Hair Problems

Hello!

Hair dye. Yep, we’re going there.

I’m nineteen years old and I have never once dyed my hair, I think I deserve a massive pat on the back for that, it's quite the achievement in my opinion! Every single one of my friends has dyed their hair at least once, most several, and I have not once given into the peer pressure! I’ve been getting really bored of my hair lately, though and I want to do something different with it. 

I’m against cutting it all off because, one; I’ve been growing it for a hell of a long time to get it to the length it’s at, and two; I’ll only like my short hair for a few months, max, and then I’ll want long hair again – something that I can’t just grow back at the click of my fingers.

I’ve tried fringes, no fringes, side fringes, all fringes and, again, I like them for a few months then I get bored of them too.

Then the other night I had a dream in which my hair was an ombré of my natural, dark brown colour and a honey blonde at the ends and it has made me seriously think about doing it. My problem? I’m not brave enough.

My hair is the one thing I love, and always have loved, about myself; I love the colour, I love it’s style (most of the time), it’s not really difficult to manage like some people’s, my hair has always been pretty nice to me and I’m scared, no, terrified, of ruining it.

I don’t want to do something as extreme as dye my hair and not like it, then not be able to get it back to my original colour and healthiness. I over-think, I know.

I’m so indecisive too, I can’t ever make a decision - I struggle to decide what I want for dinner every night! Even if I’m sure of which choice I want, I won’t make the decision in case someone else doesn’t agree!

I also considered maybe just putting in a few, little mulberry/cranberry red streaks but, again, I’m not quite brave enough, although I think that wouldn’t be quite as drastic as going full on blonde at the tips of my hair… I think a dark red could easily be disguised to with my colour hair if I decided I didn't like it.

I don’t knowwwww… I probably won’t end up doing it but I’d like to think I might. I really do want to… We’ll see...

Katie x

Curious Dreams

Hello!

Whilst I was at work today I was pondering on last nights dream, trying to figure out what the hell it means and I thought "you know what, this is something I need to blog about it", so here I am, blogging about my weird dreams. As you do.

Last nights was one of the strangest dreams I've had in a long time, where, basically, my brother was half giraffe.

Yep. Your eyes aren't deceiving you; that does say "half giraffe".

Just so you don't think I'm a complete nutter, I'll take this moment to point out that my brother is actually very tall - 6ft 6inches... maybe even 6ft 7, I can't remember. He's closer to the height of a giraffe than most people, anyway, but still, he's not quite at the 18 feet he'd need to be to compete with a giraffe, and he definitely doesn't have the neck or spindly legs that giraffes have. In my dream though, he had the extra long neck and it's an image that has scarred me for life! 

I have no idea where this dream came from, apart from the fact I have an epic love affair with giraffes... It's not the weirdest dream I've ever had (yup, there have been some a lot stranger) but it did freak me out when I woke up. Obviously there was a lot more to it than just my brother being a giraffe but I'm worried that some of you might already think I should be in a hospital for the mentally insane, I don't want you to think I'm in any more need of it than you already do!

I once dreamed my mama and I were trapped in this massive Hogwarts-style castle and we couldn't figure out how to escape - in the end, my mum was literally able to breathe fire in the dream and I could fly like Peter Pan (I wish), and that was how we escaped; like some kind of flying, fire-breathing dragon! I mean my mama sure can be a scary lady if you get on her bad side (I've learnt to stay well away from it!) but I wouldn't go as far as saying she's fire breathing - I know better ;).

I used to study psychology but I only did AS level (I don't know what that's equal to in any other country but I was 16/17 years old in that school year) and then I decided I'd rather continue with both English's and History for my second year of A-levels. As much as I loved my choice of subjects in my final year, part of me wishes I'd carried on with Psychology, just so I could psychoanalyse my dreams and find out what the hell is wrong with my brain - I bet I would find out some weird and wonderful things about myself. 

Anyway, before I make myself sound any weirder than I already have, I'm going to shut up and stop there!

