As mentioned in my last post, Halloween is creeping its way towards us. I am not a massive celebrator of Halloween, but it’s definitely one of the most fun times of year! So, I thought I would say some things about me related to this witch cackling, cobwebbed, blood curdling season.
1. I usually spend my Halloween by going out to Tulley’s Farm Shocktober Fest, however I cannot make it this year as I am away during the half term and have been busy!
2. I am dressing as Minnie Mouse this year:)
3. I seem to listen to ‘Time Warp’ and ‘Ghostbusters’ the most throughout the Halloween nights.
4. I HATE HORROR MOVIES. This is due to the fact that I can never sleep afterwards and often have to ask someone to escort me to the loo. Not cool.
5. As I hate horror films, my favourite scary themed films are ‘Coraline’ and ‘The Corpse Bride’. Yes, they are both kid films, but they were scary back in the day!
6. I have only ever trick or treated once, and I don’t even like sweets!
7. The scariest Halloween costume to me is a clown one. Ugh D:
8. I don’t believe in ghosts. However, I do believe in paranormal activity
9. Dolls are freaky as hell. Annabelle has recently been released, and you could not pay me £100 to see it.
10.I have NEVER carved a pumpkin! That is definitely on my to do list though.
Do you enjoy Halloween? Or does it spook you out too much?
Unfortunately, I will not be posting anything else for a further week as I am away in lovely Spain.
(Thought I’d share a relevant quote instead of saying the usual ‘hello’, ‘bonjour’, ‘aloha’ etcetcetc)
HALLOWEEN IS DAWNING.
That time of the year where things get a little spooky.
So, I wanted to ‘festivetise’ my blog up a bit and attempt to get us in the Halloween mood!
Are any of you lovely people planning on throwing a Halloween Party? Or a Halloween themed evening?
Well, I think that music is always key for those types of events. When I say ‘think’ I mean that music is an absolute necessity for shindigs and all that jazz. Which is why I have composed a Halloween playlist, enjoy!
Ghostbusters by Ray Parker, Jr
This is an absolute classic. Shame on you if you do not listen to this during the October month.
Time Warp from the Rocky Horror Picture Show
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
Monster by The Automic
What’s that coming over the hill….
Monster Mash by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett
The singing in this is what Dracula would sound like
Bring Me To Life by Evanescence
Although it isn’t exactly a Halloween song, I think that it has a very chilling effect. Also, it is one of the best songs. Ever.
Thriller by Michael Jackson
Halloween essential.
I Put A Spell On You by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
This song never fails to remind me of the film Hocus Pocus.
Dead by My Chemical Romance
This song is for the people who decide to dress up as rotten corpses for Halloween.
All My Friends Are Dead by Turbonegro
For the rotten corpses’ friends.
Omen by The Prodigy
‘The writing’s on the wall, it won’t go away’ sounds like something from a horror movie.
Uprising by Muse
Let’s face it, with all of your guests dressed as scary things, it may look like an uprising. Possibly?
This Is Halloween from The Nightmare Before Christmas
Insanely catchy.
The Addams Family Theme Tune
They are a pretty creepy family..
Hopefully you will listen to some of these to make your Halloween a tad more ghoully!
Lately, I have had so many thoughts, ideas, worries, questions, debates buzzing around in my head. Particularly at night. As soon as I get cosied up inside my cocoon of a bed, my mind seems to be wondering elsewhere. Instead of my brain hopping into ‘Dream Land’ it decides to go to ‘Let’s Keep Gracie Up And Awake All Night Worrying About Life’ land, which isn’t my favourite destination to be honest.
Soooooooo…
I have pieced together the ‘Almost Perfect Untangled Evening’. I have tried this a few times, and I personally think that this does help calm your mind down, and it unjumbles the mess of stress whizzing in your head. I hope this works for you! 🙂
1. Take a bath/shower.
As most of you are probably aware, lavender was made by fairies who dusted it with their special sleeping dust.
Well, maybe that’s a little bit exaggerated but nevertheless it does help you sleep! So, whilst showering or bathering, maybe use some lavender scented cream.
2. Write out a plan
I always think that a mental plan would be fine for me. I am wrong.
Mental plans are easy, it doesn’t require writing or anything, you just stick a reminder in your head. However, this does mean you are likely to forget it.
This is why I think it is good to do a little plan or list. Just jot down the things you need to do, and place it somewhere you often go to in your room.
For me, I always feel a lot better when I make a plan/list/schedule as it makes me feel structured and organised, whereas when I don’t have one, all the things I need to do are bouncing around in my head, as usual!
3. Chill time
Right, so, you’ve done your plan, that’s over!
You can think about the things you need to do TOMORROW. For now, just stop. Stop thinking about everything. This is a time for you to relax, and to have some ‘me time’.
I usually watch YouTube videos, read my book (currently reading ‘Looking For JJ’), watch TV/Film, or read all of your lovely blogs.
