Saturday 22 February 2014

Tuesday 18th February: Tomato Salad

A French lesson in Year 11 enlightened me to the delights of French tomato salad. To be honest, I am not entirely sure how French this recipe is, other than e fact that I had it in a French lesson, but at every chance I get I am eating this.

In a bowl or pot put oil, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper to your own tastes and mix/stir. Thinly slice a tomato and slice a multiseeded French stick into rings. Place one piece of tomTo on each piece of bread and pour over the dressing. Déliceux 😍

Sunday 23rd February: Pizza Express

Pizza Hut and Fominoes can get a bit tiring after a while, so the other day my friends and I went to Pizza Express. Why? Why?

The service was really bad, the portions were especially small for their price, and their price was steep. I think I will stick to somewhere that I can afford next time. 

Saturday 22nd February: Busker

In Trafalgar Square on Wednesday I walked past the most incredible busker playing his soul out outside the National Portrait Gallery. He was playing a Spanish guitar in a beautiful tune with a repeating melody, and then he began to sing in a foreign language. It was so beautiful, and I was in awe.

It did unfortunately make me sad because of the lack of recognition that he was getting. His music is ignored and it shouldn't have been. I would have bought his album, and the next time I go into London I will return to that spot to see if he is playing again.

Friday 21st February: Mac

After lusting over endless amounts of Mac makeup products for years, I decided that in 2013 I would buy a Mac lipstick, as a New Years resolution. That year went by and I still had not bought one. So when I finally got to go into a Mac store in Covent Garden I purchased, oh yeah I did. 

I bought Naked Lunch eyeshadow and Lovelorn lipstick, purchases that my face appreciates significantly more than my bank balance does. 

Monday 17th February: Tennyson

Alfred Lord Tennyson, why do you confuse me so?

I won't even start with the fact that Lord is in the middle of his name, but even my English teacher agrees that your poetry is hard work to get through. To be honest, some of the poetry isn't that bad, I love The Lady of Shalott, but I think everything is a bit long. Short and sweet Tennyson, remember that.

Friday 14 February 2014

Saturday 15th February: White Nail Polish

If you'd have asked me two years ago about white nail varnish I would have said it was no different to tipex. However, nowadays I am all for it. The monochrome look is always in style, just watch five minutes of the Kardashians for goodness sake, and as my nails are much longer now, I feel that I can pull of the white polish look without looking like a 10 year old that was bored in their lesson. 

Opaque white is edgy and more of a statement than a bold colour, and a more transparent White is dainty and makes your fingers look enlongated and pretty. This colour is a definite must for me.

Friday 14th February: A Day of Love

Saint Valentine was a priest in Roman times under the rule of Claudius. Claudius had decided that in order to create a stronger army with more men, he needed to impose a ban on marriage. The factor that had been preventing men from signing up to the army had been them not wanting to leave their wives and families, therefore the ban on marriage would be successful in creating a bigger army. 

Many people thought that the new rule was cruel and unnecessary, including St Valentine. One of his favourite activitiesw as to marry couples, an activity which he continued to do even when the ban was enforced. He performed hundreds of ceromanies in secret, until one night, he was caught. 

Valentine was thrown in jail and sentenced to death, but legend has it that young people. Ame to visit him and threw flowers and notes up to his window. 

They wanted him to know that they, too, believed in love.

St Valentine talked to the daughter of the prison guard who helped to keep up his spirits. On the day of Valentine's death he left a note to his new friend, thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. He signed it 'love from your Valentine.'

That note started the custom of sharing messages of love on Valentine's Day, February 14th, the day that he died. People think about love and friendship and they laugh at the way that Emporer Claudius thought he could stop love, but love cannot be defeated.





Thursday 13th February: The Wolf of Wall Street

Leonardo Di Caprio on drugs is not a rare sight to behold due to his recent movie choices, but The Wolf of Wall Street depicts Leo as cheating Wall Street stock broker with a much more than serious drug addiction and more money than he knows what to do with. 

Martin Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street gives us an insight into the dangerous and criminal schemes of how to get rich quick. Jordan Belfont played outstandingly by Leonardo Di Caprio assembles a team to sell penny stocks which allow for 50% commission to rich businessmen by following his fail safe script that manipulates their mind and makes them believe that they actually wanted the stocks. Upon Jordan's refusal to cooperate in a large scale fraud case, the action heightens. Federal agents get involved, and he is forced to take desperate measures to keep his money safe.

But money does not come without consequence. Wall Street turned simple family man Jordan into a drug addict with prostitutes hanging off him at every turn. His old family were replaced by newer, younger models and what with the money and the drugs, his friends seemed to have turned into different people overnight; power hungry, lying backstabbers, after all, it is every man for himself in the savage world of Wall Street.

