Festival Virgin: Splendour Bender Edition

New milestone in life – I am a festival virgin no more! Leading up to Splendour I was almost talking myself out about the long travel, the packing and rainy weather – also, I’ll admit, the camping (I am not of the same substance as Bear Grylls).

For all you gal readers out there (and maybe guys too) who are imploding with both excitement and anxiousness about the festival experience, here’s to you! 

The tips are a guide only and I haven’t been to near as many festivals to be that knowledgeable so I’m coming from more of a “I survived” category.

 

Wise Words
1. Festivals are known for their immaculate toileting facilities (said no one ever so pack the sanitiser/wipes)
2. Stay hydrated with the H2O – you don’t want to lose that mosh spot because you or your friend just had to faint...
3. Check the weather – not the “Iphone weather”, I swear by the Bureau of Meterology lol

For Happy Festival Times:
Mini Bag – for the essential phone, cash, ID etc
Sunnies + Hat
Deodorant
Empty water bottle – security will make you pour it out even though it doesn’t smell like vodka

 

For Happy Camping (most are self-explanatory and in no order):
Hiking mat – you get a sore enough back standing in the mosh etc for each line up
Comb – the “I woke up like this” look doesn’t always go your way here)Thermal Sleeping Bag
Torch – you don’t want to trip over someone’s tent peg (awkward)
Hand Wipes + Sanitiser
Serviettes/Toilet roll
Spare dry socks – nothings more worse or colder than wet feet!
Plastic Bags – for washing and other things you don’t want to worry about until you get home
Resealable Bag – for keeping matches and instant coffee dry
Tent – lol why not
Shampoos/conditioner/soap/other toiletries
Raincoat + gumbooties
Deodorant – even though you showered you’ll still smell like a festival in no time!
Make up + mirror – brows, mascara, eyeliners are the bare essentials!

Outfit
Do you want to do festivals right? Of course you do now proceed to drooling over pictures of festival goddesses Vanessa Hudgens, Coachella Vic Secret squad (goals much) and fashion mags.
Clothing stores also awaken from their slumber of seasonal pieces (even in Winter) and deck out some festival inspo. Also... embrace the GLITTER!

So here’s to the first (and not the last) festival – unless you live for festivals, I salute you.

MVPD
xx

On the Road Again

Tips for road trips
My parents are big on the 'you must see your home country because you explore abroad' hence why I have only ever been overseas once - to Vietnam. Hence why we always go on road trips like drive to Melbourne if we have a spare week.

 

So I've seen my fair share of little country NSW towns and gigantic landmarks like the Big Pineapple in Bunderberg and the Big Merino in Goulburn!

Now that means I slightly (only slightly) fancy myself the semi-ultimate road tripper so here's a little guide of how to survive the sore bottom, the leg cramps, solve the playlist dilemma and have you looking happy and fab (non hobo) at your destination.

 

1. I hope I don't need to tell you this already but: UPDATE YOUR IPOD. You can only go so far with the last sync circa 2010. Seriously, challenge yourself to listen to all the songs that come on shuffle (that's right - don't you skip that Hannah Montana track).

2. Plan de snacks.
Don't immediately go for your chips and crisps because: chips/crackers = dehydrate = drink water = busting for the non-existent toilet on the road (AKA The Water Cycle).
So get some hydrating snacks in the cooler bag too like fruit, carrots/cucumbers/Celery with dip.

3. Pack plenty of water - stay hydrated kids!

4. Pack simple cutlery in case you make that grocery stop and don't have the props to, for example, demolish your shared tub of ice cream!

5. Girls (and guys) pack all your face essentials or you’ll be wishing your face didn't look like a peeling mandarin.

6. Be equipped with thongs so those little toes of yours actually get to see the light (would you want to be crammed in sneakers for a 6 hour road trip – didn’t think so). Show your neck some love too with a contour pillow!

 

7. SUNNIES – last thing you need are holes in your retina to stop you from enjoying the passing landscape!

8. Don’t always Bypass the towns (unless its Bowral  - I joke). Country towns for some reason usually have a sweets store and of course nice cafes and homey bakeries for your lunch fix. (BONUS: non-cliche insta photo of a cafe no one else in Sydney has been)

 

9. If you can, plan a road trip where you can visit the Weekend markets! Places like Byron Bay have farmers and miscellaneous markets – just check which weekend of the month they’re open!

So there you have it, my list that hasn’t quite let me down yet. I’ll leave you to fight over who drives and who does the washing :P

Seriously, road trips are where memories are made!

MVPD xx