Colourful Copenhagen

Colourful Copenhagen

Hej!

It's been a while since I last posted (as usual), but in-between work and doing spells of my uni project I thought I'd give a little update on how I'm finding Copenhagen. I can't believe I've been here 3 months already!

To celebrate, I've put together a list of the most colourful places to see in Copenhagen, which wasn't hard to do. Colourfully-painted streets are everywhere, as many of the cities' buildings are made even prettier with traditional Nordic colours. You never have to go far to spot an amazing place, but these are a few of my favourites...

Nyhavn

A pretty blue Nyhavn building and a 7-11 slushie to match.

One of the biggest tourist attractions in Copenhagen is Nyhavn, the brightly-painted waterfront constructed as early as 1670. I'd definitely recommend a wander down the harbour if you're coming to Copenhagen, as it's full of history, bars and restaurants, and Hans Christian Andersen even lived in two of the buildings. It's also really central, so from here you can easily walk into the middle of the city and go shopping, or go over the bridge into Christiania.






At the moment there's also an art installation along Nyhavn by Ai WeiWei. Installed on the UN's International Refugee Day, Soleil Levant consists of over 3,500 life jackets worn by refugees arriving on the Greek island of Lesbos, and draws attention to the current humanitarian situation throughout the world.

You can also hop on a really interesting boat tour that goes round to visit Andersen's Little Mermaid, which is another must-see, along with the many canals, palaces and listed buildings the tour will show you round.

Palads Teatret

me lookin fly

Stairs image via  Contemporary Art Daily.

Another colourful place to see is Palads Teatret (Palace Theatre), painted in 1988 by Poul Gernes, a Danish artist and graphic designer whose work is super bright and fun.

After having lived in London right before moving here, I'm noticing a lot of differences in lifestyle. Even the thought of cycling to work instead of having to run for the bus and tube makes me feel more relaxed, and the way of life here seems a lot less hectic, which is definitely good for me.

Using a bike to get around is so fun, and there's nothing better on a sunny day than to explore the city by cycling round all the little side streets. (Biking isn't so fun on a night out though, as we're all covered in bruises...)

Overall, Copenhagen is an amazing city and actually rated one of the best places to live in the world (it's not hard to see why)!
I love living here, and that's without even considering the many chilled days we've had lazing in the parks that surround our accommodation, or intern trips to the beach when it gets really warm... Though today it is chucking it down and while the weather is very English in that respect, I'm still missing the Lakes!

Thanks for reading!
Indy xxx

Moving to Copenhagen!

Moving to Copenhagen!

I've just moved to Copenhagen for my next fashion design internship with Anne Sofie Madsen (their stuff is amazing!), with one of my closest friends, Anya.

We flew in on Thursday night and after having a nightmare trying to sort out accommodation, we booked an Airbnb to stay in that morning before we set off to the airport - this is how organised we are...

Travelling just before the weekend was a good idea, as it gives us a couple of days to get used to our surroundings before we start work (a must-do when moving abroad). Here's the lowdown on our first day of exploring our new city.

The amazing architecture of the oldest building in Copenhagen - the Stock Exchange Building, built in 1640. I love the spiral tower, it reminds me of a unicorn's horn! The city is full of beautiful old buildings alongside more contemporary architectural designs, so there's always something inspiring to look up at.

Saying my goodbyes right before I set off to the airport. I'm going to miss my family loads after seeing them for just a few days throughout this whole year, but my internship year is a fab opportunity that allows me to get some much-needed experience in such a fast-paced industry.

Our last-minute Airbnb for the two weeks before our student accommodation is ready is fab, and we couldn't ask for a better place to stay. It's covered in fairy lights and pretty little decorative features, plants and lamps; nobody does interiors better than the Danes.

Colourful, cool street art is everywhere, and we also found some really interesting shots of Earth from space, teamed with little explanations! You wouldn't find this kind of stuff in London...

A colourful little side street found in the centre of the city.

We stumbled upon this cute little pizza restaurant, called Gorm's. The interior was lovely and relaxing, full of candles, foodie books and stripped-back wooden tables. I can tell I'm going to love the whole concept of 'hygge' while I'm here - everything's so chilled and cosy.

