Saturday 24 August 2013

Festival Festivities

During the past weekend, I slipped my wellies on, and spent it at V Festival.
The weekend was filled with music, drinks, party hats, bands I'd been dying to see and bands that i love, and was shared with friends who put out with my out-of-tune screaming along, and new people who jumped up and down incessantly with me in crowded seas of fans.
During the Saturday, it was my best friend's brother's birthday, and he turned 18! In my eyes, I still think of him of the 13 year old that used to open the door for me when i came around, and then scuttle off to play Xbox...and now, he's about to go to uni and a proper grown-up young man, and what better way to spend your 18th birthday, than at a festival :)
If you follow me on Instagram, I'm sure you would've been sick of all the videos and selfies I took. 

We were prepared for the forecast of torrential downpours of rain...
...but thankfully, the skies were forgiving and we only saw sights of a few raindrops, and after that Sunday was just sunshine and smiles!

With the sunny Sunday saying hello, I went to town on my festival outfit and went a bit mad with pastel power, and bright make-up ad socks to boot.
I am in love with these shorts, not only are they coloured in with pretty pastels, which i always have a soft spot for, but each panel is a different colour! 
Music plays a massive part in my life, and I don't understand how music couldn't mean something to you, so when live music is around, I'm just in my element. It's not even if the band is amazing, or if they're interaction with the crowd makes you feel connected, which 99% of the time, both of these are true, but most of all, what i love the most, is the atmosphere. There's just something about being with a crowd of people, even if you are squished like sardines, you forget all about that fact because you're with people who all have the same passion as you for the act you're there to watch, and singing your heart out along with them, and jumping like crazy kangaroos.

Lissie and Seasick Steve are both artists that i really like, but know limited amount of their songs, but one of Lissie's song, is one of my favourite songs, go and Youtube 'When I'm Alone' by her, and I guarantee you won't regret it :)  Despite not knowing a lot of their songs at all though, I thoroughly enjoyed their sets, more than I expected, they are both such talented artists, that are amazing and charismatic live, and definitely made me want to go and check out more of their work.
Lissie @ V Festival 2013
Ellie Goulding and Kings of Leon are both acts that I've seen live before, and were absolutely blown away by, and seeing them again, I once again was lost for words (and also lost my voice due to all the screaming!). One of the things that really impressed my was Ellie's passion and energy, and as strange as it sounds, Kings of Leon's visuals were just stunning. You know those big screens they have so everyone at the back can see? Well, they didn't just have them showing the band playing, but they had edited them to go along with and fit in with the the vibe of the song they were playing, and the lights of the show were just as good.
Kings of Leon @ V Festival 2013
Ellie Goulding @ V Festival 2013
Two Door Cinema Club is a band that I love, and have been DYING to go see live for years, but fate just intervined and our paths never crossed, however, I finally saw them, and they were the energetic and exciting band that I was hoping for and more.
Two Door Cinema Club @ V Festival 2013
The Vaccines and The Script are both bands, whose songs I enjoy and sing along to, but have never paid all that much attention to. Well, that all changed at V. The Script had such amazing interaction with the crowd and just seemed so humble and excited to be playing, and really got everyone involved with the brilliant live set they were playing. And The Vaccines just made all the songs that I love, come alive on stage.
The Vaccines @ V Festival 2013
The Script @ V Festival 2013
But the main attraction, and the main reason why I was so excited for V this year was for the Queen herself.

Beyonce.
Beyonce @ V Festival 2013
Despite her coming on stage late, I still lost my goddamn mind, and after wanting to see her for so long, it wasn't just a live set, it was an experience.
I read  a blog post not that long ago from The Man Repeller, and I completely agree with what she said. It's not until you see her in action do you see her  passion, her drive, her gratefulness, how humble she is, and what a showman she is.
Beyonce @ V Festival 2013
She was fierce during 'Run The World', danced her bootylicious booty off to 'Crazy In Love', belted her lungs out during 'Halo', got the crowd going and singing along with 'Irreplacable', and of course, got everything turning their hands back and forth during 'Single Ladies'.

