Disneyland Paris 2014

This is an extremely late post on our visit to Disneyland Paris but you know what they say...better late than never ;) I've compiled a trip report of the best experience of my life and I hope you enjoy reading it.

My Mum and I stayed at the Explorers Hotel for 3 nights which was lovely. The hotel was extremely clean and the theme was fantastic. The hotel had a pool and I regret not bringing a swimming costume but it felt weird for October. The transfer from hotel to the park was easy and frequent.

We spent the first evening at the Disney Village so we could do our shopping without the hussle and bustle. The stores were so nice and I just loved the constant Disney music that was playing. We also watched a stage show with various talents such as hula-hooping. We ate at Earl of Sandwich which was a great price for tasty food. We were full by the end of our meal. 

The first day was magical. I loved every minute of it!! We went on many rides which include Alice's Curious Labyrinth, It's A Small World, Peter Pan's Flight, Orbitron, Mad Hatter's Tea Cups and Phantom Manor and Pirates of the Caribbean. We also were privileged to meet Marie and Ariel :) Ariel was very lovely and the 90 minutes wait was definitely worth it. The queues were quite long but what I found fantastic was that they were decorated so you get the feel of the ride/characters on the way. We reserved a meal at Cafe Mickey and we met Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Pluto and Tigger. Goofy made us laugh a lot. Even though we had no children with us it was lovely that they gave us a full character interaction as this was one of the reasons I wanted to visit DLP. Both the Halloween Parade and Magic on Parade were wonderful. The songs were catchy and I loved all the colours. The Dreams fireworks show was spectacular. I was very emotional because I dreamed of this moment for a very long time.

We got to visit loads of rides in the morning. We went on THREE in the space of an hour between 9-10AM which was brilliant. On this day we went on the Carousel, Snow White ride, Pinocchio ride, Ratatouille (this was our favourite ride as it was mind-blowing - we queued on the single riders line (only 45 minutes) but my Mum and I still managed to board the same cart), Casey Jr, Le Pays des Contes de Fées, Slinky Dog ride and the Studio Tram Tour. We nibbled through treats during the day and went to the Hakuna Matata restaurant in the evening which was yummy. We met so many characters on Halloween which was such a brilliant experience. Jack Skellington was one of my favourite characters I met because we has a nice little conversation, but I was also priviliged enough to meet the legendary Peter Pan!

Overall, we had a wonderful experience and I definitely want to visit again. It all seems a bit dull now that we're home. I'm so thankful to be given this experience :)

Pinterest

We cannot escape social media in our modern day life, surrounded by technology. Social media has made it easier for people to interact with each other, share ideas and realm in their passions. We all have our favourite social media platforms and our differing reasons for that. Mine happens to be the wonderful website that is known as Pinterest - it helps me explore my passions, gives me some great tips and it also inspires my imagination.

My Mum was the first to discover Pinterest. I was fed up with Tumblr for many reasons and really wanted to try something fresh, but something light and colourful. Something that would expand my imagination to the realms. Pinterest did just that for me because it helped me gather ideas to write a short story and helped me to continuously explore my passions.

One such passion is Studio Ghibli (a Japanese animation studio). Pinterest enabled me to explore its art and inspire my own at the same time. Studio Ghibli is what started my enthusiasm for anime and Japanese culture, so this pin board is a dedication to such amazing workers who bring to life the amazing animation and stories.

Pinterest always keeps me positive, even on the day I'm feeling run down. I also have a pin board dedicated to happy quotes which bring a smile upon my face. But it's the bright array of colour that makes me go back to Pinterest time and time again. Colour inspires us and we all need inspiration in our lives. Inspiration is a big thing for me it turns ideas into reality and helps others to try something new.

I cannot recommend Pinterest enough to you all and I encourage you all to try this wonderful platform of inspiration. ^.^

Disneyland Paris October 2014

I have got the best news! I am going to Disneyland for the first time ever for my EIGHTEENTH!!! It has been my dream to visit the happiest place on earth since I was a little girl and I'm so glad I'm going to go this year. I feel like Rapunzel as she went to see the floating lanterns for her 18th. 

Me and my Mum are going this October for two full days, and have also booked the Halloween party tickets. I think I might dress up as a zombie Alice, but still more planning needs to be done. There will definitely be set blog posts dedicated to my planning and time at Disneyland. 

First, here's a list of the characters I definitely would like to meet:

1. Peter Pan

2. Rapunzel

3. Jack (The Nightmare Before Christmas)

4. Mickey (of course!!) 

I'm super excited to interact with all the Disney villains. I've heard they're a real laugh! ^.^

photo from telegraph.co.uk

Summer!