We had the 'Denny Special,' an unusual signature pizza by Gorm's, with mozzarella, thin potato slices, rosemary, goats cheese and truffle oil. Potato's not ordinarily something I'd expect on a pizza, but it was thoroughly enjoyed in the restaurant's nice, warm setting, paired with a coffee (and a beer)!

I've also been learning some Danish on my free Duolingo app, and trying to get the hang of it... I'd highly recommend the app, it's easy to use and the activities make languages so quick to learn. Everyone speaks English here, but I feel it's an amazing opportunity to learn a new language in practice.

So that was our first day in Copenhagen - we got a bit of exploring done, while trying not to be ran over by bikes... Bikes are everywhere here, it seems like there's more bikes than people. It's such a good way to get around the city, as each road has a designated bike path that looks a bit like a wider pavement. We can't wait to get our own, it's such an eco-friendly way of getting around and the city is carefully designed with biking in mind.

I'll be posting updates of how settling in and exploring goes, maybe along with some of the updates I promised from my visits around London's exhibitions and shows!

Tak for læsning!
Indy ♡

London Life...

London Life...

Hi guys!

This post comes a bit late with me having been super busy in London, keeping up with a second job on top of my thoroughly enjoyed internship with Parka London. I started the placement back in January as part of my Fashion Design and Marketing course at Northumbria, and couldn't have asked for a better experience for my first time working in industry!

I started off doing marketing work, from writing for Parka Journal - Parka London's lifestyle blog, well worth a read if you're into art exhibitions, city break guides and how to work the classic tomboy style - to putting together branding packs and taking photographs for the blog. The team got started on design for the upcoming season later on in my internship, where I was researching trend, creating moodboards, attending fit meetings and designing outerwear and doing technical drawings.

Image: TimeOut

Living in London brought about a very different kind of lifestyle, as being from the Lake District means I'm used to rolling hills and being surrounded by greenery and sheep. It's a fab place where there's always something going on, and I do think living independently in such a busy city has helped with my 'trying to adult' situation. I also had the privilege of sharing a flat with two of my good friends from uni, so we went exploring on the weekends, and met some great people along the way!







I've now moved out of the city and I'm spending a week at home for Easter with family, which gives me chance to post and update on my three months down south. I'll miss being in the centre of everything happening, always with something to do like exciting exhibitions and shows, but being home is a much welcomed change!

I'll be gradually posting about my adventures around London, from visiting museums to working London Fashion Weekend as part of my internship, along with working on my latest uni design project while I'm on placement year. I know it's late, but I finally have the chance to get some blogging done and don't want to miss out on sharing my experiences! :)

Thanks for reading, and keep posted for updates!
Indy ♡

Moving to London!

Moving to London!

Hi guys!

I haven't posted on here in a while - the past three months at uni have been very hectic, with loads of work to do alongside securing placements for my internship year.

I've also been busy moving out of my flat in Newcastle to spend a lovely Christmas at home, before moving to London to begin my fashion internship!
I had to limit my excessive hoarding habits to just a couple of suitcases, as me and Robbie were getting the train down. We somehow managed to get first class tickets that were cheaper than standard class! A long journey just isn't as much fun without free G&Ts and lots of food.

It was hard to leave family, as is always the case after a fab Christmas, so I've spent ages trying to make my room feel cosy and homely. Living with my friends who are also doing internships, Cat and Anya, further helps alleviate the homesickness, and we've been exploring the area together. Robbie had to go back home yesterday but he's been great at making me feel comfortable here (and helping carry my shopping!), and I'm really happy with my room and our cute little flat!

Despite trying to travel light, I managed to shove enough things in my suitcases to decorate my room a bit. Fairy lights took priority, as they always manage to make a space look much cosier! I've got three sets up on my wall now and they're so pretty.

Anya found this adorable unicorn thing in Poundland(!) and I had to have it. I think it's an earring holder, but typically, I've forgotten to bring all my jewellery - maybe this is an excuse to buy some...

My room isn't massive so shelves make it easier to store things. I wasn't able to bring toooo much anyway - but I made sure to pack the Fjällräven bag and Adidas shoes Robbie got me for Christmas! ♡

My bedside table, which I'm sure won't stay as tidy and clutter-free for long.

