May Favourites

Favourites posts are some of my most read and I love reading them too so I thought I'd share with you all my favourites from May... (side note....HOW IS IT JUNE TOMORROW?!)

Spotify has been my go to this month to help my survive revision. I've created the best playlist full of old songs like 'C'est La vie' by Bewitched and 'Keep on Movin' by F!ve. It's so cool that you can access almost unlimited music for free. Ive got the app on my phone but because I don't have premium I can only skip 6 songs at one time which, for a serial skipper like me, is a bit of a negative but forces me to listen to music I wouldn't normally and sometimes I find little treasures such as 'Be Okay' by Oh Honey. 

Specific music favourites this month include Seafret, a band I discovered when i went to see James Bay live a few weeks ago. Their music is very guitar-y and calming, perfect for revision. On the path of guitar-music I'm in love with the new Mumford and Sons song 'Believe' it's a very relaxing song and the video is a timelapse video through London and it makes me quite nostalgic!

Another app I'm loving is Afterlight. With it being last year few days in school we've had a lot of pictures and Afterlight is the perfect app to edit on! I don't tend to use the filters I just adjust the brightness, saturation, contrast, highlights/shadows etc. 

Since finishing Pretty Little Liars which was undoubtedly my favourite Netflix series EVER I was recommended Gogglebox on Channel 4. All I can say is I don't know how I haven't watched it sooner. It is honestly one of the most hilarious shows I've watched in a loooong time. For those of you how don't know what it is, different families across Britain are filmed whilst watching TV and they make comments on what they think as if the cameras weren't there. Who said British TV was cheap? 

Without Pretty Little Liars I've managed to get a little bit of reading done and I'm loving Carrie Hope Fletcher's 'All I Know Now'. Simply put it is a book about the struggles and difficulties most teens face when growing up and tips on how to survive the teenage years. I haven't finished it yet but it is such a good book! 

As I'm writing this the sun is shining down and the sky is clear blue and cloudless which means the summer is here!! It also means getting my legs out which requires silky-smoothness and I've found that with the Vaseline essential moisture Cocoa Radiant lotion. It's a really thick, creamy moisturiser but isn't greasy at all and it dries quickly and the smell of the cocoa is to die for. 

If only you could smell it!

As always, I have food favourites. Slightly strangely, Wheetabix is one of them! I've had it a lot for breakfast recently with strawberries, raspberries and bananas on top and it's the perfect breakfast. It fills me up but it is light and quite healthy too! As it's revision season I've been treating myself a little bit, I've made my red velvet cake a lot (with the help of the lovely Betty Crocker) and it's gone down a treat every time. But  now I'm trying to eat healthily again because I'm really trying to trim up my stomach 

An old beauty favourite is cropping back up this month the L'Oreal Brow Artiste eyebrow pencil. I've discovered a new combination of this and my collection eyebrow powder works quite well it sorting out my eyebrows. However, I STILL CANT MAKE THEM EVEN! 

After reading Niomi's review I purchased another L'Oreal product, the Superstar Mascara with two ends, one white end to lengthen and volumise lashes and the black end to give a dramatic finish. I wasn't too sure about it to begin with but I now really love it for thickening my lashes but it doesn't seem to lengthen them once I've applied the black colour. I've just bought the new Wake Me Up mascara from Rimmel in the bright green bottle and so far I'm liking it for the length but I need to use it for a bit longer to give you all a full review! 

Wand 1 

Wand 2

I've been quite lazy with hair washing because I've been a bit of a social recluse due to revision so I've used a lot of Batiste Dry Shampoo and my current favourite scent is the classic tropical coconut and exotic. I find the scent so refreshing and dry shampoo works so well.

Despite having so much revision, I've managed to keep watching my favourite youtubers and this month Lily Pebbles has been my ultimate favourite. I loved her 'Everyday May' vlogs and I also follow her on snapchat and she seems so lovely! I also still love Hannah, Stef and Gracie as well as the Saccone-Joly's! 

From all the watched signs you can tell I'm a bit addicted!

  

The Michalaks! 

Hello Friends.....

Hope you've enjoyed my favourites from this month.  What have you guys been liking this month???

Thanks for reading 

Charlotte 

XO

Life of a Rower Part 2

So, Life of a Rower is my most read post, probably because to most people rowing is weird (actually it is a bit weird to me too). It's not like football or rugby and is on TV every day, it's a distant sport which is little known about in the 'normal world'. 

For me personally I literally cannot remember a life without rowing and what it felt like NOT to be a rower or to be known as 'the rower'. But I definitely would not have it any other way. Rowing is who I am and is what I do, without it I would definitely be the most boring person ever (I'd also be so fat because I love food too much).

We like to eat 

Now I am coming to the end of my school rowing career I'm so sad. The past two years of rowing especially have been the best years of my life so far. I've met the best people, made friends with people I'd never even meet (Amy) if it wasn't for the power of the internet and the rowing community and I've learnt more about myself every day (wow that was a bit deep sorry!). Don't get me wrong, university is going to be amazing (hopefully) and I'm going to meet even more new people and my rowing will be able to improve so much because I'll be training more and more. But I'm so content in this little bubble of school rowing with the best coaches and crew members that I'm really not ready for this bubble to pop yet.