Wednesday 12th February: Instagram

For Christmas four years ago I recieved an iPod touch, 2nd generation. I wasn't really into apps, but I did love the twitter and Instagram apps. I quicly made accounts and tarted posting. Owe thing led to another and the amount of Justin Bieber fan fictions surfacing on twitter caused me to delete that account, and the fact that my trusty iPod lacked a camera promoted me to question the purpose of me having the Instagram app, therefore I deleted it. 

Fast forward four years and the world is mad for Instagram, whereas back in its original day, barely anyone had heard of it. Upon the purchase of my new phone late last year, I reinstalled the Instagram app, and began posting. But there are now so many more 'rules' to Instagram than there was before. My much too hipster sister has informed me that my account is an embarrassment and that one should never have more posts than followers. To be honest, I feel like I just want to post pictures that I like, overly emotional tumblr quotes and as many selfies as I see fit, but my sister does have a point. 

Instagram has changed into more of a popularity contest than a cool place to share what you like.

Tuesday 11th February: Extr@

I have found possibly the most embarassing tv show in existence. In a foreign language. 

In 2004m, a ripe old ten years ago, Channel Four created the series Extr@ for language learners. They made French, German, Spanish and English versions of the show, all featuring a very similar storyline. Sam is an American living in Paris(in the French version), learning to navigate the language. He is staying with some family friends, two young women, one of which has taken a liking to Sam since she saw his bare chest after his shower. 

The basic gags about confusing similar nouns and therefore ordering wrong food in a restaurant, and finding double dates with his new friend Nico are explored.

As much as this tv show is over exaggerated and uses far too many hand gestures, it is easy watching, entertaining, funny, and best of all, it gives you a great sense of accomplishment for watching a program without subtitles in a different language as it is easy to understand. 

All of the episodes are on YouTube for your perusing. 

Monday 10th February: Stating the Obvious

I like to state the obvious, but I use this in an ironic manner and generally in my sarcasm in more of a 'Really? No shit Sherlock' fashion. But what I can't stand is someone that states the obvious to a) create drama, b) draw attention to themselves in a conversation or c) does it for no real purpose other than the fact that they are idiots. 

A recent school trip has helped me realise my limits as far as morons stating the obvious. I do not need minute by minute updates of students that are smoking, thank you very much. Not necessary. 

Just an helpful hint: if you are going to state the obvious, change the tone into a beautiful melody of sarcasm. 

Sunday 9th February: Quitting My Job

Today I found out that someone at my work had quit their job. Honestly, I am not too sad to see them go, they were quite useless, but it still made me question how easy it was for them to just up and leave. Could I do that? And at what consequence?

It is not only a job that one could quit at - I quit at games and unfun self-set regimes all the time,  does that make me a quitter? And the fact that sometimes I would like to quit my job but I haven't; does that make me a coward or is that just the right thing to do?

Saturday 8th February: Stormy Skies

The wind is literally howling outside my window. 

For the past week, and possibly for the next eternity, Britain has been in a state of dismay and disarray at the weather. The rain is incessant and the flooding is getting really bad, which is worrying. My house is on a 'hill' so it is never affected by flooding, but oh how the rains and wind batter down on the slanted ceiling windows. Even the short walk to school is horrendous. 

And as much as I've to hate to say it: Britain does need to get a grip. My complaints are merely me complaining for the sake of complaining, but the fact that Cameron can sit up on his high horse and proclaim to the sodden population that it's raining just proves that the flooding is not the only problem we are facing.

Friday 7 February 2014

Friday 7th February: Miley Cyrus

2013 was the year that the world had a coronary over Miley Cyrus. This undeniable freak out over the young singer was undoubtedly prompted by her numerous 'rebellious acts' of 2013, including her cutting all of her long brown hair into a short, boyish bleached crop, her excessive use of twerking and drug references, and that performance with Robin Thicke.

Miley changed in 2013, but contrary to popular opinion, I think that it was for the better. A lot of people saw the 21 year old star as only Hannah Montana, her childhood character on the Disney TV show of the same name. The fact that her name on the show was Miley and that her Dad was portrayed be her actual father just contributes to the idea that that was Miley's life rather than simply a character that she played.

As a follower of the entire Hannah Montana series, I must admit that I was shocked when she suddenly changed what I assumed to be her entire life. However, I believe that by breaking the stereotype of the Disney child star, Miley has been able to achieve so much more, creatively, and by way of success. As much as one could say that Miley's music is now only about sex and drugs, as emphasised by some of her latest music videos, one could also look beyond the surface of her music and be faced with brilliant songs bursting with real emotions, and sometimes even a serious political or moral message. These genius themes combined with meaningful lyrics and catchy-beyond-compare riffs have meant that her most recent album, Bangerz, moved straight to the top of the American album chart for three weeks.

