Lauren's Declassified Festival Survival Guide

With the summer festival season in full swing, my Time-Hop reminding me that two years ago, I attended Reading Festival and the consideration that you might want to attend a few festivals this summer; I thought I would pass on a few helpful hints and tips that I’ve learnt over my time at festivals, which will ensure you get the best experience possible!

PRACTICALITY VS. STYLE… 

In the past I’ve made the big mistake of getting all ‘done up’ for a festival but I quickly realized that it wasn’t the smartest idea, especially when the bad weather sets in. Putting ‘Festival Outfits’ into Google images isn’t the best idea either because you end up styling yourself in uncomfortable, non-practical clothing, which you end up layering up with jewellery and a tonne of accessories. Although adding style to your outfit is lovely, practicality is a must; remember stay basic with clothing that allows you to move freely and have a good time.

TOP TIP! Festival Fashion is all about comfort and being practical! 

IT’S NOT A CRIME TO DRINK WATER.

Everybody knows that at a festival the alcohol will be flowing; however it is important to also stay hydrated because you don’t want your festival experience to be ruined by de-hydration. Most festivals have free refill water stations, so you have no reason not to staying hydrated; just remember to take a plastic water bottle with you. 

#FESTIVALESSENTIALS.

Firstly, don’t take a suitcase to a festival, a travelling backpack is best suited and is easier to transport around rather than a suitcase.

Your #FestivalEssentials can either make or break your experience at a festival. Your must-have essentials must include: ID, money, suncream, painkillers, hairbands, plasters, toilet rolls, hand sanitizer, babywipes or make up wipes, dry shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste. Something else that I would suggest is a back up battery pack for your phone, you can get portable chargers these days, I would definitely get one as a festival can get pretty busy and you can't always find your friends in the crowd.

For the overnight festival experience, essentials must include: a warm jumper as it can get a little chilly in the evenings, warm fluffy socks, sleeping bag and pillow.

One thing that is making a come-back is 'fanny-packs'. Although, some aren't the most fashionable things to accessorise with, they are handy to have as you can keep everything in one place and know it is all safe; you can even get one that lie flat on your stomach that you can hide under your clothes and no-one will know you own a 'fanny-pack'.

Own your 'fanny-pack', like Jonah Hill would own his. 

There is a whole load of #FestivalEssentials, that I could unload on you but the essentials that I’ve mentioned are the important things not to forget; however one thing that I would say when you’re finding your #FestivalEssentials is not to overpack and ask yourself could you actually do without it just for one weekend?

Good Luck Packing!

PLANNING IS NO JOKE.

At most festivals across the UK you have the chance to see over one-hundred artists but unfortunately, it is nearly impossible to catch every single artist, unless you want to be running around the arena like a mad-person, I suggest planning. Planning what acts you want to see before you go isn’t a bad thing, it is actually a rather sensible thing to do; after all you don’t want to miss your favourites.

REMEMBER! WE LIVE IN BRITAIN.

In Britain, you can’t predict the weather and it is safe to say that even in the middle of summer, you’re more than likely guaranteed to get rain. Having soaking wet clothes all festival isn’t fun; make sure you pack a waterproof poncho, resealable plastic bags to keep your phone and money dry, keep away from the canvas-style shoes and stick to rocking those wellies.

STRANGER DANGER.

At a festival staying together with your friends is difficult but try and make sure your phones are charged and you know where you’ve set up your base camp for the weekend. People are friendly at festivals but that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down; don’t accept drinks and food from strangers, as you don’t know what could be in them and be aware of your surroundings.

LET LOOSE AND LIVE! 

Some of the best memories I have come from music festivals, so live it up while you’re young because everyone should experience at least one festival in their lifetime; even if you only visit for the day, enjoy every minute of the experience. Remember, stay safe, keep hydrated and leave your worries at home for the weekend.

- Lauren xo

Bloglovin' Account!

Yes! The rumours you heard are true…

It's official 'Lauren Marie' is now on Bloglovin'. Come say hi! Drop me a comment; connect with me if you wish but most of all enjoy what is right in front of you. 

Remember! These pages are filled with my life, adventures and thoughts about the big, wide world we live in. 

{Follow my blog with Bloglovin'}

- Lauren xo 

Five things I just can’t seem to do

It’s no secret that I love a good heartthrob in a chick-flick or romance movie; can eat multiple packets of Oreos in one sitting and I am (slightly) to organized for my own good but there are something’s that I just can’t seem to do. Recently, I helped a couple of friends out with a situation, which I later helped to resolve and as one of the great problem-solvers in this world (okay, I wouldn’t say great but I do my best to help people out from time to time), I was asked afterwards whether there was anything I couldn’t do. DUH! There is so much I can’t do! So, I thought it was only fit to share the top five things that I just can’t seem to do; I mean I definitely have more than five but I don’t fancy boring you with all of them… not today at least!

