Month by Numbers: broken & lifted

7 faves...

1.) One of the most important people in my life had received from pretty life-changing news, and had to have some equally as life-changing surgery. What we thought was a success and left us feeling relieved, quickly and suddenly changed and turned into heartbreak, uncertainty and a lot of waiting around. Thankfully, the NHS are amazing, as if my tiny but tough mum. I've never been so emotionally and physically drained and tired, and also so proud and happy how close and loving my family are. 

2.) Well, when it rains sometimes it really likes to fucking pour it down doesn't it? Within the same month with the absolute shit-show that happened with my mum, I had a second shit-show of a break up. Which happened pretty suddenly, pretty much out of my control and ironically, after a bit of a turning point of us as a couple. No, we weren't together for that long. No, I'm not heartbroken, just left with a bit of a heavy heart. But I don't think he or anyone but I will ever really know how much it actually took my to let my guard down and commit my feelings to someone. But I am - as I knew I will be - fine! Because, you always am in the end aren't you?

3.) And you know part of the reason I know I'll always be right as rain eventually? Because I have amazing and caring people in my life that I'm lucky enough to call my friends. Friends who know you're having a pretty fucking rubbish time that's dampened even your usual Disney-esque optimistic persona. And they send you surprise presents in the post and meet up with you with roses to keep your life rosy and remind you to be brave, even if sometimes you don't feel it.

4.) Apart from the major ups and downs, there's still the constant love and support of my amazing family and friends, who turned what could have been an August spent moping around, into a month filled with new memories that'll make me smile.

5.) I love books. No biggie, I know. But if you know how much I resented reading, you'll get what a big deal it is for me that I've tapped into my love of reading. I tend to find myself reading a lot of non-fiction from American comedians and my absolute goddess, Caitlin Moran. But I completely fell in love with the characters and story of The Rosie Project. I gasped, I rooted for them, I was invested and I whizzed through that book and was sad when I realised I'd reached the end. But never fear! The sequel, The Rosie Effect, is on it's way in the post already, and I can't wait to be obsessed once more.

6.) As much as I love London, growing up in suburbia and being from that there up North, I really bloody miss some greenery. And yeah i know, there's parks and fields upon fields in The Big Smoke as well, but it usually involves a significant amount of travel. Enter, what is essential a big-ass greenhouse filled with enough plants until your heart's content. Both in central London, if you're aching for some leaves and nature, head to The Barbican Conservatory or The Sky Garden. You can thank me later.

7.) I'm a BIG Friends fan (who isn't eh?) so, wondering around Monica's apartment discussing Nestle tollhouse recipes, singing Smelly Cat at Central Perk and flipping up the barca-loungers in Joey and Chandler's was enough to make my little fangirl heart flutter. And if that wasn't enough, with cocktails named 'Pivot', well, what more could you ask for eh? 

5 tweets...

1.) It's been the longest weekend & emotionally draining. But the Lo family assemble, get through it & ofc eat lots ❤️

2.) Recovering from laughing in stitches from a meeting where we & my editor ended up doing renditions of X Factor songs...I love my job 🎤

3.) Can retailers stop rolling out AW16 pieces already please? I'm not ready for knitwear & my legs to be prisoned by tights again, NOT YET! 🙅🏻🍂

4.) Can more commuters dance to their music? It'd make my low-key bodyrolls & subtle shoulder shimmies more acceptable💃🏻

5.) My body this morning: "Here! Have some hiccups along with your hangover so you think you could potentially vom every 5 seconds!" 😷 

3 songs...

1.) Becky Hill - False Alarm

This makes me fell all a bit emosh - especially when I'm talking to the station early in the moring - and i can't quite put my finger onto why that is. It makes me feel like anything could be round th corner and anything's possible if you just give it a chance. Ironic really, given that I got into this song during mentioned break-up, when the lyrics are all about finding someone when you didn't expect to...

2.) Tom Odell - Concrete

This song makes me feels things that I didn't know were possible by a song. It makes me feel nostalgic, a yearning, sadness, hope and almost even, dare I say it, aroused?! all at once. Oh and that build up in intensity towards the end? I don't know how you do it Mr. Odell, but hates off to you sir. 

