Yet again, it's been a crazy few days for me. I think I need to start building up a bank of posts rather than give you regular as they happen updates so to speak. This weekend my sister asked me if I'd like a trip with her into the city centre as she wanted to go shopping for a birthday present for a friend and thought I'd like the trip out (Dan was awake bike riding).
We got into Nottingham and into the Victoria Shopping Centre where the first shop I saw was Kiko Cosmetics. Now, I have read blogs over magazines and watched YouTube over TV for about 3 years now so of course I have heard about Kiko and of course that meant me throwing myself and my sister into this wonderful, colourful cave of make-up, skin care and everything in between!
First hit - eyeshadows.
The display on the right hand side was full of colourful discs from luminous yellow and sparkly blues to subtle matte beige and warm copper colours. They were the infinity range. They were all on offer, as were the magnetic palettes that housed them. Not surprising every colour that I was interested in was sold out! According to the member of staff who was (not) helping us, Kiko are changing the infinity range hence why they are all so cheap now! (What better excuse to go back huh?)
Next to them were some "colour sphere" shadows. These are super high pigment and have a beautiful pay off. The ones I tried were all quite shimmery and can be used with water to create a more intense look. I bought the shade 20. Price: £5.90
It's a beautiful pewter colour which I think will look lovely either as a subtle sheen wash or built up then blended with a darker colour for a smokey eye (I'm thinking prom make up for a black or blue gown).
The water shadows look incredible! A definite dupe for Mac to look at. I didn't get a chance to sample any because the shop was so crammed I was kind of being pushed along so the general shopping experience wasn't that fun!
Best purchase "Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow" - I HAD to go and get me one of these! I have read so much about them! they have been compared to the By Terry Ombre Blackstar and at £6.90 I couldn't afford to walk by and not give them a try! I got the shade 28 and I definitely have the need to now go back and get more (probably darker) shades. I can't quite justify the £29 for the By Terry version but £6.90 for a very similar product is definitely more do-able I think!
The display of lip products was immense! I love the way that you can see the colours and ranges clearly. I have wanted an orangey red lipstick for ages but have never dared to go and get one. Well, my sister picked out THE colour that I have been longing for. A hint of orange, a lot of red and totally creamy with a nice shine. It was only £3.90 as well so not breaking the bank at all!
I've yet to try this on my lips and have a feeling it's going to be one of those lipsticks that will need a lot of touch ups but I love the colour and I think it will look lovely with a bit of a tan.
I have to admit that I found my first Kiko experience quite overwhelming. I don't usually feel too comfortable in crowded shops. The Nottingham store isn't that big so it filled up quite quickly with customers. Also, I wasn't really prepared for my trip. I am the kind of person that has to dress a certain way to shop for myself. It might seem odd but I have to be in the right mood and that includes being dressed to shop. However, I was totally happy to browse the products and help my sister make some purchases and I am really happy with my little lot! I'm gutted that they had sold out of the setting spray - just a little excuse to go back soon *wink wink*.
I must take the time to tell you about my sister now. She used to be the one out of us both that spent more time on herself. She's always had lovely hair and she can get her face made up looking stunning in no time at all. When she had her son, she got rid of a lot of her make-up. She simply lost her "me" time and focused her everything on her new baby. There is absolutely nothing at all "wrong" with that and obviously, I think she is beautiful any way but recently she has been talking to me about getting started with make up again to make herself feel good. Well, she didn't need to have that chat twice! I got her a little Ted Baker make up bag (in the sale - it was seriously cheap at £5.80) and stuffed in some basics to get her started. Since then I have gone through my stuff and sorted out what I could give to her. Well, this Kiko trip showed me a bit of my old sister. She was talking about make up and colour like she used to. She was offering advice to another customer who couldn't decide on a lipstick colour and it was just lovely to see my sister be the confident and lovely person I know that she has always been! The added advantage of Kiko cosmetics is that it is purse friendly! My sister went giddy when she saw a lipstick for £3.90 and nail polish for as little as £1.00! That's cheaper than some drugstore brands! She got herself a little basket and picked up a really bright pink nail varnish, some lipstick and eyeshadow. It was like we were teens again!
Have you got a Kiko near you? What are your top 3 beauty buys?
I hope you're all well. I'm feeling a little bit like I've lost touch with the world this week. I have been preparing some things to go on my blog in June (get me being all organised). My sleeping pattern has completely gone out of the window which has been annoying but I've had a "down week" where I don't do too much so I've chance to charge my batteries!
I've got a pretty important meeting happening today (will probably write a bit about it in one of the June blogs) so I'm in need of a positivity fix and what better than to write my Friday Favourites?
Bed times.
Kicking it off, this week I have been loving my bed! - Most of the time whilst I've been at home I have been propped up in the huge super comfy memory foam nest doing my computery bits and bobs. I have really struggled to stay warm and my arms have been misbehaving so comfy rules.
Lounge wear.
What better to go with a comfy bed than longing clothes? Slouchy joggers, baggy vest tops or simply just some comfy pyjamas. Totally not pretty but totally comfy and sometimes that's all a girl wants! I have pretty much lived in miss match PJs this week. They have served me well!
(no selfies were taken you will be pleased to know)!
Instagram.
I got a whole lot of love following the S club photos! It made me feel pretty damn great on an otherwise rough day! I am slightly addicted to typing random words into the search just to see random pictures! (I know, I'm sad but it's fun! - try it some time). I saw some pretty spectacular photos of Niagra Falls which brought back some fabulous memories!
You can follow me @littlegoldendaffodil (shameless plug there)
Bloomin' Rouge This blog! Holly over at Bloomin' Rouge is a Canadian make up artist who writes a deliciously inviting blog which includes blogging tutorials (notice that my blog looks a bit different? - thank you Holly) amongst make up reviews, tutorials and tips. I love her style, her photos are crisp, clean and simply stunning. I'd describe her blogs as the essential biscuit to have with a cup of tea! Sweat, delicious and easy to digest! I am guilty of taking that whole pack and chomping most of my through in the last few days - warning: *this blog is addictive*! Pop over to her and leave a comment telling her that you came from mine.
Photo credit: Holly at bloominrouge.com
Well, I think I will leave it there for this week. If you have a favourite blog at the moment leave the link in the comments and I will go have a look.
Apologies that I haven't posted anything this week - I've not felt too great after the fun weekend. My sleep pattern has been a bit all over and I just feel "off" - but I've been productive while charging my batteries. I've been creating a few picture collages from some of the 500+ photos that I took at the concert on Friday night! Anyway, without further ado, here's the S Club blog post - Enjoy!
