20 FACTS ABOUT ME

I have seen this "tag" going around at the moment over many blogs and being the nosey sod that I am, I love reading them and finding out about peoples lives. I thought I would give it a whirl and think up 20 fun facts about my life. This literally took me so long! Hope you enjoy and feel free to leave responses to your twenty facts below.

1. I have lived in a flat which Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles has also stayed in

2. I don't know how to burp  

3. I have never died my hair  

4. I have met the Cheeky Girls  

5. My 18th birthday was on 2012 2012  

6. My family used to own a hotel and we lived in the apartment downstairs  

7. Potato is my favourite food  

8. My nickname is 'penguin' (long story)  

9. I have saved someone's life  

10. I've never broken a bone in my body (touch wood)  

11. I have seen over thirty five artists live (including Rihanna twice, Jessie J and Tinie Tempah)  

12. I have stood in the crater of a volcano in Italy  

13. 11 is my lucky number  

14. I used to hate any sort of "fizzy" drink  

15. My mum has performed in a circus  

16. I have a fear of baby wipes (don't ask)  

17. I once phoned the police whilst sleep walking  

18. I have taken part in a French exchange  

19. I once knocked out a tooth whilst on a climbing frame when I was a child  

20. I have never watched or read any of the or Twilight saga or Lord of the Rings

ON BUDGET

I am now officially on budget. Like I mentioned in a previous post, I now have very little money from a lack in work shifts and having to pay for a holiday. I have always been one of those people who haven't really had too worry about money as I am good at saving it and putting it away to collect dust. However lately, I have had to use my card sooo much on birthdays, petrol, christmas present and going out and my bank account as quickly deteriorating and I now have next to nothing :( That's why from now one, I am going on a spending ban. I am only going to go out if it is a proper occasion (such as a birthday), I'm not going to buy any unnecessary things and I am going to stop spending money on food. I have managed to get alot more shifts at work so I am going to prioritize that over going out. It's going to be hard but I do need the money not only for my holiday but uni too.

photograph source - Tumblr (samstapley)

HEELED BOOTS

I have been looking for some heeled boots now for so long! I have been searching around and I really like the ones from Topshop. However the problem is, they are just too expensive for my little pocket! I don't really have a big budget at the moment (due to a lack in work shifts and having to fork out for a holiday). Never the less, here are my favourite shoes for the boot collection from Topshop. Here are the links for them. Number 1, 2, 3 and 4. 

I want a pair in which I can wear everyday but still be comfortable to keep on all day. I really love the studded detailing on the first pair and I think it is perfect for this seasons style. However, I prefer the heel on the last pair and I think I could pair the brown pair with more outfits. They are only £45 as well which isn't too bad at all. I know they are not suitable for everyday, but how nice are these pointed boots!? For £70 they are definitely out of my price range but I would still love to buy them and wear them on a night out. The colour of them is so pretty! 

I'VE BEEN LIVING OFF...

Being the new year and all that, I am ready to again start my health kick! Last January I lost just over a stone and managed to keep it off throughout the whole of 2012. However in December of 2012 with"christmas" eating and everything I did put back on a few pounds! I am determined to lose it again this year as I have many events coming up in which I want to feel 'good' in my body including holidays, year 13 prom and starting university. 

I wouldn't say I overeat at all and I am not overweight at all so I have never really one to probably 'diet'. However I do want to start eating alot more healthier. Lately, I haven't been eating as healthily as I could do with a cheeky Mcdonalds here and there and I need to stop snacking! Therefore, to help me lose weight I have decided to cut out any unnecessary eating and unhealthy snacking. So if I get hungry during the day, this is what I live on! I have always been a tea drinker and that will never stop, but my new addiction is cherries! The are so yummy and one of your five a day so it is the best of both worlds. Obviously, I don't just eat and drink this. I do have a balanced meals throughout the day. I never skip breakfast, I believe in it being 'the most important meal of the day'.

Copyright of photograph ©

KAVOS 2013

Yay! Finally booked our girls holiday! After months of deliberation and alot of stress, we have finally actually booked our holiday for Kavos, Corfu for 10 days, later this year. It has taken us so long to agree on a place to go and find a suitable package deal! I think I forgot to mention... it is for 12 girls (!). However, now that it is all booked, I am raring to go! Everyone is leaving for Uni in September so it will be lovely to have one last big event before we all go off in different directions (cry!). After watching What happens in Kavos and Magaluf Weekender, it has given me a extra buzz (and slight apprehension) to go out and have a wild time with the girls! SO EXCITED. I found this on the internet and thought it was highly appropriate! Let the count down begin, only six months to go!

PHOTOGRAPHY

Photography is one of my biggest passions in life. I love the idea of being able to go out and capture a moment which you can keep forever as visual memories. Everywhere I go, I take my camera out with me to ensure I take as many photographs as I can and capture beautiful moments and landscape. I mainly enjoy landscape photograph however recently I have been interested in portraiture and taking pictures of people like my family.I currently take A-Level photography. I really enjoy the aspects of the course and would recommend it if you were thinking of choosing it for AS. I was so pleased to receive an 'A' last year and I hope to keep this grade up through this year for my final year. The topic I chose for my is "portraiture". I was slightly apprehensive about choosing this to start with as I hadn't done that much of it before, however now I am really glad I picked it. 