I CAN’T… let go.

I am my own worse enemy 99.9% of the time. I’m always in my own head, aware of every single thing that is happening around me; sometimes, it is the “What ifs?” and “the confidence in myself” that stop me from doing things. I am envious of people who can go out and stop at nothing and live while there young (Yes! One Direction fan in the house!). I mean I am not a big, dull dud and spend every night on my own but sometimes, I just can’t seem to let loose and live but I have gotten better with time. 

I CAN’T… read a map.

In school, I was one of these kids that could never read a map and I always seemed to get lost wherever I went (people still have to keep an eye on me, and I am 21!). Back me up though, in the 21^st century I don’t need to learn how to read a map because with all the latest technologies and our good, old friend Google maps, who need a paper map, right? Wrong, when you're in an area with no signal, a paper map really comes in handy; maybe it's time I start learning how to read one. 

I CAN’T… do a front-drop on a trampoline.

WIMP is the first word that comes to mind with this thing I just can’t seem to do. I just can’t seem to do it and I don’t think I will ever be able to either, even as a kid I didn’t like doing a front-drop.

I CAN’T… dance.

Sounds crazy but when I am in a club, I feel right at home with my dancing because A) it is dark and no one can see me, do my little bop dance and B) some people’s dancing is worse than mine, so I don’t feel so self-conscious. However, if you put me on the dance floor on my own, oh my goodness, the embarrassment starts and someone just needs to stop me.

I CAN’T… listen to my own advice.

Something that truly bugs me is that I am pretty good at giving advice (so I’ve been told anyway) but good advice is only good when you actually listen to it; that is something that always happens to me, when I advise something to someone, I never listen to it myself and sometimes that is a big mistake…

- Lauren xo

Pretty Little Liars

As a Pretty Little Liars obsessive, who has been waiting for the big reveal of ‘A’ to happen FOREVER; I thought it was only fit to do a Pretty Little Liars tag on the blog.

Since 2010, I and half of the world’s population (no exaggeration! I had weekly meetings over coffee with the uni girls to discuss our fury over still not finding out who ‘A’ was) have been waiting for the big reveal of ‘A’ and after six and a half seasons, it has finally happened, the five girls have come #FAceToFace with the villain, who has tortured, stalked and not to mention nearly killed someone every episode, just to prove a point. 

Unfortunately, I now have to wait until January 2016 to find out what is going to happen next to the girls, #5YearsForward, but until then, I thought I would tell you about my thoughts on Pretty Little Liars.

1.  Who is your favourite character?

Emily Fields. Why? As a women with flawless eye make-up at prom and a boohoo clothing style to die for; you’d be mad if Emily Fields wasn’t your favourite as well.

2. What is your one peeve about Pretty Little Liars?

Not finding out, who ‘A’ is until Season 6 Episode 10 but I suppose it keeps us addicts watching every week. I guess, having so many twists and changes of plots made it slightly confusing at times but it was all worth it in the end.

3. What are your essentials for watching Pretty Little Liars?

Cup of tea (or coffee), a few biscuits or breakfast, my pajamas and comfy socks; currently, it is my Wednesday morning treat (until I get a full-time job, anyway).

4. Who is your favourite power couple on the show?

#Haleb. Hanna  + Caleb = #RelationshipGoals

5. Would you recommend Pretty Little Liars to a friend?

Yes! But I would recommend that they watch it when they have a lot of time to spare because it can get slightly addictive, come to think of it.

6. What did you think of the Series 6, Episode 10 mid-season finale?

WHAT A TWIST! I was not expecting that at all and I feel like I got most (not all) my questions from the last six seasons answered but hopefully #5YearsForward will answer the rest.

Are you a Pretty Little Liars addict like myself? What are you thoughts?

- Lauren xo

What has Lauren Marie been up to?

In my previous ramblings, I mentioned that I finished my time at university, graduated (not the official ceremony, I have to wait until November for that) with a First Class Honours in Advertising and enjoyed an unwinding girlie holiday in Portugal. So, to get you really up-to-date I thought I would do a quick run-through of all the things that I have got up to, over the last few months and what excited things are yet to come…

Finishing University  

After all the tight deadlines and the nail-biting experience of giving the two copies of my dissertation to the man to bind and the reality of, if he got it wrong, I would have to reprint 151 pages again (twice!), university was officially over. During my last week in Southampton, I managed to fit in a night out, multiple trips to cute little cafés in Bedford Place with the girls, a day of shopping and too many Selfies to even count… Although, this week was one of the most memorable weeks, I think I will ever have, it was also one of the most emotional weeks; although I knew all of us would keep in touch after uni, it felt strange knowing that we wouldn’t be coming back together for another year of university but I wouldn’t change a thing and I hope these girls will remain in contact with me for a very long time. 

