trying to get the hang of it - layering is such a classic autumnal tradition. Layering roll-necks with sleeveless coats and large scarves paired with contrasting textured boots and trousers will be perfect when the colder weather starts.

I miss dancing, but I'm trying not too. My dance school went back last week and it's weird that I am at home but not going. I  know that it wouldn't be the same if I went back but I miss the feel of dancing, losing yourself to movement to a song, but I also miss the feel of the family at the studios, I just felt so comfortable there surrounded by these girls who know me so well. I know once I go to university I won't feel so left out but right now it is weird that I'm not there! 

This my new motto for my first term of University. I need to say yes to everything. I need to not be afraid of what's to come. I need to grab every opportunity and fully embrace it. I need to say yes.

Now Playing // Lennon and Maisy Stella, I will never get bored of their voices!

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University Room Inspiration

Now I finally know where I'm living in September I have started to think about what I want my uni room to look like. I've watched so many 'dorm room haul and tour' over the years and have moved Madeleine and Matthew in and I can't wait for it to finally be my term come September! 

I've had a search on pinterest and thought I'd show you what I'm thinking - beware, this is a picture heavy post! So grab a cup of coffee and have a scroll...

As you can tell, I'm a fan of fairy lights! It's difficult with hanging things on the wall because of restrictions etc but I think blue tac could be a hand in planning posters. Anyways it's just a quick post tonight as I'm super tired and need to pack for V Festival! Don't know if I have actually mentioned it but I'm off to V Festival in Hylands park tomorrow and could not be more excited! Make sure you keep an eye on my instagram for daily snaps!

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3 reasons why Beautycon London was so inspiring

I feel so motivated. I want to do my best, I want to pour my heart into my blog and I want to feel proud of the content I have created.

I went to Beautycon over the weekend and it was amazing, I met so many great people and listened to some really interesting panels that I feel so inspired with my blog, and here's why - 

1. Being surrounded by like-minded people.

My friends understand that I love blogging and the internet etc, and even my family get it - but I'm not sure they fully understand it. But, being at Beautycon felt like I was surrounded by people who truly understand the blogging/vlogging community. Yes, we could freak out that the bloggers that we watch and read everyday were right in front of us but we could also listen to what they were saying during the panels and learn from it. When I asked the not so simple question of 'Twitter or Instagram?' to Lily Pebbles, Anna from Viviannadoesmakeup, Lucy and Lydia and Sammi from the Beauty Crush they all reacted in a way that I would - completely stuck but decided on Instagram because of the visual elements and creativity. It was just amazing to be surrounded by people like that, and reminded me why going to events isn't scary, but fun!

2. Making a career out of a hobby.

Now when I started this blog, I wanted to be a journalist. And, part of me still does, but another part of me wonders if I could make a career out of this blog. Obviously this blog doesn't have a wide readership and is just a hobby and will be of the next three years but a tiny niggle in the back of my brain says, if these women did it, why can't I? Reading people like Suzie from Hello October and Zoe from ZoeLondon blog's everyday, then meeting them in person just made it clearer to me that these women are normal human beings who have worked incredibly hard to be where they are today! And seeing that has motivated me to try my best and make this blog the best it can be!

3. Everyone is unique.

The blogging world is huge, there is no denying that, and quite often it feels like your just the same as everybody else and cannot come up with original content. But, from listening to the panels I started to understand something - everyone is different. Everyone approaches their content differently, everyone is better at a specific part of a blog whether it be the writing, the photographing or the promoting, and it doesn't matter that the blogging world is so big. It was tempting to think that at Beautycon there was just multiple people who are exactly like me - but, yes, they're similar - but no-one can blog the same. Everyone runs their blog for a different reason, everyone has different aims for running their blog, everyone is different but everyone loves blogging and that's the thing that connects us all!

After a crazy busy weekend I am stuck revising and preparing for a big dance competition at the end of the week so make sure to follow me on twitter and instagram to keep up with my random daily thoughts and please, keep me entertained!

Now watching // I may have watched the whole of season 1 of Once Upon a Time last week...

Now Reading // I've literally just started a Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Now Playing // Hunter Hayes has been on repeat after seeing him in concert of Friday night!

