What Ive Been Listening Too | January 2015

Music is my life, It really is. I always have my phone or iPod with me and I am constantly clearing memory to add more music! I thought I would write a wee post telling you lot what I've been listening to most this month. Ive made a few new discoveries and embraced some old choons too!

The first song I have been listening to non stop this month is 'Afire Love' by the wonderful Ed Sheeran. This is a beautiful song released on Ed's second album X released in June of 2014. Its the final song on the album, a perfect ending. 

This song has a very special place in my heart, as It does with my boyfriend. Ed wrote the song about his Grandfather who he lost to Alzheimers Disease in late 2013. The song is Ed sharing his understanding of his Grandfathers suffering and him trying to understand it when he was younger.  The chorus is his Grandfather talking to his Grandmother about how much he loves her, the words are just truly beautiful. The song makes me very emotional, but the way he has written it and the words he has used it makes it so perfect. I have hardly gone a day without listening to this song and we also listen to the album in the car, skipping straight to this song!

The second song I have been listening to throughout January is 'Love Child' by Rebecca Clements.

Rebecca is an up and coming British Indie singer and songwriter. She hasn't released much music yet but by what Ive heard from her, she's going to be amazing! 

Love Child is a very smooth ballad, driven mainly by her powerful vocals. Her voice is so unique and strong, It draws you in and makes you listen to her words. It starts with just her vocals and guitar, getting you hooked on the song immediately. The song builds up and becomes such a mesmerising 

sound. I can't wait to hear some more from Rebecca this year.

Another cracking song Ive been enjoying is 'Up' by Olly Murs and the lovely Demi Lovato. This song comes from Olly's fourth album Never Been Better. Anything Demi Lovato does, I love, and this is just suuuuuuch a good song! It reached number 4 on the UK singles chart. 

I first herd Demi and Olly performing this on the XFactor, they were fantastic! Its a up beat pop song with a cracking bass line. Olly and Demi's voice go so well together, its a duet that Im so happy has happened! The lyrics are so lovely. Its about someone who has obviously hurt someone or broken someones heart and they are trying to apologise and prove their love is the meant to be. This song makes me so happy and cheery when I hear it. I don't yet have Ollys album but as soon as I'm paid, Its mine!

Next up is a song by P!nk. This is one off of the last album she released in 2012 called The Truth About Love called 'True Love'.  

This song is actually an old obsession of mine that has come back into my life this January and Im once again obsessed. I love the lyrics of this song how she is talking about how much her husband drives her round the bend but that she's loves him and wouldn't have him any other way. Im sure every lady with a special man in her life can relate, right? Its an up beat rock/pop song with P!nks vocals just as awesome as ever. Featuring on this track is the lovely Lily Allen, her first little comeback before her main comeback with her last album. Her voice sounds so sweet on this track.  This song is so catchy, bet it gets stuck in your head! 

The last song Im going to recommend you listen to as I haven't stopped this month is Style by Taylor Swift. Its off her fabulous new album 1989 which has loads of great songs on it.

This song is one of the songs off the album thats reportedly about Harry Styles, very cleverly done Miss Swift! I love the sound of this song, its so guitar and synth driven, such a laid back sound. I love her vocals in it too and the lyrics are spot on with revealing enough but not to much about her and the lovely Mr Styles. Her whole album is amazing though and if you don't have it  I would suggest you give it a listen!

I think that will do for just now, I could go on for hours telling you all my favourites but I think you would get fed up reading! Im going to do this every month so Im looking forward to making some new discoveries in February.   

Please give the songs Ive showed you a listen, they are all so good and I recommend them to you all!

Thank you for reading! Let me know some of your favourites?!

Amy x

Auschwitz 70th Anniversary

(All Photos Are My Own)

I know this is a very different and quite a sensitive post to place on my blog, but all day I have been watching on the news and listening on the radio to people talking about Auschwitz.

Today is the 70th Anniversary, marking the Liberation of Auschwitz from the Nazis.

Auschwitz | Entrance 

Back in November, whilst in Poland, I visited Auschwitz | and Auschwitz ||, Birkenau. There is an Auschwitz ||| but it is not open to the public. As sad and emotional as the visit was, I am so glad that I have been there. I learnt so much about the way things happened and found out far more of what went on at those camps than what most people know. Many think that the prisoners were brought into the camps and either made to work or sent straight to the gas chambers. So much more went on and even more happened that we do not know about because the Nazis destroyed so much evidence.