Please tell me I'm not the only one who has freaky, weird dreams - I need your reassurance!

Katie x

(P.s. there is currently a spider crawling across my ceiling and I'm really trying not to freak out but it's not going so well!)

(P.p.s. As I was writing this I googled giraffes; did you know that hundreds of years ago they used to have antlers?! Also, their hearts weigh nearly 25 pounds - that's taking the saying "heavy heart" a bit too literally!)

A Winter Lover

Hello!

I work in a takeaway, not the most glamorous of jobs but a job's a job and, as far as jobs go, it's not actually that bad. When I looked out of my window this morning though and saw pouring rain, I'm sure a did a little happy dance inside my head - it's too early and too soon after just waking up to be physically dancing - yet rain is never really something to get excited about in the UK (especially up north!) because we see a hell of a lot of it over a year. When you work in a takeaway, where there is constant heat everywhere, rain is a very welcome element!

In the UK lately, we've had really hot weather (it's a massive rarity!) and not to sound all British and constantly complain about weather but, it's too hot. Yep, that's right, I said it. It's too hot. I know there are other countries who have weather tons hotter than we've had at our height of summer but we're not equipped to deal with this kind of heat because we're just not used to it! Man, was I dying in all that humidity. I felt like the Wicked Witch of the West that melted to her death - I felt like I was slowly melting into a pool of sweatiness - lovely mental image for you there!

As you can probably tell, I'm not the biggest fan of the English "summer", which basically just consists of sweaty, humid air. I much prefer the winter.

1.

If I'm cold, all I have to do is put another jumper on!

2.

Talking of jumpers; jumpers! I love being able to put a soft, cosy jumper on and feel all lovely and warm.

3.

I can drink hot chocolate and not feel like a numpty for drinking a hot drink whilst it's thirty-odd degrees celcius outside! Instead, I can just feel even cosier with all my jumpers on and a hot chocolate with extra whipped cream sitting in my hands.

4.

I love ice hockey... a lot! And, of course, ice hockey is a winter sport. There is also an ice hockey team in Nottingham, the Nottingham Panthers, who are awesome and, as most of my winter is spent at uni, I get to see lots of ice hockey!

There are plenty more reasons why I prefer winter but I'm going to be late for work if I list them all, there are that many! I just think winter is a much cosier and, ironically, warmer-feeling season!

Katie x

My Month In Pictures

Hello!

I decided to be super cute today and make a collage of all my favourite pictures from this month because, you may have noticed, I love to take snaps of all the lovely moments! Now I have the cutest collage that rounds up my month and all the beautiful things that happened this month.

Most of them I've probably already blogged about somewhere in this little internet world because I like to make sure I keep you guys all up to date with my life and I find it nice to look back on myself today and see all of the lovely things I've done.

There was my lovely grown-up niece's birthday and then, of course, Miss Princess Daisy's birthday (I wrote a little something for her HERE, if you want to pop over to it), then the day after was the James's birthday, and two days after was my Grandpa's birthday! There are way too many birthdays to handle in just one month!

I also had a night out with some of my friends from home amidst all of this and a day in Newcastle with my bestie. There have been plenty of days out with all of the Little (and Big) Ones that I can't even tell you about them all but I did posts on a few of them HERE, HERE and HERE. I also found time to have an operation on my ear at some point and get a job (which I did a little thing on HERE)! It's actually been quite a busy month now I'm trying to remember everything I've done!

Have you done anything nice this month?

Katie x

A Mid Week Pick-Me-Up #8

Hello!

This week's quote is dedicated to my best friend; she's on holiday at the moment but I'm seriously missing her and I thought this quote described our friendship perfectly!

"The best friendships usually steal up on you, you don't remember their start point." - You Had Me At Hello (Mhairi McFarlane)

This is one of the truest quotes about friendship that I've ever heard... or read, actually (it's from a really great book, you should give it a read). I know that I certainly don't remember when my best friend and I became the best of friends. I do remember when we first met because it was over a skipping rope and she likes to constantly remind me of that story, but that's definitely not where we became friends!