Our cute patio will be perfect for chilling at night when the weather gets a bit warmer! For now though, being able to feel my face when I'm outside is a massive improvement on how cold it was up North.

I'm not sure how long I'll be in London for, as I have another internship in Copenhagen later in the year - but I do love it here! I'm so excited to start my placement tomorrow, I've spent the day trying to be organised, making myself a packed lunch and getting everything ready for the morning.

I'll definitely be posting more frequently from now. I say this every time, but it can be one of my resolutions...
In the meantime, I hope you've all had a merry Christmas and a happy new year!
Indy ♡

October Birchbox Review

October Birchbox Review

It's been a couple of weeks since I last posted, as life is always really hectic in September. I managed to squeeze in another holiday before moving back to university, while sorting my portfolio alongside applying for internships and doing lots of research for new projects meant my blog wasn't always at the front of my mind!
Upon receiving the October Birchbox, however, I decided I had to do a (belated) review of both the box and my thoughts on the whole subscription service itself.

I've been a Birchbox subscriber for over two years now, and I've always loved having boxes delivered - they always surprise me with fab products to try out and even some full sized ones, with cult beauty brands often included such as Benefit, Spectrum Collections and Lord & Berry. They even send occasional lifestyle products, like bars of chocolate (!), This Works sprays and colourful photo holders - perfect for placing around my uni bedroom. I love that they do this, providing stuff for everyday life rather than just limiting themselves to the constraints of beauty products. The boxes themselves (or drawers, more recently!) are always handy and have really cool ideas - I've had boxes before that can be coloured in for competitions, or scratched away to reveal cool patterns with pennies, like scratchcards.

The theme for this month's Birchbox is Star Signs. As a Virgo (ignoring all recent news surrounding the introduction of Ophiuchus), I was sent the Earth box. I am not usually a fan of green, but Birchboxes are always beautifully designed and this one actually glows in the dark!

Lord & Berry

Maxi Matte Crayon Lipstick in Intimacy

This lipstick crayon was the full-sized product included in this month's box, worth £12.
It's a dark-rose shade with a matte finish, and I was looking forward to using this as I know from experience that Lord & Berry's lip products are great. I love matte lip pencils as they seem to have longer staying-power than lipsticks, though I always thought this was due to their heavy, drying texture. This 'crayon', however, has longevity and a creamy consistency, making it much more wearable in winter months when lips are prone to becoming dry. I'm sure I'll be using this a lot, as it's such a pretty shade too!

Batiste

Stylist Oomph My Locks XXL Volume Spray

As an extremely busy student that doesn't even own a hairdryer, I always keep an emergency stash of Batiste's amazing dry shampoo, which I find very volumising as it always gives hair a much-needed boost. I have tried this hairspray before and it too has worked wonders! The one thing I would say (from my incredibly naive point of view) is that the bottle should warn that it is actually a dry shampoo hairspray - I somehow expected an ordinary one, though it turned the top of my hair white and did actually seem harder to rub in! Despite this, it did volumise and make hair more stylable, so I'd always recommend Batiste products.

Doux Me

Pure Spring Mist

The most disappointing product in the box - this is literally water in a spray can. Not even joking, I tasted it too. Directions for use state that you should spray it on the face or body, however I'd probably advise against the face option unless you aren't wearing makeup. The Birchbox website actually says it can be used as a setting spray, though I'm not sure how this works as I imagine it would be more likely to leave a streaming mascara effect. The only time I can see this being of any use is during summer, as it is slightly cooling - like the other forms of water you don't have to waste £16 on...

Rituals 

Hammam Body Mud

This purifying body scrub is enriched with a refreshing eucalyptus scent and Rhassoul clay that can be used as a body mask to remove dead skin cells. I love the whole idea behind the Rituals ethos and how their products are inspired by ancient Eastern traditions and the use of fragrance. Aromatherapy has always intrigued me and Rituals focus on this as a way in which to relax and create your own mood-boosting 'rituals'.

