Mini June Playlist

Having done a couple of "I've Been Watching" posts lately, I figured it was time for a quick musical version. In the interests of me not rambling on for hours, I've kept it short with just four artists! Links to the tracks themselves are included if you fancy having a listen!

Iggy Azalea feat. Charli XCX - Fancy

I'll admit, the first couple of times I heard this song, I hated it. Then, over time, something started to change. It's like it began to seep under my skin and I couldn't help but sing *cough, rap, cough* along whenever I heard it. Now I'm listening to covers and mash-ups and remixes and it's like I can't get enough. For my very favourite cover, check out Madilyn Bailey's version here, and my favourite mash-up (with Beyoncé's 'Partition') here.

Ed Sheeran - Don't, Photograph and Tenerife Sea

I got Ed's new album "X" for my birthday last week, and I haven't had the chance to properly listen to the whole thing yet. I am, however, loving these three tracks so far. "Don't" (which is allegedly about Ellie Goulding, but I really hope it isn't), is ridiculously catchy, and I caught "Photograph" on the radio a couple of weeks ago and instantly loved it. I skipped through some other tracks to listen to "Tenerife Sea" due to my love of Tenerife, and it's such a lovely wee song. If I haven't mentioned it already, I sort of like Ed Sheeran's music ;)

Bastille - Flaws

I've loved "Flaws" since it came out, but for some reason I've been having a total urge to listen to it all the time at the moment! It's such a good song, with great lyrics, and Dan's voice just fits it perfectly. Seeing them perform this live at Big Weekend was absolutely amazing, I wish I'd recorded more of it, but I was too busy enjoying the moment!

God is an Astronaut - Red Moon Lagoon

I discovered God is an Astronaut in my quest to find the perfect study music throughout April. I needed something fast paced enough to keep me awake and motivated, but without any proper words, so I wouldn't sit and sing along in my head (or out loud) like I do with my beloved Katy Perry, and almost any other form of music with lyrics. Having worked my way through lots of Sigur Ros, Tycho and Hammock, I finally stumbled across God is an Astronaut and it was love at first listen. This album (Origins) got me through one of my most hated assessments, and "Red Moon Lagoon" is my favourite track.

Hope you enjoyed that quick run down of some of the songs I've been loving lately. What's been on your playlist this June?!

Thanks for reading!

Radio One Big Weekend!

Last Monday I had just finished with a meeting sorting out some things for the GCU Fashion Show, and was having a quick stroll round the shops when a text arrived from my pal Gill. She asked what I was doing on Saturday and Sunday, and since I knew she was headed to Radio One Big Weekend I'd be lying if I said I didn't instantly get overexcited. A text or two later and I was set to see some of my favourite people in the world perform in Glasgow in just a few days time!!

The entire weekend was just amazing! We got there bright and early on the Saturday (well, at 12 when the gates opened!), having enjoyed a cheeky little Starbucks and planned out who we wanted to see.

Opening the day on the main stage was One Direction. If I learnt anything this weekend, it's that I know the words to far more One Direction songs than I realised...

Up next was the band I was probably most excited about seeing - my beloved Bastille. The guys were absolutely fantastic, and they really got the crowd going over the course of their set. They finished up with Pompeii of course, but Flaws and Of the Night went down a storm too. Sidenote: marry me Dan.

Next we headed off to the Introducing stage to hear a band Gill recently discovered called Saint Raymond. They were brilliant, and I predict big things (Radio One should probably hire me...)

An obligatory pit stop for chips was then on the cards and we sat on the grass and listened to Lily Allen, awaiting my next favourite person - Ed Sheeran. I've always wanted to see him live; the fact that it's just him, his guitar and a loop pedal up there on the stage just blows my mind. All the other acts have so much going on with their bands, and he just stands there on his own and kills it.

After Ed the weather took a turn for the worse and the rain came on. Calvin Harris started his set and I'm not sure if it was a combination of the rain and the fact that so many of his fans were past the point of tipsy and flailing around us by that point, but we gave up about twenty five minutes in. We headed to the tent to see Example, and I was actually pretty impressed. Neither of these guys are people I've been all that interested in seeing before, but for me, Example was a million times better!