I don't think I remember the start point to any of my best friendships, maybe it's just because the best ones have been around for that long I can't remember far enough back, or it's because the friendships happened that quickly that I just don't know how to pinpoint the start point.

I've definitely had my fair share of "bad" friendships because, as my best friend likes to constantly remind me, I'm a softy and let people off with things because its easier than arguing with them - I really don't get on well with confrontation, I'm too quiet and shy for all that!

I don't know what I'd do without my closest friend some days; she's always there for me and I think she knows more about me than I do! We both go to different universities too, which can take its toll on some friendships (I know it has on other friendships of mine), but we still text all the time, and skype; we even started sending each other actual written letters, I loved that, it was super cute - not enough people hand-write letters anymore! 

No matter how far away from each other we are, we still tell each other everything and any problems we have we always tell the other first. I know that if I'm feeling a bit down or something really bad has happened, she is going to be the one person who can pull me out of that and pick me up. 

Soooo, my best friend is this weeks mid week pick-me-up because she's always there to pick me up and I'll always be there to pick her up. Awww, all the feels and the mushiness (sorry!).

Katie x

21 Of The Best Feel-Good Movies!

Hello!

This week's been a bit of a down-in-the-doldrums week (if you don't have a clue what I'm going on about read HERE) BUT I have watched some of my favourite movies to help cheer me up and they are the perfect medicine. So, I thought I'd share them with you, just in case you're feeling a bit under the weather, or you just like having movie days!

Now, I have watched a lot of movies this past week... like, I've spent nearly every day, all day, watching movie after movie, after movie. After movie. There are a few of these that I haven't got round to watching yet, but they're on the list for the rest of my week!

1.

Mary Poppins

Without doubt, this is my favourite movie from my childhood! This is my go-to movie whenever I need a bit of a pick-me-up, I know every word to every song in this movie because... I'm not at all obsessed... Nooo. Okay, I am, but what is not to love about Julie Andrews?!

2.

The Railway Children

I used to always wish I could be a one of the Railway Children and for that, I will never stop loving this film. I don't mean the modern version one either, I mean the one with Jenny Agutter in it; she's my fave.

3.

Bride Wars

A seriously hilarious movie. Two best friends, a.k.a. two brides. Accidentally sharing the same wedding day. It's just... just... Go watch it! It's awesome!

4.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Another childhood favourite. Another one I can tell you every lyric to!

5.

Chalet Girl

I looooooove skiing, and this one is kind of to do with that. More snowboarding than skiing but meh, same thing! It's an English actor thing too which I find awesome because it's rare to find a good movie with English actors.

6.

We're The Millers

I already mentioned this particular movie in the last Mid Week Pick-Me-Up because it makes me laugh. A lot.

7.

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory

First of all, don't confuse this with Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. I'm talking about the original one, not the one with Johnny Depp in it (sorry Johnny, I love you but this one's so much better). Second of all, I love the bubble scene of this one - the first time I saw it, I went round and told everyone they were "naughty boys"... Yep, I was a right goody-two-shoes.

8.

The Mighty Ducks

Ice hockey. I love ice hockey. Enough said.

9.

Bridget Jones's Diary

Just a super British movie and I know exactly how you feel Bridget, I feel ya!

10.

The Holiday

Literally one of the only movies that is set at Christmas time and I don't class it as a Chirstmas movie - go figure! Again, a bit of British-ness in it - I just love the English-y bits because most movies you can watch and see that they're really Americanised but this one has the best of both worlds!

11.

The Princess Diaries

I always thought that one day a long lost family member would come and find me to tell me I'm a secret princess, thanks to this movie... I'm still waiting...

12.

Rumour Has It

Jennifer Aniston is an amazing actress and I loved her when she played Rachel in Friends so I often watch her movies. Just going to ask the typically expected question of me here - how does she not age?! I'm sure she's immortal or something because I swear she's never changed! Anyway, the moral of this movie is, don't do what your mother did. Or your grandmother... 