Did you go to V this year? Who was your favourite act? Have you been to any other festivals?


Hope you're all well, and have a brilliant Bank Holiday if you're in the UK!
Speak soon,
A.x

Saturday 10 August 2013

Ahoy Sailor!

With the heatwave dying down and the typical British weather sadly making more of an appearnce these days, my short shorts weren't accompanied by a bright, summery top this day.
So my high waisted shorts, with buttons with anchors on to top it off, they had to find a new partner in crime, in the form of a textured navy blue and white cropped top.

Instead of the typical combination of blue, white and red, I jumped into my perky, pink Nike high-tops, and my hair went along for this pink ride as well, as it went under a bit of a colour transformation.
(this is from my instagram, which you can follow me on here! @amylo92)

I heard and watched person upon person chalk their hair with simple art pastels, but with my hair being so dark, it just didn't work that well, even when I wet it as suggested. However, I came across this little beauty, which made my hair into a rainbow of colours with ease (even if it came with a bit of mess!)

I think it's a really fun way to change up your hair without committing. What colour would you add to your hair?

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x

Friday 2 August 2013

Tiny, Tooney, & a lil' Looney

Lately, I've been re-living and indulging in my childhood. One of my closest friends is having a fancy dress knees-up for her 21st, and the theme is childhood heroes, so I've been casting my mind back to who I had posters up on my wall as a kid, and pretended to be at playtime, and it just so happens that most of them have been fictional cartoon characters.

With Disney playing a big part of my childhood, and I've no doubt, many others, there was bound to be a few characters from the Disney world that popped up in my mind.

Everyone automatically said I should go as Mulan, now, she is pretty badass, with her samurai sword in hand, owning all the bad guys, but as a kid, I was a bit scared by all her fighting and jut wanted her stay in her pretty geisha make-up...oh how my views have changed!
I've also always love Princess Jasmine, Aladdin was and is one of my favourite movies (with Robin Williams portrayal of the genie playing a big part in this!). Jasmine is feisty, stands up for what she believes in, is adventurous and has the hottest damn ponytail in the whole of the magical kingdom.

While going through options in my head, and moving out the Disney territory, I delved into the gaming area of my memory.
Street Fighter was one favourite games, and every time, no fail, I picked Chun-Li. Not only was she one of the few girls in the game, but she also threw the most awesome high-kicks from those ass-kicking thighs. 

Another girl who kicked ass: Wonder Woman. 
I don't think it's any secret that I love her and think she's pretty bad-ass and hot, but in I didn't really know about her in my childhood, so, I think I'd be kind of cheating the 6-year old Amy within me.


Along the same vein of anime as Chun-Li, I used to watch hours upon hours of Sailor Moon on a Saturday morning in my pjs. 
I thought they all had the coolest outfits and had complete hair envy, so much so that I used to pretend to transform into them while spinning and twirling around in my living room. It wasn't so much Sailor Moon herself, but some of the others, especially Sailor Mars, Venus, and Neptune and their majestic locks.

With all these awesome women though, among them, there is also Penelope Pitstop. Now, this is the girly part of me speaking, but I just loved all the pink and thought she had the most amazing car! Hello?! A device that comes out of your car and applies your lipstick for you?! Not gonna lie, I thought that was some Jetson-like, futuristic cool stuff going on there!

And last, but not least, Lola Bunny.
Growing up watching Looney Tunes and always rolling around laughing at Bugs Bunny and his sarcastic humour, Space Jam was one of my favourite movies as a kid, and still is for nostalgia factor. I just remember watching the film and seeing this cute bunny walk in and absolutely annihilate everyone on the basketball court and thinking 'wow, she's cool...can I be her please?!' 

While looking at images for all these, I found out there's been a new, recent version made of The Looney Tunes show, which led to me being a big kid and watching a few episodes and getting trapped in the cartoon corner of Youtube as I indulged in watching some old cartoons that I remember from my childhood

Who was your childhood hero? And who do you think I should go as?! (I really need help deciding!)

Hope you're all well,
Speak soon,
A.x