What I listened to in 2015

Here is a little round up, not of what came out this year that I liked, but just of songs that I listened to this year (some of them are several years old), hope it inspires your playlist for next year!

Superheroes by The Script Obvious to anyone who has read my previous music posts!

Shut up and Dance by WALK THE MOON

You're Beautiful by James Blunt

Bright by Echosmith

Ugly Heart by G.R.L

On my Way by Charlie Brown

Wings by Birdy

Demons by Imagine Dragons

Pompeii by Bastille

Any songs by Keane, The Killers, The Script....

Immortals by Fall Out Boy

George Ezra in general....

Fireflies by Owl City

Brooke Frasers albums Albertine, Flags and What to do with Daylight - basically anything

Never miss a beat by Kaiser Chiefs

As you can see that was quite an ECLECTIC MIX?? I cannot remember back to the beginning of the year so this is more a list of what I listened to this autumn....

Have you seen my new (and improved) about me? At the top of the page next to Home. Millie x

Star Wars The Force Awakens

 

SPOILER ALERT JUST DON'T BLAME ME IF YOU  HAVEN'T SEEN IT YET, MWAH HA HA I KNOW SOMETHING YOU DON'T!! JUST KIDDING....

Woah. That is basically all I can say. STOP. It was just too awesome. FACT. But I did promise a review so here a few bullet points of things I noticed, references, general cool stuff....

• Did anyone notice that at the end Luke's hair looked pretty much exactly like Anakin's in the 3rd film? He suited it though :P
• "Ok the garbage will do" Oh my gosh it's the Millennium Falcon - the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy!!
• When Han was like "Is there a garbage chute, trash compacter" and Finn was like "yeah...."! Original trilogy reference alert + real funny
• Mark Hamill's 30 seconds of fame at the end - they gave him literally, what, 1 1/2 minutes + he didn't even speak, just stood there?!
• Oh come on I NEED to know who Rey's parents are!!!! Please let Luke be her dad....but then who would be her mum? Would they take Mara-Jade from expanded universe? I only know about EU and Mara-Jade and stuff from my brother, I'm not that clever!!
• Poe is officially awesome - "It' kinda hard to hear what your saying, you know with the mask, it just all sounds like, huh, huh...." - Oh my gosh, so funny!!
• I sort of expected Han to die, but it was still sad, like Kylo almost turned and then he was like, stuff it all and lightsabered him.... :( I think maybe it will be Rey who turns him in the end?
• Parts of Kylo Ren and Rey's fight were just like Obi-Wan and Anakin's
• General Hux - You get the impression that he's a bit OTT....just a bit....
• Finn had better wake up pretty quick otherwise he is going to miss out on all the action
• Did Daisy Ridley just rule it all or what?!
• Kylo-ren is my favourite character along with Poe Dameron and obviously Rey

To conclude, I REALLY REALLY CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONES TO COME OUT!!!!
In the meantime, I think I might have to see it again....

1 sleep till Christmas - Christmas Eve

Um, hi?? The last few days have been busy, full on, yet fun, awesome, but tiring. So I haven't posted. Again. So here we are again. Do I apologize? It is my blog so I shouldn't have to say sorry. But then again I said I would post everyday and I clearly haven't done that so I probably should apologize. I am saying this because, I mean who wants to read a blog that constantly just apologies? It's boring. But sorry anyway.

Yay we made it to Christmas Eve!! Most Christmas Eve's - when the weather allows - we spend the day on the beach. Crazy, I know, but fun! Mostly.

 

The waves were really wild but my camera didn't really pick it up.

 

I really want to live in one of these!

 

Sweet as.

 

Isn't this just adorable?!

 

Took this out of the car window while it was raining and then I blurred it even more - does it work?

 

 

I have a few posts that I didn't post over the past few days, so you will get those after Christmas but for now bye, night and Merry Christmas. How do you spend Christmas? Hope you have a good one x

 

7 days till Christmas - Ice Cream Cake

Ice cream cake

 

You will need:

Ice cream

Chocolate bars

Chocolate drops

Sweeties

Caramel

Any kind of thing like this

 

How to make:

Put the ice cream in the mixer. Break up the chocolate bars and caramel and put in the mixer with the ice cream. Pour in the sweeties and chocolate drops then put the mixer on slowly. You might have to stop and un-gunk the mixer blade once in a while. Pour back into the ice cream pot and put the remaining sweeties on the top or in your mouth.

