Where did Kelis ever go?

Over the Christmas holidays I've been slightly obsessively listening to the album Tasty, by Kelis, which was released in 2003 (back when I was a wee girl soon to enter the dooming cycle of teenage-hood). 

[01] Kelis, Tasty album cover

It was a nice surprise to find an album other than super hardcore hip-hop (I don't even know how to subject it to a specific genre to be honest) in my car - it's become rather cluttered with an eclectic sort from myself and my brother. 

But back to the album - I forgot how good Kelis was! Excluding the one track that everybody knows (Milkshake, of course), there are jems like Trick Me, In Public (I've got the Nas rapping bit down to a tee...absolutely no shame), Millionaire (remember that one?!) and my favourite track of the album, Glow. Such a good beat, have a listen. PS. can't believe how little views this video has had! 

[02] Kelis, Glow

This album hands-down tops Rihanna's Talk that Talk (which I think it completely overrated. #unpopularopinion? Loud was so much better. Just saying).

Walnut addict

Hello! It's been quite a while, huh?

Well you see, I'm back in Southampton will diddly-squit to do. This week was all based around employability, graduate schemes etc, and next week is feedback week. So in effect, I won't be starting my term 2 units until the 23rd. Of course, I should be soldiering on with my dissertation - but me being me, I have reached a plateau with that one... Christmas has ruined my brain a little bit, I think. Problems.

Anyway, I've been using my time wisely (?) and have dedicated myself to exercise classes (one a day in fact, excluding Tuesday) and the occasional trip into Southampton town centre for a spot of shopping. It's been a very leisurely (boring) week, to be honest, and I just want to get cracking with these new units already!

[01] Sunset on the way to Pilates via Bedford Place

[02] New-found snacking addiction

[03] Caitlin Moran's "How to be a Woman"...hilarious

[04] New dress, Topshop, £32 (excluding student discount)

[05] New dress, old belt, and TK Maxx knick-knacks lurking beneath

[06] Green jumper, TK Maxx, £16.99; Corduroy leggings, £6

I'm a bit unsure on the dress now. I loved it to begin with, but now it just seems a bit...blah. It doesn't help that it's actually classed under 'swimwear' - at £32, I want it to be in the dress section at least! Or is that just me being weirdly pedantic? This is actually the first item I've bought from Topshop at full price - hence why I'm making such a big deal out of it. Basically, I'm a massive cheapskate and Topshop is - in my opinion - full of overpriced (yet lovely) stuff.

Even so, I'm very happy with my TK Maxx purchases! I found a gorgeous green fitted jumper (an alternative to my usual baggy, Granddad style jumpers) and some corduroy leggings which fitted great, but had a little hole on the inside leg seam. Needless to say, I managed to get a whopping £4 off thanks to that little hole.

Off on a jaunt to Chippenham tomorrow, with a staff party to attend on Sunday. Wheee! <3

Lessons Learnt

Without the risk of sounding too cliched, I think this summer has really taught me a few vital lessons in life. It's only when you really push yourself out of your boundaries and comfort zone (or sometimes being pushed is more prominant) that you discover more about yourself. So - this is a post summarizing such discoveries.

1// Never leave valuables in a tent. Especially at a festival. Ever
2// Don't take yourself or others too seriously.
3// Be completely open to new places and new things, you never know where it can take you: say yes more!
4// Be true to yourself and you'll have nothing to regret.
5// Leave bad thoughts behind; learn to forgive and forget (or at least forgive) and accept that people are only human afterall
6// Understand that the little things you do can actually affect others massively; tread the ground of human emotions very carefully
7// Material things really don't matter in the bigger scheme of things. (But they're still nice of course) Money isn't everything
8// Get out of the UK; (or at least Yate...) the World is huge and full of beauty and beautiful people...routine life is pretty damn boring in comparison
9// Respect yourself and accept your flaws. Nobody's perfect no?
10// Leave regrets behind - just see it as another lesson learnt

Ok, lame list over.
:)

Jack FM > other radio stations

Currently sat in my PJ's in the conservatory, chilling out and listening to Jack FM (the best radio station by far) when I should really be showering and such. Loving the old school tunes on Jack; other radio stations really need to play more variety rather than repeating the same old chart music...there are only so many times that that I can stomach Pitbull's voice in a day. I don't think I'm in the minority on this one, either.

Off to Bath town today for a spot of day-time shopping, probably some coffee (it's usually inavoidable when I'm with my friend Vicki, such coffee whores), then for a well-needed night out! My friend Maria has just moved into her new house there so it's the perfect excuse for a few drinks and to discover new places to go out (seeing as I usually just stick to the same spots in Bristol).

I've been super busy since my last post; this summer has been eventful to say the least. When I have more time I'll post a few photos from my interrailing trip around Europe. It was a trip I'll never forget, especially thanks to my friend Ruth, who was the perfect travelling companion and without whom I would've been thoroughly lost. Public transport is hard enough in the UK, so navigating our way through Europe proved to be a tad tricky at times. Even so, an amazing experience and something I'd recommend for everyone to do at least the once.

Definitely running out of time to get ready now so I'd better scurry on. In the meantime, here's a forgotten tune for you to enjoy...it sort of sums up my general state of mind right now. No change there then!

