Music Monday: Music I've Been Loving #6.

Good afternoon, everyone! This is my first Music Monday of 2016! I haven't done one since about December which is just mad. But I have a whole load of new music I've been loving. So let's get into it!

I have been loving Sia's new album which came out in January I think, I'm not too sure. This song is so good, it has such a good beat to it and the chorus is a little unusual. I think she has brought out a new video for it now and it has Sean Paul featuring on it now as well. Well worth a listen!

I have always loved Kelly Clarkson, I may not have listened to much of her recent stuff because I've gone on to listen to different stuff. I've listened to her since her Breakaway album back in 2004 which me and my brother listened to over and over again. Recently, she performed an acoustic version of this song on American Idol which blew everyone away because of the pure heartwrenching emotion she was displaying. So much so that she couldn't even finish the song due to her tears and she even had some of the judges crying. So I YouTubed the original version and although it has more of a dancey-ish beat to it, I still love it. It is heartbreaking but very empowering towards the end. If you're gonna listen to this one, keep a few tissues handy because you'll need them!

This one is not a new song, I think it's actually a couple years old now. But I had never heard of it before until I saw it on my telly the other day and I instantly fell in love with it. Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake's vocals go together so well. It is such a feel good song and has you dancing around in your room. But it also makes me sad because Michael is not here with us anymore and we can't hear any more great hits like this.

I am loving The 1975's new album! This is possibly my favourite song out of all of them. Matty Healy just looks so good and the song has you singing into a hairbrush at all hours in the morning! Well worth a listen.

I would never have thought Beyonce and Coldplay could sound good together until now! Coldplay have been bringing out some good songs lately and this is one of them. It took a while for me to get into it and there was alot of controversy about the video because some people thought they were using Indian stereotypes and they were using cultural appropriation, particuarly with how Beyonce is dressed throughout the video. But I find it celebrates the wonders and beauty of India but each to their own. It is such a good song, it is such an anthem that has you stamping your feet and clapping along.

Little Mix have really become a girl band that I actually like! They always have great songs to dance to and sing along with. This one is a little different, a bit slower and it features Jason Derulo. I'm not a huge fan of Derulo and I think the song would've worked even better without him but it still slays because of the girls' vocals. Their voices have grown and gotten so much stronger, especially Perrie. Unbelievable, definitely listen to this.

Ellie Goulding is just so beautiful and a fantastic human being. I saw her a couple of weeks ago in the Echo Arena for the second time and she was incredible as ever. Dancing, singing and shimmying across the stage as well as playing guitar and the drums. She sounds exactly like she does on her albums. Her new album is so good and well worth a listen! These two songs are a good place to start.

So, those are my favourite songs of this month!

Do you like any of them? Do you have any recommendations for me?

Thankyou for reading.

Laura.

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Makeup Review: MUA Eyebrow Pencil - Brunette.

Hi, guys! I've got another makeup review for you today. This time I am reviewing an eyebrow pencil from MUA so let's go!

MUA isn't the best brand of makeup I find but I have really enjoyed using this eyebrow pencil. I get the shade 'brunette' and it is only £1! To be honest, I haven't used any other eyebrow products, certainly not expensive ones.. for fear they won't work and I'll have wasted my money. But I think I'll try some others in the future. But right now, I really like this one.

For the price of it, it is very pigmented and works very well. I'd recommend it especially for those who are trying out eyebrow products for the first time. It's a great size as well. I kept my first one for well over a year and all for £1!

The brush at the end is great for blending out the pencil and making it look more natural and finish off your makeup look nicely. It's a little bit hard, bristle-wise, so I wouldn't press down too hard. Also, take care with sharpening the pencil itself. The product is fairly creamy and soft and does break off easily when pressed hard but it's great overall. You're always left with lovely eyebrows which is what everyone wants!

You can buy it here for just £1!

Have you tried this? Do you like it?

Thankyou for reading.

Laura.

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Happy International Women's Day!

Happy International Women's Day, ladies!

I hope you are having a wonderful day and are happy to be a woman on this great day. 

I'm going to name and talk about a few inspirational women who stood up and changed history forever for us girls. It's bit of a long post but I think it's fitting for a day like today. Let's go!

1. Susan B. Anthony

First up is Susan B. Anthony. She was one of the driving forces behind the women's suffrage movement. She was a devoted equal rights advocate and a social activist. She dedicated her life to not only fighting for women's equal rights but for the equality of all people. Although, she was deeply self-conscious of her looks and speaking abilities, because of her Quaker upbringing she overcame these fears and was encouraged to express herself and fight for equal rights. She spent much of her life travelling around the country, speaking about equal rights, discussing petitions and helping to organise local women's rights and labour organisations. Amazingly, she was actually the first woman to be printed on a circulating U.S. coin in 1979-1981 and minted again in 1999.

2. Marie Curie

Marie Curie was a ground-breaking Polish chemist and physicist who worked mostly in France who became known for her historical research on radioactivity. She is the first and only woman to win the Nobel Prize in two fields. She was also the first female professor at the University of Paris and coined the word radioactivity and part of her achievements included theories in radioactivity. She was responsible for several techniques used in isolating radioactive isotopes as well as discovering two elements; radium and polonium. To this day, there are many locations, schools and foundations named after her.  