3.) Imani Williams- Don't Need No Money 

Ok, enough of all the lovey dovey songs, with an upcoming holiday with the girls, with lots of dancing and drinks planned, a party tune and needed and this fitted the criteria perfectly. Cue the killer moves. 

25 reasons why I grew up wanting to be Gwen Stefani

When I was a mini version of myself, I was obsessed with Gwen Stefani. I tried with all my might to replicate her awesome style, and wanted nothing more than ice-cool peroxide blonde hair, and it's not hard to see why...

1.) She's the queen of the red lips and ice-blonde combo

She is completely the reason why I started wearing lipstick. Teenage Amy accidentally broke one of her mum's lipsticks when trying it on, begged her if she could buy her her own, and it's been a match-made in heaven ever since. Cheers Gwen.

2.) She just OOZES cool

Ugh. It hurts just how damn cool she is. She's such a sexy badass that I don't even know how to deal with it.

And she's still just as awesome to this day (also, how does she not seemed to have aged one single goddamn day?!) As Bruno Mars would say, "too hot, HOT DAMN" indeed.

3.) She was part of epic band of the 90s, No Doubt

If you don't like No Doubt, we can't hang out, soz - they were basically the epitome of the 90s. For reals. They were all sorts of weird and wonderful in a sea of girl and boy bands back in the day.

4.) She rocks a pair of tracksuits like no other

15-year-old me LONGED for a pair of matching green Adidas tracksuits. But teen me also only had pocket money to spend, so it's probably a good thing that I didn't splurge my money on them, as I have no doubt (eh? geddit?!) that I would defo NOT look that killer in them.

5.) Oh, and can we just take note of her KILLER ABS?!

BRB as I go do 12945829 ab crunches.

6.) 'Just A Girl' spoke the absolute truth

As I jumped around to this song when I was younger, I didn't realise how ahead of it's time it was, and how poignant and meaningful it would mean to me now. It's not only an insanely good song, but also an education, and is sarcasm at it's best - PREACH.

7.) She is a style icon. Fo' realsies.

The master of personalised fashion: LAMB top and No Doubt belt anyone? 

8.) She clashes patterns like a trooper

Teach us your ways oh masterful one!

9.) Think that having your bra straps on show is tacky?

Think again. 

10.) She's all over leopard print

RAWR.

11.) Off-duty look on lock

Ugh, this whole ensemble is so brilliant and effortlessly cool, it makes me want to cry.

12.) Oh, and let's not forget the gold-n-stripes phase during 'The Sweet Escape'

I own some striped jeans - others call them Beetlejuice pants, I call them my Gwen Stefani trousers.

13.) And think she's just all about being cool chick?

 Think again, look at her all glam and sophisticated! We are not worthy.

14.) She's just like a multi-faceted GEM!

15.) Let's not even get started on the art piece that is her hair

She was all FKA Twigs before FKA was even born. 

16.) Who'd ever thought your string bikini could be so versatile?!

Gwen did, THAT'S WHO.

17.) 'Don't Speak' is lyrically heart-breaking and oh-so-honest

When I got over the 1st boy I ever fancied at school, I listened to this on my MP3 player on repeat. I wish that was a joke (school girl Amy was very emo over the whole thing). But now I'm older - and hopefully wiser - OMG, those lyrics convey 100% how you feel when you go through a break-up. And the fact she wrote it about her split with ex-boyfriend and bass player of the band, Kana, as well, just tugs at my emotional heart strings even more.

18.) She taught a whole generation how to spell 'bananas'

And also made me wish I was in band in American high school, just so I could wear that feathered hat. 

19.) Her wedding dress was flipping pink!

Tranditions? Pft, who needs traditions when your wedding dress looks da bomb.

20.) 'Hey Baby' is a tune and a half

It's also the 1st song I heard of from No Doubt, before trawling through their back-catalogue and vowing to love them forever more.

21.) On that point, their comeback single was perfection

All was right in the world again in 2012 when No Doubt reunited and bestowed upon us this ultimate summer jam. They're like an ol' rum & coke - they never go out of style and are always a sturdy choice to making you feel-good.

Oh, and Ms.Stefani's hair was crazy-good in the video too.

22.) 'What You Waiting' for was a crazy pop masterpiece

Laying some truth down on us about the music industry. Not to mention the video was a crazy, wonderful, Wonderland-filled dream as well. 