Sweet nostalgia

Having spent the last couple of hours looking through pictures from my childhood (that is, up until the awkward teenage ugly-duckling years, which I tackfully skipped over as quick as possible), I am feeling somewhat nostalgic for the simple years where I had no cares in life. I think I'm becoming more and more paranoid about the fact that I am approaching 21; I feel like I should have some sort of life plan, but in standard Katie fashion I have no idea of the career I want to go into. Sometimes I get these vicious little bursts of worry that I'll never know, and that I'll forever be polishing plates at the hotel I'm currently working in. Life seems to be passing by so quickly, I feel like sometimes I can't keep up with it. I'm stuck in the past - take me back to the Nineties!?

These were some of my favourites of me as a child, and some of me with my brothers and cousins. It's weird to think that I can't remember these days, yet my parents remember it so clearly.

I came across quite a lot of much older photos of my parents and grandparents and my auntie. I literally love looking through old pictures, I find it so interesting. It's almost like you're looking at a different person altogether...for instance the pictures of my mum - before she had me, she wasn't even my mum, or even not a mum at all! It's pretty fascinating. Maybe I'm still in my post-night out delirious state of mind, but even so: here are a few more of my favourites.

From top: My Auntie and my Mum; my Nan, Mum and Auntie

From left: My Auntie, Nan and Great Auntie Thelma

My nana looking beach-bod perfect!

My Auntie as a bride...she looks so demure!

Why is it that old photos look so much better than the modern-day equivalent? I don't think anything can beat vintage photography, I find it so much more expressionate. It's quite funny that these photos are so natural, yet if they were taken today they'd probably be seen as 'try-hard' as the trend for vintage is ever-growing, making it more of an issue of appearing 'cool' rather than capturing the moment.

Does anyone else have any golden oldie photography to share? I'd love to see!

7 day countdown begins

Festival season is impending, and fast!

Beach Break is now a mere week away, and I haven't even had time to think about it yet (a repeat of last year's massively rushed Reading preparation = packing at 7am in the morning). I'm not even sure who's headlining to be honest - all I remember is Tinie Tempah, Nero, Magnetic Man, Newton Faulkner and White Lies.

A quick print-screen job from the BB homepage shows that this is the final act line-up!

The acts I'm most excited about are definitely Tinie Tempah, Example, Newton Faulkner and...hold up, where is Nero on this list? I swear I didn't make that one up...fml.

I think my festival-appropriate wardrobe is adequate enough as it is, without the need for traipsing around the high-street (why do I say this as if it's such a drag?). I'm thinking I'll most likely live in my high-waisted denim shorts and wear them with fuss-free tops/shirts (avoiding even writing the fateful double 

-barrelled word that begins with a type of precipitation and ends with a garment worn over an outfit in order to avoid such evil types of precipitation...mmm you know what I mean. Or at least I do). 

Even so...I did manage to just spend £20 on Tescos' F&F clothing on their website. I wasn't really expecting much from the clothing - initially, I was only drawn in by the fact that ALL garments were half price, and being the stingy person that I am, I thought I'd take a quick look. 

I was pleasantly surprised with what I found; I am a bit of a snob when it comes down to supermarket clothes shopping, and although a lot of the clothing left a lot to be desired, by the end of my search, Tesco came up trumps by offering me festival-chic at half the price. 

I saved a total of £18 on my purchases - which included two basic burn-out tees in pastel-green and marl grey, a gorgeous sheer camisole top with ethnic-inspired print, and a structured across-body bag just the right size for festival needs. The 50% flash sale runs until midnight Saturday - take a lookie, quick!

Work, work, work (and a bit of play)

Haven't blogged in a while thanks to a) an extreme lack of interesting things to write about, and b) working like a lunatic over the last couple of weeks...apologises for this!

I've been very thankful that my days off this week have coincided with some glorious sunshine, and as always I have made the most of it by basking beneath the rays in my garden alll day! I'm looking considerably more tanned (wooo), and I'm hoping this weather continues throughout June - particularly for Beach Break pleeeease! - Which is only 2 weeks away! Excited!

My social life has suffered in recent times because of excessive hours at work, as I mentioned before, but last night I saw Two Door Cinema Club at Bristol O2 Academy with a few friends...and they were fantastique! I didn't know all of the songs, admittedly, but they are definitely a great live band and I can't wait to see them again at Reading Festival later this summer.

Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know <3

I had a mass clear out of my home wardrobe the other day - I think I must've banished about three-quarters of my wardrobe (Shock! Horror!), which is a great achievement for me as I am quite the hoarder. Anyway, the garments were sorted into piles for ebay selling (which I haven't been able to do yet thanks to stupid verification codes, pfft), charity shop donations (i.e. clothes not even worth attempting to sell), potential-for-updating/customising, and ...I think that's it actually.

BUT. I failed a bit. After taking my bag full to the charity shop, I ended up buying a few new items...oops. In all fairness though, they are lovelylovely, oh-so cheap and oh-so worth it.

[01] Charidee shop bargains: black crop top, £3?, red sleeveless shirt, £2, Denim shorts, £3.50

[02] Close up...note the little rosebud detailing on the straps

[03] Back view of shorts...selling on ebay because they don't fit me:(

Still need to transport a whole load of clothes back from Southampton, but hopefully I should just about have room for all of my clobber in the one wardrobe! Score...

The guilt of sitting all day is setting in now, so I'm gonna head out for a well overdue run.