Miley's soulful and almost desperate voice compliments the hip-hop tunes of the album, and her surprising rap skills add an interesting new element to this album, one that I have had on repeat for longer than I am willing to admit. Yes, there are criticisms on her actions, but personally, Miley is young, it is her life and her body, and who are we to judge somebody having fun living life to the fullest and creating incredible music at the same time?

In my eyes, Miley can twerk for as long as she likes.

Thursday 6th February: En Français

Je vais commencer en disant que je veux écrire cet post et je suis anxieuse parce que je sais que mon français n'est pas bon tout le temps; mais zut! mon anglais n'est plus mieux!


J'étudie le français depuis 6 ans et maintenant je prend le français pour le bac. Bien que il soit plus dure que avant, je trouve que c'est plus amusant et toujours drôle! Mes profs sont très sympas et elles se sentent concerné avec nos notes.


Pourquoi aime-je la langue ?

Je kiffe grave la langue parce que elle fait me sentir moins ignorante. Je vous explique - dans cet grand monde je sens vraiment ignorante tout le temps parce que je n'experience pas beaucoup du monde, donc par apprentissage une langue(le français), j'ai l'occasion de m'expose à une nouvelle culture et j'apprends quelque chose au même temps.


Sauf quand je regarde Le Choristes, je n'ai pas les moyens d'apprendre le français chez moi - ma mère pense qu'elle peut lire en français(elle ne peut pas), donc tous mes études sont toute seule! Pourtant, j'espere que je continuerai lire les blogs français et que j'écrirai en français sur cet blog en temps en temps. Si je peux parler en français, pourquoi pas?

Tuesday 4 February 2014

Wednesday 5th February: Negative Friends

People always say, 'surround yourself with happy people if you wish to be happy,' and I couldn't agree more. If you are forever with the happiest people then you would be more optimistic and generally happier.

I am quite a sarcastic person, and I would be the first one to make a sarcastic comment in any situation, however I try to be as optimistic as possible. But the other day I was out with two of my friends and I just noticed all of a sudden how pessimistic and overly sarcastic they were. It was actually quite rude and and really ungrateful.

And then I began to evaluate whether I want to be friends with the kind of people that don't appreciate anything and that complain about nothing.

Monday 3 February 2014

Tuesday 4th February: Immediate Regrets

I am a massive over thinker, especially about the consequence of something. But I also end up doing things that I immediately regret.

Examples of this include over eating just because it's there and I always end u lying on the sofa after about half an hour just groaning because I've eaten too much. Also, I always end up regretting not doing school work. It is quite possibly the biggest regret of all students worldwide: leaving homework until the day before the deadline sucks and it is awful to have to stay up as late as necessary to complete it, but it is only because of procrastination that this happened in the first place. 

Dappy was wrong, there are regrets.

Monday 3rd January: Taylor Swift

I went to see Taylor Swift's Red Tour yesterday. Wow! She was incredible and her whole set was perfect!

I feel that Taylor Swift has gotten a bad reputation in recent years: her music is only for girls under the age of 13 and anyone who listens to her is very much in the Señor Chang field of Gay. It actually saddens me so much that people are made to feel ashamed of liking her music by society(or any particular music, for that matter). I still love her because I appreciate that she is just a young woman who is trying to live her life full of happiness and hope, and inspiring others to do the same. Her outlook of finding beauty in everything is something that I think we could all learn from. 

I love that her songs tell actual stories, of real people in real life, written with the true feelings. This makes all of her songs so personal, but still so relatable, and they have more of a message than most of the songs in the charts at the minute. But the greatest thing that I love about her music is that I can sing to it, loudly. I can find no greater joy than when belting out the chorus of Sparks Fly or Red, and I wouldn't want to.

Saturday 1 February 2014

Sunday 2nd January: Hats

How can I convince myself that I am not a hat person when I have about 15 different hats?!

I used to think that hats made my face look fat and when my hair was tucked inside them, I got scared because I looked like a person who had been having radiotherapy. However, I love many different styles of hats, so I bought some in the hope that I could 'work them' later on. I have found that hats are only good if your hair is down and slightly wavy, in order to avoid the ill person or emo look.

My personal favourite hats include a lurid pink bobble hat, and an excellent christmas pudding beanie complete with holly leaves and berries.

Saturday 1st February: Organising

The amount I detest cleaning is unreal, but it is almost parallel to the amount that I detest mess. Work that one out. 

My room is nearly always messy because I just cannot be bothered to clean it up. However, when I do finally get to cleaning it, it normally involves me hanging up my clothes and organising my makeup for about two hours. I think that my problem is that I just get to distracted by all of my other stuff that I fail to clean the messy stuff. 

The only exception to my disdain for organising comes with rainbow colour. If ever there is a chance to order items in rainbow colour, then I will be right there. My entire bookshelf is rainbow coloured, as are my pens and nail polishes, I love the vibrancy that it brings to my white room. And anyone who tells me that I'm a loser for that is a loser themselves.