My week in photos #4

This week has been full of beautiful sunsets, getting to know new people and chatting with old friends, it has been perfect. I came home from V Festival on Monday, my throat felt like sandpaper but it was amazing, I won't rattle on about it too much as you can read my post here. But Monday and Tuesday were spent recovering and running standard errands like the physio and dentist, boring mundane everyday necessities!

However life got more interesting on Wednesday night when one of my good friends had her 18th birthday party on a boat on the Thames. We felt like we were in Made in Chelsea but it was so lovely to catch up with so many people in my year at school who I haven't seen over the summer. My favourite part was going past all the sights, we sailed past Big Ben, The London Eye, The Shard, Canary Wharf, London Bridge, The O2 arena - it was breathtaking, I honestly couldn't have felt more content at that moment knowing I soon will be living with these sights on my doorstep. (Three weeks until I move!) 

On Thursday it was another one of my good friends 18th birthday so the afternoon was spent chilling in the pub, getting to know new people, having henna done and just generally catching up and having a laugh! Last night was spent with the same group of people for a bigger celebration and sitting round a campfire at 3 in the morning with Red Hot Chilli Peppers playing, I felt so so happy. And we get to do it all again tonight for another birthday! Although I only slept for four hours last night, I'm to just chill and have some fun again tonight. 

Life's been busy this week, but it's been great. It is around this time of the year that I become obsessed with sunsets again, they just ooze candy floss colours and take my breath away each night. These long summer nights are drawing to an end but they've been perfect so I'm ready to enjoy them whilst they last!

Now Reading // I've started Me, Earl and The Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews and I'm really not sure about it! 

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End of Summer Playlist

I'm having a bit of a thing with music. I go through little obsessions. Whether it be a tv show, a film, or a book but - I've caught up with all tv shows and can't wait for their new seasons to start, I'm bored with my dvd collection and I'm struggling to get into any book since holiday - so I turned to music, and I'm loving it. Maybe it's because I just came back from V or maybe its because new music artists have been emerging and are really upping their game. I've put together an 'End of summer' playlist because people are starting back at school, the weather is getting worse and autumnal clothes are being introduced - the end of summer is coming! 

So have a listen if you fancy, and why not give me a follow over on Spotify because even though I don't update my spotify that regularly I might start! Also talking about following and all that, I made a Facebook page linked to my blog the other day I would really love it if you could like it here - I thought it would be a good way for people who don't have instagram of twitter to keep up with my blog. Hope your friday is going well, after spending most of the day yesterday in the pub (and not having one alcoholic drink because I was driving) and the night before on a boat party on the Thames I am having a quiet day at home doing admin and cleaning my room to recollect myself before an exciting weekend with friends!

End of Summer // Stylestorey 

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V Festival

Outfit 1: Shorts and rings - Topshop, Top - Missguided, Shoes - Nike, Shirt - Forever 21.

Outfit 2: Shorts and Rings - Topshop, Top - H&M, Shoes - Doc Martens, Shirt - Forever 21.

So if you follow me on Instagram or snapchat (and if you don't, why not?) you will know, and probably be bored of hearing about, how I went to V Festival this past weekend. My cousins live not so far from Hylands park in Chelmsford so myself and my two friends, Emily and Becky, stayed there for the weekend - forever grateful for hot water, food and a good bed (even though my cousin did end up stealing my duvet..!) My favourite acts have to be The Script, Jess Glynne, Sam Smith and Mark Ronson's DJ set - they just got the crowd going and created some unforgettable moments. I always forget how much I love live music and how much I love the energy of a crowd dancing and singing along to songs, there is just nothing quite like it! 

As you can tell these photo's were taken on my phone (hence the white background - I'm kind of making that my new thing.) Shoutout to Becky for taking these outfit snaps for me. I was so excited and nervous to sort out my outfits, I wanted something that looked cool but also that covered the range of weather conditions that were forecast - boiling hot sun on Saturday and rain for Sunday. My Sunday outfit changed from what I planned but my DM's were such a great shout to wear as they protected my feet from the wet muddy ground. I had the best weekend, and I'm sure I will go on about it for ages, but post-festival blues has already set in.

Now Playing // V Festival artists, obviously!

Watching // I may have had a movie day yesterday and watched Step Up, Footloose and The Bling Ring - I definitely needed that time to recover!