3. Helen Keller

Helen Keller was born in 1880 and was healthy until an illness and a severe fever left her both deaf and blind. She was quite intelligent but her childhood suffered due to her handicap as she was unable to communicate, causing her to get frustrated and have frequent tantrums. After many years, help arrived when she was seven in the form of Anne Sullivan. Anne herself was also blind and became Helen's teacher, teaching Helen sign language. Long story short, Anne's future husband, John Macy helped Helen to write her first book about her life. After completing her education, Helen began lecturing and sharing her story with others with the hope of opening up more options for people with disabilities. She spoke about rights for others as well, including women and founded/co-founded numerous foundations including the American Civil Liberties Union. 

4. Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks attended segregated schools throughout her childhood which included a long daily walk to the African American school house while the white students in her community took a bus to a large, new building. She briefly attended secondary school but had to leave to take care of her ailing mother and grandmother. Instead of returning to school, she got a factory job and married Raymond Parks at the age of 19. Raymond was a member of the NAACP and helped Rosa earn her high school diploma. She became a civil rights activist alongside her husband and served as a youth leader for the Montgomery chapter of the NAACP. The Montgomery city code insisted that bus drivers had to segregate black and white passengers on the bus. If buses became too full, the black passengers had to give up their seats to accommodate white passengers. If they refused, the bus drivers had full authority to call the police to have them removed.

Rosa Parks became an icon when she left work on 1st December, 1951. Riding the bus home, the bus filled up and soon the white half of the bus was full, leaving some white passengers standing. The bus driver stopped the bus and ordered the first row of black passengers to get up and the three passengers in Rosa's row did so but not her. She refused to move and was subsequently arrested for it. After her arrest, the NAACP organised a bus boycott in support of Rosa and racial equality.

5. Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall is a famous animal rights activist and environmentalist. She has made many discoveries in her long term research into chimpanzee society about their behaviour, diet and interactions with one another. She travels around the world, giving lectures on primates and their behaviour. She started the Jane Goodall Institute which now has 19 offices across the world and she spends a significant portion of her time fighting for chimpanzee's rights.

And finally, YOU!

That was cheesy, I know but it's true! You, yourself, are an inspiration either to yourself, to family or to your friends. Whatever you are going through or have been through, you are incredible and have amazing strength. Whatever your dreams and goals are, you have the strength and power to achieve them. I am proud of you for getting this far already and you have so much more to offer this world. 

To close this post, I think it is only fitting to include a bit of Beyoncé and Destiny's Child!

 

All the women who are independent throw your hands up at me!

A good note to end on, right?

Have a great day and enjoy the fact you're a woman today.

Thankyou very much for reading.

Laura.

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10 Deep Questions Tag!

Hey everyone, I just felt like doing something a little different today. I wasn't actually tagged to do this but I was bored and I play by no rules! So, here we go!

1. What is more difficult for you, looking into someone's eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone's eyes when they are telling you how they feel?

Definitely looking into someone else's eyes when I am telling them how I feel, especially if it's a really deep subject. I like engaging with other people when they're telling me how they feel because I want them to know they have my full attention. But I just get anxious and fidgety when I'm talking about my own issues.

2. Think of the last time you were REALLY angry. WHY were you angry? Do you still feel the same way?

I genuinely don't remember the last time I was very angry actually. I'm trying to be less angry and less opinionated about things these days.

3. You are on a flight from Honolulu to Chicago non-stop. There is a fire in the back of the plane. You have enough time to make ONE phone call. Who do you call? What do you tell them? 

Bloody hell, this is a deep question. I'd definitely call my mother and tell her how much I love her and how much I've always appreciated everything she's ever done for me.

4. You are at the doctor’s office and he has just informed you that you have approximately one month to live. Do you tell anyone/everyone you are going to die? What do you do with your remaining days? Would you be afraid?

I'd definitely be afraid but I'd spring into action! I'd write individual letters for every single one of my friends and family members to tell them what each one means to me. I would give all of my money to my family and I'd donate all of my clothes to charities/those in need. I'd probably throw a big party and get really drunk with my favourites.

5. You can have one of the following two things. Love and Trust. Which do you choose? Why? 

That's a hard question but probably trust. I'd rather be trusted 100% by everyone rather than loved but not trusted. My loyalty to people is one of the best things about me so I'd hate to lose something like that.

6. Do you make your own decisions or let others make them for you?

It depends haha. When I was younger, I obviously needed people to make certain decisions for me but now that I am 22 this year, I am making more decisions for myself.

7. What would be (or what was) harder for you to tell a member of the opposite sex, you love them or that you do not love them back? 

It'd definitely be harder to tell someone I don't love them back because I care about people more than myself so I couldn't stand the thought of hurting someone's feelings.

8. Your best friend confesses that he/she has feelings for you more than just friendship. He/she is falling in love with you. What do you (or did you) do/say? 


I'd be freaked out considering we've been friends for 21 years and she's a girl who's dated boys and is currently with a boy.. BUT, I would talk it out with her and try not to act any differently.

9. Think of the last person who you know that died. You have the chance to give them 1 hour of life back, but you have to give up one year of yours. Do you do it? Why or Why not? 

Well this is awkward because my cousin recently died but we weren't at all close, I didn't know him at all really so I don't want to count him. So I'm going to choose my auntie who died back in 2009 and I'd definitely, more than anything, have 1 more hour with her. I miss her so much.

10. When was the last time you were nice to someone and did NOT expect anything in return for it?

I paid for my mum to get her car fixed because she really needed it done. I didn't expect anything in return or the money back because she's my mum and I'd do anything for her.

So, there we go.
We got real deep there, y'all! But it was fun to answer these kinds of questions.
I tag anyone who fancies having a go at these questions too.
Thankyou for reading.
Laura.

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