23.) She's super kawaii

And not in the Avril Lavinge way (Thank God...remember that?! Let's never speak of that again...)

24.) She's probably the most badass mama ever

Just look at the matching quiffs yo! 

25.) Long live the queen of cool!

 But alas, young Amy realised that red lipstick and a mint Adidas zip-up hoodie alone wouldn't turn her into Gwen Stefani. And besides, probably not the safest idea to try and bleach your deepest of dark hair to a bright, white blonde. That's just a catastrophe waiting to happen...

There's only one Gwen Stefani, and that's what makes her so goddamn special! 

18 reasons why Britney is the queen

I know you've got your Yonces and Gagas, and hey, I love those ladies as much the next person - SLAY - but Miss.Britney Jean Spears is the pop princess of my sparkly heart. And here's why (as if you even need telling).

1.) Her midriff was the epitome of the 90s 

Just look at it - it's like a statue to be admired! And tbh, it ain't looking too shabby still to this day. Words from the lady herself: "If you want a hot body, you better work bitch."

2.) I pretended to be her in concert in my living room

Oh yeah. 8-year-old me totally pretended to have a Britney headset on, while strutting up and down that burgundy carpet, pointing out to the crowd with all my might.

3.) THOSE DANCEMOVES

She's a smooth slicker. The amount of time I spent copying the routines from her music video is silly. And also the amount of times I re-enact the routine from 'Crazy' if it comes on when I'm on a night out, is equally as ridiculous.

Girl can even bust out choreography 

 while lying down! Who needs to stand up anyway?

4.) Toxic is a flipping great pop song

Seatbelts on, and ready for take-off through a lesson in phenomenal pop with air hostess Brit.

5.) The metallic leather green top in 'Crazy'

Not gonna lie, still want this now. Not only is 'Crazy' my fave song from Ms.Spears, but it also features one of my fave outfits. Would defo wear this with some high-waisted black skinnies or a maxi skirt. YASS.

6.) And this hot pink and lace green combo in Overprotected

Brave move gurl, brave move. Not many people can pull off a distressed, shredded, button-up hot pink mini skirt, paired with a sheer, lace top with slitted sleeves, layered over a coral bra (that was a mouthful!), but Britney nails it with a shimmy along the way.

7.) She changed school uniforms for the rest of time.

Knee high sock and pigtail plaits were never the same again ever since the words 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' were uttered.

8.) I'd totally still wear this outfit to go on a carousel

In fact, I'd very much like most of Britney's outfits in my wardrobe please kthnxbye. Also, why am I not on carousels for more of my life?! That's surely a crime.

9.) Lucky was more close to home and poetic then she ever even knew

"If there's nothing missing in her life, then why do these tears come at night?"

10.) Slave 4 u era was a hazy, steamy dream of gemstones, smoky eyes and reptiles

BRB while I find a strip of fuschia to bandage around my body. I think I'll skip on the python though...

11.) Oh, and the hair!

How I longed for tousled beach waves, however, my Carmen Angel Curlz curling wand had other ideas. Mainly involving burnt fingers and knotty hair.

12.) She rocks sportswear 

While the rest of us mere mortals have our hair scraped up and slicked back by sweat, B-Swizzle looks like an absolute baller (see what I did there?)

13.) She pulls off a red PVC catsuit like no other

No further questions your honour.

14.) She's the master of sheer nude get-ups

When it comes to strategically placed sparkly gems, she's your girl. Sassy & nekkid (yes, naked) ain't an easy combo to pull off y'know?

15.) The Circus time period was full of magic and whimsy

So underrated, I mean srsly, it's Ms.Spears as a ringmaster in an arena of top hats and sprkly tricks - Cirque de WHO? 

16.) She's sassy as heck

Bitchez to one side pls.

17.) SHE RISED FROM THE ASHES LIKE A GLORIOUS PHEONIX

Yeah yeah, we all remember the head shaving, and let's not talk about the umbrella incident. But hey, gurl had some tough times and was over-worked y'all. We all have our bad stints in life, and she got back up, worked her lil' tush off like only Britney knows how, and now, just look at her soar!

18.) She's the queen y'all!

Nuff' said.

LONG REIGN BRITNEY.

Who's the pop princess of your life?

Stay happy!

Until next time,

A.x