Today's post is yet another concert write up (with pictures and videos included). It's officially my last 'unopened' Christmas present from Dan. My friend, Laura, contacted me as soon as she heard that S Club 7 were doing a reunion tour and she was straight on the phone as soon as the tickets were released to book us our seats at CaptialFM Arena, Nottingham.
It was November last year that the hype flared up again... This group, a 7 piece sickly sweet pop group consisting of 4 girls and 3 boys. 'Back in the day' (that makes me sound like my parents) they were the dream team of teeny bopper cool kids that had all the moves (including back flips). They had their own TV shows, music that covered everything from a ballad to a disco tune and they had the story lines to match. Basically they were a group that seemed to just explode and then all of a sudden 13 years ago it all came to an end. They vanished and although pretty much every single disco you would ever attend, any "cheese" night at a club or "pop party" would be the only thing left to remind us that S Club 7 once existed... Until Children in Need 2014 (CIN is a televised charity event that raises money for children with a wide range of needs in the UK. Some of the children that I used to work with in school directly benefited from money that was raised by the charity so I have seen the money go to great work first hand)! Thirteen years since they were last together, the group agreed to perform for the charity that was so close to their hearts in their hay day. They remain the only group to have released two singles for the cause and what was lovely to see was that they were still raising money for CIN on their recent tour! - Troopers!
Anyway, Laura came up to Nottinghamshire from Cambridge. I was having a really "slow" day... last week was a real struggle for me and although I had prepared myself the best that I could by doing little bits of housework each day and accepting the help when it was offered, I still found Friday a struggle... I had to take pain killers regularly to keep on top of pain which wasn't ideal but sometimes it's just got to be done. I had a shower and did my hair as soon as I got up and then pottered around for a little while. My sister came round to help me too so that was a bonus. I resorted to cooking the trusty faithful pasta bake again for tea! Laura liked the last one that I did and it's not something I have to spend ages slaving over the cooker preparing and making so it was a win for me too!
Due to me being on a slow one, we set off later for the tram than when we set off for the Olly Murs concert. (Read my blog about that concert here). Somehow we managed to get to the arena earlier than the last time we visited, quite a lot earlier, but it gave us a good opportunity to get a drink and merchandise before the doors opened. We were second in our queue to go through but it's typical that we would end up in the line with the ticket reader that didn't work! Neither did the back up one! Once through, we had a rather long wait for the support artist to come on stage. Our seats were incredible! we were in the upper tier but only just above the stage level and we had a really good view! As we were there with so much time to spare, it gave me and Laura a good opportunity to sit and have a natter, a bit like the old uni days but in a huge arena instead of our freezing, grotty student house!
I didn't realise how quickly the arena filled with the hustle and bustle of the audience. We were all excitedly awaiting the return of the group with their dance routines that pretty much every girl aimed to perfect in their bedroom once upon a time. Do they still do the routines? After some time, enough time for the arena to fill (and I mean I did not see one empty seat), a rather unassuming chap walked on stage. The crowd let out a little cheer expecting him to be a techie sorting out the decks that were positioned on stage. After a bit of tweaking and listening to the headphones, the lights dimmed, there was a brief silence and the crowd went up a gear! The "techie" was part of the support act! He was a DJ and in an instant Laura and I went from being in the middle of a conversation into a fit of hysterics! It was only hours before the concert that I was saying "it's not like I'm going to a rave"! I suddenly found myself sat there in Nottingham arena, watching this man "mix tracks" and "lay beats" (is that what it's called?). At one point I looked at Laura and said "what have you brought me to?!" - This wasn't to say he was bad - please do not think that. He was extremely entertaining but it was more the fact that this is the second concert I have been to since being diagnosed with a brain condition. My clubbing days were abruptly ended just over three years ago and yet I was sat at a teeny bopper concert with a full on rave happening in front of my eyes! Brilliant! It certainly put a smile on my face and I laughed the whole way through! I didn't catch his name but he stayed on stage when this (from a distance) Justin Beiber look alike walked on stage. Again, not dressed in anything that I would have expected given the "big up" that he received from the DJ. "The hottest support act from New York City". I don't mean to stereotype or make assumptions but after such a loud, full-on, crazy "rave" (I can only describe it as a rave - and I felt like the granny attending... no, even a granny would have had a tipple and joined in) I did not expect to see this baby faced, blonde haired, "youth" (reference to the local lingo here).
AJ Lehrman and "The DJ".
Who is he? Well, I don't really know? I traced back his name from one of the images that was on the screen while he was singing - it was of his instagram account @aj_lehrman. I then discovered that this boy (and yes he is just a boy) is 16 years old! Look at those photos that I took and tell me that he looks like a 16 year old! Nu uh girlfriend (I was genuinely shocked at his age)! Once I discovered this I thought, "ah, is he one of those Disney stars?" You see, being the age that I am and not having any diddy people means that my Disney channel days aren't as frequent as they used to be. I really wouldn't know any of the hit shows or what kids watch... even my younger brothers-in-law have moved on from that interest now *sigh*. They've entered the girlfriend stage so I literally am well out of the loop! Anyway, Nope. There's nothing about that either... just nothing, other than links to his social media and even there the bio is limited to age and occupation: singer/songwriter. Despite him being an unknown (at least to me), he did a good job. I imagine it's difficult when you don't really have a fan base to lean on and no-one really knows your songs to sing back to you but he handled the crowd well, he interacted and definitely came across much, much older than his years! (Now I really do sound like my parents).
After a short break the atmosphere seemed to have got a current running through it... there was such an adrenaline fuelled tension as the lights went out and everyone literally shifted to the edges of their seat while the intro music played and the dancers came out... oh, I wont ruin it for you... here you go, I got it recorded...
The crowd was crazy! I couldn't see anyone near me sitting down, it was like I was being carried on this S Club wave of fun and adrenaline. I was able to avoid the dancing thanks to using the camera. I mean, I would have loved to dance but I just couldn't face the issues that I had faced after the Olly gig so I behaved myself and just stood and filmed and snapped away.