Auschwitz |

Auschwitz |

Auschwitz |

Auschwitz ||

Obviously I won't go into detail about the tour as It is not something I feel would be enjoyable to read. I would however say that If you ever have the opportunity to visit Auschwitz, I highly recommend it. It makes you think, It makes you cry (I did several times), It makes you want to learn and It makes you want to remember. To remember those that had to go through this.

Today at Auschwitz | and Auschwitz || Birkenau a memorial ceremony was held. Survivors and families of victims lit candles and prayers were said in memory of what happened. It was also announced that a National Memorial and a learning centre will be set up in Britain to remind and teach people of the Holocaust.

Auschwitz ||

Auschwitz || Plaque

I am so pleased that people are learning and educating people of what happened, ensuring something like this can never happen again. Over 1.6 million people were murdered, I pray we never forget.

Amy x

Ellie Goulding | 50 Shades of Grey

February 13th, Valentines Eve, will see the release of 50 Shades of Grey the movie.

The 50 Shades collection written by E.L James took over the book world during 2011/12. They outsold J.K Rowlings famous Harry Potter collection, for some bizzarre reason, and were praised by many right around the world. 

I myself read the first book in the series..that was enough for me! I didn't go on to read the final two but I've heard the first book is the best anyway. 

So on Valentines Eve 2015 the eagerly awaited movie is coming out. Along with the film is a soundtrack that I'm actually surprised how good it is. One song in particular by my most favourite lady, Ellie Goulding.

Ellie has performed a song written by Savan Kotecha for the film called Love Me Like You Do. Its a beautiful love ballad jazzed up by Ellie's unique style. It's a very simple tune brought to life with drums and synths. Her vocals as per are almost angelic and beautifully suited to the feel of the song. The lyrics are Ellie describing her love for someone, wanting them to always love them just like they always have and will, in my opinion the words are stunningly beautiful.

Although I'm not intending in seeing the film as I would just be far to embarrassed at some of the things I know are going to happen, I can't wait to hear some of the other songs included on the soundtrack from artists such as Beyonce, SIA, Annie Lennox and Jessie Ware.

The soundtrack is out February 10th on iTunes for £10.99 and 50 Shades of Grey will be in cinemas February 13th.

Amy x

Barry M Nail Favourites

I am OBSESSED with Barry M nail polishes. My collection over the past 2/3 years has become pretty large! I hate going anywhere without having my nails painted, I used to work somewhere that I wasn't allowed to have painted nails and it drove me crazy! Today I thought I would give you a wee review of some of my favourites before my collection grows out of control!

Barry M have a huge range of nail polishes and are always coming out with new colours and collections. They have several different types of nail varnishes such as the Gelly ones, Matte, Textured, Glitter and standard nail paints.

The Gelly Collection

The Gelly Nails are probably some of the best of their kind. These varnishes are much thicker and are a high shine gel which leave an amazing splash of glossy colour on your nails. As a guitar player I find these polishes perfect as it takes a much longer time to wear the colour off or get them chipped. The gel makes the polish last a lot longer on your nails, I personally can get away with doing my nails with two coats of a Gelly polish and leave it on for around a week.

Some of my favourites colours for The Gelly Collection are (From Left to Right) Elderberry, Blue Grape, Lychee, Greenberry, Blueberry and Mango. I put on two coats of whichever one Im using and the colour is always just like it is on the bottle. I find if I paint my nails at night, when I wake the next morning its always settled even better.

Original Nail Paints

The original nail paints have some of my favourites too. The varnishes are not as bold in colour as the Gellys but still super duper beautiful! They too are also very good at staying on for a longer period of time compared to other varnishes I have tried. Each shade has a gloss in them so they have a shine just like the Gellys but not quick as thick. 

Some of my favourites from this collection include (from left to right) Matt White, Peach Melba, Strawberry, Mint Green, Berry and Bright Red. 

Glitters and Textures

For a wee night out, special occasion or just to glam up a boring outfit Barry M have some seriously awesome textured and glitter polishes. I admit I don't wear them as often as the others but when I do, I feel awesome! 