4. Bed and drink
As you essentially unwind and relax during the chill time, you are probably ready for bed.
I like to get into my bed, and to make a hot drink. AVOID CAFFEINE!
Despite that a nice cup of tea or coffee is tempting, it will keep you up. Sometimes I have tea in the evening, but waaay before I go to bed.
I would suggest hot (or cold) milk, hot chocolate or hot water.
At this point, it would be good to have a read of a book/magazine, even if you have just done so in your chill time it always feels nice to read prior to sleeping.
5. Zzzzzzzzzz…
To make sure that those monstrous thoughts don’t invade your brain as you rest your head upon your pillow, think HAPPY THOUGHTS.
Just think about something that you like:)
If you are feeling stressed lately, or having thoughts constantly nagging at your mind, then please do give the ‘Almost Perfect Untangled Evening’ a try! It may not work for you, I’m not saying that I am a de-stressing wizard, but anything is worth a go, right?
I was thinking how bizarre it is that the majority of the blogs I follow are makeup related, and yet I haven’t done any tutorials/beauty tips/makeup haul type posts! So, to get into the full spirit of Autumn, I decided to try out a warm, browney, goldy eye look.
1. Put the Maybelline 24 Hour Tattoo in the colour ‘On and on Bronze’ over the lid. Do not apply too much, but just enough that it creates a base. You can use a brush for this bit, however I prefer to use my fingers. May I mention that this stuff really does last on your eye, so if you have oily eyelids this is perfect for you!
2. Grab an eyeshadow brush and dust the Rimmel Bronzing Compact Powder over the colour tattoo. Bronzer? On your eyes? Don’t be alarmed, it looks great for this particular look!
3. Using the colour ‘Snakebite’ from the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette, put it on the outer corner of your eyes and BLENDBLENDBLENDBLEND. This will add just a little bit of darkness!
4. Usually, I would put on eyeliner but I feel like that would make it a bit too dark, but go for it if you want to! I decided to use ‘Snakebite’ to use as a liner underneath my eye.
5. Highlight the brow bones and inner corner of your eyes, using any light eyeshadow of your choice but I opted for ‘Foxy’ from the Naked 2 palette.
6. Apply your favourite mascara to your lashes!
Pretty simple, right? Of course you do not have to use the products that I used, but I think that they all worked well together.
Also, to make this look a bit more Autumnal, you could add a berry coloured lipstick. Unfortunately I don’t own that type of lipstick, but I did decide to put on my Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in the shade 220 (Heather Shimmer). I did use this a lot throughout the Summer but if you apply a generous amount it does look like an Autumn colour and it matches the eyeshadow perfectly.
So, now the only thing left to do is to put on your favourite cable knit cardigan and to go admire the beautiful leaves.
Yesterday I put on shorts, hoping that the sun would bronze my legs.
Yesterday I celebrated New Year’s day, welcoming 2014.
But none of the above happened yesterday. However, it feels like it did. It seems so gobsmackingly shocking that October has recently greeted us. Where on earth has this year gone?
Everything is flying by so quickly. As soon as Halloween is over, Christmas will be knocking on our doors. Christmas! But yesterday was the 20th of July, I swear.
As it has dawned on me just how fast time passes, I think that I need to start saving these days. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I do just want to dedicate a day to my duvet and take full advantage of the kettle but maybe I should do something. Even if that means just taking a photo of the sky, writing down something that I want to remember from the day or a walk through the street.To start cherishing every hour.
So, lovely people, if there is anything to learn from this post I just want you to absorb every single minute of your day. Look at that cloud, look at that wall, look at the floor, blahblahblah! Hopefully you will thank me for it. Even sometimes when I am in bed and about to snoozle into my dreams, I like to have a little ‘reflection’ of the day.
Oh my goodness, it even feels like 5 minutes ago I was pondering as to what to write after I typed up the title for this post. It has been 40 minutes. Time is a powerful thing, and we can never get it back when we want it.
Firstly I’d like to apologise for the fact that I haven’t been on my blog in ageeeeeeees. Schoolwork etc has been a bit hectic recently. This now means that I have a lot of blog reading to do!
I was nominated to complete a Les Miserables challenge. I flipping love Les Mis, and as you know I dream of playing Eponine Thernardier one day. So, this little challenge is perfect for me. Even if you have not seen it, I hope that you somehow find a way to enjoy this post nevertheless.
1. How did you first learn about Les Miserables?
Whenever I went to London when I was little, I used to point out the Les Mis poster in the underground and say: ‘Lez Mis er ra bles!’ To which my mother would look disgusted. Does that count? Well, I properly first learnt about it when I was offered to see the London production of it as a school trip.
2. When, where and what was your first Cameron Mackintosh performance or Les Miserables?
Les Miserables in November 2013 at the beautiful Queen’s Theatre in London!
