Dear Thirty Year Old Me

Dear thirty year old me, 

Well, 17 year old me isn't really sure where to begin....

I feel like I should start from where I am heading soon...university. I don't feel old enough to be going to university, it feels like only last week I was starting secondary school. Anyway, I hope university, wherever you ended up, was amazing. I hope you made the most of it, making new friends, rowing (of course) and gained so much experience from it. Knowing you it took you a while to settle in and feel comfortable in new surroundings with strangers but I'm sure you took it all in your stride. I'm sure there are moments that you'd rather forget ever happened but I know there are hundreds that you'd love to relive.

I don't know what you did after uni, whether you decided to continue studying or you got a job but I hope you enjoyed it. Right now I have no idea what to do after university. I am fully aware of what I enjoy (and what I don't) but I have no clue about exactly what it is that I want to do. Don't worry though, I'm not panicking just yet! I really hope that you are happy in what ever you are doing now, a psychologist,  a rowing coach, a stay-at-home mum, anything. 

I guess I hope you've settled down by now. I know for many people a family isn't a priority but for me it always has been. I really really hope he treats you well whoever he is, I hope he treats you how you deserve and spoils you. Perhaps you even have children by now? I know you'll be a good mum. If you don't, there's no need to worry, everything happens when it is meant to.

One thing I do hope is that you haven't stopped is rowing, Lets be honest, we were never really that good at sport! But finding rowing was possibly the best thing that has happened to us so far, it is one of the things that keeps me going, when school is stressful I'll just sweat it out. I don't blame you if you've reduced the intensity of training but I'm sure you're still keeping active, even if it is because it allows you to eat all the chocolate (you have ALWAYS had a sweet tooth!). 

On the topic of rowing, you must have stayed in contact with some of the rowers at least? They are a second family to me and (so far) they are probably some of the best people I have met. You mustn't have forgotten some of your school friends though, they've been with you through thick and thin. I realise you will have many new friends, but please keep in touch with the old ones! If you haven't do it now. Message them on Facebook, or whatever new social network there is! It is always good to reminisce. 

To say that I love One Direction right now is probably an understatement and as much as I really hope that they're still together, who knows what happens in 13 years? If they are I'm sure you still love them and I'm sure you'll still be getting teased about it to this day! But who cares right? I can only wonder what Harry's hair looks like, or how many new tattoos they all have and what their new music is like! 

I guess the main point of this letter, thirty year old me, is that I hope you're happy. A lot of people have told you to stand up for yourself more because you just accept what people have to say too often. Don't let people get the better of you because YOU are the most important person. If you're not happy I know there are people who surround you, friends and family, who love you dearly. Including me. 

Much Love

Charlotte

XO

*This is a very different post and it took a very long time to write. Please give me some feedback in the comments because I'd love to know what you all think! 

Happiness is Rowing

I can't quite believe we are already in October! I've been at school now for over a month and despite not knowing what it feels like to not be tired I'm really enjoying it. I feel like I'm progressing in my subjects and I'm working so hard (that's why I haven't posted a lot recently, sorry!). Rowing is going so well too, training is tiring and difficult and I'm working harder than ever before and already I feel I'm seeing results which makes me so happy. I've also been helping to coach our new 'Freshers' which I'm enjoying so much, I may have found my possible career path!? I've been going out in the launch boat with one of my coaches and he's been giving me control of the megaphone and giving me little tips on what to tell the rowers which has been so helpful. Every time I leave the boathouse I have the biggest smile on my face and I drive home with the music blaring. It is 100% my favourite place on Earth. Being in the launch gives me a different perspective and watching people rowing, even amateurs, shows how beautiful this sport is. 

We had our first race this year, Monmouth Autumn Head and we were in all three divisions. The course was 2.3km on our home water and I was in a pair with my best friend, Emma, then a single before a mixed four. I was so excited for our pair race because we'd had two really good outings after not being in a pair since April! we had a strong, consistent race and I really felt the pushes and I heard the trickle along the boat, showing we had a good distance per stroke.

 Then, after a very short break it was time for my single which I was slightly more nervous about. I still didn't know the results of out pair race and I hadn't had the best outing the day before. However, my paddle to the start was very calm and I felt technically pretty good. Again, I had a solid race and I felt I raced harder than I had ever done before. I even heard the commentator say I was 'Sculling very nicely' as I crossed the finish line, despite not really being able to breathe! 

I love this because I can finally see muscle definition! 

Finally, came the four and I feel the less said about this race the better. We were a completely scratch mixed crew with some J16s who haven't had as much experience as the seniors. At stroke I was rushed up the slide and our balance wasn't the best. It kind of put a dampner on my day after having two amazing races and then finishing on a bad one. 