There was full on glitter, energetic dance routines and disco lights from the very start! - Everything you would associate with the S Club of yesteryear! I was certainly not disappointed. I had taken a sneaky peek online at the odd picture of this tour *slaps wrist* before going to see the concert... I caved in to the suspense and eagerness inside. It was fuelled becuase I had read some mixed reviews! I stayed away from YouTube though because I really didn't want to ruin it for myself - for me it was like that christmas eve effect when you really want to feel the wrapping paper, not open it, just to have a little guess what goodness might be underneath the sheets of decorative paper... This was my christmas pressie after all, remember - I just wanted to have a little looksie before getting the show! I retricted my viewing time to 30 minutes so I didn't really have time to soak much in. It was just a scan look! I can actaully only remember seeing the black and white costumes! I loved them with my first look but after being at the concert... I'm really not so in love with them... they're not very "s club-esque" as I remember the vibrant youthful group but, on stage they worked... they were very "street" but a couple of them were a little "naff" and I really wouldn't have agreed to wearing them at all! personal preference! The staging and lighting on the other hand.... FAB, FAB, FAB! Glitter stairs that lit up, lifts that brought the group from under the stage up through the floor onto the "top stage", lights that pierced through fog screens, pyrotechnics. Ah, they had the works! Pop til you flippin' drop let me tell you! It was as if they had never gone - they had it all!
The combat costume felt more like I was back in the late 90's - early 00s. I remember nagging and nagging for some black street dance trousers - the kind that had those extra tassle strips of fabric so whenever you spun, they looked like helicopter rotors. Ha! Oh, to be a kid again! I would definately bring those back (opposed to wearing a skirt over trousers). Did anyone else do that? What other crazy fashions were there in the 90s into the new millenium?
During the "combat dress" part of the show, Tina, Paul and Hannah took the oportunity to "work the stage" doing their solo pieces. For Tina, it was a chance to show off some pretty cool dance moves (I personally enjoyed the choreography more than the singing). It's clear to see that she's a natural dancer! As for my comment regarding the singing. She is obviously not the strongest singer but that's fine. It wouldn't pay to have a group full of power houses would it?
Tina instigated the reunion. She did her solo first.
Paul's solo was kind of moving in a way. He left the group in the early 2000's to rejoin his nu-rock band that was formed during his school days. He performed a acoustic version of "Reach For The Stars" which not only showcased his voice brilliantly but showed how versatile he is as a performer. I think he genuinely gets moved by the crowd joining in and singing back to him. This was my favourite solo of them all (which probably wont surprise you if you read the Olly blog after I announced what acoustic music does to me - HA). Anyone that plays an instrument and can make an old song their own is a winner in my book! I wish I had recorded it in all honesty! I have just had a look on YouTube and I have found a video of the performance.
Credit: Tashan Hall, YouTube.
So, Paul then went on to introduce Hannah (who happens to be his ex girlfriend). It all seemed a little "school concert" like to be brutally honest with each of the performers introducing the next but I didn't mind it... I had been rewound a good few years so being at school on this occasion didn't bother me *wink*.
Hannah's solo ("Straight up" originally by Paula Abdul) was yet another one that didn't overly thrill me (I'm convinced she was miming) but still, the choreography was a treat! And really, let's let them off for the odd one or two spots of miming (controversial) because to say that they never used to sing live, they have had a break for so, so long and yet they are up and doing it all again (with the majority of the concert sung live) I think that's pretty good going! I'd rather leave having been entertained with the odd spot of miming than think crikey that wasn't on point and it be the talking point for the whole evening... 'nuff said!
Here's Hannah...
After Hannah, we were treated to a 'treacle sponge' duet from Jo and Jon. No, that wasn't the title of the song! I mean, it was warm, and comforting and something to turn to when you're just in one of those moods... get me now? They sang "Hello Friend" which pretty much took me right back to their "Viva S Club" days. Hearing the two of them sing in harmony together was like sweet treacle an so warm! Special!
Jo Introduced Bradley ('Uncle B' as her son calls him apparently). He built the tempo back up and goodness me he was a treat! Ok, the S clubbers are roughly *there's nothing rough about them* the same age as me but they still move like they're 18! Bradley threw some shapes, did his trademark spin AND sang live! Man, he's got it! He also showed off some of his DJ-ing skills too - Package: Gold!
Rachel was the last of the group to perform in the solo slots. I think it's safe to say that she got the loudest cheer. Everyone was pretty much expecting her to come up with some of the hits from her solo career and she did just that! A not too long, not too short (aka perfect) medley of her most popular tracks along with the incredible dance routines. Now, I had strict orders to take lots of photos of Rachel... I have a husband at home who saw her "live" the first time round when she had gone solo. She was his favourite member from the group all those years back (along with the heaven knows how many other adolescent boys)! With this in mind, I thought I would get a nice picture for him as I was there.... well, there's no "bad" picture of Rachel! Honestly, she really, really is that stunning - even after the gruelling work out of a two hour show! Needless to say, there were smiles when he saw the images! - girl done good me thinks!
After the completion of the solos, the group re-united (again) and took to the stage for the fiesta segment of the show. They donned the bright, 90s pop style costumes that I could imagine them wearing right back in their hay day. Fish net crop tops, hot pants, tank tops (hello muscles on Jon) and jumpers tied around the waist! This is really the S Club Party!
Are you ready for S club does modern day? Here they are bringing it right up to date singing their cover of Uptown Funk!
The minute they left the stage, the arena floor started to rumble from the sound of feet stamping, people banging the walls and shouting out for an en-core. Honestly it was like being at a football match after the most important cup goal had just been scored (I imagine) it went absolutely wild in there. I genuinely couldn't hear Laura who was crammed up next to me.... the girl at the other side of me had one of those sounds that is just ear piercing - especially when she was screaming for more but I still loved it - every single moment of it!
I filmed their entire encore (minus the deafening shouts and roars in between songs.)
First up: Their iconic charity single "Never Had A Dream..."
They ended just as they started with yet another hit - "Don't Stop Movin'". I can't quite believe how energetic they all were... they had a lot of fierce moves packed into this show and while ever there was a beat, they were jumping around and pulling all the moves right until the drop of those lifts at the end... take a look for yourself (please ignore the fact it has no thumbnail - I've contacted the techies at YouTube and I'm waiting for them to sort it out for me)....
They definately saved the best pyrotechnics until last! Confetti cannons and golden sparkly rain falling - magical!
In Conclusion, whilst sat in bed "recovering" from yet another super fabulous and special weekend with one of my favourite girls. I can confirm. There really...
"AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE AN S CLUB PARTY! - WOOP WOOP"
I hope you've enjoyed travelling back in musical time with me.
Please share any of your concert blogs or fun throwback memories!
