Festival Essentials

The days are getting longer and festival season is just around the corner which excites me so much! My friends and I bought tickets to Global Gathering the other day and Bristol's Love Saves the Day is in just two weeks, so I thought it was about time we started thinking about what to pack for those field days and decided to put together a little Festival Essentials list for you all. I know half the fun of festivals is getting muddy and dancing, rain or shine, with a beer in hand, but there are a certain few luxuries I can't live without when I'm living outdoors. Carry on reading to see what I'll be packing this year...

Wellies: Goes without saying really. With thousands of people dancing in a field it's gunna get muddy whether there's rain or not. And let's face it, if there's one thing that completes any festival outfit it's a pair of wellies!

Phone Juice Pack: There's nothing more annoying than when your phone runs out of juice and you have no way of charging it, especially if you're using it to take all your photos. You can pick up a battery pack pretty cheap off Amazon these days so you'd be silly not to take one really.

Pac-a-Mac: Let's be realistic about this - it doesn't matter how good the weather man says it's going to be... we live in England, so unless you're lucky enough to get to a festival abroad this summer make sure you pack your mac! Cath Kidston do some seriously cute ones.

Body Spray: To keep you feeling and smelling fresh take a bottle of body spray. It'll be your shower in a bottle for those couple of days and Victoria's Secret do some really amazing smelling body mists that have serious lasting power.

Alcohol Pouches: Most festivals prohibit glass bottles to be carried onsite so stock up on some handy pouch containers for your drinks. Asda sell Eco-Refillable pouches of vodka for a reasonable price, which are much easier and lighter to pack than bottles.

Compact Mirror: An obvious but easily forgotten item that you will be so grateful for. I once went to a festival and was the only girl who had remembered to pack a mirror... needless to say I was very popular that weekend! 

Eye Mask: I know festivals aren't for sleeping but when you finally roll into your tent at 4am after a whole day/night of raving I'm sure you'll appreciate those extra hours once the sun has made its 6am appearance. 

Dry Shampoo: An absolute festival essential. It may not compare to a proper hair wash but it's a bloody good substitute to tidy you over til' you get home. 

Disposable Camera: If you don't want to take your  phone/camera then pop in a disposable to capture some of those memories. They aren't going to be the best quality but it's better than the risk of losing or water damaging your £200 camera...

Anti-Bac: Another festival staple that you shouldn't go without. It's one thing being dirty but it's another thing being unhygienic, especially after using those portaloos. Ew. 

Wet Wipes: Another attempt to make you feel fresh on those shower absent days. Also great for cleaning off the mud!

Loo Roll: Don't rely on those loos to supply you with the luxury of loo roll. There might be some in the first 10 minutes of the first day but after that you will be grateful you took your own!

I'm sure there are many more essentials that I have forgotten, so feel free to add them in the comment box below. 

Are you going to any festivals this summer?

The Pursuit of Happiness

Since getting back from the most ridiculously incredible four months of my life, living out of a backpack around some of the most beautiful countries in the world, it's been an interesting task adjusting back to the real, and far less sunny world. Of course I have loved being reunited with all of my friends and family, and coming home ready for the birth of my beautiful baby niece was the best homecoming gift, but aside from the welcome home parties and baby cuddles there have been days when I've been sat at home watching my tan fade (which by the way is more dull than watching paint dry) and it's been difficult not to get sucked into the big travel-shaped hole that's been left in my life. And I feel guilty even writing that as I know I am unbelievably lucky to even have seen and experienced some of the things I did (and at my age too!), but there is no denying that the spontaneity of travelling can give you a slightly tarnished view of the 'normal life'. So in order to lift my spirits between the endless job applications and reorganising of my wardrobes, I have ensured that time has been taken out of my day to enjoy the little perks of home life. They may not quite compare to lying on a tropical island or hiking through glaciers, but considering these cost just a fraction of the price, they don't do a bad job.

• A good cuppa cha. In the biggest, bowl-like mug you can find.
• A fresh batch of ultra gooey brownies. Tutorial for some particularly indulgent badboys coming soon!
• A crisp, unopened glossy (along with that staple cuppa).
• Starting a new book. If you can't be in a Utopian far away land, then why not imagine you are?
• A hot bubbly bath. Aaaaand relax.
• Some exercise. No matter how much you don't want to do it, you know it'll make you feel better in the long run (pardon the pun).
• A ruthless clear out. Clear space, clear mind and all that. You'll be shocked at how much you find that you no longer want/use - why not stick it up on Ebay/Depop and earn yourself some pennies at the same time?!
• An iTunes revamp. Get some upbeat, positive tunes on there and blast them out at all times of day.