We've waited so long for that wondrous word to become a reality, and now it's finally here! We don't want to take these months for granted. As I live in England, these summer days are extra precious. There's so many outdoor activities you can do, alongside indoor activities when the temperature gets too warm for comfort. I've decided to compile a list based on experiences, but also things I would love to try out.

OUTDOORS

1. Walks at the park, the beach, the countryside, anywhere. I personally love walking on a nice summer day, taking in the fresh air and gently exercising. Evening strolls are perfect as you catch the sunset. Don't forget to bring a camera!

2. Go to the beach because water is exciting and keeps you cool in the summer. Build a sandcastle, collect seashells, sun bathe, just have LOT'S OF FUN! I always feel at home near the sea because it reminds me of my childhood, where we went to the beach every weekend.

3. Have a BBQ in the evening, whilst it's just about to get dark. Smoky food is the perfect getaway after a hot summer's day.

4. Photography is great in the summer because days are longer and the light is everywhere. Flowers are in bloom and the ocean gently sends its waves, creating perfect photographs.

5. Visit a public garden as you learn some interesting facts about plants and smell the beautiful scents. I really wish to visit an oriental garden one day.

6. Go to the zoo and have fun with smaller relatives or just enjoy the crazy animals. Zoos are always great for photography purposes and make for a brilliant summer day out.

7. Row, row, row your boat, gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream. Need I expand on this subject?

8. Go for a gentle cycle ride, which makes for a great fitness activity but also a wonderful evening in the park.

9. Visit a cute, old town. I'm going to visit Cambridge this summer because it's picturesque and makes for a great day out with the family.

10. Take a picnic outdoors with you, as you sit by a lake or river. Don't forget to bring some extra bread for the ducks!

INDOORS

1. Go to the cinema to watch the latest movie blockbusters. I went to see 'Dawn of the Planet of the Apes' this week and it was such a brilliant and enjoyable movie.

2. Visit a museum or an exhibition you may find interesting. I love going to fashion exhibitions because I love experiencing the great detail behind elegant couture gowns.

3. Go bowling because this is extremely fun with friends and a great laugh.

4. Have a movie night with your friends or family. I love Disney movie marathons because they always make you feel great.

5. Find a great TV show to binge watch. I remember a few summers ago when I discovered 'The Vampire Diaries', which soon came to turned to all-nighters.

6. Read a book indoors when it gets too hot outside.Transport yourself to another world as you immerse yourself into the lives and worlds of others.

7. Go shopping and go treat yourself to some summer clothes because you deserve it!

8. Discover a new magazine. There's loads out there in the market, some which you have never heard of before. I recommend the fashion magazine 'Lula' for every girly-girl and those who love quirky articles.

9. Create your own artistic masterpiece or just start with some doodling. Art is great to help you unwind, and it doesn't need to be perfect because art takes time and practice. Draw your favourite fictional character or some pretty flowers. Whatever takes your fancy, really.

10. Gaming because we all need an adrenaline boost once in a while. Or if you prefer something that doesn't make you scream or your palms sweat so much, why don't you try Animal Crossing, which is the perfect relaxation game.

I hope you've enjoyed all these suggestions and try a few out. A lot of these don't require you to pay any money whatsoever. It's the free and little things that makes life extra special. Have a fabulous summer!! ^.^

Bringing Back to Life Your Dried Make-up Powders

Can you imagine the horror in my face when I discovered my favourite Guerlain blusher dried up after not being able to use it for a few months (I literally never left the house during exam period). Yep..it was one of shock and horror. But I discovered this top tip to bring your make-up powders back to life, whether they be bronzers, highlighters etc.

All you have to do is take a few slices of cucumber and place them on your powder. Seal the container so it's nearly or completely airtight. You can do this by simply using cling film. Leave in the fridge for a few hours and then leave out for a further few hours at room temperature. I usually leave mine in the fridge for 2 hours and leave it outside overnight. The cucumber will add moisture to your powder, bringing back the loose powder. For extra powder, gently scratch at the powder with paper or plastic before applying. 

This will not solve the problem forever and will need to be done a few times. But hey, better than throwing your well earned make-up away.

Cucumbers are also great for you skin, adding an extra benefit to your make-up. It is said they fade dark circles, reduce puffy eyes, improve complexion and tighten your pores. Why not try this simple and beneficial method? ^.^

Barry M Nail Polish

I am IN LOVE with Barry M Nail Polish since I discovered it last summer (yes..it took me that long to discover these great polishes). I have to admit, I'm not an avid nail painter because I almost never have the time to bother to look after my nails. Luckily, my nails are very healthy by themselves and don't need much maintenance. However, in the summer painting my nails is a must to match my bright fashion pieces. In winter, I only use nail polish for special occasions. As you can guess, my summer nail polish collection is much larger.