**please respect that these images are my own, I took them and I have taken the time to turn them into the collages that they are in on the blog. If you wish to use any of the images or videos from here, please seek my permission before doing so. You can contact me on twitter: @hangoldendaff or by leaving me a message on here. I'm working on a better solution at the moment. Thanks in advance.**
I'm well into the swing of blogging now. I really hope that you enjoy reading my posts, I read the comments that are written and so far everything has been positive and so lovely. So, thank you! I will always try to respond when possible to the comments. Having had some technical issues recently was a bit of a struggle but I got there in the end! It's so therapeutic to plonk myself down and type away without really having to do a great deal. I class it as doing nothing and it's a great mind diversion for when I'm in pain or I'm not quite functioning how I want to be!
If you have read the About me page then you will have read about my love for make up but before you think I am someone that is obsessed in vanity and all of that jazz please understand that I am not... It is just another one of my hobbies, (I'm sure that through time, you will learn that I have lots of hobbies. My most expensive one is collecting make up!) You can read what I really feel about 'beauty' here.
Today's blog post was meant to be coming to you last week. I had it planned out but then computer issues and internet fairies not doing their job meant that it didn't happen. I wrote a rough idea in my trusty faithful notebook so that I could get on track, took the photo that I wanted and had some notes typed up too so at least I was well prepared for typing this week! Now, look at the title and think advertising and you might have guessed but if not don't worry, I will reveal all!
Asking me to name a favourite make-up/beauty brand is like asking a
chocoholic for their favourite brand of chocolate. I love make up in all shapes
and sizes colours and formulas. For me I go through phases of absolutely
craving a particular product (Mascara for example). I know that sounds bizarre
but it’s true. I have a drawer of mascaras that are all still good to use and
yet when people ask me for gift ideas I will tell them make up INCLUDING
mascara! Now, that is a bad example to give because buying/having too many mascara’s
is wasteful. They dry up and they go clumpy, smell horrid and can cause
irritation but then some of them work better when they are slightly dried up.
Do you get my “issue” here?
So, besides my love for mascara (something I wear pretty much every day).
I have an absolute obsession with high end lipsticks! From orangey reds to
purple-blacks I LOVE EXPENSIVE LIPSTICK! Granted I don’t buy them much but I
dream about them, I spend gift money on them and generally wish to have my very
own pull out collection of shiny, sparkly, sexy little packages of goodness
that I can pop into my handbag to reapply whenever I am out. Since I owned my
first ever expensive lipstick (when I was 17/18) I have had this obsession.
My main beauty purchases come from arguably the UK's biggest drugstores,
Boots and Superdrug. I don’t really remember when my love for make-up really
came into fruition but I think it’s safe to say that it is now a full blown
affair! Since I became ill and had to take different medications my colour changed
and my eyes changed and I didn’t like that. Make-up makes me look and feel
alive so although it might seem vain (I understand how it might seem that way),
I am far from one of those people. I
wear make-up because it makes me look well and that is why I love it so much!
It helps me to forget what is going on in a way.
I had a discussion with one of my university friends recently (she is
as in love with make-up as I am) and she asked which drugstore brand was my
favourite... Here enters my whole brain
wracking adventure into my make-up drawers and dressing table!
There were two real contenders for me - Bourjois and Maybelline. So who
won and why?
Well if you hadn’t already guessed from the hint in the title of this
post (If you’ve ever heard the tag line in the TV adverts you will get the
reference), Maybelline snapped the top place on the podium for drugstore make
up for me.
I own pretty much everything needed to do numerous looks from primers
to lipsticks and there’s nothing I really hate. I guess they are mid range in
price for the drugstore range but the quality is generally really good.
So, what are my personal favourites from Maybelline?
Bases: I used to use the baby skin primer but recently I have switched to a different one (not Maybelline) so I didn't think it was honest if I included that in the picture. I mean, it's fine. When I first used it it was perfect but I think my skin has changed so I no longer require one that has the silicone type texture so I opt for more of a brightening, creamy one.
Foundations - I have not yet found a Maybelline one that I really dislike! That includes foundation for stage (OK, that was years ago but still... it has always been a trusty faithful purchase). As you can see from the lids on my bottles, they are well loved! I tend to have two shades in different formulas because of how my skin reacts in different seasons/climates. British summer can be lovely one one day and then terrible rain and wind the next!
Concealer - the Instant Age Rewind dark circle eraser concealer comes out of my little 'concealer drawer' (yes I really do have one) on those yucky "Uncle Fester" days, you know (please tell me I am not alone), the days where the big ugly black eyes are so prominent they would only ever look acceptable on Halloween (which I don't like because I get scared too easily by faces covered by masks)! I'm not so sure that it rewinds age and the spongy/fluffy applicator is a bit big for the hard to reach inner parts of the eye socket but once you get the product to come through the applicator (about 50 clicks I reckon!), it works well and covers all those dark and red areas. I don't use this product every day because I have my trusty faithful concealer from another brand but I do occasionally use this one with the other one as a highlight and it looks really good for that purpose! I'm interested to see how the 'fit me' concealer compares to the others that I use but I don't dare buy any more yet until I have finished up something that I currently use.
Bronzer - For ages and ages I struggled with finding the perfect summery bronze/ sun kissed glow from Maybelline but that was until I discovered the Dream Sun bronze/blush duo. The only thing I do not love about the product is the smell - it's got quite a rich smell to it and it kind of reminds me of very strong smelling baby wipes. I guess it's a love/hate smell but although it's quite perfumed in the packaging, the smell of the product doe not go onto your face (phew - who wants a face smelling of over powering baby wipes? They're designed to make a bum smell nice, not my face!) Anyway, that aside, the subtle colour pay off is delicious on my pale skin. I tend to just swish a big, soft, fluffy brush around the whole product and then gently apply to the high points of my face (think of where the sun would hit after a nice stroll on the beach somewhere hot) - See... it really is, as the the name says, 'Dream Sun'.
Blush - I have a thing for blushers at the moment. I'm in a blusher phase I think! Love them, Love them. LOVE THEM! Did you get that? Finding the right shade is the tricky part. Too red and you look like a puppet, too brown and you look like you've wiped dirt on your face, too grey and you look like you've been punched but get it right and you have a sweet, sweet, little rosy glow to awaken your face. All of this means that I have spent LOTS of time getting it wrong, sampling and blending until I find the formula and shades that suit me. I can wear any formula (thank crunchie for that) but I have to be careful with the shades... On 'bad days' my skin can look grey to almost blue and if I leave the house I always put on some form of make up - certain colours just emphasise how ill I look and if I can see it, everyone else will see it! Anyway, I love the Dream blush range from Maybelline. The formula is a creamy mousse that blends very easily and feels velvety soft on the skin. I think it's a powder finish but it gives an airbrushed look at the end result! This is a staple product and It lasts for aaaaaages! I use my cheek brush and literally dab the brush into the pot once, take off excess product onto the back of my hand and then swish the brush over the apples of my cheek... if I want to build the colour a bit more, I take the colour from the back of my hand (believe me, it doesn't look as though it's picking product off your hand but it does) and repeat. I go back to the pot for the second cheek. I tend to go for rosy/ soft warmer toned pink shades to compliment my skin tone. I definitely highly recommend this range!