Number 4

Fluoro5 Elixer Restore & Repair Oil

I have received quite a few Number 4 products from Birchbox so far, and can say that their various hair oils, sprays and serums always work well on repairing my hair. Their packaging is always pleasingly minimalist and fits well in any bathroom. I have used this a few times recently, as I have just gone white-blonde, and it definitely makes my hair much more manageable, tamed and shiny! I am always careful while using oils but I have even used small parts of this one towards the top of my hair and it still hasn't looked greasy or over-oily.

Birchbox

Eyebrow Brush

I haven't actually used this yet, as I expect it will work just as any other ordinary eyebrow brush does. One of the things I like about Birchbox though is how they do often include their own useful products, and these can be anything from pretty gold and ribbon bracelets (as I received in September), to handy little mirrors and pencil sharpeners.


Overall, I love this box as much as I do all the others I receive. The range of products included mean I very rarely have to go shopping for makeup or beauty essentials, as I have a huge stash of sample shampoos, foundations, mascaras and blushers that could last me a lifetime.

One of my new favourite things about Birchbox is how they have recently redesigned their boxes so they can now be conveniently stacked on top of one another rather than just having removable lids. I have always used my boxes to store various things such as fabric paints, beads, Pritt stick collections and even Polaroid photos, so finding that my last few boxes have arrived in a 'drawer' style has made me so pleased! I now store boxes on my desk, pulling out each drawer as I need to use it rather than having to disrupt a whole shelf so I can find something as small as a washi tape.

I'd highly recommend subscribing to Birchbox, as it's always something I look forward to receiving each month. It's not priced too highly considering the range of generously-sized samples and full-sized products included, not to mention how each box purchased and reviewed goes towards points to spend in the Birchbox shop.
If you subscribe using this link, you will receive 50% off your first box as well as £5 to spend on cult beauty products!

What's your favourite thing about Birchbox?
Thanks for reading,
Indy ♥

Grasmere

Grasmere

Today I visited Grasmere in the middle of the Lake District with Robbie and his grandma. It's always a popular tourist area so we thought it would be really busy on bank holiday Monday, but the visit was well worth the little people and car-dodging we did and it was actually quite quiet in most places.
 

Faeryland - a tea and coffee garden on the lakefront, with cute pastel-coloured rowing boats to hire.

We visited The Potting Shed for food as the menu sounded amazing. I went for the BBQ chicken pitta and vegetable ribbon salad with a feta yoghurt dressing and tzatziki and beetroot dips.

The setting was lovely as it was based in the Grasmere Garden Village - so we were surrounded by stone animals, flowers and wooden carvings of owls.

After food we visited the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden, right next to the famous Grasmere Gingerbread bakery and shop. Wordsworth lived in Grasmere and was therefore known as one of the 'Lake Poets,' alongside others such as Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

The final stanza from Wordsworth's poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud. The paths of the park are filled with the names and locations of donors that bought their place on paving stones in aid of the church alongside which Wordsworth is buried.

We saw a few paragliders while walking next to the river. Something I've always wanted to do!





Overall we had a lovely day in the sun! Grasmere is such a pretty place and we walked past loads of pretty little gift shops, ice cream places and cafés. It's also home to the Lake Artists Society, which hosts a Summer and a Winter Exhibition in Grasmere's town hall, attracting over 10,000 visitors each time. The summer exhibition ends on the 7th September and the dates for the winter exhibition are still to be announced on the website. It was really cool to go there and see pieces by people such as my old art teacher and local artists I'd met during workshops. This actually inspired me to start a new Pinterest board based on Lake District art and artists, particularly those featured in the exhibition.

Thanks for reading,
Indy ♥

101 Ways to Stay Creative

101 Ways to Stay Creative

I posted something quite similar to this on an old blog I used to run. It was in response to a question I had been asked, and when it actually came to trying to find an answer, I felt like I had no clue how to respond. I feel like I'm always looking for ways to stay creative myself, so, while this list may help you too, it's definitely something I know I'll look back on while trying to think of new ways to stay imaginative. It's a long list, but there are so many ways to keep inspired that I wanted to share so many! Some might seem a little bit cringey or cliché, like number 28 and 52 (and basically every other number on this list), or even a little out of touch, but a big part of being creative is leaving your comfort zone and doing things you wouldn't usually do; so take risks and follow the list...