By this point it was quarter to 10 and poor Gill just wanted to go home - someone, however, was determined to see at least a couple of Coldplay songs before running for the train, so she waited with me, like a trooper! It was almost as if Chris Martin himself knew that we needed to leave to make our trains home, and they played Yellow fourth in the set - that was me a happy girl, and we went home for a much needed sleep!

Sunday morning arrived, and with it came a torrential downpour! We had planned to see Chvrches at 1pm, but there was no-one else we were too bothered about seeing until after 5. When we got stuck in a huge queue at the gate and missed half of Chvrches set, we abandoned that plan and headed to the pub for a drink and some lunch, escaping the crazy weather!

We arrived back at around 5 in time for me to see another current favourite, The 1975. They kept two of their biggest tracks Chocolate and Sex till last, and everyone went crazy for them.

We popped into the tent again at this point to catch You Me at Six - I was a fan when I was about nineteen, but in all honesty I haven't listened to any of their stuff since then! They were great though, and the lighting on their set was incredible.

Back to the main stage we went then to wait for Paolo Nutini, who was absolutely amazing! Obviously the Glasgow connection made him a hugely popular act, and while I don't know much of his new stuff yet, I've definitely been convinced to get the album after his performance. He looked and sounded fantastic!

And finally, after two brilliant days, I got to see Katy Perry live. Having not got tickets for her Glasgow tour dates and then regretting it, this made up for it a little bit. She was phenomenal! Costume changes and set changes galore in her hour long slot, and an amazing set list - everything from I Kissed a Girl right through to Dark Horse and Roar, finished up with Firework. And some amazing fireworks to go along side. She was just amazing and I think I might love her even more now than I already did!

So that concludes my Big Weekend!! If any of you were there I'd love to hear who some of your highlights were :)

Thanks so much for reading (and thanks again to Gill for taking me with you!!) <3

Favourites of the Week #19

It's time for another weekly favourites - where are the weeks going?! Speaking of which, apologies for the fact I missed a post on Wednesday - the past couple of weeks have been hectic and the next few are going to be the same, but I'll be sure to get two posts up every week from now on! I've also missed out three of my regular categories here (blogger, film and book of the week) because I haven't had time for any of them - unless you count Strategic Management as book of the week.. which trust me, I wouldn't!!! Anyway, I'll stop rambling on and get on with the post!

Track of the Week
Madilyn Bailey - Berzerk (Eminem cover)

I'm sure you'll have heard me mention this girl before, but I'm a huge fan of Madilyn Bailey - she has some absolutely amazing covers on youtube, and is part of the whole Jake Coco/Corey Gray/Savannah Outen crew. Love this cover of Eminem's track Berzerk, I really like how she puts her own spin on everything she covers and isn't scared to cover any genre!



Album of the Week
Bastille - Bad Blood

I love Bastille so very much and was so gutted to miss the gig this week! This is exactly my type of music at the moment - if you haven't given it a listen, I highly recommend checking them out!



TV Show of the Week
The Vampire Diaries Season 5

Just caught the first episode of TVD Season 5 on ITV Player the other night - it was amazing!! I honestly can't get enough of this show, and I wish people who don't watch it would give it more credit. It's so clever and intense, and you the characters really get under your skin. Love that Delena (yep, that's right, I'm a ''Delena'' shipper) are getting a chance this season (hiya Ian Somerhalder ;))

Beauty Product of the Week
Lanolips Banana Balm

After seeing Fleur de Force review this last week I really wanted to try it for myself. I ordered it online and have to say, I'm loving it so far. I instagrammed a photo of it saying just that and fangirled just a little bit when Fleur favourited my tweet. That's a bit sad, isn't it!!

YouTuber of the Week
Leena - Just Kiss My Frog

I've mentioned Leena before, but I just love her videos so much. I really wish I could be as honest as she is in her videos - I get ideas for videos I want to make and then chicken out of doing it, whereas she just goes for it! She uploaded this philosophical video about what love actually is last week and it was brilliant! She makes a lot of videos talking about feminism in a really diplomatic way, in addition to book reviews, university advice and a huge catelouge of other interesting topics!