However, we went to check the results board to find out Emma and I had won the pair and I'd won my single! It was the first singles race I've ever won and I was so happy, I couldn't actually believe it at first. I had to get three people to check that I wasn't seeing things. As expected our four came last!

Unfortunately I'm on a fieldtrip when the rest of the club is attending Reading Small Boats Head and I'm so sad because I'm missing so much training in addition to missing such a lovely event and not being able to support the team! One of my coaches already said that they're sad I'm not going to be there and that made me feel even worse! :( 

I'm slightly concerned I'll lose some of my fitness or power but I'm going to go on daily runs, keep doing my core and maybe even throw in some squats, lunges etc. 


The rest of the year looks very promising, on the water, at the boathouse and in the classroom so I'm very excited. I just hope the next few months go as well as September has!

I hope your September has gone well! What are your hopes for the remainder of this year? 

Much Love

Charlotte

XO

Keeping It Brief

Being back at school has left me with little time for much else without depriving myself of sleep so this post is just a brief one to keep all my lovely readers interested! Enjoy! 

• Making: progress
• Cooking: healthier
• Drinking: lots of water
• Reading: textbooks
• Wanting: money and peace
• Looking: for a job and someone
• Playing: Fireproof- One Direction
• Deciding: on university choices
• Wishing: people didn't fight
• Enjoying: rowing and being with my friends
• Waiting: for autumn and Christmas!
• Liking: being back with all my friends
• Wondering: too many things
• Loving: my friends
• Pondering: over life and all its options
• Considering: gap year vs uni
• Watching: youtubers!
• Hoping: to do well this year
• Marvelling: Over the beauty of some lyrics 
• Needing: more clothes and make up
• Smelling: Black Opium by YSL 
• Wearing: Training kit and school uniform
• Following: the path ahead
• Noticing: I don't need to care what people think of me
• Knowing: I can do it 
• Thinking: about a lot
• Feeling: pretty darn happy 
• Admiring: beauty 
• Sorting: my life out
• Buying: nothing due to lack of money
• Getting: excited for what lies ahead
• Bookmarking: peoples blogs and furniture 
• Disliking: rude people and boasters 
• Opening: the most recent Rowing&Regatta magazine
• Giggling: with my friends
• Feeling:  excited but nervous for the future! 

Hope this wasn't too boring for you all! I'm loving blogging and i feel so guilty if I don't write anything for a long time! I have got a very exciting post planned which I hope to write this weekend! 

Thanks for reading!

Much Love

Charlotte

XO

Rowing Update!

Hi everyone! Thought I'd fill you in with a little rowing update! As I mentioned in my 'Life of a Rower' post I trialled for Wales in April and I've got a seat in the Women's junior coxed four and the eight for Home International Regatta this weekend! The four is my old J16 four and it feels so good to be back together! We've been training so hard and had a few wobbles and disappointing sessions but we're all so happy with how the boat is moving now. 

The eight, however, is a completely different crew comprised of girls from Kings School, Chester. Two weeks ago I went to Chester to meet them and bond with them and to try and gel as a crew. Being the only new girl in the boat was quite daunting when I arrived but thankfully a cox from my club accompanied me which made me feel a little less awkward! I was put at three but as the boat is tandem rigged I was on stroke side, opposite to my usual bow side! For the first session I was fine, we did eyes closed/eyes open and some high rate exercises e.g. half slide for 10 strokes then keep the rate up and go to full slide for 10. The next day we did more of the same, gelling as a crew and enjoying being back in an 8. However, my hands began to not enjoy the outing as much as I was and soon enough I had a large blood blister (the most unattractive thing I've ever seen) on my right hand. As I'm accustomed to bow side, altering my hands was challenging, instead of using the outside (left) hand to pull the blade in I was using my inside hand as on bow side that is my outside hand. The result of this was numerous open, painful blisters that made squaring/feathering rather difficult. 

With copious amounts of electrical tape I contiued to train with the girls. We managed to fit in some sightseeing (Chester is such a pretty place) and a lovely picnic by the river on the last day. Our last outing was going to be 500m pieces to practice the 2k. However an invisible log in the water had other ideas and decided to remove our fin before we had finished our warm up. This meant a 30 minute spin bike, 3mins @ steady state followed by 1min @ a higher gear and faster pace. It was a dramatic way to end the trip!

Now with four days to go until race day it's safe to say I'm getting nervous. We have no idea how good the competition are going to be and how we compare. I think we can be sure that we'll have a fight on our hands. I'm fed up of not getting a medal despite training so hard so fingers crossed this additional hard work will pay off! 