1. Stock up on pretty notebooks. Take one everywhere you go.
2. Make a creativity playlist - or listen to the 'Creativity Boost' one by Spotify. It's always updated and a pleasure to listen to while drawing.
3. Drink green or herbal tea.
4. Go into a book shop and buy the first book you see. Read it. Even if it's a biography about a train driver (not that I've ever come across one of those).
5. Have a Studio Ghibli film day. You have to watch My Neighbour Totoro and Grave of the Fireflies. But if you cry, it's not my fault. You will cry.
6. Find a new DIY project to do each week.
7. Look through other people's sketchbooks.
8. Learn how to lucid dream.
9. Refresh your living space; get rid of old, unwanted things and replace them with new, pre-loved or handmade stuff. 
10. Go for a drive in the rain.
11. Say yes to all new opportunities (unless they're ridiculous or you are feeling overwhelmed). 
12. Keep plants or grow some flowers. They are pretty!
13. Start a new sketchbook and fill each page with drawings that use a new material - charcoal, lipstick, oil pastels... Use stuff you would never normally think of putting on paper, like wet sand or bright jelly. I sound like an idiot. I am.
14. Have a look at some contemporary magazines to read - Kinfolk, Frankie and Rookie Mag are my favourites!
15. Ask questions. Stay curious.
16. Get a big box and fill it with art materials. You will use it, one day.
17. Use essential oils with different mood properties. Lemon, rosemary, jasmine and neroli are meant to enhance creativity.
18. Take up a new hobby, or just learn how to do something new.
19. Don't think too much about what you're doing.
20. Buy one of the Moleskine 'Passion Journals' - the art and book ones look really good.
21. Go to local markets, vintage fairs and even car boot sales.
22. You'll find some interesting stuff.
23. Decorate an old denim jacket with badges and patches of things you love.
24. Write a list of reasons to be happy. Read them when it's raining.
25. Make a gift for someone you appreciate. Have a lazy day! Spend it snuggled with your favourite book or film.
26. Get a Lomography camera and follow the rules. Get your film developed and laugh at what comes out.
27. Decorate natural things like stones, leaves and twigs. Leave them for people to find.
28. Try not to be a perfectionist. Mistakes can be turned into something new.
29. Draw with your 'wrong' hand, with your eyes shut, or without taking the pen off the paper.
30. Visit the Wikipedia 'random' page and refresh until you find something interesting. Read the whole article.
31. Keep a notebook full of inspirational quotes you come across.
32. Get away from technology for a day. Turn off your phone, laptop, and TV - go outside.
33. Listen to podcasts; you can always learn something new while going somewhere or even relaxing before sleep. I like Stuff You Should Know, The Complete Guide to Everything, and I also find TED talks really inspirational.
34. Complete a Wreck This Journal.
35. Read about people who inspire you.
36. Make a dream collage of all the things you want to achieve.
37. Go on a long bike ride with your headphones on.
38. Read '365 Days of Inspiration' book by Lizzie Cornwall - some of the ideas on here are featured in there.
39. Make your own fruit juice.
40. Find a blank piece of paper and fill it with whatever enters your head - drawings, doodles, thoughts...
41. Eat different foods you wouldn't normally try.
42. Keep a dream diary. Write in it as soon as you wake up so you don't forget. Use stuff that happens in your dreams to inspire drawings or short stories - even if you keep them to yourself. 
43. Create new Pinterest boards based on Dictionary's 'word of the day'. Fill them up.
44. Visit local art galleries and museums. Make sure you see everything.
45. Eat breakfast and drink your morning coffee in the sun.
46. Stick pictures of the things you love on bedroom walls, or around the house.
47. Go for a run.
48. Wear something you'd never usually wear - put bright colours together, or busy prints.
49. Travel. Keep a visual diary for each different place you visit, and keep tickets, notes, sketches and thoughts in there.
