Giving Up

Giving up is difficult. Whether it is a bad habit such as nail biting (I'm the worst for it), eating chocolate or swearing to more serious addictions such as drugs and alcohol. It's tough. Many times have I declared I'm giving up chocolate to find myself 4 days later eating a bar of Dairy Milk. It is difficult to stop doing something that has become part of your lifestyle and who you are. But that is what I use Lent for. 

First of all though, I'm not going to pretend that I'm super religious because I'm not. Yes I celebrate Christmas, Easter and Lent but I don't go to church other than for school occasions. You may then wonder, if I'm not overly religious then why do I take part in Lent (which starts tomorrow FYI)?  Well, Lent comes just over a month after New Years and so if I've fallen behind on any of my New Years resolutions, it is a time to get back on track. I guess I also use it as an excuse to stop doing something I've been wanting to do for a while and haven't had the motivation to. You may also wonder what exactly it is that I want to give up this year but I'm not actually going to tell you.  

I realise now that I've lured you into reading this post and I'm not actually telling you anything. The issue is that I've told people what I'm giving up before and then I've failed and it's kind of embarrassing. By keeping it a secret I am only challenging myself and it's not a competition with other people. I'm determined not to give up this year, I know I am my own worst enemy and my biggest rival but I'm going to try to overcome myself and complete Lent for once! 

I think being over-competitive with other people is my biggest weakness because I often forget about what I'm doing and focus too much on what they're doing. I know I'm not the only one who does this, and it isn't just in competing but in life in general. We focus too much on other people's opinions and what they do that we forget to take care of ourselves and do what we want.

I realise that, once again, I am digressing from the real point of this post but I believe if we all took more time to ourselves to just relax and enjoy whatever we enjoy, everyone would be happier.

So, next time you have to make a decision that involves other people, why not be a little selfish about it. I honestly believe everyone has to be just a little selfish because otherwise we would never get what we actually want and spend our lives pleasing other people. 

Are you planning on giving up anything for lent? Let me know in the comments! If so, STAY STRONG AND KEEP GOING! It's only 40 days!! Good Luck! 

Much Love

Charlotte

XO

Apocalips Lip Lacquer // Review

Now, when it comes to lip colour I tend to keep it simple because I'm scared of looking odd with a big bold colour on my lips. I never buy that many lipsticks or glosses because I'm worried I'll be wasting my money on a product that won't suit me. 

However, I recently bought two of the Rimmel London Lip Lacquers. I realise I'm a bit late to the party as these have been out for a while but I've only just plucked up the courage to try some! I bought Celestial which is a lovely simple, quite natural looking pink and also a matte velvet called Meteoric Matte which is a gorgeous dark berry/burgundy. 

I've wanted Celestial for a while and I'm so happy I bought it because I know I'll wear it a lot because it is such a usable colour. The matte velvet was quite a bold move for me but I'm very pleased I chose it because it is a really beautiful colour and I think it quite suits my skin tone! 

Celestial 

The application of these lacquers I find is so easy and the staying power of both is amazing. I tested mine during a stay at home day so I was eating and drinking but they still stayed on fairly well. With Meteoric Matte especially, because it is quite dark, you do have to be careful when applying on the top lip as I've got some on my skin before and it turns out it is quite difficult to get off as it stains the skin a little. However that's nothing a little concealer won't solve. I have also got some on my top teeth numerous times (god knows how!?) but it comes off so easily. 

Meteoric Matte

My only issue with this product is actually sue to my own clumsiness because I've managed to get some on my clothes already (I'm such a messy person). Hopefully it'll come out in the wash but water on its own wasn't good enough to get it off straight away! 
Overall though I highly recommend these lip products for anyone and everyone and I really want to buy more. What are your favourite colours from this collection?

Much Love

Charlotte 

XO

P.s I will get some pics of them soon! 
EDIT: pics are up! 

Teamwork

As the awful January weather started to set in, river sessions were taken over by land sessions of circuits, running, interval training and ergos. So to try and keep training enjoyable the coaches mixed it up a bit.