Anyway, I'm waffling! Let's get to the business of these amazing nail polishes. First of all, these are SUPER cheap at only £2.99 for the normal polish, to £3.99 for the gelly, matte, glitter etc. Because I don't paint my nails too much, I don't want to spend ridiculous amounts on nail paint. Besides, I'd rather save that money for clothes!! Being so cheap, I've also built up a nice nail collection which suits my needs. If you too are not overly crazy about nails but would like something to match your outfit, I'd definitely recommend these affordable nail paints. 

Although these nail polishes are cheap, they are not of very poor quality. They stay on my nails for at least 3 DAYS, which is remarkable seeing as I'm always fiddling, trying to find my favourite pen in my pencil case. When I'm not at school, the colour stays on a lot longer. Most of the nail paints need at least TWO coats, with the lighter colours needing THREE. However, and this is really impressive, the gelly nails only need ONE coats. I was amazed when I first tried it!

If I am to be constructive, the nail polished can take some time to dry, but this isn't a painful wait. I also don't think the 'gelly' collection offers a high shine any more than their normal range. However, you only need one coat so hey! Plus, you wouldn't want to miss out on the great colour range. 

Here is a list of my collection, displayed in the order seen in the picture:

Lemon

Strawberry

Mint Green

Elderberry 'Gelly'

Blueberry

Berry

Bright Pink

Cyan Blue

Coral

Amethyst 'Glitter'
-with elderberry 'gelly' undercoat

I overly recommend you buying some summer shades this season. Barry M have so many more shades than the ones I've listed. But be warned, you will get addicted and keep buying more. I definitely did not plan owning all these shades! Enjoy ^.^

Tangled iPhone Case

I ordered a beautiful iPhone case from eBay the other day. Tangled is my favourite Disney movie so I really wanted something personal, other than the movie itself. 

The image of the case is of my favourite scene from the movie; when Rapunzel and Eugene are on the boat together, watching the lanterns in the sky. 

The colours are beautiful with deep purple, blue and pink, with lanterns glittering on the lake. The actual case itself looks far more beautiful than this picture can reveal.

This is my favourite case I've ever had and I know I'll have it for a very long time. ^.^ 

YouTube

YouTube is definitely a necessary for me in my daily life and I can't go a day without watching any sort of vlog. YouTube has great beauty tips, but my favourite thing about it are the vlogs. These are peoples' genuine daily lives and they are just so interesting to watch. I've just had to dedicate a blog post talking about my favourite YouTubers and why I love them so much..so here we gooo:

1- WatchUsLiveAndStuff: My favourite YouTube channel without a doubt! Anthony and Kalel are my favourite couple in the world and just really funny. These guys vlog about their wacky, daily lives and they get into so much fun. They both share similar personalities to me (video games, disney, Japan, anime) that how could I not love them?! They are so fun to watch and they have a true love for their audience. I would literally do anything to be friends with these guys..sell my soul to the devil (Black Butler?!)

2- Frilly + Fancy: Kalel has to personally be included in this list too. She has just started another YouTube channel with all the stuff that we both love. There's only a few videos but they're all rich and sweet in content. She also inspired to start this very blog.

3- SACCONEJOLYs: Another vlog channel by a cute Irish family. These guys really show you what's the most important things in life; family. Their daughter Emilia is the sweetest little child and they've also just has a cute little baby boy names Eduardo. They never fail to make you laugh, especially with six maltese puppies around.

4- essiebutton: A beauty blogger who knows her stuff! This girl has made me and my Mum buy so much stuff and visit so many places, it's crazy! She always looks flawless and her tutorials are extremely helpful. She also has a vlog channel which has inspired me to move to London for university. There seems to be so many endless opportunities.

5- grav3yardgirl: A beauty blogger with a difference and possibly one the funniest YouTuber you'll come across. You'll never fail to laugh when watching one of her videos. She does so many interesting stuff for her audience, including 'following me arounds' and testing products seen on TV. She is the first person that got me interested in YouTube, so she just has to be included in this list.

6- CutiePieMarzia: Another YouTuber who has similar interests to me which is why I adore her videos. She is so light hearted and sweet. All her videos are very pretty and girly and I adore her sense of style.

This was really hard to compile in just a few YouTube channels when I am subscribed to so many. Most of these channels are ones which I have followed from the start and inspire me in everyday life. Of course there are many more wonderful channels out there, and some I still have yet to venture upon. I would love to get involved in YouTube one day and hope I can gain the courage to do so. ^.^ 

Beauty Review: Soap & Glory Orangeasm Body Wash

Your rushed morning shower or the relaxed evening shower..either way you want a body wash that smells luxurious and feels good. Soup & Glory's new body wash does both, whatever time of day you take your shower. 