50. Be experimental.
51. Look at some of the books Anthropologie sells, they're always inspirational. I bought a 5-year diary and a 52 week list book from the Chelsea shop in New York, and I love them! The UK website stocks different things but they all have the same quirky and expressive feel.
52. On the same topic, Urban Outfitters (another company owned by URBN) have some similarly thought-provoking things on their bookshelves.
53. Learn to love what you do - or do what you love.
54. Go to a science museum.
55. Recycle something old.
56. Work somewhere new; outdoors, in bed, while travelling, in a cafe... Different perspectives can often give new ideas.
57. Get enough rest and don't overwork yourself.
58. Watch a new film each week. Netflix is full of both good and bad, but even the bad films can be... Encouraging...
59. Surround yourself with creative people.
60. Look at classes in your local area and find something that interests you. Draw your own imaginary world.
61. Grow a herb garden.
62. Collaborate.
63. Start using an adult colouring book! They're really therapeutic. I recently bought the Tropical Wonderland one by Millie Marotta, and spent hours colouring in with my three year-old sister. I did also feel like a three year-old, but it was very refreshing.
64. Stay open to new ideas and experiences.
65. Make sure you have time for you.
66. Don't think too much about the past - or the future.
67. Be spontaneous.
68. Start collecting books, even if you don't plan to read them in the near future.
69. Take on new challenges.
70. Break the 'rules' - do the opposite of what you're meant to do. Use colours that clash, forget about composition and being neat.
71. Don't just stick to one thing. You can change your mind whenever, whether it be related to something as big as a change in career path or even what you want to have for lunch.
72. Visit places that aren't obviously inspirational - the supermarket, historical sites, the beach, etc.
73. Help people. It will make you feel much better about yourself.
74. The Paperchase website will make you want to buy cute sketchbooks and photo albums. Even if you never use them, they're there.
75. Make a list of goals for the week, month or year; but make them realistic.
76. Listen more and talk less.
77. Make a mess! This is one of the art 'rules' I live by.
78. Don't compare yourself to others. Everyone has different ideas. Being creativity is very subjective.
79. Notice the small details.
80. Read poems.
81. Don't be afraid to leave something unfinished. You can always go back to it later with new ideas after a while.
82. Remind yourself that art is very personal - everyone should be creating their own thing.
83. Learn to cook a new favourite meal.
84. Learn about new places you've never heard of. Google is your friend.
85. Mistakes are no longer mistakes.
86. People watch.
87. Know that we are all human. (Except nasty people. They are just mean.)
88. Remind yourself that everyone has potential, even if you think you can't create things. Try it. 
89. Everything is interesting, and everyone has something new to teach you.
90. Make homemade ice lollies! Ice lollies are one of my favourite things. You will learn this. 
91. Spend time with your friends and family, but make sure you get enough time alone.
92. Don't rely on material things.
93. Listen to Sunscreen by Baz Luhrmann. It will make you feel much better.
94. Discuss your ideas with people. It will give you someone else's viewpoint.
95. Eat healthy foods.
96. Go through a whole year without buying someone a gift - make them instead. Find D.I.Y projects on Pinterest and use them to make things that are much more thoughtful.
97. Draw a new object every day... Even the every day stuff.
98. If you're stuck, list every idea that comes to mind. You'll find something innovative.
99. Reflect on your day each night. Don't think about what you could have done, but about what you will do next time.
100. Trust your instincts. Do what you feel like. Not everything has to be overly thought-out or heavily calculated.
101. Remember -