One session in particular has stayed in my memory. We completed a strength and conditioning circuit and were then told to get into teams and prepare for an 8km team ergo. The thought of this got me less than excited because usually when we do team ergos each team gets so competitive and caught up in the moment that we almost focus too much on beating the person next to us and not focusing on our own technique, control and setting a good rhythm. I also worry so much about letting the team down.

But this time was different. Before our coach had even set us off we encouraged each other to just compete with yourself because at the end of the day we're all going to be in the same boat. Then, from the word 'GO' we just focused on what we were each doing, and how each of us could help our team.

I set off for my team first and everyone was cheering for me, meaning I felt so supported. The music blaring around the gym was mixed with cheers, praise and encouragement to spur each other on. To the outside of lacrosse players and hockey players we probably looked insane and slightly strange. But, on the inside we were a team trying to get the best out of everyone until the metre count hit 0. 

I know that each team and each individual gave their all, and while I was so happy that the team I was on came in 1st, I was more glad of how much effort everyone had put in. As Captain I've been really trying to get everyone, including the younger members of the club, to gel together and become a team. Looking around the gym as we'd all finished the 8km I felt so proud of the teamwork we'd all shown. 

The following week we were unleashed from the restraints of the ergo and played game after game of benchball. Now, rowers are not know for their hand-eye coordination and are often useless at ball games. But many of us were surprisingly good at it. I'd never played before but the aim was relatively simple so I just ran and pounced on the ball as much as I could. Half way through the first game it was clear to see a lot of people tiring and with no breaks, just constant running, it wasn't surprising. This was when the team aspect really kicked in. The sports hall was full of the noise and echo of squeaking trainers but more importantly, of cheers. That is one of the highlights of my year so far and I really think it is something that will stay in my memory when I leave the club. 

I believe teamwork is essential and unavoidable throughout life. But I wasn't always the greatest team player. In class I was too shy to contribute so I let everyone else do the work or as I got a bit more confident I would get fed up of people not doing it how I wanted it to be done and would just takeover completely. But being a member of a team where you need everyone to give 110% has taught me what it really means to be a team player. You have to support and help each other through every challenge you face, you can't be selfish and you have to listen to what people have to say. 

Whenever we go out on the water we always have a debrief after to discuss what went well and what needs improving because we value and respect each others opinion. If someone is injured we will literally carry them to a chair to rest. Of course, we don't always get on and there are sometimes little conflicts but I think if we agreed on everything it would be weird and something definitely wouldn't be right. The fact that we always make up afterwards shows we really are a team. Lets just hope this team makes it to the podium of the Champ 8s at National Schools in May!

This teamwork took us to win gold this weekend at Hampton Head in the WJ18 4+ category and I was so happy I cried. We also did so well in the 8, coming 4th so I'm so happy and determined that, as a team, we can make it!

Much Love 

Charlotte 

XO

Keeping it Brief / 7

So I have slight writers block and so until I can think of something better to write I'll leave you lovely lot with this! 

Making 
Toast with strawberry jam

Cooking

PIZZAAA

Drinking 

Orange, lemon and pineapple squash

Reading

textbooks, tweets and more textbooks

Wanting 

Time to stop moving so fast

Looking 

Forward to Seville training camp

Playing

Benchball, possibly the most enjoyable game ever

Deciding 

What to do

Wishing 

I didn't bite my nails 

Enjoying 

Training

Waiting

for warmer summer days

Liking

Trying new things

Loving 

Silent Witness

Pondering 

On the best way to revise

Watching 

Best of Me (my new favourite film! I highly recommend it)

Hoping

To be happy 

Needing

A back massage

Wearing

My onesie because it's so cosy

Noticing 

How many amazing people I'm surrounded by

Knowing 

I need to work hard 

Thinking 

About uni choices and life 

Feeling

Proud 

Admiring

Harry Styles 

Sorting 

The pictures on my wall

Buying 

FOOD

Bookmarking 

Nike kit I want for summer

Disliking 

RAIN

Opening  

UCAS emails 

(still, one more to go. Fingers crossed!)