Admittedly, we're not quite at the end of the season yet, Women's Henley is yet to come as well as other regattas and (hopefully) Home Countries. But with the speed this year has flown by I'm certain the next few weeks will pass by instantly and it makes me so sad.

This season has been a mix of emotions, I won my first single race in September as well as another win in a pair with one of my best friends. Hampton Head was amazing and so surprising to come out with a win in our coxed four which we also won in at Monmouth Winter Head. .Then came Seville Training Camp in April which was amazing and so much fun but again time flew by. Not long after Seville I had a boat names after me. That's right.....AN ENTIRE BOAT. It was a huge honour and complete surprise to have a boat named after me and I'm so thankful for that. But there were also times, such as doing 6x500m on the ergo when my legs were burning, I was close to puking and blacking out when I wondered if it was all worth it. Or when we'd have bad outings in the 8 I'd wonder if some people wanted to win as badly as I did and do (emphasis on wonder, I know everyone was committed!) 

An actual boat named after me!!!

With my (not so)  baby brother

But then came National Schools. The event we'd been training for since September, the 6am wake up calls, blisters, burning legs, exhaustion and fatigue filled days all for two days of racing. I was entered into two events, Championship Girls 8s on Saturday and Championship Girls Coxless fours on Sunday. The time trial and semi final for the 8 both went well but in the final we just didn't deliver, the other boats moved ahead and we didn't go with them which meant we came in 5th. We'd placed 3rd in time trials, third in the semis but when it came to the final we just didn't perform but it did fuel me more for Sunday. My coach often says 'You're only as good as your last race and there was no way I was going to end on that race.

At least the weather was nice....

The next day our time trial didn't go brilliantly and I wasn't filled with a lot of confidence, we were messy and didn't get into the best rhythm but we still qualified and were even given a good lane for our semi final (we must've done something right as we placed 4th!). This then gave us much more confidence and we raced the semi well to get a good lane for the final. This was where the real fight began. We didn't get off to the best start but we stayed calm and didn't panic. This time we did get into a good rhythm and soon we were catching the other crews. For the middle 1km we were in third place and it felt good until the last 500m. The crew next to us pulled back and it was a race to the finish line and unfortunately it was not meant to be. We came 4th by 0.56 seconds. I can hardly put into words how disappointed and distraught we were. I cried and cried and cried (and I definitely should have worn waterproof mascara). The coaches were proud of us, and in hindsight I am too, but in that moment, with other crews cheering around us and showing off their medals the last thing I felt was proud. 

Racing in our time trial, we actually look better than it felt

As we carried the boat back to the trailer we got a lot of strange looks from parents and spectators as I continued to bawl my eyes out in public over what..... a rowing race (come on Charlotte get a grip). But I guess they just did not understand how much rowing means to me/us. When you put so much work into training, missing social events, being constantly tired, pushing yourself to such limits to not get anything to show for it is so unbelievably hard. 

I think this picture sums up my feelings at the finish line 

As we all began to calm down we looked back on the race and our training and in hindsight (oh what a wonderful thing it is) we had done pretty well. Firstly, until that day we'd never raced coxless before which is a big adjustment because coxed and coxless boats are actually very different (coxless boats are very sensitive to every movement you make). We'd also had very few outings coxless as we'd had so many in the 8, we hadn't even been in the four in Seville. To be placed fourth in the country really isn't too shabby. After refuelling with lots of pasta and cake we had some crew pictures and it struck me just how much love and appreciation I have for my crew members. I know each one gave 110% in that final race and I know how upset we all were because we worked so hard but felt we had nothing to show for it. 

The best crew out there

That final race has taught me a lot about myself, how far my body can go when I want something enough, how much rowing means to me, how much harder I'm willing to work to win, how much I love my friends and how lucky I am to be surrounded by so many amazing and lovely people. Racing experience is invaluable in itself and I've learnt a hell of a lot from the past weekend (including wearing sun cream even when it's not that sunny because my body seems to burn ridiculously easy and burnt lips are not what anyone needs in their life). 

I hope by September I am ready to head off to the big wide world of university rowing but until then I'm going to savour every single minute at the boathouse with my favourite people in the world (minus Harry Styles because unfortunately he will not be there).

I hope you enjoyed this post, if you have any questions about rowing please ask me and I'll answer as best as I can!

Thank you so much for reading!

Charlotte 

XO

A little quote from Hannah Maggs' and Stef Michalak's vlog which I really believe in

The Music Tag

I found this little tag whilst scrolling mindlessly through tumblr and it looked fun and as I love music I've decided to try it!