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Random Rambling

Whenever I tell my friends that I'm in a 'good mood' then always reply the same thing - "your always in a good mood, Christina." And although sometimes it may seem it, I'm definitely not always in a good mood! But today, I couldn't stop smiling, and I'm not sure why, but I'm going to hold on to this feeling. 

I woke up this morning to a cascade of pinks, blues and oranges stretching across the sky, I knew it was going to be a good day. My day began by talking in front of the whole of the boys school in assembly which is daunting, but I feel that over this year I have got used to public speaking and it is not so scary anymore - I made announcement about the launch of our new and last issue of my school magazine Ink is out (I wrote an article on 5 tips to get you to become the next big super blogger if ya fancy checking it out.) Then Vicky and I went to a small cafe shop in town to have a almond croissant and a cappuccino which was delicious and one of the perfect ways to spend a free - probably not the most productive though...

Life is Good at the moment. This week is so busy, but it's so thrilling. Quite often I complain about being busy, but this week I have been busy with things I like to do, which makes life so much more easy. So find the things you like to do - write, exercise, read blogs, dance, plan parties - if you fill your spare time up with positive productive things, your free time will seem productive. There is nothing worse than planning a productive afternoon and spending all that time sitting on your bum watching T.V. and feeling crap because you've been so unproductive. If you want to work in a free - work, if you want to go for a croissant and a coffee with a best friend - do. You cannot spend all your time working, everyone needs some downtime. Just don't make too much - balance, that's it - life needs balance. 

Anyway, enough of my Thursday rambling, I need to go and write some history notes, Hope life is treating you lovelies well. 

Now Playing // Love love love

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The Book Thief

I first read The Book Thief around this time last year when I realised that it was coming out as a film, and I loved it straight away. Since then it has been a constant in my life, that may sound odd but I have used it as the stimulus text for my English coursework. Meaning that the non-fiction article I have written and the fictional short story I recently finished were both inspired, or loosely based around the them "imprisonment" which I got from the book. As I am coming to the end of my English coursework unit I am writing my 'commentary' part where I analyse what I have written contrasted with the books I have chosen as my stimulus. That has meant that I have had to analyse The Book Thief closely and some of the quotes in it really just struck me due to the beauty of their wording, that I thought it would be a shame not to share them with you...

 Woah, that's a lot - as you can tell, there are lots of quote worthy phrases!

I also recently watched the film for the second time and cried buckets. Not just at the outcome but just at the whole concept of life in Germany during the Second World War. It just boggles me to think about the indoctrination of the Nazi's and I don't want to go off onto a historical tangent, but it just amazes me everyday the sheer power that the Nazi's had. The film is so beautifully shot; the characters all have some lovely chemistry and the innocence yet wiseness that Liesel shows is fascinating. I really think she is one of my favourite fiction characters, she has just gone through so much pain and suffering in her life but she is amazed by words and finds the strength to carry on. 

I cannot pin point why this book means something to me but I felt I needed to share it on here because I really urge anyone who has not read or seen it to go and read/watch it now! (although, make sure you read it before you watch it!) 

Now Reading // Landlife by Rainbow Rowell - am still not sure how I feel about this book!

Now Playing // Over and over again 

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Living in the Present or Contemplating the Future?

My life at the moment revolves around exams, school and preparing for university...

The past few weeks I've realised that i have been dropping in the topics related with Uni into everyday conversation. Like the fact I cannot wait to decorate my room there, like the fact it will be weird going out with new people and not any of my school friends, like the fact that I will be somewhere completely different. I will leave school in 5 months time. That in itself is very freaky, school is something that is always a constant in everyone's children years. We attend it since we were so young that you cannot remember anything different in your life. I like routine, and I like the fact that I have a specific routine very week that I rarely shy away from. My friends at school know me as being the organised one who likes to plan ahead and know what we are doing. Uni won't be like that, Uni will be full of spontaneous conversations, a bunch of new people and a lot of 'going with the flow,' it will be fun and exciting and full of new things however the prospect of leaving this small village, my school and my dance school; all things which I've known forever, is very daunting. But it's very exciting at the same time. It is bittersweet. 