Website of the Week
Pinterest

I've been spending lots of time on Pinterest for work purposes the past couple of weeks, and I forgot how much I love it. You could literally spend hours on end just browsing through the beautiful pictures. My friend Laura from The Likely Lady has some amazing boards on there!

source

Style Icon of the Week
Nicole Scherzinger

I'm a fan of Nicole Scherzinger, I have to say. Some of the stuff she comes away with on X-Factor is absolutely hilarious, and she always looks perfect. To the point that you sort of want to hate her, but you just can't! She looks so effortlessly put together in this black jumpsuit and statement shades (I can't get sunglasses to work for me, my face is too small I think). 10/10 Miss Scherzinger.

source

Let me know what some of your favourite things have been this week!

Thanks for reading!

Favourites of the Week #17

It's Sunday again and I thought I'd do another weekly favourites!

Track of the Week
Bastille - We Can't Stop (Radio One Live Lounge cover)

I am not exactly what you would call a Miley fan - the less said about that in this post, the better I think. Anyway, when I saw that one of my current favourite bands covered her song ''We Can't Stop'' last week I had to have a listen, and I have had it on repeat ever since. Love the cheeky little reference to her relationship with her dad with the wee bit of Achy Breaky Heart they included!



Album of the Week
Ellie Goulding - Halcyon

I've had this album for ages and it's appeared here before, but I keep finding myself putting it on when I'm in the car, or out with my iPod on. I just love the variety of sounds on it from proper dance anthems to really chilled out tracks.



TV Show of the Week
The Vampire Diaries

I'm currently devouring season four of The Vampire Diaries, and whoever it was who told me this season wasn't as good as the previous ones lied! It's just as good, just as intense and with just as many twists and turns. I just filmed a The Vampire Diaries tag for my YouTube channel, so I'll link the video here once it's uploaded!

Film of the Week
About Time

Emma and I went to see About Time this week and absolutely loved it. We both cried bucketloads, so be sure to take some tissues with you if you're going to see it - I cried into my scarf because I neglected to do so! Richard Curtis has really outdone himself with this one. Bill Nighy and Rachel McAdams are both brilliant as always, and I thought Domhnall Gleeson was fantastic in the lead role. This is a nice, philosophical sort of film and while it's romantic, I wouldn't really say romance is the main theme. It's very much about family, making the most of the time you have with them and living each day to the full - it really gets you thinking!

Beauty Product of the Week
Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer

A product everyone knows about and I have repurchased I don't know how many times, I've been very grateful for my Lasting Perfection Concealer this week since my skin hasn't quite been blemish free - it's a life saver for a bad skin day!

Book of the Week
Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus

I read the back of this book in WHSmith a couple of weeks ago and was instantly intrigued. When I looked it up on my kindle and saw that it was under £3 (I think it was about £2.65) I decided to give it a shot, and I'm glad I did. I'm not too far through it yet but it's really good so far, quietly building suspense and giving us access to quite a few characters.

YouTuber of the Week
Nikki Phillippi

I really like Nikki's themed months on her YouTube channel, and think her Change it up Spetember theme is a great idea. It's really easy to get stuck in a rut, and deliberately challenging yourself to try new things or make a change in your life whether it's as big as moving house or going back to univerity - the latter of which I am on doing Thursday, ahhhh! - or as small as changing your regular lipstick colour, making changes can make a big difference to your life.

Website of the Week
Itison

I get daily emails from Itison but rarely bother to spend any time checking out the deals - this week however, I've found a couple of amazing offers and will definitely make the time to read these emails more thoroughly in future!

Style Icon of the Week
Dianna Agron

source

Okay, so I'm cheating a wee bit here, but this shoot actress Dianna Agron did for US Beauty website Byrdie is so stunning I couldn't ignore it. This is more of a makeup icon than style, but I love the colours used in this shoot so much that I'm letting that slide. Check out the full shoot here at http://www.byrdie.com/the-dark-side-of-dianna-agron/

What have some of your favourite things been this week? Let me know in the comments! :)

Thanks for reading!