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My week in photos #3

This week's round-up is slightly odd because when this is published I will be in a field dancing to loud music wearing festival clothes - loving life at V festival! But as promised I wanted to continue this weekly series so am writing it on Friday morning before V properly starts.

I took this first photo looking sassy in a dirty mirror before I went and saw Paper Towns - as I mentioned how much I loved it in this post, I won't ramble on about it too much! But I loved this outfit, with Uni approaching I've realised that I need to purchase more relaxed clothing for everyday use, and this T-shirt from H&M was the perfect way to start. The Khaki colour is actually making its way into my wardrobe quite a lot for the upcoming Autumn and the slouched V-neck style makes an everyday t-shirt something a bit different.

This picture of roof-tops, however much it might remind you of Mary Poppins, is the view from my sisters new flat in London. We moved her in on Wednesday which was very tiring (four flights of stairs was not our friend) but exciting, I'll only be living half an hour or so away from her come September so I could picture myself going to hers on weekends to watch Downton Abbey and Dance Moms!

This last picture is the start of my uni purchases. My mum and I went on our first shopping trip yesterday and surprisingly came out with a lot. I got some cushions, two duvet covers, a blanket, a towel and flannel and one desk accessory! So it's all very real now, I basically want to move in right away - but then I don't because that means saying goodbye to a lot of people - I'm in two minds about it! 

Anyways, hope you've all had a good week - make sure you keep an eye on my instagram for daily snaps from V, and add me on snapchat 'Christinastorey' for more updates!

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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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Paper Towns

Top - Topshop. Shorts - Forever 21. Jacket - New Look. Shoes - Nike.

When a book or a film touches you, you walk out of the cinema in a trance, you feel drained of all emotion- catharsis. You feel shocked from what you've just seen, but (most of the time) in a good way. They can give you a new view of life, they can help you see things from a different angle and help you connect with what other people must feel and think. 

I saw Paper Towns last night, the adaption of John Green's novel with Nat Wolff and Cara Delevingne. I read the book a year or so ago, I knew I liked it but I couldn't really remember why. However coming out of the film, wow, I loved it. I won't give too much away but its based on Quentin, a shy boy who is in his senior year of high school, has two best friends, and pines over his next door neighbour, Margo. Margo loves adventures. Margo is the popular girl at school who has an sense of mystery surrounding her. Margo and Q grew up together as friends but grew apart when Q became sensible and shy and Margo was eager for new adventures that would get them in trouble. However one night in senior year Margo sneaks into Q's bedroom and gets him to come on one last adventure for the night. The next day, Margo is missing. The film is based around Q pining after Margo but it's not just about his love of her, its about his love for his two best friends and the road trip they gone on in search for Margo.

The main message I took from this film was that not everyone is who you think they are. People are mysteries. You might look at a person and think you know them but you don't. You can't judge a book by its cover. You can't see a beautiful girl and think, "oh, well she must be really dumb then" or a girl who's head is always stuck in a book and think "oh, well she's no fun" or a girl who is into her sports and think "Oh, well she must hate dressing up and wearing make-up." We all have first impressions, we all judge people by their looks, I definitely do! But Paper Towns reminded me that people can hide behind what people think of them. People can create a persona of themselves - especially on social media - but peoples lives aren't what they always seem. You have to really get to know a person before you judge them, and even then - you will never really truly know someone, they probably don't even know their own self!

Now Watching // Paper Towns (obviously) and The Vampire Diaries, season 1 - I can re watched this show so many times, it never gets old! 

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My week in photos #2

This week has been such a whirlwind that I haven't really had time to digest everything that has happened! 

The week started in Sicily where we continued our chilled holiday but were desperate to spend every moment we could in the sun. However it didn't really quite go to plan as all day Tuesday and Wednesday it was tipping it down! Tuesday was spent indoors, playing cards with my family and reading. I felt like I was just in a constant waiting game - waiting to watch Pretty Little Liars (Oh my gosh, how good was it?!) and waiting for my results. However we went out to dinner which was lovely (apart from getting served only half of a pizza...) and the perfect way to finish our holiday. 

To start our journey home on Wednesday we had to drive the windiest route up the Italian mountains for three hours - luckily we had a pit stop at an outlet mall and I got some super cheap Superdry tracksuit bottoms - but my nerves for results day had fully set in and I had a constantly had a headache and felt sick. We finally got home in England at three in the morning - after an hours delay in the aeroplane before setting off!  