I know the pictures don't make it look that yummy but it really is. Once you get past the fact that it is practically solid sugar. This recipe is coming to you from me and my little sister. SHOUT OUT.

P.S Oh my gosh, oh my gosh I am going to see Star Wars The Force Awakens tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!
Expect a review some time tomorrow.... x

8 days till Christmas - Glittery nails and American diner tales

Hello again, I am seeing rather alot of this blog the past few days and if I am to keep my promise, then I am to see a whole lot more! This is a good thing because in the past I have neglected to look and post on my little bit of internet, so after Christmas and this series is up, I hope to keep up the regular blogging and post at least once a week - but I am hoping to average at two posts a week "woah don't knock yourself out Millie!" -. I know this isn't actually v much and some bloggers post multiple times a day, but in my crazy busy timetable, I think that would be a good achievement!!
    And now onward with the festive stuff for today....

Like the stars in the night sky - Glittery nail art

You will need:
Nail polish
Glitter

How to do:
Paint your nails like normal, it doesn't matter what colour but if you are going for a starry night theme then use a dark purple or black. Before they dry sprinkle glitter on the top of them. If you are really patient it could be a cool idea if you put more glitter at the top of your nail then the base, so it sort of cascades downwards. If you have a clear nail polish then painting over the top so you don't trail glitter everywhere might be a good idea!
    I used Barry M Speed dry nail polish in Sprint Finish. I really love the dark shade of this, it is one of my favourite colours and now I can wear it on my nails!!

Here are just a few cute photos that I took at the diner today:

This evening my choir are going to sing at a carol concert in a nearby church and on Sunday we are singing in our own carol service at our church! These are really nice events to attend and totally get you in the Christmas mood, so how about looking out for one going on near you? x

9 days till Christmas - Christmas Market

 Hey there, sorry about yesterday.... but that was yesterday and today is today so lets forget about it yeah?? Today we went Christmas shopping and stopped at a Christmas Market, so I have a few cute photos! The one below is of some big paella dishes that I saw (the steam got in the way of this photo a bit, but I think it gives it a cool effect, right??) , I was very tempted by the garlic potatoes but I didn't, in the end, when I saw the beignet (French doughnuts, there is a picture below).

This was almost the same size as my face and I only managed to eat half!! The guy selling them was French and talked in a mixture of French and English. I could translate what he was saying with my very small amount of French but now thinking back, I can remember loads of cool French phrases that I should of said back! *sigh* that is always the case!

 

I just realised all these photos were food related.... what does this say about my eye for photos?!

I have been insanely busy, so I am sorry there hasn't been a proper post for a few days and I am not going to promise there will be a proper one tomorrow because I will probably have to break that promise and rush with some last minute thing. But watch this space anyway because if you are lucky, I have a recipe and nail art design up my sleeve. Well not literally, but whatever. x

Girl Online and Girl Online On Tour by Zoella

My bookshelf is a jumble of words, stories and characters. Percy Jackson sits hand in hand with Anne of Green Gables. Eva Ibbotson gives Michael Morpurgo a hug, Harry Potter is sandwiched against Judith Kerr and Theresa Breslin. Noel Streatfeild is in the seat next to Annie and Goodnight Mister Tom.... you get the idea. I have had two recent edition's to my shelf's which is now in the only available space up against Charlottes Web. They are Girl Online and Girl Online On Tour by Zoella. I don't follow Zoella or watch her vlogs but I know who she is (who doesn't?!). When I first got told the plot -anonymous girl blogger goes to NYC, meets guy, all is well, gets back home only to discover he is a famous rock star with a girlfriend, but they get back together in the end - I was a bit sceptical about whether this was going to be any good. But I read it any way and I am so glad I did!!

    It is funny and makes you feel good. My favourite character is Elliot, I think everyone needs a best friend like him. I also like all the blog post that are interspersed throughout.

    In conclusion it was awesome.STOP.

But then I read Girl Online On Tour. I basically couldn't put it down. But not because it was so good, because everything got messed up and I had to find out if everything turned out ok! It does turn out fine so I guess in the end it is a good book, but I prefer the first one. If Girl Online got 4 stars then Girl Online On Tour gets 2 1/2 stars. I really hope there is going to be a third book.... please??!!