(From left to right) my favourites include Atlantic Road 2, BLE 2013 A, Atlantic 1, Fashion Icon, Pacific and BLE 2013 B.  They are so different to any other polishes that Barry M have, well worth experimenting with. 

My three favourite colours in my whole collection are, in third place, Matt White (far right below). I love pastel and neutral colours the best and this white nail varnish can go with any outfit. If I don't know what else to paint my nails I paint then Matt White! In second place, Lychee (middle below). Lychee is probably the most neutral colour you can get in the collection. I love it for everyday wear. Where I work I don't want over the top nail varnish so this is perfectly suited. 

My most favourite nail polish colour is Berry (Left of the above picture). I first discovered this shade when I needed a purple varnish to go with a dress I was wearing to a Shinty Dance. My boyfriend plays for Strathspey Camanachd who play in purple and when I went to my first dance with him I dressed in purple! Anyways, that's how I discovered Berry. It's a beautiful more Lilac shade that just makes your hands look really elegant and lady like. I wear this as often as I can. It's the only shade in my whole collection that I've had to buy again and again as I use it so much. Its so girly and just such a pretty colour that Im obsessed with!

The shade I'm wearing right now for a bit of a change is actually one from the Matte collection. It's a beautiful maroon red shade that's very wintery called Crush, perfect for this weather were having here in the highlands. I don't often wear really dark shades but I'm loving this right now. Its such a warm colour and coincidentally goes with all my wooly jumpers at the moment! 

Barry M is honestly my favourite nail polish collection out there, and trust me, I've tried many! Personally on my nails they stay on for a longer period of time  if you give them enough coats and if you put them on the night before, the next day they look fabulous!

You can buy Barry M nail polishes from several sites including:

Barry M: http://www.barrym.com

ASOS: http://www.asos.com/search/barry-m?q=barry+m

Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=barry+m

Superdrug: http://www.superdrug.com/b/Barry%20M#.VMF9VV6oVuY

TESCO: http://www.tesco.com/direct/search-results/results.page?catId=4294967294&searchquery=barry+m&SrchId=4294967294&_requestid=2276598

You can always find the nail polishes from at least £2.99 up to £4.00.

Remember to check out their makeup range also which is amazing value for money.

Thank you reading, have a lovely day!

Amy x

Outfit & Makeup of the Day | 19th January

It's super snowy outside still, the joys of living in the Highlands of Scotland. I wouldn't have it any other way to be honest!

Anyway, today I'm wearing a cosy outfit as I head out to work. My jumper is from Primark, it was last winter I bought it so I don't know if you will be able to find it now but they do have very similar ones. It's so cosy, a simple red and white knitted jumper with a high collar which is essential at this time of year. Underneath it I'm wearing a strappy top from New Look.

 My leggings are from New Look,  I wear them all the time! I actually have two pairs the same as they are just so comfy. 

My Uggs have been keeping me super warm this winter. I have the brown ones which I will say, get dirty very easily, but I love them. I don't have many designer things so these boots are so special to me! I would recommend Uggs, I know many people think they are a rip off but they are so warm and so good for the winter.

My makeup is super simple, I didn't apply any liquid foundation. I just put on some of Rimmels Wake Me Up Concealer in darker areas with some Loreal True Match Powder over the top. I then put on some Maybelline MasterGraphic liquid liner and some of Tanya Burrs lipgloss in Champagne Toast. 

Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer
£5.49

Loreal Paris True Match Powder
£8.19

Maybelline MasterGraphic Liquid Liner

£5.99

Tanya Burr Lipgloss 'Champagne Toast'

£6.29

Its a really simple daily look, looks like make an effort when you really don't have too in this weather...Shhhh!

Amy x

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ALIEN by Thierry Mugler | January 2015

Perfume is my absolute favourite. If I could, all my savings would be spent on perfume over everything else! Recently when clearing my room I had a look through my collection and started using some old favourites and began loving them again, one perfume in particular.

ALIEN by Thierry Mugler. This is an old favourite of mine that I wore everyday. This was my smell! I originally owned the ALIEN 'Aqua Chic'. This was a 2013 limited Edition version of the ALIEN original perfume. It was a lighter scent compared to the original, aimed to relate more with the spring.