Giggling

Watching Celebrity Juice

That's this weeks Keeping it Brief. I hope you're all enjoying these! 

Much Love

Charlotte

XO

Things that make me HAPPY :)

I did these little posts for a few weeks when I first started by blog but I've decided to do them at random whenever I feel happy...

YSL Black Opium
Friends
Kind strangers
Being appreciated
Rowing
Burt's Bees Peppermint and Rosemary body wash
Tumblr
The Saccone-Joly's Disney Vlogs
The thought of Spring and little lambs
Orange and Mango squash
Not being ill anymore 
Emma Watson
Colouring in (childish as it sounds you should try it!) 

What made you happy today? 

Much Love

Charlotte

XO

January Favourites

January has been a month of trying new things! Its safe to say I've really enjoyed it so here are some of my favourite things this month!

After running out of the Simple Kind to Skin Replenishing Rich Moisturiser I purchased the Garnier Mattifying Face Cream. The first thing I noticed about this was the scent of it which was quite fresh and actually a nice surprise when I put it on. I chose the mattifying one because I do get quite oily skin and I think I have noticed a subtle difference in the oilyness of my skin, as the day progresses my skin does appear less oily! 

My Zoella makeup bag was one of my favourite birthday presents as it is so spacious to fit my daily essentials in but it is also such a bright happy colour. I also have serious eyebrow envy! 

I mentioned in a previous favourites my love and adoration for the EOS lip balms. Winter has not been kind to my skin or lips, especially since being ill. Luckily I was given another Sweet Mint balm for Christmas because I've been using this repetitively. I really want to try some of the other scents/flavours so let me know your recommendations! 

Ever since I was a young girl I wanted long hair that would cover my boobs so I could be like Ariel and now my hair is almost down to my waist and I love it. But I've decided it's too long now and managing it is so tedious. So I've decided to cut it by about 3-4inches. But I've been trying to make the most of it for the last month so I bought some velvet bows from New Look and I LOVE them. I think they have quite a 'preppy' look and they're so so cute. I've also been so impressed by my Hair2Day Straightners which are specifically for long, thick hair (ironic now I'm having it cut!). They straighten my hair quickly and easily whilst leaving a really soft, smooth, silky finish. I think the silky finish has been helped by a new Elvive Shampoo and Conditioner. When I first used it, I applied the shampoo and washed it out but my hair felt like normal. Then, I put the conditioner in and my jaw just dropped. I have honestly never felt hair so smooth and silky in my life, I can't recommend it more! 

My scent for this month is YSL Black Opium. I first smelt this before Christmas and fell head over heels in love with it, I sprayed it onto a little card and kept it for weeks until the smell faded. I put it on my Christmas AND birthday list. When I didn't open it at Christmas I waited and finally unwrapped it on my birthday. It is the only thing I have worn since and I'm so in love with it! 

Another gift I unwrapped on my birthday was the Urban Decay Naked palette and I was ecstatic. I've wanted it for so so long and I've used it every time I go to an event or out for a meal. My favourite shades are Naked which I think is a really nice base, Half-Baked which is such a lovely gold sparkle/shimmer and Toasted which is more of a rose-gold shimmer.I can't wait to experiment more with this palette and  it has spurred me to buy more and more makeup. 

Non-makeup favourites of this month include The Only Way Is Essex (please don't judge me) and Silent Witness. I realise these two programmes completely contrast each other but I love them both. TOWIE is so entertaining and I actually really love the makeup that some of the girls wear (when it's not too orange). Silent Witness is so gripping and I find it so interesting. I'm always trying to guess what's happened but I rarely get it right!

I've been trying to be healthier this month and I've definitely cut back on chocolate but I think I've compromised chocolate for sugar because I've been drinking copious amounts of orange, orange and mango or orange, lemon and pineapple squash. The third one may sound slightly strange but it is delicious and so refreshing.

How has your January been? Any favourites that I should try out? 

Much Love

Charlotte

XO