In a way when I write this I realise that I need to focus on the present and put the future in the back of my mind. I need to enjoy this last five months of school (not matter how much stress they bring!) as, they are my last! I should just embrace the whole school atmosphere, embrace the vast array of people in my year, and embrace the opportunities I have to learn and grow at school. Right now I need to be doing my photography work but I had a sudden spurt of inspiration to write this post - I may or may not have just finished Girl Online by Zoella/ Siobhan Curham (awkward...) and been inspired by the blog and general fuzziness that the end brings!

Just to say, I think for the next few months I may have to turn this blog into a 'once a week' type thing, which does irritate me a bit but school comes first etc etc, I also am going to leave you with my favourite quotes/photo's I find from the week or in general life...

Now Reading // Girl Online - It was such a cute cheesy fun read!

Now Watching // Pretty Little Liars again!

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Rainy Cities, Magical Worlds and Future subjects: A General Life Ramble

Hi there, I'm back again. This blog is turning into a one post per week type blog and although I'm not really okay with that I'm just trying to juggle everything and sometimes it proves difficult. So today I thought I would go on a good old ramble about life because I haven't taken outfit posts in about 4 weeks and sometimes a ramble is just what is needed. So grab a cup of coffee and enjoy...

 I'm not actually that big fan of the rain. I hate being outside in it and it generally just makes everything gloomy but sometimes I find it quite calming. There's a romantic side to the rain, it reminds me of the Taylor Swift lyric -

There's somethin' 'bout the way the street looks when it's just rained 

There's a glow off the pavement, you walk me to the car 

And you know I wanna ask you to dance right there 

In the middle of the parking lot,

 There's a sense of vulnerability if your stuck outside in the rain and a sense of strength if your shielded inside, either way I think it can be seen as as a really interesting concept. Then this photo just stood out to me because as you know I am a sucker for cities and right now I would love to be stuck inside looking out at a rainy city and all the different mix of people that would run past.

Over the past couple of weeks I've returned to the world of Hogwarts, Muggles and Butterbeer and was reminded of the fact that 'Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home' (All hail Queen Rowling.) I was instantly transported back to the world of Harry Potter and it made me feel warm inside. It was like going home to such a familiar setting, people and story. I think I almost forgot how much I love the world of Harry Potter but recently I have been fully reminded and now know that you can never fully leave it.

However much I dislike getting up at 6:13 (Yeah, I'm one of those weird alarm clock people) every weekday I know there is something worth getting up for; the transportation of the day from dark to light and being awake in that hour, I get to see most days. It's so beautiful, seeing the sun rise from a misty cloud of grey to a beaming shade of orange. And do you know what I can't wait for even more? When it is all frosty and even snowy and how the sun rays catch light of the tree branches and sparkle. It will make my mornings magical.

I'm really excited for the future (although pretty scared but that's a whole other topic!) Next September I will be packing my bags, saying goodbye to this village and going to university. I'm not sure where yet but in the past week I have got 3 offers and an interview so I am definitely going somewhere! One of the things I am most looking forward to is just studying English. Although I don't actually mind photography and history  (my two other Alevels) this photo just really excites me for when reading will be the main bulk of work I have to do. It will just be so good to just study one specific subject and not have my brain burnt out by all these various completely random other topics. I can't wait when all I study is English!

This past week I've been in bed with a nasty cough for half of it and to cure my boredom I went back to season 1 of The Vampire Diaries, and I love it even more than ever. It's just one of those shows that I will never get bored of. It captivates you, keeps you guessing and you fall in love with each character in their own way. I'm still not sure who I want Elena to be with in the end but I love watching every twist and turn in their messed up and totally unrealistic lives!

So there we go, my thoughts and random feelings at the moment. All of these images are from my tumblr so if you want more of my random feeling and thoughts head on over there for a more regular updates like this! Hopefully I will actually post soon, but I cannot make a promise to that!

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The Basis of my Autumn/ Winter Wardrobe

Pull&Bear Dark Floral Skirt

Asos A-line Denim Shirt 

Asos Cropped Boyfriend Tee 

Missguided Amorette Roll Sleeve Sports Rib T Shirt

 So, You know in my last post I was going on about how good life is? Well it seems to be that I kind of jinxed it and it turns out, life isn't so great. But, I'll get over it and as Ella told me 'Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.' A very cheesy quote but it completely makes sense and that's what I'm trying to do. And in doing that, I went internet shopping!