Thank you for reading this week's post. I'll update you on how we get on sometime next week after a day or two of continuous sleep as I know i'm going to be shattered! 

Much Love

Charlotte

xo

May Favourites!

Hello everybody! As we are now into June and supposedly summer (although the weather outside says differently) I thought I would share with you what my favourite things have been throughout the month of May!

Firstly, makeup favourites. I have been loving the RealTechniques Core Collection brushes. Obviously I'm quite late to the bandwagon on this but I adore the pointed foundation brush and the buffing brush. My previous foundation brush always left the foundation feeling thick and heavy on my skin but now with the RealTechniques brush application is a lot lighter.

 For my eyes I decided to try out Rimmel London Scandaleyes Rockin' Curves mascara. I've been in love with the standard Scandaleyes since it came out so I was excited to try the new version. The Rockin' Curves brush is different to the Scandaleyes brush as it is curved (as it's name suggests.....genius) and application is less clumpy and leaves my lashes long and defined with just the right amount of volume. It also works a treat on my bottom lashes, making them appear longer and thicker. I love the thinness of the wand at the tip too as it makes reaching the smaller lashes in the corner of my eyes so much easier without getting mascara all around! I think for my lashes the standard Scandaleyes provides more volume but the Rockin' Curves gives less clumps and considerably longer lashes. 

Rockin' Curves wand

Scandaleyes wand

My favourite nail colour at the moment is from the Barry M Gelly Shine collection in 'Green Berry'. When applied it comes out as a minty/turquoisey green. It is perfect for summer and makes me look slightly more tanned (anything that makes me seem less pale is always a favourite of mine!). Generally I use two coats to get even coverage but once on it really does shine, it is such a pretty, vibrant colour and is definitely my go-to shade for summer! 

Now onto my favourite part....food! I've been really trying to be healthy recently and so I've cut back on chocolate, cookies etc and turned to Jordans Frusli bars. My favourite is currently the apples & sultanas with a hint of cinnamon (I'm a sucker for anything with cinnamon) but I also love the Juicy Red Berries too! They're just the right size to leave me satisfied but with less guilt than a chocolate bar! 

I've eaten out multiple times at Pizza Express last month and each time I had the Pomodoro Pesto with added chicken. To start with I adore pizza but add pesto, chicken and additional Parmesan and it tastes like heaven in my mouth (I'm not even joking!). The Mozzarella and Tomato salad (with pesto) is also so so delicious, I highly recommend it.

 I also had a meal out for the Rowers Ball where I had Goats Cheese crostini which was delightful and followed that with a huge filo basket with beans and vegetables and a gorgeous salad. To finish was lemon cheesecake but it was a little too much and I couldn't finish it! 

The glorious crostini

Cheesecake!

Even though I said I was cutting back on unhealthy foods I did make my heavenly (if I do say so myself) white chocolate and raspberry brownies. They're always popular when I take them to rowing events so naturally I made them (four tins to be exact) for National Schools and they went down a treat. I may do a blog  post on how to make them (if I'm feeling kind and want to share my secrets). 

Don't they look delightful!

Music wise I recently discovered Fred V & Graphics- Major Happy and it has been my go-to song if I've been feeling down as it instantly lifts my mood (hence the name) and it's also perfect for when I workout. Another favourite of mine this month has been Take Me Home by Cash Cash ft Bebe Rexha, like Major Happy it really cheers me up and I have a feeling it will feature heavily on my summer playlist! I'm being 100% serious when I say I had it on repeat for three days solid. THREE DAYS. 

Sam Smith has been one of my favourite artists for a while now and I have fallen in love with 'Make It To Me'. His voice resembles what I can only imagine an heaven might sound like. And of course One Direction and 5 Seconds of Summer have been in my top plays this month, not only because I love them both dearly but because I'm going to the Where We Are tour on Saturday (a blog post will definitely follow). 

Due to exams and revision I haven't had a chance to watch a great deal of TV but of course I've been watching Made in Chelsea on catch-up when I've had time. Tyger-Drew Honey's new series about teenage life has been so interesting as it's nice to see things from a male perspective. Often I feel I get wrapped up in how difficult it is being a teenage girl in today's society but I realise it is also challenging to be a boy too (although I think girls still have it harder... No bias there I promise!).

I hope you enjoyed seeing what I loved during May, I'd love to know what you've been loving this past month so let me know in the comments and feel follow me, would be much appreciated and I'll definitely follow back!

Much Love

Charlotte

xo