Hooray! It's a Holiday!

So I recently took a trip to Center Parcs (literally got back roughly an hour ago) at their Elveden forest location. It was so nice to take some time-out with family and friends and have a lovely break at the same time. Being my usual self I did take some snaps whilst I was there as I knew it was about time I posted something new on here! 

We stayed in the most common accommodation on the Center Parcs sites which is the 'New Style Executive'. If you're like me and have stayed at Center Parcs before, you'll know that a majority of the time the rooms are immaculately clean and the beds are soooooo comfy! However, during our stay we managed to rip a North Face coat on the door and accumulate an infestation of ants after my brother decided he'd leave his sweets on the floor. Oops! 

  

The photo of this room was taken after the beds had been slept in for one night - so keep that thought in mind! Let's just hope that Blogging and Journalism works out for me as I'll never make it as a cleaner...

Food at Center Parcs is absolutely amazing; they have so many restaurants of so many cultures far and wide. Whilst we were there our family ate out at a restaurant called 'Huck's'. I'm pretty sure you have heard of it before if you have visited before, but if you haven't, they serve American food and it tastes divine! Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera on me at this point so you'll have to stick with iPhone pictures! Sorry!

I ordered a portion of BBQ Ribs with chips as a main and for dessert Key Lime Pie and it was so good and so yummy! What I like about it is that you can order 'half-portions' on literally anything. So, if you struggle to eat an American sized portion like moi, you can settle for a smaller, more English sized meal at half of the cost - perfect!

There was also numerous trips to Starbucks whilst I was there. I just couldn't bare the temptation of craving a 'Raspberry Blackcurrant Juice Blend' and 'Chocolate Chip Shortbread' every so often! Sometimes you just cannot hold yourself back - eh?

During our stay, I also set myself a goal of capturing some sort of wildlife. Since we were staying in a forest I was hoping some creatures to approach our villa. However, after several pigeons and an infestation of ants later, I finally shot a squirrel! (Not literally) Cue the squirrel photos!..

 Using the rule of thirds there (like a pro...not!)

Pretty good hey? Anyway, that concludes this post and my little getaway! I will be posting a lot more over the next couple of weeks as it's half-term yay! Have a lovely, luxurious holidays and stay safe!  

 xxxxx

What I Hope to Achieve in 2014

So, this is a bit of a belated blog-post but I wanted to share the things I hope to achieve this year. 

1. Get good GCSE grades - I am currently in my final year of school and taking all of my exams in May/June this year. To be honest I've turned into quite a "nerd" this year and have put my schoolwork before anything I do, so to get some As in my GCSEs would be amazing! 

2. Travel more - I have been extremely lucky to travel to several different countries at such a young age: Dominican Republic, United States of America, France and Finland. Though there are so many other places I want to go including places all over England. 

3. Become fluent in French - I really love learning new languages and I think French is a beautiful language. I've been learning it for over 5 years now and I'm still not fluent. However, I have started building friendships with 2 filles en France and we write letters and emails to each other in French (with a little help from Google Translate!). I really recommend this if you're trying to learn a new language! Bonne chance!  

4. Conquer the art of Teeline Shorthand - I am really interested in English and journalism and want to pursue it as a career. To learn Teeline shorthand at the age of sixteen would be an amazing achievement (though it is quite hard and I tend to start doodling instead). I want to learn shorthand now as it would take so much pressure off of myself at university.

  
5. Publish more blogposts on my Guardian page - Blogging for The Guardian is an amazing achievement in itself and I'm so chuffed I was able too. My first post got over 6,000 views in the first few hours and started a huge debate over social networking sites (oops!). However, I feel like I don't post enough on there. To think of more articles would be fab and it will really kick off my journalism career.

6. Interview an important/valued person - Now, this one is on the verge of becoming within my grasp. The principal at my school is a superb man; he had a meeting with our local MP and told him all about me. He told him all about me  blogging for The Guardian and carrying out interviews with teachers and pupils at our school. Our MP informed my principal that there was a very high chance that he could arrange an interview with a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons! So exciting! 

7. Reach 200 followers on this blog - This is a bit aspirational, but with a lot of hard work I think it would be possible! I hope to post a lot more frequently especially when my exams are out of the way! I'm currently at 19 followers so, only 181 to go! 

8. Stop worrying so much - I really dislike going places on my own and taking public transport on my own as I panic myself so much. Suffering from anxiety isn't the nicest thing in the world so I'd love to overcome some of it. It's horrible feeling so nervous all the time when nothing is even happening. 

I really wanted to get this post out of the way as I don't think it could have been any later and I hope you achieve what you want in 2014!

Chloe xxx

*pictures from weheartit.com

Topshop Haul - Winter 2014

I recently had un peu splurge in Topshop as I was in desperate need of some new additions to the wardrobe (according to mum, I wasn't - but hey-ho!).

Recently, I've really been into wearing skirts so picked up this check/gingham patterned one. I love to wear monochrome clothing as I feel it suits me better than bright, vibrant colours so I played it safe. The skirt feels like it is made with wool in it and is a bit itchy on bare legs, but with tights hey presto, problem solved! It falls to about mid thigh length and sits on your hips so it's a very flattering skirt. I also picked up the yellow crepe top to wear with the skirt after I was inspired by Olivia Harker's Christmas outfit as she also owns the gingham skirt. This top is honestly so comfortable and it's baggy but really feminine at the same time - what more could you want? Finally, clothing-wise I picked up this black cropped cami to wear with the skirt when it gets a bit warmer. I also think cami tops are a very versatile piece of clothing to have as they go with anything and can be both dressed-up and dressed-down. 

While I was there, I also picked up my first make-up items from Topshop's make-up collection. I had always doubted the quality of Topshop's make-up but I thought I'd give it ago and boy was I proved wrong! Topshop's lipsticks have such great quality and are really opaque when on. I also think they're very moisturising and last for ages! The colour I bought was Beguiled it is a dark purple and looks very vampy against my pale skin! I also couldn't resist picking up a brow pencil as I was in desperate need of a new one - the colour I bought was Blonde since I have blonde hair I thought that was a wise choice to make! I really like the quality of this too and especially the fact that it comes with the brush (what are they actually called?) on the end of it. In my Topshop binge I also picked up a creme blush in Head Over Heels. I had never used a creme blush before but I was impressed by the colour of it as it blends into your skin to give you faint rosy cheeks rather than looking like an elf with massive pick blotches on your face! 

Links to what I was wearing: 

Clothing

Crepe Top - Topshop

Cami Top - Topshop

Gingham Skirt - Topshop

Make-up

Lips in 'Begulied' - Topshop

Brow pencil in 'Blonde' - Topshop

Creme blush in 'Head Over Heels' - Topshop

Chloe xx

Happy New Year!

I know that when you read this New Year's day will probably be over. In fact, it will be over. However, I am restarting my blog because my other blog was awful and I never posted, like ever. Though never fear, it is my mission to blog as often as possible; considering I have a fair amount of free time this year as I leave school in May! Eeeeek!

Once again this blog will contain updates of my life mixed in with fashion, beauty and anything else I feel like posting or that you want to see! 

Don't forget to follow my blog with GFC, Bloglovin' or just writing the link down! Have a fabulous, fun-filled 2014 and I hope to post again soon! 

Chloe x 

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