In just over a month I will be going to my first choice university, Queen Mary's University of London ! I am so happy and relieved that I achieved my predicted grades and got into Queen Mary's. Ever since I looked at the brochure last June I've known it was the right uni for me, and I cannot wait to actually start in September! I'm in a bundle of nerves about it but I'm also super excited - I'm just glad I finally know where I will be going in September! 

So my friends and I celebrated by going out on Thursday which was a laugh and was so good to see all of them again, we then ventured out of Chloe's house on Friday morning to go for Brunch together. It was so nice to catch up with my school friends and has made me realise how much I am going to miss them when we all go our separate ways! I celebrated my results with my mum and Madeleine at The Waffle House is St Albans on Friday afternoon - it was a dream. It is the second time I've been this summer and the waffles are just so so good, we shared some savoury ones then had a big sweet one each which was ideal! 

Since I've go my results this week everything seems so much more certain that myself and all my friends are moving away, It's daunting and really scary but also really exciting! Hope you have all had a good week, I'll be more constant with normal posts this week, I promise!

Now reading // All the light we cannot see by Anthony Doerr

Now Listening // Love Myself by Hailee Seinfeld (Such an awesome feel good song!)

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My week in photos #1

One type of blog post that I love to read are 'round-up' of the week posts, like Sophie's and Suzie's, that I've decided I'm going to introduce a feature of a weekly post summing up my week in pictures! As I love taking pictures but am not a fan of overloading my Instagram, this series will feature the photos that haven't quite made it onto my Instagram (because it's that important to have a good feed...) 

On Monday morning Madeleine, Matthew and I woke up during the early hours to fly to Sicily and meet our parents. When we were eagerly sat on the plane waiting to take off we could see the sun rising from our window (Madeleine filmed a really cool time lapse on her phone as we were taking off) The excitement of going on holiday finally hit me on the plane - although I did sleep most of the way!

So all this week I've been in Sicily with my family and have just been loving some chilled out quiet time. Most days we sunbathe by the pool after a delicious breakfast (I mean, look at that flat-lay, every bloggers dream!) then either saunter to the beach for the afternoon or continue lying by the pool. Before either going out to eat or staying in and playing cards, along with some family laughs as well as quarrels! However on Friday we decided to venture into the city of Palermo to have a bit of sightseeing. We got on a bus after a long walk and enjoyed an hour's tour around the city. I found that some sights in Palermo very random but picturesque and cute, what you imagine an Italian street to be! Whenever we come to Italy it's always very random but works well for us. After being absolutely fried on the top deck of the bus we went to a quaint restaurant for a much needed cold Coke, a slice of pizza and a scoop of ice cream - there really isn't anything better than Italian ice cream! 

It has been such a lovely quiet week spent laughing with my family, sweltering in the sun and eating my weight in carbs! I'm glad I've got another few days here before the nerves of results day really kick in! 

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All England

Dress - New Look. Jacket - Craft. Necklace - Thomas Sabo. Bracelets - Primark.

I woke up this morning and within fifteen minutes I was already crying. This past week I've been representing my dance school at All England Finals at Hackney Empire, London. Which is a pretty big deal, we qualified as a school 28 dances through to the finals in May, which was a surprise in itself. I knew this week was going to be my last week at a dance festival, last week being a dancer at LHTS and last week on stage. Four years ago when my danced school qualified two contemporary groups into the finals (and came second!) I wasn't able to participate as I was still recovering from my surgery, but four years later I finally got my 'dancers' badge and I finally danced my heart out at All England. And, our contemporary group, came first! Meaning it is the best contemporary group in the country, which is crazy. 

However last night ended on a sad note when it was officially my last time on stage. I cannot imagine my life without dancing and without seeing my friends (more like sisters) all the time and watching them dance. But as my post said a few months ago - I have learnt so much over the years from dancing and am sure it will all stay with me through life!  I know life will go on - the dance school will adapt to losing quite a few of their seniors and I am off (hopefully) to new bigger things and opportunities! 

I'm off on holiday bright and early tomorrow morning - and unfortunately because of the busy last week have not been able to plan and schedule any posts, so hopefully I'll be able to update you all using my dads laptop - but if not make sure you follow me on instagram, as I'm sure I'll be updating that very often!

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