Once I had this perfume, which was given to me from my mum as a gift for getting into college, I wore It all the time. It was the first 'grown up' perfume I had ever owned. The smell is so beautiful.  The scent is described as Orange Blossom Flower water with an accord of Lemon & Pink Grapefruit. When I finished the bottle (which didn't take long) I wasn't able to replace it on a student budget at that time. So I got by with wearing different scents and finding lots of other favourites.

When I went to Dublin for my 21st Birthday, I saw it sitting In Duty Free before our flight out to Dublin. It wasn't the Aqua Chic, but it was the original Eau De Toilette. I hovered about it for a while and in the end, never bought it. Flying home from Dublin however, It was there again in duty free. The 60ml version of the perfume was only going to cost me £32 once converted from Euros... I couldn't refuse. The 60ml ALIEN Eau De Toilette retails for between £45-£50 in the UK. I found an absolute bargain. 

The Eau De Toilette is also a beautifully fresh light scent that I am now once again addicted too. The perfume is described as having 'radiant notes of Manderin' giving it a zesty and tangy freshness. It also has notes of 'Moroccan Jasmine, White Amber and Cashmeran Wood' giving it its lovely unique smell that I personally can't get enough of. 

I was lucky and got this 60ml bottle for only £32 in duty free. Over here in the UK you can get the 30ml bottle for £33.50 and the 60ml comes in at £51.50 from The Perfume Shop. There are some slightly cheeper offers on other sights and sometimes you might find good prices in sales at the likes of Debenhams. I would say however that the perfume is so worth it, once you try it you will see what I mean!

Amy x

Hello

Hello,

Im new to all this, but Im raring to give it all a go!

I hope you enjoy my blog, I know its rather empty right now...but it will be fabulous :)

I hope to bring you an awesome Lifestyle, Beauty & Music related blog with other bits and pieces here and there.

Stick around, thank you for taking the time to look.

Amy x

Love Lock Dublin | 21st Birthday

For my 21st birthday, I went to Dublin. What a holiday! It was honestly such an incredible city to spend six days in and I could have stayed even longer!

One thing I wanted to do whilst I was out there was to go to the Ha'Penny Bridge. This bridge is where you and take a padlock, you and your loved one, and you place it on the bridge. Locking your love forever and throwing away the key :) 

I think it's such a beautiful concept. I know it's pretty soppy, but you know, when your in love, your in love!

Myself and my lovely Bruce did this on the 1st of January, locked our love on my 21st birthday. It was so special and I would say to any couples going to Dublin to visit the bridge. We spent quite a while reading all the other padlocks which was also so lovely reading them all. 

You can also do this in other places and cities around the world. Many people will know that their is one in Paris but a bridge for this purpose can also be found Italy, Moscow, Canada and in New York City.

Go on, lock your love!

Amy x

New Years Resolutions

New Years Resolutions...

Something I have never been very good at setting and keeping, until now....

First of all, Happy New Year to you all. I turned 21 on the 1st of January which was the most amazing day ever! I went over to Ireland with my family and my boyfriend for a week and took in the New Year and my Birthday over there.

Whilst over there I decided that I wanted to set some goals for this coming year. 2014 wasn't the most successful year of my life, things kept going wrong and things I wanted to do just did not happen.
This year I am determined to start embracing life and not worrying what others think and just go for it! Ive set five goals, goals I feel are possible but also that will push me to become the person I really want to be.

1) GET FIT. This means going to the gym, doing fitness and eating healthy. I will be playing Shinty this year and I want to be as good a player as I can be. Also, I just want to be happy within myself.

2) START KEEPING A JOURNAL. I have kept a journal since I was about 12 years old. Over the past year Ive just stopped keeping it and I feel when I want to look back on these years of my life Ill regret it. I also love having a place to just write everything down.

3) WRITE. I have so many ideas in my head, I want to share them. I love to write and create new things and this year I really need to start making things happen!

4) FAMILY TIME. I want to make even more time to spend time with those closest to me. I want to go away for days out, take them places, treat them and just spend every spare moment I can with those I love now that I am home for good.

5) BE POSITIVE & HAPPY.  I want to make the most of every situation, to always look on the bright side of life as they say :) This year I will stay positive even if things are difficult and to just smile and enjoy life at very opportunity I get.


I hope 2015 will be the year for us all, lets grab life by the reigns and ride it out together!

Amy (and the worlds new grumpy cat :P ) x