Genie, you're free

On August 11th 2014, Robin Williams passed away.

It was definitely one of those moments where I'll always remember where I was when I heard the news - sitting with friends playing Articulate - and I was immediately stunned and saddened.

I don't really know why I'm writing this. It was 2 weeks ago, but I still feel genuinely sad about it. It's strange how someone you've never met, can make such an impact on your life, and an even larger impact when they leave it.

I've felt sad about other 'celebrities' deaths before - Michael Jackson, Amy Winehouse, Whitney Houston - but this time, it's different somehow.

Robin Williams brought an immense amount of happiness and laughter to my childhood. Mrs.Doubtfire was one of my favourite films, and I watched Aladdin on repeat. As I grew up, I would be amazed and in stitches as I saw Williams on interviews, talk shows and stand-up, and was blown away at how talented this human being was, and how much he made me laugh. Even now, I still watch Aladdin and not only feel the same happiness as I did as a child, but also appreciate his voicing and ability to show emotion and animation just through his voice.

I think that's part of the reason why his death can affected me so much, but also, the way he left this world.

As I've been searching for clips of Robin Williams to watch on YouTube, and remember him for the talented and hilarious man he was and always will be, I've come across so many comments about his passing, and what really surprised me was, there were more calling him a coward, than paying their respects.

One comment had said how he hadn't passed away, as he took his own life. There were people saying how could he have done this to his wife and kids. How he should've sucked it up and got on with it. And it all just makes me feel just so sad and disappointed about humanity. Now, I don't claim to know much about mental illness, and I definitely don't have a medical background. But what I do know though, is all those comments are ludicrous and wrong.

Depression is a minefield. Any mental illness is. You can't necessarily see it, and telling someone to get help, is easier said than done. I've experienced people close to me dealing with depression in my own life, so I know how hard the battle against it can be. Everything may seem fine on the surface, but that might be the case deep down. Robin Williams, as far as I know, had dealt with depression, anxiety,alcoholism and now reportedly, early stages of Parkinsons' Disease. I can't imagine what was going on in his mind.

I guess what really breaks my heart is that, he saw no other way to deal with all his battles, but to end them all together. And it's not just him. So many people out there have a mental illness and may not be receiving the support and help they need.

Robin Williams was one of a kind. There will never be another like him, and I'm so grateful he gave this world so many brilliant characters, movies and uncontrollable laughter - and that's how I'm going to remember him.

I hope the one thing that comes out of this tragedy, is that society learns more about mental illness. I have myself by researching about it and wanting to know more.

Please. If you feel there is no-one out there to help you, support you, or even to talk to - I promise you there is. Please don't suffer in silence. You have one, amazing life, and it's all yours to live.

Go watch Good Will Hunting. Admire Dead Poet's Society. Laugh at Flubber. Relive Mrs.Doubtfire. Get lost in Jumanji. Love Aladdin.

But most importantly, take Williams words and live your life.

I genuinely hope you are all well, and if not, please know there are people out there who love you can want to help you.
Speak soon,
A.x

Instagram Week: Insta-update!

I love instagram. I love how it keep you up to date with all your friends and favourite people, and all the food porn always makes me drool.

And I always enjoy Milk, Bubble, Tea's instagram in a week updates on her blog, and with my bestie Hannah recently doing one also, I thought I'd try my hand at it too!

I love seeing these on people's blogs, as not everyone has instagram and i love the way it looks, and it's a great and visual way to update people easily and quickly for when life gets a bit hectic and full blog posts get a bit thin.

So, here's what I've been up to recently!

1. my love for Libertys and it's beauty never gets old  2. gorgeous flowers outside of Libertys  3. fancy dress party with all my besties for jess' 21st birthday  4. vodka jelly shots at Iyesha's  5. catching up and partying with uni friends  6. spent the day smelling the flowers with my parents  7. shorthand textbook arrived ready for masters degree in september  8. rediscovering my undying love for an old t-shirt  9. having sushi with hannah in milton keanes  10. another trip to beautiful London  11. rollerskating, discoing fun  12. delving into this gem on the train journey home

Some of you might also remember I had a bit of a think and delve into my childhood in a recent blog post, ready for my friend Jess' 21st birthday, where the fancy dress theme was childhood hereos.

Well, in the end, I hauled a load of aqua coloured material and sparkly gems and gold trims, and got my scissors and sewing skills out, and got to work.

What do you guys think?! Think I could pass off for Princess Jasmine herself?!

I love fancy dress and loved dressing up as one of my favourite characters as a child, especially after all the time I played pretend being her when I was younger!

I'm planning to do more of these little instagrams updates, what do you guys think?

If you want to check out my instagram, it's @amylo92

Do you have an instagram? Let me know your username in the comments, I love checking people's account out :)

Hope you're all well,

Speak soon,

A.x

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