"The earth without art is just 'eh'."

Benicàssim Festival

Benicàssim Festival

Okay, so I'm aware that my blog is full of travel stuff at the moment, but I've been on a couple of holidays just recently so it's all I've been up to the past month!

I got back from a trip to Spain with my flatmates and a couple of other friends about a week ago. We had gone to the festival in the first week and Barcelona for the second week (more on that in a later post). The festival itself was in Valencia, so after arriving at Barcelona airport we took the three hour bus to the town of Benicàssim. The bus was freezing as the air-con was on way too low - or high? But as soon as we finally arrived we had to trek our suitcases through the heat and what seemed like miles of bumpy dirt paths, so I'd have been grateful for any cool air!

Just a warning that this is going to be a really photo-heavy post, as usual...



Playsuit: Missguided
Shoes: Superga
Bag: Primark
Anklet: from a stall in Benicassim town. I haven't taken it off since I bought it, so it's survived a lot of swimming in the sea and wandering around Spain!

Landing at Barcelona airport - the sunset looked amazing. I always love flying while the sun goes down, the colours are unreal.








Issy's bag: New Look
Stopping off at a service station for a snack and a break while on the way to Benicassim from the airport.

Our faces got progressively glittery as the week went on. We also didn't get Wi-Fi by the tent so I made my own Snapchat filter. So clever.

Right at the beginning of the week, on the bus en route to the beach.

Enjoying watermelon from the fruit stand! Grabbing some fruit and freshly-squeezed orange juice in a morning was so refreshing after waking up in a boiling tent.

Headband: Claire's Accessories - I don't usually shop here, but I'd gone in with a friend once as she looked for something and thought this would actually be really cool for festivals!

The inside of the Toastie Shack was really cute, with bright bunting and metallic signs. It even had a disco ball. Amazing.

Some of the pretty streets we found in the town. There were quite a few colourful buildings too, it's such a nice place! We spent most of our days sunbathing / sleeping on the beach and going in the sea to cool down, then wandering around the town looking for nice places to eat.

Vegetable and smoked cheese bruschetta, with aubergine, courgette, tomato and leek.

Salmon carbonara - this was actually really nice but I ate the tiniest bit as I was so full after my bruschetta starter! I think our stomachs were shocked whenever we tried to eat a full meal, as we lived off baguettes and crisps whenever we weren't by a restaurant.

Playsuit: Missguided (as seen before)
I actually look tanned on here - I somehow ended up being the only one of us that didn't burn! My face doesn't tan well though, so it always looks really pale in comparison to the rest of me when I go away.

Necklaces: New Look

Dress: ASOS
Shoes: Topshop

Bralette: Calvin Klein
Tattoo: from a strange shop in the town

After looking back on this post, I've realised I haven't put photos of the acts themselves - I mainly took videos or all my images were on Snapchat, which weren't saved to my phone. Oops. We saw some amazing people though, some of my favourites were Mac Demarco, Biffy Clyro, The Chemical Brothers, Muse, Hannah Wants, Skepta, The Vaccines, Disclosure and Bloc Party. I did miss a few acts I wanted to see, like Massive Attack, as everything is on until about six in the morning due to there being no acts on in the day. I'd really recommend the festival on the whole though; I just didn't sleep great and I am always tired anyway - I struggle to stay awake past 10PM at the moment. It was lovely being able to camp at a festival without getting caked in wet mud though, as there was obviously very little chance of rain. I'm used to English festivals, where it pours for about a week and everything gets ruined due to basically camping in a swamp. Overall, the festival was a great experience for my first time at Beni - but here are some tips for next time...

Tips

• Make sure to get enough sleep, even if it is on the beach during the day. Just don't fall asleep in the sun!
• Take some old trainers you don't mind getting ruined. My white Supergas were brown by the end of the festival, but I had to wear them while in the arena to avoid my feet getting trampled while in sandals. The dust and stones also get into sandals really easily, so trainers were often more practical.
• Buy a couple of disposable cameras to use while you're there.
• Learn a bit of Spanish before you go. It goes a long way when you're trying to communicate, I know I struggled sometimes.
• Buy the Benicassim bus card at the beginning of the festival. It's only 15 Euros and makes getting on and off the bus so much quicker, you even skip the queues sometimes.
• Take tons of baby wipes and antibacterial stuff - 'Wet Ones' wipes are really handy for keeping hands clean and bacteria-free. You and everything you own will either get covered in dust from the ground, or sand from the beach.
• Be prepared with all the medications and creams you need. I was our camp's go-to pharmacist as I had loads of different creams with me, from antihistamines and calamine lotion for bites to aqueous cream and Elizabeth Arden's 8-hour stuff to use as extra-strong aftersun.
• Drink a lot of water and wear a hat. Being dehydrated and getting ill from sun stroke is absolutely not fun.
• Buy a cooler box and make sure to get ice from the supermarket every day to keep drinks and aftersun cool. Drinking warm Desperados is never fun.
• Take a good portable charger for your phone. I lasted the week without my phone dying once, as I had bought a RavPower charger for about £20 - it charged my phone a full six times! This also stops you going to the charger tent and spending 10 Euros on a charger that will only charge your phone once, if that, before it breaks; this happened to a friend.

Have you ever been to Beni? How did you find it?
Indy ♥