Lips: Strangely I haven't got many Maybelline lip products at all! My favourite lipstick (that has been well used) is the shade 547, it's a deep red that makes my blue eyes pop. I'd say it's more of an autumn/winter shade though and as with most red shades, needs an lip liner to help it stay.
Eyes: I had to save the best category until last - if you get a chance to go and look at the make up counter, you might have a dent in your purse thanks to the eye make-up from this brand! I need my hands tying together whenever I walk past because I could literally get something new every single time I go shopping if I didn't stop myself! I have somehow managed to whittle down to my favourites to share with you... I think they would be suitable for anyone.
Brows - The Brow drama gel is a setting gel with a mascara type wand to evenly distribute the product to set the brows in place. The colours range from transparent to dark- I have the dark blonde and the medium brown (because I used to be brunette and then I went lighter with my hair colour). If I am having a 'nothing' day or a day where I want to wear something but not much, I wear the gel on it's own. The colour makes my brows look fuller but without looking completely made up. On a more 'made up' day I use a powder to fill the brows in then set them in place with the gel. This makes them look fuller and thicker and I know they wont budge all day long!
Liner - Lasting drama Black shock gel liner pen. Four words: Makes Gel Liner Easy! - seriously, what more can a girl want from a gel liner than a pen with a perfectly angled tip to spread the thick, waxy gel? This gel sets in seconds and stays for as long as you need it to! It took me some getting used to with it having an angled tip but once I had worked out my comfy writing position I got hooked!
Mascara - The Falsies (waterproof) I live by waterproof mascara, on a no make up day I wear it, on a full on make up day I wear lots of it but this little beauty makes long straight boring lashes become long, curled, fluttery, separated eye openers! stunning! There's a technique to getting it right apparently but I swear I apply it differently each time and I still get the same results. I guess it doesn't matter if you curl your lashes anyway. I'm not into coloured mascaras, I think being 30 buts me into the 'too old to dare' bracket so all of my mascaras are black, very black, brown black or ooooh, the daring choice of 'brown'! I don't know, colours are really in at the moment, I like the look of them but would they look daft on me?
Eyeshadow - I have saved my absolute favourite product until last. If you had a few £ and you were in the market for eyeshadow and you came to ask me I would point you in the direction of the 24hour Colour Tattoo cream eye shadows. I have 6 of them but the two that I reach for the most are 'pink gold' and 'on and on bronze'. Worn on their own, they are a lovely, creamy wash of colour that is build-able from a pale colour that could be a base for any powder/pressed/pigment to layer over the top or you could indeed layer the colour tattoos up. These are also so easy to blend but once set, they really do stay and what's even better is that they do not crease! My 'go to' every day look is a dab of pink gold on my ring finger, spread and blended all over the lid with on and on bronze patted gently onto the outer corner then gently blended through the crease... all done with one finger and so easy to do when in a rush! There's a really good range of colours but my favourites are the ones with a little shimmer in them. I feel that the matte shades work best as a base for a powder shadow over the top.
So there we have it... Enough to make up a whole face using one drugstore brand! (would you like to see me use these in a tutorial style blog/video?)
Do you have a favourite brand? What are your top three products?
*. I have NOT been sponsored to write this post. I have purchased all of the products mentioned myself and the views expressed on this post are all my own. *
It's been a tough old week here in Daffodil House! (Our house isn't actually called that but I like the sound of it - hmmm maybe one day....)
On Sunday night I started to feel unwell and I woke up on Monday barely able to move thanks to Brain and co! I guess that set the tumble weed going. My laptop went on strike, our internet was playing up and I used a months worth of data on my mobile phone in 4 days (woopsie)! well, honestly what is a girl meant to do when she cant really do much else but watch Youtube videos and Netflix?! I don't think it quite works like that when you explain it to a shattered husband - even with fluttering eyelashes - I did only say nearly all of the data, not actually all of the data had been used - as a result I've turned my mobile data off for the month - this makes me feel a little sad but I must remember there was a time without mobile internet... what did I do?! Panic was short lived, the internet in the house was restored (thank you wifi fairies) and my laptop started to come back to life after a bit of light maintenance. I started to feel better too by Wednesday evening. *BONUS* I decided to get an early night on Wednesday. I figured that having a good sleep and 'recharging my batteries' would only be a good thing to keep me on my feet - How wrong was I? I managed to get to sleep okay (my medication pretty much knocks me out) but for some strange reason I had the worst nightmare and it was one of those ones that shakes you to your core and your'e scared of sleeping again in case the nightmare comes back! I don't have nightmares often at all! How odd! Anyway at some point much much later I managed to get back to sleep and I woke to the sound of my phone ringing at 1pm! EEEEK! I had jobs that I REALLY had to get done ie the food shop - My sister helped me do my food shop, my brain just wasn't in gear ~ I just wasn't in gear. I left stuff in the shop that I'd paid for (scan and shop error) so had to go back, forgot to buy something that we have totally run out of and bought extra of two items that we already have in! All in all a successful Thursday I'd say. Well, it did turn out ok in the end to be fair. I got a lot more done than I thought I would and my sister was extremely patient - and the lady in tesco was an angel!
Anyway, not I've given you the run down of this week, I'll tell you why I have decided to write a series of Friday Favourites.
There are some bonuses that come out of being ill and they are things that I would definitely have taken for granted before. No matter how hard the moment, day, week, month or year gets there are always things that we can be grateful for, take enjoyment from, learn from or just appreciate. I've decided that every so often I am going to put in a list a of my current favourite things. They might be really simple, little things that I have noticed and feel the need to remember or something that I genuinely feel that I HAVE to share because it's just so darn great!
Here are the five things that I am currently loving. I'm channelling positive vibes here, people!