    I recommend both books for 11-16 year old girls but that is just a generalisation, anyone can enjoy them.

11 days till Christmas - Our tree

Hey guys, I am feeling very Christmassy today, how about you?

I am sorry this is such a short post but I thought I would just show you our tree, as I have been promising to do for a while *sheepish grin*. Isn't it pretty??!! Hopefully I will have a proper post for you tomorrow, but this is better than nothing, non? And now I dare you to go away, get offline and say Merry Christmas to the first person you see that you are not acquainted with! x

 

12 days till Christmas - My favourite Christmas film and sequels

My favourite Christmas film ever is most definitely the first Nativity! film from 2009 starring Martin Freeman, Ashley Jenner and Marc Wooten as the legendary Mr Poppy. It is just so heart-warming, festive not to mention insanely hilarious, the sort of film that is perfect for watching on a rainy afternoon in advent (We get a lot of those down here!) with hot chocolate and squirty cream in front of the fire.... just give me a moment to picture that scene....ok....where was I?
    Mr Poppy is basically every kids dream primary school teacher! Well, maybe not some of the things he does, but most of it, like making Angel Gabriel be like Elvis and bringing a donkey to school!!

    Although the adults are good and all that, the real stars are the children and all the funny personal things they bring to the film, like when they audition for the play and one of the kids (Ollie) holds his breath until he turns purple and then another (Bob) does this street/breakdance/hip hop dance sequence thing that literally makes you need the loo with all that laughing!!

    The way the film all comes together at the end with the big nativity at Coventry cathedral is so cool, the music and costumes and the music and dancing and the kids and the music.... I swear you will not be able to get that song "Sparkle and Shine" out of your head for months!!

 

Five sparkling and shining stars

The second film Nativity! Danger in the Manger, is also awesome. It is with most of the kids from the first film which is nice because you can be like, "oh I remember her!" or "oh my gosh it's the really cute little guy, just grown up a bit!!". The story does get a bit off the beaten track in the middle when they are lost, but not that much and it makes up for it at the end when they are at Song for Christmas and they sing that awesome number. My favourite bit of the whole film is when they get an encore and all the older pupils stand up and start singing solos into the dark and it is all magical.

Four stars for the magicality

 



Nativity! Dude where's my Donkey. Now this is a tricky one, cause as much as I loved the songs and the kids and the big Flashmob in the park in London, I also think it was all a bit unrealistic?? Plus I really loved the dancing and songs, but there were a few too many and the last one when they gate crashed the wedding was just a little bit cheesy.... though I did love the begging bit of that song when the girl stood up and sang then Lauren and some of the others joined in and then suddenly they were all singing their hearts out, but then it got cheesy. I think if some of the songs were cut out and some of the reminiscing bits when they took him to places from his childhood, it could have stood a chance at being as good as the first two but as it is I am only giving it;

2 stars because of the random bits

I recommend putting aside an entire day just for watching all these films in a row like a big musical, Christmassy, hot chocolate-athon, they really are worth it!!

13 days till Christmas - That's Christmas to me

Today it was my last dance lessons before Christmas and our teacher let us warm up and stretch to some Christmas music in body con! You have know idea how fun it is to hop up and down to at double time to "All I want for Christmas is you" by Mariah Carey!! I thought I would do a little review on my favourite Christmas album at the moment:

That's Christmas to me by Pentatonix

Pentatonix is an a cappella group of five people who make and cover songs. "That's Christmas to me" is their new album and it is full of covers of traditional Christmas songs that have been Pentatonix-ified and made to sound even cooler.
    The songs on the album include "Let it go" "Hark! The herald angels sing" and an amazing version of "Winter Wonderland" mixed with "Don't worry be happy" featuring Tori Kelly!!
    My favourite is The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy because it is such a traditional well known piece of music, yet when they perform it, it sounds completely strange and unfamiliar yet so awesome. That is the case with all of the songs on their album; you think you know the song "oh that old thing" but when you hear it, "woah".
    You get the idea, it is a totally awesome present for anyone, I would recommend anyone to have a listen to it at least and I am basically gushing all over it....