This body wash has a zesty smell of oranges, but is not overwhelming that it makes you squint >.< your eyes and run away (though, that's probably just me!). I personally do not citrus smells, but this is so subtle that I guarantee anyone will like it. 

This body wash is very moisturising, and I honestly feel no need to moisturise my body after my shower. My skin still feels perfectly smooth from this morning's rushed shower. The label doesn't lie when it says this body wash has "skin softening, moisture boosting properties".

The bottle is HUGE and lasts for ever..at just £6.50, this product is a steal. The packaging is also pretty cute and that's a clever play on words. You should definitely treat yourself to this body wash next time you're out shopping. ^.^

Univerisity Open Days: Royal Holloway

This is the first of a mini series featuring my visits to universities. I apply to university this September and I'm both super scared and super excited. I would like to study Politics and International Relations because it is so relevant to the world and offers a huge impact on what happens wherever one lives. You may find this blog post useful if you aren't able to attend an open day yourself or if you're just generally interested.

As soon as I set my eyes on this university, I instantly fell in love. The Founder's building is so beautiful and just what you would expect from your traditional university. The building itself was built by Thomas Hollaway, and it was the UK's first higher education college for women. The building is set in two quads, both with statues in the middle; one of Queen Victoria (who allowed the use of 'Royal' in its name) and of Thomas Holloway and his wife. It seems like the perfect place to hang out in the summer with your friends.

The accommodation is lovely and I can easily see myself living there. You can stay in the Founder's building, or my personal favourite, the more modern Gower and Wedderburn. This accommodation has eight flats in each floor with a shared kitchen, which looked very sociable. There is more accommodation available but these are the ones that stood out to me the most.

All the student ambassadors were very friendly and genuinely interested in your aspirations and passions. They were also very insightful on the 'Study Abroad' option, which I hope to take part in. One of the best features of Royal Holloway was their careers advice which they emphasised all throughout the day. I'm not thinking much about my job prospects at the moment (though I have a rough idea of what I would like to pursue), but it's great to know they will offer me specialist advice.

The Politics and International Relations talk was very inspiring. It made me want to find out more, read more and know more about this subject. The teacher was so passionate about his subject that it reflected back on you. He didn't feel like his job was work because he loved it so much. I just think you can't get a better teacher and lecturer who's just passionate for their subject. The department seems very committed to their students, so what more can you ask for? 

I still have many more universities to visit, but I know Royal Holloway will remain at the top of the list, if not the firm favourite. I really didn't want to leave because it felt like the perfect place to study. It also has a great reputation and remains consistently high in the league tables.

#OOTD - For my visit I wanted to wear something presentable, but also comfortable. This outfit was perfect for the hot weather but also quite cute. Apologies for my dull face, as you can tell I was very tired after the day!!

Top: River Island

Skirt: Hollister

Vest: Marks & Spencer

Cardigan: Banana Republic

Belt: Tommy Hilfiger (came as part of a skirt)

I hope you look forward to the posts on the rest of my university visits! ^.^

Onigiri

Onigiri are Japanese rice balls, a substitute to the Western sandwich. They are the white blobs you always see anime characters eating, and sometimes decorated elaborately. You only have to search 'onigiri' on Pinterest to bestow yourself in an array of cute onigiri. Although these images look like a recipe for disaster for amateur cooks, you can easily make simple, tasty onigiri yourself. Here is my personal recipe to making scrumptious onigiri:

Ingredients:

- Haruka/Sushi Rice
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Seaweed
- Fillings (tuna, mayonnaise, salmon)
- Soy Sauce

1. Place 500g of rice in 750ml of water in a saucepan. Then, leave the water to boil on a high temperature and then turn the heat down to a low simmer. Wait till all the water is fully absorbed by the rice before turning the oven off and leaving to stand.

2. It is very important to leave your rice stand for at least 30 minutes. This will make sure you don't burn yourself, as I did in the process of moulding the rice balls (oopsie!) Add 2-3 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar and mix with a wooden spoon in the meantime.

3. Whilst leaving to stand, you can make your fillings. To make the tuna mayonnaise filling simply add 2-3 tablespoons to a bowl of tuna - of course after emptying the tuna from its can and draining it from the oil - and mix together. You can do the same with the salmon. You can also experiment with various other fillings!

4. After the rice has cooled, take some rice and mould this flat into a circle or triangle (whatever your preference). Make sure you have a bowl of water next to you because wet hands help in the process of moulding.