Family time - On Wednesday my mum drove me to fetch my prescription because I wasn't well enough to drive myself. Before going home I went and spent some time with both of my parents and we had drinks and cakes/biscuits in their garden. They are having it completely re done and it's in it's latter stages of the development. It's stunning! My dad was quite involved with setting out the plans for how the layout was going to be and both of my parents have been involved with the "fine tuning". It's all been done so that my dad can access the whole garden in his wheelchair to give him full independece in his retirement. One part of the garden that they insisted was kept is a huge stone walled flower bed. We built that as a family when my brother, sister and I were young. It was a real family bonding task I'll tell you! It houses the tree that my siblings and I used to climb up and shout the colours of the traffic lights while the others were zipping around on their bikes. We call it The Ungy-Bungy Tree. Next to the tree is the original metal framed swing that my Grandparents bought for us when we were little. The wooden seat rotted but a plastic seat was purchased for my two year old nephew. We used to take it in turns to swing as high as we could and when we got to the highest point we would shout out the longest Beatrix Potter character at the top of our voice and see if we could say it before the swing reached the bottom. Mine was Jemima Puddle-Duck! I can hear myself and my sister giggling now! Her character was Mrs Tiggy-Winkle! - we would be in hysterics for so long that Mum and Dad used to have to calm us down before bed time "oh, those girls"! We used to see next doors chickens when we got to the highest spot too. They haven't had chickens for many years now but it will be interesting to hear what my Nephews childhood memories of that garden are when he's a grown up! Hopefully just as crazy and just as fun!
(okay, okay I cheated a bit - this isn't really a separate favourite because he is my family so just count it as being one - with my family please). My Husband - He definitely deserves to have a highlight of his own. This week in particular he has been a gem. I mean the sparkly, expensive, dreamy, wonderful and exquisite kind of gem! Ok, that's enough of the vomit inducing niceties Ha! He's working A LOT this week - I say workING because although it is Friday and he would normally finish work on Friday, it's different this week. He is also working tomorrow! It means that he leaves at daft o'clock in the morning (3.30ish) I and wont get home until gone 4pm! At the start of the week he had to deal with a mess of a wife when he got home but somehow he still decided to drive for an hour to the nearest Apple store to get my faulty iphone 6 replaced! On top of that, we're going to have a guest (and her baby bump - cant leave the bump out) here to stay this weekend so he's been helping me get stuff ready! The very least I could do was run him a bubble bath with my luxury bubbles in! That boy deserves a break!
A catch up with my parents on Wednesday. The pick-me-up I needed. Photo taken on my shiny new iphone 6 *yay the camera works*
Fresh Bedding - There really is nothing more satisfying than opening the bedroom door and getting a waft of 'fresh linen' scent brush past then snuggling into comfy, clean bedding and resting my head on fluffed up pillows. I love the feeling of cool cotton sheets after a relaxing soak in the bath, especially after feeling mega rough!
Wholewheat pasta - Yep, you read that right! It deserves to be here in my five favourites because when you feel yucky the last thing you want to be doing is standing over the cooker or taking forever to prep a gormet meal. Recently I have cut out all white pasta in our house to whole wheat and you know what, I cant tell the difference! This week I made a pasta bake. Quick, easy, inexpensive, filling and delicious! I like mixing two different styles of pasta in my pasta bakes to make them hold the sauce and it just gives a different texture and look.
I get this pasta from Tesco. Yum Yum!
Instagram - I've had the app for ages, hardly ever used it but since the start of may and signing up to a picture every day thing I have got really into it! I really like looking at other peoples pictures and scrolling through the hashtags! (You can follow me @littlgoldendaffodil)
S Club 7 - They are back in my life! Welcome back to the teenage years! Me and my friend are going to see them live TONIGHT - my last "unopened" Christmas present! I'm definitely not going to be jumping around and dancing like a loony at this concert - as much as I'd love to in the moment, I know I will regret it and I can not be doing with 'brain bootcamp' (in other words, having the sweats from doing nothing, feeling like I'm that poor bit of plastic inside the magic 8 ball getting asked a million questions and being shaken all over and still just plucking an answer from a liquidy cloudy mess) also I'd probably face getting an ear bashing from the medical team and I certainly do not want that ta very much!
I hope you've had a good week and remember, if it's not been so good there's still plenty to cheer you up. Laugh about the silly little things and don't let them drag you down (it is so much funnier later on when you are telling the story to someone - I speak from experience. Laugh when the red has faded from your cheeks, you will feel better for it). My parents always taught me that 'tomorrow is a new day'. They used to say this rhyme as we went to bed "See you in the Morning, Just as day is Dawning at the start. of. another. new... day". I've never forgotten it and I will hopefully have my own little tinkers to say that too! Yes, I am very aware of how much that makes us look like the Brady Bunch or The Waltons - it was seriously NOT COOL as a teenager but now, as a 30 year old, I treasure it! I want to be that Brady bunch family! At least we didn't fight and scream at each other - much ;)
What is one of your favourite things at the moment? You never know, you might share a little nugget of gold that could be just what the next person is looking for (or me)!
It's Wednesday again which can only mean one thing... It's time to team up with Let Your Blog Shine and write about (or I should say answer) this weeks prompt which is "What makes you feel beautiful?"
I'm sure there's a One Direction quote in there somewhere but no, I'll save myself the embarrassment and answer it properly and honestly.
I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to answer this question... What, exactly makes mefeel beautiful? I have never asked myself or, for that matter, been asked that question in my 30 years of existence. I think I have a rough idea of what makes me look beautiful which helps to make me feel beautiful but it's deeper than the mere appearance and how society would 'accept' or 'expect' me to look to be "beautiful".
Crikey, this post is getting deep. Grab a cuppa and a biscuit and join the "session"!
Something that you might think is completely bonkers makes me feel beautiful - it's having someone that says "I love you" everyday and not just saying it but showing it too! Someone that can see past the mess that looks back at him when I'm so ill that I can hardly walk, have my hair scraped back and beads of sweat on my forehead and wearing miss matched pyjamas that are totally the most unsexy thing in the world (what a wonderful mental image you must have - Dan gets that in real life, along with the sick and tears. He needs a medal!). It's at those times when that one person takes every bit of ugly and turns them into something to make me feel beautiful in his own little way! To this day I cant believe that he knew what was happening medically and yet he chose to stay on this path by my side and marry me! Every time I get called "Wifey" it makes me feel beautiful - even if it's just to him, that's amazing - who else do I need to be beautiful for?
That paragraph above wasn't too easy to write. I try not to talk about the "bad" stuff that goes on but it's happens. Its part of what I live with. Next month I am dedicating the month to my illness and things associated to it to go hand-in-hand with the first official awareness month for the one of my conditions.