13.

What To Expect When You're Expecting

Hilariously funny, I'd watch the trailer first if you are expecting to make sure it doesn't terrify you but I don't think it will because it just poses all of the most common scenarios that could happen to you when you're expecting a baby but it does it in a belly-laughing way!

14.

The Smurfs

Little insider knowledge for you here, I always get called Smurphs because my last name is Murphy, so I like Smurfs tons! I'm not quite a legitimate Smurf though - I'm not blue - although that's a great idea if I ever need a fancy dress outfit!

15.

Definitely, Maybe

Ryan Reynolds. Mmm, mmm, mmmmmm! Ahem, sorry for that little outburst! So, yeah, this movie has Ryan Reynolds in it and he reminisces about three of his past girlfriends, changing their names, as his daughter tries to figure out which is her mother and which is his true love. Awwww.

16.

The Proposal

This isn't another one with Ryan Reynolds in it... Noooo... Okay, I like Ryan Reynolds. Just as an actor though, of course... Another hilariously funny movie as he has to fake a relationship with his ever so slightly pushy, bossy boss.

17.

Shrek

Another little fact for you, my mama's name is Fiona and when the movie first came out, the younger children in the family started calling her Princess Fiona... As long as they were meaning the human version she said she didn't mind! Anyway, Donkey is just the cutest, annoying little thing ever!

18.

Tangled

My best friend loves Disney movie in ways that most little un's even don't, so she made me watch this and it's another one that just makes you feel all light-hearted and want to sing along to! Yeah, I do know a lot of the words...

19.

This Means War

One of the most amusing movies I've watched in a long time and it has Chris Pine and Tom Hardy in it. It also has the stunning Reese Witherspoon in it. I want two secret agents to fight over me - I can dream!

20.

Flushed Away

When this was originally released I lurvved it. I haven't watched this in several years but I did watch the trailer on YouTube and it's officially made it onto my list for watching over the next few days.

21.

Knocked Up

And another hilarious comedy to end with! A bit explicit, though, so be careful who you watch it around if you get my gist! I think you can guess what it's about from the title, so I won't bother trying to explain it without making it sound any less explicit than it is!

There are a lot more movies there than I planned on telling you about but I just kept thinking of another, after another, after another! I hope there weren't too many for you to take in there! Enjoy!

Katie x

Music Crush #8

Hello!

Now I'd hate to miss a Music Crush and this week's is extra epic, so I've dragged myself out of my bed to get my laptop and write this one up!

It seems fitting this song should be the eighth music crush because eight is my favourite number... because everyone has a favourite number... right?

I've been waiting for this particular song forever. It has been nearly two years since the last album was released and I've spent those two years waiting. And waiting. And waiting. BUT the wait is finally over!

This week's Music Crush is...

The Script

~~~

Superheroes

The Script have always been one of my favourite bands, so I knew before the song was even released that I was going to obviously love it!

Although this song was going to be an obvious favourite of mine, I think it's definitely one of their best yet. I would even say it's good competition for Hall of Fame (the first single from their last album, #3) which I thought was one of their best, along with the likes of The Man Who Can't Be Moved and Nothing. There is no beating the beauty and catchy-beat of this song, though.

The one thing I think The Script are brilliant at is lyric-writing, and the lyrics are the part of a song that I love more than anything.

All the hurt, all the lies

All the tears that they cry

When the moment is just right

You see fire in their eyes

They say so much about the strength in a person. The people who are constantly being shot down and the ones people think are weak, they're the superheroes because they've fought the hardest to stay where they are and not let all the hurt drag them down.

Anyhoo, lyric analysis over, I'm in love. This song is all I want to listen to right now - I can't wait for it to be released on iTunes and then I can buy it and listen to it as much as I want, whenever I want, wherever I want!

So, in case you haven't already guessed, this is the best song you will listen to right now and you should definitely open up your ears to it, they'll thank you for it!

Katie x