5. Add the filling to the middle of the mould. Get some more rice and place this on top. Secure the rice ball by rolling it between your hands. You can then shape this back into a triangle.

6. You can simply leave your onigiri as need be or add some decoration. You can cut a strip of seaweed and place in the middle of your onigiri all the way round - this can act as somewhere to grip your rice ball whilst eating. If you're feeling creative you can make faces! Cut various strips into eyes and mouths and place on your onigiri. I also cut small pieces of ham to make cute blushed cheeks for mine.

7. You're all finished and ready to eat your onigiri. Dip into soy sauce for extra pleasure :D

I am not Japanese but incorporated this recipe from different sites and knowledge from my local oriental store. There are more traditional ways to make your onigiri and this recipe is just to get you started.

Cooking food from different cultures can really broaden your horizons and helps you learn extra facts along the way. I've been immersed in the Japanese culture for a very long time and I enjoy all their food and learning to cook it myself.  Don't be afraid of trying something new to cook, even if it's from a different culture, you'll enjoy the end result and progress regardless. ^.^

Pokémon League Champion

I finished Pokémon X and enjoyed the gameplay very much. The game is graphically amazing and exceeds the boundaries. It has definitely been the best 3D game experienced on my console. 

I did buy this game on release day but it has taken me a while to complete it due to my other responsibilities. However, I'm proud to say I am now finished, even though it has taken this long. 

I believe this is one of Pokémon's best in-game stories. I thought it was very beautiful and touching. I'm going admit that I did start tearing up at the end. 

One disadvantage however, even though it did take me a while to complete it, is that I thought the gameplay itself was very easy and didn't offer much of a challenge. I believe I only lost 1-3 battles during the course and the legendary pokémon was far too easy to capture. It only took me one shot, whereas in previous games I found myself restarting the game and using many pokéballs. Fortunately, the elite four was a bit of a challenge and their battles were graphically impressive. 

It's sad to see an end to another Pokémon game, but now we can look forward to the next one; Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby. ^.^

Beauty Review: The Body Shop Body Mists

We all like to pamper ourselves and smell nice and these The Body Shop body mists definitely do the trick. I own three of these sweet-smelling scents because I cannot resist. They're great value for money at just £7.50 each and are 100ml each. 

Madagascan Vanilla Flower: This is the strongest smell out of all three of the body mists I own. It's very sweet which is why I only use it on bright summer days. However, it has also got this slight musky scent after spraying which works really well. I love the packaging because it has got a cute little giraffe.

Amazonian Wild Lily: This is such a nice, fresh scent which makes you feel so good after coming out of the shower. The fragrance is so light so it can easily pair up well with your favourite body butter or moisturiser. Lily fragrances are one of my favourite scents because they're so fresh and have that ever so slight sweetness to them. This is my most used body mist because it's just so simple, and sometimes simple is just what you need. 

White Musk Smoky Rose: This is my favourite body mist because it pairs up a beautiful musky scent with the slight sweetness of rose. I usually wear this before I get ready when going out for something special. The white musk scent is my favourite range from The Body Shop because I do prefer a musky smell compared to a sweet one. I feel this scent is tailored more towards my personality and goes perfect with my favourite perfume: L.I.L.Y by Stella McCartney. The packaging is a deep, rich purple colour which is just telling you it's perfect for special occasions.

The Amazonian and Madagascan body mists are made with natural and organic ingredients, adding to their freshness. All products are cruelty free, so you're safe knowing no animals were harmed in the making. ^.^

Easy Way to Control Your Curls

Kérastase Oléo-Curl. I cannot stop raving about this product to everyone I know. This is a miracle worker sent from the heavens.

My natural curly hair can tend to get quite frizzy, turning my curls lifeless. The bottle is labelled as a curl definition cream, but they're totally underrating themselves. 

This miracle cream gets rid of your frizz and leaves your hair so fresh and shiny, without looking oily or greasy. It also defines each curl and makes sure they aren't clumped together. I feel so confident with my curly hair now that I don't even need to bother to straighten it anymore. 

The best thing about this product is that I can apply it at the roots (where I suffer from the most frizz) and it doesn't turn oily in the slightest, or needs an earlier wash.

This cream can be applied straight after your hair wash (I combine it with moroccanoil), and I also apply it further once a day, in the mornings or evenings..whenever I feel it needs a perk up. Honestly, it works in an instant.