I haven't been properly shopping or internet shopping in a long long time it feels like and although I haven't actually felt the need too (mainly because I've been stuck in my school suit) when you look down one page on Asos, you can't help but look down another ten. And so I come to you with what was going to be a wishlist but just turned into a couple of things, I show you what I would really really like to start off/ carry on my Autumn/ Winter wardrobe. 

Stripes, because I don't think I will ever fall out of love with them.

Denim A-line skirt because so simple yet so throwback to the nineties.

Plain Black Tee because once again so simple but effective.

Dark floral skirt because with a black knit, statement necklace and black knee high socks the outfit would never get old! 

Now Reading // Finalizing the articles for the first issue of Ink (My school magazine in which I am the editor of!)

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Thoughts, Expectations and Reality

Hello, I am actually alive. I did not plan for a week and a half long hiatus from my blog, it just kind of happened. I had a busy week last week as it was the last four days of school before summer and in the evenings I had my first full run through's of my dance show (which is coming up this weekend!) then I actually *shock horror* went out to a couple of party/gatherings so it was safe to say I was pretty damn tired.

This week I have been stuck at home in the days and have been at, what feels like my second home, my dance school in the evenings. Most of my friends from school are currently having a girly holiday in Corfu which sadly I couldn't go to because of my dance show, then because of my parents working I am stuck at home accompanied by my laptop, food and television. But you may be thinking, well why haven't you blogged Christina? But the truth is, Ive been feeling quite unmotivated. As well as not having any prime time to capture good and worthy outfit photo's I felt that I couldn't post if it was not an outfit post. However today I had a little revelation, that who cares if it isn't an outfit post? If I want to blog I should! So therefor I come to you today with a post, slightly inspired by Sonja's style of blogging, that relates my life and feelings at the moment. Let me know what you think of this type of post, I'm a bit nervous about posting it but I need to break down that barrier of what I should post and what I want to post.

Photo's and Gifs from my tumblr!

 

A couple of weeks ago my mum and I sat down on a Sunday evening to introduce ourselves into the world of Audrey. I had seen Breakfast at Tiffany's before but that was it, before that we found lurking in the back of my grandma's cupboard the 'Ultimate Audrey Hepburn collection.' After watching Funny Face and Roman Holiday we were both pleasantly surprised! The films were funny. Much more funnier that we had both imagined, therefore she is now my queen.  And also, how on point is Audrey's eyebrow game here? 

 

How beautiful is Elle Fanning? I still haven't seen Maleficent but Elle has recently been on the cover of Teen Vogue and Company and both the interviews were so interesting as well as the photoshoots,  inspiring. I especially loved the Bridgette Bardot inspired look in the Teen Vogue photoshoot, Elle just pulled it off so well and looked gorgeous!

 

As you can probably tell - I love Black and White photo's. These two photo's just ooze the 'cool' tumblr girl feel that most girls wish they had. The grunge and effortless look of the outfit on the left and the salty beachy hair on the right hand side emphasize my need and expectations for summer. 

This photo is pure perfection. My life at the moment is heavily surrounded by the image of dance. The past couple of weeks I've had evenings in the studio that start at six and go on until ten, and that's happened at least twice a week for a good few weeks. Although they have been hard and challenging, especially dancing this much during my exam period I feel like it is all going to pay off on Sunday. Our annual dance show is this weekend and I can't even explain how excited yet nervous I am for it. I want to give my teachers justice to the dances they've created as well as do myself proud as well as not let my friends down. We've all worked so hard and I really hope, well I know, it will all pay off!

A few gifs that I feel explain my expectations and dreams of a fun filled summer contrasted with the reality of me sitting at home writing this blog post about to go drink some coffee, eat a chocolate cornflake cake, re-watch Make it or Break it whilst ironing (because I'm a lovely daughter.) Isn't my life just really exciting?

But I did upload a new youtube video earlier, make sure you check it out and subscribe, pleaseeeee!

Now Playing - Nashville Season 2, Volume 2 album, especially this song.

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