See you tomorrow x

14 days till Christmas -Edwardian evening

Last night we all went out to our towns Edwardian evening. I don't know if it's just our town that has one of these? Have you ever been to one?? Basically all the shops stay open late and everyone comes and does their Christmas shopping and sing 7 carols at 7 o'clock and everyone is giving away free mince pies (yuck). I would have a lot, a lot of pictures but I dropped my phone 10 minutes after we got there.... so.... I took some pictures on my mums phone but they are not very good.

Things of note that happened:

• At 7 carols, despite a lady saying over the speaker that she DIDN'T want any "other than traditional" versions, my 9 year old sister and co sang about shepherds watching TV....
• Me and my sister burst our brothers eardrums with a very loud rendition of Shakin' Stevens, Merry Christmas everyone. Well not literally, but we had a good go!
• We discovered that Santa hats are very good at soaking up rain water.
• We saw at least 20 people you hardly ever see except for at Edwardian evening and had to   stop to talk to them ALL.
• The college Jazz band played Uptown Funk. It sounded amazing.
• I drank orange juice in a wine glass (?) with a reindeer and an angel....
• I watched this little boys mouth, literally fall open at the street magicians tricks!

16 days till Christmas - Continuous as the stars that shine, and twinkle on the milky way....

 

You will need:

4oz butter or margarine

2oz sugar

6oz plain flour

Icing sugar

Water

Bowl

Spoons

Sieve

Measuring thing

Oven....

How to make:

Cream the butter and sugar then sieve in the flour. Bring together into a mix with or without your hands. Just remember not to handle the mixture too much as this will melt the fat and it will become all sticky and you won't be able to roll it out. I speak from experience. Roll out on a board dusted with flour, cut little star shapes. Stick in the oven and cook for 15 minutes. When they have cooled down, mix up a paste of icing sugar and water and pipe it on the top. Voila.

 

 

See you tomorrow x

17 days till Christmas - Silhouette's, donkeys and masterpieces

We are now starting making our Christmas cards! They are going to be a silhouette of a stable cut out of black card with a star above it on a background of blue? This was all going well drawing it out on a piece of paper until my siblings came in and a space ship, a wizard and a donkey entered the scene.... do not ask. I am currently typing this with the intention of adding photos and a little how to do it yourself later, after I have made the prototype.

Woah, fast-forward, I wrote that about an hour ago. It sounds so hopeful "hey guys I'm gonna produce a masterpiece"!! Yeah right.... this is the prototype I came up with.

It isn't exactly worthy of the Tate. But I will put on instructions on how I did it if anyone wants to have ago and make some proper ones.

To make one card, you will need:
Paper
White card
Pencil
Paintbrush
Scissors
Black paint
Some idea of how to draw

How to make:
On the piece of paper draw a stable outline. You could also draw a star, donkey, palm tree, camels....
Cut out the drawing around the top edge to make a silhouette. Arrange your templates on a piece of folded white card. Paint over the top with black paint. You could do this lightly to show the brush strokes or block out the entire thing in black. Simples.

I will probably never get round to making the 50 odd of these that we need.... but it was fun making this one and if any of you get the chance to have a go, then please tell me how it went!!

18 days till Christmas - Hey, opps, what's been happening and just a few photos....

Hello, hey, sorry *sheepish grin*. I forgot to post yesterday which means I have already failed at the everyday thing.... I kinda knew this would happen at some point! Yesterday I went to a Christingle service which took up most of the morning and then Martin Freeman and David Tenant took my time up (in Nativity 1 and 2) in the afternoon, followed by an early Christmas dinner with guests, the Strictly come dancing results show (Helens out *sad face :(*) and Girl Online the book (expect a review, I'm now on the second one) so can you let me off just this once??!!

Today we went to a National Trust property called Killerton. They had dresses up the house and gardens for Christmas in the theme of Narnia, which was pretty cool. The light was a bit funny and I was taking pictures on my phone so don't expect much, but here are the pictures I got:

 

 

 

A bit of a pathetic effort on my part, don't you agree? I didn't get many Narnia related photos but I promise there was stuff there. I did like the plastic lion though, I thought that was kind of funny!

 

 



 

I took these at a café we "happened across" afterwards!

 

 

Cafes, garden centers, the sky, plastic lions, the usual. See you tomorrow hopefully I will have a proper post for you. What did you do today? x