 

I am so thankful to have came across this product, at a decent price as well. I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to tame their curls! ^.^ 

What's On My Desk

My desk needed a good tidying up after finishing my exams. I thought I'd dedicate this blog post to everything that's on my desk

I'll first start up with my little friends that help me through my studies. As you can see I have cute little rainbow lamb. This was an Easter present from my grandparents when I was about 5 years old and I just love him so much. He's gone a bit grey over the years but he's still great company. I also have a cute little tortoise with glasses. I bought this myself when on holiday to Malta and he just gives me the wise vibes (sorry what?!). Anyway, my Mum also has a similar large one, but instead it sports a hat instead of these top range glasses. 

I've also got some cute cat clips which hold the photo of my grandma and great-grandmother. My friend recently went to Japan and got me this cute pink origami peace dove. The people that survived the horrific atomic bombing make these origami to promote peace. After the tragic incident that happened there during World War II, it is incredible to know that they carry on striving for peace. I can't help but wonder the story of the person who made my origami. I would really love to visit Nagasaki myself one day to witness the horror but also the hope in people's faces. 

I love my mug which holds the gulp of my stationary supplies. It is a red dragon which I bought from Wales, sporting the dragon of the Welsh flag. Inside I have two rulers (because one just isn't enough), two pens (including an adorable Rilakkuma bear), a fluffy sheep pencil, scissors and quite a few highlighters. I love highlighters because I just need some colour to brighten up my revision notes. 

I also own a little green storage container from Hawaii. My auntie bought this for me from Hawaii and it comes in very useful. Inside I store some paint tubes of various colours. In the outside pockets I have even more highlighters, some cool tinc felt-tip pens which I never use, paintbrushes, and some artificial flowers. 

Scattered across my desk include some boring stationary supplies which include: a rubber, stapler, hole-punch, correcting fluid, a box of pins, another box of clips to keep my separate revision cards in place, revision/index cards, post-it notes and of course my laptop. I do have a lava lamp, but sadly I need to replace the bulb..so that doesn't work at the moment.  I also have some super cute tissues my Mum got me from London which I have never opened, and probably never will. Last but not least, my roll of stabilo pens. These are great! The colours are beautiful and some are very unique. They're perfect for note taking and brighten up any gloomy revision day. I definitely recommend these to anyone who loves stationary. 

In the picture you have probably notices my wall. Yep, that big, colourful wacky thing. I like to brighten up the ambiance with this collection of keep-sakes. Each postcard, or whatever else I can stick on this wall, tells its own story. I call it the inspiration wall because I often just daze into it, recalling ideas and new challenges. It is possibly my favourite thing about my room because it's very personal to me. I do hope to fill the entire wall someday, but we'll see how that will turn out. ^.^ 

 

Summer Lovin'

I love this new dress I bought from Oasis. I feel like an anime character wearing this dress because it's super cute. The colours are beautiful and the floral patterns are very detailed, adding to the amazing quality. The material is quite thick, perfect for the British weather. This dress is really comfortable and I believe it really suits my style. ^.^

Hades

I feel this year is all about Disney Villains with the release of Malificent and the new limited edition Disney Villain artwork. To me,this is the perfect excuse to go buy another Disney movie to help complete my collection. The one Disney classics film from the artwork collection I haven't got is Hercules; perfect for me because Hades is one of my favourite Disney villains. 

I have got to admit, when I was younger this movie didn't appeal to me as much as the other Disney movies. However, now I'm older I can see the true marvel of this fantastic movie. The songs are catchy (they'll be stuck in your head for days on end) and the movie is very funny. Since taking A level Classical Civilisation, and visiting Greece myself, I am now able to get all the jokes which seemed oblivious to me as a six year old. My favourite definitely happen to be the Jason and the Trojan Horse references. The movie also has a great moral to it, telling its audience to never give up hope and to keep striving for the best. 

But now, here are five reasons why I love Hades and why he makes an awesome villian:

1. He is very, very funny

2. He knows when it is time to have a nice sit back and relax. After all, he has been working pretty hard for 18 years trying to take over the whole planet.

3. He is very realistic. Do you recall the conversation he had with Meg about guys..yep xD

4. He kept to his word, even though he didn't intentionally mean to do so

5. His hair is made out of fire (is this a good enough reason? I do love his hair though)

The new Disney sleeves are very nice and the Hades one happens to have his demonic eyes glaring at you at certain angles. All Disney Villain sleeves have a green background and the Disney Villains logo at the bottom. The case inside the sleeve is the normal edition of movie so you get the best of both worlds. ^.^ 

File Storage

Exams are done and dusted (phew!) and I've packed all my AS level papers away. However, I needed a handy file storage to store the ridiculous amount of paper I owned. Throwing them away wasn't an option because they could come in useful one day as a reference. So I decided this was the time to visit my favourite stationary shop: Paperchase

I adore this store because of its ambiance of bright colours and cute illustrations. Most of my stationary antics already come from this store, so I knew they would have exactly what I need. I came across this beautiful fabric parrot themed storage holder, which would be perfect to store my sheets of paper. It's very colourful (perfect for my room) with the main colour scheme being a dark pink. I love the parrots because they make this storage so unique. 