3. Favourite minor character?
Does Gavroche count as a minor character?
4. Least favourite character?
The factory worker who starts being horrible to Fantine, followed by the man who fires Fantine! And then I do have this random dislike towards Cosette.
5. Favourite part of the stage version?
Ah, everything! I cannot choose one favourite part!
6. Favourite male costume?
Rob Houchen’s costume for Marius!
7. Favourite female costume?
Celinde Schoenmaker’s costume for Fantine!
8. Favourite song?
All of the songs are incredible. On My Own is obviously my top and then I really do love One Day More.
9. Least favourite song?
Castle On A Cloud. Sorry young Cosette.
10. Favourite sung line? (Act 1)
‘I know this house I tell you, there’s nothing here for you, just the old man and the girl, they live ordinary lives’ -Eponine
‘Jean Val Jean is nothing now, another story must begin!’ -Jean Val Jean
‘Little he knows, little he sees’ -Eponine
‘Don’t they know they’re making love to one already dead!’ -Fantine
11. Favourite sung line? (Act 2)
‘Took the letter like you said I met her father at the door, he said he would give it, I don’t think I can stand anymore’ -Eponine
‘To love another person is to see the face of God’-Fantine, Eponine, Cosette, Marius, Jean Val Jean
12. Favourite instrumental portion of the score?
Does it have to be a big portion? Because I just absolutely love it when the orchestra play the beginning of ‘At The End Of The Day’.
13. Favourite Jean Val Jean?
Mr Daniel Koek!
14. Favourite Javert?
I don’t actually know many Javert’s. However, Tam Mutu was amazing and sings a beautiful rendition of ‘Stars’.
15. Favourite Enjolras?
Again, I do not know many Enjolras’. But the Enjolras that I saw was brilliant, and he was performed by Anton Zetterholm.
16. What is the line you always mess up when singing?
I always get confuzzled in ‘Master Of The House’.
17. Whose part do you follow/sing when multiple people are singing?
Eponine!
18. Song with the highest play count on iTunes?
I have not actually downloaded any Les Mis songs onto my iTunes account, likewise with many other songs! I feel like I always listen to ‘At The End Of The Day’, ‘On My Own’ and ‘One Day More’ the most though.
19. Have you seen the 25th Anniversary concert?
Not all of it, but sections of it!
20. Opinion on the 2012 movie?
Hmm…’when you try your best but you don’t succeed’.
At first I thought it was great, but after seeing the production 3 times I realise that the film does not do the show justice at all. Despite that, I still do watch the film and enjoy watching it!
21. Favourite part of the 2012 movie?
The transition from ‘Stars’ into ‘Look Down’.
22. Favourite interview of cast members?
Does this mean film or the show? Either way, this one:
23. Favourite Les Mis gif?
I have seen soooooo many. But these are my top ones:
24. Favourite Les Mis related Youtube video?
I haven’t actually seen any!
25. Favourite Les Mis item I own?
My programme! I have Jean Val Jean’s autograph, Marius’ autograph and Eponine (Carrie Hope Fletcher eeeek) autograph!
26. Favourite cast member ship?
Don’t know any!
27. Favourite fan art?
Haven’t really seen any.
28. Favourite headcannon?
Unfortunately, I don’t know what this question means…
29. Favourite thing about the Les Mis story?
Ooh, that’s incredibly difficult…perhaps the fact that the French revolution is explored through so many different characters. You’ve got a prisoner, a very dedicated policeman, a woman who turns to prostitution, all of the beggars on the street, the students, aaaah! That’s a hard question to answer.
That certainly took a while, but it was worth it as I am a sucker for Les Miserables.
I am supposed to nominate some people to do this, but you know what, if you love Les Mis then just do it!
1/3 of 13 year olds and 45% of 17 year olds say that they read for pleasure once or twice a year.
2/3 of 400 English teachers say that their students consider reading ‘uncool’.
The proportion of teens who never or hardly read has tripled since 1984.
On average, children from the ages of 8-18 spend 10 hours and 45 minutes online.
READ A BOOK FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!
What do we get out of social media? (She says from a laptop)
But, what do we get out of 10 hours and 45 minutes spent online?
Why is reading ‘uncool’?
It develops the imagination, you learn new things, it improves your spelling, and has been proven that it makes us more emotive! (When you read ‘The Fault In Our Stars’, don’t tell me that you did not feel one tear drip down your cheek).
Why is it that we see more people on their phones on a train rather than a book?
Scrolling through statuses and tweets, instead of turning pages…
I’m no social media saint. I do go on my phone. It’s an easy way to communicate with your loved ones, right?
But I do feel that reading gives you so much more than you actually think.
I’m doing this topic for a talk thingy in English and the stats I mentioned at the start shocked me, I just had to share them.
So,if you haven’t picked up a book in a while…
Why don’t you? You’ll be surprised at what reading can do to you.
elfypie 