1.) A song you like with a colour in the title

Yellow by Coldplay

2.) A song you like with a number in the title

22 by Taylor Swift

3.) A song that reminds you of summertime

Jubel by Klingande

4.) A song that reminds you of someone you'd rather forget about

Don't Let Me Go by Harry Styles

5.) A song that needs to be played LOUD

Seve byTez Cadey

6.) A song that makes you want to dance

Shake it Off by Taylor Swift

7.) A song to drive to 

Happiness ft MNEK by Chris Malinchak

OR

Style by Taylor Swift

8.) A song about drugs or alcohol

Young, Wild and Free by Snoop Dog & Wiz Khalifa

9.) A song that makes you happy

We Come Running by Youngblood Hawke

10.) A song that makes you sad

Hero by Enrique Iglesias

11.) A song that you never get tired of

Best Song Ever by One Direction 

12.) A song from your pre-teen years

Dilemma by Nelly ft Kelly Rowland 

(a classic you should all thank me for reminding you that it exists) 

13.) One of your favourite 80's songs

Every Breath You Take by Police

14.) A song that you would love played at your wedding

The One by Kodaline

15.) A song that is a cover by another artist

Skinny Love/ the A Team by Hobbie Stuart

(Any cover of his is always flawless)

16.) One of your favourite classical songs

I Giorni by Ludovico Einaudi

 (hands down the most beautiful piece of music I've ever heard)

17.) A song that you would sing a duet with on karaoke 

You're the One that I Want by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John 

18.)A song from the year that you were born (1997)

Barbie Girl by Aqua

(there were some classics released in this year but who doesn't love to hate this song?)

19.) A song that makes you think about life

Nobody's Perfect by Jessie J 

OR 

Let It Go by James Bay

OR

Beautiful Day by U2

20.) A song that has meaning to you

Beautiful to Me by Olly Murs  

OR 

Let It Go by James Bay (again)

21.) A favourite song with a person's name in the title

Hey There Delilah by Plain White Ts

22.) A song that moves you forward

Rather Be by Clean Bandit ft Jess Glynne 

OR 

Changes by Faul

OR 

Wake Me Up by Avicii

23.) A song that you think everybody should listen to

Wait by M83 (Kygo Remix)

OR

Raconte Moi Une Histoire by M83 

(it's quite odd but I really love it)

24.) A song by a band you wish were still together

Greatest Day- Take That 

(yes I know there are three of them but it's not the same)

OR

Bring it All Back by S Club 7 

25.) A song by an artist no longer living

Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen (Freddie Mercury RIP)

26.) A song that makes you want to fall in love

Photograph or Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran

OR

Day One by Hobbie Stuart

OR
Once in a Lifetime by Landon Austin

OR 

Just Be by Paloma Faith

27.) A song that breaks your heart

A Thousand Years (part 2) by Christina Perri

28.) A song by an artist with a voice that you love

Let it Go  by James Bay 

(or just anything by James Bay) 

29.) A song that you remember from your childhood

5,6,7,8 by Steps

AND 

Keep on Movin by F!ve

30.) A song that reminds you of yourself 

Night Changes by One Direction 

OR 

High Hopes by Kodaline

So from writing this I have discovered the following: I love James Bay and Let It Go is my favourite ever song, I was born in a pretty cool year of music, there was so much amazing music released when I was younger, I listen to waaay too many love songs (I'm a romantic I can't help it!) and I have a general obsession with music.

I hope this little post brings back memories for some of you and for others you've hopefully found a few new songs you like! 

Thanks for reading!

Charlotte

XO

My Summer Bucketlist

As my first exam begins to cast a shadow over my life I seem to constantly be thinking towards summer. So I thought I'd put down in writing exactly what I want to do/achieve this summer just in case anyone needed inspiration or has any other suggestions! Enjoy!

1. Spend endless days in London exploring and relaxing in parks 
2. Go on lots of walks with friends and a picnic
3. Have the best time in South Africa and not worry about anything
4. Learn how to cook more food in preparation for uni
5. Go to the beach 
6. Make my own ice cream
7. Go on a few road trips
8. Go to the zoo
9. Make lemonade 
10. Get a tattoo/my belly button pierced
11. Go to an outdoor cinema
12. Do yoga outside every morning
13. Read more
14. Go camping and have a big campfire 
15. Slide the City 
16. Learn a new skill 
17. Go on a day trip to Paris
18. Meet new people
19. Go stargazing and stay out all night (I'll probably do this in South Africa)
20. Have a movie marathon with my friends on a rainy day, preferably Disney
21. Go to a carnival
22. Go to a festival
23. Watch the sunrise (again this will probably be in South Africa)
24. Feel confident in myself
25. Have a water balloon fight
26. Go horse riding more
27. Bake more
28. Stay healthy
29. Get a job 
30. Take lots of pictures and document everything that happens

I'm sure there's much more I want to do but right now I have to revise for my first exam tomorrow! Wish me luck! Any more summer recommendations will be greatly appreciated! 

Thanks for reading!

Charlotte

XO

Taking a Break

Hi Everyone! 

Hope you're all well and if you've got exams that you're not too stressed! The same can't be said for me as my stress levels are sky high which I why I haven't posted in two weeks and I won't be posting this week and likely the week after that too! I'm sorry and it sucks because I really love writing but my exams have to take priority or I won't be going to uni :( I promise to be back bigger and better after my exams though. I'll have so much free time that I'll be writing so much more!!!! 

Speak soon!!!! 

Charlotte xo