Apart from being super stylish, this storage holder holds an impressive amount. It is 17cm in depth and holds A4 sheets nice and snug. However, what I found most surprising is that my school work filled the ENTIRE storage holder. I had no idea how much paper I had altogether because I stored them in separate folders throughout the year. I'm glad I went for this larger option than the other smaller storage options they also had in store (though not of the same design).

This storage holder is perfect for anyone who likes to keep their office or bedroom space tidy, but also loves a bit of colour. You can also experiment with it because it can be used for multiple things, such as a bin. The website even advertises it as a magazine holder. Fortunately, the price for this storage holder isn't too high for its quality at £12.00 and I also got a discount because I'm student. Nice! ^.^

Change

This is an important message to all. It is a message about being oneself and never changing for the sake of fitting in. 

I went through a tough time with various people and when I moved school, I changed just to try and fit in. I always felt something was missing and became distant from the things I loved. It was not until recently I realised I wanted to go back to the person I once was, the person I enjoyed being around. It was watching people who were similar to me on YouTube that I realised I wanted to go back to who I knew and loved. 

I cannot justify how happy I feel at the moment. I relish on the old, geeky stuff I love now. I cannot wait until after my exams to spend endless hours watching anime, playing Pokemon and reading my favourite fashion magazines.   

There aren't many people with the same likes and personality as me at school, but luckily I can use the wonderful internet by sharing my interests on social platforms. 

Change is inevitable, but someone should definitely not feel like they have to change to fit in with the rest of the crowd. Embrace yourself! ^.^ 

PIXAR

I've recently completed my Disney Pixar full-feature movie collection (yay!) and thought I would write a short review in celebration because I love Disney and I love Pixar. So here's the list going up in favourites:

Cars 2 : Just because it's last doesn't mean I don't like this movie, because I adore all Pixar films. This was a great sequel and my favourite scene is when McQueen and Mater drive across Japan with all the bright city lights. 

The Incredibles : I adore the family concept of this movie and how the powers all reflect the characters' personalities. 

Brave : I thought this film is great with a beautiful moral to the story, however I felt it was more a Disney classic than Pixar. Merida's hair is graphically amazing.

Cars: Great concept! I really thought I'd hate this film when it came out but I was mesmerised. Beautiful scenic views too.

Finding Nemo : Nemo is adorable and who doesn't love Dory? This film is a whale of an adventure (see what I did there?!)

Toy Story : A classic! Great concept and storyline and the film reception says all about this movie. 

Toy Story 2 : The sequels get better and better. Jessie is my favourite character and her song sheds me a little tear. The villain in this movie was definitely a surprise for me (but I like to see the good side in all toys).

Up : This film is so colourful and inspirational. You're never too old to go chase your dreams.

A Bug's Life : This was one of my favourite movies years back. I just think it's really sweet.

WALL-E : Again, great moral to the story. This film is so sad at the beginning and I'm so glad Eve comes to rescue WALL-E. His determination is a message for all of us. 

Ratatouille : A movie about a rat that loves cooking, obscure and one of Pixar's finest. I remember trying cheese with all sorts of fruit after watching this to experience the taste sensations. Sadly, no exploding fireworks. 

Monsters University : I think people give this movie far too much slack. It's a brilliant sequel with such a great message. I'll be going off to university next year and I truly understand all of Mike's feeling.

Monsters Inc : My favourite Pixar movie as a little child. I just found it extremely hilarious. I also spent hours on the video game.

Toy Story 3 : This is an emotional roller coaster and the only movie I saw twice in the cinema, because it's just so GREAT. Again, a surprise villain, but this time he smells of strawberries. I honestly can't think of a better way to end the famous franchise.

So there we are - bring on the many Pixar films to come ^.^

All opinions and views are my own.

My Little Cove

Moving is stressful. Even now after I don't know how many months my family is still stressed out; installing the fireplace, redecorating, building ideas.. you name it. However, I was so excited to decorate my room with everything brand new (almost).

My bedroom is interestingly divided into two rooms, one smaller than the other. Now this had the possibility to be a study area or walk-in wardrobe, but I wanted something different. Instead I turned it into a cute cove with my bed and TV. Somewhere nice to relax where I can comfortably pick up a book and read. So the decorating became. 

I obviously had to choose a theme, but I didn't stick with it. It's ended up being a cute geometric, floral princess cove, in my opinion. It works for me though. And it's super girly! 