Something that I have learnt over the years is to stop trying to please everyone else... beauty really is something far deeper than skin, clothes, make up (you know where I am going). It is in your mind, you heart and your soul. I think eyes give quite a lot away too - I have this thing about eyes... they are the window to the soul so they sell a life story without anyone reading the 'blurb' (i.e. you know which ones to avoid and which ones you want to find more about - Think e-fit pictures or pictures of criminals... whenever they are shown on TV they nearly always pan out from the eyes)!
Lastly, having the strength to deal with the "rubbish" that I currently have (health wise), having the ability to love and be loved, having faith, confidence and having the most wonderful people surrounding me are all the things that help to make me feel not only beautiful but alive!
Look at that Hepburn Quote!!! What was I saying about eyes?! I found this quote after writing the post!
I apologise if you were coming here to see something jovial or light. It's my honest answer to the question prompt that I was sent.
What makes you feel beautiful? Let me know in the comments and as always I will reply.
Firstly, I need to apologise that this post has come to you later than I had said! It was meant to be delivered to you on Friday but whilst I was writing it my laptop decided to play some kind of trick on me, then my internet went down so the videos that I wanted to include wouldn't upload onto Youtube (and I was not going to send you a half written piece that I wasn't fully happy with!) so I guess, it's that age old saying of "better late than never, huh? I am really sorry for the delay but here it is! With videos included at long last! ~ Enjoy!
I am literally so excited to be writing this blog post! It was a great opportunity for me to get my hands on the camera that my husband and I got in the latter months of last year... I'm by no means a photographer but I love any opportunity to snap a shot or two and this camera has a pretty good video feature too! I hope you don't mind the crazy amount of photos that will be coming up but as the saying goes "A picture paints a thousand words" - or something like that!
I'm not the worlds most experienced concert goer but I have been to a fair few concerts in my time. Robbie Williams, Keane (twice), Alesha Dixon, James Morrison, Lily Allen and seen LOTS of unsigned artists "gig". I even had one perform at our wedding! It's fair to say that I love music in all forms from classical to modern day pop hits and there's nothing better than seeing the spectacle and artistry of live music and musicians which yes, includes singers! (I could go into a whole rant about people that refuse to call singers musicians)!
This concert was really special for me for a few reasons.
Dan got me my ticket for Christmas (well he teamed up with my uni friends to get it along with another ticket)
Two of my really close uni friends got tickets too and although we have been friends for nearly 11 years, we have never been to a concert together before!
Since my diagnosis I have pretty much lived in a "safe bubble" and not considered big concerts because of how they might affect me. Every other concert I have been to (apart from Alesha Dixon and James Morrison) I have bought standing tickets because I have always wanted to be near to the front, dancing my butt off and being amongst the hustle and bustle of the concert atmosphere. At the Alesha Dixon concert I was sat behind some of her "people" because My sister had won tickets so we got amazing seats and then she also won tickets for James Morrison but we were sat quite high up in the arena for that concert and I didn't feel as though we were as much part of the party if that makes sense.
So, after an afternoon of picking outfits, applying make-up, curling the life out of my hair and singing & chatting with my two besties we were ready to go!
First stop Tesco, Hucknall for Krispy Kreme! They do a box of three deal and as Laura didn't want one, it meant that Serena and I could pick one each (Original glazed for me; Strawberries and kreme for Serena) and then pick one for Dan (Lotus caramelised biscoff) - he'd so think that was a thoughtful treat! It was a perfect dessert for the pasta bake that I had cooked at home before we left.
After our tasty little treats and a stop off at the cash machine, we got on the tram into Nottingham. It's much easier when there is an event on to head into the city centre by tram. Parking is usually a stressful game of 'find a space'. Of course, if you are a lucky one, you usually have to pay a hefty price for the "luxury"! The trams run a discounted service for anyone with a concert ticket and for £2 return, it's not worth the hassle of jostling for a space!
As I have mentioned before, I am not a newbie to concerts and I have been to the arena in Nottingham a couple of times before but I got so frustrated with myself once I got off the tram. I got completely disorientated and as much as I'd like to blame my dodgy brain for it, I am afraid to say that 75% of it is the sheer fact that I have terrible sense of direction and the other 15% is related to brainy stuff and that is the complete lack of remembering things and the more I get anxious/stressy about it, the less likely it is that I will get my bearings and remember ANYTHING that I know, I know! It is insanely frustrating but I am so so lucky that whilst I was having a bit of a flap and getting a pit panicky Laura got straight onto maps and we were literally just around the corner! PHEW! Honestly, just thinking about that situation makes me feel stupid! Utterly ridiculous!
Once at the arena, we noticed the capitalfm team (the arena is sponsored by capitalfm radio). They were getting concert goers to hold up big signs and have their picture taken (probably for their website - I am yet to look that up). The three of us avoided them as we just wanted to get inside and head to the bathroom to freshen up as a priority then just get in the queue to enter the "ticket only" access area. Once through the (human) ticket barrier I bought my souvenir book. I really liked some of the merchandise but I honestly don't think I could see me wearing any of it (other than as a night shirt perhaps). I really liked the Ella Eyre tops that were for sale but again, I don't think that I would wear them out and about. Once we headed to our seating block entrance, I was getting the real sense of "wow, I'm at a concert" - I'd written that idea off long ago. When you have headaches that can literally send you into an almost paralysed state, the last thing you imagine you will ever do again is go to a pop concert! That feeling was slightly evened with a tinge of worry that I wouldn't cope with the lights, the movement and the noise but with the blink of an eye the big, heavy red door opened in front of me and there was this huge bluey-black space that stole those worries, the music samples that were playing were all to inviting and I WAS NOT BY ANY STRETCH missing that concert for all the love of toffee!!! The scariest bit (and I mean "flappy" scary) was getting to my seat... the steps are so steep and at parts, there's no hand rail (do I sound like your gran yet?) I wasn't wearing heels but I was shaking like a leaf once I got to my seat and I swear I must have just plonked myself down as fast as I could! We weren't far away from the stage really, we had very good seats but I didn't dare look above me and when ever I stood up (coz it's a concert, you HAVE to stand up)! I think my BP must have reached the roof of that building! I was "bricking it" all while trying to look super cool - I guess that's now how I live on the "edge" haha.
Relieved to be in our seats after tackling the stairs!
It was really entertaining seeing some of the hard core fans filter into the arena with their flashing hats and "I LOVE OLLY" home made signs. There were lots of young girls there so excited to see their number one man! It's so lovely to see. I only went to one big music event as a child and I think I was too young to have a real established favourite. I don't think I have one single favourite now. I appreciate musicians that work hard, are "clean" in the business and can sing LIVE! Aint nobody got time for that auto-tune crap!