Advertising Girls | Class of 2015 

London Weekend 

To summarize this weekend in one word is extremely difficult because it was one of the best weekend, I’ve had in a long time. During my London weekend, I went to ‘The Making of Harry Potter’ studios in Watford and the Capital Summertime Ball at Wembley Stadium; I went with one of my fellow Heart Angels, Leonie, who is one of the greatest people that you will ever meet (mean girls quote wasn’t intended). Although, we were in and out of London in less than 48 hours, and dealt with the late-night freezing cold Megabus… I couldn’t of asked for a better weekend. 

The Making of Harry Potter, Watford

Seven books, eight films and ten years in the making, it was time I finally visited ‘The Making of Harry Potter’ studios in Watford. What can I say other that, it was definitely worth catching the wrong train and paying a fortune for a taxi ride to the studios…  IT WAS AMAZING! Although, our phone batteries were dead by the end of the day and we took way too many selfies for our phone memories to hold, it was worth the 4am start from little old Devon to the big city. 

Photo opportunities are everywhere at 'The Making of Harry Potter'. 

Capital Summertime Ball, Wembley Stadium

21 artists for £10 – BARGAIN! From One Direction to Olly Murs, Little Mix to Nick Jonas, it is definitely worth every penny and it was an experience I will never forget. Although, I am not a massive One Direction fan, my love for them has certainly grown (quite rapidly) from seeing them at Wembley but Olly Murs and now Little Mix will always be my first love. Again, not to anyone’s surprise… Leonie and myself took too many selfies! 

Selfies, Little Mix and One Direction, what else could you possibly want? 

Albufeira, Portugal 

I have never been to Portugal but I would certainly go back again. It was beautiful and a very memorable vacation indeed; although myself and Eleanor both got this cold/hayfever thing that to this day, we are still both unsure about what it was, it was filled with many cocktails, lots of sun, swimming and a few too many games of Uno (which tested our friendship to say the least). With views that you couldn’t find in the UK and cocktails that made Vodka Revs cocktails look like a squash, it was a holiday that we all enjoyed and allowed us to unwind after three (intense) years at university.

Gorgeous beaches + cocktails + best friends = A HOLIDAY TO REMEMBER!

Graduate Status! 

The 13^th day of July was known as ‘D-Day’ in the Chamberlain household as I woke from a restless nights sleep, to many different messages, emails and snap chats, it was time to find out my fate. Yes, after three crazy, emotional and empowering years at university, I achieved 'First Class Honours in Advertising' status; something I only dreamt of when I first started university in September 2012. I can now officially say “I am an advertising graduate and it is the best feeling in the world!”

You're only an 'Offiical Graduate' when you have too many cards to include in a photograph. 

21^st Birthday Party (not mine, unfortunately, I have a few more weeks to go)

After a month of not seeing the girls, it was back up to Woking for Louise’s 21^st Birthday Party, where I wasn’t only reunited with Louise but Eleanor as well. It was lovely to be reunited with the girls and celebrate not only Louise’s 21^st but all of our First Class Honours' together. 

So, as you can see, I’ve been up to a few exciting things over the last few months and I thought a general overview would fill you in quicker without my endless ramblings about how great One Direction are live, my endless love for Olly Murs and how much I should of been a member of the Harry Potter cast because I looked pretty damn awesome on a broomstick. 

Anyway, what is yet is come is unknown but stick with me folks, exciting things may be right around the corner but we'll just have to wait and see… 

- Lauren xo

Hello Stranger!

Okay, I don’t actually know where to start; maybe starting with an apology is the best idea. I don’t want to dwell on this too much but I would like to apology for my absence over the last four months (I didn’t realize it was that long) but I do feel the need to explain my reason of absence in order for you to understand completely, why my absence was necessary. I thought I was doing really well keeping up with my blog on a regular basis but at the same time, I needed to balance my time between work, a blog and my final year at university, which unfortunately meant my blog suffered for a while (a long while apparently). But although, my time at university has officially come to an end, I am also happy to inform you that I will be graduating university with a First Class Honours in BA (Hons) Advertising; so letting my personal life and blog suffer for a while was definitely worth it, especially to get a grade that I thought I would never achieve at university.  After all my deadlines were handed in, I felt it was time to blow off some steam (as they say) with none other than a girlie holiday to Portugal and I definitely think a break helped in many ways because I got the chance to unwind and gather lots of exciting new content for my blog.

Anyway, with all my work out of the way and the holiday over (unfortunately), I am eager to start blogging again and get on with the job hunt, which isn't going all that well at the moment but I am excited about what the summer and future golds. Only a short post from me today but I really hope you stick with me to check out my new content coming but in the mean time, have a great summer. 

- Lauren xo