Above a few photographs I took for my coursework. I have really enjoyed being creative with my work and have loved experimenting on Photoshop to edit my pictures. I think choosing portraiture as my topic as taught me to be more creative with my work and to create something which has a meaning and being unique. I think that using family members and some of my friends in alot of my photographs gives a more personal touch to my project. 

Copyright of photographs ©  

INSPIRING QUOTE

Whilst having a look around on tumblr I came across this really inspiring quote. I saw it and instantly related to it. I thought that it was such a lovely quote and it could easily apply to so many of us! I know it definitely does for me! You always hear the quotes such as "lives to short" and "you only live once" but personally I think this quote really puts life in perspective and makes you realise that sometimes you just need to have fun and let yourself go!

"You can never cross the ocean unless you have
the courage to lose sight of the shore"  

It really inspires me to not hold back to much in my life. I am the type of person who would give new things a go and I am always up for a good laugh but something I do think that I hold back in certain parts of my life, such as in my love life, meeting new people and expanding big plans. This quote has taught me to remember that I am only young and I am able to just let go and literally live life to the full. You don't want to live your life knowing that you haven't achieved everything you wanted to do and have missed out on opportunities you might not be able to do again. I strongly believe in saying "yes" to everything and pushing your self to do new things. I think if you do have / find the confidence to go out and do something different that you could never see yourself doing before that it could potentially change your life for the better, so YOLO. Do you have an inspirational quotes that you live by?

LISTENING, READING, WATCHING

Hello! Today I thought I would start a series of posts called 'Listening, Reading, Watching.' where I will share with you what I have enjoyed watching, reading and listening too for that particular week/month. I have seen this done on a couple of blogs and I really enjoy reading them so I thought I would start doing the same. Also I thought it would be fun to see what I enjoyed when looking back through my blog in months and even years to come!

Frank Ocean Thinking about you | Susan Lewis Losing you | Miranda series 3

My first love this month has been for Frank Ocean! I never really been that much of a fan of him before but since listening to his album I have fallen in love! My favourite is Thinking about you, can't stop singing it! My current read at the moment is Susan Lewis' Losing you. I only just started it so I don't really know much about it yet. However, I have read many of Susan Lewis' books and I love her, so I am sure this will be a cracker! Who else is loving the new series of Miranda? Me and my sister are the biggest fan ever and we just love the new episodes! 

SETTING THE ALARM

I have found it so hard getting back into the swing of things in terms of getting motivated for school. This is probably due to the fact that I had such a hectic Christmas holidays with it being my birthday and everything. I hate having to set my alarm for 6:45am and forcing my way in to school. Luckily for me, I only had one exam in January so I haven't had too much stress. Even so, I have literally no motivation to do any work at the moment! 

thesoftanonymous.com (credit Beth Phillips)

I really need to get my self more organised and start getting my school work to prioritise my social life. I really feel for those who have lots of exams in January. My main motivation for working hard this year is University. I know what I need to get (grade wise) and I know that I really can't wait to go which gives me the motivation to get my ass in gear! I wouldn't say that I am not a hard working person, I just know that I could put a little bit more effort into some of my work and I could prioritise my life better. So over the next couple of months I am really going to focus on my school work as after all, I don't have long left! If you've still got exams, gooood luck!

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME

Hello! Today I thought I would start off with a little "get to know me session". First off, I am now officially an adult. I turned 18 last year in December. I am currently taking my A Levels studying English Language, Media Studies and Photography at my sixth form in South West England. I am hoping to go to university in September to study 'Advertising and Marketing' at either Bournemouth or Plymouth uni, which I literally can not wait for! I have had a full drivers licence since May and I live with my mama, dad, younger sister and our little puppy dog, Tilly!

My Dad and I on holiday when I was 5 years old (t.left) | Baby me! (Right) | Me and my friend (b.left)

Above are some photos from when I was a child to now. I haven't always lived where I do now. I grew up in Devon, where most of my family still live. I went to primary school there and spent a lot of my time with my friends and family. When I was in Year 4 we moved up to where we are now and I continued my eduction here. I enjoy art photography dance and spending time with my friends. I am sucker for a good night out of party! I absolutely love Christmas and New year and hope that 2013 will be just as great at 2012 was for me. Hope you have enjoyed getting to know a bit about me and my life and enjoyed seeing my cheeky baby photographs! 

Copyright of photographs ©

WELCOME

Hello and welcome! My name is Jess and I am the creater of 'Caramella', a new lifestyle (and beauty) blog. I am an 18 year old student from the UK. I am not completely new to Blogger as I have another blog under the name 'Chimneybells'. I decided to create a new blog as I wasn't completely happy with my first one. I felt like I couldn't really express myself in my posts as I mainly focused on beauty related subjects. Therefore, I have decided that I am going to take a slightly different approach with Caramella and write more about lifestyle and everyday subjects in posts. I would be happy to take any requests or ideas for future posts as that would help me get into the swing of things too! Thankyou for visiting my blog and if you would like to contact me privately I am available by email.