The screens showing music videos switched off, and some people came on stage, they took their places and out came running the bouncy, curly haired beauty that is Ella Eyre - My goodness that girl can sing! I mean SIIIING! That girl has the voice, beauty and omg can she move?! Her energy is incredible! She was wearing a black and white striped (referee style I guess) crop top, a leather look skater skirt with a glitzy, sparkly thin gold belt around the waist line and some wedge Nike high tops. I know Nike are famous for their "air" trainers but what on earth were in those high tops 'cause I want me some of that!
Sorry, back to the singing - Do you want to see what I saw? Ah, go on then! Here's the moment Ella came running onto stage!
The three of us girls got up and cheered for her... a woman behind us tapped my friend on the shoulder and asked her to sit down. Now, Ella specifically asked for everyone to get out of their seats (point one), we were not there to watch the ballet (point two) and my friend is probably 5ft 0 in heels (TINY)(point three)... was the 5'8 tower of me asked to sit down? NO was my equally tall friend? NO! Was there an "issue"? YES - STAND UP AND HAVE SOME FUN for goodness sake! I wanted to throw a fun sponge at her for saying something to my diddy friend because it was THAT friend who had come up with the idea of the concert and it was THAT friend who had organised us all going! I sat next to her and said "everyone else in that block is stood up, if you want to stand up, stand up!" (Okay, in hindsight it was a tad arrogant of me to be like that but we were not in any "special" seating or an area for people with disabilities. We were doing exactly the same as hundreds of other people and it was the first song! We were excited)!
Anyway, I managed to get some photos (while I sat down) of Ellas set...
I could have watched her all night but her slot all too soon came to an end ready for the main man but not before she sang one of the best "feel good" tracks on the waves at the moment "Gravity". I managed to switch my camera over to video mode to film it. Here it is...
After a short interval we were well fired up to see Mr Murs... The music started to play, the big screens were showing a whole range of shots of Olly doing different poses, most of them in silhouette against a white screen (I didn't get a picture of this unfortunately) and the crowd literally nuts! It gave me goosebumps because that is when I realised that I was there... in a concert with two of my best friends in the world and after a turbulent three years, I had blinkin' got to a gig! Another tick on my list of "warrior things to do!" I was waiting for Olly to run on stage just as Ella had previously but OH NO - up he pops from a hole in the stage right at the front (as in IN-YOUR-FACE if you were sat on the front row). The screams were so loud it made me giggle! Well - that and the embarrassment of me looking in the complete wrong direction! woopsie! I wish I had filmed it because my reaction would have been gold! Unfortunately all of my initial pictures are so blurry due to the shakes and giggles that I had!
Can you remember back to the start of this post with the bit about "favourites"? Ironically, Robbie Williams is always one of my solid favourites and I think Olly performs in a similar style. He definitely owns the stage and gears the crowd in exactly the same manner as Robbie did when I saw him live a few moons ago! I honestly believe that Olly is a natural born entertainer. He's so witty, comes across as sweet centred (but not sickly sweet), jovial on stage yet completely focussed and such a crowd pleaser. He's either a very VERY good actor or he just has the natural ability to perform and not in an arrogant, starry way! He spoke to the crowd at times as if he was speaking to every single individual and that there was no-one else in the room. It's as if what he says are his true words, his true feeling and not one bit an "act" when the time is right. I guess that is reflected in his song writing, now I've had time to think about it! - wow, that's deep stuff for someone who's not one of "those" fans isn't it?!
Here's a few (a lot of) photos that I took of him at the concert.
Here's a video of Olly Singing "Hey You Beautiful"...
I love how cheeky his is on stage - he's a real "feel good" kind of entertainer. Also his backing singers (the men in particular) can move! They're the kind of guys that feel the music. I hope you get what I mean, the singer on the left... look at him! He was animated the whole way through but not in an annoying "you're distracting me" kind of way! Just brilliant!
Ooh la laaah
The moment he proposed to all of the ladies in Nottingham haha
Too Hot!
HIS PANTS ARE ON FIRE! - I assure you they weren't! Ha!
Burn baby burn. Disco Inferno! - oops wrong singer!
It's fun to stay at the... ;)
They were all doing a little dance in unison at one point here - cute!
My favourite segment of the whole dang show! OMG Calm me right down - PIANO, Accoustic mmm mmm yes please!
If you haven't guessed from the picture above I'm a sucker for "stripped back" music... when I saw that piano appear I was completely sold! I switched the camera right over to "film mode" and got this section recorded... oh yes I flippin' did! Melty heart. Before he started singing I said to Serena, "if he gets ON that piano I'm gunno go all mushy" Well what did he do... (remember I am not one of "those" fans!!!) just listen out for the "Oh Hello" on the video - that would be me in my full on *do not say something stupid, you're on film Hannah* mode! HA! I genuinely didn't know whether to become one of "those" fans and drop the camera to wolf whistle of just play it cool, I'm just gonna film ya doin' your thing. I was a mix of both - as soon as that camera was off I was all about the wolf whistling.
In a flash, Ella was skipping back on stage to perform the Demi Lovato parts of "Up". These two on stage were so fun to watch. They had a kookie little routine that they performed and it just "clicked". I think they should definitely work together in the future!
After Ella went off stage, a HEYAWGE (huge) walkway lowered from the ceiling. It formed a bridge over the seated floor crowd to a sort of square catwalk type performance space. Olly sang his way along until he reached the island. There he addressed the crowed at the back of the arena and sat on the stage. He told us about his reason for writing "Dear Darlin'" and what it means to him now. It was very touching as he dedicated the song to anyone who has gone through or is facing struggles and/or loss.
There we have it... I didn't get a good picture of the confetti cannon that showered the audience in gold glitter and streamers to close the show unfortunately but please take my word for it.... it was a firework and glitter fest! It was like a huge party and I was living on the adrenaline! I am so utterly grateful to my amazing husband and special friends (who travelled a long way to make it convenient/possible for me to go).
I feel so blessed to have done something that I genuinely didn't think I would do again for a very, very long time. It doesn't really matter about the after affects for that one off treat! (Ok, well I have got another concert coming up in a week - again it was a Christmas present) but I am trying a different tactic next time to not burn out so bad.
What an amazing Christmas 2014-in-may gift to have! Hurrah!
Please respect that all of these images are my own. If you wish to use them, please contact me by leaving me a tweet (@hangoldendaff)