Firstly, I decided that I wanted a day bed (the ones that also look like a sofa) just to add comfort, but also look chic. I then twirled fairy lights and roses on the edges to add that girly feel. To finish, a perfect floral duvet. Above me also hangs a floral canvas. Do I love florals too much? Possibly. However, underneath ends a cool geometric rug. But don't worry guys, because it fits with the colour scheme. 

I only have two other furniture pieces  which are a white tallboy and orange metal side table. Now the table clashes, but it adds a nice touch. On it a candle (scented cherry blossom) and adorable elephant lamp are placed upon. On the windowsill I decided to purchase some girly but also childish ornaments - a rocking horse and ballerina - peeping through pink floral (again!) curtains. My room is painted blue for a reflective, calm feeling. 

I love my room! It offers all the tranquility I need. Perfect for revision too *shivers*. Now all that is left to purchase is some hanged bunting.

 I hope you enjoy the pictures ^.^ 

Details

Bed: Dreams

Duvet, Rug, Table, Elephant Lamp, Lampshade: Urban Outfitters

Tallboy, Canvas, Ornaments: Dunelm Mill 

Curtains: Next

Floral Garland: eBay 

Paint: Dulux Mineral Mist 

Frozen Fear

"It's funny how some distance makes everything seem small, and the fears that once controlled me can't to me at all" 

Frozen! The biggest Disney movie phenomena since The Lion King, and with good reason. Yes, I know everyone keeps talking about it, and yes, I know you're getting bored of it (though certainly I'm not) but I just have to input my ideas on the story's morale. 

Fear is probably the world's enemy at this point in time. We are all too scared to submit new ideas or change our path in life (I've talked about this in a previous blog post). We all need new innovators and inventors. We need more Steve Jobs and dare I say, Walt Disney. These men and women can't be replaced, but people can bring something fresh and new to our world, just as they did.

Frozen plays a major role in telling us what would happen if we all concealed our fears, everything would stay the same, in closed doors. Elsa's power was marvellous, and new, but she was scared of the consequences. Once she let go of all her fears, she could create beautiful things, life even (though that's not to say I don't condemn creating life, because we've all learnt Frankenstein's lesson). Once she pursued her powers, fear was non-existent. My favourite non-Olaf quote from the poem is the one printed above, because it tells us that once we conquer our fears we are MORE powerful than them. We can chase our fears away and laugh at them. Elsa used her powers to make Arendelle happy and prosperous again, also bringing together a few relationships. Who's to say what your own powers and talents can do for others?

I just think this movie has a lovely message, which the creators of Frozen have displayed perfectly. And now we must all conquer our fears and be the greatest we can be. ^.^ 

stars + florals

I want to talk about the name of my blog and why I chose these particular words. 

Ever since I was a child I loved stars. I remember just staring at them, being mesmerised by their beauty. It felt like if I could somehow get up there and touch one, it would tell me life's secrets and show me my desires. They were so captivating. Now you may have noticed I've been using past tense. Sadly, the stars' light is being shifted away by man's light where I live now. Every time I see those twinkling lights in clusters, I feel so happy. But, stars also represent a journey and mystery - life itself. Old fairytale books always use stars as a guide and destiny. Maybe the reason why I love Peter Pan so much is because stars are huge emphasis. 

Florals aren't as personal to me, other than that I love them! I love flowers because they represent life's beauty, just as stars represent the sky's. My bedroom is a floral wonderland because they're so calming and colourful (future blog post to come). I love girly, pretty things and I never get bored of floral patterns. Plus, there's so many different varieties of flowers, just as I hope my blog provides a lot of content for viewers and myself. 

Thanks for reading and I hope you continue to enjoy my posts! ^.^ 

future

It's funny how one word can mean something different from one person to another. It's also funny how one word can open up so many emotions. 

The word 'future' opens up fear and excitement to me, well doesn't it do that for everyone. But the reason why is because I have so many hopes and aspirations, but also have no idea about my prospects. I'm at the point of my life where I have to decide now what I want to do as it comes to applying to university, and I honestly have no idea what I want. I mean, there's courses and careers which I wouldn't mind getting into, but nothing which I would love to do. I have my dreams, but fear gets in the way. What if I'm not successful? What if this isn't really what I want to? What about the economy? It's like all your childhood dreams are being whipped away by life, where imagination doesn't exist. 

But life tries to trick you into thinking that, because if you work hard, you can achieve all your dreams. People put you off because they're scared or jealous. I've decided now to try new things and experiment. I want to find out what I would love to pursue as a career, and as a hobby. And I'm not going to let my fears stop me. Life is a journey and anything, little or huge, can have an impact, which is why it's important to always try something different. Now I want you to try something new as well. ^.^